3 Amazing Book Series with Unsatisfying Endings

(Image Credit: Scholastic)

(Image Credit: Scholastic)

As an English major, books are my everything. Becoming completely enthralled in a world and reading until the sun comes up is one of my biggest hobbies. But every now and then, a world and characters I have grown to love disappoint me in the end. As a writer I can sympathize. Endings are so hard. No ending will satisfy every single reader. But here are a few books that have massive dissatisfaction. Spoilers ahead, obviously.

hpdeathlyhallows

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

As a book lover, I can guarantee to if you go poll a bunch of readers and ask what novel ending disappointed them the most at least half will say the final Harry Potter book, The Deathly Hallows. I love Harry Potter, I really do. It shaped my entire childhood. I even have a Deathly Hallows tattoo! But I will always admit how much the epilogue sucked. Pairing every single living character up and having kids seems like such an easy way out. And don’t even get me started on the children’s awful names. I suppose with 7 books worth of death and destruction J.K. Rowling just wanted some happiness, but who really wants that? Happy endings  just seem cheesy and disatisfying.

allegiant

Allegiant

Allegiant is the final book of the Divergent trilogy. Throughout the whole series, we follow Tris and see her world of factions. It was a very interesting dynamic for a series and definitely caught my attention. I read the first two books in a matter of days, then I had to wait a year for the final book. And then Allegiant came out and Tris got away from the factions all together by leaving her city. The idea of pure and damaged genes are introduced when they go to the Bureau of Genetic Welfare, and it is all mostly uninteresting. Then at the end of the book, Tris dies, sacrificing herself to save her awful brother. Allegiant fast forwards two years and shows Chicago at peace and factionless. All in all, I was devastated that this strong female character ended up needlessly sacrificing herself. The movie comes out this month and is being split into two parts. Maybe the movie will do it better?

mockingjay

Mockingjay

I read The Hunger Games in high school and I was obsessed. I was absolutely enthralled in this post-apocalyptic chaotic society. After I read the first two novels, I had to wait a couple months for the final book to come out. During that time, I spent a lot of time on Tumblr and was introduced to the idea that Katniss was asexual and that’s why she was kind of indifferent to both Peeta and Gale when it came to anything more than friendship. Her kissing them was just a way to make them happy and stay in her life when she didn’t know what else to do. I absolutely loved this theory because it put a spin on the classic love triangle and also put the spotlight on a sexuality that doesn’t get talked about much. However, in the end, Katniss ends up having children with Peeta and I was very, very disappointed.

 

As I said before, endings are hard. I understand I’m not always going to enjoy the endings the author chooses to write. The fact I was disappointed with these three novels doesn’t mean I renounce them all together. I still reread the Harry Potter series every summer! Disappointment happens but it makes us realize that these very talented people wanted to share their creation and we should appreciate them for creating these worlds for us to get lost in.

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Tara Talks: Episode Five (The one with Book Boyfriends)

(Image Credit: Tara Robinson / The Daily Quirk)

(Image Credit: Tara Robinson / The Daily Quirk)

This week is Valentine’s Day! So instead of moping around that you are alone why don’t you cuddle up with a different kind of guy? This week I decided to take things a little differently and talk about my favorite book boyfriends! I mention my Top 4 but there are many more below who didn’t make the cut into the video. Continue reading

INSURGENT (Image Credit: Summit Entertainment)

5 Reasons We’re Dying to see ‘Insurgent’!

INSURGENT (Image Credit: Summit Entertainment)

INSURGENT (Image Credit: Summit Entertainment)

For those who haven’t read Insurgent, beware! Spoilers ahead.

Next spring, Summit Entertainment brings us the second installment of Veronica Roth’s Divergent trilogy. The stakes are raised in this action-packed sequel as Tris and Four find themselves at the center of a rebellion that could mean the end of society as they know it. Here are some reasons to look forward to Insurgent.

The cast

We’re already in love with Shailene Woodley and her handsome male co-stars, but Insurgent brings even more talent to the table. Academy Award winner Octavia Spencer joins the cast as Johanna, the pseudo-leader of the Amity faction. Also featured in the sequel will be Naomi Watts as Four’s estranged mother and leader of the factionless rebels. Lost and Hawaii Five-O fans will be pleased to see Daniel Dae Kim as Jack Kang, a representative of Candor. Kate Winslet will return as Jeanine, the ice queen of Erudite. Theo James, Ansel Elgort and Miles Teller will all reprise their roles in the sequel, and all three of their characters play a much bigger part in this film than in Divergent.

We get a look inside the other factions

In the first movie, we see what the Abnegation and Dauntless communities look like and how they operate. In Insurgent, Tris and Four find refuge in Amity and Candor. Both factions have their own unique traditions that compliment the virtues they stand for. Unfortunately, Tris experiences discomfort in the midst of these two factions as she struggles to be honest with those she loves and to be kind to those she doesn’t.

