Things Hoped For
By: Andrew Clements

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Loving our Dogs

Amazon Summary:

We are all crazy about our dogs and can't read enough about them. Readers will revel in this collection of heartwarming, amusing, inspirational, and occasionally tearful stories about our best friends and faithful companions - our dogs.

These true stories will make you appreciate your own dogs and see them with a new eye. Some of these stories describe amazing contributions made by dogs and highlight their intelligence and intuitive abilities. Many will make you laugh or cry. They will all renew your admiration for your canine companions.


This was one of the best Chicken Soup books I have  ever read. I've already read it to all my friends and family and they all had the same response as I did. I would recommend this book to anyone who doesn't become tearful easily and enjoys some humourous stories. I would give this Chicken Soup book a 10/10.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas Magic

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas Magic describes Christmas, a magical time of year-- a time of family, friends and traditions.  Readers will immediately get engaged in the 101 holiday stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas Magic that spread the happiness, wonderful joy, and blessings of the season of finding the perfect Christmas tree, spending time with family, seeing the wonder in a childs eyes, and enjoying the magic of the season.

I read this book a few years back, but I have read it many more times after. This book makes you realize the true meaning of family and friends in a fun and motivating way. I would recommend this book to anybody who needs a little inspiration. I would give this book a 9/10.  

A Case of Need by Michael Crichton

Amazon Description:
A Case of Need is Michael Crichton's Edgar award-winning debut novel, written shortly after he completed his medical internship. Set against the ever-building pressure and pace of a large Boston medical center, the tensions flare-and explode-when a surgical operation tragically ends in death, raising countless questions. Was it accidental malpractice? A violation of the Hippocratic oath? Or cold-blooded murder?
Review:
And alas it seems I have read my last Crichton novel. I had hoped to go out with a bang in this regard, but this book's fuse fizzled out prior to detonation. Why? I'm so glad you asked.
1. Pacing/Intensity. A Case of Need was very slow all the way through, to the point that I got bored at times. So I hoped beyond hope that there would be a nice intense finish like there was in Rising Sun, but no, the climax wasn't really intense either.
2. Muddled Morality. So the hot topic Crichton tries to discuss here is abortion. Remember, this book is from the 1960s, a time when abortion was still illegal in Massachusetts. So is abortion wrong? Crichton says it's not so long as the pregnancy is either inconvenient or detrimental to the mother's health. If the pregnancy doesn't meet those conditions, THEN aborting it is wrong. I have a serious problem with this, since I am completely pro-life. I believe that human life starts at conception and intentionally ending that life at any time after that is murder. Crichton's views though, are neither fully pro-life nor fully pro-abortion; they are somewhere in between, but more on the side of abortion. Crichton also vilifies the pro-life - especially Catholics - throughout the book. There is nothing more distasteful than when authors insult, vilify, or otherwise ostracize people based on religion.
3. Characters. I hate it when authors have a protagonist with an annoying personality. Alex Scarrow did it in A Thousand Suns, and Crichton did it here. The protagonist starts out likeable enough, but by the end of the book he's downright irritating. Also, one of the antagonists isn't introduced until the last minute, so his character is never fully fleshed out/revealed.
4. Ending/Twists. The ending, and the twists it involved, was never properly/fully explained so it really flops in a way that's hard to describe.
A Case of Need is probably my least favorite out of all the books I've read by Crichton. As a book, it's still palatable though, so long as one can see past his views on abortion. Recommended to fans of House or ER (a show which Crichton actually created).
3/5 stars

Airhead, Meg Cabot

*Pretty much copy/pasted from my rant review on teenrc.ca

This is without a doubt the only Meg Cabot series I’ve ever tolerated.

The reason being, Meg Cabot really likes to write about that ‘ditzy, blond cheerleader-esque’ type. You know, the one with the perfect hair and body that’s able to win over everyone, despite the fact she’s displaced the majority of her brain cells. Multiple guys are in love with her, and oh no, she just cannot choose between them. Of course they’re handsome as well, since she’s so beautiful, they have to be! In the end, she chooses the one that she barely knows, while the one that seems to genuinely care for her gets the back seat.

If you haven’t figured it out, I do not like that ‘ditzy, blond cheerleader-esque’ type. Therefore, I do not like most of Meg Cabot’s books.

However, the protagonist in ‘Airhead’ is a nerdy gem. She’s a tomboy – this means she doesn’t shriek if she breaks a nail, she likes gaming and is generally all around awesome. Oh, and did I mention she’s not super pretty? Well, sadly that doesn’t last long. After an accident in the mall, her brain gets transplanted into the body of a model and she becomes a babe. 

-Thank you Potter, you have eloquently displayed my emotions -

Really Meg Cabot? REALLY!? I wish that Meg would realize that a lot of us may be pretty, but most of the female population doesn’t look like we’ve been photo shopped. FINALLY, she’s written something where the protagonist isn’t gorgeous and ditzy, but kind of average, and then she has to go mess with it by putting her in a super-models body. Apparently, average people don’t fall in love, what a quality message to send to the public.

But I digress, at least the tomboy-ish personality comes through this time. I liked Em quite a bit throughout the series, she was awkward, real and intelligent. She struggled fitting in with a super-models daily routine, but she slowly starts to adapt. As for the love interests, they may have been typical Meg Cabot style (good-looking), but their personalities were less…mental. From what I can recall, Gabriel was a bit of a stalker, but Christopher (childhood friend) actually liked Em, NOT the model, the TOMBOY. Sheesh, finally. Even if he went slightly nuts trying to find her, I could overlook it since he wasn’t drooling all over who he thought was Nikki. Also, I loved Lulu – she may have been a complete ditz, but a completely lovable one.

The plot is not deep. In certain points, I think it tries to be (conspiracy theory that you’ll learn about later), but it fails. The writing wasn’t anything special, but it was good enough. The worst of it all is that this is the closest Meg Cabot has come to writing authentic characters, and they still all look like God sent them down to torture the normal folk. Pssh, even He can't handle it.

