Top Ten Tuesday 1/29/2013: Most Frustrating Characters

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

This week I'm a day late, but I really liked this topic so I decided what the heck!  This week we're talking about the most frustrating character and let me tell you, I read a lot of YA so I spend a lot of time yelling at characters to "Use your words!".  I swear a lot of characters are just dumb and it drives me bonkerdoodles.

1. Bella Swan in Twilight - This is a no brainer.  Bella is so frustrating, I just wanted to punch my head through desks and walls and doors.  The most frustrating parts were the curling up in the fetal position after her Edward left her and the stringing Jacob along because that's what "best friends" do.  Give me a break.
2. Anastasia Steele in Fifty Shades of Grey - I really think there might have been an independent and intelligent girl hidden somewhere in Ana's head.  It's just that her completely vapid inner goddess and judgemental sub-conscious never let anything remotely redeeming squeak out.  Home girl should have high tailed it at the first mention of a sex contract.
3. Anna and St. Clair in Anna and the French Kiss - GOOD LORD these two.  Just sit down and TALK already!  Soooo much drama could have been avoided if they had just let each other know what they were really feeling. 
4. Varen from Enshadowed - I loved Varen in Nevermore.  I thought he was just fantastic, all moody and broody and goth-hot.  But then Enshadowed happened and he turned into a raging emo douche.  Isobel is so loyal to him and tries so hard to rescue him and he just jumps to conclusions without talking to her.  I was PISSED at the end of Enshadowed and I wanted to punch Varen square in that sexy lip ring.
   
5. Katniss in Mockingjay - Katniss was so awesome in the first two books of the series.  She was strong and resourceful and quick on her feet, both in physical and verbal combat.  But in Mockingjay, especially the first half, she seemed to digress and become a lot more weak.  She spent the majority of the book unconscious in hospital.  I wanted her to be a greater part of the action.  She seemed very doormat-y.
6. Colin And Mary from The Secret Garden -  These two, lol.  They were both so spoiled and obnoxious, they were made for each other.  I actually really did love how everyone walked on eggshells around Colin except Mary, who just told him what was what. 
7. Arya and Sansa in A Game of Thrones - These two characters go through a lot of growth throughout the series and both become pretty awesome, but man do they start off as frustrating!  Sansa is frustrating because one, she's a tween and all tweens are annoying as hell, and two, she's so strung up on the idea that Joffery is so wonderful that she betrays her family!  Poor Lady.  And Arya is frustrating because while we all enjoy a spunky heroine, homegirl could have easily gotten herself killed.  She needed to learn how to play the game and tone it down when Lannisters were around.
8. Tris in Insurgent - I really liked Tris in Divergent, I thought she was brave and honest and really cool.  However in Insurgent she just dissolved in a pile of teen angst.  Not cool.
9. Meghan Chase in The Iron Fey series - Mostly Meghan in The Iron Daughter, but kinda her throughout most of the series.  I just wanted her to fight back a little more, but she seemed very damsel in distress for a lot of it.  I also didn't like her stringing Jacob Puck along, poor guy :(
10. Everyone in The Maze Runner -  One of my biggest frustrations with books is when information is withheld from characters because "they don't need to know that right now".  ESPECIALLY when this is in a dystopian setting!  You'd think everyone would work together and share knowledge so they could try and figure stuff out but no.  Incredibly frustrating.

Beyond the Wall by James Lowder



Published June 19, 2012 by Smart Pop

egalley for review from netgalley
3 stars

Goodreads Review
Foreword by New York Times bestselling author R.A. Salvatore

Go beyond the Wall and across the narrow sea with this collection about George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, from A Game of Thrones to A Dance with Dragons.

The epic game of thrones chronicled in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series has captured the imaginations of millions of readers. In Beyond the Wall, bestselling authors and acclaimed critics offer up thought-provoking essays and compelling insights:

Daniel Abraham reveals the unique challenges of adapting the original books into graphic novels.
Westeros.org founders Linda Antonsson and Elio M. García, Jr., explore the series’ complex heroes and villains, and their roots in the Romantic movement.
Wild Cards contributor Caroline Spector delves into the books’ controversial depictions of power and gender.

