Life Update: I Graduated College

Hello, everyone! It has been quite a few months since I posted anything (especially anything bookish related) however, I've been a busy bee lately. Mainly because I finally finished college! I graduated on May 12, 2018, and attained my Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in History with a minor in Technical & Professional Communications.

Although this is an exciting accomplishment, my emotions about this is mixed. What many new graduates - or those in the road of graduating - may not realize is that once you're done with college, you must face the adult world. Yes, it is time to officially "adult." Now we must immerse ourselves into the market and workforce, find a job, shop for professional attire, pay our bills (especially our student loans), and become a working individual who must tackle all adult things. It's scary. Really, really scary - but it's also inevitable. This is a part of life that we must all face and accept, even if we don't want to.

It's funny, reflecting back on my younger years, I always yearned to be a grown woman; I wanted to be a twenty-something year-old with a life because everything adults did appealed to me. From the mind of a child, being adult meant staying up late and not having a bed time; having the free-will to go places without being supervised; having a career and earning money; owning a home and getting a pet of your choice; or being able to wear heels and dress in pretty outfits that make you look and seem mature and wise. Now as a twenty-two year-old college graduate, I look back at my young self and think how much of a naive fool I was. Adulting is nothing that I imagined it to be. It's in fact worse. Being adult in the 21st century means getting into a ton of debt from student loans; having to work two to three jobs to pay off those loans; dealing with the social pressures of society; having to always prove to people you're worthy, especially to employers; to live at home until you're financially able to be independent; facing the sheer reality that adulting is nothing that you hoped it would be. The list can go on and on.

Happy and proud of myself that I overcame many obstacles to attain my bachelor's, I'm still continuing to face many more. Now my next step in life is to find a job - a job that will contribute to the future and growth of my career. It's hard. Employers nowadays are seeking people with experience. Although I've gotten a lot of experience from internships to volunteer work, it's hard to prove to employers that I am adept and capable to perform any job. There's a terrible stigma towards liberal arts degrees; in fact, I plan on creating a separate post that relays my experiences and the common stereotypes of liberal arts degrees. I think it's important for many people to realize that these common stereotypes of liberal arts students are nothing close to the truth - we have certain skill sets that many other majors tend to neglect in teaching students, especially when it comes to written communication.

But, in addition to attaining my bachelor's, I am also going to be getting my Master of Science (M.S.) in Mass Media Arts & Journalism starting in August. My ultimate goal is to go to school online as I'm working full-time. Personally, I don't want to put my career on hold for my education again. I want to find a job, work, earn money, and take care of my responsbilities. I shall see, when August comes around and if I can get a full-time position by then, if this can be achievable - but I know deep down that I have the discipline to balance both at the same time.

One chapter closed and another one begins. College has really made me grow and become a better person. I've learned to manage on my own, and I think that in itself is highly important for any individual to learn. I've also learned the value of friendship, which was a lesson that came with its own separate challenges. But for now, I can at least enjoy a bit of my summer (as I am actively applying for jobs and praying to find one before July) until I must start the grind all over again.

x, Kayla

Harry Potter Feature Paper: The History of Magic

All pictures above were taken by me in my Universal Studios trip last March. 

This is the final draft of my feature that I wrote for my Reviewing the Arts class in college. The paper focuses solely on the Harry Potter series, its effects on modern culture, J.K. Rowling's inspiration behind the series, the play, and much more. Hard work and a lot of research was invested in this paper, so I hope you all enjoy reading this (extensively long) paper of mine.

In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Albus Dumbeldore said, "While we may come from different places and speak in different tongues, our hearts beat as one." Since 1997, the Harry Potter series has captivated the hearts of young and old souls from all around the world; the books have built bridges and connections amongst people from different nations through their mutual love and infatuation of the Harry Potter books. The books have given people an opportunity to enter an enchanted community that is centered on mystical and magical creatures, objects, and gifted wizards and witches. It shares a tale of bravery, friendship, adventure, and love—a theme that resonates with many Potterheads in modern-day society. This imaginary universe that the author J.K Rowling has formed, has become an international phenomenon and continues to be relevant part of society due to the publication of The Cursed Child in 2016, which has given many people a chance to continue their immersion in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

The Magic of J.K. Rowling

Through her Harry Potter books, J.K. Rowling has taught readers to never give up on something that you feel strongly about. Harry Potter is more than just a children’s tale—it is a fable centered on good versus evil, love versus hatred, along with lessons of life and death.  The inspiration behind all seven of the Potter books is a reflection of Rowling’s personal experiences of hardship, betrayal, love, sadness, and loss. 

After leaving a tumultuous marriage in Portugal, she moved to Edinburgh, Scotland, to start anew with her young daughter in 1993. Although it was a new chapter in her life, she was a struggling, unemployed, single-mother who barely met ends meet. It was a dark period in her life, but it truly motivated her to start a book based on an idea she had in 1990, about a gifted and orphaned boy while traveling from Manchester to London King’s Cross (Inside the Magical World of 'Harry Potter' Author). 

Her places of location and living situations are something that Rowling includes in her stories about Harry and the Wizarding World. Not only do Rowling and Harry share the same birthday—July 31st—Rowling was raised in a suburban part of south Britain, a home similar to that of Harry’s uncle and aunt, the Dursleys, which also had a little cupboard under the stairwell; fortunately for Rowling, she was not forced to sleep there. When Rowling was nine, her family moved to the country near Forest Dean—a forestry area where Rowling imagined magical creatures inhabited. Rowling has always been drawn to forests—she not only sees it a solitary place, but a place of enchantment, safety and shelter. As a result, she constructed The Forbidden Forest in her books, which is a part of the Hogwarts grounds. The forest is home to many magical creatures, such as unicorns, centaurs, and gigantic spiders (Inside the Magical World of 'Harry Potter' Author).

Similarly, Rowling and her sister Di have also endured the same traumatic experiences and disappointments that Harry did. In 1980, Rowling’s mother was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and as a result, the diagnosis strained her relationship with her father. Due to her unhealthy relationship with her father, it inspired her to develop ideal father-figure characters like Hagrid, Dumbeldore, and Sirius Black. Her mother would later die from multiple sclerosis, and the relationship with her father became nonexistent. It was the loss of her mother and the absence of her father that had a major influence in her writing about the stories and experiences of Harry. Dealing with the tragic loss of her mother and finding herself in an unhappy marriage, Rowling was in a deep depression that led her to create the foulest creatures in the Harry Potter books, the dementors; dementors prey on people’s happiness and suck the life out of human souls (Inside the Magical World of 'Harry Potter' Author).

Her personal understandings of unhappiness and tragedy are a part of the moral dilemmas shared in the series; in many ways, Harry is a reflection of Rowling. After finishing the first three chapters of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, she sent the manuscripts to various publishing houses only to be rejected. Fortunately, Bloomsbury publishing saw not only the potential, but also the magic in the book and decided to publish it in June of 1997. The book became a quick bestseller and rapidly spread across the globe (Joanne Rowling: The Girl Who Grew Up to Write Harry Potter).

The Harry Potter books have caused a worldwide fervor and sensation. In 2007, the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows became the fastest selling book in the history—selling 2.65 million copies within the first twenty-four hours in the United Kingdom. Currently, the series is published into seventy-eight different languages and approximately four hundred and fifty million copies have been sold globally (Joanne Rowling: The Girl Who Grew Up to Write Harry Potter). 

