Hobbit Photos {from Pinterest}

I love the Hobbit. I'll just say that right here. I love it.
 If you want to read a good review of it, read Spicemuffin's totes cool review.
 I promise that I will review it, but D {my sis} and I are bugging my dad to go see it again with us {he hasn't seen it yet} so that would be the time to review it.

 But I will say this. I LOVE Kili, Thorin and Balin. Those are my FAVORITE dwarves. Period.

 Kili is hilariously real, and doesn't seem to be acting, just, well, being Kili.

Gandalf the Grey {gray spelled like that is just cool!}

Galadriel, Lady on Lothlorien {same actress}

Fili

Kili

Dwalin

Balin

Oin

Gloin

Bifur

Bofur

Bombur 

Dori

{I couldn't find a movie poster for him}

Nori

Ori

And the leader of the company, Thorin Oakenshield!

{and look what I found right after I did all that work?}

New Blog

Ya gotta love this :) These photos {are from Pinterest} 

and represent a certain story I'm writing, The Four Rings {see below}

But just seeing the new Hobbit movie {!!!!!!!!!!!} which will be reviewed soon, 

I have decided to postpone that one, and work on the story that has yet to be named.

So, go check it out! I hope you'll be glad you did! 

Speak, friend, and enter.

Catching Up

 I know I've neglected this blog for months, but please hear me out.


I won AGC {American Girl Contest}, with Josefina. I'm hosting it now:)

I joined Pinterest and love it. Here's the link to my account:

Willow Silver Black

I've been trying to make headers for my new story blog, The Call.

I'm actually using a different one, 

one that D made on Picmonkey.

 

Here's another story I'm working on,

{If you've ever watched the Star Wars The Clone Wars TV series, this is based loosely on that. But because the Citadel episodes were creepy and too violent, this redeems it, so to speak}

The only sound was the chilly, stale air whistling over the grey jagged rocks.
 The only thing that interrupted that sound was the soft crunching of boots on stray pebbles.
 The black-clad girl slid the long, curving sniper rifle off of her shoulder and settled it on a small boulder, hidden in the thick fog.
 "I don't see anything," the clone-sized commando droid stated into his comm-link.
 "Try your body-heat scanners." Whomever was on the other end of the comm ordered.
 "Roger, roger." The commando's mechanical voice replied flatly.
  The girl leaned forward, her shoulder pressing to the end of the rifle, her eye searching the small aiming glass atop the rifle.
 The commando pressed a small button on his arm. "Body-heat scanning," he stated to no one in particular.
  He came into sight on the aiming glass. The click of the trigger reached only the ears of the one who pulled it.
 Click. The tiny dart struck the droid easily on his chest, precisely in the center of the small circle of red light.
 The droid stood perfectly still for a moment. A voice spoke in the ear of the sniper...

And that was what I've been doing. 

If you want to see my story blog, please please ask. It's much more encouraging to know someone is interested, instead of nothing at all. 

Thanks

I just wanted to say thanks. Thanks for reading this blog. Thanks.

By the way, I just wanted to tell you that I absolutely love your blog and almost every time there's a new post I read it. I don't know how to describe it, but I just feel really blessed to read your blog. :)

Hannah

Comments like this really make my day :) They're the reason that I blog. 

I just wanted to say thanks.

Thanks.

More Caroline Photos!

Aloha! It's Willow!

Now, I know some of you wanted a non-blondie, and I know how you feel. But you gotta admit, the hair is selling her. She looks almost angelic. Dot-dot-dot-dash.

Now, here's some stuff I found on dolldiaries.com.

It is said that this is a 'Skiff', a small boat.{IMHO, 'Skiff', sounds like a Star Wars thing}

 I KNEW she was going to have a boat! Plus, her outfit is cute too :)

GAH! It look very close to the now retired Scenes & Settings! But I bet that it will cost waaaaaaaayyyy more. A small fortune, in the words of D{my 'lil sis}. But isn't get gown beautiful! It reminds me of a Barbie dress that I played with when I was little. The front looks kind of maid-ish, which gives it a cool history.

Anyway, there's Caroline!

American Girl Caroline Photo!

Today AG released a real photo of Caroline! Yippee!

You know her name. You know her year. Now discover more about our newest historical character as we reveal the Caroline doll and where her story takes place — Sackets Harbor, New York, on the shores of Lake Ontario as the War of 1812 begins. Stayed tuned for more about Caroline as we count down to her debut…

Quoted from AG's Facebook account.{I repeat, I am NOT on Facebook}

It looks like she has light blue-green eyes. Stunning! I love her already:)

Her Meet Outfit, though, looks like ALOF Laylie's Meet & AG Felicity's Summer Gown mixed together.

