#her current obsession is the hunger games thanks to her english teacher

[emmashouldbewriting]

i operate a very tight ship in which my children must earn their money (they're old enough for that shit) and anyway 13yo has been going to work with her dad every saturday since the summer break began. she's earnt a whopping £20 by helping him, and her first purchase with her "wages" was...

a reading lamp so she can read her books in bed. i'm so proud.

[hforhonesty]

Book Review #2 | Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

“Cath and Wren are identical twins and until recently they did absolutely everything together. Now they’re off to university and Wren’s decided she doesn’t want to be one half of a pair any more – she wants to dance, meet boys, go to parties and let loose. It’s not easy for Cath. She would rather bury herself in the fanfiction she writes where there’s romance far more intense than anything she’s experienced in real life.

Now Cath has to decide whether she’s ready to open her heart to new people and new experiences, and she’s realizing there’s more to learn about love than she ever thought possible…” [Official synopsis of the book]

Alternative title: “Ode to our Inner Fangirl” or “Every fangirl must-read”.

This book was pretty popular when I was still active on my fandoms but I, uhm, refused to read it.

(Because I’m disturbed)

(Ask anyone)

Seriously, though. I was only 14 at the time and I was going through that phase that didn’t let me read books outside the fantasy genre, given my not-so-little obsession toward Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, The Mortal Instruments, Hunger Games, and so on.

I bought my first copy on July 2014, during a fortnight study holiday in Dublin. I also got something like ten other books and had to purchase a carry-on because they wouldn’t fit in my luggage, but that’s another story.

Anyway, as soon as I started Fangirl, I decided to read only a few chapters for each night instead of finishing it in a glorious one-night-stand. You need to know that I have always been a fast-reader, but this time… I really didn’t want to finish it; instead, I wanted to enjoy every single line and make the book last as long as possible.

Before we start talking about Fangirl, you need to know that it is set in an alternative universe where Gemma T. Leslie is the actual author the Simon Snow Series, which is worldwide famous. Since the eighth and last book of the series is about to be published, most fans seized the day and decided to write on the Internet their own versions of the story, so that they could all have a say in the matter regarding the end.

“The whole point of fanfiction,” she said, “is that you get to play inside somebody else’s universe. Rewrite the rules. Or bend them. The story doesn’t have to end when Gemma Leslie gets tired of it. You can stay in this world, this world you love, as long as you want, as long as you keep thinking of new stories...” “Fanfiction,” Levi said.

“Yes.”

Cath Avery is undoubtedly Simon Snow’s #1 FAN. She loves the books so much that she owns something like every gadget of the series: posters, drawings, t-shirts, commemorative busts of Simon and Baz...

Just take a look at the fanart of her room made by Simini Blocker:

However, if someone asked Cath if there were something about the series that she wanted to change, the answer would be the most affirmative yes in the history of yes-s.

Because in Gemma T. Leslie’s version of Simon Snow, he and Baz Pitch are just enemies... And Snowbaz is a CRACK SHIP.

I mean, only G̶e̶m̶m̶a̶ ̶T̶.̶ ̶L̶e̶s̶l̶i̶e̶ a monster would write about their amazing chemistry and THEN DELIBERATELY CHOOSE NOT TO MAKE THEIR RELATIONSHIP ROMANTIC.

I need five minutes to calm down.

Inhala, exhala.

Inhala, exhala.

Inhala, exhala.

Okay. Fine. Fine. I’m cool. I’m fine.

So sorry you had to witness my wig snatching. Anyway...

Since R̶a̶i̶n̶b̶o̶w̶ ̶R̶o̶w̶e̶l̶l̶ Cath is also Snowbaz’s #1 FAN, she has to do something about this contempt of court, so she writes several fanfictions using the nickname Magicath and becomes beyond popular. People all around North America read her fanfictions, and she’s pretty well-known in Japan, too.

She’s currently working on her latest fanfiction, Carry on, which is her own version of the eighth book.

Wait a minute, you say. Is her fanfiction the same as Rainbow’s book?

The answer is no. Rainbow herself said that her book and Cath’s fanfiction are pretty much different, so you don’t have to worry about spoilers while you’re reading Fangirl. Moreover, here’s the link to my spoiler!free review/analysis of Carry on, which can be read by both newbies or og members of the fandom.

Anyway... As you can see, Cath loves writing – and she loves it so much that not only she’s majoring in English, but she’s also convinced her advisor to let her take Intro to Fiction-Writing, which is a class only for junior students.

Intro to Fiction-Writing is taught by professor Piper, whom I consider one of the best fictional-teachers of all time. One of my favourite scenes of the book is set during her very first lecture, when she asks her students why people write fiction.

The first time I read Fangirl, I remember putting the book down for a moment and asking myself how I would have answered if I had been one of those students. I probably would have kept the answer for myself, but the point is that, as I was getting lost on my thought, I couldn’t come up with an explanation of why I write.

