Brain Waves

So I have been thinking recently (aka, this evening) about books. I am a big fan of reading. Nothing irks me more than when people have their favorite books on Facebook say "I don't read" or "I'm illiterate" or some other smart aleck comment. Honestly, you must read. How can there be someone who literally cannot find any book that they like?! I know, some people are not raised on books. Some people don't understand the concept of reading for fun. But to be honest, thats a little beyond my comprehension. The other thing that bothers me is when people just think that they can see the movie/television show. So often the movies or shows are so different from the book, and you lose some of the imagination and magic of reading. I confess a fault: I have problems sometimes separating the book and the movie. I refuse to watch "The Devil Wears Prada" because apparently the ending is completely different. I cannot, no matter how hard I try, get into the Gossip Girl series because I become focused on all the inconsistencies. And I don't even want to talk about the travesty that is the movie "Ella Enchanted". Granted, there are sometimes when I want to see the movie because I have read the book, and sometimes seeing the movie will drive me to read the book. It can work both ways.

So, in the spirit of sharing, I want to give a list of my top books. This is sort of a rough draft for now. They vary; some are ones I could read 84,000 times and never get tired of them, while others I can only pick up once every couple of years.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

This book is probably one of my absolute favorites. I read it the summer before 10th grade for English. On first reading, it was incredibly difficult. But once I got through it, I realized how much I actually adored it. I can pick this book up any time, anywhere, start from any point in the book, and be completely satisfied. I own two copies. I have yet to make my way to the rest of Jane Austen's novels, but trust me. It is something I look forward to.

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

I bought a copy of this book, hardcover, my sophomore year of college, I loved it so much. It's a fairy tale, in the vain of Cinderella, and it is so beautifully written with characters deeper than your average fairy tale. It's also for the under-12 set. This is the perfect example of a book gone horribly wrong in film. I was so excited to hear it was becoming a film, especially with Anne Hathaway playing Ella! And then...utter disappointment.

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

I didn't read this book until the movie came out, then after I had read it I waited forever (read: about a week or so ago) to see the movie because I didn't want to dislike the movie (does that make sense?)(I liked the movie perfectly fine). I read this book the summer before my senior year of college, and could. not. put. it. down. It's another good one to just grab and open anywhere. 

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris

I would like to make a point: anything by David Sedaris is highly recommended. He is hilarious, I love his work. I specifically choose this collection because of one story: "The Ship Shape." It is my favorite story of his, and parts of it have entered the lexicon of my family. We can reference it, and everyone gets it, and finds it vastly amusing. This, also, might tell you something about my family and our sense of humor.

I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell by Tucker Max

So I will freely admit, this book is not for everyone. Apparently in writing this book, Tucker Max created a whole new genre of writing, Fratire. It's gross, it makes you feel embarrassed for the people involved and you don't even know them, and it is probably the most hilarious thing I have ever read. This book was passed around myself and my 4 roommates my senior year. We would read parts out loud to each other and not be able to get through it because we were laughing so hard we were crying. A movie is coming out on September 25th based on a story from the book, and I am so excited to see it. I follow Tucker on Twitter, and follow their movie promotion/screening tour. Apparently there is concern that the book is sexist, promotes rape culture, and some other things. I honestly do not see that in this book. To be honest, I think its a more real depiction of college/bar culture than anything else.

Miss Manners Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior by Miss Manners, aka Judith Martin

My uncle gave me this as a gift before I had my debut. It is the 2005 edition, and I love love love it. Not much else more to say.

Confessions of Georgia Nicholson by Louise Rennison

A series of books about a teen girl living in England and her life and excitement. With book titles such as Thongs, Angus, and Full Frontal Snogging and On The Bright Side, I'm Girlfriend of a Sex God, how could these not be incredibly cute and funny? Easy-peasy candy reads, but 9 out of 10 of the books are out, and I have just discovered in my attempt to verify that factoid that the first book is being made into a movie!! Has been made into a movie? Whatever, I am now, officially, excited!

I am going to stick with those for now. I am much too excited about this movie business to think of anymore.