This is a legit Question Wednesday

Not to overthrow the legitimacy of the previous Question Wednesdays--what I'm saying is that, this Wednesday's question is by no means a rhetorical one. It's a practical question that I'm seeking an immediate answer to.

The Question is: What to buy in (Southern) India?

Because oh because oh because--I AM GOING TO INDIA FOR SPRING BREAK!!!!! asdfs;ghaldkfs;f;hagkdfs (yes, Vanessa needs to calm down. Leaves)

And now I'm back. All calmed down, I promise. Anyways, I am officially going to Southern India (Bangalore, Mysore, etc) with my high school for a spring break trip (which is in 2 days)!!!!! I am super  duper excited and am looking forward to it very very very very (insert 1,000 more "very") much :)

I'm a girl who loves shopping, and I will definitely be buying souvenirs for friends and family, too. So I was wondering if there's anything worth of buying in India--of course, I know I'll find a lot of amazing things there, but I just want to know if there's anything special/one of a kind that I could bring back.

Thanks!!

xx

Vanessa :]

p.s. I will be in India from March 1-17, so I won't be able to blog (spotty/zero internet + possible power outages)... I will miss you guys.... but I will do a massive post about India (maybe a Savvy Saturday?) once I'm back!!

A Chase for Love: Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

Title: Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

Author: Rachel Cohn, David Levithan

My Rating: 3.5/5

“I’ve left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the New York Times bestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?"

**THIS REVIEW IS BASED ON A NETGALLEY THANSK TO HARLEQUIN UK LTD. (ARC PROVIDED BY NETGALLEY)**

I picked up Dash & Lily's Book of Dares after watching the film Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, whose depth and depiction of characters amazed me. However, it is unfortunate that Dash & Lily's Book of Dares failed to live up to my expectations (which were high, probably too high).

Still, it was an interesting story. I'll start with the good things: the POVs. I found the switching back and forth between Dash and Lily's perspectives quite well-done, possibly because the book is co-written by two authors who have distinct writing voices. The switching of POVs allowed me as a reader to get into both protagonists' heads, and can get a clear sense of what's going on most of the time. The premise is very intriguing, too. The idea that two people, essentially two strangers, could spark up something beautiful through a few words written in a red notebook at a bookstore, is simply genius. Yes, it may be impractical, but nonetheless romantic (and hip) as hell. I often smiled while reading the "journal entries/clues" Dash and Lily left for each other, because the authors weaved the protags' life stories into them really well.

 Now, onto the one thing I didn't really love (one supa detrimental thing): story progresses slowly. Like, slow----ly. Maybe it's the plot itself, or the execution (definitely not the idea, because the notebook idea is AWESOME), the story just didn't flow well for me. At times I almost couldn't read on; I simply wasn't that engrossed/invested anymore. Which is sad, because I really like the premise, and I really wanted it to be wonderful. The story had its potential, but oh well, it didn't quite work out the way I wanted it to.

In all, it's still an intriguing book, and an interesting read. If you're the kind of person constantly worried about not being able to put down a book (and you happen to have myriad tasks awaiting), this is the book for you. It is young love, life thoughts, and some great moments plus a great idea (the notebook, the notebook!). However, if you find yourself hard to get into books to start with, do not pick this up--that will be money wasted indeed.

Music Monday: Oscars special

Let me just start by saying that last night's Oscars was AH-MAZING. Seriously, when Jennifer Lawrence went up (and fell once on the way--very typical her) for her Best Actress Oscar, I  thought I was gonna start bawling. Oh well, I did tear up a little bit. It's just...I have no words for it.

Anyways, the many performances last night simply blew my mind, but what shook me the most is the Les Mis live performance featuring Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, etc. The cast combined many of the movies best songs into one "medley," which turned out spectacular. I just want to say, well done, guys, for being so great LIVE.

Without further ado:

Enjoy. Allow yourself to be overwhelemed (oh I'm sure you will be).

xx

Vanessa :]

P.S. I just thought this is pretty hilarious, so:

Let's just end by saying JLaw is the boss. 

