Hannibal Rising

Easily the worst book in the entire Hannibal Universe. Which was highly disappointing because I'd read all the others. I thought Highly of Silence of the Lambs, and Red Dragon, and even Hannibal - despite how the films changed each of the books around in ways I didn't agree with.

The entire book felt as though Thomas Harris was writing a fuck you letter to the fans. Apparently the publisher said "we can make a ton more money off this series, so write us a new one and we'll do all the work" And Thomas Harris replied "There is no more story, anything I write in that universe from this point on will be drivel". Sad part is the publisher's still didn't care and said "Write it anyways!"

Put aside all the inconsistencies between this book about Hannibal's youth and what we know about it through his other novels for a moment and just look at what exactly it was that sparked his murderous desire to begin with. A Woman. The Hannibal from canon would never have been influenced so easily and manipulated like this. Hannibal sees himself as a god, and only murders for 2 reasons. 1 - For his own survival and protection. 2 - Because he feels as though this person contributes nothing to the human race and has no manners or class worth saving.

This book doesn't even honor the most important physical feature of Hannibal - his sixth finger. Hannibal Lecter has six fingers on one hand. It is this that gets him caught twice, and the surgery to remove his sixth finger doesn't happen until he's well past his youth. But where was it throughout this book? Hell, where was it in the film - not that I'm using the film in this criticism, but let's state the obvious - the film was a failure. But when you create a film based of a failure of a book, what can you expect?

The godlike character that we grow to know and even in some bizarre way care about is non-existent in this book. His youth painted so horribly in this book leaves fans feeling truly abandoned.

This was a failure. Utter and complete. The book was horrid, and I'm ashamed that I sat through and read every last horrifying detail.

Pumpkin - A movie from 2002

To be honest I'm not entirely sure I know what to make of this film. I waited until a few weeks after I watched it to write this review. And despite letting it roll around in my head for a few weeks, and trying to really figure it out I'm still not entirely sure I understand the film in it's entirety.

It's a basic love story at it's core, but beyond that things fall apart. The star (Christina Ricci) is a fore member of a sorority that takes part in a program teaching handicapped individuals sports. Coaching and training them in preparation for their fictional version of the Special Olympics. Despite her disgust with this task at first she begins to care for her charge - Pumpkin - and over time even falls in love with him. This premise itself wasn't so far reaching, except that she was so wildly disgusted by him and the idea at first that the first time he says her name she actually screams.......horror movie screams. She's a member of a top ranking Sorority (even though not deemed number 1 by the school) and has a boyfriend who is a leader in athletics at the school, making him Captain Popular. Not that I'm questioning a girl in this life wanting another, and I believe one of the points of the movie was to highlight that just because life seems perfect doesn't mean it is.

The problem here wasn't with WHAT the movie presented for you to think about, but HOW it did this. It's supposed to be a black comedy, but in the end there was almost nothing comedic about it as it never once presented the material as actually being comical. No laughter from the cast, no musical interlude to indicate a lightness of emotion, not even a smile or wink from the person saying the thing, nothing, just empty silence leaving you questioning if this was an intended joke or one of the movies serious moments. Was that over-acting for comical effect, or is the actor just that bad at doing a scene like this? Too many questions, and while I don't hate movies that make you think, I believe there should be one pillar standing for analyzation. Perhaps other smaller columns can be surrounding this one pillar, but there should be a focus point for it all. This movie simply has no focus point.

This movie is too disjointed to be truly enjoyed, but I will say that your fascination with trying to understand it and make sense of everything will keep you watching til the very end, so perhaps that's more of a selling point then I want to give it credit for.

I will say that it is listed as a dark comedy, and I suppose those that can see humor in a situation that is more disturbing to most means that this movie is right up your alley, though I am one of those people and I didn't feel very much like laughing throughout the movie. Yes it was over the top, and by costume and set design alone you knew that's what they were going for. But it feels a bit forced throughout most of the film, like the over the top acting/plot were in some way making all those on set uncomfortable. Not that they'll ever admit it. Many of the actors and actresses still stand by the film saying it was one of the best movies they've ever done. But in retrospect, it took a few years before Elizabeth Berkley to admit that Showgirls may not have been the smartest move of her career. Perhaps in a few more years Christina Ricci will say the same about this one.

