Quick Update.

Yes, I have changed the design of the blog :)
Well, I was supposed to be revising for a Science exam tomorrow but I woke up at 10am so I thought 'Oh I'll do that this afternoon' as I know it basically. So I decided to do a bit of updating blogging. It only took 30 minutes.
So what do you think? Good? Bad? Tell me below and I may surprise any commenters...

Also. On Thursday, I got my Mock Results back. Yes, any older followers will know my posts on how much I hate exams or how stressed I am like here and here. Oh and here and here...
You get the picture.
So...I did okay I think. Here is what I got (this isn't like me boasting - I actually think I could have done much better, it's just some people who have had to read those posts might like to know...)

English Language: A
English Literature: A
Maths: B
Science: A
RS: B
Statistics: B
History: A*
French: A* in Reading and Writing, B in Listening
Drama: A
Media: A

I actually cannot believe the History - I was on the borderline though.
I have a real Science tomorrow for Chemistry, so hopefully I do well because I didn't think I did very well on that one and got an A. Ah. Being a teenager...

Remember to comment on what you think of the new design!

I don't even know what to title this as.

WARNING: This is me and my 'I hate being being in Year 11' mood.

 At the moment, I am sitting at the dining room table (which is used more as a study) surrounded by paper and books about how much importance Mr Collins has in Pride and Prejudice....and shouting 'Oh my god, I cannot think properly' to my empty, lonely house.
Oh I love weekends, don't you?

I have no social life for...maybe 3/4 months. The first time in a while that I ACTUALLY WENT OUT was last Monday with some friends Christmas shopping. Yep. You heard it right, I still need to get Christmas gifts for four of my best friends. Blame mocks, not our laziness....

In other news, it is a month till MY BIRTHDAY. I will be 16 years old. Wow-as. And GCSE's, I was thinking about the other day. When you're in like Year 7,8 or 9, you don't actually realise the stress the Year 11's have. I mean, I remember thinking last year that 'Oh Year 11's going to be quite easy with the fact I've done most of the work in Year 10' WHAT?
I was so wrong. There is still so many exams and so much coursework left to do. And two of my teachers have either broken/twisted their feet...ahh.

So. I am so stressed at this minute. As much as I didn't mind Pride and Prejudice and I think Collins is probably the most well-written character by a long shot, I'm starting to hate it. This is what GCSE English does to you:

- You despise Of Mice and Men and the way Steinbeck has used so many ways to show things about the characters/places.
- I cannot watch War of the Worlds (with Tom Cruise) without analysising it and saying 'oh I love the way they've done this blah blah BLAH....'
- I hate Romeo and Juliet. I still have no idea what Shakespeare is rattling on about, although, I cannot watch the 1960's version of the movie without thinking the Romeo looks like Zac Efron, BIG time.
- I'm starting to hate Mr Collins and Pride and Prejudice in general. I have 6 more points to cover and I'm stuck and just cannot describe what is happening or what is important about it. To be honest, I think I've gone off on a rant about something I have no idea I did.
- I feel like I can Write to Persuade to anyone. Oh yeah! (oh god rebecca, you saddo)

That's kinda it. And I got it out my system. PHEW....
Oh and then, I get My Mock Results (haha MMR - anyone else find that funny?) on Thursday afternoon. Oh boy...

David, David, David Tennant!

So I was about to write a post with a little update until I went on the Twitter I abandon all the time. And looked at trends...and found out that...Georgia Moffett is getting married to...David Tennant. Yes. I know. I nearly burst into tears.
   You see, since he joined Doctor Who, I may have a slight well...okay he's one of my Actor Crushes, as well as Colin Firth (I know he's 50 but well, he doesn't look it!)...and I think he's good looking. But he's nearly 40. This year he turns 40!
And she's 26! That's only 10 years older than-Rebecca, stop trying to kid yourself. 10 years is a lot.

I mean, if they want to get married with that age gap, it doesn't concern me but well...David. He's lovely. And I'm happy for them but well...all Doctor Who fans and David Tennant lovers will have some kind of pain at this news I'm sure.
    I admit also, Georgia Moffett is a nice person. I've actually met her...Her son goes to my old primary school and I went down there just after she was in Doctor Who and she was there and me and my friend met her and got her autograph. And she was lovely about it and really pretty actually in the flesh.

