In case you've missed out, there is an unspoken disagreement about Maggie Stiefvater on The Sirenic Codex. P.E. is an adamant fan of her work while I cannot understand the reason behind the existence of The Scorpio Races.

This story came to relevance somewhere around 10pm when I was struck by an epiphany. It's quite world changing really- It's not Maggie Stiefvater's Fault!

See I was an alright fan of Shiver. I liked it. Then The Scorpio Races happened and Ms. Stiefvater and I kind of broke up. Why: slow pacing, disengaging plot, uninteresting characters. But what all of this really sums up to is descriptions. The Scorpio Races is Maggie's hall of fame on details and descriptions. Something that I've come to realize isn't my forte.

My mind doesn't really bother to register excessive descriptions and skips right over them. As a result, books like The Scorpio Races have no appeal to me. Sentence after sentence of descriptions about the weather, the horses, the characters faces whizz by me. I can't see them as anything but wasted space.

This is where movies come in. I don't believe in reading the book before watching the movie. Call me a rebel, but I don't believe in any real set way of reading. And I've been known (because the whole world pays attention to me, of course) to watch the movie before reading the book, quite unapologetically. 

Watching the movie helps me visualize.

I remember as early as my Harry Potter, I would google images many of the characters or creatures in the books in order to get the visuals. Somehow I managed to ignore the fact that Malfoy had white blonde hair, Hermione has too-big front teeth and that Voldemort didn't have a nose. The last I don't mind.

Watching the movie, however, plants the images in my mind and actually improves my reading experience. I can now imagine a certain face smirking when the text says so. 

Many of my favourite books of all time have been books I picked up after getting my interest peaked by a movie or tv adaptation. I love the visuals, but I am not a visual reader.

-Mari

This is a TSC feature that looks at blogging, books, and anything of any relevance to the YA Blogosphere in short form. It's meant to start a discussion by offering quick thoughts from Mari and P.E. on a variety of topics. 

Physical Books are Forever

by P.E.

Let me get my crystal ball out...

Ah, here it is. Today, I will make what I consider to be a totally reasonable prediction, but one that might be considered bold in some circles. I predict that there will always be physical books. I know that ebooks are big and most people turn to them to read. But, there is real value in a physical book. Nowhere is this better demonstrated than on Bookstagram. The artful pictures of books and the massive followings have changed books from something uncool to something hip. Books are a part of an aesthetic; they are colourful, novel, and there is a whole culture of reading in the modern day. I think that the rising prominence of ebooks will only eradicate paperbacks (I hate them, so good riddance!) and leave us all with shiny hard covers that cost a lot more than they do now. And these books will be kept because keeping books is cool and unusual, so they will be kept for something other than a functional purpose. 

Who knows?

Katie M. Stout

by Mari

Lately, I came by a twitter issue that arose over a reader who confronted Katie Stout over the racial issues present in her book Hello, I Love You. I don't think the issue was too big but here is my take.

I've read quite a few reviews about Hello, I Love you as I was someone who wished to read the book. The majority of the reviews I've read, however, did find issues with the representation of Korean culture and the main characters racial ignorance. Personally, that doesn't sound like my cup of tea. A lot of freak out sessions have been taking place with social media users saying unfavourable things about certain authors. When it comes down to it, I wonder why every other form of art is allowed to receive criticism besides YA books. There is a big uproar every time someone saying something unfavourable about an author's work. Why? People definitely shouldn't be mob attacking anyone but there should be room for criticism even if its done not so eloquently. This protectionist attitude isn't very helpful. 

One way a blogger could judge their success could be access to ARCs. Let's be very honest: if you can access them, that means you've done a great job of building an audience, connecting with the industry, and are a fairly consistent and proficient reviewer. It's the reason Mari and I joined NetGalley. It's part of the blogging game.

I'm a massive failure on NetGalley, and honestly, that's because the titles I read there are not the ones I crave. I don't have access to those, and building my way up to those is something I'm not ready for any more. College shocked me with the complexity and the length of readings I had to do, and being the overachiever that I am, I read every one of them and wrote notes too. By the time I got around to leisurely reading, my brain was fried and my vision was blurry. It was probably also around 2am.

I had a goal to read 100 books this year. It's an arrestingly pedestrian amount compared to the 300 I did during high school that one year, but I'm extremely behind on account of reading too little during university. So, now that I'm enjoying my summer break, I'm looking to get back in the reading game (in which I'm like 25 books behind on my challenge!). I can read a book extremely quickly, but, as I've matured too, I've realized that I want to read books I'll love.



I think I'm going to retire being a reviewer and go back to being a reader. You may have noticed that my last few reviews are less technical. I've tried to emphasize creative writing and really write my opinion as honestly as I can. That's because I don't really want to judge books. I don't want to write about their merits or failures. I just want to write about books I enjoy.

When you're reviewing books that haven't come out, it's really like stabbing in the dark. Let's be very honest: judging a book by its cover or even synopsis does not always work, and it's a little bit tiring to continuously read books that aren't 'my type'. You read the book, not knowing what to expect, and you formulate an opinion. I've reviewed books I knew nothing about that I loved. I've also read a whole bunch of 'meh' books because I was excited that people were offering me stuff to review.

I don't want to do that. I don't want to spend my time arbitrarily deciding what is good or not. I want to read good things. I want to enjoy them. That means that unless I get my hands on an author I know I'll love (a Maggie Stiefvater, or Holly Black type book) or a series, or even a book I feel extremely excited for, I'm extremely comfortable letting it go. I'm okay with letting other brave readers try the pages and I love reading others' reviews before deciding if it's right for me. (As an aside, I might be one of the few bloggers that enjoys commenting on reviews the most.)

This way, I've been reading phenomenal books. I'm excited about everything I read and I'm always looking for hidden gems: books that are not publicized widely, but are dearly loved by the majority of readers. I always change my reading philosophy, so I can't definitively say that this is the best philosophy for me, but I'm in a point in my life where I feel this works.

What do you think? Do you like reading reviews and knowing what you're getting into, or do you enjoy being one of the first few to experience a story?

-P.E.

Warning: this post contains spoilers for the Grisha trilogy, including the ending of Ruin and Rising. Read at your own peril.

I wanted Alina to be queen. 

I suppose I planned to write a review after I finished the last of Leigh Bardugo's trilogy. I was so excited to read Ruin and Rising because there is a certain addictive quality to Bardugo's work. Something in the magic and the themes of her writing are so appealing to me. But I was disappointed.  I can't write a review either, because my disappointment is in the story, and to explain it, I have to spoil what happens. 

