To Whom It May Concern

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[Book Review]- Seconds by Bryan Lee O'Malley

Graphic novels are a genre that I've consciously kept my distance from and chose not to read because I've always associated them with comic books/ kiddy picture books. Don't ask why I made such a stereotypical and uninformed generalization — I'm not quite sure myself. I do know that this is definitely the first graphic novel I've ever read willingly. Not only did I not regret picking it up, In my opinion, Seconds has set the bar extremely high for graphic novels as a genre.

If you've checked out the online reviews already or done your homework, you'll know that Bryan Lee O'Malley is also the author of the popular Scott Pilgrim Series. While that series was geared more towards the early 20's/ teenage scene, Seconds is about a girl in her late 20's going through a shitty existential crisis. I can totally relate since this is the story of my life right now, and I'm certain it can safely be assumed that most people in their mid to late 20's are in the same boat. Basically, this graphic novel is for adults and it's awesome.

Page 124 is my favourite because she is me. #spiritanimal

I love the protagonist Katie's sarcastic wit and dark sense of humour. However, if I'm being honest with myself, I relate better to her friend Hazel's quiet, solitary and often misread demeanor. The story centers around chef Katie's new restaurant problems and regrets over decisions she can't seem to stop thinking about in her personal life. One night she's offered a miracle solution in the form of magic mushrooms. Intrigued yet?....trust me, if you're a confused 20-something seeking life's answers, you need to read this book.  

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[Book Review]- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

After hearing and reading a bunch of glowing reviews about The Night Circus, I was ready to be swept away by the wave of hype. The book was original, riveting, whimsical, and at times even enchanting. However, for whatever reasons, It wasn't quite love at first read for me.

THE CIRCUS ARRIVES WITHOUT WARNING. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white-striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is open only at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway: a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them both, this is a game in which only one can be left standing. Amidst the high stakes, Celia and Marco soon tumble headfirst into love, setting off a domino effect of dangerous consequences, and leaving the lives of everyone from the performers to the patrons hanging in the balance.

I really, really wanted to be as enraptured by this book as most reviewers seemed to be. I love it when I can free fall in to a book and lose myself in the storytelling. I have really fond memories of reading the Harry Potter series while growing up, being completely enamoured with the world of witchcraft and wizardry that J.K. Rowling created. I had a similar experience reading the first book in George R.R.  Martin's ASOIF series. There were certainly sections of the novel that had me completely riveted, these were mainly the scenes where Marco and Celia's flame for each other shone brightest; but mostly, their relationship was always there burning under the surface; much like the bonfire does at Le Cirque des Rêves. Another dynamic I really enjoyed watching unfold was the blossoming of Bailey and Poppet's relationship. It was so sweet and cute to read. If they both existed in real life, I'd totally have to squish them.

Considering, this is author Erin Morgenstern's debut novel, I think she did a fantastic job. Her writing style is precise, yet descriptive. I found her prose easy to follow and quite enjoyable to read. I would definitely recommend The Night Circus to fantasy fiction lovers who are looking for an adult tale involving magic, star-crossed lovers, and a Circus you could only hope to visit in your wildest dreams.

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[Book Review]- Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling

Like most North Americans, I love Mindy Kaling. Ever since she first appeared on the scene as a writer and star of The Office, and now in her own show, The Mindy Project, I can't get enough of her. The fact that she's written a book about herself on top of everything else totally justifies my healthy obsession. I mean, books are my thing  — clearly, this was meant to be.

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) is Mindy's first novel. The back cover describes it as a collection of humorous essays. Mindy's description is much more apt, of-course. 

"In this book I write a lot about romance, female friendships, un-fair situations that now seem funny in retrospect, unfair situations that I still don't think are funny, Hollywood, heartache, and my childhood. I wrote this book in a way that reflects how I think. Sometimes it's an essay or story, and sometimes it's a pliest, which is a piece with a list-y quality, a term I've just made up."

