Rant: I Want This Movie Out, Now!

Source: http://www.writerstudio.com.au/images/stories/books_and_film-1.jpeg

                Everybody loves movies, some maybe more so than others. I, for one, live for movies, especially those that were inspired by novels. I feel like movies bring the book to life, even though a lot of the times it doesn't always go with what we originally imagined. Movies can't portray the emotions nor capture the essence of reading the words from a book, but neither can books make the setting or the characters feel real the way a movie can. You have no idea how excited I get when word goes round that a motion picture film based on a book (which I have read) is coming out. Like, I literally get chills.

                Do you know what sucks, though? Waiting. I absolutely hate hate HATE waiting for the movie to come out. It's literally the same as waiting for a sequel or the next book of a series to be published, except you sort of know what's going to happen. The anticipation kills me. Rewind to the beginning of the year, when The Fault in Our Stars came out. I was all over the place just waiting for it to be released. The fact that I don't live in the U.S and will have to wait a while longer after it's released to watch it made my anticipation even worse; and with all the advertising all over the net, my patience did not get any better.

                Something else that frustrates me a lot is that a lot of good books out there are not recognized enough to have a movie made about them. Seriously, life is short, so hurry up and make these movies, please. Take Looking for Alaska by John Green. Or Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer. I'd go on to name all the books but maybe I'll save that for another day. All I want are good movies inspired by good books. Is that so much to ask?

Still waiting,
EllyBelly

7 Controversial Books People Read Everyday

Okay, maybe people don't read them EVERY day...but they are books that most people have definitely seen before. And so below, in no particular order:

1.       The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank

Many people argue that Anne Frank's honest descriptions of going through puberty and basically growing up  is too pornographic a read for 7th graders.

2.       Animal Farm by George Orwell

Animal Farm is said to contain "dangerous ideas" - after all, it IS about animals basically overthrowing humans and having rule over one another...and killing each other. It symbolizes a lot of corrupt nature that humans may very well have.

3.       Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Just like Animal Farm, this book has a lot to do with human nature and even deals with the supernatural, kind of. Many people argue about what the Lord of the Flies symbolizes.

4.       Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

This is pretty much self explanatory. Vampires don't sparkle!
But really. This is the kind of book that DIVIDES people (according to Goodreads). It's the kind of book that people absolutely love or absolutely despise. There is no in between.

5.       To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
This is a widely known classic that has been on the school curriculum for decades. However, it has also been on the banned list for a while because of its racial content, profanity, and references to rape.

6.       Harry Potter by J.K Rowling
There have been many arguments over the contents of this book. It is an especially heated religious debate, and there have even been a few public burnings of the book. Many people claim that is promotes witchcraft and satanic practices.

7.       Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien
A lot of people, especially religious people, consider this book "corrosive to young minds" and even consider the ring in the novel satanic. Members of the Church of New Mexico even burned the books in 2001.

For more controversial books, visit:

http://www.goodreads.com/list/tag/controversial
http://listverse.com/2010/04/24/10-notoriously-controversial-books/
http://www.shortlist.com/shortlists/10-banned-books

Awesome Authors: C.S Lewis

"This mechanical mode of writing interfered with the creative process that the incessant clacking of the typewriter keys dulled the writer's appreciation of the rhythms and cadences of the English language"
~C.S Lewis
(he disliked typewriters)

C.S Lewis is an author mostly known for his famous series, The Chronicles of Narnia. His full name is Clive Staples Lewis, and he was born on 29 November 1898 in Belfast Ireland. He is probably one of my most favorite authors of all time, and you gotta admit he is really awesome-lookin'. Those spectacles are the bomb.

Anyhow, for all of you beautiful bookworms, I put together a bunch of facts about C.S Lewis that I found most interesting, if you will kindly look below. I believe you all should read his books because not only are they amazingly written, but they teach a lot things about ourselves and friendship.


10 Most Interesting Facts About C.S Lewis:

1. C.S Lewis died on the same day that President John F. Kennedy was shot, on 22 November 1963 (a week before his 65th birthday).
2. On 11 May 1926, he met another well-known author, J.R.R Tolkien, who became an important friend and colleague.
3. At the age of 15, Lewis gave up Christianity and became an atheist.
4. He reverted back to Christianity when he was 33, in 1931.
5. He gave up studying and served in the WWI British Army in 1917.
6. He married Joy Davidman at 58 years old, and it was his only marriage. Joy died 4 years later.
7. He never had any children of his own, but he raised his two stepsons after Joy's death.
8. Lewis renamed himself "Jacksie" when he was 4 years old, after his pet dog that had died. He'd been called "Jacksie" or "Jack" for most of his life by friends and family.
9. He had only one joint in each of his thumbs, which is one reason he did not type his works.
10. It is reported that only 30 people attended his funeral.

