"Mockingjay"

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The final book in the Hunger Games series is now finished! I absolutely loved this series! Definitely one of the best trilogies I have ever read! These books had me literally jumping to the next sentence! I could hardly contain myself from forgetting all other obligations and simply losing myself in that world. Although yesterday I took a break from reading "Mockingjay" and didn't read for the entire day. I was getting a little too emotionally attached to the characters to the point where I was beginning to become depressed!

     Anyway "Mockingjay" was my least favorite book in the series. Honestly I wan't really a fan of this book. It was just so sad! Thus you see why I became depressed. The ending felt cut short and un-thrilling. Although due to the fact that I had become emotionally attached to the characters and could almost feel their anguish it wasn't a complete loss. There were exciting points, but a lot of "Mockingjay" felt unnecessarily stretched out. I wish there was more action rather than heart breaking events and gore. Please, please don't get me wrong. It was still a great book but compared to it's counterparts it was a little lacking.

     "Mockingjay" is about Katniss Everdeen's loss. In more than one way. Lost childhood. Lost friends. Lost home. As she struggles with depression she is asked to be a pawn, yet once more, for a rebellion that she didn't know she even mattered to. Or rather a district she deemed dead. Will she ever get back that one person she would risk her life for? What if she gets that person back? Will it ever be the same between them? Will the same person she risked her life for end up killing her? As she is faced with the decision between Peeta and Gale will she make the right choice? As the hunger games seem to continue all around her will she be choked to death by the overwhelming amount of death?

     Actually I wasn't too in love with the characters in Mockingjay. I still liked Katniss and Peeta a lot but you didn't necessarily getting see their shining qualities. As for Haymitch and Gale there wasn't a lot of character building scenes for either of them.  Other than these minor setbacks I would not let that stop you from reading this book! Still a great novel but as for myself just quite depressing. :/ I recommend this series whole heartily and hope you have a strong stomach. ;) Don't forget that the movie comes out March 23!

God bless and have a great rest of the week! :)

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To Dream, Or Not To Dream?

How do you dream at night? In black and white? Color? What kind of dreams usually come to you? I honestly am not really a dreamer. If I'm having a dream it usually becomes a nightmare. :P So much fun for that, huh. My dreams have a light coloring, like a cross between black and white and color. I have never had a dream where I am flying or doing something amazing, or even fun. Sometimes I'll just have a dream that I'm checking my fb. Yeah, that tells you that you're spending too much time on it. Or what I'm going to do tomorrow.... If I do have an adventurous dream I'm usually in control of it. Lately I have learned the ability of changing the outcomes of my dream. Such that, when I had a dream that was heading in the direction of a nightmare I just stopped it and made it do something else. I love that ability! Anyway I have the most dream making family in the world! Everyday I have to listen to at least half an hour of dreams. Not joking. Surprisingly my mom has a lot of dreams about getting eaten by a bear... She has a real fear of them. Or something gory like that. My brother has the adventurous dreams. Although from time to time they end up a little strange. Yesterday he dreamt that Anne, from Anne of Green Gables, taught him jazz on the piano. Unfortunately I have never had Anne visit me. lol I'll even save him in his dreams from time to time. :D I'm the best sister! ;) Anyway I hope this post wasn't too random for you but I thought I should do a 'regular' post.

"And the king said to them, I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to know the dream." -Daniel 2:3

"Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they (the wise men) departed for their own country another way." -Matthew 2:12

May the Lord be with you and have a wonderful week.

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"Catching Fire"

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Ha ha! I said I would do a photo post or something like that but all I can seem to do lately is reviews! :P Hope you don't mind too much.
     
        Anyway this book has some major twists that I just wasn't expecting. I have to say The Hunger Games was a little predictable, but this had me totally astounded! After around 100 pages the book took off on its adventurous ride. Before that mark it was a tad bit on the boring side. It was just a little too explanatory without getting anywhere with the other characters. Although this was very minor and had some key points to remember.
        With tension growing in the other districts and the president's threat hanging over her head, will Katniss be able to pull off the madly in love play? As the quarter quell quickly approaches other lives will be headed for a most certain death. Will she take flight.. or fight. Will she be used as another puppet? Will the clock of the games tick tock to her death?

         I just have to say I love Peeta! He's my boyfriend of the future! Peeta is so kind and selfless!... Now that that's over. ;) I loved this book! It really helped me to like and understand Katniss more. Perhaps because it hit me that she's only 16 in the first book and 17 in the second. In other words not to be so critical on her behavior because of the fact that she is so young and making these life changing decisions.  I'm reading these books in perfect time. Since I'm 16 turning 17 in thirteen days! Can't wait to read Mockingjay! Did I mention that I recommend this book? ;) It definitely deserves 5 stars along with The Hunger Games!!!
God bless and have a wonderful weekend!

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"The Hunger Games"

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I finally got hold of a copy of "The Hunger Games" book, which took forever! Although the timing was perfect because once I had completed Ben-Hur the book came in the next day. :) I could hardly put this book down! Actually I was in agony(kind of) when I had to do other things and was continuously looking at the clock to see when I could pick it back up. Yes, this is proof that I'm a book-addict. ;) Now on to a shorter review, because I don't want to spoil anything for you. :) Enjoy!

