Hey there!
Hope you're all having a fabulous day. I came across this tag on My Little Book Blog and thought it sounded lovely and a great way to get some conversations going.
So, without further ado, here is the Fifty Bookish Questions Tag!
1. What was the last book you read?
A Court of Thorns and Roses, by Sarah J. Maas!
2. Was it a good one?
I did really enjoy it, and I adore Sarah's writing style! I did have a few issues though, which you can read about if you're interested in my review.
3. What made it good?
Like I said, I really enjoy Sarah J. Maas' writing style, it flows so well and her descriptions are so vivid. I loved the storyline and the world-building was so interesting, I can't wait to find out more about it as the series progresses.
4. Would you recommend it to other people?
For sure! Especially if you loved Throne of Glass, and if you enjoy young adult fantasy.
5. How often do you read?
Every single day, without fail! I always read before going to sleep, and often while I'm eating breakfast, or waiting for lectures to start at uni.
6. Do you like to read?
Need I even answer this one!
7. What was the last bad book you read?
I don't like to say that a book is bad, as it's all dependent on personal preference. And, to be honest, I haven't really read many books that I've been disappointed in recently! Woo!!
8. What made you dislike it?
Refer to above.
9. Do you wish to be a writer?
Yes yes yes!! It's been my dream since I was little to be an author, and I'm currently writing a novel. I've started loads of novels before but was never really set on the ideas I was having. I think I was forcing myself to come up with ideas too much, but this one came to me as I was falling asleep one night and I'm super duper excited about it! It's a young adult historical fiction/fantasy (a mouthful, I know!) and I'm in the process of planning and writing a first draft.
10. Has any book ever influenced you greatly?
Of course! There are many books that have influenced me, but the most significant for sure is Harry Potter. I feel like my personality definitely reflects a mixture between Ron and Hermione, and whenever I had to make a decision growing up I would always think what would Harry, Ron and Hermione do? As with loads of people, Hermione made me feel like it was okay to love books at school, and not worry if other people thought it was weird!
11. Do you read fan fiction?
I used to read it a bit, but I've never really gotten super into it. I think it's incredible the wonderful work that fans create based on what they love though!
12. Do you write fan fiction?
Nope, it seems loads of fun though!
13. What is your favourite book?
Aaaah this is such a difficult question, as I have loads! Of course the entire Harry Potter series is an automatic number one, but after that at the moment I think I'd have to say Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys. It absolutely amazed me, and I have not stopped thinking about it since I read an ARC copy a couple of months ago. You know that feeling when you just connect with a book and it absolutely speaks to your soul? That was Salt to the Sea.
14. What is your least favourite book?
I don't think I really have one, but one that I don't necessarily dislike but am extremely disturbed by is Animal Farm by George Orwell. Of course, I appreciate it so so much in regards to the social message it encompasses and I think it's an absolute piece of art. It's also funny, as Nineteen Eighty-Four is one of my favourite books EVER, but for some reason I find Animal Farm very difficult to read.
15. Do you prefer physical books or reading on a device?
Without a doubt, physical books!! I am getting a kindle soon for when I study abroad next year, and understand that they are super handy.
16. When did you learn to read?
I'm honestly not sure. I do know that I started reading very young, compared to my classmates. Before I could even read I would sit with novels pretending, turning the pages for hours apparently and just looking at the words! Books are for sure a part of me.
17. What is your favourite book you had to read in school?
Nineteen Eighty-Four! I'd already read it twice before we had to study it in English, and was soooo excited!!
18. What is your favourite book series?
Harry Potter, duh! A lot of my favourite books are series, though. Some others include The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices, Throne of Glass, His Dark Materials, Rondo, and the Stravaganza series.
19. Who is your favourite author?
Again, I have loads! A few of the top one are J. K Rowling, Ruta Sepetys, Alexandra Bracken, Cassandra Clare, John Green and Diana Gabaldon.
20. What is your favourite genre?
Definitely YA, and in that genre mainly fantasy and historical fiction. I used to mainly read contemporary but have been branching out from that much more lately.
21. Who is your favourite character in a book series?
Ron is my favourite character in Harry Potter! I also love Alec from The Mortal Instruments, and Liam from The Darkest Minds trilogy.
22. Has a book ever transported you somewhere else?
Every book I've ever read!
23. Which book do you wish had a sequel?
I feel like most stand alones are written so that they don't require sequels, and are wrapped up really well. However, just out of interest, I would love to know what happens to the characters in The Fault in Our Stars!
24. Which book do you wish didn't have a sequel?
Twilight. I adored the first book but really didn't enjoy the rest.
25. How long does it take you to read a book?
It really depends on if I'm really busy with uni and life at the time, and how much I'm enjoying the book. A lot of the time it can only take me two or three days, but of course really big books also take me longer, so around a week for those.
26. Do you like when books become movies?
Yes!! I get attached to books and characters super easily, and when I love them it doesn't bother me too much if the movie based on them isn't great. I just love seeing what is done with it in that different creative form. Like with Shadowhunters, it isn't a great TV shows, but I adore the series and characters so much that I'll be watching and loving every episode!
27. Which book was ruined by it's movie adaptation?
None! Books and movies are completely different so should be considered as separate entities and not affect one another.
28. Which movie has done a book justice?
I adore The Fault in Our Stars film, I think it was done exquisitely!
29. Do you read newspapers?
Not really, I tend to watch the news more or read it online.
30. Do you read magazine?
Yep! I love Frankie magazine, my mum got me a subscription for it for Christmas, wooo!!
31. Do you prefer newspapers or magazines?
Magazines! More pretty photography and creativity involved.
32. Do you read while in bed?
YES.
33. Do you read while on the toilet?
Hahaha I love this question, but no I don't!
34. Do you read while in the car?
It makes me feel super sick reading in cars on or trains but I still try! It's weird, some days it doesn't make me feel as sick. I do a lot of travelling backwards and forwards from home to college so I always try to read then.
35. Do you read while in the bath?
Yep! I'm perpetually scared of dropping my book in the bath, but I find it so relaxing.
36. Are you a fast reader?
Yep, especially when I'm loving the book.
37. Are you a slow reader?
See above haha!
38. Where is your favourite place to read?
I made a whole post about this not longer ago, here!
39. Is it hard for you to concentrate while you read?
Nope! With everything else I'm a pretty distracted person, always daydreaming. But when I'm reading I'm completely disconnected from everything around me, so could be in a room full of talking people and not have a problem immersing myself in my book.
40. Do you need a room to be silent while you read?
Like I said above, nope. I don't play my own music or anything while I read, so if I'm alone in my room it'll be silent when I'm reading. But if I'm waiting for a lecture to start or something and the room's loud, it doesn't bother me.
41. Who gave you your love for reading?
I think it's pretty intrinsic, as I've just always been a reader. However, my mum used to be quite a big reader, and my step dad still loves to read, so that definitely rubbed off on me!
42. What book is next on your list to read?
Cinder by Marissa Meyer! I need to pick up a copy from my library, but cannot wait to finally read it.
43. When did you start to read chapter books?
I reckon I must've been in about Grade 2, so I would have been 7ish.
44. Who is your favourite children's book author?
The classic, Roald Dahl! An absolute genius, I also adore Enid Blyton.
45. Which author would you most want to interview?
My number one dream is to meet J K Rowling!!
46. Which author do you think you'd be friends with?
Definitely John Green, he's amazing! Also Alexandra Bracken!!
47. What book have you reread the most?
I reread books a lot, so there's quite a list. The Harry Potter series is at the top of course (I've read them about 13 times!). Also The Fault in Our Start, Nineteen Eighty-Four, North Child, City of Masks, Magyk, Series of Unfortunate Events, Reckless, Shiver, to name a few!!
48. Which books do you consider "classics"?
I guess the first things I think of when I hear classics are Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, F Scott Fitzgerald, the Brontes, all the well known ones! It's hard to define though, I guess books that can speak to people despite their age or time.
49. Which books do you think should be taught in every school?
I know a lot of people don't enjoy studying them, but I love The Great Gatsby and Nineteen Eighty-Four. I also think Salt to the Sea would be an incredible book to be studied at school. Oh, and The Book Thief!
50. Which books should be banned from all schools?
None!! Students should be exposed to all perspectives so as to learn to be critical readers! Of course it depends on the student's ages, like Fifty Shades of Grey shouldn't be at a primary school, but you get what I mean!!
I hope you enjoyed this tag, it was so much fun, and if you haven't done it I tag YOU. Let me know in the comments what book you think should be taught at every school, and who is your favourite author?
Love always,
Ari
Wednesday, 30 March 2016
Monday, 28 March 2016
Happy Easter, And Some Of My Favourite TV Shows!
Hi all!
Whether you celebrate it or not, I hope you've had a wonderful Easter weekend!
I've come home from college for my midsemester break, which is one week long, and it's so nice and relaxing to be home! I'm so excited to be able to just cuddle up with my dogs (I have two adorable toy poodles!) and read my book or watch TV shows with my mum.
I know this is primarily a book blog, but being in the holiday mood I've been thinking about some of my favourite TV shows, and thought I'd share them with you!!
So, in no particular order, here they are:
Reign
As most of my favourite shows are, Reign is a perfect one for historical fiction lovers! It's based loosely on the story of Mary, Queen of Scots while she is in France, engaged to and eventually married to King Francis II. It's super dramatic, with a sort of Gossip Girl like vibe, which I actually adore! Who doesn't love a bit of historical fiction mixed with drama, right!! The acting in this is great, and while it's totally historically inaccurate, the storyline is super fun and exciting and I absolutely adore it.
Shadowhunters
I've written a full discussion on my thoughts on Shadowhunters, and while I do have quite a few issues with it, I'm still really enjoying it. Because I am such a loyal fan of the books, I will be watching however many seasons they release. Sure, the acting and script writing isn't great but it's still super fun!! Also, Matthew Daddario. Need I say more.
Outlander
I'm sure I don't need to explain this one, if you've read my blog before you'll know that I'm absolutely obsessed with Outlander. I also have a discussion of the show and book if you're interested on more detailed thoughts. Outlander is based on a woman named Clare, who is on a second honeymoon with her husband in the Scottish highlands after WWII, when she is transported back in time to the 1700s! So incredible, if you haven't read the book, please please do and check out the show, they are both absolutely amazing!!
Downton Abbey
I've adore Downton Abbey since it first came out. Again, being a history nerd and lover of anything UK, I find it so relaxing and heartwarming sitting down to watch Downton Abbey. If you haven't seen it before, it follows an upper class family in England from around WWI as the country begins to become modernized, and the whole idea of aristocracy is dying out. Again, super dramatic, with amazing characters and acting and I just love it.
Escape to the Country/Continent
Finally, Escape to the Country is mine and my mum's favourite thing to watch together when I come home for holidays. There is nothing better than lying on my couch with mum and the dogs, a cup of tea in hand and checking out all the houses!
