Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 Movie Review

After all this time?

Always.

Do they have to rub it in?

Title: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2

Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Director: David Yates
Based on: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
IMDb rating: 8,1/10
Rotten tomatoes rating: 96% (Wow.)
My rating: The first thing I thought the morning after watching it: Can I see it again?

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 Movie Review

This is mental.

Completely mental.

The world's mental.

Title: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1
Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Director: David Yates
Based on: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
IMDb rating: 7,7/10
Rotten tomatoes rating: 78%
My rating: Story time down below.

Hunger Games Rollercoaster, Dark-Skinned Hermione, and An Alive-and-Kicking Fourtris?

There have been three interesting mainstream developments in the YA movie and now also theatre industry. Some of you might already guess some of the things I'm pointing towards. Here's another hint: it are my three most mainstream and beloved fandoms that contain some of my favorite young heroines: the Hunger Games, Harry Potter, and Divergent. Guessed it yet? No? Let me clarify.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Movie Review

But I am the Chosen One.

Title: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Director: David Yates
Based on: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
IMDb rating: 7,5/10
Rotten tomatoes rating: 83%

My rating: Do you mind if I take this? I do love good movies.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Movie Review

Obviously.

Title: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy

Director: David Yates

Based on: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

IMDb rating: 7,5/10

Rotten tomatoes rating: 79%

My rating: 870 pages book x 2 hours and 18 minutes movie x (good director + awesome actors + amazing plot) = Job Done

I'm so impressed they managed to get this right, despite the complex story line and the size of the book. Naturally, it's not as good as the book by a long shot, but I had a good time watching this movie.

The Book Thief Book Review

One unhappy evening, I decided to pick up my first book post-Potter. There were only three books I felt like reading really. 1. Winter by Marissa Meyer, which was still on its way to me from the publisher. 2. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, because that just seemed like the most obvious choice after You-Know-What. 3. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, because it was something entirely different and I needed that. I made the right choice.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fiyah Movie Review

I love magic.

Title: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fiyah

Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy

Director: Mike Newell

Based on: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

IMDb rating: 7,6/10

Rotten tomatoes rating: 88%

My rating: I <3-ed it.

Post-Potter Depression and How to Get Rid of It

Even though I have not been with Harry throughout my childhood, that doesn't mean I don't suffer when one of my favorite series ever ends. I'm lucky I still have six movies to watch, otherwise I would feel even worse. So this post is dedicated to Post-Potter Depression and how I'm planning to get rid of it. Even though this advice is probably, like six to ten years too late for most of you, I hope younger readers can take something away from this. (Spoilers for the entire Harry Potter series by the way.)

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Movie Review

I did my waiting.

Twelve years of it.

In Azkaban.

Title: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Based on: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
IMDb rating: 7,8/10
Rotten tomatoes rating: 91%

My rating: Turn to page 394 (I'm quoting, so yes, I approve)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Book Review

The five stages of finishing the Harry Potter series:

1. Reading the last sentence.

2. Smiling, with tears still shimmering on your cheeks.

3. Closing the book.

4. Realizing that tomorrow you won't be able to pick up the next one, because there is no next one, and that you will have to live on... And that you really want to start again from the beginning, but you're TBR is still lurking in the corner of your mind...

5. Realizing Post-Potter Depression is as real as life.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

This was all I wanted from this series, and despite feeling more depressed than ever right now, I'm happy I read it.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Book Review

So I knew it was coming. Did it hurt any less? Absolutely not. But I do think people honestly don't give this book enough credit. It's about more than just WHAT HAPPENED. That being said, I'm hereby going to spoil Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince for you. I am going to spoil one of the most shocking things that has happened in the Harry Potter series in mere seconds. Ready? You will feel sorry for Malfoy.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Book Review

This book is amazing. Yes, it's the size of a baby elephant, but still. It doesn't feel long. Despite my urges to strangle some characters and my weeping over the misery of others, I loved it. Every single page of it.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

I think in this book J.K. Rowling really adds extra layers to the story. Every aspect of it is given more detail and I can't really find anything that's wrong with the Order of the Phoenix. It surprised me multiple times and left me in shock, and in the end, tears.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Book Review

