Book v. Movie - Beastly

vs.

So I promised you guys I would compare the Beastly movie to the book. Well. Let me just say, this is one of the worst book adaptions I have seen yet. The movie was so far off the book. I watched it with my mom and little brother. First off, Vanessa Hudgens was the WORST person for the role of Lindy. She acted too cocky. She was supposed to be a quiet book nerd, not some girl that wanted to try and be all flirty with the most "gorgeous and popular guy in school" (who btw I did not find too attractive). I thought Neil Patrick Harris played Will awesomely. It definitely added that awesome humor to the movie. 

But there were so many things different from the book! To begin with, what happened to Kendra's magic mirror? Because, to be honest, that was my favorite part of the book. I loved reading about him looking in the magic mirror at all the people from his old school and realizing how cruel the people were, and watching Lindy just reading. They completely left that out! I was so disappointed. And her father in this one was all "I want to keep her safe, I want to keep her safe", when in the book he offered Hunter his daughter because he thought Hunter was trying to get money from him, so he offered him Lindy. Oh. And his nanny was supposed to be Spanish. not African. That made me mad too.

So what is with the tattoos and scars and stuff? The last time I checked Hunter was supposed to actually look like a beast, you know, fur, claws, the whole deal. And they were supposed to go play in the snow, not a lake house. This movie really made me angry. I am not happy. Like, I was seriously expecting better. It wasn't that it was a horrible movie. It would have been fine if it was on its own so I give it a B for that, but as far as being based on the book, I give it a D. I mean, at least the characters had the same name (even if they didn't look like they were supposed to....).             

Until Next Time!

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

I laughed. I cried. And I cried. And I cried some more. And then I cried even more than that. But it was oh so amazing. Especially in IMAX 3D. It was so amazing. I loved every minute of it! My boyfriend had no idea what was going on. He informed me that he had only seen bits and pieces of the first movie. Well that's his problem. So I had to listen to him ask me questions. But it was cute lol. Though I had my grandmother sitting on the other side of me doing the same things. It was great....I'm so sad it's over. Like, beyond sad. 14 years since the first book came out. I can't believe it! It's been such an epic adventure with Harry, Ron and Hermoine! As soon as I finish reading Forever (which is taking me FOREVER by the way) I plan on rereading all the books and watching the movies again! I have 1-7. Just need to get the last one when it comes out!

In other news, I rented Beastly from Redbox tonight. Can't wait to watch it! I thought the book was great. I'll be sure to let you know how it compares to the book once I watch it.

I can say that Harry Potter definitely followed the book this time very well. There were issues in the past, especially with Prisoner of Azkaban, but I definitely think splitting it into 2 parts was the best idea to finish the movie. It was amazing.The graphics were amazing. It was just, fantastic. If you haven't seen it yet, DO IT! I will say I think I cried the absolutely hardest when (START SPOILER ALERTS) Harry, Ron and Hermoine walk into the Great Hall after Voldermort calls off his troops and you see Fred, Remus and Tonks dead. It took everything I had not to start bawling. I actually pretty much started crying when Voldermort started casting the spell on the shield around Hogwarts. I just knew it was going to start after that. And when Harry "died". I mean I knew what was going to happen. But to see the total feeling abandonment shown on everyone's faces was just so sad. I bawled when Snape died too. Because I knew he was good. And I really cried during the memory too, showing how good Snape really was and especially when he was crying when he saw Lily's dead body on the floor in front of Harry's crib. That scene was just so powerful. It was so sad but it was amazing. (END SPOILER ALERTS). Overall the movie was amazing and I can't wait to read all the books and watch all the movies again!
UPDATE: Has anyone else seen this? Cause I have not and now I want to know MORE!

Until Next Time!

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Hunger Games!

Okay first off, no this is not a review. I am just genuinely over the moon excited about this. SO. Hunger Games Movie. Yes. I said it. Movie. Now I'm sure a lot of people already knew about this. But I didn't. But now I do. And the cast sounds awesome. Check it here: Down With the Capitol

Check out my countdown on the side! You can get your very own here!
Now. Josh Hutcherson is not exactly what I pictured Peeta looking like, but, I think he is a great actor and I definitely expect him to bring good things to the character. (EDIT: After looking at him again. And again. And AGAIN, I have decided I am thoroughly happy with him. He has the look. I'm beyond good with him!) I predict him playing it very well. And Woody Harrelson as Haymitch is just PERFECT! Oh and Stanley Tucci for Caeser Flickerman is pure genius! Jennifer Lawrence basically fits my idea of Katniss. What do you guys think? Do you like the cast? Wish someone was different? Ideas on a better cast? Overall I'm satisfied. Pretty big name actors, which is needed to get a good book movie to be seen, especially one this good (though Harry Potter had pretty  much all unknown actors. And Twilight...though Twilight does and still sucks [the movies, though I no longer like that series much of all anymore though I will still go see the last 2. At midnight.] monkeys).  I'm excited! Who is with me?!

