Long time, no see

What a year.

So I started this blog with the hope that I would keep posting on a regular basis. Well; that clearly hasn't happened. Anyway I have made it through my first year of university without finishing a single book (how this has happened, I do not know), so I am a bit lost as to what to say really. How have you been? Is anyone actually seeing this?

I am currently trying to read Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, I say trying as I have been so preoccupied with other things that I have only managed to read a couple of pages every now and again. So far it is good, but apparently page 200 onwards is where it really starts to get exciting (I am on page 190).

That's all for now (hopefully I will be a bit more consistent with posting what with me being at home),
Ciao :)

P.S.
Here is a cat dressed as a lobster because apparently it was halloween a couple of days ago.

http://giveitlove.com/30-hilarious-inventive-cat-costumes-halloween/

Book Review - All The Bright Places

All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

A review comprised entirely of GIFs, because pictures tell a thousand words.
But first a quick summery taken from the back of the book.


Theodore Finch wants to take his own life. Violet Markey is devastated by her sister's death. They meet on the ledge of the school bell tower, and so the story begins. It's only together they can be themselves... But, Violet's world grows, Finch's begins to shrink. How far will Violet go to save the boy she has come to love?









When I first saw the book in the store, I was like....MINE...

I couldn't put it down...

and when I finished the book...

This is quite possibly one of the best YA novels I have ever read, and yes that includes The Fault in Our Stars (even if I did cry more when reading that book). ALL teenagers should read this book, heck, anyone with a soul should read this book.

Overall verdict? 10/10 stars!!

Reading Habits

In order to make myself appear more like a human being and less like a automaton, I have decided to do the reading habits tag. 

1. Do you have a certain place at home to read?
No, but I usually end up reading on my bed.

2. Bookmark or Random piece of paper?
Bookmark for sure! My favourite one to use is one my Nana gave me which is covered in pictures of the village in Wales where she lives.


3. Can you just stop reading or do you have to stop after a chapter or # pages?
I prefer to end on a chapter but I'm alright to just stop reading at any given point.


4. Do you eat or drink while you reading?
Yes, most of the time I will be drinking a cup of english breakfast tea and eating a piece of cake that my Mum has made.

5. Do you watch tv or listen to music while reading?
No, it distracts me and I end up only looking at the words and not really reading them, so that by the end of the page I have no idea what I just read.

6. One book at a time or several at once?
I try to stick to one book at a time, but occasionally I will read two at once.

7. Reading at home or everywhere?
Everywhere! If there is an opportunity to whip out my current book i will certainly take it.

8. Reading out loud or silently in your head?
Silently - who reads to themselves out loud?

9. Do you ever read ahead or skip pages?
All the time. I'm really bad in that if a book gets boring I will read the last page to reignite my interest.

10. Breaking the spine or keeping it like new?
I like to keep all my books like new, but if it is a book I absolutely love, a broken spine is allowed by my standards, as it shows how much the book has been enjoyed.

Classics for beginners

Classic books are one thing I believe everyone should attempt to read. Hate them or love them, there is a reason these books are classics.

I have created a list of 5 novels I think are a good introduction to the classics. Plus, even if you only read one or two of these books you will have gained some knowledge to be able to recognise references made by the media. Please also note that I have only chosen my list out of the classics I have personally read.

Jane Eyre By Charlotte Bronte is my absolute favourite book of all time. It was the first ever classic I read, and kick started my love for  the medium. It follows the life of Jane Eyre an orphan under the care of her cruel aunt as a young child and her struggles as an adult to be independent.

"I am no bird; and no net ensnares me; I am a free human being, with an independent will; which I now exert to leave you."

-Jane Eyre

The Catcher in the Rye By J. D. Salinger  in all honesty is not my favourite book, I found the main character to be annoying and pretentious. But I do whole heartedly believe that this book is a book worth reading, it is stuffed filled with symbols and tackles fundamental problems within our society.



