Back to Basics

From Success to Freakness        Just yesterday, I have finished the book  Think Like A Freak . I must say, I was a little sad, since the book ended at only 65 percent, not 100 like it usually does. Well, this might also be a positive factor, because it shows how much I liked this book. I think that I enjoyed reading and learning from this book so much because I am currently in a "psychology" obsession era. Indeed, I mostly read these types of books this summer. That's, why, I wanted to make a connection between the book  Outliers  by Malcolm Gladwell and  Think Like A Freak  by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. If you are interested in self improvement and creative thinking methods, I suggest you read both books. They both talk about our minds, and how everything we do and are surrounded by affect our success and our thinking. One difference, however, is that in the first book, Gladwell chooses to write about the roads to ...

Eataly Contemporary  Italian Cooking As many of you know I am vegetarian and have been for almost a year now. One of the positives I saw in taking up vegetarianism was a healthier lifestyle where I knew I would create an environment where I would be conscious of what I ate on a daily basis. This step would make be take accountability in my decisions and create a new responsibility of finding ways to nourish myself fully without meat. I knew this would sometimes mean making my own dinners as I recognize to others it seems as a disadvantage. WIht summer coming I knew I would have more time to experiment with ideas and I decided a cookbook was a good place to start. I also wanted to embrace where I was living as I have never cooked a fully Italian meal, so I thought that  Eataly 's  Contemporary Italian Cooking  would be a great place to start. I will be trying to integrate both of these topics in the meal I will be making!! In the video below I wi...

In the following blog post, I will continue writing about my spring break read -- The Secret Life of Bees. As previously mentioned in the last post I truly enjoyed this simple but heartfelt novel. Above you see a quote that I found on the internet when I looked up bees. I really appreciated the quote and I am going to make several connections to the bee and the protagonist, Lily Owens. Initially, I felt a connection between the insect and the girl because they are both theoretically not supposed to or be allowed to do what they are doing but nevertheless continue in their pursuit as it makes them happy.  A background of Lily Owens: Lily Owens is a 14-year-old girl that has a very difficult and somewhat messy life. She seems to be defying other characters preassumed judgments of her left and right. She is repeatedly physically and emotionally abused by her father whom she calls T. Ray.  These harsh actions against the young protagonist lead he...

Over the break, I started and finished the novel  The Secret Life of Bees  in which I finished in no time due specifically to its easy going pace and simplistic choices the author decided upon regarding literary features. I have been recommended this book by many of my friends and I was very excited to see if my expectations would be able to be met in which they were. The book is an in-depth coming of age historical fiction novel that I understand discovers multiple areas of prejudice during the time that the novel was set in. My favorite part of the book was the ending which was very happy but taught a lesson that allowed for a new way to look at the book along with other ways of life. In the following blog (first post of the final quarter) post I am going to take a specific look at how the title of the book actually relates to the plot and story line of the remarkably true and emotional experience that the main character, Lily Owens embarked on after leaving home....

A poem from Simon's POV No one is perfect Blue This I know is true And I told you I'm not trying to be rude I just... really want to meet you Our relationship is on a screen and you never want to see me  all I know is your on the soccer team and honestly my dream? To meet the one who thinks like me I decided to write this poem as it really signifies how "Jaques" (simons online name) feels about "Blue" (Brams online name), and how the main plot in the story is wondering if the two will ever first have the courage to accept themselves first, and then their love for each other. I think poetry is an important aspect in this book especially because the way the two essentially "meet" each other is over a bonding of a poem they found on  Tumblr  about loneliness in yourself Above are small experts that Simon specifically enjoyed from Blues poem, and both of these opinions specifically target different ways that Bram vi...

Becky Albertalli In this blog post, I am going to be "sending" the author of  Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda , Becky Albertalli a letter. In this I am going to be telling her what I like about the book so far, asking what the protagonist, Simon means to her, and where she overall got the inspiration to write this book. In a short summary, it is written in the first person by a junior in high school named Simon who struggles with his sexual orientation. The book explores how he will deal with his new found reality, plus the typical problems of a teenage boy. We watch Simon learn to grow, love, forgive, and learn through his friends and family. In my opinion, this story is a touching insight into what it may be like for kids who are going through the same thing, and how the rest of us should really just be supportive. It talks of the protagonist being bullied for his decisions but we see this hate overrun by the love that surrounds him. I think this book is perfect...

Evaluating Relationships "The best relationship is not the one being shared in good times... But rather the one who has the staying power through rough times..." Because it is Valentine’s Day this week, I am going to take a special look at one of the most prevalent themes in  The Perks of Being a Wallflower ; love and relationships. Now although there is romantic love there is also a big focus on love between Charlie’s family and friends, arguably just as important if not more than romanticism.  Charlie  is truly and utterly amazed at what these relationships came to mean to him and how each person differently influences his life, especially this newfound caring for friends. Using the quote above I will say how this relates to every character Charlie interacts with, as it really is a quote that I find most useful when reflecting on the journey we were taken on with the protagonist. I found the above quote on the internet about relationships and it does not h...