For my birthday, one of my good friends gave me Paper Towns by John Green. First of all, I LOVE John Green. He has such a smart way of writing, with perfectly timed wit and enough emotion to make the characters real, but not a sob story.
I've been meaning to read this book by him, as I just finished The Fault in Our Stars, and was looking for another of his books to scarf down again (I read Stars in literally one day. I did not do anything else that day. Only read. Also, I HIGHLY recommend that book. HIGHLY).
Paper towns is about a high school senior Quentin Jacobsen, who falls madly for his quirky and adventurous neighbor Margo Roth Spieglman. Margo has an existential point of view, constantly questioning what is valuable and important and what is 'paper'. To her, their city of Orlando is just a 'paper town' full of two dimensional people who go about life without really living.
Margo and Quentin were good friends throughout elementary school, drifting apart in high school. One night, Margo sneaks into Quentin's room dressed as a ninja and takes him on a whirlwind all-night adventure, with highlights ranging from breaking into Sea World to throwing dead catfish through her enemy's window.
When Margo goes missing, Quentin enlists his friends Ben (or, Bloody Ben... hilarious back story there) and Radar (also good backstory) to find her via clues she left for her discovery. On his journey to find her in his minivan with his closest friends, Quentin learns a lot about himself and his values. He also learns that timing is everything (if you have read it, you'll know what I mean... ;) )
Paper Towns is quirky, hilarious, but also thought provoking. I feel like society really can be like paper - two dimensional, and easy to pass judgments on.
This novel is probably not for one who's looking for a quick read - Paper Towns is rather long, but for someone like me, it was quick-paced and an excellent read. I had a friend say she trudged through it, and was dissatisfied with the ending. While the last chapter may not hold all that the reader is looking for, this is typical John Green - bittersweet is his forte!
I really enjoyed how deeply this book discusses existential questions, and I found that I related to the anxiety-prone Quentin a lot. Overall, the characters are very dimensional and diverse, and I truly enjoyed this read. I definitely recommend it, if you want to put in the time :)
katie
Monday, November 26, 2012
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Thursday, November 15, 2012
WEEKLY MUSIC
This week has been... stressful. To say the least. My high school is putting on our play this weekend, and we've been in intense tech week for the past two weeks. However, I'm still here!
I'm back to featuring some good (or, what I think is good) music. This week, I want to show off The New Pornographers. I've known of this band for years, but never checked them out because the name intimidated the middle school me.
Don't let the band name fool you.
This music is amazing. I love every single one of their songs, although my absolute favorite is Crash Years.
The Canadian (which I did not know) band has been around since the very late 90's, and fun fact: from 2000 to 20006, every album has had at least one song in the billboard top 40 (thank you Wikipedia!)
Enjoy!
katie
I'm back to featuring some good (or, what I think is good) music. This week, I want to show off The New Pornographers. I've known of this band for years, but never checked them out because the name intimidated the middle school me.
Don't let the band name fool you.
This music is amazing. I love every single one of their songs, although my absolute favorite is Crash Years.
The Canadian (which I did not know) band has been around since the very late 90's, and fun fact: from 2000 to 20006, every album has had at least one song in the billboard top 40 (thank you Wikipedia!)
Enjoy!
katie
Sunday, November 11, 2012
EVERYBODY LOVES MICKEY
For this post, I was wearing something super comfortable and random. I wanted to post this mostly because this skirt is a new addition to my closet, and I'm in LOVE with it. I literally wear it with everything. My favorite is wearing it with my black baggy pull-over sweater, boots, and a black and white scarf. Or a button-down chambray shirt. Actually anything with this.
But for this one, I hadn't worn the good-ol' Mickey shirt in a while, so I figured... why not? Play with what you have, and you could be happily surprised.
Top/ Disney World, Skirt/ American Apparel, Shoes/ Nordstrom Rack, Clip/ Vintage
I also think hi-tops are some of the best shoes in the world. I found these on sale years ago, and they're really funky because they're actually a Paint-By-Number pair, with the corresponding colors inside. I'm really tempted to paint them and see what they look like...
It's been getting pretty chilly here. That was probably the last time I can get away with wearing just a shirt and skirt without a heavy sweater or something. But hey, I LOVE sweaters and coats so that's just fine by me.
Enjoy your weekend (and Veteran's Day).
katie
But for this one, I hadn't worn the good-ol' Mickey shirt in a while, so I figured... why not? Play with what you have, and you could be happily surprised.
