Sunday, January 25, 2015

We Are Moving!

Heyyyyy!

Ellie and I have decided to start completely over for the third time, but on Wordpress. As I am making this post, she is currently editing, customising, designing our new blog which we are very excited about!

Our new blog address is:



Happy reading

-C E L I N E

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Will Grayson, Will Grayson - John Green & Davud Levithan.

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Title: Will Grayson, Will Grayson.
Author: John Green & David Levithan.
Format: Hardcover.
Release Date: April 6th 2010
Genre: YA, Fiction, Romance, Contemporary.
Stars out of ten: ☆☆☆☆☆☆








 
 
One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two teens—both named Will Grayson—are about to cross paths. As their worlds collide and intertwine, the Will Graysons find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, building toward romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history’s most fabulous high school musical.
 
 
 
 
This book is written by John Green and David Levithan (if you haven't already guessed) and is through the perspective of two different teenage boys both named Will Grayson.
 
The things I liked about this book:
 
  • The contrast between the two Will Grayson's 
description
 
John Green's Will Grayson is very lovable, kind and just wants to pass through his high school life as any normal teenager would, whereas David Levithan's Will Grayson is very depressed and has hardly any friends. I really enjoyed learning about the two very different people. I loved the character development of the two characters, making this book a little more interesting.

  • The humour
The usual John Green humour was incorporated into this book.
This made the book a whole lot more bearable and interesting. I remember sitting in a cover lesson for religious studies, sneakily hiding my book under my textbook and actually laughing, gaining many odd looks from fellow students.


“I feel like my life is so scattered right now. Like it's all the small pieces of paper and someone's turned on the fan. But, talking to you makes me feel like the fan's been turned off for a little bit. Like things could actually make sense. You completely unscatter me, and I appreciate that so much.”

 
  • The cruel twist halfway through the book
 I really didn't see the twist in the plot when it came to David Levithan's Will, and although it broke my heart, it did add some surprise to the storyline.
 
Will 2 (David Levithan's Will) arranged to meet an online crush he had been talking to for some months named Isaac. Isaac was the only thing holding hope and happiness in Will's life, but when he goes to meet him he find out Isaac wasn't real, he was made up by his 'friend' Maura.
The cruelty necessary do that to someone else - the complete and utter lack of empathy with which Maura told him really gave me some of strongest feelings I got from the book, a sad fact since I liked Will 2 a lot less in general.
 
“i have a friend request from some stranger on facebook and i delete it without looking at the profile because that doesn't seem natural. 'cause friendship should not be as easy as that. it's like people believe all you need to do is like the same bands in order to be soulmates. or books. omg... U like the outsiders 2... it's like we're the same person! no we're not. it's like we have the same english teacher. there's a difference.”  

 
 
 
 The things I didn't like about this book;
 
  • Tiny Cooper
Tiny Copper was one of the main characters and although he did play a very important part in the storyline, I didn't find myself liking Tiny Cooper at all. He was very quirky, outgoing, obnoxious? I just didn't like how Tiny was described and I didn't find myself loving Tiny as much as I would've liked to.

“I've never known before what it feels like to want someone - not to want to hook up with them or whatever, but to want them, to want them. And now I do. So maybe I do believe in epiphanies.”  


  • The relationships
This doesn't account for all of the relationships between the characters, I loved the friendship between Tiny and Will 1. But the relationship between Will 2 and Tiny was very flawed. I just couldn't imagine these two very different people being together, the writing didn't help to convince me it just made me realise how different they were.

  • The general plot
Looking back on reading this book there was not really any plot, it was just about two boys who were very different but with the same name, meeting in 'Frenchy's'. They then go on with their lives both falling in love. I just felt it lacked the depth that 9I had expected from these two authors.



 

This review does seem very pessimistic, however I did think this book was hilarious and a very enjoyable read. Although it did have some flaws, I think it all depends on your perspective.


My blog is better than your vlog
-Ellie
(P.s : School was hectic, but now it is Christmas holidays. So I apologise on Celine and I's behalf.)


 
 
 
 
 



Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Black Ice - Becca Fitzpatrick


Black Ice






Title: Black Ice
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Format: Hardback
Release Date: October 7th 2014
Genre: YA, Mystery, Romance, Thriller, Suspense.
Stars out of ten: ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆





Sometimes danger is hard to see... until it’s too late. 

Britt Pfeiffer has trained to backpack the Teton Range, but she isn't prepared when her ex-boyfriend, who still haunts her every thought, wants to join her. Before Britt can explore her feelings for Calvin, an unexpected blizzard forces her to seek shelter in a remote cabin, accepting the hospitality of its two very handsome occupants—but these men are fugitives, and they take her hostage. 