I wanted Alina to be queen, and she didn't. Instead, she is set to live out the rest of her life peacefully with Mal, without magic. Even if we disregard my historic disparagement of Mal, I'm more sad for Alina and I'm mourning the story I wanted her to have. I understand this is ridiculous and it's hard for me to review a book like Ruin and Rising because my sadness centres around the plot, and not because the plot is all that weak (I would say it was) but because it is not what I wanted. 

It feels like an invalid complaint, but I will try to make it slightly more valid in explaining why I loved this trilogy and why I'm disappointed. 

The Grisha trilogy explored corruption and power. Now, I love reading about power. I study it and question it and philosophize over it. It's just one of my interests (and maybe some people that have read Ruin and Rising realize, precisely at this point, why I'm not happy with the ending). 

My interpretation of the Grisha trilogy came from the basis that the story was about power and its effects. The Darkling had unmatched power and it had corrupted him. He was alone, and hungry for more. He sought the companionship of Alina, when she, in a different exploration of power, came to gain immense power suddenly. 

Alina's storyline explored what this sudden influx of power to someone who had previously felt extremely ordinary meant. Alina was scared of her power, scared of being different, but eventually, she started to relish her power. This was something she always repressed. Alina was scared of becoming the Darkling and as she amassed more of the amplifiers and felt a burning desire to complete the cycle and get the third amplifier, through the death of the Firebird. 

This was the most compelling conflict of the Grisha trilogy. Could Alina, the innocent, pure heroine one day become the Darkling? Could she fight the corruption of power? Did she even truly want to? This was accentuated with Bardugo's own descriptions of the Darkling, an infinite being that Alina always saw as a sad, beautiful boy. The Darkling was written sympathetically, and his connection with Alina was dynamic.

Think Harry and Voldemort, except what if Harry has to make his own horcruxes too? 

Alina was on her way there. During the last battle, she took her knife and stabbed Mal, who was revealed to be the last amplifier. She killed her love, and there was a fair bit of tragedy. I wondered what would happen to her; how would this shape her? 

Alina would have made a great queen. She was commanding, and resolute. This seemed to be what the entire series was building up to. Other characters constantly obeyed her because of this seeming inevitability, and Alina was a major player. She wanted to get rid of the fold. She wanted to stop the Darkling. She was reluctant to be queen, but that was probably because of her fear for what power would do to her. She killed Mal, and it seemed like something extremely fascinating would happen next, because Baghra always said that the kind of power Alina was drawing on had a cost. 

Except, in this case, it was a cost Alina would likely have been extremely willing to pay because this cost, the loss of her powers, was a relief. Alina did not have to ever worry about powerlust again because her power was gone. She would never have to make hard decisions because she would never again be in such a position. Alina would be normal, and live a peaceful life without too much responsibility. 

I never learned if Alina could become like the Darkling and she never learned what to do with immense power because the 'sacrifice' was that her power was gone, and she didn't have to deal with any of this conflict. This storyline was effectively killed through a sacrifice that made it so that Alina could get what she wanted-- Mal-- and live happily ever after, except that she missed her power. 

And what of the repercussions of enjoying immense power and having it ripped away? Alina seems to spend her life missing the sun, and being sad she can't summon any more, but that's all it is; a lingering sadness. Alina, without her power, decides to leave politics, and leaves any sort of power she could have ever had with Nikolai, or as a public figure within the court, and goes off to live remotely with Mal, deciding she does not want to actively shape the world and instead trusting it to Nikolai and her Grisha friends. 

There's nothing wrong with any of this, except for the way-too-convenient way that Mal and Alina end up together, because she stabbed him and he should have died, and the explanation seems weak. I'm just a little sad I never saw Alina grow into the person she was becoming; strong, fierce, ruthless. 

There were other problems I had with Ruin and Rising, and I still loved some parts of it. But this broken storyline is what remains in my head. Especially because Alina's story is very common. Alina isn't the first or last heroine to reject power. I'm just incredibly disappointed that this is the resolution. 

Now, I swear, if Celaena does the same thing *curses indescribably* Please Ms. Maas...

-P.E.

I wonder if I'm ageist.

It's quite possible I am, because I have absolutely no interest in books featuring characters too far in age or circumstance unrelated to my own. My friends at university will talk about a brilliant story about a lady that does blah blah blah and all I can think is that I really don't care.

Maybe I'm some kind of hybrid live-in-the-moment type, because for as far as I can remember, I read books about people in my age range. I always read a little higher, because the arrogant 'mature' asshole that I am, but not too far. So far, it has worked for me. I read about middle school while in elementary school, high school while in middle school, and yet this chain broke when it came to college because I struggled to find any book about the college experience that contained the same enchantment of YA.

This could explain my recent obsession with fantasy. In fantasy worlds, people are my age, and yet they do not live in my system. I don't need to read about high school, a period of my life that I actually enjoyed, but that I'm over. I don't know how to find books about college that are about magic and fun and saving the world, not about sex and romance.

I suppose the latter are important parts of this age, but I would like to see that they exist along with a whole new variety of books.

Maybe these books exist, and I don't know about them. I would like that to be true.

College has been an experience that, for the most part, I have lived rather than read about. It is awesome and scary, and yet the personal growth college demands has been so extraordinary and above anything else. It also means that to read about college, beyond some Gossip Girl type stories of debauchery (which I have nothing against, btw), I have to brave the adult section.

Fun fact: I have never braved the adult section. I've walked into the adult section and picked up a book I heard about in the YA world, but I've never actually looked at adult books and felt like I belong.

It's weird, this concept of an adult section. There are picture books, and MG, and YA, and all of these ideally cover less than a decade of life with the stories about these age ranges, or the themes prevalent in them. And then there's the adult section, which covers everyone else.

That is terrifying. It is utterly terrifying. How am I supposed to know where to look for the books I want to read?

This could plausibly call for an emergency phone call to Mari. Credit to acklesdean from Tumblr!

The teen section at my library is about three or four large bookcases. It is one of the better selection of books in the city, and I love it. And the adult section is probably larger than ten times this amount of books, and it is so incredibly daunting for someone simply trying to read more fantasies and urban stuff about people in their late teens or early twenties.

It's probably part of the reconciliation process of growing up to realize that there are people that will inevitably begin to have children and that's an important part of their lives, but as it stands, I can't imagine reading a book about having a child. I know those books exist in YA too, and I have avoided them. I also can't imagine reading about marriage as the major plot, because I'm jaded, and because that, again, feels so far away.

