1. Sybil-Flora Rheta Schreiber
Written in 1973, Sybil is a novel that has truly transcended its era and remains relevant to modern day readers. I read this head-trip of a book last summer while vacationing in New Jersey. Schreiber retells the true story of a young girl battling a deadly mental illness. However, in Sybil's case, she is plagued with perhaps the most famous case of split personality disorder ever recorded--Sybil has split herself into sixteen different personalities. All of this is displayed plainly in the tiny blurb and provides a general plot summary of a very complex novel. This blurb alone will probably prompt many readers to thrust it back onto its shelf and quickly pretend they did not pick it up. I absolutely agree that, when I took this book into my hands for the first time, it scared the life out of me. But once I threw myself into the story, I soon forgot the gravity of the subject matter and focused on the emotional downfall of Sybil Isabel Dorsett. This novel is the most impressing look at mental illness as it is written by Ms. Schreiber who treated Sybil throughout her life-long battle with the sixteen other people inside of her head. I would recommend this novel to anyone, as my mother said when she recommended it to me. My mother read this book in high school and, to this day, says she will never forget it.
2. Angelhead-Greg Bottoms
This book scared the living be-jesus out of me--and I loved it. Last summer I found this book on a whim at Half Price Books (my favorite place ever). I had no idea what to expect, but just the cover made such an impression on me that I had to buy it. I didn't know at the time that Angelhead would be the most graphic, honest, and enlightening true story of a young boy's descent into madness. Greg Bottoms tells the story of his brother, Michael, as he battles with severe paranoid schizophrenia. In the beginning, Michael deals with his illness through dangerous acid trips which result in his unconscious body sprawled out on his bedroom floor where Greg found him most nights--Greg was eleven or twelve at the time. Michael's disease begins to develop at the tender age of fifteen and snowballs as Michael becomes more violent and loses pieces of his mind. Greg maintains a cool and displaced tone in his narration. The reader can sense that Greg very rarely feels sorry for his brother. As Michael's condition gets worse, the family tries their hardest to ignore his obvious cries for help. A family that has gone through hell with years of financial instability, they seem to purposely ignore Michael's dangerous tendencies (all of these are coping methods for his illness). I admit that, because of the graphic subject matter, I had trouble reading Angelhead at night or in large sittings. Although it is a difficult read, Angelhead is one of the most heart-wrenching books I have ever read.
Okay! Now that I have gotten all of that off my chest, I have some prom tips for both girls and guys (as the night is rapidly approaching). Now I will try to make these different from the run-of-the-mill fashion tips one might find in Seventeen or Teen Vogue--I don't classify girls by their body type.
FOR GIRLS
1. The Nobody-Wants-To-See-That Rule: Okay girls, prom is the biggest night of the school year for juniors and seniors. It is a night to dress elegantly and modestly--don't have your you-know-whats hanging out! Summer is coming up, so let's just save the skanky tendencies for when you go swimsuit shopping, not prom dress shopping. Keep the ladies intact and the booty covered.
2. The Go-With-Your-Own-Style Rule: We have all seen the hideous, bejeweled messes that Macy's and Dillard's call prom dresses. Although these are the popular places to shop for dresses, there are more stores to look through! This rule is to reiterate to girls that it is okay to spend lots of time looking for a dress. Try a couple different places. There is nothing worse than buying a dress you don't really like only to discover a much better choice a month later. Take your time.
3. The This-Isn't-Noah's-Arc-You-Can-Go-To-Prom-Without-A-Significant-Other Rule: You've gone to homecoming with a group of girls before, why should it be different for prom? The point is, if a guy has shown to lack the balls to ask you to the dance--don't decide to stay home and watch Pride and Prejudice! Chances are, there are dozens of other people that don't have dates as well, girls as well as guys. Get a group together and go date-less. Hey, it means you can dance like a slut and nobody can say anything! (Joke).
FOR GUYS
1. The Every-Girl-Wants-To-Get-Asked-So-You-Aren't-Off-The-Hook-If-You-Have-A-Girlfriend Rule: I think that's pretty self explanatory.
2. The Most-Girls-Think-It's-A-Turn-On-When-Guys-Dress-Up-For-Nice-Occasions Rule: Boys, you don't really have a choice. If you are planning on going to prom, look nice! For juniors, I don't think you have to go all out with a tuxedo yet, but put some effort into your appearance. If anything, the vast majority of girls will be extremely impressed if their date cleans up and doesn't whine about it--girls like that kind of thing!
3. The No-You-Don't-Have-To-Save-Every-Penny-You-Have-Two-Years-Prior-To-Pay-For-Prom Rule: Though it is tradition for the man to pay for everything, that doesn't exactly apply here. There are countless expenses to be accounted for on prom night: tickets, transportation, dinner etc. Guys, no girl is going to expect that you make six figures and will pay for every service required (or at least they shouldn't). So talk to your date in advance and agree on who will pay for what. No one has enough money to cover everything.
4. My last rule for guys is the third rule for girls--Don't get down on yourself if you don't plan on asking a girl, or even if a girl says no. Especially after being rejected, I would be willing to bet that most guys would throw in the towel on the whole evening. Go ahead and go. Dance with a girl that also went stag--One thing might lead to another!
That concludes this post but I will leave you with some prom muses for boys and girls.
Girls-
Guys-
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