Let’s Talk Books

Ever wondered if you’ll get another connection to any other series again after Twilight and Harry Potter? Trust me, there are just as wonderful reads beyond those worlds. After reading and obsessing over Stephenie Meyer’s favorite vampire series, I wasn’t sure I was ready to let go and find something else. But then again, I felt that way after I finished the Harry Potter series and I found Twilight by chance.

Here’s what I’ve been reading since Meyer’s books:

Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments

1. The City of Ashes
2. The City of Bones
3. The City of Glass

If you were a Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series fan, then you should be extremely excited over this trilogy. Clare takes you into an underground world full of demons (including vampires and werewolves) and shadow hunters (like Buffy). Of course there’s tragedy, forbidden love, strained friendships, and lost family ties to keep you wanting more.

Suzanne Collin’s Trilogy

1. The Hunger Games (Book 1 of 3)
2. Catching Fire (Book 2 of 3) Debuted September 1, 2009

I just can’t explain the power this book had over me. The means for survival, loyalties, alliances, and cold blood are all depicted here. It’s like Futurama vs. the Great Depression vs. Sparta of America. I LOVED IT. The characters are witty and likeable. There’s a dark humor to all the madness that goes on with the Games and sorrow for all the families watching there kids being murdered with a twist of somewhat a love story. If I thought The Hunger Games left me wanting more, after I finished Catching Fire I was dying at the edge of my seat. To think we have to wait another year for the 3rd book. Well worth it and well written.

Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians

1. The Lightening Thief
2. The Sea of Monsters
3. The Titan’s Curse
4. The Battle of the Labyrinth
5. The Last Olympian

I read all 5 books within 1.5 weeks. A twist on mythology and current times packed with so much adventure and action that you wouldn’t want to stop! I adored the humor in this series and the hero and heroine reminds me so much of the beloved Harry Potter characters. It’s endearing! As I watched Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince in theater’s this summer, I saw a preview for The Lightening Thief coming out next February 2010! Look out!

Audrey Niffenegger’s The Time Traveler’s Wife

I recently read this novel right before the motion picture. I must say, it’s something anyone in love or ever in love must read. In my opinion I would say this was a tragic love story. I think I cried twice while reading. I recommend the movie too, but you have to understand to keep your expectations low. I would say that for all movies based on novels. They can never make movies long enough or to the exact detail as books. I’ll take it as it is. Besides, I’m a big fan of Rachel McAdams and she played Clare marvelously.

Upcoming books:

September 15, 2009 – Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol release! Get ready for more adventures and mysteries with professor Robert Langdon!

Linkin Park – New Divide

I love the idea of Linkin Park and Transformers!  This new video for the movie is wicked. Thanks, Joe Hahn.

The official music video for “New Divide,” filmed on the set of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, directed by Joe Hahn. Get the song at iTunes now. The soundtrack from the film is in stores 6/23. (..from myspace)

Because I can’t embed a myspace video here is one I found on youtube.com. I guess I was a little late on the release.

13 more days!

So You Think You Can Dance? Season 5

Season 5 started off awesome! The top 20 this year are pretty amazing dancers. I had my reserves after the ballet dancer Alex Wong didn’t make the cut because he was still in contract with the Miami ballet company.  I just really wanted to see him represent and dance! I’ve always enjoyed ballet. I do hope he comes back after his contract is up.

Anyway, seeing the Top 20, fresh and made up with new dance routines was exciting! I think they did an amazing job, except the broadway routine danced by Asuka and Vitolio. Although they danced it technically correct, they didn’t have the chemistry or broadway charisma. I’m afraid for them tomorrow after seeing everyone else dance. My favorite for the night was Melissa and Ade’s contemporary number choreographed by Mandy. I admit, contemporary is my favorite.

Cheers,
amy

Yen & Indra’s Wedding

May 23, 2009 was my sister’s wedding. From the outsider guest looking in, it was a fun wedding. (Pretty too.) I was on the inside, maid-of-honor to be exact. I was hustling and bustling for 4 days straight, that by wedding day, I was exhausted! Is that always the case? It’s my first time being in a wedding. We, the wedding party, all were exhausted for the most part and thought it was the most horrible thing ever. “Unorganized Vietnamese weddings are the worst!”, we said. I’m not going to lie, I was rather traumatized and scared out of marrying, if I were to be next. (Am I?) “Whatever you do, don’t come home to have the wedding!”, my sister said. (Deal.)

As much as we were exhausted, cranky, overwhelmed and fed up, the feedback from the guests stating how much fun they had, made the horrors worthwhile almost. And when you think about it, the civil ceremony was beautiful, the photography session was romantic and fun, our guests had tons of good food and booze and there was live music. How awful could that have been? Not at all.

