Tuesday Top Ten: Favourite things of being a Blogger (#13)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and The Bookish


I have been blogging a while now, and in this post, is the reason I started blogging in the first place, I have mentioned it before but not in great detail. If you are a old follower and have wondered or would like to know, look at Number One. 

This week's theme is my favourite things about being a Blogger as it is The Broke and The Bookish's one year blogoversary!

*WARNING* There are long paragraphs because I talk a lot and I love this week's topic!

1. Being able to share my love of books without being judged harshly - At my school and especially in society now for teenagers, I was classed as the 'Weird Kid', the one that always had their head in a book - the 'geek'. All of these I don't mind being and I can say truthfully, I know I am what people class as a 'geek' or 'neek' as some brainboxer came up with. It's always been like that. However, since getting a blog, I haven't been as ashamed about reading and being obsessed with books as much.

I remember at the beginning of Year 10 last year, our English teacher made us write a little bit about ourselves as an introduction, what we thought about ourselves. In mine, I wrote 'People call me a 'geek' or whatever word you want to call someone who loves books, actually listens and gets good grades and probably sucks up to the teachers a little bit and gets upset when they're in trouble. To be honest, I totally agree with them. I love books. I hate being told off and doing wrong. And I would rather be indoors reading than out with my friends.' Her reaction was a big red '!'. That was written in September 2009 - a rather long time ago. 

In February 2010, I changed. I have mentioned this before but never in detail but here you go. I got a new boyfriend who I had known for a while and had actually gone out with my best friend a couple of years beforehand. He was lovely, kind, fun and thought what seemed the world of me. But then, about the time I made this blog, he told me he would be moving to Australia in the March. So, Europe - I wouldn't worry - not that far. Australia? Across the fricking world? A 24 hour flight? A little bit like 'Oh. Okay then.' It wasn't a surprise. He had said he would maybe be moving to Australia when he went out with my friend but hadn't so I kind of didn't take it seriously and carried on as we were, thinking it would be there, but never happen.  

It wasn't until he actually broke up with me that it kicked me in the face. There were those awkward weeks where you kind of don't know how to act as you were close but then it's like 'Hey, you broke up with me, grr'. So in the middle of March, he went to Australia. And to be honest, I was sad and annoyed at myself because I didn't appreciate him while he was here until he had gone. Basically, it took me a while to get over him and I completely forgot about the blog. It wasn't until Year 10 ended and I still was sad and felt alone with my close friends all having guys they went out with or liked and I had no-one, that I took blogging seriously. And then I felt better, I made friends with people in the community on here and loved to talk about something that helps me get away from the world: reading. And I have carried that one from then on and I realised that reading isn't a bad thing to do, if anything it's one of the best things in the world for you to do.

*Sorry for that long thing*

2. Finding out about some books that interest me before the release so I can save up - Because I follow mostly bloggers that live in America where a lot of books come out earlier than in the UK, I like the fact I can see their reaction to it. Countless of times, I have seen some books in the library or the bookshop and went up to them after recognising the cover and thinking 'BAD REVIEWS' and moved away and got an even better book than that one. It's nice to have that link with people who don't live in your country or culture and find out about their way of life and how their life works. 

3. Reading genres and books I would never have entered before - If you'd said to me when I made this blog that some of the things I read now like the Dystopian genre, I would love, I would laugh you off and run away frantically. It's only because I saw good reviews for 'The Declaration' series that I finally picked it up after naming it THAT book that I wanted to read but was unsure. Thanks!

4. The Blogging community - I've kind of mentioned this but this is the thing I value most of all. The community that comes along with Blogging. I love it. I have made so many friends through blogging and seen opinions for things, I wouldn't even think of. This includes Authors, Book Bloggers, Publicists and bloggers that don't specialise in books but love them all the same! 

I know that I am part of a special, modern group of people who can talk for hours about books and will support and help each other. We're like a family really.

