Hunger Games Movie Review
Well, Hunger Games fans across the global can rest easy after this weekend. After months of obsessing over casting, costumes, and the trailer, the much anticipated film adaption of Suzanne Collins’ popular young adult book series finally hit the silver screen at 12.01 Friday morning–and lay to rest any concerns fans had that the movie would not do the books justice.
Succinctly put, the Hunger Games movie was good. Not “good for a teen movie.” Or “good for a hyped-up blockbuster.” Just good. Really, really good.
My biggest worry has always been how movie makers were going to retain the book’s dark tone, especially the kill-or-be-killed mentality the main character, sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, is forced to adopt. Katniss’s internal dialog–about who, if anyone, to trust; about her willingness to kill the other “game” participants; about how she is being portrayed to those watching the “game” on their home television–is the driving force behind the books, more so (in my opinion) than the actual action sequences. It would have been so easy for filmmakers to downplay or completely disregard the internal struggle in favor of a high-octane thriller. I am so glad this did not turn out to be the case.
I have to first applaud the camerawork done on this film. Although it started off a bit jumpy (a complaint I’ve heard a lot in reviews), the rough quality really gives the movie a more intimate, homespun feel–more like watching a home movie or indie film instead of a glossy action movie. The roughness backs off considerably after the first few opening scenes, but it sets the tone and does the crucial job of getting us into Katniss’s mind. Which leads me to my next favorite thing about the movie: the Acting.
Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss was superb. I was extremely impressed by the way she was able to emote feeling without appearing to emote anything. Katniss is such an incredibly strong female character, I am pleased beyond belief that Lawrence was able to capture all this strength while still letting us feel the turmoil underneath. My favorite scene: when Katniss meets with her stylist, Cinna (played by Lenny Kravitz), right before entering the tube that will deliver her to the arena. Although she is quivering in fear, her face is set in determination. Her will to live is palpable, even through the screen.
Praise also goes out Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Malark (my favorite book character) and Woody Harrelson, who played a surprisingly good Haymitch. The surprise standout for me, though, was Stanley Tucci as the television host Caesar Flickerman. He was both outrageous and believable.
Of course there were a few missteps in the film. The berry scene at the end (you know the one I mean–if you don’t, go read the books) was not nearly as dramatic as it should have been. The end-interview and return home was also too rushed. But, since the movie was already two and a half hours, I suppose this is forgivable–as long as we get an extended ending with the DVD release.
So, overall, I give the movie four stars. It was a brilliant adaption and worth staying up until three in morning.
And, we can expect more Hunger Games in the future! The movie had an incredible opening weekend box office of $155 million, the strongest opening weekend after Harry Potter 7 (well, yeah..) and The Dark Knight.
Busy Busy Hunger Games
Wow everyone! It’s been a R-E-A-L-L-Y long time since I last posted something. Things have been crazy on my side of world. Everyone has caught Hunger Games fever, both at the library and in my happy little bookstore. And I’m no exception. The movie is set to premier tonight at midnight and I’ve already got my ticket! I’m planning on writing a full review on the blog tomorrow, but until then please enjoy watching these reactions to the Hunger Games trailer (which, let’s face it, we’ve all seen about a bazillion times!).
Talking Pictures and Old Homes
By now most of you Young Adult lit readers will have heard of the fabulous book by Ransom Riggs: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. It has been a staple of the New York Times Bestseller list (36 weeks and counting) since it debuted last June and has been lauded by reviewers for its originality and inventive integration of antique photographs into the story. What you may not know is that Ransom Riggs also has a background in filmography.
The video I’ve attached below, made and narrated by Riggs himself, chronicles his unusual hobby of photograph collecting that ultimately led him to write his novel.
Talking Pictures
Riggs also made a brief documentary about the filming of his book trailer (if you haven’t seen it, it is really very good–check it out on his YouTube channel), for which he traveled to Belgium in order to film inside abandoned chateaus. What he found was absolutely breathtaking.