Tris kicks some serious butt

We got to see a good bit of this in Divergent, but Veronica Roth really cranks up the girl power in the sequel. Weighed down by the post-traumatic stress disorder she develops after shooting her friend Will while he is under the simulation, Tris finds herself constantly fighting for her life. However our heroine’s strength isn’t just in her physical prowess. Her instincts and intelligence come into play as her alliances shift and force her to make difficult decisions about who is trustworthy.

Things heat up between Tris and Four

Like any teenage girl discovering her own sexuality, Tris faces temptations while trying to make sense of her emotions. Her feelings for Four are mixed up with the recent loss of her home and her parents, while he copes with his unwanted family reunion. Throughout Insurgent, Tris and Four struggle to untangle their pain from their mutual desire and burgeoning love. While both our heroes are willing to make huge sacrifices in the fight for the greater good, Tris and Four don’t always agree on what that ultimately means. The tension threatens their romance and the two must learn how to respect the tenacity in each other before their relationship can move forward.

We get to meet the factionless

No longer are the factionless a mysterious group of faceless beings. Tris and her fellow fugitives meet the outcasts of their strictly segregated society early in the sequel. We meet back up with Edward; the Dauntless initiate who was kicked out after Peter stabbed him in the eye with a butter knife. Leading the band of rebel outcasts is Four’s mother, Evelyn. As much as she hates Jeanine and Erudite, Tris is wary of this new commander and her motley crowd of cohorts. Everyone in Insurgent has a different agenda and Tris has to be careful where she steps or risk losing everything.

Similar to The Maze Runner series, our daring protagonist learns that her world is far more sinister than she could have imagined. The dark implications in the structure of her society are just the beginning. The stakes are much higher in Insurgent and Tris has to decide for herself what kind of person she wants to be. Frankly, I’m just hoping to see more of shirtless Theo James.

 

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DIVERGENT (Image Credit: Summit Entertainment) / Miles Teller (Image Credit: Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for BFI)

Diss Means War: When celebs speak out against their franchise roles

DIVERGENT (Image Credit: Summit Entertainment) / Miles Teller (Image Credit: Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for BFI)

DIVERGENT (Image Credit: Summit Entertainment) / Miles Teller (Image Credit: Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for BFI)

Miles Teller is the latest addition to the club of celebrities who publicly diss the franchises their associated with. In September he Teller told W Magazine that his Divergent role wasn’t “an interesting part” and that he took the role solely for “business reasons.” He also revealed to the magazine that he told his agent it “sucks.” He said working on the adaptation made him feel “dead inside.” Harsh considering the movie with an international automatic fan-base built in from the movies and his character will be included in the sequel, Insurgent. Continue reading

DIVERGENT (Image Credit: Summit Entertainment)

The Most Anticipated Movie Sequels of 2015

DIVERGENT (Image Credit: Summit Entertainment)

DIVERGENT (Image Credit: Summit Entertainment)

Once school is back in, the rest of the calendar year really rockets by for me. It’s a little overwhelming but there’s so much to look forward too next year already! 2015 is going to be a full year for movies, and there are sequels aplenty coming. In case you enjoy making advanced plans, here are five sequels you must see in 2015! Continue reading

Theo James and Shailene Woodley at the INSURGENT SDCC Fan Event (Image Credit: Lionsgate)

VIDEO: Shailene Woodley, Theo James and Natalie Dormer Meet Fans at Special SDCC Event!

Theo James and Shailene Woodley at the INSURGENT SDCC Fan Event (Image Credit: Lionsgate)

Theo James and Shailene Woodley at the INSURGENT SDCC Fan Event (Image Credit: Lionsgate)

Lionsgate held two special fan events to celebrate the upcoming releases of Insurgent and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 and The Daily Quirk is bringing you the inside info! Fans of the Divergent and The Hunger Games franchises roared with excitement at getting to meet the films stars. Shailene Woodley and Theo James chatted with fans and signed copes of Veronica Roth’s Divergent series books and one lucky young crowd member became tear-eyed as she met face-to-face with the handsome, James. Natalie Dormer, the latest star to join the The Hunger Games took part in a special “Capital Experience” along with the rest of the film’s Rebel Warriors. Not to be outdone, they gave the fan who waited in line to meet them the longest the star treatment and an exclusive first viewing of the film’s trailer! Watch the video below to see Woodley, James and Dormer in action! Continue reading

Shailene Woodley (Image Credit: MTV)

She said WHAT?: Shailene Woodley’s Top 5 Quirkiest Quotes

Shailene Woodley (Image Credit: MTV)

Shailene Woodley (Image Credit: MTV)

If you’re a movie fan, you probably now recognize actress Shailene Woodley as Hazel Grace Lancaster via The Fault In Our Stars. If you knew her before the film’s release, you might remember the crazy things she said during the press tour she had for the film. Before that, Woodley was once the star of The Secret Life of the American Teenager on ABC Family, where she played teen-mother, Amy and shined as Tris in this year’s Divergent. Continue reading

DIVERGENT (Image Credit: Jaap Buitendijk/Summit Entertainment)

5 Scenes We’re Excited To See in ‘Insurgent’!

DIVERGENT (Image Credit: Jaap Buitendijk/Summit Entertainment)

DIVERGENT (Image Credit: Jaap Buitendijk/Summit Entertainment)

It’s official, folks! Insurgent, the second book in Veronica Roth’s bestselling Divergent series, will become a movie. The sequel has officially been given the green light, and both Shailene Woodley and Theo James are already on board.

