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Showing posts with label Maze Runner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maze Runner. Show all posts

Wednesday, 17 December 2014

American Writers Writing British Characters

Hello! I know it's been a while since my last post, I had massive issues with Wordpress and my two gmail accounts were conflicting on my blogger page - all in all, it's been a complete pain! However, I'm here now and ready to role with my new post on an issue that affects me a lot.

Bloody American writers writing bloody British bloody characters.

Sound familiar?

Every British reader faces the regular struggle of reading a book by an American writer whom has written in a British character. Every sentence that character says will sound a little like this:

"I am going to the bloody shops to buy some bloody shoes because it's bloody cold outside and my car won't bloody start so I bloody have to walk".

Oh. My. Bloody. God. 

Anyone would think that everyone American thinks we're Alan Sugar!

This surge of anger has came from my recent attempt to read James Dashner's The Maze Runner where the character Newt, presumably British or possibly Australian, says 'bloody' far too much. It is a British stereotype that we all say "bloody" a lot like our good old friend Ron Weasley so writers from other nationalities incorporate it in to their work, unfortunately, to the annoyance of the British. It's a stereotype that Americans are all stupid but do you see British writers purposely making their American characters unintelligent? No, you don't. 

Of course, we do say it, of course we do but it's a pain in the arse when it's every other word the character spits out! 

Fiction has always managed to paint pictures of Britain and have given the Americans some crazy misconceptions. Let's iron out a few, just to extend the length of this post!

1) If you've read any of this post, you'll understand that number 1 has to be the word 'bloody' being used in the wrong context, too often and in the wrong part of the sentence. It's frustrating!


2) "British boys are so cute".
No. No they are not. Yes, Harry Potter and all of it's beautiful male array of characters are yummy both on screen and on paper but they are fictitious; there's not a geographical correlation between attractive men and their location on earth. Trust me, this guy is considered a sex lord in many parts of Britain. The attractive men are few and far between. 
3) We all speak like the queen.
7% of the British population speak like the queen. The other 93% speak in multiple variations of English language - chances are, your dream guy won't say "Hello darling, you look beautiful today", they'll say "oi love, yous looks well fit!". They're not romantic, to say the least. 

I hope this has cleared up some of the misconceptions you may have of British people after you read about them, it will save us all a lot of trouble if you find out about it now rather than later!

I do apologise for my lack of innovative posts right now, been so busy and drained in the run up to Christmas due to present buying, college work and working at the bookshop! This will be my last post until the new year and I will be back with a vengeance.

Have a marvellous Christmas and I look forward to being back with you in the new year,

Thanks,

Is x

Wednesday, 3 December 2014

How to get out of a Reading Funk

You could be the most avid reader and have moments when you just can't get in to your book and you slip in to a reading funk.

Reading Funk

A reading funk is a period of time where reading becomes a chore/daunting task and one ceases to read. Funks can last short or long periods of time and are common in students and those with busy lifestyles.

Tim: Hey Joe, have you read Ready Player One by Ernest Cline yet!?

Joe: Nah man, been studying so much I've got myself in to a reading funk.

Symptoms of a reading funk include:

  1. Sleeping after reading a page of a book




2. Buying too many books to fit on your shelf that you're "going to read when you feel better" so that it's fit to collapse.


3. Watching excessive amounts of TV so you don't have to read



That's just a select few of the effects a reading funk has, they vary from person to person and it's so difficult to pull yourself out of one but never fear, I have some tips to help!

My A levels have been driving me crazy and reading has been the last thing on my mind right now due to the workload I have that seems to never end. I'm in my own funk now, I've been reading The Maze Runner for weeks and am still not even 100 pages in; in all honesty I'm not a fan of Dashner's writing style but the concept is great so I just have to plough through. Unfortunately, books that don't grab you can just elongate the reading struggle and put you off further so try to avoid these type of books!

Here are my top 5 tips to avoid your reading funk!:

1. Choose a book that interests you!
    If you're reading a book just to see what all the fuss is about, there's a possibility you'll be disappointed and apply this same algorithm to other books you read. You're going to convince yourself that everything you read is a disappointment when there are really some great books out there which have very little hype at all!

