Humane vs. Inhumane

What does it mean to be human?

I know this isn't a book review or writing tips, but I wanted to draw attention to this question. My English teacher at school asks us this question on numerous occasions, especially after we finish a work of literature. It really has made me question how much humanity is actually in all of us. We have the denotation of what it means to be human. We have two legs, a heart, white blood cells and red blood cells, feelings, diversity, Homo sapiens, or whatever you literally use to define our species. Then we think of the connotation, how many humane qualities do we actually have? Yes some of us have sympathy, we're caring, loving, happy, smart, etc. Then you truly have to think about the inhumane parts of greed, the crimes, the selfishness, and so much more that I feel as if it almost outweighs anything we could list as a human quality. I sit here right now questioning whether humans are truly human.

Writing Advice? I think yes!

No guys I'm not dead.

Sorry, this girl here has been studying a lot lately. Do you know what that means? I'm feeling destitute of my blog. Here are some websites to help you continue and start a book off on the right start. I use this myself and I absolutely love it.

• Beware the Mary Sue Character This is a website I really enjoy when developing a character to reassure myself my character isn't just Mary Sue.
• How to Write Dialogue Life Saver! I cannot believe how much I reference this website. I have really grown as a dialogue writer the past couple months with this.
• How to Write a Novel This isn't my favorite website out of these seeing as I have my own very useful organization system while writing. If you want some help past this website on MY organization technique, please feel free to ask or DM me.
• Writing Advice This made me climb my way out of Writer's Block, enough said.
• Keep that Backstory Interesting! Yes, yes, and yes! I need to use this right now actually for a couple exerts of my own story and I think this will be so helpful.

I honestly love using websites like this and I applaud those who make them and save my life from suffering. I hope you all will help us all and comment a couple ways to help or some websites.

Just a girl trying to climb her way out of a mountain of books,

Cassidy

Book Hangover (Lux Series #3)

Someone help me! 

I've been procrastinating to read the third book in the Lux Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout since I forgot minor details of the first two, last night I was being tempted to read it and I did. After jogging my memory back I dived right in and I'm so happy I did. 5/5 stars for Opal! I'm not surprised, the first two books are amazing as well. I envy how Jennifer can write a book with such series plot points and it still makes me laugh so much. Daemon and Katy have such a drama filled relationship but they keep the humor alive and I admire her characters and her. I honestly feel like all the characters could jump out of the page and the Luxen are real. Are you sure you're not Katy, Jennifer? OMG. I won't spoil the third book for you guys, but holy cliff hanger. I don't have the fourth or fifth book in my possession and I'm dying of a Luxen hangover, someone help. Great job Jennifer, I seriously applaud her writing. I'm laughing, I'm sobbing, and then I'm emotionless in only a minute. I gave myself whiplash while reading this. The character development is one word; amazing. The only things I'm mad about is that cliff hanger and how I took so long to read the third book. If this all hasn't made you want to read the first book Obsidian I am surprised. Here's the description:


Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring… until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something… unexpected happens. 

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades. 

If I don’t kill him first, that is.

Here is my conclusion...I might die after I press publish.

Currently dying of a book hangover and can't pick up another book,

Cassidy

I Can't

I can't Finish it. 

This trilogy is one I can't finish, no matter how hard I try. I'm stuck on page 290 of the last book and I can't start myself back up. This does not mean it's badly written or that this author is a bad writer, it means it's not something I can finish. I loved the first two books with a passion (the first more than the second), and then the last book didn't capture me the way the other two did. It was fairly unfortunate especially since I have a special love for dystopian/rebellion novels, they're so interesting and in a slightly weird way make me want to be a part of it. Shhh it's a secret. Do you want to know what trilogy this is? The Matched Trilogy by Ally Condie. I did really love the first two books. Matched and Crossed, but Reached seemed a little stretched out for me to continue reading it. One thing you may either really like or really not like about this trilogy is how it switches point of views a lot (in second book and third), it's something I particularly see in fan-fiction. I went back and forth with whether I liked or disliked that aspect of the book. I ended up deciding it reveals too many emotions, I like the traditional one point of view track in most books. Another thing I really like about these books are the covers! The covers are done by Theresa M. Evangelista and Samantha Aide, they're spectacular and actually intertwine together perfectly. So congrats to those two. Overall if you enjoy dystopian romances definitely give the series a try and tell me how much you enjoy the trilogy, particularly the last book. Here's the description of the first book:

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

Alright that's all I have for this rant! 