- They're sexy and they know it -

COME ON MEG, UGLY PEOPLE CAN LOVE TOO!
Final Verdict: 6.5 – 7.0/10 (re-read the first book after seeing Ashini's multiple posts on Meg XD)

The Joy Luck Club

If you are searching for a book to read not purely for entertainment, but also as an educational material focusing on dealing with life’s hardships, especially as women, “The Joy Luck Club” is the one you want. Written by Amy Tan, “The Joy Luck Club” presents a wide range of themes, including filial responsibility, ancestry and traditions, superstitions, the American transformation of Chinese immigrants, and the empowerment of women. The inspirational novel narrates the stories of four mah jong “sisters”, each hiding an uneasy past underneath their joyful present. The story largely depicts how the life lessons these women have learned the hard way are passed on and applied in the lives of their daughters, who more or less follow in their mothers’ footsteps.


There was one character who grabbed most of my attention, for her stunning foreign costumes, her strength to swallow life’s harshness, and her filial dutifulness: An-mei’s mother. Besides this character, I also liked reading how the daughters removed their misunderstandings of their mothers and how they changed a strained mother-daughter relationship into a close one. Moreover, love relationship was also a major topic that got me interested into the plot because it can provide reference for me when I encounter similar problems in the future. 

Overall, “The Joy Luck Club” was a well-made movie because of its fascinating plot and enjoyable narration. I would rate the movie 9.5 out of 10, 0.5 off because the multi-layers of the story was a little confusing to follow. Nonetheless, I would definitely recommend “The Joy Luck Club” to every young adult who hopes to seek a happier life for themselves and their families.

Unbelievable (Pretty Little Liars #4) by Sara Shepard

"Behind Rosewood's grand facades, where the air smells like apples and Chanel No. 5 and infinity pools sparkle in landscaped backyards, nothing is as it seems. It was here, back in seventh grade, that five best friends shared everything--Seven jeans, MAC makeup, and their deepest, darkest secrets. For Aria, Spencer, Hanna, and Emily, it was a dream come true . . . until Alison, the most beautiful of them all, suddenly vanished.
Now someone named A has turned their charmed lives into a living nightmare. Emily has been shipped off to her hyper-conservative cousins in Iowa. Aria is stuck living with her dad and his home-wrecker girlfriend. And Spencer fears she had something to do with Alison's murder. But Hanna's fate is far worse than all of that--she's clinging to life in the hospital, because "she knew too much."
With A's threats turning dangerous and Ali's killer still on the loose, the girls must uncover the truth--about A, about Ali, and about what happened to Hanna--before they become A's next victims. But as they unravel Rosewood's mysteries and secrets, will it bring an end to the horror . . . or is this just the beginning?"

So much drama! I totally enjoyed the whole novel and it was completely breathtaking. Betrayal and many more issues occur, it just takes you through a stimulating ride throughout the whole book. It was thrilling and unpredictable for me, there was just so much action described in the story and the mystery never ends! Without a doubt, I would recommend this book and would rate it a 4.5/5.

Madagascar 2- Escape 2 Africa

Madagascar  2- Escape 2 Africa, is like the rest of the Madagascar movies, a family classic including humour, action and adventure.

                                                 Summary


Zuba

As a cub, Alex's name was Alakay and he was the son of Zuba, the alpha lion. Although Zuba tries to teach his son how to be a hunter, it seems Alakay is more interested in dancing, and when Makunga, Zuba's rival, challenges Zuba to fight for the position of alpha lion, Alakay is captured by poachers and forced into a crate. Despite Zuba's efforts to rescue him, Alex is taken away. The crate falls into the ocean, where it then drifts of to New York. When in New York, Alakay is renamed Alex and taken to live in Central Park Zoo where he continues to live and grows up, meeting Marty the Zebra, Gloria the Hippopotamus and Melman the Giraffe.




Makunga

I found this a really amusing and entertaining movie. I am really excited to see the third movie. I would recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys a good laugh from time to time. I would give this movie a 10/10. :)

The Clique - Lisa Harrison

I read these books quite a while ago. I think I was 12. And when I was 12, I loved them. I was into the chick-lit genre at the time and this series is the definition of chick-lit. It's pretty much a story about the oh-so-glamorous lives of pretty, popular, rich private school brats. And somehow, Lisa Harrison makes them sort of interesting. Not saying this series is good... but you have to give her some credit. It's like watching Jersey Shore. Pointless, stupid, but strangely entertaining.

The characters are so shallow. I have never read a series with more shallow girls ever in my life. They are like those stereotypical popular cheerleaders in the movies. There isn't a single girl on earth that talks like they do (EH MI GAWD) or acts like they do (*point*) or is as shallow and conceited as they are. What sort of girl has a boyfriend and a job when they are 12? I'm not sure where Lisa Harrison grew up, but where I live, that's not normal.

The plot is non-existent. As in, it's not there. There are girls. They fight over boys. The end. I don't know what kind of message Lisa was trying to portray but it didn't get through to me.

What bothers me the most is that these girls have everything. They are rich, they are pretty, the are popular, they have a bunch of friends, everyone likes them (or at least pretends to), they get fairly good grades, they are automatically on the sports teams, etc, etc. I don't think anyone can relate to them at all. Most girls are pretty, but they don't look like supermodels. Most girls are well-off, not as rich as Bill Gates. Most girls have friends, but they have a couple enemies too. Most girls have to work for good grades and achievements, they aren't automatically top of the list. There are no girls like the ones Lisa Harrison has created! It is so unrealistic!

I understand this is a chick-lit, and it's supposed to be fluffy and empty, but LH could have done better than this crap. At least it was entertaining. That's all that can be said for it. 2/5

If you are looking for a real-life version of Massie and Alicia check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__HeE6NWmDE

LOOL just saying :P Seems like the kinda thing those girls would do.

City of Bones - Cassandra Clare

There is a lot of controversy surrounding this book; everyone either loves it or hates it. I absolutely adore it. I think it’s very unique, phenomenally written and just a fantastic story all around. This book introduced me to Cassandra Clare’s writing and I have been a huge fan ever since. She has a way of writing that draws you in from the start; it’s beautiful, hilarious and emotional all together. I am always shaken up after reading any of her books, and City of Bones was no exception.

I love the characters in this book. Clary, the protagonist is strong, sarcastic and very loyal. She is the perfect protagonist for the story and Cassandra does an amazing job of introducing Clary to us throughout the book. I am able to connect to her on a new level. She is very relatable and impossible not to love. I have also fallen in love with Clary’s love interest: Jace. Jace is my version of the ideal boyfriend. He is a lot of fun to be around, he is loyal to his friends and family, he is hilarious and he is so sweet and caring. He and Clary go together perfectly. There is a bit of a love triangle going on here with Simon, but there aren’t any hard feelings and Cassandra comes up with the perfect solution in future books (take note Stephenie Meyer and Suzanne Collins!).

