Frozen

So, we should probably talk about Frozen.

I'd been looking forward to this movie for a very long time, so I am happy to say that it didn't disappoint--at least not much.

Here's the gist with no spoilers. The story is loosely based on Hans Christian Anderson's The Snow Queen. Elsa and her little sister Anna are princesses and best friends, but Elsa has magical-ice powers that are becoming harder and harder to control. After accidentally hurting Anna, Elsa isolates herself in the hopes that she will someday learn to control her powers. She attempts to do this by controlling her emotions ("conceal, don't feel").

Unfortunately, Elsa and Anna's parents die (I promise this isn't a spoiler) leaving Elsa to become queen. At Elsa's coronation, Elsa isn't able to control her emotions and reveals her magical-ice-powers to everyone. The kingdom is shocked; Elsa runs away and isolates herself on the top of a mountain, leaving the kingdom in an eternal winter. The story picks up when Anna follows her, hoping to save the kingdom from the snowstorm with the help of a talking snowman named Olaf, a "rugged mountain man" named Kristoff, and a reindeer named Sven.

Here they all are! Plus Hans (a visiting prince Anna's got her eye on)

One of the things that Frozen does extremely well is it's show-stopping song "Let It Go" sung by Idina Menzel as Elsa. You can watch the whole sequence online here and just be in awe at the beauty. The lyrics are all poignant and appropriate to the situation, the animation flows nicely and only augments the viewers emotive response, and Menzel's iconic voice brings the song remarkable power. While there was certainly nothing wrong with the other songs in the movie, they all do pale in comparison to this one. I read one YouTube comment that described "Let It Go" as "the best three minutes in the film," and that may very well be true.

I'm also a huge fan of the animation in the recent animated films (I'm thinking Tangled and Rise of the Guardians), which I know isn't a popular opinion. There are those Disney purists who long for the days of yore when everything was hand drawn. I feel that; I get it--really, I do. But I don't think the beauty of hand drawn animation discredits that of CGI. But this is off topic. The point is, I thought the animation in Frozen was gorgeous. The characters were fine, but the scenery is what really blue me away (especially in "Let It Go" sequence. I promise I'll stop mentioning this scene soon).

I'd been hearing complaints for months about how the female characters in Disney CGI films were all looking the same. And I can see their point, but it's not making my feminism senses tingle, and I'll tell you why. Here is a picture of Anna and Rapunzel side by side.

Please ignore that it says French_Disney_Princess

They do look pretty similar, don't they? Same big eyes, same button nose, thing lips, white skin, light colored eyes and hair. However, I agree with this dude that, if you're going to criticize these two particular characters for looking alike, then you have to criticize a lot farther than that. One of the points that Erlandson makes is that Disney has a particular "look" for its female characters that includes big eyes, thin lips, and a button nose. Erlandson cites Ariel as the character that popularized this model, and I can see what he means.

Big eyes, button nose, thin lips. Sounds familiar. So as you can see, the problem of Disney's female characters all looking pretty much the same is hardly unique to Frozen and Tangled. It is a wider problem that can only be addressed with time and more culturally diverse movies. Because Disney only recently made The Princess and the Frog, we probably won't see another African American protagonist for a while, but I would be interested to see if a South American princess joins the line up in the coming years. To sum up, the fact that Disney's female characters follow an archetype doesn't bother me from a feminist perspective, but I agree that Frozen hardly adds any diversity (yes, it's the first film set in Sweden, but it's still Europe) to Disney's princess cast.

As for the people complaining that Elsa and Anna look too much alike...they're sisters. It's okay.

Moving on. The storyline was comfortable--good, but not groundbreaking. There was, however, a twist on the "true love's power" trope at the end, which was refreshing. I don't want to give too much away about the storyline, but I will say that my only disappointment was that I wish Hans had been handled differently. That's all I'm saying.

The characters were lovable and charming. Elsa was much more mature than Anna, which showed because of the more complex struggles she had to face and her more practical personality compared to Anna's carefree and "looking for love" mentality. What this means is that while Anna is probably who you would consider the traditional protagonist (she's got a lot of screen time, she's a heroine, and she's got the romantic subplot), Elsa is even more compelling a character.

I heard someone say that Elsa's character and the plot were basically just a revamped "Wicked." The fact that Idina Menzel voices Elsa corroborates this statement, as do several elements of Elsa's character, but I prefer to think Disney didn't just rip off "Wicked"...is that too idealistic? I've never seen "Wicked," but from what I know of it Elsa's story is very similar to Elphaba's, but I think the addition of Anna sends the story in a different direction.

Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf were the other three main characters in Frozen. Kristoff is an antisocial ice-seller who thinks the only friend he needs is his reindeer. He's funny and lovable, but, while the movie definitely has romance, he isn't the main focus or goal at the end of the movie. Instead, Frozen focuses on the relationship between Elsa and Anna. Sounds great to me!

Sven would not make it on my Top Ten Disney Animal Sidekicks list. He's fine, but not given much screen time and I found him much less expressive than Maximus from Tangled. Olaf is the main source of comedy in the film, and his humor can be a bit low-brow sometimes, but the story of the snowman who longs for summer is endearing so I'll forgive him that.

Overall, I really enjoyed Frozen and I can't wait to see it again. I think it did a great job of still having romance, but not having it be the focus of the film. The film even makes fun of the "love at first sight" mentality, which shows a lot of progress from Cinderella and Snow White. Like Brave, the crux of the film is on familial relationships and being comfortable with who you are, showing that true love comes in many forms. I also liked that one of the protagonists (Elsa) has to deal with mature problems, responsibilities, and consequences. 

Go see it! Procrastinate whatever you're supposed to be doing and get yourself to a theater!

Holding Hands

Holding hands is nice, when you think about it.
It's someone saying, "I want to touch you.
I want to be connected to you.
I want to feel the thump thump of your blood pumping
In the places where we are joined."
Because maybe their blood will pump in time,
and the connection becomes something more.

Holding hands is validation.
You are clean. You are good.
And even if you're not, someone thinks you are
because someone is willingly touching you,
touching the soft heart of their palm to yours.
You cannot hold hands with someone disgusting.
You could not stand the thought of their essence,
the filth of bad personality and worse character
that clings to their skin and is transferred to yours
like whispering spiders.

But what of those times when the grip is too tight,
when fingers like vices squeeze your hand and your wrist?
It makes the blood pump faster,
but is that worth the bruises it leaves behind?
You shake this hand off.
You try and wriggle free.
You push and you pull,
or maybe you don't,
because the hand's grip has made you numb.
You no longer feel the pain of that too-tight grasp.
You only feel the thump thump of their blood
as your own is trapped, fingers turning blue.

