Book Blogger Hop #1

I'm bored and I came across The Book Blogger Hop, which is a weekly meme created by Crazy For Books to help fellow bloggers/readers to find new blogs rather than the same ones!! In order to participate and for more information please click the above link :)

This weeks questions is:

"In honor of Banned Books Week, what is your favourite "banned or frequently challenged book?"

I can't choose just one, so here are my three picks :) [Harry Potter being #1 of course] 

Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

This week's theme is really crazy because I got curious about banned books just the other day and was curious as to what books have been banned in Australia. It doesn't look like much has been banned in Australia (according to Wikipedia) apart from books that promote crime and violence. As for the above and those mentioned on the 2009-2011 lists provided on Crazy For Books, I fail to understand how somebody who we don't even know can control what we read or have access to! For more info on banned books, check out the link above :) - I didn't come across that website the other day and it's good! :D

On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Merchetta

On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Merchetta
Release Date: June 26 2007
Publisher: Penguin Australia
Add it: Goodreads
Overall:  ♥♥♥♥♥

Abandoned by her mother on Jellicoe Road when she was eleven, Taylor Markham, now seventeen, is finally being confronted with her past. But as the reluctant leader of her boarding school dorm, there isn't a lot of time for introspection. And while Hannah, the closest adult Taylor has to family, has disappeared, Jonah Griggs is back in town, moody stares and all.

In this absorbing story by Melina Marchetta, nothing is as it seems and every clue leads to more questions as Taylor tries to work out the connection between her mother dumping her, Hannah finding her then and her sudden departure now, a mysterious stranger who once whispered something in her ear, a boy in her dreams, five kids who lived on Jellicoe Road eighteen years ago, and the maddening and magnetic Jonah Griggs, who knows her better than she thinks he does. If Taylor can put together the pieces of her past, she might just be able to change her future - Blurb from Goodreads

FOR SHAME!!!! WHY did it take me so long to come across this book!!

I had everything I was going to say in this review in my head before I went to bed last night, now I can't remember any of the insanely clever things I thought of (haha).

Okay, so if you've already read this book, you would know that the first 100 or so pages are incredibly confusing - it sort of  goes from one perspective to another which are in the past and present and between our main protagonist and kids we've never been introduced to before. The main character also has random dreams or something, all the while there are some strange 'territory wars' going on between kids at a boarding school and we don't really know why this is happening. For the first 100 or so pages you will be so confused and will either want to stop reading due to frustration or be intrigued and keep reading. I was intrigued and kept reading and I'm incredibly glad I did.

I am actually unable to describe the plot in my own words without confusing myself or you, so above is the synopsis from Goodreads :)

This book may frustrate you at first because Marchetta isn't giving you backstory on ANYTHING. However, as you progress further in the book you will discover this is exactly how she wanted you to feel. She wanted you to be confused and wanted to reveal the story to you piece by piece. As it seems there are so many subplots and stories in the one novel, it gets confusing, which I've already established (sorry!!), but Marchetta weaves all of these clues and bits & pieces into one neat, amazing mystery toward the end of the novel.

In regards to the characters, at first I wasn't sure whether I liked them or not. After a while, I really began to love the main character and also the supporting characters. Marchetta managed to make them talk, think and act exactly like teenagers (well, Australian teenagers). The characters were extremely realistic and whilst I didn't exactly bawl my eyes out in this book, I found myself tearing up or crying in several parts of the book - so many of the kids are in situations that I can't even put my head around. It's sort of like, you know that horrible things happen, and yet we as humans all complain about trivial things and hate our lives if our fucking boyfriend dumps us. Everybody does it, especially alot of people in Australia, who are fairly well off, in the luckiest country in the world. But like any other country, Australia has people who are in bad situations and it's heartbreaking that we don't take these people or children into account when we're complaining about nothing. The characters are so realistic and it really breaks my heart because there are people who suffer out there like the kids in this book.

I loved Taylor, and I loved Jonah Griggs - my new literary crush (apart from Tucker in Unearthly). Their relationship was realistic, heart warming and beautiful. I loved Jonah because he wasn't just sweet and caring (although he was), he was portrayed as a REAL boy - as in punching somebody without even flinching or having his blood boil when somebody he cares about is threatened or is being cracked onto. This is pretty much EXACTLY how 70% of guys I know react and underneath that hard exterior, they are all sensitive on the inside.

Honestly, apart from the beginning being confusing as anything, this novel is brilliant and I can't believe it took me so long to read the damn thing.

This is a book I think everybody has to read and you have to read this in order to know what I mean and I think once I read this for a second time, it'll be even more beautiful than the first time around.

Top 10 Tuesday (2)

Top ten Tuesday is a weekly meme from The Broke and Bookish

Top 10 books I want to reread

1. Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling - this is for obvious reasons, I've sort of started rereading, but I have to completely start from the beginning again!! 
2. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee - This was one of the few books I had to read in highschool that I actually enjoyed!
3. The Last Vampire Series by Christopher Pike - I LOVED this series and I really want to review them :)
4. Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare - I haven't read this in soooo long and would love to reread it
5. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephanie Meyer - I personally really really enjoyed this novella, I got so incredibly attached to Bree. 
6. Away by Michael Gow - One of my favourite plays ever. My favourite character is Coral. 
7. The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger - I honestly can't remember this, I just remember I enjoyed it 
8. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White - I just love this book and I want to read about Evie again because she is awesome 
9. Chronicles of Narnia by C.S Lewis - I haven't read this in years 
10. Awakened by PC and Kristin Cast - I want to reread this before I read Destined 

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
Release Date: January 4th 2011
Publisher: Harper Teen
Add it: Goodreads
Overall:  ♥♥♥♥♥


Ahhhh. Unearthly is the story of a 16 year old quarter angel named Clara. Every angel or angel blood on Earth has a purpose and they find out hints through visions, daydreams or dreams. Clara begins to have visions of a forest fire and a boy she has to save. Her mum packs up and moves them (Clara and her brother) from California to a place called Wyoming.

This book is everything I could ask for in terms of paranormal romance, in particular angel YA. I for one really enjoyed Fallen (shh) and I managed to not despise Hush Hush, but Unearthly shits all over any other YA angel novel.

I loved so many things about this, it's refreshing and gave me hope that there are authors in the YA/Paranormal genre that don't just stick with the cliches - So far, I've decided Kiersten White and now Cynthia Hand, they are both AWESOME - Once Clara moved to a completely new town for her purpose, she goes to a new school where she actually has to try to fit in and doesn't just attract every second guy for no particular reason. I love how Clara actually struggles. She eventually finds the boy in her vision - Christian - at school, and is drawn to him, however, this is not the kind of instant love that makes you want to projectile vomit.

