It's almost April?

So, my promise in my first post about being timely? Apparently it's not been holding. This winter has been crazy busy with newspaper and band and pure torture that my teachers force upon me. You know, the usual stuff that bothers kids. Plus a sinus infection that refuses to go away... but that's beside the point.

Within those months, I've got a lot to catch you up on! I've read a couple of books, but not that many that have really stuck out to me. Today I finished reading the third novel in Carrie Ryan's The Forest of Hands and Teeth novel The Dark and Hollow Places (published by Delacorte Books for Young Readers). Like the last review, I don't want to spoil anything from the beginning of the series, so I'll start with the large jist. It's set after the apocalypse where everyone has become infected with a zombie-like disease (they call them Unconsecrated). Within the Forest of Hands and Teeth there is a gated community blocking the Unconsecrated from the living, but when the gate is breeched and the community falls to the Unconsecrated, Mary and a small band of teenagers in the community venture out into the forest in search of sanctuary, namely the ocean her mother has told her so much about. The next novel chronicles the life of Mary's daughter, Gabry, and the third Gabry's sister Annah. Don't worry, there's plenty of romance and suspense to get you through the zombies :).

Musically, I've got loads! My favorite band of all time, Empires, is up for the cover of Rolling Stone. They are having a contest with 16 unsigned bands to win the cover. They have made it to the final 8 and are so close to making the top 4! To check them out and give 'em 5 stars, click here. That's my small plug, even if you don't vote for them, check out their stuff! It's wicked (mostly I just said that because I wanted to sound British, though it's probably not obvious, hence the explanation). One of the bands that got eliminated, the Steelwells, I kind of fell in love with, also. Where Empires is rock all the time, the Steelwells... I can't describe it, it just makes you so happy to listen to. It's easy going and free yet packed with emotion. A few (British!) bands that I've stumbled across are The Answering Machine and Two Door Cinema Club. You've probably heard of Two Door Cinema Club if you've been watching MTV since they'll be at the Woodies, but the Answering Machine is equally good, if not more enjoyable.

                                              photo of Empires from their Facebook Page
Finally, I feel the need to go over some movies I've seen lately because if there's anything I live for, it's movies. I'm fascinated with music in movies and how they affect the mood of the scene. The best music inside a movie that evokes emotion (lately) would have to be The Wolf by Fever Ray. It's from the movie Red Riding Hood (directed by Catherine Hardwicke) which is only slightly like Twilight if that's what you're thinking. The movie had good acting (Amanda Seyfried), an intense mystery, and hot guys. I'm beginning to see a pattern in things I enjoy....

Warner Brothers

If you've stuck around this long, thanks for reading. I really hope you check out some of the music (Empires Empires Empires) and have a great day!

read.write.love.
..Maggie..

Oh! P.S., you can get a download of my personal favorite Empires song Damn Things Over on their website. weareempires.com