Plus much more, from military science fiction writer Myke Cole on the way Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder shapes many of the leading characters to author and television writer Ned Vizzini on the biases against genre fiction that color critical reactions to the series.

Review:  I am a huge fan of the Song of Ice and Fire series.  I think it's absolutely brilliant and by far the best epic fantasy I have ever read.  The characters are complex and they live in a rich world with long running history, religions, and cultures (not to mention some fantastic geography, the backbone of any good fantasy in my opinion).  I love discussing the different themes and events that occur in the series so I was very interested in this collection of essays about the popular series.  However, we get kind of a mixed bag.  Some of the essays are thought provoking and worth the read, but others just felt like filler. 

A word of warning, do NOT read this book if you haven't read the first five books in the series!  These are discussion essays and will contain major spoilers!

My favorite essay in the collection is probably The Brutal Cost of Redemption in Westeros by Susan Vaught.  This essay talks about how seemingly good characters, such as Robb Stark, make terrible choices due to lack of foresight and are forced to pay the consequences.  The essay also looks at characters that start off unlikable, such as Sansa Stark or Jamie Lannister, adapt to their situation and struggle towards redemption, often having to make terrible sacrifices in order to do so.

Other notable essays in the book are An Unreliable World by Adam Whitehead, which discusses how over time events can be skewed and exaggerated, with average men being made into heroes and demons.  I especially enjoyed the discussion of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen and the uncertain truth to their relationship. 

In Of Direwolves and Gods by Andrew Zimmerman Jones we look at the different religions that are present in the Song of Ice and Fire series.  It analyzes the influence of these religions on Westeros society and also compares them to modern religion's influence on today's society as well.  The end point is summed up quite nicely in a quote from Varys "Power resides where men believe it resides.  no more and no less."

And finally in the essay A Different Kind of Other by Brent Hartner we look at the role of outcasts in ASoIaF.  Through this essay we realize that many of the main characters are viewed as unnatural or minority in some way - Arya and Brienne defy feminine social norms; Jon Snow the bastard; Tyrion the dwarf; Bran who is disabled; and Daenerys the literal outcast queen.  This essay looks at how people who don't conform to social expectations can develop into the strongest and most heroic characters of all.

There are other essays that touch on subjects of rape and feminism, post traumatic stress disorder, the use of magic in Westeros, and more publishing business topic such as adapting the books into graphic novels and a television show, the collection of prequel novels, the future of publishing in a digital age, and the expectations of the fantasy genre as a whole.  These essays are interesting, but not really stand out.

Overall the collection is just ok.  There are a few interesting points, but most of the essays are disappointing.  I would recommend this collection to the true die hard fan who really wants to dive into more thematic discussions but would say pass to the more casual reader.

Les Miserables Movie Review

Released December 25, 2012
Rated PG-13
Directed by Tom Hooper
Starring Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe
Won 3 Academy Awards including Best Supporting Actress (Anne Hathaway)
Nominated for 8 Academy Awards

I want to preface this review by saying that I am a massive theater geek and have been so for my entire life, and Les Miserables is my FAVORITE.  So when I heard that Tom Hooper was making a movie version of the stage musical I was equal parts chihuahua-quivering excited and nervous.  I was worried that this movie wouldn't live up to my expectations.  This worry was further expanded when the cast was announced (you can watch my reaction here). 

 Well, after seeing the film I will freely admit that I was terribly wrong.

First, for those of you who are unfamiliar with Les Miserables, let me give you a quick overview of the plot and characters.  Jump down to the review section if you don't want spoilers.

