From Book to Movie: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

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.

Oh my heart.

Here's the story. I first read The Fault in Our Stars (TFiOS) in March of 2012 and was kind of blown away by it. It was seriously the best book I had read that year. So, with the film adaptation of the novel hitting theatres soon, my book club decided to make it our monthly read for April. We did this because the film was about to come out, and the girls wanted to read the book prior to seeing the film. So there I was two years after the initial read, back in the world of Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters.


The Book

As many of you probably already know, TFiOS is about a girl named Hazel Grace- who has a terminal form of cancer- and a boy named Augustus Waters- who is in remission. The boy and the girl meet, and they fall in love. To me, this is what TFiOS is all about, at it's deepest roots, it's a love story. Not a cancer story.

One of the biggest questions surrounding TFiOS is whether it's a cancer book. It is a question that is featured on almost every discussion/book club guide.

At one point, Hazel says, "Cancer books suck." Is this a book about cancer? What were you expecting? Were those expectations met...or did the book alter your ideas?

It is something Green himself has addressed: His claim is that The Fault in Our Stars is a book about cancer, but it's not a cancer book (which can be difficult to wrap you head around). After my first read of TFiOS, I was amazed and grateful that the focal point in this story wasn't cancer. I really liked that the story wasn't written in a way that made you want to feel sorry for the characters in a way that made them feel like they weren't really living.

 I read a review a few weeks ago (which partially led me to write what I am writing now), where the author (of the review) thought that this book romanticises cancer and that they story didn't put enough focus on the fact that these kids were living/had lived with the disease. Honestly, I was irritated with these comments, I felt like the reader missed the whole point of the story.

Don't let cancer kill you, before it kills you. 

This is something Hazel ponders at some point in the book. She doesn't want her cancer to rule her life. I felt like this was a large theme of the novel. These kids are LIVING with their illness, the are living.

John Green is a phenomenal writer. He is truly a genius. And anyone who has read anything by him knows this. As I will mention later, his books make you  contemplate everything. He gets you thinking and keeps you thinking. The Fault in Our Stars has stayed with me, and will stay with me for a long time I think.



The Movie

I am going to admit, when I first heard they were going to make TFiOS a movie, I had my reservations. I am not quite sure what they were, but I wasn't sure. But I love movies, and I love going to the movies, I also knew there was no way in ever that I would miss this one on the big screen. I have now seen the TFiOS film twice- I went the first time on my own, and had a kind of crap experience, and then again, last night, with the book club girls. 

Overall, it was a good movie. But, there was something missing for me and I believe I know what it is. 

For the most part, the cast of the movie was great. Shailene Woodley is kind of amazing. I really liked her as Hazel. I was REALLY impressed with what she did in the Anne Frank House, I actually believed that she was struggling to breathe after all those stairs. I am a fan. I also really liked Nat Wolff as Isaac. While he may not have looked the way Isaac was described in the novel, I think his portrayal of the blind teen was spot on. I actually would have liked to have seen more of him in the movie. Another character that really stood out to me was Willem Dafoe was Peter Van Houten. He was hysterical and hateful all at once. It was great. 

What I wasn't completely sold on (and yes I am going to say it), was Ansel Elgort as Augustus. Let me preface this by saying, I really like Ansel Elgort as a person, and I think he's a fine actor, I just wasn't sure about the way the movie makers chose to develop Gus. He was to silly, and I had a hard time taking him seriously. It was almost as if everything Gus said was a joke. This was not the sense I got from Gus as I was reading the book. However, Ansel sure knows how to cry. The grand revelation in Amsterdam- when he starts crying, that was pretty epic, and I give the guy major points for crying and making me believe it. 

Here's the thing. I liked the movie, but I didn't love the movie. And I have thought about this long and hard, and wondered what wasn't sitting right with me. And I think I know what it is. The movie is lacking the beauty of John Green's prose. Yes, it's his story, and yes he created the characters, and the dialogue. But, John Green writes in a way that makes you think, and keeps you thinking long after you've finished the book. The film is very much lacking the depth of the book. 

I have no idea if I am making sense. But the book was so much more then the movie was. The movie was good, and for the most part it stayed true to the story. Like I mentioned earlier, I would have liked to have seen more of Isaac, because Nat Wolff was so great, and I to off set all of the Hazel and Augustus moments- break them up a little. 

