An Assortment of Horror

I've really been on a horror kick lately. For a while I avoided it entirely because all I could find were generic slashers as far as movies were concerned and predictable plots for novels. However, things have been looking up lately, as I've been turning towards older movies and cult hits once again. Here are a few of the highlights this month.

The horror aspect of The Fly is pretty slow to pick up if we're being completely honest. All the same, it's a great movie, and when the horror does start occurring...well. I'll admit there was one scene towards the end that had me squirming uncomfortably. The Fly is a great example of 80s horror at it's best and the makeup is fantastic.

This was actually a re-watch for me, but I'm going to mention it anyway because Hellraiser has got to be my favorite horror movie of all time. The giant Pinhead poster over my wall says a lot about how I feel about the film. To be honest, I'm a bit obsessed. Obsessed enough to stick through the train wreck that was the franchise after Hollywood got a hold of it. Granted, number three wasn't awful, but everything after that makes me cringe. Still, the first two movies are horror movie gold in my opinion, and I highly recommend the book it was based off of as well.

Eraserhead is at the top of the list of movies that have disturbed me so deeply I'm not sure I want to watch them again. The whole movie is unsettling from start to finish, with it's black and white arthouse style and surreal filming. There's one scene at the end that I just really don't want to think about too hard, but I can appreciate this movie as a work of art, as well as an absolutely horrifying film.

  

You can't go wrong with Vincent Price. You just can't. I love every single one of his B-grade, cheesy, wonderful horror films and House of Wax was no exception. I didn't like it as much as say, The Abominable Dr. Phibes, but it's undeniably a masterpiece.

Ok now this has actually been a consistent horror source in my life so I can't say it's a new discovery. However, season two has been airing and I feel the need to express how wonderful it is. Season one was a fresh take on the many escapades of Hannibal Lecter, (And of course, I fell in love with Will Graham immediately) but season two hasn't lost any of the creativeness of the first, while amping up the horror aspect. They're not holding back anymore, and let me tell you, the cinematography in this show is phenomenal. As are the relationships between the characters, dialogue, and of course, death scenes.

Finally, a book! This is one of the coolest books I've read in a very long time. The horror in this book is the  kind that nags at the back of your mind and doesn't want to let go. It's psychologically unsettling, no gore here, but it really doesn't need it. The premise is simply a house who's inner dimensions don't match it's outer ones, but that discrepency turns into something no one could ever have expected. The only thing with House of Leaves is that the format is extremely bizarre. The whole thing isn't like that, but I had to put several hours into this book in order to make sense of some of it. Just google the book and you'll see what I mean. You're either going to find it very pretentious, or extremely clever and fun.

This has been sitting at the bottom of my movie list for a very long time and I finally got around to watching it. I didn't expect to love it the way I did. The costumes are a Goth's dream and the story an absolutely delicious concept. Is it perfect? No. But it doesn't have to be because Repo was a thrill ride from start to finish. Graverobber's songs were my favorite so it's a shame we didn't see more of him. I think it's safe to say I've developed another character crush... Now I'm off to watch the Devil's Carnival!

I don't know where to start with this movie. I went to Vancouver Fan Expo this weekend (There will be pics quite soon) and one of the panels featured the Soska Sisters, AKA The Twisted Twins. They. Were. Wonderful. I have to say I enjoyed their panel the most. They weren't afraid to curse, tell stories about running away from cops while filming, or to be brutally honest about the pieces of themselves they put into this movie. I don't know if they identify as Goths, but they certainly had the aesthetic. I was ridiculously happy to see some girl directors. They weren't afraid to call out sexism and also they hit on me in front of everyone which was wonderful. Basically, this movie deals with a lot of issues like rape and sexism, and also heavily features the body mod community. A lot of research went into this film and I highly recommend it.

Halloween Masterpost

I had so many plans for Halloween posts that failed to materialize. We had a bit of trouble getting wifi set up in our new house and I've only just got it back. Let me tell you, you don't realize how much you use the internet until you're completely deprived of it for a couple weeks. Homework was a nightmare.


