130228 - Books.
“Lyra's Oxford” by Philip Pullman.
“Beauty” by Robin McKinley.
Today and yesterday I got 2 more books that I'd ordered; “Lyra's Oxford” by Philip Pullman and “Beauty” by Robin McKinley.
“Lyra's Oxford” takes place 2 years after the last book in the “His Dark Material” trilogy and emberrassing enough I had no idea that any form of continuation of the bookseries that's one of my favorites was available. But of course I orderd this book right away when I saw it!
“Beauty” is a retelling of the classic story of “Beauty and the Beast”. I'm a big fan of the “Beauty and the Beast” movie and the history itself behind it so I wanna read every retelling book there is about “Beauty and the Beast” (I've already read a book), including this one.
I also follow the new TV-series “Beauty and the Beast” btw and I can recommend it to everyone! Of course I started watching it because of it's name and what it's based on but it's actually really good, which is why I've continued to follow it. You should see it if you haven't seen it yet! Now you also know what a big “Beauty and the Beast” fan I am! And I obviously look forward to read this book.
130225 - Books.
Today I got these 3 books that I'd ordered.
“Once Upon A Time In The North” by Philip Pullman.
“Deadlocked” by Charlaine Harris.
“The Land of Painted Caves” by Jean M. Auel.
I've read and am a fan of these bookseries, i.e. Philip Pullman's “His Dark Material” trilogy, Charlaine Harris' “Sookie Stackhouse” series and Jean M. Auel's “Earth Children” series.
The first book I bought is a book about some characters from Philip Pullman's “His Dark Material” bookseries, so I bought it because I want to read more from that world since it's one of my favorite bookseries.
Stephenie Meyer is writing the “The Host” sequel.
Stephenie Meyer have announced that she's currently writing the “The Host” sequel. The novel will be entitled “The Seeker”. “The Seeker” has been rumored to be the “The Host” sequel for years but this is the first time Meyer has confirmed it. “The Host” has always been described as a trilogy with “The Seeker” and “The Soul” respectively being books 2 and 3.
Meyer is currently touring the US with Jake Abel and Max Irons, the stars of the film.
“The Host” will open on March 29.
[SOURCE: HYPABLE.]
The Host - Featurette #3: Meet Wanda.
“A parasitic alien soul is injected into the body of Melanie Stryder. Instead of carrying out her race's mission of taking over the Earth, “Wanda” (as she comes to be called) forms a bond with her host and sets out to aid other free humans.”
Saoirse Ronan opens up about her character, Wanda, in this new featurette for “The Host”.
“She [author Stephenie Meyer] kind of left it up to me, which was actually really nice, and I thought it was kind of an amazing thing for an author to do, because sometimes authors of books they, which is fair enough, they feel like this is their story and they should give advice when they can, but Stephenie was great,” the 18-year-old Irish actress recently told THR about her roles in the film.
Saoirse added, “She kind of stepped back from all that when it came to the actors.”
“The Host” opens March 29th!
[SOURCE: JUSTJAREDJR.]
130114 - Books.
I picked up my 2 books from the post-office today.
“The Casual Vacancy” by J.K. Rowling. ♥
BOOK DESCRIPTION: “When Barry Fairbrother dies in his early forties, the town of Pagford is left in shock. Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty facade is a town at war. Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils... Pagford is not what it first seems. And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations? A big novel about a small town, The Casual Vacancy is J.K. Rowling's first novel for adults. It is the work of a storyteller like no other.”
“Harry Potter Film Wizardry” by Warner Bros. ♥
BOOK DESCRIPTION: “Immerse yourself in the world of the spectacular Harry Potter film series, and learn why Yule Ball ice sculptures never melt, where Galleons, Sickles and Knuts are really "minted", how to get a Hippogriff to work with actors, about the inspiration behind Hogwarts castle, and why Dementors move the way they do. Written and designed in collaboration with the cast and crew that brought J.K Rowling's celebrated novels to the silver screen, Harry Potter: Film Wizardry delivers an enchanting interactive experience, transporting readers to the wizarding world by sharing filmmaking secrets, unpublished photography and artwork, and exclusive stories from the stars. Full of removable, facsimile reproductions of props and paper ephemera from the movies, this collectible volume offers a privileged look at the Harry Potter films and the talented group of Muggles that has made true movie magic.”
I've been wanting the “Harry Potter Film Wizardry” book for years now so I'm so happy that I finally own the book. The book contains 164 pages with photos and information from all the Harry Potter movies. The book also contains removable props that you've seen in the movies, like: Acceptance Letter from Hogwarts, Marauders Map, Yule Ball Invite, Weasley Wizard Wheezes Catalogue and more. ♥
My 2012 Reading Challenge @ Goodreads.
