The Ten Best of 2013

2013!!! Am I right?!
What a great year for reading. I certainly enjoyed it.

I completed my goal of reading thirty books in 2013 and I couldn't more proud of myself! Out of all those novels here are my ten favorites in no particular order because they were all incredible.

If you read any of these books, definitely read ALL OF THEM. They're all funny, well written and you'll learn a lot after reading them.

If you've seen this post, you'll recognize some of these novels.

(Links to reviews of the novels are on my blog to the right.)

Drumroll, please, as you enter to see my favorite novels of the past year...

Books I've Read in 2013

I didn't keep track in 2012, but I feel that 2013 was a really good year for my reading habit. I set a new record for myself. I read forty book this year! I'll do better next year. I tried to determine what I read in what month based off my posts and what I remember. It only occurred to me after I was well past my goal to write down what I read in what month. I can say that before April is mostly guessing, but after April is completely accurate.

And here is it: all the books I read in 2013! 

RIP Ned Vizzini

Yesterday, we lost Ned Vizzini, a great, promising young author and television writer. I had the pleasure to read two of his many novels, It's Kind of a Funny Story and Be More Chill my freshman year of college. They brought a lot of joy, humor and reality into my unusual first year at college. I'm sorry I didn't have the chance to review them on here, but they're wonderful, funny books. I think everyone should read them, especially It's Kind of a Funny Story. I'm sorry he had to leave us so soon. My prayers to his family and friends. He will be missed, very much. 

Rest in peace, Ned Vizzini. 

Update #13: The Last Update of 2013

I know you're probably SO tired of seeing updates on my blog. I think a good majority of my posts for this year have been updates. I know it sucks and I don't like writing them over writing reviews, but I don't want it to go unexplained why I haven't been posting regularly. 

The main reason is finals have been kicking my ass. I haven't had a minute to myself since Thanksgiving weekend. I have had NO time. I've been writing papers since the first week of December. I've only been able to read on the way to school because as soon as I get home I go straight into working on papers. 

I've decided Doomed By Chuck Palahniuk will be the last book I read in 2013. It's unfortunate that I won't be completing my goal of reading fifty books this year. However, I did complete my first which was to read thirty books this year. I would've loved to read more books this year, but as soon as school started my leisure time stopped. I only read one book in November. It really sucks, but next year hopefully I'll complete my goal of reading fifty books. Maybe when finals are over and I start my Christmas break, I'll read a couple more books. For now, I just want to finish Doomed, the semester and relax. I don't think I'll want to read anything after school ends because I just feel like I'll want to give my brain a rest. If I do end up reading more books, those will be revealed in my end of the year post. So stay tuned. 

I hope your last month of 2013 has been easier than mine and I hope whatever book you're reading is enjoyable!

Reading List!: December 2013

It's the moment of truth. The last month of the year and I'm still eleven books short of my goal. This December I've got two weeks of school and the rest of the month is all mine.

The books I plan to read are: 

Avalon High by Meg Cabot 

Doomed by Chuck Palahniuk 

Pants on Fire by Meg Cabot 

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut 

Jinx by Meg Cabot

The next author I've decided to marathon read is Meg Cabot, hence why three of her books are on my reading list. She's one of my favorite authors and I want to read all the novels she's written. It's even better that she has a lot of series because I love reading series. 

I know there's only five books on my list and I still have eleven more to go, but I'll find six more books to read easily. 

Wish me luck! 

naked by David Sedaris

“Welcome to the hilarious, strange, elegiac, outrageous world of David Sedaris. In Naked, Sedaris turns the current mania for the memoir on its proverbial ear, mining the exceedingly rich terrain of his life, his family, and his unique worldview-- a sensibility at once take-no-prisoners sharp and deeply charitable. A tart-tongued mother does dead-on imitations of her young son's nervous tics, to the great amusement of his teachers; a stint of Kerouackian wandering is undertaken (of course!) with a quadriplegic companion; a family gathers for wedding in the face of imminent death. Through it all is Sedaris's unmistakable voice, without doubt one of the freshest in American writing.”

I didn't get to add Naked to my post featuring Jim Gaffigan, Mike Birbiglia and Paul Feig, but I think that was OK because this novel deserves its own post.

Update #12

I thought it was frustrating (and I still am frustrated) when I couldn't find the final book of the Sophie Katz mystery series by Kyra Davis at the library, but I've found a new reason to be even more frustrated.

Last week I requested a book that claimed to have plays by Tennessee Williams. My intention was to read A Streetcar Named Desire and it was convenient to have other Tennessee Williams plays in the same books. However, I checked the book out of the library, only to discover that it only contains Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. I even double checked to see if I had flipped through the pages too quickly, I didn't. Now I have to return the book because at the moment I'm not ready to read Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. It may seem like a trivial reason to be upset, but I never read A Streetcar Named Desire in high school and I'd like to read the play before I see the 1951 film. I'm just going to find it online; thank glob for the internet.

On the other hand, I'm really enjoying reading Naked by David Sedaris. I think that's the only book on my November reading list that I'm actually reading. (There will be a review of Naked soon.) I decided that I'm not going to finish that book I've been assigned in my class. I saw some girl brought it into class and it's a thick book; I'm not even interested in the plot. I also returned all the Sookie Stackhouse novels I checked out. I've had them for weeks and I never opened them; I just haven't had the time. I'm really not happy about that. I'm sorry that post was such a total lie. Here's an updated version:

Naked by David Sedaris

Doomed by Chuck Palahniuk 

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

I'm most excited to read Doomed by Chuck Palahniuk; it's the sequel to Damned which I absolutely love! Check out my review! If I finish these novels quickly, maybe I can fit in three extra books into the month. Here's hoping!

Anyway, wish me luck with my reading quest as I wish you luck in your reading and everything else in your life. Hopefully it's not as hectic as mine.

Just Keep Reading!!!

Reading List!: November 2013

Two months left until the end of 2013 and I'm still short of completing my goal. I am SO determined to complete this goal within the next two months. Maybe month and a half, if I drop everything.

This month I'm reading these books:

Woman on the Edge of Time by Marge Piercy 

The Plays of Tennessee Williams by Tennessee Williams

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

in addition to still reading the three Sookie Stackhouse books and Naked by David Sedaris from last month. And, if I finish any of these books early, I'll cram three more Sookie Stackhouse novels into my reading list.

Wish me luck!

GOOSEBUMPS!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, EVERYONE!

"Reader, beware, you're in for a scare!"

Jim Gaffigan vs Mike Birbiglia vs Paul Feig

Since I published this post after reading comedic books written by Chelsea Handler, Tina Fey and Mindy Kaling, I thought it would be fun to read comedic books by Jim Gaffigan, Mike Birbiglia and Paul Feig. 

It was.

Reading List!: October 2013

With only three months left to complete my goal of reading fifty books by the end of 2013, crunch time is now.

Here are the six books I'm reading during October, plus The Bomb by Frank Harris (required reading for class).

Dead until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Naked by David Sedaris

Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris

Sleepwalk with Me and Other Painfully True Stories by Mike Birbiglia

Club Dead by Charlaine Harris

Kick Me: Adventures in Adolescence by Paul Feig

Apparently October is comedy month for me, but I'm keeping it spooky with Charlaine Harris.

