Upcoming!

Welcome, welcome!

This is going to be another quick post. I'm currently reading a book that I will review next week. But I still wanted to post something this week because I like posting every week.

I had a little bit of a think over. Here are some of the upcoming posts that will be featured on Lectionem Monstrum:

• Christmas 2012 Wish List
• A surprising review of Pygmy by Chuck Palahniuk
• GOOSEBUMPS! 
• Chuck Palahniuk master post
• A look back on my least favorite novel

I hope you're looking forward to reading them as much as I'm looking forward to writing them!

Just Keep Reading! 

A Little Reading Monster. 

Update #4

H E Y

How is everyone?

What are you reading lately?

So.. It distresses me to inform you that I have come at a standstill as to what posts I want to make. I feel that review after review about Chuck Palahniuk novels is rather repetative, but then again I don't know what else to do. I have some drafts I'm waiting to post, but it requires me reading some books I don't really feel like reading at the moment. I have so many excuses, I know. Wanna help me? Do you have suggestions for posts? Or books to read?

I've just requested another Chuck Palahniuk novel and a book from a series I read a couple years ago. I'm feeling a bit in a supernatural mood so maybe this book will be good for that. Other than that I don't have any posts ideas that would allow me to post every week. I like posting every week though. Welp, I suppose everything will work itself out. But your suggestions are still much appreciated.

Email me! lectionemmonstrum@gmail.com

Snuff by Chuck Palahniuk

"Cassie Wright, porn priestess, intends to cap her legendary career by breaking the world record for serial fornication. On camera. With sex hundred men. Snuff unfolds the perspectives of Mr. 72, Mr. 137 and Mr. 600, who await their turn on camera in a very crowded green room. This wild, lethally funny and thoroughly researched novel brings the huge yet underacknowlegded presence of pornograhpy in contemporary life into the realm of literary fiction at last. Who else, but Chuck Palahniuk would dare do such a thing? Who else could do it so well, so unflinchingly and with such an incendiary (you might say) climax?"

(It's a mouth! LOL)

Snuff by Chuck Palahniuk was the perfect book to read on the train. The first day I opened it up, I could feel the guy sitting next to me reading whatever he could see over my shoulder, staring at me giving me a funny look and then go back to reading. Then when this same guy decided his stop was up, he not so smoothly leaned forward as he got up trying to figure what book I was reading. For all those nosy people who lean over to see what you're typing or watching on your phone whilst on public transportation, if you want to freak them out, read Snuff. I thought people were judging me when I read The Hipster Handbook by Robert Lanham in public, but that's nothing compared to reading Snuff in public. But of course that didn't stop me; it only made me want to read it more obnoxiously in public. I found it hilarious that people would think I'm reading a nice, innocent book and that they too can read a nice, innocent book only to be slapped with the fact that Snuff is about a porn star setting a record for serial fornication.

But Snuff isn't just about a veteren porn star trying to set a world record. Cassie Wright has her surface reasons for doing what she's doing, but as you read further into Snuff, you'll find a hidden agenda to this whole story. I thought it was really interesting and really true. I liked how Palahniuk didn't outright use the real meaning of Snuff as the main plot. He had an idea and decided to use something funny to make it seem less heavy of a topic. There were so many twists and turns and things revealed that helped the story it's hard to describe them without giving everything away.

In the description when it says Snuff was thoroughly researched I thought Palahniuk did research on the porn industry because that was what's on the surface. As I read more of Snuff and read all the knowledge bombs he was dropping, I realized he didn't do research on the porn industry. There was a lot of mentions of old Hollywood actors and how they died or what they did for their craft. I'm not going to say who he mentioned or go into specifics, you'll just have to read it yourself! I fully intend to do some research on my own and see how many of those facts are true. But I think they're all true. I think I got smarter reading Snuff. Everything in Snuff was really thought out; there was nothing in Snuff that didn't have a purpose. I love stories like that. Nothing was a placeholder. And on account of there was so much detail in Snuff the fact that everything had a purpose is amazing. I love Palahniuk's spare no detail style of writing.

Being told through different perspectives, Snuff reminded me of The Rules of Attraction by Bret Easton Ellis. I think stories told from different perspectives allows so much more to happen and it makes the story more intriguing to read. Snuff also reminded me of Diary by Chuck Palahniuk because of the main character and story.

