Posts by Katie

Hey yaReaders!

It’s been a long time since you have heard from me. I’m still around helping out with the forum and bookclub, but I’m making a special event out of this yaFlicks review. Why? Because it’s the review of the latest Chronicles of Narnia flick, the Voyage of the Dawn Treader. It’s the third film instalment of C.S. Lewis’ seven? books, and I’m here to give my thoughts on the film. (And I promise I won’t gush too much over Ben Barnes!)

The film opens with wartime Cambridge, where Edmund and Lucy Penvensie are staying with their cousin Eustace, while their Peter and Susan are in America with their parents. You get the sense that it has been quite a while since the last adventure to Narnia. Before long however, they are drawn back to Narnia through a painting that looks much like a Narnian ship. This time, Eustace is dragged with them.

Cue the first look at a now older Caspian and his crew who are sailing the very ship that was seen in the painting. The visual design on the ship was stunning, and it made it even more special that I got to see that ship in person. (For those who don’t know, I live in Queensland, Australia, which is where the ship was built for outdoor exterior locations – I have pictures to prove it!) That was one of the things that I was worried about, was how much of the design would change between the previous two films and this one. Needless to say, the design was a magnificent and visually stunning feast. The costumes were authentic (to Narnian standards) and the visual effects superb.

Skandar Keynes and Georgie Henley have also matured and that can be seen in their acting. It has improved since the first two instalments. Newcomer Will Poulter as Eustace was brilliant, being every bit annoying as the character needed to be to develop to who he was at the end. Ben Barnes was as brilliant as ever. Was interesting to note that this time round he used his natural British accent rather than the Spanish influence accent seen in the previous instalment. (And every second on-screen reminded me why I think he would be a perfect Dimitri Belikov!)

For those that have read the book, the movie follows very much in its episodic nature, with one mini-adventure after the next. It was very much a quest to find the goal, which in this case was Aslan’s Country. It was worth the 112 minutes with it being one of the most enjoyable films I have seen this year. A film full of light-hearted fun, with a captivating story and brilliant imagery that made the time fly past. I recommend that everyone see this, if not for the actors alone.

Length: 112 minutes
Format: 3D (where available) and 2D
Year: 2010
Rating::

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Christina’s Thouhts: Hey guys, thought I’d hijack Katie’s post and include my two cents as well.

Even though I have read all the Narnia books I stopped expecting the movies to be like the books when they cast Ben Barnes as Caspian (when he’s meant to be a blonde little boy), not that I’m complaining.

So, keeping an open mind to the storyline, I really enjoyed Voyage of the Dawn Treader, much more than the second film and the visuals were truly amazing. Since it was filmed in Australia, I felt a bit of patriotic pride for the beautiful locations.The acting was great (Eustace was a highlight), the storyline didn’t stray too far from the book, though naturally, some things were condensed and left out. I found the sword fighting to be a bit boring but mostly because that’s just not my thing. I’m also glad Ben Barnes (Caspian) got rid off the Spanishy accent, MUCH better with the English.

Would I have enjoyed it as much if he wasn’t in it? Possibly not, but in saying that……..Ben Barnes in 3D, hell yes! For some of us, that’s as close to the real thing as we’re gonna get.

Hey guys!

Here is my last review as an official member of yaReads team! Hope you enjoy, it has been a pleasure being here, and I have loved every moment. A big welcome to Christina, and to the forum go-ers, I’ll see you all around there.

Katie.

Jill Jekel has always obeyed her parents’ rules – especially the one about never opening the mysterious old box in her father’s office. But when her dad is murdered and her college savings disappear, this good girl is tempted to peek inside, because the contents just might be key to winning a lucrative chemistry scholarship.

To better her odds, Jill enlists the help of gorgeous, brooding Tristen Hyde, who has his own dark secrets locked away. As the team of Jekel and Hyde, they recreate experiments based on the classic novel, hoping not only to win a prize but also to save Tristen’s sanity. Maybe his life. As things heat up in the lab, though, Jill’s accidental taste of a formula unleashes her darkest nature and will compel her to risk everything – even Tristen’s love – just for the thrill of being…bad.

Jill Jekel has just lost her father to a brutal death. No one knows why. A murder in the dead of the night, no answers to be found by the police. Her mother can’t cope, spiralling downwards into a state of despair. Jill’s life has been turned upside down, with false sympathy on all sides, no one to talk to and no one to understand. Except for the mysterious Tristen Hyde who turns up at her father’s funeral for the soul purpose to comfort Jill. Or so it seems.

For Jill and Tristen are about to get to know each other better than what they ever thought they would. Paired up together to work in secret on an entry into the prestigious Foreman Foundation for the Promotion of Scientific Inquiry national scholarship contest, Jill and Tristen start to discover that their own family history might be closer linked than anyone had ever imagined. Found in the locked box in her father’s study, Jill and Tristen start to work on the secret manuscripts that were part of the hit novel The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. As Tristen starts to let Jill into more of his life, the pair discover that not only is it a matter of winning Jill a scholarship so she can attend college, but it might just be the answer to saving Tristen’s life. Yet as things begin to spiral more out of control, will Jill know when enough is too much?