Overall, the movie was fine, it was cute, and I grinned the whole way through when I first saw it. But it wasn't amazing. 

And there you have, my thoughts on The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. I can now move on with my life. 

If you've seen the movie, tell me what you thought of it. I am actually really curious. 

~Happy Reading Everyone!

Top Ten Tuesday: Best Books This Year (so far)

Top Ten Books I've Read So Far This Year

Love the topic this week. I love reviewing the books I've read and choosing the ones I loved the best. I have read some pretty great books this year and I am excited to share them with you.

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over at The Broke and Bookish

In no particular order. 

1) The Girl From the Well by Rin Chupeco-Because it was beautifully scary. 

2) Plus One by Elizabeth Fama- Because I loved the characters.

3) Angelfall by Susan Ee- Because this is a book that does angels right. 

4) The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski- Because the story was SO interesting and unique.

5) Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder- Because I just liked it- it was a fun story. 

6) Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay- Because this is one of the best fairy tale retellings I've ever read!

7) The Silver Lining's Playbook by Matthew Quick- Because it's brilliant! Read it! 

8) This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales- Because it's a real story about a real girl.

9) The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak- Because... Just because.

10) Cress by Marissa Meyer- Because this series keeps getting better.

Honourable Mention: 

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green- Because... Pain demands to be felt. 

Et voila! There is my list for the week. Let me know if you've read any of these books I mentioned, and what you thought of them. 

~Happy Reading Everyone! 

Top Ten Tuesday: Beach Reads

I love SUMMER!!! I love the heat, and the long days, and the lack of snow, but I especially love the beach. I love sitting one the beach reading a book, getting to hot, and then jumping into the lake to cool down. I could live on the beach. So, I was pretty excited about this week's topic. 

TTT is hosted by the girls over at The Broke and Bookish.

Top Ten Books That Should Be In Your Beach Bag or Ten Books That Will Be In My Beach Bag This Summer.

This week, I've split my list into two. I hope you enjoy. I really love reading contemporary in the summer. I think it's because I love summer romances and see summer as a time to indulge. So you are definitely going to be seeing a theme here. 

Top Five Books That Should be In YOUR Beach Bag 

1) The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han- This book screams beach. It takes place on the beach, it's a cutesy romance novel. I mean come on! 

2) Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins- This is my favourite of the two Perkins books I have read.  Again, I love Lola, and I love Cricket. Such a sweet pair. If you haven't read this book, get to it. 

3) Summer Sisters by Judy Blume- This is one of Blume's few adult titles. I really like it as a beach read because it spans many summers on the beach. It's a bit heavier than some of the others I mentioned, but it is still one of my favourites. 

4) My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick- I absolutely adored this book. It was SO good. It's everything I could have wanted in a book. It's wonderfully written, the characters are great, and the story, oh the story. I think I may need to reread it this summer. 

5) The Reece Malcolm List by Amy Spalding- Another book I really really enjoyed. Although it's not a typically summery read, it's really entertaining, and there is a lot of witty banter throughout the majority of the novel. It had me laughing out loud so many times. It's light and fun.   

Honourable Mention: Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks- or anything by Nick Sparks really. 

Top Five Books That Will be In MY Beach Bag

1) What I Thought Was True By Huntley Fitzpatrick-  Yes, she's on my list twice. As you saw above. I absolutely loved her book, and I need her characters in my life again. I have been long awaiting more from Ms. Fitzpatrick, and I will read this one eagerly. 

2) An Abundance of Katherines by John Green- This is the only novel of JG's that I haven't read. I had originally planned on reading it last month, but I want to read it after TFiOS is out of my system (so after I see the movie). But I'll be bringing this one to the beach with me, that's for sure. 

3) Five Ways to Fall by KA Tucker- I am very much looking forward to this book. I have to review it, but I think I'm going to sit with it next to a lake sometime in the next couple weeks. There is something about Tucker's stories that make me happy. 

4) Open Road Summer by Emery Lord- I have heard a lot of great things about this book. I love road trip books, and I love books about friendship, and new love. SO, I think this is going to be great. 

5) Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins- Now, this one doesn't come out until August, but it's still pretty warm here in August, I am SO excited about this book. I am excited to jump back into the world Perkins has created. 

Well those are my lists for this week, I hope you enjoyed! Let me know that you'll be reading this summer, either in the park, by the pool or on the beach. I am curious. 

~Happy Reading Everyone! 

