worlds apart

Body heat flowed from his chest, enveloping

her in its warm embrace like a fire crackling

in the cozy fireplace during break, melting

chocolate and roasting marshmallows and

with sticky fingers placing it between

graham crackers. His eyes scanned the pages,

his blue-and-white plaid boxers tickling her

arm as she rested on her usual spot, his

shoulder more comforting than the ragged

blue elephant she’s slept with since birth.

She fiddled with the dog-eared page she had

marked at breakfast, diving into the fictional

world, the map laid out before her in structured

words and sentences, her personal treasure map

to the author’s imagination, adorned with myths,

fire-breathing dragons and a courageous young

hero. Gasping at the events unfolding before her

eyes, the wheels turning inside her head, she

tugged his sleeve but he barely moved, too

involved in his own story. She leaned back,

noticing that though they shared each others

body heat, their minds were worlds apart.

-Madeline Wahl

Book Review: Putting Makeup on the Fat Boy by Bil Wright

goodreads summary: Carlos Duarte knows that he’s fabulous. He’s got a better sense of style than half the fashionistas in New York City, and he can definitely apply makeup like nobody’s business. He may only be in high school, but when he lands the job of his dreams—makeup artist at the FeatureFace counter in Macy’s—he’s sure that he’s finally on his way to great things.

But the makeup artist world is competitive and cutthroat, and for Carlos to reach his dreams, he’ll have to believe in himself more than ever.

my review: The title and subject matter immediately caught my attention. I haven’t read a book from the perspective of a LGBT protagonist before, and I thought this would be a good start in the Young Adult world. I liked the subject matter as well because every time I wander through Macy’s I always see makeup artists at work and I often wonder how they get to be so good at makeup. Plus, I’m so bad at putting on crooked eyeliner that I needed to beg some makeup artists to help me. Good times.

Even though I didn’t understand the significance of adding a second ‘r’ in Carlos’s name, I did appreciate his ambition to being what he wanted: a makeup artist at FeatureFace. Everything seemed to be handed to him and his only stumbles (stealing a pair of designer boots and later makeup, being sent to a Macy’s in New Jersey) seemed rather trivial to the overall story. I would’ve liked something more personal and something that would’ve had a bigger impact onto Carlos’s life. The fact that his sister had an abusive boyfriend, seemed out of place in the story, and it culminated in an abrupt end to the book. Why hadn’t there been more focus on the fact that Rosalia (Carlos’s sister) seek help from a therapist or something? It seemed like it could work but not in this story. Maybe the fact that gay guys are typecasted as not being masculine and that’s why Carlos had to fight the abusive boyfriend?

I thought the love interest, Gleason, seemed silly. It was cute at first, the idea of the photographer and Carlos working together, but after a while the fantasies and dreams seemed to be a little far-fetched. I would’ve liked a different male character in the story since he lives in New York and there is a big LGBT community located in New York.

As far as setting, plot and character development are concerned, I thought that it was appropriate for this book. Good transition into feeling like I live in money-conscious New York with a particular yearn for designer clothing, good progression of plot and subtle character development. Carlos Duarte was a strong character to begin with, and I think throughout the book he changed for the better.

Rating: 4/5

smell of an old book

the old book with worn pages,

crinkled corners, faded images

flopped open after she knocked

the sleek ebony black bookshelf

and caught the childhood favorite

between her hands, the cover like

her grandmother’s skin, wrinkled

and soft with years of wear, reminding

her of nights spent reading favorite

passages, adored character visits,

scene changes, plot twists, and

now a new one unfolds, save it

or keep it? the warm vanilla,

grassy, almond-like undertones

wraps its arms around her senses,

flooding her with emotions a

decade away, she hugs the book

to her chest, an old, faithful friend,

its new home on her bedside desk,

it’s time she reread it, anyway.

-Madeline Wahl

Thanks, Pinterest: Replace a closet door with a bookcase door.

I love Pinterest. There's so many unique items pinned and repinned on this virtual corkboard that I truly love, particularly this amazing bookcase closet door from Mrs. Mack.

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme brought about by The Story Siren. It's a fun way to share what you're reading, reviewing, about to read, etc. All images below are from Goodreads.

For Review:

Putting Makeup on the Fat Boy by Bil Wright

The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Currently Reading:

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

Tweetheart by Elizabeth Rudnick

Book Review: Theodora Twist by Melissa Senate

goodreads review: “I’m going to have to come up with something really good to get you back into the public’s good graces. I have no idea what, but trust me. I’ll think of something.”

Well that’s what Theodora pays her agent $100,000 a year for, isn’t it? Theodora Twist is the girl everyone wants to be. She’s Hollywood’s hottest young actress. Producers court her, fans mob her, and the tabloids cover everything.

Emilys life is Boring with a capital B. She’s a 16-year-old nobody to everyone, including her own mother. The only thing remotely interesting about Emily? She lives in Theodora Twist’s former house. But she’s about to get Twisted.

How? On a reality show meant to clean up Theodora’s party girl rep—with Emily’s family as host. It’s just another role for Theodora. Emily is in panic mode. This isn’t just a part . . . it’s her life.

my review: At first, I thought this book was the typical cliche: snobbish celebrity teen turns normal and unknown girl rises to fame and popularity and doesn't know who she is anymore. I was half right.

Theodora's point of view at first was at first almost unbearable, but then it grew on me. I enjoyed reading Emily's point of view throughout and was glad that she remained sensible from beginning to end.

It's a quick, enjoyable read and I was happy with it. It touches on the deaths of both Theodora's and Emily's parents, issues teen face when dealing with prom dates, and how to handle fame. I think readers are able to relate to Emily's character. She's the nobody in the school, and even people in her on class don't know who she is. She only has two best friends, a one-year-old younger stepsister and a new stepfather she's not too crazy about.

Overall, for what it is as a quick read, Young Adult novel, I give it a 5/5.

Reading Shakespeare: A Play a Month in 2012

I haven't read any Shakespeare plays since high school, and I think it's time to revisit some of my favorites (as well as some I haven't read which could become favorites). Reading Shakespeare: A Play a Month in 2012 is hosted by Breadcrumb Reads and here's a list of plays that we're reading:

• January — A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• February — Macbeth
• March — Henry V
• April — Much Ado About Nothing
• May — Antony and Cleopatra
• June — Richard III
• July — As You Like It
• August — King Lear
• September — Cymbeline
• October — Twelfth Night
• November — Othello
• December — Pericles