The Fault in Our Stars

"Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning-author John Green’s most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love."

         -Taken from Amazon.com

I always get really excited about the personal reading that I get to do over the summer. However, if I'm completely honest, I only finished one book this summer. Pleasedon'tjudgeme! There are a couple reasons for that: I was busy; I moved and most of my books were packed; I just didn't feel like it. For whatever reason, I only read one book this summer. That book happened to be John Green's The Fault in Our Stars.

I had heard about it from many different people. It was constantly talked about on line and I saw it all the time in stores. Seriously, this book seemed to be everywhere. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore and so I picked it up from the library to read on a trip I was taking that day. I refused to go into the book with high expectations. I didn't want to be disappointed  I remember starting An Abundance of Katharines and only getting a few pages in before I completely forgot about it. I open the book and settled in. Let me tell you, I read that book until I got to my destination, on the way back to my house, and I even continued to read it up in my room until I had finished the whole thing.

I don't know what happened. It's like I got stuck in the book and wouldn't be free until I finished reading it. I think that there are a few reasons why I loved this book so much. I can't say I truly enjoyed reading it because it was one of, if not the most, painfully heartbreaking novels I have ever read. Anyway, here are a few reasons:

• Hazel Grace- Her narrative, I thought, was beautiful. Her thoughts about life and questioning of her existence in the universe were really captivating to me. I thought John Green did an amazing job of writing her.
• Hazel Grace and Augustus- I loved these two in general. I thought they were beautiful together. I loved their relationship dynamics and thought that how they interacted with each other was portrayed well in the novel.
• The quotes- This was probably one of the most quotable novels I have read in a very long time. I mean: "My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations."- How can you not want to quote that!

This book left me with a ton of feelings. It's really hard to put all that I thought and felt when reading this novel into words but I can say this: I cried so much throughout this book and I sobbed when it was over. I tried explaining the plot to my mother after I was finished but I was crying to hard. She kept trying to remind me that it was just a book. I know that it is "just a book" but good books have a way of making the reader become attached to the characters and feel pain when those characters wither die, feel pain themselves, or the book ends. The Fault in Our Stars was a great book and I couldn't help but get attached.

So, if you haven't read this book, you should really give it a try. (I'll post the links to Amazon and John Green's website down below) If you have read the book, what did you think of it? I would love to know!

John Green's website: http://johngreenbooks.com/the-fault-in-our-stars/

TFiOS on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Fault-Stars-John-Green/dp/0525478817

The IMDb movie page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2582846/

*Note: All pictures in this post are mine so if you are interested in using them for any reason, please give me a little notice first.

Moulin Rouge!

source: tumblr.com

Yesterday, I watched Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge! for the first time. I have been listening to the soundtrack, which my sister owned, for years. It's one of my favorite cds to listen to. My sister also used to own the movie but I never got around to watching it. Also, the only Luhrmann movie that I had watched before this was Romeo + Juliet with Leo DiCaprio and Claire Danes which I really disliked.

That said, I decided to forget Romeo + Juliet and go into Moulin Rouge! with an open mind. Guess what? I loved it. I thought the story was beautiful as was the art direction and I even found myself getting teary eyed at the end.

For those of you who haven't seen the movie, Moulin Rouge! is about a young writer named Christian (played by the lovely and talented Ewan McGregor) who moves to Paris to be at the heart of the Bohemian revolution. He gets involved with his theatre troupe neighbors after wowing them with his lyrics. They convince him to help them get their play performed at the Moulin Rouge.

source: vunzooke.com

Through a series of mix-ups, Christian ends up meeting with and falling for the star of the cabaret, Satine, who falls for him as well. However, Satine (played by the beautiful Nicole Kidman) is also wanted by the Duke of Monrath (Richard Roxburgh), the man who is financing the show. He is quite creepy, has a terrible temper, and does not like to share his things. Sadly, for Christian and Satine, the duke thinks that Satine is his. Add on top of that dilema that Satine is very sick and you have yourself one drama filled, heart wrenching movie.

source: www.epipoca.com.br

The soundtrack for this film was magnificent. I loved the mixing of well known songs in the film. The singing was pretty great as well. Ewan McGregor especially has an amazing voice which really shines through in everything he sings, "Your Song" especially. Nicole Kidman in "Come What May" also made me shed a few tears. Richard Roxburgh and Jim Broadbent, who plays the owner of the Moulin Rouge, sing a rendition of "Like a Virgin" that will leave you feeling uncomfortable as well as wondering what exactly you just witnessed which I believe is what Luhrmann intended.

source: www.fanpop.com

The costumes and sets were so over-the-top crazy and beautiful. I wish I could have seen them in person so I could study them better. I'm the type of person who loves to look at costumes and these were so detailed. They were amazing.

source: www.fanpop.com

One problem that I had, that I also had with Romeo + Juliet was the editing. Not all the time though. Mostly just in the beginning. The scenes were edited to move so fast that at some points I felt like I was getting whiplash. I think that's just a Baz Luhrmann movie trait though and it didn't seem to be as bad as the movie progressed.

I would really recommend this movie to anyone who loves musicals or romance movies. Be warned: their is quite a bit of adult stuff in it which is a given considering the fact that is centered around Moulin Rouge. If you're okay with that and you don't mind "loud" movies with fast-paced editing, you should really give it a go. You might really like it!

source: www.daleelak.tv