Eragon

Eragon by Christopher Paolini, is a pretty good book for being written when the guy was 15! He's like 20 something now. Anyway, after being begged by numerous friends to read it, I did. It took a while to find time, but I finished!

Eragon starts out as just a farm boy who goes hunting. He lives with just his uncle and cousin, because his mom couldn't stay and care for him. Nothing is known of his dad. Eragon has no luck getting meat but then there is a CRACK! and a blue stone appears where the lightning or explosion seemed to have happened. Perhaps he could trade it for some meat? Again, no luck. The Butcher is a stupid, mean guy. Later, the stone hatches. Well, I guess it's an egg... A dragon emerges! 

There's a lot of filler here. The dragon is named Saphira, thanks to Brom, the storyteller. There's the Ra'zac, who kill Eragon's uncle. Brom discovers that Eragon has a dragon and decides to teach him how to care for her. They travel together to find the Ra'zac to avenge Eragon's uncle's death.

The adventure continues in their practically cross-country and beyond adventure. Urgals, which are creatures you better hope you never come across, attack them. There is a Shade, who is about as scary as he sounds, and a beautiful Elf, Arya, who helps Eragon. Saphira is a wise creature who communicates with Eragon through their minds. She cares for Eragon like a sister or a mother. 

It turns out that Eragon has to take sides as a Dragon Rider. Either the Varden or the Empire. There is a long story behind the rivalry. The Emperor is evil, but the Varden are radical. It's sad, funny, and intense all at the same time.  I'm just anticipating this "Epic Romance" mentioned... I love my romance! Perhaps it will be in Eldest. Much more happens, you'll just have to read to find out!

Twilight the Movie

It's about time I got around to this right? I know this is supposed to be reviewing books, but this is a book-turned-movie! 

First of all,  I have to say, my expectations were completely surpassed! Surprisingly, the Twilight movie went pretty well with the book. Now understand that I am a "Twi-hard" or "Twilighter" or "Fanpire" (whichever you prefer) and have been preparing for this movie for MONTHS! Those people who got hooked only so they could see the movie haven't been turning this over in their minds like many of us have. Robert Pattinson-is he right for Edward? Will Kristen Stewart bring just the right amount of klutzy-ness to Bella? It pretty much depends on your view. 

Personally, I loved Rob as Edward. Like Kristen said, he brought hard-core pain, which is what Edward really needed. Kristen had that 'naive lamb' thing going for her, exactly like Bella. The whole, not-as-much-make-out-scenes-as-the-book thing, really didn't bother me. I know, it's supposed to be romantic, but they portray it as something more than just physical.

The actors were well chosen. Angela could have been a bit shyer and Alice a bit...spunkier? I don't know exactly. I wish Jasper would have spoken more, because I really liked Jackson Rathbone, same with Kellan Lutz. The Lullaby was AMAZING! I constantly look it up on YouTube because I haven't gotten the CD yet. Personally, I like it without the orchestra (just piano)

You'll all just have to see the movie for yourself to get the right affect. The second time I went to see it, I could mouth the words almost the entire time. Oh, and don't forget to laugh! Charlie's was a great choice...just saying...

The sorting hat says that I belong in Hufflepuff!

Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot, and treat them just the same."

Hufflepuff students are friendly, fair-minded, modest, and hard-working. A well-known member was Cedric Diggory, who represented Hogwarts in the most recent Triwizard Tournament.

Take the most scientific Harry Potter Quiz ever created.

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The Princess Diaries

Meg Cabot, I must say is an amazing author. Does she just sit around all day writing as Princess Mia? Seriously! There are 9 books plus numerous bonus books out and at least 1 more to come. (that I know of.) After reading all 9 plus most of the extra in-between books, here's my review:

We start out with the diary of an average flat-chested fourteen-year-old freshman. She's definitely not happy with how life has been turning out, but she's not in any mood to change her routine. Contrary to what you may believe after seeing Disney's portrayal of the book, Mia's father is NOT dead. And her grandmother? MOST DEFINITELY NOT Julie Andrews. Her Grandmére is a total witch! So anyway, the first book, Princess Diaries is basically the beginning. She's told she's a princess (by her father, actually.) Now, why is she a princess if her father is still alive? Well...see, he got cancer...and...had...his...well, hopefully you get the idea. He can't make babies anymore and Mia's his only (illegitimate) child.

If you've seen the movies, you'll know that Anne Hathaway did not play a freshman, she was supposed to be almost sixteen. What about Lilly and Michael? Lilly is indeed Mia's best friend, but way bossier. They are constantly fighting. CONSTANTLY. Michael is probably the closest character in the movie. He is actually a senior when Mia is a freshman and they start going out. That doesn't exactly happen immediately though. It actually doesn't happen a little later.