I've also decided to not read the last book on my September reading list, Lolita by Vladmir Nabokov. It's more creepy than interesting to me and at this point I don't want to give it a chance. I made it to chapter twelve, so I think that's a pretty good feat. Again, like with The Picture of Dorian Gray, I'll read it in a couple years.

Update #11: I Could Use a Break

Hey Y'all! 

How y'all doing, y'all? 

I hope whatever book you're reading is bringing an immense amount of joy to you life, day, hour, whatever. 

Since I last updated, I had a couple weeks to myself before I started my third year at college. I'm five weeks in and I want O-U-T, immediately. I have been going nonstop. I feel like half of me is an unstoppable force and the other half is an immoveable object. Every day that passes reminds me of my first year of college and how much I hated everyone and everything. But I keep reminding myself that I've made it this far, I can't give up now. No retreat, no surrender! 

However, I'm barely making it through. I'm taking five classes this semester; I hate all of them except one. Seriously ALL of them except one. Can you tell I'm excited to graduate? 

Well, as this is a blog about books and not a blog in which I complain about college, let's talk books. Because of school I'm behind on my reading list. I sadly, sadly only read three books in September. Not including The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde which I had to read for class, but only read half. I hate reading books for class. I wanted to read The Picture of Dorian Gray too, but I found it incredibly boring. Maybe I'll read it, for real, in ten years. 

I'm slowly catching up on my reading now. I'm reading two books that were on my September reading list now as I wait for my October reading list books to be ready for me to check out at the library. At first I was reading two books at the same time, but I think reading one wholly and completely is better than reading two at the same time and not getting a real feel for the books. One of the books is a quick read and I hope to finish it by the end of the week. However, there just aren't enough hours in the day. Every day I feel like my subway ride gets shorter and shorter. And when I get home I can't lie down on my bed, read and listen to music because I'm busy writing. I'm currently writing for two classes and a separate project for myself. Not to mention I have over two page essays due by the end of the semester, December, in two classes and I want to get a head start on those. So I'm up all hours of the night writing and planning when I can read next. It's not ideal, but it's real and I have to deal. (The cheesy rhyme is because I'm extremely tired while I write this. Please excuse.)

The good news is that I am finally starting Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire series aka The Sookie Stackhouse series! (Isn't it hilarious that the series is really called Southern Vampire series? With that name, I hope they're not romance novels. What have I gotten myself into?) I figured since it's October, it was fitting to start the series now. I'm so excited to read them. I hope I can finish them before the new season on True Blood next summer. Hey, I guess that's my first goal for 2014! I can't wait. 

I'm counting down the days until Thanksgiving vacation when I'll have a whole TWO days to read. That's a luxury considering my days now. 

I will not falter with posting on this blog though. I made a promise to myself that I'd have four posts every month until the end of the year. It's a bit of a burden considering everything I just rambled about, but if I accomplish nothing else this year, at this I'll have that. 

And thus concludes my update! I'll be back next week! 

Until then: 

Just Keep Reading! 

This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper

"The death of Judd Foxman's father marks the first time that the entire Foxman family-- including Judd's mother, brothers and sister-- has been together in year. Conspicuously absent: Judd's wife, Jen, whose fourteen-month affair with Judd's radio-shock-jock boss has recently become painfully public.

Simultaneously mourning the death of his father and the demise of his marriage, Judd joins the rest of the Foxmans as they reluctantly submit to their patriarch's dying request: to spend the seven days following the funeral together. In the same house. Like a family. 

As the week quickly spins out of control, longstanding grudges resurface, secrets are revealed, and old passions reawakened. For Judd, it's a weeklong attempt to make sense of the mess his life has become while trying in vain not to get sucked into the regressive battles of his madly dysfunctional family. All of which would be hard enough without the bomb Jen dropped the day Judd's father died: She's pregnant.

This Is Where I Leave You is Jonathan Tropper's most accomplished work to date, a riotously funny, emotionally raw novel about love, marriage, divorce, family, and the ties that bind-- whether we like it or not."

This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper is amazing. I'm so impressed by Tropper and going to try and coherently express it in this post.

Novel Adaptation: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

I didn't think that The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky could get any better and then it got turned into a film! 

Back 2 School Reading 2013

Hey everybody! It's currently the weekend between my second and third weeks at school so I thought I'd do a little bloggin' and readin' while I enjoy it.

Last year around the end of August I made this post.

This year I've decided to read one of my favorite Meg Cabot YA books, How To Be Popular. I remember how I felt after reading this book for the first time and I hope the feeling comes back. How To Be Popular is so appropriate to me for back to school because even though I'm going into my third year at college, I can still relate to Steph Landry.

I'm also reading The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky again because it's a beautifully written book and on most days I feel like Charlie, but extra especially when school starts.

Happy Reading, good luck this school year and just keep reading!!!

Reading List!: September 2013

As I enter my third year of film school, I enter my third year of finding any distraction obtainable to procrastinate during the school year. Reading seems like the most productive distraction. I mean come on! It's so unusual to use reading as a distraction because reading has a positive connotation. I'm starting the trend of using reading as a procrastination tactic. You should too. 

Here's my reading list for September!

This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper

How To Be Popular by Meg Cabot

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides (pictured)

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov (pictured)

One Last Thing Before I Go by Jonathan Tropper

Update #10: The Last Two Weeks of Summer

Hey Readers!

It's time for an update. 

I'm happy to report that I suddenly had a bunch of time on my hands and a bunch of books to read. Lately, I've been finding myself only reading on the train. I'm pretty much on the train more than I'm not and it's a perfect place to read. But only reading on the train meant I'd only read five days out of the week. On the weekends I would completely forget that I was even reading a book. Which caused me to read books slower than usual.

Then I had these past couple of weeks to myself, sans subway. But I didn't forget about the books Iwas reading. I actually missed just lying in bed, listening to music and reading. Not sure if I read faster on the subway or faster in my room, but at least I read. I was mostly listening to instrumental soundtracks from films like Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012) and The Kings of Summer (2013).

I'm still waiting for Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan to be available at my local library. It's taking forever! I still have a bunch of books on my reading list and I can't wait to read them! Currently I'm reading Vows, Vendettas and a Little Black Dress by Kyra Davis. It's a compelling mystery novel, but I'm getting closer to ending the series which is upsetting.

Don't forget to email me suggestions for books or anything at lectionemmonstrum@gmail.com !

What are you reading?! Whatever it is, I hope you're enjoying it!

P.S.: This is my tenth update and I've hit over one thousand views on Lectionem Monstrum! It's insanity! I never thought I'd get this far! Thanks SO much, readers! This blog wouldn't be flourishing without YOU. Just keep reading!

Reading List!: August 2013 (Part Two)

Here's part two of my reading list for August! 

Along with reading these books, I'm going to be reading Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate A Cappella Glory by Mickey Rapkin and Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan (assuming the book ever becomes available at my library). 

I'm hoping these two books will bring me so many laughs and keep me entertained through the end of summer. 

