Book Review: The Hunger Games

I recently finished reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. The fact that I actually had time to read a book when my world is one big crazyfest is beyond remarkable. But The Hunger Games is one of those books that demands to be read. You have to make time for it. There's simply no other option.

The book opens with our MC's POV. First person. (It's the way to go nowadays.) If I hadn't read the back cover I might have thought the MC was male just because, well, Katniss has a very blunt, no-nonsense and often brutal way of looking at the world. She almost lost me when she talked about trying to drown a cat. (I'm not kidding.) But in the same time her actions repulsed me, her reasons enthralled me. And I immediately knew this was one hard-ass chick.

Except she's not nearly as hard as she pretends to be.

What Katniss is, really, is refreshing. With so many Bella prototypes flouncing around out there, it's nice to have a girl on the opposite end of the spectrum. Katniss has no time for boys, immortal or otherwise; she's too hell-bent on trying to survive. Except then her sister gets chosen for the Hunger Games--a battle to the death between 24 contestants ranging from 12 to 18 years old--and Katniss volunteers to take her place.

Blood, gore, sullenness, skirmishes and revelations of personality ensue. I admit that I didn't really get to the OMG-I-must-continue-reading-this-even-though-it's-3 a.m.-and-I-have-to-go-to-work-in-four-hours point until Katniss was in the actual Hunger Games. But the buildup wasn't boring and it was totally necessary to get the correct impression on what the Hunger Games is all about. But then things just flew. It was an adrenaline rush. I was flipping pages as fast as I could read them, thinking, Wow, this would make an awesome movie. (Rumor is the movie is going to come out in 2011. I'm crossing my fingers that it's as awesome as the book... though we all know it never is.)

But the thing I loved the most about Suzanne Collins' work was that Katniss' core personality stayed the same. Everything is about survival to her, even pretending to be in love (but is it really pretend)? AND THERE'S MORE! The book leaves off with the question: Is Katniss really pretending to be in love with Peeta (and what, exactly, are her feelings for Gale?) or does she actually care for him but refuses to admit it? And what's going to happen to her now?

I REALLY want to get the second book (and the third and final one comes out the 24th of this month! Squee!) But it will have to wait until next paycheck. :(

Recommended read? Yes!

Rating: 4.99 out of 5 stars (just because Katniss tried to kill a kitty, and I can't condone that, even if the kitty is ugly and would just be another mouth to feed.)


Disclaimer: I was not paid to review this book and I bought this book with my own limited funds, thank you very much.

Monday Madness: Make Nay-sayers Walk the Plank

No matter what goals we're pursuing, there's always someone whispering behind your back (or telling you to your face) that you can't do it. Even if you're not close to these people, you might start to doubt. And if the nay-sayer is someone whom you deal with on a day-to-day basis (maybe they are even your significant other, your parent, your sibling, your best friend OR, even worse, yourself) then it's even more difficult to ignore them. So here are a few tips to make your nay-sayer walk the plank:

1. When you start thinking, "I can't" tell yourself, "I can." Look at yourself in the mirror and say, "I can do this. I will keep trying. I will strive harder. I will not give in."

2. Distract yourself. This especially works when the nay-saying is coming from yourself. If the negativity involves a certain project, go do something else that completely absorbs you. Read. Go for a run. Hang out with friends. Surf the internet for bad jokes.

3. Remind yourself that anything worth having is worth fighting for. As Stephan Dolley Jr. says, "A man who wants something will find a way; a man who doesn't will find an excuse."

4. When I'm surrounded by negative people, I start thinking negatively. One of the things to do is to remove yourself from these people (at least for a while) or, if that's not possible, then tell them straight out (and I've done this before), "Let's see if we can go a whole 30 minutes without saying something negative."

5. Surround yourself with positive influences. I, personally, love motivational quotes. I have them tacked all around my desk and doodled in my sketch book. It's amazing how powerful these things can be.

So what about you? How do you drown out the nay-saying?

The Greatest Love Story of All Time

Warning: Jaded alert!!!

It's the greatest love story of all time.

Nope, I'm not talking about Twilight. (Not yet, anyway.) I'm talking about Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. You know, in modern day publishing presses, R&J could be considered a YA in some aspects. After all, the main characters are 13-14. (I hope you knew that.) It's got all the angst and OMG-no-one-understands-us element. As well as the idea that LOVE is the most important thing in the entire universe. So, important, in fact, that it's worth stabbing yourself in the chest over.

I watched the modern day remake of Romeo and Juliet with Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes last night with my fiance. Back in the days of my youth (as in, high school) it was one of my favorite movies. (OMG, so romantic, right?) Last night it just pissed me off to the point where I turned to Fiance and said, "If you kill yourself because I die, I will go to hell and kick your A$$!" To which he replied with something very sweet and mollifying, "Darling, if you died I wouldn't kill myself, but I would feel pretty damn dead inside." (Romance as only a country boy can provide. P.S. I love it when he calls me darling.) Aw. Kissy kiss.

