New York Here I Come!

And so, tomorrow I'm off to New York again! I'm incredibly excited for a few reasons:

• Tomorrow night I'm grabbing dinner with my cousin Amanda and friend Anu in the theatre district. After, sans Anu, Amanda and I are going to see my friend Andrew in the Broadway production of "The Little Mermaid!" Once the show is over, we're meeting him backstage (I get to go backstage!) and then grabbing drinks.
• Incidentally, Thursday night is also the premiere of Harry Potter. I will not stalk the actors.*
• Friday night is the rehearsal dinner for my cousin Ryan's wedding. He's marrying a lovely girl who I've known for quite some time. 
• Saturday afternoon, my family and I are meeting up with my Aunt and Uncle and we're going out to Port Jeff on Long Island. As a child, when I still lived on Long Island, we used to visit Port Jeff every weekend. My dad would get my brother and I comic books from the comic store and then we'd hang out on the playground. I hope it's all still there.
• That night is Ryan's wedding! Sadly, Samir can't accompany me since his Bar exam is in three weeks, but it'll be okay. The night will but full of "mazal tovs," "l'chaims" and "so, when's your big day?" 
• Sunday is the post wedding brunch (seriously) and then we're driving out to see my grandfather's gravestone. I've yet to see it. 

So, needless to say, my weekend is pretty packed. It's still crazy to think of my cousin getting married. He's two months younger than me, but has been with this girl for the past six or so years. We used to be really close. In fact, I remember when he first met her at summer camp. He sent me a letter. 

I'm excited to be going up to NY and spending time with family, but I wish I had time to just relax and take in the city. Alas. There's always next time, right? 

* Okay, maybe a little stalking. Swine flu or no swine flu. 

Book Review: Chasing Daisy

Chasing Daisy
By Paige Toon
Simon and Schuster UK
Publication Date: July 6, 2009
ISBN: 978-1847393906

Chasing Daisy is not what you'd expect from the cover. With its glittery typeface, heart icon, and pink background, it looks like a very girly beach read. It is, of course, at times, but it's also incredibly deep, very touching and utterly fabulous.

Chasing Daisy is about Daisy Rogers, a girl completely and hopelessly in love with a co-worker. As a "bun tart," a girl who helps out with catering and hospitality during Formula 1 car races, Daisy is around fast cars and fast guys everyday. It's there that she meets, and falls for, Will Trust, the devastatingly handsome Leonardo DiCaprio lookalike race car driver who may just fancy her as well. Big problem, though? He has a very serious girlfriend. Plus, he puts his life at risk every day when he goes to work.

As Daisy chases after Will, she befriends Holly, a fellow bun tart with a crush of her own, and Luis, the other race car driver. Daisy and Holly become best friends and share almost everything with one another, because in this book, secrets are important. Luis, on the other hand, starts out as an utter nuisance in Daisy's opinion, one who won't let an old joke go, but becomes someone trustworthy and even friendly.

Chasing Daisy is a surprising book because just when you think you know what will happen next, it throws you for a loop, just like the car races you watch happen on the pages. It's far from your typical chick lit book and took me by surprise quite a few times, specifically halfway through when everything Daisy worked for is thrown upside down.

I absolutely loved the characters. From her boss, Frederick, a grump with a good heart, to mysterious Luis, to even erratic Daisy, they were all people I wanted to hang out with. I loved the scene where Luis and Daisy learn to swear in other languages. Hilarious! And although I have no prior knowledge of Formula 1 racing, the book was incredibly vivid with its details, putting the reader directly in the action.

The book goes from Monte Carlo to San Paulo and back again, with Daisy narrating the way. At first I wasn't 100% in love with the 1st person narrative (that described everything Daisy was thinking), but as the pages turned, I learned to really enjoy it. It was perfect for the kind of book it was - one that's incredibly introspective. Additionally, I absolutely loved how it ended.

I was kind of let down that they didn't develop the story behind Daisy's ex more, I really wanted (and expected) the two of them to have an encounter, but alas. That aside, I finished the book in two days. That should say enough.

Chasing Daisy is a fun book, although dramatic at times. It makes you want to travel the world and see the sights, and races, with Daisy herself. And, really, it makes you laugh. Her observations are quick, witty, and always spot on. Chasing Daisy is a truly addictive book with a voice of its own.

