REVIEW: "The Catastrophic History of You and Me"- BY:Jess Rothenberg

Hello book lovers!

I know what you're thinking and I'll spare you my long list of excuses. BUT truthfully ever since I finished reading "The Catastrophic History of You and Me," I've been super busy. I got a new job that is keeping me away from reading and writing as much as I would like too. And this review has been put off long enough.

Full disclosure though, I don't see this review being of great help to anyone truly wanting to understand the book better. This one will be short and mostly work off what I felt about the book, which is all good things might I add. Since it has been some time since I turned off the Nook and said good-bye to the book, it's hard for me to remember exactly what the book entailed. I can't say I'm happy with myself that I waited this long. This book was not something I hated or could have easily just said well it's not worth my time. But this book is worth it. Personally, when I think about it long enough... if I were to talk completely about the plot of the story, I would be giving too much away. Perhaps my feelings are the best way to entice you and engage your emotions towards the book.
Recently, I've been getting re-inspired to read because we all know reading inspiration is the best kind of inspiration. Anyways...

"The Catastrophic History of You and Me," appealed to my fantasy side. The side that believes in the afterlife and the magic that the "other side" can hold. Life after death books are books that speak to my soul... no pun intended. It's so fun to read about how someone else interprets the other world. For Rothenberg, she believes that we meet our soul mates in heaven... well sort of. Brie dies from a literal broker heart. Her heart completely breaks when her boyfriend breaks up with her. Her life in the after world is what I would equate to purgatory. She hasn't entered the pearly gates, she is in this limbo state where she hasn't really left her hometown but she is still so far away. She spends days at this "other world" pizzeria and awaits what happens to her next. Because there will be things that happen to her. Brie needs to learn a lot more before she enters the next phase of her other life.

Brie meets Patrick in her other world. Patrick is the one who will guide Brie through her stages of grief. But Patrick ultimately becomes more to Brie then just a mentor. He becomes her soul mate. And through their friendship she learns all about how the other side works. And how some souls get a second chance to live another life in the real world after they die at the cost of another soul in death. Brie was a previous dead soul that went back to heaven when given a second chance by Patrick and Patrick waited many years for Brie to come back.

This book definitely holds a special place in my heart. It is beautifully written and beautifully told. It's a magical story with both the ups and downs that compels you to push forward. Something interesting about this kind of life after death book is that there is a lot of time that you can spend walking around all your familiar places. And you can even harness the ability to actually touch and feel things. One of my favorite parts is that Bries dog could even see her and he even stays with her in her journey through the afterlife but still goes home in the end.The love story between Patrick and Brie can only be equated to a fairy tale. Patrick looks at Brie like she is the only thing that matters in the entire world. Brie takes some convincing but once she begins to understand the connection they have, then the magic truly begins.
There are so many good things I can say about this book, but mostly I just want you to read this book.You won't feel robbed of your time but only feel more full of life than ever. There is a special place on the top of my list for this book.

REVIEW: "The Storyteller"- BY: Jodi Picoult

There's a lot to say about "The Storyteller." But first, what I would like to say is that I'm very happy that I chose this book. I found this book at Target back in the summer and had plans on reading it on vacation but the summer got away with me and I had to put it off till now. 

Something that is hard to find at times and truly get your head into reading is: historical fiction. I love history and truly enjoy reading a book that can give you a perspective on major historical events.

"The Storyteller" is historical fiction based on the Holocaust. Just by reading the back of the book, you would have no idea that this book is about the Holocaust. So I was definitely a little surprised when a large section of the book was devoted to the main character's grandmothers story of survival during the Holocaust. Without this section, I think this book would have fell flat. 

The book had three sections. The first was developing the main character and the story line that leads up to the second section, which is about the Holocaust. Sage is the main character, and she has been through a lot. She is only 25 and lost both her parents. The one thing in life she is sure of is her ability to bake bread. She works at a bakery during the middle of the night so that the bakery can be full by morning. Once her shift is over, she goes home and sleeps. She classifies herself as a loner. She only gets of the house when she is meeting up with her lover, who is married. They met at her moms wake because he was the funeral director. She walks around trying to hide the large scar she has on her face. But you never find out why she has the scar. 

Josef, a very old but respected man in the neighborhood comes into the bakery everyday. Sage against her will talks to Josef because she feels bad that he comes in all alone. Before long, they build a friendship and Josef tells her that he used to be an officer during the Holocaust and did the wort imaginable things. He ask her a huge favor. He wants her to help him die. Josef feels that he is being punished because he can't die and he has no one left in his life. 

