"Millennium" Series

Oh yes, I've actually been very busy with The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (I'm VERY excited for the film to come out; I think Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig are well-cast; Christopher Plummer as well).

But I'm thinking I'll come out with a full review of the trilogy when I'm done (I know I didn't do that for The Hunger Games, but that's super fresh in my mind. I've just completed The Girl Who Played With Fire and am now embarking on The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest).

By the way, you should check out the actual Swedish titles--only the 2nd book is translated properly.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Män som hatar kvinnor – "Men Who Hate Women"

(cover of book in Sweden and with Swedish title; it is meant to resemble the Millennium magazine, and I'm thinking the books look like magazine covers--Millennium is the magazine Daniel Craig's character, Mikael Blomkvist, works for)

Stieg Larsson (who died upon sending out these manuscripts, so God Bless! that they came through and required little editing) called it his "Millennium series". I don't know if he intended to have more books published, but I'm assuming everything culminates in the third book.

The Girl Who Played With Fire

Flickan som lekte med elden

I also know that in Sweden, they have already made all 3 films, to middling grades (what you'd expect a typical "action flick" to get--6.7 out of 10 on IMDB). THAT DOESN'T MEAN I won't check them out.

(And btw, I apologize for the movie blog; I've actually seen quite a few films since my last entry, and I realize I have yet to write reviews on some other films... and now they're a bit fuzzy in my mind... and watch and review some, so don't worry! I'll try and get on that asap!!)

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

Luftslottet som sprängdes, in English: The air castle that was blown up

Just for good measure, I'll include the Swedish movie posters here. So you have SOMETHING to feast your eyes on. If I ever DO get around to watching those films FIRST (before "GwtDT" comes out this year in America--the American version), be sure to find them on my movie blog.

(alternate:)

(it is interesting to note--I don't know how famous Noomi Rapace is in Sweden, but for sure this has catapulted her somewhat--she's going to be in the new "Sherlock Holmes" film opposite Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law)

(alternate:)

The Hunger Games (2008) by Suzanne Collins

“Ladies and Gentlemen, let the seventy-fourth Hunger Games begin!”

 

Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark.

 

Those two names will forever be known to me.

 

As well as a few million YA readers. I have officially jumped on the Suzanne Collins bandwagon.

Not that it's a bad thing. Sometimes when a movie is coming out and is based upon a novel, it spurs me into action (how can I avoid a book that's good/interesting enough to be portrayed on film?), and I find myself a copy and get right down to the nitty-gritty.

 

The film is slated to be released sometime in 2012, and its sequels are set to be released 2013 and 2015, respectively (it looks like imdb has a “Hunger Games 4” with a (???) date, but my understanding was that the books were meant to be a trilogy). Yup, it's confirmed, here it says that Mockingjay is the third and final book in the “Hunger Games Series” (I don't know why imdb doesn't have it listed with their respective titles).

 

I do not currently own any of the books, so I will have to wait at my “71 out of 72 holds” spot in line at the library (but they've got 39 copies!).

 

 

All right!! To the recap and review.

The Hunger Games follows a “Battle Royale”-type of scenario (with kids battling it out to the death), “Gladiator”-style. What they call the “arena” is really (almost) a habitat built specifically for the games. But maybe I should back up.

 

The world in which these characters reside is that of a dystopian future for the U.S. and its neighbors. The current Panem nation was once North America, but through wars and other destroying powers, the new Panem arose out of the ashes and formed 13 surrounding districts. However, the districts rose in rebellion against the Capitol (where their head of state and leaders/powers-that-be reside and rule), and the resulting war seems to have been nothing short of a holocaust. District 13 is razed and the rest pick up the broken pieces of their existence and stay in line from then on out. No District steps a toe out of line, and each serves its purpose. For example, District 1 is in charge of jewelry and the like, and are one of the more affluent districts. The Districts know nothing of each other's lives or cultures, and the Capitol would like to keep it thus. Katniss, our main character, is from District 12, the coal-mining district.