Waiting on Wednesday (3)

Sorry guys! I know I haven't blogged in like a week. I feel terrible. But I was in Hershey all weekend and I've been busy working and stuff since I got home! Today is the first day I've been able to get to a computer (and its not even mine!)
So my WoW for the week is another no information one again! It is the 4th book in the Wings Series by Aprilynne Pike. Again, no title, no cover, no release date, no synopsis. I'm terrible but I cannot wait for this book to come out! I'm so excited! Especially since Illusions ended with such a big cliff hanger!
Until Next Time!

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Harry Potter

So this came with the new Legos Harry Potter nintendo DS game I got today :) just thought I'd share and I can't wait to go see the last movie! I'm going with my bf and Gmaw to see it in IMAX 3D next week :)

Waiting on Wednesday (2)

So my WoW for the week is.....

Okay.  So. I don't have a cover, or a title or a release date or even a plot!   But I cannot wait for Pretty Little Liars #10.  I am so happy Sara Shepard decided to write more.  It makes me really happy.  And I just finished Twisted this morning.  It was so good!  I'll be reviewing it later today!
Well that's my WoW!

Until Next Time

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A-Z Reading Challenge!

So this is the new challenge I'm doing, including the Goodreads 2011 reading challenge and the Read-a-thon right now. Click the picture to go to The Thoughts of a Book Junky's blog and read about the challenge yourself!

So the point of the challenge is to read a book beginning with each letter of the alphabet. So I'm excited, since I've already read some! Here's my list (I'll update it as I go):

A - Angel (Maximum Ride series #7) by James Patterson

B - Buffy the Vampire Slayer by John Vornholt, Arthur Byron Cover & Alice Henderson

C - Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

D - Decision Points by George W. Bush

E - Everlasting (Immortals Series #6) by Alyson Noel

F - Fang (Maximum Ride series #6) by James Patterson

G - Glimmerglass (Faeriewalker Series #1)

H - Heat Wave by Richard Castle

I - Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma

J - Just Like Heaven by Marc Levy

K - Kiss Me If You Can by Carly Phillips

L - The Lying Game by Sara Shepard

M - Midnight (Vampire Diaries) by L. J. Smith

N - The Nine Lives of Chloe King by Liz Braswell

O - Overbite by Meg Cabot

P - Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Q - Queen of Babble (Queen of Babble Series #1) by Meg Cabot

R - The R Document by Irving Wallace

S - The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

T - Twisted (Pretty Little Liars Series #9) by Sara Shepard

U - Undeniably Yours by Shannon Stacey

V - Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy Series #1) by Richelle Mead

W - What Happened to Goodbye by Sara Dessen

X - X-Isle by Steve Augrade

Y - You Are So Undead to Me by Stacey Jay

Z - Zombie Queen of Newbury High by Amanda Ashby

Once Upon a Read-a-Thon!

So I just heard about this, and it's definitely something I can promise myself to do. It falls at a bad time, since I'm working the next three days and I have other stuff to do. But I guess I'll figure it out.

So here it is:
Books so far:  1

Pages so far: 223 (on Nook)

Currently reading:

Let's see how this thing goes!




UPDATE: I failed miserably. I had to work. I only finished one book.  A really good book. But still.  Sigh...

Until Next Time!

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Beastly

Hey guys! So today I'm reviewing:

Beastly
 
Author: Alex Flinn

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: February 29, 2000

Reading Level: Young Adult

Format: E-book

Pages: 206 (on Nook)

My Suggestion: Read it!

Buy here: Amazon

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

I am a beast.
A beast!
Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright. I am a monster.
You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll, stay this way forever ruined unless I can break the spell.
Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly...beastly.

Review:

This book is a modern day Beauty and the Beast. But, it is told completely from the Beast's side of the story this time.  I found myself having very different emotions while reading this book.  The main character, Kyle, is a total jerk when he is human.  He believes that everything you do in life is dependent on your looks.  Basically: pretty=success, ugly=failure.  After playing a cruel trick on a girl at school, Kyle finds himself in the position he had always feared: an ugly beast that everyone looks down upon.  Throughout the many events that happen in the book, there are many lessons to learn.  Of course the main lesson is "don't judge a book by it's cover." It's a very good book and I couldn't put it down till I finished it! You should read it!

Favorite Quotes:

"Just because something is beautiful doesn´t mean it´s good." 

"Of course, maybe I'd end up like one of those crazy old people with, like, sixty cats. And one day, the neighbors would complain about the smell, and it would turn out I'd died and the cats had eaten me.
Still, it might be nice to have a cat." 

-Kyle Kingsbury

"This isn't a fairy tale. It's New York City." 

Until Next Time!

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Pottermore

I don't know if you guys have heard or not but J. K. Rowling made a big announcement. You can watch it here:

So I don't know about this.  It sounds interesting. And it's cool that the books will finally be in e-book format!  I've heard mixed things about this whole thing so I don't know.  The website doesn't officially start until October, but you can preview the website now: Pottermore.  Make sure to check back on July 31st to see how to "follow the owl" and get a sneak peak at the website and maybe even help with the website!