P.S.: Sorry about not having pictures and for this post being super short! I wanted to get it up before the end of August. You can read these books yourself if you're dying to see what the cover art looks like. 

Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger

Did you know J.D. Salinger wrote books other than The Catcher in the Rye? Well, he did and one of those other novels is Franny and Zooey.

Spoilers: This is a short review. A short review for a short novel.

Reading List!: August 2013

This will be Part One of a two part post about the books I'm reading in August 2013!

I need to read an average of six and a half books per month to complete my goal of reading fifty books in 2013. I didn't exactly complete that in July. August is a new month and a new chance to read six and a half books.

It's the end of summer, but reading halts for no man.

Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger 

The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom 

Vows, Vendettas and a Little Black Dress by Kyra Davis

The Last of the Savages by Jay McInerney

Challenge accepted. 

P.S.: Two of the books I requested weren't ready to be checked out from the library when I posted this. That's why there'll be two parts. 

Chelsea Handler vs Tina Fey vs Mindy Kaling

Reading these nonfiction, semi-autobiographical was quite the change for me. I'm very much drawn to fiction because I'm attracted to lies and as a writer I lie for a living. But autobiographies have a bit of exaggeration to them, similar to reading fiction.

I also don't see the point in reading books by celebrities because I just don't think they need to write about their lives. They're always complaining about not having enough privacy and then they write a tell-all book chronicling their escapades in the Netherlands. I also think that people tell them they should write a book about their lives just to tell them. You know how sometimes you tell someone what they want to hear just to shut them the hell up? That's how I imagine the idea of writing an autobiography comes about. And of course their agents aren't going to tell them, "No, don't write a book." because the agent also has a chance to make money off the book sales. But here I am having read three nonfiction books by celebrities.

I decided to read three nonfiction books by the comediennes: Chelsea Handler, Tina Fey and Mindy Kaling. I know of all three of these women and I watch their shows. I soon found out the only thing in common these women had was me reading their book.

Novel Adaptation: Breakfast at Tiffany's

If you've been living underneath a rock and have never heard of Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), I hope that rock is comfortable because it's too late to leave it now.

I've heard of Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) because I'm a film major, I don't live underneath a rock and mostly because of Gossip Girl. For those of you who read the Gossip Girl series by Cecily von Ziegesar, Blair Waldorf is obsessed with Breakfast at Tiffany's and Audrey Hepburn. After watching the film, I understood why.

It was either in the credits or stalking the Breakfast at Tiffany's IMDb page that led me to discover it was a book first. But I had the same reaction (astonishment) I did when I discovered Drive was a book first. I do hate reading the book after watching the film, but in this case it was worth it.

Just in case you want to read or watch the film before reading this post (because this post may contain spoilers), here's some information about the two versions of Breakfast at Tiffany's. 

The novella was written by Truman Capote and you can find it at your local library or Amazon. The copy I got was borrowed from the library and contained three other short stories.

The film, starring Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard, was written by George Axelrod and directed by Blake Edwards. It's on Netflix, probably found at your local library and you can buy it on Amazon. (It's worth the money.)

F*CK!: I'm in my Twenties by Emma Koenig

A month ago, I turned twenty. So I'm officially in my twenties. Some people say your twenties is the best time in your life. You get to discover yourself and everything finally comes together. The days leading up to my twentieth birthday were daunting and I wasn't excited. Two weeks later, I realized I have an immature sense of humor and that it will help get through whatever challenges I face in my twenties.

Months before I turned twenty, I found F*UCK!: I'm in my Twenties by Emma Koenig on the Urban Outfitters website. I didn't really see a point in buying the book because I won't be in my twenties forever. I imagine I'll only relate to the book until I'm twenty-five. I figured I'd read this book to get a perspective on being in my twenties. I know it's not going to be like on Gossip Girl or any other TV series or film, but I like to get different opinons. I'm not going to use this book as a guide book to live by during my twenties because I don't believe a book can tell me how to live my life. But perhaps some parts will help me make decisions. It's exciting and devastating being in my twenties because it means I'm finally growing up, but I'm also getting old.

Reading List!: July 2013

I think I'm starting a new series here on Lectionem Monstrum. I've done plenty of posts like this, but with different names. I think starting this series will make it more clear for you guys and it's a little more organized, which is good for me. It'll be easier to keep track of the books I read in the month and I'll be closer to completing my goal.

I finished reading all of Chuck Palahniuk's fictional novels and I finished another series I was reading. Now it's time to start reading some new books!

I'm so used to reading books in a series or books written by the same author that it feels weird to start reading individual books. But I'm really looking forward to reading these next books. Although I am going to read a book and its sequel.

I do want to read another series or find another author to marathon read. I was thinking about re-reading A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket because I love that series. Then when this season (season 6) of True Blood ends I was thinking about starting the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. I've been wanting to start that series probably for two years. I think it's finally time. Plus, reading that series after the current season ends will help ease the pain of not seeing Alexander Skarsgård, Joe Manganiello or Anna Paquin every Sunday night.

The four new books I'm really excited to read are Palo Alto: Stories by James Franco, Breakfast at Tiffany's and Three Stories by Truman Capote, John Dies at the End and This Book is Full of Spiders: Seriously, Dude, Don't Touch It (both) by David Wong. I'm reading James Franco's book because he's so talented, I want to see how that talent transfers into a book and because the book has been made into a film. I heard the way the script was written and how the book is written is different, but it doesn't matter. I'm going to experience both and probably love them. Maybe I'll even do a Novel Adaptation post about it. Then I'm reading Breakfast at Tiffany's because I just saw the film for the first time and I had no clue it was a novel first. I have to say Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) is possibly the greatest film I've ever seen in my life. I bet the book is just as great and it comes with three other stories! The way I came about wanting to read the novels by David Wong is similar to why I read James Sallis's Drive and Driven. The only difference is I watched John Dies at the End (2012) knowing it was a book first. I just really wanted to see it and I didn't want to sleep that night. Doing some more research I discovered that David Wong had also written a sequel. The film was quite extraordinary, although I didn't get the entire thing. Maybe the books will shed a little light on my situation.

I also really want to finish the Sophie Katz series by Kyra Davis, but I discovered that my local library does not have a copy of the final book (Vanity, Vengeance and a Weekend in Vegas) in the series. I want to read the last two books (Vows, Vendettas and a Little Black Dress and Vanity, Vengeance and a Weekend in Vegas) together, but fear I won't be able to if I don't find a hard copy of the last book. There's an Audible copy of the last book, but I don't like ebooks as stated here.

I've started to read these books already, but I feel like July is going to be a long, free month for me. I want to spend July reading as many books as possible and completing my reading goal for 2013.

Happy Reading and Read On, Bookworms!

Novel Adaptation: Drive

Would you be as surprised as I was to find out Drive (2011) starring Ryan Gosling was based off of a book? Well, it's true! The film was based off of a book of the same title by James Sallis. I only found out this information because I research on IMDb like most people creep on Facebook. I don't even remember the adaptation being mentioned in the opening credits of the film. I'll have to watch it again to be sure. When I found out Drive was a book first, of course I had to read it! I love a bit of film noir and in a novel version, I couldn't resist.

Update #9

Hey Readers! 

