In the Twilight Zone

I still can't get my head out of the Twilight zone and it's not even a really good movie (as stated in my review). I guess it all boils down to reading Midnight Sun first and filling in Edward's thoughts all throughout the movie (swoon). It's not even the actors that did the trick and I mean it!

I just keep picturing myself as Bella (minus the straight hair and FYI I used to have curly hair) and P as Edward! Yeah, I'm just weird this way which is why I love reading books better. I am more for imagination and sometimes usually most of the time I always go of into lala land and think of myself as the heroine of every book that I read. In the case of Harry Potter, I imagine myself as Hermione. I mean, I'm not THAT mental and imagine myself as the boy who lived!

So anyway, back to Twilight, I still can't shake my obsession of this golden eyed vampire and his romance with a human. I kind of thought about it as my TRUE story though. Minus the vampire part, I mean. I could simply place all the obstacles that where in P and my way when instead of vampire and there you have it: drama, drama, drama. I can't shake the parallelism with him being older and me being younger (hekhekhek) with an us against the world phase. Hmmmmm....

Well, so much for that. What I'm saying is that reading does play a part of who I am and what I have become. It saddens me to think that only a few kids these days love to read. I used to remember how much I loved Library Day when I was in grade school; I used to look forward to it every week with book for borrowing in tow. I used to gravitate toward Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, that sort of thing but I somehow outgrew them (not that they aren't good) and have started to explore a lot of different genres. From sci-fi to romance to young adults and even fairy tales, you name it, I have probably tried reading them.

In as much as I would have loved to read every book on sight, I do have my preferences. Unfortunately, and many of you would disagree with me, I don't enjoy spy, espionage, and the like. I know the books are better but I think I'll stick with the movie versions and skip the technical stuff...hehehehe.

I did my time in sci-fi reading Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park, The Lost World, Sphere, The Andromeda Strain, and Timeline. I enjoyed them inspite of the "technical" stuff (and the books where better than the movie).

Ahhh.....books...don't you just love the smell of the really old "yellowed" ones? I know I do! hahahaha Keep on reading, people!

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What's in your Booklist?

I am currently beside myself in downloading E-books for reading. However, I still cannot restrain myself from buying old school paperbacks! It's really different reading from your lappy or personal computer and reading in your own nook and cranny curled up with a new book. So even with the advent of newer technologies, I still stick to the real thing! Of course I have E-books lined up and I enjoyed reading some of them but it is just not the same!

My favorite E-book format is the .lit format which opens in the Microsoft Reader program. I don't play it, by the way, because the robotic voice drives me nuts! Not to mention the atrocious pronunciation of some words!
I'm already straying from the topic at hand (the blabbermouth)! Unfortunately, I am not buying new books this time. I know I cannot bring my whole library and ship it back to the US so it's staying right here. Good thing I have E-books. Ah! I'm straying again! Anyway, I am revisiting the world of wizardry and magic that J.K. Rowling created. I am currently re-reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I know, I know, more tears for Dumbledore's death! I am enjoying this book again and I must say I am also looking forward to the movie. However, I still believe that the first two Harry Potter films were the best adaptations to date. Oh, that doesn't mean to say that I love the movies more the the books. Nope. Books are so much better than on-screen adaptations. Well, it is for me, as I can lose myself in my own imaginings and let my imagination run away with me.

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Dumbledore? GAY?!

