Yanery's bookshelf: read

Champion
That Summer
The Goddess Inheritance
Eleanor & Park
Prodigy
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
The List
The Maze Runner
NW
The Rosie Project
The Dead House
The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Code
Seizure
Virals
Crash
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
The Selection
Goddess Interrupted
One Little White Lie


Yanery's favorite books »

Sunday 20 July 2014

What a good book should do.

Reading slump right now. Mostly it is because I am being forced to read something I don't want to read. This is the only thing I want a book to do:



That is all. Ciao.


Friday 11 July 2014

BookFest Haul

A few weeks ago I went to Brisbane Bookfest (a massive charity book rummage in the Convention Center) and got a few bargains. Just a few.

1. Balance of Power by Paul Paler.
The President of the USA dies from suspicious causes and the First Lady finds herself suddenly privy to many secrets and at the heart of the mystery. I picked up this book as I'm interested in the US democratic model -which is very different to Australia's- and like strong female characters. It's a little out of my comfort zones as far as genre but am interested enough to give it a shot.

2. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown.
Confession: I have not seen the movie. I do not know what happens at the end. I know I am in for a wild ride, this is a novel which has been highly recommended by friends and their parents.

3. Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding.
A modern, gritty retelling of Pride and Prejudice is all I needed to know. I have since read the book and thought it was very different from the movie. The tone was there but the overall characters and plot wasn't. Thoughts anyone?

4. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
Not any people believe me when I say that this is a hilarious book. It really is! The family dynamic is so life-like and fantastic. And let's not even mention Darcy. As far as I'm concerned, this is the original chick-lit novel.

5. Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding.
Ahh the excitement of continuing the series!

6. The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper.
I am largely uneducated about American literature and seeing as this is one of the most popular novels from literature courses, I want to add it to my repertoire. Once again, I have little to no idea what it is about apart from the French and Indian war.

7. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling.
A repurchase because my other copy- which I also purchased second hand- did not have THE FIRST CHAPTER! What even? I had to correct this horror immediately.

8. Imperium by Robert Harris.
From the author of Pompeii comes the historical fiction of Cicero, the young Roman lawyer and orator who wanted to attain supreme power in the state. I have a huge interest in ancient Rome so this sounded like my kind of story.

9. Refuse to Choose: What Do I Do When I Want to Do Everything? by Barbara Sher.
The perfect book for me.

10. Heist Society by Ally Carter.
This is one of the books that got me into writing. The ending was just amazing! The ending! Am I right?! This tells the story of Kat who was born into a family of thieves and left the family business. She must find and return the painting that her father was accused of stealing with the help of her cousins, a rich kid and a wildcard.


Those are the books I bought at Bookfest for the grand total of $15. Am I not the most dedicated book addict and bargain hunter?  Let me know if you have read any of these in the comments. If any of them sound interesting all the titles are linked to Goodreads. Ciao.

Friday 27 June 2014

Review of the Juliette Chronicles by Tahereh Mafi

I finished the Juliette Chronicles by Tahereh Mafi. This was one of those series that I liked as a whole experience rather than its individual parts. The fluency of the series including its novellas read extremely well and I highly recommend it.




The basic premise of the first book Shatter Me is that a girl called Juliette is in an asylum after the Revolution. Due to radioactive activity in the new world, she has developed the power to inflict pain on anyone in contact with her skin. Badass right? Wrong. Juliette starts off as a wimp, she is terrified of herself and of accidentally touching anyone. She sits on the ground the whole day and counts cracks in the wall or her breathing. This changes when she gets a roommate in her cell called Adam who so happens to have gone to her old school. Adam is a soldier sent in by sector 45's commander, Warner, on recon to see if the reestablishment by can use Julliette as a torture, if she is so far gone as to become part of Warner's army. Warner, the head of sector 45 as the privileged son of the country's commander, pushes Juliette to her emotional limits and finds her more intriguing than just another experiment.

I can't tell you anymore of the first book without spoilery but I can tell you that the plot and the world building skills were out of this world. The saving grace of the whole series was the complex and incredible character arc of these three characters. 


The novellas

I have high praise of how Tahereh Mafi used the novella structure to her advantage. I've found that in most series novellas have been used as little "extras" ie. non essential character background to the story. Both of these novellas are overwhelmingly powerful as they connect readers to characters we hadn't previously formed a huge connection with. Adam's story brought us closer to understanding his priorities so much so that I immediately knew he would not be the winning bachelor. Warner's story was so interesting and enlightening. He was unashamedly honest - a refreshing change. I empathised with both boys a whole lot more. 

The series as a whole
(Some spoilers included)

Adam remains the least developed of all three characters. His priority is keeping his brother safe. This is understandable and mature. His behaviour though was another story. As soon as he felt his relationship with Juliette weakening (bound to happen) he clung on to her like a life vest he didn't even need. I was so ready to be rid of him by the middle of book 3.

