From Not Literally comes one of the better Lady Gaga parodies I have seen to date. Apparently while Slytherin and Gryffindor duke it out, and Ravenclaw does… whatever it is Ravenclaw does… Hufflepuff dances it out to some bitchin’ tunes (yeah I said it). I know what group I would wanna be a part of hands down. Made by the folks Not Literally, you can follow them on Facebook and their website. Go find them and show them love. ASAP.
Via xkcd
Jennifer Rouse Barbeau’s novel Swampy Jo is perhaps one of the only young adult novels that does not attempt to candy-coat the issues of suicide, mental breakdowns and anorexia. In this novel it is a fact of life and if you as the reader cannot accept that fact, then tough.
I’ll be honest with you when I tell you this book did absolutely nothing to appeal to me at first. The cover was cartoonish and not really that attractive, the title reminded me of a bad horror movie and the description sounded just a wee bit boring. I suppose this has been another lesson in the age old adage of not judging a book by its cover, because I ended up immensely enjoying it. This is the type of story that has the ability to question not only yourself, but the values we as a society place upon each other.
We never really hear (well, read) “Swampy Jo’s” real name. Because of this, it would seem easy to think of her of an object- the very way she views herself. We know that she is a girl and we know she has the title of ‘swampy’ because she has deplorable hygiene. However, this fact is very easy to forget because the narrator, Swampy herself, doesn’t pay much notice to it at all. In fact, Swampy seems to pay no attention to the things that are most pivotal to the story. She is dirty all the time, but she doesn’t inspect this fact about herself as something that is unacceptable. It is who she considers herself to be and it isn’t until much later that it is revealed that it is a means of protection. From what exactly, you’ll have to find out for yourself.
Her father hates her. She turns anorexic because she wants to be more attractive (she, like many young girls, equates thinness with beauty). Her mother has a mental breakdown. Her family is overzealously religious. But in all these problems, this is not what she focuses on. No, this is a story about love. It may not sound like it, but it is about being able to love -to hope- in spite of all the barriers to it. Love is something to be treasured and it is the beauty that manages to shine through this darkly disturbing novel.
I call it disturbing because that’s what it is. But it is a disturbing in a good way (yes, there’s such a thing). Swampy sees these things as just another fact of life and this is what makes it disturbing- that she doesn’t realize that there is a problem. The entire novel had me rooting for her, wanting her to understand that it’s all right to be different and that it’s all right to get help. It sounds silly, but even though Swampy is a literary character, it is very easy to see yourself in her- if only in a “what could have been” sort of way.
Often humorous, the story isn’t painted black. In fact, it’s fairly easy to forget all the issues within the novel in order to simply be amused with the absurdity of her life. But when it all comes spiraling to a close at the end of the novel, there isn’t exactly a ‘happily ever after ending’. And that’s the way it should be, because a story that surrounds itself with such destruction can’t simply end. And that’s all I’ll say about the close, because this is the type of book that begs to be read.
Absolutely! Remember how I didn’t think I would like it very much, but I now absolutely adore it? Yeah, that’ll be you too. Read it. (Yes, that is an order).
It was only a matter of time before the popular Huger Games series would get turned into a movie. It looks like Gary Ross (Seabiscuit) is the person gunning for the directing position. While other directors are in the race alongside Ross, such as Francis Lawrence, David Slade, Andrew Adamson, Rupert Sanders, and Susanna White, Ross still looks like he’s ahead.
Lionsgate has not announced casting has been done at this point, but it does look like it will be a pretty popular series. With the latest book in the series, Mockingjay, selling almost half a million copies in since it’s release a few weeks ago, these movies will bring in a fair sized audence.
Yes, yes I know. I literally just did a review on the entire series of “The Hunger Games”, by Suzanne Collins. However, he-who-owns-the-website has decreed that he wants a review solely upon the last book- Mockingjay. Ever a fan of the series, I wholeheartedly agree. So. If you want the basic premise of the series, go read my other review. If you’ve already read the books (and /or my review), I’ll like you a whole lot more. Seriously.
Now then. Before I go into a long rant about how war and death are horrible things, there are some characters I should mention.
Katniss: Is the reluctant heroine of the novel. In the earlier novels, she’s portrayed as quite selfish and untrustworthy. However, in this last novel she is the “leader” of the rebels. [Leader is in quotations because she really isn’t the leader, she is just the figurehead that the people in the rebelling think is the leader.]
Anyways.
