A Twist in the Show

Hello, my name is Isabelle Harper. Welcome to my blog, where all different interests, topics, and subjects collide. I have a separate blogs for certain book reviews, find it here: http://wordsaboutbooks.tumblr.com/ "A twist in the show, a turn in life."

[atwistintheshow]

Fall's Best New TV Shows

Isabelle here! And I know...I've been gone for a LONG time. I'm so sorry, guys. That's just what happens when school comes back. My social life gets ruined. BUT. I am back, nonetheless, and today, I have another blog post for you!

I have this intense love-hate relationship with September. I love it because it's the time of year when all my favorite TV shows come back from a three-four month hiatus (eek!), and it's also a time when I get a whole new plethora of shows to watch and favor. But, I also hate it because September= school. And when school is involved, I don't have time for anything. So I'll be honest, I haven't been the best at keeping up with some of my new and old favorite shows, but guys. I'm working on it. It's winter break which means more quality TV time! So anyway. From what I've seen so far, there's some pretty darn good new shows out there this year! Seriously, I'm hooked! Today, I'm going to be sharing with you my top five favorite new fall TV shows (from what I've seen). As you can tell by the pictures above, I am not one for a comedy show. I'm just not. I'm a devout drama watcher and I plan to stay that way. Moving on, here are my top five NEW fall shows in no particular order (btw, this post will include NO spoilers):

1. Witches of East End

Calling all "Charmed" fans! If you're missing  your favorite witchy show, then this one makes for a pretty good placeholder! It's just so addictive. This is one of the shows that I have caught up with and WHOA. That season 1 finale was INSANE. You need to watch it. You can find some episodes on Hulu and I'm sure Lifetime will be replaying it sometime soon. The first season was only ten episodes and now I'm just so hungry for more. The show is about a family of witches who are all cursed and basically just try to stay alive. It's pretty interesting, a lot like "Charmed", and has got some serious eye candy. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes witchy goodness. You don't even have to like witches, if you're a girl - or guy - who loves drama and romance, this is one for you.

2. The Blacklist

"The Blacklist." Hmm. Where do I even start with this show??? Well first of all, this is one for all you mystery/detective/crime watchers. It's largely considered to be this season's "breakout hit", and truthfully, I'm not gonna argue with that. This show knows what it's doing. This is also another show that I am completely caught up on, and I love it to death. James Spader is PHENOMENAL in his role as Raymond "Red" Reddington, a criminal on the FBI's most wanted list. He surrenders himself to FBI and offers to aid in the takedown of some of the world's most dangerous fugitives that the FBI  don't know about, but there's a catch: he'll only supply his information to Elizabeth Keen, an FBI newbie. The pair make an interesting duo as they fight crime together and Red has become my favorite anti-hero. I always find myself rooting for him, but also wondering what the heck his game plan is. The show is clever in that it has individual plots in each episode, but it also has some major themes, like why does Red only want to speak to Elizabeth Keen? Why her? I'm not gonna say more than that. Guys, it's a great show. Go watch it. You can thank me later. 

3. Reign

SHRIEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKK. Oh sorry, that was just my inner fangirl coming out. "Reign" gives me the feels. No freaken exaggeration. If you don't know, I'm a major history buff and oh my freaken gosh... THIS SHOW IS INSANEEEEEEEEEEEEE. I do have to say that you should not expect historical accuracy from this series, because, let's face it, this is a CW show. But, it's an amazing show for any teenage girl. It's filled with juicy drama and a very compelling love triangle. The show is basically about Mary Queen of Scot's and her time at the French court, but again, not really because it's terrible at historical accuracy. Either way, it's filled with drama, betrayal, love, and FRUSTRATION. Oh this show makes me so frustrated. THAT MIDSEASON FINALE. Omg. I can't. I just can't. You need to watch it. You just have to. It's my guilty pleasure and it will be  yours, too.