Instead of all the fun, creative things I had planned to write I'm going to do one big (Really big) Halloween roundup and save those ideas for next year. Let's see how long I can go before I bore you to a premature death. So, to start off, how about some books that will get you in the Halloween spirit? Many may be rereads, but they'll always be great.

    


Of course, then you've got movies. Halloween wouldn't be Halloween without a few scary (or hilariously cheesy) movies. There's a little for everyone here.


    

       

          

Us Goths really listen to 'spooky' music all year round, but having a specific Halloween playlist is always fun. Here are some of the things I have on mine.


Everyday is Halloween- Ministry

Monsters in Tinsel Town- Astrovamps

Filistata- Stolen Babies

Don't Fear the Reaper- Blue Oyster Cult

Moundshroud- Cinema Strange

Mommy's little monsters- Creature Feature (Though you might as well just play all of their songs)

Dragula- Rob Zombie

Dead Man's Autochop- Specimen

Day of the Dead- Voltaire (I was very tempted to put Brainz)

Here are some quick and fun crafts to spice up your house.

• Little ghosts 
• Mummy jars 
• Skeleton wreath
• Spiderweb frames
• Adorable balloon bats

And of course, here are some of my favorite posts so far dealing with Halloween.

• Sary Walrus found a video that involves pumpkin carving with Elvira.
• Meagan Kyla wore this adorable jack-o-lantern outfit
• Ariadne Blackmoore has a great automaton makeup tutorial
• The HouseCat speaks out against 'Goth' Halloween costumes
• Mary Rose linked to a bunch of awesome Halloween makeup tutorials

If you've made it this far down, I visited a haunted corn maze last weekend and it was fantastic. They put a lot of effort into it. We got lost several times only to be chased back by some horror (The chainsaws...*shudders*) and I was suitably terrifed. Not to mention it was only $8. Let me tell you, I always recommend haunted corn mazes. Go out searching!

What is everyone dressing up as? I'm going as Cecil from Welcome to Nightvale. My headcannon is more or less the popular one with included third eye and tentacle tattoos. I'm planning an actual cosplay for April so I figured this would get me halfway there. Pictures to come in a few days.

I'm Not Dead! + Book Reviews

I meant to publish this weeks ago, but time is just flying by, what with all the moving preparations. And somehow I've managed to gain followers?? You guys are amazing. My parents sold their business so now we should be ready to go in about a week. I can't wait! Also, thanks to      akumaxkami  for tagging me in the 5 things post~ I already did said post here, but I appreciate the tag ^^ Anyway, today I've got a few quick book reviews for you all.

Runemarks by Joanne Harris

Now I love Norse mythology. This is an undisputed fact. I received a book of Norse myths for Christmas which I reread whenever I'm bored. That being said, any books that are influenced by Norse mythology are quickly snatched up and read. So when Runemarks was suggested to me online I went running to my library. Now this book's plot is convoluted to say the least. BUT in a very good way. You'll start reading it and immediately roll your eyes, thinking that you've already got a good idea of where the characters stand (Heck, even who they really are) only to be completely thrown for a loop. Again and again and again. Another plus is the strong protagonist. The strong girl protagonist. I'm very sick of the weepy pining-after-my-supernatural-love-interest trope that so many books fall into nowadays. Maddy is headstrong, sensible and she feels like a real character. Then there's Loki. Loki. I've rooted for him since I was a kid who thought he just needed a big hug. After that I discovered Marvel comics where I could appreciate him as a good villain, and THEN those darn movies came out where he really needs a hug and should stop looking so damn gorgeous. I never wanted to jump the God of Mischief till Tom Hiddleston came around. Where I'm going with this, is that Loki is actually written as a sympathetic character and he's written really well. You don't trust him, but you can emphasize with him. All in all it's a great book with a unique take on Norse mythology. And it throws in plenty of goblins and magic to boot.

