I'll Take Mine Straight Black

[ShootingStarsMag]

I swear I'm not depressed. Sure, I get down like everyone else, but that doesn't mean I'm so down about life that I find it worthless. You're probably wondering what I'm talking about now and why this is related to books...well, don't worry, it is! I love books that are sad, depressing, horrifying, tear-inducing, breath-stopping, WONDERFULLY "horrible."

It might sound like I'm insane but I can't help it. I like books that show the gritty side of life. This is just as realistic as a love story, probably just as much so. It's interesting and informs readers about something they may or may not already know much about. It shows that life isn't always perfect, but that people can survive.

Recently people seem to be going with the Twilight formula: two young, beautiful teens falling in love and living happily ever after. Sure, this can happen. Does it normally? Not really. So I'd much rather read about heartbreak and unrequited love. This is definitely something I see more of in my everyday life. After all, I'm still a teen myself.

Beyond relationships gone awry, I'll take all those other deep, dark, edgy novels that are still on the shelves if we look hard enough. Give me the illness, eating disorders, rape, abuse, death, sorrow, hurt, anger, tears, pain. Give me it all. It's life. We shouldn't hide from it. We should read and learn.

That's what I want. I want less of Disney fairytales and more everyday, run-of-the-mill, I-really-could-be-you characters.

Please?!