Fear of the Unknown

I was watching television the other day when a commercial for Purell hand sanitizer came on. In the commercial, the soothing female voiceover informed the audience that Purell was the most trusted brand of hand sanitizer because it was proven to kill more germs than their competitors. I'm on the couch with a look on my face that is the physical embodiment of "Whaaaaat?"

I'm not so good at science. I'm sure there are lots of scientific ways to test exactly how many germs are killed by a dollop of hand sanitizer, but all I could think while watching this commercial was that it might all just be a big hoax. Maybe, just maybe, hand sanitizer doesn't do anything at all; it's just another way we are being convinced to spend our money. Because how do we, the consumers, really know if it's working? We don't. We have to trust that someone with microscopes or something sciencey has done the research to prove that Purell really does get rid of the most germs. But we can't tell this just by looking at our hands. You can't see germs. All we get are damp hands and that pungent, yet satisfying, clean smell.

More than any of that, this commercial made me think about how we, as humans, are so often terrified by invisible predators. We can't see germs, but we do everything we can to protect our homes and bodies from them. We are terrified that these unknowable germs could harm us in some way. Just look at some of the movies involving disease and infection epidemics. There's Contagion (2011), I Am Legend (2007), and 28 Days Later (2002). And those are only the one's I've heard of! There are plenty more.

We are obsessed with the invisible predator, but what other kinds are there, besides germs? What about a different kind of germ--a virus. Every time a friend posts a strange link on my Facebook timeline I hesitate to open it because I'm afraid it will give me a virus, destroying my computer (and therefore my life) with one ill-advised click. We're afraid of virus', those mysterious hackers who can wipe out our bank accounts from across the globe with complete anonymity, identity theft, and sexual predators. The online world, unique in the fact that it does not physically exist even though we spend so much of our time there, brings about a special kind of fear that is very similar to being wary of germs.

What else? I would say, the government. It's no new thing for people to be afraid that Big Brother is watching them, but I've been seeing this fear show up more and more in mainstream media. The invisible, judging eyes of the government, Big Brother, terrorists, God, Dr. Eckleburg--whoever, strike fear into our hearts.

The idea of being watched without knowing it and not being able to watch in return is frightening, and reminded me of the fear of aliens--extraterrestrial creatures that we did not know about or understand, but who knew all about us and were bent on our destruction. You don't have to think too hard to come up with an exhaustive list of books and movies covering this topic.

Thinking about aliens made me realize that we might not be afraid of the unseen so much as the unknown. While not knowing can create a healthy curiosity and thirst for life, it can also breed terror. Think about it. Why are you afraid of the future? Because you don't know what will happen. Why are you afraid of death? Because the afterlife (if it exists) is unknowable. Why are you afraid of the dark? Because you can't see what's there.

I should probably end this by saying something philosophical, but instead I'll just advise you to embrace the germs. Try not to worry about the aliens. And, if you must, put on some night vision goggles--though you'll probably sleep better without them.

Stiffness

There's a stiffness in my joints

That comes from running too far

Running for miles, dawn to dusk, again

There is sweat and ache

And a stiffness

Or maybe it's from thinking about running

There's a stiffness in my joints

That comes from walking too long

Waling everywhere, without care,

Direction, and purpose

With a stiffness

Or maybe it's from thinking about walking.

There's a stiffness in my joints

That comes from standing all day

Standing straight and firm much too long

The work is never done 

It brings stiffness 

Or maybe it's from thinking about standing

There's a stiffness in my joints

That comes from sitting at least

Sitting through old and hard and sad

Why did I ever stand?

There is a stiffness

Or maybe it's from thinking about sitting.

There is a stiffness in my joints

That comes from flying at night

Flying up to places unreal

For they are too perfect

For the stiffness

Or maybe it's from dreaming about flying.

Updated Bucket List

1. Play a really good prank on someone

2. Run a 10k

3. Go zip-lining through the rainforest

4. Read Le Petit Prince and understand it

5. Watch all the Harry Potter films in a row without stopping

6. Meet... 

-Hank Green

-Neil Gaiman

-JK Rowling

7. Knit a blanket

8. Learn to crochet

9. Hike the Appalachian Trail

10. Grow a vegetable garden

11.  Go to...

- Italy

-Paris

-The Great Wall of China

-The gum wall in Seattle

-Disneyland

-Japan

-Antartica

-Yellowstone Park

-King's Cross Station

-India

-Australian Outback

-London

-Belgium

-Greece

-New Zealand

-Prague

-Istanbul

-The Grand Canyon
-Asheville

12. Sing kareoke

13. Hike El Camino De Santiago again

14. Marry someone I love

15. Go skinny dipping

16. Finish writing a novel

17. Have someone recognize me on the street from something I've done

18. Voice a character in a Disney animated film

19. Learn to ice skate backwards

20. Memorize the song "The Nations of the World" from the Animaniacs

21. Graduate cum laude

22. Appear on a game show

23. Have my palm read

24. Stop biting my nails

25. Ride on the back of a motorcycle

26. See a Ringling Brothers circus

27. Drink Champagne in Champagne, France

28. See the Yi Peng lantern festival in Thailand

29. Go skydiving (with a buddy)

30. Learn how to french braid

31. Win a short story contest

32. Give blood

Whelp, I haven't actually done much to cross off my bucket list yet...but that's okay! That's what dreams and goals are for, right? Right?

The Odd Sea

The Odd Sea by Frederick Reiken is the story of a family coping with the disappearance of one of their own: a son and brother named Ethan. The Odd Sea is narrated by Ethan's younger brother, Philip, an observant young man who, maybe even more than anyone else, is having trouble accepting that Ethan won't be returning and that there aren't any answers to explain his disappearance.

To be honest, I wasn't expecting much from The Odd Sea. It's Reiken's debut novel, and I bought it at a library sale for $2.00 with a green "mystery" label on the side in goosebumps handwriting--not exactly a stellar recommendation. So, I've been putting off reading it for a while, letting it get lost in the back of my bookshelf while I read more well-known novels. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I finally got around to reading it.

The "mystery" label the library stuck to the spine is really a misnomer, more of an indication of the story's compelling narrative and the drive the reader feels to know and to understand than because of any actual mystery plot or tropes. Like Ethan's family and friends, the reader desperately wants to know what happened to Ethan. Reiken tantalizes the reader several times throughout the novel with possible solutions, each time hammering home the point that there is no solution. The mystery in The Odd Sea then isn't some formulaic story with all the facts outlined neatly at the end (as much as I love Agatha Christie, it does get a bit old sometimes), but an acknowledgement that life's questions about loss, death, and absence in all forms cannot be explained or made better, but must be accepted as part of life in order to move on.