“Goodreads is the largest site for readers and book recommendations in the world. We have more than 12,000,000 members who have added more than 410,000,000 books to their shelves. A home for casual readers and bona-fide bookworms alike, Goodreads users recommend books, compare what they are reading, keep track of what they've read and would like to read, find their next favorite book, form book clubs and much more. Goodreads was launched in January 2007.”
J.K. Rowling reveals which Pottermore house she's in!
J.K. Rowling had a Harry Potter webchat streamed live online yesterday (it was the first in years), and she revealed which Pottermore house she was in and stood up for Hufflepuffs. 
❝The house is… Gryffindor!
“I logged on, I’m now on Pottermore as a regular user. That’s how I check what’s going on – even though I’m not going to give my username. I went through the sorting. I had a moment… I thought, ‘Hey, I’m not sure if I answered the questions, I answered honestly, to get me into Gryffindor.’ But yes, I am in Gryffindor.”
In the web chat, a fan then asked what she has to say to people who are disappointed they’re in Hufflepuff. “Hufflepuff is my favorite house in some ways,” responded Jo.
“There comes a point in the book where each house has a chance to rise up to a certain challenge [she didn't want to spoil it]. The Slytherins decided they’d rather not play, the Ravenclaws – some play, some won’t, but the Hufflepuffs stay to fight. The Gryffindors – compromised of lots of full hearty and show off people. The Hufflepuffs stayed for a different reason. They didn’t want to show off, they weren’t being wreckless, that’s the essence of Hufflepuff.”
“My daughter Jessica said to me recently, who wasn’t sorted into Hufflepuff, ‘I think we should all want to be Hufflepuffs.’ I can only say to you, I would not be disappointed at all to be in Hufflepuff. I’m a little upset anyone does feel that way.”
Since its opening, there had been some debate over whether or not Pottermore is assigning you a house based on the questions you answer. This is because the house member counts are virtually even, and it seems extremely strange that the Pottermore users would fill up each house perfectly.❞
[SOURCE: HYPABLE.]
J.K. Rowling plans 40ft high treehouse for her children.
❝When the creator of Harry Potter decides to build an adventure playground for her children, you expect something magical.
But even by JK Rowling’s standards the 40ft high, two-storey tree houses planned for the back garden of her Edinburgh mansion are something spectacular. The Hogwarts-style towers - estimated to cost around £150,000 - are so big that they need planning permission.
Each wooden tree house is to be built on stilts and boasts balconies, carvings and turrets that wouldn’t look out of place in a Potter adventure. The towers are linked by a rope bridge and can be approached by a secret tunnel hidden underneath a raised wooden walkway.
Plans lodged with the City of Edinburgh Council reveal the houses are intended for Miss Rowling’s two youngest children David, nine, and his sister Mackenzie, seven.
According to the drawings ‘David’s Tree House’ is closest to the secret tunnel and has a specially designed trap door and fireman’s pole escape into the garden. Meanwhile ‘Kenzie’s Tree House’ has its own spiral staircase and a stainless steel playground slide leading to a double set of swings.
A wooden walkway connected to the giant structure leads to a giant trampoline deck that is shielded from public view by a row of extra tall conifers. The design by the luxury tree house makers Blue Forest UK features cedar shingle roofs and a built in ‘nature box’ for birds to nest in. JK Rowling’s tree houses will only be built with timber from sustainably managed forests.
Miss Rowling, 47, bought her 17th century mansion for more than £2 million in 2009 when she reportedly fell in love with it after viewing just two of its 31 rooms. She lives there with her husband Dr Neil Murray, their two young children and her 18-year-old daughter Jessica, from her first marriage.
The property has been dubbed ‘Fortress Rowling’ by some because of its security fences and reinforced doors. Giant trees were lifted by crane over the garden walls to give the author and her family more privacy.
Last year JK Rowling got planning permission to flatten a £1 million 1970s style house next door to make her garden larger. She also got approval to build a summer house that critics said looked like the stone hut inhabited by Hagrid, the giant groundsman from her best-selling novels.
Yesterday a neighbour said: “Nobody around here is going to make a fuss about the tree houses for her children. It’s her cash she can do what she wants with it.”
“Miss Rowling has spent a lot of money on trees surrounding her property so even if these tree houses are huge nobody but her is going to see them. In any case she’s extremely nice and well-liked around here.”