From Book to Movie: Vampire Academy

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.

Last week, I decided that I was going to watch the Vampire Academy movie. I hadn't read the book, and after seeing the trailer- which did nothing to convince me- I wasn't sure I was ever going to see the movie. But I caved and watched it alone, one rainy afternoon. What is funny is, seeing the movie prompted me to read the book. So here I am, having both read and seen Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy. And I have some thoughts.

The Book:

I did see the movie prior to reading the book so I knew the story. I had also heard that he movie deviated from the book quite a bit (but thinking about it now, I am not sure that is true). Anywho, I knew what to expect and I went into reading Vampire Academy with very low expectations. I was anticipating a completely corny, and in all honesty- not very good book. And frankly, all of this was true. BUT... I still really enjoyed it. There was something completely addicting about this story. I couldn't put it down.

I think almost everyone had read this book/series. But here's the run down. Rose is a half vampire, half human guardian and she is bonded with her full blooded vampire friend Lissa (so basically Rose can feel whatever Lissa is feeling, and sometimes is mentally there with her). Lissa has some crazy magical ability called spirit, which in fact, is driving her crazy. Rose and Lissa ran away from their boarding school and had been on the run for two years- because Lissa's life was in some kind of danger. They are eventually caught by Dimitri, an older guardian, whom Rose falls head over heels for, returned to school, and face a whole bunch of drama/danger there.

So, like I said. This was nothing particularly amazing about Vampire Academy. The plot was predictable and the flow of the story was pretty formulaic. The writing also isn't spectacular- it's not terrible either. I feel like, had I read this book when I was twelve or thirteen I would have absolutely loved it, and been okay with Mead's writing style. But, I am not a pre-teen, and I kind of expect a little more maturity when it comes to how a story is told.

I really liked Rose. In real life she would have got on my nerves- she's annoyingly obnoxious. But I liked her in this book. I liked how loyal she was to Lissa- although I didn't like when she tried to run Lissa's life (well, her love life). I thought Lissa was annoying and whiney. It drove me a little nuts. She needed to grow up and stop being a damsel in distress.

Rose and Dimitri- For some reason this little romance makes me giggle like a school girl and roll my eyes at the same time. I loved their relationship and how connected they are to one another, they're just so darn cute. I also find it a little unrealistic, Dimitri being in his mid twenties, and Rose being a teenager. But what can you do? I am excited to see how their romance plays out in the rest of the series.

Overall, Vampire Academy is not an amazing life changing, awe inspiring novel. But it was so VERY entertaining, and completely addicting. I find myself wanting to just bunker down and read the next five books right away (I have since read Frostbite, and this feeling still exists). In all reality, Vampire Academy was a fun read, that brought me back to my childhood.


The Movie:

 

I had no intention of seeing this movie. But I was home one afternoon- kind of sleepy and a very bored, so I decided to give it a whirl. I was not expecting much (I actual thought I would fall asleep while it was on). But somehow I got sucked into it. This movie is bad. I mean really bad. But I absolutely loved it. There was just something entertaining about it. 

Where to begin, whoever wrote the screenplay for this movie... what were they thinking? It's not good. There are so many instances where two people would be having a conversation about one thing, and all of a sudden the tone of the scene would be totally different, and they would be talking about something totally different, and then, back to the original topic. The flow just didn't make sense, it was SO jumpy and all over the place. It was so awkward and sometimes really hard to follow- I'm talking worse than Twilight here people! That's one of the big things with this movie. The way things would jump around. It was ALL OVER THE PLACE.

I had absolutely nothing invested when it came to who they cast for this movie, none. But I do have some thoughts on how certain actors did. 

Zoey Deutch as Rose Hathaway 

She did a bang up job! She was so good. I thought she was funny, and sarcastic- I really liked what she did with Rose. Now, having read the book, I like her even more. She was great for the role. She really did a terrific job with what she was given. 

Lucy Fry as Lissa Dragomir 

I did not like her. She was awkward and weird- it was like she had never acted before. That hair flip scene, Oh man- I was so embarrassed for her. Not my favourite. 

Danila Kozlovsky as Dimitri Belikov

Now, I have heard a lot of people weren't to keen on this guy. A friend said to me, that he wasn't attractive enough. this guy is really attractive, but...

