Downfall (Film Discussion)

As I didn't feel like doing much revision but need to prepare for the exam I have in a few days time on Nazi Germany I thought I'd watch the film 'Downfall' and I felt like I needed to share my thoughts on it because oh my goodness is it a good film.

Downfall is a German language film that focuses on the last few days of the Second World War and Hitler's time in the bunker where he committed suicide. From my knowledge of the events historically (which is admittedly, limited) this film seemed incredibly historically accurate. I am honestly amazed at how the writers managed to write a film that not only acts as a fair and accurate representation of the events but is also so thought-provoking and emotional. I also thought the actors did a fantastic job at portraying each individual character, particularly those playing the roles of the characters we know now to have committed horrific acts. For example, I found that the actor playing Hitler managed to portray the character as a complex human being rather than simply a mass murderer. With historical events it is very easy to forget that behind what happened, each individual had a life and I think that is why I found the film to be so powerful as it showed this individuality of each person in ways that a history book or documentary cannot.

Although I found it quite slow at first (I actually ended up watching it in two sittings just over a week apart) it was definitely worth persevering with it. I cannot recommend this film enough. If you are worried you won't enjoy it because of the subtitles, don't be. You forget they're there very quickly. If, like me, you have a fair knowledge of the German language anyway you probably won't even need the subtitles.

It may be due to my interest in German history or Germany in general but I honestly enjoyed this film to the point I felt I needed to immediately share it with you reading this. If you're thinking about watching it, please do. I'm sure you won't regret it. And when you do, come back here and leave me a comment telling me what you thought and we can have a little discussion about it.

Have you watched any other films that focus on German history/either of the world wars that impacted you and you think I should watch? Let me know below! I watched Schindler's List last year and you can see my thoughts about that here.

Lucy x

Summer In The City Warm Up Tour (Cardiff)

On Wednesday this week (7th August) my friends and I headed into Cardiff for the Sitc Warm Up tour to see Tom Law, Dodie Clarke (doddleoddle), Dave Giles and Bethan Leadley (musicalsbethan), and let me tell you, it was fantastic.

Soon after we arrived at the venue (around 4pm with the gig scheduled to start at 7.30pm) Dave came outside to say hello and Tom and Dodie arrived at the venue (with a quick comment about how we were earlier than them) and went to leave their instruments inside before coming straight back out for a chat. The 3 of them stayed outside chatting to us (there were already quite a few people in the queue, maybe around 20...ish...) and taking photos for a while before going back in to get ready for the gig. The reason I wanted to mention this is because, to me, that is what YouTube gatherings used to be like and I wish they were still like that now. A small group of people got the chance to meet people whose videos they like and also make friends with other viewers. It was so lovely to get to spend time with Tom, Dodie and Dave like that and I can't really imagine a similar situation where you would get that chance these days because everything's grown so much (take sitc for example!). I know that the majority of gatherings are still just a group of people meeting up in a field somewhere but even then it can be difficult to talk to content creators because there's often a lot of people there. I'm not trying to say that bigger events like vidcon and sitc are bad, I think they're a fantastic chance to get to see a lot of content creators you like in one event but I definitely understand why people say they miss how gatherings used to be.

The gig itself was fantastic. I've watched Tom, Dodie and Bethan's videos for a long time now and Dave is honestly one of my favourite musicians at the moment and I've been listening to his music constantly since Upload 2 (and I'm STILL loving it despite listening to each song hundreds of times). Clwb Ifor Bach is such a lovely, intimate venue and we ended up sat on the floor for most of the gig just enjoying the music. As a fan of acoustic music, I loved having the chance to listen to them all play in that kind of environment and at the end of the gig they turned all the electric equipment off and played a song each with just them and their instrument while we all sang along (still sat on the floor).

They had a meet and greet afterwards but because I managed to get photos with them all before the gig I just took photos of my friends with them (who didn't manage to get photos before), bought an EP off Tom (which is fantastic, I've already listened to it loads) and went to have a photo with Bethan (Bethan didn't come outside before but she did say in the gig that she's ill so I assumed that was why she didn't. She was as lovely as the others in the meet and greet! I did have a photo with her but it didn't turn out great). I also mentioned quickly to Dave how much I appreciated him taking the time to comment on my YouTube video and he said that it was no problem, it was a good video and one of his favourites from Upload which made my night!

