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