Warner is very interesting. He and Juliette are completely messed up but in a way that weirdly complement each others' flaws. I like how brave he is to say what he wants and express his feelings to Juliette. For instance the speech in Ignite me where he says, "I have been forced to do terrible things in my life, love, and I am seeking neither your forgiveness nor your approval." I was so proud! You tell her Warner! It was so refreshing to see how all the information in his novella plaid a HUGE part in the third book. He was perfect for Juliette. Now she just had to accept it.

Juliette was very Bella Cullen at the beginning of the series and I am SO PROUD of her finally growing into her own skin. The fact that by the end the sentences were far less rambly and crossed out allowed readers to see obvious change. Although I found it unlikely that she become a successful political leader, I was past the point of caring; in the end, I was just too excited for the moment when she would realise she and Warner were perfect. And the moment came. And it was beautiful and heartwrenching. I loved that she came to it on her own terms. Her elated talk with Kenji and him saying "Do what you gotta do" was so so.... it just made me really happy. And when her revelation made Warner so happy.... I was grinning like an idiot for ages. 


Favourite quote (Ignite me)

I've tripped over a planet and I don't know anything anymore - Juliette.

Needless to say her progression as a character was remarkable and incredibly natural. The author did a fantastic job at developing not only the protagonist but also the love interest. This was particularly important in light of the character's emotional and mental difficulties coming to terms with their past and with themselves. I would recommend this series to fans of character driven novels and to see some awesome romance and drama. 


Let me know what I should read next. Ciao!





Thursday 26 June 2014

Teaser quote #1


"I'm beyond rational thought. Beyond words, beyond comprehensible ideas. Seconds are merging into minutes and hearts are collapsing and hands are grasping and I've tripped over a planet and I don't know anything anymore..."

Tomorrow's review will be on the series from which this quote originated. If anyone guesses it right in the comments you win a thousand book points ;) Happy reading. 


Tuesday 17 June 2014

When writing explains what I can't explain

I guarantee that this has happened to you too.

Before
Your first exam/speech/big thing you've been worried about, this is true...
"Sometimes I feel like there is so much to be afraid of"

After
It happens. You are so tired, you have been battered and beaten on the ground and you stay down or rise up, this is your last thought of fear...
"And sometimes I feel like there is nothing left to fear." Veronica Roth.


Got any good quotes to share? Leave it in the comments.

Thursday 5 June 2014

The Fault in Our Stars Movie Review

WE MADE IT!!!! THE FAULT IN OUR STARS IS HERE!
I went to a pre-screening yesterday with another big fan of the book and let me just tell you, you want to see this movie.



1. The acting was on point. Perfecto. Flawless. Ansel Elgort was Gus. Shailene Woodley was Hazel. Everyone was amazing. The relationships, the easy banter was all there.

2. It was so faithful to the book. You know how defensive I get when Hollywood wants to make my favourite books Hollywood. It was obviously John Green's Hazel walking and talking and yelling at her lungs off and saying "douchepants". It was obviously John Green's Gus limping and staring at Hazel and loving her.

3. The soundtrack. It was amazing. Hazel was crying and Birdy was singing her to sleep. At the end, Ed Sheeran sung us out of the cinema, weepy but still alive and ready to face the world again.

4. The impressively seemless book dialogue to character dialogue. The book is written in quite pompous prose at the start to reflect the tragic romantic genre. Actually hearing written words aloud though can sound clunky and strange. The balance between the prose's beauty and the way a real life Hazel would speak was really well done.

5. It was funny. They made a real effort to make the first have as enjoyable, ridiculous and cute as possible. We knew the lines, but the screenwriters mixed it up a bit so even fans were pleasantly surprised. For instance when Hazel's mum pulls up after support group and says "You ready for Top Model?" and Augustus raises his eyebrows, awkward.

6. It was sad. I cried 4 times, all at the same places that I cried in the book. Tfios makes you feel feelings. Hearing the sniffles and sobs around the cinema, I was reminded how one story can mean different things to different people. I was crying for the characters. I was crying for not appreciating every second I get in this world. I was crying for my friend's mum who suffered from breast cancer. I was crying for Esther Earl.

7. It was beautiful. It's crazy how something so broken and awful can be beautiful.

I came away from the movie feeling like I'd cried everything out of me.

I felt light.

Wednesday 4 June 2014

The Fault in Our Stars Pre-Screening

I just saw the Fault in Our Stars. It was funny and beautiful and sad, all the things that I as a fan of the book and Nerdfighter could hope for. More coherent thoughts tomorrow...

Sweet dreams.

Saturday 31 May 2014

Review of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

The protagonist Jacob has a crazy grandfather who treasures a box of old photographs. These creepy photos of a floating girl, of a boy covered in bees, of a suit with nobody holding it up. Jacob's grandfather says that the people photographed were his friends when he lived in an orphanage during WW2. His stories are dismissed as which make's Jacob's family suspicious that the grandfather is infidel, a lunatic and a traumatized soldier. Jacob is present when his grandfather is killed by a monster. The question then remains whether the grandfather was crazy at all.

