So yeah. It’s taken me a little while to update it, but after being lectured by my dear love Teresa, I am going to do so! (P.s. hey hypocrite, update your own stupid book blog too.) Here is my previous BIRSF list. Here is the full list of books I’m planning on reading this year. And here are the books I’ve read the past two weeks:

1. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky:
I read this book in high school and I loved it then, I love it now. It’s just fantastic. I love the characters, the story is great, just everything is great. I was shocked to find out that the book was published by MTV, though… But anyway. Yeah. I love it and I’m really excited to see the movie! Emma Watson is going to be incredible as Sam! Read if you haven’t read it.

2. Battle Royale, by Koushun Takami:
Definitely better than the movie. We got more into the characters, more into the love stories. It’s a very interesting book actually, much like Hunger Games only a LOT more vicious. It was VERY sad though, but a great ending, a great storyline. I’m really excited about it, actually! It’s definitely a must-read! Twisted, sick, scary, freaky, but awesome.

3. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, by John Boyne:
Basically, I’m pretty sure this is a kids book. I haven’t seen the movie but I heard it was super depressing and dark and stuff, but the book just isn’t so. It’s very on the surface of the story, we don’t really get into the darkness of the feelings, the absolute terror of the camps, the sadness with the ending, or the emotions of the father after he realizes what he’s done. It’s a kids book. I think I’d like the movie better, probably. Anyway, it’s good, but it’s definitely not what it’s talked up to be. It would be a lot better if it was an actual adult book.

4. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, by Jonathan Safran Foer
Ugh this book was amazing. Disappointing ending but AMAZING. I loved it! The boy’s life is so sad, I just wanted to hug him all the time. I loved the mum, what she was doing and how she reacted to her son’s grief. I loved the story of the Grandmother, it was sad and strange but interesting and well done. This story was funny, surprisingly, since it’s a story of a son figuring out his dad’s death. It’s great though. Shame the movie got such bad reviews.

5. The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint Exupery
Such a great book! It’s a weird story, but I will certainly be reading it with my kids. It’s written strangely, but it’s really heartwarming. I would love to read it in the original French to see if I would enjoy it equally as much. It’s interesting. I can’t believe I haven’t read it before now though, apparently my mum owns it and loves it! But I can see why it’s a classic though.

6. It’s Kind of a Funny Story, by Ned Vizzini
Gah I love this book. All the other stories I’ve read recently have had these weird characters, that I like, but that I can’t really connect with, if that makes sense. They are all a little off, but still enjoyable to read. But this character, I just felt like I could connect with him. Which is odd, since he’s in a mental institute, but still! I loved the whole thing. It was such a personal look at the world of a boy who has depression, who has suicidal thoughts. It was VERY interesting. I didn’t realize the book was the same as the movie, but it’s a fantastic movie too if you haven’t seen it. Which you should do. As well as read the book.

The books I’m reading next:
1. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, by Jean-Dominic Bauby
2. The History of Love, by Nicole Krauss
3. One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
4. Animal Farm, by George Orwell