HP

Dear Harry Potter,

Thanks for making me bawl my eyes out the day I turned 11 and my Hogwarts invite didn't come.

Thanks for making me stay up night after night with my nightlight on under my blankets reading your books as a kid.

Thanks for having Hermione as your BFF, she made me want to become a "smart" girl.

Thanks for growing up with me and making me go to midnight book and movie releases even at the age of 20.

And last but not least, thanks for making me miss England tonight like no ones business!

Title Tuesday: Slaughterhouse Five

This week's Title Tuesday is 

Slaughterhouse Five 

Written by Kurt Vonnegut. This book is in my top 5 favorite books of all time. Throughout his career, Vonnegut wrote amazing novels and is known as one of the most influential American writers. 

Written in 1969, Slaughterhouse Five is a science fiction novel depicting the experiences of Billy Pilgrim, a soldier during WWII who experiences the bombings of Dresden. The book is also a semi-biographical story, influenced by Vonnegut's own experiences during his time in the war. I know a lot of you may be thrown off by the novel upon realizing that it is science fiction. But, I assure you, you will not be disappointed. Upon hearing this information myself, I was immediately concerned I would not like it (I highly despise science fiction novels), but my Senior composition teacher assured me it was beautifully written and encouraged me to try it regardless. I cannot believe it took me so long to discover this novel, it is amazing. Although it does illustrate some strange events; such as time traveling and extra terrestrial activity, Vonnegut's philosophy about life and his humanitarian ideals shine through every word. 

I highly encourage you all to pick up this book!

Here's one of my favorite excerpts:

Billy licked his lips, thought a while, inquired at last: "Why me?"

"That is a very Earthling question to ask, Mr. Pilgrim. Why you? Why us for that matter? Why anything? Because this moment simply is. Have you ever seen bugs trapped in amber?"

"Yes." Billy, in fact, had a paperweight in his office which was a blob of polished amber with three ladybugs embedded in it.

"Well, here we are, Mr. Pilgrim, trapped in the amber of this moment. There is no why."- Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse Five

Proof: we DO study in our household

My parents back home have a hard time believing that I am actually studying here and doing my homework and not just taking trips all the time. So, today as we were studying at my house, I decided to take some shots during our study break to prove to them that I am being studious!

Did you see all those notes and books?? No, we didn't stage these shots, we DO study! 

And no, we weren't simultaneously watching the original Batman series, or Scrubs, or Friends on tv...

Title Tuesday: Man's Search for Meaning

I've been thinking about new things for the blog, seeing as my resolution for this year was to keep this more updated; which I am already slacking in, I'm sorry. But, I figured I should start a new segment and put my English literature skills to use. 

Title Tuesday

Each week I'll be spotlighting a favorite book of mine, in hopes that some of you will pick it up and enjoy it as much as I did. 

Starting out with one of my favorites:

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

I first came across Frankl's work my senior year in high school. We did an existentialism unit in my senior composition class. Even though most of my class paid no particular attention to the subject, I was instantly fascinated by the philosophy. 

Man's Search for Meaning was written in 1946 by Viktor Frankl. The book chronicles Frankl's experiences in a concentration camp during the war. The book describes his psychotherapeutic method for finding a reason to live during his horrific experience. It is composed of two parts: Part one deals with his analysis of his experiences that took place in the camp, followed by Part two; which then introduces his ideas of the meaning of life and his theory of logotherapy.

Through his experiences, Frankl comes to the conclusion that the meaning of life is in every moment that is lived. Life never ceases to have meaning, even during times of hardship. He describes the intensity of life and the importance of acknowledging it. Frankl further describes the beauty of life and the ability that humans have of choosing our meaning with each choice that we make. 

Frankl's work was a definite source of inspiration that year for me, and still continues to have an impact in my life. I walked away from that class with a new outlook on life and aware of the intensity of life that Frankl describes in the book. 

Man's Search for Meaning has been ranked among the top 10 most influential books and it is a definite read for everyone. 

So, take a trip to the library, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, you name it, and pick up a copy!

i'm not dead

I'm not dead, I swear. Just far too busy hitting the books right now. I promise updates and pictures soon! 

my love/hate relationship with Shakespeare

When I first decided to come to the UK to study, my focus was shakespeare. I mean, there is not a more perfect place to study his work, duh! So my crazy little self enrolled herself in two shakespeare classes in very high levels here at Royal. I figured it wouldn't be all that hard......boy was I wrong. The classes here make my literature classes back in the States seem like a complete joke. My reading lists for the week are comparable to the reading lists for the entire semester back in Arizona. Basically, what I am trying to say is that I already have no life and my life will now be consumed by Shakespeare and his material poetic buddies. Don't take me wrong, I love me some Shakespeare, his work does not compare. But, as I am sitting in the library staring at the massive amounts of reading I have, I really despise him.

i shall become THE shakespeare master, fingers crossed.

wardrobe

so i am moving to london. which means new wardrobe right? exactly.

got my eyes on these babies.

in love with this website right now. i don't even care if i look like a complete english lit nerd while i am there.

also,

you want to be mind blown by a wonderful piece of literature??

read Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller. just finished it for my american lit class. i.am.in.love.

in "love" as in i sat on my couch for twenty minutes after finishing it completely mind blown.

oh hi

Welcome to my Fall semester....

already have a ton of reading homework

yummmmmm

Loving this

This past week I was lucky enough to find some great book deals. I picked up an American Poetry book and a Robert Frost poetry book all for 50 cents. Love it. 

 Here's one of my favorites:

The Past

by Ralph Waldo Emerson

The debt is paid,
The verdict said,
The Furies laid,
The plague is stayed.
All fortunes made;
Turn the key and bolt the door,
Sweet is death forevermore.
Nor haughty hope, nor swart chagrin,
Nor murdering hate, can enter in.
All is now secure and fast;
Not the gods can shake the Past;
Flies-to the adamantine door
Bolted down forevermore.
None can reënter there,—
No thief so politic,
No Satan with a royal trick
Steal in by window, chink, or hole,
To bind or unbind, add what lacked,
Insert a leaf, or forge a name,
New-face or finish what is packed,
Alter or mend eternal Fact.