Monday Muse: {Movie Review} Catching Fire and A Question

Monday Muse is a weekly blog feature in which I talk about book-related things: review book-to-movie adapation, lists of my favorite heroines, etc. But really, it's just a feature to excuse my random rants so as not to clutter this blog.

Watch the movie trailer HERE. :)

Monday Muse is back, wohooo! <3 I got an announcement two days ago about the release of Catching Fire DVD, so this post is a gentle reminder for those of you haven't watched Catching Fire yet (*gasps* what planet you live in??). Prepare for the attack of fangirl wave! :P

Katniss, remember the true enemy is.

Catching Fire was so awesome that I cried few times in the cinema. And we haven't seen Mockingjay yet,
pffft. Get a grip of yourself, Hilda. Reminding myself that a few times, I shed my tears discreetly and continue ogling Sam Claflin a.k.a Finnick Odair in the big screen. Watching the movie, I was wholly prepared for the awesomeness and thank you, I was not disappointed at all.

This part gripped my heart.

Catching Fire is not my favorite book out of the Hunger Games trilogy. I think it lacks of action, it has unnecessary love triangle, and it has too many Katniss-Gale moments (excuse me, I'm clearly biased on this point). But the director, Francis Lawrence, proved me otherwise. In his hands, Catching Fire is intense, electrifying, and practically crackled with fire. It is simply awesome.

Finnick and his infamous sugar cube scene ;)

The new supporting casts are not disappointed at all. Sam Claflin's appearance may not be what I thought
Finnick would be, but I think he was doing a pretty good job portraying the playful and strong Finnick (his infamous sugarcube scene is one of my most anticipated parts ;) ). Jena Malone as Johanna Mason is wonderful too. I can't help grinning every time I remember how she takes off her clothes in the elevator in front of Katniss, Peeta, and Haymitch. Imagine the discomfort of Katniss. xD

The dresses are as beautiful as ever. I took pleasure looking at the various dresses Effie wears. I guess what we all remember in the end of the movie is her butterfly dress, right? ;) Capitol Couture never cease to amaze me. Katniss' wedding dress and her Mockingjay transformation is really beautiful as well. I just wanted to hug Cinna at that time. *hugs*

On a totally unrelated note, I found out that the designer who design Katniss' gorgeous wedding dress is an Indonesian as well and he has a boutique in my city.  Now I know where I should go for my future wedding dress. ;)

Catching Fire makes me yearn for Mockingjay: Part 1. After a long one and a half year of waiting, it's practically a torture to make us wait for the third movie. I can't wait to see how they turn the book into a movie since the story is much darker and more focused on Katniss' turmoil inside. Spoiler for those who haven't read Mockingjay, highlight to read: I think they will end the movie with the brainwashed Peeta strangling Katniss. OMG THE FEELS. Just thinking about that part makes my heart aches.

Mockingjay: Part 1 is slated for theatrical release on November 21 this year and Mockingjay: Part 2 will be released on November 20, 2015. Oh the waiting!

You can read what to expect on Mockingjay movies in this article.

What do you think of Catching Fire? Are you excited for Mockingjay?

Plus, can you give me a short story recommendation? Do you know any good stories, preferably from a YA author?

Thank you for reading this week's Monday Muse and answering the question! I'll try my best to stay ahead of schedule and blog regularly. :) Happy Monday!

Review: Gone Girl by Gililian Flynn

Title: Gone Girl
Author: Gillian Flynn
Publication Date: January 2013
Publisher: Phoenix
Goodreads

From Goodreads:
On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne's fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick's clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn't doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife's head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media--as well as Amy's fiercely doting parents--the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he's definitely bitter--but is he really a killer? 

As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn't do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?

What are you thinking? How are you feeling? Who are you? What have we done to each other? What will we do?