A wonderfully creepy collage from the book.
The protagonist was quite bland. He is diagnosed with a mental illness soon after his grandfather's death. Quite understandably, Jacob is a wimp at the beginning. All of his opinions have come from other people as he is terrified in believing his own opinions. Very quickly, he finds his own feet and jumps to the other extreme, believing everything he thinks is genius when he discovers Miss Peregrine's Home. To be honest I couldn't take Jacob seriously at times but I see the potential for a fantastic character arc in the following books. Additionally, I found that this book didn't provide many answers at all. It could be that the author has no idea or (what I'm hoping) that we are building up to something big. I'm optimistic that the unique premise of the series will lead in a new direction previously unknown to YA fiction.

A highlight of the book (which is why I  highly recommend a physical copy) was the inclusion of the grandfather's pictures. Readers are given a taste of the photos' creepiness from the book's cover art. Ransom Riggs is a visual writer; he has written for the screen before and his director's vision translates well in this book. If the text doesn't unsettle you the pictures certainly will.


Overall I give this book a 3.5. It had a unique premise and was fun to read. Although I wasn't really impressed by the protagonist's development, Jacob offers opportunity for exciting character development. I will probably continue this series in future but it isn't my top priority.

Let me know if you've read this series and what you thought. Ciao!

Friday 25 April 2014

Harry Potter and the Killer Essay

Everyone, it's happening. My Harry Potter assignment is under way. Basically, I have to write an academic essay analyse the effectiveness of an influential author's work I can explore how the work fit into their career or how well the passage fit the genre or how well it argued a point or... almost anything really. The freedom is terrifying. I need restrictions. J.K Rowling's work spans a range of genres, a huge time span and if we are looking at Harry Potter, an entire 7 part series. HOW ON EARTH WILL I PICK A SINGLE CHAPTER?

I have narrowed my choices to these 3 scenes/chapters. Beside each I have written what part of the work I would focus on or how I would approach the topic. I'm really hoping you can help me pick something out. 
So many to choose from...


1. Diagon Alley in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone- this is when Harry first goes into Gringott's, gets his want, meets Malfoy and buys school supplies. This chapter has fantastic description and exposition. It opens up a whole new world that had simply not existed before. Rowling's phenomenal creativity shines through and blows readers away.

2. Mirror of Erised in Harry Potter and the Philospher's Stone- the actual scene I would focus on is at the end of the chapter. It is quite a didactic/argumentative scene once you think about it. Dumbledore tells Harry that, "The  happiest man on earth would be able to use the Mirror of Erised like a normal mirror, that is, he would look into it and see himself exactly as he is." (p.156) Much of Rowling'series focuses on the internal battle between good and evil. The structure of the scene and Harry's deeper understanding of this concept later in the novel and series effectively highlights Rowling's message.

3. 19 Years Later in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows- you know the one. Rowling confessed in 2007 that she already knew how the story of Harry, his friends and his enemies would end. Having watched a few of her interviews regarding the completion of Harry Potter's final chapters, I think it would be fascinating to explore the quite obvious relief of Harry and Rowling in the final line, when they put down their wand and pen.

As I said, I am still open to suggestions and would love your opinion on which essay I should write. Ciao! (Btw, I have been reading a lot lately. Another book review is coming up.)

Saturday 19 April 2014

Raining outside and on my face

It's raining guys. And I wouldn't be sad about this if I didn't have to go outside today. Anywho. Today I'm doing a fun little post as a response to this booktag I found on Youtube. It's by one of my favourite booktubers, Christine Riccio. If you want to feel feelings then watch the video at the bottom. Going in reverse order, my top cry worthy books (which you may not have read before)



Looking for Alaska by John Green
I can't tell you much without spoiling but this is by John Green so you should read it. A guy leaves his home town in search of grander maybes and in the process, opens himself to love and loss. I know I'm an idiot for not seeing it coming. The beautiful, Gatsby-like reflections the characters have *after* were just a bit much for me. There was sniffling.


If I Stay by Gale Forman
For those unfamiliar with the story, If I Stay revolves around a girl who finds herself in a coma. She has been in a carcrash. Her parents and brother have died. Her boyfriend, friend and grandparents are left. She has the choice to wake up. The whole premise of the book was heartbreaking and as she weighs up how heartbreaking a life without her family would be, she also considers whether taking another person from her friends would break them. Misty eyes and croaky voice.



13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher
A girl commits suicide and leaves a set of tapes recording her 13 reasons for killing herself. She sends these tapes to the people involved in these reasons, for them, and only them, to know. This book was so sad because you could see all the different possibilities, so many futures, and you know how it ends. Well, not always... it's a pretty awesome and inspiring ending. Tummy twisting in horror knowing that suicide is not fiction. Very watery.



The Book Thief by Macus Zusak
Liesel is a regular book nerd growing up in Nazi Germany. The story is told by a grim reaper character who sees the best and worst of humanity. Although I was outright sobbing by the end, there was a poignant beauty in the prose that has lingered ever since. This is a truly heartbreaking and inspirational story. Click
here to see my movie review.