This poor girl is stuck in the middle of a love triangle. (What, you didn’t see that coming? ) On top of that, one of the corners (Peeta) has been captured by the Capitol as a pawn to use against her. Gale, her partner in crime from way before District 12 was obliterated (as punishment to Katniss for escaping the Hunger Games), is the other corner. She’s stuck between the two because she can’t decide who she loves more.
Before you think of her as a horrible excuse for a character, I must point out that the entire reason she decided to become the ‘Mockingjay’ (the leader of the rebels) is because she wants to save Peeta.
Peeta: Has the unfortune of falling in love with Katniss during the first Hunger games. It is he who risks everything to save her. And it is also he who is left behind when Katniss is rescued from the last Hunger Games (she wasn’t too pleased with this, either). He is tortured by the Capitol because they suspect he knows rebel secrets (he doesn’t) and he is used as a pawn to hurt Katniss because she is fully aware that its her fault he’s being harmed.
Gale: Katniss’ best friend from District 12. He also happens to be in love with her, but this doesn’t turn out to be terribly important. He also ends up being a whole lot more bloodthirsty than even Katniss thought (want to know how? Its in the second half of the book- go read it).
President Snow: Here is where I want to use expletives, but I’ve been informed I shouldn’t. He’s a nasty, nasty man who literally poisoned his way to the top. He always wears sickly scented roses and seems to be determined to ’break’ Katniss. He’s the leader of the Capitol.
As for the rest of the characters, they aren’t as important to this review and you can read the book for yourself if you want to get to know them.
(Very) Short Plot Line: Katniss sees Peeta on television and decides to be the ‘Mockingjay’ to save him. The Districts unite and fight against the capitol. Stab stab, run run. Save Peeta from the Capitol but there’s something wrong with his brain and he now hates Katniss. Stab, dodge, drown, run. They make it to the Capitol to launch an assault against President Snow. Fight, run, hide. And then… there’s an ending that I’m not going to write about (even in short form) because then I would ruin the end of the book.
(an ending which I hate, just so you know)
Should you read it?: Well, if it isn’t fairly apparent by now that I love this book, then you may need a new pair of glasses. This is an excellent novel (and series). The only weird thing about it is that its actually marketed by Scholastic… which is a kids company. Yeah, I know. What’s wrong with having children viciously and violently kill each other? Apparently, nothing. Oh, you just wanted one answer? Yes.
Just a little warning before reading: This book is not a particularly happy read. Even the ending doesn’t have a sense of satisfaction to it. It is very real. If you murder someone, you can’t forget about it and go on your merry way. War is cruel, and this book does nothing to hide it. As it should be (all right, I’m done lecturing now).
War. Death. Politics.
They’re not exactly the first things people think about when the word “children” is brought up. But in Suzanne Collins, “The Hunger Games” series, those three little words make a huge difference to children. How? You ask. Simple: children are chosen from each ‘district’ and forced into an arena to kill each other. Want me to slow down a bit and explain it more?
Within this novel, there are twelve districts (kinda like towns) that each have specific purposes. One is a fishing district, one is a coal mining district and so on… The people in these districts have strictly controlled lives- everything from the amount of food they eat to where they live and work is dictated by the government. Within the districts themselves, there are ‘Peacekeepers’ who make sure all the people are abiding by the rules. If they detract from the rules by even a little bit, they can be whipped publicly (for minor occurrences) or even lose their life. The main reason for people losing their lives is simply if the Peacekeepers suspect they are rising against the government. This can be as simple as complaining that your family is starving to death because they do not have enough food.
The whole concept of the “Hunger Games” was thought up by the government of the human populace (rather, what was left of it after the idiocy of a nuclear bomb eradicated most of human existence) because, once upon a time, the districts rebelled against the government. Who wouldn’t want to protest being fenced into a town, forced to work endless hours and being subject to starvation when the ‘Capitol’ (the city in which the President resides) has as much food and other luxuries (such as golden wigs) as they wish? The President bombed District 13 and eradicated it, which is the reason there are only twelve districts. At least, they say they destroyed it.
Now, the premises of the Hunger Games is that one male and one female child will be chosen from each of the districts. They will then be polished and ‘beautified’ and displayed for all to see for several days. They are judged upon their strengths (such as hand to hand combat, camouflage and knot tying) and pitted against each other as who is more likely to win. Then, after being fattened up and meeting each of the other districts ‘tributes’ they are all left in a giant arena (it changes each time) and told to kill each other by any means necessary. They are not given food or water, rather they have to fight for it. Keep in mind- these are children.