Let me know in the comments if you did anything exciting on the long weekend. Also, tell me if you like any of these shows, or what your all-time favourite shows are!
Love always,
Ari
Whether you celebrate it or not, I hope you've had a wonderful Easter weekend!
I've come home from college for my midsemester break, which is one week long, and it's so nice and relaxing to be home! I'm so excited to be able to just cuddle up with my dogs (I have two adorable toy poodles!) and read my book or watch TV shows with my mum.
I know this is primarily a book blog, but being in the holiday mood I've been thinking about some of my favourite TV shows, and thought I'd share them with you!!
So, in no particular order, here they are:
Reign
As most of my favourite shows are, Reign is a perfect one for historical fiction lovers! It's based loosely on the story of Mary, Queen of Scots while she is in France, engaged to and eventually married to King Francis II. It's super dramatic, with a sort of Gossip Girl like vibe, which I actually adore! Who doesn't love a bit of historical fiction mixed with drama, right!! The acting in this is great, and while it's totally historically inaccurate, the storyline is super fun and exciting and I absolutely adore it.
Shadowhunters
I've written a full discussion on my thoughts on Shadowhunters, and while I do have quite a few issues with it, I'm still really enjoying it. Because I am such a loyal fan of the books, I will be watching however many seasons they release. Sure, the acting and script writing isn't great but it's still super fun!! Also, Matthew Daddario. Need I say more.
Outlander
I'm sure I don't need to explain this one, if you've read my blog before you'll know that I'm absolutely obsessed with Outlander. I also have a discussion of the show and book if you're interested on more detailed thoughts. Outlander is based on a woman named Clare, who is on a second honeymoon with her husband in the Scottish highlands after WWII, when she is transported back in time to the 1700s! So incredible, if you haven't read the book, please please do and check out the show, they are both absolutely amazing!!
Downton Abbey
I've adore Downton Abbey since it first came out. Again, being a history nerd and lover of anything UK, I find it so relaxing and heartwarming sitting down to watch Downton Abbey. If you haven't seen it before, it follows an upper class family in England from around WWI as the country begins to become modernized, and the whole idea of aristocracy is dying out. Again, super dramatic, with amazing characters and acting and I just love it.
Escape to the Country/Continent
Finally, Escape to the Country is mine and my mum's favourite thing to watch together when I come home for holidays. There is nothing better than lying on my couch with mum and the dogs, a cup of tea in hand and checking out all the houses!
Let me know in the comments if you did anything exciting on the long weekend. Also, tell me if you like any of these shows, or what your all-time favourite shows are!
Love always,
Ari
Friday, 25 March 2016
Prince of Fire by Megan Linski Cover Reveal!
Hi!!
Today I have a super exciting cover reveal for Prince of Fire by Megan Linski, the fourth novel in her Kingdom Saga!
Here is a bit of an overview of the book:
Today I have a super exciting cover reveal for Prince of Fire by Megan Linski, the fourth novel in her Kingdom Saga!
Here is a bit of an overview of the book:
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: April 1st 2016
Summary from Goodreads:
Thief lord. Wanted criminal. College student.
Zayde Amirmoez is in his last year of college at Ashana University, and he couldn’t be more eager to leave. A talented thief, Zayde makes a living by robbing jewelry stores in order to care for his ailing mother, who grows sicker each passing day.
Then the dreams begin. Zayde’s nightmares echo memories of a land from another time, visions of a mysterious princess who lived two thousand years ago. At the insistence of his annoying history professor, Zayde becomes friends with the beautiful freshman who loves to dance…the girl who looks exactly like the princess in his dreams.
As a dangerous new Dean and his spiteful son take the helm at Ashana University, Zayde learns of the legends of Queen Bennua, which are eerily similar to his nightmares. Could Zayde’s dreams be a coincidence? Or is it possible that Bennua and Zahid have returned, to save Sahrahn once more?
Zayde Amirmoez is in his last year of college at Ashana University, and he couldn’t be more eager to leave. A talented thief, Zayde makes a living by robbing jewelry stores in order to care for his ailing mother, who grows sicker each passing day.
Then the dreams begin. Zayde’s nightmares echo memories of a land from another time, visions of a mysterious princess who lived two thousand years ago. At the insistence of his annoying history professor, Zayde becomes friends with the beautiful freshman who loves to dance…the girl who looks exactly like the princess in his dreams.
As a dangerous new Dean and his spiteful son take the helm at Ashana University, Zayde learns of the legends of Queen Bennua, which are eerily similar to his nightmares. Could Zayde’s dreams be a coincidence? Or is it possible that Bennua and Zahid have returned, to save Sahrahn once more?
Aaaand, the beautiful cover:
Previous novels in The Kingdom Saga:
About the Author
Megan Linski is the owner of Gryfyn Publishing
and has had a passion for writing ever since she completed her first (short)
novel at the age of 6. Her specializations are romance, fantasy, and
contemporary fiction for people aged 14-24. When not writing she enjoys ice
skating, horse riding, theatre, archery, fishing, and being outdoors. She is a
passionate advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention, and is
an active fighter against common variable immune deficiency disorder. She lives
in Michigan.
Author Links:
Cover Reveal Organized
by:
Let me know in the comments if you've read this series, or are interested in checking it out!!
Love always,
Ari
Deviations by Anma Natsu - non-spoiler review
Hey there!!
I was recently sent a review copy of Deviations by Anma Natsu from XPressonReads. It was a super interesting read.
Firstly, a brief outline of the novel:
Deviations
by Anma Natsu Publication date: February 14th 2016Genres: Romance, Young AdultBlurb:“We’re just deviants, that’s all. You, me, Taka. We’re deliciously, wonderfully deviant.”
ScarredSeventeen-year-old Miho has spent years struggling to deal with the aftermath of a tragic accident. Between the nightmares, PTSD, depression, and her parents’ abandonment, the burden of being the sole survivor has her near her breaking point. The darkness whispers to her, promises of release from the pain, from being a burden, if she is willing to give up.
BatteredWhile the girls love classmate Shinji’s blond hair and blue eyes, to his father it’s all the proof he needs that his wife was unfaithful. Unwanted and unloved, Shinji is used to his mother’s hatred, his brother’s indifference, and his father’s violence. Male or female, he doesn’t care; his regular string of sexual partners helps him temporarily forget that he will soon have to leave the only person he loves, if he can survive that long.
ControlledAs the first-born son, Shinji’s best friend Taka has known from birth that his future was not his own. He’ll go to the right schools, get the right grades, take over the family business, and produce a perfect heir with a perfect wife, just as his father dictates. Taka’s wants and desires are irrelevant; he can’t change his fate nor escape it, any more than he can protect the only person who keeps him sane.
AttractedDrawn to one another like moths to a flame, the three find themselves torn between what society deems acceptable and a happiness they never dreamed existed.
My thoughts:
I went into this novel with no idea whatsoever of what to expect, and was extremely surprised! The cover gives very little away, but there are so many intriguing themes present throughout this book. In regards to the characters, they were extremely well fleshed out, each with their own flaws and issues at home.
The setting was also very interesting; I haven't read many books set in Japan, so I enjoyed reading through that different cultural lens.
In regards to the romance, I believe it was extremely well done, and seriously challenged me! Without giving anything away, it was not at all what I expected.
Anma Natsu's writing is both poetic and relatable, and she is able to articulate some extremely serious issues and tragic situations quite eloquently.
For a trigger warning: there is depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental issues throughout this novel. There is also domestic violence present.
I would recommend not reading this novel unless you are 18+, as it has a lot of explicit sexual content and covers serious domestic issues.
Overall, I found this a challenging read in regards to the content, however I believe it was dealt with extremely well. Not something I normally pick up, but was definitely an eye opener and would recommend if you would like to read something from a different cultural perspective that deals with mental issues, domestic issues, and sexuality.
Rating: 3.75/5
Love always,
Ari
My Thoughts On The Shadowhunters TV Series
Hey!!
So I just watched episode 11 of the Shadowhunters TV show on Netflix, and thought it would be fun to discuss what I'm thinking of the show so far, and see if you guys agree or have other opinions!
For non-spoilery people, as a broad overview I'll say that I am finding the show very entertaining and am enjoying watching it (Matthew Daddario in particular!). However, don't go into it expecting accuracy to the book series because it is COMPLETELY different. This bothered me initially, but as the show's gone on I've decided to just look at it as a complete different entity to the book series, and enjoy it for what it is on it's own. The show definitely had a rough start in regards to acting and script writing, and has since had it's ups and downs but for sure has improved. That's about all I can say that isn't spoiler, so for sure go check the show out, then come back and read the rest of this post and comment what you think!!
SPOILERY SECTION:
Okay, so since there's quite a lot for me to discuss in regards to what has occurred in the show so far, I'm going to split it up into rough categories.
Characters:
I'm pretty divided with my opinion on how the characters are being represented in the show, as I adore some of them, and am really disappointed by others. Initially I wasn't sure about Clary, however as the show's gone on I feel like she's settled into her role much more, and the problem is now more to do with the script writing than the acting.
Jace, on the other hand, I am super disappointed in! I know I shouldn't judge the show too much in relation to the book, as they're so different, but this Jace is unrecognisable!! He is literally nothing like the book Jace that we know and love. Of course, this is pretty much entirely due to the awful script that Dom has been given - it is missing Jace's snarkiness and confidence, and at the moment he is feeling pretty two-dimensional.
Some of the characters I'm loving, however, are Simon, Alec, Izzy and Magnus. Starting with Simon, I'm pretty confident in saying he is my favourite character in the show. He is exactly as I imagine Simon in the books, although his personality did seem to shift super fast after he was changed to a vampire.
Alec I also adore, of course partly because I'm in love with Matthew Daddario, but mostly because of the wonderful acting, and semi-wonderful script. Alec is just so sarcastic and funny, and has been extremely well fleshed out I feel, particularly surrounding his sexuality, and his issues with always being second best to Jace.
Certain aspects of Izzy I'm loving - her acting and most of the script, however I do have a major problem with how sexualised she's been. Yes, in the books Izzy in very confident in her sexuality, but in the show she is transformed into a sexual object, sleeping with Meliorn to get information... not cool.
Valentine I feel is absolutely fantastic. He is super scary, but complex at the some time when we see his almost obsessive love for Jocelyn. I'm really excited to start seeing him appear more in the episodes!
And finally, Magnus! I love Magnus so much!! He's hilarious, and has that air about him that reminds you that he's actually hundreds of years old. Great representation of his character.
Relationships:
As you can probably guess from my discussion about the characters of Clary and Jace, I am not enjoying their romance. They seem to have zero chemistry, and I'm finding it makes no sense in the show why they are in love all of a sudden. Hopefully it will improve as their relationship develops, but at the moment I'm not enjoying it.