The plot may not be unique, but the world Cassandra created absolutely is. I have never read anything like it before and I long to be a part of it. I haven’t felt this way since reading Harry Potter; I want to be there with the characters. I feel like I AM there with the characters. I was immersed in this world where demons roam the night, weres run a bar, vamps occupy abandoned hotels, warlocks cast spells while ricking glitter in their hip hugging jeans, and the law is upheld by Shadowhunters, a race of humans blessed by the angel Raziel. WOW! The plot draws you in and the story is full of action. Yes, there are some cliches, but who cares? The story is dramatic, interesting and perfectly paced. THIS is what I call a paranormal romance. Someone finally got it right.

The characters touched my heart, the plot drew me in, the writing left me in an emotional wreck. Cassandra Clare created a spectacular book that touched on all elements of the perfect novel, and completely surpassed my expectations. This is a fantastic read and I would recommend it to everyone, no matter what gender, what age, what genre preference. 10/10!

The Gift - James Patterson

There’s not much that can be said for or against this book. It’s well written and the plot is interesting, but not amazing. It didn’t hook me as much as I would have liked, as it was very slowly paced in the beginning and wayyy too fast in the end. Therefore, I started out bored and finished confused. There was barely any character development. If you haven’t read the prequel (Witch and Wizard) there is no way you will be able to connect with Wisty and Whit at all. Overall, I found it childish and boring. It’s not the worst book I’ve read, but I was expecting more from James Patterson. On the other hand, I would highly recommend his other series: Maximum Ride. It is spectacular. 2.5/5

Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games was phenomenal. Catching Fire did the impossible; it surpassed it's predecessor. So you can only imagine what high expectations I had of Mockingjay prior to reading it. I was deluded into thinking it would be as fantastic as the others. I was extremely disappointed and frankly, quite upset, that this was NOT the case. At all. Coming from a talented writer who has done amazing things with words and created unique, engrossing plots, Mockingjay was appalling. It didn't feel like reading for enjoyment; it felt like a chore.

First off, Katniss. I don't even have words to describe how disappointed and disbelieving I am at what this strong, intelligent, resourceful, cunning, kick-butt protagonist has now become. In Mockingjay, she is an empty shell, a pawn for the rebels to use for their own objectives. She is diminished to an angsty, whiny, selfish brat who can do nothing but constantly bemoan her own fate. 90% of the book, she is a drugged up shadow; always wandering aimlessly through the hallways or throwing pity parties for herself in the closet. As the war unraveled, I felt like Katniss was always on the sidelines, only called in when other people commanded her to. We didn't get to see Katniss kicking butt against her enemies, we got to hear from other characters about events that occurred, or watch them on the TV. I kept waiting, sure this was all build-up for that moment when Collins would throw in the story changer. Sure that any minute Katniss would pick herself up and say "Enough is enough". I kept waiting for the moment when the winds would change and she would decide with conviction to actively work through her problems- but to my shock, that moment never came.

Which brings me to my next biggest problem with the book: it was so anti-climatic! In the rare case we were ever given an exciting scene, as soon as it got intense, Katniss would get knocked out in the midst of things and we would wake up to her in the hospital being treated. The book was mindnumbingly dull; there was absolutely no excitement. I felt no emotion at all when the rebels triumphed; no relief, no joy. Because we were not there with them, amid all the action. We were stuck with dull Katniss, watching the events unfold from the sidelines. It was INFURIATING! Katniss did nothing to help defeat the Capitol; she basically watched Prim die, got burned, and woke up in a hospital, where she (and us) were TOLD instead of SHOWN how the Capitol fell. I also couldn't believe Katniss's trial just happened without us. Katniss is moping and plotting her suicide in her room in the Capitol (as usual), and then one day Haymitch wanders in and says, "Your trial's over. You're free." Honestly, I don't give a flying fart about Katniss' countless issues; give me some action!!

WHAT IS WITH THE POINTLESS DEATHS??!! Deaths that don't ensure anyone else's survival, are excessively undignified, or never grieved for. Mockingjay was full of them. Finnick, Mesalla, itchell, Boggs, Cinna, need I say more? They are all ridiculous, gory, bloody and did NOTHING to aid Katniss bringing down the capitol. Essentially, they are all just deaths for the sake of death. Collins just randomly and meaninglessly killed off all the supporting characters to build excitement, because she couldn't bear to part with the main ones. Prim's death didn't have the impact Collins was aiming for; it felt like a strangers death. I didn't get to know or connect with Prim well enough throughout the three books to feel any emotion besides pity for Katniss. And she was absent for at least 100 pages before her death came out of nowhere, so I was too confused to feel any sadness. (Although it seems her death kind of defeated the point of sparing her from the Hunger Games.) On the other hand, I was extremely distraught over Finnick's death. He had just married the love of his life and she was pregnant, for god's sake! But I understand why Collins killed him off. I would even be okay with it (upset, but fine with it) if she had made his death a little classier. Or, A LOT classier. His death is absolutely nonsensical. I mean, eaten by mutts in a sewer? So unnecessesary.


And finally, Gale. What happened to him? Oh, he's in District 2. And what's he doing in Distict 2? Dunno. How did he get there? Dunno. Why did he go there? Dunno. How does he feel about Katniss being with Peeta out of default, not either one's choice? Dunno. What's he going to do with his life now? Where is he going to live? What's going to happen to this character that we've been with for almost three whole books, and who's played a huge part in the story of Katniss's life? Uh...I dunno. I was team Gale all along, so I admit I may be a bit biased on this front, but I do feel like the conclusion of the love triangle was very rushed. Like Collins had no idea what to do with it, so she sent one off and left it at that. But Gale fit with Katniss so well. He was like the peanut butter to her jelly. Why did you do this to me, Suzanne Collins?? Torment.

Alexandria of Africa

Eric Walters

     This book is about a snobby girl who gets whatever she wants. Alexandria's life is easy until she gets arrested for shoplifting. This time, she can't weasel herself out it. She is packed on a plane heading for Kenya, Africa, where she is forced to work for a charity helping African children. Alexandria is trapped without cell phone use, hot water, her wallet, and air conditioning. She eventually copes with the locals to find a facinating culture.