Watching the characters deal with Ethan's disappearance was one of the most touching parts of the novel for me. I found especially heartbreaking the way Phillip and his older sister Halley had to assume the role of a comforter and almost parental figure while their mother was being treated for depression and their father was feverishly working to build a timber house. There were numerous touching scenes showing a broken family working to heal together in whatever way they can, which rang true to me.

I suppose one of my only faults with the book is with Ethan's characterization, though I'm not entirely sure whether to hate or love it. Ethan is inhuman in The Odd Sea, both in his ghostly presence weaving through the pages and the characters' lives, but also in the way his actions are so...contrived might be the right word. There was one scene in particular in which Ethan suddenly smashes a perfectly good guitar against a tree. It's a beautiful, startling moment, but it feels a little forced in that Reiken is trying to make Ethan appear mysterious. This could also just be a side-effect of Phillip, the narrator, idealizing and de-humanizing (forgetting about his "living, breathing, visible human body") Ethan, which is valid, but I also find characters like Victoria and Melissa to be equally contrivedly-unique.

Overall, The Odd Sea was an enjoyable and very fast read. I would recommend it, though if you're easy to cry have a box of tissues ready. Also, there are some...questionable sexy-times scenes, so anyone who finds cheating or large age-gaps between partners to be icky might want to steer clear.

MERLIN

I mentioned in a post (that was, admittedly, quite a while ago) that I'd started watching BBC's Merlin. Well, I am proud to announce that after a whirlwind couple months spent huddled in front of watchseries and trying to avoid seeing too many spoilers on my tumblr dash I have finally finished Merlin! It was announced shortly after I started watching that the current series airing (series 5) would be the last. This almost made me stop watching because I knew that when/if I ever caught up the show would be over completely. I'm slightly heartbroken, but I'm glad I continued watching til the end regardless.

Excuse me for a moment.

Okay. I'm ready.

There will be NO SPOILERS in this blog post. At least not anything from the last season, but I consider the others fair game, though I'm going try and be very general about it all because it aired so recently and I know people may only now be starting to watch.

Merlin is a show about a young warlock--you guessed it--Merlin. Merlin is the same Merlin you're thinking of, though much younger, sassier, and ganglier than you probably had in mind. He leaves his mother and small village life to go to Camelot and apprentice for his mother's friend, Gaius, the court physician, despite magic being outlawed there by King Uther Pendragon. Almost immediately upon arriving, Merlin saves Gaius' life but reveals his magic in the process. Lucky for him, Gaius used to dabble in magic as well and promises not only not to hand him over for execution, but to guide him magically.

Merlin then accidentally gets on Prince Arthur's badside (the handsome prat) and then even more accidentally becomes his manservant, which is both the best and worst thing that ever happens to him. You might ask why he doesn't just leave, but a great dragon living under the castle told him it was his destiny to be by Arthur's side to protect him and help Arthur bring about the glorious days of Albion united. Seriously, I can't make this stuff up.

From there on out Merlin and Arthur gradually develop from mutual hatred to tolerance to friendship to full out bromance--which could be seen as less BRO and more just ROMANCE if you look closely (and by that I mean if you look at all). Seriously, browse the merthur tag on tumblr and you'll have gay feels comin out the wazoo.

Anyway. The show covers five series in which we follow Arthur on his journey to kinghood and Merlin on his journey of saving Arthur from every magical beast, spell, and ailment known to mankind. We meet several characters that you might recognize from the original legends including Morgana, Morderd, Guinevere, Lancelot, and Gwaine, though they are all adaptations. 

My favorite is Gwaine.

I don't remember why. Maybe it has something to do with how he's such a good friend to Merlin, or how he doesn't fit into the nobility stereotype, or how he is very brave and courageous--no, no, that's not it. I'm sure it'll come to me later.

In all seriousness, I've really enjoyed watching Merlin. It is in turns hilarious, touching, and soul-wrenching. My absolute favorite aspect of the show is just watching the friendship between Arthur and Merlin, and watching them grow up. The show covers a good deal of time with them, and we see them struggle each in their own turns. Merlin struggles with the obvious problem of needing to hide his magic, but also with the guilt he feels lying to his friends and the conflict over whether he should reveal himself to them or not--whether he'll ever be able to. Arthur too struggles to redefine what it means to be a king through his friendship with Merlin, marriage to Guinevere, relationship with the commoners (especially in regards to the knights), and his stance on magic. Laughs and Guinevere's heaving breasts are all well and good, but as a reader I can't love anything more than seeing characters develop, and Merlin provided me with that.

If you needed any more encouragement to watch the show, there's always this:

If that doesn't convince you, nothing will.

In other news:

• I'm back in America. More specifically, I'm back in Clemson, SC getting ready to start school on the 9th. I've moved into my house, which is fantastic because I have my own bedroom and bathroom. yessssss
• I told y'all that I was doing Nanowrimo this year, but I neglected to mention that I WON! I completed 50,000 words on my WIP novel The Island. The book is nowhere near done yet (I would say I'm about 1/3 of the way through) and I haven't touched it since then, but my new year's resolution is to finish it, so there should be more to come. 
• I'm currently reading Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Practchett, which is delightfully naughty. My other new year's resolution is to complete a challenge my mother has been doing for several years now to read one book for each letter of the alphabet. Of course I'll read more than that, naturally, but I wouldn't normally seek out books that start with the letter X, so it should be a nice challenge.
• Tumblr convinced me to watch Teen Wolf, so I'm in the second season of that now. I can't say I'm too thrilled (I want to shave Allison's hair off and make Scott eat it) but there's only two seasons so nbd
• ONCE UPON A TIME COMES BACK ON TONIGHT AND I'LL GET TO SEE MORE OF HOOK MY BABYYY!!! He and Emma totes belong together. OTP don't bash it.

Nanowrimo

It's that time of year! For those of you who don't know, November is National Novel Writing Month, otherwise known as Nanowrimo! During November, those participating in Nanowrimo attempt to write a 50,000 word novel by the end of the month. This is roughly 1,667 words a day and no easy task.