4. Sleepy Hollow

"Sleepy Hollow" is pretty darn crazy. It's a retelling of the old story in the modern day world. This show really leaves me scratching my head and asking myself what the heck I just watched, but in a good way. It's creepy, but only a little bit, and it's got a whole lot of mystery on its side. "Sleepy Hollow" along with "The Blacklist" are two shows that are pro at giving you more questions than answers. It's so frustrating guys. SO FRUSTRATING. But so addictive at the same time! "Sleepy Hollow" also does a pretty good job at debunking some American Revolutionary War history. Is it sad that I think I learn more history from "Sleepy Hollow" than I do from "Reign"? That's just the truth. BUT I DO LOVE BOTH SHOWS EQUALLY. "Sleepy Hollow" is more of a mature show, as is "The Blacklist" so if you're not into solving crimes and running for your life, then they're probably not for you. But if you are, then give the shows a try. You won't regret it.

5. The Originals

This show had a little bit of an upperhand at the beginning of the season because most of its principal characters where established fan-favorites from the CW's hit show, "The Vampire Diaries" (if you haven't watched that, go watch it. Ian Somerhalder should be enough of a reason for you). It follows the original vampires as they make their way back to New Orleans so that Klaus can reclaim his throne. I'll be honest, of all the shows on this list, this is the one show that I have not caught up with yet. Doesn't mean I don't like it at much, it just means that I have been EXTREMELY displeased with TVD this year and I guess "The Originals" is guilty by association...? But despite my misgivings about TVD, I will be watching "The Originals" this winter break and I guess TVD as well while I'm at it, but yeah. "The Originals" has been amazing judging by what I've seen. You just have to watch one episode of this and it'll make you feel better about your family drama, seriously. Those Mikaelson's, always feuding. What a shame, it's so heartwarming when they're all getting along...

So that's it guys, that's the end of my recap! Now, these are just my favorites from the new shows that I've seen. Obviously I haven't viewed every single new show, there's too many to even count. I know that we all have our own opinions and all that and I would really love some show suggestions from you guys! It's always nice to stumble upon hidden gems. Anyway. I'm sorry for the monstrous blogpost you guys, I honestly did try to keep it short. I hope that you try out one of these shows if you haven't already and I hope that it can cure your boredom this winter break! Happy holidays, and until next time...!

[atwistintheshow]

Fashion Update of the Week- Scarf Summer

Isabelle here! Since this blog is supposed to be the center of everything, here is another something from that category; fashion. Since it's a little late to write a 'Summer Fashion Guide', but a little too early to write a 'Back-to-School Outfit Ideas' post, I'm going to blog about one of my obsessions...scarves. Yes, I have a confession. I may or may not own twenty or more scarves.

I absolutely adore scarves because in my opinion, one beautiful scarf can make or break an outfit. It's also a simple piece of accessory that can glam up any lazy-day outfit. Personally, if I'm having a stressful morning and I know that it will only get worse throughout the day then the last thing I want to worry about is what I'm going to wear. My easy solution to that is a pair of jeans, a solid colored t-shirt or tank top, a cardigan (depending on the weather), and a scarf. The scarf adds a little sweetness to my simple outfit and makes me look put-together without looking too over-the-top. The best part is, I pretty much know everything will blend together and wont require too much effort.

As you can tell, I've obviously been abusing my scarves in the past year. That said, Southern California is pretty warm and sunny year around, especially during the summer, so it's taken me a while to master the art of summer-scarf pairings, but I think I've gotten most of it figured out and I'm going to share my findings with you today! Now, I am not claiming to be a fashion expert, this really is just what I've figured out over the years and I am totally open to any of your opinions on this subject so send them into the ask box! 

Now that all that's been said...let's get started! I've taken the liberty of separating the scarves into two categories, one, solid scarves, and two, printed scarves. One of the first things I'm going to say is the material of the scarf is obviously important. Basically, you're going to melt into a puddle of human flesh if you wrap yourself in a knitted scarf in the middle of the scorching hot summer. Please don't do that. Stick to a scarf made of fabric material. You all know what I'm talking about, right? That sheer fabric? Yeah. That one. Cotton works, too. Honestly, any scarf that isn't thick and heavy around your neck will do the job. You want a light, airy fabric that will blow around in the breeze.