So. I am happy with the match and the fact that one of my all time favourite actors is getting married to someone that the papers described as 'smitten' with (their words, not mine) but then...I feel a pang of something there. Especially as when I read it when like such with my mother:

Me: No! This can't happen! Not to David!
*my mother gives me a weird look*
Me: David Tennant is engaged to Georgia Moffett!
Mum: Oh that's nice. Pause Who is she?
Me: Mum....she's that actress that I met at the fair a couple of years ago. From Doctor Who.
Mum: Oh that's lovely for them
Me: *whimpers*

So, the fact that another actor crush has got married is making me hungry. So I'm going to go and drown my sorrows with some chocolate.

A Song For Summer - Eva Ibbotson

This was found hidden behind a pile of books with Meg Rosoff written all over them in my school library. It was in lesson time so it was incredibly quiet as I was the only one in there. So I was also the only person to see my little jump of excitement once I saw the words 'Eva Ibbotson' on the book in fancy font. The copy in there had the American cover which I slightly prefer to the English one. But oh well. My love for all things Eva Ibbotson is back with a vengence.

Genre: Historical Romance
Ellen, an English eighteen year old just out of school with a Suffragette mother and aunts, starts at Hallendorf, a financally failing school near Vienna, Austria,  as a cook/nursemaid. Hallendorf is certainly different with its wild children and eccentric teachers that swim naked in the surrounding lake or pretend to be Russian ballerinas. Then, there's the tortoise on wheels. Hallendorf is certainly unusual. Until Ellen discover the intriguing handyman, Marek, and is instantly attracted to his kind and mysterious nature. Only once she discovered his true identity and his secret work, does she realise the extend to her love for him. But Hitler's Nazi Germany is already in danger of ruining the peaceful world of Hallendorf and Ellen and Marek must realise their feelings for one another during the shadow of war and the pasting bombs before it's too late...

My own synopisis of it. Partly from the blurb. Also, on the blurb, there is the slogan 'A love like no other...' It's definitely a love that faces many barriers throught this 397 page book.
I liked this book. However, at some points, there are parts that are slightly confusing or I didn't understand. For me, I can see how the title relates to the events and a character in the book, but they don't particuarly have anything much to do with Ellen herself. Though, the main events happen in summers. So maybe that was the idea behind it. Also, Ibbotson has a tendiency to mention someone before the reader actually knows who they are. Which in some ways is good as it keeps you reading and wanting to know who they are but I felt it was done more than necessary.
   Those are my only doubts on this novel. Apart from those, that I only thought of ever so often, I loved the storyline. The setting is so original and there are some definite original characters and plot twists in there. Eva Ibbotson, in general, was always surprising me and the plot twists were sometimes so unhinted that it just kind of suddenly happened and has you sitting there shocked. She also does this thing that I LOVE, where she jumps ahead of time to show something completely different in the future and then, goes back as if you're looking into the character's thoughts over what happened.
   The historical detail and the detail in general was also great and I could easily imagine that she wanted it to be like. Simply, I could not put this book down and I absolutely loved the characters and the way they are written in so much depth. The romance also relies on fate a lot - which is very different to many other books like this.
I would recommend this to anybody studing WWII before and during, it gives it a lot of detail. And it's nice how it focuses on Austria during WWII, normally it's just Britain or Germany - the main ones. It's nice to see another side to the war.
Anyway, overall, this was an enjoyable, relaxable read which I think most people who love the genre of historical romance will enjoy. Another amazing read by the fabulous Eva Ibbotson who I am gradually falling in love with.

I give it 4.5 out of 5

Eva Ibbotson doesn't have a website. However, when I looked her up on Google, I found out she actually in fact died on the 20th October 2010 at the age of 85. Even though she now isn't alive, I really love the books of hers that I've read so far and I think I shall be reading them for years to come. I can't believe I've just discovered them.

On My Bookshelf (5)

First. Happy New Year! I hope to everyone reading this that you will have an even better 2011 than 2010. Personally, my 2010 wasn't too bad but could be better. This year for me holds GCSE'S and starting college. *whimpers*
   Anyway, this is my version of 'In My Mailbox' because honestly, I'm not known well enough to have publishers and authors to send me books - and I'm still working out how that can happen.

So here a few things that I have acquired in the past few weeks:

Books:

I've just discovered that Macro makes pictures look better...
whoops.

Bought:

- Bright Young Things - Anna Godberson - okay, so maybe I pre-ordered this maybe...3 months ago. I was desperate! And anyway, when I came back from holiday, it was sitting on the matt and actually offically comes out in the UK on the 7th. So I was so happy as I thought 'Finally. I have a book before everyone else in the UK. Then, yesterday, I was in Waterstones and they had many many copies of it out. My plan flawed then.