2. Schedule in some reading time!
   Whether it be an hour or even 20 minutes, put aside part of your day and dedicate it to reading. Don't stop until you've reached your target and if you read longer than expected, don't stop. Book funks are often followed by reading purges so let out the reading animal inside!

3. Ease yourself back in to it!
    An easy read is sometimes all you need! Try something contemporary and small but not something that will bore you like John Green, Jill Mansell or something aimed at a younger audience as it may be simpler to read!

4. Turn off your phone!
    The Internet is a pain; it gets in the way far too much and you'll end up checking twitter and not reading! It also takes away any concentration you may have!

5. Set goals!
    Everything you do in your life is easier if you set goals so aim to read a book a week/month/every 3 days. Make your goals sensible and achievable and stick to them!



Hope that these help you guys! Let me know your tips for getting rid of the post-book-blues! Sorry for the short/lacklustre post too! I'm absolutely whacked and need some sleep!

Is x

Twitter: @marvellousshelf
Instagram: @issysmarvellousbookshelf

Wednesday, 19 November 2014

Dystopia is Everywhere!

The Hunger Games, Divergent, Maze Runner, The Walking Dead... All successful franchises. And what do they have in common? Dystopia.
DYSTOPIA: an imagined place or state in which everything is unpleasant or bad, typically a totalitarian or environmentally degraded one. The opposite of utopia.
Has Dystopia lost its meaning? Is it beginning to mean the exact opposite of what it's meant to? This obsession with the danger and destruction appears to be quite prevalent in recent teen fiction it's got to a point now where we wish for our lives to be like these dystopias; whether you want to put someone you hate in the arena or take your best friend as your zombie killing partner, the influence of dystopian fiction has been massive!
Not this Jonathon Ross but we love him too!
I've been sent a copy of Image Comics' America's Got Powers by Jonathan Ross and Bryan Hitch which fits in to this topic of Dystopia perfectly... The general plot of this story is that a crystal came down to earth and landed in San Francisco and all the pregnant women in a 5 mile radius gave birth to healthy, supernatural children. These children were segregated from normal kids and now fight on live TV for the chance to join the super team of heroes.
So yeah...I guess it's pretty similar to the Hunger Games but isn't everything now? Plus I think the super powers give this story an edge over the others; it's turned the concept on its head and makes it seem more like a utopia on the surface which most dystopias don't do. It's pretty different and I'm really enjoying it.
Are there any other dystopias you think don't get enough attention? Let me know, maybe I'll add it to my reading list!
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That's it for now!
See you on Friday,
Is x
Twitter: @Marvellousshelf
Instagram: @issysmarvellousbookshelf
*this is a repost from my WordPress blog*

Friday, 14 November 2014

Schedules, Homework and University

Hey guys, it's been a while... longer than a while...

This is kind of an apology post. I am only just starting this whole blogger life thing and scheduling is something I'm not vigilant enough with so from now on, expect posts on Wednesday and Friday and maybe I'll pop a surprise post in every now and then. That's my schedule element sorted, now I'll explain the lack of posts!

I am currently doing my A levels (equivalent to US SATs I think? Don't hold me to that!) and they are taking over my life. I am reading the texts they have set us for English Literature and they are draining me because they are really heavy going; they actually make me not want to read for leisure! My other excuse is every prospecting British 17/18 year olds best friend: UCAS.

Breakdown of UCAS:
Definition - The association which processes your university application
Actuality - The most stressful form you will ever fill out in your life. One spelling mistake and you've potentially cost yourself a spot at university. If your personal statement sucks then say byebye to your future dreams and hello to the mundane 9-5.

I've been swamped with all of this since September and I'm very stressed and busy but I promise that I will stick to my Wed/Fri schedule now!

I know this post has been boring but I am currently reading The Maze Runner so expect something to be posted about this soon!

Until Wednesday my friends... or maybe Sunday if there is time!

Is x

Check me out elsewhere:
Twitter:@ marvellousshelf
Instagram: @issysmarvellousbookshelf