Top/ Disney World, Skirt/ American Apparel, Shoes/ Nordstrom Rack, Clip/ Vintage
I also think hi-tops are some of the best shoes in the world. I found these on sale years ago, and they're really funky because they're actually a Paint-By-Number pair, with the corresponding colors inside. I'm really tempted to paint them and see what they look like...
It's been getting pretty chilly here. That was probably the last time I can get away with wearing just a shirt and skirt without a heavy sweater or something. But hey, I LOVE sweaters and coats so that's just fine by me.
Enjoy your weekend (and Veteran's Day).
katie
Saturday, November 10, 2012
WEEKLY MUSIC
Alright, I've been on 'hiatus' for a while, but I'm back!
This week I'm featuring Cheers Elephant. I only recently heard some of their stuff as I was browsing Spotify, and I really enjoyed it.
The acoustics are beautiful. It's really chill, and I find it perfect for making homework just a tad more enjoyable ;) Also really great driving music. Fun fact.
This Philadelphia band focuses on three part harmonies in their music, which always sounds fantastic. According to their website, the band's music will "make your dad's toe tap, your mom's hip shake, and your sister's heart throb." What more in life do you need?
Enjoy!
katie
This week I'm featuring Cheers Elephant. I only recently heard some of their stuff as I was browsing Spotify, and I really enjoyed it.
The acoustics are beautiful. It's really chill, and I find it perfect for making homework just a tad more enjoyable ;) Also really great driving music. Fun fact.
This Philadelphia band focuses on three part harmonies in their music, which always sounds fantastic. According to their website, the band's music will "make your dad's toe tap, your mom's hip shake, and your sister's heart throb." What more in life do you need?
Enjoy!
katie
Sunday, November 4, 2012
10 THINGS
1. I am OBSESSED with this dress.
2. This tutorial on spiffing up wrapping paper.
3. This shirt from Snorgtees.
4. I find this so interesting and intriguing.
5. This cardigan from Free People.
6. This tutorial.
7. This shirt is lovely.
8. These boots from Topshop.
9. Foxes. I am seriously obsessed with foxes right now. I really don't know why.
10. This necklace from Modcloth.
As you can tell, I'm going through a Modcloth phase. There are SO many things I love on there!
Enjoy your weekend.
katie
Friday, November 2, 2012
CHANGES
Recently, my life has been a big mess of feelings. I love school and I love being with my friends... but...
Basically, I'm going through a friend break-up.
It's true. I know I can't be the only one who has experienced this, but sometimes it feels like you're the only one, you know? And it is not fun.
Sometimes, someone who you thought was a really great person with similar values to you turns out to be very different from what you though. This can be a good thing, that you learn something about your friend that makes you appreciate them more. But sometimes, this can have a really negative impact.
Obviously I have the negative feeling.
Friendships, and relationships in general, are complicated. And while I don't count myself as a gifted advice-giver, I know that by posting this I will get out some bottled up emotions and ideas. And hopefully someone can benefit by reading it.
All I can say about this is, be honest with yourself. I know I spent a lot of time in this friendship because I felt like I should or had to. I felt tied to this person because we had many mutual friendships. But sometimes, you just don't mesh. If you're forcing something too much, or only putting work in and not receiving any mutual good feelings, then this relationship will take a toll. I'm saying this from a personal place. Eventually, I realized how emotionally exhausted I was all the time from trying to make this friendship work.
Secondly, if he or she will not meet your needs, whatever they are, that isn't okay. Anyone who knows me know that I have a very large personal bubble. I'm just not a hugger! I don't know why, it just doesn't make me all that comfortable. That goes for other non-physical things. I'm just not comfortable sharing a lot with people. And this friend in particular, even after I communicated this to her on several occasions, didn't seem to understand how important this is.
This goes both ways. In order for a friendship to work, both people need to respect each other's quirks and feelings.
Going along with that, you can't change anybody. That doesn't mean you can't help them through a changing or growth process. But you can't go into a friendship knowing "hey, I don't really like how Suzie Q always isn't open minded about trying new restaurants with me, so I'm going to get her to". A person is who they are because that's who they are. Talk about convoluted sentence. But you're not going to change me into a person who loves mashed potatoes, because I really don't. We all have our own needs and personalities, and it's not fair to want to change that for your own benefit. I'm saying this, again, because I definitely did this in the aforementioned friendship. I thought maybe I could get things to be better if she stopped doing things I didn't like. Pretty selfish on my part, really.
