I am normally terrified of zombies or anything of the sort. Seriously, I get nightmares every time I watch a zombie movie. Even Thriller scares me sometimes.

Too bad it took me a little while to realize that The Unconsecrated in “The Forest of Hands and Teeth” were essentially zombies. I was spooked, to put it mildly, but by that point the book had already hooked me and I knew it would be impossible to stop.

“The Forest of Hands and Teeth” tells the story of Mary. She lives in a village in the woods, surrounded by fences that keeps The Unconsecrated out. The Unconsecrated, as I said before, are essentially zombies and they roam the Forest of Hands and Teeth, constantly threatening the village and its people. Mary has led a simple life in her village, helping her family and waiting to be married. Then one day, when patrolling the perimeter of the fences, Mary’s father gets taken by The Unconsecrated and is assumed to be “infected.” Her mother then falls into a depression and one day gets too close to the fences and is bitten by an Unconsecrated. She chooses to join the others outside the village and suddenly Mary’s life is in a tailspin.

In the village, a woman cannot live on her own, so when no one wants to marry Mary, she is forced to live with the Sisterhood (basically nuns) in their Cathedral. Once in the Cathedral, a series of events cause Mary to begin questioning the Sisterhood and her entire life in the Village. And then the fences are breached by The Unconsecrated and everything Mary ever knew is gone.

OK, so it all sounds a little weird (and zombies are scary), but this book is absolutely addictive. I spent many nights awake until the wee hours, lost in the story. I just could not put it down, and that doesn’t happen often (especially after spending hours poring over text books).

Carrie Ryan wastes no time getting into the story and doesn’t babble unnecessarily. I really liked the character of Mary and the whole supernatural aspect of this novel, too. It’s a science fiction novel by category, but reminds me of an Audrey Niffenegger novel. That is, that Ryan can seamlessly bring her readers into this new world without even questioning its existence. She covers every base and keeps you too busy with the story to even wonder. The combination of the story, the pacing and the writing kept me completely hooked and unable to put it down.

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a thrilling adventure. Plus, the sequel comes out in March and I cannot wait!

Admit it: most of you made a New Year’s Resolution that had something to do with your body. Maybe it was to lose weight, or get in shape, or build muscle, etc, etc. And maybe you have been doing great so far. Go you!

Unfortunately, though, we’re only 23 days in and most people will toss their lofty hot-body goals out the window in only a few more weeks. And who can blame them? Losing weight and getting fit isn’t easy and most of us probably aren’t doing it right.

Thankfully, there’s a really helpful book to aid in this giant transition.

I’m sure everyone reading this has heard of Dr. Oz before. If not, then get out from under that rock! Dr. Oz got his start as Oprah’s go-to health guru and has now graduated to his own daytime medical show. People love Dr. Oz because he’s cute (at least to moms), smart and really breaks down the confusing stuff about our bodies and health in a way we can all understand. He also happens to talk about poop, which is probably what attracted most people in the first place.

Anyways, my mom is a health-nut, so naturally she owns every single one of Dr. Oz’s books (with the exception of YOU Having a Baby, thank god ) and she raves about them. While home, bored, and tempted to eat another brownie last weekend, I spotted my mom’s copy of YOU on a Diet and decided to see what all the fuss was about. If Dr. Oz could take the entire country by storm perhaps he had something useful to say. And maybe reading a book about health would distract me long enough that I wouldn’t eat an entire tray of brownies.

YOU on a Diet is written like a toned-down textbook. It’s got all the essentials from physiology, anatomy, nutrition, etc, without all that boring and confusing medical jargon. It’s not dumbed down in any way – just straightforward enough that everyone can understand what’s going on.

The book is broken down into 4 great sections: What a Waist!, The Biology of Fat, The Science of the Mind and The YOU Diet and Activity Plan. In the first three, you learn about EVERYTHING to do with dieting, from how food travels through your body to the psychological impact of a failed diet. Dr. Oz’s goal is to really teach what’s going on in our bodies so we understand what will work and what won’t work when we finally start section four, the diet. Having this knowledge, according to this book, will allow us to make informed decisions and truly be successful at maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

This book was incredibly informative and even interesting. It didn’t really feel like I was reading some boring textbook, but I still took so much great information from it. And I have definitely changed the way I approach food and my body.