Perks of Being a Wallflower by Peter Chbosky
Charlie is the most innocent, sweet and sympathetic character I think I have ever read. This book is told in letter form throughout Charlie's high school journey as he tries to make friends, falls in love, grows into himself and then remembers an awful part of his past. One of the best book to movie adaptations I have ever seen as well. There was shaking and sobbing well after I finished.



On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
As you can see from my extensive list, I am a sucker for a tragedy. This book's ending was perfection. Everything was full circle. Everything was tied together. I felt so complete that all I and the characters could do was cry a small river. This is one of my favourite books which many people haven't heard about.

All the book titles are linked to Goodreads if you want to check them out. Let me know if you have read any of them or which books have triggered a good sob. Ciao! 


Friday 18 April 2014

Review of These Broken Stars

Hello again, back for another book review.

These Broken Stars promised me a wild space adventure with high stakes and, generally, the types of things you would expect from a YA dystopian (corrupt government, advanced technology, etc). I was disappointed. Unlike many of my favourite dystopians such as Hunger Games and Legend, this book lacked the excitement I was looking for. The whole plot can basically be summarised by one word: Titanic.

I will not insult your intelligence by retelling the Titanic/book's storyline. The main deviation is that the crash happens early and then turns into a little adventure on an unknown planet until help arrives. I try to read books generously and I will admit that it was an alright way to spend an evening, but it did not challenge my worldview or surprise me in any amazing way. It was a romance with a bit of sci-fi thrown in. The characters Lilac and Tarver were futuristic versions of Rose and Jack. If you prefer romance to dominate a storyline then this may be the perfect book for you, I just expected different.

Best parts: the title is perfect. The cover is pretty. One book down for my Goodreads challenge. In conclusion, I gave this a 3 star rating on Goodreads. So what book are you reading this Easter? Leave it in the comments. Ciao!


Saturday 22 March 2014

How to spot the interesting.

Hey there,

So I've been looking at some of my blog statistics (now that I actually have some haha) and my most popular post is called Writing letters. If you haven't checked it out yet click here. I won't go into the reasons why I wrote it but I do want to talk about why it might have been popular. Guesses anyone? (I am now looking intently at the computer screen expecting your voice to somehow come out)

The best conclusion I could come up with is that this post was a little personal and a little reckless: you got to see some of my inner thoughts and I shared them at the risk of someone I actually know finding them. I'm wondering if you'd like these little posts about my life to continue.

I consider myself to be quite an observant person. I notice body language and oddities and interesting accents and such. The world, to me, is a very interesting place. I'd like to share some of these observations with you in an attempt to brighten your day and help you spot the interesting too.

Leave me your comments about this idea. What should we call it? Spot the interesting, observations, thoughts from places? Leave me your blog links too so we can share the love around. Ciao!


Saturday 15 March 2014

Review of The Distance Between Us

Hey guys! Welcome to another little book review of The Distance Between Us by Kasie West (click here to see Goodreads). Sorry I haven't blogged in a while because apparently law school means a lot more textbook than novel reading. Sigh.


I read this in about 3 sittings because it is one of those books that just makes you feel happy and alright with how life is playing out for you. It is the story of Caymen Meyers who works in a doll-shop in a town of rich people while not actually being rich. Her mum's experience with Caymen's father has taught her one thing: rich boys are trouble. Lucky for us, trouble strolls in, all arrogant and handsome by the name of Xander Spence. This is a slightly Cinderella story with a very cute prince, a lot of hilarious characters and a whole bunch of awwwwwww.

The story-line is quite straightforward and is fast-paced. This is one of the main reasons I got hooked so easily, that and the aforementioned awwwwwwws. It is perfect for a light read with a bit of humour, a bit of unbelievable things that we all wish could happen to us and a crisp ending. It felt finished, I had fun and I could forget about how hard life actually was for a while.

Like Sarah Dessen, the author chose to introduce some depth into the story through the college dilemmas of someone who can't afford it and a single-parent family struggling to make ends meet. It was by no means a Dessen masterpiece but this book was a solid effort. I had a little bit of issue with the ending but, you've got to be expecting a little bit of corniness.

All in all, this was a light-hearted read which is great for unwinding after a long and hard day. I gave this book a 4 star rating because it made me awwwwwww. Let me know if you've read it and how you're going on the Goodreads Challenge (I am failing miserably >.< ) Ciao

Favourite quote:
"Caymen."
Please don't turn it into a nickname.
"Good to meet you. Caymen."
Five points.

Tuesday 11 March 2014

The best plot twist since Snape turned good

Alright. So this little show called Teens React on Youtube got some teenagers to react to The Fault in Our Stars trailer, a trailer that you lovely people may remember I posted here not too long ago. I try not mention books over and over because I know it doesn't really serve much as a recommendation, but can I just say.... please watch this video if you are a fan of the book, movie, author, Youtube or life in general. No spoilers but the plot twist at the end of the video made my little fangirl heart sing.



Let me know your thoughts and what your reaction would be if this happened to you. Ciao!

