Showing posts with label James Dashner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label James Dashner. Show all posts

Friday, November 28, 2014

Ohana Talks: YALLFest 2014, The Penguin March/ Blogger Meet Up

Hey Y'all!

   It has taken me forever to actually write down all the events that happened at YALLFest 2014, but never the less I finally have them written down for you! I will have two YALLFest posts, one for Friday and one for Saturday. Then I will have one for the Compulsion Tour! I will link them all up at the bottom of the posts when they are all published. 



The Penguin March,

   When I started planning for YALLFest I never really understood why they called it the Penguin March until the first signing, we were constantly walking to each of the signings. James Dashner's line went on forever, and we were there thirty minutes before the signing even started. We waited in line for an hour and thirty minutes. This was the longest we waited throughout all of YALLFest. 

The far orange and black balloons were where James Dasher was signing, the close orange and black ones were for
the Michelle Hodkin's signing. 



But of course, no line is too long for a booknerdigan.

James Dashner signing my little sisters book.
James Dashner and my middle sister.
 
   That was was actually not the first time we saw James on the trip, he was my second author to ever see in person so the first time I saw him I froze up and was a complete fool. We went to Blue Bicycle Books the morning of the march, my sister was inside buying a last minute book and my mom, aunt and I were outside and my mom was about to take a photo of us. Being right in the heart of YALLFest I was on high alert trying to make sure I didn't miss an author walking by me. So mid-pose of a picture my mom was about to take I spotted James walking by, I turned into a deer in the headlights and after a second or two I bolted into the store to tell my sister. When he did walk in, my sister and I didn't know what to do. So awkwardly she said hi, he said hi back and that was all. It may have been a simple hello, but really just being at a a huge book convention was amazing and so very overwhelming that that simple gesture already had made my day.


 Up next was our meet up with Kiera Cass! But Kiera being so fabulous and all, her line was long too. So my aunt waited in her line while we snook off to meet Kathy and Brendan Reichs.

Kathy and Brendan Reichs

   We made our own T-Shirts to get authors who we didn't have books for to sign. So that we'd be able to get as many signatures as possible. 




   Finally after the long wait, my sister was able to meet her hero. 




   Kiera was one of the loveliest people I have ever met, seriously maybe in my entire life. I've come to realize later that all the authors ask'd this at one point in the signing, but after she signed our books Kiera asked us where we were from. Of course we told her Canada, she started to freak out and ask why we came so far. Well she was Lauren's favourite author of all time and her hero, so once again we told her. She started to tear up and ran around the table to hug us. She was so touched that we came all this way to see her. 



   After meeting Kiera, I waited outside of the tent and Lauren went and visited Scott Westerfield. Eventually the Penguin March official time ended, and Kiera Cass came out of the tent and asked everyone if they'd be cut off from her line. Then multiple people put their hands up, so Kiera immediately went and signed everyones books. She was incredible. After what she did there for the people who were cut out of her line, I officially adored her.




Me and Kiera Cass



  That concluded the Penguin March!



Blogger Meet Up,

   For my Friday night I hung out with a bunch of amazing bloggers from all over the US. We spent the evening just plain hanging out and discussing everything, including books. I'm so glad I met all those lovely ladies and I'm happy to have made some new friends!




Some of the lovely ladies I've met from the blogger met up are: Maggie, Joli, Regina, Lindsay, Heather, Lisa, Kristalyn, and Tiffani. ( Sorry if I forgot to list some of you!)


   And that concludes The Penguin March and Blogger Meet Up parts of YALLFest! 