The relationship between Jace and Alec I also have massive issues with. They are PARABATAI for goodness sake!! They would not be treating each other like this. Alec legit said in the show that Jace is dead to him....WHAT. NO. That is so not okay. This relationship had better fix itself soon or I'm going to be super upset.
On a more positive note, I love the sibling relationship between Alec and Izzy. They seem extremely close and open with one another, so great!
Similarly, Clary and Simon truly feel like best friends, their chemistry is great. It's been obvious from the beginning that Simon is in love with Clary and she doesn't realise it, so will be interesting to see if anything else is done with this...
And finally, my favourite relationship from the books...Malec!! I'm loving all of the Malec action going on in the show, the writers obviously know that the fans love Malec so they're giving us a load of it!! I feel like it's being done very well, their chemistry is obvious and super adorable, I literally get so excited whenever Alec and Magnus are in a scene together!
Plot:
I don't even know where to start with the plot. So many random things seem to be going on that have serious plot holes and make zero sense, I have no idea how they are going to be resolved. I'll refer to episode 11 as it is the most fresh in my brain - random things like going to get blood from the vampires when Jace gets bitten by a demon... when they have runes for things like that. There are so many little plot holes that prevent the story from having any continuity.
Also, in episode 11, I feel like the whole Jace and Clary brother-sister drama wasn't really played out to it's full potential. It seemed very forced and rushed, and Clary did not seem surprised or upset when she found out. Anyways, we'll see where it goes from here, I'm always hoping for improvement!
Overall, I am for sure enjoying the show entertainment-wise, however am not overly impressed with the quality of writing or acting, and definitely not accuracy to the books!
Let me know in the comments what your opinion is on the Shadowhunters TV show, I'd love to know!!
Love always,
Ari
So I just watched episode 11 of the Shadowhunters TV show on Netflix, and thought it would be fun to discuss what I'm thinking of the show so far, and see if you guys agree or have other opinions!
For non-spoilery people, as a broad overview I'll say that I am finding the show very entertaining and am enjoying watching it (Matthew Daddario in particular!). However, don't go into it expecting accuracy to the book series because it is COMPLETELY different. This bothered me initially, but as the show's gone on I've decided to just look at it as a complete different entity to the book series, and enjoy it for what it is on it's own. The show definitely had a rough start in regards to acting and script writing, and has since had it's ups and downs but for sure has improved. That's about all I can say that isn't spoiler, so for sure go check the show out, then come back and read the rest of this post and comment what you think!!
SPOILERY SECTION:
Okay, so since there's quite a lot for me to discuss in regards to what has occurred in the show so far, I'm going to split it up into rough categories.
Characters:
I'm pretty divided with my opinion on how the characters are being represented in the show, as I adore some of them, and am really disappointed by others. Initially I wasn't sure about Clary, however as the show's gone on I feel like she's settled into her role much more, and the problem is now more to do with the script writing than the acting.
Jace, on the other hand, I am super disappointed in! I know I shouldn't judge the show too much in relation to the book, as they're so different, but this Jace is unrecognisable!! He is literally nothing like the book Jace that we know and love. Of course, this is pretty much entirely due to the awful script that Dom has been given - it is missing Jace's snarkiness and confidence, and at the moment he is feeling pretty two-dimensional.
Some of the characters I'm loving, however, are Simon, Alec, Izzy and Magnus. Starting with Simon, I'm pretty confident in saying he is my favourite character in the show. He is exactly as I imagine Simon in the books, although his personality did seem to shift super fast after he was changed to a vampire.
Alec I also adore, of course partly because I'm in love with Matthew Daddario, but mostly because of the wonderful acting, and semi-wonderful script. Alec is just so sarcastic and funny, and has been extremely well fleshed out I feel, particularly surrounding his sexuality, and his issues with always being second best to Jace.
Certain aspects of Izzy I'm loving - her acting and most of the script, however I do have a major problem with how sexualised she's been. Yes, in the books Izzy in very confident in her sexuality, but in the show she is transformed into a sexual object, sleeping with Meliorn to get information... not cool.
Valentine I feel is absolutely fantastic. He is super scary, but complex at the some time when we see his almost obsessive love for Jocelyn. I'm really excited to start seeing him appear more in the episodes!
And finally, Magnus! I love Magnus so much!! He's hilarious, and has that air about him that reminds you that he's actually hundreds of years old. Great representation of his character.
Relationships:
As you can probably guess from my discussion about the characters of Clary and Jace, I am not enjoying their romance. They seem to have zero chemistry, and I'm finding it makes no sense in the show why they are in love all of a sudden. Hopefully it will improve as their relationship develops, but at the moment I'm not enjoying it.
The relationship between Jace and Alec I also have massive issues with. They are PARABATAI for goodness sake!! They would not be treating each other like this. Alec legit said in the show that Jace is dead to him....WHAT. NO. That is so not okay. This relationship had better fix itself soon or I'm going to be super upset.
On a more positive note, I love the sibling relationship between Alec and Izzy. They seem extremely close and open with one another, so great!
Similarly, Clary and Simon truly feel like best friends, their chemistry is great. It's been obvious from the beginning that Simon is in love with Clary and she doesn't realise it, so will be interesting to see if anything else is done with this...
And finally, my favourite relationship from the books...Malec!! I'm loving all of the Malec action going on in the show, the writers obviously know that the fans love Malec so they're giving us a load of it!! I feel like it's being done very well, their chemistry is obvious and super adorable, I literally get so excited whenever Alec and Magnus are in a scene together!
Plot:
I don't even know where to start with the plot. So many random things seem to be going on that have serious plot holes and make zero sense, I have no idea how they are going to be resolved. I'll refer to episode 11 as it is the most fresh in my brain - random things like going to get blood from the vampires when Jace gets bitten by a demon... when they have runes for things like that. There are so many little plot holes that prevent the story from having any continuity.
Also, in episode 11, I feel like the whole Jace and Clary brother-sister drama wasn't really played out to it's full potential. It seemed very forced and rushed, and Clary did not seem surprised or upset when she found out. Anyways, we'll see where it goes from here, I'm always hoping for improvement!
Overall, I am for sure enjoying the show entertainment-wise, however am not overly impressed with the quality of writing or acting, and definitely not accuracy to the books!
Let me know in the comments what your opinion is on the Shadowhunters TV show, I'd love to know!!
Love always,
Ari
Wednesday, 23 March 2016
Endangered by Dani Hoots Cover Reveal!
Hey there!!
I'm super excited to be taking part in the cover reveal of Endangered by Dani Hoots! This is the first book in Dani's Daughter of Hades series, and it sounds absolutely INCREDIBLE. And take a look at this cover:
I'm super excited to be taking part in the cover reveal of Endangered by Dani Hoots! This is the first book in Dani's Daughter of Hades series, and it sounds absolutely INCREDIBLE. And take a look at this cover:
Looks pretty damn cool, hey! Here's some more info about the book:
Endangered (Daughter of Hades #1)
by Dani Hoots
by Dani Hoots
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Release Date: May 13th 2016
Summary from Goodreads:
Chrys has been in the Underworld for thousands
of years, hidden away by her father, Hades, from all of the other gods. He's
afraid that if someone finds out about her, they will destroy her because of
the dichotomous power that she holds, the power of life and death. So she has
remained in the Palace of Hades all her life, making very few friends and
always bored out of her mind.
Huntley would have never guessed that after he died he would wake up with a beautiful girl standing over him. And that she would be the Dark Lord of the Underworld's daughter. Yet, for some reason, she keeps him around as her tutor, as if he knows anything about the world. But Huntley knows that all she really wants is a friend; being trapped in the Underworld can get pretty lonely.
That is, until Chrys decides she wants to run away to the human world after a big fight with her mother Persephone. Chrys claims her father is just over reacting and that nothing bad will come of it. There's no way that the gods will notice she's there for only a couple of days...right?
Huntley would have never guessed that after he died he would wake up with a beautiful girl standing over him. And that she would be the Dark Lord of the Underworld's daughter. Yet, for some reason, she keeps him around as her tutor, as if he knows anything about the world. But Huntley knows that all she really wants is a friend; being trapped in the Underworld can get pretty lonely.
That is, until Chrys decides she wants to run away to the human world after a big fight with her mother Persephone. Chrys claims her father is just over reacting and that nothing bad will come of it. There's no way that the gods will notice she's there for only a couple of days...right?
About the Author:
Dani Hoots is a
science fiction, fantasy, romance, and young adult author who loves anything
with a story. She has a B.S. in Anthropology, a Masters of Urban and
Environmental Planning, and is currently in the Your Novel Year Program through
Arizona State University.
Currently she is
working on a YA urban fantasy series called Daughter
of Hades,
a historic fantasy vampire series called A
World of Vampires, and a YA sci-fi series called Sanshlian Series.
Her hobbies include
reading, watching anime, cooking, studying different languages, wire walking,
tinkering with her violin and concertina, and volunteering at the library. She
lives in Seattle with her husband and two cats.
Author Links:
Cover Reveal Organized
by:
Let me know in the comments if you think you'd check out this book, and for sure go visit YA Bound Books Tours, such a wonderful blog!!
Love always,
Ari
Monday, 21 March 2016
My Favourite Places To Read
Hi!!
Along with my How to read more often post, I thought it would be interesting to discuss my favourite PLACES to read, and hear if we have any in common!! Some of them are pretty random, but nonetheless I adore them all!
So here is a list of my top places for settling down with a good book:
IN BED
The obvious one! Who doesn't love curling up in bed under your quilt with a steaming mug of tea or hot chocolate (I'm not a coffee fan!) and a snack, with your pet on your lap and a wonderful novel in your hands!! My absolute favourite place to be.
IN THE BATH
Another pretty classic one, having a bath and reading are my two favourite ways of relaxing and winding down after a long, stressful day so there's nothing better than combining the two! Unfortunately I don't have a bath at college though, so I have to wait for my holidays at home to enjoy this luxury now.
ON A PICNIC RUG OUTSIDE
On the more random side, I absolutely love reading outside, lying on a picnic rug in the sunshine! As I live on a bit of acreage, I can do this in my backyard next to my dam, underneath the eucalyptus trees (classic Australia!). It's just super relaxing, especially in Winter when you can rug up in a jumper and get warm from the sun.
AT UNI
Another slightly odd one, I actually really enjoy reading while I wait for lecturers to arrive at uni. It gives my mind a break from work, and I often completely forget I'm even at uni!!
UP A TREE
This is something I don't do so much now, but did all the time when I was at high school. In my backyard there are these trees that are perfect for climbing, and I would always go there after school with my book and climb right to the top to read for a good hour or so. It felt like I was in a completely different world up there, away from all the school work and drama! Super weird I know, haha!!
Let me know in the comments where your favourite places to read are, I'd love to know! Especially if you have some super random ones like me!!
