"If you ain’t scared, you ain’t human. When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone. Nice to meet ya, shank. Welcome to the Glade. Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive. Everything is going to change. Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying. Remember. Survive. Run."
I also read this book last summer, in part because I wanted to know the story before watching the movie (official trailer following). In fact I have not seen the movie yet but I read the hole trilogy of books xD I just think the last book needed a final like Harry Potter, but I enjoyed it very much.
Sparks are igniting.Flames are spreading. And the Capitol wants revenge.
Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and her longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol - a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.
Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.
In Catching Fire, the second novel in the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before...and surprising readers at every turn.
The film is already out and here is the trailer:
Last weekend I watched this film for the second time. It still made me feel a lot of emotions.
It's been a long time since a post in the blog. Today I bring you a new song from one of my favourite bands ever: Green Day. This songs has the name "The Forgotten" and is the main song from the soundtrack of the movie "The twilight saga: Breaking Dawn part 2". It also appears in the beginning of an episode of CSI.
"An ancient secret brotherhood. A devastating new weapon of destruction. An unthinkable target.
World-renowned
Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research
facility to analyze a cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered
physicist. What he discovers is unimaginable: a deadly vendetta against
the Catholic Church by a centuries-old underground organization - the
Illuminati. Desperate to save the Vatican from a powerful time bomb,
Langdon joins forces with in Rome with the beautifl and mysterious
scientist Vittoria Vetra. Together they embark on a frantic hunt through
sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and the most
secretive vault on earth...the long-forgotten Illuminati lair."
If
you enjoy suspense and mystery novels like myself, Angels and Demons is
a great novel. Dan Brown combines religion and science to create a
rather controversial read. I really like this book and it´s my favourite from this author, but I became disappointed with the movie because of some little changes they made in the story.
"When Elizabeth Bennet
first meets eligible bachelor Fitzwilliam Darcy, she thinks him arrogant
and conceited, while he struggles to remain indifferent to her good
looks and lively mind. When she later discovers that Darcy has involved
himself in the troubled relationship between his friend Bingley and her
beloved sister Jane, she is determined to dislike him more than ever. In
the sparkling comedy of manners that follows, Jane Austen shows the
folly of judging by first impressions and superbly evokes the
friendships, gossip and snobberies of provincial middle-class life."
I confess that "Pride
and Prejudice" by Jane Austen started off annoying me and ended up
enchanting me. Up until about page one hundred I found this book vexing,
frivolous and down right tedious. I now count myself as a new convert
to the Austen cult.
In this case I think the movie is better than the book and I really loved it. In fact, I really enjoy historical romance and I imagine myself sometimes living in that past time and wearing those huge dresses.
"Once you start The Girl
with the Dragon Tattoo, there's no turning back. This debut
thriller--the first in a trilogy from the late Stieg Larsson--is a
serious page-turner rivaling the best of Charlie Huston and Michael
Connelly. Mikael Blomkvist, a once-respected financial journalist,
watches his professional life rapidly crumble around him. Prospects
appear bleak until an unexpected (and unsettling) offer to resurrect his
name is extended by an old-school titan of Swedish industry. The
catch--and there's always a catch--is that Blomkvist must first spend a
year researching a mysterious disappearance that has remained unsolved
for nearly four decades. With few other options, he accepts and enlists
the help of investigator Lisbeth Salander, a misunderstood genius with a
cache of authority issues. Little is as it seems in Larsson's novel,
but there is at least one constant: you really don't want to mess with
the girl with the dragon tattoo." -Dave Callanan
"The Industrialist Henrik
Vanger, head of the dynastic Vanger Corporation, is tormented by the
loss of a child decades earlier and convinced that a member of his
family has committed murder.
The Journalist Mikael
Blomkvist delves deep into the Vangers' past to uncover the truth
behind the unsolved mystery. But someone else wants the past to remain a
secret and will go to any lengths to keep it that way.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Lisbeth
Salander, the enigmatic, delinquent and dangerous security specialist,
assists in the investigation. A genius computer hacker, she tolerates no
restrictions placed upon her by individuals, society or the law."