1. Solid Scarves

A scarf is a great way to add a pop of color to any monochromatic outfit, so here are some tips on choosing the perfect solid summer scarf. The important factor here is the shade, obviously. When I think of summer, I think of neons, corals, lively blues, yellow, pink, etc. So yeah, bright colors. The light hues will also attract less sunlight. That means a lively yellow scarf will keep you cooler than a black scarf made of the same fabric because the black absorbs heat.

2. Printed Scarves

I'm in love with prints. A printed scarf definitely adds more spice than any other scarf so here are some of my suggestions. Again, stick with a light fabric and bright colors. As for the print itself... I honestly just think anything is acceptable. It's your life, your choice! But if I must say it, I would say flowers, stripes, and birds. They're all components of spring and summer that are just timeless classics!

So... that's it, my friends! I hope you enjoyed this post and I look forward to the next fashion blog! Leave some comments and suggestions about what I should write next in the ask box! Thanks for reading and of course... until next time!

[atwistintheshow]

Album of the Week: Babel by Mumford & Sons

  Isabelle here. Welcome to the first of many weekly posts featuring an album I constantly have on replay. This week, the spotlight is on the praised contemplation called Babel. In fact, this wonderful collection of songs has even earned itself the biggest Grammy of them all, Album of the Year (2013). I have always had an undying love for Mumford & Sons, but I never actually got around to buying their albums. Yet, after the Grammy Awards, I was determined to get Babel, and indeed I did.

Being old-fashioned like I am, I pulled out my CD player and began listening to the magic. It would be playing early in the morning and also later in the evening. When I went on long car trips, I still listened to this album in the car. I absolutely was addicted to the raw, passionate strums of the guitar and banjo. The empowering voice of Marcus Mumford added the perfect touch. Every single band member (Marcus Mumford, Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, and Winston Marshall) is crucial to this band's unique sound. They know how to get EXTREMELY LOUDDDD and then so very soft. This CD is the perfect combination of the two.

   Anyways, let's get down to the details. My personal favorites on this album are, well, actually...ALL OF THEM. However, if it were a decision I had to make no matter what, I would pick four songs. Despite the fact that it's their single, I Will Wait is honestly one of the best songs I have ever heard. It's my feel-good song, and I can't help but smile whenever I hear its intro. In addition, I'm partial to Lover of the Light. The other two songs that are my faves are Broken Crown and Hopeless Wanderer. I seriously cannot get over how excited this band makes me. I confess that sometimes when my excitement reaches the infinite level, I start to jump up and down with the powerful chords blasting throughout my room. The songwriting is impeccable, their musicality is inspiring, their chemistry as band is strong, and their performances live are almost better than their studio-recorded selves. Now, I want you to sit down (which you're hopefully already doing), close your eyes, and envision what qualities the best band in the world would have. Open your eyes. Click on the link at the very bottom of this article (yes, keep scrolling) and listen to the awesomeness of it. After it's done playing, you will notice that most of the qualities of the best band ever describe Mumford & Sons. Coincidental much? ;) So, please do yourself a favor and buy Babel in stores now. It's an acquired taste, I admit, but sometimes a little something flavorful can make all the difference. Until next time...

Highlights: Everything.

Highlights of the Highlights: I Will Wait, Lover of the Light, Hopeless Wanderer, Broken Crown (not in this particular order)

1. Babel

2. Whispers in the Dark

3. I Will Wait

4. Holland Road

5. Ghosts That We Knew

6. Lover of the Light

7. Lovers' Eyes

8. Reminder

9. Hopeless Wanderer

10. Broken

11. Below My Feet

12. Not with Haste

(Deluxe)

For Those Below

The Boxer

Where Are You Now

Lover of the Light - Live

Roll Away Your Stone - Live

Below My Feet - Live

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGKfrgqWcv0 

THOSE HARMONIES ASDFGHJKL

(And for further enjoyment...)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doO_nIEKEfE

[wordsaboutbooks-blog]

*NO SPOILERS (yet)*

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green was originally suggested to me by one of my best friends. Her face lit up as she demanded that I read it. Since the book was high up on her favorites list, I knew that I had to get my hands on it. When I ventured out to Barnes and Noble, I noticed that there was a huge TFiOS poster in the window. It advertised TFiOS t-shirts, gift cards, and of course, special collector’s edition books. Knowing that this was my sign to get it, I marched right in and purchased it.