 

Given:

- The Morning Gift - Eva Ibbotson - hmmm...Eva Ibbotson...

- The Secret Countess - Eva Ibbotson - yess I have my own copy now!

- A Company of Swans - Eva Ibbotson - Starting to see a pattern?

- Auslander - Paul Dowswell - Again, yay-ing at the fact I now have my own copy. I am going to read this before my history exam in May...hehe.

- Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac - My mum said she loved how it mentioned teenage in the title...I have no idea if that's a compliment.

- The Knife of Never Letting Go - Patrick Ness - so I now have the whole trilogy of the Chaos Walking series. I love how I started with the last one, then the second and now the first.

 

Other Xmas Presents:

topshop cardigan (given)
H&M jumper - bought for £10 in sale
M&S jumper bought for myself for Xmas

Cath Kidson notebook
Cath Kidson make-up bag
M&S long necklaces
Booklight (which I desperately needed)

Hope you all had a fabulous Christmas and New Year and I hope you all have a nice 2011. And so will this blog. I've been blogging for nearly a year now. It's gone so fast...

My Top 10 Books this year (sorry it's a tad long!)

This is the first Christmas of the blog. Hopefully, there will be more. So. This is the top 10 books that I've read this year. There will be another one of the best moments of 2010 on New Year's Eve - hopefully. And I mean 'hopefully'.


So this is in no particular order, just the order I thought of them. This is also books, that I have only read once. The first time being this year.


1. Along For The Ride - Sarah Dessen

This was the first book reviews on the blog. Amazing isn't it?
I loved this book. It's one of the best of Sarah Dessen's in my opinion, as well as The Truth About Forever. Actually, I loved this book so much, I read it twice in about two months - of course with other books in between. It's also special for me because it was released on my birthday - February 6th. And my parents pre-ordered it for my birthday - god I love them more because of that. ha :)
Anyway. I just love the romance and the characters, they're all great. And Eli...hm. :) The girls are great and provided me with so many moments where I laughed out loud because they just came out with the most funniest things (and before you English people say something about 'the most funniest' - I do it all the time. I know. It makes sense to me.)
My Review
Goodreads

2. Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin

I just...I love this novel. It's modern. It's something different. And it all fits in with what happened at the beginning in the end. The first chapter has you sitting there like 'What the hell?' but by the end, you're like 'Oh. I get it now'.
I don't know about anyone else, but I like books that are like that. Just my taste, I guess. It was a long time ago I read this and I borrowed it from Joey so I can't remember all the characters names. But whoever they were, I liked them.
And they made me laugh. Which always raised the bar on a book for me.
And they made a movie of this in Japan...with Emma Roberts in. :S
I would like to see that as it is one of those books where you read it and could see it as a movie...
My Review
Goodreads
 3. Monsters of Men - Patrick Ness

Oh Patrick. Ness. This is the last book in the Chaos Walking trilogy. And I think the best.
Now, I'm not a fantasy gal normally but I love this. Because well, it's a mixture of everything. Romance, Comedy, Fantasy, Action, Adventure. And again I love those books that have more than one genre in them. I think it makes them more interesting.
I'm so glad what happened to Viola and Todd in the end, it was just right. And even left it on a little bit of a cliffhanger so some of it it left to you to decide what happens in the complete end. That's nice. It was the perfect ending book for this amazing series.


My Review
Goodreads
Losing It Event
My Mention :)


4. If I Stay - Gayle Forman

This is the only book ever to make me slightly cry. And I mean ever. Sure, I've felt sad or had tears in my eyes but this is the first book to physically have me with tears streaming down from my eyes.
This book is actually slightly breathtaking. It's full of flashbacks of a girl in a coma which is (well we don't know do we?) slightly unrealistic but it didn't go overboard. There were flashbacks from her memory of the past too.
It was also just so beautifully written by Gayle Forman.
And like Love, Aubrey - it stays with you. I still think about it sometimes.
There is a sequel next year but I'm not sure if that's going to ruin it...make it...we'll find out.


My Review
Goodreads


5. (Halfway) The Sky is Everywhere - Jandy Nelson

Oh my. I wanted to read this as soon as I saw it in the shops and the reviews popped up on the blogosphere. Although, it wasn't AS good as I thought it was going to be, it was still pretty darn good and as I made so much hype about it, it deserves to be in the Top 10.
The difference and thing I loved about this book, was the fact we found out a lot of the main character, Lennie's feelings through the poems on the pictures, which were supposedly 'found', at the start of each chapter. I think that's what made me and Joey love it. It's now one of Joey's favourite books, I think partly because of that. George also recently borrowed it and read it in two days. Yeah I know. She liked that part of the novel too. I think it also just in the English version. I don't know...I think it's one of the best parts.
My Review
Goodreads
My 'I WANT THIS BOOK' post.


6. The Secret Countess (also known as The Countess Below Stairs) - Eva Ibbotson

This was the book that got me into Eva Ibbotson who I kinda have a love for at the moment. She is a historical romance writer. My favourite genre in the whole of the book writing world.
 It was again just different and completely original. Even if there was an element of the 'forbidden romance' which I guess is in most novels that have some kind of hint of romance.
I don't know. It's just it showed what it was like to be Upstairs in a big house in English and the 20's and Downstairs. It was a bit like Downton Abbey but less drama and involving one person...

My Review
Goodreads

7. Auslander - Paul Dowswell

Okay. So not the normal type of book you'd see me read or even have a look at. The thing that drew me to this book was the fact it's set during Nazi Germany. The period I'm studing for History.
This again is a book that had a bit of everything. Romance, Action, Tension, Comedy, Adventure. And it's also the Survival Guide to passing GCSE History - Nazi Germany. It tells you everything in so much detail about anything to do with that time frame. Life, before the war, during the war, what children did, how everyone was on edge about being sent to concentration camps, Jews.
I loved it and I think I'll always remember it. It made me understand truly what life was like then. Not nice.

My Review
Goodreads

8. The Other Countess - Eve Edwards

I think this has got to be one of the best books I've read this year - by then this whole list is. It kinda blew me away a little. I just couldn't get enough of it.
I bought it on a 3 for 2 offer, I was slightly...nervous about starting it. The cover isn't exactly the most teenager-ist. I loved it. I absolutely 100% loved it. Eve Edwards made it so detailed in the historical side. You understood everything. The romance, even though it's throughout the whole book, it wasn't too much - just right. The next book, The Queen's Lady, is due out next year (I maaay have pre-ordered it...WHAT? Waterstones were doing half price off pre-orders and free delivery...)
I have a weakness for this author and series...

My Review
Goodreads

9. The Declaration series - Gemma Malley

I say The Declaration Series but I mean the two books in this trilogy that I discovered this year, The Declaration and The Resistance. Both, absolutely amazing and entertaining.
Now, I'm not normally the type of person (Like I said for Auslander) to go for sci-fi or basically a book like this but I was kind of 'drawn' to it and I'm so glad that I did. Because these are such great books. And I think it's also the idea behind it that's so different. And so controversal. Tablets that make you live forever. I mean, we ponder it but no-one ever does anything or try and this book shows you the consequences of the world if you DID try and make something like this. They're just such interesting novels. And the last one in the trilogy, The Legacy was out in September and I hope to read it in 2011.
The Declaration Review
The Resistance Review
Goodreads (Declaration)
Goodreads (Resistance)

10. The Betrayal - Mary Hooper

There had to be a Mary Hooper book on here. Had to.
This book is the last in the triology of At the House of the Magican series. And in my opinion, the best one. I think it is supposed to be aimed at teenagers slightly younger than me but I'm 15 and I really enjoyed it.
What I love about Mary Hooper is, she gives you such an idea in detail about what life was like in Elizabethan Times. I think this is what makes me love her writing so much. And it's historical. And has a hint of romance. My favourite. :)
The whole series was good but I think this one just topped it off and I really enjoyed this series. I would recommend them to anyone.

My Review
Goodreads



Other Mentions (ones that were equally as good and should reserve a mention):
- Shadow Web - N.M.Browne
- The Luxe Series - Anna Godberson
- Fallen Grace - Mary Hooper
- The Lady in the Tower - Marie-Louise Jensen
- Love, Lies and Lizzie - Rosie Rushton
- Star-crossed - Rachael Wing

All of these rated 5/4 stars on Goodreads. All 5 stars for the top 10 though.
Thank you if you've got down this far. And Thank you so much to all the followers, commenters and people who have visited this year since February. I appreciate it a LOT.