This is going to be a brisk update! 

I have posts all ready to go, but I didn't feel now, at the end of June, was a good time to publish them. 

I've been reading now more than ever, even with my life as busy as it is. I'm really proud to say that I'm one book away from reaching my first goal of reading twenty books in 2013. I'm going to reach my goal of fifty book in 2013 in no time as I've checked out seven books from my local library. 

I hope your month has also been full of great reading and I hope it continues! Normal posting with resume in July. Sorry if you were waiting for a review! One is coming real soon, I promise! 

Feel free to explore my blog and read my old posts to pass the time!

Read On, Reading Monsters! 

Library Haul

So, I went to the library this week and came back with all of this.

Last time, when I requested five books all at once, I thought I had reached my greatest amount of requesting books at once. But no, I was mistaken.

This time I requested seven books from the library. I got really excited and I wanted to read all of them at the same time. Well, I got my wish and now here I am with seven books checked out of the library. I haven't had an overdue book for about five years. That all might change because of this week. But if that's the price I pay for some great reading, so be it.

I don't even have to say how excited I am to start reading. Most of these books are comedic and I rarely ever read a book that's written for laughs. It's a good change and I embrace it.

Psychology for Screenwriters by William Indick

This Book is Full of Spiders: Seriously, Dude, Don't Touch It by David Wong

F*CK!: I'm in my Twenties by Emma Koenig

Palo Alto: Stories by James Franco

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling

Breakfast at Tiffany's and Three Stories by Truman Capote

John Dies at the End by David Wong

Sidenote: This another beauty blogger inspired post. It's a spin on the typical "haul video" or post about their new purchases. The best part of this haul is you can easily obtain the items because they're at your local library!

P A L A H N I U K: The Great and Powerful

The wise and crafty Chuck Palahniuk is tied with Bret Easton Ellis for being my favorite author. His novels have made my brain melt on more than one occasion. I'm so astonished by his writing. I feel like he effortlessly writes these novels, creates these memorable and amazing characters, and puts in these soon to be iconic quotes. I'm really impressed by Chuck Palahniuk.

I've finally finished reading all the novels he's written. And now I find myself pining for the next Palahniuk fix. Should I begin rereading all his novels? The answer is always Y E S.

Here is a lovely roundup of my thoughts and opinions on the greatness that is a Palahniuk novel.

Drive, Driven & Planks A Lot

I haven't done one of these posts in months! I was suddenly inspired when I decided to paint my nails purple this week.

This shade of purple, Planks A Lot by OPI, is my favorite shade of purple. In some lights it's a dusty periwinkle purple, then a creamy deep lilac. I'm buying another couple of bottles so I never run out of it. Real talk though!

I decided to pair it with Drive and Driven both by James Sallis because I liked the contrast of the dark cover art and the deep purple. Planks A Lot gives a little bit of a pop to a mysterious story and narrator while staying ambiguous as it changes in certain lights. I really like the similarity between the protagonist in Drive and the color-shifting of Planks A Lot. It's a great morph.

I'm really excited to read these novels and stare at my nails!

Look out for a Novel Adaptation post about Drive (2007) and Drive (2011).

Invisible Monsters vs. Invisible Monsters Remix

In this corner, written by Chuck Palahniuk, two hundred ninety-seven pages and published in 1999: INVISIBLE MONSTERS

And in this corner, also written by Chuck Palahniuk, three hundred one pages, but published in 2012: INVISIBLE MONSTERS REMIX

Update #8

Hello, Reading Monsters!

Here I am, once again, buying time inbetween reading novels and writing reviews. I've been a bit slow and lazy with my reading. I checked out all these books, quickly finished True by Hilary Duff (read the review here) then started Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk.

I was really into just reading in bed for a while. Just me, wrapped in my blanket, reading one of my books. I didn't even have music playing. The only sound was my own breathing and silence of the night at 2AM.

But then I finished school about a week ago and I had all this time to myself and I wasn't sure what to do with it or myself. (No one man should have all that power). So I started writing, working on my third feature (which is going well) and watching Buffy, the Vampire Slayer on Netflix.
I'm trying to get back into the flow of reading, whether it's with music or silence; I just want to start marathon reading again. I love the books I checked out, but I want to read new ones and complete my reading goal for this year. Plus I have some many posts queued up I just need to read the books so I have something to write about.

When I really stop everything and just read, I read pretty fast. I just need to be disciplined enough to put procrastination on pause and read. 

Wish me luck and look out for many, many posts coming soon!

What are you reading? Whatever it is, Just Keep Reading!

The Elixir Series by Hilary Duff

I read the Elixir Series by Hilary Duff with Elise Allen. Here's my review (it's really more of a criticism) of the young adult series. 

I tried not to have any spoilers, but if there are I won't apologize because the series does a good job of spoiling itself. 

Ending a Series

I went on a requesting spree on at my local library and ended up with all these books!

Looking at them all together, I realized I had requested novels that were part of a series. It was a quaint little coincidence and it made me smile. It also made me realize I'm ending a bunch of series by reading these books.

Drive and Driven (the sequel to Drive) by James Sallis

The last two Chuck Palahniuk novels on my list: Invisible Monsters and Invisible Monsters Remix

The final book in the Elixir series by Hilary Duff: True

I'm keeping myself real busy reading these pairs of novels. I'm so glad I have to time seeing as school is ending for me in a couple of days. I can't wait to dive into these books! Sure summer is a time for going outside and walking around, but on those days when it's too hot to move I'll read a book. Plus if I do decide to leave my house and head into the city, I'll have to take the subway where I can read until I reach my stop. To be frank, sometimes I find the presence of a book more comforting than the presence of a warm body.

Also, I would've had the last two Sophie Katz novels in this post only my local library doesn't have a copy of Vanity Vengeance and a Weekend in Vegas! I cannot believe it. That kind of puts a damper on me finishing that series. I don't know how I'll get my hands on a copy of the last novel in the series.

Sidenote: I also noticed that I have four posts for each month so far in 2013. I'm really hoping I can keep up the four posts a month trend on this blog. I really like seeing the four in parentheses next to the month and it means I stuck to my promise of posting once a week! Wish me luck and enjoy!

What I Want to Read Next...

I'm eight books away from completing my goal of reading twenty books this year. Then I'll be thirty books away from my next goal of reading fifty books this year. Well obviously I need to read books to accomplish these goals.

Beside reading the last two Chuck Palahniuk novels on my list, there are a bunch of books I'm dying to read.

Here are a few:

1. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
2. The last two novels in the mystery series by Kyra Davis: Vows, Vendettas and a Little Black Dress and Vanity, Vengeance and a Weekend in Vegas
3. Drive by James Sallis 
4. The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom
5. How to Lose Friends & Alienate People: A Memoir by Toby Young 

I also have to read the last book, True, in the Elixir series by Hilary Duff.

What the heck do you think I should read next?!

Kyra Davis: An Unexpected Favorite

Once someone Googled "words to describe Kyra Davis" and they stumbled upon this post. I'm sure they were disappointed as that post only showed how my nail polish went so well with the cover art. However, if they were to Google it again, I hope they would come across this post because I'm going to talk about Kyra Davis and her novels and I promise to use words to describe her.