Currently reading, 


Cassidy

The Selection Series

The Selection Series

The Selections Series is a series written by Kiera Cass. I haven't finished the series, but I've read the first two books and I'm obsessed. Here's the description of the first book, The Selection:

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

First of all, America Singer is an amazing yet average girl who I can relate too, throughout the whole book I felt like I was in her shoes. I felt jealousy, heartbreak, love, swoon, and captivated. I couldn't get enough of this book. I will absolutely re-read it before I continue on with the third in the series. I was even debating with myself whether America should be with Maxon or Aspen. OMG I can't help but love any book about royalty, it's a problem. Help me. If you liked the Hunger Games, you will probably like this. It has the same sense of competition minus the blood sport. I'm literally fangirling right now! Can this please be a movie? Please do yourself a favor and devour this book. You're welcome.

Currently reading,
Cassidy

I'm Cassidy!

Don't Alienate Me Yet

I love books, reading and writing. Not how other people love them, I'm absolutely and undeniably captivated by books. I recently read Princess by Jean Sasson. It wasn't a book I'd normally read, but I loved it! I brought my feminist side to the surface. Throughout the whole book I wanted to scratch my way into the main characters world and save her. So...read it? Here's the description:

Sultana is a Saudi Arabian princess, a woman born to fabulous, uncountable wealth. She has four mansions on three continents, her own private jet, glittering jewels, designer dresses galore. But in reality she lives in a gilded cage. She has no freedom, no control over her own life, no value but as a bearer of sons. Hidden behind her black floor-length veil, she is a prisoner, jailed by her father, her husband, her sons, and her country.Sultana is a member of the Saudi royal family, closely related to the king. For the sake of her daughters, she has decided to take the risk of speaking out about the life of women in her country, regardless of their rank. She must hide her identity for fear that the religious leaders in her country would call for her death to punish her honesty. Only a woman in her position could possibly hope to escape from being revealed and punished, despite her cloak and anonymity.Sultana tells of her own life, from her turbulent childhood to her arranged marriage--a happy one until her husband decided to displace her by taking a second wife--and of the lives of her sisters, her friends and her servants. Although they share affection, confidences and an easy camaraderie within the confines of the women's quarters, they also share a history of appalling oppressions, everyday occurrences that in any other culture would be seen as shocking human rights violations; thirteen-year-old girls forced to marry men five times their age, young women killed by drowning, stoning, or isolation in the women's room, a padded, windowless cell where women are confined with neither light nor conversation until death claims them.By speaking out, Sultana risks bringing the wrath of the Saudi establishment upon her head and te heads of her children. But by telling her story to Jean Sasson, Sultana has allowed us to see beyond the veils of this secret society, to the heart of a nation where sex, money, and power reign supreme.

Okay, if that didn't make you want to read it I don't know what will. I devoured the book cover to cover in a day. Next up is how I recently as in ten minutes ago ordered four new books from Barnes and Noble. I get extremely stressed out when ordering books, what if I see a book tomorrow I'd like better and I now have books I'm not as interested in reading? What a dilemma. Anyway, I ordered the first two books in the Outlander series, Throne of Glass, a book I can't recall the name of, and an adult coloring book. Until those books arrive I think I will start the Luxe Series, I've heard so many amazing things about it. I will go start that right now!

Currently reading,

Cassidy