If you are having trouble sticking to that Cabbage Soup diet or don’t really trust those shakes the Kardashians are pushing, You on a Diet is a really great read.  It will teach you how to not only appreciate your body, but about the processes of eating, exercise and metabolism. In the immortal words of Schoolhouse Rock, “Knowledge is power” and that is certainly the case when it comes to your health!

As any reader of my articles knows, I am an avid fan of both supernatural fiction and teen fiction. So when I find a book that combines the two, I MUST read it!

I had seen a few advance reviews for “Beautiful Creatures” by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl, all of which raved about the novel, so I went into it with pretty high expectations. On top of that, it’s one of the few books ever to be selected as a “Heather’s Pick” at Chapters/Indigo (Canadian Barnes & Noble basically). This discovery, again, amped up my hopes. And I was not disappointed!

The main character of “Beautiful Creatures” is Ethan Wate – 16-year-old basketball stud from Gatlin, a town in the deep South. A year before the novel begins, Ethan’s mother passes away and since then, his life has changed immensely. His father writes all night and sleeps all day, so Ethan sees him about once a week, which leaves Amma, their housekeeper, to care for him. Along with the changes in his home life, Ethan has begun to have strange dreams, ones with a mysterious girl in the rain and when he wakes up, he is usually soaking wet, his hands caked with mud.

Then one day, the girl from his dreams shows up at school. Her name is Lena Duchannes and she is the niece of Macon Ravenwood, the town shut-in, automatically making her a social outcast. However, despite the best efforts of Ethan and his popular friends, he cannot deny that he is drawn to her. Eventually, Ethan gives in and when he does, he and Lena begin a magical journey that he could have never predicted. I don’t want to give too much of the plot away since the suspense about what is happening is one of the best parts! However, I will say that you won’t expect the “supernatural” twist in this novel.

Despite the fact that the main characters are even younger than my youngest sibling, I still really enjoyed and connected to the story. The characters don’t seem 16, which makes this way easier for 20-somethings to read. “Beautiful Creatures” is also very well-written – just enough description to give you a good idea of the setting and lush, Southern atmosphere. There is nothing that I hate more than over description in a book (you know – a whole page describing a blade of grass). There is none of that here. Actually, I think one of the reasons that I like teen books in general is that they tend to stay away from tons of adjectives and just get to the grit of the story.

Another problem I’ve had with supernatural teen fiction lately has been the “Twilight”-syndrome. There are SO many books out there that have taken the basic bones of the Twilight novel and then slotted in another supernatural being (werewolves, angels, etc). I HATE THAT! “Beautiful Creatures” DOES NOT do that, thankfully. It has a unique story, which, unfortunately, is a rarity in teen fiction these days.

I’m going to recommend “Beautiful Creatures” by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl to any fan of teen fiction or supernatural fiction, OR people who are fans of a combination of the two, such as Twilight, Shiver, etc. The unique story and supernatural suspense will keep anyone interested and reading away hours at a time. Enjoy!

I’ll admit it – I have a problem. I’m slightly addicted to all things paranormal. My DVR is bursting with old episodes of Ghost Hunters and Paranormal State and I have read every single Fear Street book ever printed. However, despite my voracious appetite for this stuff, I still find it rare to stumble across a decent supernatural thriller. Sure there are old standards like Dean Koontz and even Stephen King, but often those ones focus on “monsters” as opposed to ghosts, which are really more my thing. So once I found “The House of Lost Souls,” I knew I had to get my hands on it!

This novel focuses on Nick Mason and Paul Seaton. Nick’s sister is slowly spinning into insanity after a visit to the notorious Fischer House in England where horrific, satanic acts and rituals took place in the first half of the century. Paul Seaton is a “sensitive” journalist who is called in to save Nick’s sister. Why Paul, you might wonder? Because, he is the only known person to visit Fischer House and come out with both his sanity and his life. As Paul works to save the girl, he must confront supernatural experiences from his past by returning to Fischer House and coming to terms with the evil that lurks there.