Have a lovely Christmas and a lovely New Year. I shall be eating and seeing family so I probably won't have time to come online so this will probably be the last post this side of Christmas (I love that pun when it gets nearer Christmas).
Have fun :)

Love, Aubrey - Suzanne LaFleur

I'm writing this while listening to the music on Spotify - to be exact Blood Brothers at the moment. So I might suddenly exclaim what I'm listening to. Anyway, I found this book in my school library when I wandered into there when there was a German exam on and practically no-one was in my Maths class. And those that were, were playing some death game on the computer. Yeah. Nice.

Eleven year-old Aubrey has lost everything. Her family, friends and now, it seems like her future. She lives in her house with her pet fish, Sammy and SpaghettiOs, watching TV and eating cheese and crackers everyday. That's until, her grandmother turns up and whisks her to the house where she grew up in Vermount.
Aubrey learns that she's not completely alone and with the help of her Grandmother, her best friend and letters to the people she would like to tell what she is feeling to, she starts to take the first steps to having a life again. But then, she has to make a terrible decision - one that she has to choose between. Stay or go?


I've seen this book so many times in bookshops but I don't know, I think I thought it seemed too young for me with the main character being only 11. But it's not. This book is for any age, any interest and it really gets into your head a little. I mean, I found myself thinking about Aubrey after reading it the other day.
I found it really addictive. Once you got into it, you really wanted to know what happened in the end to this girl. My only critism. Well two really.
1) It took me a while to get into it. I think it was about page 70 that I realised that I was starting to get into the book. I think the beginning is dragged out a bit but then, I guess you need to know the beginning part to understand the book.
2) (It's Chicago now) I read a lot of reviews that it made people cry and even the front cover says 'She will make you cry'. But although, it IS about a 11 year old girl who has practically no family and how she gets on, I didn't find it so sad, that I would cry. I guess, I find it hard to cry for a book. If I Stay - Gayle Forman is the only book ever to make me cry physically. I'd have tears in my eyes but not cry. But I don't know...I didn't even have that in this book. I'm not saying I'm completely heartless. I did find it sad and a little depressing but it wasn't amazingly sad as reviews gave the illision of. I guess everyone sees books differently.

Anyway. That's my two critisms. I loved the way there were flashbacks in italics dotted around the book, it was effective as it was in first person and like you were looking in Aubrey's mind. It was very...personal. Which might be why it links into the crying issue. I loved Bridget, Gram and Aubrey. They were just...great. I want a Bridget. She's lovely and I wanted to hug her as much as Aubrey.
The character I hated. The Mother. Seriously, (I'm going to try and not reveal anything big so if it doesn't make sense then, that's probably why) you're her mother, would you really do that, even if you were depressed and down? And then trying to force her into something? Urgh. She just annoyed me when she turned up. But I guess that may be what Suzanna LaFleur was trying to do.
   Overall, this book should be read by everyone. It is a really lovely novel and nice to read for something completely different - it's just such a great novel and it does stay with you a while.

I give it a 4 out of 5

Author's Website: http://www.suzannelafleur.com/index.html

Weekly Update #1

Mushu. Got to love him.

So I am offically 100% ill. I woke up this morning, not being able to move and then sneezing several times and coughing like I was about to throw up. Nice.
However, I am still going out in the -2 lovely English weather. And...
IT SNOWED. Like PROPER snow. We think we had about 3-4 inches. It's definitely the heaviest I've ever seen it. Also it's been weird because there's been nearly no planes from Heathrow because it's either closed or hasn't got as many flights running. A guy I know at school on Facebook updated us that his flight to Berlin was taking off today...after supposedly booked for Saturday.

So. I have been also mused whilst watching Mulan. And Mulan II. oh yeah.
My Musing: It's Christmas in four days. I can't believe it.  2010 is almost over. There'll never be another 2010. It's so...weird. This year has gone at lightening speed. It's amazing.
And to be honest, I've loved this year. I started blogging. I met Patrick Ness and the women that got me into historical reading, Mary Hooper. I've read more and more this year with a book blog and I think I've gained confidence with it as well. I don't particularly care now, what people care about me or having a book blog. A lot of people I know, of course, don't know I do. But some do. People I don't particularly know that well and they told me it was cool that I did have a blog. Which made me smile.

This year, I've lost two close friends but gained more than that. I've got through Year 10 and am now on the final road to the end of Secondary School and able to go to college in my own clothes and at a later time. I cannot wait for 2011 and what it will hold...