It’s a tricky question for a writer, isn’t it? I bet that we could all come up with replies that couldn’t be more different from each other. We have a urge to write and we try to get along with it, but where does this urge come from? And what does it say? Does it speak a universal language?

Five years later, I think I’ve found my answer.

I’m an introvert. I’m loud and talkative when I’m with my friends, but I can’t even order a pizza on the phone — which is kind of funny, whatever.

Being an introvert also means that I have a hard time identifying myself with fictional characters. They are what I like to call the ‘Quiet Ones’, of course, but they seem to overcome their introversion, which is described as a huge problem that needs to be fixed, and gain tons of ““confidence”” (see: extroversion) toward the end of the book | series | movie | tv show, becoming totally different people.

So why do I write?

I write because I want people like me to know that they are not alone, that there’s nothing wrong with them, that there are people out there who think and feel things just like they do.

Because darling, we don’t need to be fixed.

We are just introverts.

Why do I write? Cath tried to come up with a profound answer – knowing she wouldn’t speak up, even if she did.

But she does. I mean, she does come up with an answer. More than one, actually. And while I was reading this scene, I was like, how is it even possible? How can I relate so much to a character that I’ve known for less than twenty pages?

“To explore new worlds,” someone said.

“To explore old ones,” someone else said. Professor Piper was nodding.

To be somewhere else, Cath thought.

“To set ourselves free,” a girl said.

To get free of ourselves.

“To stop hearing the voices in our head,” said the boy in front of Cath. [...]

To stop, Cath thought.

To stop from being anything or anywhere at all.

“Why do we write fiction?” Professor Piper asked.

Cath looked down at her notebook.

To disappear.

Cath can’t help isolating herself from everyone but her loved ones. Her father suffers from bipolarism, and her mother abandoned her and Wren because she wasn’t interested in motherhood.

When your family is incapable of loving you, it leaves a mark that lasts a lifetime. You’re afraid of rejection, you know that nobody will ever accept you for who you are, and you can’t stop thinking that if your own mother left you, then everyone else will eventually do the same.

So what’s the point in letting them break your heart any way?

“No,” Cath said, “seriously. Look at you. You’ve got your shit together, you’re not scared of everything. I’m scared of everything. And I’m crazy. Like maybe you think I’m a little crazy, but I only ever let people see the tip of my crazy iceberg. Underneath this veneer of slightly crazy and socially inept, I’m a complete disaster.”

Reading this quote was like watching my reflection on the mirror. I felt every single word of what she was saying, I felt her insecurities, her second-guessing, her fears. For a moment she was me... and I was her.

Fangirl made me realise that I’m not alone, that there is nothing wrong with who I am, that there are people out there who think and feel things just like I do.

So it’s pretty obvious that Cath belongs to the Quiet Ones. What makes her different, however, is that she doesn’t give anything up; instead, she accepts herself for who she is. And at the end of the story, she has gained more confidence, it’s true, but she’s still Cath Avery, which is one of the reasons why I love this book so much.

Thank you for reading my review. I hope you guys enjoyed it! :)

With love,

M.C.

Post scriptum: I can’t believe that my first review on Carry on got 102 notes! That’s insane, guys! I can’t believe it! Okay, enough with the exclamation marks. It’s just that... Wow. Even Rainbow Rowell herself liked it. I mean, RAINBOW ROWELL. For Heaven’s sake, I couldn’t be more thrilled.

So thank you, thank you very much. You’ve made my year.

[7deer-ofthe-dawn7]

👑🐺🍌❤️😤🐻🎉🐩🐙🐼👅🐧🐷🐶🐊🎬🐕👽💲💖🎤🍦🐑🍆🌈🐰🐉🍕💙🎅🔪🎀💩🌟🐛😻👰🏼⚠️🍯🙈💡💀👻💁🏼🌞🍻🐱♉️🎵💣💧🐄🔮❌😌👗🎄💄💢🙌🏻💕💝🔥⭕️😇😈🎈💭📛💵👿👣🍬🍦⚽️💯💌🐢

I’m guessing this is every single one haha thanks for the love, Anon!! Some I’m deleting because I don’t have a good answer to them and to save space. And for @swaggyt-enthusiast​ and @deerestlufics​ the answers to the ones you requested are probably in here too!!

👑 what is the reason your bias is your bias?

Luhan is my ultimate bias because he’s associated with deer and deer have been my favorite animals since I was 2 or 3 years old. And he’s also kindhearted and super smart and talented

Xiumin (my bias of those currently in EXO) is my favorite probably bc Luhan was obsessed with him so it kinda just happened. He is also really kind, smart and talented

🐺 tag someone who reminds you of sehun.

