Monthly Archives: August 2023

Queen Of The Tiles: Book Review

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Imagine, on a cold, rainy day sitting down in the family room, bundled up in a cozy blanket and playing a friendly game of Scrabble. To you Scrabble is an unopened box on a shelf, maybe a gift from a friend or something your parents thought you would like, nevertheless Scrabble is not something you ever think of until this rainy day moment arrives and you decide you want to play. 

The book Queen Of The Tiles by Hanna Alkaf takes Scrabble to another level, by going into the mind of a Scrabble player named Najwa Bakri. 

Fresh out of recovering from the traumatic death of her best friend, Trina Low, Najwa is back in the Scrabble competition that decides who is the ‘Queen of The Tiles.’ The story follows Najwa as she tries to uncover Trina’s mysterious death while also trying to become the Queen of The Tiles, herself. 

Hanna Alkaf created a story that not only vividly describes what Scrabble means to the contestants, but also dives deep into the strategy and intelligence that is needed to play Scrabble.

I loved all the characters in the story (even if they did kinda suck sometimes) and I think Hanna Alkaf definitely developed them in the proper way. I especially liked how she made the antagonist so lovable until the reader finds out what the things they have done to get in Najwa’s way.

This book has many suspenseful moments and a mysterious twist ending I did not expect. By the end of the book it made sense how everything played out and the motives for each character to do what they did. I was very satisfied with the ending and give this book a 10/10 rating.

Album Review – Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)

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Taylor Swift’s most recent release came out early July, a re-recording of her third album, first released in 2010. The re-recording contains 22 songs, the originals plus 6 that didn’t make the original album. Most of the songs contain minimal changes, but her matured voice sounds amazing with the songs she wrote during her early 20’s. Here are a few of my favorites.

Mine (Taylor’s Version) – The first track takes on a new meaning in the re-recorded version. “You are the best thing that’s ever been mine” could be in reference to the fact that she now owns this album again. This is definitely one of my favorite songs on the album.

Sparks Fly (Taylor’s Version) – One of my favorite songs from the original Speak Now, I was pleased to hear her richer, older voice, on a song that leaned more into the country genre in the original album.

Never Grow Up (Taylor’s Version) – Swift singing “Wish I’d never grown up” hits even harder, as she’s now in her 30’s. This song written by a girl just leaving her teenage years has always been one of her saddest songs in my opinion and the new version just has another level of tragedy in it. The end of childhood is rarely written about in songs but Swift did it perfectly.

Electric Touch (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault) [Featuring Fall Out Boy] – Upon first listen this was my favorite vault track. I was surprised to hear the beating drums on this album, but thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope this song gets the praise it deserves!

I Can See You (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault) – The night of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), there was an Eras Tour show where Swift unveiled a video for I Can See You. It’s a sneaky anthem to seeing high school crushes in hallways that easily gets stuck in your head.

Go give Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) a listen! What was your favorite song on it?

The Serpent and the Wings of Night Review:

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I REALLY REALLY enjoyed this book! It is actually one of the few books that I have stayed up late at night reading, desperately trying to finish the book. But first, a quick summary:

This book is about the main female protagonist character named Oraya, who was picked up from a very young age by the Vampire King, Vincent when her entire village burned down. They have a very interesting relationship in the story. You can see Vincent clearly loves Oraya very much, however, he can’t express his love for fear of Oraya (who is a human) as a weakness seen by others.

Oraya is a very strong main character. She is bold, courageous, absolutely fearless, and was trained from a young age to kill, maim others, and hide her emotions in order to protect herself from her father’s court. She decides to enter a trial of sorts in which if she wins, she will get a goddess’s blessings, which will give her power so she will never be afraid again.

As she continues to compete in the trials, which last four months, she is always close to death. This part of the story was the most complex and heart-pounding because it was so interesting to see how resilient she was when handling pain and the thoughts that torture her from her past.

