Bookish Post #1

It was bound to happen. Being a book nerd tends to spread into all areas of my life, so sooner a later a blog series about books was bound to come up. And I'm so excited!

I've been a reader for as long as I can remember. There was, however, that odd stage in my life when reading became only an academic activity, and I sort of forgot that pleasure reading even existed or I just wasn't interested. It was a span of time from elementary school to almost high school. So, mostly middle school. But once one of my bookish friends suggested I read the Hunger Games, that brought my massive slump to an end. I devoured that series within a week, and I fell in love with reading again! I never stopped loving to read, I just needed a shove towards a re-awakening. And thank goodness for that friend of mine!

Since then, I've read Percy Jackson (yes, ALL of them), the Divergent series, the Legend series, Throne of Glass series, among many others including contemporaries, because I am most certainly not going to list off all the crap I've read to you. (no, I don't think books are actually crap you smart aleck)

Anyway, to kick off this book series, I thought I'd start with my top six favorite series of ALL TIME. (that is, out of what has crossed my path thus far) This includes series' that are not fully written, but... let's be honest. They've already won the spot since book one.

So, without further to do, from bottom to top; here is my Top Six Favorite Book Series':

Number (6

The Legend Trilogy by Marie Lu! I haven't read this series in a while, so I honesty do not remember too many details about it. (here's a link to a quick synopsis) However, I do remember that it was the first unique dystopian series I had read since the Hunger Games. I was getting, dare I say, "bored" with all the cookie-cutter series' of the Hunger Games. I absolutely loved the series, but any other dystopian I had picked up just seemed too similar to THG, along with Divergent. So seeing a new world, unique characters, places, and conflicts was SO refreshing. Not only that, the story was interesting, suspenseful, thought-provoking, and just plain awesome. I was really able to connect with the characters, the romance was not cliche but rather raw and real, and the loyalty between June and Day was so cool to watch as it took form. Definitely check this series out if you haven't already.

Number (5

The Selection Series by Kiera Cass! And I'm talking the original trilogy. Yeah, the Heir was great, and I haven't yet gotten around to reading the Crown, but... I honestly don't know if I ever will. I'll go into more detail on that when I do a segment on series' I don't intend on finishing. *sheepish grin* Hold your fire. Anywho, the trilogy! At first glance, these books kind of give the impression of a girly, princessy, glamourous kind of read. Which, it kind of is. It definitely has elements of that in there, but you really can't avoid that when it takes place in a castle that's holding a beauty pageant for the Prince to find a queen. However, this series is also a dystopian, so there's more depth that goes into the story than the Selection (said beauty pageant) and the facade of glamour. In fact, there's really nothing glamorous about what's really going down in their world. All society is divided into a caste system based on their talents and abilities, and it is in no way fair at all. In fact, most of the population lives in poverty while only a select few are left filthy rich. I love this series because of the originality and creative mind of Kiera Cass. Each character is believable, the story is so fascinating and well-written, and the romance... it's beautiful. The drama? It's awesome. The love triangle? You get used to it. The conflict and society battle? Fantastic. Well done, Cass.

Number (4

The Doon Series by Carey Corp & Lorie Langdon! I just finihsed reading the last book in this series, Forever Doon, a few days ago. And it. Was. Amazing! One of the best endings in a series I have ever read. Now, a little context to this series; it's a fiction real world/fantasy crossover. What I mean by this is that it is all fictitious (obviously), but the world is present earth in the United States and Scotland. However, the main characters, Veronica Welling and Mackenna Reid, cross the Brig-a'-Doon when they're in Scotland, which leads them to the fantasy/mystical land of Doon. The concept is based off the legend of the Brig-a"-Doon, and it is so interesting and awesome! I can be a sucker for mystical kingdoms and fantasy lands with all their castles, people, and surroundings. There's just something beautiful and unique about it, and I just love it. Besides the fact it's an awesome concept and story, and takes place in Scotland with princes that speak in Scottish brogues... let's appreciate the freaking characters! I related SO much to Vee and Kenna with their incredibly distinct personalities and how their friendship was so complementary of each other. In addition to them, the princes (Duncan and Jamie) had just THE BEST bromance, the court and townsfolk were just so close-knit. The whole kingdom was just in harmony, and it was so beautiful! Until the conflicts, relationships, and dramas arise, and then it gets even more interesting! But yes, amazing. Read this series, people!

