The pressures of blogging

Today, I want to talk about something that often goes unacknowledged in the book blogging community: the idea that sometimes, no matter how much we love it, blogging can begin to feel like a bit of a chore.

Personally, I’ve found that my relationship with blogging differs over time. There are days where I’m super excited to blog, usually because I’ve had a great idea for a new post, and there are days where I really struggle to motivate myself, usually because I don’t have any new ideas.  

Sometimes, book blogging can feel like a series of deadlines too, as we worry about everything from making sure our review of an ARC is ready in time for its release date, to simply ensuring we post a certain number of times a week, or on certain days of the week, as our followers may have come to expect. 

Yet, despite the pressure and frustration that is sometimes involved, I’m still here, and I view all the time and work I put into my blog as time-well spent. This is because, over the years, I’ve learned some strategies that keep me sane, even when I feel stressed, or like blogging is the last thing I want to do. Said strategies ensure that now, even after the occasional bit of stress, I still love blogging just as much as the day I published my first ever post.

I’ve decided to share these tips, so read on to find out how you can ensure blogging remains fun (at the end of the day, blogging is a hobby, so make sure you actually enjoy it!):

1. Don’t aim to post on specific days

One thing I really regret, is the time I decided to promise my followers that I’d post on certain days of the week. I found that, whilst studying for my A-levels, this just wasn’t feasible for me, as I couldn’t always predict when my workload would lay off enough for me to have some free time. Until recently, I’d feel stressed if I didn’t have a post ready in time for a certain day, or feel like I had to wait to publish a post in order to stick within my schedule. However, I’ve recently decided to ditch the schedule, and now just post whenever I have a piece ready. I find this much less stressful, and not having a schedule hasn’t decreased the amount of interaction my posts receive, as I still use tags, and maintain my social media presence on Twitter and Instagram, even when I haven’t posted on my blog in a little while. If your followers don’t expect posts on a certain day, they might even check your blog more often, waiting for updates! So, ditch the schedule, allow yourself to post when you actually want to write something, and don’t stress about having to post on certain days. 

2. Write down any new ideas as soon as you have them

As I mentioned above, I find that there are times when I have several ideas for potential blog posts, and there are times when I just can’t decide what to write. To counteract this, I have an old notebook where I jot down any ideas I have as soon as they come to me. That way, if I feel like I haven’t posted for a while and am struggling to come up with new ideas, I simply use one that I’ve already outlined. This keeps my blog from looking bare, and means I never find myself in the situation of posting something of a poor quality, just so I can say I’ve posted something. You could even write ideas for posts up and save them in your drafts, so you know that you’ll have a post lined up for the next time you’re struggling to come up with new ideas.

3. Don’t feel pressured to post X times a week

As I said above, you shouldn’t pressure yourself to post on certain days, but I further believe that you shouldn’t pressure yourself to post a certain number of times a week. At the end of the day, we all have those weeks when we’re too busy to sit down and write a post, or when we don’t have any new ideas for posts. If you haven’t given yourself a goal of posting a certain number of times, you won’t feel like you have to publish something that’s rushed or poor quality, just for the sake of meeting said goal.

4. If blogging is becoming stressful… Take a break!

This point seems particularly appropriate, given I’m writing this post at a time when I haven’t posted for a little while. The reason for this is that my exam results have just been released (I GOT INTO MY FIRST CHOICE UNIVERSITY!🎉) , and for days before I received them, I was so anxious that I could barely concentrate on anything. When I tried to sit down and blog I grew frustrated, because I felt like I had no ideas, and even when I did have them, my inability to concentrate meant I struggled to express them well. After a break, however, I’ve been able to pick up my blogging where I left off, without feeling as though writing is adding to my stress. So, if blogging is becoming stressful for you, I suggest you do the same. You don’t have to stop writing indefinitely- a break of a week or two should be more than enough to give you a break, so that blogging no longer feels like a “chore” when you return- and I promise that you won’t lose all of your followers while you’re gone. WordPress will always be here when you want to come back, and someone who’s followed you for months or years is unlikely to abandon you when you havent posted for a week. Sometimes, returning to writing after a short break can remind us of why we loved it in the first place.

So, that concludes my top tips for making sure blogging is a fun, stress-free experience. 
Do you agree with my tips? Are there any others you would’ve included? 

Feel free to let me know in the comments! 

Em x

To reread or not to reread?

It’s a big debate in the book blogging community: should we reread our old books, or focus on getting through some of the new books on our TBR? Should we ever reread any book, when we know it’s often impossible to recreate the magic we felt reading it the first time around? Should we waste time reading an old book, when this might stop us from discovering a fab new book, which we could have read instead?
Well, despite the many reasons one might not want to reread, I’m going to argue that rereading can be fun, for several reasons. 

Read on to hear six reasons why you should reread:

1. You spot things you missed the first time around

When people who don’t like to reread books tell me why this is, I’ve found that they often say that they don’t understand wanting to reread a mystery or thriller, as they feel they’re not as enjoyable when you already know the ending. I always respond by telling them that, for me, knowing the ending of a thriller can actually make reading it even more fun! Personally, when I didn’t guess the ending of a book, I love rereading it to spot all the little clues I might have missed the first time round. There’s something fun about feeling a sense of comradery with the author, since the characters remain oblivious whilst you know their fates. Of the thrillers I’ve read over the past couple of years, I think I’d most like to reread I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh, to try and spot the clues that I surely missed the first time round (it’s fair to say that I failed miserably at guessing the twist…).