 

Overall, it was a really fantastic gig and they were all
so nice! I really enjoyed getting to spend time with them before and if you get the chance to see any of them live I'd definitely go. Also, if you haven't heard of them before please do check out their YouTube channels because they're all fantastic musicians :)

Lucy x

Music Mondays: Best Song Ever by One Direction REVIEW

Although the days in which I would identify myself as a 'One Direction fan' are behind me, I still can't quite summon the strength to unsubscribe to their YouTube channel or not click or not reblog the occasional adorable photo of them on tumblr. When I first heard their new song was called 'Best Song Ever' I have to admit, I was more than just skeptical. I couldn't see how they were going to pull this one out of the bag but I have to say, credit where credit is due, the song is unbelievably catchy and the music video is hilarious.

If you haven't seen the video yet you can click here to do so. I have to say, this is by far my favourite music video of theirs yet. I loved the fact they went a little out of their comfort zone and did pretty much turned the song into a comedy sketch and to see in the credits at the end that it was written by James Cordon and Ben Winston just made so much sense to me. Them joining forces with One Direction for a music video has to be a fantastic move for both and it really did make the music video stand out from the others the boys have made.

As for the song it's self, it's definitely a grower. The first time I heard it I thought it was okay but could be better and then before I knew it I'd be wandering round the house singing it under my breath.

I may not be a die-hard fan like some of those directioners out there but I do appreciate them as musicians and to me, that's the most important thing. The new song and video are great and I wish people who don't like them watch it because I honestly think it might sway them a little if they just gave it a chance.

Lucy x

The Upload Tour 2

On Thursday 30th May I had the amazing opportunity to see the Upload Tour 2 in Clwb Ifor Bach in Cardiff. The Upload Tour 2 saw Eddplant, Bribry and Dave Giles join their musical forces with Luke Cutforth (LukeIsNotSexy) as the host.

To say that I enjoyed the evening is an understatement. I have been a fan of Eddplant for a few years and I have listened to his album 'Confidence Tricks' more than any other album I've ever bought. It is no exaggeration to say that he is quite possibly my favourite musician of all time. To have the opportunity to see him live was amazing but the fact that I got the opportunity to meet him afterwards was just incredible. His performance was utterly amazing and he was really lovely afterwards, signing the copy of his latest album 'Nothing To Worry About' that I bought and having a photo with me. The friends I were with even told him I'd covered his song 'Butterfly in the Breeze' (which is my favourite song of all time) on YouTube and he said he'd watch it (I am well aware that as a busy musician he quite possibly won't have time but the fact he said he would was amazing in itself).



I was first introduced to Bribry a few years ago by a friend (who also came to Upload 2 with me) and I have been a fan of his music since. Bribry has such a unique sound and is not only a fantastic musician but also an extremely inspirational person, having set up charities such as the Ross Foundation in memory of a friend of his who sadly passed away from cancer and CutCakeNotWrists to help young people who struggle with self-harm. His performance was also brilliant and although there wasn't time to have a photo with him afterwards (due to the majority of the people there wanting to see him in particular) he managed to sign my ticket and seemed lovely, even if slightly over-whelmed (which was completely understandable due to the constant crowd around him).


If I said I'd been a fan of Dave Giles for a long time I would be lying. Although I'd heard of him before, I never really listened to his music properly before the Upload Tour 2. This is something I regret. Dave Giles is such a fantastic musician and a truly lovely person and he deserves so much more attention than he gets at the moment. His lyrics in particular stand out to me as he seems to have a way of making each of his songs a story with beautiful words. I was also amazed at his guitar skills and it is clear that he's not just a singer/songwriter but he is a true musician. If you have never listened to Dave Giles before I honestly can't encourage you enough. I bought his album 'Love, Life, Loss and Tea' at the gig and I have honestly been listening to it constantly since. Along with his being an incredible musician, Dave was truly lovely afterwards. He signed the CD of his album I bought, had a photo with me and even promised to check out my own YouTube channel. Dave Giles made the performance a completely unique experience for me as at one point he had the audience sat on the floor in a circle while he played his song 'Bangarang' with just his voice and an acoustic guitar (no microphones, backing vocals from the others or extra instruments) and it was an amazing opportunity.



