Authors We Love: Donna Tartt

Donna Tartt is an American novelist who writes psychological fiction. You may have seen her literary works before, some of which include: The Secret History and The Goldfinch. Personally, I have read many of her novels, and enjoyed all of them. She has an intense, nuanced writing style that really draws you into the world that she creates.  Her novels have a very mysterious, often melancholic vibe to them. 

Her most recent novel, The Goldfinch, is a stunning 780 pages long. Despite its slow-pace, Donna still manages to maintain a captivating and engaging story. It is one of her most intricate and emotionally profound novels. It– rightfully so– has earned her many awards. In 2014, Tartt won not only the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, but additionally the Andrew Carnegie Medal in 2014. The book was also adapted into a film.

Similarly, The Secret History is another prominent novel by Donna Tartt. This book has such a distinctive feel to it. I recommend you give it a try if you haven’t already. It is an incredible book; I wish I could read it for the first time again!

Tartt has touched many people with her novels. In an interview, she states that,” I’ve had some moving letters from people in prison. I also love hearing from young people who have been inspired to study classics.” Tartt highly values the deep impact her books have on readers. She is also a very humble person, who is genuinely passionate about literature. She is also incredibly talented, even at a young age. She wrote her first poem at just five years old! 

Overall, Donna Tartt is an amazing author. Her novels are a work of art, and she is an inspiring person. I recommend you give her books a try.

Book by Donna Tartt are available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Mean Girls Movie Review

I absolutely love the original Mean Girls movie, so when I saw the preview for the new one when I was watching Wonka, I knew I had to see it. The new one was pretty much the same, but it was a musical and they removed most of the culturally less sensitive jokes. 

The movie was amazing, yet I wish they had chosen a different actor to play Cady. Although Angourie Rice was a good actor, her voice was soft and emotionless. Also, I was expecting her to have a bigger glow-up like in the original movie but overall she stayed the same.

I love how the song sequences were like a real musical- they made the whole movie come alive. My favorite song “Someone gets hurt” looked cool because the actors posed like they were frozen except Renee Rapp and Christopher Briney. 

The movie captured Renee Rapp’s vocal skill while she played Regina George. I really loved the new song, Not My Fault, she made for the movie. The way she was different from Rachel Mcadams is the she upfront about being mean whereas when Rachel Mcadams played Regina as a sweet, popular girl that is actually really mean.

One of my favorite things they added is the scene where Cady talks to her mom about what she did. She connects with her mom and shows how much she still needs her.

All in all the movie was really good and funny (it definitely couldn’t beat the original, but I still really enjoyed it). I give the movie a 9.5/10. I recommend seeing it with your friends at some point even if it’s not in the theaters.

The original Mean Girls movie is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

Book vs. TV Series: Percy Jackson

Percy Jackson and the Olympians just wrapped its first season and is renewed for a second. Following the story of Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon, the book and TV show showcase Percy travelling across the US, searching for the real thief of Zeus’s master bolt.

  1. Riptide
    • Book: Percy receives Riptide from Mr. Brunner when Alecto attacks him
    • Series: Mr. Brunner gives Riptide to Percy, encouraging to not let people like Nancy get to him
  2. Alecto Attacks Percy
    • Book: Alecto attacks Percy when they are alone in the Metropolitan Museum of Art
    • Series: Alecto attacks Percy outside in front of a crowd of people
  3. Percy Being Expelled
    • Book: Percy calls Mr. Nicoll an “old sot” and is expelled from Yancy
    • Series: After “pushing” Nancy into the fountain, Percy is expelled from Yancy
  4. Gabe Ugliano
    • Book: Gabe is abusive to both Sally and Percy
    • Series: Gabe is more of a deadbeat “dad” that is mostly just rude to others
  5. The Gateway Arch
    • Book: The trio visits the Gateway Arch due to Annabeth’s love for architecture
    • Series: The trio visits the Gateway Arch, a temple of Athena, searching for protection against Echidna and the Chimera
  6. Ares’s Introduction
    • Book: Ares and the trio meet at a diner
    • Movie: The trio encounters Ares when leaving St. Louis
  7. The Lotus Hotel and Casino
    • Book: The trio visits the Lotus Hotel and Casino after being enticed by a bellhop
    • Series: The trio specifically enters the Lotus Hotel and Casino to search for Hermes and ask for his help
  8. Percy’s Confrontation with Luke
    • Book: Luke sought to get rid of Percy, summoning a Pit Scorpion that later poisons him
    • Series: Luke attempts to recruit Percy for Kronos’s army, resulting in the two sword fighting after Percy refuses

