Guy Gavriel Kay

There are no wrong turnings. Only paths we had not known we were meant to walk.

-Guy Gavriel Kay

On Books and School

Dont you hate it when you’re minding your own business, reading a book after finishing a test, when suddenly three main characters die? Yeah. I do, too.  Today I was reading Ruin and Rising, by Leigh Bardugo, the third book in the Grisha series, and I got my heart broken. I don’t want to give too much away, as some of y’all might not have read it yet. You totally should, by the way. Like, now.  This is going to be a short post. I’m typing this on my friends’ phone, and the keyboard is very small. No one’s at the lunch table except me but I got a Twix bar, so trust me, I’m good.  So the book I’m currently reading is called Long Lankin, by Lindsey Barraclough, and it’s described as “A compelling, atmospheric novel inspired by a haunting folk song about murder, witchcraft, and revenge…” I’m about 29 pages in, and it seems plenty creepy. However, I don’t think I’m far enough into the novel to really grasp what it’s about. I’m still a bit unclear on the characters as well. They still seem like words on a page, and not real people, if y’all get what I mean. Hopefully that’ll change soon.

That’s Right. (Possible TW???)

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Land of Confusion.”

I’m doing one of those posts.  So, I have a mental illness called anxiety, and as a result, I’m pretty much always worrying and analyzing what I’m doing, and even if I’m with my closest friends, I’ll find myself worrying, or wondering whether or not they actually really truly do like me, or are just tolerating me, for pity’s sake.  And a lot of times, I know this isn’t the case (probably).  But sometimes it’ll creep up on me, once in a while when I get my guard down, and then I don’t have a good day.  But that’s okay.

Song: i believe, Christina Perri

Up, up and away,

Cassie

School

I’m so sorry I haven’t been posting.  There just happened to be a little big thing called school in the way.  High school.  Yis, i haev strted da marvlos jurny.  No.  It is not marvelous.  I’m stressed out already, and it’s four days in.  I’ve also finished an entire bar of chocolate.  See, that’s not healthy.  Supposedly.  My book limit from the library is five books per trip.  Which is once a week.  If I’m lucky.  But I’m doing okay.  I think, at this point, M&M’s, the digital collection of my library, and Spotify  are the only things holding me together at this point.  Also Pusheen the cat.  Anyone watching the US Open?  My mom’s screaming at the television, and my sister’s obsessing, and I’m sitting in the corner with my headphones with hot chocolate.  For any of you that’ve started school, you’re going to do fine this year.  Work hard, and don’t stress yourself out too much, please.  Oh yeah, I’ve started writing a book.  Not on Wattpad or Archive Of Our Own, or any of those sites, but in a notebook.  Because I don’t like Microsoft Wording very much.  Should I put some lyrics?  That sounded really disjointed, let me put that into context.  I’m listening to C’mon by Panic! At The Disco with fun. and there’s some really deep stuff in it, and I just really want to do something with it, but I can’t make lyric edits, so I draw them out, but yeah I just word vomited again, sorry.  Let’s see, I’m listening to Manners, by We Are In The Crowd.  I know at this point I have one follower, literally one, but that’s okay.  If anyone else reading this decides to follow me, that would really mean a lot, but yeah.  Please don’t hesitate to come to me for anything,  and I hope you have an amazing day tomorrow.  I’ll try and post something everyday, whether it’s legit crap, or an actual book.  I’m listening to My Own Worst Enemy by Lit, but it’s almost over, so I’ll wait for the next song to finish up this post.  Wait.  No.  It’s…. It’s an ad.  Damn it.  Yes, okay, last song of the night, or whatever else you got, is Stutter by Marianas Trench.

Alright, I’m signing off for the night.

Up, up and away

Cassie.

The Book Thief, Markus Zusak

Do you have a comfort book?  You know, a book that you just always come back to?  A book that you can greet the characters, as friends, as family, even, and you can cry with them, and laugh with them, and just be with them, even though for a short time.  And even after you finish that book, you know that the journey isn’t over, because you can simply run your fingers through the worn pages, going back to the beginning, and start anew, and fall in love with the characters, all over again.  And you may say, Well, you can’t have emotional relationships with words, but to that, I will always say, Watch me. I have cried, and laughed, and died, with every single character in this book, and it will always be my comfort book.  The Book Thief is the book that I will readily curl up with in my Snuggie and my ratty slippers, with a mug of hot chocolate with gummy bears and hazelnut creamer, and my cat sleeping in my lap, in front of the fireplace.  It does not matter if it’s the middle of summer.  I will light the fireplace, and I will make my hot chocolate and find my Snuggie and ratty slippers, and kidnap my cat from the depths of the basement, and I will read this book.  Maybe with Vitamin String Quartet playing in the background.  Maybe.

