Phobia of the Day

Ecclesiophobia - The fear of church and going to church.


Courtesy of nursingdegreeguide.org 

Happy Hunger Games!!

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
4 STARS

Happy Hunger Games everyone! Today is a special day because the film came out today! I intend on seeing it tomorrow because I had a bunch of work to do last night for this morning. *cough* watching the Walking Dead while doing Japanese work *cough* ^u^ But, I thought today I should dedicate a post to a fantastic series.

In a post-apocalyptic North America, 13 Districts make up what remains of the country. Renamed Panem, the country is led by the totalitarian government - stationed in their main city: the Capitol. The Capitol is the snazziest of all the cities, located in the Rocky Mountains, and home to – dictator – President Coriolanus Snow and the wealthy. The people of the districts are desperate, starving, and living in poverty. Each district has a speciality: District 9 is the grain district, District 12 is the coal district, District 2 specializes in masonry and weaponry, District 3 is technology, and many others. They all support the Capitol and, indirectly, each other. The Capitol is in charge of the Panem annual event: the Hunger Games.

The Games originated as punishment for the "Dark Days" of Panem when the 13 Districts rebelled against the Capitol. District 13 was annihilated as the Capitol put out the uprising. Now, the remaining 12 Districts participate in the Games. Every year, there is what's called, "The Reaping." The Reaping is a lottery within each district. Anyone between the ages 12 and 18 must participate – their names are placed in the lottery by the Capitol. One boy and one girl are picked from each district to participate in the nationally televised event: the Hunger Games. The "tributes"– those selected to represent their District – are placed in an outdoor arena that is controlled by the Capitol. Audience members can send things to their favorite tributes in the arena, if they can afford to. The catch is... there can only be one winner of the Hunger Games. That winner will be rewarded with extra food for their District. Thus, the tributes fight, to the death, on national television because: "Only one can survive."

The story follows a 16 year-old girl, Katniss Everdeen, from District 12. As she frets about her younger sister, Primrose, getting picked on her first Reaping, Katniss also worries about the fate of her brash best friend, Gale Hawthorne – who is 18. Both Gale's father and Katniss' father died in a mine explosion, and now the two eldest siblings are the bread-winners for their respective families. If either of them were to get picked for the Games, their families would suffer without them. The Reaping passes, and District 12 have their two tributes.

What will the 74th Annual Hunger Games bring?

There are three books in this series: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay. I am not giving too much information on what happens in any of the books - barely the first even. I can't bring myself to do it. Suzanne Collins writes them so ... brilliantly! They really are fantastic! I shall add a "PS" at the end of this once I see the film. I will give my opinions on the adaption, then. I highly recommend this series for guys and gals alike. I suggest the youngest age to read it would be, maybe, 4th grade. Otherwise, the books are written for any age group. Honestly, they're just that good! Any Hunger Games fans out there? Leave a comment below!

May the odds be ever in your favor.

Happy Reading!
Citizen of District 9,
- Isabel

Manga/Anime Corner!

Welcome to the first of (hopefully) many Manga/Anime Corner Posts! Upon request, haha! I’m hoping to do more of these as time goes on. I’ll do two, maybe three, per post to keep it interesting and have enough to actually talk about in the future, haha! Everything I talk about can be found via Anime Ready and/or Manga Fox. So, here goes nothing!

  

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Durarara! – Ryohgo Narita (also the author of Baccano) 

A manga and anime, Durarara! is one of those underrated shows. Admittedly, I have not read the manga (which is something I will do, eventually), but the anime is fantastic. I prefer watching this subbed because the voices seem to fit the personalities and characters perfectly. It has slight bits of romance, but overall Durarara! is an supernatural/action anime. 

