Day 13 – Your favorite writer

JOHN MICHAEL GREEN

Now, this has been a very tough decision to make. I had a hard time choosing between JK Rowling and John Green. As most of you know, I am very much in love with the Harry Potter series, to such extent that I consider it a vital part of my life.

But then I made my decision and I think that John Green deserves this one. Of course, these two authors have very different writing styles and genre. But I have yet to prove JK Rowling’s writing since she only has the Harry Potter series to show. And hey, I am not saying it’s not good, I adore those books! It’s just that I haven’t had a taste of her other works to prove that I certainly love all of her writings.

So back to John Green. This man is my idol. I have all his books and have finished reading every single one of them. What I love most about him is that he has the talent to make the most ordinary and geekiest, quirkiest character lovable. May it be Miles, Will Grayson, Augustus Waters or Collin, he never fails to make them more interesting. He makes readers realize that it is okay to be yourself, that being unique and true is very much acceptable. He doesn’t have to create perfect gorgeous and dashing characters just so the readers can swoon. No. John Green’s characters are loved because of their honest ways in life. They do not have to hide behind pretentious identities to be appreciated by the readers. They are not wanna-be snobs who think that the most important thing in the world is to be hot and popular. His books are good for teenagers as they show the real hardships encountered by the teenage population, without the exaggeration. His stories would seem simple in the beginning but with a mind blowing spin, and sometimes tragic, at the ending.

Aside from that, John Green and his brother, Hank, is very well know in the internet world for their video blogs. They have fans called Nerdfighters (I am one of them) that aims to decrease the level of world suck by sharing important information about the world. This made me love this author even more since they strive to open the eyes of people that it is not a bad thing to a nerd, to be smart. They show people that being a nerd can be fun and exciting. They reveal the nastiness of the “popular” world. They advocate intelligence and knowledge against the ever present shallowness and superficialness of the society. They show people that using our brains is much more worth it than constantly striving to look pretty and cool.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan

My name is Bernadette Grace and in all eighteen years of my existence, I have known a lot of people with the same name. Not exactly my whole name, but usually my first and second names. I usually do not mind since I know I am different from each one of them. I have come to accept that my name is a very general and common one. So far, none of my namesakes have been significant in my life.

But in this book, two Will Graysons will meet by chance and will bring an important piece to each of the other’s puzzle of life. The first Will Grayson is the very honest embodiment of a teenager. And this does not mean a drunk, pot-dependent and irresponsible person. No. Will Grayson is a very confused person. Just like other teenagers his age, he battles with what he wants and the possible consequences of these desires. One moment he is pushing for something and in the next, he’s holding back. Despite this, Will Grayson is a good friend. 

And then here’s the second Will Grayson. This one is a bit darker compared to the former Will Grayson. This is due to the circumstances he grappled with in his life. With his father’s death and the depression he is living with, it is obvious that this Will Grayson is the quiet and secretive one. But though he is like this, he is not entirely on the bad end. Yes, he may not be over with the loss of his dad, but he is not lost in his own grief, either. Also, his depression is in a state in which it is manageable. It is not eating him up, he can survive with it. 

One night in Chicago, the two crossed paths and little did they know, this meeting will have a huge impact on each of their lives. The common denominator of these two Will Graysons is Tiny Cooper. Without this certain character, I guess the novel would suck. He is just very vital to the whole plot. He is the connection between these two different people and he, himself is a very unique and intelligent person. Tiny is someone who believes in making everyone’s life happier and better every day. His outlook in life is very positive despite every heartbreak and failure he has faced.

This novel is a collaboration of the two greatest authors in the world of young adult literature. I have read other books of John Green and David Levithan, and I can say that they did very well on this one. Being familiar with their writing styles, it’s very easy for me to distinguish which Will Grayson is written by them. The first one was by John Green, while the other is by David Levithan. Their characters just shout their writing identity. Green’s Will is his typical character, an oddball, lovesick and average. Levithan’s Will, on the other hand, is geeky, homosexual and dim-witted. I do prefer Levithan’s character, though. As to why, just read the book and you’ll know by the end.

