Cover Love: Pete Hautman's THE OBSIDIAN BLADE

So. I'm a serious sucker for book covers. 

Actually, not just book covers. Album covers and movie posters also tend to do me in.

But today's post is all about book cover love. You see, there's this book I want to read, and this is what it looks like: 

And this is what it's about:

The first time his father disappeared, Tucker Feye had just turned thirteen. The Reverend Feye simply climbed on the roof to fix a shingle, let out a scream, and vanished — only to walk up the driveway an hour later, looking older and worn, with a strange girl named Lahlia in tow. In the months that followed, Tucker watched his father grow distant and his once loving mother slide into madness. But then both of his parents disappear.

Now in the care of his wild Uncle Kosh, Tucker begins to suspect that the disks of shimmering air he keeps seeing — one right on top of the roof — hold the answer to restoring his family. And when he dares to step into one, he's launched on a time-twisting journey — from a small Midwestern town to a futuristic hospital run by digitally augmented healers, from the death of an ancient prophet to a forest at the end of time. Inevitably, Tucker's actions alter the past and future, changing his world forever.

If you'll excuse me, I must go stare at ze pretty cover and rush out to buy The Obsidian Blade, which is in stores now!

Tell me: are you suffering some cover love this week? If so, which ones caught your eye? 

Movie Trailer Monday: LOOPER

Yep, Movie Trailer Mondays are BACK. No. I can't believe it either.

Okay. For today's edition, I'd like to share with y'all the awesomeness that is Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Not only is he super talented and nice to look at, but his character is... well... just see for yourself.

Check out the trailer for Looper, which hits theaters on September 28th!

Now tell me: have you seen any awesome movies lately? Recommendations are always welcome! :D

The Legend Of Korra And CHEMISTRY

So. There's this new show on Nickelodeon called The Legend of Korra. 

I am absolutely in love with it.

You see, I never watched the first Avatar series, which is what paved the way for Korra's story. But since plenty of writers gushed about Korra and how the characters/writing/worldbuilding was flawless, I decided to give it a shot. While I'm in awe of those very things, I'm also drawn to something else: Korra and Mako's chemistry. 

I've already expressed my views on how I prefer romances in books, and believe me, Korra and Mako are moving along at my favorite pace. When these two meet during the second episode, Mako's in his zone, super focused on an upcoming task. Korra, on the other hand, is super excited about discovering a world she's been forbidden to belong to. She's all energy and he's all zen. 

And they don't exactly get along.

BUT the tension between them? Holy bananas. They never cross the line into cruel and spiteful territory, but their back and forth suggests that, eventually, these two will warm up to each other. Sure, they're total opposites, but they have a few things in common. And the more they spend time together, I think those similarities will win out over the differences. 

*crosses fingers*

So there you have it. I have found another thing to fangirl over. As if I needed any more, right?

If you watch The Legend of Korra, what do you think about Korra and Mako's chemistry so far???

(Worldbuilding) Rules Are Meant To Be Broken

HELLO, blogging buddies!! It has been A WHILE since I've been around. *slaps wrist* No worries. This week, I kick off my return to ze blogging world! I'm aiming toward a 3-day a week blogging schedule, so let's see if I stick to it. *crosses fingers*

So. Today, I'm here to talk a bit about a movie I saw last week that ruled. My. World. And it did so by breaking ALL the rules. 

Folks, this movie is brilliant. Yes, it's a horror movie, complete with your cliche characters and frequent  (at times cheap) scares. But WHOA. It's not your average gorefest. The film, co-written and produced by the uber-awesome Joss Whedon (Buffy! Angel! Firefly! Dollhouse!), is so, so clever. You think the premise sounds familiar, and you think you know exactly what's going to happen.

You are wrong.

Why? Cabin In The Woods is that type of movie that's aware of the genre it belongs to. So aware, in fact, that it takes its rules and conventions, then twists them in a way that's never been examined before.  In appropriating the rules and conventions of the horror genre, Cabin In The Woods creates its own rules and conventions, the kind that no other horror movie's ever had, or probably ever will. 

This is why I liken it to writers worried about the next hot trend and whether they should pursue it or not. To me, you can chase after any trend you want, but if you spit out the exact same thing with different character/place names, nothing will come of it. You want to stand out? Snag an agent and editor? Study the rules and conventions of the genre you're writing in, then turn them upside down. Don't just challenge yourself as a writer, challenge the genre as a whole. Push it toward new, uncharted directions. That, to me, is what makes a successful story.

Now tell me: have you seen any movies/read any books that challenged their genre lately??? Recommendations are always welcome! 

Happy Monday :)