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Every year seems to slip by even more quickly than the last, with this one having disappeared in the blink of an eye. Somehow I am a college sophomore and will be turning twenty years old in 2020. Maybe it's just because I have been watching so much Peaky Blinders lately, but I am definitely hoping for a roaring '20s repeat. I have a lot of good things awaiting me in this new year and new decade, including some fantastic books. But for now, let's talk about the nine best books I read in 2019.
Donna Tartt's The Secret History is a beloved classic and a tale of dark academia, secrets, and murder. To be perfectly honest, a hundred pages into this book had me convinced I hated it. I found the characters to be strange, the pacing to be slow, and the writing to go off on one too many tangents. So how did I end up loving it by the end?
There have always been popular books or series that people go through a craze of reading. But with the modern age and today's internet and social media platforms, it becomes much easier to see which novels are the current trend. Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, even Fifty Shades of Gray have made made their way not only onto the book scene, but into even the most book-hating people's shelves. These books tend to rise and fall in popularity over the years like any trend. Some of them catch my fancy and I end up picking them up. However, there are some popular books that I just know I will never read.
Sometimes I read a book so vibrant and rich that I am transported to another world entirely. The words pop off the page and pull you in so deep that when you finally manage to drag your eyes away from the page, you are shocked to find yourself in your bedroom or on the train. Some fictional worlds stick with you more than others and I would give my heart to be able to visit them. However, there are some books that I love dearly but would never wish to be transported into, whether that's due to a tyrannical society or a doomed fate. But others resonate with your heart so much so that you feel like you belong there. Do you every feel like fiction is more of a home than reality?
I almost exclusively read fantasy books nowadays. Fantasy is my favorite genre and between school and work, I don't have much time to read so I naturally tend to only read my favorites. But occasionally I feel like picking up something a bit different and nothing it more out-there for me than a contemporary novel. However, Little Fires Everywhere surprised me in the best way and I ended up thoroughly enjoying it.
Ah, Autumn. Every year I look forward to the weather cooling, the leaves transforming into vibrant jewels on the tree branches, and the return of pumpkin picking and hot chocolate. Picture this: it's a crisp fall day and you're sitting on your front porch with a good book and a glass of apple cider. You're reading something creepy, like horror or mystery, because it is nearly Halloween. Doesn't that sound like a perfect afternoon? I don't know how much time I'll have to read during this season since I am going back to school (I'll be a college sophomore), but I always try to pick up a few books in my limited free time.
Today is Friday the thirteenth, so I figured I would stay in theme and share some of my favorite horror movies. In case you don't know, horror is one of my favorite genres and I have watched so many scary movies that I am practically desensitized. One thing I have learned is that finding decent horror movies is not an easy feat. While bad horror has its place (I enjoy watching them for a good laugh), I obviously want to consume some good content, too. So without further ado, here are some of the best horror films to watch this Friday the thirteenth.
