Reading is like a backwards treasure hunt!

So, about a week ago I finished reading the novel "Archetype" written by M.D. Waters, I can honestly say that by the end of this fascinating tale, I had this expression on my face:

This is one of the few books I have read where I literally had my jaw hanging open from shock caused by one simple sentence.

In this novel, the main character is suffering from amnesia, and has dreams, which begin to converge with her "real" life. The main character has no idea who she really is, or how she got amnesia in the first place. She is constantly lied to about her true identity by her doctors, her husband, and to and extent- her friends as well.

As a reader, I can honestly say that there were some parts in this book where I seriously wanted to falcon punch all of the characters at once...

I would say there were about forty or so moments in this novel were I was so angry with certain characters because I just wanted to know who the main character was. However, since I was so annoyed with the fact I could not figure out who she was, I physically could not stop reading!

Don't you just love when that happens! When your so engaged in a fictional world, and you are trying to unlock a major secret that is hidden in the words. And then when you unlock this "secret" you suddenly pick up all the clues the author left behind for you, and everything falls into place so perfectly...

Anyways, have you ever had this feeling with a book before? And if you have, which book was it?

Oh, if you are interested in reading the novel "Archetype" you can check out the synopsis here (I strongly recommend it!)

DDOA #3 LEMONS

Yes. Lemons. I find that this acidic, citrus fruit is highly underestimated. I mean, there are so many amazing things about lemons, such as that if you want to make the perfect duck face, all you have to do is just pop a lemon in your mouth!

But that's not all! Some other TOTALLY AWESOME things about lemons

1. Due to the low pH of lemons, they effectively remove odors
2. They also brighten your whites.
3. In 1493, when Columbus went to Haiti, he introduced the first lemon seed
4. Will Sasso's strange "obsession" with lemons 
5. Women in the renaissance era used lemon juice to redden their lips 
6.  Sailors used to eat raw lemons to prevent scurvy when sailing on the sea
7. Those sailors must have been the kings of duck face...
8. You can turn a battery into a lemon
9. Lemons are also high in potassium
10. TAKE THAT BANANAS!!!!
11. Seriously! Who even eats bananas anyways! They're so mushy, and squishy and sweet!

...I really need to get some sleep...But just remember:

When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade :)

DDOA #2 You MUST read this book!

Okay, so a little while back, I read possibly the most geeky book ever written. I have never read a book filled with references from Dungeons and Dragons, Star Trek, Harry Potter and many other fandoms! This book is none other than Ernest Cline's (drum roll please):

This epic novel was absolutely mind-blowing to read! It's filled with suspense, action, excitement and a whole bunch of other totally awesome stuff! I remember there were a number of times where I literally wanted to throw this book across the room because of the suspense. 

Another thing I really liked about this book was that since there was such a strong story line, you didn't need to know all the references to the fandoms mentioned in the book. Also, it was one of those books that had an actual ending. Most YA novels now usually end with a cliff-hanger *cough cough, hunger games* Which is the exact opposite of what the ending of a novel is supposed to be! The ending of a story is supposed to be THE END, the closure to the events and mysteries that took place, the denouement, not the suspense you latch onto the end of a chapter!

Anyways, if you're looking for your next good read, I would definitely check this awesome novel out! I really had a blast reading it, and have recommended it many friends, and have heard great things about the novel back from them.

DDOA #1 Quote of the day

In spirit of the new year, I thought it would be pretty cool to do this "thing" where I post an interesting quote, riddle, or picture every day.

So today, I will be starting off the day with one off my all time favorite quotes:

"You reap what you sow"

I feel that this quote really shows the reward and value of hard work. When you put in lots of energy to accomplish something, your hard work pays off, kinda like when your playing a video game; You spend hours and hours on a level, and at the end off the level, you see you have gained points, awards, tools, and some satisfaction :) (Unless you're playing candy crush, seriously! why the heck do they make you wait an hour if you loose all your lives in the game!) 

At the end of the day, when you work hard, your rewarded for your efforts, and you can see the impact of how your efforts have helped you succeed. 