2. It’s a good way to relax 

I’ve always thought that one of the huge benefits of reading is that it helps me relax, whether I’m reading before bed, reading in the bath, or sat reading in the sun as I was earlier this afternoon. When I pick up a book, I escape from the world around me, for the whole duration of my reading. With that in mind, I find that I have a tendency to read when I feel down or stressed. However, when I’m in this kind of mood, I don’t want to read a book that is hard to follow, or which tries to make me guess the ending, even if I know that reading will take my mind off things. So, I generally turn to a book I’ve already read. When it comes to an old favourite, I can still get lost in the book, but reading is an easy task, because I don’t have to wonder what happens next all the way. Plus, if I do find myself zoning out for a paragraph or two because I’m tired or stressed, I can always catch up with the plot of a book I know well. Next time you’re feeling down, try picking up an old favourite, and I guarantee you’ll feel much more relaxed, and comforted, than you would have trying to tackle something new. I recently reread Can I Speak to Someone in Charge? by Emily Clarkson, and its humorous tone definitely boosted my mood- as I knew it would.

3. Rereading a book from several years ago is almost like a new book anyway

Speaking as someone who reads a lot, I’ve sometimes found myself talking about a book with someone, and realising that I’ve read it, but so long ago that I hardly remember the details. If I’m in a reading slump, I sometimes end up rereading a book that I can remember enjoying, even though I can’t remember much about the plot. This is a fun way of getting out of my slump by reading something I know I’ll enjoy, without having to face the monotony of rereading a book I only just finished. If you don’t enjoy rereading books, this could be because you’re not leaving enough time inbetween reads, so I’d recommend trying a book you first read several years ago- it’s the perfect balance between discovering a new book, and revisiting an old one.

4. If a book is that good, would you really get sick?!

There are some books that I could just read, read and read again. I love the magic of the Harry Potter series, the emotional punch of The Green Mile,  and the amazing narrative of Gone With the Wind so much that these are all books I have read countless times. Personally, I just can’t understand not wanting MORE  of a book you loved, and reading it again is the only way to achieve this.

5. Rereads can help break reading slumps

Let’s face it…even the most ardent of readers will sometimes find themselves in a bit of a reading slump, unsure which book to pick up next, and unmotivated to even pick one up at all. I’m no stranger to this feeling, and have tried several solutions. In the end, only one has been successful: reading an old favourite. I find that when I reread a book I know I love, it reminds me of why I love reading in the first place, and counter-acts the slump, especially if my slump was caused by a dislike for the book I was reading when it started. I tend to find that, once I’ve read some books that I actually enjoy, I feel more positive about reading, so I tend to read the book I tackle next a little e quicker. This is why I always say that, in a strange way, rereading old books actually helps me reduce my TBR, rather than letting it get longer as it sits ignored, as a reread can motivate me for a nice bit of binge reading!

6. It’s fun to recapture the magic of the first read

For me, this wonderful feeling is best summed up by my relationship with the Harry Potter series: every time I pick up one of the books, I’m transported back to being 7 years old, and discovering the magic of Hogwarts for the very first time. True, the fact I know what’s going to happen next all the way means I don’t have the same urgent desire to read o , but a reread is the closest I can come to recreating the wonder I felt as a small child. Rereading books allows me to unlock some of the happy memories I associate with them, and explains why it’s become a tradition for me to reread the Harry Potter series at least once a year.

So, are you a fellow rereader, or do you think I’m wasting my time? Would you rather discover a new book, or revisit an old favourite?

Feel free to let me know in the comments! 

Em x

The Most Annoying YA Tropes

As much as I love some good YA, I think we can all agree that the genre can feature some pretty toe-curling stereotypes… 
So, I thought it might be fun to take a look at some common YA tropes, from the cringeworthy to the downright offensive. Read on to hear about my biggest YA gripes….

1. Using food to describe people’s skin tone

White authors, would you like it if someone described your skin as milky, or ‘white chocolate’? I think I know the answer… So why is it OK to describe a black/brown character using any of the following: ‘caramel’, ‘chocolate’ or ‘mocha’?! Not only is it unoriginal, given it’s been done a million times before, it’s pretty racially insensitive too, if you’re so used to only having to bother to describe white characters that you have to resort to using crude (and weird!) food similes to describe everyone else. Plus, I’m pretty sure no-one has ever actually looked at someone they passed in the street and then thought how much they remind them of something usually found on a Starbucks menu…
2. The bland, nerdy girl

Cath in Fangirl; Hazel in The Fault in Our Stars; Elle in Geekerella… I can think of more stories centred on nerdy, socially awkward girls than I care to remember, and they all take the same format. The girl is shy, and prefers books to humans, before an attractive guy surprisingly takes an interest in her, and she suddenly transforms into a new, outgoing woman. Maybe I’m asking too much, but wouldn’t it be great if we could have a book where the girl comes out of her shell for reasons other than the fact she acquires a boyfriend?!

3. The jock who has a deeper side

…This guy often ends up with the girl from the previous post! Think Darien in Geekerella, Cooper in One of Us is Lying or Bram in Simon VS the Homo Sapiens Agenda. This type of boy seems to fulfil brainless jock sterotypes, until we’re suddenly told one of two things: either he’s gay, or he has a deeper, geekier side, and a love of nerd culture. The first seventeen times this was done, it might have seemed original or surprising… Now, however, it’s been done so many times that alarm bells start to ring the second I spot such a character.

4. Gay characters who are defined by their sexuality

Case in point: Simon in Simon VS the Homo Sapiens Agenda… He’s a gay character, who fulfils several gay stereotypes and stars in a book that literally revolves around him being gay, and not wanting others to find out. I understand that it’s great for LGBTQ+ teens to have more representation in mainstream culture, I just don’t think it sends a great message if a gay person’s sexuality is made into a huge issue. Surely representation would be better if it was just casually mentioned that a character was gay, after we’d learned some other things about them first? I just don’t like the kind of representation that suggests someone’s whole personality revolves around their sexuality, which shouldn’t be a defining characteristic. At the end of the day, some people are gay and some people are straight, and those people are in no way different from eachother, yet writing a whole book about the fact someone is gay marks out their sexuality as ‘other’… More casual representation please!

