I Love Controversy... A Very Bookish Post!

Please don't be scared away from the title. This post may be controversial, but not in a bad way :) So I say...
Anyways, I hope you all are doing good! Ian is visiting from  college, so i may be absent for longer than usual! And Christmas... 4 days!!!!!!!!
Soooooo...
         TO THE CONTROVERSY:

I READ HARRY POTTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND... LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!! AND... THINK EVERYONE SHOULD READ IT!!!!!   

So, DO NOT KILL ME. I realize Harry potter is supposed to support "witchcraft." Or "encourage children to practice magic." IT DOESN'T! First things first, i will explain why everyone should read these, then explain how THEY ARE NOT BAD NOR DO THEY SUPPORT WITCHCRAFT.

               THE GREATNESS: 

                            


Oh wait...

                     THE GREATNESS: 

CHARACTERS: 
Harry Potter are some of the best-peopled books i have read- EVER.
They are greatly varied, realistic, three dimensional, well-developed and every other compliment you can think to heap on them.

HARRY POTTER:
eh, is it a crime to say, i am not particularly fond of Harry.  There was nothing about him that stood out to me. He is also very well-developed; though. He definitely went through a change in The Order of the Phoenix, and i wanted to hit him over the head half of the book, but it keeps up these books sense of realistic-ness.

HERMIONE GRANGER:
*does a little happy dance*
Hermione is my absolute favorite. She is very smart, sassy, and, well, i  like her even more since i took a quiz and i was her. i must like myself... ;)
However, in book 4 specifically, i wanted to scream  at her; "OH MY GOODNESS HERMIONE, STAY AWAY FROM VIKTOR KRUM- HE IS RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!!! GO TO RON!!!!!!!!! YOU KNOW, YOUR FRIEND!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Er, yeah... but Hermione us still the absolute best :) :) :) Just like me : )

RON WEASLEY: Yes, moi like Ron. He has a very, um, humorous sense of humor (don't ask) and is just very awesome. And his rat... I love how he like hates Hermione at first. :) But RON, WHAT THE HECK WERE YOU THINKING!!!!! JUST TRYING TO MAKE HERMIONE ANGRY, WERE YOU???? LAVENDER IS PLAIN STUPID!!!!!!! See, I have serious issues with these characters... but they are still over-all awesome.

MINOR CHARACTERS: i love them all! From Fred and George, to Dumbledore, to Dobby, to Luna (Loony) Lovegood, to ginny, to Mrs. Weasley, to Sirius black... they are all amazing.

THE WRITING: Rowling writes very elegantly. And very accurately. And very awesomely. And it is FUNNY.

THE PLOT: Magic. In a literal and figurative way. How on earth these books could have been plotted out- I don't know... but I love it. There is something special. How Harry and Hermione are friends. They are more free together than Ron and Hermione. How every little plot end is weaved seamlessly into this tapestry. I almost cried in the last book, by the way. There is a reason these books are bestsellers. Not just like *shudders* Twilight, these books will live on. And honestly, though I rarely use this term, they are modern classics.

SOOOOOOO, HOW THESE BOOKS ARE NOT SUPPORTIVE OF WITCHCRAFT, NOR DO THEY DESCRIBE IT:

Just because there is time travel in a book, not scientifically explained, does that make people think that time travel is possible?  I DON'T THINK SO. Harry Potter lives in a world of magic. but the magic is just there. They say a few random words and move their wands. OH NO. BIG DEAL.
MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, a six year old might think it actually works. MAYBE. I doubt it.
These books have less magic than most fantasy books I have read. no joke.
And by the way, the rumor that the author actually practiced witchcraft- is just that, a rumor. Whoever created it probably wanted a reason to tell their kids they couldn't read these books because they didn't think their children were wise enough.
THESE BOOKS DO NOT SUPPORT WITCHCRAFT IN ANY WAY- THEY ARE CLEAN, AND NOT BAD. END OF STORY.


ANY COMMENTS WOULD BE MORE THAN APPRECIATED!

 

I, Layla AM ALIVE!!!!!!!!! book and writing insanity linkup!

