Life Swap: Literary Edition

Life Swap: Literary Edition

By Trina Scuderi, Spring 2018 Intern

Have you ever imagined switching lives with a literary character? Going on adventures, fighting villains or even being the villain—the possibilities are endless.

Here are a few characters who I believe lead envious lives:

·            Lisbeth Salander from the Millennium series by Stieg Larsson (and currently continued by David Lagercrantz)

Lisbeth is one of my favorite characters. Although she’s faced an abundance of adversity in her life, she doesn’t let it subdue her. She’s incredibly smart and her computer hacking skills are unrivaled.

·            Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Hermione is smart, hard working, brave and loyal. She has a strong sense of morality, and doesn’t let anything compromise her integrity.

·            Charlie Bucket from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

 Charlie is such a sweet and kind person, and he also inherits the chocolate factory in the end of the book. I also adore the 1971 film adaptation, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. It’s one of my all-time favorite movies. Although I’d rather switch lives with Charlie, in reality I’d probably pull an Augustus Gloop and dive head first into the chocolate river.

While these characters lead amazing lives, I think I prefer reading about their adventures in the comfort of my own home.

PSG Playlist: Our Favorites

PSG Playlist: Our Favorites

By Alex Belloli, Spring 2018 Intern

Ask someone what their absolute favorite song is, and odds are they’ll have difficulty choosing just one. The staff here at PSG are no exception. I went around the office to compile a list of everybody’s favorite songs, but could only get an answer by ensuring it only had to be one of their favorite songs.

With the responses I got, I decided to create a PSG playlist, perfectly ordered for guaranteed enjoyment. Get ready to kick back and relax with the PSG staff as you get to know their favorite songs!

1.     “Personal Jesus” by Depeche Mode (Lori)

2.     “Warrior People” by Nahko and Medicine for the People (Sarah)

3.     “The Way It Is” by Bruce Hornsby and the Range (Melina)

4.     “Defying Gravity” from the Wicked soundtrack (Trina)

5.     “Hallelujah” covered by Brandi Carlile (Colleen)

6.     “Familiar Taste of Poison” by Halestorm (Alex)

7.     “Hate to See Your Heart Break” by Paramore (Nora)

8.     “Sweetness” by Jimmy Eat World (Annette)

9.     “Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois” by Sufjan Stevens (Erin)

10. “Rock Lobster” by The B-52’s (Don)

11. “Something” by The Beatles (Tess)

12. “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush (Tim)

13. “Baba O’Riley” by The Who (Kate)

Maybe you’ll discover a new favorite song or a band you’ve never heard before—

Boston Off the Beaten Path: Some of the City’s Most Unusual Sights

Boston Off the Beaten Path: Some of the City’s Most Unusual Sights

by Erin Sherry

When I first moved to Boston three years ago, I was overwhelmed by how many fascinating attractions the city had to offer. But after hitting up all of the most famous sights, I soon became curious about what other eclectic spots I might be missing. Here are some of my favorite unique spots!

Bodega

6 Clearway St., Boston

Don’t be fooled by this shabby convenience store’s appearance, it’s actually a luxury shoe store—If you can find the entrance! (Hint: It’s behind the old Snapple machine!)

The “U” Bench

Jamaica Pond, Jamaica Plain

The history of this less-than-functional park bench is almost as quirky as its appearance! Located unsuspectingly at the edge of picturesque Jamaica Pond, this U-shaped bench has no discernable front or back, and was erected as an art prank in 2006. Despite not having originally been city-approved, it’s been there ever since!

Museum of Bad Art (MoBA)

55 Davis Square, Somerville

Located in the Somerville Theater, MoBA is exactly what it sounds like: a space dedicated to sharing the worst of art with the widest of audiences! If you love a good art museum like I do, a trip to MoBA is a fun break from the norm.

Whether you’re visiting Bean Town for the weekend or have considered yourself a local for years, try paying a visit to one of these unusual attractions for an off-the-beaten-path Boston experience!

Books Coming to a Theater Near You

Books Coming to a Theater Near You

By Trina Scuderi, Spring 2018 Intern

It’s always exciting—and a little nerve-racking—to hear one of your favorite books is getting a film adaptation. Hopefully, 2018 will not disappoint!

Here are some books heading to the big screen later this year:

Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book is getting another film adaptation. Mowgli is slated to be released on October 19, 2018, and is said to have a darker tone than Disney’s 2016 version of The Jungle Book.

The Girl in the Spider’s Web (November 9, 2018) is based on the novel of the same name by David Lagercrantz. The book is Lagercrantz’s first addition to the Millennium series, which begins with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Stieg Larsson, who died of a heart attack in 2004, wrote the first three books in the series.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (November 16, 2018) is based on Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J. K. Rowling. Eddie Redmayne reprises his role as Newt Scamander, while Johnny Depp and Jude Law make their first appearances as Gellert Grindelwald and Albus Dumbledore, respectively.

Though not much is known, The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath is said to have a film adaptation released sometime in 2018. Kirsten Dunst is directing and Dakota Fanning has been cast to play Esther Greenwood.

With these adaptations, 2018 will be a great year!