Books, Taylor Swift, and other hyperfixations
"So," the interviewer starts, holding his iPhone near my face. "What books have most influenced your writing?" "Yes, tell us," says Adam Grant, my research hero. I haven't figured out yet why he's here. "Which authors acted as mentors in your youth?" "Interesting question, Adam." I grab the iPhone and speak directly into it "Follow-up… Continue reading Lauren’s Go-To Reads: Old Standbys
I've rejoiced my parents' last day of school. I've purchased aloe for a terrible sunburn. I've broken out the baby powder for 80-degree days. Summer is upon us. That means it's time to read. A lot. If you're looking for suggestions, I have TRILLIONS. I even organized them from fluffy to thought-provoking, with ample gray… Continue reading Summer Reading List
First impression: "This looks really trashy." Second impression: "No one can see me reading this." My emotional journey: "This is stupid." "But it's written so beautifully." "Sold. I'm into it." "What's going on with the teeth?" "Wow, this is getting intense." "WHY IS HE ON FIRE!?!?" "NOOOOOO!" "NOOOOOOOOO!" "Okay, that took a turn." "I get… Continue reading MINI BOOK REVIEW: Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
(Additional rants can be found here, here, and here.) I used to read more fantasy. Scanning my bookshelf, I see magical realism and memoirs where I once kept wizards and fairies. I still love Harry Potter and I'll take a good prophecy every now and again, but I avoid outright magical stories. It's possible these books are… Continue reading Book Betrayals: A List of Past Hurts, pt. 4
Read part 1 here. I have yet more literary disappointments to unearth. Thankfully, queer literature has never let me down. HAHAHAHAHA just kidding. Ash by Malinda Lo I'm using Ash to represent all of Malinda Lo's books. Malinda Lo writes excellent nonfiction; I keep entire anthologies for her essays alone. Her fiction is just so boring. This book appealed… Continue reading Book Betrayals: A List of Past Hurts, pt. 2
When it comes to books, I am a cheapskate. In this area of my life, I value quantity over quality, blowing my budget on thrifty, vaguely-interesting paperbacks rather than the one or two pricey hardbacks I really want. Why bother when I'm going to switch them out for cheaper, less bulky, better-looking copies in six months?… Continue reading Book Betrayals: A List of Past Hurts, pt. 1
For round 13, I picked Kate from You Know Me Well and Shigure Sohma from Fruits Basket Background Kate runs away from things. She dedicates her painting portfolio to a girl she won't speak to and ditches a lifelong friend for an understanding acquaintance. She freaks out and changes her mind over and over but rarely… Continue reading R.I.P. It or Ship It: Round 13
The Harry Potter fanbase has decided on things that I don't agree with and/or comprehend and I wanted to take today to go through some of those things.
I thought about reviewing Winter, but I'm not great at avoiding spoilers and to write about it would ruin the entire series for newcomers. This was the only course of action: a survey of things to expect from a book that offers the unexpected.
Meyer wanted to prove that Bella was not a "damsel in distress" but a "human in distress," and claimed that switching the genders left the story unchanged. Only it didn't.
Narrative Paradise 