There’s no good way to say this: as November comes to a close and winter beefs up, all the hot singles near you are looking for a warm body to curl up next to, especially if their apartment doesn’t have central A/C. So in honor of it officially being cuffing season, here are five dudes of lit I’d like to tangle up with the ol’ ball and chain. So without further ado,
1. Neville Longbottom, from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
I’m about to mix some metaphors, but bear with me. If the Harry Potter world was the real world, Harry would be the starting quarterback who gets all the trophies, the glory, the fame, the fortune, and the groupies. Harry would also lose his hair by twenty-six, be terribly accident prone, and constantly be followed by people lurking in the shadows. Neville, on the other hand, is that sensitive, artsy boy who found puberty the summer between junior and senior year, grew a foot and a half and got smoking hot. Harry’s the John Lennon, the snarky, sulky, self-absorbed one while Neville’s the George Harrison, putting in the work and the time on the sidelines. Plus, Matthew Lewis is a total slice.
Image via Matthew Lewis
2. John Watson, from the Sherlock Holmesstories by Arthur Conan Doyle
Does anyone actually want to date Sherlock Holmes? Seriously, anyone?
Gimme a dude like Watson. Watson is the sensible, thoughtful, educated, and life-experienced counterpart to Holmes’ assholery disguised as genius. He’s the rock that keeps Sherlock grounded, and really, isn’t that what we’re all looking for at the end of the day? Also, Martin Freeman.
I’m sorry this gif is so huge, but let’s all be honest here, giphy is really difficult to work with. Gif via Giphy
3. Samwise Gamgee, from the Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien
Samwise Gamgee is the absolute definition of ride or die. Despite stopping to declare at minute 44 of 726 (extended edition trilogy runtime) that that was the farthest he had been from home –
Sam not only went way farther than he ever dreamed, but he literally carried his best friend up a volcano to destroy a magic ring which he doesn’t even get credit for. Sam deserves the world and I’d like to give it to him.
Cinna is an incredible stylist, aesthetically perfect, and a major part of an underground resistance set on overthrowing a corrupt dystopian regime, and he does it all in gold eyeliner. Cinna made Katniss. Without him, Katniss would’ve just been another girl in bad clothes killed on TV. Yikes.
Is this article just an excuse to post this photo of Lenny Kravitz? The world may never know. Image via AJ Supreme
And here’s where I realize that I was unknowingly picking characters that also have a smoke show on-screen counterpart, but here’s also where I realize that I played myself.
I’m not gunna lie, I always get The Metamorphosis and The Fly confused, but to be fair, they’re very similar concepts.
Oops. Image is from THE FLY, not THE METAMORPHOSIS via Hero Wiki
Sure, Gregor Samsa’s life sucks. He’s a traveling salesmen who gets turned into a cockroach. He’s got the shit end of the life stick, and if he’s not careful someone might try to squash him with that stick because he’s literally a cockroach. Despite, he loves his family, cares for them, and dreams of sending his sister to a music conservatory. He’s looking out for his own, that is, until he dies just like he lived, gruesomely. It’s the American Dream.
Featured Image Via The Hunger Games Wikia (Cinna), The Leaky Cauldron (Neville), Ars Technica (Sam), BBC (Watson), photoshopped by yours truly.
Lionsgate Entertainment City is coming to Times Square in NYC. They have an attraction opening in the Motiongate Theme Park in Dubai this Fall. The attraction in Times Square will feature some of its highest grossing projects including The Hunger Games and Divergent.
Deadline reports “a Hunger Games flying simulator attraction, [and] a Divergent themed obstacle course” will be coming to the area. The attraction will house dining options including “Peeta’s Bakery,” whose name is drawn from Katniss Everdeen’s love interest, Peeta, in The Hunger Games.
Image Via Giphy
All of this information has just been released, with a vague date of 2019 announced. Even still, we can’t wait to check this out!
If you’re still mourning the conclusions of your favorite YA sagas ‘The Hunger Games’ and ‘Twilight,’ the good news has been two-fold for you this month. Bookstr recently reported on the fact that Lionsgate have more movies planned for both franchises. Pretty cool right? The only thing that could possibly be cooler? THEME PARK.