On another note I am beyond excited for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2! I'm going with my Grandmother and Boyfriend to see it in IMAX 3D. It's going to be awesome. But so so sad :(  I already told them I'm going to be crying my eyes out during most of the movie. 

What about you guys? What do you think of the mysterious Pottermore and are you excited for the Deathly Hallows Part 2?

Until Next Time!

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Thirteen Reasons Why

So I got a new follower today! Yay! In other news I decided to go ahead and write my first review being back tonight. I can't sleep and I'm in the mood to write! (just so you guys know, I totally just wrote right there instead of write. I'm glad I have a backspace key....)
So today I'm reviewing....

Thirteen Reasons Why

Author: Jay Asher
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: October 18, 2007
Reading Level: Young Adult
Format: E-book
Pages: 184 (on Nook)
My Suggestion: Definitely a must read!
Buy here: Amazon


Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
Clay Jenkins returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers 13 cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker—his classmate and crush—who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he’ll find out how he made the list.

Through Hannah and Clay’s dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

Review:

I found this book really compelling.  I imagined myself with Clay, listening to Hannah describe the 13 stories leading up to her suicide.  I thought that Clay was the most appropriate of the 13 to help narrate the story.  The double narration was really cool.  I loved being able to instantly know what he was thinking when listening to the tapes.  It helped me keep up with what was going on, while also helping to add details to the stories that Hannah left out.  The idea of this story was amazing.  It brings up a lot of good points and definitely made me sit back and reflect on my own life, wondering about not only how other treat me and have treated me, but how I have treated others.  It was definitely good to learn how the smallest things can add to the "snowball effect."  This is definitely one book everyone should read.  I can't even imagine something like this happening to me.

Favorite Quotes:

"It's hard to be disappointed when what you expected turns out to be true."

-Hannah Baker

"I guess that's the point of it all.  No one knows for certain how much impact they have on the lives of other people.  Often times, we have no clue.  Yet we push it just the same."

-Hannah Baker

Waiting on Wednesday (1)

The awesomeness of Breaking the Spine came up with this idea.
So my WoW for the week is:

If I Die (Rachel Vincent)

Title: If I Die
Author: Rachel Vincent
Series: Soul Screamers (#5)
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Date of Publication: September 27, 2011
Pre-order: Amazon

Synopsis: (provided by Goodreads)
No one wants to be this teacher’s pet . . .
Everyone else is talking about Eastlake High’s gorgeous new math teacher, Mr. Beck, but Kaylee Cavanaugh has bigger things on her mind. Kaylee’s a banshee—her scream is a portent of death.
But the next scream might hit too close to home. Kaylee’s borrowed lifeline has almost run out.
Yeah—it’s a shock to her, too. So to distract herself from her own problems, Kaylee is determined to defend her school against the latest supernatural threat. That hot new teacher is really an incubus, who feeds from the desire of unsuspecting students. The only girls immune to his lure are Kaylee and Sabine, her boyfriend’s delinquent ex-girlfriend. Now the unlikely allies have to get rid of Mr. Beck…before he discovers they aren’t quite human either.
But Kaylee’s running out of time, and those who love her will do anything to save her life.
Anything. 


I love this series and I am so anxious for this next book to come out to find out what is going to happen with Kaylee and Nash! I'm a major sucker for romance and I hope these two spark up again!
Until next time!

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I'm back!

Gosh! It's been so long since I blogged anything! I feel terrible. But it's summer time and I plan on getting back into the swing of things! I have a huge list of books I want to review! These include, but are definitely not limited to:
The Laurel Series (Aprilynne Pike)
The Wake trilogy (Lisa McMann)
The Hunger Games trilogy (Suzanne Collins)
Immortal Series (Alyson Noël)
Maximum Ride Series (James Patterson)
The Pretty Little Liars Series (Sara Shepard)
Crank Series (Ellen Hopkins)
Soul Screamers Series (Rachel Vincent)
The Dating Game Series (Natalie Standiford)
Thirteen Reasons Why (Jay Asher)
Beastly (Alex Flinn)
Anatomy of a Boyfriend (Daria Snadowsky)

And so many more! That's just what I archived recently on my Nook!
In other news I failed to even read 1 book on my 2010 Debut Authors Challenge. I'm a horrible person, I know. But I did start and finish a lot of amazing series that I am sad to see come to an end. Though I was surprised to see that there is a new PLL book out! Thank you Sara Shepard! I am so excited to start it. I just literally finished the Wake series by Lisa McMann. So good! Definitely wish there were more books!
Well it may still be a few days until my first official post again but it will definitely be by the end of the weekend!

UPDATE: Just found this and wanted to share! PLL spills, including that there are going to be FOUR new books!!!
PLL secrets


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