Jekel Loves Hyde is the second novel from bestselling author Beth Fantaskey, her first novel being the popular Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side. Jekel Loves Hyde is something different. Borrowing themes and linking in with the classic novel, I found you didn’t need to know anything about the original to understand the story. It was captivating and intriguing, the plot moving forward from one surprising revelation to the next. Twists that you didn’t originally see coming soon developed into influencing the ending.

Jill and Tristen were also developed characters. They interacted in ways that are real, feeling like they could actually be real people in Fantaskey’s developed world. They faced trials and hardships and overcame them in their own unique way. However, it seems that despite two well-crafted lead characters, Fantaskey lacked development in her supporting characters. Becca, for instance, was weak and difficult to like. Supposedly the best friend to Jill, she never acted like it, and felt like a character that was merely there to create a conflict between Jill and Tristen.

Despite all the merits to Fantaskey’s plot, writing and main characters, I felt that Jekel Loves Hyde another novel aimed at the Twilight loving fans. The danger Jill and Tristen went through seemed too much like a heighted state of ‘life or death’ that they characters had to overcome to be together. It was, at times, difficult to see that the situations they found themselves in would really occur. I found that I needed to convince myself to continue reading, that whenever I put it down, it was difficult to pick it up again.

Pages: 282

Publication date: 2010 – available now

Rating::

Teaser quote: Not daring to believe, I swiped one arm across my eyes and slowly turned my face to his, sucking in my breath at the sight of his open eyes. Astonished not just by the fact that Tristen was alive but by the expression on his face. I heard the wonder, the confusion, in my voice as I dared to say his name. ‘Tristen’?

Recently we brought you the review of Elizabeth Eulberg’s debut novel The Lonely Hearts Club and the story of Penny Lane’s determination to swear of dating guys for her high school life. We are now very excited to bring you an interview with Penny’s Creator herself - Elizabeth. So sit back and enjoy. Just a warning, there are a few spoilers throughout.

How much Beatles music did you listen to while writing The Lonely Hearts Club?

EE: I only listened to the Beatles while writing The Lonely Hearts Club. They are such a huge part of the story and if I needed to evoke a certain feeling, I’d put on a specific song (like “Yesterday” if I needed to feel sad).

What influenced the decision of writing about a novel based on a ‘no dating’ club? Was it an idea that had been with you a while or a result of a recent personal experience?EE: I’ve certainly sworn off guys more than once! However, the idea for the book came when I was out with a friend one night. She’s one of those friends who only calls when her boyfriend isn’t around (we all know the type!). We were out and she was ignoring me to talk to some guys. I started throwing a pity party for myself and realized, “this is silly, you have so many amazing single girl friends, you should go out every Saturday with them – like a single girls’ club?” I had the basic idea for the book and the title by the end of the evening.

From the beginning, Penny Lane thought she was alone in her thoughts about swearing off boys, but then discovered that many of her classmates felt the same way, yet weren’t strong enough to say so for themselves. It highlights many of the issues with peer pressure and teen dating. Was this an influence from the start of the novel or developed during the writing process?

EE: From the beginning of the writing process, I knew I wanted anybody to read this book to realize that it is okay to be single and not date. But over the course of rewriting the book, the strength of the Club and how much certain members got out of the Club really grew.

*SPOILER WARNING*

EE: Everybody makes mistakes and nobody is perfect. I feel it is important to grow from every situation. A lot of Penny’s problems through the book were learning how to trust herself and others again after being badly burned by a guy. She was more than happy to open herself to the members of the Club, but shut herself from trusting guys. She really grew the most as a person over the story, and a lot of that was learning from the mistakes she made.

If you wanted readers to take one thing from Penny Lane’s story, what would it be?

EE: Besides being entertained, I want readers to realize that they should never compromise themselves to be with someone and always put yourself and your friends before a guy.

Worse/most embarrassing relationship as a teenager and what you learnt from it?

EE: I didn’t have many bad relationships as a teenager (but I made up for it later in life!). I did go a little boy crazy at the beginning of high school. I had glasses, braces (the metal kind!) and a really bad haircut growing up. Then the summer before freshman year, I got contacts, my braces taken off and a better hair style. I got a lot of attention from guys at the start of school (I NEVER got any looks before). I was sort of overwhelmed by the interest and just started dating different guys. I was more excited about the attention than the guy. Dating at fourteen can be pretty silly (movie then pizza EVERY Friday night). I sort of burned out on dating early. I was more interested in my friends. I didn’t really date my last couple years of school.

The destination that you would choose to go on a romantic getaway to?

EE: Paris seems like such a cliché, so the Greek Islands - gorgeous!

Any quirky writing rituals or habits?

EE: I have to listen to music while writing and I need to know what I’m going to write before I sit down. So during the week I’ll figure out certain plot points and then when I sit down on the weekends, I know what I need to write.

What is currently in your To-Be-Read pile?

EE: A LOT! At the top of the pile is Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan, Somthing, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott, Waiting for You by Susane Colasanti - and that’s just what is on my nightstand. I’ve got an entire bookshelf of books I want to read!