 Though shorter. Love her though.

What do you think of Caroline?

~Willow~

Once a Pirate, Always a Pirate: Part One {from the Story Club}

NOTE: This was written for The Story Club blog, but it is written by me.

 ~A Pirate's Life for Me Series~

~Once a Pirate, Always a Pirate: Part 1~

Written by Willow{assisted by Darrion}

Characters:

Warren-Age 17
Willow-Age 16
Darren-Age 15
Darrion{D}-Age 14

"Yo, ho. Yo, ho. A pirate's life for me..." The haunting tune melted into the wind. I crouched up in the Crow's Nest, singing quietly to myself, attempting to drown out the song being sung below me. "Three hundred six men on a dead man's chest! Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum! Three hundred seven men on a dead man's chest! Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum!" crowed Darrion at top lung.
 Darrion is my little sister. She also happens to really like pirates. "Three hundred eight men on a dead man's chest! Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum!" She had been singing that song for about, well, however long it took to sing, 'Fifteen men on a dead man's chest! Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum!' continually two hundred and ninety three times. "Three hundred nine men on a dead man's chest. Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum!" Her cheery voice rang out below me. "Three hundred ten men on a dead man's che-" Then another voice interrupted her, "Darrion! Would you please stop singing that?! I can't hear myself think with that stupid song ringing through my brain!" Warren yelled at her, breaking off her song. D narrowed her dark eyes at him, until they were mere points of brown on her face. "It's a pirate song, Warren. What do you expect me to sing, 'The Wheel's on the Bus'?" D sniffed. I rolled my eyes.
Warren clenched his jaw. "You could attract.... things that we wouldn't want to attract."
"Like what?" D persisted. She wasn't the sort of person to lose an argument. Or let anyone get the last word in on anything.
She tossed her short, almost black hair over her shoulder sassily into the wind. Warren rolled his eyes. "Like, oh, I don't know. A Kraken?! Haven't you heard any pirate lore be-"
"Seriously? A cracker?" D interrupted. "Why would you be-"
"A Kraken. You are so.... never mind." Warren wrested control of his temper. D rolled her eyes.
"Three hundred eleven men on a dead man's chest! Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum!" Warren closed his grey eyes, and muttered something to himself. Probably praying. I thought. Not that I would blame him.
 By the time D had gotten to four hundred men on a dead man's chest, Warren had finally had it. "Darrion, why don't you go check on Darren? I haven't seen him for a while." He asked through clenched teeth.
"Eh, why not. It's better than sitting around singing!" D hopped off of her barrel and flitted over to the stairs to the inside of the ship, humming. Her humming finally faded away once her head disappeared from view.
 I sighed. We had been on this boat for about a day now. We had first been given this mission by Philan, the Codebearer Head Commander. At least that was what Warren said. I had been being my diplomat self, representing the Codebearers to the Rebel Counsel. D had been cavorting off into different parts of the Galaxy, to who knows where. Darren {the fourth member of our group} had been assisting Philan aboard The Valiant, the Codebearer's flagship. Warren had been busy with 'Top Secret' stuff. Guys and their secrets. Humph. He, of course, hadn't bothered to tell even me {whom I believe to be the most trustworthy of the four, along with Darren}.
 I was startled out of my musings by D pounding on the Captain's Cabin door. Oh brother. I thought, rolling my eyes. Darren must have locked himself in the Captain's Cabin to get away from her.
"Darren! Why did you lock the door?" D called, still a-pounding. I strained to hear Darren's reply. It sounded like "Because." "'Cause why?" D persisted.
Warren rolled his eyes again. "Willow? Could you take the wheel for a sec while I deal with this?" He called up to me.
"Sure." I leapt gracefully off the Crow's Nest railing, landing with a forward roll on the freshly scrubbed deck {Hey, the Author's Force is powerful stuff!}. "Showoff." D muttered under her breath. I tossed my dark curls over my shoulder & trotted up the steps to the wheel. Grabbing the knobs sticking out from the wheel, I casually held it, as if I knew what I was doing {now let me make clear, I am no ship expert}. Warren knocked loudly on the Captain's Cabin door. "Darren! We know you're in there! Come out!"
He demanded. "No." Came the reply.
"Why not?" Warren was obviously getting impatient. One look at D told me that she'd past the impatient mark ages ago.
"I look appalling." Darren confessed. Darrion rolled her eyes again.
"It's just a pirate costume, Darren. We went shopping for it, I saw it. Ooh, scary." The lock turned & Darren emerged. He was dressed head to toe in pirate gear. I didn't think he looked particularly weird, but D burst into laughter anyway. He glared at her. She slapped her hand over her mouth, still spluttering out giggles. Warren squinted at her. "Darrion, go take over the wheel for Willow. Please." He obviously wanted her distracted, so as not to tease Darren. She shrugged, her hand still plastered over her mouth.
 Then, letting her hand drop, she bounded up the steps to where I stood. "Warren said I could steer." She told me smugly. I could tell that she'd wanted to steer since we came aboard, but Warren insisted that he was Captain, and I was First Mate, so D was stuck waiting for her big break. I shrugged, moving aside so she could steer. Pure delight showed on her face.
 I leaned over the railing, closing my eyes to take in the smell of the sea, the whistling of the wind, the shrieking of the gulls. Ahhh... Splash, thunk, Ahoy, there matey! There be a ship ahead, Captain!... Wait, what?!?! I jerked my eyes open. A normal looking ship was sailing almost neck-and-neck with us. I would have paid it almost no mind, it I hadn't seen the flag. A white & red hourglass on a black background. Pirates.... {we hate those guys}