Yes, I am sure you have heard the marvelous news- I am not dead!!!!!!!!!!!! But there is a super awesome reason for this post and I am very excited!!!!!!!!!


                                                                                        http://www.notebooksisters.com/2013/12/book-and-writing-insanity-linkup.html?showComment=1386722938209#c3106505611804700659

So, though i am a writer, I will be answering their reading questions!!!!!!! Let the fun commence!!!!

1. What was your overall favourite book this year? (Yes. Pick one.)




EXCUSE ME, CAIT, WHAT ON EARTH WERE YOU THINKING!!!!!!!!!!!????????  but, let me try to compose myself. Not counting classics, i have got to go with:




  It destroyed my soul, yet lifted it up too. That's top marks from me!!!!



2. Favourite debut(s)? (Author must have been first published in 2013.)

I haven't actually read any yet, but I am currently reading These Broken Stars, which counts.

 

This book is so great so far!!!!!!! 

3. Which books did you reread this year?

A lot...

Read For The Heart
The Dragon's Tooth
The Drowned Vault
100 Cupboards
Dandelion Fire
The Chestnut King
(Twice this year)
Ender's Game
The Mysterious Benedict Society

4. Favourite cover(s) this year!

Ooo... lots...

        

And many more...

5. Worst cover(s)?

  Despite all the awesome awards, I just don't like it. A bit boring...

6. What self-published books did you read this year?

Only 1,
Sew, It's A Quest 

7. Which book(s) gave you a massive hangover?

OH MY STUPID FEELS

   SOBS SOBS SOBS... YOU DESTROYED ME. ACTUALLY, YOU MIGHT BE MY FAVORITE/ LEAST FAVORITE BOOK OF THE YEAR...

8. Best standalone you read?

Since I have already nominated The Book Thief, 

  Oh, my, goodness... just read it!

9. Biggest book(s) you've read this year?

  1001 pages is pretty long...

10. Book(s) you followed the hype for and then loved!

  OH YES!

11. Most disappointing book(s) you read this year?

  I loved the beginning, disliked the middle, HATED the ending...

12. Favourite leading-female character?

Either Tris from   Or Deryn Sharp from OR Hermione from

13. Favourite leading-male character?

FOUR!!!!!!!!! FOUR!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FOUR!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FOUR!!!!!!!!! 

   

14. Best romance(s)?

Four & Tris:    Rudy and Liesel:   and in my dreams Param and Umbo:

15. What book(s) hit the DNF list? (Did not finish.)

  Ugh, ugh, ugh, DO NOT READ!

16. What book(s) did you read out of your comfort-zone?

hmm...  ... it delivered... the sequel comes out in February!!!!!!!!!

17. Which author did you read the most from?

T. A. Barron ... his books are really good.

18. Top 5 books you'd recommend from all the books you've read this year?

WHAT?????????? ok...

         



19. How many books did you read this year all up?

251, and I am still counting!!!!!!!! 

20. What's a book you're hugely excited for coming out in 2014?!

                                          

I CAN'T WAIT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, have a good day. You should go linkup, they are awesome!!!!!!!!!!! See ya later. 

Random Updates

First of all, for those of you who haven't yet read the post I did yesterday, read it here.
Secondly, check out Jo's newest update on Josiah jolly Stuff here


And 1 picture...

*taken yesterday

Lastly, me and Josiah have accounts on MyShot.
A link to one of my photos is here When you get there, press on my username MerlinKingArthur to see my profile.
A link to one of Josiah's pictures is here When you get there, do the same as you did to mine to view Josiah's profile BuriedInBooks.

By, for now.

Hello, Books and ALLEGIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry for being absent for so long, life has been all a muddle with Ian a state away in College and stuff like that. But, there is a reason I am here to post this. This reason made me laugh, sob, and want to die twenty times over. This reason is Allegiant by veronica Roth, the third book in the divergent trilogy.