For some context, this was written in the time frame before The Mindy Project came in to fruition but after she had departed The Office. I love this book because it felt like Mindy was beside me the whole time, chatting away about her life as I turned each page. This is a must-read for fans of The Office, as she includes lots of details about what it was like working on the show, along with many anecdotes involving various cast members and writers. There's even a eulogy written for Mindy by a former writer and cast member. Yup, a eulogy. It's hilarious. You'll have to read the book to find out who wrote it.

Mindy's next novel, Why Not Me, will be published in April 2015. I can't wait!  

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Love when my book makes my bag look prettier :)

[onlysiimple-blog]

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publishers be like....

when I send in my resume.

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So, I'll just hang around and find some things to do...

Me, every time a book publisher ignores my resume.

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My 2014 Summer Playlist

These are the songs I've had on repeat this summer... I'm not gonna lie, some of them have been on my playlist since the Spring. A few of the tracks are brand new like Summer, and Happy Little Pill and some are old favourites of mine, like Falling and Guns + Ammunition. Some are tunes that I love putting on in the summer time ie. Forever and I Would Do Anything For You. Here it is, in no particular order:

1) Stay High (Habits Remix)- Tove Lo ft. Hippie Sabotage

2) Instant Crush- Daft Punk ft. Julian Casablancas 

3) Sailing- Seapony

4) Coming of Age- Foster The People

5) Happy Little Pill- Troye Sivan

6) Forever- Haim

7) Your Eyes- Fear Club & Ashley Garcia

8) Guns + Ammunition- July Talk

9) Let Me Down Gently- La Roux

10) It's Alright Now- Bombay Bicycle Club

11) Out of The Woods- Foals (Kulkid Remix)

12) Summer- Calvin Harris

13) Move On- Garden City Movement

14) Falling- Haim

15) Carry Me- Bombay Bicycle Club

16) Settle Down (Young Ruffian Remix)- The 1975

17) I Never Would- Seapony

18) You Only Live Once- The Strokes

19) I Would Do Anything For You- Foster The People

20) Luna- Bombay Bicycle Club

21) Summertime Sadness- Lana Del Rey

22) Take A Walk- Passion Pit

23) Prove To Me- Seapony

[pandcris]

n.n on We Heart It.

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[Book Review]- Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

Life After Life is the story of Ursula Todd, born to an English banker and his wife in 1910. Ursula dies at birth, before she can take her first breath, yet she is born again on that same snowy night in 1910. This is the first of many deaths and reincarnations that Ursula will experience throughout her turbulent life, spanning the young century as it marches towards the first cataclysmic war.  As the book progresses, Ursula seemingly has an infinite number of lives to change the destiny of the world surrounding her.   

This is the first piece of fiction I’ve read in a long time due to the fact that I briefly went through a memoir craze. Life After Life was a refreshing departure from reality that was brilliantly original and captivating.   

At roughly 477 pages, I found the novel a bit of a long read for the storyline. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the overall plot and am still thinking about it days later.  Atkinson created a storyline that makes you think long and hard about the meaning of life and question what you would do differently given the chance to change your own life’s outcome.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys imaginative fiction and doesn’t mind a long read. Here’s hoping Kate Atkinson’s novel is picked up for movie rights. In my opinion, Life After Life would translate wonderfully on screen, similar to the Benjamin Button adaptation.

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[Book Review]- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Book Thief was so epic that I ploughed through it in one sitting. It’s the type of YA novel that you forget is an actual YA novel because of the lack of cringe-worthy teenage angst and drama #Firstworldproblems anyone? I’m not saying this book lacks drama and angst, but the fact that it’s set during the real life era of Nazi Germany, makes it all the more sobering and sad. It was an especially intriguing read because of the author’s different perspective on the events of the Holocaust.  Here’s Zusak’s reasoning behind his writing approach in own words:

“I also hope that readers of any age will see another side of Nazi Germany, where certain people did hide their Jewish friends to save their lives (at the risk of their own). I wanted them to see people who were unwilling to fly the Nazi flag, and boys and girls who thought the Hitler Youth was boring and ridiculous. “ — Marcus Zusak

The highlight of the novel, in my opinion, is the fact that Death itself is the narrator. Zusak does a brilliant job of giving Death a complex persona. Rather than depicting the obvious role of bloodthirsty predator who overly enjoys picking up souls, Death is portrayed as “exhausted from his external existence and his job.” Death seems sympathetic yet intrigued by the main character of Liesel and even remorseful towards her best friend Rudy.