While the entire movie is sure to be great, there are a handful of scenes I’m especially looking forward to. Read on for the list – but be careful! Spoilers are ahead for those who haven’t read Insurgent or Divergent. Continue reading

James McAvoy and Patrick Stewart in X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST (Image Credit: Alan Markfield/Twentieth Century Fox)

10 Must-See Spring Movies 2014!

James McAvoy and Patrick Stewart in X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST (Image Credit: Alan Markfield/Twentieth Century Fox)

James McAvoy and Patrick Stewart in X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST (Image Credit: Alan Markfield/Twentieth Century Fox)

Despite the chill in the air and snowstorms that continue to be wreaking havoc on states across the nation, spring is indeed on its way. Coming with it will be birds flying north, pastel colored candies flooding grocery stores, flowers blooming and some seriously good movies making their way to the big screen. This season has something for everyone: action packed superheroes, fun romantic comedies, intense thrillers, quirky children’s films and well known stories retold in remarkable new ways. Here’s a sneak peak at 10 of this spring’s films that we cannot wait to see! Continue reading

Theo James, Zoe Kravitz, Miles Teller and Ben Lloyd-Hughes in DIVERGENT (Image Credit: Jaap Buitendijk/Summit Entertainment)

‘Divergent’ enjoys impressive cast outside of Shailene Woodley and Theo James

Theo James, Zoe Kravitz, Miles Teller and Ben Lloyd-Hughes in DIVERGENT (Image Credit: Jaap Buitendijk/Summit Entertainment)

Theo James, Zoe Kravitz, Miles Teller and Ben Lloyd-Hughes in DIVERGENT (Image Credit: Jaap Buitendijk/Summit Entertainment)

With the highly anticipated March 21 premiere of Divergent less than a week away, Shailene Woodley and Theo James are everywhere. And rightly so, since they make up the dynamic duo of Tris Prior and Tobias “Four” Eaton, the main characters and heart of the dystopian, action-based love story. But the supporting cast, filled with both newcomers and veterans alike, is nothing less than stellar. Get to know just a few of the faces to watch for below! Continue reading

Five Reasons Why ‘Divergent’ Is Not ‘The Hunger Games’

Shailene Woodley Theo James in DIVERGENT (Image Credit: Jaap Buitendijk / Summit Entertainment)

Shailene Woodley Theo James in DIVERGENT (Image Credit: Jaap Buitendijk / Summit Entertainment)

This coming March, another popular young adult novel will be heading to a theatre near you. Similar in structure to The Hunger Games, Divergent by Veronica Roth sees a teenage heroine fight for personal identity and fairness in a post-apocalyptic world. But, other than that, Divergent greatly differs from The Hunger Games and people need to know this before they see the film! So, below is a list of five reasons why you shouldn’t just write it off: Continue reading

Get a look at the Dauntless Tattoos in the new ‘Divergent’ character posters!

Divergent

The official movie poster for Divergent was released by Summit Entertainment. In case you’re out of the loop, Divergent is the next big book to screen movie adaptation coming in March 2014. The poster shows off Tris and Four on a high-up cropping of some kind in full Dauntless dress (complete with a weapon for Four). In the background is a peek of the interpretation of Veronica Roth’s dystopian Chicago. You can even see the ferris wheel that comes up in the beginning of the book. These are all good signs for book lovers everywhere waiting in anticipation.

Along with the movie poster, character posters for the Dauntless faction characters came out. There were seven character posters total. There had been unofficial versions of Tris (Shailene Woodley) and Four (Theo James) floating around the internet. But this is pretty much the first look at Christina, Tori, Peter and a few others. The best part is we get a hint of the tattoos that are common in the Dauntless faction. Check out the posters below and keep watching The Daily Quirk for more updates as they come.
Continue reading

Book Review: ‘Allegiant’ (Divergent #3) by Veronica Roth

Allegiant (Image Credit: Veronica Roth)

Allegiant (Image Credit: Veronica Roth)

I’m going to go ahead and assume that if you’re reading this review, you’re probably familiar with the first two books in this series, Divergent and Insurgent. If you’re not, you should read them. Because they’re good, and because if you don’t I’m probably going to spoil something for you in this review of the final book in the series, Allegiant. Continue reading