In exchange for her life, Britt agrees to guide the men off the mountain. As they set off, Britt knows she must stay alive long enough for Calvin to find her. The task is made even more complicated when Britt finds chilling evidence of a series of murders that have taken place there... and in uncovering this, she may become the killer’s next target. 

But nothing is as it seems in the mountains, and everyone is keeping secrets, including Mason, one of her kidnappers. His kindness is confusing Britt. Is he an enemy? Or an ally? 



Black Ice is the first stand-alone novel that Becca Fitzpatrick has written for young adults and after her very popular series, Hush Hush the expectations for Black Ice were very high. 

I was very excited about this release and when I was shopping in Waterstones I couldn't resist indulging in this book, so I bought the hardback. 

(I'm going to put the things I liked and didn't like into lists, for reasons I cannot fully comprehend lists are just better.)

The things I liked about this book:
  • The Character development.
At the beginning of this book the protagonist, Britt is very dependent on the men in her life, (her father, brother and ex-boyfriend) they have babied her through situations that she should of been able to get herself out of. She is't completely dependent on them, she is projected as an independent, strong minded female she just hadn't had a chance to put that into practise. 
When she gets stuck on the mountain you start to see her dependence on other people ebbing away, and she becomes a stronger protagonist. 
If I had to put my thoughts on this in a sentence it would be :I loved reading about this development. 
  • The Atmosphere 
The way Becca described the setting and how we were literally reading it through Britt's eyes was kind of frightening because if I was in their situation I dont know what I would have done!

  • The Plot
Many people are saying that the plot was predictable, but as I was reading this book I didn't think "Oh, I know what's going to happen here" I always thought the plot was thrilling and mysterious. I enjoyed the scenes and the not knowing what was going to happen next. 

  • The Romance
I loved the romance, the way Jude/Mason and Britt became closer and how they cared for one another. It was just so swoon worthy. 

The things I didn't like:
  • Korbie
Korbie was Britt's best friend, but I absolutely hated her for many reasons.
  1. Prior to the mountain incidents Korbie made a list comparing her and Britt. If I had a friend that did that, I would assume we weren't friends... I mean what?!?!
  2. When the car got jammed she just kept moaning about how rubbish Britt's car was, like GO AND HELP 
  3. When they arrived at the Cabin where they met Shuan and Mason. Korbie dibs-ed Shaun, even though she has a boyfriend and that just aggravated me so much!
  4. When Britt got reunited with Korbie, Korbie moaned about how little food she got left when she was left in the cabin, but Britt had just hiked god knows how many miles with the sam e amount of food. 
In a nutshell she was a rubbish friend. 

Dive into this book not knowing anything about it. A roller coaster if twists and turns, you will be on the edge of your seat. 
 
My blog is better than your vlog
-Ellie




Tuesday, October 28, 2014

All the Truth That's in Me - Julie Berry

“There is a curious comfort in letting go. After the agony, letting go brings numbness, and after the numbness, clarity. As if I can see the world for the first time, and my place in it, independent of you, a whole vista of what may be. Even if it is not grand or inspiring, it is real and solid, unlike the fantasy I've built around you. I will do this. I will triumph over you.”

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Title: All the Truth That's in Me
Author: Julie Berry
Genres: YA, mystery
Rate: ☆☆☆



Four years ago, Judith and her best friend disappeared from their small town of Roswell Station. Two years ago, only Judith returned, permanently mutilated, reviled and ignored by those who were once her friends and family. Unable to speak, Judith lives like a ghost in her own home, silently pouring out her thoughts to the boy who’s owned her heart as long as she can remember—even if he doesn’t know it—her childhood friend, Lucas. But when Roswell Station is attacked, long-buried secrets come to light, and Judith is forced to choose: continue to live in silence, or recover her voice, even if it means changing her world, and the lives around her, forever. This startlingly original novel will shock and disturb you; it will fill you with Judith’s passion and longing; and its mysteries will keep you feverishly turning the pages until the very last.


First I would like to point out that it has taken a whole month and twelve days to finish this book. I went from reading an average of, say, five books per week to one every month. WHAT HAS HAPPENED?! Well there are two possibilities: 1) I didn't have any time to read because school school school, or 2) this book wasn't great. I would be leaning more against option 1.

This book was the first book I've read that had 2nd person narrative. You read the story through Judith's point of view but as if she is telling the story to the boy she (uck) loves - Lucas. It was peculiar and sometimes I had to stop and think about who she was referring to 'you' as. It was also written very...fluently. I didn't notice it so much when I was reading in my head but when my sister asked me to read out loud otherwise she'd take my book away, I really noticed it, the narration was so poet-like. 