See an interview with author Paige Toon here

Book Review: The Angel's Game

The Angel's Game
By Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Doubleday
Publication Date: June 16, 2009
ISBN: 978-0385528702

“The whole of Barcelona stretched out at my feet and I wanted to believe that, when I opened those windows, its streets would whisper stories to me, secrets I could capture on paper and narrate to whomever cared to listen . . .”

It's no secret that Carlos Ruiz Zafon's novel, The Shadow of the Wind, is by far one of my favorite books of all time. The imagery, the language, the story - it was all beyond phenomenal. It's because of my adoration for the book, and the author, that I promptly went out to buy The Angel's Game the week it came out. I was just that excited. 

The Angel's Game, according to Zafon, isn't a prequel or a sequel, it's a stand-alone book that shares some of the same themes and characters from its predecessor. It can be read alone, however pairing it with Shadow.. gives the characters and places an added depth that's almost delicious at times. 

The book is about David Martin, a writer in Barcelona during the early 1920's, who makes a living by penning thrillers under a pseudonym. Living alone in a dark manor that had been uninhabited for around 20 years, he realizes that the stories he writes might not be that fictional after all. In one of the rooms he finds photographs and remnants of the previous owner that haunt him, yet he doesn't know why. And all while struggling with an unobtainable love, Cristina, a girl he's known for years, he's approached by a mysterious editor from Paris who wishes to make a Faustian deal with David. With the editor, Andreas Corelli, David is to write a truly remarkable piece - one that will change the hearts and minds of all who read it. But as David writes the book, he finds that the secrets hidden within his house and his reclusive editor may have something in common. 

In a truly dark and gothic tale of intrigue, adventure, murder and love, The Angel's Game is a book that shows the mystery of secrets, the magic of books, the power of passion and the necessity of friendship. 

(To further visualize the book, listen to the soundtrack)

Zafon compares his previous novel to a good girl, whereas this story is the wicked gothic stepsister. And he's right. Where Shadow... took us to a haunted part of Barcelona, it also gave us hope and love. Angel's Game brings us to to the same ancient Barcelona, only many years earlier, and brings the reader mystery, desperation, and power. It's not to say that there isn't hope and love; they're just not the main themes. And it's because of this that the book is a bit macabre. 

I liked the book, a lot, however I didn't love it. I suppose my expectations were set too high. It's not to say this book isn't great, though. Zafon is one of the most brilliant writers of our time. His words are poetry, and descriptions phenomenal. Pre-war Barcelona felt like a place i've been at times. I know the characters, have seen the shops. If there's one thing Zafon can do, it's tell a good story. Each subplot has a reason, each character has a purpose. Like a spider, he lays down each line, creating a dazzling web of a story. 

I loved the overall idea - how books can be part of you so much that they contain a little piece of your soul. I really enjoyed how the plot with him writing the grotesque story for his "boss," Andreas, matched with the story of the haunted house's previous owner. It was all quite chilling, much like the dark alleys and abandoned houses described on the pages. 

I loved the Sempre men - a reference to the previous book. As owners of a book store David frequents, they set a friendly background to the tale. I also enjoyed the character of Isabella, David's assistant and protégé. Her energy, enthusiasm, and love were adorable and, like the Sempre men, greatly needed in such a dark book. I had a bit of a problem with Andreas. He's a phenomenal character, however his many diatribes were long and not entirely interesting. Related, David, although brilliantly crafted, wasn't entirely likable. And for me, that was a problem. 

As was the ending. Much like the spoiled milk I accidentally drank while reading (true story), the ending of the book left a bad taste in my mouth. It wasn't as nicely wrapped up - questions were still out there, mysteries left unsolved. 

I think my biggest problem, however, was the fantasy element. Angel's Game held a bit of a magical theme, one that flowed evenly though out the book. It worked well to give the book that eerie, mysterious feel, however it didn't feel right. I suppose I like the horror of the known more than the horror of the unreal. Although the element was well crafted, it wasn't my favorite part of the book. And, like the ending, it wasn't entirely explained.

Overall, aside from my complaints, I did enjoy it. As mentioned, Zafon has the masterful ability to tell a dazzling tale that sticks with you, flowing through your bloodstream to the point that you have to escape the book at times so it doesn't take over. I'll never be able to get over the brilliance of his wording and phrasing. He knows how to create a story, a mood, a theme exceptionally well. I definitely look forward to the next book Zafon writes and will still hold Shadow... in my heart as one of the best books of my time. 

