Book to Film Adaptations are the WORST

In recent years, there has been a trend of literally every book being converted into a movie or TV series or Netfliz drama. While this provides exposure to the dying art of literature, it also takes away from the essence of writing itself.

There was a time when Dickens and Austen would write without inhibitions. All they had was this need for their work to be recognised and their emotions to be expressed through their art. To be fair. film as a medium did not exist at such a large scale in those times.

But ever since authors have realised that they can gain so much more exposure by reaching an audience through screen don’t we think that books, in recent times, are being written so they can easily convert into a screenplay?

There are novels whose complexity in monologue and emotion could never be translated into film such as The Catcher in the Rye and yet when you read a novel written from say 2011 onwards there is this element of shallowness which makes you wonder why it was written in the first place.

Don’t get me wrong, there have been some brilliant adaptations recently which have surpassed the book itself. I’m just concerned the book industry has become one big commercial film-turning factory.

Does any one else have these concerns?

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Haunting of Hill House ; Book Review

After the huge success of the Netflix adaptation of this novel, it was inevitable that I had to read the book. Let’s get things straight, the show takes mere inspiration from the book and the two are completely different.  Bottom line, I prefer the show but this is about the novel.

Haunting of Hill House- the novel entails a sappy tale about a lonely thirty something female who has mommy issues and uses the horrors of Hill house as an escapade from her real problems. Now you can either choose to look at it that way or you can view the novel as a classic take on a haunted house.

It is obvious that the author never meant for the horrors of hill house such as the creepy shadows and the lingering touches of the dead to be the REAL horrors. No, you see, the actual horror is in the minds of the people inhabiting Hill house and the way they recklessly treat each other.

As the novel is written from Eleanor’s pov, she does quite a shallow job of painting the other characters. I mean, according to her they don’t have a past or warranted emotions aside from those that revolve around her. I would’ve preferred the novel to be from different points of views.

Don’t get me wrong, I had goose bumps multiple times reading the book but mostly it felt like i was waiting for something to happen but it never did. Even the ending felt a little anti-climatic.

I much prefer the depth that the show provides with its psychological traumas but if you’re looking for a classic haunted house read to give you a few chills- Hill House is the one folks.

10 Ways To Not Give A Fuck

Happy 2019 to you all!

I recently read The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck and decided to share some gems of wisdom that might benefit us all going into the New Year. Enjoy!

1. A positive experience is a negative experience but accepting a negative experience is a positive experience: what this is trying to say is that we need to view unpleasant circumstances as a time of growth and to welcome them with open arms
2. Pain serves a purpose and is part of the process
3. Happiness requires struggle
4. Good values are:
   1. reality based
   2. socially constructive
   3. immediate
   4. controllable
5. Bad values are:
   1. superstitious
   2. socially destructive
   3. not immediate
   4. not controllable
6. The human mind is a jumble of inaccuracy
7. The more something threatens your identity, the more you will avoid it
8. Define yourself in the most simple and ordinary way possible
9. Improvement is based on tiny failures
10. growth generates happiness

While these are not my own words, I have found them very valuable in realigning my priorities in life and learning to accept things rather than fight them.

I hope these help you as well and I would strongly encourage everyone to go read the book

LAW SCHOOL; HOW I STUDY

It has been a hot minute since I posted anything

Life keeps getting in the way and the next thing you know, blogging is not even a priority anymore

But no worries, I have found my zeal again and hope to come out with content that focuses on wellbeing.

Since the only things I read these days are textbooks, I thought it might be valuable to share some study techniques and who knows it might help you get your life in order

Break it down 

A one thousand word essay always seems intimidating until you break it down. It’s actually proven that your brain is more productive when it can focus on one tiny little task rather than a mountain of work.

So, when it comes to studying I have a three-step method that I repeat every single week for all my units to maximise my learning.

Readings

I’ve realised I am very much a person who learns by reading rather than listening. So I make it a point to at least skim over the textbook every single week.