I loved every minute of The Book Thief and can find no faults. Death ultimately reveals that humans haunt him towards the end of the novel; I feel the same way about this book. I can't wait to see how the film adaptation compares to this epic read.    

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#Bookmas

So this was a lot harder than I thought it would be.....

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[Book Review]- Orange Is The New Black by Piper Kerman

Lately, I find myself increasingly drawn to reading memoirs. Case in point— the last book I reviewed was a memoir. I’ve always been interested in hearing people’s stories firsthand; be it, their own personal account of a significant event in their life, some good pieces of advice they’ve picked up, or just interesting observations about random topics. I just appreciate a good story. (Cool story, bro)

When I first heard about Orange Is The New Black, the original series on Netflix, I had no idea it was adapted from an actual memoir. Upon discovery, I immediately went out and picked it up (shocking, right?). I am a firm believer of reading the book before watching any on screen adaptations. 

The novel is based on ex-convict Piper Kerman’s experience during her 15-month prison term at a federal correctional facility in Danbury, Connecticut. Her offense was a 10-year old drug trafficking charge, a one-off transgression that occurred during a youthful misadventure. It was a stressful and uncertain period in Piper’s life as a new college graduate, one that so many of us can relate to.

The most surprising aspect of this book is the respect and admiration that the author shows towards her fellow inmates. Never does she embody a holier than thou attitude. Instead, she wisely chooses to adapt to her surroundings by befriending her cellmates, (except the crazies) and avoiding conflict at all costs. She experiences many challenges along the way such as almost coming to blows with another inmate at the cafeteria salad bar and having to submit to a form of strip search aptly called the “squat and cough” before and after visitations. Slowly and begrudgingly we witness the author learning to accept the fact that all of the power and control she carried in her life outside prison walls, had been effectively relinquished once she became an inmate in the American prison system.  

In Orange Is The New Black, readers can expect a hilarious true story about love, detriment, camaraderie, infuriating circumstances and redemption. Shocking aspects of prison life are revealed along with important insight in to the out-of-control growth of prison populations in America.  It is the type of memoir that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading it.      

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[Book Review]- Wave by Sonali Deraniyagala

In December 2004, Sonali, her British husband Steve and her two English sons, Vikram and Malli were vacationing in the southwest part of Sri Lanka, visiting her parents for the holidays. On December 26th, a 30-foot wave caused by a massive tsunami, swept over her hotel killing her parents, husband and children. This memoir recounts Sonali’s intense and sometimes unbearable struggle to come to terms with the pain of her loss. 

I’ve been excited to read Wave a memoir by 2004 tsunami survivor, Sonali Deraniyagala since it first became available in stores earlier this year.  This book was far from what I expected it to be. It was raw, honest and lacking any sense of romanticism. Whilst reading along, I found myself relating to Sonali’s “subdued” reaction in the aftermath of the disaster and upon learning the fate of her young family. In her own way, she was preparing herself mentally for her new incomprehensible reality. I find myself wondering what coping mechanisms I would employ to salvage my sanity if put in Deraniyagala’s shoes. Her perseverance and resolve to keep the memories of her family alive speaks volumes of our minds’ capacity for acceptance and recovery.

I enjoyed this book immensely because of the author’s surprisingly calm and lucid voice. Her ability to navigate between her past life and present reality through flashbacks and visions was both comforting and a little unnerving. At the same time, I appreciate that none of her experiences were sugar coated or embellished for the readers’ sake. After turning the last page, I was left feeling melancholy, optimistic for the future and most of all, relieved that our roles were not reversed. I doubt I would have had the strength of spirit to overcome all that Sonali has in her life.    

