The Power of the Internet

This post is a bit related to Joseph Kony, but not exactly.I recently saw the Kony video for the first time and something the guy said really struck a chord. He said “Who are you to end a war? I’m here to tell you, who are you not to”. We live in the age of communication. Of being able to connect with people in the blink of an eye. What helps us to do this?

Facebook.

Twitter.

Skype.

These and many more communication avenues conveniently located on the Internet. Families can stay connected, friends can be found, and soul mates can be brought together, all with the magic of the internet.

But there is something else, something very important, that the internet can do. It can keep us connected to the world. It can tell us when things are going right, and most importantly, when things are going terribly wrong.

We can gain this information and use it to change the world. But the thing is, more often then not, we don’t use to to change the world. When there is a portion of humanity suffering, we say “That’s too bad,” “That’s terrible,” “I hope someone does something about that.”

Read that again. “I hope someone does something about that.”

Who is that someone? That someone is you. It doesn’t take a trained “world fixer” to change and better the world, all it takes is someone who really does care. But what is helping? Helping is raising awareness, helping is sending supplies, helping is being there for someone who just needs help to survive.Who are you not to end a war? Who are you not to end suffering?

There are fellow human beings out there every single day, fighting for survival, fighting something they shouldn’t have to fight. I’m not saying you have to fly to Uganda and save Kony’s invisible children, what I am saying is, when you see someone suffering, it is your duty to do what you can to help.

Does it mean stopping a war? It doesn’t have to. What it does mean is, most likely you know someone who suffers daily. Lend a hand, lend some love, and help. I have a challenge for you: that person in your life, that person whose life could be a lot better, give that person a hug, tell that person you want to help. Once you do that, the actual helping will be easy. You’ll know what to do.

~Savannah

The Love of Horror

"Fear, you see, is an emotion people like to feel when they know they're safe"
---Alfred Hitchcock


I think what this quote says is so true. Fear isn't something welcomed when one's safety is compromised. However, when one is safe, fear is an exhilarating emotion that gives a brilliant adrenalin rush. This is why we see the existence of roller coasters - the thought of death feels imminent, yet you are safely tucked away under belts and steel bars.

And of course, this is why horror films and novels are such a success. Murder, pain, terror, these are subjects strange to talk about, yet are tantalizing to view on the big screen. I don't know why people are like this. Why do we find these subjects so interesting?

Maybe because we have this urge to know what hasn't been told to us. What's under the sheet? Behind the curtain? In the crate? In fact, I think it was Hitchcock who said something like there is nothing more frightening than an unopened door.

This, my dear readers, is where horror films have changed. In Hitchcock's day, horror was exhibited with mystery. We weren't told in The Birds, for example, why they attacked people or what happened to the small town of Bodega Bay. The thought that the birds may still be on their rampage is much more frightening than the truth that was so cleverly left out.

Today, horror is shown by the display of pure terror or gruesome images. In the film Panic Room, we know exactly what's happening within the rest of the house. We know where the robbers are and what they plan to do, and this creates horror by the terrible thought of being trapped in your own home, with no way of calling for help.