Novel Adaptation: The Silver Linings Playbook

I decided to read The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick because I went to see Silver Linings Playbook (2012) when it first came out and I didn't know it was a book first. I usually like to read the books then watch the films, but exceptions can be made. After reading the book I then went on to read the screenplay adapted by David O. Russell.

I was mostly curious to read the book and the screenplay because the film was nominated for eight Oscars (at the 2013 Oscars), winning Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Jennifer Lawrence).  I wanted to see if I personally could determine why this was made into an independent film and why critics loved it so much. And also if I felt the same way.

WARNING:  MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS 

Reread...Again!

I've read plenty of books since I last posted this. Now I'm back with another reread post!
Recently I've had the overwhelming feeling to read this books again. In the last post, I only reread Chloe Does Yale by Natalie Krinsky. This time I'm hoping to reread two of these.

Here's the list!

1. Franny and Zooey  by J.D. Salinger: Because while reading The Basil and Josephine Stories by F. Scott Fitzgerald I was reminded of this novel. 
2. Amy & Roger's Epic Detour  by Morgan Matson: Because I want to adapt it into a screenplay. I'll probably have to read it three times before I actually get adapting. 
3. Choke  by Chuck Palahniuk: Because this novel was hilarious and the Palahniuk novel I most identify. 
4. Being Nikki by Meg Cabot: This the second novel in the Airhead series by Meg Cabot and it also happens to be my favorite novel in the series. 
5. The Catcher in the Rye  by J.D. Salinger: Because it's a classic! I read it in high school and now that I'm older I want to read it again to see how I feel about it now. 

I recommend all this books! 

Upcoming #3

Here's a look at some upcoming posts that will be featured on Lectionem Monstrum! Enjoy!

Alright, so I'm still in the mists of reading the three F. Scott Fitzgerald books I checked out of the library. I'm almost done; I'm currently reading the last one (The Basil and Josephine Stories). Then I'm going to read The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick and start a new series of posts.

A way to always have posts and to buy time when I have a stall in inspiration is to start a series. At first I thought this was going to be a one time thing because I can't easily get my hands on film scripts. However, I think this series will be fun and I'm going to try as hard as I can to find the scripts.

I sort of started this series before with this post and now I want to take it to another level. I love reading novels that have a film counterpart then watching the film. But if I'm completely honest with myself, I'd rather read scripts than watch films. That's the extreme screenwriter enthusiast in me. A 'Novel Adaptation' series is perfect for me. I also think it's going to be fun for me because I took an Adaptation class sophomore year of film school and it gave me a bit of experience and insight into the art of adaptation. 

I learned that with all adaptations you have to determine what the story means to you before you can write the screenplay. Translating the text from the novel verbatim into a screenplay doesn't necessarily give it a story with a meaning and subtext.

The series is going to be like most of the posts I write: a comparison between the two interpretations of one story, what I liked and disliked about them and, of course,  if I recommend reading the book or seeing the film.

The Nail Polish x Novels series is also still alive. I just haven't had any inspiration to make one. I'm going to make an effort in the coming weeks to make another post like that. Those are my most girlie posts and sometimes it's good to be a little girlie.

Recently, I've been missing True Blood SO much. I feel like it's been a year since the season 5 finale (it's technically only been about seven months). I'm missing True Blood so much, I've read and re-read the Trivia on their IMDb page and numerous articles about who the new showrunner will be. The last show I missed this much was Gossip Girl and to ease the suck that is waiting, I read all the books in the Gossip Girl series. So guess what I'm going to do now? Yup! I always wanted to read the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris, but I got so distracted it never happened. Now I have a major obligation to myself to read the series until True Blood starts again. And also after season 5 ends because it's going to be a shortened season.

I can't wait! 

Update #7

Hallo Lesen Monsters!

The past few weeks have been insane. Between writing for school, my worldly responsibilities and that little bit when my internet was down for a week, it's amazing I posted three times in one week! I'm really impressed with myself for doing that too because there was the whole month in the summer I let pass by without me posting once.

I posted three times last week because:

1. I wanted to have four posts in February (Just for my own sanity) 
2. I didn't get to post for a week in February because my internet was down (I didn't want to just let that week go by in vain)
3. I wanted to have the birthday post on the actual birthday of Lectionem Monstrum (Not within the week)

I decided that posting three times in one week was better than not posting at all and waiting another week. I like to post once a week just in case I come to a lag in posts I'll have something, but I have so many drafts I'll be fine.

Earlier I posted this; that's what I'll be reading for the next couple of weeks. I also got an inspiration for a new post that came to me in a fever dream. And of course the final two Chuck Palahniuk posts are in the works. 

I'm super excited for the future of Lectionem Monstrum and you should be too! 

Halten beim lesen!

Email me at lectionemmonstrum@gmail.com 

Happy Birthday, Lectionem Monstrum!

(Doesn't exactly shout Happy Birthday, Lectionem Monstrum!, but it's the most relevant book to this post. And Corduroy is so cute! )

Today Lectionem Monstrum turns one! Not very old, but I never thought I'd get this far. I started this blog as opposed to starting a fashion blog. I think it's great to see fashion and I love looking at fashion blogs (for hours and hours), but clothes get tossed on the floor after a passionate discussion of a book. Also, I haven't see any book blogs. Why should I sit idly by as less and less book blogs get created? I'm very much impressed with myself. Lectionem Monstrum is a success! Not only have I reached people in the USA, but I've also been seen globally! I feel like a TV show. I'm surprised to see that my most popular post is my review of Rant by Chuck Palahniuk.

I really enjoy having this blog. It's really been helping my reading and writing. This past year I think, I've read more books than I have in the last two years and I've written more than I've ever written. Whenever I decide to stop posting on here, I just hope I never stop reading and writing. But that won't be for a while. Lectionem Monstrum is going strong for another year so get your suggestions and opinions fired up! What should I read next? What kind of posts do you want to read?

This blog has really given me chance to read and share my opinion about the novels I've read. I really appreciate you and Thank You for being my audience over the past year.

I hope you keep up with me for the coming years!

Email me at lectionemmonstrum@gmail.com

Just Keep Reading!

What Would You Do?

What would you do with a $50 gift card from Barnes and Noble?

I recently received a $50 gift card from Barnes and Noble and I have NO idea what to do with it. You would think it's obvious I should buy $50 worth of books, right? My problem is that $50 at Barnes and Noble is truthfully about three books (with tax and sometimes shipping) and I don't know which three books I should buy. I have a list of "Ten Books I Need to Own" (post coming soon), but I can't pick three books off that list I really want now. I thought about getting Choke by Chuck Palahniuk, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson and The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. Then I thought that I can easily get those books cheaper at The Strand (a family owned bookstore in NYC) and I'd rather do that than buying them at a chain bookstore. I grappled with buying Moonrise Kingdom (2012) on DVD because it's one of my favorite films, but it's almost $30 at B&N which means I'd be able to get one book and maybe a bookmark with the remaining balance.