It was at this moment, staring at the shelves upon shelves of books designated for adults that I realized how much I need new adult. And by that, I mean that I need new adult to be about new adults. I want fantasies with new adults (Oh my god, thank you Sarah J. Maas), and I want paranormals. I want us to go to space. I want to read about internships, and oh my god a magical university, can you imagine it?

This is not me leaving YA. I am as addicted as ever to stories of magic and intrigue, and I still read about older teens. Like, I'm 18. I'm not a dinosaur.

I'm just enchanted with the excitement of being 18, and knowing that anything can happen, and getting a real taste of independence, and the fear and excitement all this brings. I think the sense of possibility, of coming into your own when you are 18, of the world expanding and contracting depending on your mood that day, when you realize your decisions have consequences, and you start to realize that you can actually make it, when you stop dreaming about who you will be and start deciding who you are, well, the romantic in me loves this.

I want these stories, and I don't know how to find them. Please help me and recommend books you recommend for eighteen year olds, or about college-aged people.

Merci.

-P.E. 

After devouring one trilogy after another over the years, I've come to this climax in my YA reading career where I no longer feel driven to read and complete trilogies. No matter the story and how different it is from others I've read, I still experience a strong lull between 3 book series.

I feel like trilogies are a type of pizza: Hawaiian, barbecue chicken, cheese, pepperoni; and I've had them everyday for the past several years to the point where after downing the first slice I can't look at another.

I'm going to say it once:

I AM SO SICK OF TRILOGIES. 

I want to read more about a world I love but the number 3 is like the freaking 666 of the YA literature.

RUN SAM! IT'S ANOTHER TRILOGY!

Remember last year when all the New Adult books consisted of the same plot aka: girl and boy with rough past meet and lick each others wounds but don't want attachments? I read one, then another and by the third I couldn't even get past the synopsis. Same story.

TRIL-YAWN-OGY

Why are we subjecting ourselves to the same formula? What about YA readers is so standard that publishers and authors feel the best type of stories for us come in 3 parts?

It's such a boring:

1. Beginning 
2. Middle 
3. End 

that it's killing me. Seriously.

I'm saying all this as a person who's read mainly trilogies, but how many of them have I finished? So how effective is the ploy besides leaching money off readers? The formula gets old. It's time to break the mold, show us some great big standalones and some nice duologies. The number 3 shouldn't be our standard. There should be no standard. Each story is unique and its size should be too.

MERCI!

-MARI

Confession: I'm a severely moody reader. So moody that I can't read for days in a row because I'm kicking every book I start to the curb after reading an uninteresting first paragraph.

As such, I am so grateful but also really cautious of book recommendations. It was book recommendations that found Vampire Academy, Outlander, The Bronze Horseman and so many other books I've loved over the years. But I think it's something even more nerve-racking about having someone you're close with recommend a book that they have adored and obviously wish to share that with you.

How we hang at TSC!

P.E. is that someone for me. I value her opinions and adore the fact that she is a reading machine who I use to my advantage when checking the quality of a book to determine if it's worth reading. At the same time, P.E. and I are very different in reading styles. We've definitely had books we loved equally, but beside the hyped mainstream books I'm more of a romance and history lover, while P.E. like mystery and paranormal stories.

It's quite horrifying to go into a book that is even more hyped up in my head because I know a person in real life and I know she is waiting and will ask my opinion about said book; while holding a knife to my throat.

As a reader this is essentially exactly what I've wanted all my life; someone to share my otherworldly book experiences with. It's why I nagged and begged and pleaded to try to coax my brother into reading with no avail. However, it seems now that I've finally found a person who I can share that with, the stakes are too high. I don't want to disappoint or be disappointed.

I'll try to keep my pants on as I run...

It's a struggle. Sometimes I overthink things a little too much. But then so do YA heroines.

Conclusion: I'm a YA heroine. Read Mari is Terrified of P.E.'s Recommendations coming out Fall of 2054.

P.S. I do still want recommendations, please give me all of them. Just sorry if I end up squealing and running away from a phantom you holding a knife made of pages from the book you recommended.

Couldn't find a knife GIF.. I always thought spatula's were more dangerous anyways. 

-MARI

A discussion with P.E. and Mari.

P.E.: I watch so much tv nowadays. More than I ever used to. I would say this is common for most college students, if the number of yaks praising Netflix are accurate. What would you say Mari?

MARI: #NETFLIXISLIFE and I understand why. With all the textbook reading it's no wonder there are not many braincells left that are willing to read; even for fun. Netflix kicks in at this point and offers fun without the use of brain. Nevertheless, I'm always pleasantly surprised on my bus rides to school where I see a great many people reading, digitally or using a hard copy book. Readers are a small community and we always go back to reading despite pit stops on Netflix and youtube.  On the other side of the spectrum, there are many more college students who have never picked up a book for fun and so to me that explains the yaks.

Gimme Netflix

P.E.: I think the fact that my commute is walking kills my time to read, because now I'm constantly going from campus to rez. And c'mon, these are college students. Have some faith. For me, it's really like you said. I  just read seventy pages of political science readings. I can't look at another word on the page. I can't. I need my brain to shut down. 

I'm starting to miss books though, like you said, to the point where I'm considering trying just ten minutes before bed. Having that other world to be excited about is so important for who I am. 

MARI: On the bright side, I don't think it's all sadness and dying kittens (I like puppies). People find other passions in university. I wouldn't pick up an economics book if you were to hit me over the head with one before I took economics. But now I find that I am fascinated with the subject and would appreciate reading more about it.

Similarly, I think you've come to find some academic reads that you enjoy. As long as your reading, I don't think it matters what your reading.

P.E.: You are seriously missing out. I did like 1/4 of a unit on monetary relations and now I feel like the shit when I read an article about currency and what that means for exports/imports/capital controls/interest rates and stuff. It's one of those things that is so easily applicable to day-to-day life. /end of P.E.'s economics love rant

And I disagree. Academic reading is different. I never realized how stylistically dry it was until I read an academic text that had metaphors and imagery and fun word play. Goddamn it academia, make your writing more interesting! I think fictional books that you pick for yourself are just so nice. School is making them novel, like little treats too, and I'm so psyched for next week when I get back home and raid the library.

Mari: Rein it in there buddy. My experiences have not been so terrible and I read books to procrastinate still :) I have experienced only two super dry textbook and those were both university custom edition. Overall, I understand others' struggle. I'll keep you in my mind when I go back to reading Mortal Heart by Robin Lafevers! (It's so good!)

Has College put a damper on your reading? 

and most importantly 

What, if anything, are you reading?

A discussion between Mari and P.E..

