Tag Archives: the hunger games

Top Ten Characters I Would Crush On If I Were Also A Fictional Character

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It’s normal to fall deeply in love with a character…right? It sure looks like it, from what The Broke and the Bookish’s weekly meme is revealing! Well, regardless, over the years I’ve been smitten with many memorable male characters and I’m all too happy to share my obsessions with you! So, without further ado and in no particular order, here they are:
10) Augustus Waters from John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars. He’s charismatic, funny and will fight to the end. I don’t care that he’s younger than me; he’s a total babe.

9) Kartik from Libba Bray’s A Great and Terrible Beauty series. For one, he’s Indian and I’m half-Indian. Secondly, he’s gorgeous, and has a bit of an attitude problem. He’s dark (and no, I don’t just mean his skin colour!), mysterious, a fantastic kisser and cares a ton for Gemma but has a hard time showing it.

8) Gilbert Blythe from L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables series. He was my first fiction crush (grade three) and I grew up wanting a boy just like him. I’ll always harbour a soft spot for him and will continuously be envious of his and Anne’s chemistry. The movie’s version of Gilbert (played by Jonathan Crombie) was definitely a great casting decision. Mmmm :)

7) Fred Weasley from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. As you’ll see further on, Rowling wrote many wonderful male characters—many of which I fell in love with at least once in my years of reading. But Fred was always my favourite of the twins, mainly because he usually offered the most quips and his personality just radiated through the pages. I love his sense of humour and the way he always cared for Ginny. And the actor who played him in the movies (James Phelps) was absolutely perfect—but I’m still crying over the way they portrayed his death in the seventh movie.

6) Simon Lewis from Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series. Simply put, I loved him WAY more than Jace. I have a thing for guys in glasses and with dark hair, and he fit the bill. Not to mention his total geekiness and strange ways. And his secret love for Clary—unrequited love sucks and back in high school I could more than relate to him.

5) Will Traynor from Jojo Moyes’ Me Before You. As you know from my latest review, I absolutely love this book—and a lot of that has to do with Will. I can’t blame Louisa for falling for the guy. Even though his mobility was limited, his mind was sharp and his personality mesmerizing. He was knowledgable and worldly, he had a great sense of humour and he genuinely cared for Louisa more than he cared for himself. A man like that is hard to find, which is why it was so easy for me to love him.

4) Ron Weasley from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. Love. Love. LOVE. I cannot begin to describe my love for Mr. Ronald Weasley—in both the books and the movies (especially the movies). I didn’t fall for him right away, however. It took me a few years to appreciate him, but it definitely hit me in the fourth book when he was trying so hard not to fall for Hermione and ultimately hated Krum. He was too cute. And Rupert Grint made me love Ron Weasley more than Harry Potter in the movies (which is a hard feat, let me tell you…)

3) Mr. Darcy from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Need I really explain? His dark, brooding, proud, attentive and sexy ways would make any woman swoon. And as you can tell from my in-depth analysis of the movie adaptions, I think that Colin Firth’s portrayal of the infamous man is the best. I don’t think I’ve ever fallen for a movie character so fast as I did for Firth’s Darcy.

2) Peeta Mellark from Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games. His character made me laugh, cry, scream, sob, smile, bawl, fret… He made me realize all the emotions I was holding back. I often dreamt of him at night, thought of him during the day, pictured him holding me in his strong arms, and my life with him. Yes. I was that obsessed last year. Josh Hutcherson is a cute Peeta, but not exactly how I pictured him. The Peeta in my head will never be beat. Ever.

1) Harry Potter from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. I’ve been saying it since I first laid my eyes on him in the first book: He’s my soul mate. I grew up with him. I cheered for him. I hated him. I feared for him. I laughed at him. I fell in love with him with each book. I didn’t care if he got moody in the fifth book. I didn’t care that he got overshadowed by Ron and Hermione’s love story in the later books. I can even forgive him for falling for Ginny. But I will never let my love die for him. He shall be mine always, and I’ll always be his. Whether he wants me or not.