To be Continued.... 

{What do you like about it? What do you think will happen?} 

P.S. I will be continuing this story next week on The Story Club blog, so if you want to see the next part, please tune in there next Monday. 

P.P.S. This story is also similar to the ones that will be on my new story blog in progress, The Call.{See post two back}

~Willow~ 

I'm a Story Girl!{Plus, 50 Posts!}

I've been invited by Storyteller to join her blog team of the blog 'The Story Club'! I'm really excited!

 *does happy dance* Sooo, if you would check it out, please, that would be very much appreciated:)

 You might even get to join! 
Plus, yesterday was my 50th post! Yippee!

For the Way of Truth & Life,

~Willow~

The Call

 

 The Call

It started out as a feeling.

Which then turned into a hope.

Which then turned into a quiet thought.

Which then turned into a quiet word.

And then that word grew louder & louder, till it was a battle cry.

I'll come back, when you call me. 

No need to say goodbye.

Just because everything's changing,

doesn't mean it's never,

been this way before.

All you can do is try to know who your friends are,

as you head off to the war.

Pick a star on the dark horizon,

and follow the light.

You'll come back, 

when it's over.

No need to say goodbye.

You'll come back,

when it's over.

No need to say goodbye.

Now we're back to the beginning,

it's just a feeling and no one knows yet.

But just because they can't feel it too,

doesn't mean that you have to forget.

Let your memories grow stronger and stronger.

Till they're before your eyes.

You'll come back,

when they call you.

No need to say goodbye.

You'll come back when they call you,

no need to say goodbye.

~Regina Spektor- The Call- Prince Caspian~

So, yeah. That's the name of my new story blog.

Once I actually write a story, I'll put it up here to see if you would like me to do a story blog at all{though I probably will anyway}(;

P.S. A new doll may be on the way soon!

~Willow~

New Doll Blog!

Hello there!

 I just made a new doll blog! I know this isn't a doll blog, so if you'd like, head on over to In the Eyes of American Girlz, for an interesting first post! Plus, if you want to follow it, that wouldn't hurt either :)

~Willow

I guest-posted & am wishing for some guest-posters

Hey everybody!

 Just wanted to let you know that I guest-posted on Jessie's blog today, about fireworks and such.  I also would appreciate maybe someone volunteering to guest-post on this blog? I will be on vacation sometime this year, and would appreciate some people filling in for me, at least a little bit.

 Preferably someone I know, at least a little bit. You can Private Message me on the American Girl Fan Message Board here, or comment for more info. Or when the time comes you can PM your post to me & I will schedule it :)

 Thanks!

~Willow

{P.S. How do you like this shirt? I found it{surprisingly}in the Kohl's Junior's Department}

Like My Header?

Ok, even if you can't build LEGO stuff{like me}or have a younger sibling & dad who put you to shame by being able to build insatiably cool looking Lego doodads{like me}, you do have to admit that  little LEGO Frodo is really cute looking.

 My little sister, Darrion, is really into that stuff. Then I tried to build something and-I'm not kidding-it literally fell apart. I grumpily went back to my safe cardboard & packing tape, muttering to myself about little sisters' doing stuff that even 3 year-olds can do and being a teenager and not being able to do that stuff. 

Grrr. 

