LA Times Festival of Books Recap

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of going to the LA Times Festival of Books for my upcoming Sweet Sixteen, and I had an ah-mazing time. Not only that, but the next day I got to meet Laini Taylor at a book signing at my local Barnes and Noble! 

When we first got to the festival, we saw this huuuge line filled with people holding copies of TFiOS and other John Green books; it was no other than JG himself signing. I didn't actually get to meet him because the line was just endless. But, we did pass by and my cousin got a slightly creepy picture of him.

JG signing his book (I'm sure his hand was killing him)

Top Ten Tuesday #7: Top Ten Books Dealing With Tough Subjects

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week's topic is pretty serious. Not all of the listed affected me on an extremely personal level, but they all evoked some feeling out of me, such as depression, sadness, grief, and the like.

1. Stolen, by Lucy Christopher: Personally, I haven't read this yet, but I have read enough reviews to know that it is about a girl who was kidnapped. Pretty depressing subject.

2. Wintergirls, by Laurie Halse Anderson: This book effectively portrays anorexia and not only the physical effects, but the psychological effects.

3. Mornings in Jenin, by Susan Abulhawa: Out of all of the books, Mornings in Jenin probably affected me the most. It is a story on the Israel- Palestine conflict (a very complex and tough subject), and really touched me on an emotional level. The horrors this book described were unimaginable and brutal.

4. Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson: Evidently, LHA handles tough topics very well; she managed to tackle the topic of rape and how drastic the effects are on the victim.

5. Before I Fall, by Lauren Oliver: The subject of death is a tough one in and of itself, and Lauren Oliver did an outstanding job in her novel. Honestly, I think this should be required reading in high school, to teach the students a life lesson. I know it affected me and my outlook on life tremendously.

6. The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green: Few authors can manage to pull off a book on cancer while at the same time enjoyable to read (except the ending). But c'mon, we're talking about John Green here.

7. A Child Called "It", by Dave Pelzer: Back in elementary school, my friend persuaded me to read this. You can imagine the effects it had on 10-year-old me.

What are your top 10 picks? Comment and link below!

"Eeew You Read Books?": A Message to Book Haters

Countless times have I encountered people I call "Book Haters". You know, the ones who show unconcealed distaste when they see you reading instead of, I don't know, texting or going on FB?

I find it very ignorant of these type of people to automatically HATE books, when they have probably never read a book in their life, and disrespect the person reading the book.

Here is how a typical conversation would go:

*Me reading a book in the middle of class*
Girl: Eew, are you reading?
Me: No duh. I find it very enjoyable. I feel like I'm in another world, experiencing--
Girl: So, like, you have to read books because you're antisocial and a loner and will be forever alone?
Me: *Clenches teeth* It's a freaking hobby. Why is it any of your business what I like to do? And of course I have plenty of friends! *Mentally makes a list of all my friends, a majority of them being fictional*
Girl: Books are so old-school. It's the, like, 21st century! We have technology. Books are for, like, cavemen.
Me: Have you even read a book in your whole life?
Girl: Ya! I have read Green Eggs and Ham plenty of times! It's the only book that I like.
Me: Well, congrats to you. You have the reading ability of a genius. *Sarcasm dripping from every word.* 
Girl: Like, ZOMG. Thank you. It's a sign of my intelligence. I don't like books without pictures though. It gets on my pet peeves.
Me: Good for you. *Continues reading and ignores the girl*
Girl: Hello! I am talking to you! *Flips her hair and walk away*

See, this is how a typical conversation with an ignorant book-hater goes. If you are reading this, and you are a book hater (which I highly doubt), then I have a message for you: Pick up a freakin book for once in your life before automatically judging us book lovers. Please.

And for all those people who think reading makes you a nerd, and being a nerd is a bad thing, read this brilliant quote by John Green: