The whirlwind of the last couple of months has just caught up on me and the realisation that a) it's 2014, b) I'm 19 years-old in FIVE WEEKS and c) When did I start completely neglecting my blog? dawned on me.
Normally, I do a variety of 'Yay end of the year, end of my Goodreads reading challenge I haven't completed, yay!' posts. However, sometimes life just needs to get in the way for a bit and we all have to live with that.
It sort of dawned on me the other day how quickly the year has gone and mostly, how much I (and everything within my life) has changed. This time last year I was stressed over Media coursework, English coursework and probably being slowly converted into a walking-talking history book on Tudor History. The time I had this realisation was when I was sitting in my local Wagamamma's. This is the place which I went to with my best friend the day before I left for university, it's the place I celebrated both GCSE and A level results in and the place I went to celebrate getting my first paid job at Waterstones with my parents. However, this time, I was sitting in Wagamamma's with one of flatmates from Bournemouth who I met 3 months ago, buying him lunch and talking about different aspects of my hometown. It's just weird how life can be at times considering innocent, stressed little me in January 2013.
So much happened in 2013 - I applied to university, did my A levels, got into university, moved away from home, worked, stressed, met some lovely people. It's weird to think back to it all.
I want 2014 to be different for this blog. The posts have slowly diminished in the last few years and in all honesty, I have less and less enthusiasm, ideas and time month on month to do anything that can qualify as blogging. I read still, but it takes me ages to finish a book.
I really, really, REALLY still want to blog and be in the book blogging community, it's just very tough at the moment to do that with very little feedback or reward.
In February, this blog will be FOUR YEARS OLD. And I want that to be a time of celebration but also for a fresh start for this blog. I won't be around much in January, I really won't, with exams and coursework pressing upon me.
But February. I promise February. I'm planning many interesting and new things for this blog (hint: makeover) so please, please bear with me. I know I keep saying this, but I mean it. Let me get my life sorted out, and then I'll give this blog the love and attention it needs and deserves.
Until next time guys.
Saturday, 4 January 2014
Friday, 29 November 2013
Veronica Roth Signing
On a sunny October afternoon, I was sitting in a Starbucks on the Strand in London with my friend when I found out about the Veronica Roth signing. I was scrolling through my Twitter feed as I was waiting for my friend and our drinks and then I saw the tweet from Waterstones talking about this event. I texted my other friend, George, straight away and within a few hours, I was the holder of two tickets to see one of the best authors around in my
I may be currently in Bournemouth but the event was in my 'reading week' (read: a week off to catch up with work which ends up with everyone going home and doing anything far from work) when I'd be coming home anyway. George is at university in London so it was perfect!
Veronica Roth for those that have no idea who I'm rattling on about is the writer of the YA dystopian series Divergent and the final book in the series, which I am yet to read, has just been released after the biggest cliffhanger in history. It's also being made into a movie next year with the lovely Shailene Woodley and Kate Winslet in it. This series is immense, I would not recommend it enough. It was a series I was completely unsure about until George made me read them and now *whispers* I think they're better than The Hunger Games...
Veroncia Roth hasn't done many events in the UK, as she is an American author so I was so excited and surprised to hear she was doing one here in London.
The event was at the Prince Charles Theatre in Leicester Square where George and I saw Moonrise Kingdom a couple of years ago. It's a nice theatre/cinema just off the square, right on the edge of Chinatown and is a little bit away from the hustle and bustle of Leicester Square.
We went in with about 5 minutes to spare. As we walked in, Veronica Roth just kind of casually walked past us to which we both kind of gave each other excited looks.
We sat down and the talk started. It's interesting to hear authors talk about how they came to write the books we kind of take for granted - rarely do I think to myself when I'm reading 'Oh I wonder where they got the idea'. Some of the author's events I've been to show that inspiration comes from some unlikely places.
.JPG)
.JPG)
While it seemed like she was wrapping up after only 30 minutes had passed, suddenly she was talking about cast member from the Divergent movie being at the event. I thought to myself 'Oh it's going to be a minor character in the movie'. That was until Shailene Woodley was walking on stage, who is playing Tris, THE MAIN CHARACTER. It was cool to hear her perception of the movie and how she prepared for her character. It was just incredibly surreal having these two people on stage. I'm interested to see Shailene next year in Divergent but also as the lead in The Fault in our Stars, an adaptation of the John Green book which is another favourite book of mine.
Soon, the audience was getting their books signed. Because we were at the back, we had to wait a while but it was SO worth the wait. She's really lovely, I wasn't entirely sure what to say to hear without fangirling at all. But I asked her if she was planning on writing any more books and she replied she had a book in the making that was a move away from Divergent but still a dystopian.
So I left the event feeling rather happy and geeking out with my friend over the fact we had just met Veronica Roth, author of Divergent which could potentially have the same effect as The Hunger Games did when it was first made into a movie.
I'm so excited for the movie in March and I still need to get onto the last book in the Divergent series (kind of scared of what may happen). I'm also trying to get my flatmates to discover Divergent. We went to see The Hunger Games: Catching Fire at the cinema the other day (it's so good!) and they showed the Divergent trailer. One of my flatmates just turned to me at the end of the trailer and said 'That looks so good!'
This movie is going to be big, I can tell. But Veronica Roth is still one of the most down to earth authors I've met.
Reviews:
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Saturday, 23 November 2013
UKYA BLOG TOUR: Guest Post from Marie-Louise Jensen
Today, I'm hosting a stop on the UKYA Blog Tour, which is running throughout November to promote British YA books and their incredible authors. This is all run by the lovely Lucy from Queen of Contemporary and Project UKYA blogs. She's a good friend of mine and has put a huge amount of effort to put this blog tour together so check out her stops on the tour and tell her how brilliant she is!
For my stop, I have one of my FAVOURITE authors, Marie-Louise Jensen, author of' 'The Lady in the Tower', 'Smuggler's Kiss' and 'The Girl in the Mask'. She's talking about women in history and why she chooses to make all her protagonists female. I'll shh now and pass this post over to Marie-Louise Jensen!
Women In History
To look at the history we are taught, especially in
schools, you’d think women had made no contribution to the world other than
cooking and having babies. Oh, and being queen occasionally. The only female
name I recall from my school history lessons is Kitty O’Shea who got a mention
in Irish history for bringing down politician Charles Purnell. She had a long
running affair and three children out of wedlock with him. The classic scarlet
woman – it was all her fault that fine man’s career was destroyed! Shame on
her!
It’s a bit like in the Bible really. It was all
Eve’s fault there. Bad woman, leading your poor unsuspecting husband astray and
landing us all in sin and suffering!
I did two history units at university too. In one,
no woman was mentioned. In the other – Viking history – we read the Icelandic
sagas. I loved them, I really did. But in so many of them, the women were the
cause of trouble: the temptress. Every feud that destroyed a family began with
a woman and in every generation it was the women who shamed and stung their men
into continuing the slaughter.
I don’t think it’s hugely different today. I revised
history GCSE with my son last summer and scarcely a woman was mentioned. The
only ones who are mentioned are doing traditionally womanly nurturing tasks
like nursing (Florence Nightingale) or they are revered for their sexual
modesty rather than their astute political skills (Queen Elizabeth I – the
‘virgin’ queen).
And is this really the truth? Were women really
absent from all historical events of note? Have they done nothing but bear
children and support men?
NO WAY, GIRLS! Don’t believe it for a second.
1) Women have been barred from occupations and kept
out of power for many hundreds of years. The real low points of female
oppression in the UK
2) This is the most important point: MEN WROTE THE
HISTORY BOOKS. Never forget that one. They and only they were allowed to be
scholars, so they focused on the parts of history that appealed to them. Wars.
Men. Kings. Wars. More Men. There might have been a virgin queen or two.
3) If women do defy convention and society’s rules
and do something of note (and many did) IGNORE THEM! Pretend it didn’t happen,
attribute the discovery or invention to someone else, question their morality
or belittle them! Or best of all - blame them for everything men did wrong!
That keeps that pesky minority (AHEM - HALF THE
HUMAN RACE!) out of history! The same strategy is applied to people of colour
and others too, of course.
And this, my friends, is why I write historical
fiction about girls in history. Strong girls who won’t be told who to be and do
what they want to do. Girls who joust, rob, smuggle, study mathematics, travel,
doctor and solve feuds rather than causing them. I’d like to write about one of
the many women who made fabulous discoveries in science or maths but never get
mentioned. I’d like to write about the women who pioneered acting on the stage
instead of the boys playing the women’s roles. One day I will. I’m in the
business of redressing the balance.
So when boys at schools ask me “Are you going to
write a book for boys soon?” My answer is a big, fat, unapologetic NO!
Try reading about a few girls, lads. They are
actually pretty awesome.
Friday, 22 November 2013
Mini-Reviews: Eleanor and Park, Heartbeat, Witchstruck
*Because of my huge absence from the world of blogging, I'm desperately trying to catch up on reviews of the books I read while I was away*
Eleanor and Park - Rainbow Rowell
Synopsis: Eleanor is the new girl, the one with a disturbing family life, mismatched clothes and bright red hair. She sticks out without trying.
Park is the boy who sits at the back of the bus, absorbed in his music and a comic book. He thinks he can make himself invisible to those around him. But not to Eleanor. Slowly, the pair fall for each other through mix tapes and comics. They fall in love for the first time - when you feel if you have nothing and everything to lose.
Review: So I read this book because of what everyone else had been saying about it. Then, my best friend, Emma, read it and said it was just so, so good. AND then I knew it was time for me try this. I mean, this looked and sounded like a book I would love.
So I started reading it. And thought it was a bit...just not all that I guess. I was sitting there, wondering about the hype and thinking that maybe I shouldn't have bought this book, maybe I should have not followed the hype, wondering if I should put it down because Park was getting a little bit boring and there was Sarah Dessen's shiny new book on my bookshelf and-
Then, it hit me suddenly that I was actually utterly enjoying and loving every single word of this novel.
This book is unique in, oh, so many different ways. There's the characters of Eleanor and Park to start with, who connect so beautifully with one another but particularly, with a reader. As a teenager, they were echoing the things I had thought for years - the typical teenage angst, the mix of confusion and fear, the feeling that everyone judges you for every word you utter. These are unique, authentic and just charming characters that makes book lovers like myself remember why they love books to much. The narrative runs throughout as the reader tracks their relationship from alternative perspectives. The ending isn't perfect (another thing I loved) but let's face it, life isn't perfect anyway. Rainbow Rowell is one author to look out for!
I give it a 5 out of 5
Heartbeat - Elizabeth Scott
Synopsis: Emma would love to talk to her mother and tell her about her slipping grades, her anger at her stepfather, tell her she was right about her ex. But she can't. Her mother is brain-dead being kept alive by machines to deliver the baby growing inside of her. Emma hardly talks to her father, her only social connection is her friend Olivia. That is until she meets Caleb, a guy who knows exactly how she is feeling - more than anyone else. Emma believes there is no hope for her now, but perhaps she is wrong.
Review: Hm. I'm not sure how I feel about this one. In fairness, when I read this one, I was moving into university and going to bed at like 2am every day so this took a while to read...But I still don't think it was a brilliant book.
I've read a mixture of good and bad reviews for this one so I guess it's not JUST me. Elizabeth Scott was an author I always wanted to give a go, especially with many people saying she was similar to Sarah Dessen and we all know how much I like her books...
So when I finally had the opportunity to read something of hers, I was expecting great things...and this wasn't great.
I thought it was a good concept, I mean, it's a rare thing to happen but it's interesting to see the different character's reactions. I think there are two things that ruined it for me. Firstly, I hated Emma so much. She was so whiny, so negative and just plain boring at times. There is a lack of speech in this book which I think works negatively for the narrative. I just got bored of her narration going on and on. The second thing is that the romance between Emma and Caleb seemed so false and unrealistic, it was just too cliched, too awkward, too cringey. I just wasn't a fan.
I know Clover from Fluttering Butterflies LOVED this book, so maybe this is Marmite type of book - you either love it or hate it. But this book definitely wasn't for me. I liked the focus on family a lot, but there was too much I found negative to truly appreciate it. Sorry...
I give it a 3 out of 5
Witchstruck - Victoria Lamb
Synopsis: Meg bears a dangerous and powerful gift - she is a witch, which in 1554 England and in service to the banished Tudor princess, Elizabeth, it could never be more dangerous for her to practice her art. Entrapped in an old palace, there are suspicious eyes everywhere which, with one wrong move, could end both Meg's and Elizabeth's life. She cannot trust anyone. However, when everything turns against Meg, she must find someone to trust.
Review: I love history. I always have. Since specialising in Tudor history for my A-level History course, I've had a certain love for anything Tudor. I cringed a little bit when I read the blurb. I've never been much of a fan of paranormal stuff in literature, but I do love historical fiction and what girl doesn't like a dash of romance?
I thought this book would be ridden with moments where I was wincing at moments of cliches. But thankfully not.
I actually really enjoyed this book! The plot wove in the dangerous feelings of the time under Mary Tudor especially for those like Elizabeth and Meg. A lot of Tudor novels focus on the political intrigues and battles at court so it's refreshing to see a book which veers away from that and looks at the feeling outside of London and focuses on the adventures of Meg rather than the manipulation behind it all.
The characters are all unique particularly Meg and the male protagonist, Alejandro. The relationship between these two that progresses throughout the novel was one of the best parts and written in a way that a reader can believe, it is a relationship that reflects the time.
This books stands out to me out of all the historical novels I have read, particularly those aimed at Young Adults. It is refreshing to see a book that is not too cliche or samey to all the other historical novels out there, especially those set in the Tudor period. I really, really enjoyed this book, despite my reservations and I'm quite looking forward to finding out what happens next for Meg.
I give it a 5 out of 5
Synopsis: Eleanor is the new girl, the one with a disturbing family life, mismatched clothes and bright red hair. She sticks out without trying.
Park is the boy who sits at the back of the bus, absorbed in his music and a comic book. He thinks he can make himself invisible to those around him. But not to Eleanor. Slowly, the pair fall for each other through mix tapes and comics. They fall in love for the first time - when you feel if you have nothing and everything to lose.
Review: So I read this book because of what everyone else had been saying about it. Then, my best friend, Emma, read it and said it was just so, so good. AND then I knew it was time for me try this. I mean, this looked and sounded like a book I would love.
So I started reading it. And thought it was a bit...just not all that I guess. I was sitting there, wondering about the hype and thinking that maybe I shouldn't have bought this book, maybe I should have not followed the hype, wondering if I should put it down because Park was getting a little bit boring and there was Sarah Dessen's shiny new book on my bookshelf and-
Then, it hit me suddenly that I was actually utterly enjoying and loving every single word of this novel.
This book is unique in, oh, so many different ways. There's the characters of Eleanor and Park to start with, who connect so beautifully with one another but particularly, with a reader. As a teenager, they were echoing the things I had thought for years - the typical teenage angst, the mix of confusion and fear, the feeling that everyone judges you for every word you utter. These are unique, authentic and just charming characters that makes book lovers like myself remember why they love books to much. The narrative runs throughout as the reader tracks their relationship from alternative perspectives. The ending isn't perfect (another thing I loved) but let's face it, life isn't perfect anyway. Rainbow Rowell is one author to look out for!
I give it a 5 out of 5
Review: Hm. I'm not sure how I feel about this one. In fairness, when I read this one, I was moving into university and going to bed at like 2am every day so this took a while to read...But I still don't think it was a brilliant book.
I've read a mixture of good and bad reviews for this one so I guess it's not JUST me. Elizabeth Scott was an author I always wanted to give a go, especially with many people saying she was similar to Sarah Dessen and we all know how much I like her books...
So when I finally had the opportunity to read something of hers, I was expecting great things...and this wasn't great.
I thought it was a good concept, I mean, it's a rare thing to happen but it's interesting to see the different character's reactions. I think there are two things that ruined it for me. Firstly, I hated Emma so much. She was so whiny, so negative and just plain boring at times. There is a lack of speech in this book which I think works negatively for the narrative. I just got bored of her narration going on and on. The second thing is that the romance between Emma and Caleb seemed so false and unrealistic, it was just too cliched, too awkward, too cringey. I just wasn't a fan.
I know Clover from Fluttering Butterflies LOVED this book, so maybe this is Marmite type of book - you either love it or hate it. But this book definitely wasn't for me. I liked the focus on family a lot, but there was too much I found negative to truly appreciate it. Sorry...
I give it a 3 out of 5
Synopsis: Meg bears a dangerous and powerful gift - she is a witch, which in 1554 England and in service to the banished Tudor princess, Elizabeth, it could never be more dangerous for her to practice her art. Entrapped in an old palace, there are suspicious eyes everywhere which, with one wrong move, could end both Meg's and Elizabeth's life. She cannot trust anyone. However, when everything turns against Meg, she must find someone to trust.
Review: I love history. I always have. Since specialising in Tudor history for my A-level History course, I've had a certain love for anything Tudor. I cringed a little bit when I read the blurb. I've never been much of a fan of paranormal stuff in literature, but I do love historical fiction and what girl doesn't like a dash of romance?
I thought this book would be ridden with moments where I was wincing at moments of cliches. But thankfully not.
I actually really enjoyed this book! The plot wove in the dangerous feelings of the time under Mary Tudor especially for those like Elizabeth and Meg. A lot of Tudor novels focus on the political intrigues and battles at court so it's refreshing to see a book which veers away from that and looks at the feeling outside of London and focuses on the adventures of Meg rather than the manipulation behind it all.
The characters are all unique particularly Meg and the male protagonist, Alejandro. The relationship between these two that progresses throughout the novel was one of the best parts and written in a way that a reader can believe, it is a relationship that reflects the time.
This books stands out to me out of all the historical novels I have read, particularly those aimed at Young Adults. It is refreshing to see a book that is not too cliche or samey to all the other historical novels out there, especially those set in the Tudor period. I really, really enjoyed this book, despite my reservations and I'm quite looking forward to finding out what happens next for Meg.
I give it a 5 out of 5
Sunday, 10 November 2013
On My Bookshelf (43)
This meme for originally inspired by 'In My Mailbox' created by The Story Siren
Other versions are:
Letterbox Love created by Narratively Speaking
Stacking the Shelves created by Tynga's reviews
Showcase Sunday created by Books, Biscuits and Tea
Since my little holiday from blogging as I settle in at university, I've bought QUITE a lot of books without realising. My flatmates have already worked out I'm a book lover, so much so that I've been asked for book recommendations by them. I also got a job at Waterstones here in Bournemouth so having my staff discount again is like...it's amazing.
I've also discovered a massive library here that has a huge fiction section with a lot of books I didn't see in my local libraries at home.
Library:
Bought:
Other versions are:
Letterbox Love created by Narratively Speaking
Stacking the Shelves created by Tynga's reviews
Showcase Sunday created by Books, Biscuits and Tea
Since my little holiday from blogging as I settle in at university, I've bought QUITE a lot of books without realising. My flatmates have already worked out I'm a book lover, so much so that I've been asked for book recommendations by them. I also got a job at Waterstones here in Bournemouth so having my staff discount again is like...it's amazing.
I've also discovered a massive library here that has a huge fiction section with a lot of books I didn't see in my local libraries at home.