...from a note by Zafron regarding the book: 
The Angel's Game has many games inside, one of them with the reader. It is a book designed to make you step into the storytelling process and become a part of it. In other words, the wicked, gothic chick wants your blood. Beware. Maybe, without realizing, I ended up writing a monster book after all...Don't say I didn't warn you, courageous reader...

Now don't you want to read it? 

Click here for an excerpt of the first chapter

Click here for the book's official site where you can find its trailer, soundtrack, Q&A, some additional writings by the author and more.

Looking Back: January 2008

Over at 20SB, they're asking us to look back and re-post one of our first blog posts for a blog carnival. It's a fun idea, it'll let us see where we started and how we've grown. And so, I'm contributing.

As a back story, I started HDS on January 1st of 2008. I left my immature Livejournal account and opted for the bigger, better Blogger. Like many stories, HDS started with a breakup. Since i'd rather not reflect on that (considering it turned out rather well in the end), I'm posting my 16th post from the 21st of January. I think acts as a nice prologue to this blog. Here it is:

The Real

I've been copying my old livejournal posts recently because i'm afraid one day it'll crash and I'll lose seven years of writings. It's been really interesting, reading through my past. I started it in 2001. I was seventeen years old. (And look at me now! Still blogging away! Some things never change.)

Admittedly, i'm very embarrassed about some earlier entries. I wrote like a teenager and you have to forgive me for that. All writers were teenagers once. It's interesting to note when I became a better writer and more interesting to note when I started to really enjoy it and put thought/effort into it. (Around 2003/2004 for those interested.)

Reading through my past is like watching an awful movie though. You know what's going to happen in the end and you keep telling the main character to turn back. Stop making such awful decisions. Stop fretting. Open your eyes.

It's nice to see how much i've changed, though. How not just my writing, but my thinking has matured. I like who i've become. Man, i've had some good times.

Reading through the years was somewhat eyeopening, and naturally gave me a new way to look at myself. Was I a hero or villain in the end? Was I doomed for eternal suffering, or does my life have a hopeful ending. I didn't find the answers there, but i'll keep looking. It's like i'm an algebra problem now. The formula is provided and i've substituted most of the letters for numbers within the problem. I’ve started doing the work—I just need to figure out what “x” is.

And who said you don't use math after high school?

This post is a part of 20SB’s Looking Back Blog Carnival, and Ben & Jerry’s is awarding free ice cream to lucky bloggers and readers!

M.I.A.

I mentioned recently that a wave of inspiration has (thankfully) hit. Because of that, I'm spending more time writing and less time, sadly, blogging/reading/reviewing. But don't worry, dear readers, I won't disappear completely. Posts may not be as frequent in these upcoming weeks, but I'll still be around. And I have a small idea.

I talk about the books I like so frequently on this blog, yet i've forgotten to ask what YOU like. What kind of books do you enjoy? What's your favorite genre? Let me know! Also, with that, if you've blogged a book review recently, send me the link! Next week I'd like to compile a few of those reviews into one post. I'll have a quick synopsis of the book and then a link to your full review. This way I can recommend not just books I enjoy, but ones you do as well. 

Smooth Criminal

My office mates have been playing Michael Jackson all day, which is incredibly fitting and I somewhat wish more days were like this. Not with the sorrow of the death of an icon (which is incredibly sad), but full of good music.

It seems like nowadays there isn't a lot of great music. Or, at least legendary musicians. Generations will always remember "Bad" and "Beat It," but "Blame it on the alcohol?" Not so much. (No offense to those who love that song).

So, aside from making this a day to pay tribute to Michael Jackson, we should also think of it as a day to remember good music. Frank Sinatra. Ella Fitzgerald. Dean Martin. The Beatles. Madonna (circa the 80's/early 90's). Feel free to add your own.

And as for me? I'm busting out the zombie makeup and dancing to Billy Jean.

(Some photos for this Friday)

Ispirare

I have an unused journal from Venice, Italy. I bought it from a small shop on the Rialto bridge called Rivoaltus while wandering the streets, and bridges, alone. It's handmade from leather, dyed a deep blue and tied with string. It's one of my favorite purchases from Italy.