I always try to keep this quote in my mind when some how I end up on YouTube when working on a research paper, because it reminds me that despite the fact that although the "Red River Rebellion" is an extremely boring aspect of Canadian history (actually, I take that back- all Canadian history is excruciatingly boring) and focus on the assignment, I won't have to worry about it anymore, and I can relax without having to think about it.

Hello 2014!

Well, if your not living under a rock, you would know that it is now 2014.Boy that's going to take some getting used to...I swear, the first mistake human civilization will make will be that some one will write 2013 instead of 2014 on something. I can already see it...

And of course, with every new year that starts we compose new year's resolutions. Every year, some how, we manage to convince ourselves that we will actually accomplish them, but really we never do... Well, only about 8% of us do anyways. That means that 92% of us begin our year by lying to ourselves. And I am willing to bet that the 8% of you that actually kept your new year's resolution, had this as your resolution:

Actually, according to a survey done by LA fitness, the top three most common resolutions of 2013 were; 1) read more books 2) Save more money and 3) loose weight. Well, this year "social" book websites have see a HUGE increase in visitors and members, the average Canadian debt has decrease, and obesity rates, while they still may be high, are slowly beginning to decline.

What are your resolutions for this year? Visit more with family, spend less time on Facebook? Call more and text less? Personally, I would like to improve some of my alternate language skills, such as French, German, and Italian, memorize pi to the 150th place, maybe write a book, or something quirky like that :)

Well, hope you guys have a spectacular time in the new year, filled with tons of epicness, excitement and joy! After all, only once during the course of humanity will there be a 2014.

A Honest Review: Gravity

So, about a week ago, my dad dragged my family and I out to go see a movie. We hadn't gone out for and excruciatingly long time, so I gladly complied. After a grueling verbal battle between Team Cloudy with Chance of Meatballs and Team Gravity, with Team Gravity emerging victorious (much to my brother and sister's dismay).

I was pumped! I mean after hearing this since the film came out for almost two weeks straight:

Annoying friend 1: "OMG!!!! GRAVITY WAS SO FREAKING AMAZING!!!!"
Annoying friend 2: "I know right!!!"
Annoying friend 1: "Like I felt as if I were literally floating in space!"
Annoying friend 2: "Ya! And Sandra Bullock's acting was sensational!"
Annoying friend 1: "And that super emotional part!"
Annoying friend 2: "I know! That was beautiful!"
Annoying friend 1: "And that part when-"
An annoyed self: "SHUT UP!" 

I was dying to get the chance to escape to boredom of my french homework to see what it was about.

Now, typically I usually don't find movies to be that interesting, often I feel like they are a container where Holly Wood fills them with computer generated images and famous names.

But Gravity, was just something different. Like, you know that feeling you get, when you are so in awe, that it is almost impossible to put words to it, and when you try, you feel like you just can't sum it up in just the right way...

Take the acting for example. Sandra Bullock's performance as Ryan Stone literally drove me to tears. I have never been to a movie (excluding the Harry Potter films) where I just could not stop crying for more than 30 minutes. There were certain aspects of Ryan's history and how that has a vital role in the film, which is what makes it so emotionally appealing.

Gravity is a very human vs environment type of film, but it also contains elements of self vs self conflict. I think that's what separates this movie from all the others. This film is not about a person with supernatural powers, or an evil force attempting to take of the world, or another insignificant sequel or remake. It's about us, simple human beings. How we try so hard to forget about those moment filled with pain and heartache, and attempt to keep moving forward. By forgetting and moving on, we believing we have become stronger individuals. However, we fail to realize that the true strength comes from remembering and truly coming to terms with those horrifying experiences.

Yes, Gravity has superb special effects that just out of this world (pun intended). But what really makes this a piece of art is how plays on emotions, and the whole purpose of memories. To put it simply, this movie actually has a realistic moral that plays throughout the entire time you are watching.

So if you're still trying to choose between Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 and Gravity, this is definitely the film to see before it leaving theater. So grab your coat, wallet and key, and head on down you your local theater today!

P.S. Don't be cheap and pay to see it in 3-D (so worth it...)