     "The Hunger Games" is suspenseful, romantic, interesting, and enrapturing! You read this book from the perspective of Katniss Everdeen, who is very aware that all that is going on around her is for show.. Gale Hawthorne is her best friend and true confidant. Now Peeta Mellark is the boy standing aloof, who has been in her life in ways she finds odd. Thrown together in the hunger games as "star crossed lovers" has its advantages. But at what cost? Perhaps I'm getting a little ahead of myself. Let me rewind. ;) The annual event known as the hunger games requires each district to give up one of their boys and one of their girls to participate in a fight to the death. In other words only one person will survive out of 24. Who can force them to do such a thing you might ask? Well the Capitol, otherwise known as the dictators of life. The hunger games only reaffirms their tight grasp on everyone. No one is withheld from having their child's name being thrown into one of the balls. Although everyone has their own odds... As Katniss's younger sister, Prim, is of age to have her name put into one of the balls her odds are unlikely. Although it only takes one draw to change a life forever... As the unlikely happens Katniss screams out that she will take Prim's spot. From there the adventure begins...
    Well I truly love this book! My only thing I might warn you about is the gore. Quite simply that's all there is in it that might be a little unpleasant to read if you have a weak stomach. Also it did get a bit "kissy" but overall "The Hunger Games" was great! Honestly after making it half way through "For Whom the Bell Tolls" nothing could make you sick to your stomach. lol

As you might have noticed I have been posting a lot of reviews lately. I hope you don't mind. I will try, very soon, to have a post with pictures and my little life updates. :) Anyway I cannot wait for "The Hunger Games" movie to come out, 48 days to go! March 23! :D Did I mention that I recommend it? ;)
May the Lord be with you have a wonderful weekend!

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"Ben-Hur"

I finished my 100th book! And what a book to hit a milestone with! "Ben-Hur" was exciting, thrilling, sad, triumphant, and overall just a great book. Not to mention that the story was long and complex! This is a combination of my personal review and the actual book review. This is the best I can do since the book is so long. Basically I'm lazy. lol :) Enjoy!

       Surprisingly Judah, the main character's name who later becomes known as Ben-Hur and son of Arrius, was not introduced till nearly one hundred pages into this book. At the beginning this book starts out with the Wise Men and their quest to follow the star. Leading them to baby Jesus. Honestly, I thought the many many details on how each one of the Wise Men had the star come to them was too much. Especially how two out of three Wise Men you never see again. After that section in the book the prospects, for a great book, began to brighten.
        As Judah is stripped from his fortune and family the adventure begins. Will he survive the burdensome task laid at his door, when so many others cannot live past a year? Three years come and go while revenge is taking hold on his very soul. Against Messala... the very man who tore his family apart. Arriving at Rome has no splendor for him. No repose from that lustful revenge. Rome only serves to strengthen his abilities, to teach him a new art of war.
       Returning to his homeland he finds that he does have fortunes and friends, more than willing to teach any Roman what it feels like to be humiliated. With Simonides and Ester, Balthasar(one of the wise men) and Iras, Mulluch, and Sheik Ilderim with his mighty horses behind Judah his revenge would indeed take place. Coming face to face with Messala at Daphne shows him exactly how it would come to be.
        Slowly time goes on and what will become of the search for his dear mother and Tirzah, his dear sister? If he does find them will they be too far gone? Will the beautiful Iras seduce him into his own death?
        As the end of "Ben-Hur" draws closer you will see the crucifixion of Jesus passing before you. What side will Judah be on? The side screaming for His death? Or the side weeping at the foot of the Cross? Will Judah's misconceptions of why the Messiah came, ruin his chance to see what a beautiful thing was done for us?

Hopefully now you can see why I loved the book. :) God bless and have a wonderful week!

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War Horse

This movie was superb! I went with a bunch of friends and it made it even more special! Despite the fact that they had spurts of talking through it and getting up to get refills and restroom brakes. :P lol Here is the review, I'll try not to give too much away. :)
War Horse is about the journey of a thorough bred horse who will have to take the circumstances, thrown at him, with bravery and the boy who will never stop searching for him. No matter who Joey, the horse, comes in contact with he makes an impact on their lives. Whether for the British, Italians, or Germans during WW1 this horse's keen mind and understanding of what's going on around him helps him to survive.
Although I love this movie the beginning did take a little while to get going. If you can get past the beginning then I'm sure you will end up loving it like I did. My brother won't stop talking about it he loves it so much. The casting was different...but in a good way. They had Tom Hiddleston, Thor's brother, and the BBC Sherlock Holmes detective, Benedict Cumberbatch. Both of whom I love! :) For me, personally, it was a little hard to relate to the main character in War Horse though. As time went on I did eventually become emotionally attached. Yes, it takes awhile for characters to get any warmth from me. lol I'm very critical. ;)
Anyway I hope you go watch this movie or eventually watch it because you don't want to miss it.
God bless and have a wonderful week.
War Horse Trailer 

A War Horse sunset....

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Courageous

Wow! What an excellent movie! As you might have noticed sometimes Christian movies can be a bit cheesy or just have bad acting. Well this movie put those out of mind. Honestly I wasn't really up to watching it. I thought it would be boring and about people that were having trouble with their teens. Where I got that impression I don't know. lol I can assure you it isn't! Although it is about family and fathers making a commitment to raise their children right, it did it in the best way imaginable! This movie had me crying, then laughing, and then crying again. Usually I'm called "hard hearted" in my family because I don't cry during movies and the like but I have to say I broke down during "Courageous". They developed the characters and had you right there beside them. It was amazingly done and I fully give my recommendation to it!
Courageous  This is the trailer.

God bless and have a wonderful rest of the week. And don't forget to rent this at the Red Box!

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