J.K. Rowling Outs Dumbledore

by Natalie Finn

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 09:17:51 PM PDT

Albus Dumbledore took quite a few secrets with him to the grave. And it's possible that even he didn't know about this one.
After helping Dumbledore's favorite pupil uncover a treasure trove of information about the Hogwarts headmaster in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the final installment of her billion-dollar fantasy series, J.K. Rowling has pulled something new out of the pensieve:
Dumbledore was gay.
(What you just heard was the sound of conservative religious groups scribbling down one more reason to loathe the Harry Potter franchise.)
"Falling in love can blind us to an extent," Rowling explained Friday in front of a packed house at New York's Carnegie Hall, where she capped off her first U.S. book tour since 2000.
Which explains why the brilliant wizard was briefly blinded as a young man by the charm and skill of Gellert Grindelwald, his companion turned archnemesis who turned out to be more interested in the Dark Arts than a three-bedroom craftsman in Hogsmeade.
After Dumbledore was "horribly, terribly let down," Rowling explained, he went on to destroy Grindelwald in what is considered in the wizarding world to have been the ultimate wand-toting battle between good and evil.
That love, she said to raucous applause, was Dumbledore's "great tragedy."
"If I had know this would have made you so happy, I would have told you years ago," Rowling said.
If this revelation seems almost too whimsical, consider this: Rowling, who penned much of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in a café while living out of her car, can certainly be a bit cheeky, but it seems highly unlikely that she would try to put one over on a Manhattan landmark full of kids and other readers who have made her one of the richest people in England.
While working on the sixth Potter film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which focuses largely on Dumbledore and Harry's relationship, as well as the elder wizard's interaction with a young Voldemort, Rowling said that she slipped director David Yates an eye-opening note after noticing that there was a reference in the script to a girl in Dumbledore's past.
There's no word yet on if this will affect Michael Gambon's character in the final two Potter movies, which are slated for release in 2008 and 2010, respectively.
Dumbledore's sexuality has apparently been of great interest to bloggers and chat room denizens for years, with his history—and intimate affinities—becoming the subject of much debate and, ahem, original short stories.
"Just imagine the fan fiction now," Rowling joked.
Of course, one could always have shrugged off the lack of romance in his life, what with his hectic work schedule and his penchant for secrecy.
And, as the scarred one learned in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Dumbledore could be quite temperamental, especially when protecting those he loved.

Source: E-online

Now, this is just like BARRY TROTTER!

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The Order of the Phoenix

Damned second rate theaters! With theater seats in the brink of destruction, you just can't beat it! Damned second rate theaters (oh, wait! I said it again!) I miss the theaters in NoHo! The comfort, the ease - totally incomparable! And you know what I REALLY, REALLY HATE? It's those people who bring their own flashlights to find vacant seats! Why? It's because they are so damned inconsiderate that they just flash the light anywhere and they don't consider the people already sitting and watching the film. They don't seem to realize that the light is so bright that it just hurts the eyes! Damned people! Ha! So here I am again, ranting and raving about things that I can't change! It's just that these people have no manners whatsoever! Anyway, despite the (should I say it again?) damned second rate theaters, I actually watched the full length film, Harry Potter ans the Order of the Phoenix and I really have some things to say about the film.

I was really amazed with the cool effects during the fight scene at the ministry BUT! I really hated the whole storyline! There was no CLIMAX at all and I think the fight sequence lacked correct choreography! It is no doubt that the HP movies closer to the book are the 1st and the 2nd one. This movie was really a disappointment. There were certain elements of the book that where left out of the movie. And I would think that those who haven't read the Harry Potter series wouldn't understand what the movie was all about. A FREAKIN' DISAPPOINTMENT, I tell you! I hope the next installment would be better!

For more info check out the official Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix website.

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The Deathly Hallows

24 hours and a lot of distractions later and the final book is over! I've read it all! Ohhhh, I was practically like a kid on Christmas morning, salivating over the bundles of gifts under the tree just for me! I just can't believe that it's finally over! I never expected some of the things that took place in the book, although I guessed some parts of it right.