Also, the enemies to lovers trope present in the book was very light, but perfect to the extent that the author did not overdo it. I really loved how their relationship bloomed from being really not sharing anything with one another to trusting each other with their lives. I thought that was very cute!

The book’s plot line was difficult to guess as well which made it all the more interesting to see the plot twists! Overall it was a really great book!

*Be advised this book best suited is for older readers*

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

Niagara Falls

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I visited Niagara Falls, Canada this summer for the first time, and let me tell you, the experience was more exciting than I ever expected. Despite all the hype surrounding the infamous Niagara Falls, my initial impression before arriving was that the falls would be the only attraction, and even that would be meant to be viewed from afar. I was proven wrong, to say the least. Here are just a few of the fascinating attractions that Niagara Falls has to offer:

Niagara Falls | Quality Hotel Fallsview Cascade

Before heading to the falls themselves, we took a stop at the nearby amusement park in Clifton Hill. The park featured thrilling rides, a fun arcade, and a towering ferris wheel that gives you a jaw-dropping view of both the park and the waterfalls. Other than entertainment, Clifton Hill also had a wide variety of mouthwatering dining options. 

16 Best Things to Do in Niagara Falls, NY Right Now

Our next stop was the long-awaited waterfalls. I was blown away by the picturesque view of the falls, and even more so when discovering that the tour would be given through a boat ride, titled the Maid of the Mist, that travels into the falls themselves. The Maid of the Mist blew me away — almost literally — as the feeling of the wind and water rushing towards you while traversing the falls is like none other. This was by far my favorite part of the visit.

Ziplining – Niagara Falls Canada Attractions | ToNiagara

Other than the tour by boat,  adjacent to the falls is an exhilarating zip line that presents both the thrill and outstanding view of Niagara Falls. Though watching other riders fly past the crystalline falls in front of you is exciting, experiencing the rush of the zipline on your own is an even greater thrill.

Top 10 Souvenirs to Buy in Niagara Falls - Niagara Falls Blog

After experiencing all that Niagara Falls has to offer, the ideal next stop is the souvenir shop on your way out from the boat ride. The Top of the Falls Gift Shop even operates a green screen to take a photograph of your group in front of a background of the waterfalls. I personally love getting souvenirs and taking photos of the places I visit so I can preserve the memories, so this was the perfect conclusion to my visit.

After witnessing the wonders of Niagara Falls, I can confidently say it’s a must-see for anyone planning a trip to Canada. With an endless amount of entertainment and sight-seeing opportunities, Niagara Falls definitely lives up to its name.

Album Review: Good Riddance by Gracie Abrams

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Good Riddance is singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams’ debut album, released on February 24, 2023; and written and produced by Abrams and Aaron Dessner. The album is 12 songs, and on June 16 Abrams released a deluxe edition of the album, which features 4 bonus tracks. Good Riddance is an album unlike most I have personally listened to; and Abrams’ raw, brutally honest songwriting shines through on this album as she reflects on past relationships with others and herself.

Further, many of my favorite songs and albums are written from the perspective of a person who has been the victim of a situation or relationship, the “good guy.” On the other hand, the songs on Good Riddance are written from the other perspective—from the person who has made the mistakes. I really love this fresh perspective, as it was really interesting to hear the raw and honest thoughts of someone who has done someone else wrong through the art of music. Following are a summary of some tracks on Good Riddance:

Track 1: “Best” – a song in which the narrator admits that they were not the best partner in their past relationship. Through her stinging lyrics, Abrams takes accountability for the mistakes she made and the faults she had throughout the relationship.

Track 2: “I know it won’t work” – a song about going through a tough time with someone and wanting to be with them again despite knowing that it won’t work. Though the narrator and the aforementioned person have cut ties, they still linger in each other’s minds, “never really leaving.”

Track 5: “I should hate you” – a song about being unable to hate someone despite how deeply they have hurt you. Throughout the song, the beautiful lyrics echo the way the narrator loves someone so much that they cannot hate them and would even go back to them after all the hurt.