Old Homes
The Fault in Our Stars
The Book:
The Fault in Our Stars
By John Green
Dutton Juvenile
Published January 10, 2012
Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.
The Review
After reading all the fantastic reviews of The Fault in Our Stars, John Green’s eagerly anticipated fourth novel, I have been struggling to decide what I could possibly add to all the wonderful insights. First, I have to concur with a great majority of the reviewers: this is not a “cancer book” or is it even necessarily a book about cancer. Certainly Hazel thinks about cancer: her cancer Augustus Waters’s cancer, her friend Isaac’s cancer, and even the protagonist from her favorite (and purely fictional) novel, Anna’s, cancer. But trying to pigeonhole this novel with the label “Cancer Book” is akin to calling a child with cancer a “Cancer Kid” (or even, as Hazel would say, ”An Inspiration to Us All”). The truth is far more complex and thought-provoking than any label would allow.
And complexity is one of the most fabulous things about this novel–mostly because, at first glance, the novel doesn’t appear all that complicated. Hazel’s narration of events is very straightforward, almost no-nonsense, though she still retains a very sharp sense of humor. She states the facts of life as she sees them, no matter if they are pleasant or sad or inconvenient. She is also upfront with her emotions, especially romantic ones regarding Augustus Waters. Readers will no doubt find her candidness a nice change from the usual hemming and hawing plaguing female protagonists in the teen lit scene.
However, Hazel’s forthright manner is not an indication of simplicity of thought. Anyone familiar with Green’s work knows that his characters tend to wax a little philosophical, and Hazel is no exception. Drawing on a very high level of vocabulary and grammar (and a few references to philosophers like Kierkegaard), Hazel confronts readers with some very profound questions about life, death, family, and what it means to interact with a world that soon won’t have you in it.
My only complaint? Every so often Hazel’s thoughts, as brilliant and deep as they are, felt a bit masculine. This may be solely from the fact that I was aware that the author was male, but it was disruptive nonetheless.
The Rating
Readability: 
Originality:
Believability:
Thematic Quality:
Connectability:
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The Recommendation
Although written for teens, this book will be appreciated by an adult readership too. Be prepared for nerdy moments and some tears.
The Monstrumologist
The Book
The Monstrumologist
By Rick Yancey
Simon & Schuster
Published September 22, 2009
So begins the journal of Will Henry, orphaned assistant to Dr. Pellinore Warthrop, a man with a most unusual specialty: monstrumology, the study of monsters. In his time with the doctor, Will has met many a mysterious late-night visitor, and seen things he never imagined were real. But when a grave robber comes calling in the middle of the night with a gruesome find, he brings with him their most deadly case yet.
Critically acclaimed author Rick Yancey has written a gothic tour de force that explores the darkest heart of man and monster and asks the question: When does a man become the very thing he hunts?
The Review
I know this book wasn’t in my review queue, but since I was having all sorts of shipping troubles trying to get my hands on my signed copy of Green’s The Fault in Our Stars I decided to pick up another book in the interim–and an award honoree no less.
The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey was a Printz award honor book back in 2010 and for excellent reason: this book is as fantastic as it is creepy. Told through the journals of a old man looking back on his time as the twelve-year-old assistant of a world-renowned monstrumologoist (for def. see description above), the story follows Will Henry as he and Dr. Pellinore Warthrop set out on a search and destroy mission to rid a quiet 19th century village of murderous man-eating monsters, the Anthropophagi. What on the surface appears to be a straightforward quest, however, quickly becomes a very twisted path as the deepest depths of the doctor’s past are brought to light–and both Will Henry and the doctor begin to doubt the humanity of the person they had trusted most.