Love always,
Ari
Along with my How to read more often post, I thought it would be interesting to discuss my favourite PLACES to read, and hear if we have any in common!! Some of them are pretty random, but nonetheless I adore them all!
So here is a list of my top places for settling down with a good book:
IN BED
The obvious one! Who doesn't love curling up in bed under your quilt with a steaming mug of tea or hot chocolate (I'm not a coffee fan!) and a snack, with your pet on your lap and a wonderful novel in your hands!! My absolute favourite place to be.
IN THE BATH
Another pretty classic one, having a bath and reading are my two favourite ways of relaxing and winding down after a long, stressful day so there's nothing better than combining the two! Unfortunately I don't have a bath at college though, so I have to wait for my holidays at home to enjoy this luxury now.
ON A PICNIC RUG OUTSIDE
On the more random side, I absolutely love reading outside, lying on a picnic rug in the sunshine! As I live on a bit of acreage, I can do this in my backyard next to my dam, underneath the eucalyptus trees (classic Australia!). It's just super relaxing, especially in Winter when you can rug up in a jumper and get warm from the sun.
AT UNI
Another slightly odd one, I actually really enjoy reading while I wait for lecturers to arrive at uni. It gives my mind a break from work, and I often completely forget I'm even at uni!!
UP A TREE
This is something I don't do so much now, but did all the time when I was at high school. In my backyard there are these trees that are perfect for climbing, and I would always go there after school with my book and climb right to the top to read for a good hour or so. It felt like I was in a completely different world up there, away from all the school work and drama! Super weird I know, haha!!
Let me know in the comments where your favourite places to read are, I'd love to know! Especially if you have some super random ones like me!!
Love always,
Ari
Saturday, 19 March 2016
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas - review
Hey guys!
I've just finished A Court of Thorns of Roses by Sarah J. Maas and had to share my thoughts with you immediately.
ACOTAR is a loose retelling of Beauty and the Beast, and is set in a land where humans are separated from faeries by an inpenetrable wall. The faeries in this tale are beautiful, but extremely dangerous creatures that humans live in constant fear of. Feyre is a human, hunting in order to protect her family. One day, however, she hits a target that will change the course of her life, and the lives of the entire faerie kingdom forever.
This is a dark tale, filled with romance, fantasy, and bloodlust, and I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys a good retelling!
I have some mixed feeling about this one, however overall I did thoroughly enjoy the story. I found the characters slightly difficult to connect with for various reasons that I'll discuss in the spoilery section, and I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about the romance present in the novel. However, the characters were very interesting and their dynamic was extremely engaging. I loved the politics behind the relationships between faeries and humans, and how this complicated some of the relationships in the novel.
In regards to the plot, I really, really enjoyed it! I'm finding that I love retellings of fairy tales, and while ACOTAR is only a loose retelling, I could definitely feel the Beauty and the Beast vibes which I adored. It did get quite violent and bloody in parts which I found quite difficult to read, so I wouldn't recommend this for anyone probably under around 15, or if you're sensitive to that kind of material. This is a very dark book!
Whilst I definitely prefer the Throne of Glass series over ACOTAR, I am very excited to see where this series goes, and overall found it an enjoyable read!
Rating: 3.75/5
SPOILERY SECTION:
Characters and relationships:
I found the characters and relationships in this novel the most difficult aspect for me to engage with. Feyre was definitely a strong protagonist, who was quite well fleshed out with a variety of layers. However, I did find her slightly difficult to relate to due to the constant walls that she put up to hide her emotions and appear stoic. Tamlyn I really enjoyed, and found easier to connect to in regards to his expression of emotions (but how frustrating was it when he wasn't saying anything at all when they were Under the Mountain!!). My favourite characters, though, would have to be Lucien and Rhysand. I found Lucien super funny and complex, initially appearing as an antagonist, who you later find out is such a wonderful and damaged man. Rhysand obviously appears and awful person, but he has reasons for every single thing he does, and ultimately is the one who saves Feyre's life, and therefore the lives of all in the faerie realm. Let's wait and see for the rest of the series though to find out what his true motives were...
In terms of the relationship between Feyre and Tamlyn, I found it pretty disappointing. My problem wasn't that it was insta-lovey, as I didn't really find it that way, but rather that I didn't entirely feel the chemistry (apart from physical) between them. There were a couple of conversations that they had that made up for this slightly, but they seemed to barely talk to one another and yet fall deeply in love. Sarah J. Maas' incredible romance writing does lead me to partly forgive this however, as how gorgeous are her love scenes??
Whilst this is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, and so it was inevitable that it would be Tamlyn that Feyre would fall for, I found it extremely obvious, and think maybe it could have taken a bit longer for the romance to develop, with more talking scenes between the two of them.
Plot and world:
The plot and world-building was for sure my favourite part of this novel, I adored it!! This world, as Sarah J. Maas' always are, is incredibly intricate and so, so interesting. I love how she incorporates politics into her worlds, and this was done fantastically in ACOTAR.
I loved the plot twists all throughout this novel, as we slowly begin to understand what this terrible 'blight' is - I was absolutely not expecting what was to come, it was done so well!! I never even considered that Tamlyn was unable to tell Feyre what was really going on, and him needing a human girl who killed on of his own to fall in love with him!! I guess I should have seen it coming, being a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but I was so blown away!
The only issue that I had with the plot was the very ending, when Feyre ultimately is turned into High Fae. From the moment her and Tamlyn met I guessed this was going to happen, and found it pretty disappointing and a cop-out. I hate comparing books, but it happens a lot in YA when a love interest is immortal and the other is not, they always end up becoming immortal one way or another. I feel that it would have been more interesting if this hadn't been the case, and they'd had to deal with Feyre growing old while Tamlyn did not.
I know I've been pretty critical with this one, but don't get me wrong, I did really enjoy it!! I found it an interesting one to deconstruct and consider flaws in the plot and characters, but I definitely recommend it for lovers of retellings and Sarah J. Maas' writing.
Let me know in the comments what you thought of ACOTAR!!
Love always,
Ari
I've just finished A Court of Thorns of Roses by Sarah J. Maas and had to share my thoughts with you immediately.
ACOTAR is a loose retelling of Beauty and the Beast, and is set in a land where humans are separated from faeries by an inpenetrable wall. The faeries in this tale are beautiful, but extremely dangerous creatures that humans live in constant fear of. Feyre is a human, hunting in order to protect her family. One day, however, she hits a target that will change the course of her life, and the lives of the entire faerie kingdom forever.
This is a dark tale, filled with romance, fantasy, and bloodlust, and I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys a good retelling!
I have some mixed feeling about this one, however overall I did thoroughly enjoy the story. I found the characters slightly difficult to connect with for various reasons that I'll discuss in the spoilery section, and I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about the romance present in the novel. However, the characters were very interesting and their dynamic was extremely engaging. I loved the politics behind the relationships between faeries and humans, and how this complicated some of the relationships in the novel.
In regards to the plot, I really, really enjoyed it! I'm finding that I love retellings of fairy tales, and while ACOTAR is only a loose retelling, I could definitely feel the Beauty and the Beast vibes which I adored. It did get quite violent and bloody in parts which I found quite difficult to read, so I wouldn't recommend this for anyone probably under around 15, or if you're sensitive to that kind of material. This is a very dark book!
Whilst I definitely prefer the Throne of Glass series over ACOTAR, I am very excited to see where this series goes, and overall found it an enjoyable read!
Rating: 3.75/5
SPOILERY SECTION:
Characters and relationships:
I found the characters and relationships in this novel the most difficult aspect for me to engage with. Feyre was definitely a strong protagonist, who was quite well fleshed out with a variety of layers. However, I did find her slightly difficult to relate to due to the constant walls that she put up to hide her emotions and appear stoic. Tamlyn I really enjoyed, and found easier to connect to in regards to his expression of emotions (but how frustrating was it when he wasn't saying anything at all when they were Under the Mountain!!). My favourite characters, though, would have to be Lucien and Rhysand. I found Lucien super funny and complex, initially appearing as an antagonist, who you later find out is such a wonderful and damaged man. Rhysand obviously appears and awful person, but he has reasons for every single thing he does, and ultimately is the one who saves Feyre's life, and therefore the lives of all in the faerie realm. Let's wait and see for the rest of the series though to find out what his true motives were...
In terms of the relationship between Feyre and Tamlyn, I found it pretty disappointing. My problem wasn't that it was insta-lovey, as I didn't really find it that way, but rather that I didn't entirely feel the chemistry (apart from physical) between them. There were a couple of conversations that they had that made up for this slightly, but they seemed to barely talk to one another and yet fall deeply in love. Sarah J. Maas' incredible romance writing does lead me to partly forgive this however, as how gorgeous are her love scenes??
Whilst this is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, and so it was inevitable that it would be Tamlyn that Feyre would fall for, I found it extremely obvious, and think maybe it could have taken a bit longer for the romance to develop, with more talking scenes between the two of them.
Plot and world:
The plot and world-building was for sure my favourite part of this novel, I adored it!! This world, as Sarah J. Maas' always are, is incredibly intricate and so, so interesting. I love how she incorporates politics into her worlds, and this was done fantastically in ACOTAR.
I loved the plot twists all throughout this novel, as we slowly begin to understand what this terrible 'blight' is - I was absolutely not expecting what was to come, it was done so well!! I never even considered that Tamlyn was unable to tell Feyre what was really going on, and him needing a human girl who killed on of his own to fall in love with him!! I guess I should have seen it coming, being a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but I was so blown away!
The only issue that I had with the plot was the very ending, when Feyre ultimately is turned into High Fae. From the moment her and Tamlyn met I guessed this was going to happen, and found it pretty disappointing and a cop-out. I hate comparing books, but it happens a lot in YA when a love interest is immortal and the other is not, they always end up becoming immortal one way or another. I feel that it would have been more interesting if this hadn't been the case, and they'd had to deal with Feyre growing old while Tamlyn did not.
I know I've been pretty critical with this one, but don't get me wrong, I did really enjoy it!! I found it an interesting one to deconstruct and consider flaws in the plot and characters, but I definitely recommend it for lovers of retellings and Sarah J. Maas' writing.
Let me know in the comments what you thought of ACOTAR!!
Love always,
Ari
Wednesday, 16 March 2016
The Chocolate Book Tag!
Hi!
As a lover of both chocolate and books, I thought what better way to celebrate this than to do a tag combining the two! I saw this tag over at Jack Croxall's blog, enjoy!!
Dark chocolate: a book that covers a dark topic.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. World War II and the Holocaust are such horrific times in our history, and this is reflected in the beautiful literature that has been based on them. The Book Thief is one of my favourite examples of this. Zusak's incredibly poetic writing style captures the mindset, pain, and endless hope present in such an awful time.
White chocolate: your favourite light-hearted/humorous read.
