Friday, March 6, 2015

Harry Potter Tag


Hello, friends! Welcome to the Harry Potter Tag, in which Emma answers some questions about her current obsession, and steals a tag from Youtube because it is fun to do. Without further ado...


Favorite Book?

My favorite book in the series would have to be Goblet of Fire, currently. This is for three reasons:
1. It's the only book in the series that belongs to me. It's the first book I remember receiving as a present, so it's really important to me in that sense.
2. I am currently the same age as the characters when the events in that book take place.
3. I love the Triwizard Tournament, Winky, the Quidditch World Cup, all of it. The plot twists in this book were the ones that shocked me the most throughout the series, except for the ones about a certain professor and a certain death...

Favorite Movie?

Oh, gosh. I haven't seen any of the movies for a long time. I might go with Goblet of Fire again, just because the events are really fast-paced and interesting.

Least Favorite Book?

What? I have to choose a least favorite?  I refuse! I never read Prisoner of Azkaban, shh, don't tell so that'll take my 'least favorite' category for now.

Least Favorite Movie?

Yeah, so I added this in myself, since it seemed only fair. I think Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1would be my least favorite movie, just because it dealt with the slower parts of that book. I understand the significance and importance of those parts in the book, but it just doesn't appeal to me when translated to the big screen.

Parts of the books/movies that made you cry?

Spoilers, people! Be forewarned. I saw this mentioned on a video someone posted on Youtube (if I could remember who it was, I would credit them, but I can't recall, sorry!) but that moment when everyone thinks both Cedric and Harry won, in Goblet of Fire. They all jump to their feet, happy for the two champions, and suddenly everyone falls silent when they realize Cedric's dead. That gets me every time.

Favorite character?

Luna Lovegood. She's so confident, in a quiet way. She isn't afraid of being herself, and I really admire that.

What would your Patronus be?

So, I think I would be too weak to actually summon a Patronus? But I think I'd be a mouse because I am small, quiet, annoying, and I like to steal food from my kitchen.

If you could have the Resurrection Stone, Invisibility Cloak, or the Elder Wand which one would you choose?

To be honest, I'd like the Resurrection Stone, because there are some people I'd like to see again (my mom, my grandma, etc.). But the series makes it pretty clear that the Invisibility Cloak is the best deal, so I'll go with that.  

What House would you be in?

HUFFLEPUFF! I have taken the Pottermore test twice, and both times it has sorted me into the house of the Badgers. It makes so much sense. I am loyal to a fault, and I will never abandon my friends, ever, even if they betray my trust. I'm kind of impatient, but I'm working on that.
Plus, Hufflepuffs get the best deal. I mean, this is what Pottermore says about our common room... "... you will emerge into the coziest common room of them all. It is round and earthy and low-ceilinged; it always feels sunny and its circular windows have a view of rippling grass and dandelions…our overstuffed sofas and chairs are upholstered in yellow and black, and our dormitories are reached through round doors in the walls of the common room.
Copper lamps cast a warm light over our four-posters, all of which are covered in patchwork quilts, and copper bed warms hang on the wall, should you have cold feet.”
That sure sounds like home to me! It sounds like a hobbit hole which is awesome.

If you could meet a member of the cast who would it be?

You know, I'm not a huge 'meeting people' person and I am certainly not a bit 'meeting celebrities' person, but Evonna Lynch and Emma Watson both seem pretty cool.

Have you played any of the video games?

I have not.

If you were on the Quidditch team which position would you play?

Let's clear things up: Emma + Sports + Heights = Bad Times.
BUT, if I happened to be good with sports and heights, I'd like to play Chaser or Keeper. Probably Chaser. Maybe Beater, but I'd be too small and weak. Ha.

Were you happy with the ending?

Actually, I was.  I know not a lot of people loved the epilogue, but I did. Not loved it, but liked it well enough. We got to see where they are in the future, and how well off they are. I've always been a bit baffled by Teddy Lupin's living arrangements though... wasn't be living with Harry, or supposed to be? I can't remember. I'm as bad as Neville.

How much does Harry Potter mean to you?

I don't know. It's complicated. Not as much as it does to some people, that's for sure, though. I wasn't a 90s kid, so I didn't grow up with it like a lot of people seemed to.

There you go! Feel free to steal this, of course, since it doesn't belong to me...

Sunday, March 1, 2015

February 2015 Wrap-Up

Hello, it's time for another wrap-up! This was a very short month, but I still managed to get quite a bit of reading done!

This month, I completed 8 books.
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Animal Farm, by George Orwell

I didn't expect to like this classic as much as I did. I had to read it for school, which generally makes a book boring, but I quite liked this one. It had unique characters combined with an interesting writing style. It really made an impact with me.
5/5 stars

The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien

I hadn't read this one since I was in the fourth grade, but since I love the movies so much I decided to give it another try. It was just as good as I remember. I love the quirkiness there is in his writing, and the effortless humour among the action and depressing scenes. I loved the company dynamic as well.
5/5 stars

The Sorcerer Heir by Cinda Williams Chima

And... I have officially read all the currently released Cinda Williams Chima books! It's no secret that Chima is one of my favorite authors, and while this was a solid conclusion to her Heir Chronicles series, it didn't blow me away like The Dragon Heir did.
4/5 stars

The One, by Kiera Cass

Another series conclusion, this time to a trilogy. The spin-off book, The Heir, is coming out in May, 25 days before my birthday (there's an idea for a birthday present! haha) and I'm really looking forward to it. In the meantime, I might be writing a trilogy review to express my full feelings...
5/5 stars

Variant, by Robison Wells

I picked this book up on a whim while at the library. It's a dystopian about kids who are trapped in a school with no authority figures... and Benson Fisher, the main character, wants out. It's a really fast read that I could NOT put down! It really surprised me.
5/5 stars

Feedback, by Robison Wells

This is the second and final book in the afore-mentioned Variant series, and I thought it was alright. Not as good as the first book was, but I still whipped through it and really liked it. It wrapped things up pretty well.
3.5/5 stars

The Two Towers, by J. R. R. Tolkien

I love this book. Gollum is great. My favorite quote was on page 408, I believe it was, I had to sticky-note that page to remember it. It made me realize how much I love Samwise Gamgee. I feel like I can relate to him, as well, since I'm a person who doesn't have much ambition at all. Again, the characters were great.
5/5 stars

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, by J. K. Rowling

This is a re-read so it didn't count towards my Goodreads challenge, but this is my favorite of the series. Things are just starting to get darker. I love how there's an interesting plot that is super gripping, and it's never boring throughout the book. Harry, Hermione, and Ron's friendship grows. Also, Rita Skeeter! People hate Umbridge, but it's Skeeter I want to push off a cliff. Ha. She's terrible.
5/5 stars

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