Friday, January 31, 2014

Random Buzz = So, I'm Reading Vampire Academy Again...

What's up people! So, I'm rereading Vampire Academy in anticipation of the movie coming out February 7.


Yeah, that movie.

In case any of you haven't read VA here's the cover and synopsis.

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger...

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

Seriously, for those who haven't read VA:

GO. READ. IT.

I'm not kidding. Richelle Mead really did something here. I mean, it's my second favorite series. Of all time. Rose is one of the most kick ass female main characters out there. Just look at this poster. (I know it says the 14th but I couldn't find one with the changed date.)


The whole world that Richelle built is awesome. I just love it.

Anyways, back to the movie. A lot of people are saying that the movie looks like a knockoff version of Mean Girls with vampires. I can kinda see where they coming from from the first trailer but even then, VA still looks like it's pretty true to the book. And Vampire Academy is nowhere near Mean Girls.


I think it just incorporates a lot of humor in the hopes of trying to gain a broader audience. But then I saw more of the trailers and it looks more like it captures the more darker tones of the book.


I also remembered that as the series goes on the content gets grittier and darker. I mean just look at Shadow Kiss. That ending was harsh.

Another thing is the clip with Christian lighting someone on fire. Literally. That was awesome.



Holy smokes! Hahaha!

I know I'm going to see Vampire Academy when it comes out! Just 7 more days! How about you? Are you guys going to see the movie? Do you think the trailers and clips live up to the book?

And now I'll leave you with this Christian Ozera cool fire gif thingy.



Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Random Buzz = Recycling is NOT Boring, It's Cool

Hey guys! Welcome to my first Random Buzz post. This randomized session will be about recycling. Yeah, I know you're probably thinking, ugh really soooo boring.
But, don't worry you won't be yawning. It's actually quite cool if you follow these tips and tricks on how to recycle: 

1) Reduce -- Avoid buying single-serving containers and also look for products that have less packaging. If you see something that is overladen with packaging, skip it. Besides, you don't wanna be wrestling with the package just to get it open.
Although it'll give you a good arm workout.

2) Reuse -- So, you're about to toss you're old, used, and slightly stained couch. WAIT! STOP! HALT!
Before you do that, you could easily just donate it to charity or an organization like the Salvation Army. Or you could try to refurbish it yourself. Other things you could donate are computers, rugs, televisions, and tables.

3) Recycle -- Obviously, use recycling bins. Those things are important. Try to keep 'em close so you can easily add recyclables to them. You can also try recycling your clothes by turning them into new outfits. A great way that I've recycled clothes is through hand-me-downs. You know: my cousin had that outfit, now my other cousin, then my sister, and finally passed down to little 'ole me. Like,
No, but seriously wearing used clothing is a great way to recycle. Along with hand-me-downs, you can also go to thrift stores to buy, trade, and sell used clothes.

4) One more thing, start composting -- Composting is a great and inexpensive way to recycle food and trash, not to mention it's great for the environment. Just set it up in your backyard, garden, courtyard, etc. Here's how: First, add green matter like fruit and vegetable waste, e.g., banana peels. Second, add brown matter such as dead leaves or plants. Third, keep up the adding and layering making sure to add water if it gets too dry. Fourth, turn over your compost every once in a while and your compost should be ready to go in a few months!

I also found this really cool article that shows unconventional and creative ways to recycle. You can check it out here. It's pretty amazing stuff.

Now, what are your thoughts? What do you think about recycling? Do you have any other ideas on how to recycle? What's your favorite tip on how to recycle? Let me know in the comments!

Well, that's all I've got for now. Until next time!

Monday, January 27, 2014

Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Series: Standalone
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Dutton Books January 10, 2012
Pages: 313

Synopsis:

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.
  






My Thoughts {bzzzzzzzzzz}:

  • The Scene
Just look at the synopsis for this book. Shows you that it's about cancer and teenagers. With that said, I was very reluctant to read The Fault in Our Stars. I wasn't all to ecstatic to read about cancer and have my heart ripped out. But, really you should give this book a go because, yes even though it ripped my heart to shreds, it is a damn good story about life, love, and growing up (cheesy as that may sound).
  • The Girl
Hazel was a very likable character. She didn't rub me the wrong way. I felt for her. I'm so glad that Shailene Woodley is playing her in the movie. I think she'll do a superb job of portraying Hazel.
  • The Boy(s)
Augustus Waters. He made this book so heartfelt. There's really not much I can say without spoiling anything so my advice to you is to just read The Fault in Our Stars. 
  • The WTF?!
Yeah, so normal teenagers don't talk like Augustus and Hazel. Halfway through the book I was trying to see if I could talk like them but it kinda just came out like I was reciting poetry and talking about metaphors. Simply put, it didn't really work. I also came to the conclusion that to have dialogue like Augustus and Hazel you have to really think. Hard. And let me tell you it's very difficult to think stuff like that on the spot. You gotta like sit down and write it. So yeah I really liked reading about their clever choice of words but I felt like it was a little unrealistic. But then again I think maybe that's a part of the reason why I like The Fault in Our Stars so much. (Besides the tragic love story and fear of oblivion, among other things.) It wasn't the typical teenager talk. Sure it had some of that (not much) in it but for the most part it was different albeit sometimes it felt like John Green tried too hard (with the dialogue) and Hazel and Gus kinda talked the same way. Like really, their two different people.
  • The Buzz
I feel like I shouldn't post any gifs of crying in this review seeing as how other readers and reviewers have adequately (okay maybe excessively) done their shared duty of said crying gifs. So, I won't. But I will say this: reading this book will probably make you cry, maybe not full blown snot induced hysteria but perhaps a light misting of the eyes or a subtle frog in your throat. I mean that's what happened to me (the latter not the former). Whatever type of tear you shed, make no mistake, The Fault in Our Stars will affect you. (Unless you're a robot.) And now, let us go watch the movie and torture ourselves even more. Maybe that's what John Green intended. I swear, authors. Always messing with our heads. And hearts.
  • My Favorite Quotes
"They don't kill you unless you light them," he said as Mom arrived at the curb. "And I've never lit one. It's a metaphor, see: You put the killing thing right between your teeth, but you don't give it the power to do its killing."
--Augustus
"Oh, I wouldn't mind, Hazel Grace. It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you."
--Augustus
"I can't talk about our love story, so I will talk about math. I am not a mathematician, but I know this: There are infinite numbers between 0 and 1. There's .1 and .12 and .112 and an infinite collection of others. Of course, there is a bigger infinite set of numbers between 0 and 2, or between 0 and a million. Some infinities are bigger than other infinities. A writer we used to like taught us that. There are days, many of them, when I resent the size of my unbounded set. I want more numbers than I'm likely to get, and God, I want more numbers for Augustus Waters than he got. But, Gus, my love, I cannot tell you how thankful I am for our little infinity. I wouldn't trade it for the world. You gave me a forever within the numbered days, and I'm grateful."
--Hazel
"I thought of my dad telling me that the universe wants to be noticed. But what we want is to be noticed by the universe, to have the universe give a shit what happens to us--not the collective idea of sentient life but each of us, as individuals."
--Hazel

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