Library:
- Debutantes In Love by Cora Harrison - I've always loved historical fiction especially those set in the early 20th Century (which is why Downton Abbey is like the BEST show - although this series hasn't been fantastic). This is the second book in the Debutantes series by Cora Harrison. The first book has an air of finality for me, so I'm interested to see what happens next in this book for the Derrington sisters. Also, if you remember what happened in the first book, PLEASE let me know!
- Gilt by Katherine Longshore - Ah, the Tudors. I'm starting to realise that I love the Tudors a little bit too much and know so much about it (my whole A-level History was about the Tudors). I've heard lots of good things about this series around the blogosphere and was so happy to see this in the library. It's due back really soon, so hopefully I can renew it...
Bought:
- How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff - This was an author I normally tend to avoid. Mainly, that's because I read What I Was by this author and really disliked it. My friend read Just In Case too and didn't like it either. However, with the upcoming film release that looked SO GOOD, I thought I should give this book a try especially as I've seen a lot of positive reviews around. I found this little bargain in a charity shop for 50p with the traditional Penguin Books cover which I prefer to the original cover.
- This Song Will Save Your Live by Leila Sales - There are many reasons why this is on my bookshelf. 1) It's being made into a movie with Keira Knightley in, 2) The blurb sounds so good, 3) The amount of rave reviews I've seen by some of my favourite book bloggers is ridiculous, and 4) I was kind of taken by the cover. I have a feeling this is going to be a bit like Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist...
- Let It Snow by Maureen Johnson, John Green and Lauren Myracle - Finally this is published in the UK! It includes two of my FAVOURITE authors - Maureen Johnson and John Green. I'm also reading this for EmmaIsWriting's Christmas Month.
- Allegiant by Veronica Roth - Do I need to say more? I attended a signing with Veronica Roth in London (OH MY, SO GOOD. More on that later in the week) and got it signed. With the feedback I've seen on the blogosphere and Twitter, this is going to be an interesting read...
- Champion by Marie Lu - After the crazy ending to the second book in this amazing series, Prodigy, I have literally no idea what will happen in the final book. This is a series I actually really, really love and wish it had so much more recognition. If you haven't read it, I would completely and utterly recommend it!
Reviews by these authors:
Have you read any of these books? What did you think? What books did you get this week? Let me know in the comments below!
Sunday, 27 October 2013
Dare You To - Katie McGarry
This is the second book in this 'series'. Reading this doesn't particularly ruin anything for readers who haven't read Pushing The Limits - just gives a bit of context for the characters of Echo and Noah in this book.
Synopsis: Beth has had a tough life but if anyone knew the truth about her family, her mother would surely go to prison so she protects her no matter what. Until the day her uncle - thinking he's saving her - swoops Beth away from her hometown to live in a place to different from what she is used to and with an aunt who hates her. No-one understands her except one person.
Ryan is the perfect teenager. A baseball player, he has hopes of being the next big thing in the sporting world as well as being clever and popular. In what begins as a dare becomes something else completely between Beth and Ryan despite their different personalities and backgrounds.
Review: I started this book thinking that I wouldn't be a huge fan by the time I finished. It just seemed like it would confirm what I was predicting in Pushing the Limits in the cheesiness of the romance and the obvious 'bad girl-good guy' relationship between Ryan and Beth. I could almost see how this was going to end.
However, I was completely wrong. So there is still some elements of cheesiness when it comes to the romance and at times particularly in the middle, the cynical side of me wanted to throw up but it was far better than I think I, the cover and the reviews I had read made it out to be.
There is a certain depth behind Katie McGarry's writing that makes this not ALL about the love story at the heart. And books that do that make me want to give the authors a hug.
Beth and Ryan are very different people when we meet them at the beginning of the book and I could completely and utterly not see them together. Beth has had a difficult upbringing with no father around and a selfish, carefree mother who has basically left Beth to grow up alone. So when she goes to live with her uncle, a man who left her alone with her complicated family to pursue his own dreams, things aren't going to go well. It was interesting to see her relationship develop under the guidance of her uncle and aunt who are so far removed from her.
Ryan also doesn't have the perfect life however it may seem on the surface with a father who is all about appearances - the reason behind his brother deserting them when he announced he was gay. Again, it was good to see this issue throughout the book and put a more human side to Ryan in showing the imperfections of his character.
Beth and Ryan are such likable characters and I found myself really rooting for both of them, particularly Ryan. Beth is quite a hard character to understand compared to Ryan yet the way McGarry portrays them is very realistic. They have their moments - Ryan can be a bit of an arrogant jerk at times and Beth can be such a meanie too - but McGarry shows that isn't ALL they are. Like I read in one review, she shows now to trust the stereotypes through Ryan and Beth.
I thought Pushing the Limits was pretty good but this just proves that McGarry is not a one hit wonder so to speak. This second brilliant book by her shows she is the queen of character development. She's made a romance that once again ticks all the boxes. This is the perfect book to keep you up until 3am or to read on a windy and rainy Sunday afternoon or on a long journey. Whether you liked or disliked Pushing the Limits or even haven't read that book, I'm sure this book will be enjoyable.
