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ABEA Day 4: Book to Movie Adaptations

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Today’s ABEA topic is book-to-movie adaptations. Book-to-movie adaptations are one of those things where they either get it right or it’s completely wrong. Some movies follow through with the book almost to a T, only having to change up a few plot points for movie purposes and really bringing the book to life for the reader. Others… well, they just suck.

So here I want to just talk about a few of my favorite adaptations, as well as some of my least favorite.

Favorites

  • The Harry Potter series. Though I’ve only read up to part of book four, the adaptations of the books are really well done. I find that the inner witch in me loves it. Though there’s major differences between book and movie three, I found that the first two really stuck to the story well.
  • The Fault in Our Stars. I found this to be very faithful to the book with a few minor plot points changed or missing. The lines were directly from the book and everything that happened was just wonderful to see. I loved it.
  • Divergent. Despite there being several major things that were changed from book to movie, I really enjoyed the adaptation. I thought it incorporated a lot of elements from the book into the movie and we really got to see what being in Dauntless was like and how living in that society was.

Least Favorites

  • Blood and Chocolate. It wasn’t even the same story as the book! I could understand making the characters older for movie purposes, but major plot points were changed, there was bad acting, and it was just… ugh. I hated it.
  • Insurgent. Okay, so I did a whole review rant about this movie and how horrible it was. So… go read that if you really want to know my thoughts.

So, some of these adaptations either hit it and really showed the true nature of the characters, had awesome CGI and storyline, and was as faithful as could be to the book. Others… yeah, no.

Now, as for books I’d want to be made into a movie or TV show, I believe I did posts on each, here and here.

As for upcoming shows/movies that I’m excited for:

  • Shadowhunters. This is a TV show based off of Cassandra Clare‘s The Mortal Instruments series. Everything is looking so awesome so far, from the beautiful cast to the set pictures we get every day, everything looks so awesome so far. I’m really excited to see how this adaptation plays out considering the movie was a flop.
  • Mockingjay Part 2. I haven’t read the books yet, but it’s one of my goals this year to read all three before the final movie comes out. I’ve loved The Hunger Games franchise since the release of the first movie and so I am excited to see how it concludes in the last movie.

I think what makes a faithful adaptation is not only the actor’s portrayal of the character they are playing, but also on the director, producer, screen-writer, etc. They are the ones that make the book come to life, and they have one chance to really impress fans of the book. It’s either a hit or miss, and sometimes it’s on the actors’ part or sometimes it’s the graphics, other times it’s the story and script.

What are some of your favorite book-to-movie adaptations? What about least favorites? What would you like to see be turned into a TV show or movie? Let me know!

ABEA Day 3: Blogging Q & A

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Today’s ABEA topic choice is one in which was difficult for me to choose from, but I decided to go with talking about blogging and my journey and some tips up to this point. Let me just state now that I am by no means an expert as I’m still growing and learning and expanding in my own blogging techniques. But I have learned several things over the years I’ve been blogging (on this and another blog) and so I’m just going to chat about that now.

My Journey

I’ve tried blogging on several platforms and for various topics, from school required blogging to my writing blog to this one I have here. I’ve used Blogger, Wix, Tumblr, WordPress, and (a very long time ago) LiveJournal. So I’ve been on and off in the blogosphere for several years now.

But nothing really ever stuck for an extended period of time until my writing blog, and even now I rarely post there anymore.

I have fallen in love with this blog, though.

I love talking about reading, discussing topics and issues that pop up in the community, showing my hauls and just having a fun time with books. This has been one of the best ideas I’ve had and I’m glad I’ve stuck with it because I will always love reading and there will always be books out there.

I’ve gained followers and awesome people I can talk to about the things I love who have a common interest, and I love that. It makes me so, so happy to be able to have such a large community I can branch out to and learn from and just talk to about books.

Blogging Tips

Okay, here’s where it may become a little bit fuzzy with advice because even though I’ve been doing this on and off for a few years, I’m still learning. Blogging is an ever changing entity and everyone has their own flair and tastes, so just remember that this will be my own experiences and personal advice.

