Don't Judge a Book by its Cover

                                                         

Two books with the same author, storyline and happy ending - yet the way they first engage the reader is entirely different.

I have a bit of a soft spot for pretty books. Seriously; if I'm bored out of my mind and book-less, the first book I'll pick off a library shelf is a pretty one. And in modern literature we frequently see that authors use the covers to sell the book.

Imagine for a moment, that Twilight was a Penguin Classic. Would you be as willing to pick it off a shelf with that awful orangutan-orange colour? Not likely; though with that contrast of black and bright red apple and pale skin - also the symbolism of the image strikes up curiosity in the viewer - you are willing to pay $20. 

I think that the Penguin Books are a smart way of differentiating the timeless books from the now ones. 'Pride and Prejudice','Great Gatsby', 'Wuthering Heights', 'The Clockwork Orange' (no idea what THAT one's about!) and the rest are classics in every sense of the word - books that need nothing more than their title and the author's name to sell.

But as well as cover, the blurb is important too. There is nothing that annoys me more than wanting to see what a book has to offer, turning to the back and seeing "Lost myself in this wonderful fantasy adventure! - Stephanie Meyer" on the back. Thank you, Stephanie for your words of wisdom but WHERE IS THE BLURB?! Turns out, some books either don't have one, of its on the inside cover. 

Its not only annoying, but frankly its dangerous for business. When people are scanning the shelves in a rush and picking out books at random (been there, done that!), they're not about to go on a Easter Blurb Hunt. Further more, why does ever book in existence need Stephanie Meyer's recommendation on the front, back, side - or on all three - to make it sell? I mean, I loved 'The Hunger Games' trilogy and NOT because Stephanie did too.

But there's nothing wrong with a nice cover on a book - nice covers can give insight into the storyline and sometimes, are better than any blurb.

So next time you pick up a book, I want you to ask yourself: Are you reading it because of the COVER, the PRAISE or because of the STORYLINE?

You know, come to think of it (just to confuse you some more!), not all blurbs are accurate judges of a book's potential. I mean, glancing at 'A Dog in the Nighttime' my first thoughts were "Weird." After glancing at the blurb my thoughts were, "Weird and possibly not my thing". After reading a little of it and hearing more about it, I began to think "Maybe I could read this." Sometimes, we need to put as much research into the books we read as we do for History assignments and our mum's do for grocery shopping. 

Here are a few variations of Stephanie Meyer's praise for Hunger Games ALONE (just for fun!)

• "Stunning. You won't sleep when you're reading this one."
• "I was so obsessed with this book I had to take it with me out to dinner and hide it under the edge of the table so I wouldn't have to stop reading. The story kept me up for several nights in a row, because even after I was finished, I just lay in bed wide awake thinking about it. I've been recommending it to total strangers in Target." (That's a tad bit weird, don't you think?)
• "The Hunger Games is amazing"

So technically the saying "Don't judge a book by its cover" has some merit. Yeah, don't JUST judge a book by its cover, but by its content. Push yourself, test your limits and learn that there is a world of fantastic literature out there for you to explore if you would only look for it.

What are you still doing here?! Go and seek a book this instant!

Happy Reading!

Love Cool Beans

         

Fairytales - Classic and Modern

Fairytales are the basis of good literature. I mean, how many of you can seriously say that you've never read a fairytale? Not many, that's for sure. Because over the years, tales like Snow White, Rumpelstiltskin, Cinderella, The Little Match Girl, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty and so many more have capture our hearts and imaginations. 

Here is one example of a fairytale re-told that I found particularly engaging:

Spindle’s End by Robin McKinley

Remember that great, big, volume of fairytales that lies forlornly at the top of your bookshelf, gathering dust? Well it’s time to dust off the cobwebs, as Robin McKinley’s novel Spindle’s End re-nurtures your love for the classics.

Spindle’s End is a beautifully written re-telling of Sleeping Beauty – but with more twists and turns. Rosie the princess - who’s full name is Casta Albinia Allegra Dove Minerva Fidelia Aletta Blythe Domina Delicia Aurelia Grace Isabel Griselda Gwyneth Pearl Ruby Coral Lily Iris Briar-Rose (what were her parents thinking?!)– is stolen from her home, when an evil fairy named Pernicia, casts a curse on her at her name-day ceremony. The two benign fairies, who took her, hope to somehow stop the curse from activating when she turns twenty-one – but until then, no-one can know where Rosie is or her true identity – not even Rosie herself.

Full of laughter, love, heart-break and sacrifice, Spindle’s End is a sure hit with fans of fantasy-like tales with a magical twist. Discover along the way the fate of two girls so closely linked in many ways, as Rosie has to decide what to listen to: her heart or her head? 

Also available by Robin McKinley is Beauty – an engaging re-telling of Beauty and the Beast. I love the way Robin can create characters that make the same sort of impression on you that Belle or Ariel did when you were just five. 

In this modern day and age, the good stories of good vs. evil and adventure with a sprinkle of romance aren't always found in books that sit on a shelf.

