Cool Beans' Quick Treats for This Week:

Here are some quick recommendations for this week:

Hex Hall
Rachel Hawkins


Brief Summary: Sophie Mercer, a juvenile witch, has broken the last straw - after a disastrous love spell gone wrong, her mother ships her off to Hecate Hall, in the hopes of her being able to lead a happy, normal life. Except her mother forgot to mention Hecate Hall is anything but normal. Full of vampires, witches, werewolves and more, it takes all of Sophie's strength to deal with the dramas of a paranormal high school. But there are good sides to every story - Sophie makes some string friends and might even have her eye on certain Archer Cross. Moral of story - normal is so overrated.
Rating: 7.5/10
Good for: Quick read, with enough fantasy and school drama to keep any decent reader occupied. Can be a tad predictable at times, though.

Beastly
Alex Flinn


Brief Summary: Beauty and the Beast - modern day style. The Beast, Kyle, is  the 'prince' of his school - good-looking, mildly intelligent and loaded with money thanks to his famous father. To Kyle, nothing matters but looks...until the day he gets handed a fate that changed his world forever. He is stuck as a beast, courtesy of a witch he managed to conveniently anger, with the only hope being that he might find someone to love him despite his looks. And maybe Lindy is that girl. Kyle's transformation from arrogant to considerate is actually quite good, the 'chat room' sessions, though, are funny as.
Rating: 7.5/10
Good for: Those who like re-makes of classic fairytales - you also have to have some patience with the storyline, as - because it's a re-telling - it's kind of predictable as well as a tad too sweet at times.




I'll be back with more reviews soon - don't forget to comment on any posts you like!
Keep reading,
Cool Beans

New Releases for Teens:

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini (8/11/11)

Crossed by Ally Condie (1/11/11)

Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney (15/11/11)

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan (Already Out!!!)

Mastiff by Tamora Pierce (Already Out!!)

Make sure to get your hands on at least one - or ALL - of these new releases, this month!

CLOCKWORK ANGEL REVIEW

Paranormal meets Victorian England

For all those who know whom I’m talking about, Cassandra Clare is one of my favourite authors. Her way of writing stories that have complex plots, a variety of memorable characters and witty one-liners is amazing; I’m sure many have either heard of or read her debut series ‘The Mortal Instruments’ and have, like me, been taken along for the ride of a lifetime with the detailed world of the Shadowhunters (and of course, Jace). What awed me so much about this series was the amount of thought that had gone into Cassandra’s world – places, runes, history, character links. I mean, all that was missing was Mr. Darcy – or was it?

Cassandra’s prequel series ‘The Infernal Devices’ is a Victorian era fan’s wildest dream – as is, for that matter, Libba Bray’s ‘Gemma Doyle Trilogy’. Both intertwine the intrigue of Victorian England and the paranormal element that is so over-used in today’s fiction – creating masterpieces that have you reading for hours under the covers (not that any of you should be) or during class (not that you should be doing THAT either). Oh, and note: Inheritance, by Christopher Paolini (Eragon Series), is the LAST BOOK in the series and is coming out on the 9^th of November! 

Clockwork Angel

By Cassandra Clare

“The handsome young fellow who’s trying to rescue you from a hideous fate is never wrong. Not even if he says the sky is purple and made of hedgehogs.”

Tessa Gray, as a young American woman, has never thought to question the world she lives in – until she’s captured whilst travelling to England and held captive by dark forces, hoping to use her for even darker purposes that she hasn’t the slightest idea about. Rescued from that fate by people who call themselves ‘Shadowhunters’, Tessa comes out of her ordeal unscathed…besides the unlocking of her powers; powers she never knew she had.

Taken to the Shadowhunter’s ‘lair’, so to speak, Tessa is forced to come to terms with a whole world she never knew existed, forming alliances in order to find her only brother, Nate, whom she believes to be in great danger. There’s Charlotte and her husband Henry, who run the Institute (a.k.a lair), Jessamine – a young woman whose flippant attitude conceals a troubled past -, James/Jem – a kind young man whose heart is in the right place – and last but not least, Will Herondale. And it is Will, with his charm, wit, love of literature and casual indifference, which attracts Tessa’s attention and her affections...though that attraction could just be her greatest mistake.