The characters, oh, how I adored each and every one of them. They were all rounded, they weren't boring, they had personality. It's so refreshing to read about characters that have a personality, and if I could, I would immediately befriend Clara, man I love her, I really felt like I could relate to her certain situations (apart from the whole angel shiz). This is largely due to Ms. Hand's writing. It's beautiful and clever. Unlike other YA authors, all of the character's dialogue is how people would really speak. I found myself relating to Clara because I basically talk and think the way she does most of the time. Throughout the novel, we see that Clara has a close friendship with her mother, but they still have beef everynow and then, which is realistic, and her relationship with her brother is exactly how my bestfriend is with her brother. I love it! Angela and Wendy were awesome. So was Tucker, and Christian and the Black Wing. Ahhh, this book just makes me sigh :) Another thing I loved is that Clara knew she was an angel blood straight away, but didn't necessarily know how to fly or reveal her wings straight away. We learn with her and share her frustrations as she tries to prepare herself for her purpose.

 Now, the twists and turns this book takes! Ohh man it's freaking awesome! I was shocked several times and honestly, I knew something was up with Christian but I never guessed exactly what was up with him, this is awesome. The relationship building in this was brilliant. Clara did not immediately fall at her love interest's feet, wanting to makeout with the ground he walked on, but it was realistic, they were strangers, it wasn't love at first site, they actually FORMED A FRIENDSHIP (*shock, horror*) before declaring their love to one another. This. Was. Amazing. My god, I enjoyed Fallen, and Twilight and all those other YA novels - apart from Hush Hush, that wasn't really my cup of tea - but I always secretly hated the love at first sight crap. 

I don't know a hell of a lot about angel mythology because I haven't had the intense desire to research it yet like I have with other topics, but from what I know and can compare to other angel books, this book was brilliant in regards to it's mythology. It's refreshing to know that some author's do actually do research. I also loved the way Ms. Hand delivered her knowledge of angel mythology, it wasn't shoved down your throat like some other angel books, but it was subtle, like I loved the thing about the sadness and the fallen angels, and I loved how the fallen angels and nephilim were distinguished apart from their wing colour. 

I definitely recommend reading this because damn it's so worth it. I probably don't have to recommend it seeing as I'm probably the last YA reader on the planet to read it, but if you haven't DO IT. My head is swimming with the marvellousness (is that a word?) of this book. 

I WANT THE SEQUEL NOW.

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

Release Date: May 24th 2011

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Add it: Goodreads

Overall:  ♥♥♥

I've never read anything of the Steampunk genre before and I had to wiki it in order to get a rough idea of what I should expect. When I read the blurb on Goodreads I didn't know what to think. I mean, robots and American cowboys in Victorian England?  It sounded sort of strange to me, but I went into this with my head high thinking, "Maybe it's not so weird as it seems". Well, it took a bit to get my head around having robots in the late 19th century, but I eventually learned to enjoy it.   

This book revolves around a woman named Finley Jayne, she has both a dark side and a good side which exist completely seperately within her. When Finley's darker side emerges, she has heightened senses and super human strength - I loved this. I thought she was sooo freaking awesome simply because of the fact she can rip off the heads of robots and seriously injure or kill somebody if she really wanted to! We see Finley struggling to gain control over her dark side and after nearly killing somebody, she runs head first into the Duke of Greythorne, Griffin King. He basically takes her in, realises they may not be so different, and then tries to help her control her dark side. 

Griffin's friends live with him and they all have their own special abilities, just as Finley and Griffin do. They are trying to find and capture a villian who calls himself 'The Machinist' and find out what his (oooohhh) diabolical plans are! Whilst I loved the switching points of view between Finley, Griffin and Sam, I figured out who the Machinist was the minute he was introduced, which is a shame because if it hadn't have been so easy to figure out, it would have made the ending that much better.

Due to the different points of view, Ms Cross gives us rounded characters and gives them all a personality! Apart from the villian. But yeah.

I did enjoy this novel, although I preffered the first half to the second half, it was all amazing action and drama and then boom! Love triangle. Although, it was a pretty poor excuse of a love triangle if you ask me - you could tell there was one, but it wasn't overly dramatised like Twilight. This whole love triangle pissed me off a little, only because the book was so awesome, I finally got used to the whole machine/robot thing, then the love triangle happens and my face sort of looked like this.

In this love triangle, if I had to pick a "team", I'm Team Griffin, I thought he was strong but sweet and really respected Finley and wanted to help her. The only thing that annoyed me was this line. "Just relax, Finley. I'll be done soon, and if you're a good girl, I shall give you a biscuit." to which she replies, "Shortbread?". This annoyed me not only because it made her sound like a dog, but she accepted this and degraded herself. I guess this is how it was in the 19th century, but still. Ugh. That conversation took place in a tattooing scene which I found completely unneccessary, so the runes or whatever that Griffin is tattooing onto her are meant to help her two sides, but we don't get any evidence that this helped her further on in the book, it's not mentioned at all. Another part that irked me was the guy at the beginning getting killed (sorry, I don't really think this is a spoiler), Finley finds out she didn't kill him, then it's not mentioned again at all nor do we find out who actually killed him. This subplot was one of several that pissed me off a bit. Also, on a final note, I get why the book is titled so, but Finley wears her steel corset twice, and it is not mentioned to have helped her in any way, shape or form. So honestly, WTF was the point of it?

As an introduction to the Steampunk genre, it did well, as it didn't turn me off, however it didn't make me love it either. I will be reading the sequel to this book and more books of the Steampunk genre, just to further satisfy my curiosity :)

Top 10 Tuesday (1)

I came across this little gem through a blog called Shut Up! I'm Reading
So thanks to a link from that blog, I'm now going to be following this blog, Broke and Bookish which has a feature called 'Top Ten Tuesdays' which is just freaking awesome! So I'm going to do a few of these as I find them, and they may not necessarily be posted on a Tuesday but I think that's okay :) haha!

Top 10 books everyone has read but me

1.  Unwind - Neal Shusterman - Ohh! How I wish to read this already! This is at the top of my TBR pile and sounds AWESOME.
2. Anna and the French Kiss - Stephanie Perkins - Also at the top of my TBR pile!
3. Wildefire - Karsten Knight - I've heard this is amazing! I also don't know how to pronounce the name of the book, is it like, 'Wildfire' or ' Wild-eh-fire'? Someone care to enlighten me??
4. Unearthly - Cynthia Hand - I'm nearly finished The Girl in the Steel Corset sooo, after that, I'm reading this :D
5. The Wolves of Mercy Falls Series - Maggie Stiefvater - I OWN THIS NOW! Wooo! My lovely boyfriend got the hardcover boxset for our 2 year anniversary, ooooh yeah! Can not wait to get my mitts on it!
6. Uglies Series - Scott Westerfield - Also at the top of my TBR pile, and it sounds absolutely freaking awesome.
7. Mortal Insturments Series - Cassandra Clare - Please don't attempt to murder me people, I know I should have by now, I just haven't. Buttt, it's on the top of the pile :)
8. Vampire Academy Series - Richelle Mead - Again, don't muder me please!
9. Infernal Devices Series - Cassandra Clare - Refer to 7 and 8
10. Dracula - Bram Stoker - Ohhh what is WRONG with me! I want to read this incredibly bad. 