Little did I know that this would become one of the biggest and best purchases of my life.

The first chapter instantly hooked me. It was charming, witty, and it instantly jumped right into the plot. The books starts off with the main character, teenage-girl cancer-patient Hazel Lancaster, going to Support Group. Here is where she meets Augustus Waters, the other main character (possibly one of my favorite characters in all of literature). They interact a bit, which leads to conversations, which leads to Hazel going to Augustus’ house to watch The Price of Dawn. Oh, and did I mention that we are introduced to the book’s first official metaphor at the end of Chapter One? This is only the first out of plenty to come.

*SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SCROLL DOWN TO READ THE SPOILER-FREE END OF THIS BOOK REVIEW*

Overall, TFiOS was a page-turner that I fell in love with. I remember when I first started it, I thought Hazel was going to die. In the book synopsis, it only mentions Hazel has cancer. I was even talking to my friend who suggested the book to me and joked, “If I were John Green, I would write a plot twist where Augustus dies." And you know what happened later in the book, absolutely surprising me despite my statement? He died. And I could not believe it. There were so many metaphors foreshadowing it. For example, in the airplane on the way to Amsterdam, Hazel and Augustus watched a movie. Augustus’ movie ended first. The movie ended up being a metaphor for his life. Therefore, his life would end first. However, the fact that Augustus actually died was still shocking. It was most likely because it was tragic. I remember reading the last couple pages, and my emotions were all over the place. How could this have happened?! Hazel would never have breathing Augustus again. I couldn’t wrap my mind around this saddening factoid.

Augustus is a character that I think we can all relate to on some level. He has a sense of humor and optimism throughout the hardest times. Even when he is slowly dying of cancer, he still claims he’s “on a roller coaster that only goes up." Ever since I read that, I’ve actually felt inspired to be as positive as Augustus.

Anyways, one of the reasons I loved this book so much was because of its numerous symbols and metaphors. The connection between the last name of Augustus (Waters) and the fluid ("water") in Hazel’s lungs was so clever. Also, this book’s simple cover captured some of the metaphors perfectly.

*End of spoilers. Read on, since the rest is spoiler-free!*

This book is amazing. Honestly, words cannot describe how much this book meant to me. It brought me happiness, joy, laughter, frustration, and sadness. Only an extremely well-written, good book can do that. So, if you haven’t read it yet, please, please, PLEASE read it. It has great plot, metaphors, AND quotes. In fact, I will end this book review with some of my favorite quotes from this stellar book.

"I’m on a roller coaster that only goes up, my friend."

"That’s the thing about pain, it demands to be felt."

"I fell in love the way you fall asleep; slowly, then all at once."

"You gave me a forever within the numbered days, and I’m grateful."

#1 New York Times Bestseller

#1 Indie Bestseller

#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller

USA Today Bestseller

New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice

My Favorites List (possibly my favorite book, besides Harry Potter)

[atwistintheshow]

Featured TV Show of the Week: "Alias"

Isabelle is back and today I'm going to be blogging about one of my hidden treasures... the TV show called "Alias". Now, if you know me, then you'll know that I love anything that relates to espionage/spies. Yeah, I'm kind of crazy about that stuff. I just love it and when I came across this pretty old show, I decided to give it a chance. "Alias" was created by J.J. Abrams and aired from 2001 to 2006, spanning 5 seasons, aka 105 episodes. I know what you're thinking... 2001?! Yeah, I get it. For our generation the years seem a little boring but don't let the show's age stop you, it's incredible. In fact, the show was one of the first new and modern spy shows of its generation. Before I go on, I will tell you now that this post will include no spoilers but will run through the basics of the series.

