New Book Review

 The book review of Harry Potter and The Cursed Child is now up under the Book Reviews section on the side! What did you guys think of the book?

Harry Potter and The Cursed Child

     Hey everyone! I just finished reading Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Parts 1 and 2), after my friend let me borrow it (yay!). I actually really liked it, even though I know it was quite short and wasn't really like any of the other books. There was no real "description" of Hogwarts and the detail was lacking, but it was a play, so I thought it was actually pretty good. Of course, I would prefer a novelization, but at least we have the first seven books to read again and again. I feel like every time I reread a Harry Potter book, there are details I missed out on the first time! Like in The Sorcerer's Stone, I had never realized Sirius Black was mentioned! I even recently reread The Deathly Hallows, and it was more fun reading it the second time than the first, although there was obviously no suspense anymore.
     I'll try to post a book review really soon of the play. Keep reading!

Countdown To Fall

     I can't believe fall is almost here! Honestly, the fall must be my favorite season. I'm sort of excluding summer because of the whole break, because then who wouldn't choose summer? 
     Fall is awesome though because it's like a transition from summer into winter. There's hot chocolate here and there, leaves changing color to be super pretty, awesome fashion, and the weather isn't too bad either- just the perfect mix of rain and shine. Also, fall almost begins the start of holiday season, and don't even get me started on that fun!
     Technically, fall begins on September 22nd, meaning I still have a bit of waiting to do. It's totally worth the wait though.
     What's your favorite part of fall? Vote now in the poll!

Back-to-School

    It's only been a week of school, and already there's so much homework! I already have some quizzes lined up for this week, and an essay as well. I guess I didn't expect so much when I got back, but I suppose that's just school for me :)!
     I totally wish it was summer right now, but I guess this 3-day weekend will have to do. Ah, the weekend! What would we do without it?
     How was your first day back to school? And if you haven't started school yet, what are you excited for?

The Taj Mahal

 Hi everyone! The reason I haven't really been posting is because I just came back from vacation! Sometimes I didn't really have an internet connection, but since I'm back, now I can blog about my vacation!
 So basically, I went to the Taj Mahal!
The Taj Mahal is something everyone has heard a little about, so my introduction will be pretty brief.
The Taj Mahal was constructed in 1648 under the emperor Shah Jahan as a tomb of marble (though not all is made of it) for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. He actually started a black Taj Mahal for himself, but he was imprisoned by his own son, who wanted the throne, and that was the end of that.
 Personally, I would not build my own tomb under any conditions. Just to put that out there.
 Anyways, we hired a guide to show us around, because we wanted to make sure we got the full history effect, and I was REALLY impressed. The architects and Shah Jahan thought of literally everything! Let me explain.

1.  The Taj Mahal is symmetrical to the millimeter. Standing in a straight line on the middle of the lake, it looks exactly the same from the left to the right. That's really good for the technology they had back then!
2. They installed a lightning conductor in case lightning struck it. Most monuments don't have one, especially one since the time it was built.
3. After they buried the emperor and his wife, they made faux tombs directly above the real ones, so people wouldn't walk over the originals (to not act disrespectful).
4. They planted cycas plants, the slowest growing plants in the world! According to an article by Lynn McKamey http://www.rhapisgardens.com/sagos/, "The fastest rate observed in South Texas...under 30% shade is three new sets of leaves and an increase of 1" (3 cm) of height and trunk diameter per year".  1 inch of growth per year for the fastest type means they are still around from 1648! 

I had a lot of fun at the Taj Mahal this summer! What about you guys? What did you do over the summer?