I started thinking of what else I could buy with $50 and I think I came up with the perfect solution. My favorite bands are releasing new albums in the coming months and I really want to support them by purchasing their records. Barnes and Noble sells CDs, more specifically the CDs from the bands I want to support. (I'd much rather get vinyls, but I can wait to get those seeing as I don't even have a record player yet.) Finally, a solution! However, now another problem has arisen: Will I have enough for the three CDs I want? It sucks that I have to factor in tax and maybe shipping. This will only lessen the amount of items I can purchase. The gift card doesn't expire until August, by then all three CDs would have been released and I can buy them all at once. So I have time, but I don't want it to be two weeks before the card expires and I still don't know what to get. The irony of buying music instead of books at a bookstore is not lost on me. I would rather get some books and start my collection, but I'm more certain on what music I want than I am on what books I want.

I'm on the fence about it (and will be until I take action), but I'm leaning towards getting the CDs. I can always save up my money and get the books cheaper at The Strand. I have a real dilemma on my hands, but like I said I have until August to make the right choice. Wish me luck!

What would you do in this situation?*


*I'm making it seem more dramatic than it really is, but this is what's important to me right now. I'm not always handed $50 to go crazy with and I don't shit gold bricks. I have to be smart with the money I have (took me a year to learn that lesson) and spend it wisely. 

Next On My Book List

I was thrown into a (F. Scott) Fit(zgerald) at the library, went a smidge crazy and checked out three of his novels. The last F. Scott Fitzgerald novel I read, The Beautiful and Damned, was not my favorite, but I didn't give up hope! I'm a fan of Mr. F. Scott and I want to read his other works. So I'm taking a month long break from Chuck Palahniuk to read these three books. Fitzgerald is an excellent writer and I always see these novels being mentioned on TV shows and other works of fiction. Now I'll get the references when I see more. This is going to be a fun month! Maybe F. Scott Fitzgerald should be the next author whose novels I marathon read.

This Side of Paradise

Tender is the Night

The Basil and Josephine Stories

I'm probably not going to write individual reviews for these novels. I might do a F. Scott Fitzgerald masterpost. It depends on what reviews you want to read.

I recommend all these novels because F. Scott Fitzgerald is a brilliant writer. And if you haven't already read it in a high school English class, read The Great Gatsby. I also recommend The Beautiful and Damned even though I didn't like it; maybe you will. There's also a book of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and other short stories he wrote.

Enjoy! I know I am!

P.S.: I hope you got my pun at the beginning of this post! 

A Damned Good Review

I was SO excited to read Damned by Chuck Palahniuk. I read the synopsis and I was instantly hooked.

""Are you there, Satan? It's me, Madison," declares the whip-tongues thirteen-year-old narrator of Damned, Chuck Palahniuk's subversive new work of fiction. The daughter of a narcissistic film star and a billionaire  Madison is abandoned at her Swiss boarding school over Christmas while her parents are off touting their new projects and adopting more orphans. She dies over the holiday of a marijuana overdose-and the next thing she knows, she's in Hell. Madison shares her cell with a motley crew of young sinners that is almost too good to be true: a cheerleader, a jock, a nerd, and a punk rocker, united by fate to form the six-feet-under version of everyone's favorite detention movie. Madison and her pals must trek across the Dandruff Desert and cross the Valley of Used Disposable Diapers to confront Satan in his citadel, and all the popcorn balls and wax lips that serve as currency of Hell won't buy them off. 

This is the afterlife as only Chuck Palahniuk could imagine it: a twisted inferno where The English Patient plays on endless repeat, roaming demons interrupt your dinner from their sweltering call center to hard-sell you Hell. . . He makes torment, well, simply divine."

I thought the premise was hilarious! Damned is Palahniuk's version of The Breakfast Club (1985), I read that and I died of laughter.

For some reason I had this thought that I'd never read or seen a story quite like Damned. I think this thought came because I'd never read or seen a story quite like Damned by Chuck Palahniuk. The main character is a thirteen year old girl. In the majority of Palahniuk novels, the narrator as a male in his late twenties/thirties; with the exception of a couple of his novels (Tell-All and Diary) whose narrators are women. My point is that the narrator of Damned is so far from Palahniuk's norm I was way beyond impressed and definitely considered this to be the twist in Damned. Damned is definitely a story I've read before, but I've never seen it done like this.

I read Damned as Madison writing a letter to Satan. For what reason, I'm not too sure; maybe praise and admiration about Hell or praise and admiration for him. I also felt that she felt that she needed to prove something to Satan. She would follow up some of her sentences with a sentence stating that she was thirteen and dead, not thirteen and brain dead. I thought that was accurate for a thirteen year girl like Madison because of what her parents were like. Madison was the opposite of most thirteen year old girls. They're always trying to impress someone and grown up way too fast, but Madison had already grown up because of her parents. Her (prematurely ended) childhood caused Maddy to be way wise beyond her years. It's as if she knew she was going to die young and was instilled with all this knowledge. Contrary, I also think she's very eager to grow up and prove to Satan that she's mature. Not to mention, she's also a thirteen year old girl in the traditional sense and wants to appear mature to the older cute boys with her in Hell.

Maddy's outlook on life is hilarious. The way she describes past events and her life or death (pun) in Hell is simply magnificent.  My humor and Maddy's are very similar. I suppose I'm saying I have the humor of a thirteen year old girl or of a forty-something year old man; either one is true. My favorite scene was when Maddy's parents try to give her "The Talk" (about sex) and they end up showing her a porn video, was priceless. Madison obviously knew about the Birds and the Bees already and her critique of the video was much appreciated and hilarious to me as a film student. Madison's puns were also quite witty. For example My So-Called Life would be My So-Called Death in Hell because you're dead. Any expression that had 'life' in it would be changed to 'death'. Very clever, Palahniuk, if I do day so myself.

Although I consider the fact that the narrator is a thirteen year old girl the twist in Damned, the real twist is a zinger. No spoilers, but if you pay close attention to Madison's protests throughout, your jaw will drop. Her protests for example when she says things like I'm thirteen and dead not thirteen and brain dead.

I learned some new words while reading Damned. Some I realized I knew when I looked up the definition, but just didn't know the spelling and some I never knew, but now I hear them everywhere. Most notably being somnambulist. Somnambulist means someone who engages in sleepwalking. I first saw this word while watching Angel (1999-2004); it's the title of episode eleven in season one. I didn't think to look it up then, but later I saw it in Damned and off went the lightbulb. 

I'm not dying to see Damned turned into a film as much as I am with Survivor or Lullaby. I don't think the filmmakers could recreate Hell as excellent as Palahniuk describes it. The screenwriter could adapt it the same way as Palahniuk, but that doesn't mean the director or set designer will interpret it the same way. From experience I know detailed landscapes as Palahniuk has described Hell usually end up with actors in front of a green screen and the quality of the film just immediately goes down ten fold. Case in point Alice in Wonderland (2010). More recently Oz the Great and Powerful (2013), even though it hasn't been released yet.

Damned by Chuck Palahniuk is a must read!

BTW:

My favorite quote had to be:

 "I can't believe there's no wifi in Hell…." -Babette 

That quote pretty much sums up my generation. I'll be quoting Babette when I'm in Hell, clutching my iPhone 87 and desperately trying to find a wifi signal. 

