tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73267225984615928922024-03-13T10:47:50.347+11:00The art of dreamingby Astrid ScholteAstrid Scholtehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324100085505134806noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7326722598461592892.post-9843931465584656062017-04-21T15:49:00.000+10:002017-04-21T15:49:38.754+10:00Exciting book news, website launch and blog move!<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hello! It's been a while since my last blog and so much has happened since! </span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4AdT1IIo-j0/WPmZ-BVOobI/AAAAAAAAAws/Pv2k-us2yzsIOx1nxPIYc_hB0yBdgTsDQCLcB/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-02-10%2Bat%2B2.15.29%2Bpm.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4AdT1IIo-j0/WPmZ-BVOobI/AAAAAAAAAws/Pv2k-us2yzsIOx1nxPIYc_hB0yBdgTsDQCLcB/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-02-10%2Bat%2B2.15.29%2Bpm.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My book, FOUR DEAD QUEENS is going to be published by Penguin Random House in the US! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can find out more about it <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34213319-four-dead-queens" target="_blank">here</a> and add it to your TBR list. Please and thank you! š</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My other big news is that I've launched my website which you can check out <a href="https://www.astridscholte.com/" target="_blank">here</a>:</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.astridscholte.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.astridscholte.com" border="0" height="177" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OaJrO0ODHlw/WPmaR9LYGJI/AAAAAAAAAww/KOquzZc6I3830-D72DN1hqu7MLaXm6-0ACLcB/s400/astridscholte_banner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'll continue to blog over there and will be closing out this blog. If you want to continue to keep up-to-date with any news, book updates and awesome giveaways, please subscribe to my website <a href="https://www.astridscholte.com/newsletter">here.</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope to see you over on my new website! Please come by and say hello! </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">š</span>Astrid Scholtehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324100085505134806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7326722598461592892.post-52561453433272447622016-04-01T13:10:00.000+11:002016-05-10T08:56:45.106+10:00The sparks of inspiration<style>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9dFN_A8rFW8/VvzElQwyzpI/AAAAAAAAAm8/2hMtkjqEIZ0g-d20m2Yk2ZutvPWZsC_oQ/s1600/close_up5%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9dFN_A8rFW8/VvzElQwyzpI/AAAAAAAAAm8/2hMtkjqEIZ0g-d20m2Yk2ZutvPWZsC_oQ/s400/close_up5%2Bcopy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The process of writing a book is different for all writers. Some begin with a character or a voice which begs to be written. But for me, itās the whisper of a conceptāeither the idea of fictional world, or an impossible scenario my characters will find themselves in. And concepts never arrive full formedāhow useful that would be!ābut rather are fluid, morphing from one thought to another until something sticks. <br /><br />This process of brainstorming, or daydreaming, can take months before I put fingers to the keyboard, making it difficult to remember exactly when or where an idea first struck. But for my latest book, I remember the light bulb moment with great clarity.<br /><br />Around two years ago, my father and I were driving from Sydney to Melbourne when we passed a forest which had been destroyed by a bushfire. The gum trees were now black splinters against the blue sky, the earth turned gray, no life in sight. I couldnāt help but worry how many animals had lost their homes or perished in the fire. <br /><br />And the devastation looked so fresh; the black of the bark still ink-dark with no emerald buds of life to be seen. I was sure I could smell smoke as we drove by, but my dad informed me the bushfire had been years ago. I was shocked and saddened that the trees would never regrowābranding the incident onto the landscape for all time. <br /><br />This idea of a land striped of life sparked a story within me. A story which wouldnāt let go. And for the remainder of the trip, the concept unfolded in my mind. I began wondering what circumstances couldāve led to such a dry and desolate land. And, most importantly, how such a lifeless environment would impact a society forced to endure it. <br /><br />And so my YA fantasy was born! </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span>Astrid Scholtehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324100085505134806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7326722598461592892.post-34170784997158038592016-03-21T17:25:00.002+11:002016-03-22T10:55:59.585+11:00Don't judge a book by its map!<style>
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--</style><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ever since I was a child, I've loved maps. They werenāt merely a tool for visualizing a fictional land, but something tactile to help transport me into the world I was reading about. The maps further connected me to the story, allowing me to imagine how I would traverse the environments myself.<br /><br />I mostly read adventure novels where kids would explore distant countries, different eras and far-off locales. The illustrated maps were my favourite part. I would study each and every detail carefully until the world felt as real as my own. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And often I would recreate the maps, so I could roll it into a scroll and carry it in my bag like a real adventurer. Below is a map I made around 8 years old based an Osborne Puzzle Adventure book. I honed my technique, including scrunching, ripping, burning edges and expertly spilling coffee so not to wash away the drawings. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My map masterpiece!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During my travels over the years, I've collected every single guidebook or pamphlet if there was a map inside. My favourites were the Disney Park maps. And though the park doesn't tend to change significantly from year-to-year, I add to my collection upon each trip. For it seems, one can never have too many maps of the same park! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AG8vGwY1KDk/Vu-DJveqPVI/AAAAAAAAAmM/sVASRxT8cLw0R4gnmkHSvhg9RE7M-LazA/s1600/DisneyMap.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AG8vGwY1KDk/Vu-DJveqPVI/AAAAAAAAAmM/sVASRxT8cLw0R4gnmkHSvhg9RE7M-LazA/s640/DisneyMap.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Disneyland's 50th anniversary map has pride <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">of</span> place in my home.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I got older and began reading fantasy, I was thrilled to discover many included illustrations depicting the imaginary worlds. Many are undeniably works of art; such as the maps in the Grisha books by Leigh Bardugo (drawn by Keith Thompson). In fact, Iāve been known to buy a book simply due to the gorgeous map inside!</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LMi28u_4S6A/Vu-NwtI4dJI/AAAAAAAAAmk/6AdT66o1bH0aUPMYQo6Fkm11csvtO2AlQ/s1600/GrishaMap.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="481" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LMi28u_4S6A/Vu-NwtI4dJI/AAAAAAAAAmk/6AdT66o1bH0aUPMYQo6Fkm11csvtO2AlQ/s640/GrishaMap.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Reference: http://grishaverse.com/ </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Grisha books are a<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">s</span> wonderful as the<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">stunning</span> maps<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">!</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I dream of the day when I'm to open a book and find an intricate map designed around the worlds and words I've created, combining two of my passions: fantasy novels and maps. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Are you a collector? What are your prized trinkets? Please let me know in the comments.</span></h4>
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Astrid Scholtehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324100085505134806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7326722598461592892.post-74228431743004872072015-11-01T12:37:00.000+11:002015-11-01T12:38:44.339+11:00How to carve the perfect pumpkin, Disney-style!<style>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Happy Halloween everyone! As you probably know,
Halloween is one of <a href="http://astridscholte.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/bring-back-magic.html">my favourite times of year</a>. Although I grew up in
Australia, I spent some of my formative years in the USA, which is why I
believe Halloween is a justified celebration. In the States, weād visit a pumpkin
farm and pick the perfect pumpkin, just like hunting for the perfect Christmas
tree. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Halloween is slowly becoming a recognized holiday in Australia and this year Coles, Woolworths and Aldi all sold
carving pumpkins. I couldnāt contain my excitement and bought a pumpkin two
weeks before Halloween. Inspired by a visit to Disneyland, where designers carved into the pumpkinās skin without breaking through to the middle, I
decided to put my rusty carving skills to the test. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">While I was happy with the results, this method wasnāt as easy as Iād thought! So yesterday I attempted my
second </span>jack-o'-lantern<span lang="EN-US">, armed with the knowledge from my first effort. I thought Iād
document my process as many people asked how I made the first </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US"></span>Disney castle jack-o'-lantern<span lang="EN-US"></span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">. So read on for tips! </span><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">:)</span><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Step one: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Find/create a stencil. I wanted to create <i>Beauty
and the Beast</i>ās enchanted rose as itās one of my favourite Disney films and the
glass cloche would make for a perfect silhouette for the rose. Unfortunately,
there werenāt any free stencils online so I had to make my own. I designed the below
stencil in Photoshop from an image in the film:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Cut out the stencil and stick it onto the
pumpkin with hobby glue. Some sites recommend drawing the stencil on the pumpkinās
skin with a whiteboard pen, this seemed like it could wipe off too easily.
Hobby glue sticks well to the skin without sticking <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">too</i> well.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Time to cut off the top of the pumpkin! For
this, I used my biggest knife, making sure to cut away from my hand. Note: make
sure you cut on an angle so the top doesnāt fall back through.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Step four:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">The messiest part! Scoop out all the gunk
from the inside. I mostly used my hands and a small ladle. This takes time and
feels completely gross but itās quite fun. If you have kids, this is the part theyād
enjoy! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Step five:</span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Now onto the carving! Cut a section along
the stencil with your smallest and sharpest knife. Create a small rectangle,
making sure not to cut straight through the pumpkin skināonly around 3mm into
the flesh. Next slide the knife under the skin. It will easily lift away,
leaving some of the flesh underneath: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Step six:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Continue cutting and lifting small sections
around the stencil. Donāt worry if itās not all the same depthāas some will lift
easier and deeper than other sections.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Step seven:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">When youāre finished cutting around the
stencil, use a sculpting tool to scrape at the exposed inner flesh to smooth it
out . </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Remove the stencil and make any final
changes and additions. I added the outline of petals so the rose didnāt look
like a large blob!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Pop in a candle. And voila! Your </span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal;">jack-o'-lantern is ready for prime position in your home.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal;">Did you make a </span></i></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal;">jack-o'-lantern this year? What did you carve? I'd love to see pictures!</span></i></span></div>
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</span>Astrid Scholtehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324100085505134806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7326722598461592892.post-27730311705833737582015-09-22T17:45:00.000+10:002015-09-22T17:45:02.551+10:00I'm still here... Are you?
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Hello! Itās been so long. Is anyone still
out there? Well, this could get awkwardā¦ Me talking to myselfā¦ </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Sorry itās been so long since my last post,
but I have a good reason. Iāve been spending every moment I can on my next
book. Itās a YA fantasy (again, although epic fantasy this time) and itās
been all consuming. But the good news is Iāve finished! Huzzah! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">I started my new novel during Nanowrimo (<a href="http://nanowrimo.org/"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">National Novel Writing Month</span></a>)
as a side project, something to work on while I was querying agents with my other
manuscript. Then something happened. I couldnāt get the story, characters or
world out of my head. So I dove in headfirst, dedicating my spare time to
getting the story right, pummeling the pages (and keyboard) until those words
were something worth reading, enjoying, loving. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">I then spent six months workshopping and
rewriting and editing and (mostly) banging my head against the wall. But now
itās ready. Ready to be sent out into the world! Well, the world of agents,
that is. </span><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">:)</span><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">And itās a scary moment, but thrilling.