I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed “The House of Lost Souls”. Not only is it extremely well-written, with vivid, lush descriptions of one of my favorite cities in the world, London, England, but the characters are well-developed and most importantly, believable. While reading, I felt like I may have been listening to my old friend recount their adventures overseas, like I was actually there and being spoken to by a real person, instead of just words on a page.

Another part of the writing that I was really impressed with was the intertwining storylines. The book is full of long stories that are interesting within themselves, but seem to have little to do with the plot at hand. Just when you’re about to give up on this book on a tangent, Cottam connects the recollection to the main story, demonstrating his cleverness. This really left me feeling like Cottam is well-read and probably wrote a book that he would want to read. My favorite little storyline had to be of a photographer, Pandora Gibson-Hoare and her involvement with Klaus Fischer (of the Fischer House). This tangent begins with Paul remembering an old girlfriend and his attempt to help her with a fashion school project on Pandora Gibson-Hoare. This project is eventually what lead Paul initially to the Fischer House, but as I said before, is so cleverly done that you never see it coming. Cottam also weaves real people into the novel, like horror novelist Dennis Wheatley and world famous satanist Aleister Crowley. This addition of real characters makes the story even more believable and really enhances the experience.

If you are a fan of the paranormal, specifically a good ghost story, then you must read “The House of Lost Souls,” by FG Cottam. With its rich atmosphere, great characters and most importantly, its spooky story, you will not be disappointed.

Firstly – Happy New Year, everyone! I hope your New Year’s Eve was both as eventful and wonderful as mine. And I hope that you’ve made a very important resolution: to read more! Admit it, you have some time before you hit the hay or with your morning coffee or while taking the bus around campus to pick up a novel and dig right into it. I find I learn more BIG lessons from books I’ve read for pleasure than my overpriced textbooks;  maybe the next book you pick up will teach you something important. So there is my plea and hopefully you’ll get some great recommendations from me over the next year!

Moving on….

I’ve had my eye on both of Markus Zusak’s books (Messenger and “The Book Thief“) for a while now, as they are super popular teen books. Now that I’ve got a ton of free time on my hands, I finally picked up “I Am The Messenger.” The book is the story of Ed Kennedy, a 19 year old cab driver who is basically going nowhere. His life revolves around his dog, the doorman and his 3 friends, Audrey, Marv and Ritchie. One day, Ed finds himself stopping a bank robbery and shortly after he starts to receive strange messages. His first message arrives on an ace of diamonds (yes, like from a deck of cards) with 3 addresses and times. Ed visits these locations and soon realizes that he must assist the occupants in some way, whether it being simply keeping them company or saving them from abuse (I won’t give away too much!). Once he completes those three tasks, another card arrives for him, sending him on another adventure. Then another. With every card, the tasks gets more difficult and Ed must decipher the message to determine his three targets. Along the way, Ed realizes lots of important lessons and eventually becomes more than a dead-end cab driver – he becomes a message.

I found this book totally engrossing, gripping me from the beginning. I literally could not put it down at one point, which is a rare event for me. Zusak is a fantastic writer and developed all the characters perfectly. His imagination also impressed me; I don’t know if I could ever come up with such an inventive and clever story. And, corny as it may be, I learned a lot. It’s great when a book can make you take a step back and evaluate what is important to you and “I Am The Messenger” did just that. As Ed realizes that his life can be so much more, I counted the blessings in my own life, from having a loving family to the opportunity to get an education.

“I Am The Messenger” is a great book for the New Year. What better way to kick off a new year than by taking note of all your good fortune and making some resolutions to make your life that much better? This is a feel-good book that delivers its message with a punch.

Start 2010 off right and pick it up.

As a student at a Big Ten school, football has become my soul purpose in life. From crackin’ the first beer in the shower at 6am on game day to FB-stalking the quarterback (shhh!), my world revolves around a bunch of dudes in spandex tackling each other on some Astroturf.

Needless to say, the past 6 weeks sans college football has been somewhat difficult. I wander aimlessly around my apartment on Saturdays, unsure what to do with all that time. I fill the void by hunting down the players on campus, but now that they’re not training as much as usual, they’re not so easy to find. And trust me, I’ve tried.