But there are bigger troubles than who to love - clockwork agents with mysterious origins, Tessa’s parentage, an unknown enemy, Will’s dark secret and the fact that no Shadowhunter wants to admit…that they can’t fight their new enemy alone. They’ll need the help of a Downworlder and that Downworlder just happens to be Tessa. But how can Tessa find the strength to fight when she can’t even find the strength to the face the truth – about her life, about her situation and about her true self?

Definitely 5 stars - perhaps 4.5, 'cause the end (no spoilers) makes me angry. At Will. Mainly. For those who have read it you'll understand and sympathise...if not, you have some serious issues!

Coming out soon (6^th December 2011): Clockwork Prince

Keep reading! Cool Beans

My Bookshelves

Currently, I have to admit, my bookshelves are nothing more (or less as a matter of fact) than ordinary; boring even. Maybe it doesn't matter that much, but if I had my way (ie. the time and the money) I'd be investing in shelves as exciting and original to match the stories on them. I mean, there are so many promising and creative designs! Here are just a small few that I'd LOVE to own.

This one here's not too bad. Of course, mine would be more colourful and I'd need at least five of them, but at least it's abstract.

Wouldn't you just DIE for shelves like these? They might not be 'out-there' and wild but they're imaginative enough nevertheless. I'd spend years tucked up in that little cave.

As if I need my shelves screaming at me to read!

To infinity and beyond!!! You'd need a big room for this one, but the interior design ideas that could come with it are endless.

That swing seat might need a bit of re-designing- it doesn't exactly look comfortable-, but otherwise those shelves are just magical. You can rise through them like you're ascending into Heaven. Hah!

These shelves might be a bit plain, but they're EVERYWHERE! I'd never run out of space again. (But imagine the fire hazard!)

Just imagine being shut up in that cubby hole!

If I don't manage to get at least one of these shelves in the future, then I suppose I could settle for plain ones, as long as the room around them makes up for it.

Like this, for example. Plain shelves- fantastic room.

Or this.

Anway, all I can do at the moment is dream and pray that one day they'll come true. Bet you've never thought so carefully about your bookshelves! They really are atmosphere-makers, aren't they? What are yours like?

Humbly yours,
K. Underscore.

Check it Out!

Don't forget to check out the new section 'Bookshelver Ramblings' - a selection of daily ramblings about books and funny topics related to the World of Literature!

The Cool Kids of the 21st Century!

Cool kids are awesome - let's face it; books that moan on about boring teenagers with plenty of angst and not enough brainpower are just not fulfilling anymore. Because (no duh) we meet those kind of kids EVERYDAY, but it's not everyday when you meet a bird-kid, or the next evil mastermind in the making.

So for all those who love - or are - cool kids, here are some books to get you going!

#1:Maximum Ride #1: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

“Q: Is there anything a bird-kid can’t do? A: Apparently not.”

Imagine growing up - not in an apartment, not in a house – but in a science lab. Maximum Ride (a girl), Fang, Iggy, Gazzy and Angel were brought up in test-tubes by evil scientists, and are – thanks to some DNA fiddling - 2% bird and 98% human. The result? Kids with wings – or what they call ‘Avian Americans’.

After managing to break out of their dismal ‘home’, the kids have no choice but to go into hiding. Unfortunately their enemies the Erasers – part human part wolf – have been sent to get them back – whatever the costs. When the youngest member, Angel, is kidnapped, her flock will do anything and everything to get her back. But what will happen when allies turn bad, people get complicated and these bird-kids find out they were made for a reason – especially Max?

An awesome book with totally relatable characters – from Max with her sarcastic sense of humour and sense of duty, to Angel who’s just down-right weird.

Other books in this series (in order): Maximum Ride (2): School’s Out Forever, Maximum Ride (3): Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports, Maximum Ride (4): The Final Warning, Max (5) and Fang (6).