Number (3

Ah, the top three. Let me just say that THIS WAS A FREAKING BATTLE. Forget narrowing books down to six options. Labeling my top three was like choosing a favorite coffee shop. (not easy) But here we go!

Percy Freaking Jackson. Enough said. Percy is my absolute favorite sassy character in like, all book time. Leo gives him a run for his money later on in the second series, but Percy still holds the sass title! This series actually really surprised me. I wasn't intending to read it whatsoever because of, I don't know, the skepticism I had with the whole Greek mythology thing being entertaining. But the moment I read the first sentence, literally, the first sentence on the page which happened to be the chapter title, "I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher," I died. I died the kind of death that only book nerds do when they realize how close-minded they were. These books are a work of art! The logistics and facts of Greek mythology, the real world woven into that mythology, the characters, the plot line throughout the whole series, the conflicts, relationships, the freaking characters! Just, wow! And going back to that chapter title; how hysterical! Each chapter title in the series is a clever and/or humorous statement from Percy of what the main event in that chapter is. These may be labeled as "middle-grade" books, but it's the same exact kind of phenomenon that my next favorite series is: timeless and ageless. These books are so good and so well-written and thought out that readers of all ages of all time will love or at least appreciate this series. I personally love both installments of Percy Jackson, but the first series, the Olympians, is the one that really hits that mark.

Number (2

Lo and behold, Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling! Yes, as I said before, this series is timeless and ageless and will go down in history, I believe, as classics. And I can say this because I was very late in the game for reading Harry Potter. I have the same story as most that were not allowed to read or watch Harry Potter growing up. (Evil witchcraft) But this summer, I got my hands on the series and dove right in. Just as I thought, it was a series I would have LOVED growing up. But the cool thing is that I love it now as much as I would have loved it back then. Thus, my case that HP is most definitely a timeless classic that will go down in history. (as if it already has not.) However, because of college, I haven't had time to finish the series, so I've yet to read Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows. (once again, hold your fire) I tried so hard to finish all of them during the summer, but I get SO busy once college starts back up. And this past summer was unusually busy as well with work, a month-long outdoors and traveling vacation, summer camp staffing, so... *waves goodbye to free time*. But hey, I'll get there. My TBR pile may be pretty monstrous, but these guys are up top. I could say so much on why these books are amazing, but it's so much easier (and better) if I let them speak for themselves. Go READ.

**Also, I am in no way bashing those who feel convicted to not read Harry Potter because of the witchcraft aspect. I totally understand and respect anyone with those boundaries. You should never allow the opinions of others to make you do something you feel is wrong or un-safe. So conversely, in return, do not bash those who do love and appreciate these books for what they are and the real message and meaning they give. We are all entitled to love what we love and have our own and usually different boundaries and opinions. And that's cool. :)

Drumroll please...

Number (1

After much internal battling and sacrifice, Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. takes the crown this time! Not every book is out yet, one more is expected. But so far, this series... gosh, this freaking series. I seriously do not know what makes these books so addicting and fantastic. I'm currently reading Empire of Storms, the fifth book that just came out this October, and I got sucked right back in as quickly as I did with every other book. Now granted, Heir of Fire, the third book, took a bit to get into. (I blame it on the "middle-of-the-series" slump. It's a thing. Most every series has one.) But because of the greatness of the previous two books, it made me read on. And once it picked up... CRAP. So much went down, that book was amazing! But as I said, these books have captured my attention, sentiment, fascination, and love unlike any others. Sure yeah, that's happened with other books, but this series is different. It's SO incredibly unique, the world and conflicts are just a big jaw-dropper, the characters are so admirable and real, and the fantasy! The creatures, kingdoms, battles, magic. It's so fantastic! Sarah J. Maas is just such a phenomenal author. She is pretty blunt in her writing, so her books are most definitely not for the more conservative reader. But, I LOVE it. She is so fantastic, I love all of her books. So you should read these. And her other series, A Court of Thorns and Roses. Just do it. Do the reading thing.

Well, there you have it! After much internal screaming, dissecting, and contemplation, I've successfully narrowed down a top six. Barely. And believe me, it's barely. That task was hard stuff, bro.

So that's it for this bookish post! If you love to read and are looking for something new, check these guys out! Also, let me know what some of your favorites are or if we share any favorites! Drink some coffee or tea, enjoy the little things, and have a great day people.