5. Mental illness as a ‘quirk’

A character seems ‘unique’ and ‘quirky’… Then the characteristics that make them different are ‘explained away’ when it’s revealed they’re suffering from a mental illness. For instance, in All the Bright Places, Violet seems quirky and geeky, and Finch’s random behaviour seems entertaining… until it becomes apparent both are extremely troubled. Whilst I think it’s great that YA is finally discussing teen mental health, I wish we could have a book that didn’t send the message that seeking help for mental illness can actually make us less ‘interesting’.
6. Creepy, pressurised sex

We’ve all read these awkward scenes… One teenage character (let’s be honest, usually a girl) doesn’t want to have sex, until their new boyfriend/girlfriend puts so much pressure on them that we’re treated to an excruciatingly awkward ‘losing virginity’ scene. Not only is it awkward to read, it sends teens some really skewed messages about sex, both that it’s okay to pressurise someone into sleeping with you, and that if someone does do that, you should simply give in. So, Future YA Authors, let’s strive to make sex scenes less creepy!

So, what’s your main complaint about YA? Do you agree with my verdict? Feel free to let me know in the comments!

Em x

Should non-diverse writers write diverse books?

In 2018, cultural appropriation is a huge issue, and has led to the #ownvoices movement, which encourages ethnic minorities and other marginalised groups to tell their own stories. In the case of books, this has led to diverse authors, such as Samira Ahmed and Angie Thomas, writing stories influenced by their own experiences, sometimes sharing the harsh realities of  life as a member of a marginalised group. These authors really have changed the game, providing positive representation from the perspective of someone who can really sympathise with minority groups.

However, all this talk of realistic representation has got me wondering something: is it ok for a ‘non-diverse’ author to write about diverse groups or, in the interest of realistic representation, is this best left to #ownvoices authors? Read on to hear my take on the debate.

Let’s start with the issue of cultural appropriation, and whether this means it’s inappropriate for white authors to write books centred on ethnic minorities. For me, this answer depends on how the the ethnic minorities in question are portrayed. I’ve always interpreted cultural interpretation as referring to when a white person adopts a minority’s culture, possibly without fully comprehending the meaning of the symbols or practices they’re using (or in the case of books, describing). With this in mind, I don’t think a white author writing about an ethnic minority always has to be classed as cultural appropriation, but I do think authors should be careful to thoroughly research any cultures they’re claiming to represent, in order to avoid portraying them inaccurately or causing offence. So, the fact Memoirs of a Geisha has been accused of misrepresenting Japanese culture makes it problematic (even though I still love its plot), but I don’t see any issue with Stranger by David Bergen, given he provided a well-researched, informative insight into both life in Latin America, and the hardships faced by immigrants attempting to enter the USA.

Another huge issue for anyone trying to write fiction in 2018 is accurate representation, particularly of members of the LGBTQ+ community. The most common complaints raised are that an author either hasn’t included any LGBTQ+ characters, or has included them in a way that’s negative, or stereotypical. It could, of course, be argued that one way around this is to focus on LGBTQ+ work written by members of the community, rather than straight/cis authors. It’s certainly true that authors like David Levithan offer a unique insight into growing up as a queer teen, but I can also think of some straight authors who’ve written great LGBTQ+ characters, like Stephen Chbosky. As with race, I think I’d argue that it is okay for a non-diverse author to write LGBTQ+ characters, providing they do so in a way that isn’t overly stereotypical or offensive.

So, whilst I think it’s fantastic that more diverse authors have received recognition recently, I also think that someone shouldn’t be criticised for wanting to write about a certain culture or community, provided they research them and present them in a way that isn’t insensitive or offensive. At the end of the day, some of the ‘diverse’ books I love are by diverse authors, such as The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, but some of them are well-researched, brilliant books by ‘non-diverse’ authors, like The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. 

Do you agree with me, or do you think diverse subject matters are strictly the territory of diverse authors?

Feel free to let me know in the comments! 

Em x

Second Thoughts: Gone With the Wind

Many, many, moons ago, when I’d just started my blog, I’m pretty sure I posted a review of Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind (which I’m not going to link to, because it’s probably awful, considering I wrote it aged 14…). Since then, I’ve fallen in love with the book, and have reread it every year. However, as an older reader, I’m also more aware of the book’s more problematic areas.
As I just finished my yearly reread, I thought now would be a good time to discuss some of the things I’ve noticed whilst on said rereads. With that in mind, I’ve decided to introduce a new feature to my blog: Second Thoughts. Since I’ve had my blog for some time, and posted reviews of some of my favourite books a ridiculously long time ago, I’ve decided to use this feature to revisit some old favourites, and see whether they’re as good the second time around.

So, Gone With the Wind…

I think anyone who’s read Gone With the Wind, or seen the film adaptation, probably knew the issue I was going to raise with this book. As I’ve grown older, I think I’ve become more aware of the historical context of this book, and less distracted by the story… meaning I’ve noticed more and more of the derogatory attitudes shown to black characters.

As can be expected from a book written in the 1930s, and focussed on a time when slavery was widely practised, Gone With the Wind uses a wide array of racial slurs over the course of its 900 pages. Whilst this is unpleasant to read, it’s far from shocking, as such language was common at the time the book was written.

What is shocking, is the way the white characters genuinely believe themselves to be superior to black people in every way, and never take a moment to consider the fact their slaves are thinking, feeling human beings. They are treated as little more than animals, and given the same level of respect as a faithful family ‘pet’. Whilst I was aware that some racists held these views, it’s still uncomfortable to see them laid out so brazenly, and to never see them challenged or questioned.

As I’ve grown older, I’ve also become more aware of Mitchell’s… erm… generous take on the life of an African-American slave. She frequently insists the Civil War was fought over state’s rights rather than slavery, and spreads the myth of the ‘happy slave’. Not only have the O’Hara family’s slaves never been beaten, they seem ‘content’ to live in an enslaved state, and don’t even seem to want to gain their freedom. Anyone who has seen photos of slaves’ beaten bodies, or read tales of these lengths some went to to escape from their owners, will doubt the historical accuracy of the interpretation.

