Leaving Blogger

Does the title give it away? Can you tell what's happening here?

I'm moving away from Blogger and headed to... Wordpress! I think my very short time here on blogger has been very fun but I was getting very irritated with having to deal with a lot of Blogger's nitpicking. More importantly, I wanted the ability to really customize this blog which I couldn't really do on this platform. So I decided upon Wordpress. Maybe someday in the future I'll have a self-hosted blog but for now I'm broke and am totally okay with the level of customization that Wordpress has given to me.

But no worries. Nothing major has changed. All of my posts can be found on my new Wordpress site and my name is still the same. Like I said, nothing major has changed. Here's the new url, I hope you guys will follow me that way: https://thelittlebooknerdslife.wordpress.com/. 

Reading Ruts

This is going to be a short blog post. I can feel it. 

Reading ruts are truthfully one of the most irritating things in the world. It's not like there aren't interesting books out there or something like that, I just can't bring myself to read. I know it's not been because I've been super busy or anything like that; I just can not seem to make myself read.

I've been reading this one book for the past three weeks. I'm reading a book that should have taken me four days to finish, a week at the max. It's been three weeks and I'm still not done! It's so frustrating because even though I really like the book that I'm reading- the characters, the plot, the genre (science fiction)- I just cannot bring myself to read it. I feel bad because I want to read it and I really want to enjoy it but I just can't. Grrrr!!! 

On that note (told you it was going to be short), does anyone out there have a solution to get oneself out of a reading rut? Anyone? 

Review: Life of Pi

Title: Life of Pi
Author: Yann Martel
Publication Date: 1 May 2003
ISBN: 0156027321
Pages: 319
Genre: Literary Fiction, Survival, Adventure
Format: Paperback
Add it: Goodreads
Buy it: Amazon|Book Depository

The son of a zookeeper, Pi Patel has an encyclopedic knowledge of animal behavior and a fervent love of stories. When Pi is sixteen, his family emigrates from India to North America aboard a Japanese cargo ship, along with their zoo animals bound for new homes.

The ship sinks. Pi finds himself alone in a lifeboat, his only companions a hyena, an orangutan, a wounded zebra, and Richard Parker, a 450-pound Bengal tiger. Soon the tiger has dispatched all but Pi, whose fear, knowledge, and cunning allow him to coexist with Richard Parker for 227 days while lost at sea. When they finally reach the coast of Mexico, Richard Parker flees to the jungle, never to be seen again. The Japanese authorities who interrogate Pi refuse to believe his story and press him to tell them "the truth." After hours of coercion, Pi tells a second story, a story much less fantastical, much more conventional--but is it more true?

There are so many things that I thought were absolutely great about this book. I had watched about 20 minutes of the Life of Pi movie adaptation when I was on a plane a few years ago but, other than that, I went in blind.

The book is broken up into 3 parts, each with a distinctive purpose: learning about Pi, Pi's survival story, and Pi's interrogation. In the first part we are introduced to some interesting characters. Yann Martel created an author who is narrating the novel to us readers who happens to also be named Yann Martel. I thought the idea of having another author who was between the reader and the storyteller added a sense of believability to Pi's otherwise fanciful tale.

Pi himself is also introduced in the first part. Learning about him and why he is the way that he is such an interesting journey. Something that Martel (the real author) did fantastically was include a lot of character information without it being overwhelming. Moreover, it was presented in such a way that it was slightly unforgettable. I really enjoyed learning about Pi's belief systems and why he is the way he is just based on his childhood before he lost his family. Much of the nuances of the novel can't be discussed in this review because I don't want to spoil the novel for anyone and therefore a lot of the characters in this novel are going to be glossed over. But what I can say is that each character in this novel has a purpose to the reader and in Pi's life and everyone is so well developed. 

Pi's survival tale is makes up part 2 of the book. This is more of a flashback and starts off being very realistic and believable but the further along the story got, the more fanciful it became. And many things as you continue become things that can be called into question. Richard Parker, the tiger, is a character that many people who have heard of the movie have some knowledge of. But honestly I think movie Richard Parker is different from book Richard Parker- both are fantastic but there is a distinct difference. Even though he never speaks and we can't be in his head, Richard Parker is an interesting character who was again well developed. 

