feuling fire

I just finished the second book in the Hunger games series. It's called Catching Fire (I had a picture which I apparently got from an unhappy internet source that goes around deleting photos off of blogs that 8 people follow).

The next book doesn't come out until August, and this book's cliff hanger ending definitely leaves people hungry (or thirsty, or burning, or dying) for more. Almost everything I wrote about Hunger Games also applies here. The plot is action packed and intriguing, though I must say that Collins does set it up to be rather predictable. I guessed, to some degree, the endings of both books, partially because the author left a few prominent clues, and partially because I knew that no sensible writer would kill off too many main characters. Not in this genre, not with another book coming, and certainly not if she wants to have her books made into movies. But the fact that you have a vague idea (or maybe just a definite hope) of how the events will end up doesn't make you any less anxious to get to the end. The only thing that frustrated me was that the main character, Katniss, didn't catch on to the clues that seemed so obvious to me. It's not that she's stupid (she most definitely is not), she is just so stubborn and passionate that she is blinded to the truth. And to be fair, it would have been remarkable if she had figured everything out, considering how many other things she had to worry about. :)

The characters in this series are quite likable, which is a selling point for any book or movie. Or at least the ones you are supposed to like are. I guess by the end you hate some of them, love some of them, pity some of them, and simply respect some of them. You could say Collins has this manipulating your emotions thing down to a science. The best part about the characters, though, is that they are relatable. Except for maybe President Snow and a few minor characters, no one is completely one sided. All of the primary characters have significant virtues and major flaws. My favorite character is Peeta because I think I can relate to him the most. He hates the capitol as much as anyone, but he's not a fighter. Instead, he uses his artistic and verbal skills to stage his own form of protest.

Alright, I'll stop babbling. In my effort to not give away anything, I've probably made this post totally incomprehensible to anyone who hasn't read the book. But since I'm really just doing this for my own pleasure, I don't really care. Sorry readers - this blog has never really been about you. Most blogs have never really been about you - unless the writer is really entertaining or somewhat vein. Sorry to burst your bubble. Have a great day. Read this book.

P.S. I promise I'll write a review of Jane Eyre eventually, I'm just putting it off because I know it will take a lot longer to write. In the mean time, read it because it's one of my favorites. Also I might post something about my mundane life eventually, too.

So I'm running on 2 hours of sleep right now

No, I wasn't up all night partying. No, I wasn't sick. I was reading Hunger Games (my picture of it had been deleted. Look it up if you care to see the cover)

Yup, hunger games until 4 in the morning. Just to give you an idea of just how irresistible this book is, I'll give you a little recap of my day yesterday.

1)I get home from work at 4ish and decided to start reading the book all of my friends were raving about at about 5.

2) I read from that point until 4 the next morning, only taking a couple hours off to eat dinner and go to baptisms at the temple.

3) I breathe a sigh of satisfaction and go to sleep.

It was a wonderful 11 hours of my life. :) The book is a decent length (about 400 pages), but it's a breeze to get through. There isn't a dull moment in all its 400 something pages, and since it's a children's book, it's very easy to read. It's the perfect book if you want to be entertained without thinking too hard.

But Hunger Games isn't just a trivial thriller, either. The story takes place in a society that is not only completely totalitarian, but oppressive, cruel, and savage. The people are powerless against the Capitol, which outwardly portrays a life of ease and luxury, but inwardly contains a government that will shoot people for hunting for themselves, and kill children for sport. So, although the storyline is geared towards the action-loving reader, there is an element of political protest as well. Throw that in there and all of a sudden you have a novel that is not only exciting, but a little bit thought provoking as well. Plus there's a little romance, which I'm a sucker for (but what girl isn't, really?)

Basically, I loved it and I can't wait to start the second one. Hunger Games is such a quick read, it is definitely worth the time. I highly recommend it. To everyone. Really, go read it now. K Bye. :)

a Book blog

So I have decided that my blog deserves a purpose. Not that writing about my rather mundane life won't be meaningful, but for my reader's sake, I want my blog to be something more. Plus, since I'm majoring in English, I can blog and tell myself I'm doing homework. :) So this is my proposal: my blog will be a book blog. As I read books for classes or just for fun, I'll tell you what I think - Was it entertaining? Was it meaningful? Did I love the symbolism? Or was it the imagery that really got me? I'll be writing about books like these

-we really have most of these books in my house. Seriously, the same books, leather bound with a ribbon book mark and everything :) -

and books like this

I'll continue writing about my wonderful, mundane life, too, for those of you who aren't as obsessed with literature as I am. I like to think that somebody cares about my life. If not, at least my mother will read those posts. :)

And if you are wondering about a certain book that I haven't posted anything on, leave a comment and ask me. I'll let you know what I think (if I've read it) or what I've heard (if I haven't).

I think this is a good idea. It'll give me the chance to reflect on what I read and express it in a somewhat coherent way. Great practice, lots of fun for me, and hopefully somewhat helpful to my book-loving friends. Good thinking, Lauren. :)

I love cookies :)

Today I am creating a recipe book from my mom's recipe box of yumminess. I have determined that the best way to tell the quality of the recipe is to notice how dirty the card is. The dirtier the better. I thought that since I am having so much fun thinking about cookies and not eating them, you should join me. Here is my very favorite cookie recipe. My mom has labeled them "Grandma's Snickerdoodles" but I'm not exactly sure whose grandma this is referring to. Is it my grandma? or her grandma? or Is it just a general term "grandma" because the cookies are so good? Well for now, the title remains a mystery, but I think it's safe to assume that at some point, somewhere, somebody's grandma made these cookies. Enjoy!

Grandma’s Snicker doodles

1C butter
2 eggs
1 ½ C sugar
1 t baking soda
1 t salt
2 t cream of tarter
2 ¾ C flour
2 T Sugar and 2 t Cinnamon

Cream first 3 ingredients. Add other ingredients (except cinn/sugar mix). Roll into balls and cover with cinnamon sugar. Bake at 350˚ for 8 to 10 minutes.

Time to alert the public

So, I'd say the cuteness factor is coming along nicely thanks to this amazing thing called the internet.

Seriously, it's miraculous. You should try it sometime.

It may not be the cutest blog ever, but I'm pretty proud of myself, especially since I have almost no crafty or creative inclination. This is probably the craftiest thing I've done of my own free will since I last scrapbooked. Which was about 6 years ago. Hmm.

Just one more thing to be done before my blog is ready to be announced on facebook. Pictures! :)

A week ago,

my family was together for the first time

since Adam left on

his mission, and the last time until Brandon returns. Crazy. Of course we took family pictures - so here are a few of the best

Adam kept whining ever time Sister Barton (the photographer) told us to get close and hug. I know what your thinking, "Oh, he just got off of his mission. He's just not used to it."

Nope. That's just the way he is. He claims that we aren't a touchy feely family, so why would we pretend to be in pictures. I tried to explain to him that when people take pictures together, they usually try to act like they like eachother. Apparently he feels that people should keep their arms to the side and look as awkward as possible in pictures. Haha. I'm so glad he's home. :)

One last pic of me and my best friend, Diane. Love her so much!

I always said I would never start a blog...

Well, I lied. Maybe it was the fact that many of my friends have adorable blogs. Maybe it was my family's desire to keep up with me after I leave. Maybe it was the realization that I am leaving for BYU in a couple of months and will NEVER see some of my friends again. Whatever the reason, I am convinced that blogs have their worth. Due to my computer incompetancy, it may be a while before my blog is actually cute, but I'll get there (hopefully). Fun times are ahead. :)