Sage battles with this decision, But she ultimately feels she needs to tell the authorities. She gets in contact with Leo, another main character, whose job it is to convict former Nazi's. 

This leads us up the section where, Leo and Sage get to listen to her grandmother, Minka's story about her time in the Holocaust. It was one of the most vividly, amazingly examples of historical fiction I have ever read. It was full of real emotion and it made me wonder just how horrible some things in life truly are. It made me so grateful to be where I am today. 

Eventually, they find out that Josef was the man that killed Minka's friend during the Holocaust. This was enough to get him convicted. However, Minka dies the night after she tells the story. Now they no longer have a witness to identify the man to the murder. Their only next course of action is to get Josef to confess to the murder on tape. Sage successfully completes that mission but is still torn on whether she should help him die. Leo wants him to go to jail but ultimately Sage takes it upon herself and poisons him and doesn't tell anyone she is doing it. Leo and the police find him dead in his house. 

However, when you think the book is over, the plot twists and leaves Sage completely speechless. I don't like to give away the ending of books because I'm not running a spoiler blog but I truly believe this book will help you to grow as a person and change your perspective on different cultures and walks of life. 

REVIEW: "Paper Towns" - BY: John Green

It's not a surprise that John Green can write a good book. He is quickly becoming my go- to author if I'm ever stuck wondering what to read next. Coincidentally, that is exactly what led me to read this book, "Paper Towns."
If you go look back through my blog, you can see I've read 2 other John Green books and if you have read those blog entries, then you know that I must have had VERY high expectations for this book. However, for some reason I find that I have an almost sixth sense about books. I can take one good look at the book without almost barely reading the synopsis to know if I will like the book or not. This book set off my sensors and I told my expectations to simmer down a bit. I held off reading this book for quite a bit for those same reasons. I just was not ready to be disappointed quite yet, but privy to my needs I thought of my wonderful blog and knew I needed to suck up my inhibitions and dive right in.

Set in sunny Orlando, Florida, where Quentin ("Q") and Margo lived just right next door, you would find a mostly normal suburban families. Q and Margo were friends since day one and Q began to fall in love with her from that day. However, when they were around 9 years old, Q and Margo went to the park alone and stumbled upon a body of a man who had just killed himself. That one experience could surely scar a young kids life. For Q he was able to adjust normally. However, for Margo it ignited Margo's sense of mystery and wonder and she was never the same again. Margo and Q never saw each other again after that day at the park, even though they still lived next door.

Where they left off, the book picks up many years later, just a few months away from Q and Margo graduating from college. Q never stopped loving Margo but from a far. He saw her like a precious jewel that you love to stare at but too afraid to touch. Q made other friends but mostly drifted through high school. However, Margo was part of the popular crowd. She was someone that everyone envied. But Margo had a mysterious side. She would randomly run away and go missing for a few days because she had a tough home life and most importantly for this book, because she felt like a paper girl in a paper town. She had real fears of being stuck in a paper town...

One day Margo climbs through Q's window and persuades him to take a revenge adventure with her. Margo planned this elaborate scheme to get back at all those who wronged her and she also let Q get some revenge of his own. At the end of their night long journey, Q thought this was going to be the start of something really special between them, however it wasn't exactly in the way he had planned. The next day Margo disappeared again but this time she didn't go come back. Margo left some clues behind on where she was headed and it took Q two months and on graduation day to figure it out. Q, along with his pals Ben his girlfriend Lacy  and Radar went on an almost 24 hour road trip to find and save Margo. Q thought once he found her he could bring her home and start over, but what he found was a girl who was not willing to leave and be a paper girl in a paper town. She was a mystery and a mystery she remained.

Now I wish I could tell you what a paper town is or even what a paper girl is ... and I don't want to discredit John Green for his attempt at an explanation, but I just don't get enough understanding of the main underlying theme of this book and for that it makes  this book almost lack luster. There is so much potential for this book and truly it reaches some high points because John Green yet again delivers with deep and profound prose that make you look at life in a much more spectacular way. But the ending leaves me wanting so much more, it is so difficult to wrap my head around a young girl who runs away to the middle of nowhere in an abandoned barn all alone. Also, her family basically disowned her which is just about the nail in the coffin. It's hard to fathom this kind of reality and I feel a lot of this book will go right over people's heads, but what saved the book for me was John Green's magnificent charm that just never seems to disappoint.