     I enjoyed how this book gave you true facts about African children and how it gives the reader a clear message of how lucky we all are compared to these poor children. After reading this novel, I thought about all my friends who demand their own cell phone or laptop. They don't realise that some children in the world don't have water. 

This is an amazing read I rate 9/10.

Nicholas Sparks' Message in a Bottle

Nicholas Sparks' Message in a Bottle

"Classic tale of love"

- Christian Science Monitor

I have read several of Nicholas Sparks' novels. Including Dear John, The Notebook and A Walk to Remember. All of which were touching and memorable. Message in a Bottle is also no exception. 

However, I found this novel different from the others. The main characters he created in this story have a different background than the others. They are in their 30's and both experience their second chance at love. Whereas  the other novels depict young adults experiencing newfound love (although the last half of The Notebook does illustrate the characters in their old ages). Thus, this book was something different for me. 

As the title suggests, the main characters were led to each other by a message in a bottle. Which seems like a miracle. This novel deals with the ghosts of past memories, the choices of the present and the uncertainty of the future. It makes you question about fate and letting go of the past. And as usual, I did tear up at parts of the story, just as I did in Sparks' other novels. 

The ending was also extremely emotionally moving. It wraps up the story just perfectly. Though I liked the novel, I did not enjoy reading it just as much as I did in the others. However, it is still a pleasant, heart-warming love story nonetheless. 

If you like mystery books...

So I was on the internet the other day trying to find mystery books to read... here are some that I found out were pretty popular on www.goodreads.com:

 The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1)
by Stieg Larsson

The Lovely Bones (Mass Market Paperback)
by Alice Sebold

 The Body in the Library (Miss Marple, #3)
by Agatha Christie

 The Woman in White (Paperback)
by Wilkie Collins

 The Complete Sherlock Holmes (Paperback)
by Arthur Conan Doyle 

Just to name a few! I did not see these series on Goodreads, but I didn't go through the long list; I would totally recommend the 'Dead is...' series!
 

Alvin and The Chipmunks-The Squeakquel

This is the sequel to Alvin and the Chipmunks. In this movie, 3 new characters are introduced. The 3, just like Alvin,Simon and Theodore are Chipmunks but the only difference is that the new characters are females. Their name's are Brittany, Jeanette and Eleanor. This is what the storyline follows:

During a concert in Paris, France, David Seville is injured. Dave must heal and is forced to to leave his aunt to take care of the chipmunks. Some arrangements are also made for the chipmunks to attend school. After another accident in which Dave's aunt is also injured, the chipmunks are left with Toby, the grandson of Dave's aunt.

Meanwhile, Ian Hawke is living in the basement of JETT Records. 3 singing female chipmunks named Brittany, Jeanette and Eleanor, a.k.a The Chipettes, emerge and Ian hires them immediately so he can make a comeback at the Chipmunks and get his career back.

The Chipettes from left to right. Jeanette, Brittany, Eleanor

While attending school, the Chipmunks are bullied and visit the principal's office. It appears the principal is a huge fan of the Chipmunks and wants to help raise money for the music program by having the chipmunks participate in a contest. Meanwhile, Ian is shocked to find the Chipmunks on the front page of the newspaper. After he reads a story about them, he decides to send the Chipettes to school immediately.


I loved this movie just like the first one. I was glad that they didn't follow the same plot as the last movie and instead introduced some new characters. I am really excited to watch the third movie, Alvin and the Chipmunks-Chipwrecked. I would recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys fantasy,comedy and music. I would rate this film a 10/10. 

Hop (Movie)

Around last Easter, a movie called Hop was released. The main character in this movie is a young rabbit named E.B who lives on Easter Island and does not want to follow in the footsteps of his father, Mr.Bunny, and become the next Easter Bunny. Intimidated by the calling demands, E.B runs away to Hollywood to follow his dream of becoming a drummer. Meanwhile on Easter Island, Mr.Bunny sends his three ninja guards in search of his son who is nowhere to be found. While all this is happening, 2 Easter chicks, Carlos and Phil, plot a coup d'etat against Mr.Bunny so they can take over the Easter Organization. 



A lot of my friends said that this movie was great but the truth is that I didn't really find this movie as good as I'd hoped it would be. Because of this reaction I had, I am not very sure who I would recommend this movie to besides anyone who enjoys fantasy. I would give this film a 7.5/10. Of course, you may not have the same type of response I had.

The Pink Berets

Dystopian

Dystopian lit seems to be one of the two genres every teen is crazy about these days. The other is paranormal romance. I tend to avoid the second like the Plague itself, (I'm a guy). This is gonna sound hipster, but dystopian is becoming waaayy too mainstream. This can make it so that some potentially great books either don't get read (because they're not a part of the dystopian craze) or don't get the high ratings they deserve (because they're buried within the dystopian craze). I'm not the biggest dystopian fan (I'm more of a action/psychological/techno thriller kind of guy) but I feel some of the dystopian books out there are indeed worth reading and recommending, so without further ado, here are my recommendations:


note: parts of titles that are a different colour are links to my reviews of  a book of each of those series

The Classics:

1984 by George Orwell

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Modern/Recent Dystopian :

The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (do NOT read Mockingjay under any circumstances)

the Gone series by Michael Grant

Variant by Robison Wells

The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials by James Dashner (do NOT read The Death Cure)

The Books of Mortals trilogy by Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee (Note, my biggest problem with this series was lack of originality compared to Dekker's earlier work; a reader new to Dekker will not have this problem)

The Enemy series by Charlie Higson

The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

the Six of Hearts series by Jack Heath

For the Non-Purists (those who don't care if the book is actually dystopian so long as it has dystopian elements (which may vary significantly from book to book recommended here)):

the TimeRiders series by Alex Scarrow (I cannot recommend these highly enough - they have enough time travel campiness to be fun and enough dystopian/steampunk suspense and action to be uber-intense at times. I'd give each of them a 5/5. The best news is, RPL has every single one of them, so you have no excuses for not reading them XD) 

the Tunnels series by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams (think Journey to the Centre of the Earth on mega-steroids with a religious sect hell-bent (pun intended) on killing everyone on the surface)


any book by Robin Parrish (except for Nightmare, which is a different genre) (I'd especially recommend The Dominion Trilogy and Vigilante to fans of dystopian)

the Tomorrow Series by John Marsden

the Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness

If you've read all of the above, there is nothing I can do to help you.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Colins

My name is Katniss Everdeen. Why am I not dead? I should be dead.

