The Hunger Games

Drop what you are doing right now. I don't care if you're watching a movie as you read this. I don't care if you're planning on taking a nap or going to the mall later. Forget those plans. What you must do right now is go to the nearest bookstore and purchase one of the best books I have ever read. It's called The Hunger Games. The author is Suzanne Collins. The book takes place in futuristic North America which has been renamed Panem and separated into 13 districts. After a rebellion, District 13 has been eliminated. So the government can avoid another uprising, they like to let their people know they still have ultimate control. Because of this, every year each district has to send one boy and one girl between the ages 0f 12 and 18 to the Capitol to participate in The Hunger Games. They are put into an arena and forced to fight each other. Only one contestant will survive. To make matters worse, it is televised and all of Panem is watching. The main character, Katniss Everdeen, is so likeable that it is impossible not to root for her. I know you might be thinking the book sounds too violent and twisted. But for those of you who need a little pleasure, there is a romantic plot weaved into the storyline. This book will be liked by both genders equally. And once you fall in love with it, there is good news for you. There is a sequel. And the final book in the trilogy comes out this August which trust me, is an excrutiatingly long wait. I promise, if you read this book you will be forced to give up sleep. Work will not get done until you have completed this book. So follow my advice; you will not regret it.

Remember Me

I saw Remember Me last night and it broke my heart. Regardless of whether you're a Robert Pattinson fan or you hated him in Twilight, his performance as Tyler Hawkins will work its way into your heart. If it doesn't, you must not have one. The entire film is an emotional rollercoaster from the opening scene until the credits begin to roll. With stunning performances from Emilie de Ravin, Pierce Brosnan, and Chris Cooper, Pattinson had a great cast behind him the whole time. The acting was so flawless that you can not remain removed from the events unfolding. When everything goes from great to awful, you're heart will sink in your chest and you will feel as if the heartbreaking tragedies are actually happening to you. The film covers many different forms of heartache ranging from the loss of a loved one to being harassed by peers. My advice would be as soon as you finish reading this, go to the nearest theater and purchase a ticket-even if you have to go alone. Word of warning: bring tissues and leave your mascara at home.

Have you ever felt so sad that you couldn't breathe? Have you ever felt so fragile that you couldn't handle being in a room full of people? Because I, Shelby Marks, have felt this way before. I feel this way now. I never knew that anyone could feel this much pain. Especially when nothing physically harmful was hurting you. The phrase "heartbroken" really doesn't begin to cover it. It's more like heart exploded or heart shattered. Nothing's left. And the pain can well over at any moment. It's constantly there, but sometimes, even when I think I've got it under control, it leaks out. All of a sudden I go from perfectly calm to a mascara stained mess. And that's when the hyperventilating starts. Sometimes this happens out of the blue. Other times, it's provoked. Like when I pass Abercrombie & Fitch at the mall. Or when I get a text message and my heart sinks when I realize it's not going to be him. I will never hold his hand again or even get to see him one more time. I'm trying to cope; I'm trying so hard. But whenever I think I've made progress, something new reminds me of him and I'm right back where I started. I can't even say the name Mark out loud. I can barely even think it without crying. The worst part was when my friends asked about him right after it happened. They didn't know anything had changed, but the tears that poured down my face clued them in. Crying in public is the most embarrassing thing, but I find myself doing it more and more. Eventually I have to find a way to contain it, but right now I can't think straight. I can't come up with any rationanl way to stop. I wish I could hate him, but as much as I try to justify doing so, I can't stop loving him. And I'm started to worry that I never will.