four christmas break book recs

My list of things to do over Christmas break looks like this:

• read
• lounge on the couch
• read
• and read

It's been a pretty awesome break so far. I checked out tons of books from the library last week, and while some haven't been worth finishing, others have been keepers. Four in particular make my christmas break must-read list for all of you!

First up, Looking for Alaska by John Green, which I actually bought and read in Belfast -- I just had to buy a book at the Queen's University bookstore and John Green called my name. But if you haven't read it yet, it needs to be on your Christmas break list. It's hilarious, touching, and so so real: Pudge's journey to find his Great Perhaps at boarding school in Alabama is beautiful and always surprising. Basically, I didn't want to leave my hotel room to explore Belfast because John Green WINS the prize for best writing ever.

Second on the list, a much different book: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Think...the craziest images smashed together in startling prose, a story about a young girl who loves books but lives in Nazi Germany -- all narrated by Death. Not a cynical, creepy Death -- but a gentle and tired Death who's scared of the violence of WWII and looking for a reason to hope for humanity. I cried. Many times.

Third, back to the present day, Saving Francesca by Melissa Marchetta. One morning, Francesca's mother doesn't get out of bed. Francesca, kind of a nobody at a mostly boys school in Australia, has to learn to cope without her energetic mother -- and discover who she is. It's joyful, it's real, it's funny, it's also one of the best books I've read in a long time. I'm going to reread it before I bring it back to the library. It's a life book, you know, one that makes you want to fly to Australia and be bffs with Francesca.

And fourth, Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson. This road trip story is pieced together by narrative, pictures, playlists, doodles, gas receipts, hotel bills, maps, and a sweet romance between two people who need the open road -- and many crazy detours -- to heal. Read it. Now. 

Still in my stack: Thirteen Reasons Why, The Dark Divine, Cracked Up To Be, and Jellicoe Road. Also My Name is Asher Lev (a reread) and some Steinbeck to prepare for my seminar class next semester! So much reading. Life is good.

i am alive.

St. Paul's, London

No really, it's true. I'm back from the UK, recovered from jetlag, halfway unpacked. Rewinding from four months of pretty epic adventure.

A quote from my best friend: "Life isn't always as exciting as studying abroad."

Elephant and Castle, London (not as cool as it sounds)

Sometimes, life is just life, and I'm back to that life. The real world. Hopefully, though, I've come back different. For example...

More people follow this blog! Which is kind of silly, since I did nothing -- zilch -- for four months. But somehow, the follower-box says 120. Cool. Welcome. I'll try to be more interesting.

I have the travel bug. Is anyone surprised?

I'm newly obsessed with Tom Petty.

I look right-left-right when I cross streets.

A foggy day in London-town

I'm taking a break (a really long one) from Twitter. I'm threatening to take a break from Facebook (although the addiction might be too strong). And I'm not going to blog as much as I used to (before August, I mean). Synopsis: I'm shrinking my online presence. Maybe a result of four months of sketchy internet access -- which made me realize that the internet is not as necessary or cool as I used to think. Obviously it's still necessary for some things, and cool in general, but I liked being away. It gave me perspective.

And, biggest for last, I'm re-evaluating my identity as a writer. Haha, don't worry, I'm not quitting. I'm just re-thinking. Processing. Re-prioritizing. Once upon a time, my life-formula was this: I am Kirsten, therefore I write. Fast-forward four months of perspective: I am Kirsten. I also write, but mostly I'm just Kirsten. It's a good thing, I promise.

Cambridge!

And sometime soon, I'll be back to rave about a couple life-changing books on my post-trip reading list. So don't disappear.