23 days until the Hunger Games movie and thoughts on Mockingjay Katniss

 
The Hunger Games opens in theaters in 23 days! Not that I'm counting or anything....

I'd like to take a moment to talk about Katniss in Mockingjay. So if you haven't read book 3 yet you might want to skip this. Nothing super spoilerific but still, just a warning.

I am a Katniss fan. There are some people that are not. Some think she's cold and others like her character up until Mockingjay. They don't like weak Katniss that hides in the closet. But you know what? She's a teenager who's been through a lot of shit. She was in the Hunger Games not once but twice, her home was blown to pieces, the guy that she loves (but won't admit it yet) was kidnapped and is being tortured and the people that she thought she could trust were using her to further their own agenda and lied to her about it. Not to mention that she's now expected to be the face of a revolution. I think she has every right to have a little break down. Suzanne Collins knew what she was doing. Hard, cold, strong Katniss is still a teenager, she's still human, she is not perfect. In the end she does what she has to do to survive and that is the Katniss we know and love.

Last night I dreamed I was Dumbledore.

I was being tortured in a prison cell for information I didn't have. I was very upset. Why would anyone want to torture Dumbledore, and why am I Dumbledore?

Today I saw this article on Boston.com. J.K. Rowling has a book deal for her new novel. Maybe my Dumbledore dream makes a bit more sense now? Or maybe I'm just weird.

Favorite Books of 2011

If you read my blog you know I'm a big fan of YA books and that's pretty much all I read this year. I'll try to mix it up in 2012. Suggestions are always welcome.

Matched and Crossed by Ally Condie: Second hardest love triangle I've read in a YA series. What I mean by that is that I liked both male characters and had a hard time choosing my favorite. I enjoyed the second book (Crossed) better than Matched. More action and I felt more of a connection to the characters. One thing that sticks out in my mind in this series is the government picking which art, poems and music that was to be saved from history. Anything beyond what was picked out by the government was destroyed. The thought of this makes me incredibly sad.

Clockwork Angel and Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare: This would be the YA series with the hardest love triangle. I was dying by the end of the second book. I love the Victorian setting, the characters and the dialogue. I found myself laughing out loud at the dialogue which does not happen often. But Will or Jem? Don't make me pick, I love them both!

Season of Passage by Christopher Pike: One of Pike's adult novels. This book is creepy. I would read it and just feel alone and scared and started picturing myself in the characters situation. I had to put it aside a few times and couldn't read it at night. Astronauts exploring in space where nothing is going as planned and people start losing their mind. I'd love to see this made into a movie, it has Ridley Scott all over it.

Unwind by Neal Shusterman: There was a war. The sides were pro-life and pro-choice. The outcome that ended the war is pretty horrifying. One of the most powerful sections in this book was from the view point of a boy going through the unwinding process. I read that section so many times because it was just so horrifying and sad.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan: Love triangle, zombies, a little bit of the Village thrown in. The two follow up books are also quite good.

Divergent by Veronica Roth: No love triangle in this one but that doesn't mean there isn't a bit of romance. I love how strong the main female character is. Teens get shot, beat up and one commits suicide. A more adult YA read.

Mortal Instrument Series by Cassandra Clare: I read all of these books except for the most recent. As I mentioned above I am a fan of Clare's dialogue. The end of the first book had me flipping the hell out but that made me read the other books as soon as possible. Oh you're sneaky Clare. The world Clare created seems well thought out and there are many characters that I love in this series.

Got my puffer and my flip flops

My Florida girl, I'm so proud of your New England transformation. Flip flops and a winter coat.

Melissa and I met up for burritos and then I devoured the rest of the book I was reading when I got home. I hate the way the book ends because now I can't stop thinking about what's going to happen. Book 3 doesn't come out until December of 2012! I'm seriously stressed over a damn book.

I get very involved with books. I become attached to characters and when the book is done I feel sad because I don't want to say goodbye. I fully understand that I sound crazy and I'm probably not doing the best job of explaining but if you love reading as I do I think you can somewhat relate.

Brown eyed girl

Apparently there is a doctor in California who has been perfecting a procedure to turn brown eyes blue permanently.  I'm sure a lot of people would have this procedure done.  I'm perfectly happy with my brown eyes, thank you very much.  Brown eyed girl wasn't written blue eyed girl now was it?  Embrace your eye color folks or get colored contacts that don't involve lasers.

Now let's move onto books because I love books.  Some girls love shopping for shoes while I on the other hand love shopping for books.  There are a ton of books I want to read right now and I know I should just go to the library but some of these are newer books that they probably don't have yet or will be taken out for months before I can get my hands on it.  I am not patient when I want to read something.

There are two books I'm excited about.  Crossed by Allie Condie which was released yesterday and Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Claire which is not due out until early December.  I've created a new rule for myself which is I can only buy one book a month unless I get a gift card.  I just bought City of Ashes so I have to wait to buy Crossed.  This is torture.  I also tend to read really fast so I'm about halfway through City of Ashes which I just bought yesterday.  

I'm still reading a Storm of Swords in between all of this.  Look at that! I don't only read YA novels.  I also take book suggestions so if you read something and liked it, let me know.  I will read pretty much any genre.

Work hard, play hard, with a dash of lazy.

Have I really not posted since Monday?  That is very unlike me but work has been super busy and by the time I get home I'm ready for bed.  But here I am, blogging in my pajamas.  I think I've earned a lazy Saturday after my hectic work week.

Last night I ventured to Rhode Island to see a Pink Floyd tribute band called the Machine.  Apparently they are the oldest Pink Floyd tribute band in the U.S.  I'm not a huge Pink Floyd fan but they were very good.  Also, they have a female drummer which I think is pretty awesome.  I made it home at 4 a.m. which is why I'm still in my pajamas being lazy.  Dave had to work at 9 this morning.  I feel bad for him.

Tonight I'm heading out to meet up with Suki who happens to be in town.  I think a few other bloggers will be making an appearance as well.  I'm definitely going to need a nap before tonight.

I plan on finishing Clockwork Angel at some point this weekend.  I'm blowing right through it and book two doesn't come out until December.  I really wish I had known this before I started the series.  I'm very impatient when I really like a series.  Waiting for Harry Potter to be finished almost killed me.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend readers!

Creeeepy with a capital C

Blogger is annoying my right now.  I post a picture on my blog and then a day later the picture doesn't show up.  What gives blogger?

I spent Saturday at a lake house in Western Mass for Meg's 30th birthday.  I ate too much, got tossed out of a tube and played some badminton.   A successful lake day.  Sunday I slept in and met up with Melissa for lunch.  The topic of discussion was mostly the state of our dating lives.  Things are getting interesting around these parts.  That's all I'll say about that.

I didn't sleep well last night.  The book I'm reading is giving me nightmares!  I tend to get really involved in books.  I also have really intense vivid dreams that I remember.  This is not always the best combination.  The cause of my restless nights:

The Season of Passage is one of Christopher Pike's adult novels and let me say it is Creeeeeeepy with a capital C.  I'm not a big fan of blood and gore horror whether it be books or movies.  I like suspense and mystery, something that leaves you feeling unsettled.  Considering I can't read this book before bed I think I'm feeling thoroughly unsettled.

I have some fun things planned for the rest of this week so let's get past this rainy Monday and onward towards the fun stuff!