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To-Read Pile

Yes, I have a to-read pile. Even though I'm unemployed and almost completely broke. I'm an avid reader and therefore I can't help myself. Plus to get in to book publishing you need to be well read, right? At least, this is what I tell myself to sleep at night.  

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I love these books so much. Thank you George R.R Martin for unleashing your amazing imagination upon the world.    

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Drugstore Lip Balm Review: Maybelline vs. EOS vs. Nivea

Baby Lips: Available for $3-4 at Shoppers Drug Mart, Target, Wal-Mart and most drug stores in Canada.

The colour I purchased above is Peach Kiss. The packaging states that it is a SPF 20 Moisturizing Lip Balm. I can’t really speak to whether or not the SPF factor actually works but I would have to disagree with the “moisturizing” aspect of this product. The colour payoff is decent if you press hard enough and it smells good but, when I put this on, it makes my lips look very dry. It feels heavy, as if you've smeared glue on your lips. The product tends to settle in to the fine lines on my lips. I was excited to try all of the different shades but after my experience with Peach Kiss, I would not re-purchase. 

My Rating: 1/5

EOS: Available for $3-5 at Shoppers Drug Mart, Target, Wal-Mart and most drug stores in Canada.

The flavor shown above is Summer Fruit. I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve had it for over 6 months now but it smells like melted plastic to me. This lip balm is different from Baby Lips in its purpose because it is simply a moisturizing lip balm with no colour payoff, as shown in the picture above. I would liken this product to a glorified chapstick with fancier packaging but not as moisturizing. EOS is certainly more moisturizing than Baby Lips and lacks the sticky glue feeling. However, It only lasted about an hour or so before I had to re-apply. It lasts less if you are eating/drinking. Although I thought the unique packaging was cool at first, I quickly discovered after throwing this in my purse that it’s slightly un-sanitary. Upon opening it I always find pieces of lint that I need to pick off around the edges of the dome. I would not re-purchase unless maybe the packaging was improved and they made the formula more moisturizing. 

My Rating:  2/5

Nivea Lip Smoothie: Available for $3-5 at Shoppers Drug Mart, Target, Wal-Mart and most drug stores in Canada.   

The flavor shown above is Acai and Wild Apple. The packaging lists Vitamins E, C, and B5 as ingredients. This product is by far my favourite of the three. It’s super moisturizing, lasts a few hours before re-application is needed, and leaves a really pretty, slightly shimmery, natural looking pink shade upon application. It also has a pleasant sweet smell, which, strangely smells of neither apples nor berries to me.I think the Nivea Lip Smoothie is worth the price and will definitely repurchase.  

My Rating: 4/5

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[Book Review] Bloodletting & Other Miraculous Cures by Vincent Lam

With the Giller Prize ceremony happening this week, I decided to finally dive in to reading past Giller winner, Bloodletting & Other Miraculous Cures.In all honesty, this book has been in my to-read pile for a while but I kept pushing it aside. The main reason being, I imagined it might be “too medical” for my liking. Logical reasoning on my part because after all, author Vincent Lam is an actual emergency physician by day and this novel was his literary debut. However, not long in to reading the first few chapters, I discovered that this novel was actually all about relationships. It even inspired an HBO mini-series.

Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures is a collection of stories woven intricately between the relationships and experiences of a group of young doctors as they navigate through the trials and tribulations of med school to the fast-paced world of emergency room, evac missions, and terrifying new viruses.   

This novel brilliantly proves false the opinion that “Doctors are sadists who like to play God and watch lesser people scream”  The young doctors, Sri, Ming, Fitz and Chen are genuine people who each carry their own collection of emotional baggage. They each struggle with loneliness, regret, and vulnerability while being confronted daily with moral dilemmas, all for the honor of working in medicine.  Developing and maintaining personal relationships in such a chaotic existence naturally proves difficult. The characters must walk the fine line of being in charge of formulating swift life or death medical prognoses and treatment. Any hesitation or mistake can prove deadly.   

I recommend reading Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures to anyone who holds any form of disdain towards doctors of any kind. This novel will provide you with an accurate depiction  of what medical professionals must deal with in today's world.