Hereafter by Tara Hudson

Hereafter by Tara Hudson

Release Date: June 7th 2011

Publisher: Harper Collins

Add it: Goodreads

Overall:  ♥♥ 1/2

Hereafter tells the story of a ghost, Amelia, who has been wandering lost for god knows how long and constantly suffers from nightmares of the night she died. The beginning is good because we know everything about Amelia that she knows - her name, her age and how she died. So the book begins with Amelia having a nightmare which is beautifully described, but when she wakes up, she is still in the river drowning, however she soon realises that she isn't the one drowning, a boy named Joshua is and he is the first mortal to see her. Hereafter is basically a love story between Amelia and Joshua and Amelia recovering more and more memories of her life. But of course, they have an evil ghost to contend with who wants Amelia all for himself.

The first chapter captivated me, it was beautifully written and the whole nightmare scene was so visual. This was all well and good, however, whilst I understand Amelia and Joshua have a connection because he could see her, she saved him etc, the relationship between them just exploded! It happened instantly. Then, the first thing that really freaked me out about this book was the "skin touching" scene that is in almost every YA book you come across. This one had the same concept "my skin tingled etc etc", but sounded as if the two main characters were having wayyyyy too good of a time for this novel especially considering it was from holding hands.

Okay, so "The moment his skin brushed mine, a current shot through my entire body, from my scalp to the tips of my fingers. The current made the ache in my chest, and the tingles that raced along my spine each time he looked at me, seem like low-burning cinders. My heart, my brain, my skin - all of it was momentarily engulfed in flame, a flame lit only by the spark on my cheek." is all pretty standard for YA or Paranormal Romance, but then a few sentences later...
"Joshua stared at me, rubbing his hand. He continued to breathe unevenly, as though he'd just run a long distance. Then, still gasping, he smiled. Hugely. "What," he managed to choke out, "was that?" "I have no idea." And I began to laugh. "Want to do it again?" "Hell, yes," he growled, and lurched forward to grab my hand from my lap."
What the hell was that? It sounds like the two just had incredible sex or something, by HOLDING HANDS. "Hell yes" he growled". THAT makes the book seem somewhat naughty, but it isn't like that at all! This book is strictly PG 13 stuff people!
 
Secondly, "he smiled. Hugely." Why is the word 'hugely' in a sentence of it's own? It's not a sentence. It does not need its own. Full stop. Putting a fullstop for a single word is generally for emphasis or dramatic effect, but "he smiled hugely", or simply "he smiled" would have sufficed!

I'm going to do a little bit more nitpicking because as I've said on my blogs rating policy, if I notice it, it must be bad.

Within the first few chapters, Ms. Hudson constantly refers to Amelia's dress, or skirt, or whatever it is. On page 75, "My eyes dropped right back down to my dress.", okay, yeah that's all well and good, but then on THE VERY SAME PAGE, "We sat that way for a while, him in a casually amused pose and me with my eyes glued once more to my skirt." What the fuck is it? A dress or a skirt? If this mistake wasn't on the same fucking page, I wouldn't have picked it up and it wouldn't have bothered me as much, but it happens over and over again! The sentence after the "skirt" sentence, it's suddenly a dress. Ugh.

I also was worried that while Joshua and Amelia were making out on a park bench, talking and holding hands, that SOMEBODY may just walk past, see Joshua making out with thin air and get him committed. But lucky for these two lovebirds, nobody saw them.

Okay, that's my rambling about things that bothered me out of the way... Now...
 
Have you ever noticed that in almost all YA novels, the guy smells like mint or something? Well Joshua has a sweet and musky smell. I like musk, so I thought I'd point that out :) plus the fact, he doesn't smell like mint.
Okay, so after reading about 250 pages of "I wub yooh", "he is amazing", "his room is amazing" and "when our skin touched it felt like fire". We start to see plot development, yayyyy! So far, Joshua's grandma (whom I love) is meant to have tried to hurt Amelia, this hasn't really been mentioned, and Eli is meant to be trying to get to Amelia. This hasn't really been mentioned either and if either of these things have, they haven't been very interesting. Throughout the novel, Amelia remembers more and more of her past which is interesting to find out but after 250 pages, we finally get more action, less lovey dovey stuff, more of Jillian (Joshua's sister who I also love), and more drama - YAYYY! 

Another thing I loved was the fact that Joshua wasn't a sick freak who wanted to kill or hurt the girl (a la, Patch) and he actually treated her nicely and with respect, unlike other guys in YA lit, however it was a little strange that Amelia was like "Just so you know, I'm a ghost, sorry, don't think I'm crazy", and Josh is all "omg I love you, I don't care if your a ghost, I believe you".
I love the fact the Amelia didn't fall for Eli and there wasn't any love triangles and I love that Amelia was able to tell us all her worries, problems and things about her without coming across and whiny and annoying.

What really impressed me was there was no cliffhanger, but it still left questions and ideas to be answered and explored in the next few books and as a whole and as a romance, it's a pretty beautiful story.

Overall: ♥♥ 1/2

E-reader!

So I just got back home and will hopefully be able to stay for the next few months, and I just got my Androidf from Dad and Kelly, which means I HAVE AN E-READER! It's the ZTE v9 tablet and it is a PHONE and everything, wtf right? So if I've "lost it" (it's in front of me but I don't see it), I can RING IT ahahahaha!
Wooohooo! I'm so incredibly excited :) I'm going nuts for e-books right now! Pure joyyyy!

Amazing right? :D

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Release Date: August 24th 2010
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Add it: Goodreads
Overall:  ♥♥♥♥ 1/2

When I finished this book I felt drained and I felt tired.

Okay, so I was pleased with the fact that I had this patiently waiting to be read in my bookshelf right after I finished Catching Fire. The first two books, I loved, they bought out so much emotion in me and hooked me into Katniss' world straight away. But with this one... I don't know, I still absolutely loved it and I'll definitely reread it in the near future, but it just didn't do it for me like the other two books.

I don't know if I can pinpoint exactly what bothered me about it, but I'll give it a try...
Soin Mockingjay, President Snow has declared war on Katniss, her friends and her family and Katniss and all of what's left of District 12 are living in *oooohhh* Disctrict 13. So it turns out that District 13 isn't at all what I expected, I was expecting fairly nice people who hunted and who were generally shy. Instead, President Coin of 13 is completely messed in the head (not as much as President Snow, but still) and is so goddamn manipulative and such a control freak. However, I guess this fitted with the whole 'District 13 has had to fend for themselves because the Capitol is pretending they don't exist', but yeah. I dunno, it makes sense, I just didn't like them at all, I got the impression that 13 thought they were so much mightier than 12 and that pissed me off.