Track 11: “The blue” – the only love song on Good Riddance, where Abrams sings about the inescapable connection between her and someone she has fallen in love with. In the song, she sings that they “came out of the blue” unexpectedly, and she couldn’t help but fall for them.

All in all, Good Riddance was an honest, emotionally intense, and beautifully written album. I absolutely loved it and would recommend it if you already love Gracie Abram’s music or are looking to try something new.

Happy listening!

-Lam T.

Book Review: Mrs. Dalloway

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Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf follows Clarissa Dalloway, a woman in her 50s, as she prepares to host a party. A seemingly simple plot turns into an emotional rollercoaster as Mrs. Dalloway and a diverse, unique cast of characters experience wide character arcs and learn essential themes. Despite this novel only spanning one full day, Woolf has taken this story to a depth I’ve rarely seen elsewhere.

Although the book is written in a stream-of-consciousness writing style, which I admit I often feel can be confusing and dull, I didn’t notice that at all throughout the story. In fact, in my opinion, the writing style enhanced the book’s flow, rather than slowing it down or making it feel choppy.

If you choose to read Mrs. Dalloway, You’ll quickly learn the novel is written almost entirely in prose. Virginia Woolf is one of the most poetic fiction writers I have ever had the privilege of reading. There were many lines in this novel that held great depth and weight to me, even taken out of context. For the most part, her sentences carried a kind of rhythm that made it very satisfying to read. I really loved this and thought it made the story more pleasant.

These beautiful proses, however, come at a cost. Because the language is so flowery, it got a little difficult to understand what was actually happening at any given moment. There were some parts in which I felt like I had to power through the prose to really comprehend what was happening to who. This took quite a bit of work, although I personally experience this with most classic literature I read.

I would recommend this book to everyone, regardless of preferred genre. I think the over-arcing theme is a very thought-provoking one, and it’ll be sure to stick with you. I would especially recommend this book to aspiring writers, as I believe it is a brilliant example of a perfect story structure, with very clear examples of plot points.

“Mrs. Dalloway is always giving parties to cover the silence.” -Mrs. Dalloway, Virginia Woolf

Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

JAG Swimming, June 24th

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This week, I went to a state competition, known as JAG, which stands for June Age Group Championships. It was so exciting!

Going to JAG is no small feat. Only so many swimmers can make the cut and get in. This was my first time going, and boy was it fun! I swam multiple events at JAG, but my favorite were the 200 breaststroke, 400 freestyle, and 200 freestyle.

My first event was the 200 breaststroke. Standing on the starting block, I felt a mix of nerves and excitement. When the whistle blew, I dived in the water ready to try my best to win my heat. I managed to get 2nd overall, but I was kind of disappointed since I was only a couple of milliseconds off first place!(the agony).

For me, the hardest event was the 200 freestyle. My swim coach told me to sprint the whole 8 laps! Needless to say, I finished 4th in my heat, which was kind of surprising, since it was my first time swimming the 200 freestyle long course. The 400 freestyle was pretty decent, I ended up getting 3rd overall out of all the 12 year-olds in my age group. I even won a medal for it!

To be honest, JAG was incredibly fun, but it wasn’t just about the races, though. It was an incredible gathering of young swimmers like me. I met new friends who shared the same passion for the water. We cheered each other on, celebrating our achievements and supporting one another. It was such a positive and encouraging environment. Looking back, my JAG experience was truly memorable. The thrill of the races, the friendships formed, and the sense of accomplishment—it all made it worthwhile. It’s these moments that make me love swimming even more. So, to all those swimmers out there, I just want to tell you to keep pushing and to never give up. Who knows, maybe one day you’ll have your own JAG tale to share!

Over the Garden Wall – Cartoon Review

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Over the Garden Wall is such a special cartoon for me, and it is unlike anything I have ever watched. Every single element of this short series plays a part in conveying a detail important to the story, whether it be the lighting in a given scene, the animation style of a setting, or the tone of the background music. Having only 10 episodes that are each about 10 minutes long, its an extremely concise yet sweet story that for me, personally, evokes a lot of nostalgia.