Thank God I never listened to all those false rumors circulating through text messages and through the internet! All of those where all wrong!
In this final chapter of Harry, Hermione, and Ron's life, everything has been explained and finally, my questions have been answered! Where did Snape's loyalties lie? Why did he kill Dumbledore? Who is RAB? Did Ron die? Hermione? Harry? (Well! These where the rumors...one of the 3 died...oh well!) Who else will die? What were the reamaining Horcruxes? If Harry lives, will Ginny and Him get back together? Will Ron and Hermione get together? Yes I'm going to answer all these questions! hahahaha SPOILER ALERT! So for those of you who would rather not read further than I suggest you quickly click the close button or click the back button because I'm about to spill the beans! I just can't take this anymore! I'm bursting with the news! So here goes! Remember for those of you who haven't read the book yet you have been given enough warning. SPOILER ahead!

Where did Snape's loyalties lie?
As a matter of fact, Severus Snape was Dumbledore's man! He was indeed spying for Dumbledore and even giving the Drak Lord information about the Order's plans at Dumbledore's request. This is partly because Severus was neighbor's with Lily Evan's long before they ever went to Hogwarts! In fact, it was hinted that they were best of friends! This was revealed when Harry went into Snape's pensieve after Snape was killed by Lord Voldemort and saw bits and pieces of Snape's life. The phrase, "You have you're mother's eyes," really important because this is what made Snape Dumbledore's man. Since Snape was really in love with Lily, now Lily Potter, he begged the Dark Lord that he would not want Lily to be hurt or killed when Voldemort would attack the Potters. Yes, Snape did loathe James but he loved Lily. In another memory, it was revealed that Snape pleaded with Dumbledore to save Lily Potter. Since James trusted Wormtail (Peter Petigrew), their secret keeper, Voldemort was able to penetrate the defenses at Godric's Hallow and kill the Potters, except Harry, of course. Since they died, Dumbledore made a bargain with Snape that they would protect Harry because of what Lily did - she died trying to save Harry. Dumbledore also let slip that Harry has "his mother's eyes" which, for me, cinched the deal for me. It was also later revealed, via the pensieve, that Snape was actually getting to be fond of Harry, although he kept seeing bits of James in Harry and his hate resurfaced. Snape died in the Shrieking Shack, killed by Voldemort with Harry under the invisibility cloak a witness to his death. When Voldemort departed the shack soon after, Harry approached Snape and his last words where "look at me." I believe Snape was seeing Lily again, through Harry's eyes.

Why did he (Snape) kill Dumbledore?
This was because of Dumbledore's orders! How amazing is that?! In the Half Blood Prince, Dumbledore was begging Snape and calling out "Severus..." in a weak voice because it meant that it was time for Snape to do his job and kill him. It was revealed again through the pensieve that Dumbledore only had about a year left to live because of what happened whan he destroyed the Gaunt ring, Voldemort's Horcrux. It was at this time that Dumbledore realized that the ring was indeed a Resurection Stone, one of the Deathly Hallows. This stone would enable the dead to live again but not as a complete human or a ghost. It was described that they would be more or less like Inferi but not evil, depending on the bearer of the stone. This book revealed the hidden life of Albus Dumbledore and what he was before he became the greatest wizard. In fact, Dumbledore was friends with the evil wizard Grindelwald who he defeated (as stated in the chocolate frog card). It was during this time, after Dumbledore's mother Kendra died that he met Grindelwald (he was Bathilda Bogshot's nephew) in Dumbledore's hometown Godric's Hallow (eh? Harry lived there, too!). Because they were both exceptional wizards and around the same age, so they became fast friends. It was at this point in Dumbledore's life that they sought out the Deahtly Hallows, the three objects that would conquer Death itself. These object where the Invisibility Cloak (Harry's!), the Resurection Stone (Marvolo Gaunt), and the Elder Wand (Dumbledore's own wand after he defeated Grindelwald). Aberforth, Albus' brother was also mentioned (he is the bar keeper at Hog's Head) because he saved Harry's life two times! Albus and Aberforth's life as brothers were also revealed (in Rita Skeeter's biography of Dumbledore which was surprisingly true). Dumbledore's sister Ariana was also mentioned because she became quite mad when Muggles attacked her when she was still a child and performed magic unknowingly. This was also the reason why Albus's father got sent to Azkaban where he later died, because he killed the 3 Muggle boys who terrorized his daughter. I mentioned this because his sister is precisely why Dumbledore refused to become Minister of Magic, and why Dumbledore died. Dumbledore confided to Harry (this was when Harry was hit by Voldemort before the final battle began) that he blamed himself for Ariana's death. He wasn't sure which of them killed her (Grindelwald, Aberforth, and Albus where involved in a duel). It was at this point that Dumbledore realized that he was not the person to have authority or power because he himself craved power. This was also why he died - because he wore the Gaunt ring, Voldemorts Horcrux, which was also the Resurection Stone. I think he wore it because of guilt. He wanted to say he was sorry to his parents and his sister about what happened. He blamed himself for their deaths. The story was sketchy after that but it was revealed that Snape treated Dumbledore and told him that the curse was very powerful and would grow more powerful as time went buy until it would consume him. So basically, Dumbledore signed his own death warant. Dumbledore ordered Snape to kill him (as what happened in Book 6) when the time was right for him to die. This was also precisely why Dumbledore taught Harry about the Horcruxes.

