"When I wake up, the other side of the bed is cold"

I'm definitely one of those classy and inherently annoying people who read the book before the movie and spend the entire screening scoffing and murmuring to those next to me. But what can I say? Half of me understands the allure of taking a beloved piece of writing and being able to twist it a different way to create something completely different but still entertaining. However, the other half that enjoys yelling quite loud and obnoxiously over the aforementioned half is a rather nose to the grindstone, narrow minded perfectionist that hindsight tells me to strangle but I keep it around anyway when I want to be right about something.

What does this preference and self analysis all add up to? It adds up to an intense excitement for the upcoming Hunger Games movie.

The Hunger Games (written by Suzanne Collins) and I have an interesting history together. I remember when we first encountered one another --  The Hunger Games narrowed down to a digital exert on my computer screen and me curiously going through email from the once proud and wonderful Borders. It was then I read what this book was all about and was absolutely blown away with the concept. So I decided that it would soon be mine.

Which turned out to be easier said than done. Without a stable income, I found myself getting my hands on a brand new (and therefore, expensive hardcover) book was just not going to happen anytime soon. And so my dreams of watching the Hunger Games unfold and whether Katniss would make it through were thwarted.

It wasn't until much later that I half hated/half loved myself for my decision (I seem to be at odds constantly). I don't like the label 'hipster' but I learned early with the Twilight outbreak, that mainstream books tended to be terrible. So, although I had thought that The Hunger Games was a great book at the time, I excluded myself from truly finding out on the basis that it was 'too popular' for me.

Only more time later did the book jump back into my life with the presentation of an exceptionally well done movie trailer. And we are once again full circle with this story and I can proudly report that I have read the first book of the series, The Hunger Games and am ready to criticize the heck out of the movie if I must do so.

But we aren't here, dear readers, to talk movie hype (though it comes up quite a lot in the book world and deserves mentioning) but rather, the actual text on page (or screen for you 'ebookers'--yeah that's right, I made up a new word).

Despite only reading the first book in this trilogy (which, if my sources are correct, will not remain a trilogy for too long), I think I can safely say that I'm Team Gale. I think I can also safely say that my favorite characters in that book were Cinna and Rue. Yes, I was cheering for Katniss (didn't care too much about Peeta except I needed him for Katniss to win) but she did not wholly appeal to me. I don't know why, perhaps her rough around the edges personality and her inability to ASCERTAIN THE TRUTH ABOUT PEOPLE'S FEELINGS was a little frustrating (those of you who have read should know what I mean).

Besides that, she's really cool and makes plenty of good choices along with the bad. Collins did an excellent job ending the narrative completely while not only expertly setting us up for a sequel, but having us crave it with all our might. I found slipping into the world of Panem easy and exhilarating and enjoyed the small details that even now, months later, still stick out in my mind. Collins also does an excellent job of alluding to, but not fully giving us romance which I think keeps the integrity of the 'survival' narrative in tack. It's like how the movie Pearl Harbor or Titanic should have been--actiony with only a small side order of make out (but is that what we got? Nooooo, heaven forbid. Okay I'm done).

I add my praise to this widely popular series and I believe have learned a rather important lesson: you can't judge a book by it's popularity *shot*. But really, I read what I want to read, not because everyone else is. This is a good principle to apply to everyday life as well (not that you need me to tell you that). Don't get me wrong, it's not like I don't jump on bandwagons, I just do it cause I want to, not cause my best friend(s) happened to do it before me.

Alright, I'm signing off now. I recommend the Hunger Games series but if you don't like it, don't read it. If you do like it, I highly support reading the book before seeing the movie (must go buy a copy of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Slayer). Look for the movie in theatres March 23rd (look for me at the midnight showing).

Catch you cool cats later. Peace Off.

~"Literature is a textually transmitted disease, normally contracted in childhood" Jane Yolen~
*the blog title is a quote taken from the book The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and does not belong to me

"The way I figure it, everyone gets a miracle"

It's really hard to pick out any flaws in a John Green novel. Paper Towns is no exception.