#2:Artemis Fowl

"A genius. A criminal mastermind. A millionaire. And he is only twelve years old."

Artemis Fowl is a twelve year-old genius, who - unlike most twelve year-old's - is plotting to take over the world. Correction: the Faerie world. And he'll do what ever it takes.

But these aren't your typical 'leprechaun with a shamrock, pixie dust, The Magic Faraway Tree' type of faeries. They're the LEP - The Lower Elements Police - with highly trained recon officers and with magic and mind-blowing technology to aid them (thanks to Foaly, a rather sarcastic and smart centaur). 

With two forces at battle, both obvious - Artemis vs. the LEP - and the less obvious - evil Artemis vs. good Artemis - Artemis Fowl is the ultimate sci-fi fantasy novel that satisfies any lover of Harry Potter of the Hunger Games. BEST READ.

The eighth book, Last Guardian, comes out Spring 2012.

#3:H.I.V.E - Higher Institute of Villainous Education 

"Why is it always the bald ones?"

Far away from the mainland, hidden from detection, is a secret school for the villains of the 21st century...HIVE. Run by the infamous Dr. Nero, member of GLOVE and principal of a group of teens and young-adults that are anything but ordinary.

From crazy fighting skills, to the power of manipulative speech (as well as lock-picking, assassination and all the usual stuff), these kids have the power to change the world. But none more than Otto Malpense; a boy with a unique gift and a big secret.

The fantastic part about HIVE is the fact that you get so confused trying to figure out who the good guys are, from who the bad guys are. I mean, is it possible for villains to be the ones saving the world? Full of wonderful characters: Wing Fanchu (awesome), Shelby, Laura, Franz, Nigel, Raven and even Ms. Leon (LOL - she's a woman stuck in the body of a cat. A lot of awkward moments there!). Franz, is personally the best; like an evil, Augustus Gloop (Willy Wonka) whom the very idea of seeing in a set of Speedos is scarring!

The latest novel, Aftershock, has been released recently and is fantastic! 

Hope you lot all enjoy these fabulous reads! Don't forget to comment and give us your say on the books you love!

Cool Beans 

Wacky Merchandise for Fiction - Here's a Few!

Anne of Green Gables doll

Feeling like doing a little bit of extra studying before school starts? Then the Monster Book of Monsters is for you!

Want to look REALLY cool? Wear Twilight socks!

OMG! Skulduggery plushie (if only it was Fletcher!). So cute. 

Bellatrix Lestrange - from Death Eater, to Barbie doll.

Katniss Everdeen is now officially a plush doll! She even has her own bow and arrows!

This...is sad. No comment.

 Cool Beans.

IT'S HERE!!!

The sixth Skullduggery Pleasant book is OFFICIALLY OUT! Many have eagerly awaited the next thrilling instalment in the series and now, by the end of August, it has finally reached Australian shelves.

To read the first couple of chapters click here. Or, if you have a good amount of self-control, you can wait to actually buy it. I don't, hence I've already read the sneak-peek extract! The book-review, though, for those who care for such things, won't be up on the blog until sometime in the nest two weeks - I've still to actually get the book, you see. But I do know...

• Fletcher is in it (yay!)
• Stephanie has a baby sister
• There are new 'evil' people a.k.a the Jitter Girls
• The Toxic Twins (Carol and Crystal) are featured
• So is Lord Vile
• Tonnes of sarcastic one liners

This is not the last book in the series according to several sources, so there should be many a Skulduggery novel to come! Also, if you're reading through this blog, don't be shy to ask any questions or to comment on anything you see here - in fact, comments are much appreciated!


Catch you next time,
Cool Beans

"Frankly My Dear, I Do Give a Damn!"

Ah, the book that hypnotised us and the movie that had us waiting for nearly 4 hours to hear Rhett say that fatal line "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn!" I remember watching it whilst curled up on the couch; waiting and WAITING for Scarlett to realise that not only was Ashley a fop and a phoney, but that Rhett was the one! Of course, having watched it to the end, I got to cry my eyes out at the unsatisfactory ending.

So much for 'happily ever after'.