So I am taking a creative writing class this semester, and the class is using Gotham Writers Workshop: Writing Fiction as the handbook. The handbook is pretty good; it talks about creating desire for your characters and giving them good and bad traits and showing readers that the characters have the ability to change. I was reading Gone Girlat that time, and I was like, “OH.” No wonder there are so many praises for this book.

Because Nick and Amy, the main characters for this book, possess all the quality for good characters in a book. They have desire, they have their own amazing and condemning traits, and we can see how they change throughout the story. They are two of the most intricate characters I’ve ever met, carefully woven and crafted with the most absolute care. There are so many twists in this story that I actually laughed out loud when I reached the second part of the book. I didn’t see it coming and I loved it.

This is the psychological thriller I don’t even know I’m yearning for. It’s too cynical for my taste, yes, but I have to admit that it’s so cleverly written it blew me away. I had hard time putting down this book. I even bring this book everywhere in my bag – thankfully I bought the pocket book edition – and read it between classes. I need to know what actually happen in the mystery. This slow-pacing mystery that almost drove me crazy in the first part of the book.

This book brought me on an emotional turmoil in which I want to hug/smack a character every few pages. Often wishing the actions at the same time. I sympathize Nick then I hate him then I love Amy then I found out everything is not what we were told to believe in. So, yeah. Nick and Amy play a very clever game with a bizarre result. I do think that in a way, they deserve each other. {spoiler, highlight to read} Let’s cross fingers and hope that they won’t slit each other’s throats anytime soon.

Gone Girl may start out seeming like your average story, but I assure you there’s nothing average about this story. It will mess up with your mind in a way, and just like the praise on the back cover of the book: you will feel the urge to beg others to read it, only so you can discuss this book with them. Brilliant and delightfully written, Gone Girl is a must read for anyone looking for great psychological thriller novel.

I was told love should be unconditional. That’s the rule, everyone says so. But if love has no boundaries, no limits, no conditions, why should anyone try to do the right thing ever? If I know I am loved no matter what, where is the challenge?

 4 cups of tea!

Wrecked my mind in a way.

Review: The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

Title: The Truth About Forever
Author: Sarah Dessen
Publication Date: June 2012 (first published May 2004)
Publisher: Speak
Goodreads


 Expect the unexpected.

Macy's got her whole summer carefully planned.

But her plants didn't include a job at Wish Catering. And they certainly didn't include Wes.

But Macy soon discovers that the things you expect least are sometimes the things you need most.

There is never a time or place for true love. It happens accidentally, in a heartbeat, in a single flashing, throbbing moment.

Macy is perfect. She has perfect hair, perfect grades, perfect boyfriend – perfect everything. Maybe her mother works too much, but of course they’re fine, just fine. Her boyfriend, Jason, may seem detached sometimes, but of course they’re fine. It has been one and a half year after her father’s sudden death, and Macy is doing well. She’s fine just fine, thank you.

Is she really?

The Truth About Forever is a book about characters dealing with the sudden death of a loved one, but it is more than that. It is a book about reaching out, accepting mistakes, and following your heart. The Truth About Forever celebrates flaws, and with its lovely storyline, three-dimensional characters, and just the right amount of drama, it’s hard not to love this book.

Truth be told, I think Sarah Dessen follows the same pattern in her stories. Girl having problem – girl meets boy – girl becomes friends with boy – girl runs away – girl having reflection moment – girl confesses to the boy – happily ever after. I might sound a bit snarky here, but really. I love her works. She is a wordsmith and the word she spins turns into gold. Moreover, her characters are so alive I could practically hear their breathing when I was reading her books. I don’t have any problem getting along with any character in this book. The pacing near the ending of the book seems a bit too slow for me, but maybe it’s just me who can’t wait to see Macy and Wes together. The ending is really worth the wait, though. *insert dreamy sigh* Reaching the lovely ending, I feel so rewarded having suffered through all the Macy-Wes misunderstandings.