Now, I love romance as much as the next gal (devouring books by Teresa Medeiros like it's nobody's business), but it comes to a certain point where romance morphs into obsession/insanity. And I just can't tolerate that. True love exists. Soul mates exist. But true love isn't about sacrificing everything (including your life... hello, R&J; hello, Bella) for it to work. It's about compromise. It's above give and take. And, to top it off, it's about realistic expectations of yourself and the other person. So, really, the whole reason R&J ticks me off is because everything could be avoided by approaching love with maturity. Talking to the 'rents, for one. Juliet could have just let her father disown her and cast her into the streets like he threatened instead of devising this whole "fake death plan." (Which, really, would the end have been any different? She would have never spoken to her parents again.) I'm sure Romeo would haven't just left her begging on the streets, for crying out loud. And was it love or obsession that drove them to commit suicide? Romeo at the beginning of the play/movie was "in love" with Rosalind. And then he sees Juliet and BAM! Love at first sight! I don't think it was his heart that was reacting to Juliet, but another "part belonging to a man."

R&J and, yes, Twilight, give teens an unrealistic expectation of love. And sometimes I wonder if crap like this is the reason 50% of marriages fail nowadays. The moment one or the other starts thinking, OMG they totally wouldn't kill themselves/turn into a vampire for me, it's over. Love can be crazy and it can be thrilling, but lasting love isn't about the adrenaline rush of forsaking everything else for another person; it's about knowing that there will be times when you will be mad at each other, when you will wish that other person wasn't breathing down your neck all the time, when you get sick of their annoying habits...and you wouldn't want it any other way.

My prediction: If R & J hadn't done themselves in, they would have been divorced within a year. And Bella and Edward? It's going to be one freakin' long eternity (not in a good way).

So Much To Do...So Little Time

So, how's everyone's week been so far? Good, yes? Great? That's fantastic! Me, I've been super busy.

You know how some people thrive on drama? Apparently I thrive on having too many things to do in a single moment. And yet I still suffer from boredom. Strange.

Right now I'm trying to find a renter for the house I'm currently living in, finalize a date to move into the new place, make centerpieces, work out, cook, preserve food, read The Hunger Games, edit my short story, edit Dragon Queen, clean house, write a short story of Emily's Fairy Tale Blogfest , write a short story for the Sci-Fi/Fantasy forum's short story contest, send out the rest of the wedding invitations, schedule dress alterations, buy wedding shoes, pick up dress, etc. I've actually written one for the fairy tale story, but I'm not super happy with it, yet.

On the top of my writing list is editing the short story. If the editor of the online magazine I submitted it to likes the changes, it could be published. Yay! My first publication! This is followed closely by writing stories for the blogfest and the forum, just because those both end this month. But DQ is also important. Argh.

I would also really love to do another contest/book give-away soon. I thought maybe a micro-story contest (story in 50 words or less). Sound appealing?

Monday Madness: Take It Like a (Wo)Man

Giving critiques is hard. But, sometimes, it's even harder to get them.

Critiquing requires a certain level of maturity, and the same goes with being on the receiving end. It's easy to bask in the glow of people saying, "OMG, you are AWESOME...when can I buy your book???" But not so easy when people are like, "Meh. It was okay. Didn't really do it for me though." Or, even worse, "Your book sucks. Please go burn it now." I've experienced all three types. And, sometimes it's hard to not take it personally. But, remember, in most cases it's not about YOU, it's about the story.

What's the difference? Sometimes it's hard to tell. Stories can be like babies...really ugly babies that only you could love. But you still love them and when someone is like, "Whoa, what an ugly baby!" you can't help but be offended.

Sometimes, I've even cried. Sometimes, I've REALLY disliked the critter. Sometimes, I mutter profanities to their avatars. Because it's hard to look at the ugly, naked truth of your story. But don't take it out on the critters. Most of the time, they're just trying to be helpful. And, usually, when I'm finally able to distance myself enough from my story (and my ego) to digest what they're saying, they are right.

It's all about building a thick skin. About learning to recognize credible critiques from the not so credible. And learning to go with what feels right to YOU in the end.

And, if you feel like you're being attacked, the best course of action is to ignore that person. Even if you want to paste angry emoticons all over the screen, DON'T. Simply thank them for their suggestions (or, if you can't even do that, for their time).

It's okay to disagree with what a critter says.

Repeat that: It's okay to disagree with what a critter says.

And remember: When it comes to critiques, be the bigger person, both in giving critiques and receiving them.