But that night, as I tossed and turned(Scarlett-like) I wondered what happened next. Did she win him back? Or did Rhett live out the rest of his miserable life alone? I heard people talk of a second book, but being lazy and forgetful at intervals I never remembered nor found the time to find it and read it.

Until now.

A good friend of mine happened to mention it and on finding that they owned it, I asked whether I could borrow it. Scarlett, by Alexandra Ripley, rekindled that love for the South and all its characters: Mammy, Prissy, India, (not Ashley), Rhett and or course Scarlett as well as a whole group of new characters. I loved the feel of the book - the way it seamlessly linked with the past and I hardly noticed that it was written by a different author!

Scarlett (no I am NOT going to spoil it for you!) is set precisely after Melly's death - and Scarlett is determined to win Rhett back. Ashley is no longer an option and Scarlett realises now what she never knew she had. 

But is it Scarlett's turn to wait for the man she loves? As the longing becomes hard to bear, will Scarlett ever manage to show Rhett just how much she loves him? Or is she always doomed to be in love with a man that's not hers?

Great book, though there was a few times when I wished that someone would come along and kill Anne Hampton...and if you read it you'll know why. All I can say is that she got what she deserved.

The lesson learnt? That not all great series' have to be written by the same author to be really good. I was pleasantly surprised with 'Scarlett' and I think Alexandra Ripley did a wonderful job, for someone who thought to step into the shoes of Margaret Mitchell. 

So question for all those who liked Gone with the Wind: What was your favourite line, who said it and why is it so memorable? Mine is when Scarlett throws the porcelain statue thing at the wall and Rhett jumps out from behind the lounge, saying "Has the war started yet?!" BEST LINE EVER!

Happy Reading, everyone!

Cool Beans 

  

Vampire Craze - SOS...literally

Ok, maybe by now you've all come to the conclusion that I may be a little OCD when it comes to vampires. But seriously, the fan-girl (and yes, it was started by girls) wave of vampire adoration has started a book revolution.


I mean, something has to be done when there is a VAMPIRE ROMANCE BOOK website as well as newspaper articles talking about the impact of pop culture on teens as 'vampires' are arrested.


Authors are in a Christmas Eve-shopper-like rush to think up identical storylines that will please their teen audience. Here are a few examples (some will sound familiar):

• The Twilight Series (The books that started it all)
• Dead Until Dark (And then what happens...they sparkle?)
• Club Dead (I wonder how many members this club has?)
• Diary of a Wimpy Vampire (Someone shoot me - started out as a diary about a kid called Greg Heffley and some loser took it and 'vampirifided' it)
• Masquerade (I thought it was a 'Phantom of the Opera' song, but never mind...)
• Circus of the Damned (About time Edward realised his true calling)

Now all you vampire fans calm down - there was a point in time that (I'll admit it) Edward seemed like the hottest thing since Lindt chocolate, but there came a time when I questioned the lack of character development and plot. I have nothing against, say, 'Dracula' - who by the way is the BEST vampire because he ACTS like one.


I was researching people's opinions on this topic when I came across http://vampirescafe.com/omg-i-hate-vampires/ where there was this girl going on about how anti-Twilighters are bad, blah blah blah. The interesting thing were the responses.


As one guy on that forum chat thing put up, "If you’re going to write about vampires, make it something unique to you. Make it make sense. You can write about a vampire falling in love with a human girl but tell a GOOD story…give historical background/facts about vampires but include some of your own." Too right. There's nothing wrong with vampire novels. Just the fact that they all seem to be exactly alike.


I like the next girl, who said, "...one of your teeny bopper rants. I’m 15 I like some vampire books like The Vampire Chronicles by ann rice. I’m not a twi fan though. It is a matter of an opinion. You may not be stupid but you are immature. Good for you for jumping on the vampire bandwagon by writing a vamp book. Shut the hell up and go kiss your edward poster." 


And the girl has a point - it's all a matter of opinion. So why can't authors stop shoving this stuff down our throats? It's as if we have no choice, because vampire/werewolf/undead/angel/everything else romance novels seem to be all that's out there.