Top 10 Most Vivid Worlds/Settings in Books

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I haven’t done this in a while, and I thought that today’s Top Ten topic (created by the ever fabulous The Broke and the Bookish) would be a very good one to get back on the train again! The setting of a novel is what makes it or breaks it for me — if I’m not captivated within the first chapter or two, it’s hard to get me totally invested in the novel. I love when the author (or the narrator) takes me away to a place that I can only dream about, to a place where I would love to visit. I’ve read many books in my life, but here are my Top 10 Favourite Worlds/Settings in Books:

10) Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

I’ve been obsessed with this little orphan girl (and no, I’m not talking about Annie) since before I can remember. I think it was Anne’s rich imagination and language that really drew me into her world, and that made Prince Edward Island one of my top places to visit. From the Lake of Shining Waters to the White Way of Delight, Anne has such a way of making her surroundings come alive and place you right there next to her.

9) Night by Elie Wiesel

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, this is one of the most terrifying novels I’ve ever read — and that’s because it’s all true. It’s hard to recall a moment in time that was as scary as the Holocaust, and Elie Wiesel’s account of what happened to him and others in the concentration camps really plays with your mind. You see things you don’t want to see, hear screams you don’t want to hear, and smell the decay and destruction of lives that you don’t want to smell.

8) The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare

I’m a big fan of fantasy novels, and this series is one of my favourites. I love the mix of modern day New York City with the twist of Old World (and Underworld!) charm. The characters are fantastic, but what I love most is the setting. It’s like I’m there with Clary on her adventures and can feel the anticipation and fear with each breath at every climax. Love it!

7) The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins

Pretty much every person acquainted with literature knows about The Hunger Games, and for good reason! It’s an amazing novel written in a dystopian country called Panem. With every single new scene, Katniss takes the reader on an unforgettable (and often times nerve-wracking) journey — from District 12 to the Arena, and everywhere in between. It’s hard to think of much else once you finish the novels and it’s most difficult to return to reality after being immersed in a world so unlike (and yet so eerily parallel) our own.

6) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

For many of the same reasons as why I both love and hate Night, The Book Thief also is set in World War II. But instead of it being set in the concentration camps, The Book Thief follows Leisl in Nazi Germany, around her town and within her unique relationships with her family and friends. By the time I read half the novel, I was so engrossed with her tragic surroundings and events. And when the final climax happened that put an end to the novel, I couldn’t breathe for the longest time. Her world was gone, and with that, my world too.

5) Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

Who doesn’t love the sweeping landscapes, the cool waters of Mermaid Lagoon, the swashbuckling pirate ship of Captain Hook and the heated Indian tribe of the infamous Neverland? There is so much to relish in and enjoy as one heads to the second star on the right and straight on till morning, and J.M. Barrie couldn’t have created a more captivating world.

4) A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

This is one of my all time favourite books ever. I’m in love with Victorian and Steampunk settings, and this is the best. But the reason it’s a cut above the rest is because it doesn’t only take place in the 1800s — it also takes place in a great and terrible place called the Realms (ha, pun totally intended).

3) The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

Much like Neverland, Narnia is another amazing world set apart from our reality. With beautiful waters and grand hills, lovely castles and mysterious woods, C.S. Lewis’ fantasy world is amazing — and hey, the talking animals don’t hurt either!

2) The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Middle Earth is one of the most famous literary worlds out there. Even though the books aren’t necessarily the most exciting, it’s the setting that I will remember forever. The Shire, Rivendell, Lothlorien, Helm’s Deep, Fangorn Forest, Dead Marshes and Mina Tirith… all the many haunting, beautiful and grand places of Middle Earth make the trilogy so worth the read.

1) Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

Thank you J.K. Rowling. Thank you. I’ve pretty much lived in the magical world of Harry Potter since its inception, and my heart and soul will always remain there. Hogwarts is my home. Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade are my playgrounds. The Burrow is my vacation home. A beautiful quote by Rowling herself says it best: “The stories we love best do live in us forever. So, whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.”

Liebster Blog Award

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This feels like forever ago, but on April 7th, I was nominated by Biblio Mania for the Liebster Blog Award! It was certainly a wonderful surprise to wake up to, and I thank her so much for the recognition. Her blog is fantastic, by the way — I don’t follow too many Blogspot blogs, but I was glad to find her blog and followed promptly. You all need to check it out!

"Liebster" means "beloved" in German. Who knew?

Anyways, the Liebster Blog Award is given to those who have less than 200 followers. It’s considered to recognize those blogs that are “the best kept secrets” out there, and I can’t even begin to express my gratitude that people actually enjoy reading A Novel Place. When I had created the blog five months ago, I hadn’t really expected many people to actually care. But the fact that I’ve got so many followers (and the number just keeps growing) makes me incredibly happy. So thank you!