Thank god, then, that Bowl Season is upon us! I finally have a reason to drink before 11am on a Saturday! have some exciting burly-man-on-burly-man action to fill my Saturdays! Yes, ladies, it’s officially time for the best of the best in college football to duke it out in the BCS bowl games.

Confused on how the BCS works? Everyone is. But until the government sorts this shiz out, I’ve got you covered. This guide will give you a look at all of the upcoming BCS games, the teams, and who you (or more importantly, me) think deserves to win. So grab those wings, crack open a beer and get ready for some serious football showdowns.

The Rose Bowl presented by Citi:
No. 7 Oregon Ducks (10-2) vs. No. 8 Ohio State (10-2)
Pasadena, CA; January 1st at 5pm EST on ABC
I will try to put aside my personal feelings towards Ohio State (did Tressell win Big Ten Coach of the Year?) but my heart is still filled with bitter rage. OSU is heading to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1997, and Oregon is trying to win its first Rose Bowl since 1917. The Ducks have one of the most aggressive and quickest offenses in the nation, while Ohio State is known for an impenetrable (hehe) defense, which should make the game an interesting one. One I might watch if the nausea from Andre on NYE doesn’t prove lethal when mixed with the nausea and rage from seeing a Buckeye fan.

Who Will Win?
Expert Says: Oregon: 28 Ohio State: 20
I Say: Oregon. I want to see Puddles wearing Tressell’s sweatervest. Or at least see LeGarrette Blount punch someone.
Hot Quarterback: Oregon’s Jeremiah Masoli vs. OSU’s Terrelle Pryor

All-State Sugar Bowl:
No. 5 Florida Gators (12-1) vs. No. 3 Cincinnati Bearcats (12-0)
New Orleans, LA; January 1st at 8:30pm EST on FOX
The Gators have been un.stop.able. this whole season and Cincinnati’s coach just peaced out for Notre Dame. The odds are def against the Bearcats, but I’m all about the underdogs. Plus, I think they are out to prove themselves since Brian Kelly left. Cinci is rightfully undefeated, but Florida has Tim Tebow, a proven uber-man-beast-machine. It will basically come down to Florida’s offensive line’s ability to keep those out-for-blood Bearcats away from their moneymaker.

Who Will Win?
Expert says: Flordia 34 Cincinnati 17
I say: Cincinatti. Tim Tebow makes me yawn. And I think he’s lying about being a virgin; his gf is HOT.
Hot Quarterback: Cinci’s Tony Pike vs. Florida’s  Timmy T

Tostito’s Fiesta Bowl:
No. 6 Boise State Broncos (13-0) vs. No. 4 TCU Horned Toads (12-0)
Glendale, AZ; January 4th at 8:00pm EST on FOX
Mmmm. I love Tostito’s. Wait. Where was I? Oh yeah, so the Broncos beat Oregon in the first game of the season to prove that, like WuTang, BSU ain’t nothing to fudge with. In my opinion, they have the upper hand in this game: their insane offense remains virtually the same since last season when they played TCU in the Poinsetta Bowl. But, the Horned Toads (Editor’s Note: Worst. Name. Ever?) have had a huge chunk of the spotlight lately with their equally as scary defense, which could make this THE game to watch. Through my fingers though, because high-intensity football gives me a heart/panic attack.

Who Will Win?
Experts Say: Boise State 24 TCU 21
I Say: Toughie – both teams deserve it. I’m just thankful they aren’t playing on Boise State’s vom-inducing blue field
Hot Quarterback: TCU’s Andy Dalton vs. Boise State’s Kellen Moore

Fed-Ex Orange Bowl:
No. 9 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (11-2) vs. No. 10 Iowa Hawkeyes (10-2)
Miami, FL; January 5th at 8:00pm EST on FOX
Okay, I may or may not be biased (and my kitten may or may not be wearing a tiny black and gold cheerleader outfit), but Iowa has come from basically out of nowhere to being one of the best teams in the nation. Our (yes, I’m on the team) defense has, on average, allowed less than 200 yards per game, while Georgia Tech’s mind-boggling option-offense has averaged over 300 yards per game. The two teams have never played each other, so, unlike a Hugh Grant movie, the outcome is a mystery.