Ryuugamine Mikado moves to Ikebukuro – a district of Tokyo – after being invited by his childhood friend – who he hadn’t seen in years – Kida Masaomi. Mikado longs for the exiting, “big city” life he imagines Masaomi has. But, he is also scared of the infamous Ikebukuro. Masaomi warns Mikado about the strange people and gangs that inhabit the district. There is the freakishly strong, Heiwajima Shizuo; who hates the cunning information broker, Orihara Izaya. There is a mysterious, colorless, gang called “The Dollars”; both the “Yellow Scarves” and “Blue Squares” – two Ikebukuro gangs – fear them, despite the war between the two factions. The “Black Rider” is a local legend; she is rumored to have no head under her yellow helmet. Sonohara Anri is a quiet, timid, schoolmate of Masaomi and Mikado. 

Other characters are introduced and reappear frequently, as the cast remains small. The plot follows characters through one of the most memorable, twisting, and unpredictable plot lines I’ve encountered so far. I absolutely loved this show. I would try to talk about it a bit more, but I would risk spoiling something! It'll become clearer once you watch the show. Honestly, it’s worth every moment!

  

(From Left)
Izaya, Masaomi, Mikado, Anri, Shizuo

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Hellsing (OVA) – Kouta Hirano 

Hellsing is a bloody, supernatural anime that follows the militaristic Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing – leader of the Holy Order of Protestant Knights. The Order is an organization was originally led by Abraham Van Helsing, the infamous vampire hunter. Sir Integra is protected by the faithful Hellsing family butler, Walter, and the original vampire, Alucard. Seras Victoria is a young police officer, who was turned into a vampire by Alucard. 

There are zombie-like vampires created en masse by the remnants of a Nazi group called Millennium. The Vatican have their own vampire extermination organization: Section XIII Iscariot. Over London, the three factions clash in an apocalyptic war-triangle. This ongoing manga and anime is awesome. The subbed anime has lots of fighting and fantastic voice acting. Alucard is the most epic vampire ever. There are only 9 OVA episodes, but they’re worth the wait. I absolutely love this show! All versions of this anime are good. The OVA is bloodier than others, though. But, I suppose, that’s what makes Hellsing great! That and Alucard's utter badass-ness.

(From Left)
Seras Victoria, Sir Integra, Alucard

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Those are my two anime/manga suggestions for this Anime/Manga Corner! I’m working on some more, too! I’m picking only with ones I know – meaning I’ve read or watched them. I also will only write about them if I can link you to a scanlated version online. I know it’s difficult (and expensive) to get your hands on a physical copy of any manga. Ditto with anime. I do not mean to deter you from purchasing the physical copies! It’s very important to support the artists! But, I’d like to give an alternative so you can actually enjoy them as much as I did! 

Happy Reading/Watching! 

-- Isabel

Phobia of the Day

Venustraphobia - The fear of beautiful women, and may be caused by low self-confidence or putting too much pressure on appearances. Also known as caligynephobia.


Courtesy of nursingdegreeguide.org 

There's very little I could do without it..

Heads up! It's long and rant-y!

By: Buckikah.deviantart.com

There's something so visceral about it. Something so enlightening. 

I can't stand people who say they hate reading. Disabilities, aside. Ah, well, now don't get huffy at me. My sister was unbelievably dyslexic and hated reading for a long time. But, it was because she couldn't. So, she listened. She's listened to some books (on tape/CD) so many times, she knows whole chunks of books by heart. And, once she went through tutoring, and picked up a book: there was no stopping her. She loves reading. Just as much as I do, if not more. She was the one who helped me compile a list of 50+ books for this blog, actually. Our room is a library. Our room has a wall of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. The shelves are, well, full. There are bookshelves in the hallway, the living room, the dining room, the little home-office, my parent's bedroom, and there's a small one in the kitchen. 