There are two things that always get me (in a good way) when it comes to books by John Green. His characters, and his philosophy. Both are so masterfully done, that I always have to stop what I'm reading, step back for a moment and just go:

"wow"

Quentin Jacobsen is just your average high schooler, trying to get by and have a few good laughs along the way. However, the one thing to complicate this rather laid back plan is one Margo Roth Spiegelman, a childhood friend who has lately drifted to the realms of mystery and unending intrigue. Wanting to know her more and getting caught up in her mischievous ways is soon more than Q and his friends bargained for.

John Green does an excellent job of balancing uniqueness with being relatable when it comes to his characters. Q and Margo and  the whole slew of cohorts and confidantes are both recognizable (certain people that I know in my life come to mind) while also embodying personalities so wholly matchless that it leaves me wishing I knew someone like that. His characters are both incredibly human and incredibly out there that one cannot help but get completely caught up in their antics and feel what they feel along with them to the very end.

I love the simplicity of the ideas but the deep and meaningful impact that they make to the characters of the novel and through them, the reader. The title in itself turns out to be this idea that you would never have expected nor come up with on your own. But it surfaces and it makes sense and makes you want to find the little philosophies in your life.

Green succeeds in what all authors hope to succeed in once their novel is produced. He creates not just an enjoyable story, but a memorable one that stays with a reader after months of having finished it. I can still recall the anxiety of the final couple of chapters as the character drew so close to their goal, as I kept reading page after page, waiting to see what the ending would deliver and at the same time trying desperately to form predictions of my own. But that proved easier said than done. Green wowed me, like he's done in previous books and I came away pleasantly contented, amazed and not at all surprised by the awesomeness of what my mind and feelings had just consumed.

Green is a masterful author and deserves all the attention and praise that he has been gaining recently with the release of his fourth book The Fault in our Stars. I myself preordered it, and  I know for a fact that it is sitting at home, probably still in packaging, waiting for me. For, my dear readers, I am currently across the pond in good ol' England, studying. And while that in and of itself is exciting, I am at the same time perplexed that everyone else is enjoying an excellent John Green novel but me!

But enough about that. I highly recommend any of Green's books to those of you who are fond of a good story about extraordinary characters that is relatable and an all around good time. It's charming and endearing infused with wit and emotion that some books only dream of conveying. Don't be surprised to see The Fault in our Stars on here an don't be surprise when I once again have nothing but good things to say about it.

Looking for more John Green goodness? Check out his other works: Looking for Alaska and An Abundance of Katherines. Or, learn more about the author and his brother on their YouTube channel, Vlogbrothers [link]

I recently read a blog post from the author Maggie Stiefvater (The Scorpio Races, Shiver trilogy) about what constitutes a "review" [link]. So, my dear readers, do not believe me to unbiasedly be presenting a suitable review like all the proper book critics do. This is wholly my opinion based on what I read and felt about that reading. I like to believe that, somewhat, as an English major with a writing concentration, I do know what I'm talking about when presenting a view. But do not take this as an impartial account of a novel. Maybe someday I will cultivate the skills to deliver this proper review, but until then, enjoy my fairly educated, kinda subjected, views on the novels I read.

Hope you all are enjoying your January! Stay warm and stay tune for more literary news! (I promise I do more than just give my opinions on books)

Catch you cool cats later. Peace off.

~“Books are the ultimate Dumpees: put them down and they’ll wait for you forever; pay attention to them and they always love you back.” -John Green, An Abundance of Katherines~
*the blog title is a quote taken from the book Paper Towns by John Green and does not belong to me
 

"It happened every year, was almost a ritual"

With 21 million copies sold (probably more by now), The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo has made quite a name for itself. Author Stieg Larsson is the mastermind behind the addictive and gripping crime fiction trilogy and his first novel does not disappoint.

I myself have recently finished his 644 page thriller and found myself wowed and happily entertained. It's long, but it's just as exciting as any Harry Potter book of equal length and one would find themselves completing it regardless of what point in the year it is. Because I like to consider myself a rather "responsible" college student, I chose to wait until summer to read this book (as with the other 20 I have waiting to be read).

