The Power of Literature

Some people see reading as boring. A chore. A waste of time. I believe in the antithesis. Reading has the power to educate, illuminate and excite. It can teach people lessons and morals without them even realising. There is something for everyone inviting us to let our imaginations run wild. Books can stay with you for a long time providing an escape to another world from the stresses of everyday life. I have always loved reading and can rely on books to cheer me up, taking me away from the stress of university work. I recently encountered a wonderful charity, The Reader Organisation who aim to bring about a reading revolution. The organisation have numerous 'get into reading' projects across the world, in which they bring reading aloud into hospitals, schools, mental health centres and various other locations.  Their ethos and philosophy sets out to:

"...promote reading literature as a vital life skill, to give everyone the confidence and ability to find pleasure in reading to bring attention to the power of reading in contributing to personal and social wellbeing."

Everything about their mission is positive, using reading to bring about happiness. Visit their website to learn even more about the reading revolution and their phenomenal projects involving reading aloud: The Reader Organisation

The Reader Organisation

Their passion about the power of books led me share a few of my favourite books. They aren't necessarily all classics but they are all captivating in a different way.

1: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

For me there has never been a book that beats this. I studied it at GCSE and so often studying a book in such depth can ruin it. Certainly not in this case. Lee creates the greatest fictional hero in Atticus Finch, a man with some of the wisest words ever spoken. Set in the segregated Deep South of the USA, Atticus defends a black man accused of rape. He raises his children Jem and Scout who are intrigued by the mysterious figure of their neighbour, Boo Radley. This novel shows one man's bravery to go against the norm, who shows you "Courage is not a man with a gun in his hand". Lee perfects the innocence of childhood as the whole story is told through the eyes of 6 year old, Scout Finch and delivers one of my favourite lines in literature:

I don't want to give away anymore if you haven't read this book. If you haven't read it, go out and get it. Full of morals, laughter and emotion, this is literature at its finest.

2. Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer

I bought this book from a charity shop as I heard someone say it was very good. It sat on my shelf in my room untouched whilst I read other books. One day I noticed it was missing and it turns out my friend had taken it. This friend isn't one known for reading but he picked this book up and was engrossed. Archer is a wonderful storyteller flitting between the stories of two men, William Kane and Abel Rosnovksi. Both men lead separate lives but their paths cross various times. Captivating throughout, full of interesting historic events such as the Great Depression and World War Two, this was one of those books that I couldn't put down.

Kane and Abel

3. The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

I know turn my attention to teen fiction. People may judge simply because it is aimed at young adults but The Hunger Games trilogy is one of my favourite series I ever read. Suzanne Collins creates a hellish dystopian North America where 24 teenagers are placed in an arena and have to fight it out to the death. Full of believable characters, a love triangle and various inventions such as Mockingjays and Tracker Jackers. These books are exhilarating. What's around the next corner? Who becomes the victor? Not many of my I know have read this series and now it has been made into a brilliant film. Pick them up. You'll read them in no time.

4. The Help by Kathryn Stockett

I am big fan of novels about the Deep South and I actually saw the film of 'The Help' before I'd read the book. Both are exceptional. The novel by Kathryn Stockett tells the story of a young female, white journalist who forms a friendship with two black maids. Together, the three of them collate the stories of the maids working for white households. The books reveal the dreadful attitude of some white women in segregated America but display the change that can be created through the courage of just a few individuals.

Penguin Group

5. Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling

Who hasn't heard of Harry Potter? These books and subsequent films have become a worldwide phenomenon and I even studied the world's first ever Harry Potter module at Durham University. They are full of important life lessons and morals. You can't learn everything in Harry Potter but these books are rich with friendship, courage, loyalty, family and humour. Not only do people read for pleasure but these themes educate and illuminate important issues in a more exciting way than being taught explicitly. Rowling has created a timeless series that  through the Wizarding world will always delight its readers.

These are just a small selection of my favourite books. Nonetheless, they all offer a way to escape, abundant with loveable characters, exciting or heartwarming plots but also have ability to educate. Try any of them, I would be surprised if you don't find one that you like.

"There is no friend as loyal as a book"
Ernest Hemingway

The Hunger Games- From book to film

So many movies fail to translate the magic of the book onto the big screen. Having just seen The Hunger Games at the cinema I certainly feel the gripping book has been brilliantly captured by all those involved. The setting, the characters and even the music create a fantastic captivating picture that will excite those who haven't read the books.

Adapted from Suzanne Collins novel

Suzanne Collins' dystopian North America, where twenty four teenagers are "randomly" selected across twelve different districts. They are then put in an huge outdoor arena and have to kill each other till the last one is standing. This endurance test is then watched across this dystopian land, reminiscent of the reality shows one sees on TV today. Across Panem people gamble on the competitors, known as tributes and survival gifts are parachuted in thanks to rich sponsors outside the arena. It may sound rather grim but it is unbelievably gripping and has become hugely popular. So how and why does director, Gary Ross get it so right? 