REVIEW: "If I Stay" - BY: Gayle Forman

Long overdue, but here none the less...

"If I Stay" is not a new book to me. Almost 3 years ago, I was browsing the book store with a friend of mine. When she spotted the book, she told me that this was definitely one I had to read. I could tell by her reaction that I knew I needed to find out what made this book so great. 

Fast forward to present time, "If I Stay" is just days away from its movie premiere and like any book lover, you need to read the book before you watch the movie. So in book lover fashion, I dug out this book and decided to re-enter a book with no hesitation. 

First off, I love the plot of this book. The concept is right on track with the kind of premise for books that I enjoy. I would like to disclaim that I'm not necessarily in love with the pure tragedy of the book. However, I am into reading about things that I either have not experienced or things beyond human explanation. Basically, far out things that only our imaginations can explore properly. 

This all relates back to the core of this book, which is the tragic story of a family who went out for a drive on a snowy day and got plowed by a truck. There's no easy way to explain it. Mia without realizing it wakes up after the accident and sees her dead family laying on the side of the road. The only person she can't find is her little brother Teddy. When she thinks she found him, she actually finds her own body and starts to realize what has happened. Mia is having an out of body experience. She is somewhere between life and death but she doesn't really know. She follows her body as it is rushed to the hospital. It is there where she will make her life changing decision, whether she stays and lives or goes and dies.... You can see there is so much intrigue with this kind of story. No one really knows what that is like because this kind of experience doesn't happen everyday.

Mia doesn't have much to live for. She lost her whole family in one swipe. The only thing she has left is her boyfriend Adam, who wants nothing more then for her to stay. Adam and Mia have a charming high school love story, where to seemingly to opposite types of people find love over music. Music is another theme of this book, which I think is the gap that makes the book actually have something to work with. But, I digress... Mia has to make an almost impossible decision until she Adam finally gets to touch her and it all makes sense. 

Of course, I'm giving you the short version. There is so much back story intertwined in this book that reading it the second time it seems almost unnecessary. However, I started to think a little deeper about the need for the back story and I thought: Mia is between life and death, it's possible that in this state you reflect on some really significant or memorable times in your life. This makes the most sense to me. The back story gave me a great perspective on this family and you can't help but fall in love with the whole clan. 

"If I Stay," is one of those books that I will always recommend. Reading it a second time did open my eyes to a few things that warped my initial feelings toward the book. The font type makes the book a quick and easy read and you don't find out until the very last page the decision that Mia makes. Some things that I'm not so happy about is that you don't even get a hint or an idea of what happens after she makes her decision. It just ends abruptly. Also, you never truly find out what happened to Teddy. She just made a probably accurate, but non the less an assumption. No one even talks about the loss of her family. They are just keeping vigil waiting for her to wake up. I think there was a miss in this area. Overall,  this book makes the list and doesn't disappoint to charm all those who let it. 

REVIEW: "13 Reasons Why"- BY: Jay Asher

As I promised, here is another book review!

For "13 Reasons Why," I had fairly high expectations going into it. I had heard from a friend that it was so good and had always meant to borrow it, but never did. So when I got my new Nook from my boyfriend, I wanted to load it up with good books for myself and for the blog. One of the suggestions was this book and I felt why not!

To give a quick overview of this already popular book, it is about Hannah Baker,suicidal girl in high school who recorded and mailed out the tapes of her talking to each of the 13 people that caused her to get to this hopeless place. However, the narrator of this story, Clay Jensen, is one of those unfortunate souls that caused Hannah to kill herself. Clay had a crush on Hannah ever since she transferred to his school, but never had the courage to truly talk to her or start a relationship because of the unfortunate events that created Hannah's harsh reputation. Clay happened to be the ninth person on Hannah's list and he struggles with every story that passes and wishes he could have done so much more and realized that Hannah was so lost.
We follow Clay on the recorded journey that Hannah takes you with the map she left for those select few to follow to the places where these events happened.

My initial reactions to this book even from the very beginning was confused. I never got a good connection to this book. Maybe I am to blame for that one because my reading habits became a bit sporadic, but there was something almost too cliche that it made me build a wall from really sinking deep into the pages.
To be perfectly honest, I don't see the real hype for this book. I can definitely appreciate the messages behind the story and for that I think it is brilliant. It is a good lesson in learning that every decisions you make can effect someones life. It definitely made me more self aware.
However, I don't think the writing was all that fantastic. And maybe it is just me who feels that the writing style greatly affects my opinion of the book, but I definitely can see how this would affect my connection to this book.