The President manages to keep all the districts in ‘line’ with these Hunger Games and strict control by the peacekeepers. That is, until Katniss Everdeen is chosen as the tribute for District 12. She is stubborn, violent, unpredictable and greedy. She has the ability -at times- to make the reader hate her. The way she treats others, without regards to their feelings or her actions, is appalling. She has flaws. She kills and is haunted for the rest of her life by the memory. She is, in an undeniable word, human. Collins does a remarkable thing in her writing- she makes characters that are real, that are affected by what they do and that consequences for their actions. Katniss is not a loveable Mary Sue characters, but she is what makes this series so enthralling. You may dislike her, but you want her to succeed.
The First Book: The Hunger Games- As a means of surviving, Katniss and her mentor, Haymitch (a previous survivor of the Games that is forced into advising future tributes) come up with a scheme to gain sympathy from the viewers (did I mention that the entire bloodbath is watched by all of Districts and the Capitol?). The scheme? Pretend to be in love with the other tribute from District Twelve- Peeta. Katniss managed to force somewhat of a “star crossed lover” scenario with great difficulty. She feels guilty, because all she thinks of is that she has to pretend to be in love with Peeta and then kill him. She doesn’t realize that not only is the plot working- the viewers believe they are in love- but that Peeta is actually in love with her. While she’s busy pretending to be in love, she also has to keep herself alive from the other tributes who are hell bent on killing her.
Unbeknownst to her, the little golden pin she wears upon her suit- a Mockingjay- is becoming a symbol in the Districts. A symbol of revolution against the government- particularly as she hold a little girl shot through the heart, singing to her as she dies. Katniss doesn’t want any part in the killing but when she befriends this little girl and that little girl is murdered, she is angry. Angry at the government for its transgressions and angry at the tributes who so willingly kill each other. What happens next is a bloodbath you’ll have to read about to believe.
The Second Book: Catching Fire- Katniss thinks the horror of the Hunger Games is over. She and Peeta won by a single handful of poison berries (if you want to know exactly how, go and pick up the book). The problem, described to her by the President Snow himself, is that now there are little rumbles of discontent in the Districts. He warns her she has to convince them that she and Peeta are actually and truly in love.
She fails. Her punishment-all the Tributes punishments-are to be sent back to the Games. This is an unheard of idea- the children who won the past Hunger Games are promised immunity. The only reason they must go back to compete is to quash any rebels within the Districts. If their Tributes aren’t even safe- who is?
The difference this time is that Katniss has allies in this fight. They stick together, and she seems to be the only one that recognizes that the closer they get to the end, the harder it will be to kill each other. She is determined to make Peeta survive, because she suspects she is indeed falling in love with him. Peeta is equally determined to see her succeed.
What she doesn’t know is that there are forces beyond her control that are working to get her out. Without her as the ‘face’ of the rebels, or, as the Districts have taken to calling her, the ‘Mockingjay’- they have no leader.
Will she be saved before the bloodbath that is the Games claims her life?
That, my dear readers, is the question.
The Third Book: Mockingjay- Katniss was indeed saved by the rebels, but possibly at the expense of the life of Peeta. He is lost to the government, presumed dead. She cannot bear to be the face of the cause that she isn’t sure she can believe in until a newscast shows that not only is Peeta alive, but he is being tortured by the government. Her sole reason for taking up the cause is to save him.
This plan doesn’t exactly go as follows. Peeta is recovered, but he has been tortured and manipulated enough that he isn’t anyone recognizable any more. She is almost blind with grief and is still forced to fight for something that children should never have to face. She vows to put an end to the Hunger Games for once and for all and then she swears that she will be the one to kill President Snow- the reason for all her pain.
The President devises things to break her mind- Peeta’s torture, the annihilation of District Twelve and the murder of her friend. If anything, this makes her more determined to put an end to his life.
Why this series is awesome: Besides making the reader sink into a deep state of melancholy and cause much thinking of the state of the world, this series is written to make people think. How low will humanity sink in order to have control over other? Just how easy is it to kill? This book is a bloody, war torn, hateful, despicable read. But its also something that always has some sort of hope in it. There is a way to stop hate. There is a way to fight back. It is a blood stained way, but there is one.
Should you read it?: Yes! The characters are people you care about and people who are real. Not in the physical sense, but in a way that they can be related to. The plot series, while violent, is an amazing literary work. I may have shed (many) tears while reading it, but this is the sort of book that doesn’t try to cover up the disturbing bits. It gives them to you directly and unflinchingly: War is not a game. People die. And when they die, they don’t come back.