This is the environment I grew up in. Mum read to us before bed: Little Women, The Wizard of Oz, children's stories, and so much more. It got to the point where I wanted to read on my own. But, at the same time…I didn’t. In 1^st grade, I went through an “I Hate Reading” phase. My mum whisked me off to a tutor who had me read Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl. I grudgingly began to read it. And…I loved it. That began my, all too wonderful, literary career. The summer between 1^st and 2^nd grades, I encountered the magnificent Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by the lovely JK Rowling. My parents had picked up the book and read it before passing it down to me (to make sure it was child friendly, of course). And, I suppose that was the end of my anti-reading stint. I have read…too much, since then. I don’t mean that there is a limit to how much one can read. No, I mean to say that I have read so much that it’s a miracle that I remember storylines at all. How does one manage that?

Ah, well… Put it this way… In 3^rd grade my school’s librarian caught me in the “big kid” section. That was most of the fantasy-fiction like His Dark Materials, anything by Tamora Pierce or Garth Nix. They weren’t easy books, per say. So, she made me read every single Junie B. Jones book our library owned, to prove my reading ability. For the record, I was reading already reading at a Harry Potter level. So, I forced myself to read those horrid “kid” books. And then, in 4^th grade, I was banned from the library for reading too much. I believe I got banned in 5^th grade, too. Yep. I was not allowed to take a book out of my school’s library because I was reading too much. Yes, I would read instead of doing homework, during recess, and while eating. Oi, I had friends! I had awesome friends. But, every time I got a moment to myself, I’d read. And I’d go through books in a matter of weeks, sometimes days.

 

Well, I suppose it’s time to publicly admit to a crime I have committed. 

While banned, I would sneak into the library during the librarian’s lunch break. And – here it goes – I’d sign books out under my friends’ names. And, when I finished them, I'd do the same when returning them. 

There you have it. Those were my rebellious childhood years. Hey, I’m quite proud of myself actually. Back then, that was the most risqué thing I’d even dare to do.

Bah, who am I kidding! I could barely keep a straight face while writing that! Haha! It’s all true, though!! Best part is, I left a legacy. My sister followed suit! She got banned, too! Ah, I’m so very proud. You can understand why we have built our own library, now, I’m sure. Books are the gifts that just keep on giving. I’ve learned so much from reading. Despite the chatterbox that I am, writing, for me, is the purest form of expression. I read because it’s an escape, it’s comforting, it’s enjoyable… I read because I love to.

I don't get it when people are like, "I h8 reading. It sux." One, lurn 2 spell, n00b. Two, why? Is it because so much of our lives now deals with reading? Reading a text message, reading Facebook status updates, reading the latest gossip column... How is that so different? I'm in this blogging class, at the moment, and we talked about how the Internet, and texting, has killed writing. Well, not killed it, per say. But, has diluted it.

I don't know about that! How many times have you seen a Grammar-Nazi correct someone's spelling and/or grammar online? It happens all the time! I think because everything's so easily accessible, and so "in-your-face" public, that we all get lazy. And because we see other people being lazy in writing, we think it's okay if we're lazy about it, too. And, just an f-y-i, IT'S NOT! Bah, sorry. I can't stand it. I'm such a writing freak! I think it comes from reading so much. But, I just want to be as good as the stuff I've read. I'm a really flowery, adjective-y, writer. It's so fun! Gets me into trouble with formal papers, though... I've tried toning it down, I really have! Somehow, it always sneaks back in...

But, seriously! How is lazy writing okay?

Example:
I ordered a costume February 23rd (or so) for a convention I was going to on the 2nd of March. I figured, hey, I'll use it for anything in the future, too! So, I pay, etc. etc. And I had thought it'd take 3-5 days for it to be delivered (That's what the site said!). No, such luck. So, I emailed customer support and asked if there was any possibility of getting it by this weekend. The response I got said I'd get it on the 8th or 9th of March (...awesome...). Best part of the email: the support representative said: "plz." "Plz don't worry" and "Plz wait patiently." WHAT?! I'm sorry. But, as a customer, I really don't want to see that.

