Booking It: Fangirl

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

{source}

Description

Cath is a Simon Snow fan.

Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan...But for Cath, being a fan is her life--and she's really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; It's what got them through their mother leaving. 

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fanfiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath's sister has mostly grown away from the fandom, but Cath can't let it go. She doesn't want to.

Now that they're going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn't want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She's got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend; a fiction-writing professor who thinks fanfiction is the end of the civilized world; a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words...and she can't stop worrying about her dad, who's loving and fragile and has never really been alone. 

For Cath, the question is: Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

My Thoughts:

This. Book. I have no words. I just loved it so freaking much that I just...

I want to read it and reread it and reread it again. Like, seriously, I loved it. It's not too often that I find a book like this one, that I just love so much that I want to cry just because I finished it. I don't even know what I should do with myself now that it's over. (I have three other books picked out to read, but all I want to do is swoon over this one some more). Seriously. Just read it. 

It's absolutely flawless.

Cath was a really relatable character. She was quirky and funny and really shy. And the changes that we see in her throughout the book were phenomenal. And Levi...oh my gosh, Levi. Just. I want one. Okay, bye. 

My Rating:

{Can I give it like 100/5 stars? Is that I thing?--probably not).

Okay. Definitely, without a doubt, 5/5 stars. It's amazing. 

Read it. 

Okay, so you all know that I loved Eleanor & Park as well, and even though it's hard...Rainbow Rowell has just become one of my favorite authors of all time. She's tied with John Green. And that's saying something. Okay.

Read on.

Move

Just thought that I'd share a poem that I wrote recently.

I try to find my way through the labyrinth of thoughts.

It's hard for me to keep trying sometimes.

I want to be alive.

To live.

To love.

To breathe.

But sometimes the air just won't fill my lungs properly and I want to hide.

I want to collapse in on myself and find a way to just survive.

And sometimes love isn't in my heart and I just want to understand.

I want to see people for who they are; for their mindless doings.

And sometimes I just don't want to live in this broken world with my broken soul.

I want to move.

Move

Move

Move

But then I remember what was done for me on the cross,

And the blood that was shed to save me from myself.

My broken, hopeless, sinful self.

My tired, lonely, worthless self.

And it reminds me that even though I'm broken, God makes me whole.

Even though I'm hopeless, God gives me hope.

Even though I'm sinful, God's grace abounds.

Even though I'm tired, God gives me rest.

Even though I'm lonely, God is my friend.

And even when I feel worthless, God is there to remind me that I'm worth everything to him.

Because of what was done for me on that cross.

Because of love.

Booking It: An Abundance of Katherines

So, sorry, but be prepared for like, a lot of book reviews in the next few days. (I've gone too long without updating.)

Description:

19 Katherines and counting...

When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton's type is girls named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times to be exact. On a road trip miles from home, this anagram-happy, washed-up child prodigy has ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a bloodthirsy feral hog on his trail, and an over-weight, Judge Judy-loving best friend riding shotgun-but no Katherines. Colin is on a mission to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which he hopes will predict the future of any relationship and avenge Dumpees everywhere, and may finally win him the girl. 

My Thoughts:

To be completely honest, this wasn't my favorite book by John Green ever. I was sort of bored through about half of it. I got pretty sick of the word "fugger" and anagrams. And, quite frankly, Colin and his whining about Kathrine XIX. There were a few parts that were sort of funny, but overall, it didn't get anywhere near exciting until the end (and even that was great). I wouldn't recommend this as a first John Green book to anyone. Stick with, well, any of his other books.

My Rating:

I'd give An Abundance of Katherines 3/5 stars. I would probably not read it again, but I don't really regret reading it. It was alright. 

Leave me reading suggestions in the comments!

Winter Jam 2014

{a little panoramic for your soul}

So, since I've last blogged, Winter Jam happened...twice.

{For all of you who have never heard of Winter Jam before, I'll just give you a quick rundown of what it is. It's basically this HUGE Christian concert that tours every year with about 10 bands (different bands every year--except Newsong is always there, since they founded it). It is 10 dollars at the door, and just a really amazing time. If you missed it this year, be sure to be on the lookout for next year!}

I think it's way past time for me to fill you in on how it was this year, and just share my overall experience with you all. 

I guess I'll start with Cincinnati. It was on Friday, February 21 and the U.S Bank Arena and it was fabulous. We left straight after school to head up to get in line. The whole line experience this year was actually wonderful. There aren't any other words, really. We didn't have to wait very long, since we didn't get there until around 3, but we were still pretty close to the door. The radio stations had random contests going on outside and Love In the Outcome (one of the preshow bands) was out signing CD's and talking to everyone.

{hula hoop contest courtesy of K-love. she won a little radio shaped stress ball.}

{our little group minus my mom. these girls are my favorites.}

Once we were inside we were pleasantly surprised that we actually got really incredible seats. They were off to the side of the stage but really close, and it was amazing, especially since we didn't get there as early as last year, but the seats were better!

{ignore the random guys' faces. sorry bout that.}

The show in itself was a great time. Lecrae, Colton Dixon, Tenth Avenue North, Newsboys, Plumb, etc. It was amazing. I was jamming so hard the entire night. I'll never get over how incredible it feels to just worship with 17,000 other people. It's cool to feel the Lord move in that kind of environment. (It's cool to feel Him move in any environment, really.)

Lexington, which was on March 15, was pretty much the same thing; we didn't as good of seats, but that was okay. We were still able to jam and worship and just have a great time. God really moved in my heart that night. I had been struggling lately, and it was so cool to just feel him moving in my heart and rearranging it. It was like all of the temporary things that I had been thinking were so permanent were just gone. It felt (and still) feels so good. 

{casually sitting on the floor of the venue taking selfies.}

Overall, it was just another great night.

((side note: if you're interested in Winter Jam their twitter is @winterjamtour, their website is http://jamtour.com))