The Harry Potter Effect

The Harry Potter books not only relay a slew of invaluable moral quandaries, it has also brought a vast amount of cultural changes in society that continues to influence mainstream culture. Additionally, the series possess the power to bring together readers from all different age groups, social and ethnic backgrounds, in which sets it a part from any other children’s literature. Today, it has become unfathomable that life before Harry Potter even existed. The series is now viewed as a classic piece of modern literature, and has cemented itself as a permanent fixture.

The most imperative impact that the books have brought is the increase of reading levels among children and young adults as a result from the many themes that the books address. Both adults and children cannot only relate to the stories, but can also see themselves in the stories because of the moral dilemmas and decisions that Harry and his fellow Hogwarts friends are confronted with; the major themes are identifiable to readers. Research has proved that fifty-nine percent of children feel that the Potter books have enhanced their reading skills and inspired them to read a wide range of other books. Eighty-four percent of professional educators believe that the young wizard has worked his magic on children by making a positive impact in their reading abilities, and also two-thirds of educators believe that Harry has turned non-readers into bookworms (Smith). 

Harry Potter has even had a bigger influence in the millennial generation as a whole, better known as “Potterverse.” Potterverse is the millennial universe that focuses on the moral imagination of millennials. It may be a literary work of fantasy, but it has been seen as a substitute religion for today’s era. The books are about the battle between good and evil—it teaches people that bigotry must never be tolerated, but that both tolerance and difference must be equally celebrated. According to the Journal of Applied Psychology, researchers from different European universities show that those who have read Harry Potter are more tolerant; the study was called “The Greatest Magic of Harry Potter: Reducing Prejudice.” The study continues to show that Potter books have improved millennial attitudes toward many stigmatized groups, as a result from the series’ examination on the social and discriminatory issues that take place. For example, in Harry’s world, “half-bloods” and “mud-bloods” are discriminated against because they only have one or no magical relatives (Kozlowska). 

Besides its moral impact on today’s generation, the series have developed new startling trends ranging from amusement parks, costumes, merchandise, to even fandom sites; therefore, bringing an everlasting effect to society and cementing a legacy. Firstly, not only can Harry and his gang of Hogwarts mates play the thrilling game of Quidditch on a broomstick, so can muggles. In 2005, college students at Middlebury College in Vermont created a muggle version of Quidditch that blends both basketball and rugby into one sport. As a result, other college institutions and high schools followed suit by starting their own muggle Quidditch team, thus leading to the formation of a Major League Quidditch team and even international competitions. In the real-life version of the sport, five balls are used: a volleyball (Quaffle), three dodgeballs (bludgers), and a tennis ball (Snitch). The key element to the game is that each player must have a broom between his or her legs throughout the entire game (Sosa).

Although peoples love for Harry Potter have inspired many to start their own real-life Quidditch team, it has also led to the development of a Wizard-rock festival, better known as Wrockstock. Wrockstock is an annual music festival that features wizard rock music, in which Potterheads perform their Harry-Potter inspired songs. This type of music is also known as “lit rock” or just “wrock,” where all the songs are about the Harry Potter books and even other young adult fantasy novels, such as Twilight, the Hunger Games, or His Dark Materials. This wizard-rock inspired music has grown over the years and has become popular amongst librarians who host wizard wrock concerts at their libraries as a way to bring young people to the library and inspire them to utilize the libraries resources, as wells as use library books (Kittner). 

Potter-mania does not stop there, Durham University in the United Kingdom are offering students a course that focuses on the world of Harry Potter, called “Harry Potter and the Age of Illusion,” in order to evaluate the prejudice, citizenship and bullying in today’s society. According to the university, eighty undergraduates have signed up—it will be a part of the Bachelor’s of Arts degree in the Education Studies program. The course will focus on a number of themes that the series explores; it will place the books in a “wider social and cultural context” to help students understand important fundamental issues. Dr. Martin Richardson, who is the head of the Department of Education at Durham University, created the class in response to the growing demand from the student body; he sees the novels as a serious educational tool to understand society’s moral universe (Durham University Students Offered Harry Potter Course). 

The Boy Who Lived is not the only inspiration behind the current Harry Potter modern trends, Professor Severus Snape—the most unlikeable, stern Potions Master professor in the series—has motivated some Potterheads to start a fiction-based religious sect called Snapeism. The religion consists of Snape fans, mostly women, who have developed a retelling of the fictional character. Women in this religious group are called Snapewives or Snapists, who channel Snape and are involved in romantic relations with the character—they also view Snape as a vital part of their lives for daily guidance. These Snapeists are Snape devotees are spiritual spouses to the character. Snapists believe that Snape exists independently of Rowling, and lives in feeling spirit; believers claim that Snape is as real as the Christian God.  In the article by Zoe Aldterton, "‘Snapewives’ and ‘Snapeism’: A Fiction-Based Religion within the Harry Potter Fandom,” Snapists believes Snape to be  “the reason, the reason [of] my sanity, my life, my growth, my guidance, my love, my focus, my aid, my Lord, my Master, my Teacher…everything and so much more” (Alderton, 219-67).

It is evident that some Harry Potter fans have taken their fandom to an extreme level of fandom, but the obsession does not stop there. Harry Potter fandom has become massive that the term for non-magic people, “muggle,” has been added to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED). According to the dictionary, muggle is defined as “a person who is not conversant with a particular activity or skill.” Furthermore, the famous beverage mentioned in the Harry Potter books, Butterbeer, has also become an actual beverage in the muggle world. Buttbeer recipes are available to anyone’s disposal online, which has even led to the creation of the alcoholic Flying Cauldron Butterscotch Beer that could be bought at TalDepot. 

Fictional wizards and witches are not the only ones who can enjoy the magical universe Rowling has constructed—muggles can too. In 2009, Universal Studios created the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which consists of two different areas in two different theme parks. The first one is Hogsmeade, located in Islands of Adventure at Universal. In the books, Hogsmeade is a magical, wizarding village in Scotland where Harry and other Hogwarts students come and explore for adventure, as well as for some Butterbeer; Hogsmeade at Universal also includes the marvelous Hogwarts Castle. Then there is Diagon Alley, which is nestled inside Universal Studios; it is a city block that consists of many side streets and features the Gringotts Wizarding Bank. Visitors are also given a chance to take a ride on the Hogwarts Express train at Platform Nine and Three Quarters, where they can watch a simulation of their trip to Hogwarts as they travel to Universal’s Hogsmeade. At Hogsmeade, guests also get a chance to purchase their own Ollivander’s wand and other magical goods (Insider’s Guide to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter). 

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

After nine years since the publication of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows, thus ending the most beloved series in the world, the magic returned on bookstore shelves with the release of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on July 31, 2016. It is a play written by Jack Thorne, along with the creator of Rowling, in which follows Harry’s friends and his children who set off for Hogwarts.

The play mainly focuses on Albus Severus, who is the second son of Ginny and Harry Potter, and his friendship with Scorpio Malfoy—Malfoy Draco’s son. Both Albus and Scorpio try to bring back Cedric Diggory, who died in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by Lord Voldemort, by stealing a Time-Turner from the Ministry of Magic. The Time-Turner allows them to go back in time to the to the events leading to Cedric’s death at the Triwizard Tournament. Although they do this with good intention, their attempts to change the past effect major changes to their life (Begley).

The play premiered in London at the Palace Theater. Before the premiere, Potterheads got a chance to see a sneak peek of the production through Pottermore.com—a website created by Rowling that solely focuses on the Harry Potter books and characters. Currently, the play has made its way to the United States, in the New York Broadway stage. The script has sold over two million copies in North America, and in the U.K. it sold four million in the first week. What makes the play so relevant is not only its continuation of the most beloved series in the world, but it retouches many of the novel’s original plots, themes, and moral dilemmas—which hits home for many long-lasting Potter fans (Begley).