I bought it with the intentions of writing inspirational prose in it, yet every time I went to pick it up, I didn't feel inspired. Nothing I felt like writing was good enough for my journal. Nothing felt visionary, exciting. And as someone who keeps plenty of journals, I typically just picked up another old composition notebook and wrote my thoughts in that instead.

Today when I go home, I'm going to pull the journal out of my desk. I'm going to open it and write in it.

I finally feel inspired.

Book Review: Along for the Ride

Along for the Ride
By Sarah Dessen
Viking Juvenile

Publication date: June 16, 2009
ISBN: 978-0670011940

I must admit, I did everything I could before writing this review. I checked my e-mail at least 10 times, I watched an old episode of Friends, I snacked on sunflower seeds. It's not that I didn't want to write the review because I didn't like the book, it's quite the opposite. I knew that once I wrote the review, I would be done, moving onto another book. The truth of the matter was, I didn't want to be done with Dessen's book. 

Along for the Ride is about 18 year old Auden, a remarkably smart girl who's parents divorced when she was younger after years of bickering. She became an insomniac, avoiding her problems by staying awake, studying at a nearby cafe. Meanwhile, being raised by two academic parents, Auden organized her life around school - she could answer any educational question, yet barely had any friends and missed out on every important childhood landmark (prom, bowling, learning to ride a bike..) After a strangely inspirational message from her older brother Hollis, Auden decides to spend the summer before her freshman year of college in Colby with her father, his new extremely cheerful wife, and their even newer baby, Thisbe. There, Auden discovers something about herself through interactions with Heidi, her stepmother; babysitting Thisbe; working at a clothing store with girls her age; and, above all, meeting the mysterious Eli who helps her rebuild her past. 

The story talks about love, redemption, and second chances. It's about how it's never too late to rediscover yourself and grab hold of your present. 

I really loved Along for the Ride. The characters were interesting, deep, and always surprising. Yes, as many young adult books, the plot was a bit predictable, but that didn't matter. Along for the Ride took you away from your life and put you into Auden's. It's the perfect young adult book - one that presents a problem and finds ways to solve it. 

The main characters were incredibly real - everyone had one of them in high school. There was the beautiful Maggie who was actually smarter than she looked. The party girl Leah, and the big mistake Jake. There was Eli, the secretive love interest with a heart of gold. And Adam, the extremely affectionate best friend. And then there was Auden, a girl with a secret of her own, who was still trying to figure herself out. 

I loved so much about the book. I loved that I could actually see Colby - I knew the map of it like my own neighborhood. I loved that everyone went to the Gas/Gro before going out because in the past I had a similar place. And I loved the importance of the summer - the last for everyone before college. How important it was to make it "the best of times," because at that age, everyone wants to. 

The writing was spot on, incredibly detailed and relatable. It's a book you could pick up and easily slide back into Dessen's world. I liked the hope it brought, as well as the message. I liked how Eli and Auden hung out at night because neither could sleep. How the world is so much different once people are asleep. And now, I too now look at the houses around me and wonder why someone else might be awake at 1am. What's their story? 

There was one quote that I especially enjoyed. Towards the beginning, the girls stock up on food at the Gas/Gro. After Auden asks why they do it, night after night, Esther replies "I don't know. It's like, we're headed out somewhere. You never know what's going to happen. So you stop for supplies." Indeed.

Along for the Ride is the perfect summer read - set at the beach, you could practically hear the waves pouring out of the pages. It's the first book I've read of Sarah Dessen's and definitely won't be my last. In fact, I might have already set up a book store trip with my own group of friends to get another. 

Links: 

Sarah Dessen's blog

Sarah-land, a ning community

The story behind the book's cover

Dessen reading a portion of the book

The WeTalkDaily spotlight on this book

Routines

"How were we never tired?" Brandon asked, loudly, with a smile on his face and wine in his glass.

We were sitting in a kitchen we spent most of our high school years in, but neither of us lived there. Michelle did, who was sitting in a chair opposite me, munching on M&M's. Back then Coca Cola and Salt & Vinegar potato chips lined the table, not the wine and cheese (and M&M's) that were there now. We lived in that kitchen so many years ago; I knew it as well as I knew my own.

We were having a small reunion - there were seven of us there. Seven who lived through high school together, all part of the same drama club. Some were back in town, visiting family, which was why we planned the impromptu get together earlier that day through excited text messages full of exclamation marks and smiley faces. We hadn't changed, really - seeing old friends was like hearing a long forgotten song - full of initial excitement, seasoned memories, and a familiar smile inducing comfort.