I wouldn't say that this book was terrible by any means. I love the concept, even though it might be about something as morbid as suicide. But anything that can teach a lesson and make you think and intrigue you learn more about what is going on in someone's head who has decided to kill herself. I love reading about the inner workings and most personal thoughts in someones mind. That whole concept intrigued me from the very beginning but I just felt that the writing style throughout the book was very obvious and just not as deep as to what I expected.

Either way, I hear this book is going to be a movie and for that I think it is worth a read.
Let me know what you thought of this book or any other books you might want me to read next !

Life Update

Hey!

I've been wanted to write a quick life update post for a little while now.

A lot of life changes have been happening for instance, I graduated college and started working on some new projects! Graduating college was definitely the proudest moment of my life. Sometimes I get upset that I'm not where I want to be in life exactly but I'm working on it everyday and praying that all my dreams come true. Sometimes things in life take time to develop and I'll keep working hard to make things happen. 

In the meantime, I recently get a "freelance" position working with an independent publisher doing book publicity. I'll be working with beside the authors to help them go through all the stages of writing a book and then doing the publicity work afterwards. I'm excited to get this opportunity and hopefully it will be the start I need to launch my career.

I'll definitely be excited to share some of the projects I'll be working on, considering it pertains to books which is obviously what this blog is all about. 

I feel fortunate to get this experience under my belt but I won't stop putting my time into this blog which is like my baby.

Hope you all have a great week and the best start to the summer ! 

Get ready for a new book review coming in the very near future. 

Ciao,

Cheryl 

REVIEW: "To All The Boys I've Loved Before"- BY: Jenny Han

Hello everyone,

Here's another review for you, like I promised. 

I've heard a lot of good things about Jenny Han and I've also heard about her previous books being bestsellers and there was plenty of hype for "To All The Boys I've Loved Before," so it's safe to say that I had decently high expectations...

So, I'd like to say this book was amazing, that it was everything I wanted and more... but unfortunately this is not the case. This book lacks something so trivial and fundamental to any book out there.. an ENDING. 

Nothing and I mean nothing in this world annoys me more than a disappointing book. I just wasted "X" amount of  days or weeks on a book that should be able to a least leave me somewhat satisfied but this book was so pointless I wanted to throw my Nook out the window. 

Now, I can't say the book was entirely bad. It had a slow start and I was trying to give the book the benefit of the doubt through all the cliches and underdeveloped characters. The writing was so elementary that I was wondering if the author had someone else write her other books. Anyways, you have to get through the muddy beginning to get to what you probably truly wanted to get to when reading a YA novel...

Three sisters: Margot, Lara Jean and Kitty are close as sisters can be since their mom died a few years back. Margot took on the mother role and is now going off to college leaving Lara Jean to take over. Kitty was too young to remember their mother so the sisters try to be there for her as much as they can.. To be honest Kitty was the most delightful of all the characters, however maybe too mature for a supposed nine year old. 

Josh, their neighbor and Margot's boyfriend, is heartbroken when Margot breaks up with him before going off to Scotland to go to college. However, Lara Jean has liked Josh for some time and tries to be there for him when Margot leaves. 

However, this is where it gets tricky. Lara Jean has written love letters to every boy she has liked or loved as goodbye letters when she knew it was not meant to be. She stored them in a hat box but then one day the letters were "mysteriously" sent out to all the boys, (Josh and Peter) which leaves Lara Jean traumatized and devises this plan with an old friend Peter to pretend to be bf/gf to keep Josh away and also get back at Peter's ex girlfriend, and Lara Jeans former friend Genevieve.

Are you confused yet? There is a constant struggle to understand who Lara Jean really likes, Josh or Peter. Where the story really picks up is when Peter, the supposed "ladies man," starts to actually fall for Lara Jean when that was against the "contract" of their relationship. I was so into the Peter and Lara Jean relationship aspect that it was actually changing my mind about the book. However, when Josh kissed Lara Jean and Margot find outs and LJ pushes Peter away, all hell breaks loose and then nothing is ever the same... nothing. The book literally ends with Lara Jean making up with Margot and Josh but the whole Peter relationship just goes unresolved even though Lara Jean really wants to be with him. It was just left to the imagination. 