However, none of this is as offensive as Mitchell’s representation of her black characters’ speech. Whilst the characters are obviously meant to be poorly educated, having been denied access to education, I’m always unnerved by the way Mitchell deliberately misspells all of their speech, virtually implying they are so inferior to the white characters they they can hardly speak in English. Misspelling a word or two would have sufficed to suggest they were poorly educated, without resorting to the use of racist stereotypes.

Yet, aside from all of this, there are a few moments in the novel that do portray black characters more positively. Scarlett, for instance, is extremely offended when a Northern woman tells her she wouldn’t trust a black woman to raise her children, having been raised by a black nurse, and there are frequent references made to black serveants being considered ‘one of the family’. They may be regarded as socially inferior, but there is still a sense that white characters are comfortable relying on black characters.

With regards to Mammy, there is also a sense that, while she may be poorly educated, she is wise in other ways.There are several moments in the book where she seems to predict the outcome of a situation long before the young and naive Scarlett, and she makes several accurate observations about her mistresses character. What she lacks in education, she makes up for in wordliness.

But, with all this racist content, is it still OK to even read Gone With the Wind in 2018, let alone say you love it? In my opinion, the answer to that question will always be yes. 

My reason for this is that context must be considered: this is a book written by a Southern woman in the 1930s, when racial segregation was still firmly in place, set in the 1860s, when black people had even fewer rights. With this in mind, it seems a necessary evil that some racial slurs should be included in order to make the novel seem more realistic. As for the stereotypical description of people of colour, and the illusion of the happy slave, whilst this can’t be excused, I think it must be considered that, if a modern reader approaches the book knowing that these views are repulsive and untrue, they can be viewed as one unfortunate, isolated aspect of an otherwise thrilling historical drama.

Some aspects of Gone With the Wind may make me extremely uncomfortable, but that doesn’t detract from the fact it’s an amazingly detailed story, and Scarlett is the perfect anti-hero. 

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (the same as always!)

Do you agree with my opinion? Have you read Gone With the Wind? 

Let me know in the comments!

Em x

Post-trailer thoughts on Fantastic Beasts

So, you’re probably aware that the trailer for Fantastic Beasts: the Crimes of Grindelwald was released this week. (If you haven’t seen it, you can watch it here).
If you read this post, you’re probably also aware that I’ve previously expressed concern about Johnny Depp being cast in the movie. With that in mind, I was hoping the trailer would distract me from the Depp issue, and help me feel more excited about the film.

Read on to see if it won me over…

Well…. It didn’t. In fact, it infuriated me. Less than 10 seconds in, it managed to commit the worst offence in the Wizarding World…

APPARITION INTO HOGWARTS.

Anyone who’s read the Harry Potter series (of which Fantastic Beasts is a spin-off) will know that Hermione Granger spent seven whole books shouting about the fact you can’t apparate into Hogwarts. This ban on apparition includes the castle’s grounds- the area a group of people blatantly apparate into in the trailer. Call me a pedant, but the fact such a stupid mistake was made so early in the trailer doesn’t make me optimistic about what the rest of the movie will be like. Are we expected to just forget everything we ever learned in Potter?

Apparition rants aside, I have to say I wasn’t too impressed with the actual content of the trailer, either. Most of all, I just can’t get used to the idea of Jude Law as young Dumbledore. In the Potter books, young Dumbledore is described as eccentric and geeky, with a ‘funky’ taste in clothing and long, ginger hair and matching beard. Not only does Law not fit this description aesthetically, with his short, dark, hair and beard; I really don’t think he has the right demeanour for Dumbledore. As many girls seem to have noticed (including me, but it simply irritated me…), Law seems to be playing Dumbledore as swathe, charming and cool. This is Jude Law, but it just isn’t Dumbledore. I knew he was never going to look like Dumbledore, however I had hoped he would at least try to channel some of Dumbledore’s eccentric personality. 

I’m also unsure how I feel about the whole premise of the movie. I still love Newt as a character, and I like the idea of Paris as a setting, I just hope the new movie isn’t going to simply be a rehash of the first one, with the ‘creatures loose in city’ scenario being trotted out again. I think whether or not I enjoy the movie, will depend on how the eventa all fits together: why Dumbledore seems to be working with Newt, why this has resulted in Newt traveling to Paris, and what Grindelwald is up to during this time. 

For now, all anyone can do is wait, and hope the disjointed trailer, with its inaccuracies and series of random events, translates into a better movie than the one I currently expect.

What did you guys think of the trailer? Do you agree with me?

Feel free to let me know in the comments! 

Em x

Let’s Talk About The Harry Potter Films… (Part Two- Things Get a Little More Positive)

Welcome to the promised follow-up to Let’s Talk About the Harry Potter Movies… (Part One- AKA The Shady Part) ! 

Last week, things got a little negative around here, as I discussed things I disliked about the Harry Potter movies. However, you’ve probably also figured out that, in spite of their flaws, I’ve still watched and enjoyed the movies many times. So, in this week’s post I thought I’d take a look at the other side of the debate, and talk about some of the reasons we all still love the Potter movies, and moments where they did the books justice.

Without further ado…

1. Bellatrix Lestrange 

Given I also mentioned her in this post, you’ve probably figured out that, despite the fact she’s a fanatical murderer, I have a little bit of a soft spot for Bellatrix. She may be evil, but you can’t deny that she has character. With that in mind, I loved the way Helena Bonham Carter played her in the movies. She was every bit as wild-eyed, crazy, fanatical and, above all, terrifying as I always pictured the character whilst reading the books. The movies get brownie points for depicting her as equally bad-ass, too! Seriously though, just try and read about some of Bellatrix’s most crazed moments without picturing Bonham Carter…

2. Ron 

Now we’ve dealt with one of the series’ best villains, it seems only fair to deal with a hero… Ron. Out of the ‘Golden Trio’, I’ve always thought he was the least appreciated character, despite the fact Rupert Grint’s performance meant movie Ron is extremely similar to book Ron. In the books, Ron is the funny, blunt, member of the trio, always here to provide a moment of light relief. On screen, Grint captured this perfectly, with his witty comments and exasperated looks adding humour to some of the films’ darkest moments.