Authors that influenced you growing up?

EE: Louisa May Alcott (I’m named after Beth in Little Women), Maud Hart Lovelace (the Betsy-Tacy books were the first series I ever became addicted to). E.L. Konigsburg (was obsessed with From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler) and Cynthia Voigt (my mum introduced me to her after I ran out of Sweet Valley High books to read).

Check out www.elizabetheulberg.com for more information on Elizabeth and upcoming works!

Maria V. Snyder is the author of extremely popular series such as The Study Series and The Glass Series and various short stories to name a few. April celebrates the release of Maria’s new young adult novel Inside Out and as it is our current book of the month, Maria was kind enough to answer some of our questions for your reading pleasure. I should warn you, there are a few spoiler-ish moments. Enjoy!

Trella has had an interesting childhood, one that has left her with very little trust for anyone else around her, yet it was those people who ultimately Trella needed to survive. Was it a conscious decision to have Trella start from this place of no-trust to slowly understanding why she needed the people around her?

MS: Yes – I did try to have Trella start out basically hating her world and the people in it—except for one person. Then as she learns that not every thing in her world is as she had thought, her view changes with time and experience. I’m like to put my characters in difficult situations and see how they change.

Where did the idea for Inside Out come from? I’ve read it was a dream, but was there any other events that inspired the setting? I’m particularly curious as to how the concept of ‘weeks’ and ‘centiweeks’ came around.

MS: It was from a dream. But I created some of the details in order to turn the idea into a story. The idea to use weeks actually came from my daughter. She was mad at my son and told him she “wouldn’t talk to him again for a million weeks.” Then she paused and asked me how long was a million weeks. So I calculated it out and came up with 19,000 years. I tucked this little nugget of information away and then when I needed a way for the Insiders to keep track of time, weeks sounded better than years. Centiweeks is just like centimeters – my world uses base 10 for everything so centi and deci all worked well.

Originally Trella and Riley are lead to believe that there are vast differences between Upper and Lower lifestyles, largely stemming from lack of knowledge. How important was it to need the Uppers and Lowers to work together to discover a solution to their problems?

MS: It was very important since the uppers controlled all the mechanical systems. And also the Pop Cops encouraged the lack of knowledge between the uppers and lowers so they would not trust each other and wouldn’t compare notes and see how they both suffered under the Pop Cop’s rule. I was trying to show how making assumptions about people because of their race or religion is not the right way to go about it. That you need to learn more about another person before you judge them.

The harsh methods taken by LC Karla to control the scrubs and Uppers were eventually her downfall. If there was more understanding between scrubs and Uppers, would life be better for everyone?

MS: It would be better, but still having that division of people – uppers and lowers and different set of rules for each will make people unhappy.

Favourite holiday destination?

MS: I enjoy spending a week at the beach – any beach will do as long as I have sand, sun and an ocean to swim in

Can you tell us anything about the next instalment, Outside In?

MS: I can’t tell too much as I don’t want to give away the twists of Inside Out, but it continues Trella’s story and how she and the Insiders deal with a new threat – one from Outside.

All time favourite novel?

MS: This is a really hard question for me to answer. I have so many favorites and each is a favorite for a different reason. Since Inside Out has a strong female protagonist, my favorite girl power novel is The Gate to Women’s Country by Sherri S. Tepper.

What is currently in your To-Be-Read pile?

MS: It would probably be easier to list what isn’t in my TBR pile Right now I have a bunch of young adult books in my pile, Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins, Fire, by Kristen Cashore, the last two books of the Percy Jackson Olympians series by Rick Riodian, Ink Exchange, by Melissa Marr, Bad to the Bone, by Jeri Smith-Ready, How to Make a Wish by Mindy Klasky, and I’m eagerly awaiting Rachel Caine’s newest Morganville Vampire book, Fair Fight.

Any quirky writing rituals or habits?

MS: When I sign books, I like the color of my pen to match the color of the book’s cover. Right now, I take 5 different color pens with me and they have to be Uni ball’s vision elite pens

Any last thoughts to share with us?

MS: I like to add that because the layout of Inside can be hard to imagine, I posted maps of all four levels of Inside on my website. Here’s a link: http://www.mariavsnyder.com/maps.php I was hoping my publisher would print them in the book. But they are excited about the book and have created a website just for it: http://www.whatsinsideout.com On the website is a personality quiz to see what type of scrub job you’re suited for, and a video book trailer for the book.

Inside Out is available now at all good bookstores.

Hey yaReaders.

If your anything like me, that you would be counting down the days until the release of Spirit Bound, the 5th instalment in Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy series. Thanks to Penguin Australia, we are happy to present to you the Spirit Bound Teaser Quotes. Released through Penguin Australia’s YouTube channel, there are seven videos in total with one quote from Spirit Bound.

Keep in mind though, there is no context to these quotes! We don’t know who is saying this and to who. Keep a check on http://www.youtube.com/user/PenguinAustralia, and the first one is here below.

Enjoy!

Spirit Bound Teaser Quote 1 of 7