Book vs. Movie: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire is my favorite of the trilogy. It’s a lot like The Hunger Games, yet different enough that it didn’t feel the same. I enjoyed being with my favorite characters from the first book and enjoyed meeting the new characters. I also loved the interaction between Katniss and Peeta; it seemed more genuine, even if it was conflicted. The new arena for the Quarter Quell was so imaginative and had such interesting obstacles. I enjoyed seeing the seeds of rebellion, the bravery of the citizens, and how all of that affected the districts and the Capitol and the emotion it caused. And, of course, the ending! Catching Fire is the The Empire Strikes Back of the The Hunger Games trilogy. Cliffhanger, no closure, everything left in peril. The wait for Mockingjay was excruciating.

When I saw the previews for Catching Fire, I was very excited to see the movie. I honestly didn’t fear that the movie would disappoint me because I loved The Hunger Games movie so much. The filmmakers for this series have really captured the essence of these stories so well. Now, having seen the movie, I can honestly say that I wasn't disappointed. The movie was great. I don’t think the book could’ve been better adapted for the screen. Sure, there were a few changes and a few things left out to fit the allotted time. But, the changes were good. Just like with The Hunger Games, you get to get out of Katniss’s purview for a little bit and see how the games are run, how President Snow interacts with the head gamemaker, Plutarch Heavensbee.

The actors have grown into their roles so well. I liked the additions and their interpretations of the characters: Jena Malone (Johanna), Amanda Plummer (Wiress), Sam Claflin (Finnick), etc. And, no one can beat Stanley Tucci as Caesar Flickerman. Seeing the arena on screen was so awesome! It’s like it came right out of my imagination. It was so intense and scary to watch the obstacles come to life! The emotions in this film were intense and spot on.

 I honestly can say that I loved the movie just as much as the book.

TOP 10 RULES OF BEING HUMAN

1. What you make of your life is up to you. 
2. Find a passion, form relationships and don't be afraid to get out there.
3. You will receive a body. You may like or hate your genetics. What you do with it is up to you.
4. Always use protection.
5. Don't do drugs.
6. Too much of anything is bad for you.
7. Work hard, Play hard.
8. Help as many people as you can.
9. Never put anyone down. Instead put yourself up.
10. Everyone one day will die and be forgotten. Act and behave in a way that will make life fun and interesting.

Find Me by Romily Bernard *

What a pleasant surprise this book was! After seeing quite a few not so favorable reviews. I was pretty nervous when I picked it up for myself. 

Wicket Tate hasn’t had the healthiest upbringing. Her father was heavy into meth dealing and scamming and her mother committed suicide when she saw it was her only way to get away from him. Now, Wick is with a wealthy foster family and finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Trouble is, old habits die hard. She has built up walls to not trust anyone and is using her hacking skills to make money on the side to ensure a good future for her and her sister, Lily. When she walks out of her house to find someone has left the diary of her old friend Tessa (who just committed suicide) on her front porch things start to get really dark. Tessa speaks of a man in her diary, she speaks of a relationship that started out as infatuation and quickly became unhealthy and abusive. Once Wicket realizes this man’s next target is Lily she throws herself fully into finding out who he is.

I loved Wicket! She was sassy, incredibly smart and not afraid to be brutally honest when the time called for it. What I loved about her was that even when she started falling for Griff she saw herself for the cliche that she was becoming and constantly made fun of herself. I ended up finding myself letting out a quick laugh here and there which created a really good balance in a very serious story. Griff was someone that I really liked throughout the story as well. He wasn’t your typical nice guy, he had his dark side too and ended up being someone who knew how to take Wicket. I also came to really like Wick’s friend Lauren. She wasn’t in the novel much but when she was, she was someone that also brought the laughs in her dialogue with those around her. All of these people together became a cast of characters that were well developed in their own way which had me actually caring about their well-being in the novel.

The mystery was one that I found myself fully invested in. In the end my very first suspect was the culprit but I was constantly second guessing my assumption throughout the novel because it did such a great job of planting seeds of doubt without being too obviousIt was really fun to wade my way through the twists and turns that Bernard expertly weaved into this novel. If you are looking for a fun, quick mystery I definitely think Find Me is the perfect place to look.

It by Stephen King

This is the book that started my love of Stephen King books. I was fifteen, a sophomore in high school.  We taking those boring standardized tests.  A friend of mine finished reading this and tossed me his copy and said read it. I had never read a King book before but I figured what the heck. I devoured this book and promptly reread it immediately after finishing the first time.  It was so good.  I have since read it several times and I need to read it again. The movie, of course, didn't live up to the book. Other notable King titles that are great when you want a scare are Needful Things, Bag of Bones, and The Shining. 