The Poisonwood Bible

The worst book in recorded history! I truly wish I had more to say. I had to read this book in college one year and all my friends were aware of just how disappointing a read this was because I was very vocal about it. Every time I got to a point where it made no sense (characters were switching roles and acting not at all like the beginning of the book wrote them to) I'd throw up my arms in exasperation.

The characters were very flat and 2-dimensional to begin with, but upon further dissection you realize they barely even had that. They're introduced and they have their roles to play, and not one of them seems to be any more than the stereotypical design of that character mold (which had been done to death for every archetype here). And yet, the end of the book in a sum up it's clear that not a single one does what their characters actually would do. Which isn't to say that they surprised you by being unpredictable and 3-dimensional, but that they acted so against how their characters were written and designed to that it drives you even further away from the book and any attempt you could have had at enjoying the very bad storyline that attempts to support these characters.

And the story...a WAY overly done and overexposed storyline about a family attempting to bring religion and society to a world they deem to be beneath them and without culture of any kind. And what a shock, being in this world that isn't their own changes them and makes them all see the world in a different way then they might have originally ever gotten a chance to if they hadn't gone.

Truly in my life I have never read a book that was this abysmal - and I've read hundreds upon hundreds of books in my life. Never have I had to force myself to get through a book as much as this one. Never once have I wanted to tear my flesh and scratch out my eyes because the writing style/story was so bad it actually caused me physical pain to continue reading.

I was devoted to my studies and I did well in school, but I've always remembered this book as if it were a personal vendetta my teacher had against me monopolizing the classroom conversation during discussion.

Hunger Games Book 3 - Mockingjay

Thankfully the ending of the second book wasn't AS MUCH of a cliffhanger as the ending of the first book, so I was able to get a good night's sleep in between finishing the second book and picking up the third.

I read a bunch of other reviews of this book and I don't agree with what the consensus seems to be - that there were far too many loose ends left open at the end of this book. I felt it helped tie up any and all loose ends rather well.

Everything makes perfect sense by the end of the book, but of course....that's getting ahead of ourselves. The Questions we have at the beginning of the book about District 13 and what goes on there are quickly answered. There's even mention of the runaways we meet in Book 2 and whether or not they ever made it all the way to 13 with the rest of the exiles who have run away over the years.

A friend who was into the series as I was posed a question that Katniss posed as well about why 13 wasn't as involved as it had been throughout the other two books and how if they have the resources they appear to have why they weren't more well known throughout the other districts other than the source of myth and legend that they've become. I don't agree with my friend on this point, I think the books offer up a very valid explanation of these things and there really isn't anything left to question on that front. But I suppose I would be considered a very Coin like thinker in that sense. I happen to agree with the leadership of 13 in their belief that making themselves known too soon, despite how much it may have helped others throughout the districts would have only led to more trouble and suffering for the rest of the districts, and sadly the residents before anything could be done to help them, and despite their resources, if they don't have the people to hold the weapons and plan the attacks then there is no point in acting at all. They would be crushed immediately and then any advantage they may have had would be gone.

This was the biggest point for me, as almost everytime the conversation comes around to these books between me and friends and family they all seem to make this statement about how 13 should have been involved more throughout the series and throughout the years leading up to the series but it's one that I'm in complete defense of Coin on. I don't agree with all of her decisions and choices, but on this particular issue I think she acted exactly as she had to and had no other choice but to act as. But apparently, I'm one of the few people who see it this way. I think she did good.

And overall, now that I've finished the series, I'm eagerly anticipating the movies. But as my friend stated after reading only the first half of the first book "I'm already fearing the differences the movies will make to the story I am already madly in love with".