The Hunger Games

I have a confession. I have a weakness. I have many in fact but this one is probably one of my more forgivable/likeable weaknesses. I'm a bit of a sucker for Young Adult fiction. GASP. You're all so shocked. I can tell. My bookcase is 3 quarters full of books (stacked 3 deep as to leave some room on my bookcase for other things) and amongst those is a little collection of what would be considered young adult fiction. And my most recent addiction to this collection is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

I've been casually observing the fuss over these books via Tumblr for a little while now and after the recent release of the film trailer I became increasingly intrigued. Here's the trailer for any of you who haven't seen it.



Looks kinda interesting right? I'm into it. I'd pay to see it for sure.

So when I saw the books for sale in The Works for £5.99 I snapped a set up (that's £5.99 for all three by the way, mega bargain). I didn't get round to them right away. Had to finish another book first which was taking me a while. But I eventually finished it and delved right in with The Hunger Games.

Let me say straight off the bat, despite being endorsed by the dreadful Stephenie Meyer, The Hunger Games are on a completely different level to the Twilight Saga when it comes to Young Adult fiction. And I can say that with confidence because I have actually read the Twilight Saga so I'm not dissing it because it's cool to do so. I'm genuinely not a fan of the writing. I'm not saying that The Hunger Games is perfect in comparison. There are flaws in it here and there. But overall it's a pretty intense series to be aimed at a younger audience.

I'm not going to go into intricate detail about the plot, in fact I'll just include the book's blurb here.

"Winning will make you famous. Losing means certain death.

In a dark vision of the near future, a terrifying reality TV show is taking place. Twelve boys and twelve girls are forced to appear in a live event called The Hunger Games. There is only one rule: kill or be killed.

But sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature."

I'll admit when I first understood the concept I just thought Battle Royale but I became oddly sucked into these books. The whole concept of making children fight to the death makes me so uncomfortable. Collins doesn't shy away from getting graphic either with the injuries incurred or death scenes. There is one particular death in the first book which is so damn disturbing that I'm a little bit scared to see it on the big screen. It's straight out of a horror film truly. But I think that is what makes these books different from the other popular Young Adult fiction being adapted for film or TV. It's a grim series. It isn't so heavily focused around romance like other current fandoms. There is of course some romance in it but it's romance done differently. There isn't a great deal of happiness in this series. Bad things happen. In fact downright horrific things happen in it. Collins isn't afraid to kill off the likeable characters (must have been taking lessons from George R R Martin). I got so wrapped up in reading these books that I finished book 1 pretty quickly, moved straight onto book 2 and read that in about 4 hours (I'm a slightly intense reader). Book 3 took a little longer due to being away for the weekend.

In all for what is supposed to be a Young Adult book The Hunger Games is a surprisingly adult read. It has a strong plot line, interesting characters, some gruesome action and just the right amount of romance. The film looks to be pretty good so if you're not a reader then at least there's that to enjoy instead.

Laters,

P x

Retail Therapy

One of my worst habits is undoubtedly my indulgence in retail therapy whenever I'm feeling particularly low. Worrying about finances goes out the window temporarily and I tell myself it's perfectly reasonable to spend my money so freely. Of course once said purchases are made I get panicky about money again and tell myself how bad it is I've bought these things. Sigh.

But these are my most recent purchases.

AS IF I could refuse the mega Harry Potter box set. All those extras and a special book? Geek heaven. Sadly my box set is trapped at some random damn collection office that I have to try find. I swear it's in the middle of nowhere and I don't drive. Unlucky. But still, a Harry Potter marathon will be had and by god I will have all the tears.

I returned to eBay in glorious fashion and swiped myself this little guy. It's a Zenit-E. I know pretty much nothing about it. Except that I've seen some photographs produced by it and like them enough to want one myself. It was about £11 inc postage which isn't so bad. It's hanging out at the collection office with my HP dvd set. Fingers crossed it works.

Of course with a new camera must come new film. Or rather I have this obsessive thing about buying film. To be fair I had piggies to spend on the Lomography website and I've been wanting to try all these films (except the 400, already used that before) for a while now. As for the other stuff well I convince myself I need higher ISO films for certain things then don't get round to using them as intended. But hey at least I have them as back up now. I think my film collection needs a post of its own, I have quite a few rolls waiting to be used now.