Anywhooo, Katniss is being used a pawn for District 13 and the Rebels and she finds it difficult to figure out who to trust or what she should do. Katniss annoyed me a bit, I didn't like how she would have a complete mental breakdown every five seconds, yes it's justified in regards to what she's had to go through in all three books, but I was hoping she'd still be strong and fearless like in the other books. Katniss has basically lost Peeta for the duration of this book, Peeta has been completely screwed over with the Capitol and Katniss doesn't know whether he's dead or alive.
I really liked how the Rebels created their own propaganda to broadcast to Panem and how all the districts but two were part of the revolution.

I loved so many characters this time around, but *SPOILER ALERT*one thing that seriously annoyed me was Ms Collins killing every character we've grown to love off. Finnick, Cinna and Boggs deserved MUCH better death scenes than what they got and Katniss should've grieved more. I mean Cinna, oohhh I loved him, I wish he was still around, and I wish it wasn't all "oh he's probs dead" "okay. that sucks" I mean, HUH? Cinna was freaking awesome. But nooo. Not awesome enough for an actual death scene or a decent scene at all. And Prim, ohhh Prim, what was the point of hers? I love Prim, I really feel for Katniss with Prim because I think I'd jump off a cliff if my sisters died, seriously, I cried in this part because it's Prim. She was so innocent and full of hope and she had to get killed off. Ahhhh. *SPOILER ENDED*. I still love Annie, I wish we got to know her more, I really do, we barely see any of her in the story, but I would've loved to read more about her.   

One of my favourite parts in this was when Katniss made the book with all the people who have been killed. 
Another favourite was the epilogue. And another was Buttercup and Katniss being friends, lame, I know but I really loved this part. Although Buttercup is a cat, both his and Katniss' world has been turned upside down and now they only have eachother to support. Ahh this made my bottom lip drop as well. 

Overall, I'm really pleased with how everything turned out for Katniss, although I think the war was won too easily and Coin was just messed in the head like Snow. (Oh and Snow's rose room scene made me laugh and gag at the same time). I obviously had a few issues with certain things, but I think this book wrapped things up nicely for Katniss. Honestly, in the three books she went through so much in about two years that I'm incredibly happy with how things turned out in the end. 

Procrastination is great

Apart from attempting to study Marketing for my exam tomorrow, I am having a GOOD day :D!
Firstly, I'm just about over halfway through Hereafter, which I'm relieved because whilst it was reallll slow and boring for the first 200 pages, it looks like it's picking up (yay!).
Secondly, I decided I wanted Subway for lunch today, I had $7.00 in my purse altogether and then, as I'm about to walk out the door, I scavage around in my handbag looking for my housekeys when I hear the jingling of money, lovely money! I found another $8.00 just chilling at the bottom of my bag which meant I could get a footlong sub and a Vanilla Coke.
Thirdly, THREE MORE DAYS until I get to go home and see my parents, wooooooo :D
If all that wasn't cool enough, I decide to have a read of some blogs, including Kiersten White's, and she is publishing another four books in the next few years. Yessssaaaaaa! Whilst, it's painful to have to wait until 2013 when we're all patiently waiting for Endlessly in 2012 to come out, this means we get to read more of Kiersten White's fabulous work.

I'm. So. Excited.

The post that made my day!


And while I'm waiting anxiously for more of Ms. White's fabulous work, I'm going to give this a shot...By the time I get my mitts on this, it'll be my second Steampunk read...so we'll see how I go and I'll keep you updated :)

Play, Little Victims by Kenneth Cook

Play, Little Victims by Kenneth Cook
Release Date: June 28th 1978
Publisher: Pergamon
Add it: Goodreads
Overall:  ♥♥♥♥♥
 
This little gem was lent to me by my Aunty and quite frankly, I was scared to touch it because being 30 years old and in four pieces, I know how precious this book is for my Aunty!
This book is relatively unknown, however it's a quick but excellent read.

Two mice named Adamus and Evemus survive the end of the world and decide that they are going to take the matter of repopulation in their own hands and they have babies, lots and lots and lots of babies. Before they know it, there is an overpopulation problem so Adamus forms a governing body to try and control the population and birth/death rates with the Word of Man to guide them, this being, the bible and 4,268 editions of the New York Times/

The mice introduce everything from wars to abortion and even alcohol and cigerettes in order stunt the population growth.by using the bible and copies of the New York Times as "the word of man" and as a guide to the way of living. Finally, on the last page, Adamus reveals a shocking solution which is pretty horrifying but is done in a fairly subtle way.

I love this little book as it is such a quick read and once you finish it, it really gets you thinking of what we as humans are capable of and the danger we constantly threaten ourselves with. I love this because it varied from laugh out loud funny to morbid.


I really with this book gained the attention it deserves! Yes, it's old but so are books like Remember Me, but honestly, whilst this isn't a young adult book, I think it would do an excellent job if reprinted and sold internationally. But, unfortunately it isn't really heard of outside of Australia! But... just for the sake of it, buy it on Amazon or AbeBooks, but look for it elsewhere because at the moment there are only a few copies left on each website :)

Play, Little Victims on AbeBooks
Play, Little Victims on Amazon

Overall: ♥♥♥♥♥

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Release Date: September 1st 2009

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Add it: Goodreads

Overall:  ♥♥♥♥♥

So I just feel like doing an evil laugh right now because in my previous WordPress post, I couldn't post for a few weeks as “you are not to modify your web presence in anyway from the time it is submitted until after it has been marked” and I said that sucks, because I like writing reviews and I like blogging. AND NOW I CAN :D Ehh ehhe! Sooo I've read Mockingjay and that's up for review after Monday - I have a Marketing exam. Woo!

In a sad attempt to make you laugh I’ll tell you about how the other day Jordon asked me what 2 divided by 3 was because he was mocking me about something.. in response I got really confused and asked him “wow, is that actually possible?” (with a serious expression on my face) and then he just laughed at me even more than before, but it was pretty funny :D … So yeah that really wasn't that interesting, but I wanted to share anyway and tell you that it was probably the blondest moment of my blonde moments for the week and another reason why I’m studying journalism rather than something to do with math. Ugh!

Moving along to the reason you’re actually reading this blog for…. The review :O!!
In some reviews I’ve read on Goodreads, alot of people seem unhappy with the second installment of the Hunger Games trilogy but I found Catching Fire just as fast paced and as exciting as the first installment.

Catching Fire begins a few months after Katniss and Peeta have won the 74th Hunger Games but the winners have no sense of triumph. They have become leader figures for a rebellion of the districts against the capitol. The
manipulative and insane, arsehole
, idiotic, President Snow has decided to pay our beloved Katniss a visit to her new home in the Victor’s Village and tells her that the berry suicide attempt that Katniss simply did through an act of love, was in fact openly defying the capitol and an attempt to start a rebellion.

