Conversations with Characters

Amber: So, you're finally doing one of your... what do you call them, again? 'Conversations with Characters'?
Nicki T.: Yes.
Amber: So, what do you want us to talk about?
Nicki T.: Your life.
Amber: I'm a genetic mistake. They were trying to experiment with telepathy when the scientists created me. Unfortunately, they didn't quite get it right. So now, I get severe headaches, can't control what goes on in my head, and have people chasing me in an attempt to get rid of all proof of their experiments.
Nicki T.: And you, Eric? Blaze?
Eric: Spoilers.
Nicki T.: Since when do you watch Dr. Who?
Eric: I'm in your mind. That means I see whatever you do, or hear whatever you do.
Nicki T.: And you, Blaze?
Blaze: I'll go with Eric.
Nicki T. (sighs): Well, come on.
Amber: I still don't see why you need us. Your last characters were good enough, weren't they?
Nicki T. (sighs again): I made you telepathic, Amber.
Blaze: Just because she's telepathic doesn't  mean she likes dipping inside people's heads whenever she needs an answer.
Eric: I hack computers with my mind, but that doesn't mean I research things when I'm doing a test and I don't know the answers.
(Amber and Nicki T. high-five.)
Amber: Told you that would work!
Nicki T. (laughing): Thanks. Got you, Eric.
(Eric groans.)
Blaze: You won't get it out of me!
Nicki T.: Not this time, no. But I'll do it, Blaze. (Laughs.)
Blaze (looking nervous): Why did I ever think this would be fun? "It's great!" Sunny said. "You can make some friends with old characters!" Sunny said. Sunny... why did I ever listen to you?
Sunny (enters room): Because I didn't actually leave you a choice.
Blaze: Oh, uh, hi.
Sunny (laughing): Hello, everyone. Am I too late to join the party, Nicki?
Nicki T.: No. Come on in!

(I promise to formally introduce my characters at some point in the future, with pictures and everything! But I don't have one of Eric at the moment.)

Nicki Talks About the Flavia de Luce Series

Okay, everyone. I haven't really talked about books in a while. So I'm going to talk about the Flavia de Luce series, by Alan Bradley. It's one of my favorite series. There are four books out, and there are going to be a total of ten in the series.

Book 1: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

Eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce's sister's have locked her in a closet. Since Flavia doesn't won't take that lying down, the aspiring young chemist adds poison ivy to her sister's lipstick. But soon she has other things on her mind. A dead bird shows up on the front porch, a stamp on its beak. Then a late night visitor appears, and Flavia finds a dying man alone in the cucumber patch at Buckshaw, Flavia's home. He breathes his last words to her - "Vale." Flavia finds this all thrilling and determines to find what who killed him. Or who. And find out who left a dead bird on the porch. Soon, she finds herself in the middle of a mystery involving stamps, a magician, and the death of a local schoolteacher years before.

Book 2 : The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag

When a puppet show comes to her home, Bishop's Lacey, Flavia is excited, like any other eleven-year-old would be. When the puppeteer becomes the victim of electrocution, during the middle of a production of Jack and the Beanstalk, Flavia decides to solve the murder. Relying on her knowledge of chemistry and Gladys, her trusty bicycle, she starts to uncover the mystery. Between her sister's attempts to convince her she's adopted and Flavia's attempts to poison them, she uncovers secrets concerning the death of a little boy many years ago.

Book 3: A Red Herring without Mustard

When Flavia finds a gypsy woman nearly dead inside her caravan, she does what she thinks best. She gets help, then decides to solve the mystery for herself. Again. She discovers that a local family suspects the woman of kidnapping their baby son years ago. And a body is discovered at her home, murdered. Again.

Book 4: I Am Half-Sick of Shadows

It's Christmas, and Flavia is determined to catch Saint Nick to prove he's real. But that's not all. A film is being shot at Buckshaw! Flavia instantly becomes friends with the lead actress, Phyllis Whyvern. After putting on a charity show, the actress is found in by Flavia her room, strangled, a ribbon tied around her neck in an elaborate knot. And the whole of Flavia's hometown is at Buckshaw, wintering a storm. The aspiring chemist must find the culprit for the murder, but, when she does, will she escape?

My thoughts on these books.

I really enjoy them. Flavia is great. Her fastination with poison got me interested in it enough to do a little research. (Hence, the posts on poisonous plants on www.factsrme.blogspot.com, which is my other blog.) I would love to spend some time in her lab with her. There are some people, though, who don't like her. My mom and sister, for example. I really like Flavia. I don't actually like chemistry all that much, but she makes it sound so interesting.

I SAW THE HUNGER GAMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My thoughts?

I was wondering how they would handle all the violence in the book, but it was okay. I liked Haymitch better in the movie than in the book. I really liked the movie. Katniss's outfit from the opening ceremonies is sooooooo cool!!!!



And her interview dresses are so beautiful. I wish I could find a picture of her twirling in it... ah, well, just go watch the movie! I think my jaw actually dropped a few times when I saw her girl on fire outfits, particularly the one where she started twirling.