PLOT

The main character is a man named Jean Valjean (which I always found kind of odd, like naming your kid William Carlos Williams) who is played by Hugh Jackman.  At the start Valjean has been in prison for 20 years for thievery and attempted escape.   We meet Inspector Javert, played by Russell Crowe, who tells Valjean he's being released on parole but has to carry papers identifying him as a criminal for the rest of his life.  While looking for work Valjean meets an unusually generous Bishop (played by Colm Wilkinson, the OG Valjean!) and experiences a life changing epiphany, causing Valjean to tear up his papers and take on a new identity, vowing to change his life and be a better man.

Fast forward a few years and Valjean is living as a very successful business man who owns a factory where a woman named Fantine (Anne Hathaway) is working.  It's revealed that Fantine has an illegitimate child, Cosette, who lives with an innkeeper in another town.  Fantine is fired for her moral impropriety and is forced to work as a prostitute in order to support her child.  Valjean finds out about this and takes Fantine to the hospital and tells her he's going to get Cossette.  However before he can leave Javert, who doesn't recognize him as the escaped convict, tells him that he's arrested a man who has been mistakenly identified as Valjean.  Unable to live with another man going to prison in his place, Valjean reveals himself to Javert and escapes to find Cossette.  Cossette has been living with the Thenardiers (Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham-Carter)  and their daughter Eponine (Samantha Barks), a rather unsavory family that runs an inn and steals from their patrons.  Valjean is having none of that and takes Cossette, narrowly evading Javert and escaping into a convent in Paris.

Fast forward a few more years, and Cossette has grown into beautiful young woman (played by Amanda Seyfried) and Paris is once again in turmoil.  Note, this is not the French Revolution, which ended about 30 years prior, but the much smaller June Rebellion brought on by the monarchy that was set up after the revolution (and it was just as inefficient as the first one).  One of the revolutionists, a student named Marius (played by Eddie Redmayne), meets Cossette on the street and the two fall instantly in love.  They plan to run away together but before they can the revolution begins and riots break out in the street.

Javert tries to infiltrate the barricades but he is identified and taken prisoner.  Valjean, realizing that Cossette is in love with Marius, goes to the barricade to protect him and is given the option to execute Javert but chooses to let him go.  The students were hoping that all of Paris would rise up to fight like in the previous revolutions, but no such luck.  They are mowed down but Valjean escapes with a wounded Marius into the sewers.  Javert discovers them but chooses to let Valjean go, and has a bit of a mid-life crisis. 

Valjean reveals himself to Marius but asks him not to tell Cossette because having a convict for a father would ruin her reputation.  He tells her he's going on a trip and goes into hiding.  At their wedding Marius realizes (through a botched attempt at blackmail from the Thierdiners) that it was Valjean who rescued him from the barricades and he and Cossette hurry to Valjean's death bed.  Valjean gives Cossette a letter telling her about Fantine and his true identity, then peacefully passes on with Fantine and Eponine/the bishop (depending on if you're watching the stage musical or the movie). 

The whole thing ends with a rousing rendition of "Do You Hear the People Sing" and it's all very heart warming and emotional.  Expect to cry a lot.

Review

OK you've either skipped down or made it to the review!  HOLLA!  I'm going to be reviewing the movie only, and I won't be talking about the plot, so for those who don't want spoilers, you're good.  Also note, this is a movie musical, so there will be singing!  (you won't believe how many people I've heard complaining that there was too much singing!  Are you serious!?)

First thing first.  I have to admit that I was sososososo wrong about Anne Hathaway.  She was AMAZING as Fantine.  I Dreamed a Dream is probably the most famous song from the musical and I think a lot of people expected a Susan Boyle rendition.  What we got was so much more.  I loved how they put I Dreamed a Dream after Lovely Ladies.  That adds so much despair to the song.  I always imagined that Fantine was pissed off because she had just gotten fired, but after Lovely Ladies that song becomes completely discouraged and hopeless.  Bottom line:  She was great and homegirl better win the oscar or immabe MAD.