5. Comments - The one thing I have loved from the beginning is comments. I think any blogger can say this but I love to know what people think about what I'm writing and I makes me sure that people read what I'm writing and like it so I'm not just writing this for myself like I used to before I became serious on blogging. I just feel so happy and I think every blogger appreciates them more than they can say just to know someone else's thoughts.

6. The excuse to go in old secondhand musty bookshops - These are my favourite places, as well as libraries. My parents know I love reading, I always have and they bought me so many books as a child, but they don't know about the blogging. But I do sometimes use it as an excuse in my mind to go in them and look for a nice book as a treat for myself. I usually am spoilt for choice.

7. Being aware of that industry - When I first started the blog, I wanted to be a journalist or an actress - totally different things right? Now, I would love to go into book publishing or historical research for books or movies. Both things have bookish references and I think these jobs are the result of being a book blogger and learning things about the industry, and the process of making books, giving books away etc. 

8. Blogging makes me proud, happy, excited and everything in between - I love it so much, I cannot describe it. I know when I come home, I have this to do, that people listen to me, like my writing and enjoy my blog in general. I love reading other people's thoughts, seeing pictures and ratings. 
Recently, I've been having friends troubles and not been going out much and I know I have this thing and this community that do care, even if other people don't and that makes me so happy and much more cheerful. Otherwise I think I would be a wreak half the time! Hence last year when I got serious about blogging. 

There are probably things I haven't thought of but these are the things that come to mind. I hope you enjoy!

A-Z Authors - Q, R

I found out about this through Phanee from funny wool and is hosted by Heather at Proud Book Nerd. I thought it looked quite fun so this month, I shall be doing a post every day (except Sundays) where I shall tell you about amazing authors that have surnames beginning with that letter. I hope you enjoy and tell me if you know any more with that letter and I'll add it to the post! Thanks.

NOTE: As I am doing my exams at the moment, I may miss days so shall combine letter together, I'll say if I do in the title - Thanks.

Here we go....

Okay Q is the hardest letter of the entire alphabet for both authors and just weird other reasons like you can't use it in Scrabble or Word Mole (obsessed with that game) without the U or it's grammatically wrong...and there are no words without its buddy, U. So I went to the library yesterday on a quest to find an author that I knew and found zilch. So, yeah. No-one. Again.

R

Rosie Rushton

Her books make me laugh so much. I have actually only read one of them, Love, Lies and Lizzie which is like a modernised spin-off of Pride and Prejudice and really put what happened in perspective for me and I understood (finally) what Jane Austen was talking about which was nice. Although, some things don't happen in the real thing, it is mostly similar to the original novel. 

It's writing in a nice style with not too complicated words but then not like a small child reading it with some hilarious and inviting characters within it. Like Mrs Bennet and Lydia...they made me laugh the most, much like they do for other people in Pride and Prejudice. I would recommend this one for anyone that loves Jane Austen's books or doesn't understand the story completely - this will help a lot.

Her Books: Secrets of Love (Sense and Sensibility), Love, Lies and Lizzie (Pride and Prejudice), Summer of Secrets (Northanger Abbey), Secret Schemes and Daring Dreams (Emma), Echoes of Love (Persuasion) 

Girl With a Pearl Earring - Tracy Chevalier

This book was lent to me by my friend, Tijana who when I went out with her for the Malorie Blackman signing, gave me this list of books to read in return for some recommendations of my own and looking at Patrick Ness' website constantly to see if he comes to London or anywhere near us.
Next day, she turns up with a paper bag full of books. This one wasn't included but when I went to her birthday celebration, she shoved this in my hand and demanded I read it. So, I kind of had to.
 I have wanted to know the story, after hearing about the film with Colin Firth in, although I haven't seen it. But I have never had the chance to actually read it, hence by lack of protests when this was shown in my direction. And in truth. SO GLAD I DID!


Synopsis: The book focuses on the household and family of the painter, Johannes Vermeer, who painted 35 paintings in the 1600's. It follows the year in which Griet, a very young maid with a poor family, worked at the house for (around 2 years) and her relationships with the members of the family and her sudden attraction to the paintings her master paints. Slowly, she becomes involved in the small world of beautiful clothes and jewellery and the whimsical worlds of the paintings.