Oh, and a Merry Christmas! (:

Life Snippets #2

Well, my life has been pretty busy this past month or so. But also very incredible! God has worked so much in my life and has shown me so many awesome things. I have all the happies, people. And it's all because of Christ.

To begin with, the show I was in, Things We Couldn't Say, wrapped up on the weekend of March 10-13. The show was an original theater adaption from the book, Things We Couldn't Say, written by Diet Eman. It's a true story about a Dutch Jew, Diet Eman, who was alive during the Holocaust and the persecution that was happening to all of the Jews. Not many are familiar with Diet Eman's story, and this style of theater is so different from any show we have done, so I wasn't sure how the public would react. However, all of the shows went extremely well, and the public took the new story so well. Us as the cast heard so many good and encouraging comments from people who had seen the show, such as: "It was such a moving story! You all did great!", "It made me think so much. That's all I did on the drive home," "What a superb job of telling this story! Fantastic show," as well as many others. Hearing that so many people got something out of the show was so cool and amazing to us, and it reminded me of one of the reasons I love theater so much: it affects people. It moves people, it makes them happy, it makes them think, and it can even impact people's lives. If you think about it, theater is just another form of creative ministry to reach out to people by storytelling. People can connect to stories easily, and in turn, the stories can speak to them in a way other things cannot.

Later on in the month, the most challenging curve came my way. I'm not going to give detail, but God showed me that I needed to be focused on other things in my life and to be happy with all the friends I have, and getting to know people. That is, staying single. At first, I wasn't sure if I was understanding God correctly. I spent so much time in prayer to be sure of God's leading, and as always, He is faithful. He led me so smoothly out of that situation, and I felt the utmost peace about... everything. Just every single aspect of my life. And I've never been more happy. Day by day I see even more how God knew what He was doing, and that I followed his guidance just as I should. And since then, so many happy things have been happening in my life. I prayed for peace and guidance... and I received just that. If I received one major message out of all of this, its that God's way is always the best way. Through all of it, He was there, and I trust Him even more than I did before. We serve an awesome God, people! :)

On the topic of happy things, I just returned home from St. Joseph, Missouri from Midland Regionals (Bible Quizzing, of course. ;) It had been a little while since I quizzed, maybe a month, so I was so excited to get back into it and see my quizzing family again! Besides the fact that my team did so well(so proud :), I was so glad to get connected to all my quizzing peeps once more. It really is like a big family, and I missed so many people there. It was wonderful, and gave me even more anticipation for when we all leave for Colorado in a few more weeks for nationals. #asformeandmyhousewewillBiblequiz

Also, on my way home from church today, I stopped at Starbucks (big surprise, coffee), and saw this super cute mug! I'd been looking for a Starbucks mug for a while, but I was waiting to come across one that I really liked, and that wasn't ridiculously priced. So when my eyes came in contact with this beauty, I caved. And hey, it only cost me a solid $10. Not too painful, yeah?

Until next time, my friends. Have an awesome day and remember to smile and do something you like(:

My Name is Alexander Hamilton...

Well, no, not really. But that's besides the point.

So recently, I've discovered how awesome this musical's soundtrack is. And I say soundtrack because I haven't actually seen the musical. But with how captivated I've been by the music, Hamilton is definitely on my list of Broadway musicals I want to see.

I actually first heard about Hamilton about 5 months ago when a friend of mine was talking about how much she loved it. Since then, I've been meaning to sit down and listen to it while I do homework, or something like that. But it never happened until a few days ago when I saw the opening number on the Grammys. And let me tell you, they slayyyyed. Click here to see what I mean.

As soon as I saw that performance, my immediate thought was, "I have to listen to the whole soundtrack now." So I did. Now here I am, a Hamilton junkie.

I bet most of you are wondering what Hamilton is even about. Well, it's about Alexander Hamilton. Surprising, I know. I bet you weren't expecting that. :P

Anyway, besides that, what makes this musical so different, interesting, and cool is the music itself. Rap. It's not every day you listen to a musical that's music is primarily rap. There are also plenty of vocals and singing as well, so it's not as if no one can sing. It's a nice balance, and gives a completely different flavor and style to the show. And I think it's pretty darn cool. It's no wonder Hamilton won Best Musical Theater Album at the Grammys. If you haven't given it a listen, I heartily suggest you do. Just stroll on over to good 'ole youtube.

