Dig by LyricalKris

This blog is going to bounce a little bit - from fanfiction to regular fiction - from past things I've read to things I've just finished because I have so many books and stories to tell you about.  It may even have a few guests every now and again.  I started with the "one that started it all" and now for the story I've most recently finished:

FanFiction will always be the thing that really got me reading again and I have the friends I met through Water for Elephants and my love of Robert Pattinson to thank for the exposure to the 'genre.'  It's also awesome because it's mainly free to read!  (Think of it as TONS of free books!)  I'm gonna throw you all right into the deep end with this one and write about the "slash" (male/male centered story) that I just finished:

Dig - by LyricalKris

While slash stories may not be for everyone (maybe you like to be able to see yourself in the stories and that just doesn't work if you're a girl...) but there are some truly well written stories of this genre out there.  LyricalKris is one of the masters and one of my favorite FanFiction authors out there.

Dig is both heartbreaking and beautiful.  It definitely touches on some sensitive topics, but also shows the romantic side that we all love about the FanFiction world.

The story focuses on Edward and Jasper - best friends forever, yet they both harbor secrets.  Edward's secrets are the root of much of the drama of the story...on the surface, but Jasper's secret holds its own power for this pair.  Once I started this story - short story length, if you're looking for something not too wordy to dive into - I couldn't put it down.  And, as with everything I've read of LyricalKris', I'm happy I didn't.  The story is engaging, the sexy times are expertly written, the pace is fantastic, and the way her words flow is effortless.  If you're looking for a story with some love, some drama, some UST (one of my favorite terms ever....unresolved sexual tension), and LOTS of emotion, Dig is for you....and even if you've never experienced the slash side of things before - try this story on for size, you might just find that you really, really, like it!

8/10 (and the only reason it isn't higher is that I want MORE!!)

The One That Started it All.... Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Ok, so I’m starting this bookblog thing with Water for Elephants, because it has started so many other things in my life as well so it seemed like a great place to start. 

First off, I’m late to the party on this book - I know that it came out a while ago (2007) and many people read it those many years ago.  I didn’t.  I read this book in the spring of 2011 AFTER hearing it was going to be a movie starring Robert Pattinson.  Yeah, yeah, I know.  Only read the book because it’s going to be a movie.  I get it, I really do.  But, you know what?  My live affairs with the book and movie are fairly separate beings.  I love this book - absolutely love it.  It had just about everything I look for in books that often become my favorites.  First off, the characters are entertaining.  I love old Jacob and he very much reminds me of my grandfather.  Even though my grandpa had Alzheimer’s when he finally went to live in a nursing home, old Jacob reminds me so much of my grandpa’s pre-Alzheimer’s spirit.  He’s funny, pig-headed, and stubborn.  All things I loved about grandpa.  Young Jacob embodies many of those same characteristics.  He is loyal to a fault and fights for what he believes in.  In my humble opinion, one of the best parts of this story.  

I read this entire book in less than 24 hours.  I literally couldn’t put it down wanting to know just what was going to happen at the end.  As a social studies teacher, I love stories that are set in some of my favorite historical periods.  The Great Depression is one such era that I find absolutely fascinating.  The true feeling of helplessness that so many people during the 30’s felt because of the lack of employment and opportunities are not something I’ve ever really had to endure, but to see how people survived such difficulties is fascinating.  The idea of circuses as forms of inexpensive entertainment during a time when people had so little is something foreign to us in this day and age.  Circuses still exist, but they’re now filled with $8 hot dogs and expensive blow up animals that kids want parents to buy at the merchandise table.  During the 1930’s for many families an afternoon at the circus was affordable even if there wasn’t much money around and everyone got something from the show.  Parents took children, but there were often adult acts as well.  Seeing into this often misunderstood life and form of entertainment was great for a history dork like myself.  

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good love story, some adventure, some heartbreak and some lively circus fun…and maybe even waking up hung-over and dressed like a clown in women’s clothing.   

Overall:  9/10  One of my favorite books I’ve ever read! 

Welcome!!

Hi everyone!  My name is Lauren and I'm a reading fanatic.  I used to be one of those kids who would try to read and fall asleep - it was always my surefire way to get a good night's rest...until 2011 and my dive - headfirst - into the world of FanFiction.  This page is going to be dedicated to my love of FanFiction - and to my journey through that world - as well as my ever expanding obsession with books and reading in general.  If you enjoy reading, particularly fiction, romance, supernatural, young adult, and historical fiction - among others - this is the place for you.  As I finish stories, I'll let you know all about them and I'll pop in now and again with some old favorites as well!  I hope you enjoy the ride with me!