The Alienist by Caleb Carr

We could call this book historical crime fiction I suppose, considering it bases a lot of the premise around real people and places. The book primarily follows psychologist (Or "alienist" as he's known back then) Dr. Lazslo Kriezler and reporter John Moore with their investigative team as they attempt to solve a string of gruesome murders in New York. They're somewhat of an experiment, considering the group attempts to stay disconnected from the city's corrupt police force and use new, unproven methods such as psychology and fingerprinting to catch their killer. Said killer has been targeting immigrants, young boys who have turned to prostitution in order to support themselves, and he's leaving quite a mark on the city. This is another book that will keep you guessing until the end, as its easy to jump to conclusions pertaining the evidence they have until they uncover more. As far as characters go, they're all very life-like, from the eccentric and seemingly detached Kriezler, to the gritty down to earth Moore, and best of all, determined, independent Sarah who is the first woman hired by the police force. The book explores some of the more violent aspects of humanity and delves into the nature of insanity so I feel obliged to warn you that it's very graphic at times. Still, it's one of the most gripping stories I've encountered as of late.

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

It seems I just wanted to bring you gruesome books today. Because the last book might be psychologically unnerving, but it doesn't even come close to the level of gore in this one. Not to mention, this book isn't exactly lacking in the 'psychologically terrifying' aspect either. Mr. Yancey certainly knows how to evoke horror. However, this book is more than just blood and guts and the blend of good characters, plot, and stomach churning descriptions makes for an exciting read. Will Henry's parents worked for Dr. Warthrop before they died and now he has been left under the Doctor's care. 'Care' being the subjective term here as the Doctor might be brilliant, but he's cold and severely lacking when it comes to taking care of himself, let alone others. In fact, it's hard to see why Will Henry maintains such dedication to the Doctor when he drags him into his dangerous research and yet barely spares him a passing glance. It's only when you see those brief flashes of humanity in the Doctor that you even find him a character worth liking. The Doctor is a 'Monstrumologist' who devotes himself to researching horrifying creatures that people assume only exist in their imaginations. Now a group of Anthropophagi is terrorizing the town (And just you wait till you find out what an Antropophagi is) and the Doctor has taken it upon himself to rid the town of the nasty creatures. Which isn't as easy as it sounds. Not to mention, he has to figure out how in the world they reached New England in the first place. With Will Henry bravely trailing along behind him they resolve to reach the bottom of this mystery.

In other news, how about that 12th doctor? I for one, am ridiculously happy with the choice. I don't know much about Peter Capaldi, but from what I've seen he seems perfect for the role. I'm also glad that we've got an older doctor again, because maybe we can finally escape the whole female-companion-who-serves-as-the-damsel-in-distress trope. Probably not though, considering that's mostly Moffat. He can't write strong women to save his life. I never minded people falling in love with the doctor before he came along (in fact, I enjoyed it) because at least they were strong characters in their own right who had their own motivations and didn't just exist to stroke the doctor's ego. Honestly though, I'm not surprised that Moffat can't write good female characters considering all of the misogynistic tthings he says aout women on a daily basis...*takes a deep breath*

Anyway, I've made much progress on my mask! It's finished, though I have to find a good material to black out the eyes that still enables me to see well, which could be a problem but I'll figure it out.

And I've got to dirty it up of course.

Book Suggestions~ Forbidden Game, Night Circus, Haunting of Hill House

Books, books, books. I believe literature may actually occupy 90% of my brain. I've got this enormous list of things to recommend to everyone sitting on my computer and I doubt it'll ever reach it's end considering I'm constantly adding to it.

 The first one I've got today is actually a YA book. I don't read a huge amount of these, (Or, correction, I don't normally like a lot of these. The same overused tropes left and right...) but this book has been one of my favorites for years. It's called Forbidden Game by L. J. Smith and though technically it's three books I have the collected edition. I have a hunch the creativity of the series in not making it like any other paranormal romance is because it was written before Twilight hit the market. (When everyone started emulating that in varying degrees.)