There have been a few other random purchases but these are my most valued ones. Expect more posts on these individual items.

Laters,

P x

(I should probably make posts like these during the day when I actually have the items to hand huh? Y'know so I can actual pictures of said items.)

Sinking.

I'm sorry. I haven't been keeping up with this blogging business. I aimed to make regular posts. I wrote a list of possible entries. And I haven't stuck to it. My depression has had me tucked away in my room hiding away from everything.

But I am going to try get back on with making regular posts. I won't promise. There isn't a guarantee. But I will try. I need something to occupy my mind. I can't keep just thinking all the thoughts I wallow in.

So hopefully there'll be posts. But don't be surprised if there isn't. This is hard for me. Life. Not the blog.

Laters,

P x

M.I.A

Sorry for lack of posts. Just not quite feeling the blog thing right now. Or the life thing either. Expect updates after the weekend though as I'm off to Milton Keynes for super fun friend times.

Laters,

P x

Lomo Wednesday - hodachrome

Hey check it out, this is a scheduled post! No way! This is pretty spectacular for me because although I'm somewhat one to be organised I never thought I'd schedule a blog post. But since Lomo Wednesday is supposed to be a feature and I won't be around on Wednesday until late at night (when I will want to sleep) to make it and post it I figure I should schedule. Cool story bro.

There'll be a blog post on Wednesday evening's antics another time.

Right well onwards. Today's Lomohome belongs to hodachrome. This talented chap hails from Japan and I found his lomo home via the Lomography Twitter's tag of the day. It's a useful resource that tag business. The exact photograph that got me looking at his Lomo home is below. Followed by some choice favourites.

JUST LOOK AT THAT DOLPHIN PHOTOGRAPH! Can you believe that shot? It's like something out of a dream. Once again I've focused on someone who predominantly uses the LC-A without meaning to but this camera seemingly produces some of the best shots. Just look at these gorgeous saturated colours! There are just so many photographs to like in hodachrome's Lomohome. Interestingly enough I'd say about half his albums are shot using redscale film, the majority of which is handmade. Isn't that mad skills? The church and the sunset photographs were taken with redscale if you weren't sure. Aren't they super? I've seen some redscale photographs that entirely put me off the idea of experimenting with it but hodachrome's redscales work really nicely. Maybe it's a choice of subject matter as well. Sunset beach shots do look especially nice in redscale. All these photographs are outstanding and there are tons more to be found amongst hodachrome's albums. With each lot of fantastic photographs I find that the LC-A is responsible for I find myself lusting for it more and more. May well treat myself with the next lot of student loan.

Anyways go check out hodachrome's Lomohome. Especially the Dolphin's Dream album. It's insanely cool. If you don't like some of these photographs then I have nothing more for you. You can get away now. But let me know if you do like them! Until the next Lomo Wednesday folks...

Laters,

P x

Sentimental Sunday.

My mum recently gave me 4 packets of old photographs, all of which contained photos of me as a baby. I really love looking through old photographs from my childhood and my mum's life before us kids. She's got a suitcase full of them which she keeps asking me if I want. Now I did originally last night write up a huge post featuring a selection of some of the photos I got given but felt the post was too big and the fun of looking at these old photos was lost. So I've decided I'll make a Sunday feature of posting some photographs from my childhood or my family's past. It's a little self indulgent of me but then again it is my blog.

So here we go.

I am about 2 days old in this photograph. You possibly wouldn't think it to look at me though. I was a big baby, a 10lb bundle of annoyed. Seriously I scowled at my mum when I was handed to her right after being born.

My brother always wanted to carry me around apparently but mum didn't think his 5 year old arms could handle fatty me. So there's a lot of photos of me on his lap or lying down next to him. My dad looks so funny to me in this photograph.

Look at the pure adoration in my tiny eyes. I idolised my brother when we were kids. Mum's told me numerous times that when most kids started to talk I didn't bother. My brother would do all my talking for me. He told my parents when I wanted something and what it was I wanted. Usually this was also a way for him to get things and it worked pretty effectively.

Well that's it for the first Sentimental Sunday. I know I've enjoyed myself. I suspect you might not have. But I do hope it encourages you to look through some of your own family photographs and have a little sentimental moment of your own.

Laters,

P x