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plains--except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay--no matter what the personal cost.

*spoiler alert*
I think this book is good and i really did enjoy reading the series although in comparison between the first book and this book, i think that the first book was much better. I dont like how everyone who Katniss cared about at the beginning of the trilogy (her mother, Prim, Gale, Gale's family) are no longer with her and the one's who are with her are the one's that she met because of the Hunger Games... so technically, there was no real point in volunteering to be the tribute in the place of her sister if her sister was just going to die anyway. And what was the point of the second book, where she chose Gale over Peeta when in the end she would choose Peeta? Additionally, i think that Katniss goes from this really independant, strong girl to a dependant damsel in distress (no offense to anyone who thinks otherwise). I really did admire her courage and her bravery in the first book, but to be honest, in the third book, she's reckless and annoying (again no offense to those who think otherwise). I also dont like how this book doesnt exactly answer all the questions, like, what happened to Bonnie and Twill? or all those peacekeepers who were nice and lenient with the laws of Panem? And ultimately, WHO DROPPED THE BOMBS THAT KILLED BOTH THE CAPITOL KIDS AND THE MEDICS WHO WERE ON THE REBELS SIDE? Because it could have actually been Snow who dropped those bombs just to get back at Katniss as a last resort since if he were to run, he'd never have the life he once had at the Capitol. Plus, there was a Capitol symbol on the hovercraft which means that technically, it's a Capitol hovercraft and i wouldnt put it past Snow to lie to a confused girl like Katniss who he knew would believe him. On the other hand, Coin could have just used one of the capitol hovercrafts that maybe hadnt been destroyed or she could've had a Capitol symbol created and put onto a hovercraft that district 13 owned. And also, we dont exactly know if Coin had actually wanted to kill Katniss or if it was just all in Katniss' head and used the strategy that Gale and Beetee created in the lab back in district 13. Well, i guess i'll never know.

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin

If Naomi had picked tails, she would have won the coin toss. She wouldn't have had to go back for the yearbook camera, and she wouldn't have hit her head on the steps. She wouldn't have woken up in an ambulance with amnesia. She certainly would have remembered her boyfriend, Ace. She might even have remembered why she fell in love with him in the first place. She would understand why her best friend, Will, keeps calling her “Chief.” She'd know about her mom's new family. She'd know about her dad's fiancée. She never would have met James, the boy with the questionable past and the even fuzzier future, who tells her he once wanted to kiss her. She wouldn't have wanted to kiss him back.

But Naomi picked heads.


I like how this book gets you thinking about life as you're trying to make your own waves and not get caught up with popularity and just go with the flow. Additionally, after reading this book, it makes you think about the things that you do in your life and the way that you act towards situations. Personally, this book got me thinking, if i became an amnesiac, would I like the friends that i have? and what would i think about them? would i take an immediate hating to them? Although this book was a little slow, i did enjoy how the author conveys a message with the story and isnt just another teenaged love story, it's a break from all those sci-fi, fantasy love stories that really have no message behind them other then the usual amazing plots. I do recommend this book if anyone is looking for a break from reading fantasy/sci-fi books. Happy reading!

What's everyone reading right now? And other random book-related questions

I'm just curious, since the last time this question was asked, it was at the start of the blog and perhaps some people missed it + we might as well expand on it a little. :)
So guys, 
Here's my series of questions for you. 

What's the best book you've read this summer?
What are you currently reading?
What's your favorite book?


I guess I'll start since I made the post.
 
Best book read over the summer (so far): I've pretty much reviewed everything I've read this summer on the site. I re-read "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson, but as for the books I've never read before, "Saving Francesca" by Melina Marchetta was the best. 


Currently reading: I just finished "The Flame Alphabet" by Ben Marcus and I'm currently working on "What Alice Forgot" by Liana Moriarty. I have a feeling "What Alice Forgot" might become one of my favorite books even though I'm only forty pages in. :D 


Favorite book: Choosing one is just difficult, but I'm torn between "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith and "The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein. If you read them, you'll know why. :)


Any other random book-related questions are encouraged.

Weekly Winners...

Congratulations to Jasmine, bigbangvip and Ye Nia as they are this week’s winners! As winners, they will receive a book plus a package of other goodies including: a swim, bowling and Richmond Oval pass, a complete meal to White Spot, and more.

Thanks everyone for posting and commenting this week. Keep those reviews and comments coming. Who knows, you could be next week’s winner!

Chinese Couplet Competition

Alright, I know you are all extremely talented, so I thought I would share this upcoming contest for anyone who may be interested. I realize you must be able to read and write in Chinese, so it’s not for everyone, but additional contest will be coming soon for those of you who cannot participate this time. Here’s the information….

Calling all people who like to write Chinese couplets!  You can compete with others who share your interest at Richmond Public Library’s Chinese Couplets Competition. Complete the couplet with your second line and submit it to the library by 3:00 p.m. on Aug 15 for your chance to win. 

The first line of the couplet is: 書山藏愿景

“The judges will select the winners based on the established rules for Chinese couplets.” 

According to the rules for Chinese couplets, the two lines must have the same number of characters, each character must be from the same word class (e.g. noun to noun, verb to verb), the tone pattern of the two lines must be mirror images (inverse) of each other, and the meaning of the two lines must complement one another.  The dialect spoken does not matter.  The rhymes of the couplet must conform to the standards in the Dictionary of Chinese Rhymes (韻書).

The top three winners in each category will receive a trophy and a copy of their winning works written in Chinese calligraphy by local artist and calligrapher Yukman Lai. The winners will be announced at the Dr. Kwok-Chu Lee Recognition Ceremony on August 29 at 3:00 p.m.

Entry forms are available online at www.yourlibrary.ca/drlee or in person at any branch of Richmond Public Library

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - J.K. Rowling

"To the well organized mind death is but the next great adventure." - Albus Dumbledore

There are no words to describe how phenomenal this book series is. J.K. Rowling has, without a doubt, written the best series in history. Her characters have touched my heart in a way no other characters have, and I love them all dearly. She created a magical dream world for me, one that I always longed to be a part of. One that I still long to be a part of. Harry Potter is a series that I can go back and read again and again and again. And each time, the plot twists will shock me just as much as they did the last time. Each time, I will feel my heart wrenched out over and over when my favorite characters are taken away from me, far too soon. Each time, I will fall in love with Harry, Ron, Hermoine, Dumbledore, Lupin, Sirius, all of them.