MARI: I've never been much of a time travel fan and so the majority of books that I've read which pertain to history are historical fictions that contain people from the set time period. This gives those characters the mindset of the time period as well. Time travel completely disrupts this harmony. Norms are shattered as what is acceptable in two periods crash.

Whilst reading Outlander I came upon a troubling scene that made me question what I would do in the situation. 

EX: Wife puts people in danger by stupid actions and husband is charged with the husbandly duty to punish his disobedient wife by way of a nice pelting. 

Being beaten as a punishment. Some logical part of my brain says ok, yes I understand why someone would do it. At some point in time that was the norm and deviating from it would cause more trouble than it is worth but my modern bringing up doesn't allow me to ponder it for long. I feel our current law against physical abuse is in place for a reason and I will sure as hell not let anyone pelt my arse.

Do you have any experience with clashes of culture? When in Rome will you do as the Romans? 

P.E.: I don't really read much time travel. I feel like you always know exactly where a time travel story is going to end up, and it's like a ghost story: boring to me. But yes Mari, one day I will make an exception for Outlander. Just not now.

I think I haven't read too many historicals that aren't about future queens and the biggest culture clash for them is about arranged marriages. I'm completely against them right now, but in that age, that was really the only power a princess had. Marry the right person, a treaty could be made, and a lot of good would come to her kingdom.

I guess I'm a little bit more comfortable with the idea of letting someone sacrifice themselves rather than, in your example, hurting someone. I don't have the stomach for that. I guess I don't know what I would do in Rome, I've never been there.

MARI: I've also read many stories surrounding a queen and her sacrifice for her country: marriage. I do hope everyone could marry for happiness and if that mean love then great, but love can also be created after marriage. I'm not too sympathetic to princesses who run from their "duty", as in some cases it results in war and lots of pain to the citizens (aka The Kiss of Deception). Rome is dangerous and I would totally do as the Romans to save myself.

Have you had any experiences with a clash of time and culture? What's your take?

Reviewing is awesome. It's a medium of emptying our thoughts and feeling for a book and sharing it with other readers. This creates an awesome discussion where we can continue to look back on a book we enjoyed in the past and also create space for other books in our brain. However, this process of read, write, erase doesn't work sometimes.

I don't review every book I read because I CAN'T review some books. When I go to the keyboard, my mind freezes up, my fingers forget the letters on the keys, and I end up staring at my screen mind empty.

Thankfully, this isn't something that happens out of the blue. For me, it's a special side effect of a book hangover. I can spill my guts about all the love I feel for a book, but the beauty of talking is that I can speak all the gibberish in the world and my listener will understand that it's just my way of trying to put into words feelings that are beyond my span of vocabulary.

My reviews in my head.

Writing is different. I need to to make sense because how else are you going to see just how serious I am about my mindless gushing?

The past few months my life has been taken over my Outlander and while I read some books here and there in between, I think it would be fair to say that the series has bewitched my mind because I can't pull away. As I read each book I have a million thoughts and feelings and I write them on my Goodreads stats, then freak out a little because I don't want to spoil anyone.

I haven't written a review for Outlander, nor do I think I ever will. Just like I didn't for Harry Potter, Vampire Academy, Eon, The Bronze Horseman, The Infernal Devices, Graceling. These books are all favourites, and although I can try to put my feelings in words, those feelings are restricted to my limited vocabulary and I don't think I can do them justice. The great thing is that they are already popular and just by talking and recommending them to each other we can keep the buzz alive.

Book are awesome, just read them!

-MARI

A discussion with P.E. and Mari. 

P.E.: In 9th grade, I was given a peculiar writing assignment. It began with developing a story with characters and a typical plot chart. The surprise came when the teacher revealed that our storyline couldn't be linear. This doesn't mean that she wanted us to include flashbacks. She wanted the entire story to take place in different times. It was a strange assignment, and surprisingly effective because when you're not just focused on saying something the way you imagined it happened, then you can start focusing on affecting your reader in some way. The assignment opened my eyes to different writing styles and the fun it is to read something a little different.

Mari: Definitely, it's good to shake things up sometimes. Alternating perspectives, inverted story lines, keep the reader engaged. If done right they can be less confusing and more enjoyable. My first experience with alternating perspectives was Simone Elkeles' Perfect Chemistry and that book has managed to hold on to its spot in my top reads since 2009. There are limitations to the amount of character development a reader can see and how much they can relate when the reader isn't in the character's head. For all the world, including Brittany, Alex was an insufferable no good gangbanger. But the alternate perspectives allowed the reader to see his side, see his family and how the things he said may not necessarily be what he meant.

Another example of alternating perspectives done well was in Legend by Marie Lu. We had two characters who were misinformed about each other and the reader got to have the best seat in the how as they watched the two develop their own opinions about the other. Also, alternating perspectives are especially appreciated when the characters aren't in the same place at a given time. This way we can actually see what's going on instead of Day went on a mission, he must've been successful that's why he is back in the same place as June.

P.E.: I've also always been a fan of alternating POVs. For me, it began after reading Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr. The story had a lot of political intrigue and drama in general, so it was super useful to see what certain characters were doing because they all had different objectives and moral codes. That's when I realized alternating perspectives can be fun. So, I like different POVs and different sequencing. How about unreliable narrators? Have you read a story with one of those?

Mari: I think the closest I got to an unreliable narrator was in Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupula. There were various underlying current in this book. The main character had experienced a traumatizing event and though she would hint at the person who did it to her sometimes you weren't sure if she was telling the truth because she would incriminate herself as well. Those kind of stories make a fantastic fast paced and gripping read if done right.

P.E.: Liar by Justine Larbalestier was the most unreliable narration I've ever read. The main character promised to lie, and she would say something in the beginning and by the end she would say something completely different. It was so strange. I loved it. It's just that it was so different, which is refreshing.

What do you think? Are there any types of creative writing styles you want to see more of? Any you don't like? Any you've read and would like to share?

A discussion between P.E. and Mari.

P.E.: I believe that the idea of needing diverse books is accepted by now. I read a comment somewhere that now, readers should start reading them. So, Mari, do you read diverse books?

MARI: Fascinating subject. I am super pro-diversity and I'm very happy to see diversity as a growing member of the community. I want diverse authors, diverse readers and diverse stories and characters. To answer your question yes and no. I read Outlander which is set in Scotland and features Scottish, English, Spanish and French people. I read I Hunt Killers which features a fantastic black character.

No, I don't or have not read books that are solely "diverse" which I think is slowly catching the meaning "about minorities". Diversity to me means not pushing aside the traditional white character, Caucasian people and characters are awesome and must be in book but what needs to change is the surroundings. Books need to realized that the main character can be of a "diverse" background and still associate with Caucasians. Or we can have Caucasian characters who have a diverse group of friends. It's the representation that is important. I want to read a book and be able to envision someone of my background there as well.