The other actor that deserves all the praise is Hugh Jackman.  He was AMAZING.  I already knew he could sing thanks to a DVD of Oklahoma, but he knocked this one out of the part.  In particular I want to highlight his performance during the soliloquy.  That had me BAWLING.  But not only that scene is notable, because he carried this musical.  I heard in one interview that he did the belted "begin" at the end of the soliloquy 24 times in one day.  24!!!  Now that's what I call devotion.

Photo Credit

 

The rest of the cast I thought was strong with the exception of two actors (well more like 1.5).  I wasn't a huge fan of Amanda Seyfried, largely due to my opinion that her voice sounded unsupported and often out of range.  However I thought she looked the part and I thought her acting was really good, so I can let a weaker voice slide. 

The one actor that I really didn't like (and I'm not alone in this opinion) is Russell Crowe as Inspector Javert.  Good lord that was a bad choice (Mandy Patinkin anyone?  Am I alone in this wish?).  Everything about Russell Crowe was bland at best.  And am I the only one who thought the ledge walking during Stars was just weird and uncomfortable?  What was up with that?  Poor Javert, he's such an interesting and compelling character and he really got the shaft, not just in terms of actor but story telling in general.  I thought a lot of his character was just glossed over. 

Aside from the sadness that is Russell Crowe, the rest of the movie was great.  I loved the costumes and makeup, as well as the sets.  I especially loved the book additions that would be difficult to replicate onstage, such as the galley prison in Toulon, climbing the walls to get into Paris, and The Elephant of the Bastille statue during the funeral parade.  There were some times when parts of the musical were rearranged or cut down, but overall I thought it was tactfully done, with a lot of effort made to keep the movie as genuine to the source material as possible.

I also wanted to mention the directorial choice to sing live during filming as opposed to pre-recording.  I thought that was a brilliant choice and gave the actors the opportunity to really get into character and gave them some stylistic freedom that a recording doesn't allow. 

Overall I thought Les Miserables was a fantastic and faithful adaptation of my favorite musical.  This was an adaptation that was created with a lot of care and respect for an iconic piece of literature and Broadway classic. 

Friday Face Off Cover Reveal: Star Cursed

Friday Face Off is a meme hosted by one of my favorite book bloggers Misty over at The Book Rat. Usually this meme focuses on different cover designs for the same book and decides which is better for the story. I wanted to take this meme and add a little twist to it today by discussing a cover reveal!

I really love the premise for Jessica Spotswood's historical witch series, the first book Born Wicked, and I love the cover as well.

However with the upcoming second book, Star Cursed, the covers have had a bit of an update.

I think the original book portrays the historical elements of the series but the new covers show the witchy-ness more.  I do think I prefer the feel of the first book more, what do you all think?  Sound off in the comments!

The Friday Society by Adrienne Kress + GIVEAWAY (CLOSED)

Published December 6, 2012 by Dial
4 Stars

Goodreads Review
An action-packed tale of gowns, guys, guns–and the heroines who use them all.

Set in turn of the century London, The Friday Society follows the stories of three very intelligent and talented young women, all of whom are assistants to powerful men: Cora, lab assistant; Michiko, Japanese fight assistant; and Nellie, magician's assistant. The three young women's lives become inexorably intertwined after a chance meeting at a ball that ends with the discovery of a murdered mystery man.

It's up to these three, in their own charming but bold way, to solve the murder–and the crimes they believe may be connected to it–without calling too much attention to themselves.

Set in the past but with a modern irreverent flare, this Steampunk whodunit introduces three unforgettable and very ladylike–well, relatively ladylike–heroines poised for more dangerous adventures.

Review:  The Friday Society is simply a fun read.  What I loved the most about The Friday Society was the girl power vibe.  Cora, Michiko, and Nellie were all smart, independent, and resourceful but still had different shortcomings they had to overcome with a little help from their friends. 

The three main characters were the best part of this novel.  It is incredibly refreshing to read a YA that has girls working together to solve a problem, not fighting or swooning over some boy.  I think The Friday Society has just the right balance of boy angst in that it's there, but it's not the main focus of the novel.  This kind of relationship between girls, friends helping other friends, is really important in YA and sadly very lacking.  I also loved how the three girls start off as assistants, but throughout the course of the book they find their own agency and really take control of their lives. 