 

As a punishment (and reminder of their power), the Capitol hosts an annual “Hunger Games,” which requires each District to send 2 tributes—one male and one female—to engage in a battle to the death. The winner... survives, obviously, but also gains lifelong fame and fortune (although that may not always be great as witnessed by District 12's last winner). This is to show the Districts they are powerless against the Capitol, and by participating and watching (as they are required) the Games from year to year, the districts are ceding their free will to the Capitol.

 

Katniss' lot in life hasn't been fair. Every year she runs a higher risk of having her name called (there is something called a tessera that some citizens submit for via slips of paper for their names to be drawn in the reaping—the calling of the tribute ceremony—in order to have food for their families and survival), but it is in the first year that her younger sister, Primrose, is eligible, that her fate is sealed. Katniss, who has over 20 slips with her name in the lottery (which gives her a higher chance of being called), has never been called. Primrose, with her first year and one slip, is called to fight in the Games. In a noble move, Katniss offers to go in Primrose's place and she believes her doom is inevitable.

 

Herein lies “the rub:”

 

Every year 2 tributes must be sent from the 12 remaining districts. However, the more affluent districts primp and train prime candidates to be their tributes each year. Katniss calls them “Careers” (Career Tributes) because they have been groomed and raised to become tributes, and generally they are genetically superior (bigger), older, and ready to fight (dirty, if they must). Although it is technically illegal to train for the Games, nothing has been done thus far to change the lot in life of these districts. Katniss states that generally, a tribute from District 1, 2, or 4 wins the Games.

 

I don't want to give away too much, but let's just say this year District 12 has 2 prime candidates of its own, and as you learn the backstory of Katniss and her fellow tribute and Panem's history, you begin to get an idea of the corruption and totalitarianism that abounds. And although the districts sit quietly, really, it seems there is revolution brewing just below the surface.

 

I am excited to read Catching Fire (which I hope to get within the next 6 weeks—hopefully sooner!) and the conclusion of Suzanne Collins' trilogy. I hope they prove to be more rewarding (as YA fare goes) than The Giver and its sequels (The Giver by far is the best, which is probably why it's the only one to win a Newberry Medal).

 

On a side note:

It seems Lenny Kravitz will be playing the part of newcomer stylist Cinna, but I had more of a Christian Siriano-type in mind, but less flamboyant. 

 

Would I recommend The Hunger Games? Hell yes. I give it a solid high-10 (sorry for the new rating system... basically, High-5 is decent and you should still read it; anything lower I just give it a standard ★ rating)

 

Get thee to your local library (or bookstore—it's a worthy investment, I'd say, especially if you're a bibliophile such as myself—I'm debating on whether to get myself a copy since my sis owns one...)

The Bodies Left Behind (2008)

This is by the author of The Bone Collector, Jeffery Deaver. It follows Brynn McKenzie, a deputy in Kennesha County, who answers a 911 call (in the short and long of it) to some weekend ("summer") homes up in the mountains/national park. What ensues is a struggle for life-and-death and the first 2/3-3/4 of the book focuses on her struggle in the forest and some characters she meets along the way.

Brynn is one of those strong, calculated, pragmatic women (no-BS) and her son is truant unbeknownst to herself (or she is unwilling to admit). She is remarried (her first husband was another cop who abused her).

A young couple vacation out in the woods and die as a result. On the surface of it, the killers were hired to take them out, but unfortunately a third party is present.

Enter: a young woman named Michelle who says she is the Feldmans' (the couple) friend, and she had begged them to take her out into the woods. And they died as a result of it.

She seems like a spoiled, rich-girl debutante who is unwilling to get her feet wet or her hands dirty--which proves a problem for Brynn, as they are on the run and locked in a fight for their lives against their pursuers.

In Hart (one of the assassins), Brynn finds a worthy adversary.

The 911 call was actually a desperate last-ditch effort on the part of Steven Feldman--he had dialed 911 as he and his wife were being murdered. The killers cut the call off before he could speak to the 911 operator. Tom Dahl, the sheriff of Kennesha County, calls in Brynn (over another deputy, Eric Munce--which becomes [somewhat] relevant over the course of the novel), who, because it is routine, decides it won't lengthen her night to go check it out.