Rating: 9.5/10
What would you do for 2 million dollars? A whole lot more than I would for a Klondike bar, that’s for sure. This is the story of a down on his luck guy who has given up on life and suddenly found himself faced with just that situation. Little did he know it cost him an arm and a leg…and torso…and the rest of him. Literally. This was a first for me as I don’t normally read horror books, so when this little piece of nightmare-inducing paperback literature was given to me, I was definitely leery. I made it through, with a little less sleep but here’s the review.
Yay
I don’t normally do this…
As I’ve said just a little while ago, I don’t really read horror, so I started this novel thinking it was out of my league. When I read a little further, I realized what a great beginner horror novel it was! Not so scary that I read it if the sun had gone down but just enough to incite some pretty messed up dreams. I consider it a fairly decent introduction into the horror genre.
Why…why can’t I stop??
If anything this book was a huge page-turner. When the action really started happening and things started to really get bizarre, I debated just closing the book and handing it right back to the boss saying I couldn’t finish it. The longer I let it sit, with its creepy cover staring at me and weird goings-on within, I had to know what happens next. I had to know just how far the madness and atrocities would go. So despite the trouble it gave me, it somehow managed to hook me in for the long haul.
Nay
Jessica likes the 3rd person.
The book was written in a first person perspective, which is a take I’m not used to but different enough for me to want to give it a shot. Now, because the main character is, we’ll say “extremely low class”, it didn’t give the book the real horror feel I was looking for. I felt like everything was far too simplified and dumbed down. This novel begged for some scientific medical jargon to give it more punch. There was some, but it was overly explained, because it had to be overly explained to the main character. In the process though it left you feeling kind of stupid. Although this is justified by the story being told through the eyes and mind of our downtrodden protagonist, I would have appreciated a little more intelligence and less of the basics. In my opinion, only 3rd person recounting can truly achieve that.
What a twist!
One of this book’s biggest downfalls was that it had the most ridiculous plot twists. Believe me when I say M. Night Shyamalan has nothing on Gord Rollo. Some of those turn of events were just face palm after face palm. It’s so hard to explain what I mean without revealing too much of the storyline, but, suffice it to say that head in a jar, gay lovers and a mannequin were just awful, awful twists that I could have done without. I think he also needs to learn that overexposure to an element tends to make it less scary. Many of the biggest chill factors were overused and thus gotten used to very quickly which took a lot of the much-needed edge off.
The Final Verdict
The Jigsaw Man by Gord Rollo is definitely a great introductory horror novel if you’re new or just getting into the horror genre. The plot is just warped enough to give you slight chills and weird nightmares but not enough that it ruins your psyche. However, if you’re a seasoned reader, I don’t think I’d recommend this book at all. The writing is weak and the storyline is far too ridiculous to be taken seriously. And so, with adamant apologies to Mr. Rollo, I must give this novel a thumbs-down. I’m sorry.
Quoth John Cusack, nevermore.
If you enjoy classic literature, or have ever taken high school English, you have read some of Edgar Allan Poe’s work. What you may not know is that his life is almost as twisted and mysterious as the stories he wrote. Director James McTeigue is bringing his last days to the big screen. And his choice to play the master of suspense? John Cusack. Cusack will be portraying a fictionalized version of Poe’s last 5 days, in which he was helping the police investigate a series of murder resembling his poetry. This should make for an interesting story and a good movie. Let’s just hope it doesn’t open in theatres to darkness there, and nothing more.
Boys? Heartbreak?? Tubs of ice cream?? A female author!?!? Sounds like a guy’s worst nightmare when it comes to books. If you’d look beyond the book’s cover and actually read a page or two, could you really find a something that was written straight from the heart and with a blogger’s honesty? That was the task I put upon my shoulders. Because after hearing The Ice Cream Theory’s author Steff Deschenes talk about her work on a internet radio show I like to listen to, I thought it was time I put stubbornness and pride aside and give this gal a shot.
Yay
Say What Now? So by now you should be asking me well Justin what is The Ice Cream Theory (I would just like to note that technically you’re talking to yourself and should seek help)? Steff Deschenes has been working on this theory for a while now. She has taken the time to relate events and people that has changed or impacted her life into different flavours of ice cream.
It’s All About the Small Things Steff also added quote from the creators of some pretty big named ice cream companies as well as some big names in history talking about how that creamy dessert can make anything better….but you know…in fancier words.
Strong Foundation As aforementioned Ms. Deschense has found a way to connect the various types of everyone’s favourite dairy product to things in her life. Now before everyone goes and opens up their digital mouth about how hard that could be, let me be the first to stop you from embarrassing yourselves (I do this because I care). For every chapter, she divides her theory into three categories to better explain things:
The Ice Cream: The flavour that she will be comparing the person or thing to. She also goes into detail about her first time trying the flavour, her thoughts on it, and usually it is accompanied with a brief story of those things combined.