You know when you read the first couple of chapters of a book in a series you love, and you realize that from this point on, sh!t gets real and people are going to drop dead? That is this book. The Dark Mark is in the sky and we start with an old dead man and a giant snake? Yep, we're dead.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

Side note: I didn't actually read the French version of this book. (I wish my French was good enough for that.) This is a tribute to the victims of the terrorist attack in Paris last Friday. My condolences go to all the family members, friends, and neighbors of the deceased.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Movie Review

Oh, movies from THIS decennium, how I start to miss your improved cameras. But child actors and special effects aside, this is still a very good (and long) movie.

Title: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Director: Chris Columbus
Based on: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
IMDb rating: 7,4/10
Rotten tomatoes rating: 82%
My rating: Yay, the end battle was longer! The basilisk was ugly though.

November

It is time. The magical month of November has arrived and I'm already dying to dig into it. Because November, for me, means multiple slices of awesomeness. Some I'm just excited for for the sake of excitement because I won't be getting to them until forever.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Book Review

J.K. Rowling, you manage to make me squeal and scream in the middle of the night already with a book where everyone survives. Should I be scared of your skills or invite you to join my authors dream team?
This is definitely my favorite this far. The plot twists are amazing, the conflict and fear made me turn the pages like my life depended on it (which it kind of did), and world building is (as I've surely mentioned before) magical.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

My Generation Hates Harry Potter

I read a fair bit of the Harry Potter series in my breaks during school (and every other possible moment). So during my brief half-an-hour visits to Hogwarts in the hallways of my own Muggle school, I noticed two things: 1. Some of my teachers seems like the Muggle versions of the Hogwarts teachers. 2. My generation does not like this important piece of modern-day literature.

The Post-Potter Generation: a Discussion

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Book Review

In the wise words of the Screenjunkies: "The one everyone hates." With an average rating of 4,32 stars on Goodreads, which would be awesome for every other book series, it is the least liked book in the Harry Potter franchise. I actually liked this one a lot.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

The conflict and the plot twists and just everything in this masterful piece of fiction. I can't even begin to describe the complete awesomeness of these novels. Even though I already know this will not be my favorite in the series, I did not hate it whatsoever. I feel like this book made me feel the right things, even though they weren't always nice.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Movie Review

Okay, Potterheads, let me join you! Good books and good movies? I'm in.

Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Director: Chris Columbus
Based on: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
IMDb rating: 7,5/10
Rotten tomatoes rating: 80%
My rating: I don't know? Really really good?

You know why the Harry Potter movies, the Hunger Games movies, and the Fault in our Stars work and Divergent and the Maze Runner series' adaptations don't? I have a theory... It's called 'authenticity'. No, seriously Hollywood, why do you think we always say the books are better? We loved the book, so I don't understand why you'd change it so much. Those were the good days, when the movies and the books still matched. Please, try to advertise YA a bit better.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Book Review

Obsessive book loving behavior, I hadn't realized I'd missed you so much! I find myself looking forward to the lunch breaks just to continue reading these book.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

First anniversary of my book obsession

Today, on the 17th of October, it's exactly one year ago I finished Mockingjay for the first time, the last book in the YA trilogy that dragged me into the wonderful world of books again. And because reading these books was a strangely important event in my life, I thought I might as well celebrate it.

Everything I've read so far.

Champion Review

This book broke me into a thousand pieces and managed to do this in its last couple of chapters. Even though this review is two books too late, that doesn't mean I hated this book. It is a perfect conclusion for this series, no matter how heartbroken I felt afterwards.

Champion by Marie Lu

I loved this book. It gave me everything I needed from the last book in this trilogy. Even though it includes a plot twist I will forever be unable to deal with, the ending is very powerful. Forget it. Read the freakin' book and come back here once you're done.

Rating:

5 stars (really more like 4,8)

The Scorch Trials movie review

My first time actually seeing a book to movie adaptation in the theatre. It had to happen at some point, but I could've never seen coming that I would see it with my mother.