As for the whole appeal of the book, I can say that it would be a very enticing read for everyone, regardless of gender or age. One thing it tells us, like all of Levithan’s novels is how the LGBTQ community is a human as any straight person. It tells us that they have the same problems and they also have genuine feelings. Aside from the homosexual theme, the book also focused very much on friendship. To me, Will and Tiny’s friendship is something very difficult to come across nowadays. I am so envious of how they can put each other’s differences, which is actually quite a lot, and just be there for each other. It’s like one person is the strength of the other, vice versa. The honesty in their friendship is just so enviable. And then of course, there is the issue of familial acceptance, not only the acceptance of gender but also the quirkiness of each of the members. 

In conclusion, I have to say that this is by far the most hilarious, most unique and original book I have read. It’s just so honest with the depiction of teenage life in general. Although, the musical part of the books is quite absurd, it doesn’t lessen the brilliance of the story. In fact, the whole musical thing got me laughing loudly and in the next, brimming with tears. Truly, this book deserves my 4.75/5.

Day 08 – A book that you’re reading right now

Okay, so I forgot to post this yesterday because I was so tired that I went to sleep immediately after I got home. So for today, I will post two days of the book challenge.

I started reading this book last Saturday evening. I’ve been meaning to read this even before vacation but since I’ve read The Fault in Our Stars first, I opted to read books from different authors just so that I won’t make too much comparisons with the book of the same author.

And of course, I regretted that I wait this long before reading this book. Even at the first chapter, the book had me reeling with fits of laughter. I’m just past the first four chapters, and I am certainly enjoying the story and the characters. Each of the characters have their own personality and weirdness but I can’t to love them all.  

Also, having read other books of Green and Levithan, I can distinguish which characters they were wrote about. Their different styles mix well together and compliment each other with a very pleasant result. I am hoping to finish this soon so I can make a full review. I’m not yet halfway through but I’ll be continuing later this evening, which is, for me, the best time to get lost in my books.

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This is a queued post, btw. I’m off to some scholarship meeting until 5pm. :|

Summer to-reads and rereads.

Well, hello there my dearest of friends! After what seemed to be an eternity of separation and waiting, we finally meet again. No more textbooks for me. Summer is for novels and fiction books. Pleasure reading at its finest. And I swear to you, my beloved books, this time I’m going to give you my utmost attention. It feel so good to have a pile of books by my bedside, knowing that I now have all the time I need to read. And for you anon, I can finally start making book reviews again.

So my goal for the 2-month long vacation is to at least finish these 20 books. I’m not the type to go out on beaches and parties during summer. I’d rather spend my hours on these. Some of them are rereads like Divergent and It’s Kind of a Funny Story. And for the others, my first. For the Percy Jackson series, I know that I should have read this way back, but then it was only recently bought a copy. I hope that I picked the right books with good plots. Wish me luck friends! :)

Fantastic finds.

And our four-day long break had officially began. I was supposed to go straight home from my dorm but then my uncle was driving by the gate of our subdivision and saw me. I asked where he was going and he said that he’s off to the mall to get something for my baby cousin. He asked if I wanted to come and of course, I did. I would never miss a chance to go to a mall when there is a good bookstore I can visit, with a prospect of hunting a new book.

So here are the books I found which, I must say, are very good finds. I found the only John Green book that I didn’t have yet. I actually squealed and did a little jump when I found it on the top shelf. So now, I have all of his books and I am so happy. Plus I also found this one book about the Hunger Games movie. It was published by Scholastica, the same publisher of the book series. Inside are pictures and details about each tribute, the set and some sneak peak of the movie itself. I immediately grabbed it and know that I will regret not buying it. And lastly, I got The Best of Chico and Delamar’s The Morning Rush Top 10. It is a local book that lists some of the funniest top 10s that was featured on their radio show. I seriously laughed out loud with every list I read.

All in all, I think my four-day long break would be awesome. It would be a nice time to catch up on my reading and finally knock off a book or two from my to-read list. I wish that I can finish at least three books, aside from my Hunger Games reread. I really don’t want to go out and party during this little vacation. I want to spend my precious time with my ever trusted books.