Look at 'The Mortal Instruments'. (SPOILER) Clary's best friend Simon becomes a vampire - but a cool, funny, (non-stalkerish), still her best friend, brave, noble (and everything Edward isn't) vampire. He doesn't pine after girls who don't want him, or growl at the guys who want the girl that he wants. He is still Simon. And he's one of my favourite characters. (Love you Cassandra Clare!)


Now for the bloodshed. If anyone asks, I LOVE classics - L-O-V-E. So when people start messing with classics and try to sell them with, say, THIS kind of cover...


I get REALLY mad.


In case you can't read what that red sticker says, it reads, "Bella and Edward's favourite book". That paired off with "Love Never Dies" is enough to make me run for the hills (NOT singing "The Hills Are Alive") screaming "I WANT MY LIFE BACK!!"


What happened to the beautiful watercolour painting front covers? The leather bound editions? The old-fashioned beauty of books BEFORE Bella decides she needs money for new contacts lens' and uses her name coupled with Edward's to sell classic novels. Just because Emily Bronte beat Stephanie when it came to unrequited love tales, DOES NOT mean classics can be defiled in this appalling manner!


*lets out breath* OCD moment over...can breathe again.


Note to any authors that happen to stumble over this humble blog: Please follow the example of Cassandra Clare, Erynn Mangum, Jane Austen, Emily Bronte, Suzanne Collins, Cornelia Funke, J.K Rowling, L.M Montgomery and so many more and write books that will inspire readers and help the teen ones become either better people, better educated or even open their minds to new worlds and characters that will live with them forever.


I mean, Harry Potter is still going strong and it hasn't got a single vampire. So apparently:


Vampire + Book + Romance DOES NOT = WORLD-RENOWNED NOVEL


Rant over. Now that I've throughly made all anti-vampire people happy, the fence-sitters thoughtful and the Twi-hards outraged, I think I'll bid you all a great rest of the day.


And luck with your next book-shopping adventure.


Happy Reading!
Cool Beans

The 'Fantasy Diet'

There are four main book diets that I have come across. A book diet is sort of like an involuntary or voluntary selection process that you go through every time you decide what book to read. Like how some girls can go "Is that milk low-fat?" or some guys can go "Does that come with an extra-large fries?", book readers can have varying tastes when it comes to books. They are as follows:

1. The Fantasy Diet
2. The Non-Fiction Diet
3. The Fence-Sitters Diet (more like a platter, but still.)
4. The I-dont-read-unless-coerced-or-threatened-to Diet

The one I'm focusing on today is the fantasy diet. The symptoms or characteristics include: 

• You need magic in it somewhere
• An adventure or a quest
• Good vs Evil
• A good romantic love interest
• Sword fights
• Pirates/Gypsies
• A defined start, plot, problem/solution and end (either tragic or happy)
• Talking animals or things that aren't meant to talk that do
• People die and come back from the dead (though technically you can find that in the Bible)

If you have any or more than one (or all) of these symptoms than you are officially a member of the fantasy diet. You like books that take you on a journey - the kind you'd never ever get to experience in real, boring, life. And let's face it - who wouldn't like to attend Hogwarts or fight alongside Finnick Odair in the Hunger Games?! 

If you get stuck on what to eat/read, here are some suggestions:

Skulduggery Pleasant

By Derek Landy 

"So you won't keep anything from me again?" He put his hand to his chest. "Cross my heart and hope to die." "Okay then. Though you don't actually have a heart," she said. "I know." "And technically, you've already died." "I know that too." "Just so we're clear."

When Stephanie Edgley’s Uncle Gordon – a writer of horror novels – passes away, she meets his one-time friend Skulduggery Pleasant…who just happens to be a skeleton wizard-detective, that believes he is invincible and has the world’s biggest ego (not that he believes that part). 

He drags her into a world of magic and chaos, introducing her to a whole range of characters: Tanith Low, a stunningly pretty and deadly master swordswoman, Ghastly Bespoke, an amazing tailor who is also a boxer, China Sorrows, who is not only lovely but collects things with magical properties (usually by corrupt and illegal means) and more. 