You may see the old or the recent movie. Here are the trailers:
"The Fellowship was
scattered. Some were bracing hopelessly for war against the ancient evil
of Sauron. Some were contending with the treachery of the wizard
Saruman. Only Frodo and Sam were left to take the accursed Ring of Power
to be destroyed in Mordor–the dark Kingdom where Sauron was supreme.
Their guide was Gollum, deceitful and lust-filled, slave to the
corruption of the Ring. Thus continues the magnificent, bestselling tale
of adventure begun in The Fellowship of the Ring, which reaches its
soul-stirring climax in The Return of the King."
This saga don't need more presentations (in my opinion). If you have doubts...watch the movie trailer:
"Snow White" is a fairy tale known from many countries in Europe, the best known version being the German one collected by the Brothers Grimm in 1812 (German: Schneewittchen und die sieben Zwerge, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs").
Although the basics of the story still the same, there are lots of variations from other European traditions.
Walt Disney version (based on Brothers Grimm) is a warm, full picture-book retelling of a classic Disney movie and one of the most popular ever produced.
Recently, this story was adapted into 2 movies and one TV show:
Mirror Mirror
Snow White and the Huntsma
Once upon a time
Now you just need to choose which one you want to see xD
"Enthralled by his own
exquisite portrait, Dorian Gray exchanges his soul for eternal youth and
beauty. Influenced by his friend Lord Henry Wotton, he is drawn into a
corrupt double life; indulging his desires in secret while remaining a
gentleman in the eyes of polite society. Only his portrait bears the
traces of his decadence. "The Picture of Dorian Gray" was a succes de
scandale. Early readers were shocked by its hints at unspeakable sins,
and the book was later used as evidence against Wilde at the Old Bailey
in 1895."
Last year I saw this movie: Dorian Gray and thought it was pretty cool. Here is the movie trailer:
I think the book could be even better than the movie so maybe one day I'll read it.
"When young Eragon finds a
polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery
of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his adopted family meat for the
winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon realizes
he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself.
Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous
new world of inescapable destiny, magical forces, and powerful people.
With only an ancient sword and the instruction of an old,mysterious,
hermit storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must
navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a
Emperor whose evil and power knows no bounds. Can Eragon take up the
mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest
in his hands…."
I first hesitated to read this book because I saw the film and did not become a
big fan. But this is actually a great fantasy
novel!
Despite
the criticism that Paolini's books get, I really
enjoyed Eragon. He pulls a Tolkien and creates his own world, complete
with different races, cultures, and languages, which is no easy task.
His wording might seem a little trite at times, but it's something I can
ultimately get over.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
(Harry Potter #2)
J.K. Rowling
"The Dursleys were so
mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get
back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and WIzardry. But just as
he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish
creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts,
disaster will strike.
And strike it does. For in Harry's second
year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an
outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, a spirit named
Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girl's bathroom, and the unwanted
attentions of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny.
But each of
these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone -
or something - starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be
Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be
Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one
everyone at Hogwarts most suspects... Harry Potter himself?
Rowling
packs this tale with plenty of adventure and action, keeping the pace
fast and furious. There's plenty of humor, too - both subtle and bold -
as well as a few moral lessons. With overlapping themes that range from
the simple to the sophisticated, Rowling's Potter tales should appeal to
readers of all ages - the young as well as the young at heart."
Almost everyoneknows Harry Potter and his films or books. This is not my favourite but in my opinion is better then the first one.
Another thing is that I prefer the books than the film because I imagine on my mind all the characters and places and some of them didn't match on the film. But the movie is quiet good! If you don't like reading...see the film!
"Every April, when the
wind blows from the sea and mingles with the scent of lilacs, Landon
Carter remembers his last year at Beaufort High. It was 1958, and Landon
had already dated a girl or two. He even swore that he had once been in
love. Certainly the last person in town he thought he'd fall for was
Jamie Sullivan, the daughter of the town's Baptist minister. A quiet
girl who always carried a Bible with her schoolbooks, Jamie seemed
content living in a world apart from the other teens. She took care of
her widowed father, rescued hurt animals, and helped out at the local
orphanage. No boy had ever asked her out. Landon would never have
dreamed of it. Then a twist of fate made Jamie his partner for the
homecoming dance, and Landon Carter's life would never be the same.