Who Will Win?
Experts Say: Georgia Tech 27 Iowa 17
I Say: Iowa. Our QB is nice and healthy again and I will be rooting them on (read: screaming at Tech fans) from the stands in Miami.
Hot Quarterback: Iowa’s Ricky Stanzi vs. Tech’s Josh Nesbitt

BCS Championship Game:
No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide (13-0) vs. No. 2 Texas Longhorns (13-0)
Pasadena, CA; January 7th at 8:00pm EST on ABC
Thank goodness Texas won out against Nebraska, because not only would it have blown Iowa’s chance at a BCS bowl, but Texas has definitely proven itself to be one of the best teams in the nation this season. And thank goodness Alabama took down almighty Tebow, because they deserve this opportunity as well. Both teams have incredible offenses, Texas with Heisman nominee Colt McCoy and Bama has Heisman winner Mark Ingram, which will make this game a clash of the college football gods.

Who Will Win?
Experts Say: Alabama 28 Texas 24
I Say: Another toughie. I’m going to go with Texas because the Crimson Tide is already jinxing themselves
Hot Quarterback: Alabama’s Greg McElroy vs. Texas’ Colt McCoy

What do you guys think? Which teams deserve to win? Which do you hate with a passion? Or, if sport ain’t your thing, which football hottie do you want to see get his pants pulled down mid-game?

So you’re home for break. And it’s wonderful. But what are you going to do with all that downtime for the next three weeks?

How about do a little reading for pleasure? You know what I’m talking about, right? The kind of reading you can do without a highlighter. Without making annotations. Without a 12lb textbook that hurts your arms as you attempt to read it in bed.

Yeah, that’s right. The good kind. For a reader like me, winter break means catching up on all those books I’ve been missing out on thanks to the hundreds of pages of History reading my professors assign nightly. If you’re looking for some good books to pass that time at home (or on a warm beach somewhere) with the parentals, allow me to recommend a few of my favorites. If you do anything over this break (besides watch TV and eat leftovers) you must pick up at least one of these:

1. Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko
Anyone living in North America has had some experience with Native Americans and the hardships that they face. But how much do we really know about their lives, their world and their culture? “Ceremony” tells the tale of a young Native American war veteran who returns to the reservation where he grew up. To help him cope with the trauma surrounding his experiences, the elders of the community decide to conduct traditional ceremonies and healing rituals. This book provides great insight into the ancient traditions of Native Americans, which is incredibly interesting (who said you can’t learn for pleasure?). It also happens to be a “Penguin Classic” so the writing is most definitely exceptional.

2. What is the What by Dave Eggers
This recommendation comes straight from CollegeCandy’s wonderful editor. She is also probably the tenth person to recommend it, so I decided I had to give it a go. “What is the What” is a fictionalized memoir of Valentino Achak Deng, a real hero and refugee of the Sudanese civil war. After years trying to piece a life together in refugee camps, Valentino makes his way to America, where he finds that perhaps the hardships of making a life there may be greater than his time in Africa. Most people believe that once a refugee is in America or another “safe” land, their life becomes a fairytale; as we see in this story, that not the case. “What is the What” is a fascinating story and a powerful read; definitely a good one to sink your teeth into over the break.

3. Wicked by Gregory Maguire
Everyone is familiar with the Wizard of Oz and, of course, the mysterious villain, the Wicked Witch of the West. But, just like any other villain, the Wicked Witch has her own story. Gregory Maguire has taken this strange, misunderstood character and weaved an entire biography, explaining every evil thing she does. I just love the creativity of the author and how he leaves no stone unturned, from her strange color to her capture of Dorothy and her relationship with Glinda, the Good Witch. The musical “Wicked,” which was inspired by the book, is probably more well-known than the book and certainly a lot “brighter” as far as storyline goes, but the book is captivating. From the way Maguire addresses social issues to creative way he weaves in the story of Oz as we know it, you won’t be able to put this down.