3. Neville 

I feel like this needs a *whispers*… but I actually prefer film Neville to book Neville. In the books, poor Neville is always shoved to one side, apart from his contribution to Harry’s trip to the Ministry in Order of the Phoenix, and his moment of glory, when he kills Nagini. He’s that friend who would love to hang around with Harry, Ron and Hermione full-time, but just isn’t quite cool enough. In the movies, I actually feel like Neville gets a slightly better deal. Not only does being played by Matthew Dave Lewis mean his appearance is greatly improved, his character just seems to get some extra moments of glory. In Deathly Hallows, we see his brave exchange with Voldemort, shortly after he has declared his love for Luna, but Neville actually starts to shine much earlier: in this iconic moment from Chamber of Secrets…

4. Luna 

I’ve often said that Evanna Lynch was born to play Luna Lovegood, and not just because of her long, blonde hair. She nailed Luna’s dreamy, quirky demeanour in the movies, recreating some of the books’ funniest moments. I just wish we got to see her ride of into the sunset with Neville!

5. THIS moment…

…Because there has been no finer moment in the history of film.

6. The Tale of the Three Brothers 

When reading the Potter books, I’ve always loved the scene in Deathly Hallows where Hermione reads The Tale of the Three Brothers aloud. Not only is it an imaginative, vivid tale, it turns out to be an extremely important part of Harry’s story, first introducing him to the idea of the Deathly Hallows. Given it takes up vital moments, I expected the movies to simply have Hermione either summarise the story, or read a shortened version. So, I was pleasantly surprised when, in the movies, Emma Watson got to read the whole story, accompanied by stunning, haunting graphics. Said graphics make the story so much more memorable, and their slightly creepy air reinforces its tragic undertones. They really are unique, unlike anything else seen in the series.

7. Hogwarts 

Before I begin, I just want you to take a moment to imagine how rubbish the movies could’ve been if they hadn’t captured the magic of Hogwarts, given the books make it sound such an exciting, breath-taking place. Alas… they got it right! I think the thrill at we all feel at seeing Hogwarts so beautifully immortalised on screen, complete with talking portraits and hidden rooms, is best summed up by the amazement written across Harry, Ron and Hermione’s faces the first time they ever see Hogwarts…

8. The Battle of Hogwarts 
Given the Battle of Hogwarts is the moment seven books built up to, Rowling made it sound… well… pretty damn dramatic, with explosions, epic duels, and the death of beloved characters. If the movies got this wrong, the whole series would’ve seemed anticlimatic… Happily, they didn’t! Watching Deathly Hallows Part 2 in the cinema, I remember feeling a mixture of awe at the amazing special effects used to tear down Hogwarts, and devastation that it had to be torn down in the first place. Harry’s last encounter with Voldemort aside (I will NEVER understand why Voldemort had to explode…), this really was the battle to end all battles, involving almost every character, be they Death Eater or member of the Order of the Phoenix. 

9. Severus Snape

In my opinion, I’ve saved the best until last. Despite what others have said, I love Snape, and he’s always been my favourite character. I just feel he’s the ultimate anti-hero, and that he got a pretty rubbish deal in life, given his unrequited love for Lily and his treatment at the hands of James Potter and his friends. In the books, I loved the way readers were left constantly unsure as to whether he was a good or a bad guy, until the truth was finally revealed in Deathly Hallows. Alan Rickman was always one of my favourite actors, and I can’t think of anyone who could’ve done a better job of bringing Snape to the screen. He was simply perfect as Snape, capturing everything from his cold, detached exterior, to the secret anguish he carried around for so long, and which still breaks my heart every time I read Deathly Hallows. The only thing that makes me sad watching his performance as Snape, is knowing he’s no longer here to bring any other characters to life.

Well, do you agree? Have I missed out any amazing moments from the movies? Feel free to let me know in the comments!

Em x

Let’s talk about the Harry Potter movies… (Part One- AKA The Shady Part)

Before we begin, an announcement: if you’re looking for a monthly wrap-up post… don’t. As of this month, I’ve decided I’m no longer going to write them, as I find writing them boring, they always seem to get poor stats, and everyone writes them, so they don’t feel very original. I’ve recently been trying to make my blog more creative, so I’m afraid they were another thing that just had to go. 

Now, on with the post!

As I’m in the middle of a Harry Potter reread, this week seemed an appropriate time to discuss the series. However, I don’t want to talk about the books…

As any Potter fan knows, the film adaptations of the books have been subjected to their fair share of criticism over the years, but fans, myself included, often claim to enjoy them in spite of their flaws. With this in mind, I’ve decided to produce some blog posts assessing the good, the bad, and the ugly aspects of the films.

In this post, expect things to get shady, as I discuss the things the movies got wrong. 

(For obvious reasons, you can expect spoilers for both the Potter books and movies in this post).

1. Michael Gambon’s Dumbledore 

Yes, I can hear you sighing, but no, I don’t care. I know it’s been said a million times before, but I’ll always argue that Gambon was an inexplicable choice of actor for Dumbledore. However, I don’t just think that because of the infamous scene from Goblet of Fire; I think that because of his performance across the six movies where he played Dumbledore. When I read the books, I picture Albus Dumbledore as extremely wise, but also eccentric, like a slightly crazy Grandfather, not the serious character Gambon played. More importantly, I see Dumbledore as quite a flawed character, with an underlying liking for power that made him unworthy of possessing the Deathly Hallows. Alas, Gambon played him as being almost entirely emotionless, meaning he is devoid of flaws as well as eccentricities. Consequently, the character seems much less complex and layered.