Being with Jamie would show him the depths of the human heart and lead
him to a decision so stunning it would send him irrevocably on the road
to manhood..."
♪♫♪I'll always remember
It was late afternoon
It lasted forever
And ended too soon.CRY, Mandy Moore
The song Cry describes perfectly A Walk To Remember.
I
remember it being a hit when I was in high school years ago. I watched
the movie and loved it. I knew there was a book, but I only had a chance
to read it recently. And I have to say that the book was just as good.
Though I have to admit that I found the movie better than the book, but
still both had their appeals.
"It’s 1988 and Dexter
Mayhew and Emma Morley have only just met. But after only one day
together, they cannot stop thinking about one another. Over twenty
years, snapshots of that relationship are revealed on the same day—July
15th—of each year. Dex and Em face squabbles and fights, hopes and
missed opportunities, laughter and tears. And as the true meaning of
this one crucial day is revealed, they must come to grips with the
nature of love and life itself."
A
hilarious and realistic love story. Excellent characterizations,
Nicholls captures life's ups and downs so well and tells Emma and
Dexter's stories through snapshots on one day over the course of twenty
years.
Is love really all that difficult? Yes, yes it is.
"In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.
Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister Primrose, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before — and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love."
The Hunger Games is a fantastic, breathless and somewhat brutal read that once you start you simply can’t put down again. It's reaaly addicting!
This astonishing bestseller is now a fantastic movie, set to release on March 23rd, 2012!
"Here lives an orphaned ward named Lyra
Belacqua, whose carefree life among the scholars at Oxford's Jordan College is
shattered by the arrival of two powerful visitors. First, her fearsome uncle,
Lord Asriel, appears with evidence of mystery and danger in the far North,
including photographs of a mysterious celestial phenomenon called Dust and the
dim outline of a city suspended in the Aurora Borealis that he suspects is part
of an alternate universe. He leaves Lyra in the care of Mrs. Coulter, an
enigmatic scholar and explorer who offers to give Lyra the attention her uncle
has long refused her. In this multilayered narrative, however, nothing is as it seems. Lyra sets out for the top of
the world in search of her kidnapped playmate, Roger, bearing a rare
truth-telling instrument, the compass of the title. All around her children are
disappearing—victims of so-called "Gobblers"—and being used as
subjects in terrible experiments that separate humans from their daemons,
creatures that reflect each person's inner being. And somehow, both Lord Asriel
and Mrs. Coulter are involved."
This is another book from my childhood that
I just love. It’s just amazing!
Alternate universes,
strong female heroes and anti-heroes, graphic death scenes, talking polar
bears, religious controversy... What's not to like about this book?
This book was turned into a film several
years ago with some Hollywood big stars but honestly I didn’t like very much the final
result because I had the book really present on my mind and it was different, soif you want to read the book “just
don't see the film if you want to keep your faith in Hollywood”.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
(Harry Potter #1)
byJ.K. Rowling
"Harry Potter has never
been the star of a Quidditch team, scoring points while riding a broom
far above the ground. He knows no spells, has never helped to hatch a
dragon, and has never worn a cloak of invisibility.
All he knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible
aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley—a great big swollen
spoiled bully. Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs,
and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years.
But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by
owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to an incredible place that
Harry—and anyone who reads about him—will find unforgettable. For it's
there that he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic in
everything from classes to meals, but a great destiny that's been
waiting for him... if Harry can survive the encounter. "
This was one of the first big books I read when I was younger.
It's easy to see why
Harry Potter has caught the reading public's fancy. Not only are his
adventures an entertaining mix of fright, fantasy, and fun, his triumphs
over everyday adversities offer a heartening lesson to kids everywhere.It's pure magic and it' amazing.