I love many things about this book, but the thing that stands out the most is how intricately Yancey draws the characters of Will Henry and the doctor. To say these characters are fully fleshed out is a bit of an understatement. Just as with real people, the characters are full of contradicting motivations and sentiments. The doctor in particular is a struggle to pin down. Determined to be the “modern scientific man” as he father was, the doctor often sacrifices his more human inclinations. He is not affectionate toward Will Henry. He is distant and imposing and often argues with Will Henry as if he were an adult, then becoming frustrated when the twelve-year-old cannot hold his own. Yet for all these flaws, the doctor is a likeable character. It is clear he cares for Will Henry, even if the mode of that love’s expression is unorthodox (he, for instance, tells Will Henry he will shoot him in the head rather than let him suffer an agonizing death at the hands of the Anthropophagi–naturally Will Henry is taken aback at this notion).
The doctor also has strong moral convictions–he is disgusted at the mistreatment of the inmates at the insane asylum–a stark contrast against the charismatic John Kearns, a British gentleman of dubious origin that the doctor brings in to assist with the hunt. Kearns, who prides himself on following the “morality of the moment” (i.e. eat or be eaten), is one of those truly frightening characters in literature because, on the surface, he seems so dashing. He’s confident, well-spoken, and a natural leader. Everyone–the doctor, Will Henry, the constable, the villagers, the readers–wants to follow him. They want to believe he has all the answers. And he does, to an extent. They just aren’t pretty (or ethical) answers.
Which is how Yancey is able to explore deeper themes in the book. Through the eyes of his expertly drawn characters, Yancey plumbs the depths of human character. He confronts young readers with moral dilemmas usually reserved for a college philosophy class. Is it better to sacrifice one for the survival of many? Can a person, or monster, be inherently evil? Or is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so?
The only downsides to the book are:
1. its use of advanced vocabulary and grammar (I know, what a downside…); some younger or less advanced readers may find it less accessible for this reason. And…
2. there are some truly disgusting scenes, most of them involving maggots; if you are prone to nightmares, like myself, please be aware you’ll be dreaming about this book for quite some time.
However, these downsides are extremely minor. Overall, I think it is an excellent book and definitely worth the read.
The Rating
Readability:
Originality:
Believability:
Thematic Quality:
Connectability:
Overall Rating: (hurray, my first 5 star rating)
The Recommendation
A must read! Great language, creepy atmosphere, complex characters, awesome themes. Younger readers may need help along the way, but the challenge is well worth it.
And, if you get done with this book, there are two more in the series: The Curse of the Wendigo (which despite its silly title is supposed to better than the first) and The Isle of Blood. I can’t wait to read these two…I mean, too!
Librarian determines most popular YA of today
A new article from School Library Journal lays out the most popular series and individual novels on the market today, as determined by Karen McCoy’s survey of 100 public and school libraries (conducted from July to December of 2011). Since I’m such a sucker for all things lists, I thought I’d share her findings here. Those up with YA book scene will recognize some familiar faces, but others may come as a bit of a surprise.
McCoy also attempts to identify the new and upcoming trends in YA fiction, talking specifically of the emergence of “hybrids, or the blurring of the lines between genres,” and “character-driven novels, such as Lauren Oliver’s Before I Fall (HarperCollins, 2010).” Like many others, she notes the decreased interest in the vampire-centric novel made popular by the Twilight series.
You can read her entire article here.