Our Oscar Picks

Beasts of the Southern Wild

Title: Beasts of the Southern Wild

Director: Benh Zeitlin
Starring: Quvenzhané Wallis, Dwight Henry, and Levy Easterly
Rating: 3.9/5.0 (with a 4.8 for the acting)

"Faced with both her hot-tempered father's fading health and melting ice-caps that flood her ramshackle bayou community and unleash ancient aurochs, six-year-old Hushpuppy must learn the ways of courage and love."

I didn't think she could do it, but a six-year-old girl just made me cry like a baby. Quvenzhané Wallis has a good career ahead of her.

This film is equally beautiful and devastating. It matches a harsh reality with a colorful imagination. The setting is gorgeous and unknown to many, which is what drew me to the film in the first place.

The first five minutes of this movie were glorious. I was certain I was going to love it. Then it got a bit dark. Then it got a bit confusing. Then scary. Then flat out strange. And by the ending I found myself wanting more.

This is director Behn Zeitlin's first feature length film, so serious props to him. The camera is very intimate, using exaggerated angles and close-up shots to create a feeling of being in Hushpuppy's (Quevenzhané Wallis) head. The sets are fantastic, reminding me of Winter's Bone (just a bit warmer).

There's some really great performances here, but the winner has got to be little Quevenzhané Wallis. She stole every scene like a pro. She played a motherless, vulnerable, and brave girl whose father's parenting left something to be desired. There was nothing rehearsed about her performance. She's funny, determined, and angry. Of course, Zeitlin's fantastic camera work helped bring all these emotions out, creating just the right amount of hectic. Think Hunger Games, just a lot better put together.

But the plot is where I started to get lost. It begins with Hushpuppy explaining:

"The whole universe depends on everything fitting together just right. If one piece busts, even the smallest piece... the entire universe will get busted."

Well, that one piece gets busted. And the poor girl thinks she's the reason. I don't want to give up too much of the plot (even though it probably wouldn't spoil it anyway) so I won't go too much farther, but I will say that it felt like the got halfway through with the script and then just decided to end it. Throughout this film there was a growing sense of suspense because of some unnamed thing. But then it just resolved itself without any trouble, and it just left me wanting far more.

You have to look at the film from another angle, because Zeitlin refuses to help you. This film is many things. It's a story of survival, of inequality, of loss. It's about coming of age, yet growing up too fast. It's about community, nature, and the dangers of climate change. It's eye-opening, and terrifying. But above all, it's metaphorical. The beasts are the destruction of the life that Hushpuppy knows. They are her fear and she conquers it. She's six, so this is the best way for her to understand it and explain it.

I like it, and I'll be watching it again. Maybe it will grow on me (Winter's Bone did). I'd recommend renting it when it comes out on DVD. It's worth the watch.


[Source: IMDB]

Savvy Saturday: Where do these words come from?

Every day our eyes (and brain) take in tens of thousands of words. From the moment we get out of bed to the moment we climb back into bed, we are constantly surrounded by words. Conclusion 1: words are omnipresent! (More simply put: words are every-freaking-where!) Conclusion 2: Vanessa has a burning need to write about them.

So, here we go. I've wanted to talk about words for a little while now. As a writer, I'm obsessed with words, their roots, and their meanings. Actually, take a word I just used, "omnipresent," for example. In Latin, omni means "all, of all things," and present, of course, means physically existing. Therefore, 

omni + present = omnipresent

every + existing = existing everywhere

More words that I love that follow this structure:

photo + graph(y) = photograph(y)

light + write = to write with light

(I thought this one is especially beautiful)

meta + morph(osis) = metamorphosis

across/after + change = transformation

demo + cracy = democracy
people + reign = reign of the people

Anyways, I just thought the formations of these words are super amazing! :) Let me know if you think of any other words like this!

xx

Vanessa :] 

watch for the signs: Silver Linings Playbook

Title: Silver Linings Playbook
Director: David O. Russell
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Di Niro
Rating: 5.0/5.0

After a stint in a mental institution, former teacher Pat Solitano moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife. Things get more challenging when Pat meets Tiffany, a mysterious girl with problems of her own.