Favorite Reading Spots

Klaus Baudelaire would sit in the library of his childhood home, pick a book off the shelf and read it from start to finish, Charlie read in the cafeteria during lunch and Matilda read in her room for hours with to a pile of books.  I like to read on the subway, in my bed and in front of the TV, with one book in hand.

Here are my favorite reading spots:

The subway
Five (sometimes six) days out of seven, I find myself "trapped" underground for over an hour riding from Point A to Point B, on the subway. It's quiet (except for the occasionally homeless person who walks up and down the car asking for money), it passes the time and it gives me something I can study. I find it extremely awkward when I don't have a book to read on the subway. I never know where to look or what to do with my hands. When I'm reading a book, I don't have to make awkward eye contact with strangers, stare at the ground or focus on how many stops until I get off. The time really does fly by when I'm reading on the subway. I also find that I read a good chunk of a book on the subway. There are times when I've started a book then by the time my stop comes I've read about fifty pages and by the end of the day over one hundred. The only downside to reading on the subway is you get those people who'll look over your shoulder and read along with you. Sometimes they'll be so desperate that they lean on you to see the words better.

My bed
I don't usually read in my bed because my bed is reserved for sleeping. There's also so many distractions in my room, the main one being my laptop. My laptop rests right by my bed. My laptop has the internet and the internet can lead to an infinite amount of possible distractions from reading. I'm always checking my social media, applying for jobs or answering and writing emails. As much as I'm on my computer and my phone, I'd never read a book on them. When I finally push aside all distractions, usually around 2am, I lie on my bed and read. I'm not one to wrap up in my blanket because I like to be able to move around until I find a comfortable position. I always ending up on my stomach. I don't always completely shut off my laptop. I leave it on so I can play music because I love listening to music while I read. I finish books in my bed, I rarely start them there.

In front of the TV
Not the most conventional place to read, but to me it's just like reading while listening to music. I've gotten used to having background noise while I read and the TV does just the trick. It's a little distracting because people are talking. As opposed to listening to music, people talking is simliar to the dialogue structure of a book and sometimes distracts me. When I'm listening to music the instruments and vocals tell a story different from the structure of a prose and doesn't bother me. I mostly read during commercial breaks. Once again not the greatest because those last about three minutes and I get to read maybe a page or two, but it's better than watching the commercials. I read throughout a show too, if I've seen it before. Reading in front of the TV is the last place I read. It's rather hard to read and watch TV; I stop after a couple commercial breaks or when I finish a chapter. There are times when the TV's background noise is too distracting and there are times when the background noise is perfect.

I would love to be able to have my own personal library in my house where I can grab a book off the shelf, sit in a big puffy chair and read a book from start to finish. Maybe not a puffy chair because I'm really a fan of sitting and reading. I'll put a bed in my personal library! My personal library will be my bedroom! For now I have the subway, my bed and the TV room to stimulate my reading habit.

No matter where I'm reading, I can always rely on the book to take me out of that place and into the world of the character.

Where are your favorite places to read?

R O V I V R U S

Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk is sort of a dark comedic outlook on death. This is a theme that's very appealing to me because I don't like to think about death, but when taken in a comedic light, I can deal with it easily. This novel wasn't as funny as Choke, but I still enjoyed reading it.

"Tender Branson - last surviving member of the so-called Creedish Death Cult - is dictating his life story into the flight recorder of Flight 2039, cruising on autopilot at 39,000 feet somewhere over the Pacific Ocean. He is all alone in the airplane, which will crash shortly into the vast Australian outback. But before it does, he will unfold the tale of his journey from an obedient Creedish child and humble domestic servant to an ultra-buffed, steroid and collagen packed media messiah."

The pages and chapters are numbered backwards which, at first, threw me off and prevented me from knowing how many pages I read in a day or where was the halfway point. But it's an commitment to the entire aesthetic of the book. In my experience most stories that start with the end and go back to tell you how it happened, usually number their pages like a regular linear book. I think Survivor being numbered backwards added to the disorientation and odd tone of the novel. As I kept reading, seeing the pages count down reminded me of counting down for Christmas, my birthday or a special day in which I can't wait. I couldn't wait to find out how Survivor ended and the pages numbers were my countdown.

Reading Survivor always kept me on my toes. It was majorly unpredictable. I couldn't tell what was going to happen next; the element of surprise was very potent. I love a novel that always keeps me guessing. Although Survivor was pretty unpredictable, there wasn't a clear twist that I could identify.

Tender Branson really reminded me of the narrator in Lullaby. Both of them seemed to be cursed, had a dark outlook on life and society, and death and loneliness were main roles in their lives. I sympathized more with the narrator in Survivor than in Lullaby because in Survivor Branson is the butt of a joke told by fate. He never asked to be where he ended up, fate brought him there and he had no choice. In Lullaby, the narrator knew what he was doing, he wasn't born into knowing the culling song would kill people and he didn't seem too broken up about it even though he set out to end the culling song. 

Tender Branson was in a sort of twisted Amish like society. The Amish are already twisted, but in Survivor the Amish like society had that Chuck Palahniuk twist to it. That twist being Branson was part of a cult. The Amish are basically a cult, in my humble opinion. Branson is not Amish, but he's part of a church group, the Creedish, that might be consider Amish in the real world.

Less than midway through Survivor, I thought I had skipped a whole chapter because I became confused about what was happening at that point. It might have been because I finished a chapter and didn't read the following chapter until the next day. As I read more I realized I didn't miss anything. Survivor is not a linear story, it's told mostly in flashback. This might be confusing because the flashbacks start from the very, very beginning. Branson is not just telling you how he got to where he is starting from the beginning of the day, he's telling you everything, starting from his humble beginning. He's recounting the events that led up to him hijacking the plane.

Towards the end of Survivor, it got funnier. I still felt sorry for Tender Branson, but what he was saying and doing were too hilarious. 

Survivor was supposed to get turned into a film, but they stopped it after September 11th happened. Branson hijacks a plane which is now an extremely sensitive subject in America. I understand and respect that, but there are still films being made about terrorists, rape and murder which are aslo sensitive subjects. Maybe not to an entire nation, but to people in that nation. I think they stopped projection on Survivor because it's not a F*ck Yeah America dramatic film like Zero Dark Thirty(2012) or United 93(2006). It's a dark comedy in which a media messiah/"terrorist"/ex-cult member controls a nation. I wonder if they'll start the project back. Survivor could easily be rewritten where he robs a bank or something "simple" like that. Branson is travelling so maybe instead of hijacking a plane, he could try to take over a bus. You know one of those coach buses that go crosscountry. I wish I could write the script, but I think since Fight Club (1999) came out, all of Palahniuk's novels have been bought by studios, even the ones he has yet to write. After finishing Survivor, I want so badly for it to be a film again. I think it'd be so funny. There's no film I've seen like it. Survivor needs to be a film.

I might have to read Survivor again. I liked it, but it didn't evoke as much emotion as other Palahniuk novels evoke. Maybe if I talk about it with someone like I did with The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, I'll understand it. But I think I'd rather just see it be made into a film.