Whilst I definitely found the first book in the series heart wrenching and emotional, I found myself crying in the first 100 pages of this book. I found myself wishing that Katniss was never in this situation, that she lived in a country that had rights and a country that wasn’t forced to kill eachother off in ‘games’ every year and I found myself wishing that President Snow would run into a force field so his heart stopped beating and then have Katniss shoot an arrow at each of his limbs while he died. Yes, I hated him THAT much within the first 100 pages (and just as much for the remainder of the book). I don’t want to give away any spoilers but as I read about that poor old man who paid his respects and all of District 11, I literally had to put the book down and calm myself down. This book made me do this several times, I was overwhelmed with so much emotion for alot of the book and I found myself rereading sentences and paragraphs, not because I didn’t understand it or because the sentence structure was dodgy, but because I wanted to and because I needed to get it through my head that I was reading a book, not living in Katniss’ world with her.

Ms Collins has written another brilliant story and has sucked me back in as she sucked me into the first installment. I especially loved how she described the arena, how many twists and turns this installment had and that we get to find out more information about the oh so mysterious District 13 (which, thank god, otherwise it’ would’ve just been some really interesting but useless plot device from the first book which doesn’t get expanded on, like Sino-AIDS in the Sookie Stackhouse series. Ugh). I thought it was amazing. In addition, I loved the ending, I was so scared and it honestly made my jaw drop. Okay, so there was a cliffhanger, but in the way of cliffhangers, this one was a good cliffhanger. But maybe I’m just saying that because I’ve got Mockingjay sitting patiently on my kitchen bench begging “READ MEEEE” :) . The only thing I can think of which I didn’t like about this was that it seemed a few months went by in a few pages, but this was only a minor issue and didn’t bother me too much, I still thoroughly enjoyed this.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins 
Release Date: September 14th 2008

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Add it: Goodreads

Overall:  ♥♥♥♥♥

I’d just like to say, I have NO IDEA why it took me so long to actually read this book considering within the first two pages I was hooked! I finished this book and thought “So THIS is what all the fuss is about!”. Although it took me about 4 days to read, I could have easily read it in one if not for uni assignments (yay).

The premise of The Hunger Games is somewhat disturbing. It’s a dystopian novel and is set in a not-too-distant future in what used to be America. America has collapsed due to natural disasters, famine and war and the country of Panem has replaced it. Panem is divided into the Capitol (basically the head honcho government area), and 12 districts. The capitol force two representatives aged 11-18 to participate in the annual Hunger Games – a brutal and cruel fight to the death – for their enjoyment and entertainment and these games are broadcasted throughout Panem and are compulsory to watch as the 24 participants are forced to eliminate eachother.

Sixteen year old Katniss’s young sister, Prim, is selected as the suffering and deprived District 12′s representative. Katniss volunteers to take her place and finds herself thrown in the Hunger Games, on television in front of the entire nation. Katniss and the male District 12 representative, Peeta are pitted against stronger, bigger and faster opponents, especially those who are Career Districts, those who have trained for the games their whole lives.

Collins’ creates characters who have so much depth and are so realistic. This book had me captivated from the get go. I adore Katniss, she is so real, is a real heroine and a true survivor – plus she’s awesome with a bow and arrow! Katniss may raise some eyebrows, but I did not question her at all. If I was thrown into a giant arena with nothing but the clothes on my back and had to kill 23 others and survive in the wilderness, I reckon I’d die pretty easily and would definitely not be as clever as Katniss.

This book had me feeling so many things, I felt anger, sadness, betrayal, fear, hopelessness, grief, guilt and happiness. The only thing I think I can find fault in this novel is that the sentences were a bit choppy and I found it a  bit disorienting, but I think this is what Ms. Collins wanted and it was successful in making the story really come alive and in making you feel like you were really watching Katniss and like you were there with her.

I think you’re just going to have to read the book rather than this review because I simply can’t put everything I love about this book into words. This is one of those books where someone says “This book is AMAZING”, it really is, seriously.

Another thing I’d love to see is a map of Panem and the 12 districts, the wilderness and the 13th district that was destroyed. THAT would be pretty awesome!

Supernaturally by Kiersten White

Supernaturally by Kiersten White 
Release Date: July 26th 2011

Publisher: Harper Teen

Add it: Goodreads

Overall:  ♥♥♥♥♥

Okay, so after my sparkling review for Paranormalcy just gushing about how much I loved it, unfortunately I’m doing it again.

The first book in a series is normally 100% better than the second one (eg. Hush Hush – Crescendo, Twilight – New Moon etc) this is generally known as “middle book complex”, the first book, Paranormalcy was incredible, I loved the characters, the complexity of the story, the pace, the writing, the fact there were no cliche stuffy annoying love triangles and no pain-in-the-ass “heroine” who in reality is just brainless and completely in lurrrvvvvvve with the guy cos he’s freaking hot or some shit like that, (though admittedly, I do like those books…). MOVING ON….!  Well, I expected for Supernaturally to have middle book complex and I was fully prepared to take that into account considering I love alot of series where the second book is not the best thing I’ve read. Boy oh boy was I wrong! I don’t know how Ms. White has done it, the second installment in this series was, in my opinion, as brilliant as the first. In Supernaturally, Evie has escaped from IPCA and has everything she’s ever dreamed of, a normal life, attending high school and a locker. But Evie quickly realises that being normal is pretty darn boring, and spends her time looking at clouds and then finds herself kidnapped by one. Wait, WHAT? Yes, Ms White has done it again, instead of sticking to the usual paranormals like vampires and werewolves, she has once again surprised me by creating a strange and fascinating array of paranormals, in particular, ‘elemental paranormals’.

Ms White knows what us YA readers want, and knows we’re fairly sick of the same tired old plot, the same love triangle blah blah blah. She even very cleverly mocks other YA paranormal books (in my opinion), for example…

“What should I be for Halloween? I can’t decide between a sexy vampire or a sexy fairy. I’ve got a whole tub of glitter body gel for either costume, if you want to be the one I’m not!”
Faeries and vampires were glittery now? Honestly.”

See what I mean? Hilarious! Instead of all that, she delivers refreshing, loveable characters, awesome plot twists and turns and ACTUAL RELATIONSHIPS – As in healthy, non-obsessive and fun. As for the pace of the whole novel, I loved it! It was perfect for me, I’d finish exactly 1-3 chapters on the way to or from uni finishing at the end of a chapter (which I know is just luck but still!). This was such as page turner, I constantly had the “It won’t take long for just one more chapter….” and it was like that for the entire novel.

Throughout the novel, Evie may seem a lot weaker than she was in the first novel as she is freaking out about seemingly little things and lying, alot of people may be disappointed with this version of Evie, but I think all of her worries and woes were totally justified and she is still the strong, independent heroine I loved in Paranormalcy.

We’re also introducted to a new character, Jack. Now I had mixed feelings about Jack but he made me laugh and I felt sympathy for him as he was raised by faeries and therefore can travel through the faerie paths! One part in particular made me embarrassingly burst out laughing on a busy train…

“Is there a reason there’s a blond boy jumping on your bed or should I kill him?”