Harry Potter is the best protagonist to ever live in our personal book world. He is brave and strong, humble and generous, loyal and determined. He is everything good a person can possibly be; his heart is full to the brim. He is not a perfect character, but it is the imperfections that make him realistic, that bring him to life. It is the imperfections that make everyone love him so dearly. That make me love him so dearly. Harry can always count on the support of his best friends; Ron and Hermione. I adore both Ron and Hermione, for just being themselves. The three of them are so diverse, so insanely unalike that they are perfect for each other. The bond between the three of them is not abrupt, it does not happen overnight, but rather grows and strengthens over time. The way they meet, the way they develop their friendship, and the way they bond and defend each other throughout the year; it's all perfect.

In the beginning of the book, Harry seems to be all alone. He is stuck with the horrid Dursley's who all hate him, and he is forced to live in poor conditions. He has no friends, no parents, no love. He feels invisible. Who couldn't pity him? But Harry soon finds out that he is nowhere near invisible. He is the most famous wizard in the world! And so Harry's new life begins. The telling of Harry's story is phenomenal. From Hagrid breaking down the door, to shopping on Diagon Alley, to arriving at Hogwarts, it is all written with just the right amount of excitement and fear. The emotions are right on the dot. Watching the beginnings of the wizarding world begin to take shape was the best part of the book for me. There's the singing hats, the talking chess pieces, the moving staircases, the giant three-headed-dogs (named Fluffy, ironically enough), a lunatic for a headmaster, a hilarious giant with a pet dragon, mail carrier owls, unicorns, trolls, centaurs, man-eating plants, goblins running a bank and much, much more. What's not to love? Being introduced to all these new characters, and creatures, and ideas that seemed unthinkable to me! I felt just as excited and nervous as Harry did! I could feel my stomach churning and my cheeks heating up as I devoured the book. 

And then Harry begins his first year at Hogwarts. He begins to get into the swing of things. He learns that he really is not all alone. He is surrounded by a network of friends who all love him and treat him like family. There's wise Dumbledore, sweet Hagrid, motherly Mrs. Weasly, tough love Ms. Mcgonagall and so many more! And I feel such joy for Harry, that he has finally found a place where he belongs. It is a testament to J.K. Rowlings writing that she can make me feel emotions so raw and so real that I almost think they are happening in real life. Like the fierce hatred I feel for Snape and Malfoy. At times I want to teleport to Hogwarts and give Harry a hug. Tell him everything is going to be all right. And maybe reward Snape a slap across the face, while I'm at it.


The introduction is done perfectly. I feel like I have known the characters for ages. Each and every one of them has a unique personality which is integrated in the plot so smoothly- it all comes off as well polished and fast-paced. Then the action comes in. Lord Voldemort- the ultimate villain- is brought into the story. Harry- at the young age of 11 years old- is faced with death and danger. But he remains strong. He delves deep inside to find what he needs to battle Voldemort. He knows it is his destiny. Others might have shrugged it off, saying it is for the adults to worry about. "Not my problem". But not Harry. Harry, with the help of Ron and Hermione, spends every hour of every day researching the Philosophers stone. What might Voldemort want with it? Where could it be hidden? How can he stop Voldemort from retrieving it? He constructs a plan, and then puts his plan into action. With valiance, bravery and determination he fights his way through fierce traps and dangerous concoctions until he is faced with the final test. Lord Voldemort himself. And he comes out on top.

This book is the one that started the world-wide phenomenon. I love it. It will forever be my favorite book series. I bow down to J.K. Rowling for creating such a magical, amazing series. I remember being a kid of 11, waiting for my letter from Hogwarts. It never came, and I was so disappointed. Even now, years later, I am still waiting. Because a part of me doesn't want to believe that Harry's world is not real. And it is not every book series that makes you feel that way.

Only the Good Spy Young - Ally Carter

By now, I am sick of this series. If a series is good, it can get to maybe 8 or 9 books (at most) without losing interest. But after Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy (which was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.) this series went straight downhill. Don't Judge a Girl by her Cover was horrible, and Only the Good Spy Young followed on that front.

Cammie has gone from a strong, cheeky, hilarious, intelligent, beautiful young woman to a self-centered, whiney, annoying brat. I have begun to hate her. As with Don't Judge a Girl by her Cover, Cammie is obsessed with Zach and does stupid things for him time and time again. And yet again, Zach swoops in and out of Cammie's life whenever he pleases, each time leaving cryptic mysterious messages. ????

The plot is jumpy. It goes from suspensful to romantic to calm to who knows what. It's just very flawed, choppy and unpolished.

I was disappointed with the final books in this series, and I am definitely not going to try the 5th book: Out of sight, out of time. I am sure it won't be worth it.

Don't Judge a Girl by her Cover - Ally Carter

Ughh! Coming from an amazing author and an amazing series, I had HUGE expectations for this novel. It was horrible!

Cammie was a whole different person. What happened to the fun, spunky, strong girl we got to know in the first 2 books? She is now a whiney brat who only talks about her boyfriend (if you can even call him that) and has the brain capacity of a worm. It's always Zach this and Zach that. She almost gets herself killed because she's worried about Zach! Speaking of Zach, what the hell is wrong with him? He's become a typical annoying teen YA novel male character. Appears out of nowhere, makes mysterious comments and just disappears. Again. And again. And again.

The plot was so confusing! I didn't understand ANYTHING that was going on! What is "the circle"?? This crap was introduced out of nowhere and not elaborated on at all throughout the entire book! There was a lot of action, it was very fast paced, but its not that exciting when you don't know who's on which team. And especially when you don't know why they are fighting. I was clueless the whole book. That has never happened before and hopefully it will never happen again. Once I finish the book, I'd like to look back and be able to know what I just read. Which did not happen for this one.

The writing wasn't too bad. It was worse than Ally Carter normally is, but it was decent. A lot better than many other writers out there. And was even worse than usual! I have always said AC's endings suck, but this one was just impossible.

This was a huge disappointment :( I hope the next will be better, but I won't get my hopes up again (I know better than to make that mistake again).

