Film Vs. Novel - Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2)

Plot:

Both Katniss and Peeta now hold privileges beyond that of a normal civilian, after becoming victors to the 74th Hunger Games. They both tour the country to share their glory but are instead met with sullen districts, threatening to defy the Capitol. President Snow, from fear of a rebellion, threatens Katniss to prove to the people (and him) that she belongs to the Capitol. Desperate to quell the people though, Snow decides to celebrate the 75th Hunger Games with a change in the system, one that will leave Katniss fighting for her life once again.

Review:

Boy was that a movie to watch. If you ever wanted to see a proper book to movie adaption this is the movie to choose. Catching Fire, the sequel to The Hunger Games, was an incredible watch. The change in directors was a great idea and I loved every minute of it. Of course there were a few moments of errrr but overall it was such an enjoyable movie. I am now onboard to watch  Mockingjay only because the same director will apparently be working on that one as well.

Anyways, watch here for a better discussion.

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The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin

Plot: 

Mara Dyer wakes up after a coma unaware of what has happened. She's informed that in a freak accident that resulted in the deaths of her friends, she was the only one to survive. Her family decides to move to help her recover from the trauma. Instead, Mara begins to experience moments of hallucinations. It also doesn't help that she meets a boy who apparently knows her quite well.

Mara must now determine if she really is losing her mind, or are all these delusions pointing her in the right direction.

Review:

I actually picked this up because I've heard some pretty good reviews about it, care of the Book Tube community. Also because it's a psychological thriller, which I beg to differ a little but we'll get to that later.

Right from the beginning, Hodkin has created a tone that will drive the entire novel. There's an underlying creepiness that basically stays at the back of your mind. I think what worked well was that I wasn't bombarded with constant "scary" scenes. Instead, there was a build up of suspense and lots and lots of questioning. I found myself experiencing Mara's emotions like I was right beside her. We were both confused and doubtful of her sanity. It felt so real.

I think the visual descriptions were pretty gruesome. It wasn't something to make me violently sick but at the same I did feel a little uneasy. It's what made the novel feel different to the usual thrillers. Still, I wouldn't classify the Mara Dyer series as entirely psychological thriller. True it was scary and haunting, but the novel took a turn and it became a romance in the second half. I didn't mind though, because I grew to love her romantic counterpart - Noah. He was probably really stereotypical. The mysterious, rebellious boy with a beautiful smile and just enough arrogance that it becomes attractive. I still fell for him though. I know it sounds weird, I mean he isn't real. But that's how an author succeeds in writing a character.

It's not like the romance in the novel deters from the central issue though, which was good. I wasn't going to keep reading if it was just the sappy stuff all the way through. It was still mostly about the inner conflict that Mara was experiencing.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer definitely gave me a lot of shocking moments.  It's quite possibly the one of the best novels I've read this year, having enough suspense and great plot development to keep me hooked for the entire time. The momentum rose and fell, keeping me on edge when needed. I read it in a day or so and couldn't believe how quickly I was drawn into it. Hodkin writes well, not above any other author, but certainly enough to catch my attention. Her plot is fast and intense, which I would like to thank her for. The ending finished on a massive plot twist and made me really want to go and buy the second book straight away. I mentally kicked myself as to why I didn't just purchase the entire series when I bought the first book. Still, now I have something to look forward to for next year.

I definitely recommend this - an exceptional read.

Rating: 5/5

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Film: Better Man (SBS)

Source: The Herald Sun[/caption]

Plot:

Based on a true story, Better Man is a four part mini-series retelling the execution of Van Tuong Nguyen. Van was an Australian born Vietnamese, raised in the South East of Melbourne. He is famously known for being the last Australian to be executed overseas in an attempt to smuggle drugs back into Australia.

Starring Australian actors David Wenham (The Lord of The Rings), Remy Hii (Neighbours) and Jordan Rodrigues (Dance Academy), Better Man portrays the sorrows and dangers of Van's life.

Review:

The story of Van Tuong Nguyen would perhaps not be unfamiliar to most Australians, especially of the older generation. Initially, the mini series was met with opposition from Nguyen's family but SBS still went ahead an aired it.

I would have to admit I didn't know much about him even though it happened late into my primary school years. Still, it really intrigued me to see how Nguyen would be portrayed especially under a Vietnamese director as well. The series opens up to the moments before Nguyen travels to Cambodia and ends with his hanging. During that time viewers are given flashbacks to the moments in his life that lead up to and eventually determine the choice he makes.

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The Secret Keeper - Kate Morton

Plot: 

1961 - Laurel, at 16, witnesses a crime from her hideout spot in the treehouse.