I've known about Nanowrimo for a few years now, but this will be my first year actually taking part. I've always put it off in the past, saying that I don't need the time pressure or I'm too busy or I don't have any inspiration to write or any other bullshit excuse you can think of. I've decided firmly and absolutely to take part this year. I have so many ideas floating in my head for what I want to write, but I never actually get around to writing them. Nanowrimo will force me, if nothing else, to get words down on the paper. I'll worry about whether or not any of the shit my fingers typed makes sense in December.

There's tons of information about Nanowrimo out there, but where I first heard of it was youtube, so I'm going to link you to a few videos that I found helpful/informative/inspiring/entertaining. I hope they'll inspire you to participate this year as well :)

• I've mentioned Kristina Horner before, talking about how much she inspires me with the sheer amount of stuff she has accomplished in her life so far. One of those things is the Nanowrimo Song, which is cute and goes through the basic stages of Nanowrimo Feels. Don't let the depressed and crazy stage scare you away, I'm sure it happens to all writers whether they're writing under such pressing time constraints or not.
• Kristina has put up pretty regular videos about Nanowrimo with advice, which can be found here and also here and most recently here
• Acclaimed author, John Green, and the puffier half of the Vlogbrothers has also done a video about Nanowrimo which you can find here
• Then there is another one of my youtube celebrity crushes, the illustrious lioness hayleyghoover who has her own video about the 5 Reasons to do Nanowrimo

You should go check all of those out, maybe they'll help you the way they've helped me--golly I hope so. People don't say golly enough, you know?

As I said before, this will be my first time doing Nanowrimo. I don't have high hopes (cause if you set your expectations low you always end up with either a pleasant surprise or an expected disappointment, neither of which is as soul-crushing as if you had actually aimed for the stars...wait a second, this was supposed to sound like a good idea...) but I am hoping to at least get a good chunk of my hopeful novel out of the way this November. So far I've got exactly 3500 words. I'm chuggin' along like a turtle, slow and steady baby--like your mom in bed last night.

If you'd like to participate in Nanowrimo, click the link I posted at the top and get started because it's November 2nd and you're already RUNNING OUT OF TIME!

happy writing

...So I'm in Italy

I mentioned briefly in the last post that I've been in Italy. I was hoping I could just leave it at that and just go right back to normal, but my conscience won't let me. I've abandoned this blog and I must answer for it. So, here are the answers! Brace yourself, there's a lot of ground to cover here.

1. How Do You Like Italy?

Italy is great! Well, now it is. We didn't get on so much when I first arrived, but I've ironed out the kinks since then. My plane arrived in Florence and all was just dandy until I realized my luggage didn't make it. Then after checking in and getting my keys I got lost trying to find my apartment. I know a little bit of Italian so I was able to ask for directions without too much trouble, but it was hot and I'd been traveling for a day and a half--not a happy camper. I trudged along the tricky cobbled streets of Florence with my I-can't-believe-they-let-me-take-this-on-the-plane-it's-so-large carry on. After a nap and a shower I felt much better.

The food in Italy is, of course, amazing. My roommates and I (lovely girls) ate out a lot in the first week before we realized how much money we were burning through. Now we're limiting ourselves to dinner out about every other week, sometimes more frequently. Dinner have been nice, but what I've really been enjoying are the lunches. There are lots of cheap places to grab paninis or pizzas nearby and everything is delicious. One of my favorite places is I'Panaio in the local market. They sell a large assortment of pastries as well as lunch foods and the staff is super friendly.

I haven't experienced too much of a culture shock yet, even though I've been here 7 weeks already. The only thing that bugs me is how slow the Italians walk down the street. I enjoy a reasonably brisk pace, so when a man darts out in front of me and proceeds to toddle along I get a little titchy.

2. Have You Traveled?

Plenty of places! I'm practically a world traveller! Okay, so I haven't been all around yet, but I still have time! So far I have been to Florence (obviously), Viareggio, Verona, Siena, Cinque Terre, Montepulciano, Montalcino, and Rome. So far my favorite has been Cinque Terre, which I went to on a trip with Bus2Alps. The hike was difficult (we did the hike to the fifth city) because it was uphill for the first 20 minutes, but the views were well worth it. Plus we got to chill on the beach with mojitos afterwards.

3. Where's The Best Place To Get Gelato?

Oh boy. OHHHHH BOY. I know gelato. I haven't gone out to eat yet, but I've sampled almost every gelateria within walking distance. My roommates and I even went gelateria hopping for dinner one night. We walked from gelateria to gelateria, getting one flavor at each for a total of five gelaterias and the best 10 euro ever spent.

My favorite so far has been B Ice. It's a family run place and has the best apple-cinnamon gelato I have ever tasted. Sure it's the only apple-cinnamon gelato I've ever tasted, but it's dang good. Melt in your mouth fuck me sally good. The only problem is that B Ice is a good 20 minute walk from the touristy portion of town, well worth it but not exactly good for a spontaneous trip if you're on a time schedule.

Another great place that is closer to town is Venchi. They've been in the chocolate business since 1878 and makes some really great, rich chocolate gelato. They're fancy, but not nearly as expensive as you would think. A generous small I think cost no more than 2.50 euro. It's also right by the duomo so it's easy to pop in.

4. What Classes Are You Taking?

I am taking Philosophy 101, Age of Heroes: the Iliad, Odyssey, and Aeneid, 14th Century Italian Literature, Advanced Italian Language, and Food of Itlay. In case it isn't obvious, Food of Italy is my favorite. We cook every class, which not only saves me money from buying lunch once a week, but also means I get to pig out on authentic Italian food practically all the time now that I have the recipes. Yummmm

5. How Did Midterms Go?

Why thank you for asking. I just had my last two midterms today and I think they went reasonably well. I'm not used to having to handwrite my exams, usually my english professors just ask for typed papers to be handed in on the exam dates, so my writing hand is cramping from lack of exercise. First world problems.

6. So...Why Haven't You Posted In Over A Month?

Funny story. You see, my laptop was stolen by these Italian Mafia gang members. They were huge and had slicked back hair and cigars dangling precariously from their snarling mouths. Oh, Why did they want my laptop? Ummm...Revenge. I'm pretty sure it was for revenge. You see, when I arrived I witnessed this murder--really gruesome thing. It was a double murder, actually, and I was the only witness! Blood everywhere. I thought they didn't see me but it turns out they did and they came after me for revenge. Except they didn't kill me because I ran away. Really quickly. And then moved so they couldn't find me again. I'm actually in the witness protection program right now--shhhhh!! 

7. No, But Really?

Okay. I'd like to say that my internet was down or that my laptop crashed but that's not true. It's been working perfectly fine. I've just been a combination of busy, exhausted, and lazy that doesn't bode well for blogging.