Monday, November 17, 2014

Movie Review: The Maze Runner

The Maze Runner

Contains Spoilers:


Movie:

Film Corporation: 20th Century Fox
Released to Theatres: September 19th, 2014
Audience Rating: PG13
Length of Time: 113 minutes
Director: Wes Bell

(Movie Trailer)



Book:

Title: The Maze Runner
Author: James Dashner
Publisher: Delacorte Press 
Release Date: October 6th, 2009
Format: Paperback, 375 pages





Movie Review:


   WICKED is good.
   I'd just like to state two things before I go on, one; I was never a big fan of The Maze Runner book and two; I first read The Maze Runner two years ago. So I was really rusty when it came to finding differences between the two.
  When I first saw the movie trailer for The Maze Runner I was definitely excited to watch the movie. I've always felt that if you enjoyed the book then you wouldn't enjoy the movie or vice versa, you didn't enjoy the book and liked the movie.( An example would be my sister hating this movie but loving the book) I understand that is not always the same but I find most of the time it is. With me this is usually the case, which I was right with this movie.
  I am a huge fan of Dylan O'Brien.( He played Thomas) Naturally this made me a bit more intrigued to see the movie, but besides that Dylan did a perfect job portraying Thomas. Dylan also plays a curious and brilliant character on the show Teen Wolf, while watching the movie I could definitely see the little bits and pieces of that curiosity for Thomas's character, because of Dylan's role in the show you just know that he has the curiosity part down.
  When I first heard of an upcoming film I was excited to see how they would show the maze and the grievers. They definitely succeed past my expectations for both of these. The maze wasn't your basic ideal maze but a huge complicated design that was a mix of mechanics and plain old concrete. The Grievers were also designed to look and have the same feel of the maze. It was phenomenal how they designed everything.
   I didn't really enjoy Maze Runner the book, but after watching the movie I'm definitely going to give The Scorch Trails a go and I look forward to seeing the next movie!


Overall Rating:




Favourite Scene:


   My favourite scene in the movie would have to be when Thomas just knew he had to remember what had happened before the Maze, so he just stabbed himself with the griever stinger.

Favourite Quote:


" Everything we've done to you... it was all done for a reason." ~ Ava Paige


Recommend to People Who Enjoy:


Action, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller


   What did you think of the movie? Let me know in the comments!





Thursday, November 6, 2014

YALLFest Schedule




Alrighty!


   YALLFest is tomorrow and I'm out of my mind excited! I got into Charleston on Wednesday, so I've already been able to enjoy the scenery and visited a few places! Anyhow, I know a bunch of my online blogger friends are going to be here as well. So I thought I'd post my Friday and Saturday schedule here! If you're going to be at some of the same panels or signings with me let me know! I'd love to say hi!




Friday:


3:00pm- 5:00pm
(Going in this order, times will very on line lengths)
~Magnifilous Toy Emporium~  James Dashner
~ Big Tent~ Kiera Cass
~Mose Boutique~ Lauren Oliver



Saturday:


10:00am ~ Music Hall~ Opening Keynote 
James Dashner & Sara Zarr

11:00am ~ Train ~ Jennifer L. Armentrout

11:00am ~ Court ~  Danielle Paige

11:00am-12:00pm ~ Theater~ Veronica Roth

12:00pm ~ Train~ Scott Westerfield

1:00pm ~ Tent ~ Gayle Forman

1:00pm ~ Tent ~ Becca Fitzpatrick

2:00pm ~ Train ~ Kami Garcia 
( I have tickets to be first in line, I won't be here long)

2:00pm ~ Train ~ Margaret Stohl

3:00pm ~ Theater ~ Rainbow Rowell

4:00pm ~ Music Hall ~ Hollywood Stories
Authors talk film/TV adaptions

or

4:00pm ~ Tent ~ Sarah J. Maas

4:00pm ~ Tent ~ Carrie Ryan
(Still haven't decided yet.)

5:00pm ~ Music Hall ~ Closing Keynote
Sarah Dessen & Ally Condie

6:00pm ~ Music Hall ~ YA Smackdown Feat. Tiger Beat


   I know there were so many other authors to meet and have books signed, but unfortunately I had to focus on the authors of the books I already had purchased. 

  Once again come find me at any of these signings or panels, I'd love to meet you! 
   Also! If you are going to the Martina Boone Launch event on November 9th, then you are more then welcome to hang out with me there as well!

   Have fun at YALLFest everyone who is going!