My IRL friend that we call Ikea (her real name sounds like Ikea). She’s too sassy for her own good and says, and I quote, “90% or more of our school is ugly. I can’t believe I have to be surrounded by such ugly people. We’re practically models compared to them”

Also, fun fact: everyone thinks I’m her and she’s me or we’re twins or something and we’re the only ones that don’t think we look anything alike

🍌 favorite chanyeol cover?

“All of Me” I just love that song

❤ post a selfie.

😤 favorite english lyric?

“Shawty imma party till the sun down”

🐻 tag someone who reminds you of kai.

Another IRL friend who once spent 5-10 minutes telling me about her favorite ways to eat chicken

🎉 favorite thing about exo m?

I love how they always helped one another. The Chinese members would help Minseok and Jongdae when they went to China, and in turn, they would help China line when they were in Korea. They all just seemed extra close. I miss it

🐩 candy, jjangah, or vivi?

Candy haha

🐼 tag someone who reminds you of tao.

I guess again my friend Ikea. So much sass. damn

👅pick a body part from each member.

Kris’ nose, Luhan’s eyes, Xiumin’s thighs, Chen’s lips, Tao’s lips, Lay’s dimple, Suho’s eyes, Chanyeol’s legs, Baekhyun’s lip mole, DO’s lips, Sehun’s eyebrows, Kai’s eyes

🐷 post your favorite kyungsoo meme.

🐊 tag someone who reminds you of chen.

My friend A who can’t ever shut up and yells a lot and did I mention that she never shuts up

🎬 if your bias were to be the star of a movie, what kind of movie would it be?

I’d want Luhan to be the main character of a Wes Anderson film. Wes Anderson’s characters are always really different and unique and I know Luhan wants to try something other than a cliche singer/heartthrob. They also have their own internal problems and the story lines are really odd and keep your interest. Luhan did mention before that he likes the “Grand Budapest Hotel”, which is a movie directed by Wes Anderson!!

🐕 tag someone who reminds you of baekhyun.

I have one friend that feels the need to tell the world when she has to poop. There we were, waiting to get into the EXO concert and she yells “LET ME IN I HAVE TO POOP” and idk it seems like a Baekhyun thing to do

👽 what’s your dream collab?

EXO and VIXX!!

💲 post your favorite suho meme.

💖 choose your visual: luhan or sehun?

LUHAN

🍦call me baby or call me monster?

Call me Monster!

🐑 tag someone who reminds you of lay.

My one friend Vi bc she’s so SWEET and she doesn’t understand 9/10 of the sexual jokes we make and we spent 30 minutes trying to get her to understand what 69 means. She also has an obsession with unicorns so I think it’s fitting. And she has her moments where I’m like wtf how are you that smart and so naive at the same time. Like she’s SO SMART. Ok I’ll stop. She’s just such a sweetie

🍆fmk: hyung line.

I don’t want to kill any of them… K will mean kiss

F - Luhan, M - Xiumin, K - Kris

🌈 favorite thing about exo k?

They’re all kind of just nuts. In their own special way

🐰 tag someone who reminds you of suho.

I have one friend who’s also a complete sweetie pie and she’s so motherly and takes care of everyone and has a bunch of younger siblings and she’s so protective over them

🐉 tag someone who reminds you of kris.

I’ve said this before, but my old art teacher. His name is actually Chris, he’s 28, he’s 6ft 5in (195.5cm), acts pretty cold but is still really caring, and we all called him dad and gave him a Father’s Day card

🍕 post your favorite baekhyun meme.

💙 pick one personality trait from each member.

Kris’s awkwardness, Tao’s swag, Luhan’s positivity, Xiumin’s shyness, Chen’s teasing nature, Lay’s kindness, Suho’s caring nature, Baekhyun’s humor, Sehun’s sass, Kai’s love for his dogs, Chanyeol’s energy, Kyungsoo’s reserved manner

🔪 imagine ot12 in the hunger games, order them from the first one to die to the winner.

I’m trying to reason physical abilities with mental ability.. Sehun isn’t really all that fit (just skinny) and they all say he’s not very smart. Xiumin is strong and really smart and I don’t think he’d take unnecessary risks

Sehun

Chanyeol

Kris

Baekhyun

Chen

DO

Kai

Luhan

Lay

Tao

Suho

Xiumin

🎀 favorite solo song?

Chen - “Best Luck”

For EX members “Medals” or “Catch Me When I Fall” by Luhan

🐛 tag someone who reminds you of luhan.