Title: Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials
Genre: Action, Sci-fi, Thriller
Director: Wes Ball
Based on: The Scorch Trials by James Dashner
IMDb rating: 7,0/10
Rotten tomatoes rating: 50%
My rating: 8,5/10

I believe there are three kinds of YA book to movie adaptations at the moment:
1. We copy the book, but add some cool sh!t and leave some sh!t out.
2. We keep the characters and the general direction of the story line, but change a lot more and alter the plot.
3. We change everything except for the characters and a small bass of the story line.
In other words:
1. Mockingjay part 1.
2. Insurgent.
3. The Scorch Trials.

Guys, this is soooooo different from the book. I still really liked the movie, though, and I loved the experience I had by going to this movie with my mother.

Prodigy Review

Apparently my on-time Legend review was a rare exception instead of the start of a good habit. But it's almost my fall break (don't know if you guys all have one), so I'll be able to catch up a bit.

Prodigy by Marie Lu

This book was a little harder to get in to for me. I tend to have this problem with sequels of books I love. Already when I open them, something's off. I still loved the characters and the plot was nice and clear. No overly complicated conflicts. Plain and simple. Yes, it has its flaws and featured some of my biggest dystopian pet peeves, but it was good. I felt like it was too long though. Maybe it was just me. It must've been me.

Legend Review

Finally a review that's on time again. I had quite high hopes for this series, and the first book didn't disappoint. I'm currently reading the second one, which is a little harder to get into, but that's probably also because I've seen the Scorch Trials in the cinema and it claims my attention a little. (Movie review is hopefully on its way.) First part of this review has no spoilers, at the second part starts the Killzone.

Legend by Marie Lu

This book is so much fun to read. No heavy character development or fancy writing styles. No overly complicated aliens or confusing time travel powers. Just a simple, fast-paced 300-pager with cool characters and an evil government. I'd almost forgotten how much fun easy, short books were. Don't get me wrong, I live for detailed world building and over-the-top political manipulation in my dystopian trilogies. But sometimes it's just so nice to just read a book that doesn't require my brain to stretch to its extremes. I watched the Scorch Trials, a thrill-fest, I'm waiting for Mockingjay part 2, a movie where everyone dies, and stressing for Allegiant's next trailer, scared of another Insurgent disaster. I needed this exciting box of dystopian action fun.

Shatter Me Trilogy

I promise my next review won't be combined, but school is stealing my life away from me at the moment. Anyway, here's yet another review of an entire trilogy. This time around, I review the Shatter Me Trilogy.

The Shatter Me Trilogy by Tahereh Mafi

I'm gonna be honest with you, it took me some time to get into these pretty little boxes of words. The main character has a lot of character development, which is good, but character development requires a weak start, which requires patients. I don't know if you've noticed, but I don't have 'patients'. I want it and I want it now. The writing style is beautiful and very poetic and unique, but this also kind of placed a gap between me and Juliette. (I'm going to misspell her name so often in this review.) I needed until about half-way through the second book to really like her and root for her. It's a pretty 'artistic' book and I really liked that, so I would say this is actually worth picking up.

The Grisha Trilogy

Am I ever going to write reviews on time again? But I did love love love love love this series. It's one of my new favorites. As usual: first part no spoilers, second part spoilers. Let's do this.

The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo

This is going to be a fangirling review. I LOVED this book so much. The covers are gorgeous, the characters are awesome, and the world is a work of art. It had been a long time since I adored a book so much and wanted to add it to my favorites. (The last one was the Winner's Crime and I read that baby in May.) This series is the highway of emotions I demand from my fiction. I loved everything: the romance, the world, the Russia, the unlimited shipping possibilities, the politics. This book is haunting, worth a reread one day, and will temporarily ruin your life. Do I have to say more?