Lastly, I will read what catches my eye and if I should start reading diverse books, then those diverse books better start working for my attention.

P.E.: I'm curious: have you encountered books where white characters are pushed aside? I think it's valid to have books where there are not many white characters just because that is just as realistic as when there are mostly white characters, except much less represented in YA.

I guess what I'm thinking is that a book's marketing is often based on how much money the publisher will spend on sending out review copies and promotional material. Publishers will only promote books if they believe there is a market for them, and I think readers must be active in deliberately seeking out diverse books. What do you think?

MARI: I think readers have shown that they are indeed interested in reading diverse books which is the only responsibility they have in this process. The rest is business, a process of supply and demand. Readers demand it and now the onus is on the publishing companies to find the book, market it, and make it available for readers. If readers don't pick it up then it's a failure in the publishers side. They provided a good that customers didn't enjoy or want. This has nothing to do with the general topic more the specific venture. I think more effort needs to be put into it. And readers should be respected as the consumers they are who should have the highest expectations from the businesses that are supposed to cater to them.

As for books that have pushed whites aside, there are many (Before You by Amber Hart) where white people were pictured as Christian, racist and rich. I think the concept of diversity also owes all races a chance to be different from the stereotype.

P.E.: Yeah, but diversity doesn't mean the stereotypes don't exist. It means they aren't all that there is, which is why racist, Christian, rich white people isn't too unbelievable to me.

And what I'm thinking is that we've all said we want diverse books, but I disagree that we've clearly shown it. I'm thinking of what Natalia Sylvester said in this post about how end of the year book lists show a lack of diversity. Diversity is one of those things that everyone agrees must exist, but it's not like we're going from zero diverse books whatsoever to representative YA. Diverse books have always existed, and we're trying to say we need more of them, but are people actually reading more diverse books?

This is definitely a false equivalent, but maybe it will help clarify my argument: are readers actually seeking out diverse books, or are we those people constantly on diets saying we need to eat healthier, but reverting back to fast food because it's accessible and everywhere? I think it's too simple to blame publishers for the lack of diversity in books. Readers should be reading more diverse books, and if we're not buying it, it ain't happening. Consumers often demand something vocally but put their money towards nothing else. Look at the Toronto Maple Leafs. They are a perennial loser team, and their fans are always angry, but they still make the most money in the NHL and their revenues increase every year.

Personally, I can't say I'm doing all I can to support diverse books. I believe I have read more diverse books than in the past, but that was such a shoddy amount to begin with that I don't feel like it's worth any pride.

Mari: Reflecting on my own end of the year book list, I agree, I could've read more diverse books. But how many have you seen that you are very interested in reading and that are readily available for you to read? Accessibility and interest are important. A perfect diverse book society for me would be seamlessly integrated into all books and not require us to take note of how diverse our reading list is. Diversity is life and just like we don't take note of how many "diverse" friends we have, I would like to do the same with books.

I guess what I'm trying to say is it's a three way road. Publishers, readers and authors have to work together for this transition. Great stories with representative characters have to be written, published and marketed with the help, interest and reviews of the audience. I will try to be more aware but I don't read to change the world. I read to enjoy myself and if a book with no evident diversity offers that for me then that's where my ship sails.

P.E.: I agree in some ways just because I'm not a huge contemporary reader and that's where the majority of diverse books are. I'm looking for more sci-fi, fantasy, and paranormal diverse reads. It's hard to find them, but as We Need Diverse Books is growing, the visibility and amount of these titles is also increasing. For example, how good does Song of Blood & Stone look? I think the visibility is where we, as bloggers and members of the book community can come in by supporting the really good diverse books by giving them lots of press.

Books like Pointe, How It Went Down, Otherbound, and even undertones in The Walls Around Us give me hope because these are all books with phenomenal characterization, and diversity is a part of that. I'm looking forward to reading even more diverse books in 2015. Ideally, equal representation is seamless, but right now it isn't, so we need to work to make sure it is.

One idea I've always had is having more books from authors of different countries translated to English so we can read them. It feels like so many books are by Americans or take place in America and the American point of view is incredibly prominent in my reading. Now I want to explore the Chinese point of view, or a Middle Eastern perspective.

What do you think?

A discussion between P.E. and Mari.

P.E.: I read this article about Thailand and The Hunger Games. In it, people are using the salute from Mockingjay to call for their own freedom. First, do you have any thoughts or initial reactions on this?

Mari: I'm a strong believer in peace and democracy. It's sad that the people of Thailand have to ask for what should be their fundamental rights. I don't know much about the situation in Thailand but I wish them all the best. As for the three finger sign, I think it's fascinating. It shows the power that literature has. This can't be the first time people have taken things from literature and brought them to life. Heck, some argue the cellphone was made from the ideas in Star Wars. Lastly, I think of the power of gestures. One of the most modern examples being the Nazi salute, which has such a negative connotation that doing it is illegal in Germany.

P.E.: When I read the article, I was blown away. You're right that literature has power, but I think that applies to art in general. And the thought that I can read a book like The Hunger Games for fun; I can be emotionally invested in the characters and their battles, yet oblivious to people fighting their own battles in real life... it's scary. How do people look at Western society and not remember the Capitol? The social criticism in The Hunger Games is so astute.

Mari: Definitely, I was too narrow in my wording. Art is culture. Can you elaborate on "The social criticism in The Hunger Games is so astute". Why do you think that?

P.E.: It's mostly when I think of the Capitol. They are obsessed with fun and are out of touch with reality. They see horrible things and fake sorrows because they have trouble believing that other people are actually suffering. They mean well, but they are so lost and oblivious, and their very existence is one of overindulgence that hurts other people. The Hunger Games is a book with a message, but when you look at the Subway partnerships and the merchandise, it is proving its relevance by the way people treat it. It has gone corporate. People watch The Hunger Games and feel sad, but then go on with their lives, utterly ignorant to a lot of the conflict in the world. If anyone has ever blamed the Capitol for the little they do to help the districts, what does that say about the West?

Mari: Quite thought provoking and a little political. I think the reason the Capitol is such a democratic disaster for us is because the districts are its citizens yet they are treated like slaves. The Capitol isn't planning on helping the districts because they are the ones imposing the hurt. I wouldn't compare it so much to the Western effort in the "rest" of the world. In fact that idea is wrong. There is no West and the rest; there needn't be. We Westerners will work to provide the best society possible for ourselves and the future generations but at the same time we have several initiatives going towards helping other countries without interfering in their sovereignty. Unlike the Capitol the West is not the government. Sure there are people who are completely oblivious to the going ons in other parts of the world but its up to them and their priorities. Millions of people will never leave the place they were born in and that's ok. Not everyone has a worldwide view on life.