In my spare time since I've been here I've read a few books (Dreamcatcher by Stephen King and Shadowland by Peter Straub) but I've mainly been catching up on tv shows. As lame as that sounds. I've been watching:

• Downton Abbey Season Two
• Sekaiichi Hatsukoi
• Once Upon a Time Season Two
• Modern Family

Now I've just started BBC's Merlin (first episode last night) and I have a feeling this is going to be another one that I'll obsessively fangirl over like Sherlock and Downton. Oh, Britain, why are you so awesome? It probably wasn't a good idea to start Merlin now since I'm leaving for Paris and Barcelona in a few days.

You jealous? Yeah, you are.

The Reading List of My Life

Let's ignore the fact that I haven't posted in months, shall we? I'm in Italy.

I watched this video by Zefrank on Youtube not two seconds ago. He basically gives a rundown of all the books that meant something to him in his life. Just the ones that stood out. I felt an immediate calling to make some kind of written reading list of my own, partly so that I can remember all the good books I've read in my life, but mostly because I don't understand the message of most of Zefrank's videos and I was happy I seemed to get this one.

I've always assumed that I love to read now because my mother read so much to me when I was a child. I have stacks of picture books at home, each with a loving message from my mother written on the inside cover in her first-grade-teacher print. My favorites were Dr. Seuss and one book about a girl who's dolls come to life in her closet, the name of which I can't remember for the life of me. There was a little blonde doll in a pink and white dress that was to me the prettiest.

At some point I reached the age where I could read on my own. I don't remember when this happened although I assume it was around first grade. I've been able to read for as far back as my memory goes. I read the entire Magic Treehouse series crouched in the back of my mother's classroom while she graded tests and rearranged desks. I read Junie B. Jones, Little House on the Prairie, Amelia Bedelia, and the American Girl Doll books and the Boxcar Children--Oh the Boxcar Children! For the longest time I was convinced that the greatest joy in life would be to live alone in an abandoned boxcar with my siblings. I conveniently forgot the fact that my brothers and I could never get along.

Then I grew up a little bit and evolved into longer chapter books. I tackled the Chronicles of Narnia much to young to appreciate The Magician's Nephew (which is much better now that I've read it again, though still not my favorite). The rest of elementary school is a bit of a blur for me. I spent a lot of time in the library--so much so that she often gave me stuffed animals as presents. But for all the time I spent reading I remember very few of my elementary school books. One of my all time favorites was My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George followed closely by Harriet The Spy, both of which inspired me to do things my parents disapproved of. Namely running away to live in a hollowed tree and spying on my neighbors. Then there was Bridge to Terebithia and The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, which I still reread every year. I remember Fever by Laurie Halse Anderson, and that is mainly because I never returned it.  I stole it from the librarian who was so kind to me.

In fifth grade came THE BOOK for me. The book to end all books. It was The Land by Mildred D. Taylor. It touched me in a way I couldn't describe, making me cry with every reread. It got to the point where I had been rereading The Land over and over again for months. I forced myself to put it down and pick up the companion piece, Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry, but I found it lacking. To this day I have not read The Land again, because I know I'd never be able to put it down.

Middle school came with so many books. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Inkheart, Eragon, Disappearance by Jude Watson, the Stravaganza series by Mary Hoffman. A Great and Terrible Beauty and sequels by Libba Bray. One of my favorites was the Amulet of Samarkand and it's sequels by Jonathan Stroud; the smart-mouthed demon Bartimeous tickled my funny bone almost to extinction. Then in eighth grade came the whopper: Harry Potter. After that there was an ever-present stack of Harry Potter books next to my seat at the dining room table so that I could read whenever I was hungry (except for dinner because that was family time). That is why there are spaghetti sauce stains all over my copy of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

In high school I read a lot, and it probably won't surprise you to know I didn't have many friends. I read everything I could by James Fenimore Cooper, Jane Austen, Pat Conroy, and Bill Bryson. I adored Nathaniel Philbricks' In the Heart of the Sea, which was the first nonfiction book that every touched my soul followed shortly after by Cicero by Anthony Everett. My heart still lies with fiction but these two books were miracles. I read simple books like The Nanny Diaries and absurdly presumptuous books like Atlas Shrugged. There were the books I read for school that I enjoyed like On Writing by Stephen King, Life of Pi, Candide, All Quiet on the Western Front, and Frankenstein. Then there were those I hated like Shakespeare's Julius Caesar which I read four times and Mrs. Dalloway, the atrocious Wuthering Heights and The House on Mango Street.

For pleasure I read Dan Brown, Philippa Gregory, Jodi Picoult and other authors that I adored at the time that I cringe at now. Although I still enjoy Dan Brown. I read On, Off by Colleen McCullough and for some reason I trudged through Moby Dick. Senior year I developed and obsession with Agatha Christie--Poirot, not Ms. Marple--and bought every single one of her mysteries I could get my hands on. Then came college.

I didn't have as much time to read in college. I would like to say it's because I got a social life, but really it's because I got a laptop and discovered the joys of Netflix. Still I've read some. In class I've read Wordsworth and Frost and Coleridge but they might as well be in French because poetry means diddly squat to me. The stand outs that I've read on my own are Laura Lippman's Hardly Knew Her which gave me permission to write creepy short stores if that's what I wanted to do. Hannah Tinti's The Good Thief motivated me to read again. A motivation I lost shortly after when I tried to read Dear American Airlines. But then I discovered Neil Gaiman and fell in love all over again. I read Neverwhere first and was entranced. Then came The Graveyard Book and American Gods and then Anansi Boys. These were followed by The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series and the ache when I found out there were supposed to be ten books before the author died. I've read Beloved by Toni Morrison and The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. I've poured over Dante's Vita Nuova with disdain and his Divine Comedy with awe.

And right now? What am I reading? I just finished Shadowland by Peter Straub which had great reviews on Goodreads but wound up not impressing me nearly as much as Dreamcatcher by Stephen King did which I read right before. My first piece of fiction by King and it talked about aliens coming out of people's asses. Go figure. And now I am about to start Man in the Iron Mask by Alexandre Dumas.

What are you reading? What have you read? What do you hope to read?

Chihayafuru

I haven't mentioned this before, because I am aware that I already seem like such a dork that I probably shouldn't push the envelope, but I like anime. Granted, I'm no diehard fan, but my freshman year of college was spent watching quite a number of anime. Ouran High School Host Club, Fruits Basket, Itazura na Kiss, Junjou Romantica, Inuyasha, Kimi ni Todoke, Zero no Tsukaima, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Loveless, Shugo Chara, Gakuen Alice, Card Captor Sakura, Skip Beat, Clannad, Vampire Knight, La Corda D'oro, Kaichou Wa Maid Sama, Full Moon wo Sagashite, and Full Metal Panic. That's a lot of anime to watch in a year at college.