Via Playbuzz
That’s right. A ‘Hunger Games’/’Twilight’ theme park is in the works. Lionsgate announced on Tuesday that its first branded outdoor theme park will open at Jeju Shinhwa World, in South Korea.
The attraction will span 1.3 million square feet and will be split into seven movie zones, each themed around blockbusters such as ‘The Hunger Games,’ ‘The Twilight Saga,’ ‘Now You See Me,’ and the upcoming 2018 movie ‘Robin Hood.’
In a statement, Lionsgate Chief Executive Officer Jon Feltheimer said:
“We’re pleased to partner with our friends at Landing International, one of Asia’s premier developers, on our first branded outdoor theme park and one of our largest and most exciting location-based entertainment destinations.Our partners are creating a world-class resort that will be the perfect home for our theme park.”
Construction is planned to start in 2018, with an opening date in 2019. Flights to South Korea will be pretty cheap if we book them two years in advance right?
There are some books out there that are just so damn good we cannot get enough. Literally. As readers we are often spoiled with sequels left and right (particularly in the young adult genre). Yet, when we know that an author has established that a story is over and no sequels are in sight, we feel disappointed, confused, angry, baffled…you get the picture.
Whether it’s because we wanted the answers to a mystery that we spent 400 pages awaiting, but never received (I’m looking at you, Tim O’Brien), or simply cannot abandon a character we feel inherently close to, here are some of the books we WISH had a sequel…or two.
“The Hunger Games” is one of the most ground-breaking young adult novels to reach shelves. It challenged political and social norms through its portrayal of a fierce and independent woman who persevered through societal pressures. Though the trilogy went deep into conflicts, and, for the most part, wrapped up the central problems, this is one series that would have benefitted from one more book.
Why it needs a sequel…
I think I represent many fans when I say that Katniss and Gale, her childhood friend who created a new level of romantic angst, should have ended up together (spawn protests from Peeta supporters). Don’t get me wrong, the common experience that Katniss and Peeta shared brought an intimacy to their relationship that couldn’t exist between Katniss and Gale. However, the ending which saw Katniss and Peeta settled down together, with a child in tow, seems a little too…unsatisfying.
Given everything that they endured, did they really live happily ever after? And, on top of that, did the Hunger Games really cease to exist in the years to come? There is so much more to this story that readers would love to see. It’s been 7 years since the last book in the trilogy was released. And yet, the angst and unanswered/unbeliebavle resolutions puts “The Hunger Games” trilogy on the list of books that deserve a sequel.
This suspense novel filled with shocking twists and puzzling turns captivated readers. The plot follows the disappearance of Amy Dunne and the subsequent persecution of husband Nick Dunne. While Nick struggles to clear his charges and public image, readers are baffled to be met with the point-of-view of a very-much-alive Amy. The duo’s unreliable nature and questionable motives provide a truly breathtaking ride.
Why it needs a sequel…
While the two main conflicts of the plot are resolved by the end of the story (we do find out what happened to Amy and who was involved), we’re still incredibly puzzled! It’s not so much that there are gaps left unexplored, it’s more so that the ending is so insane that we are dying to find out what happened next.
In the end, Nick and Amy are still married (though not necessarily by choice), leaving us wondering: how long will these crazy partners-in-crime last? It’s hard to believe that after everything (I mean everything) they still find themselves married. Will they find a weird-yet-romantic happily ever after? Will their contempt for one another eventually lead to a murder…or two? We need answers, Flynn!
Jane Austen’s novel can undoubtedly turn any cynic into a complete romantic! “Pride and Prejudice” can be both enjoyed by feminists and old-fashioned hopeless romantics. The novel which led to countless adaptations (the 2005 film is the best, by the way) is a classic and timeless read that any generation can enjoy. The plot follows Elizabeth Bennet who lives in a society that pressures young women to marry, ultimately measuring them by their lineage, values, education, and more. As she endures such pressure and witnesses how the pressure affects the women around her, she is forced to challenge her notions about love, gender, and wealth when she becomes acquainted with the brooding Mr. Darcy.
