With Halloween right around the corner, who doesn't love getting into the holiday spirit? As you may already know from last year's Halloweenesque American Television Special, I can not stand pure horror. Horror stories literally scare me to death - no pun intended. While I love getting into the holiday festivities, I do not fancy a night of debating weather I should or should not peak under the bed, or leave my lights on all night long to chase away the dark shadows. That'll definitely give me one hell of an energy bill! So if you're anything like me, here are some suggestions to keep you feeling festive and rather nightmare free ...
It's that time of year again, where we trade in those denim jackets for woolly jumpers, and sit by the make-shift fire in the living room sipping warm hot coco. Now I'm not sure about you, but this time of year is my favourite. Not only because Autumn is my favourite season of all, but also because the world seems to become more festive and so excited in the lead up to Halloween and ultimately, Christmas. Combined all that excitement with fiction and you have the perfect recipe of awesomeness! For me, there is nothing more amazing than curling up to a good book at the end of a long day - especially in the chilly weather, where a lovely story can keep me warm and cosy. So without further anticipation, here are my five reads that I hope to finish this Autumn!
Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting Malorie Blackman at a book signing - with one of my good friends Mariam - taking place during the Birmingham Literary Festival. As soon as I found out about this event, I knew I just had to go. Several years ago, I picked up a book from the library called Noughts and Crosses, and to date it has been one of the most socially powerful books I have ever read. Not only does the series directly address the topic of racism in a rather unusual way, but it's the only book I've come across in the young adult genre that deals with the topic at all. Maybe one of the reasons why this topic is never really approached directly is because, it can be pretty difficult to discuss, and really hard to execute. The story of Noughts and Crosses however did a perfect job of illustrating the impact racial discrimination can have on an individual and society itself. It was a perfectly executed story - which I can imagine must have been one hell of a challenge! Is it any wonder Malorie Blackman was chosen to be our current Children's Laureate?
Hello world! It is so good to be back. :D You may have noticed over the past several weeks, I've been pretty absence from the online sphere. That is pretty much because of how hectic things were during this last final term at university. Unfortunately, because of the workload I had, I had to take a blogging hiatus to get through it all. But now, I am back and ready to get back into all things popular culture. I've missed so many entertaining things while I've been at university and it's time to catch up! For the movies I haven't seen, to the books I haven't read. I'm really excited to be back, and I can't wait to get back in the full swing of things!
I've decided to take a slightly new direction with this blog. Instead of just posting reviews (which you will continue to see plenty of might I add), I've decided to branch out with some more lifestyle orientated content. I hope you enjoy the changes occurring in the next couple of weeks. I'm so looking forward to it! Hope to see you all soon. Stay awesome people :D
I've decided to take a slightly new direction with this blog. Instead of just posting reviews (which you will continue to see plenty of might I add), I've decided to branch out with some more lifestyle orientated content. I hope you enjoy the changes occurring in the next couple of weeks. I'm so looking forward to it! Hope to see you all soon. Stay awesome people :D
Spoilers under the cut. Beware. |
Fictional characters are more than just people in a book or on screen. They are people who come to life through the words on a page, through images on screen, through facial expressions and hand gestures. They are characters who you struggle with, through their dark times, and cheer with through their happy days. They are the people you look up to. They are the more than just fictional. To the fans, they are so much more than that. Fictional characters aren't just fictional. They are people you've never met and never will. But they are also people you've known for so long. You've grown up watching their lives unfold alongside yours, and you can't help but feel attached to them. You've grown up watching them grow as individuals and mature into adults. You've witnessed the situations they have been in, and you've been there alongside them. You've felt their anguish, their pain through all the drama and conflicts they've been through. And when they're heartbroken, you feel that sinking feeling in your chest too, weighing you down. You relish in their happiness, and can not help how elated you feel for them, because they truly deserve it after everything they've been through.
You've seen them through their best and very worst - their true vulnerable self stripped of all their invincible make-up, that raw emotion and sense of self they reveal when alone in the depths of the shadows in their silent homes at night. You've followed their journeys, and discovered something new about yourself in the process - who you aspire to be, who you don't want to be, what direction you want to take in life, and who you want to be there in that moment when you're dreams are coming true. You've formed bonds with them, people that have never existed, but yet they do. The place they've lived in becomes home to you. You've watched them go through their lives, and anticipated the direction of their lives will take alongside them. They've taught you the meaning of true happiness through their painstaking troubles, the strength of friendships under the constrains of reality and staying true to yourself by keeping your morals in check when tested on by the hand of others. These individuals have seen you through part of your life. They are long lost friends that you greet in passing when you visit their realities. And they will always stay with you, no matter how long after you've turned the last page of their chapter.