I found Jack to be a really interesting and fun addition to the series and although I swoon over Lend, Jack was still freaking hilarious!
Supernaturally ends perfectly without the stupid cliffhanger which just leaves you wanting to slap the author for doing it, Evie still just makes you want to hug and befriend her and having no stuffy, annoying as shit love triangles.

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White 
Release Date: August 31st 2010
Publisher: Harper Teen

Add it: Goodreads

Overall:  ♥♥♥♥♥

"Yes, I have a driver’s license.”

I leaned back against the wall, sighing. “Man, that must be so cool.”
“It ranks right up there with lockers. In fact, sometimes I put my license inside my locker, and it’s so cool I worry that the whole thing might explode with the sheer coolness of it all.”

I read this a while ago but decided to write a blog on this considering I just bought Supernaturally (YAY :) ) and once I finish reading The Last Story, that’ll be up for review next :)

Okay, I don’t know how to start this… Paranormalcy is decieving, this is a perfect example where you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover. So the cover is pretty, pink and generally looks too good to be true… Well, this book is AMAZING! Evie is the heroine all us YA readers have been searching for. Evie works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency (who knew huh?), has a pink taser named ‘Tasey’, whos best friend is a bleeping mermaid, can see through paranormal’s glamours yet all she wants is a locker like on her favourite show Easton Heights.

Okay, I could gush about Evie and how bleep cool she is for a long time but I’ll gush about how unique and loveable the other characters are instead. So Lish, the mermaid, Evie’s best friend, bleep she’s cool. Lend is bleep gorgeous, not stalker like, awesome and not a total bleeeep like Evie’s sick freak faerie stalker Reth (EW) plus he is ORIGINAL. Let’s play a game… Lend is…

a) Vampire
b) Ghost
c) Werewolf
d) Faerie
e) Fallen angel
f) none of the above

Answer is f, none of the above. Sorry but I recommend this book to anybody to will listen so read the book and you can find out for yourself :)
Okay, so I can’t say anything about the character’s apart from the fact their amazing. Sorry but I really can’t.

Apart from the characters, the story is completely original unlike every other YA you’ve read, there’s no stupid love triangle, Evie doesn’t make stupid decisions that get her in the worst situations and she actually has a personality and a hilarious one at that.

Ms White has done a wonderful job, the originality of the characters, the plot, the cover which is just SO deceiving…

Wow.You. Must. Read. This. :)

Hello Little Snail... by Dorothy Race

Hello Little Snail... by Dorothy Race
Release Date: 2008
Publisher: Mousetec Publications

Add it: Goodreads

Overall:  ♥♥♥♥♥

So I may be a just a tad biased with this book as my Aunty Dorothy wrote it :) I just wanted to put this up here because I really think it’s an amazing children’s book and is basically about a snail being bullied by Mr. Gardener. Mr. Gardener thinks it’s fine to bully and taunt snail and other small garden insects and tells little snail to pull out all the weeds in his garden before sundown otherwise he will be crushed with Mr. Gardener’s big boot! All the neighbourhood children and other garden creatures help little snail to make Mr. Gardener see the errors of his ways! I love this book because the whole thing is in rhyme and just flows amazingly, it’s not a children’s book which has like five words on each page, it’s actually well written and keeps the reader interested. This is a book that children will love and plus the pictures are wayyy cute!

Sex and the City by Candace Bushnell

Sex and the City by Candace Bushnell
Release Date: August 12th 1996 
Publisher: Warner Books 
Add it: Goodreads

Overall:  ♥

I’m not a huge fan of bitch-lit, chick-lit, whatever you’d like to call it, however, I have almost always felt okay after reading. The exception to that is this book, I was simply disappointed. As you will discover, although I appreciate movies and appreciate the fact that creating a movie or TV show is a completely different art to a book, I still prefer reading the book over the TV show/movie. But this is the first exception I’ve come across. I LOVE the television show, it’s funny, witty, the characters are somewhat likeable, if not loveable. But the book? I honestly have NO idea how the TV show can be SO good when the book is quite literally the biggest piece of trash I’ve ever had the misfortune to read. This book is a collection of Ms Bushnell’s columns – HOW  these made it as columns let alone into a book is beyond me. They don’t even pass as short stories. I really do applaud the creators of the show as I have no idea how they can read this and think “oh wow, let’s turn this into a witty, amazing television show that has characters the viewers will actually like”.

I really apologise if this review is really nasty, but it took me ages to read, I just had no interest whatsoever, every book, no matter what I thought of it, has been able to reel me in the story within the first few pages but this? No. Just no. I couldn’t. I put it down, attempted to read it and then finally read it and I don’t know why I bothered. This is just fluff and I was expecting all four girls from the show to be characters in this book but apparently Charlotte was made for the TV show – I love Charlotte! Also, the characters in this book just astound me. They are so … oh I don’t the word so I’ll make one up. Tryhardish? They are trying to be young again by doing copious amounts of drugs and hitting the hottest clubs and whatnot.

Overall, in this case WATCH THE SHOW! DON’T bother reading this book if you can even call it that, I’d rather use it as kindling.

Remember Me Trilogy by Christopher Pike

Remember Me Volume One by Christopher Pike
Release Date: March 1st 1989 (rereleased September 2nd 2010)
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Add it: Goodreads
Overall:  ♥♥♥♥ 1/2

After reading the Last Vampire series, Christopher Pike has easily become a favourite of mine. Although I’m aware these books have not recently been written (Remember Me was published in 1989), Pike still manages to sound up to date with teenagers and how they behave. Apparently alot of Pike’s work revolves around teenage girls, however he definitely gets away with it.
Remember Me is the story of 18 year old Shari Cooper. Shari Cooper has died and is now a ghost. Her death has been labelled as suicide, however, Shari knows different, she knows she was murdered and wants to find out who pushed her over a four-storey high balcony. The ending was a little predictable for me, however, toward the end of the book, there is a huge twist which resulted me in thinking WTF.
This is a short review, but all in all, this book was addictive, captivating and relatable. I haven’t yet finished reading the Return part 1 which is included in the above edition. This review will be updated once I finish The Return part 1.


Remember Me Volume Two by Christopher Pike
Release Date: October 7th 2010
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Add it: Goodreads


[UPDATE] 16/08/2011
So I just finished reading part one and part two of The Return. Many people in reviews I’ve read have said they don’t like the new age ideas that are in the book, however, I really enjoyed the new age theme with things such as meditation and the afterlife present throughout the book.