Why it needs a sequel…
While the ending ties up the major conflicts (i.e. romantic pairings), it appears a little too perfect. Before you start yelling at me, let me explain! Austen gives us everything we want with the ending. However, based on the personalities of main characters Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, it’s a little difficult to picture life for the couple after the final pages of the book.
Yes, I know that it’s just a story but it’s stuck with me. Elizabeth won readers over through her independent nature and defiance against sexist and restrictive cultural norms. While it’s incredible that she found love with Mr. Darcy, especially without oppressing her independent identity, I can’t help but question what their marriage would look like. Would Lizzie just conform to expected domestic roles? Would she have children and raise them with the appreciation of gender equality? Imagining their marriage, and, in particular, the development of her character really makes us wish we could see it on page.
If you binge-watched the Hulu series as I have, you’ve seen the incredible yet frightening story that “The Handmaid’s Tale” depicts. In the original novel, Atwood paints a startling representation of gender, equality, religion, and more when she invites readers to see how all these elements can imprison members of society, in particular women.
Why it needs a sequel…
This read is hard to put down, captivating readers in every word on every page. Readers cannot stop themselves from devouring every word until…the plot abruptly stops. The ending of “The Handmaid’s Tale” does not offer fans a resolution, rather a huge cliffhanger that makes us yell obscenities, cry (maybe both at the same time), and scratch our heads in confusion.
Similar to the TV series, the book abruptly ends right as Offred, the narrator, enters a large black van driven by armed guards whose intentions are not entirely clear. Though another character reassures Offred that the van will lead her to safety, his sketchy characterization throughout the text makes her, and us, question the accuracy of his words. Furthermore, she is never reunited with her husband, leaving readers both saddened and left wondering if he managed to find safety or otherwise. Come on, Atwood! Though it’s been just, you know, 32 years since the books release, there is still time to give us some answers in a new sequel!
Though some (very unfortunate) modern readers may have no idea what “Gone with the Wind” is, or the fact that its film adaptation is one of the hallmark American films, Mitchell’s novel is one of the best American novels ever written. Set during the Civil War Period, and subsequent Reconstruction Era, the story follows aristocrat Scarlett O’Hara as she deals with the loss of her home, identity, and loved ones. Readers follow O’Hara as she picks up the pieces of her life and tries to save her home, Tara, while dealing with the many men in her life (including literary hunk Rhett Butler).
Why it needs a sequel…
“Gone With the Wind,” which is told over the course of 1,000+ pages, really digs into the story and the character development of O’Hara, Butler, and many other characters. We see the ups and downs of relationships and political conflicts, and find many resolutions toward the end of the novel. The relationship between O’Hara and Butler suffer a lot of strain in the end, and the ending sees him walking out on her, ignoring her plees, and making the infamous statement, “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” Ouch.
Stubbornly optimistic, O’Hara vows to win Rhett back. Though her famous words, “After all, tomorrow is another day,” give readers a warm fuzzy feeling, we wish we knew if she was successful. Did she win him back? Did he feel guilty and return? We need to know! While the book technically already has a sequel (Alexandra Ripley published Scarlett in 1991, following Mitchell’s death), it isn’t an extension of Mitchell’s incredible literary mind. Ripley’s sequel was written through her vision which could have differed drastically from Mitchell’s.
Lionsgate, the film production company behind billion dollar franchises ‘Twilight’ and ‘The Hunger Games’ have said that they are interested in taking both stories further.
The Twilight Saga raked in $3.344 billion over its five movies, while The Hunger Games grossed $2.968 billion.
Image Courtesy of Freeform
Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer said:
“There are a lot more stories to be told, and we’re ready to tell them when our creators are ready to tell those stories.”
He went on to say that the studio would only proceed with plans for more installments with the permission of ‘Twilight’ author Stephenie Meyer and ‘The Hunger Games’ author Suzanne Collins.
Featured Image Courtesy of The Emory Wheel and CinemaBlend