Who is R.A.B.?
R.A.B. is in fact Regulus Arcturus Black! Serius' own brother, the Death Eater! It was revealed that after joining the Death Eater's he regretted his decision and decided to fool Voldemort! It was then decided that he would volunteer his house elf, Kreacher as ginea pig to Voldemort's Horcrux, the one in the middle of the lake. It was Kreacher who drank the liquid before Voldemort placed the necklace inside and left Kreacher there. Since Regulus knew about this, he summoned his elf back and hatched a plan to steal the Horcrux and destroy it. As explained by Dumbledore, Voldemort never realized that an elf could escape his defenses since he never thought about those beneath him which was a wrong move on Voldemort's part. Anyway, Regulus went back into the cave with Kreacher and drank the poison, asked Kreacher to take the necklace and then replace it with a fake one with a note that he took it (see Book 6). He ordered Kreacher to destroy it and leave him there to die. Of course the Horcux cannot be destroyed by anything except those rare and magical stuff (ha! I forgot what they where! I can only remember that a Basilisk Venom and Godric Griffyndoor's sword could destroy it). Anyway, the locket wasn't destroyed and was stolen by Mandungus and was bought by Umbridge!

Will Rone, Hermione, Harry die?
No of course not! And I don't need to elaborate on that! Although, they never went back to school and they were part of Dumbledore's will. Harry got a snitch, Ron got a Deluminator, and Hermione got a book of Children's Stories. All these will prove crucial and relevant to the defeat of Voldemort and the recovery of the Deathly Hallows.

Who else will die?
I'll just list down all the characters mentioned in the previous books. There where deaths of new characters but I'll just concentrate on the old ones.
Hedwig, Harry's bird, died when he was leaving Number 4 Privet Drive
Alastor "Mad-eye" Moody
Dobby the house elf
Tonks
Remus Lupin
Colin Creevy
Fred Weasley

What where the remaining Horcuxes?
The first of the Horcruxes where the Diary, the Gaunt ring, the necklacem and Nagini the snake. All of these were mentioned in the previos books.
The 5th Horcrux was Hufflepuff's cup which was locked inside the Lestrange's vault at Gringott's where Harry, Ron, and Hermione stole it.
The 6th Horcux was Ravenclaw's Tiara hidden at Hogwarts in the Room of Requirement.
The 7th and final Horcrux is Harry! It was during the fight at Godric's Hallow that a part of Voldemort's soul attached to Harry. This was the reason why Harry could see into the thoughts of Voldemort (this has been happening quite frequently in this book but this was also to Harry's advantage). the Horcrux Harry was defeated when he submitted himself to Voldemort and was killed! But there was a flaw! Harry wasn't killed at all! It was Voldemort's soul that was in Harry that was destroyed! As revealed in Book 4 (The Goblet of Fire), Voldemort took Harry's blood. He didn't know that Harry was still protected by his mother. Remember, Lily gave her life for Harry and Harry's blood was already inside Voldemort. He didn't realize this because he didn't understand love. When Harry gave himself up to Voldemort and submitted himself to be killed so that no one else would die on his behalf, he also did what his mother did. He protected all the poeople at Hogwarts. Again, Harry didn't die because it was Voldemort's soul that was destroyed because Voldemort still coundn't kill Harry because Harry's blood was inside Voldemort's.