It was very misleading. On purpose. Judith and Lottie went missing, only Judith returned. What happened to her? The author drops a huge, huge, obvious hint on what happened to Judith and I was staring at the book hoping that it was a joke because it was too obvious and too cliché. The author's motive was see through. Make the readers believe this happened when actually that happened. This was a big problem for me as I just can't stand obviousity and predictability.

What I enjoyed were how Judith dealt with the struggles that she had to face when returning home. Her mother has practically disowned her, treating her coldly; she finds out about her father's death; the town think of her as whore because they've presumed she's lost her maidenhood; Lucas is set to be married to the lovely Maria. Step by step she learns how to deal with her troubles though very quietly and passively. Its sad, yes, she gets treated as if she is noone and nothing but she's strong and never succumbs.
All the Truth That's in Me was a powerful and moving book. Though very slow paced throughout, the last part was the most gripping and frankly, the best as the truth is finally revealed.

-C E L I N E


Top Ten Tuesday - Most Dislikable Characters




Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

I didn't do TTT (oops) the week after last so I now have to do two now, hurray.




10. Tori: Slated - Never liked her.

9. Lena: Delirium - I haven't read the other books but she Lena was no fun.

8. Natalie: The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove - I liked all the other characters a lot more.

7. Primrose Everdeen: do i even need to state where from - She was so good all the time 
mehmehmeh wanting to help others but so WEAK and needy.

6. AbbyAbernathy: Beautiful Disaster - She was this one minute then that the other, Travis was even worse but ughh.

5. Jude: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer: (contr. of Ellie) Total whackooooo. 

4. Nick Manter: Fangirl - Can we talk about what a total dick he was?

3. Jacob Black: Twilight - He was unwanted but did not get the message and then he fell in love with a five hour old baby.

2. Joffrey Baratheon: Game of Thrones - Does it count if I haven't read the books but seen the TV show? He was such a sadistic bastard (literally) who I wanted to step on whilst riding an elephant from season whatever-we-first-saw-him-in-and-when-he-was-about-to-hurt-Arya-but-got-beaten-by-her-wolf-lol.

1. Belly: Summer trilogy - Jesus F. I wanted to hit her round the head, give her a black eye, choke her by the neck, punch her liver, kick her knees and accidentally kick her shins while I go to score an amazing football goal.

-C E L I N E

Thursday, October 23, 2014

October New Releases

Hi Guys! Ellie here...You may be very confused because I totally forgot about October New releases, in fact at the beginning of October I didn't even register that it was a new month, but now I am fully aware (you will be pleased to know) and here is your belated New Releases for October!


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THE YOUNG ELITES

I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all. 

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen. 

Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.

Knowing Marie Lu she would never disappoint and with a blurb shadowing her previous trilogy, I am very excited to read reviews on this book and to indulge in a new world that Lu has created. 


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BLACK ICE

Sometimes danger is hard to see... until it’s too late. 

Britt Pfeiffer has trained to backpack the Teton Range, but she isn't prepared when her ex-boyfriend, who still haunts her every thought, wants to join her. Before Britt can explore her feelings for Calvin, an unexpected blizzard forces her to seek shelter in a remote cabin, accepting the hospitality of its two very handsome occupants—but these men are fugitives, and they take her hostage. 

In exchange for her life, Britt agrees to guide the men off the mountain. As they set off, Britt knows she must stay alive long enough for Calvin to find her. The task is made even more complicated when Britt finds chilling evidence of a series of murders that have taken place there... and in uncovering this, she may become the killer’s next target. 

But nothing is as it seems in the mountains, and everyone is keeping secrets, including Mason, one of her kidnappers. His kindness is confusing Britt. Is he an enemy? Or an ally? 
**SCREAMS** Finally another Becca Fitzpatrick book! I am so excited to read this and swoon (again..) over how Becca creates her world and her characters.

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           TRUST ME I'M LYING

Julep Dupree tells lies. A lot of them. She’s a con artist, a master of disguise, and a sophomore at Chicago’s swanky St. Agatha High, where her father, an old-school grifter with a weakness for the ponies, sends her to so she can learn to mingle with the upper crust. For extra spending money Julep doesn’t rely on her dad—she runs petty scams for her classmates while dodging the dean of students and maintaining an A+ (okay, A-) average.

But when she comes home one day to a ransacked apartment and her father gone, Julep’s carefully laid plans for an expenses-paid golden ticket to Yale start to unravel. Even with help from St. Agatha’s resident Prince Charming, Tyler Richland, and her loyal hacker sidekick, Sam, Julep struggles to trace her dad’s trail of clues through a maze of creepy stalkers, hit attempts, family secrets, and worse, the threat of foster care. With everything she has at stake, Julep’s in way over her head . . . but that’s not going to stop her from using every trick in the book to find her dad before his mark finds her. Because that would be criminal.