Harry Potter and its Wider Social Context

On a wider social and even cultural context, Harry Potter examines and teaches people of all ages and backgrounds of imperative principles. As mentioned before, the Potter series is cutting-edge because it fills the differences in culture; it gives readers a chance to evaluate the books many undertones, also the themes and characters are greatly identifiable; but lastly, the books combine academia and human development.

Rowling’s use of fictional magic has performed real-life magic because the books provide readers with social and moral guidance; the stories deal with universal issues. Although the Potter books were mostly inspired by her personal experiences, it was also through myths and folklores—which has impacted the moral themes that the story examines. Folklores and mythology have the power to display what humans are able to know and experience—it has influenced civilization in unbelievable ways. The author’s use of folklore and myths touches upon Rowling’s moral messages. Britain is used as the backdrop for the series since it has so much rich history, such as the nation’s governance and past tyrannical ruling, conquest of land, national identity, and progression of culture—topics that the books address as well. As a result, she utilized and included history to give more depth to her world and the principles she wants to teach (Vanderstock).

The author constructed a fantastical world that fills in for the moral education of adolescents and even adults. Rowling gives power to the Wizarding World by making her characters confront everyday issues that real-life people deal with, it teaches children how to co-exist with other people (muggles and pure bloods), and how to combat the most greatest evils like Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters (Vanderstock). As readers’ journey along with Harry and his friends, the books effortlessly teach human kindness and understanding. 

Although stated previously, there are some essential lessons and principles that the series has taught readers. The first lesson is that genuine friendship can help a person get through the rough patches. The trio—Harry, Ron and Hermione—continuously proved readers that real friendship creates an indestructible bond. Together, the trio was able to combat the greatest evils that the Wizarding World has ever seen, along with surviving the struggles of being a teenager. The second lesson is a cliché one, but it is to never judge a book by its cover; meaning that making a quick judgment of someone may not always be accurate, which was the case of a scary half-giant who turned out to be kind, friendly, and a gentle comrade. Thirdly, it teaches people to not be afraid to ask for aid; sometimes you cannot do things alone and this mindset can have crippling effects. The fourth is that heartbreak is bound to happen; in the case of Lily Potter and Severus Snape, sometimes things do not work out like we want them to, but life does go on. The most important one is that true love is everlasting. Love is a well-known theme in the book, it was Lily’s love for Harry that gave him protection; the lesson is even though a person you love has died, the love you have for them does not fade (Rowling).

These are principles that are applied to everyday matters in life. It is these moral dilemmas that have taught readers to be genuine and kind-hearted individuals. In a world fixated on division and dislike for others, the Harry Potter books provide readers with a human outlook on social issues and problems of today. These are principles and lessons that will never grow old nor will it ever become irrelevant to our ever-changing society. The Potter books continues to teach compassion in young children and even touches the hearts of many adults—it provides readers with a different outlook on situations and social contexts that are not truly addressed in schools and sometimes in everyday life. Potter books prove that books have the power to influence and change the minds of all kinds of people.

Conclusion

After twenty years, it may be safe to say that Potter mania will not die down anytime soon. Readers continue to view the series as an escape and as a form of comfort, because the books are identifiable to people of all ages—not just children. Most importantly, the Harry Potter books also prove that literature and words contain unimaginable power; it has the power to teach, influence, and unite people of all ages and backgrounds. The themes that the books addresses has impacted readers in unimaginable ways because it teaches and emphasizes pertinent principles, such as love, friendship, kindness, loss, sadness, and good versus evil. Not only does it teach readers important lessons, but it has had amazing effects on modern culture like the invention of a real-life Quidditch team, new religions inspired by the series, college courses based on the books, and much more. Now with the production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play, Potterheads can still continue their journey and love for the books and characters. Harry Potter is not just a fantasy series, to many it is real magic. 

Book Review: Go Ask Alice

Title: Go Ask Alice
Author: Anonymous
Editor: Beatrice Sparks
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 1971
Pages: 213

“I feel like Alice in Wonderland. Maybe Lewis G. Carroll was on drugs too.”

Since its first publication in 1971, Go Ask Alice has sold more than 5 million copies. This book is a "supposed" authentic portrayal of teenage drug abuse in the late 1960s to early 1970s; it is documented in a series of private diary entries—written in first person—from an unnamed 15 year-old girl (but we’ll refer to her as Alice). The story tackles sensitive topics, such as unwanted sex, underage drinking, and of course the usage of drugs during an era where it was believed certain substances could bring forth peace, acceptance and love to the world. So beware, this story may not be for everyone.

In many respects, this tragic story resonates with the younger crowd because it is written from the perspective of an adolescent. Each page shows a character progression of the protagonist—from her early stages of innocence all the way up to her uphill battle with drug addiction and sobriety. Readers will discover that Alice is a typical teen, faced with typical teenage issues (insecurities, attaining popularity, maintaining an image, etc.). It does a decent job in verbalizing teenage angst and the emotions that most teenagers go through. For instance, she states: “If only parents would listen! If only they would let us talk instead of forever and eternally continuously haring and preaching and nagging…”

The book demonstrates the effects of drugs and its inevitable consequences. Alice addresses the dangers of drugs and addiction in graphic detail, and includes explicit descriptions of the sensations she feels with each drug she uses. Therefore, readers, please do not expect this book to be a fairytale where the heroine overcomes all odds. In the end, she is defeated and succumbs to her addiction.

“I felt great, free, abandoned, a different, improved, perfected specimen of a different, improved, perfected species. It was wild! It was beautiful! It really was.”

As I was conducting research for this book, I came across some articles questioning the book’s authenticity. For years, it’s been portrayed as a non-fiction tale of a teenage drug addict—but over the years, the story’s authorship became a topic of interest to many readers in the late 70’s. Beatrice Sparks, a Mormon and therapist, edited the book and proceeded to publish other books in diary form, centered on the issues that some trouble teens endure (just like this book); thus, it sparked a suspicion. As a result, the book has been criticized for being an anti-drug propaganda and a “literary hoax.”  Regardless, whether true or not, it continues to be praised and is a popular bestseller.

Personally, instead of feeling pity for Alice, I disliked her. In my opinion, for someone to feel the need to use drugs—there has to be a reason to do it (horrible home life, troubles with parents, abuse, etc.), but there wasn’t a legitimate reason for Alice. It all started with her going to a party and accidentally taking LSD. After only taking it once, she vows she wouldn’t do it again—but once her family is settled in a new town and Alice attends a new school, she’s back to taking drugs again. What I’m trying to get at is that there wasn’t a purpose behind her use of drugs. Alice grew up in a loving home, with two supportive (yet, highly naïve) parents, and lived in an upper-middle class lifestyle. What’s Alice’s reason? The reason is never clear.

Another frustrating part about this book is that Alice contradicts herself a lot, for example: “I don’t know why I shouldn’t use drugs, because they’re wild and they’re beautiful and they’re wonderful, but I know I shouldn’t, and I won’t! I won’t ever again. I solemnly promise I will from this day forward live so that everyone I know can be proud of me and so that I can be proud of myself!” Throughout the entire book, Alice is fully aware of the consequences of drug abuse and how it’s negatively affecting her and her family, but she continues this horrid journey—disregarding her life and family.