A source at Edinburgh Council said: “It would be highly unlikely that JK Rowling will not get permission for these tree houses.”
“They are only for her children to play in, she’s not seeking permission for residential permission for them.”
JK Rowling is worth around £560 million according to the 2012 Sunday Times Rich List.
She is reported to have given away more than £100 million to charity.
Blue Forest, based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, describes itself as the UK’s leading tree house architects. It specialises in creating ‘fantasy castles’ like those for JK Rowling’s children or ‘James Bond-style hideaways’ with luxuries such as under floor heating, wood burning stoves and plasma screen televisions. Prices start at £20,000 for its most basic models, but the firm admits the ‘sky is the limit’ for the final bill when it creates bespoke tree houses for the super-rich.
The firm’s managing director Andy Payne said: “Tree houses have always been a symbol of imagination and creativity.”
Tree houses are generally considered temporary structures and therefore do not need planning permission. However this only applies if they are less than 13 feet high from roof to base.
Last night a spokesman for JK Rowling said she would not be commenting on the tree houses. She said: “It is a private matter.”
Branching out: A computer simulation of the twin tree houses to be built in JK Rowling's garden, taken from the Edinburgh City Council website.
Extravagant; The towers are linked by a rope bridge and can be approached by a secret tunnel hidden underneath a raised wooden walkway.
Children's dream: Each wooden tree house is to be built on stilts and boasts balconies, carvings and turrets that wouldn't look out of place in a Potter adventure.
Eco conscience: JK Rowling's tree houses will only be built with timber from sustainably managed forests.
Intricate design: Drawings on Edinburgh Council website for a proposed tree house in the grounds of JK Rowling's Scottish home.
Bespoke fun: Plans reveal the houses are intended for Miss Rowling's two youngest children David, nine, and his sister Mackenzie, seven.❞
[SOURCE: DAILYMAIL.]
How cool is this?!
If I ever have my own house and a big garden (and the money for it) I would definitely want to build something like this! Who doesn't want a Hogwarts-styled treehouse?! I sure do!
Hilary Duff's “True” book cover & excerpt revealed.
You can read the sample chapter here.
Which Hogwarts house did the sorting hat put me in?
But I realized just now that I never made a blog-post here in my blog after the website had opened, which means that I never told you which house I got sorted in! If you know me IRL you probably know which house I belong in because I probably told you but otherwise I haven't written anything about it here on my blog.
I've never thought that I belong in a specific house which is good because then I couldn't get disappointed if I didn't get sorted into that specific house. But of course I would have liked to get sorted into Gryffindor or Slytherin since they're the 2 houses that's shown the most in the movies so it feels like everyone know more about those 2 houses than the other 2 houses and I also think that there's more Gryffindor or Slytherin merchandise available than there is with Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw. And of course I want to get merchandise with/from the house I now know that I belong in if I buy any merchandise in the future, which I most likely will.
Anyways... Do you want to know which house I belong in?
1... 2... 3...
I GOT SORTED INTO HUFFLEPUFF!
I'm very happy that I belong in Hufflepuff, because when I got sorted (and everyone else) you get a welcome-letter and you get to know everything about the house you got sorted in. And almost everything that describes Hufflepuff also describes me, so I really feel that Hufflepuff was and is the right house for me. I've also read a lot about Hufflepuff after I got sorted and it just makes me feel more and more that I got sorted into the right house. So like I said I'm really happy that I belong in Hufflepuff!
The only “bad” thing about Hufflepuff is that our colors are yellow & black and I don't really like the color yellow. But after I got sorted into Hufflepuff I'm forcing myself to like it since it's my house color and I feel that I have to like both colors of the house, haha. And the funny thing is that I actually like yellow more now after I got sorted into Hufflepuff, probably because it is a color of the house and therefore I've “accepted” it and started to like it more than I did before at least.
Anyway, now you know which Hogwarts house I belong in; Hufflepuff!
I'd love to know which Hogwarts house you belong in if you have a Pottermore account!
If you don't have a Pottermore account, you can go and make one and come back here later and tell me which house you got sorted in because I think it's fun to know which house people get sorted in.
Hilary Duff's third novel “True” will be released in 2013.
Hilary Duff's third and final novel in the Elixir series is called “True”and it will be released on April 16th, 2013.
“True”will be released 3 days before in the US and Canada, on April 13th, 2013.
I didn't know that Hilary would write a third and final novel in the Elixir series. I thought that the second book “Devoted” was the last book in the series. But of course I'm happy that it will be a third and final book in the series because I loved it! So I really look forward to get to read it when it comes out even though it's over 10 months left!
