Saturday, December 3, 2011

Hipsy's View: Life of Death

Note: This review is also posted on Goodreads.com. It's basically the same review there, but I thought I post it here if any of you didn't have a Goodreads account. If you get a chance to read this book, I hope you enjoy it. You can find it on Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites.


I recently finished a book called Life of Death, and I loved it. I didn't know what to expect at first when I started reading this book. Then I thought I knew what the story was about; I thought it was the story about the life of an immortal. I was right...and wrong. This story is told in two views: the first is the view of a young woman and the other is that of a "fly on the wall". This is mainly a mystery. Usually, I'm not into mysteries, but since I have started writing my own type of mystery, I have started reading others' mysteries. And like many mysteries, this one is full of life, love, pain, anger, sadness, and death. This story could also be considered a thriller, if you read it like that. If what I just said has confused you, I meant to. This story is meant to be in YOUR perspective. What is the time setting of this story? The town setting? The race of the characters? What is the origin itself? The author left that decision to our own imagination, which makes a story always interesting and makes you unable to put it down. I give Life of Death a five star rating.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Hipsy's View: The Silent Comedy

Hey everyone. I know it's been awhile since I've given my opinion on music, and I'm sorry about that. Today, I am going to  treat you with a music/artist review. Now I have a question for you: have any of you seen that recent Dark Souls video game commercial that has the song "Oh, my God, please help me/Knee-deep in the river/I'm trying to get clean"? Well, that song is called "Bartholomew" and it's by a band named the Silent Comedy. This band is on Reverbnation, and they are becoming quite a popular band. Their genres are Folk, Alternative Country, and Rock. Another song of the band I like is called "Bones". When I heard "Bartholomew", it reminded me a little bit of the 1960s rock band Steppenwolf. 
The Silent Comedy is a great band. The band members are J. John, J. Benjamin, J. Michael, T. Brian, and A. David. The band originates from San Diego, CA. They also consider their music to be in the genre of terror-folk (which is a new term for me; I've never heard of it before). My personal favorite songs from them are "Bartholomew", "Bones", and "Poison". I would recommend their band to anyone, and am doing so through this blog.


If you would like to hear some of their music, you can either visit their Reverbnation page (http://www.reverbnation.com/thesilentcomedy), their home web page (http://www.thesilentcomedy.com/) or just view the video below. I hope you enjoy this band as much as I do. Until next time, keep an eye out for my blogs. 
Signing out, Sky aka Hipsy

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Hipsy's View: Water for Elephants

The circus has just came into town, literally. Everyone in the nursing home is excited and cannot wait to go there with their families. Jacob Jankowski is extremely excited to go and see how much the show's changed since he was in two when he was a young man. As he waits for his family to come for him to take him to the show, he flashes back to the unplanned event that set him on the track of entering the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show On Earth.

I finished this great book three months ago. Most of you have heard of it, especially since it is a major motion picture now. It's Water for Elephants by the author Sara Gruen. I couldn't put it down. After reading it, I watched the movie. Both are quite entertaining. In my opinion of the movie, it was a bit cleaner than the book (I think this may be mainly because there would be -and will be- younger audiences watching this movie "about a circus!"), some things that weren't added should have been, and I think Robert Pattinson was perfect for the part of Jacob. And who couldn't love Rose, both in the movie and the book! I would have to say this is truly the first adult audience book I've read. What I mean is that people younger than me, of course, may have read it, but this novel is an adult book (21+). But I can't complain since enjoyed it so much. So, all my adult (and sometimes almost mature) viewers, if you want a book to read before watching the movie, I recommend Water for Elephants to you. Until again, keep reading, listening to music, watching movies, and checking my blog. You just find your next form of entertainment from me.

Hipsy's View: Calling All Twilight Fanatics, Do You Have Your Official Guide?

Judging by the title of this blog, you can - more than likely - tell I'm a Twilight Saga fan. No I'm not obsessed with Twilight so much that I buy every item involving the saga (I mean, come on, who would buy disposable razors because they're named Bella, "inspired by the character"? That's ridiculous.). But I do have a few things (some shirts, jewelry, and books, but those appeal to me). I didn't get the graphic novels or the journals, but I got five books, including the one I am about to talk about.