 Well, LEGO is intending on coming out with a new video game, The Lord of the Rings version. *Extreme Squeal* 

Hopefully we can get it for Christmas or something. The last LEGO video game wasn't that good, it was the Clone Wars one. It had huge battles. That took forever for you to run from place to place. Seriously. Not. Fun. But this one looks good{plus they added voices from the movie}

 If you'd like to view it, click here.

~Willow

Emma's Blog Party Post!{and Vintage Love!}

Hello, there again!

I am entering Emma's Blog Party! I made an outfit collage, with the clothes from Modcloth.

 Her Questions!

1. What do you look like? I look a lot like my doll Josefina{minus the hair length}, shoulder-length dark brown hair, dark brown eyes, tan{and getting tanner!}

2. Could you tell us a little about yourself? I am a Christian. I love Lord of the Rings, Narnia, Star Wars, etc. I love American Girl dolls{!}. And vintage-type clothes. Dogs.

3. What is your favorite thing(s) about summer? Swimming in the pool, being warm instead of being cold, less school{!}, more outdoorsy-type food.

4. Do you have a favorite summer treat? Ice cream!

5. Do you have a least favorite thing about summer? Sunburns{hate those}, places always being super crowded, that kinda thing.

6. Finally, what is your favorite thing to blog about during the summer? Hmmm...Our Independence Day party. Lots of interesting stuff going on then! Fireworks{!}, food{!!}, big brothers{!!!} & blowtorches{!!!!}

Now..................My Collage!!

Just choosing a dress was hard enough, then there were shoes to choose, earrings, HAT?

 I love this hat! Though it's like 30 bucks.

~Willow~

Review Requests?

Aloha! I am really getting into the summer mood! Let's break out in sundresses & sunglasses! Woohoo!

But I'm not here to blog about that, now am I?

Ok, here are the movies I intend to review:

Courageous{on fave movie list!}

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol{love it!}

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring & The Two Towers

The Avengers{when it comes out on DVD}

Mirror Mirror{when it comes out on DVD, 
I saw it in theaters but forget most of it:}

Pirates of the Caribbean

Iron Man{1 & 2}

Captain America

Thor

Aliens in the Attic

Avatar

National Treasure{both}

Any others that you can think of? Or that you are wondering about? Just comment:)

~Willow~

P.S. 

I've watched most of these movies on Clearplay, and recommend you do as well.

30 Day Photography Challenge!

Emma posted this on her blog. I'm thinking about trying it out as well.

Day 1: A photo of yourself.

Day 2: A photo of what you wore today.

Day 3: A photo of your favorite place to be.

Day 4: A photo from a high angle.

Day 5: A photo of whatever you please.

Day 6. A photo from a low angle.

Day 7. A silhouette photo.

Day 8: A photo of something close up.

Day 9: A photo from a distance.

Day 10: A photo of whatever you please.

Day 11: A black and white photo.

Day 12: A photo experimenting with bokeh.

Day 13: A photo edit that you like.

Day 14. A photo focusing on eyes.

Day 15: A photo of whatever you please.

Day 16: A photo experimenting with light trails.

Day 17: A photo with street lights.

Day 18. A photo depicting an emotion.

Day 19: A photo that involves landscape.

Day 20: A photo of whatever you please.

Day 21: A photo of the sunset.

Day 22: A photo of the person you love.

Day 23: A photo that makes you think of childhood.

Day 24: A photo that has a color scheme.

Day 25: A photo of whatever you please.

Day 26: A photo playing with shadows.

Day 27. A photo using the sun as your lighting.

Day 28. A photo that incorporates motion.

Day 29: A photo with clouds.

Day 30: A photo of whatever you please.

But some pics will most likely be taken by my 'lil sis, Darrion.

Also, feel free to post this on your blog too, if you want to take the challenge!

~Willow~

Poll Results!

Here are the results of my poll! 

How Did you Find This Blog? 

 Willow gave me the link 4{40%}

I Googled something, and this blog came up 0{0%}

Someone told me about it 0{0%}

I saw it on some site somewhere, I think 3{30%} 

I saw Willow following another blog, and checked out her blogs 3{30%}

Votes: 10

So.. How did YOU find this blog?

~Willow~

Your Blog is Great Award{from Jessie & Lena}

Thanks Jessie! On her blog, she awarded me the 'Your Blog is Great' award:) Thanks again Jessie! *Hug*.

And actually, I got one from Lena too! Thanks Lena!{Grr, I was going to give you the award}*Hug*

 

THE RULES:
1. Put a link to who gave you the award.
2. Put the award on your post.
3. Choose 5 blogs to receive the award.
4. Let them know you awarded them.
5. Make sure to post this set of rules in your post!

Ok, now I have to choose some people to award this well, award to. Hmmm...

How about...

Hannah of Hannah, Herself

 {Now, I know Lena tagged you too, but still}
 

Constence of 100% Bookworm
 

Silvia of Beach Baby Doll's Blog
 

Sarah of Me, Music & Art
 

Jenny of Artsy Peacock


{Now read the rules, awardees. But please do :)}
 
Thank you, thank you, thank you,

Jessie & Lena!

*More Hugs!*

~Willow~

P.S.{Please vote on my poll!} 

{Another}New Background!

As Carolyn tactfully pointed out, I have not been doing regular posts. That is mostly because my life isn't that interesting ;) But I do have something slightly remotely interesting here. A new background! Now, until I can get a custom background{which is in the works}, this will have to do. 

We just finished watching 'The Two Towers' movie. If you like epic battles, you'll probably like this movie.

 Excepting the gross Orcs. *Shudder* They are the things nightmares are made of. Especially this one really nasty one that chased Merry & Pippin.... but you don't really want to here about this, do you? I will review these movies soon, but I can't today. Probably tomorrow?

~Willow~

Why {The} Hunger Games is Flawed to Its Core{by N. D. Wilson}

Why {The} Hunger Games is Flawed to Its Core
 
N.D. Wilson

Here is the link.

{And, I would like to say, I don't hate you if you like THG. I am simply expressing my opinion.} 


{This review/analogy is by a guy named N.D. Wilson. I was given this link by Jessie and I liked it so much that I just had to post it.}


{I suggest that if you like THG, you don't read this.}

{It could make you mad.}

{I will add my own personal comments in these parentheses.}

 

Almost everywhere I go, I’m asked about The Hunger Games (book, not film){but the film counts too, 'cause it's based on the book}. The questions used to fly about Twilight and Potter,

but Katniss and dystopic death-matches have taken over.

First, I completely understand why The Hunger Games took off. Suzanne Collins knows how to suck readers into a page-turning frenzy. The pace of the book grabs like gorilla glue and the kill-or-be-killed tension keeps fingernails nibbled short. She knows her craft, and I have to say that I’m grateful to her for expanding our mutual marketplace (in the same way that Rowling did). That said, Collins stumbles badly in her understanding of some pretty fundamental elements of human story, and the whole thing is flawed to its core as a result.

The best authors are students of humanity, both as individuals and grouped in societies (big and small).

• C.S. Lewis’ profound insight into human motivation and relationships is on display in Narnia, and even more intricately in his Space Trilogy. He paints honest and accurate portraits, leading readers through darkness toward wisdom.

• Think about Mark Twain’s ability to see and image the motivations of boys, and the entire society in which those boys lived.

• Tom Wolfe’s sharp clear vision is on display in both his essays and his fiction. He sees into the hearts and minds of men; he sees which of their choices and follies will set fire to the world around them, and how exactly that fire will progress and grow. (And, like the greatest writers, he manages to maintain an affection and sympathy for his characters and for humanity in general despite this insight.)

When an author profoundly misunderstands human societies, arbitrarily forcing a group or a character into decisions and actions that they would never choose for themselves given the preceding narrative, it drives me bonkers. I once threw The Fountainhead across the room for exactly that crime, and I’ve never read anything by Rand since. And Collins bundles clumsy offenses like this in Costco bulk…

Quick Switch 1

Katniss volunteers to take her sister’s place in the Hunger Games. Yay. Self-sacrifice. Christian themes, yadda, yadda. So far so good. But that walnut shell slides away immediately and a moment of self-sacrifice is replaced with sustained, radical, murderous self-interest.

              
  
{Extreme agreement by Willow}

In the Christian ethos, laying down one’s life for another is glorious. In the Darwinian world, self-preservation is the ultimate shiny good. Readers bite the lure of sacrifice, and then blissfully go along with survive-at-the-expense-of-murdered-innocents. Katniss becomes evil–she’s even relieved at one point that someone else murdered her innocent little friend, because she knew that she would have to do it herself eventually. And we still give her credit for being sacrificial…{Poor Rue...}

(Sacrificial Sidenote: Many people point to Peeta as the truly noble and sacrificial character. I don’t mind him as a character, but a picture of heroic sacrifice he ain’t. In Hunger Games, he’s fundamentally passive and submissive. He’s that guy who is happy to ‘just be friends’ with the cute girl. Or a lot more than friends (but only if she initiates). He’s just the puppy at her heels. “Sure, kill me Katniss. Oh, you’d rather we both killed ourselves? Yes, Katniss. Whatever you say, Katniss.{What a man there, Peeta}” Really? There are plenty of guys in the world just like Peeta, and kudos to Collins for using the type, especially since nice second-fiddle fellas like that confuse and conflict girls tremendously. But worldview readers are gaming themselves into seeing something that just isn’t there.)