I would assume this series is set in a small town in the 1970s judging by the overall feel of it, specifically in the fall (which is why I always binge the episodes with my brother on Halloween). Wirt, a self-conscious, anxious high schooler and his little brother Greg, a hyper ball of energy, find themselves lost in a part of the woods called ‘The Unknown’. In an attempt to try to get back home, they embark on a journey with the help of a pure-hearted yet deceiving bluebird named Beatrice. They meet many people with diverse origins and mindsets along the way, but trust becomes a dangerous game as the band struggles to avoid an evil spirit known as ‘The Beast’.

This cartoon grapples with topics such as moving on, feeling like you don’t fit in, self acceptance and feeling confident/comfortable about who you are, etc. It indirectly gave me a lot of insight on the existence of different personalities in the real world, and how you should be selective of the people you choose to surround yourself with and avoid. I was also reminded that just because individuals may find it hard to open up or express their feelings, it doesn’t mean that they don’t have good intentions; they’ll always support you. The story makes me appreciate how lucky I am to have true friends and family who love me, and reassures me that I’m not alone in trying to figure out exactly who I am.

Despite all of these heavy topics that can be interpreted from this series, it is a roller coaster of emotions suitable for all ages that never ceases to pull on my heartstrings and sense of attachment.

So, given that the plot is so amazingly thought out and the animation as a whole is absolutely beautiful, I would never not recommend this journey of a cartoon to anyone.

Over the Garden Wall available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. 

Tips for Your New Book Club

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Starting a book club is a great way to fight summer brain drain, motivate you to read, or to try some new books! Either way, you might be a little overwhelmed at the thought. Here’s a small guide on how to start your own book club after you’ve gathered all the right people.

Setting ground rules is a must. Things like location of your meetings, or time. You should decide these first to avoid miscommunication and frustration down the line.

Ground Rules Checklist

• How often will you meet up?

• Where will you meet up?

• What times will you meet up?

• Will you spend the whole time discussing books, or spend some hanging out?

• What type of books will you read, and how will you decide them?

Another important tidbit to remember is questions and conversation starters. It’s hard to just start talking about a book, so look up open-ended questions to spark some chatter around your table! Print these out or bookmark them on a device.

Alternatively, have each member prep a few questions themselves to discuss with the group!

Fun Ideas

• Bringing food! Something light is ideal – drinks or snacks are best!

• Group read the few final pages of the book together! This can lead to be memorable, capturing the live reactions of your fellow readers.

There are so many different ways you can take your book club! Get creative, and have fun.

Loveless

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In this day and age, romance seems to just be a part of everyone’s everyday life. This is the case for Georgia Warr, the main character of the book Loveless by Alice Oseman. Written in 2020, and published under Scholastic Press, this book follows her as she tries to make her way through her first year of university life, with only her two best friends, Pip and Jason, by her side.

The book itself opens with her at an after-prom party, where we learn very quickly that she has never had a crush on anybody, and is quite frankly scared of the idea of intimate romance. After a disastrous event involving her thought-to-be crush, her favorite jean jacket, and a bonfire, Georgia is left to question whether she will ever find someone she actually loves. When she gets to university, she discovers that she is roomed with a girl named Rooney, who she instantly idolizes. The way that she is able to socialize and flirt with other people with seemingly no effort at all has Georgia at a loss. She also meets her “college parent,” Sunil.

Georgia is desperate to learn Rooney’s ways, and they end up bonding over a shared love of theater, and especially Shakespeare. This leads to her, Rooney, Pip, Jason, and Sunil forming a Shakespeare Soc of their own. 

We follow Georgia as she manages her friendships, relationships, and eventual realization of being aromantic and asexual. 

Widely regarded as very good aro/ace representation, I have seen many people recommend this book. It helped me personally learn more about how different people identify and go about the world, and even realize some things about myself. All in all, this was a very good read that I highly recommend you check out if you have the time.

Loveless by Alice Oseman is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.