It just seemed perfectly scripted and plotted. You can tell that there was a motive behind the book, which was just shine light on the dangers of drugs. Although I think the message is clear, the book doesn’t do a good job in convincing readers—like myself—on how true this story is. But one important thing that struck me odd was how the story ended. Towards the end of Alice’s diary, she writes about how she has maintained her commitment to sobriety—there was no mention of her using drugs. In her last diary entry, Alice writes:

“I used to think I would get another diary after you are filled, or even that I would keep a diary or journal through my whole life. But now I don’t think I will. Diaries are great when you’re young.  In fact, you saved my sanity a hundred, thousand, million times. But I think when a person gets older she should be able to discuss her problems and thoughts with other people, instead of just with another part of herself as you have been to me. Don’t you agree? I hope so, for you are my dearest friend and I shall thank you always for sharing my tears and heartaches and my struggles and strifes, and my joys and happiness. It’s all been good in its own special way, I guess.”

Coincidentally, in the epilogue, it states that the “subject of this book” passed away three weeks after her last diary entry; it reported that her parents came home and found “Alice” dead. In my opinion, it just seems like a perfect and tragic ending, or at least it was a perfect segue to the epilogue and to conclude the book.

Would I recommend this book? Yes, to a degree. I think the story is great for young children who are inching closer to their teenage years and who might be curious to explore drugs. But I don’t think it’s a wonderful piece of fiction, nor am I convinced that this story is at all real. I suppose every reader has his or her own conclusions about this book.

x, k

Feature Prospectus: The Harry Potter Series

This is a feature prospectus I wrote for my Reviewing the Arts of Publication class this semester. The prospectus focuses on the Harry Potter series and its impact on modern-day culture.

As quoted in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, “For in dreams we enter a world that is entirely our own. Let them swim in the deepest ocean or glide over the highest cloud.” The Harry Potter series has given people an opportunity to enter the British Wizarding World of an enchanted community that is centered purely on the inborn ability of magic from wizards and witches. This fictional universe that the author J.K Rowling has constructed, has become an international phenomenon for the past twenty years. Since its first publication in 1997, 400 million copies of the Harry Potter series has been sold in 200 countries, and has been published into 69 different languages (Kennedy). The series is not only a set of fantasy novels, but are books that share a tale of bravery, friendship, adventure, and love. This is a theme that plays an important role in each of the seven books, and is also a theme that resonates with many Potterheads.

There are many important elements that have made Harry Potter widely successful. It is not only an outlet for children to escape the real world into a magical one, but it is a book series that many grew up with. Readers grew and still grow alongside with many of the major characters—whether it is smarty-pants Hermione Granger, the whiney Ron Weasley, the timid Neville Longbottom, or the Boy Who Lived, Harry Potter. The characters are in many ways role models for children to look up to—they are individuals who have faced many adversities at a young age, but overcame them together. Through the characters challenges, both the readers and protagonists grow more mature and wiser.

Although the Harry Potter series is known to be a children’s series, the books have appealed to readers of all ages. It is a story of how power can ruin the best, of unrequited love, of a mother and her child, of friendship, of betrayal, and of courage. It should not only be viewed as a cute children’s story, but should be seen and respected as a “coming of age” story. The books teach impactful life lessons from many wise characters like Albus Dumbeldore, Potterheads beloved wizard and headmaster of Hogwarts. It even addresses morbid topics like the pain of losing someone you love. Many readers will find themselves connect with each of the characters on a personal level because of the lessons the book teaches, especially with Harry Potter—an orphan boy who demonstrates remarkability by facing his fears and risking his life for the safety of the wizarding community and his friends.

The Harry Potter series is not only great literature—the books are both morally and socially insightful works of fiction and fantasy. Each of the Potter books have casted a wide spell in the lives of many readers from various countries around the world. This spell has lead to massive book sales, the launch of the Harry Potter movies, the piles of Potter merchandise, and even the development of a Potter theme park in Universal Studios. In the last twenty years, England, the United States, and the rest of the world have become fixated on Harry Potter in which has turned into a big culture-altering phenomenon. Harry Potter has lived in the hearts of millions of readers, and continues to do so.

Book Review: Outlander

Title: Outlander
Author: Diana Gabaldon
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance/Science Fiction
Publisher: Bantam Dell
Published: 1991
Pages: 850


After a long two months, I finally finished reading Outlander—the first book in the Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon. The novel is drenched in rich historical detail of 18th and 20th century Scotland and England, focusing on the journeys of two main characters: Claire Randall and the beloved Jamie Fraser. This is a historical fiction novel that dabbles in time travel, adventure, and of course, steamy romance.

The year is 1945. World War II (WII) has finally ended. After serving many dedicated years as a combat nurse during the war, Claire is finally reunited with Jack Randall—a passionate historian. Trying to resume their life before the breakout of the war, the couple decides to go on a second honeymoon to Scotland, so Frank could study his family tree. But a peculiar thing happened during Claire’s stay. After Claire and Jack witness a group of “supposed” witches dance around ancient stone circles, Craigh na Dun, Claire decides to go back by herself to the stones to gather plants—but she suddenly encounters a screaming stone that transports her to 18th century Scotland.

Before she knows it, Claire is amidst a small battle between the British and the Scots. As she is whisked away from danger from a bunch of Scotsmen dressed in kilts, she meets an injured (but extremely handsome) Scotsman, Jamie. Claire, a well-trained nurse, uses her skills and knowledge to treat him to the best of her ability. Her talents earned her respect from her fellow Scotsmen, but they suspect that she’s an English spy. As a result, they take Claire with them as their captive to Castle Leoch, where she meets clan chieftain, Colum. After conducting a little investigation in the castle’s library, she discovers that she’s in the year 1743.

After failing numerous times to escape, Jamie and Claire become close, and Claire becomes more accustomed to 18th-century life. But as her bond with Jamie grows more robust, the decision to leave and return to her old life and Jack becomes harder. Claire is faced with returning, leaving behind Jamie, or staying and continuing the new life she has adopted.

The book is narrated by Claire and is divided into seven parts: Part I: Inverness, 1945; Part II: Castle Leoch; Part III: On the Road; Part IV: A Whiff of Brimstone; Part V: Lallybroch; Part VI: The Search; and Part VII: Sanctuary.

In the first part of the story, I must admit that it felt dry, uninteresting, and a bit over-detailed with things that I felt were nonessential. But I didn’t give up, and I’m glad I didn’t; with a little bit of time and patience, the story does get fascinating. I am impressed with the depth of Gabaldon’s knowledge of 18th century Scotland;. However, the book is based on fictional characters and time travel. It is interesting to gain knowledge and insight into the issues occurring during Scotland’s history. Being a history major, I truly appreciate any author who integrates history with his or her storyline.

Readers, you will not be disappointed. You’ll be captivated, engrossed, and entranced in this story about love, hardship, heroism, adventure, and new beginnings. The setting is amazingly well-textured, and Gabaldon’s writing style is fluid, understandable, and eloquent; without a doubt, she is highly imaginative. She also does a superb job in developing her characters—she gives them so much life. And trust me on this, you will fall head-over-heels for the firm, gentle, kind-hearted Jamie Fraser (seriously, who wouldn’t?). On a serious note, you will definitely find yourself eager to read the parts and scenes of Jamie and Claire.

After reading Outlander, I can’t wait to get my hands on the rest of the books in the series.

Overall, it was a great book with a fantastic and unique plot—a book that I would certainly recommend to anyone!

x, k

Is Bookstagram Making Reading into a Contest?

We live in a generation fixated on social media. As a society, we've become obsessed. Despite our obsession and through social media, it has given people a platform to post pictures of random moments, share fond memories with followers, and archive our life. Social media has been a great asset. It has opened a door—a door of newfound opportunities and communities that have been unheard of before the invention of social media.