 
In the book, Jenny is convinced by a white-haired stranger at a store to buy a game for her party. She does so, but when she and her friends go to play it they invoke a rune which drags them into the game. The stranger from the store is there and introduces himself as Julian. He says that they've all agreed to play this game, and therefore must do as he says if they want to live. They have 24 hours to navigate the house and face their fears or they're trapped here forever. When asked what his motivation is, he claims that he's in love with Jenny, that he's watched her for years. He's a 'Shadow man', an ancient race of beings who've always made deals and played games with humans. Basically, I can't go into much more detail without spoiling certain plot twists, and the next two books can't really be explained until you've finished the first one, so you'll have to trust me ;)

I like the atmosphere and places in the book. They've got the sort of fantastical elements that I love in a setting, but there are very dark undertones lying under the surface, especially in some of Julian and Jenny's conversations. As far as characters go, Jenny always annoys me in the beginning. She's weak and bends to everything her boyfriend says. However, her development through the books has her change into a strong, independent girl who I can actually respect. (Even if a few of her choices make me want to cry) Her circle of friends all have their quirks and I found them all interesting enough to like, other than Tommy her boyfriend. Julian of course, is my absolute favorite. I have a tendency to like the villains, but I've always especially loved him. Some aspects of his personality are enough to make you want to hit him through the book, but I guarantee that if you don't like him in the beginning you'll like him by the end.

The end of this series actually upset me nearly to tears,  but there's hope for me yet. The author has said she's working on a sequel series, which will be targeted at adults and that makes me extraordinarily happy.

The second book I have for you is The Night Circus. I'm sure you've all seen this on the shelves, or if you follow Jillian Venters on Tumblr she's alluded to it several times. The plot of this book becomes rather convoluted, much of it is a mystery throughout the novel. It revolves around two magicians, who place a bet that their apprentices are capable of defeating the other in a sort of competition. They spend years training them, but the apprentices aren't told who the other is, or even what the competition is. The setting is to be the Night Circus. A circus that 'arrives without warning' and sets up quickly in whatever location it's arrived at. It's open at night and inside the color scheme is entirely black and white. There are wonders inside that you couldn't even dream up. (The author of this has one of the best imaginations I've ever encountered) The circus ends up gaining a cult following, The 'Reveurs', who wear a splash of red to identify one another, and attempt to predict where the circus will go next. And under all of the mystery and fantastical elements of the circus (Supported by magic, though no one realizes) there's the ongoing battle between these two apprentices.

There's not much else I can say, other than that the whole book held me in rapture. The settings, the people, they were all so delightfully decadent that it had me aching for a real life 'Night Circus' to pop up and let me in ^^ The story is rather slow-paced, but in my opinion the atmosphere makes up for it entirely. Of course that might not be the case for everyone so I'm giving you a little warning that the plot is certainly not the fastest moving one around.

Finally, the third book is The Haunting of Hill House. This one was published in 1959 and it's the sort of Gothic style horror I really enjoy. The book is generally considered one of the greatest ghost stories ever written, and I tend to agree. The author uses psychologically frightening tactics to slowly build up suspense throughout the book. There's no gore or graphic violence, everything is extraordinarily subtle, and you won't realize many of the significant hints until later on. As far as the plot's concerned it's not very complicated. A doctor is conducting a study on the so called paranormal activity witnessed at Hill House. He invites people to come and participate, based on their previous experiences with paranormal events. Only two young women accept, and the heir to the house joins them. As they stay in the house they begin to experience small disturbances, which gradually escalate the longer they remain. The climactic event has been hinted at subtlety throughout the book and the ending was not anything I expected. The ending is actually fairly ambiguous, I'm not even sure which of the two possibilities I believe in more strongly.

The characters in the book aren't very likeable in my opinion. Eleanor is full of self-pity, Theodore is brash and irritating, Luke is fairly spineless, and Dr. Montague is a bit patronizing. But it's the makeup of all of their psyches and the exploration of them that further enhances the book and the events in it. The nonsensical conversations between the characters might seem unrealistic at times, but it only adds to the atmosphere.