I know this might sound a bit rambled, but I needed to delve more into this story for everyone to understand just how unappealing this book really is. It hurts me to have to write such a negative review but the book has no real conclusive ending and that is just not acceptable to me. I'm not entirely discouraging anyone from reading it, I'm just warning you that you will probably want to scream into a pillow when it's over. You have been warned.

Happy One Year Book Bound !

Hey!

I know I'm a little late, and the official blog anniversary was May 31st, I still wanted to make a special post about this special milestone. One year of blogging is something that I am truly proud of. It means a lot if you, right there at your computer who probably has a million things to do, is reading this post. I appreciate even a second of your time. As I've said before, starting this blog hasn't always been easy but it's pretty much my favorite thing I have ever done. It makes me happy to do something that I love and that is all I've ever wanted. I might not be blog famous but somewhere out there, who ever you are, is reading this and enjoying my blog. Thanks to any who has reached out or commented in any way. Please, feel free to tell your friends and family about the blog, because I promise that I want to make this blog something great.

Starting a successful blog has been a dream of mine for so long, and just writing this means I'm participating in my dreams. A year ago I started to make my dreams happen and everyday I think I'm getting a little bit closer. 

Before I end the post, I wanted to give a brief update on everything that is going on behind the scenes. Currently, I'm reading "To All the Boys I've Loved Before" By Jenny Han. I've heard some great things about this new release and I'm already forming my own opinions on the book. Also for my birthday, I received a new Nook from my boyfriend. (He's the best). So I've been buying new books and I have a few more books in the wing just waiting to be red and reviewed so keep your eyes on the blog because there is going to be plenty to read and interact with. 

So that's all folks ! Thanks so much and always stay book bound! 

Ciao,

Cheryl 

REVIEW: "There's More To Life Than This"- BY: Theresa Caputo

Happy One Year Anniversary Book Bound!! I'm so excited that my journey with this blog has reached the one year mark. Thank you for reaching this far with me. I knew from the conception of the idea that it was going to be one of the best things I've ever decided to do. It may not always be easy but what in life ever truly is.... I plan to write a special one year post in a few days.

And all this talk about life brings us to the major topic discussed in Theresa Caputo's new book, "There's More To Life Than This." Let me tell you something first, I have always been fascinated with the afterlife. I think I've always been fascinated in things that I can't understand and that is so beyond anything this world could comprehend. It's that one mystery in life. So when I first heard about Theresa Caputo a few years ago and watched her show I was floored but skeptical. We all know the conception of "psychics" or those who know things that the average person can't or who talks to dead people or who can predict the future. You'd think that if this stuff was so serious, they would be monitored by the government and used to battle serious situations or something of that sort. It seems like their gift is something that shouldn't be mocked. Those were my first thoughts about Theresa but after watching her show for a while and learning more about her, before even reading the book, I've grown to accept her gift as real and pure and that maybe there is something more here that I just don't know about yet.

Let me tell you right off the bat that before you even read this review, go read her book. I'm telling you this because I don't want to spoil the magic that is inside this book. I don't just recommend it, I am campaiging for it. I'm telling everyone I know about this book and to me I feel it's almost mandatory. Call me naive but I genuinely feel that my soul has changed since reading this book. It has brought new hope into my life and joy that I wasn't expecting at first. I expected to just read some amazing stories about those she has read for but what I got was something much more special and much more important. I got something that I feel everyone should get and that is just to get inspired and to get working on changing your life for the better. To really think about what we do in this life and the consequences it could have in the next. It's truly eye- opening.

Theresa tells a compelling 10 chapter story about her journey to accepting her gift and how her gift has impacted so many lives. But that's not even the soul changing part. My favorite sections are when she discusses what she knows about the afterlife, what happens when we die and how our souls are connected to our loved ones even when they die. And most importantly the actions we take in this life and how they effect the next. There is SO much that I never knew before. SO much that just made me stop and think, "I'm not doing nearly enough." "I'm not living nearly as much as I should be." Of course it's easier said then done and she says that herself but if you try a little each day to become a better person to "grow your soul," as she puts it, and get closer to God at the end of it all, then it's all worth it.

There is so much about life in general that Theresa discusses, such as how our souls picked us or the past lives they've had. The choice we have when we get to heaven and the impact our thoughts and feelings can have on our soul. She discusses the reason behind traumas and illnesses and just why things happen. She also makes a point that everyone can have the power, in some capacity, to connect with our loved ones like she does. It may not be as strong but Spirit could make it happen.