I enjoyed the evening so much and if you've never heard of any of these people before, please do check out their YouTube channels. They're each unique, unsigned artists who deserve to have their music listened to. On the rare chance any of them are reading this, I would just like to say thank you so much for making the night so incredible with your fantastic music and your wonderful personalities. I won't forget the night in a long time.

Lucy x

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

I couldn't find an image of the copy I read so this will have to do :)

Title: Pride and Prejudice
Author: Jane Austen
262 Pages

Rating: 4/5

This is the first classic book that I've read outside a classroom situation and entirely because I wanted to read it and I have to say, once I got used to the older language in it I found it very enjoyable! It was as difficult to understand as I expected it to be and I found that by around halfway through I was just enjoying it and I was used to the writing style along with everything else.

I'm sure the majority of you are aware of the story of Pride and Prejudice, but it follows Elizabeth Bennet and her sisters. It sees them deal with difficult situations and follows their quest to find husbands.

Personally, I feel that this is the kind of book that everyone should read at least once in their lifetime. It's such an iconic book and I can definitely see why. I would recommend it to anyone who loves reading and wants to read a classic book, even if they haven't read one yet.

One of the things that inspired me to read this book is the web series adaptation that I'm currently following called The Lizzie Bennet Diaries. The web series (created by Hank Green) is based around a modern adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and Lizzie tells the story entirely through video diaries. It's definitely worth the time it takes to watch it. It can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/user/lizziebennet

(Book 6/50)

Kiss Me Kill Me by Lauren Henderson

Title: Kiss Me Kill Me
Author: Lauren Henderson
260 Pages

Rating 3/5

I got this book for Christmas and wasn't really sure about it at first. I wasn't sure if it was my kind of thing and a lot of reviews I'd come across mentioned not to be deceived by the cover and described it as not being a light bit of 'chick-lit' but I think I disagree to a certain extent. Although the story line isn't that of a stereotypical girly book, I did think it was still a quick and light read.

Kiss Me Kill Me is the first in the Scarlett Wakefield series. When Scarlett gets invited to a party thrown by one of the 'cool' girls in the school, she jumps at the chance. The party takes a turn for the worse and she kisses a boy called Dan who dies in her arms. No one knows how Dan died but they all blame Scarlett and this forces Scarlett to transfer schools. The book shows how Scarlett begins to uncover the truth about that night and follows her on her quest to discover how Dan really died.

The reason I didn't give this book a higher rating is because I felt it didn't really have much content in it. I found the writing style nice and easy to read however the plot seemed a little slow at times. I still enjoyed it though and will be buying the next one in the series.

(Book 5/50)

Lord Of The Flies by William Golding

Title: Lord Of The Flies
Author: William Golding
248 Pages

Rating 4/5

This is the book I'm currently studying (in Year 11) for my English Literature GCSE. I wasn't expecting much from this book after reading last year's book To Kill A Mockingbird and not enjoying it because I assumed it was just that I didn't enjoy books I had to read rather than had chosen to. This book proved that wasn't the case.

Because we are studying this in school, a lot of it was read during lesson time by classmates and my teachers. I found that because we were encouraged to talk about the events of the chapter immediately after reading it, the novel became even more interesting. There were many examples of symbolism that were pointed out by my classmates and my teacher that I may not have picked up on if I'd read it myself.

The story follows a group of boys who are stranded on a desert island after a plane crash. All of these boys are under 12 years old. As the novel progresses we learn how they chose to deal with their situation and the community they develop.

I would definitely recommend this book as I personally found it a really enjoyable read!