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy - Ally Carter

I loved this book. I absolutely adored it. I'm just speechless; it's amazing! This one is for sure my favorite of the Gallagher Girls series. The writing is flawless and the plot is fantastic. The idea of boys coming to the institute and the boys vs. girls theme is very cute and hilarious. The spy angle is new and very fun (as always) but the romance is what made this book stand out so much.

Cammie's relationship with Zach is perfect. Awww Zach <3 Yet another fictional character I have fallen in love with. He's snarky and sarcastic, but sweet and heartfelt and he is just perfect for Cammie. The moment he walked into the room, I forgot all about Josh and how upset I was that Ally Carter removed him from the plot far too soon. Because she brought in someone even better! Josh was cute and sweet but Cammie was so superior to him that the relationship didn't work. But Zach and Cammie are on the same level. Here's where it gets interesting.

Overall, a wonderful book and the best in the series by far. If I had to name a flaw in the book, I would have to say the sudden ending. I would have liked it to be more polished and flowing, rather than the abrupt finish we were given. The ending was neither a cliffhanger nor a proper ending; it was a strange mix of the two. That ruined the phenomenal book for me quite a bit. I always did have a problem with Ally Carter's endings. She has amazing books, but the endings are too confusing for my taste. Too much is left to the imagination.

9/10 (The ending!!) :)  Alsooo, does anyone know if there's a movie for this series coming out anytime soon? I heard rumors but nothing confirmed.

The Lost Hero - Rick Riordan

I have been putting off writing this review for a while because I honestly don't know what to say. I read this book about two years ago (when it first came out) and I loved it. But my reading preferences have changed a lot since then, and going back and reading it now, I strongly disliked it. I have no idea whether I should write a good review on how I felt when I first read it, or a horrible one based on how I feel about it now. Because I remember how amazing I thought it was back then, and why, but I don't feel like those reasons are legit anymore.

Why did I like it?

1. The plot was fantastic!
2. The cliffhanger at the end.
3. The perfect mythology/reality mix.
4. The characters

Why didn't I like it?

1. The plot was typical. See #4
2. The cliffhanger was annoying! This is so not a legitimate reason D: But I am grabbing at straws atm...I'm trying to defend why I didn't like it the second time through, but I can't think of any reasons!
3. I am sick of the same old mythology! Come up with something new, RR! Please :)
4. The characters.

So, having listed them out like that, I am forced to conclude that I was a lot smarter 2 years ago when I read and liked the book. Because (besides the characters) there are absolutely NO proper reasons for disliking the story. Alas. I have no idea why I didn't like it when reading it a second time. I just didn't. Sooo read it- try it out! It's fun but also very intense! :)

Pants on Fire - Meg Cabot ahaha :D

Liar liar pants on fire :) Very creative title. That was probably the best part of the book... Meg Cabot NEEDS to widen her range. Hot girl cheats on her hot boyfriend with another hot guy. The end. You know the plot is going to be bad when it can be summarized in a sentence...

Katie drove me insane. Her mindset: Oh no, I am dating 5 sexy guys at once! My life sucks! Ughh. Come on, please give me a protagonist I actually like. Making the main character a cheater? Not a great idea, Cabot! The plot was just so shallow and empty, I couldn't like the book even if I tried. This one wasn't even up to Meg Cabot standards. The writing was good (as always) but the plot messed it up so bad. I would not recommend this to anyone! 2/10!

How to be Popular byyyy (you guessed it) Meg Cabot!

So many Meg Cabot reviews! Sorry for the repetition, but these have been sitting on my shelf for so long, I decided to get it over with and review them all.

I first picked up How to be Popular because of the title. It was so cool and it grabbed my attention. Despite the contradictory title, How to be Popular is a novel, and fantastic one at that! I remember hiding the cover because I didn't want people to see the title and think I was checking out a self help book. ;)

The plot is very typical and predictable- geek transformation to popular. I guess there was a lesson to be learned from the story (be happy with who you are?) but it didn't play out as much as it should have. The writing was light and fluffy, and the book was very simple. My favorite part was Jake's nose. Without it, the book would have been terrible. Just saying. Read it :) It's nice on a rainy day when your bored as hell and have nothing to do.

Airhead - Meg Cabot

I don't know why I enjoyed Airhead as much as I did. Maybe it was the writing (I have always had a thing for Cabot's writing). Maybe it was the characters or the plot. Maybe the cliffhangers (there were many). I just don't know. It was just another chicklit by Meg Cabot, but I loved it! I can honestly say that Airhead is the best novel Meg Cabot has ever written.

The plot was so unique and new! The book was Meg Cabot style in writing, but definitely not in plot. It was refreshing to read something so different and unpredictable for once. I have never read a chick-lit with such fun, fluffy writing but such an intense plot. It works perfectly together!

I loved the cliffhanger at the end. I wouldn't consider this book one of my favorites, but the cliffhangers kept me hooked. I just couldn't wait without reading the next book in the series. And then the next, and then the next! You have to read all three to know what happens to Em in the end, but it is fully worth the time and the wait. You will not be disappointed! Try this one out :) If you are a fan of Meg Cabot, or even if you are just looking for something light to read, this book is great! 8/10.

Avalon High - Meg Cabot

To newcomer Ellie, Avalon High seems like a typical American high school, complete with jocks, nerds, cheerleaders, and even the obligatory senior class president, quarterback, and all-around good guy. But it doesn't take Ellie long to suspect that something weird is going on beneath the glossy surface of this tranquil hall of learning. As she pieces together the meaning of this unfolding drama, she begins to recognize some haunting Arthurian echoes, causing her to worry that she has become just a pawn in mythic history.

This one was kind of a disappointment. I was hoping (especially after reading the blurb) that this would be different than Meg Cabot's usual style; maybe a bit deeper with all the mythology. No. Just no. In true Meg Cabot fashion, it was a chick-lit through and through. Instead of the intense, thrilling novel I was expecting, I got fluff. Just fluff. Maybe I set my expectations too high, but knowing the story of King Arthur, this novel didn't cut it for me. 3/10?

Size 12 is Not Fat - Meg Cabot

Heather Wells has it all. Or, at least, she did. That was before she left the pop-idol life behind after she gained a dress size or two — and lost a boyfriend, a recording contract, and her life savings (when Mom took the money and ran off to Argentina). Now that the glamour and glory days of endless mall appearances are in the past, Heather's perfectly happy with her new size 12 shape (the average for the American woman!) and her new job as an assistant dorm director at one of New York's top colleges. That is, until the dead body of a female student from Heather's residence hall is discovered at the bottom of an elevator shaft.