"Alias" follows the life of Sydney Bristow, a seemingly normal grad student with a secret. She's a spy whose loyalties lie with the CIA but she works for its opponent, SD-6, meaning she's a double agent. Her work for the two agencies require her to pick up new identities and disguise herself daily, hence the show's title. With the help of a few accomplices and her natural talent for improvisation, Sydney embarks on a series of tasks that lead her from one mystery to another. 

On a broad scope, "Alias" seems like just another one of those spy shows, but it's more than that. The storylines are carefully calculated and put into place so that each season merges with the next and before you know it, the show leaves you stumped with its sneaky brilliance. Little details that air in one episode would be revisited in a future airing and suddenly you're kicking yourself for not noticing it before. I can't forget to mention the importance of the relationships between the characters from the show. They're all twisted in a weird way and you'll find that many relationships will collide in surprising revelations throughout the series. 

Headed by a group of emotional actors and tricky writers, "Alias" is a must see for any spy fanatic and beyond that. Its compelling action makes it fun, its many twists and turns make it spontaneous, and its vulnerable and touching relationships make me cry. It's really a win-win for all. The boy who wants some action, the girl who wants the romance, the brother who wants the comedy, and the sister who wants the inspirational lesson will all be satisfied by this one show. I am truly impressed by its intelligent artistry and creative wonderfulness and I'll be honest, I blew through five seasons in a week. Yes, I might be a little addicted so I'll hand it to you now... WARNING: THIS SHOW IS DEADLY ADDICTIVE. Don't say I didn't warn you. You should still watch it, though. It's available on Netflix and you can rent it on DVD. All-in-all, "Alias" is a must watch. Thank you J.J. Abrams for this amazing, delicious show, I blame you for my lack of social activities, and I really want you to bring it back through a movie or a reboot even though I know it ended at the right time.

Thanks for reading, everyone! Let me know if you want me to do a detailed recap of the first episode of the series! Until next time... 

[wordsaboutbooks-blog]

*NO SPOILERS*

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a book I was inspired to read after watching its wonderful film adaption. I loved the movie to pieces, so I knew that I would probably love the book as well. And…I was right!

The narrator’s tone, in this case, Charlie, captured the way teenagers think. There were a couple of commonly used words, like incidentally, that reflected the way teenagers use language. I felt myself becoming enthralled with Charlie’s, Sam’s, and Patrick’s adventures as a group of friends. In fact, I almost felt like I was right there with them. There are so many timeless quotes throughout this novel, such as “We accept the love we think we deserve," that ring important truths. Reading about Charlie making it through all of his struggles teaches us that there is always hope. I’ve never had such an empowering experience reading a book as I had with Perks. The movie stayed as true to the book as possible. 

I loved everything about this. The use of music and the not-modern setting…all of these little things added up to make this book what it is. Of course, it is not flawless, but that’s what I like about it. It parallels to life in general. 

The word infinite has taken on a whole new meaning after reading this. This is one of my favorites, for sure.

New York Times Bestseller

My Favorites List

[atwistintheshow]

Welcome to the Show

Hello! My name is Isabelle Harper, and this is my first blog post. I've been contemplating the contents of this post for a while now, and I couldn't decide on the route I wanted to go down so I'm just going to free-write in the hopes that this post will turn into something decent. 

I created this blog a few months ago because I had this idea. Perhaps it's been done before, but I still wanted to build on the concept of a blog that was the center of everything; fashion, literature, cinema, television, media, food, sports, music, etc. One day I just decided it was time to stop thinking and start doing so I created the account, picked the theme, and wrote the bio. What I didn't do was write the post, so here I am, a few months later, finally doing it. 

You'll find that the posts will be quite random and they'll range from reviews to recaps and beyond that. After a period of silence, I'm finally writing and it feels so good. I don't know where this journey will take me but I sincerely hope that you enjoy this blog. Thank you for joining me on this everlasting adventure. Until next time! :)

PS. You can find some of my book reviews here: http://wordsaboutbooks.tumblr.com/