2. Ginny’s personality transplant

In the books, Ginny is a witty, fierce character who refuses to care what anyone thinks of her, and thus amasses many friends and admirers. She also has a relationship with Harry himself in Half-Blood Prince. In the movies, she is utterly devoid of personality, and her relationship with Harry is reduced to a couple of random kisses in Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows, probably because audiences would struggle to understand how anyone could fall for such a bland character. Even in the epilogue of Deathly Hallows, the middle-aged Ginny, married to Harry, seems pretty unexciting.

3.  Where’s Peeves?

Just think of how many comedy opportunities the filmmakers missed by omitting Peeves, Hogwarts’s ever entertaining poltergeist…

4. Justice for the House Elves

Anyone who’s seen the movies will know Dobby features prominently in Chamber of Secrets, and makes a (heart-breaking 😭) appearance in Deathly Hallows, and trots out some great lines. However, this is nothing compared to his role in the books, which see him start working at Hogwarts, where he sees Harry regularly, even giving him the Gillyweed that helps him survive the second Triwizard Tournament task in Goblet of Fire. Plus, the movies never really show how Harry’s relationship with Kreacher, the elf he inherits from Sirius, changes. In the books, Kreacher goes from hating anyone who isn’t a pure-blood, to fighting against Lord Voldemort. Then there’s Winky, who plays quite an important role in the Goblet of Fire book, but doesn’t get a single mention in the films. As Dobby might say, ‘House Elves is cute’, and I think they’d have been another fun edition to the movies.

5. The Disappearance of Ariana Dumbledore 

In the Deathly  Hallows book, Harry learns some troubling facts about his recently deceased Headmaster, Professor Dumbledore. He learns that a young Dumbledore was friends with the dark wizard Gelert Grindelwald (another fact that is pretty much glossed over entirely in the movies), until they fell out one day, resulting in a duel. Dumbledore’s little sister Ariana, who he had cared for since his Mother’s death, was killed when she got in the way of said duel. In the books, this is said to explain why the otherwise-perfect Dumbledore cannot trust himself to use the Deathly Hallows, and considers Harry a better person than himself. In the movies, poor Ariana never even gets a mention. Not only does this mean some aspects of Dumbledore’s character are unexplained; it actually makes the whole narrative seem unrealistic, as we are expected to believe Dumbledore, arguably the most powerful wizard of all time, simply never got round to using the Hallows, despite knowing the location of all three. I think the story of Ariana is both interesting and important to the characterisation of Dumbledore, and its absence still makes me sad everytime I watch Deathly Hallows.

6. I needed to cry over Lupin and Tonks

Remus Lupin is obviously an extremely important character in the movies, being Harry’s Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher in Prisoner of Azkaban, and later a member of the Order of the Phoenix. However, the films manage to reduce his wife, Tonks, to a very minor character, and their son Teddy, born during Deathly Hallows, is mentioned in just one line. In the books, a lot of time is devoted to Tonks and Lupin’s relationship, especially the birth of their son. In the end, this makes the couple’s death even more heartbreaking, and there’s a poetic value to the fact the book starts with Harry being orphaned by Voldemort, and ends with another little boy in the same position. Their deaths really show the affects of Voldemort’s evil regime in the books, but just aren’t as heartbreaking in the movies. I feel robbed of the chance to vent some feelings 😭😭😭.

7. Voldemort’s backstory

Throughout the seven books, J.K. Rowling tells us a lot about how Tom Riddle went from being deposited in a Muggle orphanage, to renaming himself Lord Voldemort and becoming the most feared Dark Wizard of all time. We learn about how he avenged himself on the family who abandoned him, and became obsessed with blood purity, until he began creating Horcruxes, in order to stay alive by any means possible and fulfil his evil intentions. Unfortunately, like the story of Ariana Dumbledore, this is another background story that didn’t make it into the movies, where all we really see of Voldemort’s past is a few flashbacks to his school days, including when Professor Slughorn regrettably told him how to make Horcruxes in Half-Blood Prince. I can understand that the story still makes sense if all one knows is that Voldemort is a powerful Dark Wizard, but I’ll always maintain that his heinous actions make much more sense for those who’ve read the books, and know about his troubled past.

8. Voldemort‘s Death

I’ve saved my biggest issue with the films until last as, no matter how hard I try, I will never understand this scene. In the Deathly Hallows book, I’ve always liked the fact Voldemort’s death isn’t all that exciting, as the fact he dies in a way that is no different to any other man, killed by his own rebounding curse, reinforces the idea that, once his Horcruxes and powers have been taken away, he is still only human. Alas, the movies stripped all poignancy out of Voldemort’s death by making him explode… Like, literal fireworks. It was that subtle…

So, do you agree with my choices? Have I left out anything blatantly obvious?

Feel free to let me know in the comments, and tune in for my next post, when I’ll be discussing the things the movies got right!

Em x

Discussion Post: Does 13 Reasons Why glamourize suicide?

Before I continue with this post, I want to add a trigger warning: if you’ve ever suffered from mental illness or suicidal thoughts, or have traumatic memories relating to rape, sexual assault or suicide, then I strongly suggest you do not read this post, just as you shouldn’t read/watch 13 Reasons Why in the first place. 

If you deem yourself at risk of suicide, here are some helpful contacts:

Also, remember you can always contact the emergency services if you or a loved one are in serious danger of suicide.

This week, I finished reading 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher, having previously seen the TV series Netflix produced, based on the book. I had intended to simply write a review, as I do for many new reads, however, a couple of circumstances changed my mind. 

Firstly, I really couldn’t- and still can’t- decide how I actually felt about the book. Secondly, suicide, and issues regarding exploiting it to make a profit, have been all over the news this week, in the aftermath of the Logan Paul controversy. This reminded me of the similar accusations made against the team behind the Netflix adaptation of Asher’s novel last year, with many accusing both the book and the show of romanticising suicide. 

Meanwhile, others have praised the fact they have drawn attention to issues regarding teen suicide rates and mental health problems.