4. Get into a SERIES!
This one is a bit more general, but with all the free time you’ve got for the next few weeks it’s the perfect time to get into a series. There are so many out there, but here are a few recommendations:
Twilight: Duh. The books aren’t worthy of a Pulitzer, but the story will definitely suck you in.
Harry Potter: If you haven’t picked up a HP book, now’s the time. Regardless of the audience these books were intended for, anyone and everyone will enjoy this series.
Something Borrowed: It’s a total beach read. Your typical “girl in New York on her quest for love,” but they’re good. And quick. And really, really good.

There are tons more out there, so get to that bookstore and search!

4 & 1/2. Going Bovine by Libba Bray
I don’t care if I reviewed this one a month ago (that’s why it’s only a half).  YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK. I find myself still thinking of it and how wonderfully it is written. The lesson in this book is just so absolutely profound. I don’t think I can even write down in words how awesome it is and the feeling I got while reading the ending. Just read it. Do it,.

It was a typical Saturday night: I got my drink on with my girlfriends at the bar followed immediately by late night pizza at Hungry Howies. Everything was going smoothly – I ordered my cheese sticks, grabbed a bottle of water and sat down to dig in – when a group of very drunk townies walked in. They were loud, obnoxious, and had some of the fakest blonde hair I’d ever seen.

I was sitting at my table minding my own business (read: smothering my breadsticks with ranch dressing) when one of the townies fell out of her chair and onto the floor, taking an entire pizza down with her.

Naturally, I laughed. I mean, it was funny. There was a trashy girl on the floor covered in pizza. Anyone in my situation would have done the same. But apparently Pizza Townie’s friend did not agree. She jumped out of her seat, ran over to my table and got in my face.

“What? You think that’s funny?” She barked.
“Yeah,” I giggled. Her nostrils were flaring and she had really big biceps – she could most definitely kill me without breaking a sweat – but I couldn’t stop laughing.
“You think that’s funny?!” She barked again. Even though I’d clearly already answered.
I attempted to stand up and make myself more clear before my friend chimed in.
“I’m sorry. It’s fine. It’s not funny. Sorry.”
Seemingly satisfied, the girl walked away and sat back with her friends. I continued on with my breadsticks. Then I looked over, saw the girl wiping tomato sauce off of her white pants (yes, white pants in December) and broke out in fits of laughter once again.

And Pizza Townie’s friend was back in my face.
“You know, bitch, some girls do go out. And some girls do get drunk. And they may even fall off their chairs, BITCH.”
“Yeah, and some girls do have really bad highlights,” I muttered under my breath. Only it turned out it wasn’t under my breath, because the next thing I know I felt a hand (and five fake nails) make contact with the back of my head.

A chunk of breadstick flew out of my mouth and landed in my ranch dressing. I stared in front of me; my friends’ faces were frozen in horror.

“What? You gonna get up and fight me, or are you just gonna sit there and eat your garlic, cheesy breadsticks?!” She screamed.
“There’s no garlic on this bread,” I answered. (Yes, I realize now that this probably wasn’t the correct response, but I wasn’t in the right state of mind. And I take my breadsticks really seriously.)
“What you say?” She screamed.
“I said, ‘THERE IS NO GARLIC ON THIS BREAD.’” I stood up. My friends stared at me, unsure to laugh or call the police. But there was no need; sensing danger, the 16-year-old pimple-faced pizza boy hopped over the counter and pulled us apart.

“Maybe you should leave,” he squeaked.
Blondie wasn’t moving so he grabbed her arm and dragged her towards the door.  When he finally got her outside, she pulled the door open and screamed, “Watch your back, bitch! I’m gonna f**k you up.”

I sat down with my friends and we laughed till we cried. Mostly because I was so scared I peed my pants a little. Then we discussed the odds that the girl was packing heat and waiting for me outside to indeed “f**k me up.” We drunkenly decided it would be safest to call a cab for the 3-block walk back home and have it pick us up out back. I ducked low in the back until we pulled up to our house.

Fortunately, I survived the night. Unfortunately, I can now only indulge in my late night breadsticks via delivery. I’m not risking running into that motley crew again; I spent way too much on this nose to have it broken by a pair of Revlon Press-On nails.

