Posted on by saraelizabeth419

Jay Asher’s Thirteen Reasons Why (YA)

If you’re looking for a novel that will grip you in a new way, then you should pick up Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher.  Published in 2007, the novel tells the story of Hannah Baker, only, she’s not your ordinary main character because Hannah Baker is already dead, having committed suicide a few weeks before the novel takes place.  Even though Hannah is technically dead, she is very much alive throughout the novel, by way of cassette tapes that she recorded prior to committing suicide.  Those tapes, containing the thirteen reasons why she chose to kill herself are mailed to students from her school – ones that each make up a reason.  The other main character is Clay Jensen.  The story takes place entirely in one night, while Clay listens to the tapes and relives the events with Hannah, some that he had known about, but most that he had not, while desperately trying to figure out where he fits in, and who already knows about him.

Although many of Hannah’s reasons seem to be minute and not reason why someone would choose to end their own life, you can feel the events and reasons adding up in her head and you witness her point of no return.  Told in a dual narration between Hannah’s tapes and Clay’s present – his reaction to the tapes and the journey he goes on – it is definitely unique.  Hannah and Clay’s stories are going on simultaneously, and the only way to determine who is narrating is by the typeface: if it’s italic or normal.

This is really a book that any parent, teacher or librarian should read.  Also, any teenager who is having a hard time in school, or is thinking about committing suicide, because I feel like this book can really help save people.  It can help those in pain to realize that their thoughts aren’t normal, and that they need to reach out for help before it is too late.  Teenage suicide is preventable.

Posted on by saraelizabeth419

Dior Vernis Nail Enamel (653) Darling

This past summer, I was killing time before meeting a friend for drinks and decided to browse around Sephora.  Not the greatest idea, since practically every time I step in there I end up purchasing something I hadn’t been expecting to get.  That particular trip, I believe ended with my purchasing a shade of Marc Jacobs Enamored Nail Glaze, Daisy to be exact.  I purchased something else that day , but I cannot remember what it was.  I had been very excited about the Marc Jacob nail polish because it was a new product for him, and because it was named after Daisy from Gatsby, clearly (he also has a shade called Gatsby of which I own as well).

So, I was walking around the store, browsing, and I came across this amazing shade of pink nail polish from Dior Vernis Nail Enamel: Darling (653).  Now, not only did I love it because I am a pink girl and it truly is an amazing shade of pink, but I also loved it because of the name.  My best friend Melissa and I have been calling each other darling for as long as I can remember.  I’m not sure how it started exactly, but of course the name drew me in.  I stood there for a few minutes, contemplating the purchase but ultimately left the store without it.  For the longest time I had been a strictly Essie girl, and I could not justify spending $24 on one bottle of nail polish no matter how perfect a shade of pink it was.

Fast forward a few months to my most recent Sephora trip.  I was in desperate need of mascara, of which I use Dior Extase, and so upon my entrance into the store, I knew that I would be back in the vicinity of that beloved nail polish color.  I convinced myself that if they did still have it, I would purchase it because really, at that point of course I was meant to own it.  After procuring my mascara – Dior really makes the best mascara – I glanced at the nail polish and, there was Darling, sitting there waiting for me.  I scooped it up immediately and rushed to the register…the line was atrociously long but seemed to move quickly enough. 

I have not used it yet, but very soon my nails will be inhabited by this beautiful shade of pink!

Posted on by saraelizabeth419

Survivor: Blood vs. Water Finale

Having gotten into Survivor earlier in the year, and watching a ton of seasons back-to-back with every episode waiting at my fingertips, I never before had to endure the week-to-week wait that fans experienced until now.  The same suspense that kept me in my Survivor-a-thon craze held my attention week after week for the new season Blood vs. Water, though I missed the ability to stay up late into the night (or in on a rainy day) watching episodes.

Let me say that this was an amazing season.  I knew a few of the returning players, though none of them made it to the end.  I really liked the premise of pitting loved ones against each other – seeing which ones would stick by their loved ones and sacrifice themselves, and seeing which ones would turn against each other (which was bound to happen).  I wasn’t surprised when Rupert changed places with his wife because that’s the type of guy I could see that he was, but I was disappointed because I wanted to see him win for once.  Although I didn’t like Aras from Survivor: Panama, I came to like him this season and was rooting for him I think partially because I wanted him to beat his brother Vytas, and partially because I felt bad when the tribe went behind his back and voted him out – although that is a move that happens frequently with this game.

There came a point almost mid-way through when I expressed my thoughts that Tyson was the frontrunner.  For one thing he ended up finding both idols, which was definitely an advantage.  A second thing was that he seemed to have this control that no one really seemed to realize.  Everything that he did was calculated, even insofar as the way he ended up playing both idols, even though after they were in play it was clear that they had not actually been needed and were more for peace of mind.  A few weeks ago, when they decided to draw rocks at tribal council (only the second time it has been done), I wasn’t sure what the outcome would be.  It really could have changed-up the whole game.  Tyson didn’t end up drawing the white rock, and I was glad about that, although the person that I had wanted to leave (Ciera) didn’t draw the white rock either.

In the end, Tyson did win, and I think that he deserved it, although I would have liked for the edits to be a little less obvious about it.  The next season begins in February and it sounds like it will be an interesting one.  I can’t wait!

Posted on by saraelizabeth419

Touring the North Fork

Recently, on a perfect fall day, I decided to drive out to the North Fork and visit some of the local wineries.  I say some, because there are sooo many of them, I really don’t think it’s possible to visit all of them in one day – I mean, I guess you could try, but one, you would end up so drunk that you wouldn’t remember a lot of it, and two, if I was going to do that, I’d rather just do a bar-crawl.

So, with a list of wineries in hand, and pages of directions from google that didn’t always help me after all (when did google start making their directions confusing?), I headed out east for a day of fun and adventure, with not a care in the world.

My first stop was all the way in Greenport.  It is the most eastern winery on the North Fork, but it also is known for its view…and can I just say that the view was absolutely worth it even though I did not walk out of there with a bottle of wine.  You could take a glass (bottle) and walk out across an expanse of lawn where you were greeted with Adirondack chairs, picnic tables/benches, and a gorgeous view of the Long Island Sound.  Having grown up on Long Island, and being acquainted with some parts of the Sound’s beaches, I was amazed by the beauty of it.  Kontokosta Winery is a must.

Another winery that I really liked – although again, their wine wasn’t the best (I know, I’m a wine snob) – was Duck Walk Vineyards North.  What I especially liked about this place was that they had live entertainment and a lively attitude.  Also, you were able to walk through the vineyards with your beverage of choice.  I put my wine glass down on the grass and frolicked.

There were a few other vineyards that I visited that day, where I did end up taking home a bottle from, but the two I mentioned above were definitely the most fun ones.  All in all, it was a fun day, and I wouldn’t hesitate to go back and do it again.