Review: 
A lot of us know at least the painting of 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' if not at least the painter, Vermeer. As far as I know, this is probably up there on the 'Most famous paintings' list with the Mona Lisa.
This is such a compelling story. It is so intriguing and entertaining even to find out and discover the world that Vermeer painted in and ultimately the story behind the painting.
It's unclear if this is the real or theory of the story behind it or literally from Tracy Chevalier's imagination and her story of the kind of tale behind the portrait. In a way that is good, it leaves it up to the reader to believe the story or not but in a way, I kind of really want to know the person in the painting.

I loved this book a lot. The writing was so lovely and easy to read and even though it is said to be an Adult books, it could easily be Young Adult too and something I could see on the selves of the Teenage section in Waterstones. I really liked Griet as a voice and she began really interesting to see her life and the way poorer people were treated at that time. Also, it was nice to have the poorer servant as the voice instead Vermeer himself, it was better and added much more mystery to Vermeer's character - you don't actually find out a lot about him really as he only appears ever so often and becomes a kind of mysterious, anticipating figure, much like how Griet sees him. The reader does become a little like Griet as it is told in the first person.

I feel so much for Griet from the beginning and winced at the insults thrown at her, got angry at the behaviour of the other members of the household and happy whenever Vermeer took her side. The other characters were so interesting and complete different from each other. There is quite a fair amount of characters involved but they are all different and unalike with their own stories and relationships. I liked that.

Girl with a Pearl Earring -
Johannes Vermeer (1665)

The one character that did get on my nerves: Cornelia, Vermeer's 7 year-old daughter who makes Griet's like hell. I don't know if it was different in those days but she seems too old, too mature, too much of everything to be that age to me. It maybe done on purpose but it made her more annoying for me and I didn't get why she was doing it to Griet and not the other maid, Tanneke. I just didn't understand her motives.

What I did like was the fact that there is a story behind about 9 of Vermeer's paintings and does give an insight into his world that we know so little about. It was interesting to have the historical setting in The Netherlands instead of the usual place of England or America.
 The book is also obviously researched thoroughly as after looking up Vermeer on Google, a lot of the facts that came up featured in the book such as where they lived, Catholicism and the names of the family and some of the events that happened. You can also tell this from actually reading the book too, with some odd, old fashioned names mentioned, as well as Dutch names, although it is made obvious what it actually is. Tracy Chevalier shows clearly she has a deep passion for Vermeer's work and paintings like the main one.

I also LOVED the ending. It kind of ends suddenly, then you turn the page and find yourself 10 years later. It's nice to know Griet's life after and how it turns out as well as the families and especially the painting. It was a lovely end to this novel that again makes you think a little.

This is one I think a lot of people would enjoy, especially if they are into historical fiction or have seen this film. Personally I haven't but after reading, would like to see it to make the difference. It's sad in a way that we know so little about the lives in that era of this famous painter but this book does transport you to a world where the tiniest thing counts for your future life or job.
A great little read which really opens your eyes a little bit and appreciate the art around us like Vermeer who had struggled with his finances at the time, although now would sell for millions.
Girl with a Pearl Earring is on show at the Mauritshuis, The Hague

I give it 4.5 out of 5

Author's Website: http://www.tchevalier.com/
Pages: 248
Publisher: Harper Collins
Challenges: Historical Fiction

A-Z Authors - O, P

I found out about this through Phanee from funny wool and is hosted by Heather at Proud Book Nerd. I thought it looked quite fun so this month, I shall be doing a post every day (except Sundays) where I shall tell you about amazing authors that have surnames beginning with that letter. I hope you enjoy and tell me if you know any more with that letter and I'll add it to the post! Thanks.

NOTE: As I am doing my exams at the moment, I may miss days so shall combine letter together, I'll say if I do in the title - Thanks.

Here we go....