Itās the time when I obsess over whether itās good enough. Whether the story
will sink or swim. Whether the last year of writing will be worth it. I think
it is, but only time (and agents) will tell.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">So wish me luck friends! Back into the
querying trenches I go!</span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ceknXCflTrc/VgEF7acEfkI/AAAAAAAAAh8/_oofQwlR5d4/s1600/bookpic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="309" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ceknXCflTrc/VgEF7acEfkI/AAAAAAAAAh8/_oofQwlR5d4/s640/bookpic.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So many pages! </span></td></tr>
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</span>Astrid Scholtehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324100085505134806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7326722598461592892.post-73439517562986168052015-05-10T17:20:00.000+10:002015-05-11T16:58:01.325+10:00Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U5dk5MQJsYM/VU65PU80lUI/AAAAAAAAAgE/ni8Dhc1sUVo/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-05-10%2Bat%2B11.49.12%2Bam.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U5dk5MQJsYM/VU65PU80lUI/AAAAAAAAAgE/ni8Dhc1sUVo/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-05-10%2Bat%2B11.49.12%2Bam.png" width="208" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses<br />Pages: 432<br />Published: 01-05-2015 by Bloomsbury Australia<br />Source: Publisher</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Synopsis (from publisher):</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Feyre's survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill ā the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price ... <br /><br />Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre's presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The start of a sensational romantic fantasy trilogy by the bestselling author of the Throne of Glass series. - See more at: <a href="http://bloomsbury.com/au/a-court-of-thorns-and-roses-9781408857861/#sthash.rbw3wOcO.dpuf">http://bloomsbury.com/au/a-court-of-thorns-and-roses-9781408857861/#sthash.rbw3wOcO.dpuf</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Review:</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>A Court of Thorns and Roses</i> is a majestic tale of passionate romance, dark magic, brutal sacrifice, mysterious creatures and cursed kingdoms. Based on <i>Beauty and the Beast</i>, it is a strong start to a new trilogy by talented author Sarah J. Maas. Itās a tale that will capture you in its web, and refuse to let goāeven beyond the final page. <br /><br />The novel begins with Feyre diligently providing for her family, which is often a thankless task, but she is the only one who capable of protecting them. In <i>A Court of Thorns of Roses</i>, a wall separates the mortal lands from Prythian, the faerie lands, and humans know better than to venture north or interfere with the dangerous and powerful faeries. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Itās not long before Feyre shatters the treaty between the lands by mistakenly killing a faerie in wolf form. Her punishment is to live above the wall in a High Faeās estate, never to see her home or family again. Here she meets her ābeastā, Tamlināa faerie with a jeweled mask permanently attached to his face, a short temper, and who hides a cursed past. <br /><br />Like Celaena Sardothien from Maasās <i>Throne of Glass</i> series, Feyre is tough and often abrasive, but still empathetic. Although, I wished there had been a deeper connection to her family, as this would have made her punishment more poignant. The faerie characters of Tamlin, and particularly Lucien, were a delight. They were, at times, both animalistic and chivalrous, and their bejeweled masks added to the level of mystery and magic in the novel.<br /><br />As I read on, Tamlin and Feyre became more than just characters on a page but people with real thoughts and feelings, and I feared for their future in a world that seemed to conspire against them. It is a rare book that manages to live and breathe between the pages, and <i>A Court of Thorns and Roses</i> was that kind of book for me, a testament to the strength of Maasās writing. <br /><br />Towards the end of the novel, the plot turns bleak and frequently bloody and brutal, yet it was all the more exciting for it. Sarah J. Maasās imagination seems to know no bounds; her faerie world is equal parts beautiful and disturbing and I found myself wishing my time within this world would not end.<br /><br />My one caution with this book would be that it is being shelved with other YA titles, where I believe it reads much more NA (New Adult).<i> A Court of Thorns and Roses</i> should be read by those looking for something a little darker, and steamier, than most YA novels.<br /><br />Sarah J. Maas can do no wrong in my eyes. She has proven time and time again that she is a master of fantasy: building sumptuous worlds to be lost in, complex characters and unexpected plot twists and turns. I loved my journey into the world of Prythian, and cannot wait to return.<br /><br />I give <i>A Court of Thorns and Roses</i> 5/5 stars.<br /><br />*Many thanks to Bloomsbury Australia for the advanced readers copy.</span></div>
Astrid Scholtehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324100085505134806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7326722598461592892.post-13499276441053657672015-02-02T16:59:00.001+11:002015-02-02T16:59:29.708+11:00Review: I Was Here by Gayle Forman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ond5grMW0qY/VM8NPhVuzrI/AAAAAAAAAfA/8khXuXPcmtE/s1600/I%2BWas%2BHere.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ond5grMW0qY/VM8NPhVuzrI/AAAAAAAAAfA/8khXuXPcmtE/s1600/I%2BWas%2BHere.png" height="320" width="207" /></span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Title: I Was Here<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Author: Gayle Forman<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pages: 270<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Published date: January 2015 by Simon &
Schuster Australia<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Source: Publisher<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<h3>
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Synopsis (from publisher):</span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From the bestselling author of If I Stay -
this summer's YA blockbuster film. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This characteristically powerful novel
follows eighteen-year-old Cody Reynolds in the months following her best
friend's shocking suicide. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As Cody numbly searches for answers as to
why Meg took her own life, she begins a journey of self-discovery which takes
her to a terrifying precipice, and forces her to question not only her
relationship with the Meg she thought she knew, but her own understanding of
life, love, death and forgiveness. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A phenomenally moving story, I Was Here
explores the sadly all-too-familiar issue of suicide and self-harm, addressing
it in an authentic way with sensitivity and honesty <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<h3>
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Review:</span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Iāve heard only good things about Gayle
Formanās books, specifically for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If I Stay</i>,
which has been on my TBR list for a few years. Itās one of those books people
tend to gush about and even the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Was
Here </i>proof copy included <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If I Stay</i>
praise such as: āintensely movingā and āForman knows how to write emotionā. So
I dove into <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Was Here</i>āwith its
very similar sounding nameāexpecting comparable results. Unfortunately, I was
not as enraptured by the tale as I'd hoped to be.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Starting <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Was Here</i> after Megās suicide means weāre only told of Meg
and Codyās friendship through dialogue and flashbacks. And while we only get a
glimpse of Meg, I felt invested in her story, wanting to know more about the
girl that had decided to take her own life. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I
Was Here</i> takes a rather dark turn about a third of the way through and I
felt more engaged with the mystery surrounding Megās suicide than Codyās journey
through her grief. Why had Meg chosen to take her life? And why had she kept
her best friend in the dark about her depression? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Forman has a very distinct style, almost impassive and detached, in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I
Was Here</i>. This cleverly mimics Codyās numb response to her best friendās
suicide. Itās clear to the reader that this is just Codyās
coping mechanism, and not related to her close connection to her best friend. We know that Cody is going to eventually break, and when she does, sheāll
shatter. Unfortunately though, this distance from her emotions for most of the novel, makes Cody difficult to relate to. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where Meg leaps off the page, Cody feels
too removed from the reader. I understand Formanās intention by writing Cody
this way, as this is the way she was dealing with her grief, however I felt like I needed more of her feelings, to feel immersed in the story. I wanted to cry with Cody. I wanted to get angry with
her. Unfortunately, I did neither. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I found <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I
Was Here</i> a difficult book to read. Itās somber and sad and only a little
bit uplifting towards the end. There is an element of romance in the book, however
it felt unnecessary to the plot and was therefore not as meaningful as it could have been.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yet there are many important messages in the
book, which shouldnāt be overlooked. To me, the most important message is to
not treat depression like an ugly secret, something to be hidden from friends
and family. Instead, depression should be dealt with openlyāand without judgment.
I really admire Forman for tackling mental health issues in this way and she
navigates the tricky subject matter with care, without shying away from the
darker content.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
Was Here</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> was not the book for me, I would recommend it to those who donāt
mind a more quiet, somber tale where the happily ever after is tainted by the
often harsh realities of the world.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*Many thanks to Simon & Schuster Australia for the advanced proof.</span></div>
Astrid Scholtehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324100085505134806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7326722598461592892.post-8933178185849054912014-12-07T18:02:00.000+11:002014-12-07T18:02:34.579+11:00Review: This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NggL6OYSoDM/VIO0CzAkmWI/AAAAAAAAAeU/uSWmTzmoWkI/s1600/ThisShatteredWorld.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NggL6OYSoDM/VIO0CzAkmWI/AAAAAAAAAeU/uSWmTzmoWkI/s1600/ThisShatteredWorld.png" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Title: This Shattered World<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Author: Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pages: 400<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Published: November 2014 by Allen and Unwin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Source: Publisher</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><b>Review:</b></span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">These Broken Stars</i>
by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner was my favourite book of 2014. To say I eagerly awaited the sequel was an understatement. With my hopes set extremely
high, I started reading <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This Shattered
World</i> with some trepidation. Could the sequel live up to its predecessor? I
am happy to report that not only did <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This
Shattered World </i>match <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">These Broken
Stars </i>in terms of reading enjoyment and satisfaction, but it surpassed book one with its level
of world building, plot and complexity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This Shattered
World</i>, Kaufman and Spooner focus on a war-torn planet: Avon. Avon is
noxious to its inhabitants: there are no visible stars, everything smells of
swamp and thereās something in the environment that incites an uncontrollable
rage. Only soldier Jubilee Chase and the colonists are immune
to this āFuryā. Added to this is a rebellion stirring within the
labyrinth-like swamplands, led by local boy Flynn Comarc. Flynn
demands answers as to why Avon has failed to terraform and thus left the locals
stranded in a semi-inhabitable planet. Soldiers, such as Jubilee, have been sent to
Avon to keep the peace. But when Jubilee and Flynnās paths cross, the war heats
upāwith Jubilee and Flynn caught in the middle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I powered through <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This
Shattered World</i>, revelling in the wonderful and complex world and likeable
3-dimensional characters. Kaufman and Spooner have a knack for creating immediately
engaging stories. The characters leap
from the page and the different planets' history and backstories are the
right blend of familiar and otherworldly. You can understand how tempers from
the locals would flare to the point of a rebellion, and how military would be
implanted to try and keep the situation under control. Itās this balance of the
familiar yet different that grounds <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This
Shattered World </i>in reality, making the sic-fi genre accessible to
a wider audience. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I really enjoyed the military focus in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This Shattered World</i>. Where <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">These
Broken Stars</i> was a tale of the two protagonistsā survival, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This Shattered World</i> amps up the stakes,
the action and the intricacy of the world and its society. In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">These Broken Stars</i>, much of the struggle
was internal, and while both Flynn and Jubilee also struggle with their
internal consciences and choices, it is the external conflict of the rebellion
and the planet with all its secrets, that drive the plot in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This Shattered World</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The element of romance is not as central as in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">These Broken Stars</i>, but there is more at
risk with Jubilee and Flynnās forbidden attraction. The fact that Jubilee
quotes Romeo and Juliet in the first chapter mimics what is at stake for these
two star-crossed characters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Iām not usually a fan of dual points of view, but
alternating chapters between Flynn and Jubilee lets Kaufman and Spooner delve
deeper into their characters, their thoughts and motivations. It fleshes them
out, and lets you empathise with both sides of the war. There are many of shades
of grey in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This Shattered World</i>āaside
from the main antagonist, who is plain evilāwhich is great to see in a novel
about war, albeit a fictional one. There is truth and deception on both sides,
and it fascinating to watch both characters evolve as they investigate the reality at the core of Avon's instability, both environmentally and socially.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I loved <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This Shattered
World</i>. Itās an epic story
as well as intimate, personal journey for characters Jubilee Chase and Flynn
Cormac. I canāt wait for the final instalment in <i>The Starbound Trilogy</i>.<br />
<br /><b>
I give <i>This Shattered World</i> 5 out of 5 stars.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>*Many thanks to Allen and Unwin for the advanced copy. </i></span><br />