First, just let me say that this film has made me so happy. I literally danced out of the theater (ask all the confused people walking out with me). It's uplifting and heart-wrenching and perfect.

Bradley Cooper plays the over-confident Pat, who you can't help but fall in love with. He's awkward and in love. He wants to get his marriage back together, which can be challenging when you've been slapped with a restraining order from your wife. Jennifer Lawrence plays Tiffany, who's personality is all sharp edges and elbows. But she becomes the unconventional solution to Pat's problems.

        

(let's pause for a moment to appreciate the range of Jennifer Lawrence)

David O. Russell (The Fighter) has written yet another brilliant screenplay. With its sharp dialog and quirky themes it's sure to be a classic. I think the most ingenious part of this screenplay is the parallelism that repeats throughout the entire movie. Both Pat and his father must face their mental conditions.

Robert De Niro plays Pat's father Pat Sr., who is "harmlessly in love with the Eagles" as Mr. Ebert put it. I couldn't have been more pleased with his performance in this film. He and Jacki Weaver are perfectly cast as the supportive parents.

I would love to say that there is a show stealer here (although I thought Chris Tucker was hilarious) but there isn't. They're all so brilliant that I really can't pick just one. Jen is perfection. She's gorgeous and terrifying and poignant. She's sharp edged, but that's because she's been broken so many times. Bradley Cooper for all the awards! Bradley is adorable. You just want to wrap in a big hug for the entire movie. He has no filter, so he says whatever comes to mind, proper or not. But it's endearing because, deep down, you know he means well. If these two don't win Oscar's I don't know what's wrong with humanity.

You'll notice I gave it an even 5.0 (btw, finish the movie and you'll totally see the parallel with the 5.0...SPOILERS). Not because I think that the movie is a 5.0, but because the actors in this film make it so great. You could cast this same script with different actors and it would probably be a disaster. And that is a reason to see this film. This story is good, and the acting is great. These actors worked hard on this film and it shows. Their performances are so real and touching. This is probably the best acting I've seen since Winter's Bone (especially from Jennifer).

This film also has a really great soundtrack. I've been listening to it since I got home. Danny Elfman writes some good tunes.

silver linings from lauranemett on 8tracks Radio.

Also, can we talk about these Oscar nominations? 

• Best Actor: Bradley Cooper
• Best Actress: Jennifer Lawrence
• Best Supporting Actor: Robert Di Niro
• Best Supporting Actress: Jacki Weaver
• Best Director: David O. Russell
• Best Editing
• Best Adapted Screenplay
• Best [freaking] Picture

Those are some serious stats my friends. This film is coming in heavy, and against some stiff competition too (Lincoln, Argo, Zero Dark Thirty). 

my reaction when they win any one of these

I definitely recommend this film with no reservations what so ever. It's worth every penny (and more). I know I'll definitely be seeing it again.

[Sources: Tumblr - Obiwanskenobi, IMDB]

I apologize for this...

I know there's getting to be WAY too much 1D on here, but this video is so hilarious. Plus it's for a good cause. These guys just keep getting better and better. Fantastic human beings.

One Direction - One Way Or Another

The beginning of the video explains it all, but just in case you didn't get it, THIS ENTIRE THING IS FOR CHARITY. 

Because how can you watch these videos and not be touched by their generosity. Wonderful people. 

Annnnnd I also want to make sure that I get to main point of all this. The charity. I'll let you look at that site for yourself. Plus, look into some local charities. My favorite is Boys Town (which actually originated in Nebraska). Make a difference! We can all do it :D

Question Wednesday: What's with all the useless knowledge?

I've been lying in bed for two hours now, staring up at my ceiling, trying to make it stop spinning around in circles. Staying home sick makes you realize just how much junk you have floating around in your head. 