2011 - Laurel is now a famous actress but the event from her childhood begins to linger in her mind.

So begins her journey from the past to present, as she finds the answers to questions that have lasted for more than most her life. The lives of Dorothy, Vivien and Jimmy are slowly opened up in a fascinating recount of their sudden encounter during the 1940s.

Review:

Kate Morton really hits the marks with her novels and The Secret Keeper is no exception. It makes for a great mystery/crime type of novel that isn't loaded with guts and blood, and disturbing killers. Instead, she takes on adult fiction and puts a twist to it. I find that that makes the novel really interesting and whilst the premise of this certainly doesn't sound any unique, the plot is actually a lot more surprising than expected.

It's a pretty thick read but even with the size (500+  pages) I was really immersed in what was happening. Morton has a way of writing, which really draws me in and leaves me in that world. It's probably the way she paints the scenery and the characters of the novel. I've never really seen how London exists, besides photos, especially "back in the days" but from reading I could make out the countryside and the town in which Dorothy, Vivien and Jimmy exist in. Morton does get a little "artsy" in the way she writes, using really drawn out ways to explain something but it didn't detract from the story so I didn't mind much.

The plot quickens probably from part 3 onwards, which really helps with the intensity of the mystery. I think I got really hooked from that moment and had to finish the novel. The plot twist that came about really made the wait so much better. It really reminded me why I love reading Morton's novels, because she delivers in the end.

I loved Jimmy and Vivien despite the fact that they aren't major characters in the novel. I found Jimmy sweet and Vivien just wholeheartedly good. Dorothy, on the other hand, I could've done without just because she really got my nerves. There has never been a character that was insanely naive and pretty much delusional. She had ambitions but no solid plan and when it all fell apart, well then. Laurel, I felt, was only a vehicle to drive the stories of the three people in the past. She was the predominant narrator but with her moments, they were gateways to the stories that occurred during the 1940s.

The Secret Keeper has left much for me to think about, which I like. I like that I can still think about the plot and the characters involve and sort of mull over what happened. It's mean I was mentally engaged whilst reading, which is what I think most authors would want. It's not my favourite Kate Morton novel but it's definitely a very enjoyable read. I shall forever be her fan if she continues this streak.

Click here to watch my review as well!

Rating: 4/5

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Documentary: Change My Race

Source: SBS[/caption]

After watching the documentary Change My Race, I found that it brought up an interesting issue that a lot of people are unaware of or at some points even ignore.

Change My Race touches on the plastic surgery industry in which many Asian women are utilising nowadays to gain more of a western appearance. It may not seem as common in Australia but it really is happening. Myself, as an Australian born Vietnamese, watched this whilst feeling very uneasy. What is it about our own ethnic features that are deemed so unappealing? Do they come off as that unattractive for girls to treat their own bodies as plastic models, readily going under the knife for more of a "white" look. I suppose in a society predominately occupied by caucasian appearances, the norm has come to that of higher nose bridges, bigger noses and pale skin. Yet, even in societies such as Korea (a place the documentary covers) the female population have also turned to westernising their appearance. The trend nowadays is that of a baby face look - the V line as they call it, which consists of big eyes, high nose and pointed chin. In fact the ideal face is displayed almost everywhere in Korea. Billboards, subway stations and the usual ads - the people are being bombarded with an option that seems almost like a compulsory step into being considered beautiful.

That is how beauty is defined according to the documentary, and the girls who undergo plastic surgery. You have to look like an Anglo-Saxon to look beautiful. I find that absolutely absurd. I've always been told to be myself, be confident in who I am and comfortable with my own skin. I'm sure many other girls also have been told that. However, that becomes a major conflict with the standard of beauty this society carries. How can I feel comfortable with who I am when I'm constantly being told by the media and peers around me that have double eyelids is better or a slimmer jaw is what makes me beautiful. Because that's what the plastic surgeon who the host interviewed told her. He actually suggested the host reduce her jawline because then she'll look beautiful. I can tell you now she looked gorgeous already.


Source: SBS[/caption]

What's becoming increasingly frustrating is that this ideal is being pushed not only by the media but also by those closest to these girls. The documentary covered the story of a 17 year old girl who was made to undergo double eyelid surgery, nose filler and chin surgery. All because her parents think all "chinese and vietnamese" girls should do it. What was sadder was that they couldn't see the beauty in their daughter, "a 5 out of 10" beforehand and afterwards looking much "better". It really infuriated me that they felt that every girl of Asian descent had to undergo that type of surgery, and also push their daughter into it. The girl was clearly confident with her own self and didn't even want it but to please her parents she did it. I mean she is carrying their genes, so they're basically dissing themselves.

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