A Not-Review Commentary on Harry Potter IV

After you have beheld my skills with MS Paint, let me explain the reason behind that perfectly executed question mark.

I have read the Harry Potter series books one through three and five through seven. It took me two years to pick up the fourth, and for me, the final. It wasn't the maddening length or the strange color scheme of the cover (mmmm not a fan). As a matter of a fact, I have no idea why I never read the fourth Harry Potter book. I even left it out of lists when naming the books of the series. For some reason far back in my mind, it just did not seem important.

Okay.

So it was kind of important. After all of these years I have finally read the fourth book and am actually quite pained by the fact that I never picked it up beforehand. I mean honestly, veelas, Hermione's-almost-lovah, Voldemort comes back, someone dies?? It was out of control! And now the rest of the series has several little holes filled in for me. I was rather at a loss for several explanations of events and characters. So now it has all come full circle.

Aaaand despite his being a stupid ferret-type, I am still deeply and madly in love with Draco Malfoy (look at that intensity!). They should have support groups for this sort of thing.

--Leigh

Review: Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Have you ever read one of those books that strikes you so deeply, so powerfully, that it is difficult to describe it to its full potential? Wintergirls = one of those books.

Unfortunately, I have not yet had the chance to blah all over my blog about how ver awesome Laurie Halse Anderson is. Another day maybe. But you'll get the idea from my review.

“Dead girl walking,” the boys say in the halls.
“Tell us your secret,” the girls whisper, one toilet to another.
I am that girl.
I am the space between my thighs, daylight shining through.
I am the bones they want, wired on a porcelain frame.

Lia and Cassie are best friends, wintergirls frozen in matchstick bodies, competitors in a deadly contest to see who can be the skinniest. But what comes after size zero and size double-zero? When Cassie succumbs to the demons within, Lia feels she is being haunted by her friend’s restless spirit. (Gracias Goodreads for the Sypnosis)


Sounds depressing right? And amazing right? And just... gah... even the summary is beautiful. Laurie Halse Anderson did things in her typical style. The characters were so harsh, just in your face and real. So much honesty went into the writing of this book. It was very much a wake up call. "Hello! People like this are out there. Stop whining and help to save a life!" Everything in here read that way to me.

I really don't have any major complaints. Although the book was very emotional and sometimes quite graphic or disturbing in scenes of sorrow or self-mutilation, it is worth the read for the writing (incredible), characters (biting, shocking, very real), and the experience. Prepare to open your eyes.

Plus. The cover = amazing *is not obsessed with cover art*


--Leigh