I know that Stephenie Meyer's The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide came out in like May or April this year (it was on the 13th of one of the months), but I didn't have capabilities to get it then (no money or transportation, and the local library didn't have it yet). So I got it today. Now I didn't read all of it yet, but I can tell you, if you like Twilight, you'll like this "guide". It states a lot of character histories, including that of the Wolves, the Volturi, and other vampire clans. Plus, it's got other cool things such as popular quotes from the books, fan art, reasons for inspiration, and an interview with the author.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Hipsy's View: More Reverbnation Artists

I'm sorry that I have not been posting lately everyone, but I have been very busy finishing things prior to the end of school. Fortunately today, I got a chance to get onto my Reverbnation account and listen to some artists, Are you ready to hear my review on some them? Here we go!

The first I will mention is a band from Glasgow, Scotland called the Skunnered. Their genres are Country and Folk. Now I am a music lover, we all know that, and some of my favorite songs are traditional and true folk songs. As I was listening to Skunnered I was reminded of the Gaelic music - and even some Old Mountain Music - that I love to death. They also reminded me of some of recent bands (to the states, that is) Mumford & Sons and Gaelic Storm. If these are some bands that you like to listen to, I would definitely recommend you take a listen to Skunnered.

The second artist I recommend is Aoede. She is a singer/songwriter from San Francisco, California and her genres of music are Indie Rock, Pop, and - in my opinion - Folk. I would describe her music as a mixture of Fiest, A Fine Frenzy, Sia, and Zooey Deschanel. If you like these lovely ladies' voices, I'd say go ahead and listen to Aoede.

The final band I'd like to mention is from Sao Paulo, Brazil, and is called Sintetico Ministerio. It said in the band's biography that their Electronic/Industrial/Pop/Alternative music was inspired by a lot of 80s and 90s music. And I would have to agree. As I listened to the lyrics, I compared the lead vocalist to the Eurythmics singer Annie Little. I also felt as though I could compare the songs to more modern artists such as D.H.T. and Cascada. Two main songs that kept coming to my head when listening to this band were The Mummers' Dance by Loreena McKennitt and Teardrop by Massive Attack. If you like International and Electronic music, I'd say check out this band.

The following links are to the artists/bands' songs I would recommend you to hear. Enjoy!

Friday, March 11, 2011

Hipsy's View: Benjamin Button

*WARNING: SPOILER ALERT!!!!!! If you have not read this story, I advice you not to read this blog, due to that it contains some spoilers. If you do not mind being told parts of the stories, then please read this review and comment.*

Today, I read a story where I first laughed, and by the end of it I cried. Some may think that strange to do, but this is the second book I have read from F. Scott Fitzgerald, and had the similar feeling towards the end of a story. For the first time, I have read The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and I pity the character Benjamin. In the beginning, the story seems like a comedy; it's funny to see how a child is born a fully grown, elderly man, and can speak as though he has been talking for sixty years. I could even imagine his bridle, old legs sticking out of a baby carriage. But as the story progresses, I feel sorry for poor Benjamin because instead of enjoying the things we should as we age, such as becoming a parent and being successful in business --and in Benjamin's case, war-- those things start to slip away. They don't slip away because of old age and the loss of memory, but because things like that do not matter to little boys. And instead of dying knowing he has loved ones among him, it became "all dark" and everything "faded out altogether from his mind." Now usually I cry when a character dies in a movie or a good story, but I felt sad for Benjamin. Life was unusual for him, like it is for everyone, but to go through it backwards I think would be horrible. It would be unfair to go through life in an unusual order and not know what you could have, and did accomplished when you were on this earth in the end.