And her last interview dress is pretty... so fairytale... so innocent... just like Cinna wanted. Wish I could find a better picture. Again, watch the movie to see it!


However, as much I hate to say it, as I was so looking forward to this movie... I was a bit disappointed. Just a little. The book was better. I really enjoyed the movie and all, and I want to get the DVD when it comes out. But the book had certain advantages over the movie, because the book could tell us what she was thinking and little things like that. And being able to know what she was thinking definitely helps the book.

Who is my favorite character in the Hunger Games? Actually, I like Clove, the career tribute. I'm not exactly sure why.


The girl who played her, Isabella, Fuhrman, learned to throw knives. She says, "I will say I do know how to throw a knife properly now, which is kind of creepy and a skill I probably won't use, but it's just fun to say, you know? 'What'd you learn this summer?' 'Oh, I learned to throw knives.' Just casually." (Myself, I think it would be fun to learn knife throwing.)

I really liked the bit in the movie, after Katniss shoots an arrow at the Gamemaker's pig, where Haymitch comes in and gives her a thumbs up for it. I liked Haymitch more in the movie than in the books. I also liked the bit where, at the training center, Cato's knife goes missing and he throws a fit. Then we see little Rue in the ceiling, holding it and smiling.

And the bit where Katniss is up a tree and the careers are shooting arrows at her, and none of them quite know how to shoot a bow. They can fight with swords and throw knives, yet their trainers completely forgot to teach them to use a bow. Oops.

And now, quotes!

Katniss Everdeen: Don't cry. Don't.

Effie Trinket: Two hundred miles per hour and you can barely feel a thing. I think it's one of the wonderful things about this opportunity, that even though you're here and even though it's just for a little while, you get to enjoy all of this.

Peeta Mellark: Okay. So, uh....so when do we start?
Haymitch Abernathy:Woh. Woh. You're so eager. Most of you aren't in such a hurry.
Peeta Mellark: Yeah, I wanna know what the plan is. You're our mentor, you're supposed to...
Haymitch Abernathy: Mentor?
Peeta Mellark: Yeah. Our mentor, you're supposed to tell us how to get sponsors and give us advice.
Haymitch Abernathy: Oh. Okay. Um...embrace the probability of your imminent death. And know, in your heart, that there's nothing I can do to save you.

Haymitch Abernathy: No, that's a good way to get killed.
[Katniss comes up behind them]
Katniss Everdeen: What's a good way to get killed?
Haymitch Abernathy: Oh, joy! Why don't you join us? I was just giving some life saving advice.
Katniss Everdeen: Like what?
Peeta Mellark: Oh, I was just asking about how to find shelter.
Haymitch Abernathy: Which would come in handy if in fact you were still alive.

Cinna: That was one of the bravest things I've ever seen, for your sister. My name is Cinna.
Katniss Everdeen: Katniss.
Cinna: I'm sorry that this happened to you and I'm here to help you in any way that I can. Katniss Everdeen: Most people just congratulate me.

Caesar Flickerman: Now see that! I love that! Two young people, holding their hands up, saying; 'I'm proud I come from district 12. We will not be overlooked.' Now I love that!

Katniss Everdeen: Thank you for your consideration.

Guess who is absolutely ECSTATIC????

I am. Guess why.

Two reasons? Number one. (Drumroll please...)

THE HUNGER GAMES IS GOING TO COME OUT AT TWELVE O'CLOCK THIS MORNING!

Of course, I won't be there at midnight. I wish.

And guess what number two is?

I'VE FOUND MY PICTURE OF AMBER!

The best picture of her is during the interview, but you'll have to see it for yourselves in the movie!

More Writing Quotes

Okay, after posting that quote this morning, I decided to find some more quotes about writing! (Your quote, by the way, gave me the idea, Sprinkles.) Hope these make someone either smile or learn something.

I try to leave out the parts that people skip. ~Elmore Leonard

If there's a book you really want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it. ~Toni Morrison

So very true. That is, I believe, one of the reasons I write.

When once the itch of literature comes over a man, nothing can cure it but the scratching of a pen. But if you have not a pen, I suppose you must scratch any way you can. ~Samuel Lover, Handy Andy, 1842

A synonym is a word you use when you can't spell the other one. ~Baltasar Gracián

The best time for planning a book is while you're doing the dishes. ~Agatha Christie

An old racetrack joke reminds you that your program contains all the winners' names. I stare at my typewriter keys with the same thought. ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Neurotic's Notebook, 1960



The land of literature is a fairy land to those who view it at a distance, but, like all other landscapes, the charm fades on a nearer approach, and the thorns and briars become visible.
~Washington Irving

The pen is mighter than the sword. But a well aimed typewriter can also do the trick. - I have no idea who said this, though thanks to Sprinkles for telling me about it!

Here's a random quote I couldn't resist sharing with everyone.

“Don’t just make ‘em swim a river! Throw a few crocodiles in there! Put rapids above and a thundering cataract below, enemies behind and danger on the other side…” (Anonymous)

Valentine's Day

Aren't these so cute?

I have a sudden urge to post pictures of creatures with hearts on them. No particular reason. I got these off of cuteoverload.com. Love that website.





Happy Valentine's Day!