Summer reading, remember those days?

Do you remember when you were in school and you had to do summer reading? When the school assigned you certain books that had to be read during the summer, and when you go back to school you were going to be quizzed, tested, or forced to write a paper on? I remember hating every moment of it and I'm actually a reader and always have been. I never particularly liked the books they chose, and if you read them too early in the summer you would forget everything by the time school started so you had to wait until the last minute to read them. I don't know all of this could be a foreign concept to you, as I was told some people didn't have to do this. I think my school finally caught on how horrible summer reading is when they allowed us to pick our books from a list so it at least made is seem like we had some say in the matter... But we didn't.

Like I already said I'm a reader, so all they were doing was actually adding more books to the amount that I was going to read. I'm not going to say that it was a totally wasted experience because it did make me read some books that I never would have picked for myself. Books like Call of the Mall (I'm pretty sure that the staff thought we would like this book because it was about the mall, and made us have a field trip to the mall during the summer, but it was one of the worst books I've ever read, sorry Paco Underhill), Founding Brothers, Scarlet Letter (I probably would have gotten to that after Easy A came out lol), and others including books about the Savannah in Africa.

As usual I always have a ton of books that I want to read during the middle of the summer. For a student who is out of school and is doing nothing right now, I've done a horrible job of actually completing books. I have too many books that I'm reading at one time and the problem is none of them are fast paced, but they're all really good. I'm on a plane to Seattle right now with my mother and I'm trying to read lion by Gregory Maguire, but like his other books it moves really slowly, but you appreciate the story at the end. I'm actually reading that book as a hardback book, which is becoming such a weird thing! Don't worry I also brought my kindle with me as well and on that I'm reading Steve Jobs, which is such an amazing story about a man of whose products I support and own whole heartedly. I bought two new books for this trip, another Steve Berry book, and a book from a new series that I haven't read before, so I'm excited to read both of those. Until next time,
Keep Turning the Pages
90s Born Reader

City of Ashes (Mortal Instruments), Cassandra Clare

Jace and Clary are back together… well kind of. After the few days they had had together they needed some time to rest and regroup. One of their many problems though were that they were not doing it together. Simon is being tested by Jace and Clary's relationship even though they all know that the two of them can't be together, Jace and Clary that is. Simon is also facing his own inner battles that his best friend is having a hard time noticing. To top it all off, Valentine is back and has the Mortal Cup, Jace is in love with his sister, and Clary is in love with her brother, but they know that they can't be together. Also Jace is being tried for conspiring with Valentine to basically take over the world, and the Inquisitor is being brought in to question Jace, but she has a secret grudge against him making him constantly guilty. Also Clary has her hands filled with her own family problems from her mom, Jocelyn, being permanently asleep, and Luke being a werewolf she has a lot on her plate.


As you can see there is a lot going on in the next book of the Mortal Instruments series, and there is never a dull moment. I'm still in love with these books and enjoying the series so much. I still recommend these books to the highest level, especially if you love the romance of Twilight, the magical aspect of Harry Potter, and the badassness (made it up, perfect word though) of The Hunger Games. I'm going to continue reading the other 3 books that are left, and will read the Prequel Trilogy that comes before it! So we all know that means more posts!!!!

Until Next Time,
Keep turning the pages
90s Born Reader

City of Bones (Mortal Instruments), Cassandra Clare

I found it! Another book series that makes me just as excited as I was for Twilight, Harry Potter, and The Hunger Games. This series Mortal Instruments, by Cassandra Clare is the best of all of my worlds. It has the fantastical, like werewolves, vampires, demons, and faeries, it has action, and it also a little bit of romance, and its own love triangle. So, let me tell you a little bit about the first one.

It was a normal night for Clary Fray, she was going out on a Sunday night with her best friend Simon during the middle of the summer just like any other 15 year old girl would until everything changed.

She found herself in a completely different world, well she was still in New York, but she was seeing everything a little bit more clearly, things that she had never though existed. Demons, faeries, warlocks, the new word mundane, and everything that you once read in a story book and more just became true to her, along with the other things you read in books, like love, and fate.When Clary met Jace her world turned upside down and backwards, never expecting what could come next on their journey that brings them closer together in more ways than they could imagine. Clary finds out more about her past, and what's going to happen to her in the future.

