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!

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! 

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!