Part 3 is Pi's interview with the Japanese authorities. Here again not much can be said without spoiling the novel but the falsified story that Pi tells the authorities really drives home the theme of "the power of writing". The overall ending of the novel was somewhat disappointing but each individual story was extremely interesting. Martel created a story within a story within another story that explored various themes. Moreover, each story was interesting and engaging with developed and intriguing characters.

I would recommend Life of Pi to every kind of reader even if you don't particularly enjoy reading. The concept of multiple layers provides the reader with a feeling that the odd story is somewhat truthful and realistic. Overall, everything about this novel was fantastic.  

Breathe

Breathe /brēT͟H/ (verb) to move air into and out of your lungs

Air \ˈer\ (noun) the invisible mixture of gases (such as nitrogen and oxygen) that surrounds the Earth and that people and animals breathe

We, meaning humans, breathe on earth. We take in air through our nose (or mouth) into the lungs- inhale- and we release air from our lungs out through our nose (or mouth)- exhale. But that is on the earth.

What about in space? Let's say you traveled out to space and left your spaceship without a helmet or other breathing necessities. Let's say you tried to breathe. You can't. There's no air in space. There's no air that can be inhaled through your nose and therefore there is no exhale either. So... now what?

A medical examiner would say you died by asphyxiation.

Asphyxiate / as·phyx·i·ate/ (verb) to kill or make unconscious through inadequate oxygen, presence of noxious agents, or other obstruction to normal breathing

But the use of the word "normal breathing" implies that at one point you were breathing. However, you were not breathing. Your state, once you stepped out of your spaceship, was not one of breathing and therefore there wasn't a change of state from breathing to not breathing. Thus, death by asphyxiation isn't quite accurate.

The argument could be made that there was a state change from being inside the ship to being outside of the ship in which you went from breathing to not breathing. In which case, death by asphyxiation is entirely accurate. 

What do you think? Death by asphyxiation in this case- true or not true?

A friend of mine and I had this discussion earlier today, I thought I would share the gist of it.

Senior Year Update: Week 23-25

Week 23 (1/10-1/16) was a busy, busy week. But! I spent Friday with my friends and it was SO MUCH FUN!!! I love these guys a ton. We talked and played Headbandz- the adult version- and talked for hours. Hanging out and chilling together was the perfect end to a meh week. 

Week 24 (1/17-1/23) was a four day school week. I love 4 day weeks, there's just so much more time to relax. And it was such a chill week overall. However, I was reminded once again of how much I dislike my math teacher but I refuse to let her ruin my week. More importantly, I had a great time in Genetics class because we counted fruit flies. The flies are really adorable and when they have tiny vestigial wings I feel so bad for them. Counting them and doing some statistical analyses was easy and that enhanced the calm 4 day week.

I felt that week 25 (1/24-1/30) was all different kinds of crazy. Way too many assessments, just important thing after another. So incredibly frustrating. My math teacher just makes me want to scream, she's so.... Grrrrr. There are no words to describe just how much I really can't stand this women. 


All in all, more of a 'meh' few weeks. And 274 more days until the all important presidential elections. 

Tag: Disney Princess

Here is the continuation of the Disney related series: Part 2- The Disney Tag. Yes, I am aware of the fact that this is almost three months late but I'm doing it. I don't know if I'll be doing another one.

1. Snow White - Name your favorite classic

Easy. I choose The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. I love this novel because the imagery in his novel is phenomenally done and almost everything is some form of a symbol. I really didn't expect to like it but it was a required book in 11th grade and I'm so glad I read it.

2. Cinderella- Name a book that kept you reading well past your bedtime

Lexicon by Max Berry. It's set in a world where coercion is a science of language and the people who master this science are known as "Poets". We follow the lives of Emily Ruff, who has been brought to this school, and a seemingly innocent man named Wil Jamieson who is the key to a war among Poets. It's absolutely amazing and I just had to find out the end.

3. Aurora- Name your favorite classic romance

Erm... Romance... I don't read a lot of romance. I'm going to bend the rules a little here and go for a modern romance instead of a classic: A Good Woman by Danielle Steele.

4. Ariel- Name a book about that's about making sacrifices and fighting for your dreams

The Giver by Lois Lowry. Without spoiling, Jonas does make many sacrifices in his fight. And Lois Lowry is just a fantastic author. It's amazingly well written and not are the characters flushed out, but they're also relatable. And the plot is absolutely beautiful.

