Books: "The Martian" -Prize from Magnavision!

In my previous DVD Feature of "The Martian" I mentioned that there was a raffle stub of sorts that was included in the DVD. The prize was a paperback copy of "The Martian". I loved the book, I already read it as an e-book (Shame! Shame! Yes I know) so it was only natural that I would want a physical copy. It would be a great addition to the humble library and the husband and the sister-in-law might want to read it too. So, I joined the contest and won! Yehey! :) 

I just followed the instructions on the stub, which entailed sending an email and text message and viola! 

I received an email that I won :) 

The book was sent to my preferred Astroplus branch for me to pick up. 

I really appreciate these little tokens, specially since purchasing DVDs may not be viewed as a particularly popular hobby. Can't wait to pick up my next one! 

The Martian - Book Review

When I found out that the upcoming movie The Martian was actually based on a novel I immediately set to work reading it before I saw the movie. I was just rally curious, I had an idea about what the story was about but I really didn't have an idea or clue about the style of the author Andy Weir. Well needless to say I really enjoyed the book! 4.5 out of 5 stars! ⭐️

The Martian has a very interesting narrative as it is told through different perspectives and means. It opens with a log from Astronaut Mark Watney, he narrates in a very casual way using the vernacular, cursing and all that. Despite his situation of being left stranded in Mars, he has a very good sense of humor and you will surely find him hilarious, like stand up comedian hilarious and it is his humor along with the story which helps you (not get bored) past the science in the book. 

I may have a Bachelor in Science degree (Nursing) but I have never been one to take an interest in a Chemistry or Physics and there is a lot of that in the book, even Math (which I have never had a good relationship with) but despite my lack of love for the sciences I still enjoyed the book and I learned a lot from it. 

Author Andy Weir is the son of a particle physicist and he has a background in Computer Science did a lot of research on the material of the book, this is to ensure that it will be as realistic as possible and would be based on existing technology. Weir studied orbital mechanics, astronomy and the history of manned space flight so at least you are assured that the science is real. 

The book is not only narrated through Watney's logs but also takes turns with narratives of the different characters in the book. Some parts of the story are even told through the perspective of a piece of canvas and some Martian terrain. 

It was an enjoyable, entertaining and I must say educational read and I recommend it! You should go out and see the movie too! 

Paper Towns Book Review

"Paper Towns" was my first John Green book. I didn't join the bandwagon when "The Fault In Our Stars" came out; until now, I have yet to read the book or see the movie. So I really did not know what to expect. Was John Green another Nicholas Sparks? I'm not going to go on and compare the two authors but one thing is for sure; I read through Paper Towns like the book is on fire. I loved the non-traditional characters, I loved how the novel was written in such a smart and witty way that I was chuckling to myself as I was going through the pages; because the lines were just so funny and a funny smart kind of way. :)  

It was actually the trailer of Paper Towns that got me to start reading the book. I was actually expecting a typical love story when I saw the trailer but I was really surprised as to how it really wasn't your typical love story at all! 

Paper Towns is a contemporary coming-of-age story with unique characters, so real they can actually be someone you know. Instead of a "damsel in distress/heroine" "looking for love" we have Margo Roth Spiegelman, a free spirited teen who takes revenge on a cheating boyfriend, has a wide collection of records which even her best friends don't know about, oh and she likes running away from home. 

Then we have our protagonist Quentin "Q" Jacobsen whose voice and thoughts narrates the story for us. Unlike your typical hero "Q" is a geek and a nerd who loves playing video games on his free time, he studies for tests and does his homework. I love how the story allows the characters to  grow from their own shells and find the courage that even they did not know existed within themselves. 

Shout out to Q's friends Ben and 'Radar' who bring in more to the story. Anybody would be lucky to have friends like them :) 

The night before Margo runs away from home, she enlists the help of Q to get revenge on people who she felt have wronged her. During this "mission" Q's feelings for Margo are fully realized. (he has had feelings for her since they were little). The next morning when Margo's disappearance has become official, Q realizes that Margo has left clues for him to find her. Q begins an obsessive search to find Margo with the help of his friends Radar and Ben. 

Paper Towns deals with themes of growing up and appearance versus reality. In a high school setting of the beautiful and popular kids and the geeks and the nerds in the school band and of concerns like graduation and prom, I'm glad to see deeper thoughts and themes being explored. 

A great book and a great reading experience - looking forward to when the movie comes out :) 

Insurgent Book Review

I haven't done a book review in a long time because I haven't finished a book in a long time too and I think that's because I've made the mistake of reading "book turned movies" after seeing the movie. I say that it was a mistake because after seeing the movie and knowing what will happen next, it was hard for me to turn on the next page since I already knew what was going to happen. Case in point Mazerunner and The Book Thief. Although I had no trouble finishing Nicholas Sparks' A Walk To Remember,bebenta if it was a watch-movie-read-book-afterward arrangement. I guess there's an exception for every rule but one thing is definitely for certain: As much as possible, if you really can; read the book first. Which is why I really made it a point to finish the book before watching Insurgent and I have to say that it was a wise decision indeed. 

