Assigned Reading :P

Raise your hand if you hate- er, deeply dislike assigned reading for school! *hand shoots into air* I had to read The Canterbury Tales. Thankfully, we just finished and it's OVER!! Admittedly, it was much better than Beowulf, but still. It was confusing. Also, it's got some... er... certain content of an inappropriate nature, so readers beware! It's kind of creepy, actually. Like, not scary-creepy, but strange-weird-creeper-stalker-creepy.

But enough about bad books. Focus on good books!

What I'm Reading: Fruits Basket!!!!! It's the most amazing manga series EVER! And don't be turned off by the manga genre. I'm definitely not a big fan of manga or anime or anything, but this series is GOOD. I'd say it's maybe age 13 and up, for a little bit of language (nothing, like, extremely profane or anything). It's the second series to ever make me literally almost fall off my chair because I was laughing so hard (Percy Jackson was the first). Natsuki Takaya (the author) is an absolute genius!

What I like so much about this series is that it's got something for everyone- I'd classify the genre as comedy-romance-sitcom-inspirational. Yes, inspirational. There's some good stuff in there. You know, stuff that makes you go "Whoa, I never thought of that..." because it's... deep, I guess? (I sound really lame right now, don't I?) It's a little odd, but overall hilarious and amazing!! READ! IT! NOW!

Here's a couple lines from the series, since a big quote wouldn't work (it's manga, after all):

"Wow! There's a lake! It's so pretty! And so big!"

"Is it that unusual for you to see a lake?"

"YES!!"

"A novelist can't be without a kimono and pen! Although I use a computer."

"Sometimes it feels like the whole world is conspiring to destroy my house..."

(And now one of the really good ones!)

"When we are first born, all we know how to do is want. We want food, we want attention. Natural instinct, I guess. But kindness is something that we all have to learn as we go. It's something that grows and develops over time... True kindness isn't something we are born with, it's something we have to work at. We have to mold it and shape it inside ourselves. Not everyone has it, but I think everyone has the potential."