Thanks to some unknown individuals for leaking content before producers, we finally have ourselves - after months of waiting - the trailer for 'The Fault In Our Stars'! It's crazy how fast we've reached this point. Almost half a year ago. all we had was a film in the works, accompanied by John Green's enthusiastic vlogs and our bent-back paperback copies, to tie us through the long anticipated adaptation. But now, we have footage of the story that touched our hearts.
This trailer was a beautiful collection of moments that - as a fan of book - I find to be the perfect summary of emotions felt when reading this book. It includes, that hopeful beginning of a love story between two teenagers who've battled their way through cancer, the development of their relationship through the aftermath of their struggles, and those beautiful moments of recollection and heartbreak that befalls these characters. The most heartbreaking moment of the trailer is towards the end when the words 'Okay', and 'Okay' are muttered between the pair of lovers.
I do however, have to admit I have my reservations for Shailene's portrayal of Hazel Grace. I'm not sure what it is exactly that makes me feel this way. I imagined Hazel to be more reversed towards the beginning of the story, to grow as her relationship with Augustus develops, which isn't evident in the trailer. But ... this is a trailer. It is important for producers not to give too much away at this stage as it is only the first glimpse. Maybe seeing more footage of Shailene as Hazel might help. It's definitely a detail that I can put on the side, but I hope she can manage to pull it off. This story is so beautifully constructed on paper, and I only hope that it's movie companion will execute this tale to the best it can be. I also have to admit I was slightly disappointed, when seeing the place where Augustus and Hazel have their dinning date. I imagined it to be a more culturally vibrant restaurant, with an artistic atmosphere or flair to the area, (paintings on the wall, themed atmosphere inside maybe), almost like a quirky restaurant with edge, rather than a upper class restaurant that had a monotonous feel to it. But that is a pretty superficial detail that I am sure I can ignore. What a beautiful first look into the world 'The Fault In Our Stars'. I can not wait to see more!
What do you all think of 'The Fault In Our Stars' trailer? How does it compare to the book if you've read it? Or how do you find the story if you haven't?
I love to write, because there is nothing more exciting and infuriating, as organising your incoherent thoughts and putting them to paper. I love to write, because there is always a challenge involved in the process, weather its perfecting a particular sentence, finding the right adjectives to describe the atmosphere, or creating the perfect setting to describe a particular scene, for the characters you've crafted together in the depths of your mind. I love to write, because in my over active imagination, I dream up a different reality to my own life, and characters that either resemble or differ from the people I know in my everyday life. I love to write, because I get to meet and craft new characters who I've never known before. I love to write, because exploring these characters through the actions they take, and the way they conduct themselves in their fictional realities, can be so entertaining and fulfilling. I love to write because my imagination can take me anywhere; its a place where I am able to create fictional worlds, where almost anything is possible - just believing is key.
I love to write, because it is a chance for me to explore my thoughts and feelings, in a place far away from judging eyes and hushed whispers - a place where I am heard and where my voice is always key. I love to write, because I'm able to document the ever changing thoughts and emotions I find myself entangled in. I love to write, because it's my way of making sense of the world, through exploring the nature of people and their characteristics, by seeing their relationships develop between other characters, their passions and attitudes towards the things in life, and their interest in the world around them. I love to write because it gives me the opportunity, to speak to millions through the words of language, and share a platform of discussion with the unique minds of many. Without words after all, how on earth would we be able to communicate?
'The Lizzie Bennet Diaries' is a modern adaptation of Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice' in the form of a web-series. Told through video logs, Elizabeth Bennet verbally explores the life of her sisters, post-graduation plans and her undeniable feelings for Darcy.
It is amazing how this old tale, that has been retold countless amounts of times, has been appropriately adapted to fit into modern day life. This approach makes the story more accessible for people who don't necessarily relate to the world of 19th century as well, in my opinion. It isn't easy bringing to life an old story into a modern world, but Hank Green and Bernie Su did an incredible job of making it believable. There are so many incredible plot lines that bring this story into the 21st century, such as modern notions of educated and working females, and Lizzie vlogging her frustrations through the use of digital technology. This web-series is so brilliantly constructed, and beautifully crafted.
We manage to get a feel of all these characters we get a small glimpse of throughout the series by Lizzie's impersonations and their appearances as well. The impersonations were such an inventive and creative to incorporate new characters into the story, and Lizzie's feelings towards them. I enjoyed experiencing every single character, especially through Lizzie whose impersonations were just so perfectly executed and so very very entertaining to watch! Ashley Clements, who played Lizzie Bennet, did an amazing job in this series. To say anymore, I feel would only just ruin the suspense. And to be perfectly honestly, this series was just done at an incredible standard that I myself could never have accomplished. Hank Green is a genius who I will always look up to, and everyone involved with this series did an amazing job of bringing to life of an olden tale with a modern twist. That Emmy was definitely well deserved. I highly recommend this web-series, and I assure you the only thing you'll regret is not seeing it sooner!
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