I can spell "antidisestablishmentarianism" off the top of my head, plus recite the definition and the entomology word for word from Webter's dictionary. But when will I ever use that? When will I ever use a "box-and-whisker plot" or need to "complete the square of this quadratic function" in real life? 

There is so much information that students have to process and retain. The amount is ridiculous, along with the amount of time that they have to learn these subjects. One year is not enough time to learn the basics of physics and chemistry. You can't understand human biology in just one semester (especially when all you do is just read from a book). 

Not only are students being overloaded with information, but the information itself is not useful. It is either far too broad of a topic or it cannot be applied once they get out of the classroom (i.e. antidisestablishmentarianism). 

So, my question is: Why spend so much time learning things that we can't use? Could our time be spent better?

Top Ten Tuesday: top 10 fictional boyfriends

*Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.*

This week's Top Ten Tuesday theme is fictional boyfriends!!! asdjk;fahg;dlskdfhgj;adsd
Who hasn't fallen for a completely unreal boy on paper before? I believe this isn't some rare happening that only chanced upon me, so I'm gonna be open about it and introduce you to my top 10 fictional boyfriends ;)

*There is no specific order.*

1. Etienne St.Clair from Anna and the French Kiss 
(see my book review here)
Okay I lied. This hottie right here is actually topping my charts as of now. It's been over a month since I last hugged and kissed him (aka read the book), however I still haven't been able to get over him. He is just...SO AMAZING! French-speaking boy with sleep-mussed hair, an English accent, and an adorable fear of heights--voilà, you got Etienne alright!

2. Peeta Mellark from the Hunger Games 
PEETA!!!!!!!!!!!! the boy with the bread!!!!!! The lovely, strong, humble, kind, sociable Peeta!

Okay I'm done. I am. Really.














3. Augustus Waters from The Fault In Our Stars
Although cancer-ridden, Augustus is still hot! Messy hair, beautiful eyes, and that smart, flirtatious mouth of his! The way he contemplates the universe alone is more than enough to have all the girls in the world lining up for him. He is caring, understanding, and so tragically heroic. Ah. Let's just say this baby of John Green's earned buckets of tears from me.

4. Charlie from The Perks Of Being A Wallflower

He may be a little cray-cray at times, but he's seriously the sweetest, nicest, most committed boyfriend ever (if only he were mine, if only!).

5. Ron Weasley from Harry Potter
He may be moody sometimes, but you can't deny the fact that when he likes someone, he really likes someone! His dedicated (love-hate?) relationship with Hermione lasted through 4 books (3-7)--if that's not even to prove to you his commitment, then I don't know what can!

6. Four/Tobias from Divergent
(see my book review here)

Boy with a hot bod + a dark past + intense personality = ermahgerd I can't freakin resist thissssssss

Okie. Nuff said.

7. Miles Halter from Looking for Alaska
Your regular nice boy, a little uncool at times (but the uncoolness is totally adorable), growing up, trying to fit in, learning to love... sounds like a great boy to date during high school.

8. Eli from Along for the Ride
From the many Sara Dessen books I've read (more like tore through), I know at least one thing for sure--Ms.Dessen doesn't disappoint. (Ever.) Along for the Ride is no exception. Like Four from Divergent, Eli is also a boy with a past, with fears, with hopes and longings. Together with him, Auden (the protagonist, a girl virtually without a childhood) embarks on a quest for her childhood. Through somewhat immature yet extremely exciting experiences, their romance slowly blooms. Eli is the man. Oh trust me he is.

9. Jacob from Twilight
Why does he have to be so awesome? Sometimes he may still a little childish and reckless, but boy, isn't he a hottie. Perfect body + (sometimes immature) protectiveness of Bella = omg lemme date this guy

10. Nick from Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
A little insecure, sometimes defined as a lower, Nick is in truth the go-to boy. He is smart, charming, obsessed with music, all of this and a little bit of shyness. Sounds like your guy-next-door type? Go for it, gurl, go for it ;)














Who's your favorite fictional boyfriend?
Let's hear it.

xx
Vanessa :]