I give it a 4 out of 5
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to review this book!
Author's Website: http://www.katielmcgarry.com/
Pages: 456
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Challenges: None
Related Reviews:
Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
Teen Idol by Meg Cabot
The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen
Sunday, 20 October 2013
Guest Post
Hello! Hope you are all well. I'm currently on a break from reading with coffee, biscuits and Gabrielle Aplin playing while it chucks it down outside.
Today, I guest posted at Emma's blog 'EmmaIsWriting'. She is the one of the sweetest, loveliest bloggers around. My guest post is my top 5 favourite books (believe me it was SO hard to narrow it down to just five). Go check it out and have a search around her great blog while you're there!
I'll hopefully be doing some mini-reviews to catch up this week but I have three assignments to do, reading and I'm going home for my best friend's birthday on Thursday so I'm not sure WHEN that will happen.
Have a lovely Sunday!
Today, I guest posted at Emma's blog 'EmmaIsWriting'. She is the one of the sweetest, loveliest bloggers around. My guest post is my top 5 favourite books (believe me it was SO hard to narrow it down to just five). Go check it out and have a search around her great blog while you're there!
I'll hopefully be doing some mini-reviews to catch up this week but I have three assignments to do, reading and I'm going home for my best friend's birthday on Thursday so I'm not sure WHEN that will happen.
Have a lovely Sunday!
Tuesday, 15 October 2013
Love Is The Higher Law - David Levithan
Synopsis: On the seemingly perfect morning of 11th September 2001, the lives of three teenagers are altered permanently. Claire is at school, her first thought is that she needs to get to her younger brother. Jasper wakes up to frantic phone calls from his family and Peter, a classmate of Claire, is waiting outside a record store for the new Bob Dylan record. None of these teens know each other well at all. Yet in the years that follow, they will become best friends all shaped by the catastrophic events of 9/11.
Review: I was 6 when 9/11 happened so as you can probably guess, I don't particularly remember much about that day only what my parents have recounted. They said it was strange because there was something about me that was different from the young schoolgirl in the morning to the Rebecca in the evening. I knew something big and horrible had happened, I just didn't understand what. Everyone I think has their own 9/11 story because of the horrible, horrible events of that day. For me, experiencing and growing up in the aftermath of 9/11, no amount of documentaries, news broadcasts and stories I consume will make me understand that day. I may have not been in New York that day, but there were plenty of people who were.
Which is where Levithan's novel comes in. It is told from the point of view of three teenagers - Jasper, Peter and Claire - as they tell their stories of that day, the aftermath and the years proceeding that day. All this is done in a way where it's like you are there, leaving within the moment that they are, seeing it all happen again. You are quite literally immersed in the story, which is both amazing in writing but also horrible in putting you there within that terrible moment, experiencing it again.
This book is simply beautiful in many ways. It is short with only 160 pages which is exactly how this book needed to be. The writing is so focused on the enormity of this event for the three protagonists that the messages and voice is felt from the very first line. I finished this book feeling quite different from when I started it, it makes an impact that is both emotional yet somehow positive (it's incredibly hard to explain this so yeah, sorry if that made like no sense).
Claire, Jasper and Peter are all such different people with really no real, tangible connection yet somehow their lives become intertwined with one another in a rather lovely way. From this emotional, troubling event, there comes this glimmer of hope. As I think I read somewhere in a review for this book, while you're so disgusted and horrified at this dreadful event, there's also this hope that equally intertwines and becomes more prominent at the story progresses.
This is a short book. And if only for that reason, this is a book that everyone should read. Whether you remember the events on 11th September 2001 or not, this book resonates with anyone and everyone and should be appreciate far far more than it is currently. This is an incredibly hard book to review and to properly describe the magnitude it leaves you with when you finish the last page. All I can say is this is one of the most beautiful and well written books I have read in a while.
I give this a 5 out of 5
Author's Website: http://www.davidlevithan.com/
Pages: 176
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday
Challenges: None
Related Reviews:
Dash and Lily's Book of Dares - David Levithan & Rachel Cohn
The Lover's Dictionary - David Levithan
Will Grayson, Will Grayson - David Levithan & John Green
Friday, 11 October 2013
Blogging
So I'm still here, still alive and well.
I've been at university for a month now and whoa, has a lot of things happened. For the most part, I am enjoying my course a lot, although there is a huge amount of reading for it. Particularly, there is one module about adaptations that I love. I have lovely flatmates (who know and are cool with me having a blog, hey guys if you're reading this) and I've met some nice people on my course who we share our sighs for 9am lectures, assignments and the search for the one book that all 160 people on my course want. It's been good. It's different but it's really good. I haven't felt particularly homesick which is a little weird but I'm not complaining.
