Not Today, Norbert, Not Today **sniffles**

It's summer time! That means I actually have time to do things!
**GASP**
I know...

Concerned Reader That Doesn't Exist: "So what were you doing over the year?"
Me:


Bout that...
So the last time I checked in on this blog, I was...
**page flipping**
Short films?
Musicals?

Wow...it's been a while.

Anyway, I've been a little more invested in school lately, specifically my school's theatre program. So I might be reviewing some shows I've seen/discovered since I've become a more involved theatre kid.
And when people tell you that you won't have time to read in school when you get older...
They're right. They're entirely right.

Middle School Me: "I'll make time!"
Me (Now): "No, no you won't. That's actually scientifically impossible."

I barely had time to read my school books.
But it's summer! So here's a book review!

Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions

by Daniel Wallace

Amazon's Summary

Year of Publishing: 1998
Publishing House: Pandher Books
Genre: Fiction (Realistic)
Age: Actually Anyone
Short/Long Read: Short read, about a week. You'll want to fully take in every moment of this book, however. It took me a month to read.
Rating Out Of Five: 5/5 Stars

Lately, I've been able to walk into the YA and teen section and summarize every book in there with one sentence. My opinions on books have started to change (more on this later).

But this book is different.

I think I told y'all that Love and First Sight was my favorite book.

Nope.

Sorry, you've been replaced.

And this book will never be replaced.

Now, I was doing the show adaptation of this book when I read it, so this book holds a special place in my heart. The story of Edward Bloom is one of the most well crafted beautiful stories on the planet. The story grabbed me by the shoulders and pulled me in.

Big Fish has one of the weirdest formatting of any book I've ever read. But it's still amazing the way Daniel Wallace did it. You get little tidbits of Edward's life and Will's life (Will is his son) in each chapter, and it feels like an actual person is telling you the story of their father. I thought the story of Edward Bloom was based on an actual person until (sadly) I read in the back of the book that he wasn't. But it all seems so real.

This book has an indescribable magic that makes you feel like a kid again.

I want to read this book to my kids. I have never said that in my entire life because kids wasn't even a thought in my mind until I read this book.

I cried within the first chapter.

Daniel Wallace's language and word choice are completely beautiful, and Edwards struggle for love is down to Earth.

This book will make you cry as you watch Edward's life unravel and come to a close, and as you watch his son desperately grasp onto what is left of his father. This book is incredibly amazing, and I highly recommend it.

I also recommend listening to the soundtrack of the musical based on the book, which also brought me to tears every night I performed it. (Norbert Leo Butz is amazing omg)

And now, that little thing I said I would get back to:

I will be reviewing my five star books because I don't believe I have the same opinion on them any more. If some of their new reviews aren't five stars, they'll be off the list that's to the right.

That's all. :)

Have a great week!

Movie of the Week: Big Fish (Movie)