As a semi-bookstragrammer, I feel that social media has been a wonderful way in sharing and spreading bookworms’ love of literature to people from different parts of the world. I entered this social media universe believing that I would a part of an accepting community of fellow avid readers, such as myself, but only to discover that it is not what I had initially expected. Bookstagram, in my opinion, has become way over the top. To be precise, it has become too focused on aesthetics and less on sharing our favorite reads. Also, bookstagrammers aren’t only obsessed over making their book pictures “aesthetically pleasing” but they are more so concerned on the number of likes their pictures receives. How has this community shifted? Is it social media and the misconception that as users, we must post something that is absolute perfection? The reality is, bookstagrammers are more concerned on the aesthetics than on what they are actually sharing to fellow followers.

The reason for my rant and the inspiration behind it came from a YouTube video I watched a couple of days ago. I watched a video titled, “Has Reading Become Competitive???” by famous BookTuber, Ariel Bissett. Bissett mainly focuses her discussion on how BookTube has completely changed; it was once an online universe where bibliophiles could talk about their favorite or current reads openly, but has now altered the hobby of reading. In her view, she believes that BookTube has made reading competitive—it has become too concerned with reaching reading goals, making sure to track our page counts, and trying to stay relevant with trendy reads. I watched the entire 25-minute video, listening to her every word, and I found myself agreeing with everything she stated.

Although I am not a BookTuber, I see the same issues happening on bookstagram. Besides the obvious that it has become too concerned with likes and aesthetics, it has made reading into one big contest. For instance, the amount of books a bookstagrammer reads. Some openly share their disappointment that they only read 6 books the previous month—meanwhile, I am struggling to finish 1 book because of my hectic schedule. Yes, some are fast readers, but the way bookstagrammers convey how they didn’t accomplish their goal of reading 10 books in a month makes everyone who can’t read 10 books in a month feel bad. At least for me, it makes me feel like less of a reader or a bookworm; I feel as if I should read a crazy amount of books too, even though I know I am unable to because life gets in the way.  So sometimes, bookstagram gives other bookstagrammers unrealistic expectations of reading.

Then of course, there is that whole “reading what’s relevant or trendy” issue, which is another major problem in the bookstagram community. Bookstagrammers who buy a new release of a trending novel and share it on social media at times make it seem that everyone else has to read it too because of the hype surrounding it. What happened to reading what you like than what everyone else is reading? Unfortunately, this has become problematic because when you don’t reading something that is “relevant,” you feel as if you’re behind the times; therefore, you’re sort of inherently forced to read it.

There are a number of issues that bookstagram has cultivated over the years since its inception. I could literally go on and on about it, but what’s the point? What I mainly wanted to address to my readers is that don’t allow bookstagram or even BookTube ruin your personal conceptions of reading. Read because you enjoy it. Read because you love to read. Read books that aligns with your interests and not of others. Let’s be honest, we’ve read books because everyone else is reading them, and as a result, we became disappointed in ourselves for investing our hard-earned money on a crappy read that we didn’t enjoy. Read for pleasure. Don’t allow the bookish communities that we love so dearly change the way we read. Don’t feel bad that you didn’t read a certain number of books in a month because someone else in the community read 20. Together, let’s ignore the newfound stigma of reading and read for our own enjoyment.

x, k

Book Review Publication: The Last Mrs. Parrish

Happy November, everyone!

For the past month, I've been occupied with work and school, and just trying to juggle both simultaneously. Unfortunately, I am still semi-dealing with the "reading slumps," which is no bueno. But it is my senior year in college, and the pressure and stress of finishing up my studies while looking for a long-term job is stressful. It is hard trying to fit in recreational activities (like reading) into my already hectic schedule. Luckily, the New Year is approaching and I am already starting to jot down ideas as to what should be my New Year's Resolution, and it mainly concerns READING. Hopefully, I'll stick to my self-made promises for 2018!

Recently, I published a book review in The Sentinel, a local newspaper near my college town. It is a requirement for students in the Reviewing the Arts and Publications class to publish at least one review for their portfolio. Since I am taking that class for my minor, I decided to publish two reviews--a film review and a book review on the psychological thriller novel The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine. I will not reiterate what I stated in my book review, but I will say that it is excellent! This is the debut novel of Liv Constantine, which is the pen name for sisters Valerie and Lynne Constantine. If you happened to like Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, then you will definitely love The Last Mrs. Parrish.

To read my review in The Sentinel, click here.

Thank you for reading and for your support, everyone!

x, K

The Little Free Library: It's Finally Installed

In the second week of September, I was thrilled to see my Little Free Library installed at my college town’s new trailhead. It was a satisfying and proud moment for both my professor and I; we both worked endlessly in trying to find a home for my book exchange, and luckily, we did. After an entire year of my Little Free Library sitting in my apartment, patiently waiting for the day for it to be stored with books, I can finally watch it prosper.

For all who do not know, during my junior year in college, I had to work on an academic project for my Technical Writing I class. The main focus of the project was for students to solve a dilemma on or off campus.  While wracking up my brain with different ideas, I came across a website called “The Little Free Library.” Created and initiated by Tod Bol of Wisconsin, it is a nonprofit organization with a goal to promote literacy in the United States an abroad. My main objective for the project was to not only solve a problem that I felt needed to be addressed in my college community, but to also find something creative that could potentially unite a community—it so happens that the Little Free Library was the best way to do it!

The main focus of the Little Free Library is for people in the area to take a book, share a book, and exchange it with a new read. It is a wonderful way to inspire non-readers to read, encourage children to value books, and to give book-lover’s a chance to exhibit their love of reading by sharing their favorite pieces of literature.

After devising proposals and writing grants, I was able to successfully receive funding for purchase of the book-swap and book donations from nonprofit organizations in my college community.

Now I finally got to see my vision come true! I am amazed at the amount of positive responses I have received from local residents about my little library. People have been ecstatic and enthused about having a book exchange right in town. Every time I stop by and check up on my little library, I see it filled with an array of different books. It’s truly a rewarding feeling to see people get so involved in a small movement like this.

I guess I truly have accomplished my goal, which was to unify an entire area. And I am happy to share that I aspired another college student to start a second book exchange in the community as well.

For those interested in learning more about the Little Free Library movement, I encourage you to check out their website: www.littlefreelibrary.org. You can also purchase your book exchange box from the organization, which is handmade by the Amish, or purchase other knick-knacks for an already installed book exchange.

(To read a previous post about my journey and more thorough information about the Little Library, check out my old post: https://simplybookishblog.blogspot.com/2016/11/little-free-library-movement.html).


x, Kayla

What I've Been Up To

I broke my promise. I promised to read a ton of books and book review them all, but life got in the way. Balancing a job and an internship, simultaneously, proved to be a difficult task. And unfortunately, I could not book review all the books I read because of time constraints.

But here is a life update: I just started my senior year in college (hooray). So close to finishing, but yet so far away.

For the past summer, I did an internship at Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites (HBMS). It is a nonprofit organization that oversees 20 different historic sites, as well as other neat stuff, in the community. I ran an entire exhibit during a massive, non-gated, free-music festival; it was an oral history, photography, and memorabilia exhibition. I am proud of what I have accomplished in my internship, but I am happy and relieved that it is finally over. While I did my internship, I also worked part-time--which also made my summer even more busier.