I don't know what producers were thinking because, for some reason, they made him look ridiculous in the movie. I don't know if it was the hair or something else, but it just wasn't working. I couldn't tell if he was wearing a wig or not, I am inclined to say he was, because the hair didn't move. It was so stiff and it looked funny. Other than that, I liked him as Dimitri. He is actually Russian (no fake Russian accent here). He also did a good job of portraying Dimitri's wholesomeness. 

For the most part, I think the film stayed pretty true to the story. They changed some things that made me wonder why they chose to do that, they also changed the series of events, which wasn't necessary, and again, had me questioning their decision making. The whole movie was just a little awkward.

Overall, the movie was pretty terrible. But, if you watch it with low expectations and just to have a good time, I am sure you'll enjoy it. It's super corny, and it has it's cringe worthy moments. But, it does what movies are meant to do: It entertains. 

I am actually pretty curious about your thoughts, have you seen the movie? Did you enjoy it, or did it make you made? What did you think of the cast? Let me know. 

~Happy Reading Everyone!  

My Thoughts: The Summer Invitation by Charlotte Silver

Two sisters are summoned to their aunt's Greenwich Village flat, where they must start dressing like young ladies, cultivate their artistic sensibilities, and open themselves up to Life with a capital L.

When Franny and her older sister Valentine are summoned by their Aunt Theodora from foggy San Francisco to sunny New York City for one summer, they are taken to old-world locales like Bemelmans Bar, the Plaza, and the Sherry Netherland by their chaperone, Clover, Aunt Theodora’s protégé. As they discover New York City going lingerie shopping and learning about the simple elegance of a cucumber sandwich, they also begin to unearth secrets and answers about Aunt Theo's glamorous and romantic past, and they have a few romantic adventures of their own.

**Review copy received from publisher**

What was this book about? That was my first thought upon reading The Summer Invitation by Charlotte Silver. Really, I finished all 192 pages and had no idea what the book was about. I struggled with the story, it's not a long book, and still it took me a couple days to read it. I considered putting it down a number of times, but in the end I powered through it.

The Summer Invitation tells the story of Franny (Frances) and her older sister Valentine, who get an invitation to spend the summer in New York. This invitation comes from an elderly aunt the girls have never met, and who will not be joining them in New York until the end of the summer. Instead, they will be cared for by a 28 year old chaperone (who they have not met). My first issue with this, their parents agreed to this without really thinking about it... no discussion, no concerns, not really. They just let their fourteen and seventeen year old daughters venture off to a big city with a stranger. Really?!?!?

As I briefly mentioned earlier, I felt like this book was about nothing. The girls visit New York with the idea that they are to be educated about proper social etiquette. What was weird about this part- and I will do my best to explain this- was how their chaperone- Clover- approached this. The Summer Invitation is supposed to take place in modern day New York, however I felt like the tone was very much 1920s-1930s, with hints of modernity thrown in to confuse things. The girls weren't encourage to wear "trousers," they only ate at the right restaurants and blah blah blah. I felt like Clover was straight out of the 1930s, the way she would dress, act, even the way she would speak. It felt SO unrealistic to me. Had this story taken place in that era it would have made for a great read. However, it was to all over the place for me.

Honestly, I think what bothered me the most about this book, was how juvenile it felt. The book felt immature to me, it lacked character development and the plot was weak. Some would say this novel was a coming of age novel, and maybe it was supposed to be, but it never got there for me.

Overall, I really did not like The Summer Invitation. It was not the book for me. In saying that, I do believe that this book will be greatly enjoyed by younger teens, who are just starting to enjoy the thrills of reading.

~Happy Reading Everyone!

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Almost Put Down but Didn't

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over at The Broke and Bookish

This week's topic:

Ten Books I Almost Put Down But Didn't

I've divided this topic into two! Top five Books I almost put down, but glad I didn't, and Top five books I didn't put down, but wish I would have. 

Top Five Books I Almost Put Down, but Glad I Didn't: 

1) Wildefire by Karsten Knight- I read and reviewed this book in my first year of blogging. I remember  finding the pace of the story a little slow in the beginning, but the writing fantastic. About half way through, the story started to pick up and really loved this one by the end. 

2) Cinder by Marissa Meyer- Believe it or not, I wasn't sure about this one. I am not a sci fi fan, and I wasn't feeling the whole cyborg thing. And honestly, I found myself getting a little bored in the beginning. But something kept me reading and well, I am kind of obsessed with this series! 