"This is a people shooting hat," I said. "I shoot people in this hat."
 -Holden Caulfield

Pride and Prejudice By Jane Austen is the quintessential classic and I highly doubt any book lover will escape reading it during their life. Rich boy and middle class girl form a dislike for each other - need I say more?

"My good opinion once lost is lost forever."-Mr Darcy

Gone with the Wind By Margaret Mitchell is my wild card. Written in 1936 about the American civil war, the novel was designed to be able to be read by a 10 year old. Scarlett O'Hara is heroine worth reading about, the southern belle is not without her faults but her sheer determination turn her into a woman to be reckoned with.

"Hunger gnawed at her empty stomach again and she said aloud: 'As God is my witness, and God is my witness, the Yankees aren't going to lick me. I'm going to live through this, and when it's over, I'm never going to be hungry again. No, nor any of my folks. If I have to steal or kill - as God is my witness, I'm never going to be hungry again."                       

-Scarlett O'Hara 

Frankenstein By Mary Shelley is the original horror story, and not to mention that the author was only 21 when she published the book! In some form or another we can all relate to Frankenstein or his monster, and the story itself makes the reader question their own morals on what is right.

"I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel..."-Frankenstein's monster

I personally found my way into classics by watching adaptations both movies and TV series, and I would whole heartedly recommend doing this if you don't have time or are not feeling like reading. The BBC series of Pride and Prejudice ( with Colin Firth) and Jane Eyre are especially good.

Happy Reading!

What I read - December

The month of December marked the end of my high school life, and has been a productive one in terms of reading for me, I read a total of seven books. Considering I am not a fast reader I would call that a reading success.
I am very easily influenced as to what I read by the people around me, most of the books I read during the school year are books assigned to my friends by their teachers. Over the years such books have included Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman and Unwind by Neal Shusterman. What appeals me to these books is the often mixed reaction they receive, some people hate it, some people love it. I then like to form my own opinion of the novel. These are the books I read-

  

 

The Book Thief and Frankenstein are the two books which I read because one was required reading for another english class in 2013 and the other was to be read for my schools senior book club. Both novels were brilliant, and I may or may not have shed a tear or two whilst reading The Book Thief.

For the month of January I am hoping to continue my reading streak, which I think I will easily achieve as January is the month of the year in which I do most of my reading.

If by some miracle someone is actually reading my blog, what did you read in December?

Book Review - Girl Online

Photo: REUTERS/Luke MacGregor

Let's be honest here, would I have picked up the book Girl Online by Zoe Sugg (aka Zoella) if I wasn't an avid follower of her youtube channel; the answer is no.

Why? Don't get me wrong I like a YA romance novel as much as the next girl, but the premise did not strike me as something I immediately needed to read. The idea of an plain, ordinary girl going to New York and falling for a mysterious boy, seemed a bit over done. The size of book didn't help matters either. I tend to stay away from books which are taller than the average sized book, but only for superficial reasons, as it looks awkward on my bookshelf and to hold. I realise this isn't exactly an excellent reason to shy away from purchasing a book, but we all have pet hates don't we?
  But curiosity got the better of me and like most other teenaged girls bought myself a copy at the earliest convenience. It surprised me how much I got into the book, the start was a bit clichéd, happy family cooking breakfast for each other, quirky bestfriend friend etc, but as the novel developed I found myself rooting for the main character. The writing itself I found was not at the same level as other young adult authors such as John Green and Rainbow Rowell, but I expected this seeing as this was Zoe's first novel. Recently there have been claims that Zoe had a ghost writer by the name of Siobhan Curham, Zoe denies these reports saying that Siobhan only helped her through the process of writing a book, and I believe her. Simply because Girl Online read exactly like someone's first book, rather than a well written author's sixth.
  Would I recommend Girl Online? Yes, but only to other teenaged girls wanting something light and easy to read. This book is most certainly not for everyone, but that is understandable as it is aimed at the audience of Zoe's youtube channel.


Overall verdict? 6.5/10 stars