Quick Switch 2

The self-defense defense. Katniss is a victim, but so is every other innocent person thrust into these games. She should be rising above the game and defending herself (and everyone else) from the Hunger Games. Instead, she kills her fellow victims. Sure, if someone is in the act of trying to murder you, shoot them through the throat. But dropping tracker jackers on sleeping kids? Negativo. Why is she playing this game by the rules at all? The Hunger Games are the real enemy.{Yeah!}

If Collins wanted her protagonist to be the kind of rebel who would start a revolution (and she does want that), she should have had Katniss cutting her locator out of her arm on night one instead of participating in and perpetuating the evil. But readers are a little numb to killing, and this particular switch wasn’t hard to pull on us.

{WARNING: Kind of gross subject} Here’s a thought experiment to help us see clearly. What if Collins had thrown her character into this arena and the rules had been different? Last one raped wins. Rape or be raped. Obviously, a real hero wouldn’t play the game. Explode the game. (Sidenote: rape is awful, but at least the other kids would have survived.){End gross subject}

Faux-revolution

File this under misunderstanding humanity, which is just another way of saying that The Hunger Games misunderstands courage, inspiration, oppression, and nobility as they relate to people in a collective herd. If you want to see an accurate picture of how one enslaved victim can threaten a regime, watch Gladiator. Twenty thousand people (and the emperor) are commanding one slave to kill another. (Kill!Kill!Kill!) But instead, he throws his sword in the dirt and turns his back on the emperor. And…the people he just defied now adore him. He inspires. His courage is unlike anything they’ve seen, and he is now officially a political problem.{I have not heard of this movie, and I do not recommend it.[Update. I have been told that Gladiator is not a good movie at all]}

Walk through what Collins has Katniss do while playing in the Hunger Games. First, she does and says exactly what she’s told to do and say (trying to manipulate the mob with false sentimentality){Hmmm....}. Second, she plays the vile despotic game, and by the immoral rules{My point exactly}. Finally, she threatens to kill herself (and talks her faux-boyfriend into doing it with her). This, allegedly, panics the establishment and is the spark that will start a revolution.

But the world doesn’t work that way. Men and women are not inspired to risk their lives in insurrection and defiance by someone reaching for poisonous berries. Revolutions are not started by teen girls suicide-pacting with cute baker boys. Oppressive regimes are not threatened by people who do what they are told.{*agrees*}

Put yourself in the author’s well-worn desk chair. If you really wanted your Katniss to threaten this tyrannical system like many great men and women have threatened many tyrants throughout the ages{or in books}, what would you have her do? She needs to be a lot more punk rock (in the best possible way). She needs to stop giving a rip about her own survival (the most dangerous men and women always forget themselves){Like in LOTR}. She needs to refuse to be a piece in the game{See! See!}. Imagine millions of people watching her disarm some boy who was trying to murder her, and then cutting out his locator, hiding him, and keeping him alive{Yes yes yes!}. Every time she defied the order to kill, she would earn the true loyalty of the spared kid’s district. And she would start being a legitimate political threat. (Even Tom Wolfe asked me about The Hunger Games, having apparently heard it had some revolutionary insight. I hit him with the primary plot beats and watched him blink in confusion.)

There is more to say, but I’ve said enough. Well, almost. One final thought: never read or watch a story like a passive recipient, enjoying something in a visceral way and then retroactively trying to project deeper value or meaning onto the story you’ve already ingested. Such projections have been making authors and directors seem more intelligent than they are for decades. As you watch, as you read, shoulder your way into the creator’s chair. Don’t take the final product for granted, analyze the creator’s choices and cheerfully push them in new and different directions. As we do this, the clarity of our criticism will grow immensely. Which is to say, we’ll be suckered far less often than we currently are.

Lastly, Suzanne Collins can really write. It’s just that we can’t really read.