A more in depth reading involves summarising important information

How I further break down my readings is by doing say twenty pages every day rather than burdening myself with the task of reading a hundred pages. See once you break it down, it’s all G

Lectures 

To be perfectly honest, I am not an audio learner at all. About ten minutes in and I’m day dreaming or staring at some cute boy.

One of the things I’ve found helps me with retaining focus in lectures is by putting my phone in my bag so that distraction is out the way and by handwriting. Now I wanna do a whole post on handwriting but just know that by forcing myself to learn, I actually learn.

Write up 

At the end of each week, once I’ve done my readings and attended my lectures I take the time to go over what I’ve learnt. Studies show that by periodically revisiting what you’ve already learnt, your brain tends to remember that information better.

I like to create summary notes on Word or OneNote

In summary, my study technique basically involves exposing myself to the same information over and over again so it sticks in my brain

The point I’m trying to get across is that by breaking things down life is that much simpler

Book Review | Esme’s Wish

When fifteen-year-old Esme Silver sets out to search for her missing mother, Ariane, she is transported to the alternate realm of Aeolia: a world enchanted by the gods and steeped with myth and magic. With her newfound friends, Daniel and Lillian, Esme retraces her mother’s steps in the glittering canal city of Esperance, untangling the threads of Ariane’s double life. But the more Esme discovers about her mother, the more she questions whether she really knew her at all. 

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Having always been a fan of fantasy novels, I was excited to delve into this one. The book shows hints of Rick Riordan’s writing style with the world building techniques of George R R Martin

The word building would definitely have to be my favourite aspect. Everything from the beaches to the architecture is described in such precise detail.The author has blended real world locations such as Venice and Ireland and added fantastical elements to create this new world of Esperance. I find that with so many fantasy novels already out in the market it can be difficult to build a unique setting for your novel.

The plot was slow going at times but there was always an underlying mystery and intrigue that made you want to continue reading. It was set out in a logical sequence which meant that readers won’t get lost and won’t get too confused with the new vocabulary. I wouldn’t say the story line was predictable as you were discovering this new world with the protagonist so you had no idea what was coming next

In terms of the characters I found the character building to be quite interesting regarding the Gifts that each characters might possess and all the mythical creatures. I found it kind of a refresher that there was no direct romance in the novel as it becomes quite commonplace and cliche. The dialogue made sense. One thing that I really liked was how the author weaved the art form of painting into the novel, I don’t often read texts where there is such an appreciation of drawing and painting.

Overall, a very good read and I look forward to the upcoming novel Esme’s Gift in 2019!

20 Things I Want To Do In My 20s

Turning 20 was one of the most liberating experiences. I feel like my life has just started and this era will give me more freedom to explore my identity and my passions more so than my teenage years did. So here is my bucket list for things I wish to accomplish in my 20s

1. Travel to at least 50 countries
2. Get my law degree and become a barrister
3. continue to grow spiritually
4. Find time for charity work no matter how busy life gets
5. Have my voice heard on a mater I care about (gender equality, racism etc)
6. Find love
7. Make every person I come across feel valued
8. Not abandon this blog
9. Find a “real” job
10. Finish reading the top 100 books of all time
11. Own a house or a car
12. Do something erratic that I would never do like skydive
13. Visit the seven wonders of the world
14. Learn more about Indian history and culture to grow my identity
15. Help build a school or an orphanage
16. Get a Masters or a PhD in something
17. Stop buying so many clothes
18. Have my own personal collection of recipes that I can pass down to my children
19. Learn to be more patient and less judgmental
20. Do a cross country road trip

Okay this list was harder than I thought but what are some of your bucket list items?