Fanfiction

Her arms are wrapped around me, warm and familiar, while my world falls apart. The wind has taken control of my hair, sending it dancing over my face and crawling against my mother's chest.
The waves crash against the small boat with so much force I feel like they try to swallow it. Drag it into the depths of this sea and take us with it.
I turn my eyes to the faces around me. Frightened little children holding on to their parents or older siblings. A woman holding her toddler. He can't be much older than three. The grown-ups look like they're made of stone. Ready to be the crosses for our graves in the deep water. They knew. When we stepped onto this floating graveyard, they knew we might not get to our destination. That we could become food for the sea. A sacrifice to the blue. Turn it red.
"Beatrice. Beatrice, are you okay?"
"Yes, mom."
I'm going to die. Six years old and I'm going to die.
"Caleb?" I ask. My voice is tight, unwilling to give away my fear.
"Yeah."
"Can you tell me a story?"
"You can't ask--"
I look him in the eyes, pleading. This one time. This last time.
"Fine. Once upon a time--" he begins.
The women with the boy in her arms starts a story too, and I tune Caleb out and turn to her, hungry for new material. The Abnegation rarely tell stories, but Caleb  used to sneak into my room when I couldn't sleep. When we still had a house. When we were still safe.
The woman talks quietly first, but I manage to catch the words.
"Once, when dragons still lived in the sky and kings still ruled our lands, a boy was born. His father and mother were poor..." It's a folks tale, old, retold over and over by the fire. Whispered into small ears. A tale of a hero.
The wind howls harder and fear finally overcomes me. I hold my mother tighter, my skinny arms like a cage around her waist. Tears stream down my cheeks.
"Mom, I don't want to die."
Can I be forgiven for all I've done to get here?
I want to be.
I can.
I believe it.

How to Read at Night

I personally love midnight reading. (Is that a thing? I want it to be a thing.) And let's admit it, we all love to read in bed, watching the alarm clock hit 00:00, sneaking out of bed to check if we can see the stars, and trying not to sob to loud when our favorite character dies. No matter how important sleep might be, to us, reading will always top it. But many of you, have become helpless prey to parents and fatigue, so let me share some tips with you.

The 5th Wave Review

Yet another late review, but I've been busy this week preparing for school since my vacations ends in four days. Come to think of it, my blogging is probably going to slow down a lot once school's started again. Just like last time, I will have a spoiler free part first and then go into detail in the second half. That's a spoiler warning for those of you who haven't read the 5th Wave yet and are still planning to.

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Precious Stone Trilogy

This review is a bit late, but I had no computer while I was in Germany and had no private place to write a review for every single book. This overall series review is my solution. The first part will be spoilerless. The second will contain spoilers for Ruby Red, Sapphire Blue, and Emerald Green.

The Precious Stone Trilogy by Kerstin Geir. Translated into English by Anthea Bell.

Insurgent movie review

I saw the Insurgent movie a couple of  weeks ago and I really enjoyed it. It's been on my to-blog list for way too long, but now, the time has come. So make yourself comfortable, because this is probably going to take a while.

General update

Since I've not posted anything for about two weeks, because I was in Germany with my family, I will tell you something about what I've done there and in the rest of my summer vacation. Sorry for my neglect - even though considering my page views, I'm practically talking to air.

When nerds go mainstream: a discussion

One Mind

I think books have many qualities that contribute to the entertainment they offer the reader. One of those things is their unpredictability. I want to discuss this part of writing here.

BEWARE: INDICATION OF SPOILERS OVER HERE. With that I mean things like: SPOILER and SPOILER died.

Movie Review Perfect Sisters

Movie: Perfect Sisters
Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Director: Stanley M. Brooks
My Rating: Still not emotionally recovered

Around two days ago, I watched the movie 'Perfect Sisters' and loved it. So I thought I might as well review it for you.

The trailer says it's a horror movie. Not even close. As you know, genres are not my strongest point, but this is more of a drama than a horror movie. Yes, the drowning scene is a little disturbing, but it's not about that.

If you're interested in the real effect of alcoholism and abuse on children, you should definitely watch this movie. It's based on a true story and even though the camerawork isn't as smooth as in big Hollywood productions and sometimes the close-ups are a little weirdly timed, this is worth watching.

First Steps

Okay, I decided to start a blog and now it's finally happening. Only it's not as easy as I thought it would be. In this blog I want to freely talk about the things on my mind (which are mostly books).

Since I have no clue how you add some text to the 'about me' part, I will start with a small introduction: