Hi, it’s been a busy frantic week at Live Magazine with new issue about to come out, in all its ethical beauty. What's that I hear you say? Ethical and Live? The two don’t seem to go together. Well guess what, they do! Hopefully long time readers and new readers will fall in love with our new found eco-friendly approach. Charity shops, recycling you name it, we have covered it. We have once again delivered a magazine which is up to it’s usual standards. Along with the release of the new issue we are also working hard on the Live Magazine website which will launch sometime mid-march. We imagine the website will be great news for you readers who just can’t seem to get enough of us. The website will be updated on a daily basis and aims to be a continuous feed for readers who just aren’t satisfied with just the magazine. And guess what? We are looking for new recruits to join our fantastic team to help us work on the website and also the latest issue so if you're passionate, creative, bright and most importantly committed you're more than welcome to pop down and use your talent to good effect. Be it opinionated writing or artistic design, our team at LIVE are sure to open up our arms for you.
Albert Kevin Harvey
23 February 2009
13 February 2009
Natalie captures the castle....
So, it's with sadness that we waved goodbye to Natalie Proctor after her stellar week on the LIVE editorial team. But before she left, we persuaded her to part company with the ace book review she wrote today. Here it is...
I Capture the Castle – Book Review
The book ‘I Capture the Castle’ has been said to portray ‘one of the most charismatic narrators’ to grace fiction by JK Rowling. And I must agree. The writing of this charming book is conveyed with such effortless conviction that it’s a joy to read.
The tale of young Cassandra, stuck between the difficult transition of childhood and adulthood, and trying to come to terms with her distant and unstable father. At the same time she is also struggling to live in near poverty amongst the crumbling remains of her beloved castle.
The plot soon thickens with the arrival of an equally eccentric family, the Cottons. And it is not long before Cassandra finds herself falling for the eldest - Simon. However it is Cassandra’s sister Rose who captures his love, leaving Cassandra’s hope for happiness short lived.
After finishing the book ‘I Capture the Castle’ the reader could find themselves left somewhat wanting. The ending to a spiral of romance and confusion was underwhelming as we find nothing resolved, with the heroine left alone and lacking contentment.
Although this ending was perhaps the only feasible finish that could have occurred, I don’t believe that a person could say they read books for a ‘reality check’. We read stories to capture our fantasies, creating a place where someone could be indefinitely happy and where the impossible can become possible. So we naturally expect a lovely and completely ridiculous end where all were miraculously happy and well!
Although we witness Cassandra’s family slowly begin to rebuild itself nearing the end of the book, you still feel that Cassandra is unsatisfied and sad. The story offers countless opportunities for the heroine to be happy, and frustratingly for the reader; none of these chances are accepted. For instance; Stephen confesses his love for Cassandra and proposes – Cassandra says no and refuses him. Then finally when Simon is ready to leave for the return to America he asks Cassandra to come with him – but yet again Cassandra says no, denying her own gratification.
Despite the exasperating ending, the book is redeemed by deeply thought out and detailed writing making it a pleasure to read. The novel portrays Cassandra effortlessly, and you find yourself becoming attached to her emotions and thoughts. You visualise and care for the characters as if they were real, and picture the stunning setting of the ruins of the castle with such definition that you feel totally immersed in Cassandra’s world.
Maybe it’s childish to wish for all the stories I read to end with contention, but what are stories for but for us to enjoy? I did not find the enjoyment in this book as it ends so abruptly and disappointingly. It does however allow you to love it by its fantastically well-written content and natural charm, leaving you to understand why it was complimented so highly by authors like JK Rowling.
A fine read for those who are not prone to predictable romances.
I Capture the Castle – Book Review
The book ‘I Capture the Castle’ has been said to portray ‘one of the most charismatic narrators’ to grace fiction by JK Rowling. And I must agree. The writing of this charming book is conveyed with such effortless conviction that it’s a joy to read.
The tale of young Cassandra, stuck between the difficult transition of childhood and adulthood, and trying to come to terms with her distant and unstable father. At the same time she is also struggling to live in near poverty amongst the crumbling remains of her beloved castle.
The plot soon thickens with the arrival of an equally eccentric family, the Cottons. And it is not long before Cassandra finds herself falling for the eldest - Simon. However it is Cassandra’s sister Rose who captures his love, leaving Cassandra’s hope for happiness short lived.
After finishing the book ‘I Capture the Castle’ the reader could find themselves left somewhat wanting. The ending to a spiral of romance and confusion was underwhelming as we find nothing resolved, with the heroine left alone and lacking contentment.
Although this ending was perhaps the only feasible finish that could have occurred, I don’t believe that a person could say they read books for a ‘reality check’. We read stories to capture our fantasies, creating a place where someone could be indefinitely happy and where the impossible can become possible. So we naturally expect a lovely and completely ridiculous end where all were miraculously happy and well!
Although we witness Cassandra’s family slowly begin to rebuild itself nearing the end of the book, you still feel that Cassandra is unsatisfied and sad. The story offers countless opportunities for the heroine to be happy, and frustratingly for the reader; none of these chances are accepted. For instance; Stephen confesses his love for Cassandra and proposes – Cassandra says no and refuses him. Then finally when Simon is ready to leave for the return to America he asks Cassandra to come with him – but yet again Cassandra says no, denying her own gratification.