Finally, a little question for you all. Have any of you been watching Vikings? Because it's fantastic. I'm a bit of a history buff and I was worried they would mangle all the Norse myths and culture, (Not to mention, I've got a personal stake because I'm Swedish and rather proud of my heritage) but I think they've been doing a wonderful job. I love Ragnar because he manages to be both soft-spoken and intimidating, (Also, he's got gorgeous eyes) Lagertha is a kick-ass shield maiden, and Aethelstan (The captured monk) is just adorable. I'm going to full heartedly recommend this show to anyone who hasn't been watching.

Plus come on. Look at that braided mowhawk.
Obviously vikings were the original punks ;)

All Dressed Up with Nowhere to Go

Well, except school that is. I just woke up with this inexplicable urge to get really dressed up today, no occasion necessary. Of course, it would be nice to have such an occasion, but I'll make due with classes. And the shallow want of compliments from my wonderful friends. I've only worn this jacket once so I thought it was time to dig it out of my closet and pair it with my favorite (and only)  poofy dress.  I don't go over the top a lot because let's face it, the more goth you look, the more attention you're going to get, positive and negative. I've always been a reserved person, and I don't really appreciate a lot of said attention, but over the years I've grown a thick skin and come to appreciate compliments even more when they're given.  So on occasion, I put on a brave face and wear something really fun because you shouldn't let people's opinions stop you from wearing what you like.

I have no idea why I don't wear this jacket more.

 If you're wondering if my hair looks a little floofier than normal that's because I crimped it yesterday, and now have this lovely texture left over to work with. I love how malleable my normally pin straight and uncooperative hair became after I crimped it so you can expect to see my hair like this more often.

I'm not sure if you can tell, but I have a small pustule just on the edge of my nose piercing. When it first popped up I fell into complete despair because my mom told me when I got my piercing that if it became infected I would be paying for antibiotics, and trust me when I say I don't have that kind of money. I did some research though and to my utter relief it turned out it was hypertrophic scarring. Which made perfect sense because I had snagged my piercing and yanked it really hard (and very painfully) a few day prior. The trauma would have been enough to cause it, and it's fairly common from what I can tell. I kept cleaning with sea salt like normal and started putting diluted tea tree oil on it at night and it's already receded a lot. Another week and I expect it to be gone completely.

Let's see... My new Docs showed up and I've begun the oh so fun process of breaking them in. (With only a few blisters as casualties) I've also started reading Terry Pratchett's Discworld series which is a bit daunting considering the 30+ books, but I've decided that if I were a "hero" Rincewind would probably be me and I've formed a severe attatchment to Death, who has a wonderful habit of talking in SMALL CAPS and is absolutely hilarious. The books are so full of satire I couldn't possibly put them down if I tried.

And finally, take a look at my nails! My mom got me these for Christmas and you can't even tell that they're stickers. They're fantastic, now even my fingernails have fishnets.

Good Omens and The Lies of Locke Lamora

Surprise, surprise I've got more book recommendations! No vampires this time I'm afraid. Just thieves and angels and demons, which honestly should satisfy all of you ^^

I'm going to start with the one that's more likely to have been read by everyone. I read it years ago myself, but forgot just how wonderful it really was. It's going on here simply for the benefit of those who have possibly never read it, *gasp* and hopefully some of you haven't because then I won't feel like I'm babbling. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (See? The names alone should ensure that most have you have picked up this lovely book) is about a demon and angel. They've been thwarting and manipulating and blessing and the like for thousands of years and have come to grow very fond of earth, and through extension of an arrangement they have, each other. So when the Apocalypse looms near they're hardly pleased, to say the least. Of course, they can hardly go against the ineffable plan can they? They're likely to be roasted by their respective superiors if they do anything that screams blatant interfering. So of course the only option is to subtlety manipulate the Antichrist from childhood so that no apocalypse is ever triggered. And then of course, someone goes and loses the Antichrist.