P.E.: But that's only if you take the criticism worldwide (& I disagree because I do think there is a West, but I don't think this is place to argue that :P) which you could, but it is equally applicable domestically. There are a lot of issues in Canada and the US due to  income inequality. Some people have very little and some people have a lot, and we can't say that is due to the people themselves. Why are there still children hungry in some of the richest countries in the world? Why is racism *still* an issue? I think the criticism of The Hunger Games is that of a society so focused on fun and games that it ignores all its issues, and I think that's a pretty good description of our society.

Art, in general has that capacity, and that's why books about revolutions like The Hunger Games are so relevant. They can open our eyes to the world and systems we live in by making us reconsider what is true and not. After reading The Hunger Games, I started thinking a lot about how distractions and games are used to mask deeper issues in societies, and this is an idea I believe in quite strongly because it has been developed through a book.

Art can do that sometimes, and I feel like any one using Katniss' salute is sending a very powerful message.

A discussion between P.E. and Mari.

P.E.: It's been a while since we did this, so let's go for it. A new year, new books. What book are you hyped up for?

Mari: Oh gosh that's just evil. How about every book I've spotlighted on WoW for the past year? Somehow I've managed to downsize to 3 so here it is. This Shattered World looks like a fantastic companion to These Broken Stars. I'm very excited to read about a female soldier captured by rebels, yes!! As for The Young Elites, I will literally read anything Marie Lu writes so if this was about Barney getting plastic surgery to be a green dinosaur, I would still read it. Lastly, Mortal Heart is the conclusion to one of my favourite series. This story is so amazing and I can't wait to read Annith's side of things.  Some other titles that I feel deserve a mention are: The Dark Artifices by Cassandra Clare and The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski.

P.E.: You know my book tastes pretty well. Let's spice this up: guess three books I'm dying to read. (They are sequels to books I've been telling you to read since forever!)

Mari: Lazy, I see right through you. But fine, the biggest, most obvious one is Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater. Next up is probably Rick Riordan's next book, which ever book it might be because he is your favourite and lastly I know you liked the The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey & Red Rising by Pearce Brown, so both of the sequels to those.

P.E.: And that is why I have a co-blogger. /endpost

Okay, maybe some more is needed. Mari's picks were all spot-on, and those are probably all the books I'm really dying to read. But, hype is not a finite thing: there is more to go around. For example, The Queen of the Tearling! Mari and I have been drooling over that book for quite some time now. I love epic fantasy with strong female characters that have to deal with politics. The rating on Goodreads isn't as high as I would have wanted (Oh no, a paltry 3.8), but that doesn't diminish my excitement!

Mari: I'm very much intrigued by this one, but I'm worried about some of the negative reviews surfacing. I'll still try it out but I'll have to get it from the library. A book that's been out for a while but I've only recently bothered to read the synopsis and realize that it's the kind of book I wanted to read is: The Kiss of Deception. I love the idea of someone running away on their wedding day, isn't that one of the most filmy scenes? Also, I would love to see the action between, the jilted prince and the assassin all in the process to woo a runaway princess!

P.E.: It reminds me of the first awesome scene in Spy Kids, when the parents are telling the story of their wedding? I loved that movie so much when I was a kid. Who's kidding, I still do. Anyway, another book I'm super excited for is Red Queen. I've had pretty great experiences with books that have "red" in their titles in the past (hehe), and the premise of this one is actually surprisingly close to Red Rising, what with the colour caste system. I guess I'm a sucker for books that promise adventure, intrigue, and seem a bit epic. I haven't read any reviews of Red Queen yet so I don't know if my excitement is warranted.

Mari: OHH, I can't say I've read any reviews but I have seen some buzz on this which is making me quite interested. I'm also super excited about this one.

These Are Our Hype Up Books, What Are Yours?

-P.E. & MARI

I know everyone hates it.

The story is almost over, and it's wrapped up, but nope, the author is not a decent human being.

The author is some cruel, scary person that drinks the tears of their readers, and in the last few chapters of their book, they decide not to wrap up the story like every sane individual would say they should. Instead, they choose a far more nefarious path. They decide to include a cliffhanger.

And the reader goes through the book, expecting a slow decrescendo of action, only to get slapped in the face- no, punched in the gut- by the author's cliffhanger.

Authors be like..

Everyone hates cliffhangers. Stories should be self contained. They should end. And, come on, what the hell is up for leaving readers in suspense for a whole year as they wait for the new book to come out? It's one year. Something so sudden can't just be sprung up on a reader.

I see why people don't like cliffhangers, but I've always liked them.

First, I don't understand this book obsession with completing a story. Why do people desire such perfectly self-contained reads? I'm not one to seek out standalones, and this is because I like the longer, complex story that usually has the character going through a larger journey. The more details and plot twists, the better, as long as they're done well.

Thanks Funny or Die!

The second part to cliffhangers is that I review books right after I read them. This evidently means my review is very well measured. In reality, the way I feel about the ending is weighted extremely heavily. So, if the ending is shocking and leaves me craving for more, my review will be gushy and all "Nooooo whyyy is there no morreeee". In fact, wanting more is often viewed as a positive, so if an author can achieve that, I'll often review their stories more favourably.

The last part of it is that I like having some time to imagine what the next story is like. There's a whole year to build up anticipation and wonder what will happen to the characters. What better way to end an essay with a punch line? Well, cliffhangers are the same. They're punches. They're memorable, and show that the author knows where they're going. To me, they say, "Well if you liked this one, you won't believe what happpens in the sequel!" And this excites me. It's what makes me write in my reviews that a story has promise. Because a cliffhanger is a promise that something exciting will be happening.

Cliffhangers often occur in high action or drama stories, and provided I enjoyed the book, I always enjoy the cliffhanger. Rick Riordan is especially famous for this, and his "rickhangers" are horrible, amazing, maddening masterpieces. I love them because they allude to a bigger and better story.

Cliffhangers are not just awesome, they're the shit.

-P.E.

A discussion between P.E. & Mari.

Mari: This summer marks our entrance into the "real world", whatever that's supposed to be, and it makes me wonder, what does this mean for our reading choices? Do you wish to continue reading YA lit or are you starting to branch out? Do you think there is a certain age for certain books and is there a type that may have once suited you but you don't think it will from now on?

