Try it Tuesday: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Hey Free Hawks! I'm writing this post about 15 minutes before midnight, so this might be the closest-to-not-tuesday Try it Tuesday ever!

Today I thought I would recommend 'Divergent' by Veronica Roth because the teaser trailer for this book's film adaptation was just released and it sparked some enthusiasm towards it in me. I was a huge fan when I first read the book and those feelings are starting to come back again!

We mention 'Divergent' on this site way back in March when we did a post about what you should read after BRR but I wanted to do a more in depth overview.

In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.
(Synopsis from Veronica Roth's blog)

This book gets lumped together with Suzanne Collins' 'The Hunger Games' quite a bit and I can see why. Usually, I don't like books that when you read you can easily name another book off the top of your head that reminds you of it, but I loved this one. 

I'm a sucker for YA Dystopia books (which you faithful readers probably already know) so naturally I was intrigued about this one. Also, it seemed like this book sent out a lot of hype before it came out and that's always something to be weary about. But alas, as soon as I started it all my doubts went away. 

I love this book because although it is YA Dystopia, and there seems to be a never ending abundance of those types of books, it is very unique and I found it had a lot of qualities I don't see in other books. 

This book I feel is about finding yourself and I really enjoy the way the characters show that. I recommend this book to any Dustlands fan in a heartbeat! 

Click here to watch the new teaser trailer for the movie! (Not until you've read the book though :P)

See you guys,
~Jake
xx

Try It Tuesday: The Declaration!

This book was DEFINITELY a page turner. You couldn’t guess at all what was coming next, and each climax of the book was as good as the last. Many, many plot twists and GREAT character development. This book is literally an emotional roller coaster, and you also feel anger towards certain characters and ideas in the story.

It's the year 2140 and Longevity drugs have all but eradicated old age. A never-aging society can't sustain population growth, however…which means Anna should never have been born. Nor should any of the children she lives with at Grange Hall. The facility is full of boys and girls whose parents chose to have kids—called surpluses—despite a law forbidding them from doing so. These children are raised as servants, and brought up to believe they must atone for their very existence. Then one day a boy named Peter appears at the Hall, bringing with him news of the world outside, a place where people are starting to say that Longevity is bad, and that maybe people shouldn't live forever. Peter begs Anna to escape with him, but Anna's not sure who to trust: the strange new boy whose version of life sounds like a dangerous fairy tale, or the familiar walls of Grange Hall and the head mistress who has controlled her every waking thought?

An interesting thing about this book is the philosophical ideas and issues it brings up. Is it right for anyone to live forever? Is it okay to label ANYONE as a ‘Surplus’? Frankly, I just hope they never ever find a cure for old age because, this book has scared me away from that idea. Read the series, and decide for yourself whether you would be pro-life or pro-choice in this dystopian thriller.

~Bushra

Try It Tuesday: The Age of Miracles!

What would you do if the earth's rotation suddenly began to slow, turning the days to night and the time of the moon to the hour of the midnight sun? If your world changed as sharply as Julia's does?

'On a seemingly ordinary Saturday in a California suburb, 11-year-old Julia and her family awake to discover, along with the rest of the world, that the rotation of the earth has suddenly begun to slow. The days and nights grow longer and longer, gravity is affected, the environment is thrown into disarray. Yet as she struggles to navigate an ever-shifting landscape, Julia is also coping with the normal disasters of everyday life--the fissures in her parents’ marriage, the loss of old friends, the hopeful anguish of first love, the bizarre behavior of her grandfather who, convinced of a government conspiracy, spends his days obsessively cataloging his possessions. As Julia adjusts to the new normal, the slowing inexorably continues.'

~(As taken from Goodreads)

This is one of those hauntingly nostalgic novels that you discover strangely and, in hindsight, miraculously. It was recommended to me by the very talented Lauren Oliver - author of the Delirium trilogy - at a book signing. Upon hearing the premise of the story, I knew I had to read it.

For American readers, this may be a book you already know of, as it was released last summer in the US, but here in the UK - it's only recently been stocked on our shelves. About time!

Julia's story is arguably a lonely one. I personally felt a deep sense of sympathy for her as she struggles with family, friends, first love and the continuous upheaval of the world she lives in just as she's starting to adapt. This is what I think makes it so relatable for in particular, female readers. It also appeals to people in that stage between childhood and adulthood - on the very brink of something. 

On a more philosophical level, I loved the questions the book posed. As the hours of the day begin to increase - to a 48+ hour period, there's a dilemma between those who still wish to live by the 24 hour clock time - clock timers - and those who live in 'real time' - real timers - rising as the sun does, and adapting to sleep in 20 hour periods. It's political and gritty and told from a child's POV, strangely observant. 

I'd recommend to fans of the Dust Lands trilogy simply because it offers a different view of a potential apocalypse and the effects it would have on us 'Wreckers'. 