 

I first grabbed Divergent on my 11th birthday, while I was at Barnes and Noble. I LOVED it. I even sacrificed an episode of Monk to read the book. I even didn't eat desert because of it. and my, it was worthwhile. The characters are strong and likeable, even lovable (FOUR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and the plot was complex and intriguing.Tris wasn't whiny or headstrong like many heroines in YA dystopians, she had a brain and she was agile. The secondary characters are much more important than most, I absolutely love Uriah, for an example. It was an amazing (life-changing...) book, needless to say.
I picked up the sequel, Insurgent, just as eagerly. It was just as brilliant, if a bit weak near the middle. The characters didn't develop a ton, but they did enough, enough to keep the book realistic. Four and Tris are perfect, even if that means four's not going to love me too much...

Then came the day. October 22nd. ALLEGIANT WAS OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My Grandma decided to be really, really nice and buy me a copy at Barnes and noble with (wait for it) exclusive bonus content! Score!
Then I read. And read. And read. OH MY SOUL AND MY MIND!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I AM  GOING TO EXPLODE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Character development abounds, Four is there, my life still exists. Things are revealed, great secrets, until my jaw is hanging open like it will never close again. We also get chapters written from the POV of Four (!!!!!!!!!) and that just adds to the awesomeness. I was laughing, loving, enjoying.
Then, along came nightfall. People went to bed, but i just sat down and kept on reading through the dark of the night. But then things started happening. Sad things. Now, I have to clarify something for you. I DO NOT CRY WHILE I AM READING. Not at The Book Thief, not at A Tale of Two Cities. I am an impregnable fortress, who stands strong through even the greatest tragedies. but then something happened. I didn't cry. I got choked up and had to force myself to keep reading. I was cracked, but I wasn't broken. Then I kept reading, wiped my eyes, moved on. the book is at its climax. Action exists, peril exists, but everything is going to be ALRIGHT. And then...
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!! You just broke every rule of books, you just, you just...
I broke. Tears came out. In my eyes, rolling down my face. Muffled sobs since it was late at night. I blinked away the tears, trying to keep reading, but the tears kept coming. nothing was working. I could not live. So I sat for a few minutes. I thought about it. And I kept reading. To tell you that i am getting unbearably sad as I write this is enough to explain my grief. more tears came, though not in the same large doses. The book was over. I had laughed cried and my heart had died. I sat for five minutes, not doing anything at all. Wiping my eyes, reflecting upon life. Do I hate this or do I love it? The answer is love. Because THIS is realistic. This is what would really happen. All the characters who mean nothing don't just die, but all the characters we love live, JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE THE IMPORTANT ONES. This is one of the most amazing books i have ever read. If I ever meet Veronica Roth, I might thank her for making my life so much better, even though she also made it worse. 
So, do I think many people will receive this well? No, I don't. I think it's going to be called depressing and a ruin to the series. But to me, it is the opposite. To me it is the perfect portrayal of life and hope, while staying in the bounds of reality. This book is packed full of emotion, and I like that. It is wonderful. So, do I feel like smiling right now and being an entire fool. No. I feel like curling up in a ball and crying till all my tears are gone. But I also feel like this is something I want everyone else to experience, with my point of view, and appreciate it for what I think it was truly meant to be.



I guess this was my first book review. FUN!
Have you read this book? Did you like it? If your comment has spoilers in it, be sure to warn everybody!!!!!!!!!!!!!! An exciting post coming up tomorrow!  Tell me what you think!

P. S.
Veronica Roth's official website: http://veronicarothbooks.blogspot.com/
Divergent Teaser trailer: http://www.mtv.com/videos/movies/949128/vma-2013-exclusive-divergent-first-look.jhtml

Some Pictures and Something To Reassure You (Layla's Post)

So, I'm going to start right off the bat with the promised pictures. They are AWESOME. So, here:

Totally epic, yes? You may admire my photo editing skills;)
but, i'm supposed to tell you who awarded me/us that i will do the awards soon. Promise. On another note, i recently finished David Copperfield by Charles Dickens and it was the new longest book I've ever read, coming in at 1001 pages exact!!!!!!!! And, it might be my new favorite Dickens book... but I'm not making any promises. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...  

Which pictures(s) are your favorites? If you've read Dickens, what was your favorite book by him? Least favorite? 