P.E.: Absolutely. You've noticed that I've given stories I think are light very low ratings because I'm looking for a certain level of complexity in what I read. I do wish to continue reading YA, but I'm also hoping to branch out into some adult fic, with some stories that make me think about the world. I won't read any more of the "rich kid" chick lit stuff even though I used to be a big fan. I'm also not really the biggest fan of reading books about kids much younger than me, so I'm reading around my age (17). How about you?

Mari: I tried many types of books over the years and I think at this point I've come to realize what I enjoy. I will not be reading any freshman year books about just going into high school. Those stories don't appeal to me anymore. Been there, done that; I'm moving on. I like a certain level of "lightness" in my reads but it's not the same for fantasy. I don't much like light paranormal romance stories and don't think I will continue with them. I also want to delve into the adult genre a little, I'm very interested in the fantasy and historical romances. I also want to read more classics, hopefully at least one a year. Mostly I want to branch out and become more diverse. Is there a certain genre you're interested in trying?

P.E.: I'm interested in trying more books about real life. I want to hear real stories about power, success, fame, fortune, danger. I want to be inspired by real people. I guess I'm at a point in my life where I'm realizing that everything I wanted isn't some kind of pretend fantasy. I can actually do a lot of what I want, and I want to explore the wonders of this world, not just a fantasy world. I want to explore memoirs, biographies, and the such. Also, even better if the story is one of those that is deep and inspirational. Is that weird?

Mari: I think HRC is getting to you! Haha I guess its not weird. I personally am not ready to leave my fantasy world. I read articles and such on the side and that's my dose of reality and I'm happy with that. Reading is for pure enjoyment. But that's just the different type of readers that we are. I read to journey out of myself for a bit and enjoy something different. You may do the same but you also look for inspiration in your books.

P.E.: Hmm maybe. I still haven't finished it though. It's such a looonng read. 

There's a fair bit of this going on, too. 

I think in general, I want everything I do to have meaning. I mean, I want to be entertained, and I want to escape. But I'm also looking for books that transcend entertainment and turn into actual experiences for me, from which I can learn from and come back to. Although I don't think that's my reading future. However, I seldom have a list of books to read if it isn't an ARC, so it's not like I'll be ditching YA anytime soon.

Mari: I second that. We both plan on expanding our reading spectrum and growing but staying with YA for the most part.

What's In Your Reading Future?

I’ve noticed over my reading adventures that I don’t necessarily enter reading slumps out of nowhere. They are actually really common.

I don’t often get into a reading spree where I read 10 books in a row, that happens very seldom actually. Picking my next read is the toughest thing for me. It’s completely up to my mood and what catches my eye. It’s random.

I’m currently in a reading limbo because I don’t know what to read next. This happens all the time despite my 1000 book tbr list on goodreads. But I appreciate it. Sometimes it’s important to realize that yes I do need to make content but I also have to realize that it’s fun. If I’m not feeling in the mood, I can pick up some of the best books and not be able to read past the first page. 

To solve this, I have a slow and steady way of picking my next read. It’s not preplanned, it just happens when it’s time. Basically, I get the calling. I feel it in my gut, a sense that tells me I want to read and what I want to read. It’s not always a title or a specific book. Most of the time, it’s a topic or setting.

A couple months ago I watched Pompeii which rejuvenated my love for Ancient Rome and historical romances. After a week or two of intensive searching I finally zeroed into a book that interested me, was within the topic that I was interested in and was readily available at my library. And tada, we got my 5 star rave review of The Mistress of Rome. 

Reading is a moody hobby for me. I will not read something that feels forced. It’s why required reading always takes me months to finish despite by initial interest.  Reading slumps aren’t really an end to reading for me, they are a time when I stop, recharge and find the next best thing.

In a way this explains my starring system and why I have so many 5 star reads. It's not because I'm easy to please or a high marker, far from that. I read less and love more. Meaning the little number of books I read, I enjoy very much with an occasional hiccup here and there. Most of the time if I’m not sure I will love a book, I won’t read it. That’s just me. Even if it means I don't pick anything else up for a long time after. 

How do you pick your next book? Are reading slumps as prominent for you as they are for me?

A discussion between P.E. & Mari.

P.E.: By the time this post is posted, Mari and I will be in university, but our blogging worlds will have changed. I'm moving away, and we're going to continue blogging. This means there have to be some changes though, and there will be some challenges. Mari, what do you think?

MARI: Eek, we haven't really spoke much about it mostly because we're both going into this new stage partially blind not knowing what to expect. I'm nervous but I think we're both quite dedicated so we will definitely try our best with time management. What I will miss is being able to speak to you directly about blog things. It's always great to be able to discuss things in person instead of over text or phone.  What are your questions and concerns?

P.E.: I guess I also worry about communication. I kind of hate texting after a while and I know that other people don't enjoy phone calls as much as I do. I would like to do some sort of video chat, but I don't know how to go about it: do you even have the software? Should we continue and be random about our interactions or should we have some sort of weekly run down over what's happening? I don't think it will be too bad because we haven't seen each other much this summer and we're doing fine, but I wonder what happens when we're not on each other's wavelength and we aren't exposed to the same culture and perspectives. For all we know, being in such different environments could be a godsend because it will bring the blog some fresh new perspectives?

MARI: There definitely are many ways. I think for the regular check ups and questions we can do what we usually do; text. But Skype is another option for when we have plans and ideas. I know we spend quite a few hours over the phone and in person, discussing some of our earlier ideas like The Perception Project that we did with Eden and some of the other features that have popped up on the blog (Best of Saturday, Thursday Thoughts etc). I think one of the keys to our success thus far has been organization and there are some tools that have helped us with that but nothing more than Google Calender. It's what I always check and it lets us know if were short on posts and such. In a way it serves as a communication device between us without us having to say much.

P.E.: Have you heard of Viber? I don't know the differences between that and Skype, but I know most of my family uses that instead of Skype, so it would be the one I would end up downloading. I do agree with Google Calendar being huge. The only issue with that is when we have posts we want to schedule a certain way and the other person doesn't know, and we go through this game of rescheduling posts all the time until someone gets fed up and explains why post B has to go after post A. :p

MARI: No I haven't. Most of my family and I included, use Skype. It's just been around longer or has been marketed to us and hence we know and use it. I think Google Calendar's pros outweigh the cons and the cons are not something significant that we have had problems with more than once. Communication aside, I think there is one more thing standing between us now; schedules. We may be both going into business schools but they are different schools and we have the demanding university schedules and work schedules as well. How do you think we will handle that, any plans or ideas?