The Percy Jackson & the Olympians book series by Rick Riordan is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

2024=1948

If you haven’t been on the reality side of life right now, you would know that Palestine and Israel are in a war which is slowly becoming a whole middle east against the west war. Besides wars, inflation is reaching an all time low of 3.2% and apartment/house rent being in a funky situation. Beyond the economic and world part, in my opinion, we are entering a new era in the cinematic/music/entertainment industry with movies from the 70’s to the early 2000’s coming out with sequel musicals,and  new popular music.

Looking back 76 years ago you, can see so many similarities between these two years; 2024 and 1948. Are we going back in time? Have we truly entered a war and a great depression?

The answers depend on how you would like to view what’s going on.

For more information about the similarities between those two years, we have have to go back to 1948, and see what went down.

We can all agree that war has a lot to do with money and inflation, which is why the USA dealt with post World War 2 inflation dropping down to 10%, with its highest rate (that it should have been at) being at 20%. With a democrat leading 1948 and a democrat leading 2024. 

But we aren’t in a war, why would our percentage drop to 3.2% in the present day? The answer to that will have to be, the pandemic aka Covid 19. With business shutting down, even the government shutting down, people losing jobs and such, the inflation began to decline and it is getting worse and worse with how the current economy is working during (a soon to be) war.

Speaking of war, looking back to spring, more specifically, May of 1948, the Palestinians welcomed jewish settlers who escaped the holocaust from Germany, and some parts around Europe to get to the middle eastern country called Palestine. Their settlement began as a UN and UK agreement for the jewish to have some part of Palestine for them to call their own (being Israel). They began to go past that agreement and ended up killing about 110 thousand Palestinians with a good portion of them escaping to countries around, like Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. 

Which is very similar to what is happening now with in just 5 months of the Gaza vs Israel war, over 27 thousand have been killed and 73 thousand displaces, under rubble, or missing, as the USA and UK funding the killing and bombing Palestinian safe zones.

Besides the War and Economy time, Hamlet, Oliver Twist, and the Fallen City releasing and getting big, we got musicals as old hit movies like Mean Girls (2003), Wonka (1971), and even The Color Purple/book (1982). With artist Taylor swift dropping her new album soon and making her own name, Lana Del Rey dropping a tour, and new music genres on the rise, 1948 came out with “all I want for Christmas is my two front teeth”

To conclude all of this, This year is extremely similar to 1948 and is possible we might be going back in history, rather than how some would hope it being similar to 2014 and party 2020.

What do are your thoughts?

https://www.babyboomers.com/1948

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5SiW6eh0ST9AYdlxHmPSxn?si=GwgU8Kg9QR-LYpOz-4lQtQ

Zina K

10 Tips and Suggestions for visiting Disneyland in 2024

Disneyland is a very nice place to go throughout the year, with plenty of enjoyable rides and attractions. However, it can sometimes be difficult to visit everything as it can be very crowded. Here are 10 helpful tips that I have found that will help you make the most out of your day there.

1. Get there early.

Disneyland can be very busy at times, especially on the weekend. The lines for admission can get very long, especially later in the day. I found that getting to the front early slightly before the park opens can help you beat the crowds and get into the park earlier.

2. Pack a meal.

Another thing that I found helpful was packing and bringing a simple meal to eat there. The lines for the rides can get very long, but eating lunch while waiting in line will allow you to ride more rides and get the most out of your day.

3. Plan out the day beforehand.

Planning your day beforehand can also be very helpful. Plan to go on the rides that have longer wait times first as times often get long quickly. Then, try to do the rides with shorter waits later in the day when other wait times become very long.

4. Use the Genie+ Service.

I also found the Genie+ service very helpful the last time I went to Disneyland. It allows you to schedule the day and skip the long wait times for the rides. Try to schedule the rides that normally have a long line first. However, you only get to use it once per ride, so try to only use it if times are long.

5. Use mobile ordering for food.

When you do order food at Disneyland, try to use the online mobile ordering service. Many of the lines and wait times for food vendors are very long, but mobile ordering allows you to skip the line and get your food faster.