How is that professional at all? Am I corresponding with LolCat? Is it that difficult to write a few extra letters and say, "Please?" How is that acceptable? I knew that people had gotten lazy, but that lazy? I know people think it's "cool," but in reality. No. Not so much. I don't mean to say that I hate Internets-y things. I don't! I love all things Internet! Well, most things. But, when it comes to something professional, or ... something that is not for the lulz, then nowai. Propur English plz..

Any who! I just can't imagine why someone could hate reading! Especially with everything on the Internet these days! The Information Era, people have called it. There's nothing but reading happening! But, does that mean it's ruining book reading for people? That's just horrid. A book is a book. READ A BOOK. Okay, reading a novel online counts, too. But, seriously! I don't understand the aversion to reading! Isn't that what texting is? You read! ... And respond. But, when reading a novel, it's just for you! There's no need for any responding! The story is all for you! And, it's just… so much fun!

I suppose maybe I don’t understand hating reading. For school, sure! But… not reading for pleasure. There's just… There's very little I could do without it.

Happy Reading!

- Isabel

The Old Kingdom Series - Garth Nix

4 1/2 STARS

In 4^th grade, my school’s librarian told me this series was too much for me. I blatantly refused and took out the first book – Sabriel – while she was out for lunch. I was wrong. She was right. I couldn’t muddle my way through it, no matter how badly I wanted to read it. In 5^th grade, I took it out again. I read the whole series – 3 books – in a matter of a couple of months. It only took so long because I actually had to do school work during the waking hours I spent not reading. I shall discuss my reading habits in another post, at another time.

Point is, when I find a good book, I don’t like to put it down. Why? Usually because the story keeps me there. Sabriel is one of those books. Lirael, and then Abhorsen, follow it, both of which are just as enticing. Rumor has it a fourth is going to join the series – Clariel – and is to be released during 2013. These books are, again, not for the light of heart. This is another series that can be enjoyed by anyone, as long as you’re old enough to understand.

Sabriel is set in two neighboring countries: Ancelstierre – to the South and the equivalent of 20^th century England – and the Old Kingdom – to the North where all the magic and dangerous spirits are. These spirits can be anything from undead corpses – Dead Hands – to Free Magic elementals. Although, the Ancelstierre government denies any claims of that, the people don’t believe it any way. Only those who live near the border truly know the truth.

Necromancers roam the Old Kingdom living in Death using Dead Hands to do their bidding – like evil zombie minions. To keep the balance, there is a sorcerer with the title of Abhorsen, who is essentially a Necromancer him/herself. The Abhorsen does not raise the dead, no. Instead, they are to put the living-dead to rest. A Necromancer’s primary tools are a set of bells, which control the Dead in various ways.

When a young Sabriel is studying in a school at Ancelistierre, her father – the current Abhorsen – succumbs to the new evil that is rising in the Old Kingdom. He sends her his bells and a sword, passing the legacy on to her. Sabriel, unprepared, must learn her father’s trade and return to the Old Kingdom to prevent evil from returning.

If only the Dead would stop trying to kill her while she tries.

It’s a new way of looking at Necromancy! Garth Nix takes something traditional and makes it completely original. It is really well written! Sabriel does drag a bit, but it’s necessary and completely forgivable, with the fast-paced nature the book has. I would talk about Sabriel a bit more… But, to continue, I’d risk spoilers for Lirael and Abhorsen.

I can't explain! I’m terrible with spoilers! If I mention one thing, I have to explain another, and next thing I know, BAM, there’s the whole book/series. And I don’t want to do that! Especially not with a series as good as this!! I’m eagerly awaiting Clariel and, now that I’m writing about these books, feel the need to reread this series. Sabriel was such a fun character to follow! And so was Mogget! But, you’ll meet him once you read Sabriel. ^-^

Happy Reading!

-- Isabel  

Phobia of the Day

Phobophobia - A rare disorder, which refers to the fear of having a phobia.


Courtesy of nursingdegreeguide.org