Thursday 6 March 2014

Review of A Tale of Two Cities

I've been reading this book for quite a while now as some of you may know (it was getting quite stale on my Goodreads shelf) and today I will tell you why, also why I will reread this at some point in the future.
Reading at the beach. I am a nerd.
A Tale of Two Cities has a small cast of characters, the most famous of which you clockwork princess fans out there will recognize as Sydney Carton. Pretty much, it starts with a slightly mentally ill prisoner known as Doctor Manette who has been imprisoned in the Bastille for political reasons. He is released by the caretaker of his estate, Mr Lorry the banker and his young daughter Lucie. A few years later these three are witnesses to a political conspiracy with a man called Charles Darnay. His lawyer is Sydney Carton. During the trial, everyone falls in love with Lucie- as you would expect- and she ends up getting married *no spoilers as to who.* They live a quiet life until the French Revolution when Charles Darnay is again accused of treason, this time to the new Republic of France and the doctor's mental trauma from his years in the Bastille begins to resurface.

Previously I hadn't flirted with Dickens although I had assumed he was an amazing writer, why else would he have lasted so long? I was blown away by the rhythm and movement of his work. There was a beautiful line on every second page. The imagery of for instance Madame Defarge and the Vengeance strangling enemies with their knitting lingered. Closer to the end when we see all the ladies in court knitting during the beheadings, Dickens paired the knitting with the horror. A row of stitches. 52 heads.

I really struggled getting through this book not only because of the subject matter -tragic and bloody- but also because of the length. Not much seemed to happen in each chapter and each were quite long. Also, I never really connected with Lucie or Charles nor with their love story. The character formation was lacking for me especially as I am so used to seeing much stronger and central female characters.

The satisfaction I got from finishing this book though was monumental. This has taken me almost as long as Game of Thrones, I feel like my vocabulary and reading skills have really been developed and I really challenged myself to read something outside my comfort zone. Additionally, the ending was absolutely incredibly done. I take my hat off to Dickens for tying up all the loose ends, even some introduced pretty late in the plot. It was like he had been painting something bit by bit and only at the end did he show you the big picture. Storytelling at its best. Bravo good sir.



Favourite quote:
"O you will let me hold your brave hand, stranger?"

Let me know what you think of Dickens and any other book recommendations. Ciao!

Monday 24 February 2014

Review of Winger by Andrew Smith

Hey there! You look super nice today - nicer than usual I mean. Welcome back to another book review, my last before starting university. The attention battle between textbooks vs novels will soon recommence. Let's get into reviewing. 

This is also a dang good cover too btw.


My first though as I finished this book was, 'Quick, write what you're feeling,' and the next few minutes I stared at a blank page. Pretty much, I didn't know what to feel about what just happened which, I guess, was the point. More on the ending later though.

Winger tells the story of a rugby playing, cartoon drawing, 14 year old boy who is struggling to 'not become an ass' under the influence of his new dorm mates. He is the youngest in the grade by 2 year and consistently tries proving self-worth to his teammates, his new friends and to his best friend Annie who has friend-zoned him to the max. Some standout characters included his stalker/perverted friend Seanie, the big-hearted Joey and of course the British rugby coach whose pleasant humour was emphasised by his 'Henry Higgins' accent.

I cannot adequately convey how funny this book was. The book was littered with cartoons Ryan Dean draws to relive moments, play out his weird nightmares or sexual fantasies. There were so many ridiculously hilarious situations -he's a male version of Mia Thermopolis really- and a lot of too-much-information alerts. Being a kind of girly-girl, it took a bit of convincing for me to truly immerse myself in the book. A few chapters in however, I was hooked. The gigantic presence of Ryan Dean as a narrator was the hero of the book for me.

And now we come to the end, which I don't really want to tell you about apart from the shell-shock numbness that washed over me. It was a great book. Truly. But I don't think I'll reread it any time soon for fear that I will notice things I over-looked the first time through. I do recommend you read this book if you like John Green. That means everyone :) 

Favourite quote:
"I shaved this morning, Joey. I had one whisker. Here Can you see it?"
I held my chin up and pointed. 
Joey leaned close and laughed.
"Yeah. Sure." And then he asked, "How was her place?"
"Incredible. I am so in love with her, Joey."
"I can see that, Ryan Dean. More than I can see that nonwhisker, that's for sure."

Leave me your thoughts on Winger and your book recommendations. Ciao!



Thursday 13 February 2014

Valentine's date with my book


Happy Valentine's day 2014! Got no one to see or nothing to do tonight? Never fear. Books are the best things to cuddle up with anyway (they don't hog the bed OR snore) as anyone will admit. Here are a few suggestions for whatever mood you may be in...



Period Romance
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. The timeless story of Lizzie Bennet and William Darcy, two people always caught between loving and hating each other as well as entangled in old English culture such as arranged marriages and social stratification. If this sounds interesting but you find the book a bit challenging may I direct you to the Emmy-winning web-series the Lizzie Bennet Diaries (follow the link). This is an Amazing modern and interactive adaptation. Literally, amazing.

