Read 2010

Read 2010: The beginning of my journey back into the joy of reading again. The list for 2011 is probably going to much, much longer. I can hear you all saying, "yay, tell us more!" Ok... settle down.

Also, I think this Amazon feature is convenient and cool, please don't take this as a massive ad, because it's not. I don't even know how the program actually works, I just like the idea of easily linking books for you to add to your wishlist!

Schott's Original Miscellany, I was amused to see recently that Jenny in Gossip Girl is reading this book the morning after she is attacked by Chuck in the first episode. If it was on Gossip Girl, then you know it's quality. That sounds sarcastic, but I'm totally guilty of loving so much stuff that is featured on Gossip Girl. Though I'm glad I owned this book before seeing it on Gossip Girl. It's a great little read too. I read it cover to cover instead of just flipping through randomly, and I found it quite delightful, full of facts that don't really matter except to the Regency Era version of me sitting in the corner of my mind pretending she is Jane Austen.















The Book Thief, this book will smash your heart.















Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, so happy I finally read this book after the seeing the film many times and having owned the book for over a year. I was impressed at how closely the film followed the book. I am looking forward to reading more of his works and reflecting on them again when I brush up on more history of that time.















Looking for Alaska, I believe Paper Towns was my favourite John Green novel, though Alaska is most certainly worth the praise that it receives. Quite heartbreaking and frustrating.















Frisco Pigeon Mambo, someone sent me this and it was quite funny. Reading a pigeon's thoughts. I feel like this is one of those books one should read when they are still grotty and 12, however the references are more pleasing when one is older.















The Walking Dead: Days Gone Bye, Michael was reading The Walking Dead and the series was coming out and so I thought I'd check it out. It was OK. A little awkward at times, but still a great concept. I was impressed how the series was able to stretch out the first issue for the whole season.















Jane, I'm not sure what this is.

GQ/Jan, now this magazine or at least, this issue was good! This was the issue with Rhianna on the cover and they had a page about different lunches you could make and I fell in love. Ripped it out of the borrowed magazine and still have it now. I can't wait to follow their lunchtime instructions.















Glamour/Aug, this magazine was lying on the floor of Michael's room. God know's why. Whatever. Anyway, I wanted to see what a Glamour magazine was like and I wasn't surprised. More sex and other stuff that I find completely trivial.















Deathnote #1, I'd be interested in seeing how this story plays out. It's about a boy who picks up a book that's used by those that control who dies, and he starts using it himself, killing off murders he see's on TV.















Detroit Metal City #1, I bought this for my brother's birthday, but wanted to make sure it was OK first. It's quite funny, but possibly offensive to those who either like light music or dark music. I ended up keeping it and sent James a different present. I give it to him sometime... but I also think I may have left it in New York. Hmm...















Paper Towns, I read this after purchasing a copy at VidCon. I loved the passion around the nerdfighters and though I should properly join the bandwagon and read the book. John Green had also helped me out a bit, just by being nice, during VidCon and so it's my only way I can repay him.















Eat Pray Love, I was quite excited about reading this book. I first saw it in my friends room back in April 2009 and found myself quickly reading through the first few pages and enjoying it. I finished it on a plane on the way back from VidCon, and it was OK. I didn't find her revelations as incredible as others might, because I already had those revelations and I also found her attempt at humour a bit embarrassing at some points. She also seemed to be a bit annoying at times, which means, she must be honest because so many of us are annoying.















And Tango Makes Three, I read this in the Barnes and Noble on 17th St because I know these people! They're charming and amazing and this book is incredible. Recently their work was featured in the Museum of Sex!















the perks of being a wallflower, now being turned into a film. Read this before you see the movie so we can all possibly feel enraged! I'm just kidding, I'm sure they'll create a lovely adaptation. I'm worried about this book. I think I lent it to a friend, it was a used copy, but still, I want it. I could often see myself in the lead character, and I think that's why it resonates with so many people.















Dance Spirit/Feb, oh, you know, just another magazine to make me feel guilty for giving my life's ambition up. I desperately want to get back into dancing, but I need the funds to train and am without right now... still. A great magazine for the younger crowd because DANCE magazine was always far too serious for me when I was younger.















Nylon/Feb, you can't call this a teen fashion magazine, despite the teens in it, because I don't think they could get away with putting ads for cigarettes in it. That's the only thing I don't like, that they've left American Spirit or whatever it's called place ads in it's magazine. I think that's very wrong of them.
Anyway, I love Nylon. I had the Nylon front desk experience before they put a lock on their front door (surely not because of me! haha) and it was amazing. The two girls were so nice and an excellent representation of what the magazine claims to be. I'll subscribe again when I can afford it.