Horror films, for me, and I think everyone, are a guilty pleasure. Like a thick, dark slice of chocolate cake, we know it's not good for us, but it's oh so good.


~~~Savannah

Gossip of the Starlings by Nina de Gramont

I shan't give a long interdiction, for fear it may bore you to tears. However, I will tell you this was a lovely novel. It was very entertaining and offered quite a bit food for thought, which my head gobbled and was very satisfied. Now, you may enjoy a review in which I hope will thoroughly satisfy you.

Gossip of the Starlings

by Nina de Gramont

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age Group: 14+*

Perspective: First Person

Movie?: N/A at this time

Overall Rating: *****

*The age group is 14 solely for the mention of drug and alcohol use.

The book is set in 1985, where we meet two girls, Catherine and Skye. Skye Butterfield is senator's daughter, meaning that she is a supposed-to-be goody-goody. For most of her life, she has been, until she begins attending Esther Percy, an all girls private school. There, she meets Catherine. Catherine, a smart, beautiful, and talented equestrian. It would seem that Catherine is also a goody-goody, well, except when she is snorting cocaine with her friends Susannah, Drew, and her boyfriend John Paul. This is where Skye comes in. She no longer wants to be the goody-goody senator's daughter and Catherine is the person to break her free from that. Catherine teaches her the tricks of the trade; how to portion it, snort it, and hide being high. During the school year, they become the best of friends. Later on in the book, it is shown that Skye is a much more dynamic character than one would think. She doesn't want to be perfect, she doesn't want to wear the perfect suite without a thread out of place, she doesn't want her hair to be bound in a tight bun, and she doesn't want people to continue to think she enjoys any of this. However, Catherine wants to take another road and focus more on training and her studies and less on the cocaine. But Skye, wanting to do something seriously rebellious, makes Catherine's choice to be more than mostly clean, almost impossible.

Skye's recklessness and the drugs prove to be a bad combination, and her bad choices lead to even worse consequences.

NaNoWriMo time!!! (almost)

A blog post will be out soon, but this article IS IMPORTANT!
It's almost NOVEMBER PEOPLE! DO YOU KNOW WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT?
Well, if you don't, KEEP READING. And if you do, just read it anyway :D



NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is a joyice, somewhat crazy time when people from all walks of life come together with a common goal: to write a 50,000 word book in 30 days. You might be asking yourself, why do this? Well, I'll tell you. One reason, for there are many, is to force yourself to write. To write freely and without worry. To write without thinking, did I spell this right? Does that sound right? This is too silly, isn't it? The ability to write freely is a virtue no author takes for granted, which brings us to our second reason, and probably the biggest.
The main goal for this crazy, no, no, insane goal is to come out an author. Most people will agree that you're not an author until you've written a book; here's your opportunity, run with it! And what could be better than coming out a fully-fledged author? I can't think of a thing.
Although making it to the 50K mark is incredible (plus you get a really snazzy winner certificate that positively begs for a frame) just knowing you worked hard to do what you've always wanted to do is one amazing feet.
So go ahead, register at NaNoWriMo.com and you can begin writing on November 1st. Come on, you know you want to. What are you, scared? :)

~Savannnah

Websites related to this article: www.nanowrimo.org

Special Surprise ALERT!!!

SO, I wouldn't normally do this, however, I have for you the countdown timer for Behemoth, the sequal to Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan. The novel is coming out TOMORROW, (Tues. October 5th) I suggest you make the time to pick up the book, should you wish to read it. Who knows, it might sell out.

Westerfeld said on his blog that the countdown timer has a secret. I WONDER WHAT IT IS!!!!



Savannah

Special Surprise #1

Hello, my readers. Notice something.... Different? Well there is, my old reviews have run away and left a new theme in their place. I got rid of the old reviews because I didn't like how I wrote them at all. A good review can state their opinion by writing about the book, or at least, I think so. Will reviews of those books come back? YES! The minute I have free time I'll review the books I reviewed and write new, shinny reviews.
The first one I'm planning to re-do is Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld, because Behemoth, the second instalment, is coming out in October.
So, anyway, here's a interview with none-other than Kimberly Pauley, author of Sucks to be me and Still Sucks to be me.
ENJOY!!!


1.How old were you when you first decided you wanted to be a writer and why did you decide to become one?
I don’t know that I ever consciously decided to be one. I just always wanted to be one. I wrote all the time when I was younger. And I read voraciously. At least a book a day, all through middle school and high school. Sometimes more than one a day (I’m a fast reader).


But when I was older and working corporate jobs, they made me so unhappy and were completely NOT fulfilling and my thoughts again turned to writing.



2.Have you ever wanted to be something else, and if so, what? Well, lots of things. Artist. Teacher. Librarian. Equestrian (that’s when I was about 8). Actress. Television Producer. Screenwriter.



3.Have you ever felt becoming an author was the wrong choice?

Oh, no. Best gig in the world. For me, anyway!



4.When you sent your manuscript for "Sucks to be me" out, were you scared that they wouldn't like it, or that they would?

Well, definitely afraid they wouldn’t like it. And not everyone did, of course (or does, for that matter). A lot of people are vampire traditionalists and didn’t “get” a funny vampire story.



5. What was the first thing you did after you found out your book was being published? (if you remember!)

Probably hugged my husband. J It was a very crazy week all the way around – it’s also the same week I found out I was pregnant!



6.Is there one thing you could change about "Sucks to be me" and why would you change it?

Oh, geez. Probably a lot of things. There are some things I should have wrapped up a little better in the book (though I’m really glad I got to do a second book, so I’d have that chance). And I probably should have increased the stakes for Mina some more (and no, that’s not actually a vampire joke…lol). There are always things you want to change.



7.Who is your favorite character in "Sucks to be me", excluding Mina and why?

I’m torn between George and Uncle Mortie. I really like both of them for their sense of humor.



8.Who is your least favorite character in "Sucks to be me" and why?

Probably Aubrey.

(Possible Spoiler next, don’t read if you haven’t read the book!!)

He was originally going to be more of a serious love interest for Mina, but the more I wrote about him, the more he turned out the way that he was. Some characters really do take on a life of their own.



9.What do you believe is the most important thing writers need to keep in mind while writing?

The reader.


10.The most important thing to remember when sending a manuscript to a publisher?

Follow directions & always be professional!



Sincerely,

Kimberly Pauley