If Harry lives, will Ginny and Harry get back together? Will Ron and Hermione get together?
Actually, the Epilogue happened 19 years later. Harry indeed married Ginny and they had three kids. The eldest is named James. The second is named Albus Severus (he also had Lily's eyes!). The youngest is named Lily. Ron and Hermione also got married and had two kids: Rose and Hugo. It was also during the war that Remus and Tonks gave birth to a son Teddy. Even though they died, they still left a son with Harry being the Godfather!

Okay! that's it! For now! I still need time to digest what I just read plus I still have to make NCPs and FHPs and prepare for our SHT tomorrow! Whew! What a life! Oh well....as Albus said.... FOR THE GREATER GOOD....

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Tornado of Souls

Hmmm my Harry Potter clock has gone haywire (see above)! Please spare me the details because Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is already out! Now this is a time where I hate, hate, hate my small and sometimes insignificant? town of Dumzville! Just think! We're ages behind in premiere's plus our theaters really suck, BIG TIME! But whatever! I just want to see the movie. I just can't wait!

Anywhoo, National Bookstore just opened a mere onth ago and get this, I already reserved my HP7! Whew! What a relief! This beats having to wait about 2 months for a copy from Barnes and Noble! Okay okay, so I'm a 23 year old who still reads kids books but hey, it's not just me! It's just that this Harry Potter phenomenon has taken the world by storm and it seems that I've been carried along with it. Oh well, that's life I guess....just living it as I see fit...

I also got a copy of Barry Trotter and the Unnecessary Sequel by Michael Gerber last week but I haven't even started reading yet. The only thing I would spill is that Barry and Ermine are married (Okay fine! I bought the wrong book! I should've bought Barry Trotter and the Shameless Parody, but it's already marked in stone..errmmm it's a you break it you buy it thing...)! Hahahaha get the analogy peeps? All you H heart H fans out there should read this parody because it has already been established that H heart R are going to be together... hrrrmmmm I already saw the sparks fly between those two since book one (oh, and I don't mean Harry and Ron! Hahahaha)

So it's 5 days for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows!

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Barry Trotter and the Shameless Parody

Now, you guys know how I love Harry Potter....and so while I was avoiding the Level IV Assembly last Monday (I really HATE these assemblies! They are totally a waste of my time AND energy), I stumbled upon an amazing find! It's this little book called Barry Trotter and the Shameless Parody by Michael Berger. Ha! That's what playing hooky will do to you - you find extremely useless, but I believe, priceless finds! And this one is no exception.

Since everyone is so familiar with J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, I'd like to tell you a little more about Barry Trotter. Barry Trotter is a parody of the popular Harry Potter series that I mentioned before. This really caught my eye because of the name Barry Trotter. I picked up the book, since it almost looked like Harry Potter and started reading the synopsis which really captivated my interrest. Since I am also a fan of parodies (I really enjoy reading the Mad Magazine, watching shows like Mad TV, Saturday Night Live, and other comedy series on TV), I immediately searched the web (how convenient, I love the world wide web!) and found the website for Barry Trotter. There have already been three books published in this series and I intend to get a box set for the price of three (nice one Mike Gerber!) Hehehehe just visit the website and see for yourself. I already enjoyed reading the first chapter and I am looking forwards to purchasing the book and finish reading it.

For more info, Barry Trotter's website is http://www.barrytrotter.com

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