Most popular series
1. The Hunger Games (Scholastic) by Suzanne Collins
2. Twilight (Little, Brown) by Stephenie Meyer
3. Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Hyperion) by Rick Riordan
4. Wolves of Mercy Falls (Scholastic) by Maggie Stiefvater
5. The Maze Runner (Delacorte) by James Dashner
6. The Kane Chronicles (Hyperion) by Rick Riordan
7. Mortal Instruments (S & S) by Cassandra Clare
8. House of Night (St. Martin’s) by P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast
9. Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Abrams) by Jeff Kinney
10. Heroes of Olympus (Hyperion) by Rick Riordan
11. Matched (Dutton) by Ally Condie
12. Infernal Devices (S & S) by Cassandra Clare
13. Harry Potter (Scholastic) by J. K. Rowling
14. Dark Visions (S & S) by L. J. Smith
15. The Vampire Diaries (HarperTeen) by L. J. Smith
16. The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel (Delacorte) by Michael Scott
17. The Leviathan Trilogy (S & S) by Scott Westerfeld
18. Conspiracy 365 (Kane/Miller) by Gabrielle Lord
19. Maximum Ride (Little, Brown) by James Patterson
20. Septimus Heap (HarperCollins) by Angie Sage
Most popular titles
1. Along for the Ride (Viking) by Sarah Dessen
2. Thirteen Reasons Why (Penguin) by Jay Asher
3. Burned (St. Martin’s) by P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast
4. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (Quirk Bks.) by Ransom Riggs
5. Lock and Key (Viking) by Sarah Dessen
6. Crank (S & S) by Ellen Hopkins
7. The Book Thief (Knopf) by Markus Zusak
8. Looking for Alaska (Dutton) by John Green
9. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner (Little, Brown) by Stephenie Meyer
10. Monster (HarperCollins) by Walter Dean Myers
11. Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Little, Brown) by Laini Taylor
12. Story of a Girl (Little, Brown) by Sara Zarr
13. Beautiful Creatures (Little, Brown) by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
14. Identical (S & S) by Ellen Hopkins
15. Fallout (S & S) by Ellen Hopkins
16. Snitch (S & S) by Allison van Diepen
17. Num8ers (Scholastic) by Rachel Ward
18. After (Viking) by Amy Efaw
19. Legend (Putnam) by Marie Lu
20. L.A. Candy (HarperCollins) by Lauren Conrad
Shipping Errors and John Green reads ‘The Fault in Our Stars’
I am feeling pretty frustrated today, after spending an hour on hold with customer services trying to get my copy of John Green’s new book, The Fault in Our Stars, shipped to me (hurray for unexplained mix-ups). So, in order to cheer myself up, I decided to re-watch these two videos of John Green reading the first two chapters of the book.
For those of you unfamiliar with the premise, here’s a brief synopsis:
Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.
Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning author John Green’s most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.
John Green is a Printz medal winner, and is best-selling author of the books Looking For Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, and (my personal favorite) Paper Towns.
On to the clips!
Know some good self-published authors? I want to know too!
Amanda Hocking
Okay, I don’t live under a rock (most of the time). I know there are some good self-published authors out there. I just don’t know who they are yet. After reading this lovely NPR article about Amanda Hocking, a self-made and originally self-published bestselling author, I’m feeling inspired. I want to read a good self-published YA novel. That’s where I need your help. I’ve lived so long in the world of publisher-presented works, I’m not even sure where to go to find the good stuff. Sure I could browse the Internet, hoping I’ll stumble across something spectacular, but it is so hard to tell the good from the bad with just a blurb. I’d much rather get recommendations from people I trust not the lead me astray–that’s you guys. So please help me out! Let me know in the comments where I can find the good stuff or what self-published authors you all really enjoy.
Here a blurb from the article, just in case you are in need of some inspiration today:
Hocking went home and wrote her first paranormal romance — in 15 days.
She wrote and rewrote, edited and re-edited, but still no one was interested in publishing her work. On a whim, she decided to self-publish a few of her books online for anyone to download. She waited.
Some of her books began selling. She’d sell one or two books a day, and that went on for a while. Then, in June, it exploded. Bloggers began asking for interviews. Reviews began to appear on Amazon.com.
“I think I sold, like, 6,000 books that month or something,” she says. “It was a pretty dramatic jump.”
…
“It’s still totally unreal when I think about it,” she says. “It feels so weird to be able to just kind of buy things when I want them or need them.” Like a life-size replica of Han Solo encased in carbonite. It cost $7,000 and sits in her “movie room” — otherwise known as the basement.
Finally, last fall, Hocking joined an elite literary club that includes only 11 other authors, including James Patterson, Stieg Larsson and Nora Roberts: She sold her 1 millionth book for the Amazon Kindle.
And she has made $2 million doing it.
Thanks everybody, and I look forward to your recommendations.
(P.S. Check out Amanda Hocking’s blog. It’s neat!)