To be honest, I have no authors for either of these letters. I know authors for P but I wouldn't say they are my favourite or I would recommend straight away. Sorry. Here is the list anyway:

P

Alexandra Potter
Sasha Paley
Dave Pelzer

Audrey's Awesome Awktopus Summer of YA Lit Challenge

Audrey from Holes in my Brain is amazing. Her blog makes me laugh so much, it's ridiculous yet her reviews are so interesting and I think she deserves her 1000 followers (Wow is all I can say).

Anyway, she is doing a personal challenge to do over the summer as she, like me, has left school recently and has a whole 2 months of summer (well I have 2 months anyway). I think this is such a great idea and going to make me read throughout the summer and have a goal for it.
So these are the things to complete this summer:

*Crossed out means it is completed.

1. Read 4 Books you have never heard of before = Lia's Guide to Winning the Lottery - Keren David, Theodore Boone - John Grisham, Annexed - Sharon Dogar, 


2. Start and finish a series or trilogy = 


3. Read that book = An Education - Lynn Barber & The Roman Mysteries (last book) - Caroline Lawrence & Once - Morris Gleitzman


4. Read ONE classic = 


5. Read 2 books for one of those other challenges = An Education - Lynn Barber, Once - Morris Gleitzman


6. Read the book you’ve been avoiding because of hype = You Against Me - Jenny Downham 


7. Read a book published before year 2000 = 


8. Read 3 stand-alone books by the same author = 


9. Read a summer-related book = 


10. Buy a book = Girl with a Pearled Earring - Tracy Chevalier

A-Z Authors - N

I found out about this through Phanee from funny wool and is hosted by Heather at Proud Book Nerd. I thought it looked quite fun so this month, I shall be doing a post every day (except Sundays) where I shall tell you about amazing authors that have surnames beginning with that letter. I hope you enjoy and tell me if you know any more with that letter and I'll add it to the post! Thanks.

NOTE: As I am doing my exams at the moment, I may miss days so shall combine letter together, I'll say if I do in the title - Thanks.

Here we go....

N

Patrick Ness

I actually love and cherish this guy. He is also one of the nicest authors I have met. I met him last year at a book launch for 'Losing It' in which he had contributed a mini-story to. I was introduced to his books by two of my best friends who being reading junkies like me, told me about them and REALLY recommended them - like 'Read now or we will hate you' recommendation. So I did. I had seen the books but I had never approached them - they looked too boyish and action packed for my girly liking. Anyway I'm glad I did. I fell in love with the characters, the setting, the story - everything. They are the type of books people I know kind of see and walk away from, not sure what they're like. But READ THEM if you see them. He makes you love Todd and Viola. Hate the Mayor and the other baddies. He makes you sad, happy, angry in one book and he writes really well and like Todd or Viola is talking directly to you. My friends and I all agreed that he makes you feel like their characters are your personal friends and you're going through the plot with them. And that's what I love about reading books.

His Books: The Chaos Walking series - The Knife of Never Letting Go, The Ask and the Answer, Monsters of Men, The New World. A Monster Calls

Other Honourable Mentions: 

- Jandy Nelson

QUESTIONAIRE - Please tell me your thoughts.

*This takes some time to load*

I hope this works first of all.

I have seen a few of these throughout the blogosphere recently and done some myself and it got me thinking about what do my followers think about my blog? I would really like to know what you truly think and how Rebecca-Books can be improved. Please be truthful and honest because I would like to know.

I really appreciate your thoughts and feelings and I'll publish the results when I get enough.

THANKS!

Here goes...

You will have me back soon - And some help PLEASE

I know it's been a while but

HEY GUYS!


Sorry, I am a bad blogger. You have been given Tuesday Top Ten's, A-Z Authors and the occasional review. I am very sorry but you were warned.

I have done 14 exams of my 15 GCSE's and the last one, Statistics, is in under two weeks with a trip every day next week to see my wonderful Maths teacher for revision. Oh joy.
Although, after that, my summer begins!
One of my close friends has her birthday the day of the Statistics exam so is having a party that evening. Then, I have a Leavers Lunch where I get the yearbook and see lots of people a couple of days later and then at the end of the week, I have Prom.