As far as I know, I don’t have to do anything for this award other than nominate five blogs that I feel are “the best kept secrets.” So without further ado, here are my nominations (some don’t say how many followers they have, but I included them anyways):

1) The Life of Mugs: This girl is fantastic. After reading her super long post on The Hunger Games, I knew we had a lot in common. From music to books, Meg makes sure her blog is different from the rest. If you like this blog, make sure to check out her other blog Meg Says.

2) Bridget’s Books: This blog is definitely a gem. It’s written in such a captivating way and I love reading her thoughts on the publishing world and books. It’s a must-follow.

3) Scribbles & Wanderlust: I love this blog. We share many similar thoughts on books and I look forward to seeing what she’s going to post next.

4) Thoughts On My Bookshelf: After feeling like I was the only bookworm who doesn’t love borrowing books from the library, I happened to come across this blog. And boy was I glad when I realized I’m not alone. (Bonus: She shares the same name as myself).

5) Back to the Bookshelf: I’m only a recent follower, but I absolutely enjoy reading her reviews on YA books and movies. While I may not  be as engrossed in YA literature as she is, she makes me want to read a lot of the books she reviews.

Well, that’s it for my nominations. Make sure to take a look at the blogs above because I know for a fact you won’t be disappointed. Thanks again Biblio Mania for the award!

A letter from Suzanne Collins…

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(This was Twittered by Chapters and featured on The Hunger Games page on Facebook.)

 

“Dear Readers,

I’ve just had the opportunity to see the finished film of The Hunger Games. I’m really happy with how it turned out. I feel like the book and the film are individual yet complementary pieces that enhance one another. The film opens up the world beyond Katniss’ point of view, allowing the audience access to the happenings of places like the Hunger Games control room and President Snow’s rose garden, thereby adding a new dimension to the story.

Director Gary Ross has created an adaptation that is faithful in both narrative and theme, but he’s also brought a rich and powerful vision of Panem, its brutality and excesses, to the film as well. His world building’s fantastic, whether it be the Seam or the Capitol. It’s amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.

And, my God, the actors. The cast, led by the extraordinary Jennifer Lawrence, is absolutely wonderful across the board. It’s such a pleasure to see how they’ve embodied the characters and brought them to life. 

So I’d like to sincerely thank all the many people who devoted their time and talents to the film, especially producers Nina Jacobson and Jon Kilik, and the excellent teams at Color Force, Larger Than Life, and Lionsgate.

I hope you enjoy the film!

Suzanne Collins”

100 Best Books for Children

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Scholastic has named its list of the 100 best children’s books, with the classic story Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White winning first prize. Take a look at the list and let me know what you think — these are the books I most agree with/have read:

  • Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White (my favourite novel when I was young!)
  • Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
  • Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
  • Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling (my favourite series of all time!)
  • The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
  • Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (Gilbert is one of my all time favourite crushes on characters!)
  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
  • Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
  • The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
  • Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
  • Corduroy by Don Freeman
  • The Little Engine That Could by George and Doris Hauman
  • The Giver by Lois Lowry
  • The Mitten by Jan Brett
  • The Runaway Bunny by Clement Hurd
  • The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
  • The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
  • The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood (my favourite story when I was really young!)
  • The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
  • Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
  • Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Of course, with every book list, there are those who disagree with some of the books. Like myself, The Guardian also thinks it inappropriate to include The Adventures of Captain Underpants in the list (ranking at #97), but entirely forgetting about Little House on the Prairie. I also wish they had included The Berenstain Bears in the list, as it’s probably one of the best collection of books for children. I loved to read when I was young, and many of the books on the list were my favourites (as you can tell from my list above), so I’m quite excited about a lot of the books mentioned.

What are some of your favourite children’s books and how do you feel about Scholastic’s list? 

2012′s Book-to-Movie Adaptions!

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This year is a big year for book adaptions, and I can’t wait until they start hitting the theaters. Huffington Post published a slideshow of their top 10 book-to-movie adaptions that will be released in 2012, and I agree with a lot of them. I’ve posted my favourites from their picks, as well as my own picks.

Their Picks:

  

      

My Picks:

  

* The movie version of The Borrowers is actually called The Secret World of Arrietty. *

Which ones are you looking forward to?