{Ok, imagine this. Katniss has been stuck into THG. After she cuts out her locator, she gets attacked by, hmm lets just say Glimmer. Glimmer is trying to, ok stab her with... something. She hits him{or her}over the head with her bow, knocks her/him out, then drags him/her into the woods to her hiding place. She repeats this with the help of Peeta & Rue. The government doesn't know what to do. They try to kill Katniss but can't. That I think would work} 

~Willow~

Comments on My Hunger Games Post{and My Responses}

I hereby announce to the world that

I AM OFFENDED BY THE HUNGER GAMES!

{All Scripture References are either NKJV or NIV}

                        

~God is light, in Him there is no darkness at all. 1st John 1:5b~

~Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds & praise your Father in Heaven. ~Matthew 5:16~

                                                  

~Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly diving the word of truth. 2 ~Timothy 2:15~

                    

A excerpt from the book:

I crouch before her, staring up helplessly at the embedded weapon. There’s no point in comforting words, in telling her she’ll be all right. She’s no fool. Her hand reaches out and I clutch it like a lifeline. As if it’s me who’s dying instead of Rue.

[~Katniss]

Ok, I got this comment from Lilac a couple of nights ago on my '{Horrible} Hunger Games' post. I wanted to respond to you in a post, Lilac. I want to respond to each thing she says. I also wanted to thank Lilac for commenting. I love comments!
 

Here's what she said{in its original form}:

Lilac : Okay Girls,This post really offended me and some of the comments.I am HUGE fan of Hunger Games!!!It changed my life and it is soooo inspiring for me!!No one likes the Hunger Games,in the books they are fighting to end it!Do you think that Katniss wanted to go to the Hunger Games,No!She only volunteer for her sister,she only did it so her sister didn't have to go!Do you think Peeta wanted to go,No!!Peeta didn't even kill anyone and Katniss only killed to save Rue and Peeta!She felt sooo bad when she did!You posted the worse part in the whole book!There are many great parts,that is only one part!You never even read the books how can you say these things when you never read the books!I could never say these things about Lord of The Rings and Harry Potter,because I never read the books! Not everyone likes the same things,that is what makes the world go round.                               

~Now I respond~

Lilac: Okay Girls,This post really offended me and some of the comments.I am HUGE fan of Hunger Games!!!

Willow: I'm sorry, Lilac, but as you say at the end of your comment, Not everyone likes the same things,that is what makes the world go round.  This is my opinion. And well, this comment kind of implies that I shouldn't have this posted this. You have your opinion, I have mine. And that is absolutely fine with me. I want everyone to be opinionated. Please be opinionated! But... you are a huge fan of books where 12 year-olds[Correction: Only Rue & 1{?}other Tribute are 12. Of course, it is meant for 12 to 18 year-olds, so my point still stands]try not to have their necks snapped by the other contestants? {And that does happen, I might add}

Lilac: It changed my life and it is soooo inspiring for me!!

Willow: How did it change your life? I understand the meaning of the books, that this is what the world might be like in the future, but that doesn't excuse poor 12 year-old Rue getting run through by someone else who wants to survive. Doesn't anyone think that's bad? Did it change your life that you don't want an evil government to take over? Or that these 12 Districts weren't brave enough to get rid of the horrid 'Capitol' until after 74 Hunger Games?[Correction: They have been 'fighting' to end it, though my point still stands that they hadn't succeeded yet]

Lilac: No one likes the Hunger Games,in the books they are fighting to end it!Do you think that Katniss wanted to go to the Hunger Games,No!She only volunteer for her sister,she only did it so her sister didn't have to go!Do you think Peeta wanted to go,No!!

Willow: Well, they fought in it, didn't they? If you want to end something by fighting in it, that doesn't work very well. And I wouldn't want to go either. I'm pretty sure that no one wanted to go. That's why they choose them! That's also why they didn't have a volunteer list.[Correction: Wealthy kids volunteered. Hmm...]

Lilac: Peeta didn't even kill anyone and Katniss only killed to save Rue and Peeta!She felt sooo bad when she did!

Willow: Good for Peeta. And I'm sure the people Katniss killed will understand once they get to Heaven or wherever they're going. And feeling bad doesn't really help the people who got shot by her. I feel pity for the people who were killed by her.

Lilac: You posted the worse part in the whole book!There are many great parts,that is only one part!

Willow: I'm sorry, but last time I checked, a bad part counts as a part of a book. I'm sure there are plenty of fine parts. But, I chose this part because it illustrates my point. Using a nice part doesn't really help an arguments about the negative parts, I don't think.

Lilac: You never even read the books how can you say these things when you never read the books!I could never say these things about Lord of The Rings and Harry Potter,because I never read the books!