I'm afraid I don't know who to credit this lovely fanart to.

Throw in the four motorcycle riding horsemen of the apocalypse and the prophesies of some nutty witch and you're in for one wacky book that's a bit of reminiscent of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. (Albeit, even more fantastic.) The plot alone is enough to read this book for, but then you've got Crowley (The suave demon, who didn't so much fall as saunter vaguely downwards, with the snakeskin shoes and strange tendency to hiss when overexcited) and Aziraphale, (the dear, dusty, bookish angel) who exchange banter that makes you want to fall over in a fit of giggles. Basically, I might have been wasting my time by typing all of this, but it's completely worth it because on the slim chance you've really never read this then you need to pick it up pronto. You won't be disappointed.

The next book is called The Lies of Locke Lamora and it's about a thief. Or, I suppose more a small group of con artists who steal for the fun of it. Locke is the leader of this little gang, called The Gentlemen Bastards, and he's been living on the streets since he was small. There are two storylines in the book; the one that outlines Locke's past and how he became a first rate thief and "The Thorn of Camorr", and the other dealing with the huge scam their pulling at the moment. Of course, this book has plots within plots, so when the mysterious Gray King begins terrorizing the criminals of the city Locke is bound to get caught up in the convoluted schemes. My favorite part of the book was the world it was set in. The old city houses wonder upon wonder, the beautiful image hiding the underlying cruelty, where bloody shark fights are an everyday sport and unattended children are sold into slavery left and right. Alchemy has huge sway as does the worship of several Gods. Think alien, medieval Venice.

Well there you are! Two new books to read and I hope you enjoy them if you haven't read them already. Here's my outfit post for today~

****If you've no interest in Batman- movies, comics or otherwise, then here is a good place for you to stop reading because I'm about to rant a little about pretty villains ;)

So I was just rewatching Batman Begins. Partly because it's a really good movie, partly because I'm obsessed with the Batman franchise, and partly because oh dear is Dr. Crane pretty. I mean, really. And that dark hair and those glasses? Instant crush from the moment I saw him. It doesn't help that Scarecrow is so close to rivaling Joker for my favorite comics villains of all time and that he's so psychologically fascinating. (I love his back story too. Villains always have such depth compared to the heroes don't you think?)

Anyway, I'd forgotten how much I really loved Nolan's new, darker and realistic take on the franchise. I love how he set the movie when Crane is just starting out on his path to becoming Scarecrow with the early experiments. Though I'm always disappointed that he doesn't have more scenes, what with Ra's Al Ghul being the focus. It's such a shame there are only three movies. I would have loved to see The Riddler redeemed after *shudders* Jim Carey played him.... And same goes for Mr. Freeze, because Arnold Schwarzenegger? Was that really necessary? Of course, with Heath Ledger's unfortunate passing Harley will remain out of the movies, but there were opportunities for so many other villains. Oh well I've always got my lovely comics~

Books with Bite: The Historian

Ok so by now we really know that I'm a sucker for a good vampire book/film. Especially if that vampire's name happens to be Lestat, the lovely Brat Prince. But I digress. Anything that references Dracula is obviously going to be snatched up by me (Bloodline for one, which I genuinely enjoyed. And reviewed! *cough*) so when I found The Historian in my school library I had to read it. It has quickly become a favorite.

Plot: The plot is beyond intricate that's for sure. A hunt for Dracula seems pretty straightforward, but all the traveling and delving into history that the respective characters do makes your head spin at times. The storyline is split into three main segments and it jumps around three characters' point-of-views. One is the daughter, who finds her father's letters and begins to learn about the tragedy that befell him as he sought Dracula. The second is of the father's history professor, who began the quest long before and gave up when he realized the danger. The third, (and the majority of the book) is the tale of the father's own long quest to find the now missing professor, uncovering deadly secrets and being hunted along the way. Unfortunately, the ending is a bit anticlimactic after all of the wonderful buildup, but everything else makes up for that.

