The Fault In Our Stars; an emotional review

Today I read an amazing book, a book that deserves to be praised with words that outshine mine, a book that has to be incredibly haunting to those with the misfortune of being touched by the subject matter, today I read The Fault In Our Stars by John Green.

I have been hearing/seeing how amazing the book is for months, months upon months. And like most good readers, and likely children of former librarians I am the type of person who always has at least 3 or 4 good books in their possession that they somehow haven't managed to schedule in and read yet. Instead I often re-read old books or seek out entirely new ones.

Everything I had heard about this book before finally picking it up and starting it was praise. So much freaking heaping praise you couldn't believe. Barnes and Noble gives it it's on little section in the store. It has two versions available in hardback (yet not available in paperback), a regular version and whatever the silver looking lining means about the deluxe version means. But anyway back to the praise, so much praise. On twitter, yes this is where late twenty somethings get everything from the news to book/movie recommendations from complete strangers who feel like friends, I follow a couple of writers whose books I love and other people in general whose lives I envy, and they are all like THE FAULT IN OUR STARS the best book of 2012, the best book ever, the BEST! And spoiler alert it's a tearjerker. It's a box of Kleenex as your constant companion tearjerker. No one ever once tried to hide the tearjerker nature of the novel from me, or as far as I can tell from the internet from anyone. Oh no those total strangers won't steer you wrong. The book also doesn't pull any punches, for the record the book jacket spells it out pretty clearly. "Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal,"

Ok so going into it you know the miracle has been used up and you are in for the beautiful sadness that remains. I devoured this book, probably the fastest I read 317 pages in a long time. I also decided to read a book that I was well, well aware was a tearjerker on my patio/balcony for all my neighbors to see. I'm not always the smartest girl in the world but I somehow couldn't resist the afternoon sun and so instead I decided to introduce myself to the neighbors by quietly sobbing for 3 hours on my balcony. At least I can hope they don't think I'm crazy and I am just really moved by Memorial Day.

I'm not going to spoil it for you. Really this book is too good to spoil. You need to read it, you need to feel like, you need to quietly sob on your metaphorical balcony. And spoiler alert unless you heart is made entirely of stone you are going to cry, probably sob. And yet you will love it and keep on reading until the end, the very very end.

P.S. This is actually classified as young adult novel. I read of lot of young adult novels, not because I  long to be a teenager again. Like gag me with a spoon if I had to go through that again, but simply after a certain grade reading level good books aren't classified by how much education you need to have achieved to understand it but rather by its subject matter. And I can say without a doubt I have read so many young adult novels that outshine "adult" novels in every way imaginable.

I am inexplicably watching Harry Potter... again

I have been watching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 for like a week straight. I cannot get enough. Maybe I am just prepping for July and the final chapter of the movie. The odd thing is I haven't read the books. For an avid reader like me it was weird that I never jumped on the HP train- so many of my friends and family did. Several years ago when I was still in college- I think Laura may of just moved back to Iowa- I started reading the 1st one. I think I even got all the way to the end. But just never picked up the 2nd? The truly crazy thing is I have them all- they are cast offs or duplicate from friends and maybe a family member or two. I remember buying the 7th book just because a friend who was traveling with me finished the 6th and wanted to re-read the 7th- but we weren't near home or any libraries we could borrow from so I said I don't have that one I will just buy it and when you are done you can give it to me. Who buys the 7th book a series they have never read? Me.
So now I have them all- and about a month to kill before the the final movie is released to theatres. What say you? Should I plunge in and finally read them. If I do will you make me start over at 1- even through I am mostly sure I have read it to the finish? Or do you suggest I wait until I see the last movie?
The thing is I always see the movies. Maybe not in the theatres right away, but always eventually. I own 3 of them- weirdly 1, 6 and 7.1. I enjoy the movies and try not to ruin my real HP friend buzzes by asking any questions until the end of the film. Perhaps watching the movies is better that way- I never leave thinking about all of the things they messed up from the book. However sadly I do get caught off guard when a character dies.
So thoughts? Read or don't read?

Film Friday

Here is a blast from the past for some of my loyal readers- Film Friday. I watched this last weekend, mostly i hated it, I mean these kids were horrible to their dad. Like super really bad. I will now laughingly tell you it is described as a comedy (and i am not laughing at the jokes, just the idiot how tried to market that way). But still at the end I was crying, tears a streaming down my face. So I don't recommend it, because it was mostly awful but heart wrenching in the end.

This movie also had tears streaming down my face, but in a much more positive way. On my last plane trip (the one where I purposely brought along no emotionally charged books so I wouldn't end up weeping on public transportation, again (because it happens frequently) the in flight movie- moved me) I saw this gem. Maybe I have a soft spot for Clive Owen and red head children, or maybe it was just really good. I recommend!