Now, for anyone planning to read this book, I'm going to give them forewarning now. The movie version (currently the Swedish one that's released) is extremely accurate to the book itself. So for those who are thinking "I'm not sure I'll like the book, I'll just watch the movie to get a feel for it" DON'T. If you watch the movie, then you know the answer and pretty much all the details of the book.

And while this may sound strange, the above mentioned warning was the route I took. I do somewhat regret it, I'm one who always likes to read the book before watching the movie, despite how paranoid it makes me. Because, c'mon, you read the book and then you spend the whole movie picking all the little inconsistencies apart until you're thoroughly upset with how the movie went. Anyway, that's not my point.

My point is, I watched The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and then decided that I was a) very much in love with the whole thing and b) really wanted to compare it to the book. Like the typical book and movie combo person I was, I was expecting 600+ pages of different events, skewed personality depictions and extraneous or left out information.

I was wrong.

So while, yes, I do consider The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo to be one of my favorite novels, I more or less knew the entire content of the novel before I had even began reading it. I'm not saying if you want to read the book just watch the movie. I'm just saying analyze which aspect of story telling is more important to you and then make a decision of how you go in learning about The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Overall, if there's a star rating for books like there is with movies, I would give it a five out of five. This book is not for the faint of heart, however, as it contains much violence (coupled with equal amounts of badassery) of both physical and sexual nature. Definitely for an older audience. The mystery crime is superb and you do not see the ending coming. You also get a really great feel of Sweden and learn much about the country while trying to mentally pronounce all the names. The lead off into the second book is expertly done and I'm anxious to read it, despite, also, having already watched the movie.

To harp on the movie once more, real fast, reading English subtitles is not for everyone. But, seeing as it's become so popular, there's no surprise that the American made version will be in theatres this winter.

I will honestly say that I'm going to see it just to see how off the mark they'll get from the book.

Let's face it, that's how American made movies go. And you can bet that I will definitely be talking more about that later.

Back to the book. I would have to say my favorite part of the book is when the two main characters, Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander finally meet up. Larsson did a great job of throwing these two together without compromising the individual character of each. For those who read, we know Blomkvist to be of a friendly and overall good natured personality and Salander to be that of a taciturn outcast. So when Blomkvist starts eliciting emotions and reactions from Salander that up to this point we haven't seen, we are simply graced with a few clues to the mystery without upsetting the balance of the character's attitude.

While I loved the characters, I was a little less than thrilled with all the history I had to read before I got to any action. Any. Every company was analyzed from the foundation. Each character had a background that had to be thoroughly explained (except for Salander that is, seeing as she's the mystery character that keeps the trilogy going). I understand a whole history on the Vanger Company but we had to hear all about a character on a boat who's name only reappeared at the end of the novel. In my opinion, it was a little much. But Larsson writes it in a way that makes it flow easy and is easy on the mind and does not border on the excruciating.

So there you have it. If you've got the time (and let's face it, it's the middle of summer and everyone takes a vacation) I do recommend this book for those of who like a good mystery and can swallow the disturbing parts in between. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was masterfully written and I can't wait to head over to Borders and pick up my copy of The Girl who Played with Fire next.

Just some quick business before I let you get back to your surely more entertaining life that's hopefully filled with some reading (if not than I'm at a lost as to why you would read this). This blog is a literary blog that deals in the literary world entirely. As you just read, the literary world touches the big screen as well. I'll discuss writing, books, poetry, short stories, articles, life in the writing field, authors, tips and tricks and anything else that has to do with the printing of ink into words (both physically and digitally) coming from the creative mind.

For the reader fans out there I have a fanfiction account that you can go gander at if you're interested: ReAwaken
I'll be posting fanfiction there regularly and could potentially be starting up a podcast for those who can't read, like to listen to stories, are on the go, or what have you. Stay tuned for that and I will catch you cool cats later.

~A good book on your shelf is a friend that turns its back on you and remains a friend.  -Author Unknown~
*The blog title is a quote taken from the book The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson and does not belong to me.