The actual story is cute.  It's not anything wildly substantial, but it's entertaining and exciting and would make a super fun teen movie.  I wouldn't have minded some of the science to be more fleshed out, but I'm really picky about science and understanding how things work in a novel.  I did find some of the technology in The Friday Society to be a bit convenient so I really had to stop questioning it and just let it happen.  There's a lot of just silliness in the book (they dress up in super hero costumes at the end to go fight the bad guys) but I just kind of had to be like Michiko and go along with it, even as I rolled my eyes.

The biggest negative was that the book was written with a very modern voice despite the historical setting.  However as I continued to read the novel I enjoyed it more and more.  Sure the book is set in Edwardian England, but I could completely related to these girls and was really cheering them on. 

The Friday Society is a cute and silly novel that I think would work well as an introduction to steampunk and alternative history.  I think it's a perfect book for a middle school aged reader and has a great message of team work, friendship, and a healthy dose of girl power.

Congratulations to the winner of the giveaway, BookYAReview!

2013 Academy Awards Nominees and Predictions

Photo Credit

The 2013 Oscar nominations were announced last week and I was very excited by the diversity of this years group of films.  I think there is a great mix of indie and blockbuster as well as movies with action, romance, comedy, drama, historical, and contemporary.  There were some great surprise nominations as well as some pretty shocking snubs.  So who got nominated and what do I think?  Let's discuss!

Side note, when you see an * that indicates a movie I have seen.

Best Picture

Argo*
Amour
Beasts of the Southern Wild*
Django Unchained
Les Miserables*
Life of Pi
Lincoln
Silver Linings Playbook*
Zero Dark Thirty*


This year there are nine nominees out of a possible ten and I think they are all great candidates.  I love how diverse these movies are; there is a foreign film, two fantasies (both indie and blockbuster), romance, two political thrillers (one modern and one historical), a historical drama, a western, and even a musical.  Lincoln is leading the pack with twelve nominations but Life of Pi is right behind with eleven.  Rounding out the top is Les Miserables and Silver Linings Playbook with eight nominations each.

Who will win?  I thought Lincoln would have this one in the bag, but after Argo's surprise Golden Globe win for Best Picture-Drama I'm not as sure.  I still think Lincoln will win, but it's not quite as slam dunk as I thought. 

Who should win?  Of the five movies I have seen my vote would be for Argo.  I thought it was brilliant, well acted, and just well put together.   I really loved the costumes and makeup, I thought it was perfectly 1979 and told an important story in American and Canadian history.

Photo Credit

Best Actor

Bradley Cooper - Silver Linings Playbook*
Daniel Day-Lewis - Lincoln
Hugh Jackman - Les Miserables*
Joaquin Phoenix - The Master
Denzel Washington - Flight*

For best actor there are pretty surprising nominations.  Joaquin Phoenix is a surprise, not because he didn't do an amazing job (he did), but because  he is so anti awards shows he might not even show up.  I am also surprised to see Denzel Washington here.  I wasn't that impressed with flight and I didn't think his performance was anything that spectacular.  There's also a pretty big snub for John Hawkes in The Sessions. 

Who will win?  This is a great category with some really fantastic performances, but it's pretty obvious that Daniel Day-Lewis is going to snag another win.
 
Who should win?  Like I said I haven't seen Lincoln yet, but I would really like to see Hugh Jackman take home the award.  His dedication to the role was admirable plus he can SANG.  He did win the Golden Globe for best actor in a comedy or musical, but then Day-Lewis won for best actor in a drama, so that doesn't carry much weight.

Photo Credit

 Best Actress

Jessica Chastain - Zero Dark Thirty*
Jennifer Lawrence - Silver Linings Playbook*
Emmanuelle Riva - Amour
Quvenzhane Wallis - Beasts of the Southern Wild*
Naomi Watts - The Impossible

Best actress is an awesome category this year.  I love that it has both the oldest nominee (Emmanuelle Riva will turn 86 on Oscar night) and the youngest nominee (Quvenzhane Wallis is 9 years old and was only 6 when Beasts of the Southern Wild was filmed!). 

