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!

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.

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!

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!

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!

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!

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.”