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Astrid Scholtehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324100085505134806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7326722598461592892.post-67749672485137868312014-09-08T16:06:00.001+10:002014-09-08T16:06:50.012+10:00Review: Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tUaoXxBl1FI/VAVLbiMQecI/AAAAAAAAAdM/bElhQ-BSXsc/s1600/Heir%2Bof%2Bfire.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tUaoXxBl1FI/VAVLbiMQecI/AAAAAAAAAdM/bElhQ-BSXsc/s1600/Heir%2Bof%2Bfire.png" height="320" width="208" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Title: Heir of Fire<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Author: Sarah J. Maas</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pages: 576<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Published: 1/09/14 by Bloomsbury Publishing Australia<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Source: Publisher<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Synopsis (from publisher):</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="line-height: 18px;">Lost and broken, Celaena Sardothien's only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend: as the King of Adarlan's Assassin, she is bound to serve this tyrant, but he will pay for what he did. Any hope Celaena has of destroying the king lies in answers to be found in Wendlyn. Sacrificing his future, Chaol, the Captain of the King's Guard, has sent Celaena there to protect her, but her darkest demons lay in that same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan's biggest threat ā and his own toughest enemy. </span></i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="line-height: 18px;" /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">While Celaena learns of her true destiny, and the eyes of Erilea are on Wendlyn, a brutal and beastly force is preparing to take to the skies. Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love?</span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></i>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Review:</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sarah J. Maasās Heir of Fire is a fantastic novel written by
a truly captivating author. Always surprising, Maasās writing transports you to another land that is rich in history and
culture. Previously, I would have classified the </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Throne
of Glass</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> series as a 'low fantasy' despite its second world setting, however, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heir of Fire</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> sits squarely in the epic fantasy
realm and has reignited my dormant love for the genre. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The world of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heir of
Fire</i> is much more complex and diverse than touched upon in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Throne of Glass</i>. Maas has cleverly expanded her world with each book, allowing her to delve deeper into her mythology
and the characters sheās created, without overwhelming the reader with backstory. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Throne of Glass</i> was a more
personal journey of Celaenaās transition from slave to Adarlanās Champion, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heir of Fire</i> explores the broader scope of
Erileaās people and their dark history. <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The grand locales, various regions, cultures and magic systems are completely immersive. There's not a moment that lags, which is impressive considering the novelās length.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Celaena is unlike any YA protagonist Iāve read before; sheās
often foul-mouthed, ill-tempered yet fragile and broken. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heir of Fire</i> is particularly satisfying due to Celaenaās character
arc. She was left shattered by the events of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Crown of Midnight</i>, and none of these events are forgotten in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heir of Fire</i>. These
events drive Celaenaās actions, they become a part of
her. Itās thrilling to watch her journey unfold and witness the empowering rebirth of a hero.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While some could argue that the new characters in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heir of Fire</i> dilutes the readerās
connection to the main protagonists: Chaol, Dorian and Celaena, Maas has the knack for rendering
complete, flawed and empathetic characters where each addition improves upon
the diverse cast. My favourite new character was Manon Blackbeak, a witch
with iron teeth and claws whoās ruthless in her ambition to lead her clan. The cinematic
chapters detailing the witches trials to train their Wyverns, dragon-like
creatures, are so distinctive itās as though Manon has clawed her way into <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heir of
Fire</i>, regardless of Maasās original plans. Manon is a fresh and wonderful
addition to the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Throne of Glass</i> world and I can't wait to see where she journeys next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have to admit, I missed the main romantic thread that was
dominant in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Throne of Glass</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Crown of Midnight</i>. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heir of Fire</i> is a darker book, with serious themes of loss and
sacrifice. Instead of focusing on romance, Maasās shifts to follow the budding friendship between Rowan and Celaena. Their relationship is a kind of love story that slowly unfolds and it is a
joy to observe</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ā</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">this is what it feels like to read Maasā novels, as if you are
witnessing the dynamics of real, flesh and blood people as opposed to reading the stories of fictional characters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heir of Fire</i> is an
outstanding entry in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Throne of
Glass</i> series, there are no symptoms of the dreaded mid-series slump here. My only complaint is that I must now wait a year or so until I discover the fates of all the beloved characters</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ā</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">both new and original.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*Many thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing Australia for the advanced reader
copy.</span></h4>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
Astrid Scholtehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324100085505134806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7326722598461592892.post-62633195609673999522014-09-01T17:10:00.003+10:002014-09-01T17:10:39.779+10:00Review: Masquerade by Kylie Fornasier<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UMyh41LN6Hs/U_l2kaSUMcI/AAAAAAAAAc4/Uz17oW3CROQ/s1600/Masquerade.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UMyh41LN6Hs/U_l2kaSUMcI/AAAAAAAAAc4/Uz17oW3CROQ/s1600/Masquerade.png" height="320" width="208" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Title: Masquerade<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Author: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Kylie Fornasier</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Pages: 350<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Published: 23/07/2014 by Penguin Books Australia<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Source: Publisher</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Synopsis (from publisher)</span></h3>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>In the glittering masked world that is the Carnevale of 1750 everyone
has a secret . . . Seven teens, from the highest aristocrat to the lowest
servant are all consumed by their own secrets: their loves, desires, loyalties
and betrayals. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>Their entwined dramas are played out in Venice's ballrooms, theatres,
palazzos and promenades where delicious gossip, devilish fun and dangerous
games threaten to unmask their secrets and even destroy their lives. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>All the world's a stage. Let the show begin.</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Review:</span></h3>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Masquerade</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial;">
follows the lives and loves of seven teenagers through one eventful Carnivale.
In 1750, Venice is a beautiful but dangerous city that thrives on gossip
and deception, where people, and their intentions, are never quite what they seem. Through
this swirling tale of disguises and deceit, seven main characters learn the truth about themselves, and each other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Masquerade</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial;">
depicts the tale of young Orelia, who arrives in Venice to seek answers to her
past. She moves in with her uncle and cousins but is sworn to secrecy as to her
real identity, and must pretend to be her Uncleās goddaughter instead. He does not explain his reason for the deception, and from here on, identity becomes a fluid concept with all the characters pretending to be anyone
but themselves. Yet it is through their various masquerades that they begin to discover who they really are and
their heartās true desires.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Although the characters
enjoy the sights and splendour of Carnivale in various Venetian locations, the
action and events feel containedāas if restricted to a playās stage. This
almost claustrophobic environment continues to entangle the main characters
together, increasing the tension and propelling the story forward. I could
easily see how this novel could be adapted as a play, as all the meaningful
moments happen on the page and where backstory and important information is often
narrated from one character to another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The characters are the real
joy in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Masquerade</i>, with numerous
contrasting personalities as different and sparkling as the costumes and masks
they wear. I particularly liked Veronica, a strong-minded young woman with a passion for
oil painting and cynicism of love. I found her character journey the most enjoyable
to read and Fornasier left me wanting to know more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Following numerous main
characters from different social hierarchies, provides a broad
view of Venice, including the highs and lows of living in such a
vibrant, almost <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">alive</i>, city. The
downside to juggling so many characters is that we only scratch the surface and
sense a hint behind the mask each character wears, and thereās not as much time to delve
deeper into their thoughts and motivations. I wished the chapters were
longer, allowing us time to breathe and settle within the characterās skin before moving onto the next character. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Masquerade</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial;">
does a spectacular job of captivating the sights, sounds and smells of the era
and setting. While Iāve never been to Venice, after reading <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Masquerade</i> I feel as though Iāve navigated
the winding cobbled alleyways, travelled down the canals on a gondola and attended
a glistening masked ball. I really enjoyed the details of Venice and Carnevale and
would happily spend more time there with Fornasier as my guide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">*Many thanks to Penguin
Books Australia for the advanced reader copy.</span></h4>
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Astrid Scholtehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324100085505134806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7326722598461592892.post-67314608598661891402014-08-25T17:04:00.000+10:002014-08-25T17:04:46.052+10:00Review: Ghost House by Alexandra Adornetto<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fKdpZnYrI_E/U_le62oUSbI/AAAAAAAAAco/_guf4kiuipg/s1600/Ghost%2BHouse.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fKdpZnYrI_E/U_le62oUSbI/AAAAAAAAAco/_guf4kiuipg/s1600/Ghost%2BHouse.png" height="320" width="204" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Title: Ghost House<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Author: Alexandra Adornetto<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pages: 313<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Published: September 2014 by HarperCollins Publishers Australia<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Source: Publisher<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Synopsis (from publisher):</span></b></h3>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Alex is more real than anyone Iāve ever known. And him being dead ... really doesn't change a thing.' <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">After the death of her
mother, Chloe Kennedy starts seeing ghosts again. Spending time at her
grandmother's country estate in the south of England helps Chloe deal with her
grief and the spirits that haunt her. Until she meets a mysterious stranger.
Alexander Reade is 157 years dead, with a secretive past and an alluring force
that draws Chloe more strongly than any ghost she's encountered before. But the
bond between them infuriates the vengeful spirit of Alexander's past love,
Isobel. And she will stop at nothing to destroy anyone who threatens to take
him from her.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Review:</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ghost House</i>
begins with Chloeās motherās funeral, immediately drawing you into Chloe Kennedyās
ghost-ridden world. Itās a dramatic start and I was interested to see how this
tragic event would weave through the novel, as often grim inciting incidents
fail to have a knock-on effect with the rest of the plot. But I was happy to
discover that her motherās death is not immediately forgotten as soon as Chloe
steps foot inside Grange Hall and meets Alexander, Isobel and Joe. The death
has a lasting influence on Chloe's actions and decisions, without darkening the overall mood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ghost House</i>
is not too macabre or jump-out-of-your-seat frightening, but rather a
foreboding tale of mystery and suspense. The setting of the novel, Grange Hall,
is mystical and gothic, and the dreary English countryside is a perfect setting
for a scary story. I liked that the backstory of Alexander and Isobel
unravels slowly and the payoff is equal parts creepy and surprisingly moving.
While the ghosts are classified as āgoodā or āevilā in the beginning, more
complex layers of motivation are revealed as time goes on, further fleshing out
the ghostly characters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was enthralled by the
mystery of Grange Hall and the beguiling ghosts that haunt its walls. Perhaps
it was the impending darkness that I wanted to avoid, persuading me to devour
the novel in two sittingsāuncertain I could face the chilling chapters without reassuring daylight. Whatever the cause, I couldnāt put <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ghost House</i> down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I enjoyed the authentic relationships between Chloe, her brother and grandmother, although I would have liked more
āscreen timeā with Grandma Fee. I couldnāt help but wonder what Grange Hall was like without Chloeās presence, or were the ghostly encounters only awakened when
someone with the āgiftā walked through the front door? I felt there was more history hidden within the walls, more depth that could have been uncovered. I
particularly enjoyed the flashback scenes to Alexanderās time and was disappointed there were not more journeys back in time for the reader.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While I enjoyed <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ghost House</i>, I was surprised I didnāt
enjoy the romance between Chloe and Alexander moreāwhich is the core of the
novel. I preferred discovering the mystery behind Alexander and Isobelās deaths
and the dark history of Grange Hall. Alexander and Chloeās relationship seemed a
little rushed at times, and would have benefited from more time to develop their connection.