Although I did not have much to do book reviews, here are the books that I did get a chance to read over the summer months and their ratings:

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (3.5/5)

The Black Notebook by Patrick Modiano (2/5)

The Last Day's of Ptolemy Grey by Walter Mosley (3.5/5)

The Grownup by Gillian Flynn (3.5/5)

In summary: my summer reads ended up being a (somewhat) huge disappointment. Not only did I not read as much as I hoped to, but the books that I did read were not worthwhile. The Last Day's of Ptolemy Grey by Walter Mosley was a book that I enjoyed, but could not fall in love with. When I decided to read the Handmaid's Tale, I was greatly saddened by how I felt about it after I finished it. I read it with high expectations--especially since everyone was raving about it--and ended up feeling indifferent; I felt that the story itself was incomplete and there were parts in the story that were vague. The Black Notebook was a book I regret even buying--nothing in the story made sense and there was no plot. The Grownup by Gillian Flynn was a good and short read, but again, I felt as if the story was incomplete; although it is supposed to be a short story, something certainly felt missing. 

I learned a lesson: DON'T READ BOOKS THAT EVERYONE ELSE IS READING. Yes, some people may feel compelled to read a book that is trending because EVERYONE is reading it--but in all honesty, reviewers may not always be right about a book. My suggestion is to read a book that aligns with your interests. I read what everyone else was reading, and I ended up hating the books or not falling in love with them as I thought I would. I read each of them with high expectations, but became disappointed which led me to undergo a huge reading-slump, as a result.  

Hopefully, in the coming months, I will get to read books that are more book-review-worthy. And I promise to keep up with the reviews!

x, Kayla 

Memoirs of a Geisha + Madness

Hello everyone!

Now I really really apologize for being M.I.A for the past month. Things have been chaotic lately. Working seven days out of a week can definitely drain you both physically and mentally. But I have had some time off and I feel super rejuvenated, so I decided to take the time and make book reviews that I had promised to my devoted readers way back in May.

I cannot believe that we are already in June, and by next week we will be in July. Unfortunately, my summer break has not allowed me to read as much as I would like to because of my busy schedule. Last month, I finished reading Madness by Roald Dahl, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. What I did not get to finish was Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden. Maybe I’ll pick up in the near the future, but I found it really hard to read through. His writing and prose was dull and too descriptive—he made the narrator kind of annoying due to her naiveté. I am ashamed to even say this but I did not even make it to page 100! I just did not find it interesting—the storyline did not captivate me as I thought it would. Also, the way that Golden portrayed the Geisha culture was inaccurate. I understand it the book is “historic fiction” but that does not mean that the author has the right to skew the Japanese culture and how Geisha is valued and seen in Japan. I do not want to go into too much detail, since I did not get a chance to read the whole book, but all I can say is that I do not know how the book was an international bestseller—it is astounding.

Madness is a collection of short of grim tales. I found Dahl’s storyline concepts to bear great similarity to Shirley Jackson’s Dark Tales, but Dahl’s main focus is exploring insanity. Because I read it last month, I do not remember the specific stories that gave me the chills, that captivated me, that shocked me—but there is no question about it, Dahl is a phenomenal writer who appeals to any generation and person.  I did only find his short stories to be grim and forbidding, but I found it to be also amusing and entertaining. What I love about this one collection of his short tales is that readers get to appreciate his imagination, his talent, creativity, and his writing style for adults. Dahl is best known as an acclaimed author of children stories, but we never get to see the “dark” side of him that is displayed through Madness. Fortunately, this is one collection out three other editions that all focus on a specific theme. I do plan on reading more adult stories by him, so I will definitely keep you—my readers—posted on it.

All in all, Memoirs of a Geisha was a not a book that kept me interested—it was both the mundane prose and knowledge of knowing that the story was and is historically inaccurate; therefore, I give this book two stars. Madness is a book that I recommend any person who is interested in weird, insane and bizarre tales, and because of that, I give it a four star rating.

x, Kayla

What I am Reading in May + Timeless Readers Book Club

It has been approximately one and a half weeks since the semester finished, and I am doing my best to enjoy my summer! Currently, I am enduring a rough period, which I like to call the “reading slumps”, as of right now. But I am trying my best to finish some of the reads that I started last month.

Back in early or mid-April, I joined a self-made book club called the Timeless Readers, which are devised by two rising bookstagrammers/bookbloggers that I follow on Instagram. This particular book club is focused on reading historical fiction novels—and I am so glad that I am participating in this book club because historical fiction is not a popular reading genre. I am ashamed to admit that even though I am a history major, I do not usually read any historical fiction novels. Maybe because I cannot find any that intrigue me, or maybe it is because historical fiction novels are not highly publicized compared to other well-known genres like Young Adult (YA), contemporary, and fiction novels.  Therefore, I am eager to expand my reading taste or palette to other unpopular reading genres.

For the month of May, members in Timeless Readers have voted to read Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden. So far, I find it interesting—but I am also finding it difficult to read through it only because nothing captivating has happened to make me want to read more. The one thing that I always hate about reading or starting a new book is that most books start with slow beginnings, and most writers take their time getting to the “good” parts in the book. I also have some negative opinions on the historical accuracy of the book. Even though it is based on fictional characters, the entire premise of the book is inspired by Japanese traditional culture and the role that geishas play within the culture. I cannot wait until I start a separate book review on the book and share my perspective to other fellow readers on it.

Not only am I reading Memoirs of a Geisha, but I am also reading:

• A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab 
• Madness by Roald Dahl

I do not think I will be writing a book review on the Gathering of Shadows (which is the second book in the Shades of Magic series), only because there are an array of book reviews on the book and entire series that are already discussed or published. But I will be doing a book review on Madness (hopefully soon). 

Thank you all for reading! Book reviews will be coming (hopefully) soon.

x, Kayla

Finishing Up the Semester + Book Reviews: History is All You Left Me (3 Stars)

The semester is coming to a close, which means finals and assignments are all due around the same timeframe next week. Therefore, I have been extremely occupied and inundated (as usual) with schoolwork, so I truly apologize to my dedicated readers for not posting anything recently. This painful process of cramming for exams and writing academic papers will finally be over by next week, which means that I will have some leisure time to read and enjoy my summer break. It is truly scary to know that I will be finishing up my third year in university and entering my senior year next fall semester—but it also amazes me how time can just swiftly pass by. I feel like I don’t have enough time to do what I need to do to prepare myself for adulthood. But in all honesty, nobody is really ready or prepared for the obstacles that await new college graduates when it comes to “adulting.” Knowing that by the fall, I will be a senior and that by next year, around this same exact time, I will be graduating! I am so happy and amazed with the accomplishments that I have achieved thus far in my academic career. I know my journey to future successes will be hard, but eventually I will get there. Nothing will ever come easy in life, which I know is such a cliché, but it is accurate and true. I know that my hard work, dedication, and my perseverance will pay off.

This semester, I have been able to publish an analytical paper in my university’s literary journal, I have presented my book exchange project from last semester at an academic conference, and I have landed a great internship at a museum! Things are somewhat coming together, but I have also encountered many problems along the way. I have learned a lot of life lessons, such as to be careful in whom you trust and help. Most importantly, I learned that not everyone deserves your kindness because some will take advantage of it. Also, I learned to be careful in who I choose to be friends with. I realized that not many college students are at that mature age where they should treat people with respect and value a good friend, but instead, dispose friends and friendships because they found someone new to be friends with. It astounds me how immature some college students can be, but not all the time does college mature people into upright adults. My goal for next semester is to focus on myself and to be accepting or be okay with being alone, and to find happiness in my own solitude. Sometimes it’s for the better.

But without further ado, I am just going to briefly give a quick book review on a recent read that I finished (weeks ago). I finished History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera. It is a Young Adult (YA) novel that focuses on a story of teen-love, heartbreak and sorrow. The book is about a teenage boy, Griffin, and his boyfriend/ex-boyfriend, Theo, who dies in a drowning accident. The story (or history) is told through Griffin’s perspective, and is also told in a series of flashbacks or memories that Griffin has of Theo. After learning about the death of Theo, Griffin becomes a lost soul, consumed with sorrow and sadness over the loss of both his friend and former lover.