Feywinds (www.feywinds.com/ ) is a one-of-a-kind webcomic by Nicole Chartrand. Nicole has created a magical fantasy world, where a motley group of characters find themselves on a treasure hunt to save the world.

Starting off by looking for a set of lost artefacts, Kit, Nigel and Larina eventually become entangled in a plot far from simple. Instead of worrying about the occasional mosquito or ruffian, they are faced with 'The Lord of the Dying Light' and random rogue demon things - but as well as evil, the threesome find unlikely friends...such as Sid (you'll only fund this funny if you've read it.).

The best part about Feywinds are the jokes. Whether they be about Kit's fashion sense (nil), Larina's charisma, Nigel's obvious attraction to Kit or Sid's stealth and wooing abilities (also nil), every joke will make you laugh or smile; the dialogue flowing as smoothly as any books.

As Feywinds is a webcomic, you will find, once at the end, that it ISN'T THE END! Instead, the webcomic is updated (for those in Australia) every Tuesday. So mark the date down in your mental/real calendar!

Happy reading, everyone!

Cool Beans

A Few Funny Pictures

The eternal debate - Harry Potter or Twilight? Here are a few images to help you in your decision...

I hope I haven't made it too difficult to choose! So now the question: Harry Potter or Twilight? The difference between life and death - literally! (LOL)

Cool Beans

Déjà Vu

Once in a while – perhaps whilst we are standing in the middle of a bookstore or library – we experience what is commonly referred to as déjà vu. No, this does not occur when we see the exact same librarian standing by the exact same bookshelf, wearing the exact same sweater. Rather, it occurs when we come across a range of books that seem to bizarrely mirror one another. Perhaps the characters all have a weird tendency to quote Shakespeare, the guys are all ‘strong and silent’ types, the girls are all on an emotional rollercoaster, or maybe all of these stories seem to follow the ‘fall in love, break up, make up and live happily ever after’ trend. In any case, we start to suspect that either the exact same author is writing them all under different aliases, or – more likely – today’s books are being written with only one audience in mind. If that is the case, then we need to resist what they’re ‘mass producing’ and start putting our time and effort into books that fulfil our reading appetite and help us grow as readers.

The Iron King

By Julie Kagawa

““But ... but what if I hit you?” A snort. “You’re not going to hit me.”

“How do you know?” “Well, how much experience do you have with swords and weapons in general?”

“Um.” I glanced down at the saber in my hand. “Thirty seconds?”

He smiled, that calm, irritatingly confident smirk. “You’re not going to hit me."”

Meghan Chase lives a normal life – or so she thinks. Her days consist of school, hanging out with her best friend Robbie, listening to her IPod and shooing away the monsters that her little stepbrother believes live in his bedroom closet. But on her sixteenth birthday Meghan’s brother disappears, leading her on an adventure into the Nevernever – where the Fae and other fantasy creatures dwell, as well as the secrets to Meghan’s past. If Meghan is to ever find her brother and return home, she must befriend the unlikeliest of allies and maybe even win over the cold heart of Ash, the Prince of the Winter Court.

But the Nevernever isn’t willing to give up its prize so easily. As Meghan delves deeper into the Nevernever, she slowly begins to feel its hold – in becoming an important piece in the ongoing war between the two courts, her life, as well as her brother’s, is in jeopardy.

With a cast of mythical characters (Oberon, Titania, Puck and Grimalkin, just to name a few), The Iron King is the ultimate Fae novel, re-kindling your love of fantasy and faery-inspired drama. Funnily enough, I never imagined how engaging some of the characters could be – all my perceptions of them having been based on A Midsummer Night’s Dream – but apart from Titania (who is not to be trifled with), they’re very different and more real, somehow. Not to give anything away, but I’m officially Team Ash.

Other books in the series: #2: The Iron Daughter, #3: The Iron Queen. 

Happy Reading!

Cool Beans

World Booklovers Day!

For those who either live under a rock or didn't know, today - the 9th of August - is World Booklovers Day. Take the chance to convince your parents to let you go on the book spree of a lifetime - or even go out with your friends and support the authors and bookshops that make our lives liveable . But, if you're like me and have smart parents or you're just plain lazy, simply curl up with your favourite book; maybe with a mug of hot chocolate or a slice of cheesecake on the side. 

So Happy World Booklovers Day!

The Bookshelvers!
:)

Lost in Austen?

I think it's safe to say that the day Jane Austen penned Mr. Darcy was the beginning of an era - an era of swooning girls, half of which wished for Lizzy to simply contract pneumonia and die and the other half wishing to find that perfect Mr. Darcy. This wish (the latter) is reflected in the types of books available on the market nowadays; books centred around a vaguely pretty (and sometimes even intelligent) heroine, who eventually either finds the perfect guy or goes off with her flawed but slightly good-looking best friend. 

How long did you stare for? The truth!