Back in high school we had a routine. Every morning I'd wake up, shake off the unyielding sleep, and get ready. Moments later I'd hear the welcoming hum of a motor outside my window - Brandon was there. Jumping in his white Audi, we'd drive to a Katie and Andrew's house a few streets over. As Brandon and I would giggle about events from the previous night, we'd wait patiently for the two to emerged. They were always running late; their mom would give us the friendly "they're coming, I swear" wave. Walking to the car, the two would fight over who got shotgun, as I graciously gave up my spot for the back seat. Andrew always won, pulling Katie out of the car, and she'd sit next to me, applying her makeup diligently while we drove to school. Andrew would put on The Bloodhound Gang CD he loved and we'd all sing along. A few minutes later, we'd pick up Jen and pull into our school's parking lot.

Rather than piling back into the car at the end of the day, after long hours of classes that weren't nearly as interesting as the events of the day, we'd stay in the drama room until play practice started. Sometimes we ran across the street for smoothies, pizza, or subs at the local hangouts that only stayed in business due to after school activities. Rehearsal usually lasted until 11 or so and then, after hours of memorizing lines, goofing around backstage, and building sets/costumes, we'd finally pile back into the car, put back on the CD, and head on home, laughing about the night's rehearsal.

It was a routine, one we lived by, one we never got tired of. Every day was the same, structurally, but different. Every moment was fantastic when we were outside of classes and with one another. And even though there were long hours, we never really noticed it. Moments and years passed by quickly, yet we always took advantage of them.

Routines like that I miss. Ones that were full of life and living, rather than the daily one I encounter now. Wake up, go to work, come home, go to sleep. Every day is the same. No rehearsal, no singalong drive.

I didn't want to leave last night. Being there, back with everyone in the same spotless kitchen, I felt right. Nights like those make me wish I was Sal Paradise - I wanted to keep going, drive through the night with them until morning and then the next morning and then the next. Never looking back and ignoring all responsibilities. But with age also comes maturity and I knew that the magic couldn't last.

So, instead of explaining it all, I answered bluntly.

"We were, but we ignored it. We had so much fun with one another that it never really mattered."

We're hanging out again tonight. Hopefully we'll create a new routine, one we can continue coming back to all these years later.

New! Site! Exciting!

When I was 12 years old the most important thing in the world was swimming.

That's right, swimming. I didn't have a pool in NY; I learned the intricacies of swimming by visiting my Aunt and Uncle's fancy house on Long Island. I was determined to swim without doggy paddling, without getting gallons of water up my nose. Through practice and dedication, I did and now I can (mostly) stay afloat while in the water. I may not be a terrific swimmer, but I'd like to think that, if the situation presented itself, I could save someone from drowning.

Nowadays, it seems like 12 year olds have a bit more on their minds. Swimming isn't exciting, boys are. Young girls don't shop in the Limited Too much (to be fair, I didn't either - I couldn't afford it), they shop at Victoria's Secret. And, yes, I understand the age. I, too, wanted to be older when I was young. I wanted to be able to understand the whispered jokes my older cousins told at dinner. I wanted to be able to stay out past curfew with my friends as they did in all the novels I read. But I never acted on any of my wishes.

Here's the thing, from teaching and other observations, I've realized that girls aren't girls anymore. They're more Gossip Girl than Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. And maybe that's good for some of them - maybe growing up is what they need. But it makes me sad. As they try to be someone, something they're not, they're missing out on an incredibly important part of their life - childhood. Being a pre-teen. Figuring things out without outside influences.

Because of this, I've decided to start a new project. Last week I created WeTalkDaily a weblog dedicated to the pre-teen/tween set. It'll offer daily advice about life, friends, fashion, family and more. The site is dedicated to being a safe place for girls to get information and learn a little bit more about themselves. All in all, it's a place where girls can be girls.

The site isn't perfect yet, it only has a few articles, but I'm proud of it so far. So feel free to check it out and let me know what you think. If you have a younger sibling who might like it, show them! I'd like to see how far the site can go. I'm sure it won't make a big difference, but if I help one person that'll be enough - right?

If you'd like to contribute an article, let me know - I'd LOVE to get more content.