There are so many lessons to be learned in this book that I couldn't possible reiterate them all without writing the whole book for ya. What I want everyone to get across from reading this book is that we have the power to choose where we go from here, maybe some things are predestined, but we have the power to make the best of what we have. God loves a cheerful giver and we will see when we get there. But in the mean time, read the book, enjoy life and believe that God and Spirit is looking out for us. Turn to them and listen to the everyday signs they are giving us that we are too blind to see. It's all part of the plan.

Happy Easter Book Bound!

Hey everyone!! 

Happy Easter to everyone and especially to many new faces that have started following the Book Bound! I am soooo excited to have you be a part of this wonderful community. Please do not hesitate for a second to comment or send a message to share your thoughts about books or anything. I love being able to connect with my followers who I appreciate beyond the words I can express to you all.

A quick update: I will be graduating college in a month, a month from yesterday to be exact and I am beyond excited. As some may know, the last semester in college is  truly a challenge and I feel bad that I haven't been able to devote the time I want to the blog. I know I sound like a broken record. However, I plan on reading my heart out this summer no matter where life takes me career wise. I want to make this blog my life's work, no matter the outcome.  Reading is something I have always enjoyed and being able to share my opinions with you has truly been a blessing in my life. Thank you once again.

As always your suggestions are greatly appreciated, I am hoping to start reading very soon... "There's More to Life Than This," by Theresa Caputo, aka Long Island Medium. I have always been fascinated by her gift and I'm expecting her book to only increase my fascination. Hoping for big things!

Have a great day everyone !!

Ciao, 

Cheryl

REVIEW: "Growing Up Duggar"- BY: Jana, Jill, Jessa and Jinger Duggar

It’s all about relationships according to the four oldest Duggar girls from TLC’s 19 Kids and Counting, in their new book, “Growing Up Duggar.”  Jana, Jill, Jessa and Jinger reveal what it is like to living with 18 brothers and sisters, all the while trying to navigate into womanhood. Even though their lives are played out on TV, the Duggar girls wrote a book to answer the multitude of messages they receive from their fans who want to know so much more about their lives.

            The book is divided into sections that each deal with a different relationship that encompass our lives and how important it is to keep those relationships strong.

“Those relationships begin the way God created us and seeking His purpose for our lives,” the girls said.

These relationships consist of the ones we have with ourselves, our parents, friends and siblings. They explain the most anticipated section is the discussion about their relationship with boys and how they will find the one for them. Beyond those topics are the ways they serve their culture, country and the world.

            If you didn’t already know the Duggar’s are a devotedly Christian family that believes in living a life with morals and character. The Duggar children grew up with no TV or Internet and were homeschooled. Their choice of movies is a limited selection chosen by their parents. Most of our childhoods would not look quite the same to the Duggar family. They don’t update Facebook or Twitter because it adds nothing of value to their lives.

“While there is nothing inherently wrong with social networking and it is possible for these things to be used as a tool for ministry, they can often be big time wasters,” the girls said.

It is hard at times, while reading, not to think that this book is taking on an air of preaching. The Duggar girls tread lightly when it comes to explaining why they live their life the way they do.

“We know how weird we must seem to a lot of you, with our different style of dressing and our conservative Christian beliefs,” the girls said.  

They believe in not kissing before marriage, wearing clothes that don’t expose their cleavage or thighs and they don’t have to be told more than once to do something their parents ask them. They back up their convictions with passages from the Bible to prove that God wants you to follow those same rules too.

Although their story is far from the norm, more than once it will make you reflect on your own life and figure out where it all went wrong. However, underneath their sermon like demeanor they are still young girls in their 20’s that have the same emotions and concerns as the rest of us.

They try their best to present a different way of life that brings them the most joy and fulfillment. They are so self-confident and happy with who they are as individuals because they aren't falling victim to peer pressure or outside influence from other kids their age. They live their life to serve others and ultimately to foster their ultimate relationship with God. There is something to be said about 19 kids that only believe in doing the right thing.

UPDATE: Figuring It Out

Hey!

Wanted to make a short and sweet update. Clearly, it shows that I have some difficulty with keeping up with blogging on a regular basis but with good reason. Graduating college is no joke and I'm stuck somewhere in the middle of wanting it all the end and wanting to crawl back into the womb because this is not a fun experience, let me tell you. Just imagine being on the edge of a cliff with no way off but to jump. Jumping is the hardest part because you have no idea where you are going to land and you're scared of all the possibilities that could just crush you. On the other hand you could just stay where you are and live in complete denial about life and it's realities. Taking that jump is scary. I'm dangling on the cliff at this moment. Holding on for dear life because the landing is just so uncertain...