So when I originally read the blurb for this book I thought it was strangely alike Heist Society by Ally Carter, but as it progressed it seemed more and more different. This book seems strangely edgy and mysterious. 

17331828 TALON

Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.

Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.

Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons.
I am not usually a Dragon Fan but if you want to try something new this is the book to buy! It will be full of fighting scenes and will be adventurous! 


I hoped you enjoyed this update, there will be many more to come now that we are on half term (oh the joy!)

My blog is better than your vlog
-Ellie


Sunday, October 19, 2014

Love Letters to the Dead - Ava Dellaira

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Title: Love Letters to the Dead
Author: Ava Dellaira
Format: Paperback
Release Date: April 1st 2014
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance, Fiction
Stars out of ten: ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆





Laurel chooses Kurt Cobain because her sister, May, loved him. And he died young, just like May. Soon, Laurel has a notebook full of letters to the dead—to people like Janis Joplin, Heath Ledger, Amelia Earhart, and Amy Winehouse—though she never gives a single one of them to her teacher. She writes about starting high school, navigating the choppy waters of new friendships, learning to live with her splintering family, falling in love for the first time, and, most important, trying to grieve for May. But how do you mourn for someone you haven't forgiven?

It's not until Laurel has written the truth about what happened to herself that she can finally accept what happened to May. And only when Laurel has begun to see her sister as the person she was—lovely and amazing and deeply flawed—can she truly start to discover her own path.

In a voice that's as lyrical and as true as a favourite song, Ava Dellaira writes about one girl's journey through life's challenges with a haunting and often heartbreaking beauty.

I wasn't expecting this book to blow me away or to have such an impact as it did on me. Dellaira really knows how to write and how to deliver the message of her story to her readers. At the beginning of this book everything is rather vague, it doesn't tell you how Laurel's sister, May died but the story keeps flitting from the past to the present, I think this was the reason that this book got nine stars instead of ten, as a reader I wanted the story to stay at a certain pace but the storyline kept slowing down as we delved back into the past, however the story wouldn't have made such an impact without it because May wouldn't have been such a strong character if Dellaira hadn't written it in this way. 

“Sometimes when we say things, we hear silence. Or only echoes. Like screaming from inside. And that’s really lonely. But that only happens when we weren’t really listening. It means we weren’t ready to listen yet. Because every time we speak, there is a voice. There is the world that answers back.

I loved the scenes that Dellaira created, like when we read about May taking Laurel out with her older friends and they play a dangerous game where they lay in the middle of the road blindfolded waiting for a car to come, once the car gets close you jump up and run off. Its basic things like this that makes a contrast between some of the sad scenes in this book and the exhilarating ones.

This book is generally very dark, and does explore some very rough topics, dealing with death, harassment and potential suicide. I didn't expect this from this book and it was a pleasant surprise, seeing as I love dark storylines. Another good thing about this book was the people that Laurel wrote to were all really interesting and all made a great impression on Laurel. People like; Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse, Heath Ledger, Amelia Earheart and others. She explores their childhood's and why they all died young, perhaps why they impacted her life so greatfully. 
“You can be noble and brave and beautiful and still find yourself falling.” 

My favourite letter she wrote was one to Kurt Cobain. Laurel was so angry because he had committed suicide, she explains about how in his suicide note he says that he doesn't want his daughter, Frances to become how he was and how he wanted her to stay innocent, Laurel writes that by killing himself he is taking all innocence out of her life and her father killing himself will be a burden for the rest of her life. She then rips down the Kurt Cobain poster from above May's bed and cries. 

“the ghosts in the house are ours, and I just want to be with them.” 

Lets talk about Sky. Sky is the main love interest in this book, he is mysterious and inciting. There was something about Sky that made me love him just as much as Laurel did. He was a person of few words but he also seemed so thoughtful. There are few major obstacles that they have to overcome, one example of this would be how he knew May before she had died, another would be how she would never tell him what she was feeling or thinking. The development in their relationship is huge and you find yourself realising that you don't need that many scenes with Laurel and Sky to realise how much they love and care for each other unlike in some books where the relationships feel strained. 

“I know I wrote letters to people with no address on this earth, I know that you are dead. But I hear you. I hear all of you. We were here. Our lives matter.” 


This book has made it into my favourite books list. It is a book of feelings; anger, sorrow, rage, love, appreciation. 

Check out Ava Dellaira's website:)


My blog is better than your vlog
-Ellie