Not to sound cheesy/corny, but "Boy, was she wrong."

The killers manage to get a hold of Brynn's phone and turn it off. Hart, however, thinking almost in parallel with Brynn (once he figures her game out--that she is like him--a strategist, pragmatic, and ruthless), decides to turn it on to prolong keeping anybody away (giving him and his partner more time to pursue and murder the women).

Good thing.

Graham Boyd (Brynn's second and current husband) calls, worried, and Hart answers as another deputy and sets Graham's mind at ease.

The women are all alone out in the wilderness.

Brynn must work with Michelle to escape and if they are to make it out alive and get help. No other residents are present at their neighboring cabins (already NOT very nearby--each of the lake house owners clearly want their privacy).

[Idk why but this reminds me of "Funny Games"]

Michelle whines and finds it disgusting to wear Emma Feldman's clothes--she complains of the cold and of her "low blood sugar"--clearly Brynn wishes she had someone along who would be willing to work with her.

HOWEVER. Things start to look up.

I won't give away the rest (b/c that, believe it or not, is [sorry!!] about the 1st 50% of the novel), but as an experience of a non-bestseller and (at the time) unknown author, this book was a fun read.

I was a tad disappointed by the ending, but I'm not sure if it is because Mr. Deaver had this plotline planned all along and just didn't set up/deliver as well, or if he decided to change it up as he brought the reader to the end (see my comments on The Historian--build up and 'seriously??!' ending).

He does a better job, however, of wrapping the story up and I would recommend this to anybody who has nothing to do on a nice summer's day (or rainy day). It'll be a quick read.

Overall grade: B

[I've given up on my whack grading system. For now, it'll just be Grades and/or "stars"]

Cheers!!

The Truth-Teller's Lie (2007, 2010)

by Sophie Hannah

(author of The Wrong Mother)

It was published under the name Hurting Distance in Britain when it was released 2007.

The U.S. version was released 2010, and published as The Truth-Teller's Lie.

The premise is that a woman, Naomi Jenkins, has been having an affair with a married man for about a year, and one day he doesn't make it to one of their usual liaisons (they meet every Thursday for three hours in a Traveltel), she suspects foul play. However, when she brings it to the police, they write it off as paranoia and a "crazy person's" story. The man's wife states nothing is wrong and that he is simply out-of-town.

Hence Truth-Teller's begins. The reasoning behind the American title is seen within the first 2-3 chaps.

The UK's Hurting Distance is a title that has the same amount of explanation Harry Potter 6 & 7 had (Half Blood Prince/Deathly Hallows)--closer toward the end.

NOT that I'm ruining anything. (o;

It really is quite a rollercoaster of emotions for the characters, and nothing is as it seems. Just as she did with The Wrong Mother, everything becomes clear in the end. I actually liked this book more, even though readers on Amazon.com (I know you're not supposed to read other "reviews," but this is before I decided to start a review blog, seriously; I still wanna read it, so...!) seemed to find Naomi Jenkins' character annoying.

She is a bit taxing on the mind at times, but nowhere NEAR as whiny and moany and o-woe-is-me as Bella Swan in the Twilight series. (Yes. I've read it. But who hasn't these days? I didn't find as much enjoyment as I did with other series, but the story from Books 1-3 really wasn't THAT bad. It was the delivery... do NOT judge down my Reviews because of this revelation!)

All in all, it was interesting, and I actually found it more enjoyable than Mother.

As in Mother, Ms. Hannah alternates her story between the main protagonist (in both cases, women) and the police department from chapter to chapter. At times this proves somewhat taxing and tiresome, but in the end, it is for the story that she does this (and to build suspense and anticipation, as well as ensure you, the reader, continue reading).

I won't give away too much, because I would advise you to read it. But I'd also advise you to read it if you don't have too much time. Once I was hooked, I couldn't stop.

Not that my schoolwork has suffered, but my job search has been stunted (maybe because I am partly apprehensive with my searches), and I have also, once again, perhaps--taken on too much.

There are twists and turns, shocks and surprises.

Just think--nothing is as it seems with this novel.