The Tallulah Casey series by Louise Rennison. This is the series that I turn to when I'm feeling super down, or home-sick when I'm at college as I absolutely cannot read it without laughing like crazy. It is such a light-hearted, heart-warming series, probably aimed more at a middle grade audience, but I believe could be appreciated by readers of any age! Such a cute series.
Milk chocolate: a book with a lot of hype that you're dying to read.
Cinder by Marissa Meyer. Of course this series is absolutely adored by everyone in the book blogging and booktube community and I've heard so many wonderful things about it! I cannot wait to read it!!
Chocolate with caramel centre: a book that makes you feel all gooey in the middle when you read it.
City of Masks by Mary Hoffman. I loooove this book. Filled with romance, pain, and adventure, all the perfect ingredients for a novel, I read this book dozens of times during my schooling and it never fails to make me feel at home and all gooey inside.
Wafer-free Kit Kat: a book that has surprised you lately.
Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton. I was lucky enough to receive a review copy of this through NetGalley (see my review here!) and I absolutely adored it! I wasn't sure if the desert setting and western elements would really be for me, but I found them a fantastic combination and really hope it continues in a series as the world Hamilton has built is so so wonderful!!
Snickers: a book that you're going nuts about.
Passenger by Alexandra Bracken. I've been raving about this non-stop lately, so why not continue! I cannot even comprehend how much I adore Alexandra Bracken's new series, and am ridiculously excited for the second book to be released (even though it's barely been a month since the first one came out!).
Hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows: a book that you would turn to for a comfort read.
The Harry Potter series, obviously, but also the Mortal Instruments series. As the characters in both of these series are so close to my heart, and I have read about them so so many times, it is always comforting to pick them up and return to the worlds that I adore. I feel so at home at Hogwarts, and at the Institute; there is nothing better than snuggling up with a cup of tea and cuddling my dogs while I read them again and again.
I hope you enjoyed this super fun tag! Let me know in the comments if you've done it yourself, and if not, I tag YOU.
Love always,
Ari
As a lover of both chocolate and books, I thought what better way to celebrate this than to do a tag combining the two! I saw this tag over at Jack Croxall's blog, enjoy!!
Dark chocolate: a book that covers a dark topic.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. World War II and the Holocaust are such horrific times in our history, and this is reflected in the beautiful literature that has been based on them. The Book Thief is one of my favourite examples of this. Zusak's incredibly poetic writing style captures the mindset, pain, and endless hope present in such an awful time.
White chocolate: your favourite light-hearted/humorous read.
The Tallulah Casey series by Louise Rennison. This is the series that I turn to when I'm feeling super down, or home-sick when I'm at college as I absolutely cannot read it without laughing like crazy. It is such a light-hearted, heart-warming series, probably aimed more at a middle grade audience, but I believe could be appreciated by readers of any age! Such a cute series.
Milk chocolate: a book with a lot of hype that you're dying to read.
Cinder by Marissa Meyer. Of course this series is absolutely adored by everyone in the book blogging and booktube community and I've heard so many wonderful things about it! I cannot wait to read it!!
Chocolate with caramel centre: a book that makes you feel all gooey in the middle when you read it.
City of Masks by Mary Hoffman. I loooove this book. Filled with romance, pain, and adventure, all the perfect ingredients for a novel, I read this book dozens of times during my schooling and it never fails to make me feel at home and all gooey inside.
Wafer-free Kit Kat: a book that has surprised you lately.
Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton. I was lucky enough to receive a review copy of this through NetGalley (see my review here!) and I absolutely adored it! I wasn't sure if the desert setting and western elements would really be for me, but I found them a fantastic combination and really hope it continues in a series as the world Hamilton has built is so so wonderful!!
Snickers: a book that you're going nuts about.
Passenger by Alexandra Bracken. I've been raving about this non-stop lately, so why not continue! I cannot even comprehend how much I adore Alexandra Bracken's new series, and am ridiculously excited for the second book to be released (even though it's barely been a month since the first one came out!).
Hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows: a book that you would turn to for a comfort read.
The Harry Potter series, obviously, but also the Mortal Instruments series. As the characters in both of these series are so close to my heart, and I have read about them so so many times, it is always comforting to pick them up and return to the worlds that I adore. I feel so at home at Hogwarts, and at the Institute; there is nothing better than snuggling up with a cup of tea and cuddling my dogs while I read them again and again.
I hope you enjoyed this super fun tag! Let me know in the comments if you've done it yourself, and if not, I tag YOU.
Love always,
Ari
Monday, 14 March 2016
How I Organise My Bookshelves
Hey!
So as booklovers, something that is obviously very important to us is our beloved bookshelves.
I've met some people who sort their bookshelves by colour, some by genre, some by favourite authors, the list goes on!! I thought it my be interesting for me to share how I personally like to organise my bookshelves.
With over 400 books, it can be super difficult and time-consuming trying to organise them in a particular way, especially when I'm always coming home with new books to add to the shelves! Also, during the year while I'm at uni I live at a college, so will always take a bunch of books from my shelves at home with me for the year. Because of this, lately my shelves have been pretty all over the place!
I have three bookshelves at home, which are semi-organised by genre and favourite authors. So the majority of my fantasy series, which are generally my favourite books, are all together on one shelf, among a few stand-alone contemporary favourites. On another shelf I've tried to collect all of my classics together, although there is also a small section taken up by childhood books that I've kept for the memories!And on the final shelf is all of the left-overs! This by no means is for the books I don't like as much, some of them happen to be my favourites too, but as there is a little extra room on this shelf it is usually where my newly bought books go.
Like many other book bloggers and booktubers, I also like to have a little section for my TBR books. I don't tend to stick to a very rigid TBR pile, but I do always have a small collection of books I'm super excited for and in the mood to read, so these sit on top of one of my shorter bookshelves.
And finally, at college I have a bunch of my favourite books to make it feel like home, plus the new books I've bought recently and am super excited to read! There is also a few classics I've had at home for a while that I brought with me, as I'm trying to get through more of my abundance of classics!! I may do a blog post later on of all of the books that I've brought with me to college.
Please let me know in the comments how you organise your bookshelves, or if they're a bit higgeldy piggedly like mine!!
Love always,
Ari
So as booklovers, something that is obviously very important to us is our beloved bookshelves.
I've met some people who sort their bookshelves by colour, some by genre, some by favourite authors, the list goes on!! I thought it my be interesting for me to share how I personally like to organise my bookshelves.
With over 400 books, it can be super difficult and time-consuming trying to organise them in a particular way, especially when I'm always coming home with new books to add to the shelves! Also, during the year while I'm at uni I live at a college, so will always take a bunch of books from my shelves at home with me for the year. Because of this, lately my shelves have been pretty all over the place!
I have three bookshelves at home, which are semi-organised by genre and favourite authors. So the majority of my fantasy series, which are generally my favourite books, are all together on one shelf, among a few stand-alone contemporary favourites. On another shelf I've tried to collect all of my classics together, although there is also a small section taken up by childhood books that I've kept for the memories!And on the final shelf is all of the left-overs! This by no means is for the books I don't like as much, some of them happen to be my favourites too, but as there is a little extra room on this shelf it is usually where my newly bought books go.
Like many other book bloggers and booktubers, I also like to have a little section for my TBR books. I don't tend to stick to a very rigid TBR pile, but I do always have a small collection of books I'm super excited for and in the mood to read, so these sit on top of one of my shorter bookshelves.
And finally, at college I have a bunch of my favourite books to make it feel like home, plus the new books I've bought recently and am super excited to read! There is also a few classics I've had at home for a while that I brought with me, as I'm trying to get through more of my abundance of classics!! I may do a blog post later on of all of the books that I've brought with me to college.
Please let me know in the comments how you organise your bookshelves, or if they're a bit higgeldy piggedly like mine!!
Love always,
Ari
Sunday, 13 March 2016
Harry Potter Book Tag!
Hey there,
As you would easily realise if you've read much of my blog, I am completely and utterly obsessed with Harry Potter and have been since before I can remember! So what better way to celebrate my love for the boy who lived than to do a tag based solely on him!! Enjoy.
1. What is your favourite book?
This has changed frequently over the years, but at the moment I'd say it's a tie between Goblet of Fire and Deathly Hallows. Goblet of Fire I love for all of the excitement over the Triwizard Tournament, and so many little aspects that are included in that book are super relevant for the tale later on. Deathly Hallows is just incredible in how so much is explained and finally linked together, it seriously blows my mind every time I read it!!
2. What is your favourite film?
For a long time it was Order of the Phoenix, but at the moment I think probably Prisoner of Azkaban. I'm not sure what it is, I'm just loving it lately!!
3. What is your least favourite book?
Ahhh how can I choose??? Maybe Chamber of Secrets? But I seriously cannot choose, I love them all so much.
4. What is your least favourite film?
Again, maybe Chamber of Secrets, but please don't make me choose.
5. Parts of the books/films that made you cry.
This list could go on forever. Dumbledore's death, Dobby's death, Sirius' death, Hedwig's death, Moody's death. And the ultimate. Fred's death.
6. If you could hook up with any character, who would it be?
Ron Weasley. Absolutely.
7. Who is your favourite character?
It's hard for me to decide between Ron and Hermione. Throughout my childhood, Hermione was always such an inspiration, as she is to so many girls, proving that it's okay to love reading, and love school. So even when I was being picked on a bit for being a "nerd" I could go home and read Harry Potter and be reminded by Hermione that it was okay. Lately I have also being really appreciating Ron, and I feel like we have so much in common, always bringing out the humour in a situation and being a loyal friend.
8. Who is your least favourite character?
I think probably Peter Pettigrew. He betrays the people who were meant to be his best friends, and is so weak and lacking in bravery that he turns to the dark side.
9. What is your least favourite line?
In all honesty, I cannot think of any line that I dislike in a Harry Potter book, let alone that I could deem my least favourite line!
10. What would your patronus be?
Well I took the buzzfeed quiz and it said a hare like Luna, but I actually think it would be a dog. My most important value is loyalty and what animal is more loyal than a dog?
11. If you could have the resurrection stone, the elder wand, or the invisibility cloak, which would it be?
Definitely the invisibility cloak. The resurrection stone and the elder wand both terrify me a bit, and how cool would it be wandering around undetected?? You could sneak into all sorts of cool places!
12. Which house would you be in?
I've changed a few times over the years, initially being a Ravenclaw, then a Gryffindor for a while, but I think I have now found my true place. I took the most recent Pottermore sorting quiz and I am officially a... HUFFLEPUFF!!
13. If you could meet any member of the cast, who would it be?
Aaah that is so hard, but I would have to go with Emma Watson. She is such an inspiration, not only with her acting but also her involvement with the UN which I am extremely interested in, having studied international relations at uni. #feminist always.
14. If you were on the Quidditch team, which position would you play?
I think I'd follow in Harry's footsteps and be a seeker. It just seems like it'd be so much fun, roaming around, keeping my eye out for the tiny snitch that could win your team the match.