P.E: Frankly, that's something I've tried to avoid thinking about. Obviously, life *always* comes before blogging, and I worry a little about what my life is going to become. I figure the best way to deal with it is to do what we've done so far: if we plan posts very far in advance and give ourselves time to breathe. I feel like preparation is key, and that's my solution. Also, we should let the other now that a certain time means we can't post, like how I told you that I can't do Friday nights/Saturdays. What do you think?

Mari: It's really hard to know, I think we have to be in the moment to know for sure. But to some degree, this summer itself has been practice. We've both been busy with life but have always designated time to spend on the blog as well, no matter how late (it's currently 12am on a sunday and I need to wake up early tomorrow). In the end, it's just going to be another experience, let's just go with the flow and see where it takes us?!

Thanks everyone for bearing with us as we go through this new transition. Do you have any tips or experiences to share with us?

-MARI

A discussion with P.E. and Mari.

P.E.: Mari we did it! We graduated! I figure since this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, we should talk about it. First, what did you think of today? (Our commencement ceremony.)

Mari: Long and repetitive but it was liberating. There were moments in which I was shocked that we had come to the stage in our lives when we finish high school because nothing is for certain once high school is over. But, our valedictorian's address and all the little conversations with my favourite teachers made up for the uncertainty. I'm ready to go forward and grad was a nice push and closure to a big part of my life. How about yourself?

P.E.: I thought it was rather underwhelming. I mean, I've always imagined the day I would graduate from high school and when it happened, it felt weird like, "Oh yeah, this is happening." I thought it would mean more to me but it really doesn't. It just felt like another day, and I don't feel  particularly emotional about it. I had lots of family there and we took lots of pics, and I got some great grad gifts, but beyond that, I can't say grad impacted my life in any significant way. 

Mari: Well it was "just another day". It's just a day that marks the end of your high school experience and opens the doors to new experiences. I agree that it was a little underwhelming at some points but it comes with the territory. For the past 18 years we've been building up the day that we would finally graduate from high school hence, it's quite hard for it to beat our imagination.

P.E.: Remember, seventeen years for me. I don't even think I was imagining it that much. I used to be scared of goodbyes, and now I'm more calm about it. Like, there's nothing I can do to prevent change, so I'll just let it happen and try to enjoy it. I also left pretty fast- I kind of like a clean break. Now that we've moved on from high school, how was it different from the books?

Mari: Well there was no real KABOOM! GOOD BYE HS!  I got out of the ceremony confused and incapable of finding my friends or family. There were teachers hounding me to return my gown and pick up my diploma and all my friends were charging out the doors like they were being chased by hungarian horntails. It was quite different from the books. But interestingly enough, now that you mention it, I've never read about graduation in a book. There are senior year books and then the summer after books but never one that features graduation... We should write that novel :)

The ceremony was just that, a ceremony, but I think the real end of high school was prom. It's what I prepared for, it's what I looked forward to and it's what I spent the most time actually enjoying myself and getting the realization that I was done.

P.E.: I didn't really care too much about prom- I plan on going to a lot of fancy parties in my life, so I tried not to stress out when I couldn't find a dress I liked, or build prom up too much. It was fun though. There was so much family stuff going on at the time that it was nice to remember that I have a life outside my home life too. And I can't recall a graduation scene either. Weird. I'm sure it's mentioned, but it just skips by. But I mean, what did you think of high school in general? Was it as dramatic as you expected? Lots of cliques, fights, etc.?

Mari: There were cliques, I was in one, but we weren't the mean girls reincarnate. Cliques are not a replacement word for gangs guys, they are not all evil. I was in the nerd group as my brother likes to call us. There were the athletic/outgoing/popular kids as well and though I knew them and was friends with them I wasn't a regular member of their lunch party :) Here is the other thing, to me cafeterias were supposed to be the worst place ever when I first read YA. My experience was much different. In books, the cafeteria was where the new ninth graders got educated, it's where they couldn't find a table. At our school, there was a lot of room because the older kids don't want to sit inside when they can be in the halls, outside, or at a restaurants. Life is so much bigger than what we see in the books and much less dramatic.

P.E.: Maybe I was in a bit of a unique position because I don't feel like overall I was part of any group, for better or for worse. I mean, the only group I feel like I was part of all throughout high school was the Frenchie group (because obviously, French Immersion kids are the smartest and bestest!) and I remained close with the Frenchies from my elementary school. But even then, we branched out. I think that's what I got out of high school; you can be part of a lot of different things because there are different aspects to your personality. I can be in any nerd group--I'm a total nerd-- and maybe I suck as an athlete but gosh darnit I tried (& I LOVED being part of a team too!). Although my experience could be weird because the trio I was in ended up breaking up because 2/3 of them switched schools. 

The cafeteria is interesting. You said it didn't matter much. In my circles, we started out in the cafeteria with our long table to the window. Then, a few weeks in, we decided that the cafeteria was NOT the place to be because of the awful food, and the fact that at my school, you could eat anywhere you wanted. So for all of tenth grade, I'm pretty sure we went out for lunch every day. We went to the nearby Tim Hortons to get away from the annoying school kids. The plaza was for sometimes, and we didn't like it much. The park was okay. Mostly, we walked around. Then in senior years, I avoided the cafeteria again and staked a spot at my locker. 

I also didn't think our school was that dramatic. I mean, there were rumours in ninth grade and tenth grade about some things, but I stayed away from that. So I guess if you're looking for drama, you can have it. If not, it can be avoided. Also, people are pretty great. They're not defined by who they hang out with and everyone has their own story. That I learned through leadership camp. So what do you think university will be like? What have you learned from the books? 


Mari: I haven't read much, mostly because new adult is a fairly new category. What I have managed to gather  over the past while is : lots of parties, dating, alcohol and sororities/ fraternities. Honestly, I can tell you now my experience is going to be the opposite of this because I avoid a lot of those things. I'm not a party animals and so the parties know to stay away. On the academic side, I see lots of lonely studying and hopefully cute teacher's assistants :) How about you?

P.E.: I don't know what to expect. I'm moving away, so I'm sure I'll feel lonely a lot. Also, university is apparently really hard and I'm scared when it comes to thinking about exams and stuff, and just kind of not knowing anyone or seeing my family or friends. But at the same time, I feel very strongly that I need to get away from my comfort zone. I want to try things I've never tried before. I want to experience a new culture, and see a different part of life. I don't know what will happen. I think Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell calmed me down a bit because a lot of my fears are what Cath struggles with, and she ended up okay. 

Mari: It will definitely be an adventure.

Mari and P.E. at prom! 

Are you in high school? Have you completed university? What did you think of it? Do you have any advice for P.E. & Mari?