Living seems impossible to Griffin, nothing feels the same or is the same after losing Theo, even if they had broken up and even though Theo had found someone else to love. This leads Griffin to go into a destructive path of inner emotional battles and upheaval. Eventually, Griffin accepts Theo’s death, but it was a journey and a struggle to get there. At the beginning, he finds solace in Theo’s boyfriend, Jackson. In this unforeseen friendship, the duo try to heal each other’s wounds—but it leads Griffin to uncover untold histories about the life Theo led after the break up and other secrets, hence leading Griffin to enter another realm of different kinds of emotional complexities.

Many people have praised the book for capturing the raw emotions of first love and heartbreak, but I do not know if I entirely agree. Although I love how authors try to make their characters flawed in order to make them feel real to readers, Griffin, and all of the characters in the book, were beyond flawed; they were so flawed, it came off as somewhat agitating. I do not know if it was Silvera’s intention to make Griffin into a whiny teenage boy, who feels that he is the only person entitled to grieve and can, therefore, act and behave the way he wants to because he lost his ex-boyfriend. I felt that Silvera was just going a tad overboard about the array of emotions Griffin was going through and his behavior, which I found hard to read through at times because it felt exaggerated or overdone. I do like how Silvera captured how complicated humans can be, which is definitely relayed through Griffin. It is hard to find the right words to convey how I feel about the book and what I dislike the most, but it mostly centers on Griffin’s personality and how he deals with the loss of Theo.

It was a decent read, but I was not in love with it. I think Silvera is a fantastic writer and I look forward to reading more books from him in the near future.

x, Kayla

Book Review: We Are Okay (4 Stars)

We are Okay by Nina LaCour is a story about grief, loneliness, love, deceit, finding one’s self, and reconnecting. It was a cute and simplistic read—the prose was beautifully written and gentle. The elements, which I mentioned before, are truly emphasized through the entirety of the book, thus making it also relatable to readers who may have come across these feelings in their lifetime.

This story is about a college freshman named Marin. She is a California native who is attending a university somewhere in upstate New York. The first semester has ended; students are packing up and leaving to be reunited with their families for the winter break and holidays, except for Marin. Marin is staying on campus for the remainder of the break—she seems at peace with her own solitude and is accepting the fact that she has nowhere to really go to anymore, and no family to go home to—ever since the passing of her grandfather aka “Gramps” who raised her. But Marin is expecting a visitor, her best friend Mabel is staying with Marin for three days at her dorm. Marin and Mabel haven’t spoken in months since Gramps died—and as a result, Marin purposely drifted away from the people who loved her, especially Mabel. In Mabel’s three-day stay, the girl’s form new bonds, discover new revelations, and piece together the broken past of Marin’s life, while reconnecting and rekindling their love and friendship.

Nina LaCour did a great job in writing this book. In a sense, I related to Marin—I knew what it felt like to lose someone you love, finding ways of forgetting coping with the loss, and abandoning the past in the hopes of healing. Therefore, I identified with Marin—but I didn’t necessarily agree with Marin’s choices in coping with her grief and dealing with her new discoveries of her past that her Gramps kept hidden from her, because she push aside the people that were there for her and who cared for her.

Also, there were some parts that I felt were exaggerated, such as Marin's reactions to her best friend, Mabel, and her hesitance to open up to her as well. There was just too much angst, it made me frustrated and annoyed at times.

I like how the story is short and not drawn out—it’s a good book, but I can't say it's the best book ever written or the best book I've ever read. This is my first book from LaCour and it was a read that I truly enjoyed because of its simplicity.

x, Kayla

Book Review: Dark Tales (4 Stars)

Dark Tales by Shirley Jackson is a collection of seventeen short and eerie stories. Readers will be transported to the haunting world of Jackson’s dark imagination—which can best be described as dark, mysterious and inviting. There is no doubt—Jackson is the queen of Gothic fiction.

Each tale begins with someone who is ordinary, living or staying in an ordinary suburban place where the “ordinary” carry on with his or her lives; but sooner or later, the ordinary will transform into the strange and unusual. To put it simply, each story is about normalcy gone wrong. After finishing each tale, readers will be left with some sort of uneasiness, or possibly some discomfort. The fact that Jackson can provoke these unsettling feelings or reactions to her readers is quite remarkable and impressive. Her stories weren’t openly horrific—they were subtly disturbing but also intense.

I think Jackson’s goal when writing these stories, was to make the everyday feel unnerving and sinister. I think that’s what creeps people and readers out the most about it—she makes it almost feel real and the foreboding possible.  There were some stories that made me feel confused, even frustrated because I felt there wasn’t any closure at the end for some of them. I felt that Jackson used a lot of cliffhangers to keep readers on edge or make the story feel more suspenseful—and then there were some tales that made me confused about plot or premise of a particular short menacing tale.

All in all, I would recommend this to anyone who appreciates books that exhibit the dark, unusual, and the uncanny. Jackson is by far a talented female writer, who I believe is underrated in today’s modern book culture. Each of her stories was skillfully written and captivating. This is a great short read that will satisfy any readers desire for something deliciously dark.

x, Kayla

Book Updates + Little Free Library

Before I knew it, spring was here! Its arrival was a tad chilly, but nonetheless, I greeted spring with welcome arms. The semester is halfway over for me—although I am excited to finish this term, I am also beyond inundated with work. It’s time for the grind!

Due to my busy and hectic schedule, I haven’t had time to read much lately. I thought I should take the time to share with my readers on my reading updates! Yesterday, I FINALLY finished A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab. I won’t be doing a specific book review about it because everyone in the bookish community is talking about it. I loved the book and I cannot wait to read more of the book series, but as I expressed in my Goodreads book review, it took awhile for the book to reach its peak or climax. Even though it was a bit slow, towards the end, I was consumed with so much anxiety, excitement, anticipation, and so much more. Schwab is an excellent writer and I encourage many others to read the book if they haven’t yet already.

Currently, I am reading a book of short stories by Shirley Jackson called Dark Tales. Some may remember her as the author of The Lottery, which was read in many schools within the United States and abroad, but Jackson was truly a successful writer 50-60 years ago. I strongly feel that she is greatly under-appreciated and underrated as talented female writer. My goal is to read more books by her and to also revive her name in mainstream culture and in the bookish community. I am really enjoying these dark and terrifying tales—I hope to finish it soon and give a full book review on it.

Also, I have some good news! As some of you may already know, I am starting a Little Free Library in my college community. It is a book exchange movement that is shaped as a birdhouse, in which will be filled with books, in order to promote literacy in the area and to unify the local community. The main concept of this book exchange movement is to take a book, share a book and exchange a book. This will also create a free-learning environment and will hopefully inspire others to read, and to allow bookworms to share their favorite pieces of literature with community members. Well the good news is that I will be sharing and discussing my journey of implementing a book exchange at an English conference in late April. I am nervous in presenting my project to students and professors from different schools, but I hope to encourage many to start their own book exchange movement in their own community to promote the importance of reading. So, wish me luck! I will also keep updates on my progress, in regards to the Little Free Library, if anything new comes up.

Anyway, I shall get back to my studying and writing academic papers!

x, Kayla

Currently Reading: A Darker Shade of Magic

I decided to make a post about a book that I am currently reading. It is book that is receiving so much rave and fame in bookish communities, such as in Goodreads, Instagram (Bookstagram) and BookTube. Currently, I am reading a Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab; it is the first novel of the Shades of Magic series. Recently, the third book to the series was just released this past week, thus stirring the bookish communities into a total frenzy (but in a good way).