In case you couldn't tell by that list, I'm kind of into the girly animes. I know they have a technical name (shoujou, maybe?) but I just call them girly. Even Inuyasha was too battle-y for me and I ended up fast-forwarding through the fighting parts and mainly just watching anything with Kouga in it. I would classify Chihayafuru as a girly anime, so if that's not your thing then steer clear.

Without giving away any spoilers, Chiahayafuru is the story of three childhood friends who grew up and grew apart, and are now trying to find their way. What brought them together was a card game called karuta, and that is what will hopefully reunite them. The protagonist and character who is mainly pushing for the reunion is Chiahaya, whose love for karuta has remained even while her friends have moved on to other hobbies.

NOW There Are Spoilers

Okay, there are several things I really liked about Chihayafuru. First of all, I never imagined that watching a show about a card game could be so intense! The creators do a really good job of making sure you understand how the game is played so you can follow along in suspense rather than be confused about the rules. They really got me invested in who was going to win and what mistakes Chihaya was making and how she could improve and omygodpleaseletherwin

The players' movement is a big part of what makes the show so suspenseful. The objective of karuta is to listen to the first part of a poem being read, and to touch the second part on the board in front of you before your opponent does. That is obviously a very simplified version, but you get the gist. The players move with sharp, sweeping motions that utilize their whole bodies, which helps to make karuta much more interesting than if they were playing, say, rummy, which would get old around episode 2.

The show made me want to learn how to play karuta, which is saying something. Of course, I won't. I have no time to play, no money to buy cards, and no friends to play with. That is discounting the biggest obstacle: I wouldn't understand the japanese poems.

Another aspect of Chihayafuru that I really enjoyed was the art. I am unable to watch an anime, no matter how good the plot may be, if I don't like it visually. It just doesn't work for me. Chiahayfuru was beautiful. The characters were very detailed--I especially noticed that Chihaya is drawn with lips. Isn't that kind of unusual for an anime? Maybe not but it felt unusual. Or maybe unique would be a better word. Taichi was my favorite character visually because, well...you know. I got the inappropriate feelings towards an animated character. Just look at him!

Who wouldn't get squiggles in their stomach after looking at that?

The characters were another thing I really enjoyed about the plot. They were all likable, but had flaws that were realistic and are each dealing with their own personal struggles within the major karuta-reauniting conflict. Chihaya is too oblivious to anything other than karuta (including Taichi's feelings, damn her) and has to deal with the unfair amount of attention which is placed on her sister. Taichi is pressured by his family to be perfect, a little spoiled and used to getting things his own way, and has to deal with his feelings for Arata both as a rival for Chihaya's love and as a friend. Arata's grandfather tragically passed away while Arata was playing a karuta tournament, plunging him into depression and guilt. And that's only the main characters! All in all, I would say that they are very well-developed.

My only real complaint would be that there is a lot of recap in the show before you move on to the new plot devices. Which is fine, you can always use a refresher on how the characters are doing in their matches, but it does get a little annoying sometimes. Just sayin'.

But what I like most about Chihayafuru is that there is going to be a season two! 

Hey, that just rhymed! 

Don't judge me.

Link Recs and LoK

I thought today I'd just share a few funny/enjoyable things I've found on the internet that you might like too. Spread the love.

1) How Not To Clean A Window. This is basically a bunch of pictures showing people defying death in order to get their windows cleaned. It's hilarious and a little scary, which is the best kind of hilarity. The sad part is that I looked at some of the photos and thought, "Hey, that's not so bad! I would do that!" I tell ya, I'm a Darwin Award waiting to happen.

2) I believe John Green from the Vlogbrothers on Youtube mentioned this in a video of his, but I think it's worth sharing that there is an island called Luzon which is an island, in a lake, on an island, in a lake, on an island. This is where I'm escaping to in the event of the zombie apocalypse if you want to join me. Space is limited.

3) Do you like famous paintings? Do you like cats? Then you'll love Famous Paintings Improved By Cats! Seriously, go check this out. Now. I probably shouldn't have laughed as hard as I did at it, but I can't regret it. It was the best 5 hours of my life.

4) This is a youtube video that I find lovely. It's kind of a fan-made music video to the song Little Lion Man by Mumford and Sons with Ron Weasley. It is really well done and I feel like the song fits Ron very well. If you're at all a fan of Harry Potter or Youtube, it's worth a look.

5) One of the places to visit on my bucket list is the Gum Wall in Seattle, WA. Follow the link to the Wikipedia page about it and be amazed. The wall fascinates me in a way that partly makes me want to vomit but mostly makes my insides go mushy at the creativity of our species. As well as the sense of community it takes for everybody to band together in sticking their gum on a random wall and for nobody to come out and scrape it off.

6) Babies Tasting Lemons For The First Time. Am I a bad person for laughing at this? Then you're probably a bad person too. Go check it out.

7) OH MY GOD this just about made my life when I saw it. Disney Face Swap. Basically, some genius Disney fan swapped the characters faces. Hilarity ensued. Another thing that probably shouldn't' have entertained me as much as it did.

8) Youtubers Lucke Conrad, Alex Goot (Goot, really?), and Tiffany Alvord did a cover to Chris Brown's song Next To You. I'll admit to never having heard the original (I'm a fan of Chris Brown's face, not his music) but the cover is amazing. I bought it on itunes and it's a member of my Writing Papers playlist, which basically consists of about 10 songs that I listen to on repeat while I write papers. If you didn't get that from the title.

9) Here are some beautiful Disney wallpapers by alicexz that take my breath away. The one of Rapunzel with the gold and the purple is the background on my computer. It used to be a picture of my friends and I, but they got booted out for Da-Punzz.

10) Last but not least, 50 Unexplainable Black And White Photos. It's what it sounds like, but trust me, it's good.

In unrelated but very exciting news, an article came out announcing that Legend of Korra has been picked up for more episodes! YES!!!!!! From what I understand, Season 1 will be book one (which we just saw) and book two (which will come out in 2013). That is all they were originally planning for. Now they have added a Season 2 which will contain books three and four for an extra 26 episodes!