Over and out. ~Layla.  

P.S. Would you like if i started doing an occasional book review? 

J J S

Hey! go check out Josiah Jolly Stuff, there's some awesome new Jolly Stuff on Josiah Jolly Stuff, good bye!






DFSYUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCGHVMCZXDGFVHWT65EYGSEI RDFYUTGHDKDGT DYRJHYRUFHJYTDGRHYUSTUHUGRDHYTIRI.

A Birthday Tomorrow & A Lot of other Stuff

So yep. Its I, Layla's 11th birthday tomorrow!!!!11!!!11!!! Ok, maybe that might not really be news of importance to you guys, but to me it is!!
Sooooooooo... I saw Despicable Me 2!!!!! Minions!!!!! It. Is. Amazing. Enough said?
Here is a cool picture:

I edited a picture if Hannah to make it look like she is underwater!!!!!

Another awesome picture:

Yep. I really took that! But... if you HAVE to know the real story behind it... here is the original picture, taken by my house:

Not that exciting, is it? While... I still like it... i guess. Actually, I saved it under notsoawesomeness;)

Now, I have something exciting that will please many of my bloglings...

I made it!!! For you!! Now, here are the rules:

1. You must tag 5 people.

2. You must answer the 5 questions. 

3. You must create five more book-related questions for your tagged ones. 

4. Tell the people you tagged them. 

5. Have fun!

The Questions:

1. What is your least favorite book?

2. If you had one chance to make someone enjoy reading, what book would you give them?

3. What is the longest book you  have ever read and how long was it?

4. What is your favorite genre to read?

5. What is your favorite book you've read so far this year?

My Answers:

1. A Great Day For Up by Dr. Seuss! Pick it up and you WILL know why.

2. i.can. not. answer. this. Yep. I'm cheating. Please forgive me. 

3. Bleak house by Charles Dickens, 926 pages

4. King Artur Books!!!!! Anything Merlin related! I'm a self-confessed Arthurian obsesser.

5. WHAT??????? Layla, stop coming up with such hard questions! Maybe The once and future King by T. H. White.

My Tagged People:

1. Hannah Elise @ http://simply-hannah-elise.blogspot.com/ 

2. Layla & Hagen @ http://twoblesseddamsels.blogspot.com/ 

3. Cait and Mime @  http://notebooksisters.blogspot.com/

4. Storyteller @ http://storytellerofwestoncounty.blogspot.com/

5. Hannah @ http://candyapple-reviews.blogspot.com/

Also, in this post, comment with any questions about me and I will answer them in a later post!

Thats it! See you later!

Layla.

A Whole Lot of Pictures and A Small Lot Of Cousins. Oh yeah, and something about Frodo Bennet & Eduard Manet.

So. First things first, I responded to all of you who commented on my last post, in case you want to check those out. Secondly,  I saw a deer in my yard! I didn't have time to catch many pictures, in that my camera was no where near me, yet i will show you a few that I did get.:

  Also, I got to see my cousins, Addison and Keaton. here are some pictures:

Keaton, the baby, was by far the most compliant to be photographed:)

also, thought I might show you this hilarious happening of our family.
Here comes the hilariousness, step by step.

1). I started reading Pride and Prejudice, which I have now decided it is an amazing piece of literature.:

2).  Josiah pointed out Elizabeth Bennet on the cover happened to look a lot like Frodo- we all readily agreed and had some good laughs.:

3). I finished the book and was looking at the back cover and happened to see something which caused me to fall into hysterics.:

  "Frodo Bennet" was painted by Edouard Manet, a portrait of another famous artist, Berthe Morisot.  

Hilarious, eh? So, I have a question for you. Do you think *cough cough* Frodo Bennet *cough cough*, er, Berthe Morisot looks like Frodo?   

So, me bloglings, what are you currently reading? would you recommend it to me? i am currently reading The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater and can tell that I am going to love it, even though I'm not very far. I am so thankful that the amazingly awesomely, totally awesomely, definitely awesomely, Megean, recommended it to me! Hope y'all you all have a great day!

P. S. What photo is your favorite?