However, more pressingly, university is a fresh start for nearly all the people who attend it. While I'm basically the same person, I entered my flat as 'Rebecca, the girl from West London', not as just plain Rebecca that people have known for years.
And it's that which I think has changed my perceptions of blogging now (somehow). This is a fresh start and a new phase in my life and I'm not sure whether blogging is included in that. I love blogging, I really do, but anyone who looks at my archive can see that over this year, even over the last few years, the amount of effort I put in to this blog has declined. And in the changing face of the blogging world now, that's not good enough.
I started blogging three and a half years ago. Then, blogging was literally a hobby especially book blogging. It was so casual, everyone was so nice and friendly although the world was dominated by older American bloggers than myself. In the last few years, the amount of English bloggers as well as younger bloggers has risen so much. I love that it has especially with having more English bloggers around and more British groups and memes like Project UKYA. I also like that there are more younger bloggers around because let's face it, YA is aimed at teenagers.
However, in the last few months, it's daunted on me that these changes (not just the two I mention) have also introduced a new kind of philosophy to the blogging world in that you HAVE to always be posting, always having the best authors on your blog, always around and interesting. And it's so exhausting. I can't keep up with this pressure. Blogging is supposed to be fun but recently it's felt like a bit of a chore, something I feel I should carry on for the sake of being around for the last 3 years. I do want to be able to say 'I'm a blogger' but sometimes I think I'm kidding myself when I say that because in the last year, I really haven't been just that. I liked it when everything was casual, it didn't matter if you posted one review in two weeks - no-one cared. But now, it's completely different even if we don't realise it.
I'm 18, I'm away from home at university. I really don't need or want any extra stress at writing reviews, getting posts published, constantly trying to think of new and exciting things to post. I'm just juggling a lot of things at the moment - moving out, work, university work, assignments, all the reading for uni (THERE'S A LOT), meeting people - sometimes it gets a little bit too much already.
One of my flatmates has a beauty blog and she gets so excited over writing posts, thinking of ideas, designing her blog, taking pictures - it makes me sad watching her sometimes because I used to be that enthusiastic about blogging, I used to have all these ideas - I'm not sure where that's gone.
This isn't an end post. This is a post letting you guys know what's going on in my head right now.
I love reading, I love books, I love blogging, I love what I've achieved through this blog that I never would have had the opportunity to do so before. I love all of that.
But I'm just unsure if I can carry on. Blogging has become far too stressful.
I've been at university for a month now and whoa, has a lot of things happened. For the most part, I am enjoying my course a lot, although there is a huge amount of reading for it. Particularly, there is one module about adaptations that I love. I have lovely flatmates (who know and are cool with me having a blog, hey guys if you're reading this) and I've met some nice people on my course who we share our sighs for 9am lectures, assignments and the search for the one book that all 160 people on my course want. It's been good. It's different but it's really good. I haven't felt particularly homesick which is a little weird but I'm not complaining.
However, more pressingly, university is a fresh start for nearly all the people who attend it. While I'm basically the same person, I entered my flat as 'Rebecca, the girl from West London', not as just plain Rebecca that people have known for years.
And it's that which I think has changed my perceptions of blogging now (somehow). This is a fresh start and a new phase in my life and I'm not sure whether blogging is included in that. I love blogging, I really do, but anyone who looks at my archive can see that over this year, even over the last few years, the amount of effort I put in to this blog has declined. And in the changing face of the blogging world now, that's not good enough.
I started blogging three and a half years ago. Then, blogging was literally a hobby especially book blogging. It was so casual, everyone was so nice and friendly although the world was dominated by older American bloggers than myself. In the last few years, the amount of English bloggers as well as younger bloggers has risen so much. I love that it has especially with having more English bloggers around and more British groups and memes like Project UKYA. I also like that there are more younger bloggers around because let's face it, YA is aimed at teenagers.
However, in the last few months, it's daunted on me that these changes (not just the two I mention) have also introduced a new kind of philosophy to the blogging world in that you HAVE to always be posting, always having the best authors on your blog, always around and interesting. And it's so exhausting. I can't keep up with this pressure. Blogging is supposed to be fun but recently it's felt like a bit of a chore, something I feel I should carry on for the sake of being around for the last 3 years. I do want to be able to say 'I'm a blogger' but sometimes I think I'm kidding myself when I say that because in the last year, I really haven't been just that. I liked it when everything was casual, it didn't matter if you posted one review in two weeks - no-one cared. But now, it's completely different even if we don't realise it.
I'm 18, I'm away from home at university. I really don't need or want any extra stress at writing reviews, getting posts published, constantly trying to think of new and exciting things to post. I'm just juggling a lot of things at the moment - moving out, work, university work, assignments, all the reading for uni (THERE'S A LOT), meeting people - sometimes it gets a little bit too much already.
One of my flatmates has a beauty blog and she gets so excited over writing posts, thinking of ideas, designing her blog, taking pictures - it makes me sad watching her sometimes because I used to be that enthusiastic about blogging, I used to have all these ideas - I'm not sure where that's gone.