There is a guy mentioned in nearly every book. That is the-guy-who-hates-it-when-they-put-corn-in-the-chili. Who is this guy? Well, you find out later...if you read!

Every single day after school Mia must go to Princess lessons with her grandmére. This lady loves sidecars (a type of drink) and cigars and takes crap from no one. Grandmére is one of those people who you feel the need to either impress or run away from. This dowager princess isn't exactly loving or caring, but she does her best to see that Mia becomes the best princess she can be.

As the series continues throughout Mia's freshman, sophmore, and junior years in high school, her friends change, her views in life change and her styles of writing change. There are haters, like the person who created http://www.ihatemiathermopolis.com/. (it's a real site! go ahead and click on it!) Then there are people like her dear friend Tina Hakim Baba who are with her through thick and thin.

While some parts get a little shallow and some teenage girls get a little sassy, the entire book is kind of like having a best friend right in your hands. When there are problems, I always find myself thinking what I would do in her situation, or relating to the current situation. I mean, okay, she's a princess and all, but she's still a normal girl.

sites to click on:

http://www.megcabot.com/
http://www.ihatemiathermopolis.com/ (it's hard to understand unless you've read the books. The posts are actually mentioned and accurate.)
http://www.miathermopolis.com/ (just found out about this, actually. This part doesn't come in until book 10 so I guess we'll all have to wait to completely understand!)

TWILIGHT!!! nearly here!

If you are here reading this, then you probably know that I LOVE Twilight. I cannot wait for the movie! Here's your countdown to Twilight the movie!

Deadline

This book is VERY worth reading. Deadline by Chris Crutcher, is a bit sad, but really shows what someone might do if they were dying. Ben is the little guy. He runs cross country and has a younger brother (by 11 and a half months) that is about twice his size. They are in the same grade, though, and the largely built one is the big football star.

When Ben finds out that the chances of treatment helping him are slim to none, he tells his Doc not to tell anyone. (he's 18, he can do what he wants) Their compromise is a that Ben will go to a psychiatrist (or is it psychologist?) and discuss why he, in a way, wants to die. Even though, it's not that he WANTS to die, he just never saw himself as the type to grow old.

Ben decides to live the life worth living. He joins football instead of Cross Country, puts in a little extra charm to get the girl, Dallas, helps the town drunk, and smarts off to his history teacher. (man i'd love to smart off to my teacher!) It's all going well, no one even suspects his health is in danger.

Going to the pychiatrist, he mentions that he has these dream conversations with Hey-Soos. I'm not kidding, that's how it's spelled. Not Jesus. HEY-SOOS. Anyway, Hey-Soos says that Ben has to tell the truth. He can't live this way until he dies.

There's a twist. He's the star of the team, he gets the girl, the town drunk is sober and wise, and he couldn't be more smug during history. Dallas, however, shares secrets he'd rather not know. The former drunk, tells the tale of his life before he came to the small town. These secrets put a stop to Ben's own.

He tells all, Rudie, the drunk, Dallas, the girl, his brother, the coach, and his parents. If he thought it was bad with them not knowing, this was way worse.

In the end, of course, he dies. In order to find if they all forgave him, you must...READ!

Tuck Everlasting

Yeah, I finally read it. It's so SHORT! I didn't realize that. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt is extremely good. If you haven't already read it, then go and do that. It really didn't take long.

Winnie Foster is out on a walk, and she sees this guy just sitting by a tree. Jesse Tuck is his name. Now, Winnie is only about 10 or 12, and this guy is about 17. Winnie tries to drink water from this spring, like she saw Jesse do, but when he refuses to let her, she must learn the story as to why. However, this means he must confide in his mother, Mae. Then, thanks to this little secret, Winnie is taken to the Tuck's house. In the night each Tuck takes turns asking her if she's okay, and generally caring for her. When Jesse comes to talk to her, he asks her if maybe when she gets older, (say, 17?) she could go and drink from the spring and they could be together forever. Winnie will think about it. But what price is there to pay for living on earth forever?

Meanwhile, this weird dude in a yellow suit, pretty much heard the entire conversation, and tells the Foster's where to find there daughter, as long as he can have the area where the spring is on their property. The Fosters accept and Winnie is found by the man in the yellow suit at the Tucks. They can't let anyone know about the spring though, so Mae, in an attempt to protect her family injures (and ends up killing) the man in the yellow suit right as the sherriff is coming.

So Mae is now in jail. Aw, sad. How will she escape? Will Winnie ever join the tucks in roaming the earth forever? Read to find out, comment to discuss!