Characters: The characters have very complex, developed personalities and I never dislike any of them (A huge bonus) The only complaint I have here is that perhaps the emotions of the characters tend to be a bit muted at times. There are exceptions, but sometimes their feelings seem sort of...detached? All the same, I liked all of the characters that you were meant to. I loved the portrayal of Dracula in particular.

Setting: Well she really nailed this one. The elaborate descriptions of every place they visited took my breath away. I felt like I was actually there experiencing things firsthand, and it definitely encouraged my interest in seeing more of Europe beyond Sweden.

Romance: Yes! A book that doesn't just focus on the romance between the characters. Don't get me wrong, I love a good romance, but I'm so sick of it being the focus of every book currently written. This was a nice change. A few small scenes, nothing huge that takes away from the wonderful vampire-tracking plot. And they're all meaningful relationships! Hurray!

Additional Details: Being a bit of a history enthusiast, all of the tidbits thrown in about various cultures and the focus on Constantinople made me squeal with delight. It's ridiculously accurate and detailed when it comes to the backgrounds of the people and cities they travel to. I learned so many things about Europe that I'd never even heard of before. Also, you hear bits of history from many different points of view. You recognize the bias some of the characters have, and can understand where it comes from. Then, there are moments where the history is told plainly, no sugar-coating, but not dehumanizing Dracula himself, as some adaptations have tended to do. Yes, he was a monster, but at some point he was very human. (We're speaking fictional vampire Dracula here) Everyone always talks about Dracula the Vampire. What about Dracula the soldier? Or Dracula the child and political hostage?

Also, this is either a bonus or a warning depending on the mood you're in, but this book is huge. Huge. I'm a really fast reader, but this took me a lot longer than normal. So if you're looking for something a bit more substantial to last you, this is the book for you.

So summary. Really good book. Completely recommended. Lots of vampires. Go read!

Xmas Haul

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! (Or any other holiday you celebrate) Normally, mine turns into a day of watching screens, as I always have this urge to see if I can beat the video games I've received in record time. (This year's winner being Resistance 2 which is a fantastic game, though not as good as the first one) So this year's haul...

Because I love the Joker. The Killing Joke is a classic after all.

Norse myths because of my Swedish heritage and love of Loki <3
And Edgar Allen Poe because those Barnes and Noble leather-bounds are gorgeous.
Now to get Sherlock Holmes and The Picture of Dorian Gray.

This little voodolls name is Siouxsie. She's "an old school
Goth who rejects conformity".
I love my parents ^^

A talking Dalek because it's adorable. And a Converse
piggy bank. When I opened it I thought they had only gotten me one shoe XD

The original Addams family! And a fishnet hoodie from my family in Sweden.

 

A Tones on Tail record I was eying in the record store and a
collection of 80s songs.

Bringing back my love of Loki. Marvel movie-verse this time ^^

Finally, The Hobbit because I haven't read it since 4th grade and desperately
want to see the movie. And a bracelet made out of bass strings. Isn't that neat?

Of course, there are a few things I didn't get. My Sherlock shirt, (The one The Infamous Blujay was wearing in the picture Jillian Venters put up on her Tumblr) a slytherin scarf, colored contacts, and a spiked collar being the things I didn't receive. So now I know what to spend my remaining money on ^^

I'm going to go see The Hobbit soon. I am so excited. For anyone out there that's already seen it, how was it?

A Crash Course in Dystopian Novels

If anyone really hasn't figured it out yet, I spend a ridiculous chunk of my time reading books. Books have been my best friend ever since I was the super shy "weird" kid in elementary school. I may have grown out of that extreme shyness, (or been forcibly pulled out by my best friend) but my love of books certainly hasn't diminished.  All throughout elementary school instead of bothering to talk to people that I thought cared about things that didn't matter I immersed myself in books. I read all of the Harry Potter books save the last two (which weren't out yet) in 1st grade in one week and it wasn't odd for me to finish a book a day (And still isn't.) I think I my love of Dystopian novels though, started in 5th grade when I read The Giver.

