A really nice paper town

Ok, I couldn't think of a title.

I loooooooved both of these books. I think I liked Prom Mess a little bit more though. Every time I thought ok, nothing else crazy can happen, something else happened. But, I would like to point out this book has another instance of the closeted, douche bag, football player. And, I'm pretty sure this book held my favorite line where he describes his former best friend as having, "Jew fro" hilarious.
I think kids would love this book too, or maybe I'm being swayed by my love of it. And, I'm a sucker for a happy ending, so I liked that by the end he had a new love interest. Also that he came out of the closet and basically everyone was fine with it (which is how the world is in my head--even though I know I'm lying to myself). I sort of think this book could be read by boys too, it's a lot more accessible than Freak Show.
I think that the comedy in the book comes from his having to lie about who he is, but there's so much truth that winds up being exposed because of the lie.
Although, I think the scene where Cameron says, "you know, all the bad choices I made were because I smoked pot. Pot leads to bad decision making, you should not do drugs," was kind of a cop out. But it's a book for teens, so I get it.

Now, Paper Towns. I love that everyone calls Milwaukie's Best- Beast. I loved this book too, but I am not sure that it holds up to inspection (much the way Twilight does not...hehe). This is why- I am not a big fan of the, "I can't relate to the character so it is not a good book," theory. But, towards the end, I got kind of sick of Margo. The beginning was awesome, the level of detail and planning that she put into her revenge was amazing and I wish I had thought of that when (TMI maybe) my high school boyfriend felt the need to sleep with not one, but two of my friends. However, when she ran away and he thought she was dead, and I too, kept holding my breath for when he'd find her body, I got annoyed with her. And, I read looking for Alaska after, otherwise I'd definitely have thought she was dead. (Parenthetically, I loved Looking for Alaska, but I really dislike sad books in theory and I cried for like, 4 days after that.)
She didn't feel bad enough (in my opinion) that they missed graduation to chase after her, and that they thought she was dead for a month. Also, really, who runs away a month before graduation? Suck it up, finish high school and get out the way everyone else does. Parental neglect is no reason to ruin your future chances by not even having a high school diploma. But, maybe I'm showing my age there. Maybe it's the ultimate teenage fantasy to run away from home and do it on your own.
Come to think of it, my boyfriend cheating thing happened right around the same time that hers did. I am Margo Roth Spiegelman! Except, you know, I sucked it up, stayed in school and then went off to college and got away from them all that way (with a summer of working with all guilty parties in between there, it was a nightmare actually, but hey, whatever doesn't kill you...)

Yeah, anyway. Loved these books.

Dead High Yearbook

According to the syllabus online, Dead High Yearbook is the only reading due this week. Maybe because the talk to teen papers are due this week too.

I am not sure how to write an entire blog about that book. I am sure teens like it, it's a cool concept and the pictures are big and colorful. I kinda liked it. But not enough to really write something lengthy about it. I liked how some of the stories were interconnected. And, I didn't feel particularly bad for any of the teens who died. I guess that says something. I guess since the deaths were all supernatural, it made it more amusing than sad. Unlike, Looking for Alaska where a teen dies (and makes you cry for, I dunno, hours on end.)

I think for this week we were also supposed to watch the Dark Knight. I think I am the only person in the world who has yet to see that movie. But, I really don't like superhero movies. I don't like Spiderman, or Superman or the last million Batman movies. So, I will apologize for not watching it but I just can't bring myself to do it. I find them dark and depressing and Batman is especially depressing, and I'm not even referring to Heath Ledger.

Oh, and I'll take this time to mention that I will be doing my annotations on something related to Twilight. I know this is shocking.

Back(b)log

Accidentally missed a post here. My apologies.

I am confused on the whole, what is Manga what isn't argument. I was of the impression that it had to be backwards and Japanese to be Manga, but Dramacon isn't but I guess it is classified as Manga too.

I liked Dramacon a lot and I think that sort of story would have definite appeal to teenage girls. And the fact that it's graphic lends itself to reluctant readers. I always find it amazing when people don't like to read. I know there are tons of people who don't it just amazes me. When I was in high school I read every book assigned. Even in college, text books and articles I probably didn't read, but if we were reading novels, I was reading them. But, that might be the reason I hesitate about Manga, I am somewhat of a purist, or have been. And, there's something that seems very throwaway about graphic novels. But, then I know that there's amazing stuff out there. Maus isn't throwaway at all. Neither is the Sandman series. But, even though I KNOW this, I still just don't get into it.

And, while I liked Dramacon, it is defintely fluff, so it doesn't help convert me.

Hm, none of that was really to the point here. I am well aware that my taste has nothing to do with what is "good" (and I think by now we all know how questionable my taste is--TWILIGHT)
Anyway, I did read the whole series, I wanted to know if she saw him again. I'm a sucker for a love story...Much like Edward and Bella...

Someday This Pain Will be Useful to You, made me sad. I mentioned in class that I've been in situations where I wonder if freaking out is the appropriate response, but somehow I keep back from that edge (maybe I'm insane...I will admit the Twilight obsession definitely points to my being slightly unhinged). The fact that the character frequently went over that edge made me really nervous. Like, I wanted to shake him and just tell him to hang on, stay back from the line, you'll finish high school and things do get better. Most people, I think, hate high school. Unless you fit into that mold, you're probably going to be vaguely miserable for four years, but there's the other side if you can just wait for it. Teens who don't quite fit would probably relate to this. I probably would have liked it as a teen. I'm on the fence about it now.