A Very Aussie Skincare Haul

I just wanted an excuse to show you what I got from Kangaroo Island. You can read all abut my trip here but other than that here are some purchase ideas

Lavender Shower Gel

I visited a lavender farm and learnt about all the amazing things lavender can do for your skin so of course I wanna come out of the shower smelling good. The product is handmade from locally sourced lavender

Honey Lip Balm

So I visited a honey farm and honey is one of those things that is good for every part of your body like as a food, as soaps, as a foot scrub. But I just wanted a nice lip balm for these cold winter months

Earthy Body Lotion

Not gonna lie I stole this from the hotel’s skincare line. It smells like crushed leaves and I just could not resist

Miraculous Emu Oil

So we visited a eucalyptus distillery and the lady was saying how this oil can be used a natural parabin free mosituriser in the morning. I tried a bit in the store and it smells like nothing but it leaves your skin feeling so nourished

Stolen Facial Bar

Again this was in the hotel product range and the idea of a hydrating facial bar which smells like crushed leaves just gets me okay

Those are all the things I spent my money on. I haven’t tried any but they all look so promising

Your One Stop Guide To Kangaroo Island

Kangaroo Island is an island off the southern coast of South Australia. It’s a beautiful place to wind down and take in nature at its best. Here are some thing I got up to and would recommend if you ever visit!

Stay at a local motel

We stayed at the Kingscote motel which was your typical bed and breakfast. It was a one minute walk away from the seaside which was my favourite

Visit a honey farm

The island has locally produced pure honey which is worth a try at least. Visit a locally owned farm to find out how honey is made and stock up on honey products

Go seal-watching

Seal Bay conservation park is dedicated to protecting the declining population of seals so this place is worth the visit if you’re a wildlife freak. It also has some stunning views

Eat some oysters

Seafood is a delicacy on the island. Indulge in some freshly caught fish at a local fish and chip shop or if you’re extra like me visit the Oyster Farm Shop to satisfy your oyster cravings

Adjoining the farm is also the American River which offers serene riverside walks and fishing opportunities

Stroll around a lavender farm

As it is winter here the lavenders are not in bloom. Nonetheless, it is interesting to see all the different types of lavenders that can be produced and to stock up on some handmade lavender products

Catch a sunrise

Since it is an island you’ll find the sea at every corner so I’d recommend getting up a little bit early just to see that first light just blossom. Alternatively, you can catch a sunset

I hope you all get to visit this beautiful place one day!

 

The Need to Feel Connected

 

Since time immemorial humans have relied on connections to ensure survival and the progression of our species

But with social media in the mix ‘being connected’ has taken quite the new meaning

I took a little hiatus where I just went off and vacayed on an island for about four days. The cell service was super bad so I was only allowed emergency calls and of course no internet. What I found out was life changing

I realised that this need to be in the know with Facebook and Instagram and all that is generated by how readily available everything is in this day and age. The internet is a privilege and we’ve mistaken it to being a necessity

Humans were designed to adapt to their real environment and take in their surroundings but with our heads in our phones all the time we’re doing ourselves a disservice

I read this article a while ago about how our vertebrae is going to evolve because of how long we spend looking down at our phone rather than straight ahead. Doesn’t that freak you out?

On this trip it also happened to be my birthday but it felt like any other day because I wasn’t being bombarded with facebook messages and people trying to get my attention. It turned out to be the most mundane yet the best day ever

That’s just some food for thought about technology. I guess the moral of the story is to look up from our phones more often

Handmaid’s Tale Season 2 Review

So this season just flew by I feel like

But it also came full circle

I will mostly focus on the final episode because that one left the most impression but also refer to the season as a whole

I feel like this season really used the show’s popularity to address current political and social problems that exist in our society

Everything was amplified in this season from the consequences to the emotions and I bloody loved it

I feel like there was a point in the middle and towards the end where the show hit a slump but that’s with every show I feel like

Overall, the show really captured everyone’s storyline.

I especially loved the focus on Serena this season to show how it feels to be a woman in a position of “power” rather than being a Handmaid

The last episode really captured the rape culture and the season as a whole did a very good job of exploring the attitudes around the Gillead society

Some of my favourites from this season include the exploration of June’s relationship with her mother, the different roles a woman can play in a child’s life such as mother and surrogate and how women claim their power through unconventional means

The show came full circle in that they left us hanging again. Since June is at such a crucial point of her pregnancy the next season is going to be even more intense

What did you think of this season?