This isn't an end post. This is a post letting you guys know what's going on in my head right now.
I love reading, I love books, I love blogging, I love what I've achieved through this blog that I never would have had the opportunity to do so before. I love all of that.
But I'm just unsure if I can carry on. Blogging has become far too stressful.
Tuesday, 10 September 2013
University and Blogging Thoughts
So after my celebratory return to the blogosphere in June after a few months off for exams, I have been in a bit of a blogging break. Again. Without really telling anyone. It just kind of happened.
I haven't been sitting at home twiddling my thumbs however. I worked A LOT over the summer and in the last few weeks since my exam results, I've been preparing for university. It's incredibly weird because I have been preparing for this moment to actually GO to university yet in the whirlwind of the last month, it's clear that you can never be prepared for the experience. This time last year I was applying to university, desperately pouring over prospectuses, finding statistics and redrafting and redrafting my personal statement (which now makes me cringe when I read it).
Now, I have a mere four days until I'm packing up my room into boxes, suitcases and shoe boxes (actually so useful and FREE), piling it all into my dad's car and taking the two hour single trip to Bournemouth where I shall be living for the next 3 years. It's a weird thought to say the least. And I hadn't quite gotten it in my head that I was going to university until I was saying goodbye to one of my best friends at the weekend. It wasn't a 'bye, see you next time'. It was a heartfelt goodbye to someone who means a lot to me and I won't be seeing for months. It's a bit bizarre to say the least.
Despite all these weird feelings, I am looking forward to getting down to business and I've discovered that one of the first modules is on 'adaptation', so like literature adaptations to the big screen, which was one of the aspects I was most looking forward to. It's a scary time at the moment for so many different reasons, but it's also pretty exciting.
Blogging wise, I have been checking up on all my favourite blogs, commenting occasionally and generally hiding in the blogosphere (I think I have decided that Lucy - I know she is my blogging friend but parting that - from Queen of Contemporary has my favourite blog. I'm a bit jealous). I have been reading so much while trying to not be downhearted by the fact that Goodreads keeps reminding me that I'm 7 books behind my target for this year *shakes fist*.
I think the problem is that I keep getting distracted when writing posts. I'm literally halfway through about 4 reviews hidden in my drafts and as time goes on, I keep forgetting what I thought of the books (I'm such an old lady at times)! So I'm hoping that when things settle down and I start the term properly in two weeks time (Two weeks worth of freshers...I am going to hide), I'll get into the flow again. At the beginning of the year, I had a review every single week which is how it should be. I'm sorry guys with the turbulent times at Rebecca-Books this year, it hasn't been a good'un but I promise that, if you hang in there, everything will go back to normal SOON.
I'll leave you in the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger - I'll be back.
I haven't been sitting at home twiddling my thumbs however. I worked A LOT over the summer and in the last few weeks since my exam results, I've been preparing for university. It's incredibly weird because I have been preparing for this moment to actually GO to university yet in the whirlwind of the last month, it's clear that you can never be prepared for the experience. This time last year I was applying to university, desperately pouring over prospectuses, finding statistics and redrafting and redrafting my personal statement (which now makes me cringe when I read it).
Now, I have a mere four days until I'm packing up my room into boxes, suitcases and shoe boxes (actually so useful and FREE), piling it all into my dad's car and taking the two hour single trip to Bournemouth where I shall be living for the next 3 years. It's a weird thought to say the least. And I hadn't quite gotten it in my head that I was going to university until I was saying goodbye to one of my best friends at the weekend. It wasn't a 'bye, see you next time'. It was a heartfelt goodbye to someone who means a lot to me and I won't be seeing for months. It's a bit bizarre to say the least.
Despite all these weird feelings, I am looking forward to getting down to business and I've discovered that one of the first modules is on 'adaptation', so like literature adaptations to the big screen, which was one of the aspects I was most looking forward to. It's a scary time at the moment for so many different reasons, but it's also pretty exciting.
Blogging wise, I have been checking up on all my favourite blogs, commenting occasionally and generally hiding in the blogosphere (I think I have decided that Lucy - I know she is my blogging friend but parting that - from Queen of Contemporary has my favourite blog. I'm a bit jealous). I have been reading so much while trying to not be downhearted by the fact that Goodreads keeps reminding me that I'm 7 books behind my target for this year *shakes fist*.
I think the problem is that I keep getting distracted when writing posts. I'm literally halfway through about 4 reviews hidden in my drafts and as time goes on, I keep forgetting what I thought of the books (I'm such an old lady at times)! So I'm hoping that when things settle down and I start the term properly in two weeks time (Two weeks worth of freshers...I am going to hide), I'll get into the flow again. At the beginning of the year, I had a review every single week which is how it should be. I'm sorry guys with the turbulent times at Rebecca-Books this year, it hasn't been a good'un but I promise that, if you hang in there, everything will go back to normal SOON.
I'll leave you in the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger - I'll be back.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)