I liked this story, but I feel sad to think of a character who had to live a life backwards and not join us in the things we all must -- or have already have -- experience in the beginning, in the middle, and near the end of our own stories.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Hipsy's View: Panic!'s Mona Lisa

Like most of didn't already know this (being sarcastic people), but those of us that are Panic! at the Disco fans know that on February 1, 2011, the band's new music video came out. Literally, I have listened to and watched  The Ballad of Mona Lisa more than 30 times. This is the first song is on Panic!'s new album Vices & Virtues, due to come out March 22, 2011; that's only 16 days from now!!!!!!!!! So everyone get ready to scream for your favorite band. I personally can't wait to get the CD. Anyways, this has to be one of my favorite songs from Panic! and the music video is great too. There's definitely a thumbs up from me! :)
That's all I really had to say, so until next time, I hope you all enjoy my views. And I love to ready your comments. If you haven't all ready seen the music video, just watch it below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOgpdp3

Monday, January 10, 2011

Hipsy's View: Matched

Well, today's the day I give you my very first review on a book I have read during my leisure time. I couldn't put it down, and though I had to begin classes today, I finished reading it within four days (which is like a record for me). So all of those of you that enjoyed Stephenie Meyer's The Host, I would certainly recommend that you read Ally Condie's Matched. Condie plans to write two more sequels to this novel, completing a trilogy by the end on 2012 (the second is rumored to be released November 2011, and the third on November 2012). As an avid reader myself, I must tell you, this book was GREAT!!!!!!!! 

Growing up, I was always told two things about books:  One, never judge a book by it's cover, and two, never read the ending of book because you'll ruin the story and not be interested in it. Well, this may come as no surprise, but I usually break those two rules. It's habit for someone to judge a book by it's cover, plus I find it helpful to do so (last time I judged a book by it's cover and tried to read it, I couldn't finish the book because the judgment I made was right; it was dull and not interesting, just like it's cover). Also, I find that reading the ending of a story to be helpful, because after reading a small piece of the ending, I want to know more of how the story or novel came to that ending, and who are some of the characters that are referred to. Well, as usual, I judged Matched by it's cover. 

I found it interesting, seeing a girl in a green dress trapped in a bubble. It made me wonder what it could be about. I heard a little about it, and I thought it could be a good read whenever I could get a chance to go to the library. Then, luckily for me, I went to a bookstore near the laundromat I was at on Thursday. I was searching for a different series I have been badly wanting to read again. After picking up a classic book I once read when I was younger (A Wrinkle In Time), the bookstore owner pointed out Ally Condie's novel to me; it was the last copy on the bookshelf. I was intrigued to pick it up and read it right away. I thought to myself, I may after all be able to read this novel before school began again (and I did). As I got back to the laundromat, I started to read the book (surprisingly, I didn't read the ending this time, which is a good thing for this story). But I had to reluctantly, put it down. The next day though, I was able to enjoy the story, which I think many of you will as well.

The story is about 17-year-old Cassia Reyes, who lives in the Oria Province, in the near future. The province and many others are under control by the Society. The Society has helped perfect the world as we know it and everything is done for the greater good. The Society also tells people who they must love, where they must live and work, and when they must die. When the time came for Cassia to be matched with her future "husband", she was matched with her best friend Xander. Both were given a microcard, explaining to them about their match. Since Cassia and Xander grew up together, they knew much about each other all ready. But the day after they are matched, Cassia looks at the microcard, meaning to see Xander's face and maybe learn something she may not know about him yet. But instead of seeing Xander, she sees another boy from her childhood past; his name is Ky. Was she matched correctly, or did the Society match her with wrong person?

This is another perfect story for all those who are not much into science fiction. Plus, as the reader, I was able to connect with Cassia and her story. She starts off doing everything that the Society says is right, and then she starts to think for herself and wonders if everything the Society says or does is best for anyone. Why can't we choose for ourselves? Why can't we love those we want to love? Why can't we die on our own terms? Everything Cassia felt, I felt. Like many readers, I was no longer myself; I was Cassia Reyes. But if you truly want to know more about the story, you're going to have to go to the library or buy the novel, and read the story. If I was a certified and paid critic, I would give Condie's Matched five stars and perhaps a "Book of the Year" award. So go check it out. If you want to know more about the novel, go to it's website at http://www.matched-book.com/

*Note: the picture above is the cover of the novel, but I added the words on the bottom of the picture. I have no copyrights to the picture or verse below the picture; those belong to the owners.

The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe Reading 2022

Hello everyone! I have not forgotten this blog; I have a legit reason for not posting in such a long time. Since my last post, my job as an ...