I haven't found a book this interesting in a long time, not one that I literally want to keep reading all day long, well not since Twilight, The Hunger Games, and Harry Potter, so of course I recommend this whole entire series to those who are looking for an addictive read. I'm trying to make my posts shorter, so that I'm not giving away too much, so as always feel free to ask me anything. I cannot wait to read the rest of these books as they became a great cruise ship read to keep me distracted from everything. Until next time,
Keep Turning The Pages
90s Born Reader

Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins

The world as we know it has fallen apart. District 12 has fallen apart and Katniss and Peeta have been separated, but at least they are still alive. Katniss has woken up in a strange place, after seeing the arena fall to pieces, it turns out that she is in District 13, a place which she has been told all of her life was destroyed. Luckily Katniss' family was saved by Gale even though Gale's family didn't quite make it out alive. Distric 13 is a whole new world with schedules, and rules, and order, something that Katniss isn't quite ready to take a hold of after what she had gone through in the arena. She slowly meets in the people in charge of defenses and it turns out they want her to lead the rest of the districts in a rebellion against the Capitol. In a sense they want her to truly be their Mockingjay. Or at least act like one. Katniss has to step into the role that she was placed into, but she doesn't know who to trust. The gamekeeper who put her in the game, the fierce woman who runs district 13, and where is Peeta? Gale has become apart of the defenses or the army as you might call to help fight, and Katniss' mom and Prim have taken up their places helping people in the infirmary. During her time at 13 Katniss will be tested once again in more ways than the arena tested her, she will have to step up and be a leader, and she will have to continue to fight for what she believes in and what is right no matter what the consequences might be.


Of course I loved this book, this book distracted me during many calculus classes during the semester. I don't know how I got so far behind on my posts because I finished this book about 3 months ago. Hey, better late than never. Just like with the other books from the trilogy this one was just as exciting as the rest. I loved it from the beginning to the end though the ending may have not been my favorite, or really the near end. A lot of the fates of our characters I thoroughly enjoyed, while others I wished had stayed near. As for Katniss and Peeta, I'm happy for them. I'm glad that they found each other and were able to accomplish the goals that were set out before them. If you have not already done so, you need to read these books. They are amazing and would recommend them to people of all ages.

Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins

If we don't know already, then you probably shouldn't be reading this post, but KATNISS AND PEETA WIN THE HUNGER GAMES!!!!!!

At the end of the 74th Hunger Games, Katniss and Peeta are the last ones standing and were claimed victors, but being the victor of The Hunger Games does not necessarily mean everything is going to be okay. For Katniss it turns out to be the opposite. Sure, District 12 gets more food once a month every month, and Katniss and Peeta's families get moved to Victor's Village with Haymitch, but things are truly just starting for our lovely victors.

With the end of the Hunger Games comes some terribly disturbing nightmares for both Peeta and Katniss, but neither of them are truly talking to each other to deal with them, and of course the only other person who knows what they're going through is Haymitch, and he's drunk all the time. The only things that keep them going are their friends and family. With the Quarterquell coming up or the 75th Hunger Games, our victors are able to rest and not worry about it, other than being someone else's mentor.

What's different about the Quarterquells are that the rules are changed by President Snow, instead of just each district having to pick 2 victors out of a bowl, it can be something like 2 boys, or only 2 girls, and it is said that these decisions have been made long before it comes about and is locked away, not to be opened until that Quarterquell. When it is time to open this box the Panem was not ready for what they heard.

All of the past victors would be required to participate from The Hunger Games AGAIN. Well really one male and one female past victor will participate. No one could believe that Katniss and Peeta and possibly Haymitch would be back in the arena again fighting for their lives.

Through out these games new friends and alliances would be made, and enemies as well. Much research would be done on the others and a lot of time spent training before the games. Our Starstruck lovers would shock the world many times, but what happens in the arena you will have to read for yourself.

Until Next Time
Keep Turning the Pages
90s Born Reader

Stressed lately...? I can tell you about stress!

This year at the University of Pittsburgh… it has been one for the books, when I first started writing this post we were at 50 bomb threats, and now we're at 145. Yes I did say bomb threats. The University has been facing tough times with someone claiming bomb threats on the campus, making students evacuate from classes during the middle of the day, and evacuate from dorms and on campus apartments during the middle of the aka between the times of 2 and 4 am. You would think missing a lot of classes as a college student for something that wasn't your fault would be fun, but it's not. Most classes build off of each other and so you won't know the information for next year because our teachers have to keep going. Or when your exam gets pushed back 2 weeks, meaning you've missed 2 weeks worth of class, and now you have to make up the classes on Saturdays… yeah it absolutely sucks.