5. Belle - Name a book with a smart and independent female character

Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind. Plain and simple. Scarlett seems like the original "smart and independent" female character.

6. Jasmine- Name a book with a character who challenged the social conventions of his or her world

Anne of Windy Poplars, the fourth book in the Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery. I love this series, probably my second favorite series, and I love Anne. She didn't do anything outwardly "challenging" but she was different from most teachers. 

7. Pocahontas- Name a book whose ending was a roller-coaster of emotions

The ending of Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick sent me on a trip around the world. Roller- coaster isn't even a proper description, maybe more like being on the speedway and losing control. Totally pulled at my heart.

8. Mulan - Name a book with a kick-ass female character

I don't think there can be too much debate about Celaena Sardothien in Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas. Don't even try to argue.

9. Tiana - Name a book featuring a hardworking, self-made character

I'm currently reading Eric C. Leuthardt's RedDevil 4. I wouldn't say that the main character, Dr. Hagan Maerici, is self- made but I would call him extremely hardworking. A workaholic by most standards. It's good so far and I can't wait to finish.

10. Rapunzel- Name a book that features an artist

I hope the intention with artist is something involving some form of creative art. Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour features Emi who is a set designer and a film buff. It's a great novel with a great writing style and even better plot. You can read my review here.

11. Merida - Name a book that features a mother-daughter relationship

Ruta Sepetys' novel Between Shades of Grey. The mother- daughter relationship here is a bit odd but the reasoning makes complete sense. I know it seems like everyone is talking about this book (thank you BookTube) but it really is a great novel especially if you like historical fiction.

12. Anna and Elsa - Name a book that features a great relationship between siblings

Any of the books from the 39 Clues series. This is definitely more of a middle- grade book but it's fun and a light, easy breezy read. And the mystery of it all is quite interesting.

Well that's the end of the tag. I tag anyone who wants to do this tag. What would you choose for each of these?

Review: Everything Leads to You

Title: Everything Leads to You
Author: Nina LaCour
Publication Date: 15 May 2014
ISBN: 0525425888 
Pages: 307
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Romance, LGBTQ+
Format: Hardcover
Add it: Goodreads
Buy it: Amazon|Book Depository

"I want you to do something with the place. Something epic."
After being entrusted with her brother's Los Angeles apartment for the summer as a graduation gift, Emi Price isn't sure how to fulfill his one condition: that something great take place there while he's gone. Emi may be a talented young production designer, already beginning to thrive in the competitive film industry, but she still feels like an average teen, floundering when it comes to romance.

But when she and her best friend, Charlotte, discover a mysterious letter at the estate sale of a Hollywood film legend, Emi must move beyond the walls of her carefully crafted world to chase down the loose ends of a movie icon’s hidden life, leading her to uncover a decades’ old secret and the potential for something truly epic: love.

I would first like to point out that I generally don't enjoy romance novels, I think they are far too predictable. However, I think that LaCour handled the romance in Everything Leads to You in a manner that made it less predictable. Shockingly, I was somewhat reluctant to label this as a romance novel because I feel that it wasn't a major point in the novel; it was more something that just happened (as it would in real life). And that's one half of the reason why I thoroughly enjoyed the romance aspect to this novel. The other half comes from the LGBTQ+ aspect of this book. It was nice to read a novel where the main character, Emi, identified as lesbian and it wasn't the most important part of the novel. It was merely a trait that belonged to the character just like it would be if a character was straight. 

Emi herself was such a relatable character, from the way she reacted to new situations to when she was reprimanded for her choices. She was a fun character to read about. And LaCour did a fantastic job of articulating Emi's vision in a way that I, as someone has very little design skills, could visualize. Emi was also what I would consider a strong female character. Not in the physical sense that other strong female characters often are, but in the fact that she had opinions, which she believed in, and she was willing to admit her own faults.

Emi's friend Charlotte on the other hand felt more like a stock character which disappointed me. She was the stereotypical "I hate my friend's ex-girlfriend" type of girl. Snippy and rude but silent. I wished that her character had been a little more flushed out and that we would see more of who she is. I thought it was interesting that LaCour seemed to spend more time on creating the parents, who we spend only a few pages with, than she did with Charlotte. Maybe it's because she liked Emi's parents more than she liked Charlotte. But I can't complain too much about getting to now Emi's parents because they are interesting and eclectic and fun people. They were also integral to getting deep in the mystery of the novel that I can't be too displeased.