Personally, my opinion on this debate was conflicted, which is what I’ll be trying to convey over the course of this post. (And fair warning, there will be spoilers for both the book and the show, as this post is intended to be a discussion for those who are already familiar with them).

So, let’s start with the point of the narrative: the thirteen reasons Hannah Baker, a teenage girl, committed suicide. She leaves behind thirteen cassette tapes, each of which tells a story relating to her decision to end her life, and names someone who she considers a contributing factor to her death. She then requests that the tapes are passed around the people she names, having asked a living person to release a second set of tapes publicly if her wishes are not followed. The audience hears the tapes from the perspective of Clay Jensen, a friend of Hannah’s who had loved her for some time and cannot understand why she would want to put him on the tapes.

Clay is devastated to learn that Hannah has included him on her tapes 

 A lot of people took issue with the presence of the tapes in the narrative for reasons I both can and cannot understand. Firstly, it was suggested the tapes trivialize suicide by depicting it as simply a method of revenge, as Hannah seems to take pleasure in naming and shaming those who wronged her. When one considers the young teens who might be reading/watching Thirteen Reasons…, I can see why this is controversial as, let’s face it, teens, especially young ones, can be petty, so perhaps depicting suicide as the ulitmate revenge may encourage some unfortunate actions. I also think it’s debatable whether some of the nicer characters on the tapes actually deserve to be named by Hannah, given that could affect someone psychologically for life, as shown by Clay’s reaction. Again, this is another reason depicting suicide as a revenge is controversial, as I’m sure many real teens would be devastated if they were named as a cause of someone’s death.

However, I find it harder to understand the second reason people objected to the tapes: that, as a whole, Hannah’s reasons for committing suicide were ‘too trivial’. Most obviously, I think that’s an unfair comment because it must be considered that an action that one person views as harmless might actually be extremely hurtful for someone else. For me, the idea that we can underestimate the harmful consequences of our actions was a clear message I took away from 13 Reasons…. However, on a deeper level, I’d agree with those who say some of Hannah’s individual reasons are fairly trivial- let’s be honest, we’ve all had rumours spread about us, or had a friendship end badly – yet I think the people who say she had no reason to commit suicide are forgetting the seriousness of some of her tapes. Sure, everyone has rumours spread about them, but I highly doubt everyone witnesses a crime, plays a part in someone’s death or is raped. If these things haven’t happened to you, it’s pretty hard to tell how you might react.

Another criticism many have made of 13 Reasons is that neither the book or the show really mentions mental illness or the possibility that Hannah could be depressed. Similarly, she isn’t shown receiving any help to cope with her increasingly strong suicidal thoughts, other than her failed trip to see Mr Porter, her school’s guidance counsellor. Said trip is one aspect of the narrative that could be harmful for any viewers/readers who are suffering from mental health issues, as it helps promote the view that counsellors and other adults are somehow ineffective at dealing with mental health problems, possibly discouraging someone from seeking help.

Many people feel Hannah isn’t a typical portrayal of someone suicidal

That being said, I do think there’s a message behind the fact Hannah doesn’t seem to have a history of mental health problems, or to look for professional help with her suicidal thoughts: not everyone who commits suicide has a long history of depression. Speaking from experience, I can confirm that not every suicide is ‘expected’, and many people do not seek help before ending their lives. One day, something might happen in someone’s life that pushes them to make a tragic decision, which is what seems to have happened with Hannah, as several occurrences in her life drive her to end it. Basically, I believe 13 Reasons tries to show that it’s more than possible for someone who doesn’t seem suicidal, to be well on their way to ending their life, or to never have received treatment for mental health issues.
Of course, when it comes to glamourizing suicide, some people have suggested 13 Reasons… is guilty because Hannah actually receives ‘better treatment’ after she has died, almost making her into a martyr. As ever, I can see why this might send the wrong message to a young audience. But, is Hannah actually held in higher regard after her death?

I would argue that this is the case, but only with regards to Clay. It cannot be denied that Clay gives Hannah what she always wanted in life after she has died, talking openly about his love for her. In the show, he is even depicted as furthering her quest for revenge, as he tries to bring her rapist to justice on her behalf. However, are the other characters really kinder after Hannah’s death?

Clay finally gives Hannah what she wanted once she has died

The show goes into detail on how the recipients of the tapes react to Hannah’s allegations, and many are extremely angered, and thus unkind about Hannah. The best reaction she gets is from those who admit the tapes are truthful, but are still angered at her threats to expose them to the word. Others have unpleasant, hateful reactions that range from calling Hannah a liar, to trying to suggest she only committed suicide out of spite. Given one reason for her suicide was the awful things said about her when she was alive, that hardly seems like a big improvement.If anything, I think the show aims to depict the range of reactions to a suicide, from Clay’s guilt, as he wonders whether he could have stopped Hannah’s decision, to the anger felt by some of the individuals named on the tapes, to her parents’ devastation. Just as sometimes occurs with a real-life suicide, some people glorify the victim, others feel only resentment, and I think it’s important both views are represented. 
Finally, the most important debate of all centres on a scene from the show. While Asher’s book doesn’t describe how Hannah took her life in much detail, the makers of the TV adaptation made the very controversial decision to actually show Hannah slitting her wrists, then bleeding to death in her bathtub. 

A (non-graphic) moment from Hannah’s final scene

As one would expect, reactions to this scene have been extremely heated, with many suggesting the scene is far too graphic and could even encourage copycat suicides. Given many other shows have managed to discuss suicide without actually showing their character’s death, I can totally understand this reaction. 

The problem is, I can also understand the perspective of the show’s creators. When asked why they chose to include such a gruesome scene, they’ve always maintained that they did so as a way of deterring suicide by showing it is far from a pleasant, glamourous death. They did indeed succeed in making Hannah’s final scene both emotional, and uncomfortable to watch, with the fact she dies alone and in extreme pain helping reinforce the notion that suicide is not, quick, painless or an ‘easy’ way out. Ultimately, I can understand both opinions- I can see that including Hannah’s death both brought the narrative to a close, given it is the result of the ‘reasons’ discussed in the earlier episodes, and promoted the view that suicide is an awful, lonely death, but I would still dispute that the scene, which features close-up shots of Hannah cutting herself, really needed to be quite so graphic.