Together, Skulduggery and Stephanie explore the mysterious circumstances around her Uncle’s death, meeting danger at every turn. And as this world tightens its clutches around her, Stephanie starts to believe that though her Uncle’s novels were horror, they were definitely not fiction.

Lightened up by the funny and sarcastic lines from Skulduggery (like, "For a guy with no internal organs, you've got quite the ego." "And for a girl who can't stand up without falling over, you're quite the critic." "My leg will be fine." "And my ego will flourish. What a pair we are."), this is a book that really makes you consider that if these are the good guys, then how bad are the bad guys?!

(This has to be one of those books that needs the words, “BEST BOOK EVER” written on the front cover)

Also in the series is: Skulduggery Pleasant: Playing With Fire, Skulduggery Pleasant: The Faceless Ones and Skulduggery Pleasant: Dark Days and Skulduggery Pleasant: Mortal Coil - and coming out soon, Skulduggery Pleasant: Deathbringer.)

The Hunger Games

By Suzanne Collins:

“Here’s some advice. Stay alive.”

Meet Katniss Everdeen, a 16 year-old who lives in District 12- one of the twelve remaining districts of the nation Panem. Here, everything exists only to entertain those in the Capital…through the annual Hunger Games. 24 contestants or “Tributes” are selected lottery-style – 2 from each district. They are placed in an outdoor arena controlled by the Capital, and the crowds gather to watch as the Tributes battle to the death in order to survive. When Katniss volunteers to take her sister’s place, her life changes forever

Strategy and awareness are everything – everyone is an enemy, no tree or creature is what it seems – and only one Tribute can remain. But can Katniss decide who matters most, who the real enemy is and whether or not it is possible to fight back?

A relatable team of characters: Gale - Katniss’ life-long friend - , Peeta, who's the other Tribute from District 12 – who holds a special secret - , Haymitch – whose bark is worse than his bite –, Effie – whose efficient personality is not always appreciated  - as well as many more. Some are good, some silly, some bad. Good, silly, bad, most are doomed to die or be forever in the grip of the terrible Capital and its President…unless someone can stand up and fight for the freedom of Panem and its people.

Best book in a long time, which keeps you hanging on every word - with heaps of laughs - and most likely reading under the covers late at night. Also in the series: No#2 Catching Fire and No#3 Mockingjay. 

For those who are feeling a bit more adventurous, Isobelle Carmody's books are a great place to start. They're complex, magical, thick and the characters enthralling. A great way to expand your fantasy diet and to see just how much reading you can handle!

Happy Reading!

Cool Beans

Coolest Enemies of All Time

No offence meant to my wonderful friend Kallisti, but friendships aren't the only major parts of a story. I mean, what's a story without a friendly love-hate (or hate-hate) relationship? Not to be morbid or anything, but enemies make a book - and even in some cases, the enemies would be awesome friends.

#1: Draco and Harry

One of my favourite enemy pairings - the pureblood daddy's-boy (one-time ferret) and the half-blood Chosen One. A pair doomed from the start! Part of me wonders what the story would have been like if Harry accepted Draco's offer of friendship and ditched Ron...most likely (SPOLIER ALERT) he wouldn't have ended up married to Ginny. But there's something so nice about the way they continuously hate each other - and it doesn't wear out at all either! (Fave moment - when Hermione slaps Draco ...priceless!)

#2: Percy and Luke

This was one of those heart-breaking instances when they could have been FRIENDS! But Luke got all "My daddy hates me and I want to be a rebellious angst-ridden teenager and try and blow up the world and incinerate the Greek Gods!" (Not that he actually said that but you get the idea) Obviously, after (SPOILER ALERT) Luke nearly killed Percy by setting that scorpion on him (friendly move - real friendly), Percy wasn't happy. But before that Luke tried to train Percy to fight, kind of older-brother-mentored him and was a good person - everyone liked him. Lesson: Power can make you a social outcast. Be wary.