And whilst I too love that brooding man with the sideburns and, let's face it, absurdly tight pants, I can't help but wonder...why? Cherry Potter (no, she's not related to Harry) wrote in her article Why do we still fall for Mr. Darcy? some interesting points.

" According to a recent poll conducted by the Orange Prize for Fiction, 1,900 women across the generations voted for Mr Darcy as the man they would most like to go on a date with...what she (Austen) does provide is a perfect blank screen on to which Darcy's admirers, by identifying with Elizabeth Bennet, can project that most archetypal of all female fantasies - that they will be the one and only woman to discover the key to unlocking a man's tortured soul, thus setting free his hidden passions."


When reading an article like the above, you have to ask yourself what these 1,900 - and counting - women see in the tortured character of William Darcy. According to Cherry:


"What message is this Darcy fixation sending to men? On the one hand, women say they want men who are emotionally intelligent, sensitive, flexible, who enjoy sharing equally and are fun to be with. But these same women are swooning over a fictional character who is the epitome of the dominant patriarchal male. No wonder men are confused." 


Women feel drawn to this idea of the perfect guy - one who is hard to get, yet when attained will be everything we ever wanted. And it shows in the writings of female authors. These women create in their brains and dreams the 'perfect' guy - be it Edward Cullen, Jace Wayland, Daniel Grigori, Ash and so many more - and these books are targeted at other young women. These young women base their ideals on these characters - sometimes directly, sometimes indirectly; the way they treat women, the way they woo them, the way their eyes sparkle...but the truth is, these guys aren't real. And odds are, when the real life hits home, girls are going to be left disappointed if their boyfriend doesn't live in Pemberley. 


That leads me to a rather ironic, and hilarious, book - Austenland by Shannon Hale.



Jane Hayes love life is likened to a game of dominoes - just when things look good, they all tip over and its time to start again...and all because of her never-ending obsession with Mr. Darcy.
When Jane gets given the chance of a lifetime - a trip to an English resort catering to 'Austen-obsessed women' Jane sees this as the answer to her troubles; a chance to be free of Mr. Darcy forever. But as the fantasy becomes more real and the lure towards Austenland more than she can take, will Jane kick her Austen-obsession for good? Or could Mr. Darcy be real after all?


As soon as I started this book my thoughts were, "Gees - I wonder how this is going to end?!" But I was pleasantly surprised with the reasoning behind Jane's action, her thoughts and the way she views the future. How she views past mistakes not as dominoes - one falling after the other, leading from disaster to disaster - but as lessons to be learnt from. That there is the chance that the last domino will remain standing.


After reading many 'Austen inspired' novels, as well as Austen's, I have come to the conclusion that it's hard to define when the Darcy obsession has gone overboard. I mean, is it bad to look for good qualities in real-life guys? Is it wrong for girls to have ideals? I don't necessarily think it is. 


So how 'bout it - are you lost in Austen?

Why Read?

I remember that it all started with that annoying question; presented to me by a rather smug and sadistic classmate. She'd said, "Why should I read? It's not a do-or-die thing!" Needless to say I was seconds away from borrowing my friend's three-in-one edition of 'Lord of the Rings' and whacking it over this girl's head. Why read? I made myself a goal to web-search and think up as many reasons as I could.

1.) It’s fuel efficient.

 
2.) You need to have a backup in case the TV and Internet go out

3.) A flight attendant will never ask you to turn off your book.

4.) No Commercials. 

5.) Reading makes school a lot easier (TIP: put book on lap and pretend to gaze studiously at text book). 

6.) It’s less fattening than chocolate.

7.) 96.5% of the time, a character is better looking in your imagination than onscreen

8.)Reading ——> Education ——–> Money. If you read many books you become more educated and you have a better chance to become rich.

9.)Are good conversation starters. "Hey, what did you guys think of Gandalf? I mean, do you reckon that beard is for real?"

10.) Are good weapons - yes, book-fu is a highly established martial arts form. Try it some time - preferably when no adults or librarians are in sight.

11.)You can travel around the world - and to other worlds - without boarding a plane, boat, yacht, helicopter, mini-bus or griffin (in-flight meals are on a BYO basis).

 12.)Great way to trick impressionable friends. "And wasn't it nice how Westley gave her those flowers?" "Who's Westley?!" "Oh...(gaze dreamily into the distance) Just a friend."

13.)You get the benefit of laughing at jokes - the best part is when you're in a silent room full of people and you crack up randomly. Priceless!

14.)Get in trouble with your siblings? "Mum, honestly - how could I have locked my sister in the attic? I was reading studiously the whole time!"

15.) Want to be a spy? Simply pick an opportune position and start to read - people will believe you to be too 'absorbed' and 'angelic' to bother listening in...perfect right?

I think that's enough for now. So for all you people who find a kindred spirit in my sorry classmate I mentioned earlier, please...PLEASE, wake up and smell the crisp book pages - reading is AWESOME. Whether it's massive novels like 'The Stone Key' or small ones like 'Rainbow Magic' (snigger snigger), just get in there and give it a try. And that's a dare - so are you up for the challenge?!