A Christmas Carol

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Charles Dickens
Format: Paperback (all available) 
Pages: 89 (depending on copy but all short)
Rating: 9 out of 10

Summary (via Goodreads): Cruel miser Ebeneezer Scrooge has never met a shilling he doesn't like...and hardly a man he does. And he hates Christmas most of all. When Scrooge is visited by his old partner, Jacob Marley, and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Yet to Come, he learns eternal lessons of charity, kindness, and goodwill. Experience a true Victorian Christmas

Thoughts: Don't worry; it being Christmas, I'll keep this short. This was not my first Charles Dickens novel but it was definitely my favourite. I had never before read it but it's a Christmas classic so I needed to this year. I wasn't disappointed at all. I was glad to be thrown right into the life of Scrooge. The story would have been boring with extra background at the beginning. The reader did, however, need the description of him. In the first two pages, you understand what kind of man Scrooge is. This is good because the story goes right into trying to change him. This novel has some of the best descriptions I've ever read. Then again, my copy had a few pictures so...

I thought the whole premise was pretty incredible too. There are a lot of people that don't know what Christmas really is about and this book not only teaches that but also shows that people can change, forgiveness is possible and people can be truly happy. I can never really understand why the Ghost of Christmas Future scares everybody though. 

It was an easy read. My copy had huge font and pictures, like a said before. It was short, sweet, and to the point. I've seen many versions of this movie so it was great to be able to compare them to the real book. I love watching (or reading about) people changing.

In Conclusion: If you have the time before next Christmas, you should read this book. You might even make it a Christmas Tradition.

My Favourite Movie Versions:
A Muppet Christmas Carol: I loved this. Last year was my first time seeing it but I'm going to watch it every year now. The songs are catchy and who doesn't love the Muppets? I've never seen a movie that sticks so closely to the novel it came from. I read along with parts of the movie and entire lines were right from book. I loved it. The only big, big change was that the business partner in this movie was two brothers instead of one man, big deal!

Scrooged: This one is a bit more serious than the Muppet's version though there is a lot of humor in it too. The humor in this is more grown up. It is not exactly a children's movie but the ghosts are pretty hilarious  My favourite ghost is that of Christmas present because she hits him with a toaster! She's violent and it's the best. (P.S. The video doesn't go all the way to the end but it shows you what I mean. Sorry for the end!)

The Silver Linings Playbook

Reviewer: Kristen
Author: Matthew Quick
Pages: 289
Format: Paperback
My Rating: 7 out of 10

Summary (via Goodreads): Meet Pat Peoples. Pat has a theory: his life is a movie produced by God. And his God-given mission is to become physically fit and emotionally literate, whereupon God will ensure him a happy ending—the return of his estranged wife, Nikki. (It might not come as a surprise to learn that Pat has spent several years in a mental health facility.) The problem is, Pat’s now home, and everything feels off. No one will talk to him about Nikki; his beloved Philadelphia Eagles keep losing; he’s being pursued by the deeply odd Tiffany; his new therapist seems to recommend adultery as a form of therapy. Plus, he’s being haunted by Kenny G!


My Thoughts: I'm sure that I'm not the only one who picked this up because I heard it was going to a movie. I'm awfully glad that I did! Matthew Quick effectively and tastefully ventures through the mind of Pat Peoples. With how sensitive people are to mental illness, this is quite the daunting task. However, Matthew Quick does it tastefully and without apology. Everything about this book screams at you to keep reading, and the plot drives you forward. Trust me, I didn't want to put this down even for a second. And I didn't. I loved Tiffany - so complicated, yet so obviously a God sent to Pat. I absolutely loved how Matthew Quick portrayed the family life, and how much he focused on how crucial they were to Pat. The relationship that Pat has with his brother Jake made me "awwwwww" a lot more than once! This is an exceptional read, and I encourage everyone to check it out! 

Final Thoughts: Give this a whirl! Especially if you like Perks of Being a Wallflower, or The Catcher in the Rye. You won't regret it. It's tasteful, and heartfelt, and definitely a breath of fresh air!

Movie vs. Book Thoughts: I'll admit to you, and only you, that I saw the movie before I read the book. I had every intention on reading the book first, but I ordered it online, and you never know how long those things can take! I'll also admit that I was really excited to see it because the previews looked great so Kels and I did go on opening day.... sue me! Back to the point though, if you're going to compare the book to the movie, I think you'll be disappointed. Standing alone, both are amazing pieces of work. The movie was heartfelt and remained true to the core of the story, but there were a lot of differences. One of the biggest being the portrayal of Pat's father, Patrick. In the movie, he's much more involved, and not as hostile, even though Patrick being who he was was so crucial to the book. The whole reason for the dance competition is different. In my opinion, both the movie and the book are great, and I recommend watching/reading both. 
Comparing the Book to the Movie, I'd rate it: 5/10
Appreciating the Movie as a separate entity: 9/10 
So I guess it just depends on what you're going in expecting with the show. Don't let this pass you by!  

Kelsey's Thoughts (on the movie): I loved it so much. When Kristen and I went to see it , we both kept having mini-freak-outs. I think I almost had a heart attack then died of happiness then had another heart attach. It was some of the best acting that I have seen in a long time. I believe that both Cooper and Lawrence should and will be recognized for it. It was great. I definitely recommend going to see the movie. I have the book on order so I'll probably let you know how that goes.

The Hunger Games - Movie Review

Katniss' Mockingjay Pin

Don't worry again, no spoilers!
So, the moment that everyone has been waiting for has finally arrived. The Hunger Games movie. Knowing my obsession like love with this book, I thought it was safe for me to say that I was expecting the worst. I was convinced that I'd be disappointed, but that didn't stop me from getting excited. (Ask anyone at school, it got to the point where everything reminded me of The Hunger Games... In history class, we were talking about the French Revolution and I turned to Kelsey and said Maximilien Robespierre reminds me of Peeta... awkward.) So, sitting... or should I say standing... in line at the midnight premiere I was beyond excited (and hot, holy crap.).

Holy crap... I thought it was brilliant. Who saw that coming? I sure didn't. I actually loved it. I loved what they added to it, I loved the script. Though the characters obviously weren't as developed as they were in the book, it was still superb. Gary Ross was brilliant, and can I just say Josh Hutcherson is actually the perfect Peeta (and person) ever. Jennifer Lawrence carried the movie so well. I don't even know, I'm all jumbled up. Sooooo good!

Thoughts? What'd you guys think?
- Kristen