I like where you are going with this...

Where I am going is: The Olympics. The winter ones, you know the ones that open tonight and start tomorrow. I am excited about this. Not only because it is actually super cool to be able to say I am going to the Olympics- hopefully everyone will think that you are actually IN the Olympics. But also I use any excuse possible to leave the country and get stamps in my passport. I will be traveling with 3 other lovely ladies. We leave bright and early Monday and I am looking for any and all book suggestions for my trip! I tend to pick super sad and depressing books, like the kind that makes you cry uncontrollably on forms of public transportation. Any good reads out there? Leave some love!

oh, I am aware, more than aware...

Don't worry I get it. Really I do. I have sucked it up big big time the last month when it comes to blogging. I fact i have done a pretty sketch job at responding to communication of all kinds. Why oh why can't you all read my mental responses? But that is in the past, new leaf!

Just to catch everyone up, I moved to Des Moines in the middle of December, I have a roommate now, we are doing a pretty great job at not killing each other. It is fabulous to have someone to talk to everyday and share utilities with. Plus we won a new TV from our rental company!

I spent my time during the crappy weather around Christmas with the Kibbe Family. Emily and I had a great time telling knock knock jokes, playing BOO!, singing jingle bells, and reenacting Family Guy commercials. On the 26th I celebrated Christmas with the family and the stomach flu- I can definitely vague for the cleanliness of Greg and Chels' toilet! Everyone did a great job taking care of me and also trying to stay healthy. Sadly Dad became the next victim of the family flu- although it seemed to get less severe with every person it got passed to.

I am super sad I missed Christmas with the Fehling family. I thought it best not expose anyone else, trust me it was NOT fun being sick. Hopefully everyone else had a great time without me!

Work has been keeping me busy, my new assignment requires more problem solving, fun, yet frustrating like a game of sudoku all day long!

I plan on continuing my book section with Books of 2010, and a new feature call Wines of 2010. I am going to try to feature a wine under $15 every other week or so, with a rating system of some sort!

And finally I am very excited that new episodes of televison have returned- oh my goodness do I LOVE Friday Night Lights!

Some people might call this progress....

Again- I swear I am reading stuff, just apparently not what I post on my currently reading tab. I figure I can still count it as progress because so far I am eliminating the other books in rotation by finishing them, and I have done a pretty good job at not starting any others to replace them. So by default I am going to get to the freaking zombie book, and by god I am going to read it. I swear! I have made it up to the point of the Netherfield Ball- so I am feeling some accomplishment, but that also means I still have a Mr. Collins proposal, Rosings, Mr. Darcy proposal, Pemberly, Lydia's elopement to get through before I am even close to the end. From the drawings I have snuck a peek at their is some ninja and zombie fighting in there too.

Take that...

Remember like less than 24 hours ago, when I pleaded with the internet to believe I was a good reader? Really. Well check my side bar- yep the Zombies are definitely still winning, but I did get to add another book under Books I read '09 section. I would like to thank- weird work/sleep schedules (I could have never done this without waking up at 5:30 a.m.), Thanks Mom and Dad- you taught me countless times that sometimes sleep just doesn't beat a good book. And finally thank you fake glasses (you make me look smart, but in no way are you needed or help me read any better)

My dad is a Librarian...

So I recently added a currently reading (1), and books I have read in '09 section to the side of my blog. I feel guilty everyday that I still have Pride and Prejudice and Zombies under the currently section. It isn't like I am not reading it - cause I am, sort of, the problem is I like to read 4 or 5 books simultaneously. Really this is a lot easier and more valuable then you think. For instance if I were to be in a job interview and get asked what was the last book I read- I could answer North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell and not have to say the Unauthorized biography of Britney Spears. See I am not evening lying- cause I am reading them all- at the same time! This comes in handy so many times you would be amazed. But it makes me feel like everyone who reads my blog thinks I am like the slowest reader ever.... because you know I am not making enough progress on the Zombie book. And really- I am a good reader. Really. My dad is a librarian! (I say this with conviction like it means something) I am hoping to make some more progress reading this weekend, I am at least halfway through 3 out of the 6 books I have in rotation currently! What I do have to admit is when a book hooks me, I rarely let anything else get in the way. I am notorious for choosing reading over sleep (and this is coming from someone who really likes sleep), I can usually knock out a 300 page book in about 16 hours- if I want to.
(1)- I thought I cleverly titled this section: What!?! I read. (As in don't be shocked I freakin read) But sometimes I look at it and think people will see What I read (As in what I am currently reading) Maybe my perceived cleverness doesn't translate over the Internet....