I'm really excited to see what the creators do with all this extra time. I've heard around that they pretty much already have book two finalized as far as plot and everything goes, which disappoints me a little because I enjoyed Avatar so much more because it was more spread out and...thorough, I guess. I wish they had known about the extra season earlier so that they could have incorporated that extra time into their plot lines.

But hey, I'm talking like this and the freaking thing isn't even close to being out yet. For all I know, they guessed that Nickelodeon would pick it up for another season and planned ahead. Who knows.

I'm just really curious to see what happens next. Korra's got her bending back, including air, Republic City is saved, she can give other people's bending back, she and Mako are in love, the baby is all right...what's next?!?!

I'm not so good at the patience.

Top 10 Disney Heroines

I've been promising this for a while now, but here it is the Top Ten Disney Heroines List! Just as a warning, I mentioned earlier that I recently watched Brave, which has a new heroine (Merida). After giving it a lot of thought, I decided not to include Merida in my list because she is a Disney/PIXAR character instead of strictly Disney. But if you were curious, she probably would have come in at number 5. I've done two top 10 lists before, so feel free to check those out. But for now, I present to you, my biased list of the Top 10 Disney Heroines!


10) Cinderella

"So this is love."

Movie: Cinderella
Age: 17
Challenges: Cinderella's challenge is mostly her step-mother, who is cruel to her and tries to prevent her from finding true love. Cinderella doesn't let that stop her though!
Personality: What really stands out about Cinderella is how patient and kind she is. Other than that her personality kind of falls to the wayside.
Beauty: Cinderella is classically beautiful with sweet, roman features. She's got the blonde hair and the blue eyes, nothing too exciting.
Role Model: Cinderella is a role model in that she is optimistic and believes in her dreams--even if her dreams are superficial. She has the patience of a saint with her step-family and is kind to everyone she meets. She even forgives her step-family! So I would say that Cinderella is a fine role model, even if she does want to marry the guy who can't remember what her face looks like so he is going to marry whatever girl can fit her foot into a glass slipper.
Superlatives: Most Classically Beautiful, Kindest


9) Ariel

"Flounder, don't be such a guppy"

Movie: The Little Mermaid
Age: 16
Challenges: Ariel's challenges are a bit silly compared to other heroines. She is in love with a human, but can't be with him because she is a mermaid and her father doesn't approve. After she fixes that problem by running away, her new problem is that she has to make Eric fall in love with her--without her voice! She's not exactly curing cancer in this movie.
Personality: Ariel is stubborn and rebellious, disobeying her father and running away from home. She doesn't take well to authority. She is also curious and adventurous, always up to explore.
Beauty: Most of my male friends tell me that Ariel is the hottest Disney Heroine. I can see why--she's practically naked for a majority of the movie and she's got all that perfect hair going on. Ariel is beautiful, there's no denying it, although I wish she would cover up a bit more. The immodesty!
Role Model: NO! I hate to say it, but Ariel is not a good role model. Sure she pursues her dreams, but her dream is a completely selfish one that takes her away from her friends and family and makes them worry. Does she care? Nope. Ariel's entire being is focused on getting her man. Is that a healthy message to send? Nope. She literally gives up her voice so that she can be with a guy. Am I the only one that seems significant to? On top of all that, Ariel is saved--she does no saving. Prince Eric rescues her at the end of the movie and it is her dad who finally lets her become a real human. There's no female empowerment in Ariel.
Superlatives: Best Singing Voice

8) Jasmine

"Then maybe I don't want to be a princess anymore!"

Movie: Aladdin

Age: 15

Challenges: Jasmine's challenges are that she is never allowed to leave the palace and desperately wants to explore the world, and that she is being forced to marry a man she doesn't love. Oh--and she gets trapped in an hourglass. I would say that's a challenge too.

Personality: She is headstrong and willful with a fierce independent streak. When she isn't happy with what her future holds, Jasmine takes her fate into her own hands and escapes the palace. But she is also self-sacrificing, as she gives up her new freedom to save Aladdin from the guards. 

Beauty: Jasmine is very beautiful, her most notable feature being that teeny-tiny waistline!

Role Model: When Rapunzel runs away from home, she does so with every intention of returning and has a specific goal in mind--to see the lights. Jasmine, however, plans to run away forever after having a big fight with her father. This doesn't make her the best Disney Heroine Role Model, but even the worst Disney Role Model is better than a Kardashian any day!

Superlatives: Better Role Model Than A Kardashian

7) Jane

"I was saved! I was saved by a flying wild man in a loincloth."

Movie: Tarzan

Age: 21-24 ish

Challenges: The main challenge Jane faces throughout the film is whether or not she can give up her life back in England to stay in the jungle with Tarzan. A classic example of your head battling your heart. In the end her heart wins out, which isn't exactly practical, but she looks happy.

Personality: Jane is an academic. She comes to the jungle to learn about the gorillas living there with her scientist father. But she is also sensitive and artistic, as can be seen by her sketch book. She's got a strong desire to learn and to help others, especially Tarzan in this case.

Beauty: There is nothing wrong with Jane's looks, but she isn't as stunning (or is it striking?) as some of the other Disney heroines. This is mainly due to the fact that she spends the movie in that god-awful yellow dress. Seriously, I know it's probably historically accurate and stuff, but that thing is hideous. There's a reason you don't see any Jane's on halloween.

Role Model: Jane is a role model because she is an intelligent young woman who chooses love over a life of comfort.

Superlatives: Most Intelligent

6) Pocahontas

"Clouds...Strange Clouds."

Movie: Pocahontas
Age: 20ish
Challenges: Pocahontas probably faces the most intense challenges of all the Disney Heroines. She not only has to face the well-known un-wanted marriage plot device, as well as the dead mother, and the strong desire to be free, but she has to battle racism as well. In the end, she has to go against her own father and tribe to do what is right--and she doesn't get the guy! Talk about challenges.
Personality: Pocahontas is strong, but not serious. In fact, she doesn't want to marry Kocoum because he is too serious. She is playful and adventurous, but noble and brave as well. She is a little too free-spirited though, sometimes ignoring her friends and family's feelings to pursue her own agenda without talking with them first.
Beauty: Pocahontas is smokin'. She wears a very scandalous dress and has all that long, flowing black hair that gets tangled up in her face all the time. Damn uncomfortable if you ask me. Personally, I prefer more girly heroines, but there is no denying that she is pretty in an earthy sort of way.
Role Model: Pocahontas is an excellent role model because she stands up for what is right at the risk of her own life. AND she doesn't rely on her man, actually ending the movie without a husband. Girl be flyin' solo.
Superlatives: Overcomes Great Challenges

5) Esmeralda

"Justice!"