A brief synopsis of the book, it is a fantasy novel centered on both good and dark forces of magic, sinister magicians, as well as a cursed and forbidden item. In the book, there are four parallel worlds with four parallel Londons; each London has a different history, time period, language, society, and rulers. Only Antaris, which are powerful and rare magicians that are becoming a scarce breed and who are born with magic in their blood, can travel to and fro from these different worlds. Unfortunately, there are only two surviving Antaris: Kell, who is the protagonist in the story and is from Red London, and Holland, who is from White London.

As mentioned previously, there are four different kinds of Londons. Red London, is a prominent place filled with so much magic, and holds the reputation of being the most powerful London out of all. Then there is Grey London, which is like today’s London, but it takes place when King George III was ruler; it is an ordinary place where magic is scarce. Meanwhile, White London is a land where its people are desperate and fighting to attain or save any magic that is left; the magic and resources are dwindling. Lastly, there is Black London—it is a destroyed world filled with greed for magic.

So far, it is taking awhile for the plot to build up and develop—but it has been an interesting read, thus far. I admire the author’s creativity and her unique imagination that is being demonstrated throughout this book, and surely throughout the rest of her two books in the series as well. Besides, it is always fun to read about magic.

x, Kayla

Book Review: A List of Cages (Five Stars)

A List of Cages by Robin Roe is a beautifully written tale of two boys who rekindle their lost friendship. Even after reading this book, both of the main characters—Adam and Julian—continue to remain in my thoughts. I was left with tears—tears of hope, tears of heartbreak, and tears of absolute love for the book and for the characters in the book.

The story is told through dual narrations of both 14 year-old Julian and his former foster brother, charismatic 18 year-old Adam. Julian lost his parents to a tragic car accident; Julian didn’t have any close relatives to live with at the time, so he was put into foster care. Adam’s mother, Catherine, took Julian in—and both Adam and Catherine, gave the boy a loving home for many long months until his cold and mean uncle—from marriage—came to claim him. After Julian’s uncle, Russell, takes Julian away from Adam and Catherine, Russell ends all communication between Julian and his foster family.

Five years later, Julian enters his freshmen year in high school while Adam enters his senior year. Adam “literally” walks into Julian’s life when he is given a special assignment to escort Julian to his counseling session that Julian has been skipping. Although the boys are thrilled to be reunited, there is a sense of uneasiness. Adam realizes that Julian has changed into a shy, reclusive, timid, fragile, boy who has low self-esteem. The author, Roe, unveils a gripping story of a boy enduring child abuse. But it is also a story about the power of friendship and the brotherly-love that emerges out of it as well.

This has been another great read that I have read in 2017, thus far—it has also become one of my favorite YA novel’s.  As a former counselor, Roe has had professional experience in dealing with children who have been abused. Because of her experiences, it made the book and characters feel as if they were really real. The book stuffed me with so much raw emotion—it was hard to contain my feelings as I was reading this book.  This is Roe’s debut novel—her very first—and I think that she did an impeccable job; her writing is beautiful and so is the story. It is a five star rating all the way.

x, Kayla

Book Review: A Man Called Ove (Five Stars)

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman is a phenomenal and touching tale of a grumpy, stubborn, and prototypical middle-aged man just wanting to be reunited with his deceased wife. It’s comical, relatable and a sad story—which also carries many humanistic elements that enables readers to strongly connect and identify with the main character. This was a book that I truly enjoyed and it has become one of the best reads I have read in 2017, thus far.

Ove is a fifty-nine year-old Swedish man, who has strict principles and a short temper. He spends his days following an austere routine of checking if his entire neighborhood is abiding the association rules and visiting his wife’s, Sonja’s, grave. Ove dislikes many things, and has no shame in pointing them out on the spot. To many people, Ove is staunch and a “bitter” neighbor. Despite what Ove may display on the outside, Ove carries a story of both sadness and hardships.

But since the tragic loss of his one love, Ove has given entirely up on life. Yes, Ove just wants to end it all. Unfortunately and fortunately for Ove, a boisterous family moves into the neighborhood across the street from Ove, and things start to both shake and change Ove’s life completely—but all for the better. With these new neighbors, brings an abundant amount of changes like an unkempt stray cat as a pet and growing friendships that all seem to disrupt his routine—which Ove just hates. But with these new changes, Ove starts to grow a warmer heart and starts to accept the world that he lives in today, which for a while, he was so against.

I cried and I laughed, but I laughed more than I cried. Backman did a wonderful job when writing this story. Every chapter and every line just felt natural. The sarcasm that comes out of Ove and his grumpy façade in general, made this book humorous. I fell in love with old Ove, despite how bad-tempered he is at times. Nothing was dragged on, there wasn’t a dull moment, and every chapter brought in new information about Ove’s past—thus allowing readers to understand the character more in-depth and on an emotional level. There is no other way to explain how great this story was and is—you just have to read it for yourself. I look forward to reading many more of Backman’s stories. He is creative and writes beautifully—I loved how he narrated the tale of Ove and about the many characters’ that seem to interrupt Ove’s life. It is a five-star rating all the way!

Furthermore, I think at some level we all understand the feelings of loss and grief. And for those who have had lost a loved one, we all know the difficulty of carrying on with life without that one person who made life sweet, precious and wonderful. That is what this story is mainly about—it is about a man who can’t bear to live without the one person who made life simply pure, beautiful and magical. To Ove, life didn’t seem worth living without Sonja. Why carry on with life without having that special someone live it with you? But the characters’ that come and interrupt Ove’s life makes him realize that there are some things that are worth living for. In the end, Ove finds a cause and a reason to live.

x, Kayla

My First Week Back

Hello everyone!

I survived my first week of spring semester classes, and I am beyond overwhelmed. Luckily, I have Fridays off and that gives me the day to finish any work that I did not get to during the beginning of the week. I do not know what I was thinking of scheduling an hour and fifteen minute classes for all of my five courses this semester; the time does not seem much, but to be going back and forth and sitting for that long in class each day, can feel really exhausting.

Additionally, next week I am officially starting my new job as a Writing Studio Tutor at my university’s Learning Center. I am excited, anxious and nervous about starting this position. My biggest and only fear is not being an effective tutor. I do not expect to know every grammar rule, but I do want to do my best to help students who need assistance.

Although my Fridays will mostly consist of catching up and finishing my schoolwork—I am determined to devote my time in my busy schedule to read.  Currently, I am inundated with required reading material—which kind of depresses me because none of the books that I have to read for my classes are at all intriguing. But I have to do what I have to do—I pay my professors lots of money to tell me what do, right?

For my Mexican History and my Oral History classes, we are reading:

• Ambivalent Conquests: Maya and Spaniard in Yucatan, 1517-1570 by Inga Clendinnen
• Life and Death in the Delta by Kim Lacy
• Doing Oral History by Donald A. Ritchie 

As an FYI, I am not doing any book reviews for any of these books. I don’t want to bore you with boring reviews about boring reading material. As of right now, I am reading a superb and excellent recreational book. I am determined to finish it up today, so a book review will be written about it soon!

Also, in regards to my Little Free Library project, I received my Little Library in December, and fortunately I am making great progress with it! On Monday, I am going to propose to my university’s History Club if they would like to help decorate the book exchange—which I don’t think they’ll have a problem with—and just a few days ago, I found a location for the Little Library. My goal is to have it installed by May, but I shall see how things pan out in the coming months. I will continue to post any updates about the Little Free Library and its progress through my blog. I can’t wait to post the finish product of my Little Library when it is officially done. So please, stay tuned!

x, Kayla