This is my good reason for goofing up and not reviewing or reading much for that matter. I did read the next Lord of the Rings book but I realized that those books are far

too complex to truly give a justifiable review. Just not in the cards for this blog. HOWEVER, I did just finish reading "Growing Up Duggar." Kind of loved it. I have my opinions on it and hope to share them with you soon, however, I also am in the middle of working on some major senior projects I need to focus on so blogging has to be put somewhere in the back but in a spare moment I am going to bring you the review I hope will really intrigue people to want to read for themselves.

Ciao,
Cheryl :)

My Life So Far

I guess it's safe to say that I took the road less traveled by. I always believed in passions over stability. It's easy enough to choose a major or a career because you know it will be easy to find a job and your whole life could be set but I challenge that idea. Life is too short and too precious to waste fitting into some "mold" and conforming to society.

I've thought long and hard about what I wanted to do with my life, even though I feel I have felt a certain way for a really long time. Ever since I can remember I have loved to read and books where the best presents I ever got. In life you tend to cling to what makes the most sense in the chaos. For those reasons I've picked a few careers or jobs since childhood. I remember some of my first ideas were that I wanted to work at a supermarket and be a cashier.... This was my earliest and most naive of childhood dreams. I don't know what it was but I liked the simplicity of scanning the items, placing them in the bag and taking the money. Something so simple and trivial I found so fascinating and inspiring.

I remember my next dream was to become a librarian. Often times growing up, my mom would take me to the library to check out books. I found this to be so exciting and thrilling and where I like to attribute my start for my love of books. Again, I loved the simplicity of the lady who checked out my books. I loved when she would scan them and stamp the return date on the little card that was placed inside the front cover. Something about the repetition made it seem interesting, probably something I will never understand.

As I got older, I become exposed to magazines and they become obsessions of mine. To me, they were like short books. They had interesting stories and graphics and featured my favorite celebrities. I mostly loved reading the teen magazines where I could catch up on the latest gossip and stay up to date. From then on I knew that I wanted to produce a magazine with exciting content that young girls would love. I had so many ideas but I had no idea about the complexity of actually trying to achieve that goal. I just had an idea and ideas as kids or young adults seem obtainable because we never really had a major obstacle to overcome. Nothing in our lives were complicated and our minds were not yet warped by the stresses of reality. I held onto that dream for as long as I could. Even when I started college I held onto that dream. I didn't know what to expect and I just thought that somehow and someway it was going to happen. I kept pushing the fears away until I realized that I needed to face them and realize what I was up against. I also needed to listen to my heart and know that maybe my passions were changing.

Even though I continued to be a Journalism major in the hopes that it would lead me in the right direction, I knew I had other goals. After being exposed to different fields and listening to my inner voice, I decided that books is where my heart will always stay. My latest and current passion is to be a book publisher. Maybe I don't know the technical term, but I want to be the one who reads the books and will decided whether they are worth publishing or not. I want to be a part of the birth of the next great novel or series. That is what really excites me. The strange thing about all this is that my current goal isn't much easier to achieve. I think I'm more comforted by it because I know my passion will get me there. I'm more connected to this goal then I was to the other. It's definitely still an interesting career and for one in which I will be jealous of.

I know that everything happens for a reason and the reasons might not always make sense, but I have to believe that if there is something out there that I want, that it is not impossible to achieve it.

I started my last semester of college just 3 weeks ago and we were all asked what our future looks like after graduation. I don't really have a clue and what comforted me was that no one did either. It was strange to hear that because I didn't feel so alone and I didn't feel lost anymore. I still don't know where I am going EXACTLY but I have a good idea as to which direction I want to go in. There are big things out there for me, I just hope I find them.

