PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by Jane Austen

The second book to be published by the anonymous writer, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE has to be by far the most popular of Jane Austen's novels. The idea of the story deals with the misjudgments that often occur at the beginning of an acquaintance, and how those misjudgments can change as individuals learn more about each other.

The storyline seems simple enough. Elizabeth Bennet is the second oldest of five daughters. And so, without a male heir to the Bennet family, all Mrs. Bennet can possibly think of is having her daughters married off before Mr. Bennet meets his end and her daughters become destitute. It's kind of depressing in a way, but that's how things worked then. Moving on, things begin to look up as two very wealthy single gentlemen come to the shire. During their visit, a romance starts to form and a wrongly assessed relationship based on first impressions begins between Elizabeth and a Mr. Darcy.

Af this point, I can't say anymore or I'll spoil the whole thing. Anyway, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE is an amazing classic novel of the early 1800s. Of course, reading Old English is kind of hard and can be confusing. Or maybe you might get so wrapped up in the Old English that you'll begin to think in Old English and maybe even speak in Old English at times. I know sometimes I do.

Or... You if you're not so into reading Victorian novels, you can watch one of the two movies. If you want to watch one of the movies, I suggest the one from 2005 with actress Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet and actor Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy. This film is also really good and is quite elegant in a way. I'll say it was an awesome film and is still saved on my DVR.

Watching the movie may spoil the actual book. Many things you'd want to know will have been left out, however, it stays true to the main storyline of the original novel. You could do what I did, and watch the movie first than read the book. By doing this, it was easier to understand the Old English in the novel because it was simplified in the film.

Anyway, Jane Austen is an amazing writer and has a total of six novels, which I plan on reading a reviewing here. Those who prefer newer books should venture out of their comfort zone and try at least one of Austen's novels. You never know, maybe you'll love Austen's work just as I love her work.

-- Chances vs Pills

Vamped by Lucienne Diver

Vamped is about a girl named Gina. She is a vampire who has to save the world. This book is the worst book that I have ever read. The girls in the book are stereotypical and the boys are annoying. The plot was dull and some of the chapters were pathetic and boring. This book is not the kind of book that anyone should read especially people that love to read about the supernatural and don't want a pathetic book like this.

Take It To The Floor by Cash Cash (Music)

Take It To The Floor is a wonderfully upbeat, danceworthy CD that is consistently fun and interesting. The choruses are catchy across the board, and although none of the lyrics are life-changing, they are all good to sing along to. The CD works well as a whole, although it could do with more variety. This is the kind of CD that I would play with friends over, for a party, or just to groove. The keyboards and the drums are my favorite parts.

Highlights:
Party In Your Bedroom: Somewhat ridiculous lyrics, but ridiculously fun. The kind of song that makes you giggle at its pointlessness while dancing.
Cash Cash: The best track of the CD, in my humble opinion. It flows through a few different styles and does them all well. Interesting lyrics, especially when compared with some of the other songs. Ridiculously catchy, and gets stuck in your head for days on end.
Electric Hearts:And anthem for dancing. Cannot get it out of my head, I adore it.
Two Days Old: The saddest song on the CD, a little more melancholy, but still good.

-Obi Wan Kimono

Peace, Love and Baby Duckies by Lauren Myracle

This book was surprisingly enjoyable. There is very little by way of original plotline in this book, the story of a rich girl going to Christian prep school in Atlanta who spends a summer in the woods and finds herself frustrated with the shallow materialism of her school and social circles. Everyone knows who the main character will end up with, and the basic outline of the story. However the book is original in its treatment of being true to yourself. The main character goes through honest struggles trying to learn how to define herself without simply doing the opposite of what society says. It also takes a good look at sibling relationships without being cliche or cheesy.

Although the characters have many characteristics of stereotypes, they manage to walk the line between universal and cliche without falling too far to the cliche side. The characterization of high school is the first somewhat accurate depiction I have read in a teen book, which was refreshing. The characters did not have simply black and white views on things and not every person was convinced that looks were 100% the most important thing. There was no mention of the popular people, etc, the typical cliches of teen lit. Overall, it was the first decent book with this plotline that I have read because the characters and problems were treated realistically.

Mistress Fu

Damsel In Distress by PG Wodehouse (A Dusty Old Books Review)

Damsel In Distress is a story of confused love in an aristocratic household in England. PG Wodehouse's witty, sarcastic and snarky style is what truly makes this book. The plotline is predictable, but enjoyable, and the characters are somewhat flat, although Wodehouse does a good job of giving them vivacity and life. Make sure to read the book with a dictionary near at hand, because Wodehouse throws out interesting and unknown words like they're going out of fashion. Half the fun is his sideways style of saying things. If you enjoy a good roast of snobby, rich people and a story in which true love wins over bloodlines, this is the story for you.

Mistress Fu

Starclimber - Kenneth Oppel

I'd read Kenneth Oppel's Silverwing series when I was much younger, and it became the first chapter book series I ever really loved. Oppel delivers again with the third(?) installment of his Airborn trilogy. This book was an excellent continuation of the series and really, I felt, capped it off nicely. It wasn't such a rapturously heartfelt ending as, say, John Scalzi's Old Man's War series, which leads me to believe that maybe this is the series' penultimate book. I hope to read more about the quirky, suspense-y adventures of Kate de Vries and Matt Cruse in their ever-expanding alternate universe. This book was excellent, if not spectacular. 4/5

Post by Collin Knopp-Schwyn

Because I Am Furniture

This book is about a girl who lives in an abusive household named Anke. Her siblings Yaicha and Darren are beaten and yelled at everyday, but she is completely ignored. Even if she makes a mistake, the words are for her, but the yelling is at them. This girl feels as though she doesn't exist and is like a lamp or a chair in the corner. She wants to be noticed.
This book sounds pretty typical and boring. But because of the prose it is written in,it is smooth flowing poetry that doesn't have corny rhymes or randomly ending sentences. This isn't the best in the world, but it is no where near the worst. This book has wit, character development and a well-paced storyline. You will follow along Anke's story of self development during her freshman year of high school. She learns to face her fears and discovers herself in the process.