The relationships between Isobel and Alexander (in the past), and Chloe and Joe
(in the present), felt more organic and believable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope that the sequel <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ghost Hour</i> will delve further into
Chloeās abilities and how they work, and include more details of Adornettoās ghostly mythology. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall, I enjoyed <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ghost House</i> as a suspenseful, entertaining read.
After finishing the novel, donāt be surprised if you start checking your
wardrobe for malevolent spirits!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>*Many thanks to HarperCollins
Publishers for the advanced reading copy.</i></span></h4>
Astrid Scholtehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324100085505134806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7326722598461592892.post-10686546114752529722014-08-04T14:42:00.000+10:002014-08-04T14:42:02.606+10:00Finding inspiration through music and daydreaming<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last Saturday, I attended Kate Forsythās
Winter Writing Workshop. It was a fantastic day andālike all of Kateās classesāfull
of inspiration and magic. The first session for the day was on how to find inspiration, something that all writers, and artists, are keen to unlock the
secret to. Kate detailed her creative process for finding inspiration including:
allowing yourself sections of the day for daydreaming, which Kate sees as a
kind of meditation. She also writes in her diary every day and keeps a memory
book, to help delve into the thoughts and recollections of times gone by. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like Kate, my inspiration comes from different places, but I find daydreaming the most successful for generating
creative ideas. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most of my ideas arrive in the form of
visual snippets, either a scene or an image. From this, I write the
chapter or section of the novel that pertains to this scene or image. If the
image isnāt clear, then I donāt write that section, and continue brainstorming the
idea.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I recently travelled interstate, I
discovered that flying provides the optimum environment for daydreaming. I had
no music or books to help pass the time, instead I brainstormed my novel and
characters. Being stuck in my seat, with nothing else to do but to stare out
the window, allowed my imagination to flow freely. Unfortunately, this is a
rather expensive way to tap into your imagination and is unlikely to occur on a regular
basis!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also follow many author blogs and websites for
writing tips and tricks for accessing your imagination and I've discovered
that music features heavily in many authorsā creative processes. Often authors
will post the songs they were listening to at the time they wrote specific
chapters or even a complete playlist that captures the mood of the novel. However,
this is one process that Iāve not been able to relate to.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, I require absolute silence
when I write; any music or noise is a distraction. Iāve often heard a few songs
on the radio that remind me of my characters or part of my novel, but this has been after Iāve
written the story and has not inspired the work. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other night, however, I heard a song
that captured the feeling and atmosphere of my story in such detail that
listening to it was like stepping into the pages of my novel. Almost like a
film trailer, I could see the story unfolding in my mindās eye. The beautiful
and haunting melody embodies the feelings I want to evoke in the reader. And I
now find myself playing this piece before I start writing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I want to share this piece of music with
you, to provide a taste of the mood Iām hoping my novel will achieve. Although, Iām
hesitant to share music as everyone has different tastes and the song might conjure
different thoughts and feelings for you, but hopefully youāll enjoy the piece
as much as I do. Please let me know what
you think in the comments!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Active Childās <i>Hanging On</i>:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Astrid Scholtehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324100085505134806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7326722598461592892.post-34797080227621366552014-07-21T14:07:00.000+10:002014-07-21T14:07:41.530+10:00Surviving winter<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Australia, weāre currently suffering through the middle
of winter, where itās tempting to hibernate under a mountain of blankets until
spring arrives. During these months, I find that my viewing and reading habits
change. I crave entertainment that is comforting, rather than challenging; like
being wrapped in warm woollen blanket with cup of hot cocoa in hand, nestled up
against a roaring fire. I want my entertainment to cocoon me in warmth and make
me forget the wintery chill outside, the grey skies, the sleeting rain and the seemingly never-ending
string of colds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Much like when youāre on vacation and want a light and
fluffy read for your carefree hours, I want my winter months to be filled with
optimism, goodness, and a happily ever after. I need to surround myself with
the joyful thoughts of winterās end and the return of sun and warmth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It will come to no surprise for most of you that my weapon
of choice against Melbourneās harsh winter is Disney. Iām not secretive about my love for all things Disney and during the cold and often depressing months
of winter, I ratchet my Disney intake up a few notches. This year, Iāve
delighted in the fact that there is now a dedicated Disney channel on Foxtel,
allowing me to watch Disney movies all day and all night, if I were so
inclined. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thereās something about the bright hopefulness of good defeating
evil which makes Disney animated films a staple of my winter viewing diet. It
reminds me of a simpler time: when I was a child and believed in the power of
wishes, magic and a happily ever after. These elements were so real to me
back thenāobtainableāif only I dared to dream.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Likewise, during the cold months, I seek out novels that donāt centre on
darkness, death or destruction, but rather: tales of triumph, optimism and
wonder. This can be difficult with many YA novels turning towards darkness and centring around āedgyā themes in recent years. Thatās not to say Iām looking for novels without
conflict, but there needs to be a hint of hope at the end to help fight off the
gloom of winter.<b>*</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Iām certain that as temperatures begin to rise, and the sun
becomes a more frequent visitor to our skies, I will return to my normal broader
reading and viewing habits. Until then, I will wrap myself in the security of optimism and the happily ever after.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>What about you? Do your reading habits change depending on
the climate or time of year? What are you reading/watching at the moment? Iād love to hear your
thoughts in the comments!</i></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*I may be slightly exaggerating the bleakness of Melbourneās
winterā¦but after nine years of the sunny, temperate winters of Sydney, this
yearās winter feels like an icy slap to the face.</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Astrid Scholtehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324100085505134806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7326722598461592892.post-26740315961844551922014-06-29T17:17:00.000+10:002014-06-29T17:17:14.586+10:00Event recap: Kids and YA festival<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday I
attended the Kids and YA festival at the beautiful and inspiring NSW Writersā
Centre in Sydney. Iāve attended numerous courses, festivals and
symposiums at the NSW Writersā Centre and they have always been enjoyable and
worthwhile, but yesterdayās festival has taken the top spot as my favourite event the centre has put on. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The day began with an intro from the festivalās director, Aleesah Darlison<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #231f1d; font-size: 13pt;">,
</span>before the keynote address from engaging Boori Monty Pryor - author of such books as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shake a Leg</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Pryor kicked off the
festival with a perfect quote: āItās not what you do. Itās what you leaveā. And
it was clear from the buzz in the room that the audience was full of aspiring
authors determined to do just that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kp94tXPfXHo/U6-tFXxXFbI/AAAAAAAAAbU/ODNLG3YC78c/s1600/Intro.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kp94tXPfXHo/U6-tFXxXFbI/AAAAAAAAAbU/ODNLG3YC78c/s1600/Intro.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Festival director and author, Aleesah Darlison</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Culture, Place and Identity in Children's Literature:</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first talk I
attended was the topical session on diversity from three authors with very
different backgrounds: Boori Monty Pryor, Wai Chim and Sarah Ayoub with Wendy
Fitzgerald as the chair. Each author spoke about their background and their
desire as children to read about protagonists like themselves. Pryor made the
astute comment that people hate things when they donāt understand it; similar
to how Pryor hated maths as a child. He said that writing is a great way to
deal with anger. All authors hoped that readers would enjoy their novels,
regardless of their cultural background.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AY3yZZsb9s4/U6-tblb8eFI/AAAAAAAAAbc/DOfjmGpQs2k/s1600/Diversity.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AY3yZZsb9s4/U6-tblb8eFI/AAAAAAAAAbc/DOfjmGpQs2k/s1600/Diversity.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wendy Fitzgerald, Boori Monty Pryor, Sarah Ayoub and Wai Chim</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From Page to Stage and Screen: </span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next up Wendy Orr, Isobelle Carmody and
Felicity Pulman spoke with Meredith JaffƩ about the process of translating
their books to the big screen. This session was of particular interest to me
due to my background in film and television, and I could relate to the tangible despair of how agonizingly slow the process of film production can be and how projects
can fall through at any stage of the process. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yYlsFZC6cGQ/U6-txvwCzyI/AAAAAAAAAbk/viLTxrviGxk/s1600/book+to+film.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yYlsFZC6cGQ/U6-txvwCzyI/AAAAAAAAAbk/viLTxrviGxk/s1600/book+to+film.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looks like I caught Wendy's eye! <br />Meredith JaffƩ, Felicity Pulman, Wendy Orr and Isobelle Carmody</span></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All panellists
agreed that the process of writing a novel is very different from scriptwriting, in particular, Isobelle Carmody spoke of how structured films are and
that plot points must occur within a certain amount of screen time.
At this point, author Pamela Freeman - who was in the audience, spoke up and
mentioned that this is how she writes novels, due to her television scriptwriting background. I realised then, that this is also how I approach writing a
novel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The inevitable question of how to ensure your book will be ripe for film adaption arose and Felicity Pulman said the key is to have a ripper story thatās visual. T</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">hatās easy enough,
right? ;) They all agreed that you need to be open to making changes such as: combining characters, removing characters, changing the nationality or age of a
character and emphasizing certain elements of the story over others. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I really
enjoyed this panel and look forward to seeing the film adaptations of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ghost Boy</i> (Felicity Pulman), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Greylands</i> (Isobelle Carmody) and any
further <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nimās Island</i> films (Wendy
Orr) in the, hopefully not-to-distant, future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Publishers: What They're Looking For and How to Impress Them:</span></o:p></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After lunch, I
returned for the always-popular publishers panel with Zoe Walton (Random House
Australia), Nicola Robinson (Walker Books Australia), Suzanne OāSullivan
(Lothian Childrenās Books) and Rochelle Manners (Wombat Books). Each panellist let
the audience know what theyāre currently looking for, but they all agreed that
quality is key. Other interesting insights were that manuscript assessment
reports and recommendations are rarely read, nor are synopsises! I found this extremely
surprising as many publisher submission guidelines ask for a synopsis and distilling your novel down to one or two pages is a
panic-inducing process that takes weeks, maybe longer, to perfect. That said,
they reiterated that you must follow a publisherās guidelines, so if the
dreaded synopsis needs to be included, then you must do just that. They also
implored you <i>know</i> the publisher youāre submitting to and how your work
sits amongst their current titles, as well as how it differs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Creating Worlds and Magic and Wonder:</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was torn
between the next two sessions, in one room authors were discussing how to
write, pitch and publish a series: something Iām particularly interested in as
Iāve written the first of a potential trilogy, but in the other room: Isobelle
Carmody, Pamela Freeman and Tonya Alexandra were discussing how they create
their fantasy worlds. The fantasy session eventually won out. I was extremely
happy with my choice as I frantically wrote down numerous nuggets of wisdom
from these powerhouse fantasy authors. Such as:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Create a world that
you want to return to, and the only way to do that is through your writing ā
Isobelle Carmody</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Donāt loose that
childhood spark of imagination ā Tonya Alexandra</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you write a
deep enough world, then you will want to keep coming back to it ā Isobelle
Carmody</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reading fantasy
is not a way of getting out (escaping the everyday) but of going deeper ā
Pamela Freeman</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your world is a
character ā Pamela Freeman</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your first
integrity has to be to the story ā Isobelle Carmodyās response as to why she
takes years to write her books and not release a book a year as per the standard publishing contracts for trilogies.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And many, many
more. This was a fantastic session; I could have listened to their advice all
day!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ILx6ox_UXaA/U6-uI__bQEI/AAAAAAAAAbs/FDg0K-1CSVE/s1600/maps.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ILx6ox_UXaA/U6-uI__bQEI/AAAAAAAAAbs/FDg0K-1CSVE/s1600/maps.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pamela Freeman showing us the map she made when writing her fantasy series</span></td></tr>
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<br /></div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pitching Session: Kids and Young Adult Novels:</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The last panel for
the day was a pitching session with author Greg Bastian, Zoe
Walton (Random House) and Nicola Robinson (Walker Books Australia) judging the
entries. As someone who has pitched to authors in the past, I could empathise
with the gasp of excitement and fear as an audience memberās name was called. It
was really interesting to see how other aspiring authors pitch their work and
what piques the interest of the publisher. Key comments included:</span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Donāt pitch your book by telling the publisher about what the novel is about, but show that through the telling of the story itself</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let your voice shine through the pitch</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The last port of
call was a glass of wine to celebrate the end of a fantastic day and successful
festival. I loved the excuse to talk books all
day and look forward to the next fantastic event at the NSW Writersā Centre!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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Astrid Scholtehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324100085505134806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7326722598461592892.post-84618507381510878972014-06-16T16:04:00.000+10:002014-06-16T16:04:05.605+10:00Movie Review: How to Train Your Dragon 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P8D95Iq6_Ew/U50kWqrUxFI/AAAAAAAAAaw/oqlktydI-lQ/s1600/How+to+train+your+dragon+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P8D95Iq6_Ew/U50kWqrUxFI/AAAAAAAAAaw/oqlktydI-lQ/s1600/How+to+train+your+dragon+2.png" height="320" width="224" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">How to Train Your
Dragon 2</i>, like all good sequels, raises the stakes. Everything is bigger
and bolder: the scope of the world, the themes and, of course, the dragons.