Despite the exasperating ending, the book is redeemed by deeply thought out and detailed writing making it a pleasure to read. The novel portrays Cassandra effortlessly, and you find yourself becoming attached to her emotions and thoughts. You visualise and care for the characters as if they were real, and picture the stunning setting of the ruins of the castle with such definition that you feel totally immersed in Cassandra’s world.
Maybe it’s childish to wish for all the stories I read to end with contention, but what are stories for but for us to enjoy? I did not find the enjoyment in this book as it ends so abruptly and disappointingly. It does however allow you to love it by its fantastically well-written content and natural charm, leaving you to understand why it was complimented so highly by authors like JK Rowling.
A fine read for those who are not prone to predictable romances.
more workie music reviews!
This time from LIVE's current work-experience-person-in-residence, Edward Akposheri, 15.
DJ Nonames: Strictly Grizzness
‘Strictly Grizzness’ is a mixtape featuring various Grime artists: Wiley, Skepta, Ghetto, Kyza and more. These grime artists are collaborating with beat producers such a Benga, Skream, Terror Danjah and Bless Beats. The music is bound get your head moving side to side.
Whoever lives in London and listens to hip hop and doesn't know about the up and coming grime scene, couldn't be possibly be playing attention to any type of media. Grime has taken aspects from other genres such as dancehall, house, garage and hip hop.
The mixtape is jam packed with plenty of drum and bass, which I don't really like, but I is easily overlooked because f the lyricists in the tracks. I think the beats are good but shouldn't be played as a whole track but maybe as an interval. The transitions from track to track are good because when one listens to loud lively music nobody wants to hear silence for two seconds after each track.
In conclusion, the mixtape is a great mixtape to buy. I myself will be purchasing it when it is released. I hope you will buy the mixtape too, to help support the grime scene and simply because you’ll like it!
DJ Nonames: Strictly Grizzness
‘Strictly Grizzness’ is a mixtape featuring various Grime artists: Wiley, Skepta, Ghetto, Kyza and more. These grime artists are collaborating with beat producers such a Benga, Skream, Terror Danjah and Bless Beats. The music is bound get your head moving side to side.
Whoever lives in London and listens to hip hop and doesn't know about the up and coming grime scene, couldn't be possibly be playing attention to any type of media. Grime has taken aspects from other genres such as dancehall, house, garage and hip hop.
The mixtape is jam packed with plenty of drum and bass, which I don't really like, but I is easily overlooked because f the lyricists in the tracks. I think the beats are good but shouldn't be played as a whole track but maybe as an interval. The transitions from track to track are good because when one listens to loud lively music nobody wants to hear silence for two seconds after each track.
In conclusion, the mixtape is a great mixtape to buy. I myself will be purchasing it when it is released. I hope you will buy the mixtape too, to help support the grime scene and simply because you’ll like it!
7 February 2009
Mahmooda reflects on her week@LIVE HQ
Awesome. Wicked. Fun. Great. What else can I say? I could go on forever describing my time at LIVE. My one-week work experience flew past so quickly. I am interested in journalism and got offered the chance to work with the LIVE team. Before I started doing work experience at live I was really nervous and didn't think I could cope, I thought 'as I am going into work I am not going to have fun anymore!' I thought I will have to do so much work in so little time. However, let me tell you one thing, if I didn't take this opportunity I would regret it big time! I never thought being a journalist would be this fun. Did you know that do be a journalist you don't have to do a written report all the time? You can make videos, take photographs, do music reviews etc. The best thing about LIVE is that it is a magazine written by youths for youths, finally our views are heard.
Before my experience at LIVE I read newspapers and wasn't really bothered about international news. I thought since my view isn't heard there's no point being bothered with it, however, my experience at LIVE changed all this. I learnt more about international news and that there is an opinions section at LIVE where our views about the world are heard.
What did I learn at LIVE? I learnt many skills, which are needed by a journalist. Let me tell you one tip, which is needed when writing an opinion piece. Every time you write an opinion piece the best thing is to read it out loud imagining as if you would telling someone. My experience at LIVE has got me more interested in journalism especially the opinion section. I'm also now interested in interviewing, photography and videoing . If you get a chance,like me, I would recommend you take it!
M.Khanom
Before my experience at LIVE I read newspapers and wasn't really bothered about international news. I thought since my view isn't heard there's no point being bothered with it, however, my experience at LIVE changed all this. I learnt more about international news and that there is an opinions section at LIVE where our views about the world are heard.
What did I learn at LIVE? I learnt many skills, which are needed by a journalist. Let me tell you one tip, which is needed when writing an opinion piece. Every time you write an opinion piece the best thing is to read it out loud imagining as if you would telling someone. My experience at LIVE has got me more interested in journalism especially the opinion section. I'm also now interested in interviewing, photography and videoing . If you get a chance,like me, I would recommend you take it!
M.Khanom
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