Characters

Often a problem with adapting novels is casting the right people for the beloved characters. For instance, not all would agree that Daniel Radcliffe was suitable for the role of Harry Potter. Nonetheless, I feel the casting for all the lead roles in The Hunger Games was nye on perfect. The lead protagonist, Katniss Everdeen, was played exceptionally by 'Winter's Bone' actress, Jennifer Lawrence. She portrayed the heroic, determined and often moody figure Suzanne Collins created in her novels. Lawrence manage to play the role that invites audiences to will her on and share her emotions. It was key that Lawrence played Katniss in a way that didn't irritate or depress the audience, much like Kristen Stewart playing Bella in the 'Twlight' series.

Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss

 Liam Hemsworth's role  as Gale was fine but he wasn't in it awful lot so it is difficult to comment but his love rival, Peeta, played by Josh Hutcherson was excellent. Hutcherson created an innocent, if not a little awkward but immediately likeable figure. His relationship with Katniss provoked 'oohs' and 'aahhs' in the audience. This is where "The Hunger Games' can be compared to Twlight, asking the audience to be either 'Team Gale' or 'Team Peeta'.

Woody Harrelson was ideal for the role of drunken Haymtich, providing some much needed humour in a very dark film. Likewise, Elizabeth Bank's portrayal as the annoying, self-centred Effie Trinket was a fantastic performance, aggravating the audience but also making them laugh.

Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket

Stylist, Cinna was played well by Lenny Kravitz and Stanley Tucci was sublime as the lively, cheeky and ever smiling chat show host Caesar Flickerman.

The baddy in all of this chaos, President Snow, wasn't a major part of the film but Donald Sutherland did evil well and you can see the way his mind is working in the final part of the film. You simply know he's got more to give in the following two films.

My only drawback and it is minor was the casting of Kato, who looked too much like Josh Hutcherson as Peeta. This often led to confusing scenes in which one didn't know who was getting attacked or who was in which pack.

Peeta- source:2dayfm

Panem

The dystopian world was wonderfully detailed from the dazzling Capitol to the dank, District 12. The arena was controlled with fascinating touch screen 3D monitors, the landscapes rich with forests and lakes. All it took was a swipe by a Capitol employee to change the arena, create a fire that would sweep across the tributes and leave the audience wanting to know what will they subject the teenagers to next.

My only gripe would be with some of the camera shots. There were a lot of shaky and wobbly shots which can be useful in creating a greater sense of realism but at times it just made me dizzy. This is only a minor issu.,

The world created by Suzanne Collins has been translated perfectly, the Mockingjays, the trackers jackers, the arrow through the apple in the pig's mouth. The majority of it is all there. Obviously, there are some bits missing, simply because you cannot fit them all in. From the casting to the costumes and the music to the set, this movie will please those who have or haven't read the book. It is exhilarating, emotional and definitely worthy of five stars. Already it has broken records taking a whopping $19.7 million at its midnight showings. Go and see it, it really is fantastic and of course:

"May the Odds be Ever in your Favour"

The Hunger Games- Social Media and Advertising

Last summer I was in the United States and met two American teenagers. They loved Harry Potter. They loved another series more. When they first told me about this trilogy of books, I'd never heard of them before. They told me I had to read them. The next day I went to a bookshop and purchased a copy of "The Hunger Games. Within the next week I had read all three. Gripped by Suzanne Collins' dystopian North America, where twenty four teenagers are "randomly" selected across twelve different districts. They are then put in an huge outdoor arena and have to kill each other till the last one is standing. It may sound rather grim but it is unbelievably gripping and has become hugely popular.

someecards.com

When I returned from the USA in the summer I was desperate to talk to friends about the book. No one had read it. No one had heard of it. Why? Subsequently,  I lent the books out to many people and now the film is released this month it seems everyone knows about it. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, sites full of Hunger Games information, ranging from games and posters to interviews and apps.  Social Media is proving to be a key tool in promoting, interacting with and exciting consumers.

impawards.com

Logging on to twitter nowadays it is hard for me to get away from entertainment sites tweeting about upcoming releases or interviews with celebrities. For instance, Digital Spy is repeatedly tweeting new stories about the Hunger Games, whether that be the latest posters, cast interviews or a new sneak peek video. Entertainment websites have the ability to easily communicate reaching so many people, so quickly. The rise in smart phone usage means people can check their Facebook or twitter feed whenever they want. Films like the Hunger Games have arguably latched on to this. They have created Facebook groups that have interactive games with just over 254,000 Facebook users on the official page. Their twitter account has as 233, 723 followers, . There are social media apps about the Hunger Games. There are thousands of pins on Pinterest about it. Social Media creates a buzz. A chain reaction, a retweet, a tag, a like, a pin. Ways of spreading the word about a product. There is no doubt that social media is one of the most important ways an organisation interacts with its clients. The image below is a moving poster created for the Hunger Games, the internet and social media allows this quirky idea to be distributed easily, compared to more traditional methods, such as normal advertising posters.

sugarscape.com

The Hunger Games is just one example of a product that has used social media to interact with people. It can reach those who have never previously heard about it. Social media can aid hype of a product, more people want to buy it because everyone is talking about it. The future of Advertising and PR significantly involves Social Media as sites like Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest continue to grow in popularity. Ignoring social media is not an option for a business that wants to succeed?