The Gathering Storm, by Robin Bridges
The Book:
The Gathering Storm
By Robin Bridges
Random House
Due out January 10, 2012
St. Petersburg, Russia, 1888. As she attends a whirl of glittering balls, royal debutante Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, tries to hide a dark secret: she can raise the dead. No one knows. Not her family. Not the girls at her finishing school. Not the tsar or anyone in her aristocratic circle. Katerina considers her talent a curse, not a gift. But when she uses her special skill to protect a member of the Imperial Family, she finds herself caught in a web of intrigue. An evil presence is growing within Europe’s royal bloodlines—and those aligned with the darkness threaten to topple the tsar. Suddenly Katerina’s strength as a necromancer attracts attention from unwelcome sources . . . including two young men—George Alexandrovich, the tsar’s standoffish middle son, who needs Katerina’s help to safeguard Russia…and the dashing Prince Danilo, heir to the throne of Montenegro, to whom Katerina feels inexplicably drawn.
The Review
Back in September, Publisher’s Weekly put out this article which predicted the future fad of young adult literature was historical fiction. Judging by the up rise in novels by big name authors set in past times–Bright Young Things, Anna Godbersen (2010), Clockwork Angel, Cassandra Clare (2010), Name of the Star, Maureen Johnson (2011)–this assessment is proving to be true. Joining the fray is Robin Bridges’ debut novel, The Gathering Storm, which is set in Russia at the turn of the 19th century.
Although this novel features a cast of characters well known to the paranormal romance crowd (vampires, werewolves, undead, oh my!), the real shining star of the story is its exotic historical landscape. Bridges spends much effort conjuring up images of what life was like for the aristocracy of a Russia caught between the advancements of the industrial revolution and the lingering grip of superstition. Through the eyes of the main protagonist, a modern-minded young Duchess named Katerina, readers are whisked through glamorous winter balls, social calls to empresses and tsars, and the complicated maneuverings of a mother intent on having her daughter marry well (à la Jane Austen). And sleighs rides. There are a lot of sleigh rides.
Bridges has obviously done a lot of research in order to make the book historically accurate. I confess I’m no expert, but I do recall from my brief attempt at reading War and Peace (it is on my ereader and I will get to it…eventually) that the Russian aristocracy spoke mainly in French and that whispering of revolution was severely frowned upon–all of which is remarked upon by Bridges. She also spends an ample amount of time name-dropping, which is acceptable in small portions, but feels a bit overdone here.
Unfortunately, as much as I enjoyed the historical setting, I found the rest of the book lacking. The plot was okay. Nothing extraordinary or unexpected. The action was glazed over (stating merely that they fought furiously, rather than describing the punches). The pacing at times dragged. And the romance was…well, not very romantic. Katerina and her main love-interest George Alexandrovich had surprisingly few scenes together, and those that they shared were filled more with exposition advancing the plot than building any sort of affection between the two. Perhaps Bridges was trying to channel a Darcy-type character–after all, George was often described as brooding, and Katerina was convinced he detested her–but George was too standoffish for my taste. If not for some traditional hint-dropping by Bridges I would have been just as disbelieving as Katerina when George confessed his feelings. On the bright side, this is the first in a series, so Bridges has ample room for deepening Katerina and George’s relationship.
Finally, one last note on the cover art. The publishers were given an incredible opportunity to come up with an evocative cover; something that captured the romance and glamor of olden time Russia. They settled instead on a generic cover of a girl in a traditional ushanka hat. Disappointed.
The Rating
Readability:
Originality:
Believability:
Thematic Quality:
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Overall Rating:
The Recommendation
Read it if you like a mix of paranormal and historical fiction. Those who enjoyed the settings of Clare’s Clockwork Angel and Johnson’s Name of the Star will eat up this book.
The Gathering Storm Book Trailer
In anticipation of my book review of Robin Bridges’ The Gathering Storm (Jan. 10) which will, hopefully, be up tomorrow, I am posting the official book trailer put out by Random House. Enjoy!
Goodreads