Look at every character. << (if you like hints)

I also realized I read it a bit backward (as I did with Anne Perry's William Monk novels, although for the most part I stayed true to the order... I didn't know what I was getting into with those! I love them, btw, but have given them a rest, because I found I was starting to predict some storylines... just as I did with Doris Miles Disney:: YOU SHOULD CHECK BOTH OF THEM OUT, BTW!!), as the storylines of the CID officers in The Truth-Teller's Lie are not as advanced in their lives as in The Wrong Mother. In fact, I think Truth-Teller may be Mother's direct predecessor.

Next up I have In the Woods by Tana French (I read her The Likeness and found it enjoyable, but a bit disappointed by the ending, just as I did with The Historian, another interesting read, but the ending leaves you wanting more) and Box 21. I will attempt Girl with the Dragon Tattoo soon.

Tipping Point is also on my list, as well as Fast Food Nation.

Oh, and with those books that I state have less-than-satisfying endings--just read 'em! They're still enjoyable reads.

With that...

I'm out, luvs!

- - - - -

Find another review/outline here. (o;

Cheers!

An Interesting Short Story...

I've always wanted to read ALL of Philip K. Dick's short stories after finding out about 'Minority Report' and 'Total Recall' (of which I then watched "Total Recall 2070"--a Canadian 1-season series that was based upon the short stories of which 'Total Recall' and 'Blade Runner' were based off of).

ANYwho... I remember chancing upon a TV movie that seemed a bit old once and never knowing the name of it but was intrigued by it nonetheless. I now sadly find out they are making a re-make, slated to be released 2011.

It is called 'They Live' and is based upon a short story called 'Eight O'Clock in the Morning'* by Ray Nelson (he went on to collaborate with Philip Dick on a novel called The Ganymede Takeover, of which I am interested to read!). Always it leads to other stories I want to read... I still have yet to brush up on my Philip K. Dick short story anthology and watch all those movies based upon his work (which I'll blog about in my movie blog). EXCITED.

But for now, it'll have to be a slow run.

Spring Semester starts next week and I've got my finals week this week (had it today actually... most likely bombed it, but I've got papers and a presentation in the next few days--all by Fri).

Until then, CHEERS!

Wish me luck! \m/ (rock on, according to gtalk)

[p.s. oh yeah, been obsessing over Edward Maya's 'Stereo Love'--the version that's on the radio that is... and I've FINALLY found it!!!]

[p.p.s. and I've gotten my ticket for Burning Man WOOOHOOOO )'( 2011 heeeere weeeee cooooommme!! 1st tier, baby!! but that's not to mention the HORRIBLE affair they've put anybody past 500 through for the last few hours... they got bumped to 3rd tier

if you have no idea what I'm talking about... look it up! we've got GOOGLE (o; ]

- - - - -

* http://j.mp/till8am

addendum, 6/29/2011 : clip to give you an idea (o;

The Wrong Mother - Sophie Hannah

Whew! Just finished The Wrong Mother by British author Sophie Hannah, and it was not quite what I was expecting.

Getting off to a slow start, I wasn't sure if I'd bit off more than I could chew, and this book has been a long time coming.

I've finally had the chance to read it, uninterrupted, and the last 1/2 of the book flew by much quicker than the 1st.

I am still figuring out the meaning behind the title, but I will tell you this--it was suspenseful and had a great flow.

One thing that bugged me was the alternating double storyline. It was fine, but I suppose my impatience to find out what was NEXT in each plotline was stonewalled at the end of each chapter.

It alternates between a first person account by the main character--protagonist--who seems to share certain things in common with the murdered woman, and the police investigation that accompanies it, as well as a side story regarding certain officers in their CID (British for "Criminal Investigation Department").

The back of the book (or inside of a Hardcover edition) offers a pretty basic plot that will drag you in, and you soon realize that this is just the start of the novel.

What ensues is beyond imagination. I don't really want to give too much away, but I would recommend this.

I am thinking of checking out her first novel--Little Face--because some authors are one-hit wonders. Tana French, author of In the Woods (of which I have yet to read, but I HAVE read her other novel, The Likeness, of which I found enjoyable, but the open-ended ending a little disappointing).