Also, I found this really epic mashup of just a few of the songs from Hamilton this afternoon. It's called Hamilton in seven minutes, and believe me, it's more than worth seven minutes of your time. Bless your ears, and enjoy.

~Until next time~

Life Snippets

Greetings. Hi. Hello. Salutations.

So yeah, life. It's been a busy week, let me tell you. I've been doing all the classes, and theater rehearsals, and work, and practice, and reading. Just to name a few. But at least I always have something to do. I'm never left with nothing to do, so it keeps me on my toes I suppose. It's better than being bored, or having nothing to do. Besides, even if I do have those moments of free time, I always feel like I'm just forgetting something else that I need to do.

How awkward indeed.

Anyway, this week, and especially this weekend, has really worn me out. I've had ups, and I've had downs. I've been very stressed, and I've been incredibly relaxed. There hasn't really been an in between. All in all, it's made me both mentally and physically exhausted, and I just kinda want to roll up into a burrito.

And this will most likely be me every morning for the next week or so.

But you know what? Life is full of challenges and days and weeks that will wear you out, and even push you to the limit. Even though it can be stressful, and sometimes even hurtful, I welcome those days wholeheartedly. It's because of those times that I get stronger, keep busy, continue to learn and grow, and see what I am truly capable of. It's then that I see that God is working wonderful things in me and the people and places around me. Besides. It'll take a lot more than some tough days to knock me down.


Not only that, but I have some of the best friends and family on the planet. I'm totally biased. My friends are the best. No matter how crappy I feel, my friends can always brighten my day and completely change how I feel in an instant. Whether it be sending me texts or encouraging messages, getting me to laugh or smile, or just sitting there next to me. I don't know how they do it, but I sure am glad to call them mine. They're there for me even when I'm antisocial, and that's pure dedication and care right there.

That being said, not only are my friends the best humans in the world, but so is my very best friend who I've been dating for the past year. He's the most caring and supportive guy I know, and it's been so great having him in my life. I don't see him very often due to our schedules and distance away, but he's still there. A lovely gift from God that I cherish every day.

So, all in all, I have much to be thankful for. And in the end, all my blessings and positives far outweigh the challenges and negatives. We serve an awesome God, guys.

Joel

(An idea for a story beginning)

It was late June when I got word about my brother and his condition. It was serious, they’d said. They were scrambling to find the cause of his sudden illness. Searching for an infection of some sort.

He was admitted to the hospital when my dad and I were out with him at his favorite restaurant in town. It was his birthday, and pizza was that nut head’s absolute favorite. We were chatting it up, laughing at the stupidest things, and having a grand ‘ole time. All was going well until my brother’s eyes went wide as if in a panic and his hands went still as stone… and he collapsed face first into his pizza. The spectacle may have been humorous if it weren’t for the fact that my only brother was having a stroke.

He was unresponsive for an entire day. I was beginning to think the worst until the nurse came into the waiting room where my dad and I had made our new dwelling place to tell us he was conscious. A wave of relief washed over me. But then she continued.

“He is conscious… but not well. Certainly not well enough to be released.”

My heart skipped a beat.

“He’s going to have to stay here a while until we finish running tests. We’ll let you know the diagnosis as soon as we can spot what exactly is going on.” She shifted her feet. “You can come see him, but he’s still asleep.”

Without a word, I rose up to my feet and followed the nurse, my dad in tow, until we came to the room.

“Right in here,” she said before politely exiting.

I walked into that room… and took in the sight of Eli’s pale face and his ragged breathing. And a breath I didn’t know I was holding rushed out. Eli…

It was a week later that we got the call, telling us that Eli was in fact, seriously ill. I clawed and clawed at them when they said they were unsure what he was ill with. I practically yelled at them over the phone, demanding that they weren’t trying hard enough. My brother was a healthy guy, how could he just have a stroke and get sick? How?

So we waited. We waited for them to figure it out as they kept running tests on him like a guinea pig. We visited him every single day they weren’t running tests. He was actually looking better as the days went by, and hope began to rise in my chest that I would not lose my brother. I could not lose my brother. Eli would live.

A week into August, I was heading home from work when my phone went off. It was the hospital calling to let me know that Eli had passed away that afternoon.

I stopped dead in my tracks, along with my heart. Eli. Gone. I didn’t even give the nurse a response as I shut off my phone and blankly stared down at my feet on the asphalt.

I never went near pizza again.