Sexy times
Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles. Lately, there has been a bit of a bridging genre between young adult to adult. This is one of these books that I would only really recommend to a mature audience of about 16 years up due to the mature themes and content which weren't really hinted at in the blurb. It is a really great book and very romantic if you're up to this. Follow the link for more info.

Awwwwww.
This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen. Being a die-hard Sarah Dessen Fan, it was not easy to choose just one that really made me SA-WOON (The Truth About Forever reference). This is the book which Dessen always calls her most romantic as most of the story revolves around the romance however you can pretty much guarantee that any Sarah Dessen book will be a great romantic read. The story starts when a band member named Dexter crashes into Remy -a serial dater and too cool for him girl- and declares they are fated to be together. The book is absolutely hilarious and cute.

For the Single Ladies
The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg. Trust me, it isn't nearly as depressing as it sounds. This is one of my feel-good books whenever I'm having a bad day, and it's short enough for one sitting. Penny Lane (yep, born into a family of Beatle fans) has given up on boys for good. Determined to make this year fantastic without any relationship dramas, she employs her friends on her quest but no one can really escape love, right?

I read this til 2am and cried until 3.
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. What more is there to say, one of my favourite books ever written. Ever. The writing is beautiful and it delves so much deeper into mortality and love than most other young adult books. Okay? Follow this link to see the trailer.

Click the book titles to find them on Goodreads and do leave a comment telling me which Valentine's day books you recommend. Ciao!


Tuesday 11 February 2014

Reviewing The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

Maggie Stiefvater has done it again folks. She just gave us her best book yet for us to wallow and weep about. Following The Raven Boys -the first of this quartet- Stiefvater's storytelling capabilities in The Dream Thieves have have escalated to magnificence.



For those unfamiliar with the story, it is set in Henrietta a town situated on energy or ley lines. These abnormal energy currents enhance general power but also psychic abilities. The series begins when previously failed psychic Blue sees a vision of a boy's death, Gansey's. Richard Gansey the third is no ordinary Raven Boy of the Aglionby Academy. He has made it his business to find a sleeping king in exchange for one wish, a king he believes has been using the ley-lines to live hundreds of years. The ley-lines are the thing that keeps Noah visible. The ley-lines are what brings Blue to the Raven boys. The ley-lines are connected to Adam now. The ley-lines are the cause of magic and the timeless forest and perhaps Ronan's curious ability to somehow steal things from his dreams. And of course, Ronan isn't the most dangerous person looking for magic in Henrietta.

There aren't enough words to express my deep love for this book. The idea is completely original and creative. Every twist and turn is surprising and wonderful. The Raven Boys and Blue are so well-developed.
 We hadn't seen this much of Ronan before and the narration captured his essence so perfectly. In terms of writing, this book exceeded my expectations. It was fantastical and humourous. Formal yet warm.

This book was raw emotion at times and adrenalin at others. There was the luxury of Raven Boys filled with the darkness of magic and things money can't buy. The two best parts of the book was Ronan's character development and the writing. I closed my eyes and I could see their world. I highly recommend this series as a suspense-filled and fantasy young adult series.


Favourite quote:
“While I'm gone," Gansey said, pausing, "dream me the world. Something new for every night.”



Monday 3 February 2014

Review and discussion of She is Not Invisible


Beach bags are for book carrying  The only downside to beach-side reading, like so many other beach-side activities: sand. What's up? How are you? Thanks for joining me in this review/discussion of the book She is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick.


Let's begin at the beginning. The book in question has the vaguest blurb ever but the cool cover was enough to convince me to give it a change. So the story is about 16 year old Laureth, her very clever 7 year old brother Benjamin and his fluffy raven Stan. They get on a New York bound plane to collect their father's notebook hoping that they will find him nearby. He's missing, their mum is away, they have a credit card, so why the hell not? This impromptu rescue mission would be crazy enough without the added difficulty that Laureth is blind.

This book was funny, disorienting, immersive and fascinating. The added little mystery/code at the end really drives the point home. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author. Let me know if you have read any Sedgwick. If you are intrigued by this review, please go ahead and read it.



A Spoiler-free Discussion

There are quite a few discussion-worthy happenings in the book. Mostly the coincidence phenomenon. I found it fascinating, the mathematical studies, the true coincidence surrounding Edgar Allen Poe. Lastly, how math, as often happens misses the human element of some things. (Corroborated in An Abundance of Katherines by John Green).

I'll give you an example of coincidence. The day I finished this book about coincidence, I went home and caught up on some Youtube. On the Shaytards daily vlog, Shay was discussing a big coincidence that had happened to him. About a death of another Youtuber some years ago, how a few days before he retweeted a bible passage about being ready for death, and how it somehow came back to Shay when he met a friend of the deceased at church.

Coincidences make us look twice. The book constantly reiterates how they not only pay attention but they make us FEEL something. They make us feel confused and scared. They make us believe in something bigger than ourselves or maybe confirm something we already suspected. If they do nothing other than remind us to read more widely (as this particular coincidence did) or living each day like it's your last then I think they have fulfilled a purpose. Whether it is their actual purpose is still up for debate.