I felt almost the same way upon completing The Historian--by Elizabeth Kostova--the ending was a little unsatisfying because the build up till then had made me expect something incredible.

Just as in an electronic song with an amazing build up section--if the drop falls short, the drop becomes unsatisfying (likewise, without a good build up, nobody cares about the drop). <- Electronica reference (dubstep, amongst others)

BUT I DIGRESS.

Just go check it out at your local library (I am still on the fence of whether I'd pay for this). I downloaded an electronic copy to be "checked out" for 21 days.

Cheers!!

- - - - -

THE WRONG Mother

Rating:

- - - - -

For future reference--I've devised a rating system that may seem complicated at first. It's like a ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ as well as the A-F scale.

I'll rate the book on a GREEK A-F scale with 3 "A" 's (in this case, "alpha" = α) as GO READ THIS NOW!! Obviously anything lower than 1 "C" (in this case, "gamma" = γ) would really be a skipper. I'll only give an OMEGA (technically "Z", but it's the last!!) "ω" if the book is so horrible it requires one.

In this way, it almost allows for a % scale because there will be 5 ratings within each system.

For the "A- " or "B+" type ratings, I'll offer a combination (like the 1/2 ★, [which is equal to 50%] so that instead of 1 α or 3 β's the in-between would be something like αβ)

RATING/GRADING SCALE (I used lower-case to differentiate, otherwise it looks Roman):

ααα <- 100% A++

ααβ

αα

αβ

α <- like an A- -

βββ <- like a B++

ββγ

ββ

βγ

β

γγγ

γγδ

γγ

γδ

γ <- really, below this (like a C- -; average, slightly mediocre, equivalent: 60-69%, really) you don't really want to read. I don't think I'll really give a triple-delta (δδδ) to anything, but it's just there for continuity.

[δδδ

δδω

δδ

δω

δ]*

ω <- FAIL. It was that bad that I had to blog about it, although honestly it's probably something I wouldn't even have wanted to finish. But I have this thing about finishing what I start...

- - - - -

* Probably never going to be used.

Hopefully that helps! I know it seems complicated, but my bf gave me the idea of using my own rating system. This way, too, there's a lot of grey area, since nothing's ever black-or-white GREAT! or horrible

(o;

Short Story List

Here's the short story list, copied and pasted from my Movie Blog (o;

ENJOY!

Short stories Links (funnily enough, "Harrison" ain't here!)

* A Sound of Thunder <- the movie of which I heard was awful (and it's a short story!! can't believe they made it into a full-length feature, adding elements that probably became more Hollywood than stayed true to the story; HATE when Hollywood bastardizes themes and stories)

* The Monkey's Paw <- of which my 8th grade English teacher showed us the Simpsons ep

* The Most Dangerous Game <- chilling. In a way I haven't been chilled the way And Then There Were None did

* The Landlady <- I didn't know children's author Roald Dahl had it in him!!

- - - - -

I will say this. My love for reading has now reached beyond the world of fiction--sci fi, fantasy, historical fiction, etc.--and to the realm of non-fiction. If there is ANYthing and I mean ANYTHING you want me to read, I'll do it for ya!

I'm about to be graduated, so I'll start to have more free time!!

- - - - -

A good author to check out--Daphne du Maurier. She is the author of Rebecca and the short story The Birds of which Alfred Hitchcock based his movies.

Alfred Hitchcock is a master movie maker, but after reading Ms. du Maurier's books and the story "Rear Window", I find myself less impressed.

He took the concept of the stories and just did his own thing. NOW--I normally don't really have an issue with that... But remember what I've mentioned about bastardizing things.

Rebecca was probably his truest adaptation.

The chilling nature of The Birds really can't be captured unless read, and unfortunately if you don't like to read, then the scariness of the story will be lost on you. That's not to say the movie wasn't chilling, but special effects don't do what the mind does.

All right. Enough crossovers for today! Back to "24" (season 7) and The Wrong Mother by Sophie Hannah (beginning to REALLY get into it, but I should really be focusing on my schoolwork!)

BBAIE, LUVS! <3