BLOG #6: North of Beautiful

I just finished a book called North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley. I thought the most interesting part of the book is that they relate the story with a map. The author says, "My personal map was layered with experience-my trip to China with Mom, my cheating on Erik, the phone call I recieved from Merc the other night apologizing for how he acted in China..." (p 363). I thought this was an interesting line in the book because not only does it mention what has happened in her life, it also told further on that sometimes you don't need a map and just let things go for once. A passage in the book that also shows this was when the author wrote, "At the crossroads, my usual route lay to the left. Since junior high, I never strayed from the path that took me to school five days a week: left onto Main Street, right onto Grover Street. Today, I hit the gas pedal and plowed out of the Valley. Independence, straight ahead" (p 364). I thought this passage described the whole book because her whole life, she was on the safe road, always doing what was told and planning everything out to the littliest detail and for once she went off the path. She knew it was scary but that was the risk she was going to take.

BLOG #5: Lock and Key

I read the book Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen. I really liked this book because how it was written. She wrote it in the present and the past so you never knew more about her past unless you kept reading. Usually in the books I read, the author has the first chapter explain what happened already but with Lock and Key, she just put in little flashbacks here and there. Another thing I really liked about this book is the main character Ruby. She seems like she has a different personality then any other person I know. She stands out in that way that Nate likes and I think that's really cool. She's really laid back and deep and thoughtful. Although she's struggling with herself also, she reaches out to help Nate because she knows what it's like and she can help him. Nate and Ruby are so similar because it's hard for them to accept help from others. They both rather be by independent and not owe anyone anything. But through the events of Ruby's life, she accepts that she doens't have to be like. She understands that she can ask for help and not feel embarassed and she teaches that to Nate too when he has the same problem and turns away from everyone when they try to help him about his Dad and his "problem".

BlOG #4: The Gossip Girl Prequel

Im am still reading The Gossip Girl Prequel by Cecily Von Ziegesar. Before when I was reading this book, I was never bothered by the character Nate Archibald but now he's starting to get kind of annoying. He's become way to cocky about his looks and he thinks that all these girls want him (which they do) but he seems to be like thinking that if something didn't go his way, he'll be questioning or confused. For example, the main character Serena van der Woodsen has a crush on her bestfriend Nate, and when they actually kissed Nate thought she was the one he wanted to be with. But then later (like a day) he was flirting with these other girls and was thinking in his mind that so many girls want him and was listing off who they were. Then when he saw that Serena was kissing these other two guys, he was confused because he thought she completely loved him. That kind of gets irratating because these past few chapters have been talking about how everyone is hot for him. Another thing I found completely wierd was the fact that Dan Humphrey (another main character who is on the nerdy side and is obsessed with Serena) can smoke and he's only 15 years old!!! and what's even more shocking is his dad doesn't even care...This book is really good, but on the other hand it seems too good to be true. Like how they have huge parties and lots of money and this whole "Legacy" thing that everything is handed to them with the snap of a finger.

BLOG #3: The Gossip Girl Prequel

I am currently reading the Gossip Girl Prequel by Cecily Von Ziegesar. The thing I found the most interesting in reading this book, is how she switches chapters from character to character and in between she “blogs” about certain big characters and sometimes hints to what the next chapter is about. Also, the “Gossip Girl” is someone that won’t reveal themselves and so in every chapter I look for certain clues to see if they match or say anything that the Gossip Girl blog says. For example, at the end of one blog, to sign out, he/she says, “You know you love me, Gossip Girl” (p 98). And then a letter to Nate from this girl said, “You know you love me, -L’Wren” (p 107). I think these are important signs to look for because he/she says that they are “one of them”. Meaning like one of those people you want to know everything about and is envious of him/her. Another thing is, compared to the show; it has a different kind of air to it. Like in the book for example, it seems like Nates pretty much a party guy and doesn’t have much deepness to himself, but in the show he’s lost and confused and trying to discover new things and he’s pretty thoughtful of his actions.