My 13 Top Picks of 2013

1. This hair style:

 

2. This CD:

3. This series:

4. This shirt:

5.  This blog:

6. These shoes:

7. This photo:

8. This book:

9. This event:

10. This video:

11. This song:


12. This film:
 and this one: 


13. This advert:

Thirst for "The Hunger Games"

I was told that I had to read them!! 

"They're AMAZING!" They said. 

But, if I'm honest, when I finished the first in the trilogy of The hunger games, I wasn't overly impressed. 

The writings of Suzanne Collins and the subsequent films have sparked worldwide adoration and a deeply entrenched admiration of leading actress Jennifer Lawrence and an unshakeable crush on Josh Hutcherson.

I don't doubt the concept of the book. In fact, the dystopian genre was the genre that first enthused me to write. I loved the idea of writing about a place that didn't exist and didn't have to make sense. I always found, once I picked up my pen and settled myself, that writing as much as reading was a manner of escapism. I was fascinated about the mind's ability to leave this world; and I still am. How little me can live in a dualism and even completely create something so abstract as a new world. 

In this way, The hunger games struck a chord with me. The idea of living in Panem spurred me simply to read page to page. But what I loved most was the concept of the games. 

Everyone likes a book that you can't end yourself; especially me, which is why I find Jodi Picoult's book so intriguing. The thought that goes into her writing and the deep inter-woven and complex relations make her stories simply unforgettable! It was these complex relations that I admired in The hunger games. I was constantly figuring out who I would kill, if anyone. I knew I would sacrifice myself and wondered if Katniss would do the same. I certainly would not have made alliances with ANYONE. The choice between Peter, who Katniss and even I, fell in love with and a mother and sister so desperately dependent on you was what kept me reading. 

But beneath all the deep and intricate thoughts, the beauty of the possible complexity and intermingled relationships, the execution of the book left me, unfortunately, less than impressed. Understandably, as it is aimed at you get readers than my 18 year old self, the book was engaging with the constant cliff-hangers and engaging narrative. 

I was disappointed by the ending on more than one account. The plot line that detailed Peter and Katniss being the last two in the arena, to the change in rules and then their declaration of  being the winners must have spanned about 3 unfulfilling pages. I neither felt as though Katniss' crime was horrendous nor merited a punishment which is written into the second in the series; "Catching Fire". 

It was almost as though Suzanne Collins seems to rush to publication. The ending (with all unintended rudeness and dismissal on my behalf) seemed to scream, quite possibly like Katniss Everdeen; "I'm done! TAKE ME HOME!!" 

But I know I can't really talk - although I've done very well. Writing is not only about being original and being unique but about writing what sells. No one will publish your novel unless it can be sold and make profit. So I must credit Suzanne Collins because certainly it seems that this type of novel is just what the public ordered! 

Friends on Pages

Opinion; such a crucial word at uni. You can't get by if you don't have a view, haven't read opinions or debated alternating arguments. And so, for this reason, I'm absolutely loving uni!!!

I finished my first essay today (one of my finer moments). One of my guilty pleasures is analyzing - I absolutely LOVE it and so writing a critical analysis of a short text was most definitely a task I was willing to complete. Not even food could disturb me when I immersed myself. My stomach - for once - was challenged by my brain's over-riding desire to write and write well all of the perspectives I had on the book; the monosyllabic sound of the words counting down like seconds, the entrapment, the historical context. Every weird thought my mind conjured could contribute to something.

Another guilty pleasure, which has revealed itself at uni, is reading essays. Having studied To the Lighthouse  by Virginia Woolf this week, I went into the library - head held high - and browsed the shelves. The first time I entered the uni library, I wanted to come out and cry. I had been equipped, reference call code in hand and the optimism of setting myself between hundred and hundreds of shelves of books spread between five floors.

P...P...ah, here we go. Now, I'm looking for PN...PN...

If you've ever entered the library alone, you'll know finding a book is hard. But, what's even harder, is when you walk in with the arrogance that I did and the derogatory glare of students - who already know they're way around the library and are well aware that you don't - following your trail. They all said that you get lost in the library, but I wasn't about to take their word for it.

Come on! I thought. I've been in hundreds of libraries. Of, course I'll be able to find the book. 

Needless to say that when I didn't, I was on the border of tears. Betrayal kept streaming through my head. I had devouted so much time to books and now, a member of the same sub-group, couldn't reveal itself and let me read it. I felt dejected.

The next two weeks I distanced myself from the library. I glowered at it as I passed and went on a slight strike until I gathered the courage to go in and actually ask the librarian for directions.

I've now, touch wood, cracked the code and can find almost any novel that I've needed so far, including the current title I'm reading; Virginia Woolf; A room of one's own & Three guineas. I've got a fetish for essays now because I guess they're just like this blog; they mainly consist of ramblings and subjects as obscure as how to answer an essay question titled; women and fiction.

These enthused passions, I find, rather unique. How someone can write one hundred plus pages on answering a question is something I simply aspire to. I can't help the over-whelming desire I feel to write and then read what other people have written about writing. That's just so me!

So I can tell so far that I'm enjoying myself and so long as the library is good to me, then all will be well!!!