It's safe to say that as a campus we're pretty stressed out. I'm not going to lie that now when I hear any type of loud noise siren like noise, I jump and am concerned. After being evacuated from my building only once at 4 am, I didn't sleep for the rest of the week worrying was it going to happen again. I feel bad for many of the freshmen dorms who have been evacuated multiple times during the middle of the night. A lot of students have left campus and luckily a lot of teachers have provided accommodations to help them finish out the school year without a G grade.

I guess what I'm getting to is that with all of these distractions it has become increasingly harder to study for classes and focus on them wondering if you're going to be evacuated from the building or even have the class. To get your mind off the goings on around you sometimes the best way to do something is to read a book that is not required. A book that allows you to escape into a different world so that you can forget about the one you're in.

Unfortunately I did not have a book to read so I ended up sleeping a lot during the middle of the day because I wasn't sure if I was going to be allowed to sleep through the night, but my advice is to try and read a book.

Until Next Time
Keep Turning the Pages
90s Born Reader

The Hunger Games: Movie vs. Book

I have had the great fortune of seeing The Hunger Games movie twice. Both times I loved it. Finally I believe a production company did what was expected of them when it came to bring a book to life for the viewers, the readers, and those who have not read the book, hopefully yet.There was not a major part of the book left out, the characters exemplified exactly what I thought of them. The casting people did a great job of finding a hear throb in both Gale and Peeta, and Katniss continued to be a badass.

For my friends who had not read the book though, there were some questions to them that did not get answered in the movie, where for the rest of us it was easy to fill in the pieces. Some of the questions included, "Wait, they said there were 13 districts, but only 12 are in The Hunger Games. What happened to the 13th?" That question is of course a legitimate question because it's not truly answered in the movie itself. Another questions "Why do they keep flashing to Gale when Katniss and Peeta establish their relationship". Once again a minor detail that was not really  explained, but something that could be assumed. Lastly "Why is Katniss yelling at her mother". That one did not happen as much because it was kind of explained, but the reason for her mother's deterioration, as I told them would later be explained in a different book. This has been one movie recently where I want to continuously spend my money to go see it. I think that it's really special for there to be a character that you want to emulate in your every day life. Someone who is willing to sacrifice and do what ever it takes to be there for those she loves even when the circumstances could mean her emanate death.

If you can't tell already, I highly recommend this movie and this book to everyone. It is definitely one of those rare cases where it does not matter if you read the book first or not, but if you have not read the books it will make you want to buy them immediately and get to reading. Don't forget to check out my posts on the other books an some other issues that have come from the casting of this movie.
Until Next Time
Keep Turning the Pages
90s Born Reader

Racism in The Hunger Games

One day in class while being on Twitter, instead of course paying attention in class, I came upon someone's tweet that had this website on it. Because it had something to do with The Hunger Games I immediately opened it and started to read it, and what I read was appalling. This blogger has the same overall opinion as I do. What was found, after the record breaking opening of The Hunger Games were people were disappointed with the casting in the movie. How some of the crowd thought that Rue, the little girl, and her counter part should not have been cast as black…even though that is how they're described in the novel. People were expecting this little girl, this angelic like child to be white and pure. The pure ignorance of the comments found on this page really astounded me. Some people think that racism is dead now that we have a black President, but that is not the case. Taking a great movie and saying that this detail ruined it for you, even though it says in the book that both of these kids are dark skinned, really shows how our world still is. Also publicly showing people how ignorant you really are is another show of their stupidity.

We're lucky that unlike in The Help, they did not change a major part of the novel, just to make it more viewer friendly. By doing such, that would have truly ruined the whole movie just trying to appeal to the racism that is still out there.
I absolutely loved this movie and I believe that it is one of the best book to movie duos that's been done recently, but that is something to be talked about in my next post comparing the two.
I hope that the people who read my blog are more open to things that are different than themselves, and can appreciate a movie producer doing his or her job to stick with what was written in the book, that the movie is about.

http://m.jezebel.com/5896408/racist-hunger-games-fans-dont-care-how-much-money-the-movie-made 