Itās a darker instalment than the original, but it is all the better for it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we return to Berk, five years after the events of the
first movie, we find Hiccup skirting his duties as the chiefās son and out
exploring the world with his best pal, and dragon, Toothless. Hiccup admits
he doesn't know who he is yet and shies away from the responsibilities of
being the next chief. Heās an explorer, a dragon master, and is more interested
in discovering the world than staying in Berk and protecting the clan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are reintroduced to the colourful
characters of Berk and their beloved dragons through a dragon race: a vibrant
and energetic opening scene that is a welcome return to the wit and charm of the first film's thrilling flight sequences. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But not all is well in the world of Vikings and their pet
dragons. There are dragon catchers about: capturing dragons for the
dastardly Drago Bludvist, whoās intent on building an unstoppable dragon army.
Up until this point, only the mysterious dragon riderāwho rivals Hiccupās
control over the speciesāhas managed to foil his plans. But as Drago sets his sights on
Berk and their dragons, Hiccup must accept his responsibilities as the chief's son and protect
the clan. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">How to Train Your
Dragon 2</i> is a bolder, more mature film than the original, with themes comparable to a Young Adult novel rather than a childrenās book. Questions of
identity, growing up, facing responsibilities and finding your place in the
world are at the heart of this story, which is central to many Young Adult
novels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thatās not to say that this canāt be enjoyed by younger
cinema goers, but rather that it can be enjoyed by audiences of all agesālike
all great animated films. Children will revel and delight in the broad spectrum
of colours and dragons and <i>ooh</i> and <i>ahh</i> at the soaring flight sequences. And
older viewers will enjoy the more complex storyline that includes some
unexpected, and dark, twists and turns.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whilst the film is darker, elements of humour are retained
from the first film; I particularly enjoyed Berkās version of a crazy cat lady
with her numerous, clingy dragons. And the voice cast including <span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Jay Baruchel</span>,
<span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Gerard Butler</span>,
<span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">America Ferrera</span>
and <span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Kristen Wiig</span>
continue to delight in their roles, with Cate Blanchett as a wonderful
addition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The film's visuals are simply spectacular: the quality
of animation, textures and effects are outstanding with Stoickās beard as a standout. The set pieces are more impressive this time around, particularly the
semi-transparent ice cave which houses the swirling and swarming colourful
dragons. But the real star of the show, as in the original, is Toothless: a
catlike black dragon that is so adorable and lovingly rendered that every
cinemagoer is bound to want a Toothless of their own.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thoroughly enjoyed <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">How
To Train Your Dragon 2</i> and look forward to seeing it again, this time in
3D. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Astrid Scholtehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324100085505134806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7326722598461592892.post-28571222238794162572014-06-10T14:42:00.000+10:002014-06-10T14:42:41.609+10:00Manipulation (At The Movies)<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last Tuesday I watched ABCās <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">At the Movies</i> with Margaret and Davidāpart of my normal Tuesday
evening viewing program. And while I donāt always agree with Margaret and David
(Margaret, for example, doesnāt like animated filmsā¦), I respect their opinions.
However, this week David said something that really jarred with me. During his
review of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Fault in Our Stars</i>, he claimed the movie was manipulative and proceeded to give it only 1 star.
But donāt all films manipulate the audience into feeling a certain way?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The word <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">manipulative</i>
can certainly have negative connotations, but it also means to cleverly influence or
controlāwhich is what films and other forms of storytelling aim to achieve.
From the outset, filmmakers decide how they want the audience to feel about
their characters and story, and all decisions are made to persuadeāor manipulateāto keep
them on this track. Appropriate music is chosen to set the mood, shots are
edited for pacing and impact and audio is constructed to convey the desired
effect. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sure, there are many ways to interpret a film, and certain
genres leave more room for interpretation, but most of the time the director
sets out to dictate exactly what they want the audience to feel. The beginning
of a film is carefully constructed so we care for the characters; the script,
performances and music all work together to ensure we will follow the rest of
the film with interest. Once the audience is
captivated, we are putty in the hands of the filmmakersāallowing them to manipulate us and take us wherever they want us to go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I recently watched 2012ās <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Tall Man</i>, which like many thrillers, is a great example of
manipulative storytelling. In the beginning, there is a vital piece of
information that is absent, but itās not until the story unravels that
you realise your misconception. The director Pascal Laugier cleverly plays on audienceās expectations in those beginning
scenes. He pulls us into this story world and then shatters the genreās
conventions. Itās a masterful act of storytelling manipulation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another film genre that relies heavily on viewer
manipulation is horror. Everything is manipulated to create tension and
generate suspicion and doubt over who the killer/villain is. What is not shown
is almost more important than what is shown on screen. Without manipulation,
the audience wouldnāt twist and turn in their seats with anticipation and horror, and the film would be deemed a failure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Similarly, the success of a film with romance as a key
element, like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Fault in Our Stars</i>,
relies on the audience caring for the characters and believing in their
connection. This is achieved through the manipulation of the audienceās emotions;
we need to care for Hazel and Augustus for their story to hold resonance. But I
donāt believe there are nefarious reasons behind the manipulation at work here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps Davidās issue with the manipulation in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Fault in Our Stars</i> is due to the
charactersā young age and the injustice of their circumstances, but Davidās
passionate reaction actually shows the filmās success in generating real
empathy for these characters and their plight. If he didn't care for Hazel, Augustus and
their familiesāthen his reaction would have been tepid and indifferent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I believe all successful films are manipulative on some
level. What do you think? Have you seen <i>The Fault in Our Stars</i>? Did you find it manipulative in a negative sense? </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please let me know in the comments.</span></h4>
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Astrid Scholtehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324100085505134806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7326722598461592892.post-68741805941532690872014-06-02T16:01:00.000+10:002014-08-24T13:38:39.459+10:00Review: Don't Even Think About It<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OWiHq62VMrk/U1S-hh0UcJI/AAAAAAAAAXo/ZgYNV8bicRo/s1600/don't+even+think+of+it.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OWiHq62VMrk/U1S-hh0UcJI/AAAAAAAAAXo/ZgYNV8bicRo/s1600/don't+even+think+of+it.png" height="320" width="207" /></span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Title: Don't Even Think About It<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Author: </span>Sarah Mlynowski</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pages: 304<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Published: July 2014 by Hachette Children's Books</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Source: Publisher (via NetGalley)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; outline: none;">Imagine if EVERYONE could hear your thoughts: your best friend, your worst enemy, your secret crush...</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: none;">
<i style="outline: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the story of how we became freaks. It's how a group of I's became a we.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When Class 10B got their flu shots, they expected some side effects. Maybe a sore arm. Maybe a headache. They definitely didn't expect to get telepathy. But suddenly they could hear what everyone was thinking. Their friends. Their teachers. Their parents. Now they all know that Tess has a crush on her best friend, Teddy. That Mackenzie cheated on Cooper. That Nurse Carmichael used to be a stripper. Some of them will thrive. Some of them will break. None of them will ever be the same.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A smart and funny story about friendship, first love and surviving high school from the bestselling author of <span style="outline: none;"><i style="outline: none;">Ten Things We Shouldn't Have Done</i></span>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Review:</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thereās
no denying that Sarah Mlynowskiās <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Donāt
Even Think About </i>has an interesting premise: a flu shot transforms a group of high school students into telepaths, or Epsies, as theyāre called in
the novel. But rather than focusing on the hows and the whys, we follow six main characters from the homeroom class who received the faulty inoculation and how they deal with their new abilities and the secrets they uncover. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
novel isnāt written from the perspective of one character, or a few characters,
but rather <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i> the characters. This
is a neat narrative technique that allows you to travel between the characterās
minds seamlessly, cleverly emulating the abilities of a
telepath. I was hooked from the first few pages, imagining all the interesting paths
the novel could take. Sadly, the book didnāt fulfil this potential, but went in another </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">direction that I found less satisfying.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The all-knowing, almost omniscient, narration grates quite quickly. We never stay
long with a characterās perspective, flitting between the characters' thoughts, which makes it difficult to connect with them. I felt this scattered perspective was at the expense of the readerās
enjoyment and experience of the story. It becomes a rather fretful and headache inducing readāwhich, coincidentally, is
a side effect that the Espies suffer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
main question that this book centres around is not what you would do with these abilities, but rather the dirty secrets and thoughts everyone else keeps. I couldnāt
help but worry about the future of society: Do we all really think
such horrible things about each other, all the time? Are we all liars and
cheaters? There were only two characters in the
book that I found empathetic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll admit that my difficulty with this novel was mostly due to my expectations. From reading the blurb, I
assumed this group of telepathic teens were going to do something with their abilities, or do something about them. Perhaps Iāve read too much dystopian YA, but I expected some uprising against a government conspiracy, or some
search for answers to their condition. However, it was all about who
liked whom, who was hiding secrets and who had cheated on who. I felt the concept had much more potential then was tapped into here, which was unfortunate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whilst I am older than the intended target audience, I do read a lot
of YA and rarely feel too old for the book. However, reading <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Donāt Even Think About It</i> made me feel ancient. The tone leaned more towards middle grade than YA, although the secrets and lies all focused on more PG-13 related issues.