Don't forget to tell me what you think about the book or what you think about this coinky-dink business. Leave me your blog name and I'll be sure to check it out. Ciao

Wednesday 29 January 2014

PANIC PANIC PANIC I CAN'T BREATHE

Can I just say
Let me just
May I introduce
Okay Okay... *sobs*
I have watched this on EVERY electronic device in the house
I just can't.
Please watch and share this. Or run away and save yourselves.




Thursday 23 January 2014

Beyond words, reviewing The Book Thief movie

I am a strong advocate for great Australian authors and boy am I proud to claim Marcus Zusack and his brilliant imagination as ours. The Book Thief is one of my all time favourite books. I read it in two sittings –an accomplishment as the novel is a literary mountain. My eyes were hurting from lack of sleep and a constant stream of tears. Despite the sadness in the book, the unfairness of it all, I truly believe it to be a, “life affirming story,” as my little flyer said.

I’ve learnt over time to appreciate novels and movies as separate entities. With this in mind I had fun experiencing the story cinematically. There’s always an odd moment where you realise that what you are seeing is exactly what you thought you would see, a strange feeling of déjà vu overcame me as we entered Heaven Street and met Papa. Geoffrey Rush was incredible as was Emily Watson and our heroine, Sophie Nélisse.



There were so many beautiful cinematic moments such as the first look at the library. Liesel’s awe was a precious sight to behold. How the gold titles reflected in her eyes. Hans’ nickname for Liesel, “your Majesty,” melted my heart. The indoor snow fight complete with buckets for helmets and barracks was hilarious. Last but not least, our last look into the book thief’s life before the screen turns black *sigh* I knew the voice of Death, colours and faces would be forever burned into my memory.

My only critique was with the narration. Don’t get me wrong, I loved how direct narration was used sparingly –we all remember the Great Gatsby’s disaster narration, I felt like I waded through an entire book reading- but the voice of Death was not what I imagined, or liked. He was too polished, perfect. Not at all old, gravelly or sinister. It bothered me the whole time and I know I wasn’t the only one.

All in all, this was worth watching and I know it will grace my movie collection when released. Where were all the award nominations? But just a note, wear water-proof mascara and bring tissues. A whole box. To watch the trailer click here.


Let me know your thoughts. Was I too harsh on Death? Did you like the adaptation? Do you think it affirms life as such? I will definitely be responding to your comments J Ciao!

Friday 17 January 2014

All the things you can learn at camp (if you go to the right one)

I don't know about you but (I'm feeling 22. sorry about that...) I have never been much of a camper. Mosquitoes love my blood and I do not enjoy the layers of sunscreen, sweat, dirt and bug spray I have to peel off in an often cold shower. Although I was expecting and dreading all of these things when I left for the 2014 St Vincent De Paul Kids Camp, I was also tentatively-excited for what awaited me.

Basically, a bunch of volunteers from the age of 16 can sign up for a 3 day camp with disadvantaged children: these could be children with family issues, families with economic difficulties, young carers or anyone desperately needing a mini-holiday. Despite my lack of sleep the day before and throughout the camp, I had a blast.



To summarise my time I've made a little list of things you can learn at a kids camp if you open yourself to it. But please be aware, if you are there for 3 days, and you are buddied with 3 boys under 12 you can learn a lot of things.


  1. You can learn the best ways to find children's lolly stashes: follow the wrappers and the not-so quiet discussions of midnight feasts.
  2. You can learn how to love the least loveable children. The boys could pull my hair, climb on me for piggybacks, never listen to me, run over and under chairs and I still lost it when I we couldn't find them for 20 minutes.
  3. You will learn if you are a child whisperer or not. What a skill to have. We all watched in awe as some volunteers stopped tantrums with one look. How do you do that and can you teach me?
  4. You can learn a lot about karate and the fine art of Red Rover. 
  5. Anything can be a toy. A spoon is a catapult, a hat makes a fine frisbee and a seemingly innocent bandana turns into a child sliding/spinning device on slippery floors.
  6. The next day you can learn about the absolute necessity of sleep and generous servings of coffee on camp.
  7. You can learn that the best piggybacks are when you are going downhill. Scary and crazy but very very fun.
  8. You can even learn fun ways to climb back up hills.
  9. You can learn how to take some time for yourself and Zen out when you really have to.
  10. You can learn how to smile without it hurting. Smiling genuinely is easy with all the silly little things kids do. Some of my favourites were the eating competitions, playing with microphones, collecting 2 kilos of skipping stones and the underground lolly network which kids thought they could bribe you with. "If you don't tell them, I'll give you a mars bar," is a prime example.
  11. You can learn how to make a girl smile with funny dancing.
  12. You can learn how to make a boy blush by beating them at arm wrestling.
  13. You can learn how to make a boy giggle like crazy when you swing them around on a bandana.
  14. You can learn how to smile when a naughty boy tells another boy to stop swearing by swearing.
  15. You can blush when a volunteer compliments your patience just as you were gearing up for a full-scale telling off.
  16. You can learn to giggle like crazy when you sing camp songs at the top of your lungs.
There is so much you can learn at a kids camp like the Vinnies one. I strongly encourage you to get involved in your local Vinnies youth programs because the smiles on the kids faces are returned threefold to you. I feel like I made a real difference in someone's life and it was as easy as braving the outdoors for a few days.