Harry Potter vs. Twilight.
120510 - Sisterhood Everlasting.
I also got this new book “Sisterhood Everlasting”
It's the fifth and last book of “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” book series! I love that book series and they're all among my favorite books, so obviously I had to buy this fifth and last book of the series!
I didn't even know that Ann Brashares would write a fifth book so I got really surprised when I saw this book because I thought that the fourth book was the last book. But apparently I was wrong and here is the fifth and last book!
The only difference with this fifth book is that it's taking place 10 years later so I guess it's supposed to be 10 years after the fourth book ended. So they're all 10 years older now.
I look forward to read this fifth and last book and I hope that it will be as good as the other four previous books. I've unfortunately read a huge spoiler online about the book but I will try to not think about it until I read the actual book.
120430 - 2 books.
Pottermore is now open for everyone!
❝Get ready to begin your Pottermore journey, because Pottermore.com is now opening to everyone.
Over the coming days, we’ll be inviting new users onto Pottermore.com. We’re expecting to be really busy to start with and plan to activate new registrations in a steady stream. This means that you may not get access to Pottermore immediately after you sign up but we will get you exploring the site as quickly possible.
After you’ve signed up, you’ll get sorted into one of the four Hogwarts houses, have a wand choose you, and discover exclusive new writing from J.K. Rowling.
We’ll be adding lots of exciting new features over the coming weeks and months, so make sure you return regularly to explore and discover all the changes as Pottermore grows.
Want More? Check out our Pottermore ‘sneak peek’ clip.❞
[SOURCE: THEPOTTERMORE+INSIDER.POTTERMORE.COM.]
The future class.
Teacher: Albus
Albus: Here!
Teacher: Doctor
Doctor: Oh, yes, uhm, hello. I can't talk at the moment, time's gone wibbly. Probably leave a message at the tone or something
Teacher: Uhm... okay? Hermione
Hermione: Yes, I'm here! And when's our first test? I've been studying all summer and-
Red-headed boy in class: Oh my god, Hermione, shut up!
Teacher: And you must be Ron! Okay then. Primrose
Primrose: Here
Random girl in the back of the class: I VOLUNTEER!!
Teacher: And I see Katniss has made it today, as well. Welcome.
Blonde boy: Katniss is here?! Yes!! Here, Katniss, try this bread I baked this morning!!
Brunette boy: Oh you'd better keep your hands off her! She's my best friend! We go hunting together!
Teacher: Peeta! Gale! Stop fighting over Katniss and sit down!
Teacher: Rory
Doctor: Oh, Rory died yesterday, ma'am. But he should be back again tomorrow.
Teacher: ....oh...kay? And lastly, Draco.
Draco: I'm LAST?! My father will hear about this!
[SOURCE: Tumblr.com.]
“The Hunger Games” list - What I thought about the books! ♥
Read the answers to the questions at your own risk since it contains spoilers. I can't answer the questions and tell you what I thought about the books without mentioning some spoilers so don't read the answers if you haven't read the books and don't want to know any spoilers before you read them.
2: Who's your favourite female character? Katniss.
3: Who's your favourite character at all? Katniss, obviously. I almost always have the main character as my favourite character since it's usually the character we get to know the most and it's impossible to not bond with the main characters, or at least in my opinion.
4: In which District would you want to live? 12, so I could stalk Peeta. Otherwise if I have to think about money and how to survive I guess I would have to pick The Capitol, since they don't have to worry about money or how to survive there like every other district have to.
5: Did you cry while you read the books? When? I didn't cry, but I almost started to cry when I read the last chapters of the last book “Mockingjay”. I'm not going to spoil too much for anyone who haven't read the books yet but I can say that the last chapters are both sad and happy.
6: What do you think: Which character are you most like? Like I wrote on the 3rd question, the main character is usually the character we get to know the most and we don't know everything about all the other characters so it's pretty hard to even think about choosing someone else that you're most like when you don't know that much about the other characters. Except that Katniss have to kill some people, I guess I'm most like her. But I'm also a bit like Peeta too, since he really wants to stay the same way he is and he don't want to turn into someone he's not. And I'm always myself and I never try to be someone I'm not and I think it's really important to always be yourself no matter what.
7: What would be your strategy in the arena? I would probably run away and hide and hope that everyone else kills each other so I didn't have to kill anyone.
8: What weapon would you choose on the cornucopia? Since my strategy would be to not kill anyone I would probably focus on choosing other things as food and other things that I would need in the arena.
9: Your favourite quote? “Always” & “Real or not real?”
10: Least favourite character? President Snow.