This is the only YA book I’ve ever read that features characters working in catering business. I like that they’re constantly faced with shrimp chaos or meatball crisis – it gives the story a certain charm. My only complaint about this book might be the slow pacing near the ending and the fact that I was able to predict the story halfway through the ending. But if you’re a fan of Contemporary, or in search of a book with light theme and gorgeous writing to spend your time, The Truth About Forever will be a perfect choice.

We just sat there for a second, none of us talking. In the middle of the clearing, someone was playing with a flashlight, the beam moving across the trees overhead, showing bits and pieces of branches and leaves, a glimpse here and there, then darkness again. I knew that in the last few minutes everything had changed. I'd tried to hold myself apart, showing only what I wanted, doling out bits and pieces of who I was. But that only works for so long. Eventually, even the smallest fragments can't help but make a whole.

4 cups of tea!

Perfect for light reading. ♥

Review: The Killing Woods by Lucy Christopher

Title: The Killing Woods
Author: Lucy Christopher
Publication date: January 7th, 2014
Publisher: Chicken House
Goodreads


From Goodreads:
Fatal attraction, primal fear, survival in the forest: From the author of the Printz Honor Book STOLEN, the highly anticipated thriller about deadly games played in the dark.

Ashlee Parker is dead, and Emily Shepherd's dad is accused of the crime. A former soldier suffering from PTSD, he emerges from the woods carrying the girl's broken body. "Gone," he says, then retreats into silence.

What really happened that wild night? Emily knows in her bones that her father is innocent -- isn't he? Before he's convicted, she's got to find out the truth. Does Damon Hilary, Ashlee's charismatic boyfriend, have the answers? Or is he only playing games with her -- the kinds of games that can kill?

I was trapped, held still by his stare. He could have killed me or kissed me then; I would’ve stayed.

The Killing Woods, like it promises, is a book full of thrill, mystery, and secrets in every page. Fleshed out characters and intricately woven storyline, I found myself blown away simply by reading the first chapter.

The story is told from two alternating POVs, Emily and Damon. Emily is the daughter of an ex-army member who is accused of murdering a young girl, while Damon is the boyfriend of the same particular girl. They are the stark opposite; Emily believes that her dad is innocent despite of what everyone tells her while Damon will do anything it takes to prove that his girlfriend, Ashlee, was killed by Emily’s father. However, nobody actually knows what happened that night. Not Emily’s father who is too unstable to tell the truth. Not even Damon who was too drunk and too high to remember anything about the night he last saw Ashlee alive.

In the woods, there is dangerous game played. The woods keep secret. The secrets might not be so pretty when they come out…

Lucy Christopher knows how to write a crooked character, and I give her applause for that. The Killing Woods, while might fall short to me compared to its predecessor Stolen, is still a very entertaining read. As Emily and Damon put the pieces of puzzle and slowly unravel the truth, I felt my heartbeat quickened as well. I warn you not to read this book at night (like I did!) because it would surely make you jumpy at every little sound. The woods in the story feel tangible and the scenes in the book unfolding very smoothly, almost like scenes from a movie.

This book feels more like a mystery-thriller to me and some of the romantic scenes felt out-of-place. Readers who prefer quick pacing in their books may find this book excruciatingly slow. I don’t mind slow pacing in my books, but sometimes I just hoped that things would quicken up a bit. That doesn’t mean I don’t love reading the author’s long passages – she surely knows how to create strange and thrilling atmosphere in her stories.

For those looking for mystery books with a spice of romance, I recommend this book highly. Although I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would (I blame you skyhigh expectation), The Killing Woods is still a book worth to have in your bookshelf. Intriguing and uncommon, The Killing Woods is a perfect book for fans of contemporary with dark elements tucked inside.

It’s because, whatever I do, I’ll always be Jon Shepherd’s daughter: I’ll always look like Dad. I’m branded for life, can’t wash it away. But what else from Dad am I branded with? What other feelings or parts of his personality have I got?

 4 cups of tea!

Beautiful prose and such thrilling atmosphere.