This is a typical Meg Cabot book: light, hilarious, fluffy, and doesn't require much thinking. She tried to tie in a bit of mystery with the sudden death and crime, but it didn't work out that way. Meg Cabot's style of writing is too basic, fun, and silly to work with a mysterious theme. It was much more of a chick-lit than it was mystery. If you are looking for something intense and fast paced, this book is NOT the one for you.

I used to be a huge Meg Cabot fan- hence the countless Cabot reviews- and this was one of the later books I read. So I was pretty done with the repetitive plot that she has in every single one of her books. Angsty teen girl has problems with weight, popularity, etc. Her friends support her, she becomes popular, she gets the guy and all her problems are solved. The end. I didn't enjoy this one as much as I did her others, mainly because the characters were so dumb. Most chick-lit main characters are empty shells, but Heather really was a stupid girl. She almost annoyed me as much as Bella did. ALMOST.

This would be a good book for younger teens (although it is classified as an adult book...) who liked Meg Cabot's other books (esp. Princess Diaries) and series like The Clique by Lisa Harrison.

Alvin and the Chipmunks (Movie)

David Seville: Nicely done, Theodore.
[reading the letter]
David Seville: To Dav… let’s see it says Merry Christmas, love Theodore and its got a nice picture of uh… some pineapples?
Theodore: Those aren’t pineapples, that’s our family!

Alvin and the Chipmunks is a perfect family classic. It has everything that grandparents to toddlers will enjoy (I mean who wouldn't like Theodore?). 

This story is about 3 chipmunks who come into a young man's life and create havoc. 

When the tree that 3 chipmunks- Alvin, Simon and Theodore are living in gets cut down, it's driven to Los Angeles. When in LA, the 3 chipmunks meet David Seville, a struggling songwriter whose latest song is rejected by the JETTS Records executive, Ian Hawke who had once been David's college roommate.  When the chipmunks wind up at Dave's meeting, they decide to follow him home and hop into his basket. At home, Dave finds the chipmunks and is accidentally knocked unconscious. When Dave returns to his senses, he kicks them out of his house until he hears them singing "Only You(And You Alone)". Dave realizes they have singing talent and decides to make a deal with them. He writes the songs; they sing them and in return, he accepts to give them shelter and food. However, it doesn't go too well, as Dave has is job presentation ruined because of their colouring on it. To make it up to Dave, the chipmunks decide to go to Ian in an effort to record a song and get a record deal. 

Once the chipmunks sing the song Dave wrote for Ian, Ian signs them to the label and rehires Dave on his job the very next day. After a few concerts, the chipmunks trio becomes wildly popular. When Dave expresses concern for their well-being and insists that the chipmunks are just "kids" and it isn't necessary for them to have so much craziness in their lives, Ian convinces the chipmunks that Dave is just holding them back. After this misunderstanding, the chipmunks decide to leave Dave and go live with "Uncle Ian". They look at Ian as a very nice person and when Ian sets off on a coast-to-coast tour and uses their naiveness as an advantage, changing their image and making them work constantly, that thought changes. Meanwhile, Dave misses the chipmunks and hopes they would come back home. Dave calls Ian and asks if he may speak to them but Ian refuses and then hides Dave's feelings from the boys.

Later, the chipmunks are worn out and it is all over the news. Outraged, by what Ian has been doing to the three, Dave makes a plan to take matters into his own hands by infiltrating their concert.

Alvin the "Awesome" one aka "The Trouble Maker"

I found this movie hilarious! I would recommend this movie to anyone! When I first saw the cover of this movie, I didn't expect much but that changed when i watched just the first few scenes. I would give this movie a 10/10 as it has humour, drama and music. Although I watched this movie a few years ago, it is still one of my favourite movies ever. I encourage you to watch this movie as soon as you can as I am pretty sure you will get the same reaction as I first did.  

Theodore the Adorable one

Simon the Intelligent one

if you liked The Hunger Games...

A cool flow chart for your next possible read: http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/2012/07/if-you-liked-the-hunger-games-3/

The Hunger Games (movie)

Synopsis (imdb): Set in a future where the Capitol selects a boy and girl from the twelve districts to fight to the death on live television, Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her younger sister's place for the latest match.










There was so much hype for THG months before the movie was released. I've noticed that movies with this much hype are almost always a disappointment. So, I forced myself not to get my hopes up too high which to be honest, didn't help that much.

I read the first book of THG last year, and then again a couple days before the movie was released in theatres to refresh my memory. I absolutely loved the book, but the movie? Can't really say the same for it.

I'm a pretty big fan of THG so I went on the opening day, even though I knew it would be crazy busy. I went with a friend who didn't read the book but was so amazed and thought the movie was really good

The cast was amazing. I thought Jennifer Lawrence did a really good job and how can anyone not love Josh Hutcherson? Alexander Ludwig was way too hott to play such an evil character but he's a gifted actor.The controversies about how Rue and Thresh weren't "supposed" to be African-American pissed me off so much. The book CLEARLY says that they're 'dark skinned'.

Pros: The Capitol exceeded my expectations by a long shot. All those Capitol shots seriously left me dumbstruck. Of course the cast was also one of the pros of THG. The scene where Peeta was disguised as a rock..... OMG I think I almost peed myself and also when the muttant jumped out of the tree. Unfortunately, I think those are the only parts that were worth it.

Cons: I'm sad to say this, but almost the whole movie was quite disappointing. The movie was almost three hours, yet when I walked out of the theatre, it only felt like 45mins to me. All the important scenes were rushed, while the scenes that didn't feel too important got to the point where they bored me. In the movie, I was sad when Cato died because you don't really get to know his character and experience his inner devil. But when I read the book, I was filled with joy when he died. Those intimate moments between Katniss and Rue felt so bland and didn't last long enough, so when Rue died, I didn't get emotional like I did when I read the book. I could go on with every little flaw I noticed, but then I would probably end up writing a 5 page essay.

Probably not many people will agree with me, but this was just my opinion on the movie. I don't usually read both a book and its movie, but this was an exception because I was really curious. I don't regret it, but I do wish the movie couldv'e been better.

Rating: 2.3/5