6. Pack a portable phone charger.

You will need your phone for a lot of things at Disneyland, as many services require you to use your phone including Genie+. I found packing a portable phone charger helpful to bring in case your phone runs low on battery, which will be useful especially if you spend a long time there.

7. Find a good place to sit down and eat lunch.

At Disneyland, there are many good places to sit down and eat lunch. A good spot if you are looking for a peaceful place to eat is Tom Sawyer’s island in the lake in the middle of the park. There are also benches around the lake that you can sit at, and it is much less busy than the less of the park.

8. Go on the indoor rides when it gets too hot.

It can get hot at Disneyland, especially in the summertime. and it can be better to go on the indoor rides during the hottest parts of the day. Some great indoor rides include Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, and the new Star Wars ride Rise of the Resistance.

9. Buy tickets on weekdays if possible.

Another helpful tip is to try to book tickets on weekdays if possible. The park is usually much less crowded on weekdays, and this makes it easier to get the most out of your day and avoid waiting in long lines.

10. Get your pictures taken early.

You can get your photo taken professionally in many places throughout Disneyland, and the Genie+ service comes with unlimited photos, and you can also have pictures taken in front of rides. However, there are lines to get photos taken and these become very long later in the day, so try to get pictures taken earlier in the day.

These are some tips that you can use at Disneyland in order to get the best experience and so you can have the most fun. So don’t forget to try these helpful tips and tricks the next time you visit!

They Both Die at the End – Spoiler Free Review

This title caught my eye immediately, as it probably did yours. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to find out if it’s true just yet – this will be a spoiler-free review!

This story follows two teens from New York City – Mateo, aged 18, and Rufus, aged 17. Their world is set in 2017 and is mostly similar to ours….except for the organization of Death-Cast, which can predict deaths. They call people to inform them that they’ll die in the next twenty-four hours. These doomed people are called Deckers. Death-Cast is meant to help people live their last days to the fullest, and another person even invented her own app called Last Friend to match the service – it pairs Deckers with each other so they can spend their last day in someone else’s company. Mateo and Rufus meet on this app for their last day.

This book brings up a lot of different perspectives and thoughts on mortality. Is it better to know when you’ll die? Some think it is, and some think it isn’t. Additionally, Adam Silvera switches between different character perspectives to give fresh takes on the story.

I do love how interconnected the book feels. It cuts away to another character occasionally, shares a sliver of their story, and always gets it back to the main course. It’s just the right amount not to be distracting to the main course, and it really helps to both broaden the story and give me a little breathing time from the main pair.

Out of the pair, I enjoy Mateo more. Rufus felt a little too much sometimes, and I couldn’t always take him seriously. Overall, I was still invested in their romance and relationship. The dynamic between a softer and a tougher character is always very endearing.

Mateo and Lydia, his best friend, were actually amazing. My favorite relationship in the book (sorry Rufus). Imagine your best friend dying within 24 hours, the person you’ve relied on your whole life…and there’s nothing you can do to stop it. 

There are some other things I would love to expand on but alas, no spoilers. Overall, this book was a solid read! Do check it out.

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

I have really wanted to get back into non-fiction texts and Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, did that for me. I actually had to read some chapters of this book for my AP English class but I ended up just reading the entire book to get a full understanding of Gladwell’s interpretation of success is.

There is no clear “main-character” or “plot” but rather simply stories of those that garnered success with their different life stories. Gladwell touches on people like the Beatles or Bill Gates and expands on how they were able to reach the level of success that they got. I would say that the chapters build off of one another so reading the entire book is great but also reading certain chapters is fine because Gladwell typically has a vocal person he talks about in each individual chapter.

Gladwell’s overarching idea of success is illustrated through other people’s experiences and he tells it in a way that shows not a certain factor contributes to becoming successful. Factors such as socioeconomic status, race, IQ, all play parts in success but can’t be done alone but rather a unity of parts will create a successful person.

I’ve read non-fiction texts more related to us as individuals and more about self-growth but reading about experiences from other people was truly awakening because it allowed a new perspective for me to indulge in. Seeing the stories that got other people successful was in a way motivating and I felt a growth of determination to reach these same levels.

I would recommend this book to anyone trying to get into non-fiction texts or just interested in the idea of success. Also, since it’s a relatively short book it good for readers getting into non-fiction and I would say that the topics Gladwell presents are pretty interesting and insightful.