With exams and packing this week, I have to be honest, I’ve had little time to read. But, I have been getting myself into the holly, jolly season that is Christmas and thinking about my favorite Christmas stories! Sure, most of them have been turned into movies, but it’s the books (and memories of curling up next to the big tree to read ‘em) that really make me happy this time of year.

I’ve compiled a list that will hopefully get you thinking of fond memories from your younger years and maybe even help you find a new favorite! I know that they are mostly children books, but isn’t Christmas all about being a kid again?

1. The Jolly Christmas Postman
This one was always SO much fun. The Postman books have pages with pockets full of fun things like letters and puzzles. Basically, it tells the story of a Postman who delivers various Christmas letters, cards and packages, and the readers get to play with their own version of each one! I have such fond memories of this one and could spend hours leafing through the novelty letters. Even now.

2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Everyone knows the Grinch! The Hollywood movie featuring Jim Carrey is eons more popular, but the classic is really where it’s at. Dr. Seuss is a genius in the realm of children’s stories and his take on Christmas is just as fun as all his other work! Maybe compliment this one with a viewing of the television cartoon special?

3. The Polar Express
Another one that’s been made into a movie. The Polar Express was originally published over 25 years ago but is still going strong. It tells the story of a young boy who gets to ride an old-fashioned train to the North Pole to meet the big man in red, aka, every child’s dream! I can vividly remember reading this one and ringing the bell that came with it. Sigh. So good.

4. The Night Before Christmas
Absolutely the #1 Christmas classic of all time. I think it’s safe to say that everyone can recite at least a part of this one (“and all through the house…”)! This is still my favorite Christmas story, even though I’m twenty. Yeah, I said it. Fun fact: I bet you didn’t know that this one was originally published in 1823. That’s close to 200 years ago! This has clearly stood the test of time and will continue to thrill families for years to come.

There’s not much to do on Christmas day after you stuff your face and open all your presents, so dust off those Christmas classics and take a trip down memory lane. Then text all your friends and tell them what you raked in this year.

If the name Janet Fitch sounds familiar to you, that’s because I’ve already reviewed her first novel “White Oleander.” I was so impressed with that book that I decided to pick up her second book, “Paint it Black.” I know that it’s the Christmas season and all my book picks should be holly and jolly, but I’m making an exception for “Paint it Black” because I was just so excited to read it.

Set in the 1980’s, “Paint it Black” tells the story of Josie Tyrell, a redneck, trailer-park runaway who lives in LA with her boyfriend, Michael Faraday. They are frequenters of the bustling LA rock scene and happy living in their small shack, Michael painting and Josie modeling now and again so they can pay the rent. When Michael suddenly commits suicide, Josie is rocked and as she uncovers parts of Michael’s past that he never shared, she begins to question everything she used to know to be real.

If the storyline isn’t enough to draw you in, the very talented author will. Janet Fitch is an AMAZING writer. Usually, I skim over sections of a book, usually the unnecessarily long descriptions, but I find it impossible to skim over Fitch’s writing. She has a beautiful grasp of the English language and most importantly, I never find her writing boring. She created an incredibly interesting story with “Paint it Black” that is at once both so different than what most of us know and yet so real. I have never run away from home,slummed it in some dirty apartment in LA, or lost the person I love most, but Fitch’s writing makes me feel it and understand it and know it.

The story also really speaks to the reader and pushes us to evaluate things in our own lives. Josie’s entire world falls apart and she is forced to redefine herself. Being in a relationship myself, it was neat to take a step back and think about how I would redefine myself if it ended. I think most people depend on others to create an identity and Josie’s story reminds us of the importance of holding on to who we are despite how attached we might become to our partner.

Oh yeah, and besides providing a great moral lesson, “Paint it Black” kept my attention through all 448 pages (and that is a LONG time!).

As I said before, “Paint it Black” is not a super cheerful book, but it can warm your heart, nonetheless. It has an important message, legitimate characters and a very down-to-earth storyline. If you’re looking for something good to read curled up under a blanket during your winter break, I highly recommend adding “Paint it Black” to your wish list.