~Ella

Try It Tuesday: Weeds

Weeds was Showtime's longest and most successful running television show they've had on their network. Weeds first season aired in 2005 and it's 8th and final season aired in 2012.

*Spoiler Alert!*

Weeds is about a mother who lives with her two sons in the fictional town of Agrestic, California, Nancy Botwin. Judah Botwin, Nancy's husband dies of a heart attack before the show starts. Judah made a good deal of money, and the whole family was living in a very nice house, in an even nicer suburban neighborhood. After Judah's death, with no other options to support their affluent lifestyle, Nancy begins to sell marijuana.

I cannot tell you how much I love this show. Or why, even. I love the fact that this show is simply about a very flawed woman who does everything in her power to support and protect her two sons (and eventually 3.)  A few episodes into the first season, Andy Botwin (Judah's brother) visits Nancy and the boys and stays with them for the rest of the show. The show is filled with Nancy's determination, drama, sex, comedy, and more that I just can't explain.

I find things in everything nowadays that remind me of Saba's determination and willpower in Blood Red Road. Nancy's determination to provide for her family, and be the best mother she can-under the circumstances- reminds me of Saba's to find her brother.

All eight seasons are currently available on DVD and Netflix! I recommend this show to anyone who loves a dramatic show that will make you laugh, cry, and think about your life! And although Weeds is one of my favorite shows on television, it still deals with topics such as drugs and sex, so be precautious!

Check out the clip from the show below! This clip takes place right after Nancy and her family go through just one of the MANY ordeals they endure during the show. Enjoy!

 

~Jake

Try It Tuesday: Hannibal - TV Series

Today I bring to you this new TV series called Hannibal, based on Thomas Harris’s book, Red Dragon. Only some elements and characters are taken from the story, as it’s not a direct adaptation, so if you’re a person that likes reading the thing before seeing it as a movie/tv series, this might be an exception! I cannot stress enough how much I’m enjoying this series, with its convincing character development and brilliant plot.

Hannibal Lecter, a cannibal and psychiatrist, is a VERY interesting character. Although I still haven’t gotten round to reading the four stories by Thomas Harris, I feel as if though the actor playing Hannibal, Mads Mikkelsen, does him a lot of justice, with his compelling looks, talents and accent. I find the chemistry between him and our second protagonist, Will Graham, very real, and I like how everything is progressing.

Another appealing thing about this show is that I felt myself sympathising with a serial killer! This, if nothing else, should be an indicator of how commendable it is. I urge you to try out at least an episode, and see how it goes.

~Bushra

Try It Tuesday: John Green

Yes, this week it’s a person! I’ll warn you all from the beginning that this post won’t do him justice. John Green is a most inspirational, accomplished man. He’s an author of several bestselling books, has a youtube channel (Vlogbrothers, with his brother, Hank Green) that has over a million subscribers, and on top of that, a father and husband. I’m quite sure you’ve heard his name around, since his newest novel, The Fault In Our Stars, has been the New York Times best seller for a while now!

I first discovered John’s and Hank’s youtube channel when a friend linked me to a video of theirs from 2009, about how to be a ‘’Nerdfighter’’. This roped me into the Vlogbrothers world. ‘’Raising nerdy to the power of awesome.’’

Along with this channel, they do another: crash course. They've done past courses in World History, Ecology, Literature and Biology, and now John is doing US History and Hank chemistry. After checking out the youtube channels, you must must must start give John's books a read!

The first book I read was called Paper Towns. The realness of the story, the characters and the ideas was something that made me fall in love with this book and John Green’s writing. I felt I could relate to most of his characters, and I found he has a particular, quirky way of channelling emotions and thoughts, that I previously couldn't form into words, into elaborate characters and plot twists.

I will stop here, and let you discover the world of John Green and Nerdfighteria. I truly hope the experience for you is as great as it was for me. DFTBA (don't forget to be awesome).

 “Did you know that for pretty much the entire history of the human species, the average life span was less than thirty years? You could count on ten years or so of real adulthood, right? There was no planning for retirement. There was no planning for a career. There was no planning. No time for planning. No time for a future. But then the life spans started getting longer, and people started having more and more future. And now life has become the future. Every moment of your life is lived for the future--you go to high school so you can go to college so you can get a good job so you can get a nice house so you can afford to send your kids to college so they can get a good job so they can get a nice house so they can afford to send their kids to college.”

― John Green, Paper Towns

~Bushra

Try It Tuesday: Descendants by Carol Ann Duffy!

This week, we're venturing into another form of literature - the poem. Behold Carol Ann Duffy's 'Descendants':

Most of us worked the Lancashire vineyards all year

and a few freak redheads died.

We were well-nuked. Knackered. The gaffers gave us a 

bonus

in Burgdy and Claray. Big fucking deal, we thought,

we'd been robbing them blind

for months. Drink enough of it, you can juggle with

snakes, no sweat.