Yes Prom. Not so big-limo-fake-tan-big-dresses-with-poofy-skirts-and-sleeves American style prom but a nice dinner and dance afterwards with my fellow students and teachers. Which I thought was nice and I'm looking forward to it. I shall post a picture of me and my prom dress which I can truthfully say have been DYING to tell the world about but I've been keeping it in apart from a picture on my phone to the selected few.

Anyway, not many things in the way of bookish things really. Although I am planning something special. I am also going to have a poll/questionaire once I figure out how to put Google Documents on Blogger after 2 tries already. PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO DO THIS AND I WILL LOVE YOU FOREVER.

I am so excited for this summer, it's unbelievable and I will of course keep you all updated, if you care or not.

One last thing of this ramble, ANYONE RECOMMEND A GOOD FOUNDATION preferably in powder form that's on the High Streets and at a reasonable price.
I need some for Prom and I don't normally wear it so I'm a bit clueless. And also ANYONE RECOMMEND ANY EYELINER THAT STAYS ON FOR HOURS AND DOESN'T SMUDGE - again I shall love you for life.

Oh, and read this - I cannot believe this either. That is so horrible and shouldn't have been allowed:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2000281/Headteacher-bans-17-children-taking-vital-GCSE-exam-turn-wrong-SHOES.html

A-Z Authors - M

I found out about this through Phanee from funny wool and is hosted by Heather at Proud Book Nerd. I thought it looked quite fun so this month, I shall be doing a post every day (except Sundays) where I shall tell you about amazing authors that have surnames beginning with that letter. I hope you enjoy and tell me if you know any more with that letter and I'll add it to the post! Thanks.

NOTE: As I am doing my exams at the moment, I may miss days so shall combine letter together, I'll say if I do in the title - Thanks.

Here we go....

M

Gemma Malley

Dystopia fiction never used to appeal to me really. I thought the ideas were great and original but they never used to make me think 'Wow. I want to read that!' at all. Until Gemma Malley. 

I had seen her book dozens of times in the shops but it was only when I had seen a review for the second book in The Declaration series that I actually started to pay any notice to them. Then, about a week later, I was at my friend's house and noticed the first copy of the book, asked what she thought and after her sister saying it was really good, I borrowed it from her. And the rest, they say, is history. 

I love her writing because it makes it modern and understandable even with all the foreign words and scientifical words laced in. It's easy to read and I love the characters of Peter and Anna in that series. She also plays with tension and timing well making you find things out at the last hour or make you think something else is going to happen. She is always keeping you guessing which I liked and I think really is the essence to books like this to make it interesting and I think that's where Numbers failed the other week ago.
I need to read more books of hers but if there is one series that I would recommend certainly, it would be this one. They are really good and really put another take on what the future might actually be like.

Her Books: The Returners, The Declaration series - The Declaration, The Resistance, The Legacy,

Tuesday Top Ten: 'Awww' Moments (#12)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and The Bookish

This week's theme is those moments where you have shout 'AWWW!' to no-one in particular

*NOTE* All my moments I could think of would have given the plot away so I'm going for a list of books that contain 'AWW!' moments with the characters in it. If you would like the little details on what happened in those 'AWW' moments, comment below with an email and I shall tell you!

1. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen - Eli and Auden

2. The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen - Macy and Wes

3. Last Chance by Sarah Dessen - Colie and Norman

4. The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness - Todd and Viola

5. The Betrayal by Mary Hooper - Lucy and Tomas

6. The Other Countess by Eve Edwards - Ellie and Will

7. Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin - Naomi and Will

8. I was Jane Austen's Best Friend by Cora Harrison - Jenny and Captain Williams

9. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - Elizabeth and Darcy

10. Lady Grace Mysteries: Haunted - Grace and (I can't remember his name - the Earl of something I think...)