REVIEW: The Hobbit - By J.R.R Tolkien

** Before I write a review for "The Hobbit," I want to fill everyone in on the latest that has happend in my book life. Recently, my boyfriend told me that he wanted to watch "The Hobbit." At first, I was hesitant because I always had this idea in my mind that "The Lord of The Rings" was only for nerds and it was the most boring movie that would make me want to claw my eyes out. However, "The Hobbit" was a tad more inciting and with much pestering and  persuading, I caved a watched the first part of "The Hobbit" movie. Even though it was a 3 hour movie, I really loved the adventure story line and felt that it was exactly what I was looking for in my next book. After going to the theaters and watching the second Hobbit movie, it would be safe to say that me and my boyfriend became hooked on the series. It was all we could think and talk about. My boyfriend being the impulsive buyer, bought the set of books that contained "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings." He also bought all of the LOTR movies on blue ray that has extended versions and bonus material. Yes, we nerded out quite a bit. SO these next few blog posts will be sponsored and dedicated to my boyfriend Chris who supports me no matter what.**

"The Hobbit" which is largely an adventure book does not fail to deliver. Again, as a side note, I had some reservations going into the book because I was afraid it was going to be dry and filled with complex jargon and content that would go straight over my head and I would be lost. Nothing makes me more mad when reading when I get so lost and confused that I have no understanding of what I have just read that the book loses all meaning. I entered the book with caution both in the speed of how I read and the focus. I wanted to make sure that I could remember and understanding everything that is true about the book and not just what the movies portray. 

"The Hobbit" is truly a transport book, which is my way of saying a book that brings you out of reality and into a different time and place within the book. Transport books are not only my favorite kinds of books but the main reason I love reading. The main character is Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit. He is recruited by Gandalf The Great, the wizard, who wants him to be the burglar in the adventure with the dwarves who want to reclaim their home under the mountain that Smag, the dragon who destroyed their home and is residing it in. Smaug loves gold and treasure which brought him to destroy their home and claim it as his home. Throrin, the next king after his father and grandfather had died under Smaug, is leading the pack back to their home. I hope that I haven't lost any of you yet. I do find it quite difficult to truly translate this complex book. I won't try to tackle the complexities but I would like to get across the epic adventure tale that "The Hobbit" encompasses. Even though I have seen the first two movies, I was still very enthralled in the book.

Bilbo has the job of going into the mountain, where the dragon lives and retrieve some of the gold that belongs to the dwarves. When he gets there, he soon realizes that his job is more than just to retrieve some treasure, he will have to try to kill the dragon. But the dragon does not stay to be killed but rather to kill and goes off into the night sky. Before all this happened, Bilbo and the dwarves have to go through many lands and fight many battles to get to the mountain. It is with these adventures that truly bring out the magical world.

I found so many things that I love about this book. Not only because of the thrilling adventures but also because of the great narrating and story telling like it was written in a time that was of old. "The Hobbit" is an enchanting novel and I am so excited to start the LOTR trilogy. I recently just finished the movies and I am excited to see where the books transport me next.

** Stay tuned for the next part of the enchanting story.**

REVIEW: So Happy Together- By Maryann McFadden

"So Happy Together," was a pleasant surprise. As you could probably guess by the length of time it took me to write a new post, it took me a while to truly commit to the book. I was hesitant at first because I was afraid the book was going to be a let down. I truly hate starting a book and getting part way through and just hating every second of it. I don't like to spoil my love of books and reading. I am also nearing the end of my winter break and I was afraid that I would have spent my whole winter break without reading and missing the opportunity, so I reluctantly dove into the book and let the chips fall where they may. 

To reiterate, I was pleasantly surprised by how the book made me feel. I was expecting the book to be a bit more mature for my liking but I think it was the perfect book for me and my life at this moment. "So Happy Together" made you feel very introspective. The whole time you were on a wave with the whole family as they were trying to maneuver through their broken lives. In truth, the book is a great reflection of an average American life. You grow up and go through trials and tribulations that make you realize that maybe your parents were right all along and you should have listened to them because then maybe you wouldn't be so stuck in your life. As you get older, you also learn  more about your parents then you could have imagined and learn that maybe you will never really know someone all that well, even if you have lived with them all your life... These are just some of the themes that play out in "So Happy Together." It is a book that helps you to realize that being selfish is okay and following your dreams could lead to bigger and better things that you didn't know you wanted. And most importantly to follow your heart above all else because your heart knows you best. 

Throughout the book I found myself reflecting on my life. This book was a great read for me at this time in my life because I am at a precipice of my college education. I'm graduating in May and hoping beyond all hope that my dreams after college come true. It is not always easy to put your self first and change your life because it is what you want more than anything, but it is what is meant to be. You can't think about the moments you missed, you can only try to save yourself from missing the moments that are to come and hope that you will be present and ready to accept the opportunities that come your way. I hope that my future holds nothing but happy days and love in my heart and that it always be book bound.