#3: Edward and Jacob

Besides the fact that this is a rather horrible picture of Robert Pattinson (and Taylor Lautner come to think of it), these two are the saddest pair of enemies. Not sad as in "Boo hoo, my pet chameleon just died!", but sad as in "You two are enemies over a whiny girl who has just as much spine as a jellyfish?" Honestly; how stupid can you get? Enemies for life over a girl and not to mention the fact that oh, one's a werewolf and the other a vampire - mortal enemies or something. These two need to up the macho and make up already. Maybe if Edward named Jacob the godfather of his kid or something.

And maybe you are all thinking that I've officially lost it, but just as Kallisti said that book friendships make you appreciate your friends, book enemies help you learn what not to argue over (Ha ha - you thought I was gonna say that they help you appreciate your enemies. Tough luck.). 

If Edward and Jacob had had a brain between them, or if Draco had thanked Harry for saving his worthless backside - even if Luke and Percy had had some diplomatic skills ("Hey Luke - letting a god possess you is not the way to go about a healthy father-son relationship.") perhaps things would have been different. 

But perhaps it's better that way. Something to think about, hey?!

Cool Beans 

Enviable Fictional Friendships

If you think about it- and I didn't even realise it until today- every single book has a friendship in it that plays a major part in the story. You might be sitting there going, "Yeah Kallisti. Catchin' on fast aren't we?" but I thought that was fascinating. Anyway, I've picked three of my favourite fictional friendships for you:

‘The Calendar Sisters’ and Lily Owens

Rosaleen, the three Boatwright sisters and Lily

*SPOILERS* I recently finished reading The Secret Life of Bees and if there’s one thing that stuck with me (apart from the unresolved ending (but in a good way! don’t be put off by that)) it was the friendship that developed between Lily Owens and the Boatwright sisters, especially August and later June (I still wonder why there’s no July…). Lily’s friendship with August is very supportive and tender and… well… feminine. It has fun, cheekiness and tolerance on the outside and the quiet and gentle but determined female strength on the inside. August trusts Lily before she even knows her, indicative of what their friendship later blossoms to be. Although it is a different case with June, it eventually ends up in a very similar place too and even as the reader you easily feel the safety and warmth of their friendship.

Harry, Ron and Hermione

Whoop-de-doo, what a big surprise. Who doesn’t envy their friendship? They take the others’ quirks and failings in stride and understand each other so thoroughly that it seems almost impossible that they should fight. But they do sometimes, whether it’s Harry getting all angsty and snappy, or Ron acting like a jerk, or Hermione a stuck-up pig, but this just makes the friendship all the more real. It fights through the difficulties to come out the other side stronger and closer than before. They stick-up for each other in the good and the bad: big or small, despite misunderstandings or disagreements. Personally, by the way, I liked the way Hermione didn’t end up with Harry, because their friendship was more that of a brother and sister and it would be incongruous if it ended up as anything else if you get my meaning. That’s the cute sort of friendship all three of them had throughout their lives: that unconditional acceptance. Check out this video, if you haven't already seen it.

Sam and Frodo

Their desperately difficult and dangerous quest brings out the strength and courage in both hobbits and forges a friendship that is both unbreakable and enviable. The unfailing loyalty of Sam is nothing less than saintly. He is both a father and friend to Frodo on their journey, constantly making sure that his ‘master’ is sleeping and eating properly, even when it means giving up his own sleep and food. The effort he goes to in order to keep their spirits up is phenomenal and that heart-wrenching part when Sam carries Frodo up Mount Doom to help relieve him of his burden, beautifully portrayed by Peter Jackson, is simply legendary. Frodo, though his main concern is the Ring, is gentle and kind to Sam and acknowledges his generosity though he is unable to repay it. He always pays attention to Sam’s opinions even if he disagrees and begs, “I need you on my side”. It is inconceivable to either that they should be divided for long (which is why I don’t like the part of the third film when Frodo leaves Sam) and their self-sacrificing friendship is one of the greatest I’ve ever seen.

 How's that? Really makes you appreciate you're friends, doesn't it?

Always yours,
Kallisti