What is it about Dystopian novels that fascinate people so much? For me, it's the realm of possibilities they open up in  our future. I'm not trying to be pessimistic, but I don't have much faith in the human race and these books show some of the things that could happen if we let them. Yes, they the exaggerate problems in societies that could be our downfall, but there's a grain of truth in all of them. They're different, they make you stop, think, and consider what human nature is.

A Dystopian novel that most everyone would recognize nowadays is The Hunger Games because of it's sudden popularity. Another one might be the Uglies series or Unwind, a book I bought a few months back where teenagers can be "unwound" and their organs donated if they cause too much trouble for their parents. However, if you have an interest in Dystopian novels and want a list of books to get started with here are some more I suggest. A sort of crash course on the more well-known ones.


1984 by George Orwell

This is definitely one of the big names when it comes to dystopian books. I find the writing style a bit dry personally, but it's still a good book and should be included because of it's fame/infamy. When it came out in 1948 people were shocked and horrified, with good reason. The world it painted was one of bleak totalitarian control and constant war and that wasn't even the worst of it. The "Party" watches everything and everyone. They control the past and even your very thoughts. Thinking something even slightly rebellious is known as 'thoughtcrime' and is the worst of all misdeeds. And Big brother is always watching.


The Giver by Lois Lowry

Yes, technically it's a children's novel, but the themes are still very mature (Considering the things it hints at I'm surprised they let us read it that early...) This is the book we were assigned in 5th grade that got me started on Dystopian books. The book starts out presenting a utopian society and gradually shows how dysfunctional the place really is. In order to eliminate conflict and strife everyone has reverted to 'sameness'. Jonas is chosen to become the next 'Receiver of Memory' who is the only one in the community with access to what life was like before sameness. As he learns more, he's faced with decisions that could change the course of his, or even everyone's lives.


Divergent by Veronica Roth

This is the debut novel of an up and coming Young Adult writer. I figured since The Hunger Games is so popular right now I should include a teen book that's just as good, if not better. There are five factions, each with their own purpose in society. They're Candor (the honest), Erudite (the intelligent),  Amity (the peaceful), Dauntless (the brave), and Abnegation (the selfless). Tris has been raised all her life as Abnegation, but she knows it's not for her. When she takes the aptitude test she learns she is 'Divergent'. The woman giving her the test says to keep it a secret under all circumstances. Later, Tris chooses to join the Dauntless faction where she must fight to stay on top. Amidst her training she discovers that the Erudites are planning something big and that she may be one of the only ones who can stop it.
 

Anthem by Ayn Rand

This is actually far too short to be more than a novella, but it's so full of metaphors and philosophy it might as well be a full book. Ayn Rand certainly knows how to tell a captivating story in a meager 60 pages. The man in this book is little more than a number, but he's not like his brothers. He wants to learn, to think and discover. He learns to love, to experiment, and to rebel against the constrictions around his life. His most important accomplishment is his pursuit of the forbidden word that none may speak. When he discovers it, it changes everything.


Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

This one is another well-known one and my absolute favorite. Probably because it hits pretty close to home.  I love books so much, it pains me to see them in any kind of bad state, so the concept of outlawing and burning them makes me shiver. Ugh. As I've said before, I practically live through my books so I can't imagine much that's more horrifying. In this book the protagonist is a fireman. His job is to respond to calls and burn the books people discover. He's perfectly content with his job and loves being able to help the society this way. After a time though, he grows curious. Why do people become so hysterical when the novels are ripped away? Books are nothing more than inanimate objects and meaningless words. Right?

Some dystopian books I haven't gotten around to reading include The Handmaid's tale, Neuromancer, Iron Heel, The Running Man, The Chrysalids, and Brave New World. Trust me when I say I would have gotten to these long ago if my school library actually had them. (Getting to the public library involves knowing how to drive...)

Well, you have some suggestions. Now go out and read! ^^