On My Bookshelf (4) and an update...

This is my version of 'In My Mailbox' because honestly, I'm not known well enough to have publishers and authors to send me books - and I'm still working out how that can happen.
So here a few things that I have acquired this week:

Books:
- Love, Aubrey - Suzanne LaFleur (Library)
- A Song For Summer - Eva Ibbotson (Library) I am so excited to read this!

I also bought two necklaces online at This Charming Girl, one for my friend and one for myself as there was a 15% off at the time. :)

                                                                                                                     

First one:  This was for my friend. It's so original. Also she loves those kind of love French necklaces that Topshop and Accessorize normally do so she loved it...I hope.

2nd: This is the one I bought for myself. I love it, it's a bit longer than I thought it would be but it's still lovely.



    In other news, I am offically on Christmas Holidays so I can (kinda) relax for two weeks now. I'm writing some Xmas cards for my friends at the moment, I just felt like it. I need to get into the Christmas mood. I was standing at my bus stop today with my friend and it started snowing heavily. I felt like a snowman by the time the bus got there. It was great acting like a 5 year old :)

Also, I saw Wicked last night. IT WAS AMAZING. Although I can't get the songs out of my head - ever. Thank you and Happy Birthday George :)
Tonight, in a couple of hours, I'm going to my friend's Xmas Party in my new dress. I shall take a picture of it before I go.

Have a nice evening :)

Pretty Things - Sarra Manning

Okay, I got some time to do this. WARNING: if it doesn't make sense at any point, just tell me because I am unbelievably tired right now and all Disney-ish because I just watched Pocahontas II.

Righto. I bought this book in a discount book store in Florida for $2.99 even though it's set in England and Sarra Manning is also an English author. So yeah, I brought it home.

Brie and Charlie are best friends. Brie is in love with Lancome Juict Tubes and Charlie...who is also gay. Charlie is in love with Walker, the serial heartbreaker. Who is in love with Daisy, the other new gay one who just hates everyone else to care about who she loves. Set in North London, these four teenagers enter the theatre world and become the protagonists (oh yeah, Media terminology) of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew to experience the off-stage and on-stage dramas of the theatre world.

I don't quite know what to think of this novel. It was good and I enjoyed it but it wasn't like 'Whoa. That was amazing' which I guess I was kind of expecting from it. Can I just say something about the front cover above? This is the cover on my copy - the American version and to be honest, it's erm...it looks like one of those terrible early teen romances where nothing really happens and everyone lives happily ever after. If you are judging 'a book by it's cover', STOP.
Okay, onto the book. A lot of people don't like Sarra Manning's writing and I can see why as it's all about teen problems, relationships and how horrible their lives are but it's one of those reads, which is different, relaxing and you don't have to think about what's happening next. It's different in the way that there are four teenagers, two of which are gay. Normally, you either have your gay couple (which let's face it, don't happen often) or your two conventional lovers that we like to read about and wish we were them.
I LOVE Charlie. He's like your best friend and you just want to hug him, a lot. Brie and Daisy. I'm going to say it.
They got on my nerves. Though when it's Brie chapter, I don't mind her so much but still. I just didn't like them. Walker...neutral feelings. I thought it was going to be a complete idiot but I guess he's not so bad.

My lovely friend, Tijana, has also read the book and kinda spurred me on to read it and I was also able to talk to her about what we thought of Charlie. So I got her to write what she thinks of it (it's better than any review I've ever done):


Me and Tijana.

 “Pretty Things could be a described as a classic, teenage love-square novel, aimed at teenage girls who want to hear about love problems more exciting and problematic than their own – and it is.

     This doesn’t necessarily make the novel ‘bad’ or ‘cheesy’; Pretty Things grabs your attention and reel s you in through the use of stereotypical characters your forced to make a severe judgement on. Whether it’s the typical bad-boy Walker making you roll your eyes or the overly-feisty attitude of Daisy making you want to pull her back down to earth, you’re still interested in the characters – you want to know whether they all change their sexual orientations in the end to make the novel have a perfectly fitting, Jane Austen ending.
     Despite this, the slightly controversial themes and use of homosexuality of half of the characters allows the teenage readers to be more open minded about situations such as those that the characters find themselves in. Memorable, and bringing back plot lines from old plays, this book’s definitely worth reading one summer holiday. "

Thank you Tijana :)

I give this a 3.5/4 out of 5

Author's Website/Blog: http://sarramanning.blogspot.com/