Tag: percy jackson

The Lightning Thief Broadway Musical Review: Do Broadway reviewers hate teens? Caitsbooks.com

The Lightning Thief Musical – Broadway Reviewers Hate Teens (Review + Rant?)

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Alright, I’m not going to pretend I’m not upset here. I spent this morning reading some of the reviews of the Broadway production of “The Lightning Thief Musical” and just found myself really frustrated.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. Not everyone likes the same things, and that’s completely fine. However, I noticed a trend in the negative reviews for this show, and I wanted to talk about it (plus give my thoughts on the show as well).

I’ve seen versions of “The Lightning Thief Musical” three times now. I saw the reunion concert after the off-broadway premier in 2017. I saw the off-broadway tour when it came to NY last March. And just last month I saw “The Lightning Thief Musical” in previews on Broadway.

Needless to say, I think I’ve seen it enough to have an opinion on it. And unlike the reviewers who have been trashing it, I’ve also read the source material and seen previous adaptations.

I love this musical. It’s charming, cute, funny, and even able to bring a tear to your eye (don’t talk to me about “Tree on the Hill”- I will cry). It’s very faithful to the books and will make you completely forget about that mess of a movie. That said, “The Lightning Thief” may not be for everyone. The source material is a middle grade book series. It’s target audience is young, and you can tell. However, this story can be just as compelling for adults as long as you go into it with an open mind.

Also, I just want to mention how amazing this cast is. It’s a small cast, with only 7 people. All but 2 of them (Percy and Annabeth) play multiple roles. They embody these characters in a way I never thought could be possible. Each member of the cast is absolutely fantastic. Chris McCarrel (Percy), Kristen Stokes (Annabeth), and Jorrel Javier (Grover) portray the nuances of their characters so well, I honestly can’t imagine anyone else playing them. The rest of the cast is equally stunning, each of them adding so much to the show.

Read more to see me address specific complaints I’ve noticed
(I’m looking at you, New York Times and Theatermania reviews)

[ Related: Preparing Rapunzel & Anastasia for New York Comic Con – Cosplay Check In ]

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Bullet Journaling: A Bookworm’s Guide to Getting Started

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Bullet journals have really grown in popularity in the past couple of years, and whenever I looked at those amazing pictures on instagram and pintrest, I would get so intimidated. I have no artistic talent, and no creativity, plus I’m a perfectionist. So basically, the worst combination for a bullet journaler. I never let myself try it, because I was so afraid I would be bad at it.

Well, in December 2018, I decided to try it anyways. No one else would know, but me, so if I failed spectacularly, only I would witness it.

I’ve been bullet journaling for about six months now, so I’ve decided to share what I’ve learned, and my advice for beginners. And since this is a book blog, I’ve also included pictures of some of my bookish spreads!

This will be an overview of sorts, so if you want specific tutorials on how I did any of these spreads, let me know!

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Bookshelf Tour + Organization Tips

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Before I get into this, I just want to mention a post I made of 8 Things Every Book Collector Has Heard. I also just made a post about consumerism in the book community. Be sure to check that out! I feel a little hypocritical doing a bookshelf tour right after talking about how consumerism is negatively effecting the community. However, I think it’s possible to let yourself take pride in your collection and share it with others while also being aware that it became the way it is because of an unhealthy mentality surrounding book buying as well as pressures from the community.

Disclaimer: This collection has been a lifetime in the making. I’m 21, and I’ve been actively collecting books & bookish things with every spare dollar I’ve had, for over six years. This didn’t happen overnight, so if you’re just starting a collection and desperate to make it bigger, just give it time! Don’t go out purchasing a dozen books you never want to read. Be patient and let it grow with you.

One of my favorite things in my life is my book collection (also my dogs, who love to jump in any pictures I try to take of my collection). It’s been years in the making, and something I spend most of my extra time and money on.

I know it’s definitely excessive, but it brings me so much joy that it’s worth losing all wall space in my bedroom. And today, I wanted to go into detail on my shelves and how I organize them, as well as some tips I’ve learned.

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