Some kind of classic

I feel like numerous people will be offended if I say that I consider The Fault In Our Stars a classic. But there is such thing as a modern classic, something that feels right when you read it. Something that makes you feel, that makes you think. In my mind that defines a classic, because if the book didn't matter, why did it linger so long? Modern classics haven't had time to linger yet, but the feeling is still there. 

I can't believe I haven't talked about TFIOS yet. 

I have no doubts that you've heard about this story before. I say story because I know that people will have gone to see the movie without reading the book. I hold no judgments against these people, but honestly, read the book. I read it for the first time in one sitting, ending in tears at about midnight. 

In case you don't know the story, I will give you the basic premise. This is a love story. A doomed love story, as it is a love story between two teenagers with cancer. Hazel Grace Lancaster was diagnosed with terminal thyroid cancer that has metastasized in her lungs, causing her to depend on oxygen delivered through a canula in her nose, and forcing her to attend a weekly support group of teenagers with cancer. Augustus Waters had osteosarcoma, causing him to lose his leg, and become friends with Isaac, a boy with eye cancer who also attends the weekly support group. Hazel Lancaster and Augustus Waters meet and the sparks fly. Favorite books and phone numbers are exchanged and the story begins. But a love story with a cancer and post-cancer pair is full of emotions, high highs and low lows. You will get emotional. I'm not going to guarantee that you will cry because so far no one else in my family has cried over it. I sobbed. The two times that I read it. I have no shame in admitting this.

I also cried in the movie theatre. Which is why I'm not going to give you a movie review, because I would not have anything to say about it other than "It was good" which isn't much of a review. Once I see it again, maybe I'll write an actual review. 

For now, I will discuss the book, because I absolutely love it. I honestly do. I think it's clever, funny, witty, absolutely devastating but beautiful at the same time. However, I hear a lot of criticism about it (especially since it became one of a the staple reads for teenage girls). One of the main criticisms I hear is concerning how pretentious and arrogant Augusts is. Yes. He is. That's his character flaw. He's far from perfect. He's arrogant, full of his own self-worth. He wants to be remembered by everyone, he wants to make headlines. I don't deny that because that's what his character is, that's the point. 

I've also heard that he is "too mature for his age" and that I don't deny. No 17-year-old is as good a flirt as Augustus Waters. I'm not even going to try to deny that, he is unrealistically romantic. Which is undoubtedly why we love him so much. 

And even if you don't like the story, or John Green, you cannot deny that there are some fantastic lines in that book. There is one I absolutely adore:

"My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations."

Think about it. If you are a teenager, you know that sometimes you have all these thoughts buzzing inside your brain and none of them make sense but somehow you understand all of them and some are brighter than others, but putting them together is nearly impossible. If you are no longer a teenager, I hope you will remember such thoughts. 

But honestly, my favorite line is this.

"You are going to live a good and long life filled with great and terrible things that you cannot even imagine yet!"

On that note, happy Sunday and I hope you have a great week.

Side note for those who may be confused

Hello,

Last time I posted I forgot to mention that I changed my blog title and my background, but have no fear it is still me.

I temporarily changed the URL and then realized that that meant you couldn't find it which, dear reader, would kind of suck. So, here I am again.

Sorry for any confusion.

The story of the fans behind the stories

Hello!

In a list I compiled a few months ago I mentioned the books that I wanted to read. I've already discussed the Great Gatsby and Water for Elephants, and now I'm going to talk to you about Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. Before you make any hasty assumptions, you should know these three books have absolutely nothing in common aside from the fact that I wanted to read them and I did.

Okay, so, Fangirl.

I picked this book up for a few reasons. First of all, I liked the title. To anyone who is unfamiliar with the term "fangirl" and its connotation, it basically designates a (generally teenaged) girl who is passionate about a TV show or a series of books or movies. Think Harry Potter, Doctor Who, Sherlock, Marvel… All that good stuff. It generally implies girls who don't go outside very much and spend a lot of time on the internet. As I consider myself a fangirl of many things, I was curious. I also like the idea behind the story.

This is the story of a girl named Cath who enjoys writing fan fiction (the continuation of a story/movie/TV show, using characters but creating new scenarios than what the author wrote) and is just starting college. She has a twin sister, Wren, with whom she is incredibly close, and her father. However, Cath and Wren are very different and whereas Wren is very excited to start college with new friends and a new roommate, Cath is terrified and lonely. Things get better, then worse, then the story goes on as stories do. 

That's all you need to know now.

I really liked it. I liked it when I read it before summer, in that lovely sunshine time of the year when it's not too hot, but it's nice enough to have the windows open. I liked it again when I re-read it on the beach this summer. I think I'll like it again this winter if I choose to read it once more. It's a feel-good book, it really is, it's cute and hopeful. It's not fantastic or transcending literature, but then again if everything was, nothing would be transcendent or fantastic, would it? I liked it, because it's easy and I can get lost in the characters and the story. I can picture the campus and the people. I can imagine myself besides Cath. I like books that either make me think or that make me travel. This one made me travel. 

I suggest getting this as a present to someone, because that's what I'm going to be doing for my best friend. If you have a teenage daughter/friend/other family member or person you want to give a book to, who enjoys stories such as Harry Potter or Doctor Who or Supernatural or even Sherlock and spends a lot of time writing or reading fan fiction, or even just being on Tumblr, someone who is, in short, a fangirl, this is a good book to choose. It's the story of the fans, not the characters. 

Quick recap before the year starts

Hello my friends,

As you can see, I gave the blog a little face-lift before the new school year. If I like it, I'll keep it, if not, I will change it again. But for now, change is good.

Before I start filling your brains with my endless ramblings, I will do a quick recap of several probably unrelated things. Honestly, I'm just making this up as I go along.

1. I read a lot this summer, which was good.

2. I re-read a lot of stuff, which isn't great, but all I had was my Kindle, so I just re-read the books that were already there.

3. I wrote a lot for about two weeks and then I stopped. I don't like where the story went (the characters always seem to get away from me, they should stop, it's very frustrating) so I'm letting it stew for a while.

4. I discovered a new love for poetry. Reading it, and occasionally writing it.

5. I saw several good movies, and I will share them with you at some point, because I like talking about movies.

6. I have also been listening to my usual eclectic array of music, a lot of which is new to me and was suggested by my friends.

Have no fear, I will elaborate on all of these topics at some point or another.

For now, you know that I have returned, and you know that I have things to say and that, as beginnings  of the year go, is a pretty good one, I think.

I hope you all had a lovely summer and I am looking forward to discussing all of these things and more with you in this upcoming year.