The Fault in Our Stars by John Green review

One of the best books I've read in 2012, so far. No shit, Sherlock, it's only January. 

But no, seriously, I love this book. I'll go ahead and label it as 'cancer book', but I don't think it's negative in this case. 

John Green approached the subject of dying from cancer with a good sense of humour, without taking away the seriousness of the disease. It made me laugh out loud and cry intermittently. 

I finished it in one weekend. It was interesting to read about Amsterdam through the heroine's eyes and discovering some of the magic that I never really saw there, myself. 

Definitely worthy of a read, or two.


Buy it on Amazon here:

Looking For Alaska by John Green review

Looking for Alaska is a deliciously tragic and dark book about young people who all go through something they shouldn't have to.

Everything in this book feels tense to me. I'm not even sure what I mean by that, but it had me sitting on the edge of my seat for the entirety of the two days it took me to read the book. 

The characters in the book almost seem subsequent to the things that happen to them, and that makes me wonder if we, as non-fictional beings, are as defined by what we do and what happens to us as the people in this book. Maybe I'm thinking about it too much now.

John Green writes about tragedy like most people breathe air. Or at least, I'd like to imagine he does. Death, the great mystery of the unknown and acceptance are themes that are written about often but no one does it as well as John Green.


Buy the book on Amazon:

Darren Criss paintings

I thought it would be nice to put all my collected Darren Criss paintings into one blogpost. I think this is about three years worth of Darren, haha.

I met Darren a couple of weeks ago, and he signed my art. That was lovely!

Art update with Darren Criss, Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone and Justin Bartha

Art update with Jesse Eisenberg, Darren Criss, Emma Stone and Eric Fisher

Art Update with Andrew Garfield and Joe Mazzello

The tendency to skip a step when launching a new website

As you can probably see from my various attempts to keep a blog, try a new design, try a new project, I tend to skip a step or two in the process of launching a new website.

I see a service that I like - a design that is quite lovely - a template that I fancy - a new topic that I think is cool - a new way of interaction that I think might be fun...

I go for it. I don't think: I buy a theme, I launch a new site, I sign up for a new service, just like that. Most of the time that equals in investment. Of time, of money, of energy. But most of these impulsive actions don't pay off. Why? Because these things need to be thought about. You need to ask yourself many important questions before - and not after, like I do - you make a decision.

1. Why am I doing this?
2. What is my goal?
3. Do I have time for this?
4. Will people even care that I do this?
5. Will people interact with me on this?
6. Should I be publishing this?
7. Haven't I already tried this before?
8. Is this worth my money?
9. Will I stick with this or will I get bored doing this?
10. Am I doing this to please others or myself?

Just a few questions that I never seem to ask. I just get really excited, and really impatient, ignore everything that I've ever heard in university about planning communication, and just do it.

And most of the time, I end up being disappointed.

In other words, I'm launching my revamped homepage website art page thing soon!!!