HORDE by: Ann Aguirre

Horde concludes the Razorland trilogy in a frenzy of claws and teeth, but in between the deep lacerations and the brutal blows delivered to our hearts Ms. Aguirre beautifully infuses the warmth of friendship and first love, filling each emotional slice and tear the Freaks make with just enough light to fight off their darkness. Horde takes us on more of a journey than the previous two books, Deuce and Fade constantly in motion as they seek to build an army capable of meeting the Freaks head on, but instead of being a slow build to a final epic battle, we’re given a more painfully realistic setup wherein minor and major battles (both mental and physical) are fought throughout to keep our breath escaping our lips in short pants. The pacing is beautifully executed, blood and death chilling our blood while love and family heats it again, leaving us exhausted and emotionally depleted by the end, but also so very hopeful.

Deuce has been an extraordinary young woman from the beginning, her mental and physical toughness accompanied by a sweet vulnerability when it comes to dealing with relationships and feelings of any kind. In Horde she’s at the top of her game as a fighter and leader, but the true beauty of her lies in her weaknesses just as much as it does her strengths, and the devoted effort she makes to be both emotionally and physically demonstrative to those she cares for is as much a joy to experience as her battlefield successes. In the darkness of the underground enclave she was a warrior only–her life dedicated to a single purpose–but the woman at the end of Horde is a striking combination qualities, too large and full of life to fit in any one neatly labeled box.

Fade has our hearts in a vise for a good portion of this book, the lingering effects of the abuse he endured in Outpost present and accounted for, and we can’t help but flinch or wince with him whenever someone makes physical contact. He’s been such a force to be reckoned with in these books that it’s a special kind of torture to see him brought so low, but through his obvious pain the fire that’s always burned so brightly in him shines, and we have the pleasure of watching him fight his way free of the fears paralyzing his mind to find Deuce waiting patiently for him on the other side. The two of them together are an extraordinary and unforgettable pair, one destined for the favorites shelf to be read and enjoyed again and again.

Overall, Horde is an emotionally-charged and action-packed finale, showing us with more than just Deuce how one person can inspire change and rewrite what was sure to be a dark and bleak history, both humbling us and sparking in us a renewed desire to bring forth our own change, however small it may seem in the grand scheme of things.

Shadows by: Paula Weston

For months now I've been hearing about what a great book Shadows by Paula Weston.  I finally decided to give in to all those positive reviews one weekend and I was blown away by how much I ended up loving Shadows.

Shadows presents us to a cast of characters that are extremely well-developed. Gaby, the protagonist, lost her twin brother Jude in a brutal accident. When Rafa, a boy who appeared in her nightmares comes to town, her life is thrown upside down. She is propelled into a world of angels. I loved Gaby as a main character. She started off as a naive character, but by the end of the book, she had overcome her fears and had become one of the most kick-ass characters I've ever come across. At the start of the story, Gaby was battling with the intense grief that came with the loss of her twin. This grief soon turned into confusion as Rafa came into her life telling her that her memories have been wiped away. Her emotions felt genuine and almost tangible. I loved having this book written in her POV because she was such a great main character. Gaby was also the sort of girl who didn't mince her words and I loved her brutal honesty. Gaby's growth into this level-headed, strong character was one of the highlights of Shadows for me. What I liked about the author's portrayal of this main character was that she wasn't flawless. She made mistakes along the way, but she was the kind of young woman who knew how to learn from her mistakes.

Rafa, the love interest, was another favorite character of mine in this book. He was one cocky, arrogant boy,  but not to the point of rude. From time to time, he allowed his sweet and caring side to appear and it was a treat for me as a reader. Rafa was such an intriguing character and I just wanted to peel off the layers of mystery that surrounded him and to get to know him better. Slowly, over the course of the book, the author did help the readers unravel his character and it was an absolute delight. Rafa also had this charm to his character that made me want to constantly swoon over him. There is still a lot more to learn about his personality and I can't wait for more of him in the next installments of the series. Shadows also had a fantastic set of secondary characters who immediately grappled at my heart, especially Gaby's best friend, Maggie and Jason. The author made sure that the main character and the love interest weren't the only ones who were well fleshed-out. She didn't leave the secondary characters to the side and I could tell from their distinct personalities.

Shadows is one of my favorite books that I've read this year. I need the next book right away!