It was a confusing mix.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even
though this novel is marketed more for lovers of contemporary YA rather than
speculative fiction, I felt there still needed to be a touch of scienceāsomething
to explain the kids new found ESP. My main concern was that I couldn't suspend my disbelief: the rules and logic to the powers didn't gel for me, like their eyes turning purple. I wanted to know how this was related to ESP and the faulty inoculation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I really tried to enjoy <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Donāt Even Think About </i><i>It </i>for what it was: a light and entertaining read, but I was unable to avoid feeling disappointed with the direction the story took. I
think if I had started reading the novel with different expectations then perhaps
I could have enjoyed it more.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many thanks to Hachette Children's Books for the advanced reader copy.</span></div>
Astrid Scholtehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324100085505134806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7326722598461592892.post-52408336854713324602014-05-26T15:29:00.001+10:002014-05-26T15:29:40.186+10:00Tips for Managing Creativity<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like most aspiring writers with a full-time job, I often struggle to find time to dedicate to my writing. In the past I've managed to finish projects through my sheer passion for the idea, but sometimes passion, or inspiration, isn't enough. Sometimes I need to write even when I don't feel like it. This year I started a writing routine based on my background as a CG artist and production manager that has worked well for me and I wanted to share my routine, in case you find it useful too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started my career in film and TV as a CG artist and found the biggest learning curve of working in the "real world" was how to manage my creativity. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was accustomed to working on my own projects in my own time ā
whenever I felt like it, but working as a professional artist meant I had to
meet deadlines but not sacrifice quality.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My work was determined by the brief and the production schedule.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I later moved into production roles where I coordinated
creative teams. I could relate to the artistic process and the reality
that creativity comes in waves. Yet, there still had to be structure and
routine for our department to achieve our goals and deadlines. <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was also important to encourage the artists and their endeavours.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the past, I wrote only when inspiration struck, but with my new manuscript, I found myself needing more structure. I decided to become my</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> own production manager: setting daily writing tasks and deadlines. One task is to dedicate time to brainstorm one scene at lunchtime, before sitting down to write 1000 words immediately after work. Sometimes it takes 15 minutes, sometimes a full hour, but
Iām not to leave the computer until 1000 words are written. My production
manager wonāt allow it! ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a production manager of my own time, it can be tempting to cave in at 600 words or less, but itās important I stick to this writing routine. And I've found the more I practice the routine, the easier it
is to write in the time allocated; I'll automatically start daydreaming at
lunchtime about my WIP and my fingers start itching to hit the keyboard as soon
as I finish work. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This routine fuels my creativity, as opposed to repressing
it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whilst my 1000
words will vary in quality day-to-day, the important thing is to keep at my routine. After
all, a first draft is just about filling the blank pages. My favourite part of
the writing process is revising and redrafting ā this is where I can really
hone my writing and the story ā and I canāt redraft a blank page!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whilst Iām not a published author yet, I consider writing to
be my second job. After all, Iām hoping to have a writing career, so itās important I treat it with the same commitment as I do for my day
job.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've found being my own production manager a really useful tool to
manage and maximise creativity. What about you? Do you have any tips to share? Please let me know in
the comments.</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Astrid Scholtehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324100085505134806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7326722598461592892.post-68777331331403539452014-05-19T17:10:00.000+10:002014-05-19T17:10:32.686+10:00The Fault in Our Stars movie review<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*Please note: there are spoilers in this review. For those who have not read TFiOS, you have been warned.</span></h4>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ms1rKZAs_T0/U3mfDjB1lNI/AAAAAAAAAaI/ZJa9NFZuGzo/s1600/TFiOS.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ms1rKZAs_T0/U3mfDjB1lNI/AAAAAAAAAaI/ZJa9NFZuGzo/s1600/TFiOS.png" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<h3>
<u style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Review:</u></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Fault in Our Stars</i>
should not have been my kind of movie. I like blockbusters, sweeping fantasies and dark and
gritty dystopias. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Fault in Our Stars</i>
is a small, intimate love story about two teenagers with āa touch of cancerā. Yet
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Fault in Our Stars</i> is exactly my
kind of movie. Let me explainā¦<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Audiences go to the movies for escapism ā for a glimpse into someone
elseās life or to be transported into another world. We want to forget thereās
a screen separating us from the world depicted onscreen and that we are watching real
people with real stories ā regardless of the genre. Many films fail at this
believability, yet <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Fault in
Our Stars</i>āor TFiOS as itās commonly knownāsucceeds on all levels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TFiOS is based on the novel of the same name, written by young adult author, John Green. The book has had incredible success since its 2012
debut for both teenage and adult readers alike. TFiOSās narrator is Hazel Grace
Lancaster, who at 16 has surpassed her life expectancy by a few years, thanks
to a cancer shrinking miracle drug. But her parents think sheās depressed,
which Hazel admits is āa side-effect of dyingā, and sheās forced to attend a cancer
support group to make friends. Here she meets 17-year-old Augustus Waters, who
lost his leg to cancer but is now in remission. The two bond immediately, not
over their cancer stories but their unique and quirky view on life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cast of TFiOS are perfect. Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort
are not merely acting as Hazel and Augustus, but <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">become</i> Hazel and Augustus. Itās rare for that line between actor
and character to be completely blurred, but both young actors do an
outstanding job of bringing these characters to life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After seeing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Divergent</i>,
where Woodley was the main star with varying degrees of believability, I was a
little concerned as to how she would tackle the serious subject matter of this film. I shouldnāt have worried. Woodleyās acting is simple yet
heartbreaking. As Hazel, sheās young, raw and brave. And Elgort portrays
Augustus with equal parts of likable boyish charm and tangible fragility. The
two are beautiful together. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whilst I enjoyed the novel, the snappy dialogue
and jovial attitude (especially in the beginning) feels a little unrealistic for
teenagers dealing with cancer and death. The film, however, is more successful
in balancing the bitter and sweet tone. My other issue with the novel is that the characters all have the same sense of humour ā with the authorās
voice shining through. And whilst the film lifts dialogue directly from the
novel, the actors are able to make it their own, bringing warmth
to the characters and their witty repartee. It is a rare book-to-film
adaptation that improves on the source material.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the novel, the scenes that never failed to make me cry involved Hazelās parents and the injustice of knowing their terminally
ill daughter is likely to pass before them. Laura Dern and Sam Trammell are fabulous as the Lancasters, although their screentime is rather short. Their
blend of love, tears and humour are incredibly believable. Dern, in particular,
did a fantastic job, she was the first to bring tears to my eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whilst the story is incredibly sad, itās not depressing.
TFiOS doesnāt want us to pity the characters but rather shows us the raw realities of cancer and how it affects those around them. Most important of
all, it portrays on Hazel and Augustus as real people ā cancer is not their
defining characteristic. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Often there is criticism of YA novels where romance is at the
heart of the story, as if teenage relationships are not as important, simply due to their
age. Yet, Hazel and Augustusās love story burns brighter due to their shortened lives. Their love is meaningful and valid and is not belittled or diminished
because of their age. I believe it is this respect given to the lives and loves of Hazel
and Augustus that appeals to younger readers and is key to successful YA - whether
it be contemporary romance, dystopian or paranormal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TFiOS is one of the strongest book-to-film adaptations Iāve
seen in some time. Everything added, or subtracted </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">such as the superfluous
subplot of Augustusās last girlfriend, works for the adaptation. I also really
enjoyed the nods to the bookās fans, like the use of the novelās typography and
the neat way emails and text messages are displayed onscreen. The fantastic soundtrack is an added bonus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whilst Hazel and Augustusās circumstances are tragic, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Fault in Our Stars</i> is not a tragedy.
Many tears were shed whilst watching the film, but somehow I left the cinema
feeling that I had witnessed something important and special. The tale of Hazel
and Augustus will follow you home and linger for days, but this is exactly the
feeling you should have after watching a great film, or reading a great book.