  1. Have fun with your blog. Whether you’re talking about books, crafts, art, or fishing, you need to have fun with the content you’re producing. If you’re not having fun, why are you doing it? If you don’t have the passion behind it, take a step back and evaluate to see if there’s something that needs to change.
  2. Produce your best quality content. Okay, this one even I feel like a hypocrite about, but it’s true. When you post you want it to be some of the best of your own writing and thoughts about your given topic. Of course when you’re first starting out your content may not be up to par, but the more you do it the better your content will become. I mean, if you check out my last year’s posts, they were really, really bad. I cringe when I look at them, but they were a starting point and now I’m becoming proud of what I post.
  3. Don’t let what other people are posting pressure you into doing the same thing. There’s so many different styles of reviews, so many varieties of memes, so many different experiences out there on the Internet that it can all blend together and make a new blogger – and even an experienced blogger – confused about where to even start. I do a couple memes (Top Ten Tuesday & Top 5 Wednesday) every week if I can because I find them fun and I’m able to share some thoughts on books I may or may not have talked about before.
  4. Keep your blog clean and organized. It’s so much easier to track what post is where if you have dedicated subjects at the top of your blog. Have drop down menus and links referring back to your posts so that they’re easy to find. I find a cluttered blog to turn me off real fast because there’s so much to look at when all I’m looking for is the content. But that doesn’t mean you can’t design it how you want it, just make sure you have navigation somewhere.
  5. Try to post regularly/what fits your schedule. Some people are able to post every day, multiple times a day, and that’s okay. But some people can only post once or twice a week; that’s okay, too. Just be sure to set a schedule for yourself and try to stick to it to the best of your ability.

So there are five tips that I think are broad enough to fit everyone somehow. Blogging is an interactive, engaging experience. Make it your own, though; you don’t need to follow the pack.

Networking

I think it’s very important to network as a blogger. If you want more people to see your content, you need to be willing to branch out and extend to other media. Now I already discussed what my various social media are, but here’s why I personally think that it’s worth while to connect with some of the bigger ones:

  • Twitter: It’s fast, it’s super social, and you can get your content out quickly. So many websites, including WordPress, allow you to link up to your Twitter account so your blog posts automatically post on your feed. I use this one the most in terms of reading and writing related things because there are different hashtags you can use to connect with others who will also potentially follow you and check out your site. Some various hashtags I frequently use are: #amreading #amwriting #booknerdproblems #bookbloggers #writerproblems
  • Facebook: Using a page or personal account can connect to even more people. I mean, Facebook kind of turned into a phenomenon over the last few years and has grown so big that you’re bound to get people to follow or friend you there. Now this can be tricky to use, though, because many people will only follow if they see your link on your personal account or from your blog page. I use it in case anyone on Facebook who isn’t on Twitter or follow my blog can see my posts still.
  • Tumblr: It’s another blog for your blog! Okay, well, this may seem redundant, but there are SO many teens that use Tumblr and who love books that just by connecting your blog posts to tumblr (or actually using the platform itself) can get you a bunch of people to follow and talk with you about books.
  • The comments on your blog: the best place to engage in readership and fellowship. Seriously, there’s no better place to find others who enjoy your content or blog more than in the comments. When it comes down to it, be sure to reply to every comment until you feel that there doesn’t need to be a response anymore. Initializing that first contact with people can make them come back every time, and that’s really what we’re aiming for here, isn’t it?

Don’t be afraid to branch out and let other people into your small world. There’s so many people I have come to enjoy talking to about books that it makes me smile whenever I see them comment or when I see on Twitter that people are engaging in conversation with me or are talking about the same topic.

It’s really great to have all of this blogging community around. I find it to be fun and something I can see myself doing for years to come.

What about you? How do you like to blog? Any tips or advice you want to share? What’s your favorite form of networking? Let me know!