The Return is based around the story of Shari Cooper, however, Shari has a chance to return to a body on Earth as a ‘wanderer’, the only catch is that she will not remember anything of her life prior to her death or the afterlife. Shari returns to the body of an 18 year old Hispanic girl named Jean Rodrigious. Part one, in book one confused me a little as I felt each chapter was a bit jumpy, in between Shari’s experience in the afterlife where time doesn’t matter and Jean’s “current” life, it felt as if there was no flow between the chapters. However, once you get used to it and you get used to it by part two), I think it’s an excellent story. The last few chapters of The Return shocked me incredibly and loved the twists and turns this book had.
I have began reading The Last Story and will update you when I’ve finished that :)
Overall: ♥♥♥ 1/2


[UPDATE] 19/08/11

I am at a loss for words but I’ll try to write something…

One thing I have noticed in the Christopher Pike books I’ve read so far is that he has a thing for making his characters authors and he has a thing for new age ideas. Whilst the whole “character being the author” thing would ordinarily sound like a lame idea, Mr Pike pulls it off! Shari Cooper is back as Jean Rodrigious 3 years after the events of Shari’s death. Shari has come back as a “wanderer” who writes novels to be a positive role model for the Hispanic community and is in the production stage of making one of her best sellers into a movie. However, there are some who hate wanderers and are able to distinguish what they are and want them dead (again).

This book had a miniature story within it and whilst I thought it would turn out to be crap, I got as involved in Shari’s short story as much as her bigger story. I love this because Garrett is back as a private detective and honestly, he is one of my favourite characters and also Peter is back with Shari :) . I personally thought the enemy was a bit obvious but this didn’t detract from the story at all. Honestly, I love reading about new age ideas, meditation, reincarnation and all that, although I don’t believe in a prime creator, these topics fascinate me and I don’t seem to get sick of them.

The ending of this book made me cry. Yes, it made me cry, and that’s saying something as I can’t remember the last time a book made me cry apart from when I read Harry Potter. I’m craving more of Shari’s story, just like I crave more of Sita’s story (The Last Vampire). But I know this is probably the final end of Shari’s story and I was completely 110% satisfied with the final book in this trilogy.

Here’s one particular quote I loved (from the spiritual guide throughout the book):

“Relationships are mysterious We doubt the positive qualities in others, seldom the negative. You will say to your partner: do you really love me? Are you sure you love me? You will ask this a dozen times and drive the person nuts. But you never ask: are you really mad at me? Are you sure you’re angry? When someone is angry, you don’t doubt it for a moment. Yet the reverse should be true. We should doubt the negative in life, and have faith in the positive.” – page 232

Overall: ♥♥♥♥♥

Eighth Grade Bites: The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod by Heather Brewer

Eighth Grade Bites: The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod by Heather Brewer
Release Date: August 16th 2007
Publisher: Dutton Children's Books
Add it: Goodreads
Overall:  ♥♥♥ 1/2
 
This book follows a 13 year old boy, Vladimir Tod, a vampire, through his first year of high school. Vlad is a human-vampire hybrid with a human mother and a vampire father. Vlad deals with the usual dilemmas in highschool like crushing on the pretty girl at school, putting up with bullies and having your aunty hide your blood fix in your peanut butter and jelly sandwiches…

Vlad has to deal with a creepy subsitiute who seems to know exactly what he is. Vlad begins to discover secrets of his parent’s who died 3 years earlier  in a mysterious fire and the secret’s his father had been keeping from Vlad and his mother. Without giving away any spoilers, I love Henry, Vlad’s best friend who jsut happens to be the only human Vlad has ever bitten. Throughout the book, Vlad is figuring out his vampire powers and lives with his Aunt Nellie who hides his blood fix in twinkies (whatever they are) and sandwiches. While I think he could have just taken a normal drink bottle to school full of blood, I still love the creativity of the whole “hiding the blood capsule” thing.

Overall, this book is a first in a series so it has a few plot holes and leaves you with alot of questions as to how Grade 9 is going to be for Vlad. Vlad is refreshing and one of the best characters I’ve come across. So while the plot of this first book is a little wishy-washy, Vlad is freaking awesome and I’ll definitely be reading the next four to find out where this series is going.

Afterlight by Elle Jasper

Afterlight by Elle Jasper
Release Date: September 29th 2010
Publisher: Signet
Add it: Goodreads 
Overall:  ♥♥♥♥

I have more positives to say about this book than negatives and as a debut novel – amazing!

Firstly, I love Riley Poe, she is a refreshing portagonist and isn’t weak like protagonists such as Bella from Twilight or just plain arrogant/annoying like Sookie Stackhouse. Riley has turned her life around from being a junkie, trouble making teen who someone who has gone to college and started their own successful tattoo shop. Riley is a big sister who raises her little brother after their mother passed away and was under the care of an awesome old guy called Preacher and his wife who practice wicked African magic. They helped Riley turn her life around.While Riley has turned her life around she is still a kick-ass female protagonist who thnks for herself rather than for the man who comes into her life, Eli.

The book is generally about Riley’s brother, Seth and his friends who accidently release two evil brother vampires by disturbing “Da hell stone” and due to this, slowly begin a transformation that will make them the most savage type of vampire.

In order to save her brother from becoming a creature of the afterlight, Preacher introduces her to the Dupre family – A local family of vampires (who by the way, are a type of vampire that can go out in the sun) and Riley meets and falls for Eligius Dupre, a hot-tempered, protective vampire who falls for Riley the same. With some hardcore training and dark underground club hopping to figure out where her brother and his friends are hanging out to lure bait for the vampire brothers, Riley Poe, the Dupre family and Preacher man has less than a month to save Seth and as many lives as possible and to try and kill the brothers.

The premise for this book is Riley’s brother, Seth and his buddies apparently release two brother vampires who were captured centuries ago. While doing that these vampires make the teenagers into their minions, and they slowly begin a transformation to becoming vampires which will be complete when they make their first kill in about a month’s time.

The only thing I can think of that I didn’t like about the book was that there was a fair bit of talking about nothing (although its a nice change considering I just finished the Sookie Stackhouse series) and the chapters are really long, however it is still a book that is difficult to put down and will keep you wanting more of Riley Poe.

Potterhead

Yes. I am aware I’m posting alot of blogs in a short space of time, sorry! I just feel like it at the moment and plus, I have to write book related content for the assignment.

Anywho… Harry Potter. I hear that name and just get really giddy and happy. Obviously I’m one of those people who’s “childhood is over” but in all honesty, it’s true!  After seeing Deathly Hallows part two in cinema about a month ago, I cried. I just can’t believe it’s over and *spoiler alert* the scene where Snape dies, although completely different to the book – AMAZING! I must say I barely stopped crying for the entire movie although I nearly wet myself laughing when Voldemort hugged Draco (what?).

In comparison to the book Deathly Hallows part one and two I found fairly good. Yes there were differences, like WHY was it necessary for Harry to jump off a cliff with Voldemort? Movie effect I guess! But apart from stupid bits like that I thoroughly enjoyed it and I didn’t find myself going “WHAT THE F***” like I did in Half Blood Prince. I only wish that Molly Weasley’s duel with Bellatrix Lestrange was longer, it went for so long in the book and was freaking amazing (also the fact that I adore Molly and love Bellatrix simply because she is SO incredibly tapped in the head), but I’m so glad they kept “NOT MY DAUGHTER YOU BITCH!” in the movie! Ahhhh! That made me incredibly happy that they didn’t get rid of that just because it’s a “kids movie” (which quite frankly, it hasn’t been a kids movie since the end of Goblet of Fire).