TeenVogue/Mar, I like Teen Vogue. Fashion-wise I find the pieces in this magazine more inspiring than those that are selected for Women's magazine. The articles can actually be quite lame, though, which is disappointing and it's the only magazine that I could possibly trade in my desired life for a life of high-consumerism purely just to fight against the large majority of pointless articles. I'm sure it's not the topics or the age-target, but just the format. The best teen fashion magazine out there though, I've checked. This does treat their audience fairly seriously and is doing it's best to not be totally disney-fied.















Empire/Feb, I think this was a good issue, though maybe it wasn't from 2010. It was an inside look into the films coming out with some amazing pictures from behind the scenes of some classic films. This is a magazine I would subscribe to if I could.















Will Grayson Will Grayson, my very own Advanced Reader's Copy! I was so excited and made John Green feel awkward, because plenty of people get them, but it still meant a lot. I owned Paper Towns but hadn't read it so Will Grayson was my first John Green book (with David Levithan, yes, of course.) It was brilliant and the references were intriguing, and I started another list, but was soon swept into the story once I things started to get really shocking!















Real Simple/Jan, I would borrow these from the lady of the house and indulge in neatness and organization and recipes. I still have some recipes and they are really, really good. I don't like the consumer side of the magazine, but I do appreciate the constant quest of organizing every single possible thing in the Universe.















The Iliad, an epic chore. Yes, there are some really beautifully written passages, which is why the book is totally dog-eared, but it really was a challenge to complete it and I still think Achilles is a whiney bitch.















Have you read these books? What are your thoughts on them?

Things I Like

I found some crumpled pieces of paper amongst the belongings I brought back from America. After smoothing out the wrinkles, I saw that I had compiled a list, and suddenly a faded memory of sitting at my desk at work one day, writing things down that I liked because I kept forgetting what I did like... and it felt like I was forgetting myself.

EDIT: Before you throw up while reading this, scroll down to see my thoughts.

Things I Like

(in order of how I wrote it down at the time)

Banksy's art, Dali, Picasso, Monet, Gogh
Chinese food (weird transition, right?)
Candles
Big windows
Coke Cola (not anymore, I'm trying to resist it)
Fairy lights
Cleanliness (and my room here now is proof of that! Success at last!)
Notepads
Uniball Vision Elite Pens (Yes. I did actually write this. My favourite kind of pen, so much ink...)
Tattoos
Emily
Brad
Ryan (judging by the people listed here, this must be early 08? During the days of Brooklyn hangouts and Rock Band sessions and me being a total loser, ugh)
- then the pen changes colour... -
Clean clothes
Black nail-polish
Colourful "
Dark blue
Red hair
Bright eyes (not the band)
People who are smarter than me
Wearing clothes for the first time
Eyeliner
A messy appearance
Art galleries
Libraries
Museums
Bicycles
Central Park
Local beaches in Qld
Summer, Autumn, Spring
Winter fashion
Funny people
Crows
The Beatles
The Killers
Faith No More
Vast
The Smiths
David Bowie
Alternative music
Strings (guitar, violin, cello)
Walking the streets of NYC at night
The smells of the good kebab vendors on Broadway & Houston
Female cab drivers
French pubs
Montmartre
Bike riding in Paris
Reading: history, science, fiction, modern, classic, philosophy, bios
Cook books
Friends over for dinner
Making lists (O RLY?)
An empty inbox
Long emails from Emma
Flirting through text messages (kind of, sort of, don't like to do this anymore)
Liking boys secretly even though I know they'll never like me back
Talent
Theatre
A crowd of people whispering quietly
Going to class
Taking notes
Coffee and baguettes or croissants and au lait chocolat
French pop music (whoa, way to be a young adult, Caitlin)
Germany (though I've never been)
The mystery surrounding olde missing people
Last Words 
Arts and Humanities courses at NYU (at least I like the look of them, since I've never applied)
iPhone Apps and Widgets (mmm, interest for these is close to zilch now)
Listening to new music that I like
Letting other people talk
Watching people interact, especially if they are courting each other (oh whoa, creep-o)
Basic Psychology
Rock Band
Bully!!!
Staple-like stores in clothing, bath/beauty, stationery (Muji, perhaps?)
Outdoor music concerts
Buying tickets to events
Running late
New Opportunities
Acting
Reading plays
Acting workshops
Film and the art behind it
Being an extra on set and watching the crew move together like one living organism (whoa, romanticize the industry much, Caitlin?)
Actors (err, not really...I'm clearly growing up)
Oddball people on the street


...

Well, if that wasn't a big pile of adolescent crap, I don't know what is. It started out kind of sincere and then I think I became self-conscious of the list-making and over-thought it. Blargh.