ABEA Day 2: Social Media

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So the choice of today’s ABEA topic came down to either visual expressions or social media. Frankly, social media is right up my alley and I have plenty of experience and use with it.

I’m literally all over the internet on many of the big social media platforms (these can also be found on the side of my blog with the icon buttons):

I love social media. It’s one of those fundamental things I don’t think I’d want to ever be without. I mean, I can go for a while without Facebook or tumblr or whatever, but I love, love, love Twitter. Especially since I started blogging did I gain a new appreciation for just how cool Twitter is and how much it can connect people together.

I find that social media is one of those things you need to help boost your stats as a blogger, sure, but I also think it’s important to connect with readers and followers on some level if it doesn’t happen on your blog, per se.

When it comes down to it, I think social media is extremely important for bloggers. Even if you use it just as a link up with your blog, you’re spreading your content more which means there’s a higher chance that people will see it and like it or be able to connect with you.

What about you? How many different social media platforms do you use related to your blog? Do you mix personal and blog together? I do on several accounts, and I’m okay with that. Let me know!

Armchair BEA 2015

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ArmchairBEA LogoExample

Made by Amber

So I discovered this cool thing today for those of use that couldn’t attend Book Expo America (BEA), and that is Armchair BEA (ABEA), a cool event type of thing that’s running from today, May 27th, to June 1st in which people can chill on their couch and join in on the book related fun from home. This year’s theme is all about diversity.

For today’s post it’s an introduction type of thing where I’ll answer five out of ten questions that they give (I wish we could answer all ten, but alas, we cannot).

1. Tell us a bit about yourself: How long have you been blogging? Where are you from? How did you get into blogging?

On this particular blog, I’ve been blogging since July 20, 2014. Almost a full year of blogging has gone by and wow, has a lot changed and improved over that time (I love it!). I’m from Massachusetts. I got into blogging from joining the Booktube community and realizing how much easier it is, for me, to talk about books and things I love in writing rather than verbally. Plus I’m able to get out more thoughts when I write them down, I think.

2. Why do you loving reading and blogging?

I’ve always loved reading (my parents can attest to that). Even if I didn’t read a lot or often until my twenties, as a kid and teen I read when I could and always something that I knew I’d like. I hated being forced to read things I didn’t care for in school, but when I discovered the books I could read for fun – that’s where my love for reading grew.

As for blogging, I love my blog. Seriously, I love it. I’m so proud of myself for sticking with this blog and seeing how many people enjoy my content and sharing their own thoughts and opinions with me. It makes me feel special, yes, but it’s also so great to know that there are others out there who enjoy the same content as I do.

3. What does diversity mean to you?

To me, diversity means something out of the norm. I know a lot of people expect white heroes and heroines, and that’s fine, really, but it also means allowing in other cultures, races, communities into the mix and not just as a side plot point. Main characters of color, of different sexual orientation, of different religious backgrounds – those are interesting and it helps me understand those diversities better.

4. What is your favorite genre and why?

Fantasy, regardless if it’s adult or YA, is my favorite genre because  there’s just so much content out there, so many different worlds and races and languages and species that have yet to be discovered. It’s amazing how some people can come up with entire new worlds and make them seem and feel real to a reader. You can get action, adventure, romance, comedy, etc, all rolled up into one, but with a more magical or fantastical element thrown into it.

5. What book are you reading right now?

“The Assassin’s Blade” by Sarah J Maas (I’m on the last novella and will most likely finish tonight) and also “Unravel Me” by Tahereh Mafi. Both are really good, but it’s taking me forever to read them. Must. Finish. Soon.

So that is it for the first day/post of ABEA! I hope you got to know a little more about me if you didn’t already know some of this stuff. These next few days might include double posts as I have content I want to share with you guys that I’ve already had planned on top of the posts for ABEA, so I hope you won’t mind (it’s kind of out of the norm for me).

Are you participating in ABEA? Share with me your introductory post! Let me also know what your favorite genre is and why. I’d love to hear!