Until Next Time,
Keep Turning the Pages,
90s Born Reader

The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is such an amazing, amazing book. With all the hype that is going on with the movie, it was on my list of must reads. Also every last one of my friends who has read the book has absolutely loved it as well.
In The Hunger Games North America has been ruined through war and other causes and from it a new era and nation was made. From it 13 Districts and a Capitol were made, each district were given a different specialty to produce goods for the Capitol. Through the unfairness of the Capitol, District 13 decided to rebel against the Capitol. It is because of this rebellion that District 13 was destroyed and the Hunger Games were created. The Hunger Games were created to show the rest of the districts that the Capitol is in charge of their lives. Every year 2 children from age 13 - 18 have their names put into a drawing to be apart of them. One male, and one female will be chosen and are made to fight to the death of the last child for the whole nation to see. From these Hunger Games, Prim and Peeta were chosen from District 12, but Katniss Everdeen was not going to allow her little sister to fight to the death, and she volunteered as tribute.
It is because of these events Katniss and Peeta are taken away from their family and are forced to go to the Capitol and be nothing but a show for them. Luckily for them though they have a wonderful team who is able to gain the Capitol's attention through their fiery wardrobe that Katniss' fast friend, Cinna made for them. Through some stories of untold love, volunteering your life for the ones you love, and doing some very unexpected things that may or may not insight a rebellion. Katniss and Peeta enter into the ring where they literally have to fight to the death against 22 other kids like them.

I'm trying not to give a lot of the story away because it is an amazing story written by Suzanne Collins, I can see how it has taken the world by storm. I loved reading this story so much that it only took me a day to do so. I highly recommend reading this book, and I'm even going to the movie on Friday after my exams that is hahaha. Look for a post from me about the second and third books!!!!
Until Next Time
 Keep Turning the Page
90s Born Reader

The Street, Ann Petry

 To continue with my English Lit class, the next book we read was The Street by Ann Petry. In The Street a young woman by the name of Lutie Johnson is faced with a lot hard decisions of which she has to remember that each decision leads to a response. Some of these incredibly difficult decisions include whether or not to leave her husband and son to be able to work and earn money for them, to move to an apartment with her son that might not be the safest, and to partake in a singing career that may or may not get her anywhere.Of course with every decision that is made there is always a consequence, which can either be a positive or negative experience. For Lutie Johnson, most of her decisions come with a negative consequence. She decides to work to provide for her family, and her husband leaves her. She moves to a  new apartment and Bub, her son, is afraid of the impending darkness that is surrounding him, and the superintendent makes Lutie uncomfortable.When the time comes to make a decision that could help her and Bub move from the apartment, she is presented with an option to sing with a band.

Lutie is faced with so many decisions that affect her life and the people around her, and sometimes people don't always understand why people make the decision she does. Lutie is a strong woman who is trying to care for her son in whatever way possible. What Lutie comes to understand is that sometimes the right decision isn't always the easiest. At the end of the story she makes the hardest decision a mother could ever make, but in her heart and mind she believes that it is right.

I recommend this book to anyone who has ever been faced with hard decision and are not sure what to do. It does so much to open the eyes of young readers everywhere who have not had to face such hardships as the young characters in this book. Definitely read this book, it is one of my favorites so far this year. Until next time
Keep turning the Pages
90s Born Reader

The Pains of Not Being an English Major

Of course we all know that everyone in college has to take a basic English class, and a writing intensive course, but then what do you do later after you finish those requirements? Well if you're like me you need to fulfill 3 credits in some type of way, that also fits into the busy schedule that you have, so I picked an English class that can't be too hard can it?

Well in comparison to my required classes of science and math, no it's not as hard, but it has its downfall for us non English minded folk. I enjoy taking lit classes because I like being forced to read different novels and books that I would not have chosen otherwise, but when it comes to me doing an analysis I would pick me last on the kickball team. I always have my opinion on what I read it as, but in the end I seem to always have the wrong opinion. How that is possible I will never understand because I thought an opinion was an opinion… is it not?

Also as a person of math and science I'm not the best writer (I don't know if you can tell by this post), but I'm always getting better! Writing 5 page papers to me is a fate worse than death, anything longer than that… I'm not sure if it's going to happen. Sometimes even a one pager paper is difficult because those are always the ones where you have to make comparisons, or look deeply in the meaning, or throw the book into flames without catching it on fire. Okay… that last one might be a little bit hyperbole, but you get my point of doing things to me that are really hard or close to impossible.

Of course I recommend people who are like me to take more English classes just to get comfortable of thinking out of the box and looking deeper into what is going with what they're reading. Also to work on writing is pretty important too. To me those are the pains of not being an English major in a higher level English course, but I will always try to do my best

Until next time
Keep Turning the Pages
90s Born Reader