For more information:
http://www.tmgenealogy.com/2012/03/cs-lewis-10-fun-facts.html
https://www.cslewis.com/uk/about-cs-lewis
http://www.christianpost.com/news/c-s-lewis-top-10-facts-everyone-should-know-about-one-of-the-intellectual-giants-of-the-20th-century-109299/
http://www.thelionscall.com/2014/05/26/7-interesting-facts-about-cs-lewis/

J.R.R Tolkien - 6 Most Interesting Facts

      J.R.R - initials of John Ronald Ruel

1. He is best known for writing The Hobbit and the Lord of The Rings Trilogies
2. He was kidnapped by a house boy when he was a baby
3. He used to be close friends with C.S Lewis, the author of The Chronicles of Narnia
4. He invented languages for fun (from his early teens)
5. He thought many of his fans were crazy lunatics
6. The Hobbit was initially written for his own children

For more fun facts go here:
Biography
10 facts
Inspiring People

Survey: Fictional Favorites

Hey bookworms,

So I went ahead and did a survey on stuff about books, just to find out the kind of stuff you all would like to read about. I've noticed a couple of things:

• Most of the people who took it were women. Yay girl power!
• Most people who took the survey liked reading.
• Romance was the most favored genre
• Everyone has a different favorite author. Usually.
• Most people don't have a favorite book, OR a favorite fictional character.
• Everyone loves it when books are produced as movies.
• Everyone enjoyed my survey

Thank you, people who did my surveys. You helped me tons.

Yours Truly,

EllyBelly

 If you guys would also like to take the survey, click here. 

Overcoming Obstacles

Hello fellow bookworms!

Something I have noticed is that many well-known and widely loved books have a common theme: overcoming obstacles.

Let's look at the Hunger Games trilogy, for example.

In this story, the protagonist, Katniss Everdeen, faces a number of obstacles. It all ranges from feeding her family to surviving in an inhumane game of murder.
"You've got to go through it to get to the end of it." Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire


The Divergent series is also another great story to look at.

The protagonist also has to go through hardships just to survive in the society she lives in - where being special could claim her life. She has to face her fears head-on, or die from them.
"Becoming fearless isn't the point. That's impossible. It's learning how to control your fear, and being free from it." Veronica Roth, Divergent.


This might be a little cliche, but The Fault in Our Stars is a perfect example for facing real-life problems.

Hazel Grace Lancaster has to go through life living with an illness that has put a timer on her life, and on top of that has to experience grave disappointments and grief.
"Grief does not change you, Hazel. It relveals you." John Green, The Fault in Our Stars.


Basically, all I want to tell you all is that everybody goes through crap. Obstacles are all a part of life, and no matter how high the hurdle, you can overcome. I know that these are all just novels - but that doesn't mean there isn't a bit of truth in them.

Yours Truly,

EllyBelly

Lit and Film characters in Real Life: Student Edition

     Hello fellow book-lovers! I'm Ella's blog class teacher and in between lesson plans and daily school whatnot--I enjoy reading and raving about books, also. This post was inspired by a simple phrase I've often heard, "You remind me of someone". Though a biological copy of myself does exist (I'm an identical twin)--there must be even more of us running around. The more I travel, the easier it becomes to be reminded of people I've left behind. Here's some book character a-likes I've taught:

     Over the past several years, book characters have reincarnated themselves as students in my classroom. While names have been changed to protect privacy, here’s a few characters that have appeared: 

1.     Jack—a Dough Sweiteck replica. Reading Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt, helped me see that just like Sweiteck, not all trouble-maker Middle school boys are as bad as the image they like to portray.

2.     Shannon—reminds of a lot of Russell, the boyscout from Up!. He asked enough questions to drive me crazy but deep down, I knew he had a good heart.

3.     Ben—Atticus from To Kill a Mockingbird. Though only 12, Ben was wise beyond his years like Attitcus, aloof, and respected by his peers.

4.     Brian—just as cunning, deceptive, and manipulative as Becky Sharp from Vanity Fair, except slightly more alarming than Becky because this kid was only in 3^rd grade. You knew he might end up a serial killer …

5.     Billy—Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. Though Billy doesn’t really remind me of a character in this book. I associate the book with him. Billy was not bright and was placed in a Resource room simply because he didn’t do his schoolwork. I convinced (well, coerced, really) him to let me read him the entire (abridged) version of this book aloud. I e even brought in movie clips to get him interested.

6.     Winnie—is just like Dory from Finding Nemo in-the-flesh. Just as intelligent and just as ditzy.

7.     Meredith—as optimistic and hopeful as Anne from Anne of Green Gables. And adorably Korean.