The Person: The person or event that will be connected to the flavour (Derh!). But it’s never that simple with Steff, in a good way. The author will actually have a tell all tale, about they met, the impact he/she/the event had on her life and if something unhappy or serious happened between the two she did shy away from writing it down.
The [Flavour of Ice Cream] Personified: After giving the description of the taste or texture or feeling said flavour had on he,r she then relays it to the person or event.
Keep’em Guessing: To keep things fresh from chapter to chapter, Steff Deschenes change up the order of the categories so that you the reader will never fall into a rut.
An Actual Book…With A Twist! Structurally speaking this book is not like most others. It’s set up more like a blog for every chapter. A healthy dose of smaller paragraphs is just what the doctor ordered. Also add in that blogger style of witty remarks, with those combinations in one book you’re sure to be entertained and moved.
Nay
Repetition isn’t Always The Key
If there is any real evident flaw in this whole book it would be this one thing. The author doesn’t try to use different words in her writing for ice cream, it is always ice cream, all the time with the ice cream. Just like your favourite flavour, if you have it all the time it will leave you disinterested in that one type for a long, long time. Remember kids the thesaurus isn’t extinct yet. So don’t be afraid to use it before it’s gone forever.
Final Verdict
As you can easily see the positives for this book dominates the one negative. When I received this book I sat down and read all the time. I even read at work….shh..that’s just between the two of us *wink* This isn’t just a book for women or helpless romantics. It’s the same writing that you on blogs or journals on the internet, but better because it’s from a person who does not sugar coat anything. Whether it be good or bad Steff Deschenes will always give a spoon full of truth and tub or pint (for those watching your figure) of entertainment. The Ice Cream Theory really is a must read of your fan of real life events filled laughs heartache and your occasional brain freeze.
Rating 9.0/10
Okay, if your reading this you’re probably thinking that either this dude is insanely behind the time, or think I’m part of some kind of tea party support group. Or you are just really confused. Don’t worry, that’s normal and will pass.
For those of you not in the know, American Gods is one of the best known novels written by one of the best known Fantasy/Sci-fi authors in the business; Neil Gaiman. And it’s not exactly new, it was published in 2001; heck it even won Hugo and Nebula awards. No idea what those are? Don’t worry, neither do I, but hey, sounds fancy don’t it?
Awards or not, American Gods is an excellent book. But I’m not going to get into the analysis stuff that you all got sick and tired of in high school; I’m going to tell you why you should read it.
The general storyline is basically that the old mythological gods/creatures (you know, Thor, Zeus, the people Kratos kills in God Of War for you gamers out there) are preparing to go to war with the New Gods: of television, highways, and the media. Recruite
d into this war is Shadow, the protagonist, a recently released convict on his way home to his wife’s funeral; recruited by a mysterious stranger by the name of Mr. Wednesday.
Still asking my why you should read it? Well if your looking for an action packed book full of violence destruction, and witty one-liners… stay tuned, I got a few suggestions for you. But American Gods, not so violence filled, it is however thoroughly enjoyable meeting and reading about the interactions with all the older gods as Shadow and Mr.Wednesday travel across the U.S trying to recruit gods to Wednesday’s side. It includes a life and death checkers game, a carousel ride on top of a wolf, and of course the final battle between old gods and new. As well as multiple mini-stories within the novel itself, usually stories about “coming to America” which usually tell how some of the older gods got transplanted from their native lands and into the melting pot of the U.S.
That reminds me, if squeamish your planning on reading this novel, I should warn you that there are the occasional scenes of gruesome violence, or graphic sex scenes.
And I have some good news for you. If you feel like trying out a bit of the novel just to see what its like, the publisher has posted the first chapter of the book online for free over here.
News of the film production the adaptation of Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged has raised a few questions: Where are all the actors? Who is John Galt?
The movie is to begin filming in the next four weeks; however, it looks like there is currently not cast set for the movie. The producer, John Agiloloro, plans to start filming on June 11th with Stephen Polk directing. The producer has mentioned that they are in talks with either Maggie Gyllhenhall (Stranger Than Fiction, The Dark Knight) or Charlize Theron (Monster) to play one of the lead roles of Dagney Taggart, but nothing is official.
News of this film adaptation is news to me, but this isn’t the first time it’s time the film has almost come to be. Actually it’s almost happened a couple times since the rights were purchased in 1992 or so, but the plans have just fallen apart. We can only hope that this time it will play out differently. Be sure to check back for more updates.
Via /Film