I found Snuff really funny. The porn parodies of big Hollywood films mentioned in the book were hilarious as were the names Sheila called the six hundred men who agreed to be in Cassie Wright's "going out with a bang, record breaking" adult film. Some of the parodies mentioned: The Wizard of Ass, The Twilight Bone and To Drill a Mockingbird. These are probably real adult films, but my curiosity is not so tickled that I Googled to find out. Some of the nicknames Sheila gives the participates were: willy-wankers, palm-pilots and jizz-juicers. Never have I ever laughed so hard at alliteration.

I always think I know what's going on in one of Palahniuk's novels. I keep thinking it until I'm slapped in the face with the truth. Then I'm left surrounded by my exploded brain trying to pick up the pieces. Palahniuk really knows how to lead you on and then tear everything you think down. With no mercy! That was no exception in Snuff.

My favorite character was Mr. 72. He was so naïve and sensitive. Compared to Mr. 137 and Mr. 600, he was the one who I sympathized the most with. Sheila reminded me of Hazie Coogan from Tell-All by Chuck Palahniuk. I don't want to give anything way, but while reading Snuff I felt like Sheila was doing what Hazie did, only twice as fast. To put it simply, I thought Sheila was a shady character.

I really wonder what inspired Palahniuk to do research and write a novel like Snuff. I think it's the most innovative novel I've ever read. I don't think I'll read another novel like it unless I read Snuff again.

I think this would make a great film. I was thinking about how I'd write the screenplay while I read it. Perhaps it's too shameless, but I think done right, Snuff could be a profitable indie film.

I highly recommend Snuff by Chuck Palahniuk if you're looking for a laugh!

Sidenote: I said Snuff twenty-five times in this post (including this time and the title).

What's Next?

I'm not even halfway done with reading all of Mr. Chuck Palahniuk's novels, but being the "Looking forward to the future" type of person that I am, I've been wondering for a while what author I should read next.

There's a bunch of options. Authors I've heard of, authors I've never heard of, books on my To Read List, just pulling a random book off of the library shelf...

What do you reckon I should read next?

I was planning on reading The Harry Potter series or The Sookie Stackhouse series. (Eventually I'll read both.)

I'm also thinking about rereading a book I didn't like the first time I read it..

Your suggestions are always welcome!

What are you currently reading or thinking about reading?

Guilty Pleasure Literature

You know how some people consider watching Jersey Shore or The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills a "guilty pleasure"? I've been wondering, can the same be applied to reading books?

Are there any books or authors you read that you consider a guilty pleasure of yours?

Personally, I'm not ashamed of any book that I read so I don't have any guilty pleasure books. I will occasionally read a book with a strong female lead who has her love interest and whatnot. But I won't try to hide the fact that I'm reading a book like that. Recently I've learned books like that are categorized as "Chick Lit". I've never heard that before. It kind of reminded me of the term "Chick Flicks".

I would consider romance novels as the top guilty pleasure books for anyone. If I had to pick a guilty pleasure book it'd probably be a romance novel. I've never read an actual romance novel before though. They just don't interest me.

Chick lit, romance novel, trashy magazine... What's your poison when it comes to guilty pleasure literature?

Obsession, Deceit, and Really Dark Chocolate x Ski Teal We Drop

I'm taking a quick break from my "Chuck Palahniuk read-athon" to indulge myself in a little lite reading. Much like those nights when you throw caution to the wind, pop in your favorite romantic comedy and shovel that Ben and Jerry's into your mouth like you're filling a grave to hide you guilty pleasure.

I've been reading Kyra Davis novels here and there. I read my first one in eighth grade. I was browsing and just decided to pick it up. I read another book of hers at the end of 2011. I only pick up a Davis novel when I see it. I don't go out of my way to read her novels. Except this time. I really wanted to do another nail polish/book post. I searched all the Palahniuk books I have yet to read, but couldn't find one with cover art that went well with the nail polish I wanted to wear this week. Being the crafty little bugger I am, I thought maybe I should look up some cover art from Kyra Davis. And lo and behold, here I am with another nail polish/currently reading post!

I was really adamant about wearing Ski Teal We Drop from OPI this week and I think Obsession, Deceit, and Really Dark Chocolate by Kyra Davis meshes quite nicely.