Whilst I loved Deathly Hallows part one and two as films as well as being one of my favourite books in the series. Another favourite Harry Potter book was Half Blood Prince. But the movie? Yes, it was funny, good as a movie in itself, but considering its part of the Harry Potter world and has parts that are crucial to Deathly Hallows, and also I’m prejudiced to the books cos they’re just THAT amazing as many of you probably know. The movie in relation to the book was terrible. I mean what the f*** was with Ginny and Harry kissing in the Room of Requirement, Harry is meant to go up there to hide the book HIMSELF and he just so happens to put Ravenclaw’s diadem in front of it so he can go back and get the book later, but nooo. Ginny has to hide it. When I first saw this I got so confused – how was Harry going to know where to look for it now? – I’m just glad they fixed that part up in the movie decently.

Dumbledore’s death. Oh. My. God. It’s sad in the movie yes. But tasteful? No. From memory, his death and funeral goes on for about 3 chapters in the book, he actually gets a funeral, at that funeral the merpeople sing underwater in memory of him, the whole school is incredibly upset and Fawkes sings his haunting and beautiful song. Another bone to pick witht he movie is that Harry would NEVER stand there and watch Dumbledore die. In the book, he is under the invisibility cloak and is unable to move as Dumbledore put a spell on him to prevent him moving (cos he planned his death). But Harry just stands there. I’m sorry but no. Harry would not stand there and watch his father figure be ‘murdered’, Harry would have gone off his nutter in front of all the death eaters or would have at least screamed at Dumbledore to move.
 
Rant over. But this will most likely be updated when I reread the books :)

Quotes I love

There are more I like but these are a few of my favourites, from Harry Potter in particular just because they’re hilarious!

“The fates have informed me that your examination in June will concern the Orb, and I am anxious to give you sufficient practice.” Hermione snorted. “Well honestly… ‘the fates have informed her’… Who sets the exam? She does!” – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

“Sure you can manage that broom, Potter?” said a cold, drawling voice. Draco Malfoy had arrived for a closer look, Crabbe and Goyle right behind him. “Yeah, reckon so,” said Harry casually. “Got plenty of special features, hasn’t it?” said Malfoy, eyes glittering maliciously. “Shame it doesn’t come with a parachute – in case you get too near a Dementor.” Crabbe and Goyle sniggered. “Pity you can’t attach an extra arm to yours, Malfoy,” said Harry. “Then it could catch the Snitch for you.” – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

“What’s that?” he snarled, staring at the envelope Harry was still clutching in his hand. “If it’s another form for me to sign, you’ve got another -” “It’s not,” said Harry cheerfully. “It’s a letter from my godfather.” “Godfather?” sputtered Uncle Vernon. “You haven’t got a godfather!” “Yes, I have,” said Harry brightly. “He was my mum and dad’s best friend. He’s a convicted murderer, but he’s broken out of wizard prison and he’s on the run. He likes to keep in touch with me, though…keep up with my news…check if I’m happy….” – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

“Who’s Kreacher?” “The house-elf who lives here,” said Ron. “Nutter. Never met one like him.” “He is not a nutter,” said Hermione. “His life’s ambition is to have his head cut off and stuck up on a plaque like his mother”, said Ron. “Is that normal, Hermione? – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

“Is it true that you shouted at Professor Umbridge?” “Yes.” “You called her a liar?” “Yes.” “You told her He Who Must Not Be Named is back?” “Yes.” “Have a biscuit, Potter.” – Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

“You’re a prefect? Oh Ronnie! That’s everyone in the family!” “What are Fred and I? Next door neighbors?” – Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

“Yeah, Quirrell was a great teacher. There was just that minor drawback of him having Lord Voldemort sticking out of the back of his head!” – Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

“Harry, don’t go picking a row with Malfoy, don’t forget, he’s a prefect now, he could make life difficult for you…” “Wow, I wonder what it’d be like to have a difficult life?” said Harry sarcastically.” – Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

“Okay. Ground rules,” I said, and locked gazes with Eli. “I pee alone and I shower alone. Some things need to remain a mystery, and those are two I firmly believe in.” – Afterligh

“Mortals have always exaggerated the difference between hate and love.  Both come from the heart.  You can never hate strongly unless you have loved strongly.” – The Last Vampire

“Lish tried to swear–which is always funny, because the computer won’t translate it. It went something like this: “Bleep stupid bleep bleep faeries and their bleep bleep bleep obsessions. He had better stop bleep bleep bleep the bleep bleep rules or I will bleep bleep bleep the little bleeeeeeeeeeep.” – Paranormalcy

“Yes, I have a driver’s license.”

I leaned back against the wall, sighing. “Man, that must be so cool.”
“It ranks right up there with lockers. In fact, sometimes I put my license inside my locker, and it’s so cool I worry that the whole thing might explode with the sheer coolness of it all.” – Paranormalcy

“I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.” – Audrey Hepburn

“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.”  – Marilyn Monroe

E-Readers vs. Paperbacks?

E-books and e-readers is apparently the way of reading today. I know a few people who have one, my stepmum and my aunty are examples and whilst they love reading on their e-reader or iPad, they still read paperbacks and have their favourites in hardback or paperback but I haven’t been able to figure out what the big deal with e-books are so I’ve decided to do a rant about it! (Naturally).

Okay, so from what I’ve heard, e-books and using an e-reader of some sort basically gives you the benefit of buying books for less (Classics are free and newer ones start from around $9) which is always a bonus as if you don’t have a library membership because you’re constantly moving around (like me), you have to buy books and this can tend to get a bit expensive especially if the book you bought won’t be read again. Another benefit I’ve gathered of having an e-reader is space. Obviously because you don’t have books taking up room in your bookshelf (kind of ironic?) you have space for other things apart from books, I can definitely see the advantage of this as moving into a new house with boxes full of paperback/hardback books is difficult! Also, I love reading on public transport and it can get a bit difficult to fit a book (especially if it’s a nice big one like Order of the Phoenix or The Passage) into a handbag which doubles as storage for uni books.

The thing that has prevented me from reading e-books so far is the fact I don’t have an e-reader so using my laptop, I can’t curl up in bed or on the couch reading a book, you don’t get the satisfaction of “OMG 100 pages to go!” and plus reading on a laptop is frustrating no matter how good the book is. I love gazing at the cover of a book, l love bookmarks, I love simply turning the page, I love how the spine bends and crinkles from use and I love the fact you can easily go back a few pages if you want to clarify or check something (which I tend to do a bit).

Anyway, I’m getting an e-reader from my stepmum and dad :) and so I just thought I’d have a good think about what I’ll miss about a paperback book and what I won’t get reading with an e-reader. Although if I really love a book I'll buy it and make my bookshelf look pretty.

What are your thoughts on it? Do you prefers E-readers or paperbacks?