Willow: Last time I checked, I did not title my post 'A Review on the Hunger Games'. And I have the perfect right to post my thoughts about it. And actually, I've read quite a bit about the books and the movie. I'm pretty sure that I know more about this then most parents of the HG lovers{unless they read the books}. I just don't want to read the books because of the points in my other post. I have no comment about Harry Potter, but for LOTR, I do. If you read lots of reviews about it, you have the perfect right to post your thoughts about it. But I might add that in LOTR, there are not kids killing kids. There are kids, but they get chosen to help defend their country against the horridly evil Orcs. They don't stab each other in the back with a spear.

Lilac: Not everyone likes the same things,that is what makes the world go round.

Willow: I agree. This is my opinion.

~The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil & the good Proverbs 15:3~

Ok, I had just finished my other post, but hadn't posted yet, when this comment came up, from Mackenzie.

Mackenzie: Ok I'm sorry, but this post really offended me.
I mean you haven't even read hunger games!
And you put the worst part in all the books in your post?!?
I can totally understand why don't like it,and I agree with you on the whole kids killing other kids,no one likes it! No one in the book likes it,only president snow!
In the 2nd and 3rd book they are trying to take down the Capitol so that there are NO MORE hunger games. Don't you see,you are looking at the worst part of the books!
I don't like Star Wars or any of that stuff,but I don't go on about how much I don't like it..
This really made me upset.
Everyone keeps judging it!
I thought i wasn't going to like it at first,but I do now,it's my favorite book series.
I totally understand how people have different opinions,and I respect that.
Also,I can be way over obsessive about it.
And I will try to be better at keeping my "obsession" in.
But please,keep it to yourself.

~A Hunger Games fan

               

~Your word is a lamp to my feet & a light to my path. Psalm 119:105~

~Now I Respond~
 

Willow: Ok, lets take these one at a time:

Mackenzie: Ok I'm sorry, but this post really offended me. I mean you haven't even read hunger games!
And you put the worst part in all the books in your post?!? 

Willow: You have a perfect right to be offended. I actually have read quite a bit about it, as I've said before. And again, a bad part in a book is part of a book. 

~God is light, in Him there is no darkness at all. 1st John 1:5b~
Mackenzie: I can totally understand why don't like it,and I agree with you on the whole kids killing other kids,no one likes it! No one in the book likes it,only president snow!

Willow: Yes, but why do you want to subject yourself to this gratuitous killing? Shows what Suzanne Collins likes imagining.

Mackenzie: In the 2nd and 3rd book they are trying to take down the Capitol so that there are NO MORE hunger games. Don't you see,you are looking at the worst part of the books!

Willow: Good for them! But they still participated. Didn't they? They didn't refuse to kill anyone. Or at least Katniss didn't, so I'm told. And I know I am, but still, a bad part is still in the book. Maybe Suzanne Collins shouldn't have put that part in it if people don't like it so much? Hmmm.

Mackenzie: I don't like Star Wars or any of that stuff,but I don't go on about how much I don't like it..

Willow: I'm not going on, I literally just posted 2 posts about it{and the second was like, a paragraph long}. And now 3 that people keep commenting on the first one. And the only reason I posted the first one was because people kept saying how awesome it was and I was quite tired of there being no oppositions.

Mackenzie: This really made me upset. Everyone keeps judging it!

Willow: I'm sorry this makes you upset, but this is true. I'm not making it up. It's from the book itself! And most people seem to like it, not dislike it. And, actually, I'm discerning it. I'm deciding that I don't want to watch this, and I want other people to know what they're getting into. And, aren't you judging me for judging it?

Mackenzie: I thought i wasn't going to like it at first,but I do now,it's my favorite book series. I totally understand how people have different opinions,and I respect that. Also,I can be way over obsessive about it. And I will try to be better at keeping my "obsession" in.
But please,keep it to yourself.

~A Hunger Games fan

Willow: O-kay. Please keep it to yourself? Isn't this the land of the free and the home of the brave? As I have said before, you have a right to your opinion, and I have a right to mine. That's why I call this blog 'In the Words of Willow' because it is my opinion. And I have a right to that. I honestly have not talked that much about THG, as you can see if you check out my posts. And I will not keep it to myself. You don't have to read my blog if you don't like my opinion, it's a free country.

          

~Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9~

~But seek first His kingdom & His righteousness, & all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33~

Yours Truly,

                                                                        

~Willow~

P.S.

If you don't want me to post my narrow-minded opinion about THG anymore, I wouldn't try making large arguments to me, I usually have to respond in a post if you do. 

[I have added 'corrections']