3) The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson- I have ranted and raved about this book. But when I first picked it up, there were a few details that I wasn't comfortable with, that almost made me put it down. But I was curious about the rest of the story, and soon after I was completely captivated by the story.

4) Across the Universe by Beth Revis- Again, another Sci Fi. And again, I got a little bored with this one. But by the time I finished it, I absolutely loved it! It was great! 

5) The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff- This was a weird novel. And something about it really bothered me when I was reading it. Maybe it was the demon baby. Who knows. But I kept going, and it was kind of great. Weird and twisted and brilliantly written. 

Top Five Books I Didn't Put down, But Wish I Did:

6) Perdita by Hilary Scharper- It's not that I hated this novel. I just don't get it. I am not sure what the point was. I was always waiting for something to happen, which is probably why I kept reading. I had this feeling like something was about to happen, but it never did. Which was disappointing. 

7) The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield- I did not like this book. It was SO boring and silly. If I had not been reading this book for book club I would have quit reading it. I also didn't find the great secret revelation all that amazing. Ugh-  thinking about this book, makes me grumpy. 

8) Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater- This one is a bit complicated. I did not like this book. But, funnily enough I enjoyed the rest of the series a bit better. I am not even sure what made me decide to continue reading this trilogy. Anywho... I really did not like the characters. They were so annoyingly whiney. I wanted to scream!

9) The Handmaid's Tale by Maragaret Atwood- Hated this book. I'm sorry. I know it's supposed to be a classic and a social commentary, but I just did not like this story. I am surprised I even read it. It was SO sad and depressing. Not my cup of tea.

10) White Cat by Holly Black- I wasn't a huge fan of this book. I thought it was SO boring. The pace of the story was SO slow, and I wasn't a huge fan of Lila and the whole mob scenario. I enjoyed the writing and I liked the main character (for the most part).




There is my list for you all. I hope you enjoyed. Be sure to link your lists in the comments and I will be sure to check them out.

~Happy Reading Everyone! 

Bout of Books 10: Sign Up/MY TBR

This time last year, I participated in my first every Bout of Books read-a-thon. It's funny because I'm in the same boat as I was last year. Not in school, unemployed... blah blah blah. Anywho... I start my new job on the 20th, so I have all of the next week to do nothing but read. So that's what I am going to do. 

About Bout of Books: 

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 12th and runs through Sunday, May 18th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 10 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Pretty exciting eh?

I have a TON of review books that I need to get through, so that's my goal. Some are about to expire and I need/want to focus on reading them.

Here is my TBR:

1) The Summer Invitation by Charlotte Silver
2) The Girl From the Well by Rin Chupeco
3) The Dark World by Cara Lynn Schultz
4) The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu
5) Five Ways to Fall by KA Tucker
6) Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella (non review-audiobook)

I don't expect that I will read ALL of the books listed. I have never read 6 books in a week. But I am going to try. I would also like to try to participate in a couple of the challenges and keep up with the blog. I will be keeping up with my read-a-thon progress below, so stay tuned!

Updates

Monday
Currently reading: The Summer Invitation by Charlotte Silver

What I've read: Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella 

Pages read: 70 pages read and 4 hours of audiobook.

Tuesday
Currently reading: The Girl From the Well by Rin Chupeco

What I've read: Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella/The Summer Invitation by Charlotte Silver

Pages read: 110

Wednesday
Currently reading: The Girl From the Well by Rin Chupeco

What I've read: Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella/The Summer Invitation by Charlotte Silver

Pages read: 119

Thursday
Currently reading: The Girl From the Well by Rin Chupeco

What I've read: Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella/The Summer Invitation by Charlotte Silver

Pages read: 50 (sloooooow day) 

Friday
Currently reading: The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu

What I've read: Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella/The Summer Invitation by Charlotte Silver/The Girl From the Well by Rin Chupeco

Pages read: 135 + 1 1/2 hours of audiobook

Saturday
Currently reading: The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu/Tangled by Emma Chase (audiobook)

What I've read: Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella/The Summer Invitation by Charlotte Silver/The Girl From the Well by Rin Chupeco

Pages read: 0 + 2 1/2 hours of audiobook

Sunday
Currently reading: Nothing (I didn't start anything new)

What I've read: Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella/The Summer Invitation by Charlotte Silver/The Girl From the Well by Rin Chupeco/Tangled by Emma Chase

Pages read: 0 + 4 hours of audiobook