Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl

This book started out slow and I got lost in all the characters but it eventually picked up and I could not put it down. I just finished it this morning and secretly read it at my desk when I was waiting for my computer to turn on. It reminded me of a few things.

When we are teenagers, we live in a bubble and can be naive and reckless. We act fearless but we are fearful and trying to figure out who we are and where we belong. Honestly as an adult I know I still haven't figured it out yet. Pessl captures that so well with the crew of the Bluebloods. But also teenagers are smarter and more perceptive than we give them credit for.

Things are not always what they seem. Sometimes the truth is painful and learning it makes you lose everything. It can set you free from anxiety but it can never go back to the way it was.

"Sometimes it takes more courage not to let yourself see. Sometimes knowledge is damaging - not enlightenment but unleadenment. If one recognizes the difference and prepares oneself - it is extraordinarily brave."

I read this quote 144 pages in and after finishing the book I realize it was clearly foreshadowing.

I recommend this book also because the writing is quite unique. Pessl has written it like a thesis with a lot of literary and well thought quotes and references that give insight into the story. 

A super delayed catch up post

I was re-reading this blog recently and it made me realize how much I enjoyed reading and reflecting, which I insist upon continue doing on this blog again! Books have taken me on so many adventures for free (thank you public library!).

It has been nearly a year since I posted on this blog so I wanted to name the books and series I have read.

My co-worker is a big fan of Nora Roberts and let me borrow a bunch of books by her. I really enjoyed several of them, but the trilogies became quite formulaic and the excitement started to wear off. There were a few books by her that I quite enjoyed:

Northern Lights: A well-written story about a cop in a small town in Alaska. I felt like I learned a lot about the state and want to visit it someday.

Angels Fall: Also about a small town called Angels Fist. Also, well-written and worth taking a look at.

Some of the trilogies were very cliche about three women and three men who get together and how difficult that is. I was more interested in her supernatural trilogies like the Sign of Seven series and The Stunning Key trilogy. Sometimes I got frustrated with Nora's books because I felt petty and that the characters would often lack depth or strength. It certainly put me in an off-mood that I am unable to read some of her books now. However, I like how she portrays small towns and places that are often overlooked. My co-worker told me because Nora Roberts wrote about a small town in Maryland and apparently tourism boomed there afterwards. That is pretty cool.

I also jumped back on the self-discovery books and read The Happiness Project and Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. For me, it's always good to go back to these type of books and remember my purpose and to always move forward constantly making things better and more interesting for myself. I had been at a point where I needed a reminder that only I can change myself.

I am on the hunt for some new books. I follow this site called medium.com and read an interview with a person who seemed to have the same test in books as me. She recommended a book called Special Topics in Calamity Physics, which I hope is good!