Some nights, me and Sarah went down to the ocean

with a few flasks

and a groundsheet and we'd have it off three or four 

times in a night

that barely got dark. For hours, you could hear the

dolphins rearing up

as if they were after something. Strange bastards. I like

dolphins.

Anyway. She's soft, Sarah. She can read. Big green

moon and her with a book

of poetry her Gran had. Nuke me. Nice words, right

enough, and I love the girl,

but I'd had plenty. Winter, I goes, Spring, Autumn,

Summer, don't give me

that crap, Sarah, and I flung the book over the white

sand, and into the waves,

beyond the dolphins. Click-click. Sad. I hate the bastard

past, see,

I'd piss on an ancestor as soon as trace one. What

fucking seasons

I says to her, just look at us now. So we looked. At each

other.

At the trembling unsafe sky. And she started, didn't

she, to cry.

Tears over her lovely blotchy purple face. It got to me. 

Try It Tuesday: The Chaos Walking Trilogy!

Happy World Book Night, Free Hawks! For a special edition of Try It Tuesday I've decided to do one of the books from the list of selected works for World Book Night. The Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness, focusing on The Knife of Never Letting Go.

I have been very lucky to be selected as one of World Book Night's 20,000 UK givers. This means that tonight, I will be going into the streets of London and distributing 20 copies of the wonderful KONLG to non-reading strangers. But that doesn't mean you all shouldn't get a copy yourselves! 

Try It Tuesday: Eliza and The Bear!

This week, I give to you not a book, but a band. A very, very good band. Let me introduce to you - Eliza and The Bear!

After seeing them as a support act at an Imagine Dragons concert last week in London, I came to the conclusion that this isn't a band that should be in the small print. No, this five-piece should be headlining worldwide, no question. 

With a sound comparable possibly to Mumford & Sons, Foster the People, and Imagine Dragons themselves, amongst many other talented artists, Eliza and the Bear are definitely on the list to watch in the next year.

They currently only have three singles: Brother's Boat, Southern Wild and Upon The North, but tweeted recently saying they expect a new single to be out this summer and their first album's release is scheduled for 2014. 

In the meanwhile, I've been listening religiously to these singles and will continue to do so until they become just a drone in the background...although I highly suspect James Kellegher's vocals will never cease to make me sway along. 

I can't wait to see these guys hit the big time, they really deserve it -  so friendly and very appreciative of new fans. 

You can listen to their released singles on their youtube channel at 

Visit their Facebook page or website or give them a follow on Twitter!

Let us know what you make of Eliza and The Bear and if, like me, Upon the North makes you just irrationally happy! 

~Ella

Try It Tuesday - Unwind Trilogy by Neal Shusterman

Unwind was released in 2007, and followed by Unwholly (book#2), Unstrung, which was a short story to accompany Unwind. Unsouled is scheduled to come out this October.

Connor, Risa, and Lev are running for their lives. The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights. The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment of conception until age thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, parents can have their child "unwound," whereby all of the child's organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn't technically end. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, a ward of the state is not enough to be kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. Together, they may have a chance to escape and to survive.’ ~ Summary of Unwind (book#1) from Goodreads

Fans of Young Adult dystopia and science fiction, this is a must read! It’s an enthralling story with plenty of credible characters that you're likely not to forget, and apprehension at every corner. Neal’s writing is fantastic, with a plot well thought out and intricate. The book invokes a lot of issues, and mainly those bioethical (i.e. abortion/reproductive rights). This allows the reader to ponder over the controversial matters raised in this book, and form their own opinions. The ending of Unwind is a very emotional one, and it helped me know what my stance on the whole procedure of this so called unwinding was.

This link is to a short movie featuring the process of unwinding that I particularly enjoyed. I like the bit when the woman says ‘’sweetie, you don’t die. You just stop living.’’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=9snP4HuRsr4&feature=fvwp

This is a book I will always recommend, especially those looking for a stimulating fix. Go, read Unwind and Unwholly before October!

~Bushra

Try It Tuesday! - GONE series by Michael Grant

Welcome to our first ever Try It Tuesday where we aim to give you suggestions about new (or old!) books, films and music that might appeal to fans of the Dust Lands trilogy!

This week, as the last in the series is released, I present you with the incredible GONE series by Michael Grant!

'Suddenly there are no adults, no answers. What would you do? In the blink of an eye, the world changes. The adults vanish without a trace, and those left must do all they can to survive. But everyone's idea of survival is different. Some look after themselves, some look after others, and some will do anything for power ...Even kill. For Sam and Astrid, it is a race against time as they try to solve the questions that now dominate their lives ...What is the mysterious wall that has encircled the town of Perdido Beach and trapped everyone within? Why have some kids developed strange powers? And can they defeat Caine and his gang of bullies before they turn fifteen and disappear too? It isn't until the world collapses around you that you find out what kind of person you really are. A chilling portrayal of a world with no rules. When life as you know it ends at 15, everything changes.'