Movie: The Hunchback of Notre Dawn

Age: 22ish

Challenges: Esmeralda's challenges involve the discrimination against her people, similar to Pocahontas I suppose but less intense. 

Personality: Esmeralda is fiery and independent. She's a girl who can take care of herself (girl can hold her own against Phoebus) and knows it. She's also very aware of her...sexuality, which is unusual for a Disney heroine who are mostly seen as innocent. But I get the feeling that Esmeralda's been around the block a few times, if you know what I mean. She is strong-willed and unafraid to stand up for what she believes in and to help Quasimodo when he is being ridiculed.

Beauty: Bitch be sexy and she knows it.

Role Model: To be honest, I never paid much attention to Esmeralda. It always kind of irked me, even as a child, that she ended up with the handsome blonde instead of giving Quasimodo his happy ending. But as I was making this list I started to think more and more about her and found out that she's actually pretty awesome. She's independent and strong, she can fight, she knows magic allusions and shit, she stands up for what she believes in, and she doesn't judge Quasimodo based on his looks. She is, however, one step up from a stripper in the beginning, so that's points off the role model score.

Superlatives: Most Under-appreciated, Craftiest

4) Tiana

"There is no way I am kissing a frog and 

eating a bug in the same day."

Movie: The Princess and the Frog
Age: 19
Challenges: Tiana absolutely faces challenges! She is looked down upon for wanting to open a restaurant as a woman, and then is turned into a frog. However, Tiana doesn't let the discrimination or what the townspeople have to say discourage her, instead working even harder to achieve her goals. She has two jobs for pete's sake!
Personality: Tiana is hard working and determined with the perfect amount of sass. However, she also is distant from others, making it hard for her to connect with people emotionally, and can be seen as a bit callous. But she learns by the end of the movie that friends and fun are just as important as hard work.
Beauty: Tiana is very beautiful. She has the disadvantage of spending the majority of the movie as a frog and having only a few precious seconds in her beautiful dresses, but even as a frog her eyes sparkle!
Role Model: I would say that Tiana is an excellent role model. She teaches girls all about hard work--but also that it's okay to have fun.
Superlatives: Most Hard-Working


3) Rapunzel

"Have some humanity! Haven't you ever had a dream?"

Movie: Tangled
Age: 18
Challenges: Rapunzel's challenge is similar to Jasmine's in that that she has never been allowed to leave her tower. Her story is about growing up and breaking free, about discovering who you are.
Personality: Rapunzel is a bit naive, but it works for her. She's a happy-go-lucky young woman who's not afraid to follow her dreams. Rapunzel is very talented. She cooks, sews, plays chess, makes candles, dances, paints, loves to read and exercise, plays guitar, and swings around on her hair like an acrobat. Rapunzel is open, honest, a bit too trusting, and hilarious. If I had to be a princess, I'd pick her.
Beauty: Rapunzel is beautiful, in a I've-Still-Got-A-Little-Of-My-Baby-Fat kind of way. Her dramatic haircut at the end matches her personality very well, I think, and is still beautiful if not traditionally beautiful.
Role Model: I would say that Rapunzel is a decent role model, although I'm sure girls around the world are now considering running away from home because they're convinced they've been kidnapped from their royal parents. Rapunzel is the opposite of lazy, and the way she goes after her dreams is a good message.
Superlatives: Most Talented, Best Hair


2) Belle

"Gaston, you are positively primeval."

Movie: Beauty and the Beast
Age: 17
Challenges: Belle faces several challenges, such as the way the town thinks she strange and odd because she loves to read and doesn't swoon over Gaston. She also has to live with a "monstrous beast"which is...challenging. These may not seem like the most exciting challenges a Disney heroine can face, but I think that is mostly because of how well Belle handles them. She doesn't let the town's gossip get her down, holds her own against Gaston, and gets to know and love the Beast.
Personality: Belle is intelligent and kind. She doesn't focus on outward appearances, instead caring more about--get this--inner beauty. She is brave and has a good sense of what is the right thing to do, as can be seen in the wolf-fight scene where, instead of escaping after Beast rescues her, Belle helps him back to the castle and tends to his injuries. Her bravery and love can also be seen when she stays in the Beast's castle in her father's place.
Beauty: Belle means beauty--and she lives up to her name. Belle is a beautiful young lady. Her brown hair and brown eyes may not be as unusually beautiful as Rapunzel's golden locks or Ariel's wild red hair, but nobody could call her ugly.
Role Model: I would say that Belle is an excellent role model! She doesn't judge based on appearances, and she likes to read!
Superlatives: Best Role Model


1) Mulan

"Just because I look like a man doesn't mean

I have to smell like one."

Movie: Mulan
Challenges: Mulan definitely faces adversity--and overcomes it! She is a woman in a time and country where women are under-valued. She has to train for war, facing physical adversity. And she's got the huns riding her ass! But Mulan manages to face her challenges with bravery and heart, earning her #1 spot.
Age: 16
Personality: IMO, Mulan is one of the most under-appreciated Disney heroines. She kicks ass, and hardly gets any recognition for it. Mulan's heart courage motivate her to risk her life in order to protect her father by going to war in his place. Going to war shows courage in and of itself, but Mulan is also brave on the battlefield. Instead of shying away from hard work and staying in the background, Mulan rushes to the front of the fight. Mulan also displays quick thinking in the avalanche scene in which she is able to knock out the entire hun army with one rocket. She isn't without flaws, however. For instance, Mulan's rebellion, while showing advanced thought for her time period, is also foolhardy. She is lazy at the beginning of the film, not taking the time to do her chores properly or to study for the matchmaking. She even cheats! But I think her hard work in training more than makes up for her initial laziness.
Beauty: While Mulan doesn't have the advantage of wearing a beautiful dress or having long, flowing hair throughout the film like some heroines do, her beauty still shines through--both with and without her make-up!
Role Model: Mulan shows brilliant strength of character. While she loves Shang, she doesn't rely on him utterly--she is her own person. In fact, she saves him. Imagine that!
Superlatives: Most Kick-Ass, Most Changed at the End of the Film, Most Independent


Well, there you have it! I hope you enjoyed my list and please tell me what you're top ten Disney Heroines are! Here's some Disney-Princess related goodness to leave you with:

• An artist named Amy Mebberson has some adorable artwork called the Pocket Princesses. 
• And here is a song by the lovely youtuber Carrie from itswaypastmybedtime titled Why Can't I Be A Disney Princess? It speaks to my heart in a way that a song about Disney princesses probably shouldn't.