Important and meaningful entertainment is not fleeting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Fault in Our Stars</i>
is heartbreaking but lovely. Go see it, love it, weep, and then see it again. <b>I
give <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Fault in Our Stars</i> movie 5
out of 5 stars.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*Many thanks to <a href="http://www.penguinteenaustralia.com/home" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Penguin Teen Australia</a> for the invitation
to the advanced screening. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Fault in
Our Stars</i> is released on the 5<sup>th</sup> of June in Australia and the 6<sup>th</sup>
of June in the United States.</span></h4>
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Astrid Scholtehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324100085505134806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7326722598461592892.post-59418558333605899612014-05-12T11:39:00.001+10:002014-05-12T11:45:35.374+10:00Book versus film trailers<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I consider myself a bit of a trailer expert. Or perhaps, trailer <i>addict</i> is a more accurate description. Iāve been known
to declare that trailers are the best part of going to the movies. They're this
perfect morsel of a story that has the right blend of intrigue, suspense,
drama, romance and action (depending on the genre, of course). The trailerās
job is to entice the audience, pulling them into the film's world and demanding
that they see it upon its release. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Trailers have a
short timeframe to sell the movie, forcing filmmakers to cut out all the
superfluous content and focus on the main characters, concept and plot. Yes, they can be a little clichƩ but good trailers also manage to create an atmosphere,
developing a feeling of the story world in which you will inhabit upon
seeing the film. It also sets audience expectations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A good trailer can generate a buzzāyou feel it in the audience, lingering long after the trailer leaves the screen. Often you wish you were about to watch <i>that</i>
film instead. There are less elements to mess up in a trailer in a
feature-length film. But do trailers also work for marketing books?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Penguin Teen Australia (PTA) host a bi-weekly Twitter chat on Wednesdays and last week's topic was book trailersāa relatively new
phenomenon that I'm still formulating my opinion on. I understand that readers
today are more tech savvy; they obtain book recommendations from social media as
much as they do from their friends and bookshopsāif not more. It makes
sense to bring book marketing to the digital world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Book trailers
(should) allow potential readers to see what sort of story theyāre signing up
for. It takes them beyond the blurb and cover and into the themes and moodāin visual form. And this is where I think there's a disconnect. Film
and novels are two different mediums, what works in a book will not necessary crossover successfully into a visual medium. We've all seen film adaptations of our favourite
books and we know this to be true. The feeling of reading a book and immersing
yourself within the writer's words is a very different experience than watching
a punchy visual trailer. It's a more intimate experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Film trailers
are an expensive marketing tool. As Iāve mentioned before, I work in the VFX and animation industry and often studios have spent months crafting the shots in a
trailer, some of which donāt make it into the film itself. Trailer shots are
designed specifically to promote the filmās genre and story in the most
impactful way. Theyāre then paired with the perfect piece of music to evoke the
right mood and attract the right audience. Iāve worked on trailers where hundreds
of individuals have been involved in its making. This is very difficult to
replicate with a smaller budget and team.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Certainly, book
trailers can be made on a lower budget but their creators need to keep in mind
that viewers are trained to watch trailers in a certain way. Audiences are accustomed
to film trailer tropes and any trailers that are of a lesser quality can turn
readers off. For me, the most important element in a successful trailer is the
music. If you can nail the music, and therefore the mood, then audiences will be more
forgiving of the quality of video content.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If this weekās
PTA chat is anything to go by, both publishers and readers are still working
out how best to use book trailers. Due to small production budgets, I believe the key is to acquire
the right music and keep the narrative short and to the pointāsimilar to a
blurb where the focus is often on the main character and inciting incident. Also, book trailer creators can't forget that trailers are a visual medium, so there should be limitations on how much they rely on text displayed onscreen. In trailers, images and music need to tell the story, not words.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h4>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What do you think? Love book trailers, or hate them? Whatās your favourite book or film trailer? Iām loving Disneyās Maleficent āDreamā trailer: That music = perfection!</span></h4>
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Astrid Scholtehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324100085505134806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7326722598461592892.post-86537255803415149522014-05-05T12:46:00.000+10:002014-07-11T11:15:41.873+10:00Review: Razorhurst by Justine Larbalestier<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Title: Razorhurst</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Author: Justine Larbalestier<br />Pages: 384<br />Published: July 2014 by Allen & Unwin<br />Source: Publisher<br /><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Synopsis (from publisher):</span></h3>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The setting: 1932, Razorhurst. Two competing mob bosses - Gloriana Nelson and Mr Davidson - have reached a fragile peace.āØāØ<br /><br />Kelpie knows the dangers of the Sydney streets. Ghosts have kept her alive, steering her to food and safety, but they are also her torment.āØāØ<br /><br />Dymphna is Gloriana Nelson's 'best girl'. She knows the highs and lows of life, but she doesn't know what this day has in store for her.āØāØ<br /><br />When Dymphna meets Kelpie over the corpse of Jimmy Palmer, Dymphna's latest boyfriend, she pronounces herself Kelpie's new protector. But Dymphna's life is in danger too and she needs an ally. And while Jimmy's ghost wants to help, the dead cannot protect the living.āØāØ<br /><br />Gloriana Nelson's kingdom is crumbling and Mr Davidson is determined to have all of Razorhurst - including Dymphna. As loyalties shift and betrayal threatens at every turn, Dymphna and Kelpie are determined to survive what is becoming a day with a high body count.</span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Review:</span></i></b></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Books are magical little things, arenāt they? They can transport you overseas, across galaxies, into fantasy worldsāand in <i>Razorhurst</i>ās caseāback in time. Opening the cover of Razorhurst was like stepping into a time machine, travelling back to Sydney in 1932, where a bloody, ruthless mob war raged in Surry Hills.<br /><br />In the beginning of <i>Razorhurst</i>, Gloriana āGloryā Nelson (inspired by real life rulers of the time: Tilly Devine and Kate Leigh) and Mr Davidson are supposedly content with their corrupt slice of Razorhurst. But they appear to be the only onesā¦ Poor street-raised Kelpie fends for herself, with only ghosts to keep her company. Then thereās young Dymphna Campbell, one of Gloryās girlsāher 'best', in factāwhoās known as the Angel of Death, as all her boyfriends have the unfortunate habit of being murdered. Dymphna plans to change her and Kelpieās fate, but the deadly streets and occupants of Razorhurst arenāt quite ready to let them goā¦<br /><br /><i>Razorhurst</i> alternates between Kelpieās and Dymphnaās point of view and whilst they come from different backgrounds, they are connected by their ability to see the dead. With the back alleys and narrow laneways of Razorhurst often running red, itās a curse rather than a gift. The supernatural elements add a layer of dark mysticism to the novel; I especially enjoyed the description of the ghosts, both the talkers and the silent, and the scene at Central Station was especially chilling.<br /><br />Whilst the setting and era of <i>Razorhurst</i> could be compared to the Australian TV Show, <i>Underbelly: Razor</i>, it is more a personal story of survival than a tale of mob bosses struggling for supremacy. Dymphna wants to change her future, setting her sights on being the next ruler of Razorhurst, and Kelpie wants to escape the constant grey noise of the dead. Through their forced meeting, over the corpse of Dymphnaās latest boyfriend, their future is rewrittenābut not before a lot of blood is spilled.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><i>Razorhurst</i>, like a razor, is sharp and cutthroatāthe result bloody and often painful. Itās a bold Young Adult novel that doesnāt shy away from the gruesome and dirty underbelly of the era and treats its young readers with intelligence and respect. Larbalestier does a stellar job of ensuring the book doesnāt stray too far into the macabre and shrouds Dymphnaās provocative profession in ambiguity, keeping the rating as PG as possible.<br /><br />Reading <i>Razorhurst</i> is like watching <i>24</i>, with the storyline transpiring over one day. This short timeframe sets the pace and tension as we follow Kelpie and Dymphnaās plight, in what feels like real time. The only relief from the mob bossesā relentless pursuit of Dymphna and Kelpie is the additional backstories on the characters in every second chapter. This detail fleshes out the period and further submerges you into the dark and gritty world of Razorhurst. Iāve not read such a fully immersive story-world for some time.<br /><br />One downside to having the novel only take place over one day is that the budding romance between writer Neal Darcy and Dymphna could have been further developed, but time constraints would have made these developments feel forced. Itās a shameāas I wanted to care more for Neal, like I did for Dymphna and the particularly empathetic and likeable Kelpie.<br /><br />Having lived in Sydney for almost ten years, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Surry Hills, Darlinghurst, Potts Point, Central Station and Kings Cross as they would have been back in the 30s. Itās clear that Larbalestier has meticulously researched the era: the characters, language, settings and culture are authentic and enthralling. And whilst I donāt read a lot of historical fiction, I enjoyed my nightly time-travel expeditions to the 1930s and would happily return for another outing to the corrupt underworld of Razorhurst.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I give <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Razorhurst</i> 4.5 out of 5 stars.</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Many thanks to Allen & Unwin for providing the advanced reader copy.</span><br />
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Astrid Scholtehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324100085505134806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7326722598461592892.post-51618228439466602692014-04-27T17:22:00.000+10:002014-04-27T17:23:37.146+10:00My one-year Blogoversary!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Exactly
one year ago I started this blog. At the time, I was unsure of exactly what blogging was all about
and whether anyone would even bother to read itāoutside my immediate family, of
course. But Iāve been amazed by every comment, retweet, like, share and
favourite and sincerely thank you for the support you guys have given me in
my debut year as a blogger.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">My
first few steps into the blogging world were tentative ones. I imagined my blog
would be a place where I could release my writing out into the world and hoped it would be of some interest to others.You can check out my first post <a href="http://astridscholte.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/the-not-so-secret-writing-life-of-astrid.html" target="_blank">here</a> and see how far I've come!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">As
months, and blogs posts, went by I discovered a reoccurring theme to my writing.
The posts mostly revolved around inspiration, dreams, goals and the magic of books,
films and TV shows. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Recently, I changed my blog name and design to
reflect this focus. Iām a firm believer in Walt Disneyās seminal quote: āif you
can dream it, you can do itā, and my blog will continue to keep this motto at the heart of all my writing.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pvPWNdFut5I/U1yuqQRJXfI/AAAAAAAAAYg/kVecgUpcUec/s1600/Disneyquote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pvPWNdFut5I/U1yuqQRJXfI/AAAAAAAAAYg/kVecgUpcUec/s1600/Disneyquote.jpg" height="320" width="249" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Later, I ventured into writing reviews and I canāt tell you how excited I was to receive
my first review request approval from a publisher ā thank you Penguin Books Australia! I have loved
reviewing books</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">ā</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">a responsibility that I take very seriously, and
look forward to reviewing many more titles. My favourite reviews so far have
been:</span></div>
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<a href="http://astridscholte.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/review-disruption-by-jessica-shirvington.html" style="font-family: Arial;" target="_blank"><i style="font-family: Arial;">Disruption</i><span style="font-family: Arial;"> - Jessica Shirvington</span></a> <a href="http://astridscholte.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/review-prince-of-shadows-by-rachel-caine.html" style="font-family: Arial;" target="_blank"><i>Prince of Shadows</i><span style="font-family: Arial;"> - Rachel Caine</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sWBnWK_RCCo/U1ygjawfYtI/AAAAAAAAAYA/V68GikRAusY/s1600/Disruption.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sWBnWK_RCCo/U1ygjawfYtI/AAAAAAAAAYA/V68GikRAusY/s1600/Disruption.png" height="200" width="132" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aUmtV6lczAE/U1yhxiqGX3I/AAAAAAAAAYI/jnl12RNg5XE/s1600/Prince+of+Shadows.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aUmtV6lczAE/U1yhxiqGX3I/AAAAAAAAAYI/jnl12RNg5XE/s1600/Prince+of+Shadows.png" height="200" width="131" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Recently, I started a new blog series that focuses on how to create successful book-to-film adaptations. As many of you know, I work in the film and animation industry and wanted to combine my passion for reading and writing with my love of films. If you haven't checked it out yet, you can find my first post for this series </span><a href="http://astridscholte.blogspot.com.au/2014/04/from-page-to-silver-screen-fairytales.html" style="font-family: Arial;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: Arial;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">One unexpected and wonderful benefit of creating this blog is being a part of the fantastic YA
blogging community in Australia. Theyāve been so supportive and I feel
incredibly lucky to be included in such a great group of readers, writers and
future authors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Once
again, I want to thank you so much for reading this blog. Itās a wonderful
feeling to know that others are reading, and hopefully enjoying, what I write.
I will continue to share my thoughts on books, films, writing and dreaming and hope to add a āMy Booksā tab to my
blog in the not-too-distant future to keep you informed on my progress of becoming a published </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">author.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">If
you have any suggestions or requests on what youād like to see more of on my
blog Iād love to hear them in the comments!</span></h4>
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Astrid Scholtehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324100085505134806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7326722598461592892.post-53322688370231388712014-04-22T12:57:00.001+10:002014-05-12T11:46:21.423+10:00Short attention spans and the future of entertainment<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I find myself surrounded by people who love books. Whether itās
following publishers and authors online, conversing with fellow book bloggers
or frequenting book launches and events, I feel like everyone around me readsā¦
But is this a proper representation of the general population? Or is my
impression swayed by the company I keep?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over Easter I caught up with my cousins who are in their early
and mid teens. One cousin was excited about an upcoming movie adaptation of an
extremely popular YA contemporary novel (I bet you can guess which one!), so I
asked her what other novels she likes, prepared to bombard her with
recommendations. Sadly, she said she doesnāt read frequently outside of school.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I was talking to my aunt about her son who isnāt really
into movies. I found this an odd concept; surely everyone likes films of some
genre? Then she told me he prefers watching videos on YouTube. Offhandedly, I
commented that it might have something to do with a shorter attention span, as
the younger generation are used to receiving their entertainment in short,
immediate bursts such as with gaming, social media and YouTube. My aunt agreed that
this could be the case, which concerned her a little.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This made me question my assumption that the younger
generation are all avid readers. It also made me wonder about the future of movies
and books. Will future generations still want to sit for a few hours at a time
and watch a film if theyāre not able to actively engage in it? Will teenagers
still invest hours of their free time to read hundreds of pages in a novel? Or
will short videos like YouTube and Vine Videos be the main form of
entertainment?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the Internet and social media constantly at our
fingertips, itās easy to understand how younger generations may lose patience
with the more traditional forms of entertainment. Theyāre so accustom to
actively engaging with their media and immediately receiving it whenever they
want. Illegal film and television show downloads are a sad side effect of this.