I’m truly happy for them and their honeymoon to Maui, HI was so much deserved. (Very jealous.) Congratulations, guys. I’m happy to have been there and be of assistance, despite it all. That’s what little sisters are for. (Right?)

New Moon Movie Trailer

Apparently, I was so engrossed in homework and studying that I didn’t realize the trailer was released during the MTV movie awards on Sunday! I was actually sitting here reviewing my notes and studying when I heard the trailer from across the room. Ray pulled it up and was watching it. I’m so attuned that the familiarity of the trailer made me sprint over to his chair. After a few squeaks, squalls and few more repeats of the trailer, I composed myself to write this post and share with you this AWESOME new trailer. Looks like they grossed enough money from Twilight to make New Moon even better! I loved how they had Jacob transform into a wolf, even makes me like him.

Anyway, ENJOY!

Toodles,
amy

Hello 2009

I’m back from my hiatus. The end of 2008 was a little rough for me, but I started the new year fresh and resilient as ever! Here are some highlights from October 2008-June 2009.

Twilight the Movie.
Happy THREE years (3.5 June 20th) to Ray and I.
Snowboarding.
New Years with the family.
Photography.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.
Moving in with Ray-March 1st!
The Mortal Instrument series by Cassandra Clare.
My Sister’s Bridal Shower.
My Sister’s Wedding.
Summer in School Bites.

I’m in the process of redesigning my blog and will add more fun reads and photos to it along with questions/discussions of the day! Between nursing school, work, and LIFE really, it’s become a slow working process. Aside from the highlights above to discuss, here are summer movies’ and books’ dates I’m watching for so far:

6.24.09 Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen
7.15.09 Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Movie (moved up btw!)
9.01.09 Book 2: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

More on all the above later.

Toodles,
amy

Twilight TV Trailers

If you thought the third and final trailer had a lot, this 30-something second trailer got MORE, including the Port Angeles scene where Edward saves Bella and more. I have yet to see it on TV but I definitely see the movie posters at the movie theaters. Thanks MAR for that one. Enjoy!

Edit to add yet another TV trailer. Bella is totally kissing Edward in her underwear. (Hahaha, nice.) Thanks to reader: Jenny, for pointing the second one out. Again, Enjoy!

Edward and Bella Alternate Songs

Every time I hear this song, it reminds me of Twilight. What is it about vampires that give it the rock, alternative, indie, metal-punkish, type of music? Anyway, I’d dedicate this to Twilight, and would love to hear it in the movie.

Never too late – Three Days Grace

For New Mood or Eclipse:

All around me – Flyleaf

And if vampires had an R&B, hip hop, edge to them, I’d recommend for New Moon:

No Air – Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown

*Sigh* I’m still sad about the whole Midnight Sun thing, but I’ll get over it. Right now, I’m still obsessed like the rest of the world. It’s funny, I was reading at Borders today and Twilight was brought up at least twice in other people’s conversation.

Midnight Sun

I’m sad. I was whole-heartedly anticipating on Midnight Sun being published, finished, and bound next to my Twilight series, but some untrustworthy jerk faces decided to post the partial draft all over the internet, thus upsetting the author. She wrote her comments here. The upside was that she did share the 264 partial draft on her site, but it didn’t quench my reading thirst. I would read the ENTIRE series in a flash in Edward’s point of view, even knowing how the story plays out. There’s so much more on his side, scenes included and lots and lots of other’s opinions. I bet you it was difficult to write, but I’m grateful for it none-the-less. I do hope in the future after a few years, Stephenie Meyer, will continue Midnight Sun and not have it indefinitely put off. After finishing the 264 pages, I had to reread the Edward scenes in all the books, imagining now his thoughts. After finishing the 264 pages, I was so sad because it ended RIGHT BEFORE THE GOOD PART, which was “Confessions” in the meadow. Patience will be rewarded right? I really hope so. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to read it in Edward’s point of view down to the very end of forever and forever.

Anyway, I recommend the Twilight fans going to her site and pulling up the Midnight Sun draft, before, like she said, they find the illegal versions elsewhere.

Sigh. I can never get enough, even after Breaking Dawn. It’s probably because I didn’t get to finish Midnight Sun.

HP Movie 6 Prolonged & Twilight Movie Moved Up!

According the Stephenie Meyer’s post yesterday on her website, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince movie will be moved to next summer and the movie Twilight will be moved up to November 21st, in Harry Potter’s place. This however, has nothing to do with the proximity of the original release. Some of you may remember that this is a common thing for Warner Bros to do this to the Harry Potter films. They’re constantly being delayed left and right. That just means more years of Harry Potter. I dig it.

I apologize for my week+ of absence after my birthday post. I’ve been enjoying my vacation prior to starting school. I do have some Las Vegas, NV reviews to make and craptastic movies to dish about when I’m done being lazy. These movies’ release information just couldn’t wait.

-Amy