Next, the truth will set you free. I know. What a cliche. But honestly, dragging something out because you're not being honest with them will not only make you feel bad for lying, but will also make them feel bad because they won't realize what's really going on in your head. Nobody can read minds (as cool as that would be). I know it's basically the hardest thing you ever do, but if you've had a lasting relationship with this person, you kinda owe it to them to let them know what's going on in your head. I sat down with my friend and told her how I felt. Is it going to be painful? Yes. Is it going to be ugly? Yep. Is is going to be something you will want to relive? Um, no. But man, once I did it, I felt so much better not dragging something out.
And finally focus on your happiness. This one is really hard for me. I really didn't want to hurt this other person's feelings, but at the same time it was tearing me apart inside. There comes a point (at least for me) when you are past helping this person and being able to care for that person and yourself, and it's okay to pick your own happiness. After all, you're only here on this earth for so long... might as well make the absolute most of it.
I hope that helped someone, if anyone. I know it's so easy for me to just sit here and type these ideas out, but I understand how hard it can be to figure out when to end a friendship that just isn't working. I really do. And I hope even if you don't follow any of these ideas, at least reading this will give some consolation.
Here is a song that I always makes me feel better when reflecting/ pondering life/ getting past obstacles. I don't know. It's pretty. Plus I felt like posting some music.
Enjoy the weekend! Yay!
katie
Basically, I'm going through a friend break-up.
It's true. I know I can't be the only one who has experienced this, but sometimes it feels like you're the only one, you know? And it is not fun.
Sometimes, someone who you thought was a really great person with similar values to you turns out to be very different from what you though. This can be a good thing, that you learn something about your friend that makes you appreciate them more. But sometimes, this can have a really negative impact.
Obviously I have the negative feeling.
Friendships, and relationships in general, are complicated. And while I don't count myself as a gifted advice-giver, I know that by posting this I will get out some bottled up emotions and ideas. And hopefully someone can benefit by reading it.
All I can say about this is, be honest with yourself. I know I spent a lot of time in this friendship because I felt like I should or had to. I felt tied to this person because we had many mutual friendships. But sometimes, you just don't mesh. If you're forcing something too much, or only putting work in and not receiving any mutual good feelings, then this relationship will take a toll. I'm saying this from a personal place. Eventually, I realized how emotionally exhausted I was all the time from trying to make this friendship work.
Secondly, if he or she will not meet your needs, whatever they are, that isn't okay. Anyone who knows me know that I have a very large personal bubble. I'm just not a hugger! I don't know why, it just doesn't make me all that comfortable. That goes for other non-physical things. I'm just not comfortable sharing a lot with people. And this friend in particular, even after I communicated this to her on several occasions, didn't seem to understand how important this is.
This goes both ways. In order for a friendship to work, both people need to respect each other's quirks and feelings.
Going along with that, you can't change anybody. That doesn't mean you can't help them through a changing or growth process. But you can't go into a friendship knowing "hey, I don't really like how Suzie Q always isn't open minded about trying new restaurants with me, so I'm going to get her to". A person is who they are because that's who they are. Talk about convoluted sentence. But you're not going to change me into a person who loves mashed potatoes, because I really don't. We all have our own needs and personalities, and it's not fair to want to change that for your own benefit. I'm saying this, again, because I definitely did this in the aforementioned friendship. I thought maybe I could get things to be better if she stopped doing things I didn't like. Pretty selfish on my part, really.
Next, the truth will set you free. I know. What a cliche. But honestly, dragging something out because you're not being honest with them will not only make you feel bad for lying, but will also make them feel bad because they won't realize what's really going on in your head. Nobody can read minds (as cool as that would be). I know it's basically the hardest thing you ever do, but if you've had a lasting relationship with this person, you kinda owe it to them to let them know what's going on in your head. I sat down with my friend and told her how I felt. Is it going to be painful? Yes. Is it going to be ugly? Yep. Is is going to be something you will want to relive? Um, no. But man, once I did it, I felt so much better not dragging something out.
And finally focus on your happiness. This one is really hard for me. I really didn't want to hurt this other person's feelings, but at the same time it was tearing me apart inside. There comes a point (at least for me) when you are past helping this person and being able to care for that person and yourself, and it's okay to pick your own happiness. After all, you're only here on this earth for so long... might as well make the absolute most of it.
I hope that helped someone, if anyone. I know it's so easy for me to just sit here and type these ideas out, but I understand how hard it can be to figure out when to end a friendship that just isn't working. I really do. And I hope even if you don't follow any of these ideas, at least reading this will give some consolation.
Here is a song that I always makes me feel better when reflecting/ pondering life/ getting past obstacles. I don't know. It's pretty. Plus I felt like posting some music.
Enjoy the weekend! Yay!
katie
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