Obsession, Deceit, and Really Dark Chocolate is novel #3 in the Sophie Katz Murder Mystery series by Krya Davis. It also happens to be the third Kyra Davis novel I've read. I'm reading the series out of order like I did with Gossip Girl. I don't mind; it's more fun this way! Her style of writing is pretty generic, but I love her use of adjectives, ability to describe certain scenes and the titles of her books are divine!

And of course, who doesn't love a bit of a mystery!

Psst! Check out my first nail polish x book post here.

My Favorite Novel: Chloe Does Yale by Natalie Krinsky

"Chloe Carrington is a typical Yale student, except that along with her coursework she writes the sex column for the campus newspaper. This puts her love life under intense scrutiny, to say the least. Like all her friends, she's hoping to hook up with the right guy, but that proves even more difficult than participating in may notorious Yale traditions, like drinking dollar drafts at Toad's, struggling through financial markets and attending Exotic Erotic, the most entertaining party on campus. Natalie Krinsky's sparkling debut novel is all about what goes on behind those proper ivy-covered walls. And needless to say, it isn't proper at all."

I just finished rereading Chloe Does Yale by Natalie Krinsky and of course I loved it! Although I knew the end before reading the first sentence I was still genuinely surprised. As I read it, I had a different ending in my head which resulted in my being upset at the end. (I wanted it to go a different way, I remember it going a different way, but I digress.) The ending was far from bad. It was ideal; it's where I want to be the summer between my junior and senior year of college.

I first read Chloe Does Yale sophomore year of high school. I picked it randomly off the Young Adult shelf of the public library near my high school. At such a young age Chloe Does Yale was the most shocking "Young Adult" novel I had read. Now, being the jaded nineteen year old I am and having read books from Bret Easton Ellis, Chloe Does Yale is not shocking at all; it's much more interesting. I think it's a great idea to reread novel every few years or so. You'll discover so much. I first read this when I was fifteen. Four years later, I find all the topics relatable and I see so much of my personality in Chloe Carrington. Everything she said, her sarcasm, her awkwardness, it reminded me of myself. I can say that in confidence because I've gotten to know myself better over the past four years. The only difference between Chloe and I (besides the fact that she goes to Yale and writes a sex column) is that she's much more outgoing. I wish I could be as open as she is with strangers, but I usually only act like that around my very close friends. But I really feel, in another universe, I would be am Chloe Carrington. After reading Chloe Does Yale, the first time, I couldn't believe it was put in the Young Adult section and by the looks of it (battered and falling apart) it must have been very popular amongst the youth. (I can't help, but wonder what my Mom would've said if she asked me what I was reading. I once read an adult novel that had "Sex" in the title around her and she wasn't exactly comfortable with it. She was just happy I was reading.)

I applaud Natalie Krinsky's bold move to make a novel revolved around sex, a very sensitive subject in this PC world. When I was younger I loved Chloe Does Yale because it was about sex (I'll admit it), but now I love it (still) because it's about sex and because of Chloe. You see how I've matured. I wish my friends and I talked about sex more, like Chloe and her gang. Chloe is twenty-one, I'm only nineteen. Maybe in a couple of years my friends and I will be comfortable talking about it. I'm the one who makes the awkward sexual jokes and always has to put the sexual spin on any conversation. That's just where my humor lies. It may be vulgar to some people, but my friends tend to think it's funny (sometimes). Natalie Krinsky's writing reminds me of Bret Easton Ellis; blunt and funny. I like how Chloe commented on the conversations she was having. As she's the narrator it's normal, but in Chloe Does Yale, it felt different than other first person novels I've read. I felt like Chloe was retelling her junior year at Yale directly to me. I didn't feel like I was actually reading a book at all, I was hearing a story. When I can connect and engross myself in a novel like that, it's definitely a novel worth sharing and rereading.

Chloe Does Yale made me want to go visit Yale immediately and funny enough when I started reading this my friend was visiting her cousin at Yale that weekend. To this day I have yet to visit Yale and I know no one who goes there so I don't think attending any of the lovely parties Krinsky talks about is in my future.

I'll definitely keep rereading Chloe Does Yale for years to come. The next time I read it may be after I graduate from college. That's going to be interesting to see how much I've changed and if I still relate to Chloe.

I highly recommend Chloe Does Yale by Natalie Krinsky!