The mystery in this novel was perfectly intertwined with the realities of the world that it felt like it could actually happen to a regular person. We follow along as Clyde Jones' child tries to figure out more about the life that they never got to live. It was interesting to get glimpses of the life of this person as they themselves are figuring it out. I can't say too much because I'd hate to spoil it for you guys. 

I think LaCour made an interesting decision to choose Emi as the main character and not Clyde Jones' offspring because it forced her into writing a slightly more difficult novel. LaCour could have made writing this novel really easy because it would have been an interesting story nonetheless but seeing another person's life unfold and not knowing how they're feeling and conveying that emotion to the readers shows LaCour's grasp on what writing is. Anyone whose interested in a novel with little mystery and a little romance in today's world would really enjoy this book. It's fantastic literature with well developed ideas and makes for a fun read. I would recommend it to anyone who wants something that's slightly different than the usual contemporary novel.

Senior Year Update: Weeks 17-22

Week 17 (11/29-12/5) was quite honestly the week of tests.  I took 8 tests plus all of the other bits of homework. It was exhausting and I didn't even really study much. All in all, a pretty meh week.

Week 18 (12/6-12/12) was the week of Econ because of the lovely End-of-Course test for Econ. It was on Friday and it was such a joke. I have so many problem with these standardized tests, they're so stupid and simple. And, quite frankly, not a good test of knowledge at all. But my friends and I did spend a lot of mornings sitting and talking which is always fun. I think this is when we had the conversation about sentient toasters...

The week of finals (12/13-12/19). More testing. But at the end of it all, my friends and I got together for an awesome party! And one of our friends that I hadn't seen in a couple years came and we had fun so much fun! There was a lot of conversation, both silly and deeply intellectual. 

Week 20 (12/20-12/26) was first day official week of winter break. Meaning I sat around and didn't do much of anything. I watched a lot of "House" thanks to the beautiful Netflix. It was nice to just lie around and sleep whenever I wanted. I think I literally spent Monday in bed, just lying in bed. Awesomesauce! Christmas was a ton of fun, I got awesome presents. My favorite is probably this really awesome watch that shows the time for four different time zones. I had way too much fun figuring out the watch. And then I hung out with my cousins and it was blissfully awesome.

Week 21 (12/27-1/2) meant that the end of winter break was near- qué triste. But I was determined to enjoy every little bit I possibly could. I started watching Grey's Anatomy again, thanks to my cousin, and my heart was shredded to bits at all the deaths. So many dead people. So many...
New Year's was awesome!!! I love New Year's (as this post will tell you) and was really happy to bring in lovely 2016. And I slept some more. So much sleeping. It's so awesome.

Week 22 (1/3-1/9) was pretty relaxed. Only 3 days of school which was nice. But somehow by Friday it felt like we had been in school for a week and three days. The teachers just threw homework at us. But it was really fun seeing my friends. And Saturday was one of my closest friends birthday (you know who you are). It was a great week, I was beyond happy to be back in school. So fun!

Pretty awesome so far. And by the way, 302 days until election day. I hope those of you who can vote are planning to get out there and vote. You should.

The New Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

I love new years. I always get really hyped up about them and I make a big deal of saying "Happy New Year" to the people I'm with and then I send texts to all the people I'm not around. I love it. I love the excitement. It's one of my favorite days of the year.

But with a new year comes new resolutions. So here are some of mine:

1. Read 50 Books
2. Push myself to read outside the usual genres. 
• Specifically: graphic novels, non-fiction, classics, and science-fiction
3. Write more fiction- hopefully I'll have a story that just needs to be edited (cross your fingers)
4. Write every week- even if it's only 100 words.
5. Take more pictures with my friends
6. Workout every day (I've done really well so far and there's none of the pressure to lose weight)
7. Be less judgmental- this is the hardest one on here I'm sure.

I think these are all pretty good goals. And I have every intention of keeping up with them. I'll probably do an update in June. But what about you guys? What resolutions, if any, do you have?