Book Review: Dead Until Dark

So, I took a wee break from Karen Miller's Empress because books effect my mood in very powerful ways and I am already angsty enough this month without reading about torture and killing, thank you very much. (I will finish it, I promise.) So I wanted a nice, fluff read. I REALLY wanted a YA read, but didn't have enough dinero for a hardback so I moseyed over to the adult section.

I spotted Charlaine Harris' newest release and then backtracked until I found her first book, Dead Until Dark . I picked it up with some reservations, despite the frantic ravings of some of my friends. Mainly because it was about vampires and, really, they made that movie Vampires Suck with me in mind.

And, honestly, even though I found the character to be interesting and the voice to be engaging, I couldn't help but compare to Twilight, so I saw a lot of things coming.

1. Where there be vampires, a werewolf/shapeshifter is sure to follow. (Check)

2. The MC will be found to be freakishly attractive at some point in this novel. (Check)

3. There will be a love triangle. (Check, check, check)

4. Someone will be out to murder our MC because of her affiliations with the supernatural. (Check)

But what made me snort a little bit (half in laughter, half in disbelief) is the complete reversal of the MC's and her vampire's "gifts." In Twilight, Edward can read minds, except for Bella's. In Dead Until Dark, Sookie can read minds, except for Bill's. At this point I'm starting to ask myself if this is a Twilight spin-off?

But, never fear, it's not.

Whew.

Dead Until Dark, for one, has no sparkling. Thank God for that. The vampires are actual VAMPIRES with bloodthirsty urges and can be pretty freaking scary (even the "nice" ones). Thumbs up for you, Ms. Harris. And there were dark moments, moments of REALITY (like dealing with lust, loss, grief, stereotypes and even child molestation) that Twilight completely overlooked. Plus, it's set in Louisiana. Can't get much further away from Washington than that. And while I felt like the plot took a backseat to Sookie's relationships (not that I minded, since her relationships were a lot more interesting than the murders for some reason), I was still engaged throughout the book and finished it fairly quickly.

Harris approaches the vampire craze with a tongue in cheek approach that I found to be refreshing after so much vampire-mooning. Sookie is able to see Bill (and all the other vampires she meets) with an eye that's not bedazzled by sparkles, though she still finds them fascinating. She really gave me a chuckle when she ponders whether vampires could "do it." And, if so, how it worked. I know that Twilight and Dead Until Dark were created for different audiences, but how come Bella never actually wonders if vampires can still do it? Especially when all she thinks about it jumping Edward's bones? She takes it for granted that he can, I guess. But that's what makes Ms. Harris' work so refreshing and so palatable to someone who was just sick to death (har har) of vampires: it's the nitty gritty of vampire-human relationships, sparkles not included.

Recommended read? Yes.


Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Monday Madness: Honest Crit

Good Monday, everyone! I'm going to have a "Monday Madness" feature every Monday starting this week, featuring things that I have learned/hope to learn about the writing world. This will include every stage of writing, from the sentence to submission. I don't pretend to be an expert on anything, but I hope my insights will help some of my fellow writers out.

And, now, to the first installment of Monday Madness: Honest Crit!

In one of my critique groups, there is a tit-for-tat policy. So much so, in fact, that it even highlights people's stories who have critted yours. Pretty neat if you're like me and like to return favors, but not so much if you're (also like me) and a bit limited on time.

I believe in honesty. Not the cruel "haha, you're writing sucks" kind but in the kind that is constructive and well-placed. But sometimes I will come across a work that demands not so much my input on the story itself, but on how the story is delivered, i.e, technique.

I believe that everyone has a story in them, but not everyone has the ability to tell it. What is ability? Sound grammar, correct spelling, and varied sentence structure, in my opinion. When I come across a story that does not have these things, I get a bit exasperated. Even if the story itself is intriguing, I'm so distracted by its delivery that I can't enjoy it. And then the grammar monster comes out flashing its red quill of death and I start telling them everything that they need to fix before I could read this story for the story itself. I've even gone so far as to rewrite a sentence to show them what I mean (which, I will admit, is pretty pathetic of me). And, in case you're wondering, I don't do this to show my superiority or whatever, I do it because I honestly want to help the writer improve.

But correcting grammar and syntax shouldn't be a critter's job. AT ALL. Now, nobody is perfect. Occasionally there will be errors that slip under our editor-radar, but the majority of the work that you have submitted for critique should be free from error. WHY? Because if you're serious about writing, you need to have the technique down. I think of every submission for critique as a professional piece of writing, even those that I want just an opinion on. So I try to make it as legible and readable as possible, because I DON'T want people to be hung up on my technical errors. I want them to focus on the story.

Critters are not grammar teachers (though I sometimes forget that). They are there to offer their opinion on your STORY. So do them a favor and make sure it's as polished as possible. Not only will your critique group thank you for it, but you will also receive the feedback you're REALLY looking for.