While reading the book, I thought that it was more exciting and interesting than it's predecessor Divergent and this made me anticipate watching the movie. I still had about 150 pages left to read in the book when I saw the movie. I'm not the type who goes crazy over tiny details being changed from book to movie. I always look at them as two different works; from a writer and a script writer's perspective I understand that not all that is written on paper can be translated on to the screen. 

Given that I would have to say that it is in my opinion that Insurgent is one of those books that is better as a movie. Why is that? Well it's because of the many action scenes and sequences in the story. Just like in a manga where big fights can be more appreciated (well at least in my opinion) as an animated episode rather than reading it. The same goes for Insurgent's gun blazing, punches flying, action filled scenes. You'd be disappointed  if you're looking for prose in Insurgent since it is written in a straight forward perspective of a 16 year old in a dystopian  future. It lacks and and all beautiful words that give you a warm and fuzzy feeling inside. It is straight, concise and to the point. 

Unlike Divergent which only gives the reader a look into the Abegnation and Dauntless factions, Insurgent gives us a sneak peak into the other factions Amity, Candor and even a benign look at Erudite. Yes, not all Erudite are calculating and cold blooded like Jennine. This is something that they failed to portray in the movie though. 

I believe that the movie was able to conveniently cut out scenes and put everything together in a fast paced adventure. Admittedly the ending was a big different from the book, which leaves you hanging and you just know that when you pick up book 3 - Allegiant you would know that it picks right up on the action which left you in a big cliff hanger in Insurgent. 

One thing that the movie failed to show though was why the movie/book was called Insurgent in the first place - this was beautifully explained in the book though. 

You're not really missing much if you don't read Insurgent, it's not exactly a literal masterpiece that will be discussed in English Class in future generations but if you're a book worm/movie buff like me then you wouldn't be too disappointed with it. The action scenes and complications will keep you gripping on the book to the next page. 

Book Review: If I Stay

At the rate that book to movie adaptations are going, it is almost impossible to keep up with what book to read and what adaptation to watch. 

Before, a book would have been around long enough for everyone to have already read it before it hits the cinemas but nowadays you find out about a book to movie adaptation when the movie is already in the Next Showing list. 

Such was the case for a book worm and movie buff like me, I don't know if you guys have noticed it or maybe feel the same way but now I find myself hurrying to either read a book so I can watch the movie version. Ideally I would rather read a book first before watching the movie on which it's based on. 

Luckily for If I Stay I was able to keep my preferred book-to-movie adaptation sequence. 

I have to admit that I was actually worries when I read that fans of Twilight would enjoy the book, now I won't be a book snob and say that I didn't read Twilight because I did but then after the series I also realized that the plot and characters were poor, flat and predictable. 

I really wasn't expecting much from If I Stay, I just thought that it was going to be another typical love story but I was proven wrong as Gayle Forman's writing and characters transported me in a boundary between life and death, one not often ventured by authors. 

As the story progressed and I saw glimpses of the movie through trailers, I was able to put two and two together that the story was about a young girl in a terrible accident where she might have lost her entire family and she's in a literal fight for her life and faces the thoughts of an empty life without her loved ones "If She Stayed". 

I love that Gayle Forman chose to create her heroine as a 17 year old classical musician in a rock oriented family and with a rock star boyfriend. She could have easily chosen to write Mia up as a rocker chic, that would have been more predictable but Forman decided to throw a curve ball with her Bach loving heroine. I love that Forman wrote her characters in such a realistic way that they could have been your own father, mother, aunt, uncle, grandfather or grandmother. Mia's mom was a "hard as nails, feminine bitch who encouraged her daughter to get her own supply of condoms once she found out that she had a boyfriend. 

It was well written characters like these that just crushed your heart as you start to understand what Mia has lost and the empty life she would have to come back to if she stayed. 

Then of course there's her boyfriend Adam who wants her to stay. Will there love be enough for Mia to want to say? Does she have a choice in the matter? 

Told in the perspective of a commatosed character as she wanders through the hospital where her loved ones are waiting for her and reliving the past where the family she lost painfully reminds her of how Death can come like a thief in the night, swift, unexpected and without mercy. 

I actually put off reading If I Stayed since I know my cry baby heart wouldn't be able to handle it, but when I woke up one afternoon and reached out for my iPad to read - it's a ritual I do to help me sleep; I got to a part in the book where it was simply no return and no coming back. I was hooked and I finished the book right then and there, loosing 3 hours of sleep while ugly crying to Mia's story. 

If I Stay is an unexpected good read, kind of like finding treasure in a junk yard, Forman's gutsy writing, realistic characters and writing from a perspective of a character in the boundary of life and death will have you crying and your heart breaking. 

Just hope I still have time to catch it in cinemas!