So, does 13 Reasons Why glamourize suicide? I’m going to be a little different from others, who seem to have to either agree explicitly or disagree explicitly, and  say that I think the answer depends on personal interpretation. For instance, some might think the tapes portray suicide as the ultimate revenge; others might think they simply make Hannah seem petty. Some might be deterred from ever committing suicide by Hannah’s lonely death; others might still see it as a legitimate way of ending their pain. At the end of the day, suicide is a controversial, emotional topic, and the way it is portrayed will never please everyone at once. That being said, regardless of how well the issues are discussed, I still feel 13 Reasons Why can be praised for raising awareness of teen suicide, and how events in a young person’s life could lead them to make a tragic decision. 

I’m going to end this post by reiterating my earlier statement: if you are worried about yourself or a loved one, remember there are always alternatives, and don’t hesitate to get in touch with a counselling service or the emergency services. 

Em x

Discussion post: 8 things that make me want to read your blog post

My weekly discussion post always seems to centre around books themselves, rather than the actual experience of being a book blogger. So, inspired by many of Mikaela @ The Well-Thumbed Reader’s posts, I thought I’d do a post that’s a little bit different this week, and write about blogging… Or, more specifically, the things that inspire me to read a post that appears in my reader, or under a tag.

At the end of the day, I’d have to give up sleep if I started trying to read every book-related post on WordPress, so I have to be selective about which posts I take the time to read.

Here’s a list of things that help me decide if a post is worth a look:

1. Original content
Basically, there are so many book blogs on WordPress, that posts can sometimes leave me feeling like this:

Whether it’s a tag that’s been done seven thousand times this week, a book that everyone I follow seems to have reviewed recently, or a discussion topic everyone seems to have written about, some posts do just get a little bit repetitive, as everyone seems to be writing them. So, needless to say, I love it when a post is actually themed around an interesting, unique idea, and has a title that tells me that at a glance. Examples of such posts include reviews of lesser known books, or discussion posts that haven’t been brought up several times already!

2. Something a little bit controversial!

Maybe I just love drama, but something about a controversial post always gets me excited. Whether it’s a scathing review of a popular book, or a divisive opinion on a genre everyone seems to love, I’m always a fan of a post that seems likely to cause debates, or even full-blown arguments, in the comments! I think it’s because it can be genuinely interesting to hear someone express their views on a polarising topic, even if we don’t always agree with them, provided a debate is well-written. And let’s be honest, some of the angry comments bloggers receive can be much more interesting than the bland compliments!

3. Mention of certain books/authors

As a self-confessed book nerd, some authors and books (example: anything to do with J.K. Rowling and her novels!) are guaranteed to catch my interest… And possibly get me a little bit excited! I’d love to hear your opinion on some authors’ books, and I’d love you even more if you could recommend a different novel of theirs that I haven’t read yet. In short: talking about  books like The Nowhere Girls or The Hate U Give, will persuade me to read your post, but if you’re talking about anything sci-fi related, then I’m afraid I’ll probably be scrolling past. The examples I’ve given probably won’t be the same for many other bookworms, but I guarantee the interest in certain authors or books will ring true!

4. Book Recommendations

…Because a bookworm’s TBR can NEVER be big enough! But seriously, we bookworms are always looking to expand our repertoire by reading new books, so we love it when you share a great read with us. Personally, I don’t mind whether a book is recommended as part of a positive review, or whether it’s featured on a post that lists several great books from a genre… I just want to hear all about it! (If you don’t hear from me for a while, just assume I’ve taken this one a little too literally and have actually been crushed beneath the weight of my ever expanding TBR…)

5. Use of tags
Even if you’re my favourite blogger in the world, I’d rather spend my time reading than spending ages searching for your posts. Yes, I’m lazy. But that doesn’t detract from the fact that I rarely remember the exact days on which individual bloggers tend to post, or bother to actually check their accounts. I’m sure many fellow WordPress users will identify with this: if it doesn’t show up on my homepage, then it isn’t getting read! So, if you want people to actually read your posts: use tags! Most book bloggers will religiously check the most popular book related tags, like ‘book’ and ‘book blogger’, so make sure to use them on your posts. Just remember to exercise the right to tag with caution, and to not exceed the limit of 15 tags and categories per post, or WordPress will presume you’re a spam account and stop your post from appearing in people’s reader.

6. …Use of relevant tags!
Please don’t be that irritating person who tags a post that is clearly about hair and beauty with ‘books’, because you’ll have some very sad bookworms visiting your page, disappointed to have found John Frieda rather than John Green! Seriously though, I don’t know about you guys, but people using totally inappropriate tags in order to get likes and comments on their post just irritates me, and actually makes me more likely to ignore their post than if they’d just used the correct tag in the first place! In short:

7. Pretty bookish photography
We’re book bloggers…We like books…. We like posts that feature lots of aesthetic photos. Combine the two by taking some pretty photos that actually feature books, and you’re almost guaranteed to get our attention. (Unless, of course, said photos involve harming books in any way, in which case we’ll probably turn up at your door armed!)

8. Funny GIFs!

I chose to illustrate this one with a funny GIF… do you see what I did there?! Call me shallow, but I just love seeing funny GIFs in a post. I think I like the way they break up a post, making them look more exciting than if they were just pages and pages of text. I personally use GIFs in almost every post, including when I need to break up the tension in more serious ones, and will almost always click on a post that shows potential for entertaining use of them.

Well, all joking aside, I hope I’ve shed some light on what I believe makes a good post, and maybe even how to attract some more readers to your book blog!

What do you think makes a good post- do you agree with me? Feel free to let me know in the comments!

See you next week,

Em x