I felt pretty blasé when I finished Survivor; I guess because I knew what was going happen. I think I wanted it to end differently instead of ironically.

Go ahead and check out Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk.

Update #6/Upcoming #2

Hello again Reading Monsters!

Another update post so soon?! I know, I'm sorry, but this time the update is not because I'm stalling to read a book. This update is to let you know what's upcoming on Lectionem Monstrum.

I'm in the midst of reading the Elixir series by Hilary Duff with Elise Allen. Honestly, I don't even know if I really even want to finish this series. It's probably the most boring, predictable series I've ever read, ever. The third and final book of the series (thank god) comes out in April. I mean, I've read two out of three books already, I might as well finish the series, but I'm sure as hell not going to like it. Plus I promised a post reviewing all three books and I'm not one to break promises. I think my reasons for not liking the series needs to be explained and the post will provide reasons why I felt the Elixir series was not a fun read for me. I'm playing with idea of splitting the reviews of the Elixir series into four different posts (one for each book and the series all together), but I can't be bothered. It'll just be one post for all four parts.

I've requested Damned by Chuck Palahniuk at my local library; I can't wait to start reading it! I think I better request Survivor too, just so I won't have to wait to read my next book after I finish Damned.

Here are three upcoming posts that you'll see on Lectionem Monstrum in the next weeks. Get hype!

1. A random "Top Three Books" post
2. GOOSEBUMPS Masterpost (It's been a loooong time coming, but I'm finally gonna write it!)
3. "Top Three Places I Love to Read" post

Direct any suggestions to lectionemmonstrum@gmail.com or leave a comment.

As always, Just Keep Reading!

HAUNTED: A Review

Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk was like reading a darker, more twisted, disturbingly funny, awkward episode of The Twilight Zone (1959-1964). It's about a group of writers who get locked together for three months and have to write. That reminds of writing for school. I feel like I'm being forced and I won't write under those circumstances. I like writing on my terms, like this blog or when I get inspiration to write not during school. I was also reminded of Clue (1985); a cast of characters put together over a period of time. In Clue it was just overnight, but in Haunted it was longer causing it be much better.

It was hard for me to determine how many writers were in the group, that was the only confusing part of Haunted. I thought of some possibilites to how many writers there were:

1. Twenty writers not counting the unnamed narrator and counting Brandon Whittier and Mr. Whittier as two different people.
2. Twenty-one, counting the unnamed narrator, Brandon Whittier and Mr. Whittier.
3. Twenty writers counting the unnamed narrator and Brandon Whittier and Mr. Whittier as one person. 
4. Nineteen writers not counting the unnamed narrator and counting Brandon Whittier and Mr. Whittier as one person.

I think that's all the possibilites; I went over this about three times and wrote it down. Personally, I think there were twenty writers counting the unnamed narrator and Brandon Whittier and Mr. Whittier as one person. You can try to keep track of the writers yourself while you read Haunted, but it gets more confusing with the character as the story continues. The emphasis is obviously not on how many writers there are. The emphasis is on the story, the writing and the characters. So don't stop reading Haunted just because you get confused about how many writers there are. And if this whole section of the review confused you even more, I'm sorry. 

Here's a list of all the characters in Haunted who were also part of the narrative, not just the ones who told short stories. 

1. Saint Gut-Free
2. Mother Nature
3. Miss America
4. Lady Baglady
5. Earl of Slander
6. Duke of Vandals
7. Mrs. Clark
8. Director Denial
9. Reverend Godless
10. The Matchmaker
11. Sister Vigilante
12. Chef Assassin
13. Comrade Snarky
14. Agent Tattletale
15. The Missing Link
16. The Countess Foresight
17. The Baroness Frostbite
18. Miss Sneezy
19. Mr. Whittier

Haunted is made up of these short stories that explained something about the character telling it. These stories actually felt like real things that could happen in real life. Especially Saint Gut-Free's tale. I had to stop and remind myself that the "facts" in that story aren't really facts, at least I hope they're not. There is an unnamed narrator, but the characters take turns narrating their stories. I like how to all flowed together as the narration changed. It was never confusing, in fact it kept me more involved in the story. When I first started reading Haunted, I thought the short stories were backstories to how they got their nickname, but that changed as I read more. The last few chapters really revealed the theme of Haunted, "Every story is a ghost." It became very clear and I actually left sympathy for the characters in the story. My eyes were opened wide and I finally got it. I also got a little skeeved out. The twist in Haunted came to me when I became aware of the theme. There might have been a bigger, better twist, but I didn't notice. Maybe you will.

Palahniuk have a tendency to have more than one storyline going and they all come together when the twist happens. In Haunted, it's no different, but I did feel as if even more was going on because of all the different characters and all the different twists and turns the story takes. It wasn't as funny as the other Palahniuk novels I've read, but has its very own brand of humor and you have to be a fan of Palahniuk to really enjoy it, which I did.

What I really enjoyed about Haunted was the repetition of the writers being "The camera behind the camera behind the camera" and that they were writing stories. Their twisted goal of wanting to be famous is similar to me wanting to be famous for my stories. Although I don't want to become famous the same way they become famous. 

Haunted was such an unsettling novel and I don't mean that in a bad way. I loved how unconventional it was and the myriad of characters and all their personalities. It had a similar feeling to Lullaby because of the off putting-ness.

I'm sorry if this review was riddled with spoilers. I tried not to go too in depth about what happens while trying to tell you about Haunted. I don't think I've ruined it. Maybe I gave you some more things to think about while you read Haunted and you can form a better opinion about it. Writing this review was like writing my review of Rant. However I think my review of Rant was better, probably.

I recommend Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk if you want to read a Palahniuk novel unlike any other. 

Update #5

Hello Reading Monsters!

I hate to make a post like this when I'm so on the cusp of finishing Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk, but I didn't want to wait another week to update the blog.

I'm almost done with Haunted, I have less than seventy pages left. Look out for a review soon! I started reading Haunted before the new year, about two weeks before New Year's Eve. Then I got distracted from reading it because I was on vacation and just relaxing. I'm not sure if I mentioned this before, but I like to read on the subway while I'm going to school or on my way to meet up with a friend. Maybe I'll make a post about it one day. Anyway, since I was on vacation I wasn't taking the subway. Hence why I stopped reading. Now I'm back in the groove, reading on the subway and any other place I get the chance. That's why I'm almost done with Haunted.

When I finish Haunted, I'll have four Chuck Palahniuk books left to read! (Three, if you don't count Invisible Monster Remix as a different book). However after Haunted, I'm going to read the first two books in Hilary Duff's series. There won't be a review on those books until I read the third and final book that comes out in April, so there'll be a bit of a wait.

I'm also back at school. This week was the first week of the Spring semester. I'm a little overwhelmed with new classes and getting back into the flow of getting up for school and school work. Bare with me as I get back into my daily routine. When I get back into my routine, normal posting on Lectionem Monstrum will commence.

Help me decide which Palahniuk novel to read next: Damned or Survivor?
I'm leaning towards Damned because I read the synopsis and it sounds funny.

As always send requests and suggestions to lectionemmonstrum@gmail.com! Tell me what you're reading too!

Just Keep Reading!