-Madison C.

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey was written by Trenton Lee Stewart. This is the second book in his Mysterious Benedict Society series. The main characters of the story are children named Reynie, Sticky, Kate, and Constance. The four friends learn that Mr. Benedict and his adopted daughter, called Number Two, have been taken captive by Mr. Benedict’s evil twin, Mr. Curtain. Mr. Curtain leaves a note explaining that he wants the four children to find a rare plant. After solving a series of riddles, the children find themselves on the fastest ship in the world, headed toward Europe. Kate’s father, Milligan, follows after the children. Milligan protects the children and helps them during their search for Mr. Benedict and Number Two. They encounter many dangerous situations along the way, and they must solve many tricky puzzles to rescue their missing friends.

One of my favorite things about this book is the high adventure experienced by the children. I also really enjoyed the suspense and excitement throughout the story. I liked learning more about the main characters and their development, as well as the many new characters who were introduced in this book. I really enjoyed reading about the four main children who have very different opinions and personalities but are still able to support each other and work together despite these differences. 

This is one of my favorite books. This book was satisfying to read on its own, but it definitely made me want to read the rest of the series. I would recommend reading the first book in the series before reading this book. I would highly recommend the entire series to everyone.

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Small Businesses to Support

During Christmas, you may flock to common stores such as Target and Nordstrom. However, as you take the time to shop for family and friends, consider some of these small businesses to shop from during the Holidays.

Clothes:

Olive Lynn

This popular boutique sells a variety of clothes and accessories. Their most popular items are hoodies, sweaters, and tank tops. If you like colorful clothing, consider shopping at Olive Lynn.

Grey Bandit

Grey Bandit is another online clothing shop that sells trendy clothes with excellent quality. This store is known for its aesthetic designs + quality.

Jubilee Apparel

If you are looking for loungewear or streetwear, Jubilee is the place to go. Founded by influencer Katherine Beard, Jubilee Apparel’s main goal is to ethically make sustainable clothes with high quality. 

Food:

Lydgate Farms

This small business sells delicious chocolate with cacao beans grown in Kauai, Hawaii. I visited this chocolate factory during the summer, and I can confirm that this company sells some of the best chocolate I’ve ever eaten. Lydgate Farms makes their chocolate in small batches, which are carefully crafted to reach their full potential. This chocolate is rich in flavor and an excellent Christmas gift for loved ones. (P.S. The Dark Chocolate Hawaiin Rum is my favorite!!)

Pachamama Coffee

Pachamama Coffee has been around since 2006 and gained a strong reputation in the coffee world. This coffee shop has been featured in the New York Times, Wine Spectator, and The Fortune. Pachamama sells coffee sourced from different parts of the world–from Peru to Nicaragua.  If you are looking for a gift for a college student or family, shop at Pachamama Coffee.

Jewelry:

Coastline Color

Based in Florida, Coastline Color sells jewelry made with shells harvested from the Florida Coast. The owner offers customizable bracelets, earrings, and necklaces. Shop at this boutique for unique jewelry!

Hitting Mechanics

Many people I mean a lot of people teach kids how to hit a baseball the WRONG way. This is how people teach baseball kids the wrong way:

  1. 50-50 balance on the leg.
  2. Leg kick
  3. Hip rotation
  4. Knob to the ball
  5. Turn wrists to the ball
  6. Extension on the arm
  7. Follow through

These were the way or the steps of teaching baseball kids the wrong. Pro hitters do not turn their wrists or not always get the knob to the ball, instead they think of skipping a rock as flat as possible. Then the path of the bat would be more smoother. This would be the correct way or Aaron Judge’s hitting steps:

  1. Have most of the weight on the back leg
  2. Turn wrists and lean back
  3. Think of skipping a rock with the top hand
  4. Have hands be on top and bottom of the handle
  5. Follow through

These steps are inspired by TeacherMan Hitting. These steps give you a wider vision of the field and better vision of the baseball when hitting. This works for rotational swing and linear swing hitters. The difference between rotational swing and linear swing hitters:

Rotational Swing Hitters:

  • Have a more angled swings
  • Likely to hit more off speed pitches that are angled more

Linear Swing Hitters:

  • Have a flatter swings
  • Likely to hit more fastballs consistently.