My 20+ deer children

😻 what’s your favorite thing about xiumin?

oH my gOD EVERYTHING. HIS SMILE. HIS LAUGH. HIS EYES AND LIPS AND NOSE AND HIS REALLY GENTLE PERSONALITY AND THAT HE MIGHT NOT BE A LEADER BUT HE STILL CARES FOR EVERYONE BC HE’S THE OLDEST AND HE MIGHT BE AN ARIES BUT HE DOESN’T SEEM LIKE HE EVER GETS TOO WORKED UP AND HE’S SO FREAKIN SMART LIKE HE’S GOING BACK TO SCHOOL NOW?? AND HE’S SO CUTE AT ANY WEIGHT AND HE’S SO MODEST AND I WANT TO HUG HIM AND TELL HIM ALL OF THIS I LOVE HIM AND HIS BAOZI CHEEKS AND QUIET NATURE AND BARISTA MINSEOK IS GOOD SHIT

👰 who do you think your parents would like more as your boyfriend?

Suho, Luhan or Xiumin.

⚠ if you were going on a date with baekhyun, where would you take him?

Maybe NYC because there’s a lot to do there and good pizza bc he likes pizza

🍯 post your favorite kai meme.

🙈 tag a mutual you want to talk to.

@myminseok​ but man am I bad at talking to people?? ha ha… I like talking to anyone though 

💡 if you had to tattoo one exo lyric, which would it be?

Not an EXO song but I love Luhan’s “Medals”武器就是我紧握的梦想My dreams become my weapon而我受过的伤While the wounds I carry都是我的勋章Become my medals

💀how many hoodies do you think chanyeol has?

At least 20

👻 favorite exo-cbx member?

XIUMIN

💁 write a poem for your bias.

Roses are redViolets are blueLuhan, I will run away if you actually tell me to blow it like a flute

🍻 does your bias and your bias wrecker get along?

My biases are Luhan and Xiumin and the wreckers are Sehun, Tao, Yixing and Chen. I suppose they all get along? They fight like brothers if anything haha

♉ who shares your zodiac sign? do you think you’re alike?

I am a Virgo and Chen is also a Virgo but I don’t think we’re anything alike lol. I’m really quiet and he isn’t and I’m not very confident but he is. One thing I guess we have in common is that we both aren’t lead dancer material 

🎵most played exo song?

Probably EXO-M MAMA

💣would you rather marry sehun or suho?

Marry Suho. As much as I love Sehun, Suho is extra responsible

💧if you were to be on a zombie apocalypse, which member would you pick to be with you?

Luhan or Xiumin. Luhan for comfort, Xiumin for his wit, skill and strength so maybe we’ll live (sorry Luhan)

🐄 who do you think would be the best dad?

Xiumin

👗who has the best fashion sense?

Sehun

🎄you get to give ONE christmas gift to all nine members, what do you give them?

Home cooked food!

💄 junhee or baekhee?

Baekhee

💢 are you taller or shorter than kyungsoo?

Shorter…

🙌 who’s the one follower that always likes or reblogs your posts?

@swaggyt-enthusiast​ !!

💕 fmk: maknae line.

Again, K will mean kiss

F - Sehun, M - Kai, K - Tao

⭕ what kind of youtube channel would your bias have?

Luhan would be a blogger that shows off his cat(s) and his soccer skills. I think he’d also do hair tutorials and try weird internet fads for the fun of it. Like the cinnamon challenge or show off a collection of fidget spinners lmao. He’d also have a separate gaming and anime channel… just saying.

 Xiumin would also show off his cat but he would post how to videos and cooking videos. Like really practical stuff and he’d be really shy and everyone would beg for a face reveal.

😇 if you were to die right now, what would you tell exo?

Thanks to all 12 of you for making me happy and inspiring me with your music and your antics. My soul will remember it for all of its next lives

😈 what’s the thing exo has done that made you have secondhand embarrassment?

Dabbing

🎈 who do you think smells the nicest in exo?

Xiumin

💭 dream fanfic au?

TBH this fanfic is everything I needed and more.I like High School AUs that have some humor and a little bit of conflict but are still really fluffy and have nice endings. And it’s gotta be XiuHan

💵 if you were to go on a date with sehun, where would you take him?

TO GET BUBBLE TEA OF COURSE. I live and breathe that stuff

👣 is your bias an introvert or an extrovert? and your bias wrecker?

Luhan is an extrovert although he does have a shy side that comes out in new situations. I find that really nice because I think it’s better to be a bit awkward than arrogant (ahemlikejustinbieber). And Xiumin is more of an introvert. The rest of my bias wreckers seem like extroverts

🍦who do look up to the most in exo?

Luhan and Xiumin… again. They’re both really kind and positive and they aren’t arrogant

🍸take a screenshot of your lockscreen and post it.

⚽ describe xiumin in three emojis.

💖😻☕ 

💯 favorite cbx song?

Right now I’m really into “King and Queen” and “Diamond Crystal.” But I also really love “Crush U”

🐢 who’s your dream sub-unit?

Luhan, Minseok, Jongdae, Yixing!!!! Idk if you can tell but I love and miss EXO-M.