Audiences canāt, or wont, waitāsometimes only a few hoursāto watch a show they
love. They want to decide when and where they watch it, as they do for their
other forms of entertainment like mobile games and online videos.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Iām hoping that novels can survive this change, as you
can choose to read as many, or little, chapters as you like. The reader is more in control of how they engage with a novel, than with a movie. I suppose, as
storytellers, this will also force us to work harder to sustain our audiencesā
attention. Each scene must be impactful and meaningful, removing any
superfluous content, or weāll loose them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps we will see a resurgence in popularity for short stories and films
in the future. Or even poetry. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
What do you think? Iād love to hear from
teachers, parents and of course from teenagers themselvesādo you read for fun
outside school? What do you see as the future of entertainment? Please let me
know in the comments.</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Astrid Scholtehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324100085505134806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7326722598461592892.post-74526611531662568632014-04-16T12:22:00.003+10:002014-05-12T11:46:32.164+10:00Movie review: Divergent<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rGQvL0NrBo8/U0zFs3temqI/AAAAAAAAAXU/Q-guRhZbYZw/s1600/Divergent.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rGQvL0NrBo8/U0zFs3temqI/AAAAAAAAAXU/Q-guRhZbYZw/s1600/Divergent.png" height="320" width="208" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From a box office perspective, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Divergent </i>is already a success with the current takings at over
$124 million. Consequently the sequels have been green-lit and thereās talk of
splitting the third book into two movies to further extend the franchiseās
success and box office takings. As a fan of the novels (mostly books one and
two, with less affection for book three) Iām not surprised at the film's success.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Author Veronica Roth created an intriguing dystopian world
where the remnants of society are divided into factions, driven by one virtue: Abnegation
(selflessness), Amity (kindness), Erudite (intelligence), Candor (truth) and
Dauntless (bravery). At the age of sixteen, each member of the community
participates in a test to assist in choosing a faction and either stay with
their families and the faction they were born and raised in, or deviate and
never return. Only sixteen-year-old Beatrice Priorās test is inconclusive,
receiving multiple faction results. She is āDivergentā, someone who canāt be
controlled. Being Divergent, being <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">different</i>,
is dangerous to the stability of this society. Beatrice (later renamed Tris)
must choose a faction and hope she is not uncovered for being Divergent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Divergent</i> is a well made film and the grey crumbling Chicago, in
which the society lives, is eerily beautiful. The film's beginning made me hopeful that
this was going to be a moody, tense film about differences, finding yourself
and standing up for what you believe in. However, I found myself questioning
the worldās logic. In the novel, itās easier to accept that a war could have
fractured the community into such distinct segmentations. However, on the big
screen, seeing everyone dressed in their faction colours and behaving only
within the confines of their factionās virtue, was more difficult to accept. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is one downfall of dystopian novels; the author has to completely break the world as we know it to be able to create a character, or characters,
that will then stand and fight the new order. And sometimes it's broken to the point of unbelievability. Unfortunately, having only one virtue that defines you (aside from the Divergents) results in the characters being one-dimensional and hard to relate to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tris is often a difficult character to connect with, which unfortunately tainted my impression of Shailene Woodleyās
portrayal. The novel is written from Tris's perspective so we gain a clearer understanding of her thoughts and actions that are absent in the film. Thereās a greyness to Tris, and not just because of her clothes, but
because sheās grown up in Abnegation where theyāre taught to never think of
themselves. This means Tris is a bit of a blank canvas, a work-in-progress: a
āStiffā. She thaws out a little during the movie, the scene where she zip-lines
through the nightās sky is particularly satisfying, but unfortunately most of
the time she feels a little out of reach and detached.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We need to be able to connect to our main character, itās
through her eyes that we see the film and garner our feelings and expectations. I wanted to love this film, to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">feel</i>
something, but unfortunately I was left somewhat apathetic. There needed to be
more humour, more anger, more heart. Tris goes through hell, however I
felt like I wasnāt taken along for the ride.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is not to say I didnāt enjoy the film, I did. Theo James
was well cast as Four, although standing next to Shailene Woodley, their age
gap was a little too apparent. He did the strong and silent type with a hidden
soft side successfully and I could see why he would catch Trisās eye.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kate Winslet played an entertaining villain and I also enjoyed Tris's friendships with her new Dauntless friends Christina (Zo<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Ć«</span> Kravitz)
and Will (Ben Lloyd-Hughes), this gave her more warmth as a character. The
action scenes and visual effects were impactful and effective and there was
real suspense towards the end of the film, although I knew the ending.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whilst I didnāt love <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Divergent</i>
as much as Iād hoped, it is a successful, and fairly faithful, film adaptation.
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Insurgent</i> is a superior book in my
opinion, so it will be interesting to see how the second film turns out.</span><br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
I give <i>Divergent</i> 3 out of 5 stars. </span></h4>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you seen it yet? What did you think?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Astrid Scholtehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324100085505134806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7326722598461592892.post-46096375921328446062014-04-07T15:44:00.000+10:002014-04-07T15:44:17.305+10:00From Page to Silver Screen: Fairytales for Wilde Girls movie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Welcome to my new series that combines my background in film and passion for reading entitled 'From Page to Silver Screen'. Here I'll present books I believe would make for great films. As I mentioned in my <a href="http://astridscholte.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/movie-review-vampire-academy-and.html">movie review</a> of <i>Vampire Academy</i>, not all good books make for good movies and I wanted to delve further into this subject and suggest novels that would be ideal for a big screen adaptation, and what methods should be used to bring them to life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These days it feels like all popular YA novels are being adapted into feature films. Film studios are determined to replicate the overwhelming success of the <i>Harry Potter</i> films, the <i>Twilight saga</i> and <i>The Hunger Games. </i>However, not all attempts have been box-office darlings or deemed sufficiently faithful translations by fans of the books. I believe this all comes down to the source material and how it has been adapted for the big screen. The films need to be accessible, and enjoyable, for fans and newcomers alike.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qRYha7hDM-Q/U0DZ01kQJdI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/s59CH5_GxV0/s1600/fairytalesCover.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qRYha7hDM-Q/U0DZ01kQJdI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/s59CH5_GxV0/s1600/fairytalesCover.png" height="320" width="212" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My first book-to-film adaptation suggestion is Allyse Near's debut novel <i>Fairytales for Wilde Girls</i>, which recently won the Aurealis Awards (Australiaās premier speculative fiction awards) for Best YA Novel and Best Horror Novel. I read Near's dark, whimsical fairytale in 2013 and loved the lyrical and emotive quality of her writing. I believe <i>Fairytales</i> would make for a great feature film due to its highly visual, mystical and captivating tale.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Fairytales for Wilde Girls</i> follows Isola Wilde, a gothic Disney-esc princess raised on a diet of darkly twisted fairytales. Isola is protected from</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> the harsh realities of her real world, and the often dangerous creatures of her fantasy world, by her "brother-princes": ghostly apparitions of mythical beings that only she can see. Isola has never been frightened of ghosts, until she discovers an angry, vengeful dead girl dangling in a birdcage in the forest that borders her home. The ghost is determined to destroy each of Isolaās ābrother-princesā and take Isola's life. By uncovering the truth to the girl's death, Isola's fantasy world painfully collides with her real world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's such sweetness and beauty to Near's writing, which contrasts with the haunting, often gruesome, creatures of Isola's fantasy world. This blend of sinister and sweet would lend itself well to a stop-motion animation adaptation. Stop-motion films are charming, slightly-offbeat and often eerie forays into storytelling, Ć la <i>The Nightmare before Christmas, Frankenweenie</i> or <i>Coraline</i>. This medium would fit perfectly with Near's left-of-field, enchanting and shadowy fairytale.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xmmdWajMMzM/U0Ho7RLZE3I/AAAAAAAAAWg/G9VQk5Yot3k/s1600/Fairtales+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xmmdWajMMzM/U0Ho7RLZE3I/AAAAAAAAAWg/G9VQk5Yot3k/s1600/Fairtales+4.png" height="292" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Nightmare Before Christmas</i><b> </b>(1993)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Coraline</i> (2009)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-921TprZ-bUY/U0DeLRU5PBI/AAAAAAAAAWI/bo-SnHo9DyQ/s1600/Frankenweenie.png" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-921TprZ-bUY/U0DeLRU5PBI/AAAAAAAAAWI/bo-SnHo9DyQ/s1600/Frankenweenie.png" height="270" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Frankenweenie</i> (2012)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PiVS-XpXcKk/U0De2sAlYaI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/PSE60FjjGcU/s1600/Coraline.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PiVS-XpXcKk/U0De2sAlYaI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/PSE60FjjGcU/s1600/Coraline.png" height="196" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Coraline's Other Mother is still pretty frightening!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: justify;">There's something inherently adorable about stop-motion animation, due to the miniature characters and worlds. Even at its most sinister and frightening, stop-motion manages to maintain a level of charm that other mediums lack. For example, in Henry Selickās </span><i style="text-align: justify;">Coraline</i><span style="text-align: justify;">, a live-action Other Mother with buttons for eyes would be truly terrifying, yet the stop-motion technique prevents the tale from diving too far into the realm of horror. </span><i style="text-align: justify;">Fairytales</i><span style="text-align: justify;"> would benefit from the tangible cute-ness of stop-motion, balancing the elements of horror and whimsy that the novel achieves so successfully. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's also a plot reveal towards the end of the book, which would work well in stop-motion animation as compared to live-action. I don't want to say too much as it would spoil the plot, but the story would gain from the magical misdirection only animation can provide.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Near's book is full of creative, loveable and slightly creepy characters that would spring to life as detailed stop-motion puppets. The book provides gorgeous illustrations of the ābrother-princesā that yearn to be fully realised in three-dimensions: </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7xfP79p3Osg/U0DazXhOVYI/AAAAAAAAAVg/DQPZei0QHRA/s1600/Fairytales2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7xfP79p3Osg/U0DazXhOVYI/AAAAAAAAAVg/DQPZei0QHRA/s1600/Fairytales2.png" height="320" width="232" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6PJNSyHL9SY/U0DaJvYCvjI/AAAAAAAAAVU/BxWriZVe63A/s1600/Fairytales.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6PJNSyHL9SY/U0DaJvYCvjI/AAAAAAAAAVU/BxWriZVe63A/s1600/Fairytales.png" height="320" width="275" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ygq3Sxhj0LY/U0DbA6UlAOI/AAAAAAAAAVk/oHmc1oNkLF8/s1600/Fairytales3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ygq3Sxhj0LY/U0DbA6UlAOI/AAAAAAAAAVk/oHmc1oNkLF8/s1600/Fairytales3.png" height="320" width="260" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Evocative character illustrations by <a href="http://www.courtneybrims.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Courtney Brims</a></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The enhanced textures in stop-motion animation would further imbrue the tale with quirky charm to counterbalance the bizarre and macabre, allowing the film to be accessible to a wider (and younger) audience. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What do you think? Have you read<i> Fairytales for Wilde Girls</i>? Do you agree that horror elements are less frightening in stop-motion animation? Iād love to hear your thoughts in the comments.</span></h4>
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