Who will win?  I really think this will be a show down between Jessica Chastian (who took the golden globe for best actress in a drama) and Jennifer Lawrence (who got the golden globe for best actress in a comedy or musical). 

Who should win?  I've seen both Zero Dark Thirty and Silver Linings Playbook and in my opinion Jennifer Lawrence gave the much stronger performance.  However, some voters may see her as more of a supporting character given the film is really about Bradley Cooper's character so I think more voters will go for Jessica Chastian.

Photo Credit

Best Supporting Actor
Alan Arkin - Argo*
Robert De Niro - Silver Linings Playbook*
Phillip Seymour Hoffman - The Master
Tommy Lee Jones - Lincoln
Christoph Waltz - Django Unchained

What a tough category to predict!  These are five amazing actors who all have fantastic careers, gave phenomenal performances, and all have won Oscars before.  This really is anyone's race.

Who will win?  I predict Tommy Lee Jones will win, even though Waltz took home the golden globe.

Who should win?  Leonardo DiCaprio?  What a snub!  I just want Leo to win an Oscar, he has made such amazing films and just never can seem to squeak out a win.  I was shocked he wasn't nominated and I wish I could have a write in vote.

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams - The Master
Sally Field - Lincoln
Anne Hathaway - Les Miserables*
Helen Hunt - The Sessions
Jacki Weaver - Silver Linings Playbook*

Overall this is a great category, but I am really surprised to see Jacki Weaver on this list.  I didn't think her character was stand out in the film at all and there are other actresses that deserve a nomination more in my opinion (Nicole Kidman for one).

Who will win?  Of course, all the other nominees are really fighting for second place because Anne Hathaway is going to take this one home.  This is the one category that I feel 100% confident in and I will be DUMBFOUNDED if someone else one.

Best Director
Michael Haneke - Amour
Benh Zeitlin - Beasts of the Southern Wild*
Ang Lee - Life of Pi 
Steven Spielberg - Lincoln
David O. Russell - Silver Linings Playbook*

This is the most surprising category with Michael Haneke and Benh Zeitlin and major snubs to Ben Affleck for Argo, Kathryn Bigelow for Zero Dark Thirty, Tom Hooper for Les Miserables, and Quentin Tarantino for Django Unchained.

Who will win - I think the voters will be safe and choose Steven Spielberg but based on such surprising nominations we might see an underdog come out on top.

Who should win - Ben Affleck.  Homeboy should have been nominated. At least he took home the golden globe.

So those are the major categories!  What are your predictions?  Do you think any movies were left out?  Post in the comments below and be sure to tune in  Sunday February 24th to see who will win!

Friday Face Off Cover Reveal: The Eternity Code

Friday Face Off is a meme hosted by one of my favorite book bloggers Misty over at The Book Rat. Usually this meme focuses on different cover designs for the same book and decides which is better for the story. I wanted to take this meme and add a little twist to it today by discussing a cover reveal!

OK guys, this week is a bit of a rant.  As you guys know I am a really big fan of Julie Kagawa, and while I love the iron fey series I also really loved her vampire series called The Blood of Eden Series.  The first book, The Immortal Rules, was fantastic.  I also really liked the cover.

I know that there is white washing going on here (the main character is Japanese and this model is clearly Caucasian) but I still thought the cover fit the overall theme of the book very well.  You can tell exactly what kind of book you're getting when you look at this cover.  However, for the release of the second book in the series, The Eternity Cure, we get all brand new covers.

Ok so I don't hate these like most cover redesigns.  However I don't get as clear of an idea about the books.  They really could be about anything.  But they are a lot more unique than the original cover.

What do you guys think?  Do you prefer the more obvious first cover or the more vague re-designs?  Let me know in the comments below!