Although I have to say, the book was infinitely better than the movie.  Even though I cried during that, too.  

Markus Zusak paints pictures of incredibility, the typed word on the page his paintbrush. And what pictures they are.

“I am haunted by humans.” (550)

There will be multiple songs.  I promise you.  And I shall never, ever apologize for that.

Songs: B. F. F., frnkiero. Featuring Lily and Cherry Iero

Face Down (Acoustic), Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

Birdhouse In Your Soul, Vitamin String Quartet

Unlocked, Ryan G. Van Cleave

It feels a bit strange to review this book, because, to be frank, I didn’t like it.  But don’t let my opinion prejudice yours.  The book took me by surprise, and not in a good way.  I really don’t think I should write any more than this.

“You ever dream that you wake up and the whole world’s gone?” (93)

“…life is full of choices, and most of the ones we make are wrong.” (127)

Song: The Show Must Go On Prt.1, Famous Last Words

Bone Gap, Laura Ruby

“With lyrical and often stunning prose, Laura Ruby delivers a magical love story and chilling thriller with a cast of characters both surprising and endearing.  Bone Gap will haunt you.”

This review does the novel justice, trust me.  The plot line follows you, even after you close the book for the final time.  And, that last time you close the book?  It won’t even be the last.  You’ll want to reread this over, and over, and over, and over.  Yep. This is one of those books.  Cue in the dramatic music.

“He said, ‘I love you.’  She shook her head. ‘You can see me, that’s all.'” (253)

Song: The Permanent Rain, The Dangerous Summer

Just Me Again

Hello my fuzzies!  It’s just me, no books at the moment, sorry…

I just wanted to get some book recs (recommendations), if anyone floating out there want me to read something.  Unlikely, I know, but one can only dream.  If you really want a song, you can check out this playlist.  If any of you have questions, or whatever, you can do the thing in the comment thing.

Up, up and away,

Cassie

The Cemetery Boys, Heather Brewer

This novel is a scary mix of loyalty, suspense, and mystery.  It asks the question, Just how far would you be willing to go for someone, and what they believe in?  And don’t forget a healthy dose of betrayal.  You, as the reader, wander through the novel with caution, because you don’t know what the next page turn will bring.  Not to mention, of course, the fabulous blurb thing on the front cover.

Friends till the bitter end.  Because think about it.  There’s one meaning, friends till as in friends until, but then, friends till.  If you look up the word till on Google, the first definition you will get is: less formal way of saying until.  As I pointed out before.

But.

The third definition.  It is: prepare and cultivate (land) for crops.  Replace land with Stephen, the main character, and you have a statement expressing how easy it is for friends to influence you.  As of right now, it may seem a little far fetched, but trust me, if you read the book, you’ll know exactly what I mean.

“‘That’s the funny thing about friends.  When you’re really down, people scatter like rats on a boat.'” (190)

Song: She’s My Winona, Fall Out Boy

Fan Art, Sarah Tregay

I can’t count the number of times I’ve reread this book, and I’m not sorry.  The plot line of this novel just kinda connects to me on so many levels, and it’s well-written, and I fell in love with the characters.  Warning, however.  If you’re hella homophobic, then you can get the hella off my blog.

So are all the haters gone?  *looks around*  *sees nothing except whatever my sister’s trying to do at the moment*

Okay!

So the two main characters are: Jamie and Mason, who have been best friends since third grade.  And Jamie knew he was gay since he was in 8th grade.  Mason, ?

Suspense!  Drama!  Romance!  Completely squee-worthy gay boys!  Barely anyone’s straight!  So many quotes!  Read it!  That’s an order, Mr. Potter!

At Night I Dream

Anonymous

At night I dream that we live in a David Levithan novel,

a world set to music and lit like Broadway—

each moment deep, magical, and underscored by

the simple and the profound, like a Beatles’ song.

Here, in my dreams, we love whom we love,

blinded not by the color of their skin,

worried not by the details of their gender,

nor about the book in which they find their god.

Here we speak a thousand languages,

understanding the nuances without having to ask.

And yet we have forgotten the word for hate,

and with it anger, hostility, and homophobia.

But in the morning, I wake to a bleating alarm clock

and the banter of bilingual breakfast conversations—

none deeper than the contents of the fridge—

and I pray for a passport back to dreamland.

And yet woven into the lilt and trill is a nuance

spoken not out loud—even though we have

two languages and a thousand words and ways

to say it—simply, deeply, profoundly. I love you.”  (83)

And now, the next quote! (This is one of my personal favorites, no regrets)

“Closets have very little ventilation, Jamie.”  (215)

Song: Summertime, My Chemical Romance