15. Were you happy with the ending?
Absolutely. To be honest, anything J. K. Rowling writes I am happy with, but I feel like it was a beautiful way to end the story with Harry in the place he'd always dreamed of being - with a family that loves him.
16. How much does Harry Potter mean to me?
I cannot even put it into words. It is not only my childhood, it is a part of who I am and has massively shaped me into the person I am today.
Let me know in the comments how Harry Potter has influenced you, and what is your favourite book?
Love always,
Ari
As you would easily realise if you've read much of my blog, I am completely and utterly obsessed with Harry Potter and have been since before I can remember! So what better way to celebrate my love for the boy who lived than to do a tag based solely on him!! Enjoy.
1. What is your favourite book?
This has changed frequently over the years, but at the moment I'd say it's a tie between Goblet of Fire and Deathly Hallows. Goblet of Fire I love for all of the excitement over the Triwizard Tournament, and so many little aspects that are included in that book are super relevant for the tale later on. Deathly Hallows is just incredible in how so much is explained and finally linked together, it seriously blows my mind every time I read it!!
2. What is your favourite film?
For a long time it was Order of the Phoenix, but at the moment I think probably Prisoner of Azkaban. I'm not sure what it is, I'm just loving it lately!!
3. What is your least favourite book?
Ahhh how can I choose??? Maybe Chamber of Secrets? But I seriously cannot choose, I love them all so much.
4. What is your least favourite film?
Again, maybe Chamber of Secrets, but please don't make me choose.
5. Parts of the books/films that made you cry.
This list could go on forever. Dumbledore's death, Dobby's death, Sirius' death, Hedwig's death, Moody's death. And the ultimate. Fred's death.
6. If you could hook up with any character, who would it be?
Ron Weasley. Absolutely.
7. Who is your favourite character?
It's hard for me to decide between Ron and Hermione. Throughout my childhood, Hermione was always such an inspiration, as she is to so many girls, proving that it's okay to love reading, and love school. So even when I was being picked on a bit for being a "nerd" I could go home and read Harry Potter and be reminded by Hermione that it was okay. Lately I have also being really appreciating Ron, and I feel like we have so much in common, always bringing out the humour in a situation and being a loyal friend.
8. Who is your least favourite character?
I think probably Peter Pettigrew. He betrays the people who were meant to be his best friends, and is so weak and lacking in bravery that he turns to the dark side.
9. What is your least favourite line?
In all honesty, I cannot think of any line that I dislike in a Harry Potter book, let alone that I could deem my least favourite line!
10. What would your patronus be?
Well I took the buzzfeed quiz and it said a hare like Luna, but I actually think it would be a dog. My most important value is loyalty and what animal is more loyal than a dog?
11. If you could have the resurrection stone, the elder wand, or the invisibility cloak, which would it be?
Definitely the invisibility cloak. The resurrection stone and the elder wand both terrify me a bit, and how cool would it be wandering around undetected?? You could sneak into all sorts of cool places!
12. Which house would you be in?
I've changed a few times over the years, initially being a Ravenclaw, then a Gryffindor for a while, but I think I have now found my true place. I took the most recent Pottermore sorting quiz and I am officially a... HUFFLEPUFF!!
13. If you could meet any member of the cast, who would it be?
Aaah that is so hard, but I would have to go with Emma Watson. She is such an inspiration, not only with her acting but also her involvement with the UN which I am extremely interested in, having studied international relations at uni. #feminist always.
14. If you were on the Quidditch team, which position would you play?
I think I'd follow in Harry's footsteps and be a seeker. It just seems like it'd be so much fun, roaming around, keeping my eye out for the tiny snitch that could win your team the match.
15. Were you happy with the ending?
Absolutely. To be honest, anything J. K. Rowling writes I am happy with, but I feel like it was a beautiful way to end the story with Harry in the place he'd always dreamed of being - with a family that loves him.
16. How much does Harry Potter mean to me?
I cannot even put it into words. It is not only my childhood, it is a part of who I am and has massively shaped me into the person I am today.
Let me know in the comments how Harry Potter has influenced you, and what is your favourite book?
Love always,
Ari
Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton - non-spoiler ARC review
Hey there!
I was recently lucky enough to receive an ARC from Faber and Faber Ltd. through Netgalley of Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton. And boy was it fantastic!
Rebel of the Sands follows Amani as she finally escapes from her prison-like hometown in the search of a better life, only to get caught up in a rebellion so much larger than she could have dreamed of. Alongside a foreigner she crosses paths with, Jin, she must decide if she wants to continue in her search for the ideal life she has dreamed of for so long or take a new path that she had never expected.
Amani and Jin are both extremely intriguing characters, with so many layers that continue to be pulled back throughout the course of the novel. Amani's strength, skill, and determination are so exciting to read about. Her wonder at the world around her is truly refreshing and places a whole new light on the adventure taking place. Jin's mysterious past continues to develop, leaving the reader with no idea of what he could do next.
Alwyn Hamilton's writing style is at the same time fast paced and descriptive. You are never left bored, despite the potentially dreary desert surrounding Amani for much of the story. The interweaving of western themes and a middle-eastern setting is something that I have never read before, particularly in a young-adult novel, and an aspect that I feel made the novel so exciting. Whilst there are undoubtedly dystopian elements, this is by no means a sterotypical young-adult dystopian and I absolutely adored this unique aspect.
Overall, I highly recommend this novel, particularly to lovers of adventure and dystopia, with a dash of romance added in there!
Rating - 4.75/5
Love always,
Ari
I was recently lucky enough to receive an ARC from Faber and Faber Ltd. through Netgalley of Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton. And boy was it fantastic!
Rebel of the Sands follows Amani as she finally escapes from her prison-like hometown in the search of a better life, only to get caught up in a rebellion so much larger than she could have dreamed of. Alongside a foreigner she crosses paths with, Jin, she must decide if she wants to continue in her search for the ideal life she has dreamed of for so long or take a new path that she had never expected.
Amani and Jin are both extremely intriguing characters, with so many layers that continue to be pulled back throughout the course of the novel. Amani's strength, skill, and determination are so exciting to read about. Her wonder at the world around her is truly refreshing and places a whole new light on the adventure taking place. Jin's mysterious past continues to develop, leaving the reader with no idea of what he could do next.
Alwyn Hamilton's writing style is at the same time fast paced and descriptive. You are never left bored, despite the potentially dreary desert surrounding Amani for much of the story. The interweaving of western themes and a middle-eastern setting is something that I have never read before, particularly in a young-adult novel, and an aspect that I feel made the novel so exciting. Whilst there are undoubtedly dystopian elements, this is by no means a sterotypical young-adult dystopian and I absolutely adored this unique aspect.
Overall, I highly recommend this novel, particularly to lovers of adventure and dystopia, with a dash of romance added in there!
Rating - 4.75/5
Love always,
Ari
Passenger by Alexandra Bracken - review
Hi there!
I just finished Passenger by Alexandra Bracken and had to write about it immediately because holy cow I absolutely loved it!!
Passenger follows the journey of Etta, a young violin prodigy who discovers that her family is not what she had always believed. She is thrust into a time travelling adventure, during which she comes across Nicholas, a handsome sailor. They must work together to ensure the safety of Etta's loved ones and all that she has worked for towards a fulfilling future.
I absolutely adored Alexandra Bracken's writing style in The Darkest Minds, and Passenger was no exception. Her description brought to life the variety of settings and characters and allowed the reader to connect on a deeper level with the protagonists.
Her characters are rich and detailed, and you are continually learning new aspects of their personality and history. Speaking of history, this novel is full of it! It is so enriching following Etta and Nicholas into different countries and time periods and learning little details about each. Highly, highly recommend this novel!!
Rating: 5/5
SPOILERY SECTION:
I don't even know where to start! This book is definitely in my list of favourite books so far in 2016!
Let's discuss characters first. I loved the complexity of them, especially Etta and Nicholas, of course. Etta is such a strong female heroine, which is an immediate plus. Her focus on her career with the violin is a wonderful, refreshing aspect to her character, as opposed to her being solely obsessed with her love interest. I also really enjoyed her love for her family and her drive to do whatever it takes to save them.
Similarly, Nicholas has so many layers to him, he is a joy to read about! His guarded personality develops the mystery of his past, however it is clear that it hides a very soft and loving side to him. Again, his focus on his future and achieving his goal of running his own ship is inspiring.
In regards to Etta and Nicholas' romance, I thoroughly enjoyed how it wasn't insta-lovey, and the 'forbidenness' wasn't overplayed. Rather, the conflict came predominantly from both individuals being focused on their careers and not wanting to put them in jeopardy. When they do finally reveal their feelings, it feels completely natural, and comes at the perfect point in the storyline. They have such a wonderful chemistry, and challenge one another in a way that a positive relationship truly should.
Plot-wise, I frequently found myself staying up late at night, unable to put the book down due to the gripping story. I adore how Etta and Nicholas travel to different countries and times, providing such stunning imagery. Despite how drawn out the search for the astrolobe could seem, it at no point gets boring, and the threat of being caught by an Ironwood or Thorns maintians the pace.
Finally, the ending. I thought from around the middle of the novel that something serious would have to happen to either Etta or Nicholas, as it would be too obvious for him to go with her back to her time, and would completely go against his morals. Also, considering that this is not a stand-alone novel, it was inevitable that something drastic would need to occur as a final cliff-hanger. I think it was a perfect way to end the first novel in this series, with Etta disappeared and Nicholas on the hunt for her. Now I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on the sequel!!! I also enjoyed the plot twist of Sophia wanting the astrolobe for herself to make Ironwood's life hell! It added so much depth to her character and was a really clever aspect for Alexandra to include.
Overall, I obviously adored Passenger! Please let me know in the comments if you've read it, what are your thoughts, and if you haven't, are you planning to?
Love always,
Ari
I just finished Passenger by Alexandra Bracken and had to write about it immediately because holy cow I absolutely loved it!!
Passenger follows the journey of Etta, a young violin prodigy who discovers that her family is not what she had always believed. She is thrust into a time travelling adventure, during which she comes across Nicholas, a handsome sailor. They must work together to ensure the safety of Etta's loved ones and all that she has worked for towards a fulfilling future.
I absolutely adored Alexandra Bracken's writing style in The Darkest Minds, and Passenger was no exception. Her description brought to life the variety of settings and characters and allowed the reader to connect on a deeper level with the protagonists.
Her characters are rich and detailed, and you are continually learning new aspects of their personality and history. Speaking of history, this novel is full of it! It is so enriching following Etta and Nicholas into different countries and time periods and learning little details about each. Highly, highly recommend this novel!!
Rating: 5/5
SPOILERY SECTION:
I don't even know where to start! This book is definitely in my list of favourite books so far in 2016!