Let me know how you want to help others this year in the comments. Follow the link to see how you can get involved. Ciao!

http://www.vinnies.org.au/



Monday 13 January 2014

Review of 'The Moon and More' by Sarah Dessen

I got this book for Christmas and I was so pumped to read it. Lying in the sun with a book is my favourite holiday activity, handy really. The Moon and More lived up to my high expectations. There was romance, awkwardness, future talk and then, clarity. The sort of clarity you get after demarcation. Currently stuck in the limbo between high school and college myself, I found Emaline’s story empowering.




As always, Dessen’s characterisation was the hero of a beautiful dish. Emaline was awesomely kick-ass. Theo was hilarious. Benji was super duper cute. Morris, ah Morris. Every character was flawed and perfect, the relationships between them were dynamic and authentic. They make you laugh and empathise, all the things that characters should do.

Should I mention the crossovers? Crossovers are a notable part of Dessens work; although her novels are standalones, Colby is the hub of so many stories. Sarah Dessen is pretty much fuelling my obsession. The crossovers with Along for the Ride and Last Chance made me squeal. It was like seeing old friends for the first time in years, a phenomenon only a true booklover will understand.

The quote, “I will give you the moon and more,” resonates as Emaline is presented with a murky future. Should she pine for Columbia or be happy with her local college? Should she be aiming higher, or in a different direction? The concept was clear throughout and led to a really satisfying end.

Have I convinced you yet? Go read this book, discover Colby. Be happy.


Favourite quote:

“The mistakes you make now count. Not for everything, and not forever. But they do matter, and they shape you.


First book of 2014. Done.


Thursday 9 January 2014

The Goodreads Challenge

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only once.”

There's a little something called the Goodreads Challenge. This happens annually and it is basically a commitment to read a certain number of books in that year. Last year I read a grand total of 84 books smashing my goal of 75 books in mid November. When I get stressed, I read... a lot. 2013 was stressful therefore many books were read.

I'm not sure how this year is going to go but I would really like to match or beat last year's set challenge. As it's my first year at university, I don't know how my study load is going to be and I have no idea how my weekly readings are going to be allocated. My aim is to again read 75 books. For the sake of the environment, I aim to include at least 20 eBooks.

You can see my progress on the right sidebar, over there, no further, there you go. It looks like this so far...


Let me know what you have challenged yourself to whether it be books or other New Year's resolutions. Ciao! 

Sunday 5 January 2014

2013 in Review Tag (Part 2)

Welcome to 2014! It feels completely unnatural to write that. We made it! Hooray! We survived the supposed apocalypse and everything! Huzzah! This is part 2 of my “2013 in review tag.” I hope you enjoy and have fun responding to some of these.


Me and my sister just before New Year's Day.

Best song
I See Fire by Ed Sheeran. Ed Sheeran also wins Best ginger.

Best TV show
As I don’t really watch TV anymore (Youtube addiction) I will have to say an old classic that our family watches on the holidays. The Cosby show.

Best novel (stand-alones only)
AHHH. Scrolling through my Goodreads, I realise this was a big year of books for me. Apart from The Fault in Our Stars- which we have heard enough about- I’m going to say The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephan Chbosky.

Best playscript
I only read one but screw it, I loved Macbeth.

Best series
In terms of the series I’m most excited for, it is definitely The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey or the Diviners by Holly Black. In terms of a complete series I read this year, my favourite was the Harry Potter series. I read it this year for the first time, no judgement.

Best last book/ finale
Ooooh there’s so many! I will go with Clockwork Princess, my highest anticipated read. I wrote the date in my calendar and that day after school went and got the last copies on the shelf. I even did my cramming session for my exam two nights before in order to read my book as soon as I got it. Dedication.

Best present (birthday or otherwise)
A graduation gift from my parents was to send me to Italy for 2 weeks. I’d never been overseas without my parents or to Europe and I had the greatest time.


Best movie
Catching Fire was amazing. If you haven’t seen it what are you doing with your life?

Best photo I took
Just Italy being beautiful. This was taken in the Basilica of St Francis, Assisi.


Best wake up
We woke up to the tinkling of a harp iPhone alarm, the smell of fresh croissants and a view of a Venetian grand canal out our window.

Best day
The last day of school. There were hilarious speeches, heartfelt captaincy handovers, balloons and hugging.

Best week
The week of Venice in Italy.

Best month

December. It is the only one I have clear recollection of :) Also... Christmas.

Link me some of your responses or post them here. Happy New Years again and ciao for now!