The Help

Kathryn Stockett's The Help is a 2009 novel that tells the story of African American maids who work for white families. The story is set during early 1960s in Jackson Mississippi. The novel is said to be Stockett's first. The story revolves around Aibileen Clark, Minny Jackson and Eugina Skeeter. Aibileen and Minny who are black maids, work in white houses. Skeeter, the 23 year old journalist from a rich white family, writes a book in the point of view of these black maids who face racism at work. This amazing story was released to big screen in 2011 with the cast Viola Davis (Aibileen), Octavia Spencer (Minny), Emma Stone (Skeeter) and many other famous actors.  

I thought of reading the novel when one of my former lecturers instructed me to read it. As a novel, i really enjoyed it. The chapters were so touching that it was written in the voice of the main characters: Skeeter, Aibileen and Minny. The novel gives you the idea of why these people work such a way and how they are affected by racism and their feelings. 

The movie, on the other hand, is bit different as it fails to capture the feelings of the characters as said in the novel. Also the movie has only used the events of the book. But as a movie, it has a very good set, selection of characters and costume designing. I found the roles of Aibileen (Viola Davis) and Miss Hilly (Bryce Dallas) as similar to the characters in the novel. Viola Davis, as Aibileen gave an amazing performance in the movie. She was good in everything she has been in movie. Bryce Dallas was embodied to her character as Miss Hilly. I saw every mean, icy characteristics in her as stated in the novel.

There are changes as well as similarities in the novel and the movie. I'd like to recommend you to read the novel, and watch the movie. It is inspiring!  

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games is a movie based on the 2008 sci-fi novel by Suzanne Collins.This is set in future North America known as "Panem" in which a young girl or a boy is sent to compete in The Hunger Games. The Hunger Games are nationally televised event in which competitors must fight until one remains. The two teenagers Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) representing District 12 get selected to The Hunger Games. Both representatives rush to the Capitol  with the hope of becoming the victor of the annual Hunger Games.

As a movie, The Hunger Games is pretty good.  Different sets, colorful dresses and hair, fancy people are part of the movie. But it isn’t a film to reject or to get bored. Because you can watch it from the beginning till the end. The movie is curious. All you want to see is who fights the best, who wins and who loses the game. But at times it is kind of cruel, since it contains deaths.  Deaths of young girls and boys.  For me, sometimes it was hard to see young girls/boys kill people of same age. What came to my mind while watching "The Hunger Games" is it resembles the novel “The Giver” by Lois Lowry (which also tells a story of a different community and its rules).

According to the sources it is said that The Hunger Games have certain differences compared to the book. Few of them are:

• The book is written in the first-person perspective of Katniss Everdeen.But in the movie, several changes were made.
• In the film, there is more blood than it is told in the book.
• In the book, the Everdeens have an old television, but in the film they have a projector.
• In the book, Katniss and Gale are described as having olive skin and black hair. But in the movie, they are fair and have brown hair.
• Katniss is said to be smaller than most of the tributes, but in the movie she is taller.

 

These are a few differences that I found in the sources. As the author Suzanne Collins was also one of the screenwriters and producers of the film, it should be inferred that all changes were approved by her.

The movie ends with Katniss and Peeta becoming the champions of Hunger Games. And Katniss Everdeen becomes the heroine. But the games aren't over. It will all begin again on 2013 with The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. ENJOY!!!   

The Time Traveler's Wife

The Time Traveler's Wife is a 2009 American drama film based on the Audrey Niffenegger's novel. Starring Rachel McAdams (Clare) and Eric Bana (Henry DeTamble), the movie tells the story of Henry who constantly time travels with no control. Clare, his wife first meets him when she was six while Henry was time traveling. Clare grows up knowing they will meet constantly and marry one day. But when they meet in real time (in the library), Henry doesn't know who she is since he hasn't visited yet. He falls in love with her (as she has already with him). Sooner they get married, but Clare's life becomes troubled with unexpected travels of her beloved husband, Henry.

Overall, the movie was quite good since it has good blend of characters, places and background music. But I think I could have enjoyed the movie better if I have read the book. Because I'm still trying to figure out some instances where Henry time travels, for it questions me....."How/when did that happen?". It would have been much better if they could include early days of Henry and Clare. But I think Eric Bana and Rachel McAdmas were fantastic in their characters. They almost make you time travel and share their stories with the audience. The end of the movie makes you emotional as it ends up with Clare running to see Henry before he disappears. 

I believe what makes the movie and the book amazing is that it combines romance and si-fi.I think watching the movie would be satisfying for someone who read the book. The story is fascinating, the characters are lovable. Hope its readers have felt the same way after watching the movie.

The Chronicles of Narnia

The Chronicles of Narnia is a series of fantasy novels by C.S Lewis. It has several novels 

The Lion, the Witch and the wardrobe 

Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

The Silver Chair

The Horse and His Boy

The Magician's Nephew

The Last Battle

The first three series have come to the big screen so far. In brief, this series is about four children constantly traveling through a wardrobe to another world in which everything is far more than it seems. The other world is filled with different characters, animals, places...almost what we expect in dreams. Honestly, I've only read the first novel of the series. I really loved the fantasy element in it. I almost felt like walking into another world full of magic and unexpected happenings. What I really loved about the book was,  it consisted of a few pictures of the movie. And that's what made me love it more and watch it! 

  

 I loved Mr.Beaver and Mr.Tumnes, the faun. May be because they helped the kids to escape from the evil witch. I might sound crazy for liking fantasy characters, but as a kid I LOVED them. Well, the book isn't bad. It is still enjoyable and able to drag you to a whole new world. The writing is good, well written and very imaginative. What I saw in the movie was exactly what I imagined while reading the novel. Snow, soft fur, taste of sweets, Beavers' house and the image of the lion Aslan are still imaginable. The book/ the novel as a whole may seem childlike, but you can still enjoy them from the beginning to the end. It is able to take you back to your childhood dream world. "The Chronicles of Narnia" - Read them, re- read them. You won't be sorry. Because you have a magical story to tell your kids!