Let's discuss characters first. I loved the complexity of them, especially Etta and Nicholas, of course. Etta is such a strong female heroine, which is an immediate plus. Her focus on her career with the violin is a wonderful, refreshing aspect to her character, as opposed to her being solely obsessed with her love interest. I also really enjoyed her love for her family and her drive to do whatever it takes to save them.
Similarly, Nicholas has so many layers to him, he is a joy to read about! His guarded personality develops the mystery of his past, however it is clear that it hides a very soft and loving side to him. Again, his focus on his future and achieving his goal of running his own ship is inspiring.
In regards to Etta and Nicholas' romance, I thoroughly enjoyed how it wasn't insta-lovey, and the 'forbidenness' wasn't overplayed. Rather, the conflict came predominantly from both individuals being focused on their careers and not wanting to put them in jeopardy. When they do finally reveal their feelings, it feels completely natural, and comes at the perfect point in the storyline. They have such a wonderful chemistry, and challenge one another in a way that a positive relationship truly should.
Plot-wise, I frequently found myself staying up late at night, unable to put the book down due to the gripping story. I adore how Etta and Nicholas travel to different countries and times, providing such stunning imagery. Despite how drawn out the search for the astrolobe could seem, it at no point gets boring, and the threat of being caught by an Ironwood or Thorns maintians the pace.
Finally, the ending. I thought from around the middle of the novel that something serious would have to happen to either Etta or Nicholas, as it would be too obvious for him to go with her back to her time, and would completely go against his morals. Also, considering that this is not a stand-alone novel, it was inevitable that something drastic would need to occur as a final cliff-hanger. I think it was a perfect way to end the first novel in this series, with Etta disappeared and Nicholas on the hunt for her. Now I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on the sequel!!! I also enjoyed the plot twist of Sophia wanting the astrolobe for herself to make Ironwood's life hell! It added so much depth to her character and was a really clever aspect for Alexandra to include.
Overall, I obviously adored Passenger! Please let me know in the comments if you've read it, what are your thoughts, and if you haven't, are you planning to?
Love always,
Ari
Saturday, 12 March 2016
How To Read More Often
Hey!
So being a uni student, and involved in a lot of extra-curricular activities, I understand that it can sometimes be difficult to have time to read as much as you might like.
However, over the years I've figured out a few ways of maximising my time throughout the day to read as much as possible, and I thought it was a good idea to share some of these with you guys!
(A lot of this is related to being a university student, as that's the experience I have, but some can definitely be useful for those of you who work full-time or are at school!)
Read before bed
This is a bit of an obvious one, but I thought I'd mention it anyway. As with many book lovers, my favourite time to read is right before I go to sleep. It's a way to release any stresses of the day and disappear into a wonderful bookish world that you can dream about afterwards! Not to mention it's much better for you than being on your phone right before bed time!
Read on public transport
Living on campus at my university, this doesn't really apply to me on a daily basis, but if you need to catch a bus or train to and from school or uni, this is a perfect time to get some reading done! It's also such a lovely way to start and finish the day with a relaxing reading session.
Read before and in between lectures
I often arrive at lectures and tutorials at uni 10 or so minutes early, and make sure I have a book along with me to read until it begins. In two hour lectures, my lecturers tend to give us a short break - another opportunity to have a relax and read! Also, those of you who don't live on campus and sometimes need to wait around at uni in between classes can find a comfy spot in a library and read away that spare time!
Read as a study break
I especially love to do this in exam periods - when you're in an intense study block, you can break up your sessions with little 10 minute or so breaks that can be spent making a cup of tea and letting your brain relax with an enjoyable read for a while. Personally, I find reading really revitalising, especially young-adult novels which are often easy to get into. So a perfect way to have a quick refresher from your study!
Read while you eat breakfast
I did this SO much during high school (often resulting in a crazy rush to get to school!). There's nothing better than getting a cup of tea and some toast and curling up on the couch with a book to start your day the right way!!
I hope some of these tips are helpful for you busy folk! Please let me know in the comments if you have any tips of your own for fitting in extra reading time during the week.
Love always,
Ari
So being a uni student, and involved in a lot of extra-curricular activities, I understand that it can sometimes be difficult to have time to read as much as you might like.
However, over the years I've figured out a few ways of maximising my time throughout the day to read as much as possible, and I thought it was a good idea to share some of these with you guys!
(A lot of this is related to being a university student, as that's the experience I have, but some can definitely be useful for those of you who work full-time or are at school!)
Read before bed
This is a bit of an obvious one, but I thought I'd mention it anyway. As with many book lovers, my favourite time to read is right before I go to sleep. It's a way to release any stresses of the day and disappear into a wonderful bookish world that you can dream about afterwards! Not to mention it's much better for you than being on your phone right before bed time!
Read on public transport
Living on campus at my university, this doesn't really apply to me on a daily basis, but if you need to catch a bus or train to and from school or uni, this is a perfect time to get some reading done! It's also such a lovely way to start and finish the day with a relaxing reading session.
Read before and in between lectures
I often arrive at lectures and tutorials at uni 10 or so minutes early, and make sure I have a book along with me to read until it begins. In two hour lectures, my lecturers tend to give us a short break - another opportunity to have a relax and read! Also, those of you who don't live on campus and sometimes need to wait around at uni in between classes can find a comfy spot in a library and read away that spare time!
Read as a study break
I especially love to do this in exam periods - when you're in an intense study block, you can break up your sessions with little 10 minute or so breaks that can be spent making a cup of tea and letting your brain relax with an enjoyable read for a while. Personally, I find reading really revitalising, especially young-adult novels which are often easy to get into. So a perfect way to have a quick refresher from your study!
Read while you eat breakfast
I did this SO much during high school (often resulting in a crazy rush to get to school!). There's nothing better than getting a cup of tea and some toast and curling up on the couch with a book to start your day the right way!!
I hope some of these tips are helpful for you busy folk! Please let me know in the comments if you have any tips of your own for fitting in extra reading time during the week.
Love always,
Ari
Thursday, 10 March 2016
My Favourite Classics!
Hi there!
Since around Year 12 (about two-three years ago now!) I've gotten really into reading classics. As a lover of history and philosophy I find them so interesting as a way of understanding the mindsets of different times, and deconstructing the endless symbolism you find within the stories.
So, I thought I'd share some of my favourite classics, and discuss what I love so much about them!
1984 by George Orwell
I think it would be safe to say that 1984 is my number one favourite classic novel, and up there on my list of favourite books of all time. I read it for the first time when I was in Year 10, so about 14 years old. It absolutely astounded me, and opened my eyes to the world of dystopia, and classic writing. At that time, I also went to see a theatre production of 1984 that was put on in Brisbane, which both amazed and disturbed me (especially thanks to the incredibly realistic torture scene with live rats!). George Orwell created such an intricate, intellectual world and despite this being a very detailed novel, even as a 14 year old I found it easy to get through due to his flowing writing style. I was super excited when in Year 12 we had to study 1984; I was probably the only person in my grade actually excited about it! If you haven't read this yet, I highly, highly recommend you do so. It is also extremely beneficial to read it a few times. I've read it about 5 times now, and every time I discover new aspects that I hadn't noticed before and it never fails to amaze me.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The rest of this list is in no particular order, but The Great Gatsby is a very close second to 1984. I was hesitant to begin it, and I was worried I'd find the language difficult to engage with but wow was I wrong. Again, I was lucky enough to be able to study this at school after I'd read it, which further opened my eyes to the intricate symbolism Fitzgerald interweaves into the story. His depiction of the roaring 20s is both exciting and sombre, depicting people's flaws oh so beautifully.And of course I must mention the film with good old Leo, which personally I think is an incredible representation of the novel, highlighting both the incredible excitement of the time period as well as the detailed character development. Love love love!
Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote
I bought the DVD of Breakfast at Tiffany's a few years ago and told myself I had to read the book before I was allowed to watch the film. Such a good decision. I adore both book and film. As is the case with all of my favourite classics, it is the characters which drive this story. They are so unique and beautifully flawed. I can't forget to mention Audrey Hepburn in the film, who is one of my absolute idols. She is so classic and graceful and her portrayal of Holly Golightly is utter perfection.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Another classic depicting character faults, The Picture of Dorian Gray is an incredible tale of a man's obsession with youth, eventually leading to his own demise. I flew through this book in a day as it flows so well and immediately hooks you into the storyline. Dorian Gray is such an interesting character who is so difficult to relate to, which is the beauty of him as a character. Another must read for lovers of classics!
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Finally, probably the first classic I ever read, The Secret Garden. I must have been about 10 or so when I read this, and absolutely adored it. This is one that any age group would enjoy. It has elements of mystery that are so nostalgic, taking you right back to your childhood when you'd roam around the garden pretending to be pirates, or fairy princesses. A perfect one to read on a rainy day, cuddled up in bed with a cup of tea to warm the cockles of your heart!
Let me know in the comments what your favourite classics are, I am always on the lookout for new ones to check out!
Love always,
Ari
Since around Year 12 (about two-three years ago now!) I've gotten really into reading classics. As a lover of history and philosophy I find them so interesting as a way of understanding the mindsets of different times, and deconstructing the endless symbolism you find within the stories.
So, I thought I'd share some of my favourite classics, and discuss what I love so much about them!
1984 by George Orwell
I think it would be safe to say that 1984 is my number one favourite classic novel, and up there on my list of favourite books of all time. I read it for the first time when I was in Year 10, so about 14 years old. It absolutely astounded me, and opened my eyes to the world of dystopia, and classic writing. At that time, I also went to see a theatre production of 1984 that was put on in Brisbane, which both amazed and disturbed me (especially thanks to the incredibly realistic torture scene with live rats!). George Orwell created such an intricate, intellectual world and despite this being a very detailed novel, even as a 14 year old I found it easy to get through due to his flowing writing style. I was super excited when in Year 12 we had to study 1984; I was probably the only person in my grade actually excited about it! If you haven't read this yet, I highly, highly recommend you do so. It is also extremely beneficial to read it a few times. I've read it about 5 times now, and every time I discover new aspects that I hadn't noticed before and it never fails to amaze me.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The rest of this list is in no particular order, but The Great Gatsby is a very close second to 1984. I was hesitant to begin it, and I was worried I'd find the language difficult to engage with but wow was I wrong. Again, I was lucky enough to be able to study this at school after I'd read it, which further opened my eyes to the intricate symbolism Fitzgerald interweaves into the story. His depiction of the roaring 20s is both exciting and sombre, depicting people's flaws oh so beautifully.And of course I must mention the film with good old Leo, which personally I think is an incredible representation of the novel, highlighting both the incredible excitement of the time period as well as the detailed character development. Love love love!
Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote
I bought the DVD of Breakfast at Tiffany's a few years ago and told myself I had to read the book before I was allowed to watch the film. Such a good decision. I adore both book and film. As is the case with all of my favourite classics, it is the characters which drive this story. They are so unique and beautifully flawed. I can't forget to mention Audrey Hepburn in the film, who is one of my absolute idols. She is so classic and graceful and her portrayal of Holly Golightly is utter perfection.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Another classic depicting character faults, The Picture of Dorian Gray is an incredible tale of a man's obsession with youth, eventually leading to his own demise. I flew through this book in a day as it flows so well and immediately hooks you into the storyline. Dorian Gray is such an interesting character who is so difficult to relate to, which is the beauty of him as a character. Another must read for lovers of classics!
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Finally, probably the first classic I ever read, The Secret Garden. I must have been about 10 or so when I read this, and absolutely adored it. This is one that any age group would enjoy. It has elements of mystery that are so nostalgic, taking you right back to your childhood when you'd roam around the garden pretending to be pirates, or fairy princesses. A perfect one to read on a rainy day, cuddled up in bed with a cup of tea to warm the cockles of your heart!
Let me know in the comments what your favourite classics are, I am always on the lookout for new ones to check out!
Love always,
Ari
Wednesday, 9 March 2016
Would You Rather Book Tag!
Hey there!
I found this awesome tag over on Sincerely, a Book Nerd's blog and thought it would be super fun to do myself!! Hope you enjoy!
1. Read only series, or stand-alone books?
Definitely series! I am a huge series fan, and I love how you really get to know the intricacies of characters through following them over the course of a series rather than in stand-alone novels.
2. Read a book whose main character is male or female?
I would have to say female, as I find them easier to relate to, identifying as female myself.
3. Shop only at a real bookstore, or online?
A real book store! There is nothing like browsing the shelves of a book store for hours on end.
4. All books to become movies or TV shows?
While I love the good book to movie adaptation, I'm gonna go with TV shows. That way the story can really be nutted out and attempt to stay closer to the plot line of the book. So much is often left out when a book is adapted into a movie.
5. Read 5 pages per day or 5 book per week?
Of course 5 books per week! The more the better, am I right?
6. Be a professional book reviewer or author?
It's been my dream ever since I was tiny to be an author. In the words of five-year-old Ari, "I want to be like J. K. Rowling when I grow up!"
7. Only read the same 20 books over and over or get to read a new book every six months?
Get to read a new book every six months. I'm always discovering new favourite books, and would hate to miss out on that!
8. Be a librarian or own a book store?
Having worked in a book store before and absolutely adored it, I will go with owning a book store.
9. Read only your favourite genre or your favourite author?
Favourite genre, because this would most likely include my favourite author!
10. Only read physical books or ebooks?
No question, physical books for sure! The smell, the feel, what's not to love??
Let me know in the comments if you've done the would you rather book tag, I would love to check it out! And if you haven't yet done this tag, I tag you!! It is so much fun, but hard to decide!!
Love always,
Ari
I found this awesome tag over on Sincerely, a Book Nerd's blog and thought it would be super fun to do myself!! Hope you enjoy!
1. Read only series, or stand-alone books?
Definitely series! I am a huge series fan, and I love how you really get to know the intricacies of characters through following them over the course of a series rather than in stand-alone novels.
2. Read a book whose main character is male or female?
I would have to say female, as I find them easier to relate to, identifying as female myself.
3. Shop only at a real bookstore, or online?
A real book store! There is nothing like browsing the shelves of a book store for hours on end.
4. All books to become movies or TV shows?
While I love the good book to movie adaptation, I'm gonna go with TV shows. That way the story can really be nutted out and attempt to stay closer to the plot line of the book. So much is often left out when a book is adapted into a movie.
5. Read 5 pages per day or 5 book per week?
Of course 5 books per week! The more the better, am I right?
6. Be a professional book reviewer or author?
It's been my dream ever since I was tiny to be an author. In the words of five-year-old Ari, "I want to be like J. K. Rowling when I grow up!"
7. Only read the same 20 books over and over or get to read a new book every six months?
Get to read a new book every six months. I'm always discovering new favourite books, and would hate to miss out on that!
8. Be a librarian or own a book store?
Having worked in a book store before and absolutely adored it, I will go with owning a book store.
9. Read only your favourite genre or your favourite author?
Favourite genre, because this would most likely include my favourite author!
10. Only read physical books or ebooks?
No question, physical books for sure! The smell, the feel, what's not to love??
Let me know in the comments if you've done the would you rather book tag, I would love to check it out! And if you haven't yet done this tag, I tag you!! It is so much fun, but hard to decide!!
Love always,
Ari
Sunday, 6 March 2016
Physical Copy v.Ebook
Hi there!
The constant battle of book lovers, physical book, or ebook...
For a long time I absolutely hated the idea of an ebook, especially after having worked in a book shop and seen firsthand the effects they are having on that industry. I refused to even consider getting a kindle or ereader, no matter how convenient they might be. However, since beginning to prepare to go on exchange in Europe for university next year, I've had to consider that the ebook really is the way for me to go when moving across the world for 6 months with only one suitcase... So I thought it would be interesting to write a list of the pros and cons for both the physical book and the ebook! Here goes.
Physical books: Pros
The constant battle of book lovers, physical book, or ebook...
For a long time I absolutely hated the idea of an ebook, especially after having worked in a book shop and seen firsthand the effects they are having on that industry. I refused to even consider getting a kindle or ereader, no matter how convenient they might be. However, since beginning to prepare to go on exchange in Europe for university next year, I've had to consider that the ebook really is the way for me to go when moving across the world for 6 months with only one suitcase... So I thought it would be interesting to write a list of the pros and cons for both the physical book and the ebook! Here goes.
Physical books: Pros
- They are beautiful to look at. Especially hard covers, with their gorgeous dust jackets and even more beautiful covers underneath the dust jackets. They always look incredible on your shelves.
- They feel amazing. Nothing beats turning the page of a book and feeling it in your hands while you're reading. Sounds weird, I know, but I bet you understand exactly what I'm talking about.
- The smell. Need I explain?
Physical books: Cons
- They are super hard to carry around with you. Especially when travelling with limited luggage. Even when I walk to uni and want a book to read when I'm early to class, I can never be bothered taking one because it weighs down my bag so much.
- They aren't the best for the environment, what with all the trees it takes to publish physical books.
Ebooks: Pros
- They are super light to carry around, and therefore extremely useful for travel.
- They are slightly better for the environment (although the making of the actual ereader probably doesn't do the atmosphere the greatest favour).
- You can carry thousands of books around with you at once!
Ebooks: Cons
- It just doesn't feel the same holding an ereader or iPad in your hand as it does to hold and turn the pages of a physical book.
- They run out of charge!! A physical book never does that!
So I have gradually come to terms with the usefulness of the ereader, and will definitely be purchasing one before my semester abroad. However, this does not change the fact that physical books will always be my favourite!!
Let me know in the comments how you feel about the physical book/ereader debate!
Love always,
Ari
Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas - review
Hey there!!
So last night I stayed up finishing the second novel in the Throne of Glass series, Crown of Midnight, and holy cow I cannot deal. Words cannot express how much I am loving this series!!
If you haven't read Throne of Glass, what are you doing, please please please go read it, and then read Crown of Midnight, and then come back and read this review! I was super late to the Throne of Glass bandwagon, but I am so glad that I finally picked it up. Anyways, back to the review...
SPOILER REVIEW:
I found the first half of Crown of Midnight a bit on the slow side, however you can see later on that this is totally necessary to lay the groundworks for the action in the second half. I am loving learning more about the Wyrdmarks, and the introduction of the Wyrdkeys is so interesting! I was seriously freaking out when Celaena found that the key was in the clock tower.
Next, let me talk about the incredible development of Celaena's character that goes on in this novel. I was so excited when I found out that Celaena wasn't really assassinating the king's enemies, but giving them time to leave! I thought I'd learnt most of what there was to know about her in Throne of Glass, but then there's that bomb drop that she is Fae. I mean, there were clues, and I thought she was just descended from them or something, but when she transformed into Fae in that other realm I was so surprised!! Not to mention the final plot twist on the very last page when Chaol discovers that she is the lost Queen of Terrasen. What?!?! I just want to start the next novel right now and find out what will happen now that she's away from the king for a while.
Of course, I must also discuss the relationship with Chaol. I've mentioned before on this blog that I am a Dorian and Celaena shipper, and I will stand by that. At first when her and Chaol got together I was like nooooo. But as the story went on, I could see how well they worked together and how beautifully their relationship was woven into the story. However, I still have an inkling that somehow Dorian and Celaena will end up together. I feel like they can understand one another because of how they grew up, always under someone else's control, being told who to be their whole lives.
So overall, I am totally obsessed with Crown of Midnight. Sarah J. Maas seriously knows how to tell an intricate fantasy story. So many new aspects keep arising and interweaving with the tale, it is a joy to read!!
Rating: 5/5
Let me know in the comments your thoughts on Crown of Midnight!!
Love always,
Ari
So last night I stayed up finishing the second novel in the Throne of Glass series, Crown of Midnight, and holy cow I cannot deal. Words cannot express how much I am loving this series!!
If you haven't read Throne of Glass, what are you doing, please please please go read it, and then read Crown of Midnight, and then come back and read this review! I was super late to the Throne of Glass bandwagon, but I am so glad that I finally picked it up. Anyways, back to the review...
SPOILER REVIEW:
I found the first half of Crown of Midnight a bit on the slow side, however you can see later on that this is totally necessary to lay the groundworks for the action in the second half. I am loving learning more about the Wyrdmarks, and the introduction of the Wyrdkeys is so interesting! I was seriously freaking out when Celaena found that the key was in the clock tower.
Next, let me talk about the incredible development of Celaena's character that goes on in this novel. I was so excited when I found out that Celaena wasn't really assassinating the king's enemies, but giving them time to leave! I thought I'd learnt most of what there was to know about her in Throne of Glass, but then there's that bomb drop that she is Fae. I mean, there were clues, and I thought she was just descended from them or something, but when she transformed into Fae in that other realm I was so surprised!! Not to mention the final plot twist on the very last page when Chaol discovers that she is the lost Queen of Terrasen. What?!?! I just want to start the next novel right now and find out what will happen now that she's away from the king for a while.
Of course, I must also discuss the relationship with Chaol. I've mentioned before on this blog that I am a Dorian and Celaena shipper, and I will stand by that. At first when her and Chaol got together I was like nooooo. But as the story went on, I could see how well they worked together and how beautifully their relationship was woven into the story. However, I still have an inkling that somehow Dorian and Celaena will end up together. I feel like they can understand one another because of how they grew up, always under someone else's control, being told who to be their whole lives.
So overall, I am totally obsessed with Crown of Midnight. Sarah J. Maas seriously knows how to tell an intricate fantasy story. So many new aspects keep arising and interweaving with the tale, it is a joy to read!!
Rating: 5/5
Let me know in the comments your thoughts on Crown of Midnight!!
Love always,
Ari
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