11: Favourite book? I don't know which one is my favourite... I like all of them!
12: How old was you when you started to read the series? I'm 21 years old. I turn 22 later this year.
13: What do you think about the actors? Do they look like you picture them? I don't really picture characters so clearly that some people seem to do when I read about characters in books. I usually just think about the colors and features of the characters. So I think Jennifer Lawrence is a good choice as Katniss since she dyed her hair brown for the part and everyone who have been working with the movie says how great she is as Katniss so I choose to believe them. I think Liam Hemsworth is a good choice as Gale because he's so tall which makes him look older than Jennifer/Katniss and let's face it, he's good looking and Gale seems to be good looking in the books since many girls like him. I think Josh Hutcherson was a good choice as Peeta since I think about him when I think about Peeta now, but Peeta is supposed to have blond hair in the books and they didn't dye his hair really BLONDE which was what I expected him to have. Like I wrote I mostly think about the colors and features of the characters but I approve of all the actors who will be in the movie. After all, Suzanne have approved them herself and she only have good things to say about them all so I don't have anything negative to say about either of them.
14: Worst death? Primrose. I didn't even understand that she died because I read about all the children that died and then something happened to Katniss but I didn't really understand that Primrose actually died until I read about it again some pages after when Katniss thought about it. Of course Rue's death was also bad since I didn't expect it because I hoped that she would also survive in some way. And I didn't expect Finnick to die either, especially not when he and Annie had got married and everything. I mean, what will Annie do without him? So sad!
15: Your very first thought about the series? When I first heard about the series I just decided that I have to read it since I only heard good things about it. And I become totally obsessed with it right when I started reading the first book in the trilogy.
16: Peeta or Gale? Peeta! ♥
17: Something that happened in the book you still can't deal with? I think this is a weird question and I don't really know how to answer it. But there was some deaths that I wish didn't happen in the books and some things in the books was really horrible and sad but they're all a part of the story so I don't over-analyze them too much.
18: Something THG teached you? It didn't really teach me anything, but it definitely reminded me that you should really appreciate the ones you love because some day they will be gone.
19: Most beautiful name? Primrose, Peeta.
20: Would you want to live in Panem? Why, why not? No, I wouldn't. Even if I and many else loves the books I don't think anyone in their right mind would want to live in a place like that.
21: Are you happy with the ending? Yes.
22: This or that? (add two objects) ?
23: Saddest moment? When Primrose died and when Katniss got her body destroyed after that.
24: Why did you decide to read the books? Because I had heard so great things about the books that I wanted to read them myself. Plus, I wanted to see the movie and then I had to read the books before I could see the movie.
25: A scene/quote that makes you laugh? I don't remember anything special but Peeta is described as being funny and he did said some funny comments/jokes in the books.
26: A song that always reminds you of THG? Safe & Sound - Taylor Swift.
27: 'Rue's Lullaby' or 'The Hanging Tree'? Both.
28: A character who should survive but died? Rue, Finnick & Prim.
29: Do you have any merchandise? I don't have any merchandise yet (except that I own the books of course) but I will definitely buy some in the future. I already want a Mockingjay necklace!
30: You'll always love this series. Real or not real? Real! ♥
Pottermore will open in early April 2012!
Pottermorejust wrote this tweet on their official Twitter:
So of course I clicked on the link right away when I had read the tweet!
And... POTTERMORE WILL OPEN TO EVERYONE IN EARLY APRIL 2012!
I'm so happy and excited right now and I can't wait until April when I finally get to register an account on Pottermore! And most of all, I can't wait until I'll know which house I'm in!!!
I've waited for Pottermore to open since October 2011 when they said they would open but now it's only 1 month left until we all finally get to register to Pottermore! They explain in their blog-post why they weren't able to open Pottermore in October 2011 like they had planned.
Read the whole blog-post on Pottermore Insider here.
Harry Potter wedding invitations.
❝Harry Potter wedding invitations I found on etsy. This could be the most adorable and romantic thing inspired by the movie. I love it. They are on the etsy shop oneLittleM owned by Melissa Meek. Had to share.❞
[SOURCE: TUMBLR.]
How amazing is this?! ♥
120216 - “Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone” Board Game.
At Thursday evening Angelica agreed to play my Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone board game with me. Yay!
I ended up in Gryffindor and Angelica ended up in Ravenclaw.
We ended up in the same houses in the game as in a test we did on Facebook, so that was quite funny!
I've tried to force my mom to play this game with me some times but she have never agreed to it, haha, but luckily Angelica agreed to play it with me. Haha!