(Book 4/50)

Is It Just Me? by Miranda Hart

Title: Is It Just Me?
Author: Miranda Hart
323 Pages

Rating 4/5

As a massive fan of the TV program 'Miranda', when one of my best friends gave me this as a birthday present at the end of December I was very excited. It definitely didn't disappoint either.

This is book isn't what I expected it to be. It's not the typical book written by someone famous that's an autobiography they release seemingly for the sake of being able to say they've written a book. In Is It Just Me? Miranda tells many different funny stories that have happened over the years or just her opinions on certain topics and often talks to her 18-year-old self giving her helpful little hints and tips.

I found this book really unique due to the style of it and I don't think anyone who enjoys both reading and Miranda's TV show will be disappointed with this read. It's definitely worth it for me.

(Book 3/50)

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

Title: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
Author: Jesse Andrews
295 Pages

Rating 4/5

After seeing many BookTubers rave about this book (mainly padfootandprongs07 and jessethereader) I asked for it for Christmas and if was definitely worth it! There's just something about this book that I found amazing and couldn't put down. I wouldn't recommend it for younger readers because it's got a lot of humour in it that wouldn't be understood by younger people and some of the language used isn't appropriate for anyone under the age of around 13 I would say. Obviously, that's just my opinion though.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is written from the perspective of Greg Gaines, a typical high school student who's main aim is to remain 'friendly' with everyone without committing to one social group. His only real friend is a boy named Earl and even then, they describe their relationship as 'professional'. One day, Greg's mother tells him how a girl named Rachel that he knew when he was younger has been diagnosed with Leukemia. Greg then decides to spend time with Rachel, more because he feels as though he has too than wants to.

This book says so it's self, it is not a typical 'caner book'. There's something about the way this book was written that made me fully believe that Jesse Andrews was really Gregory Gaines and the character was so believable, even in writing style, that I found this book was really unique.

I can see how this isn't the kind of book everyone would enjoy but if you think it might be your cup of tea, try it because it's definitely worth reading.

(Book 1/50)

My Top 12 books of 2012!

2012 is the year that I fully began to love books. It's the year I discovered the online book community with it's book bloggers and booktubers, the year I discovered my now favourite author of all time (John Green) and the year I started this blog. Because of all this, I decided to create a list of my top 12 favourite books of 2012. Let me know whether you agree with any of them or not and what you think I should read in 2013. As a side note, these aren't really in any particular order. I love most of them equally with the exception of a few at the top of the list. :)

10. Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle

I read this book just before Christmas and fell in love with it. It's the perfect Christmas book in my opinion and definitely a must read around the festive period!

9. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

After hearing loads of rave reviews about this book I decided to read it and could absolutely see why it deserved those reviews. The plot of the book is so original and unlike anything I've ever come across before.

8. The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

I know this isn't one book but I decided to cheat a little as it would've taken up too many spaces in the list otherwise. With the film coming out this year I decided to read all 3 books and instantly fell in love with them. They were the first dystopian books I read and I would definitely try more in the genre and have done this year! Anyone thinking of reading them should.

7. Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter

As much as I feel that this series is probably aimed at people younger than myself, I really enjoy every addition to it. The idea of a spy school is one that makes me wish I was part of the novel and is a must read for any teenage girl who would secretly love to be a spy.

6. Looking For Alaska by John Green

I read all of John Green's books this year and Looking For Alaska was the one that made me wish I went to boarding school. It's a perfect example of John Green's excellent writing and ability to create characters that leave the reader wishing they were best friends with them. 

5. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

As a girl who loves a good romance novel from time to time, I fell in love with this book instantly. I fell in love with the characters more than anything. A quick read, but one that is still worth the read.

4. Paper Towns by John Green

Yet another example of John Green's phenomenal writing skills in Paper Towns. This book made me feel like I was actually a part of the journey that the characters went on and I loved it so much.

3. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Stephanie Perkins has a way of writing that makes you fall in love with her characters and you find yourself completely unable to put her story down for even an hour. It was the perfect summer read and I will be reading Lola and the Boy Next Door next year!

2. Divergent/Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Again I have cheated a little bit with this one and decided to combine the 2 in one spot on the list. The world that Veronica Roth created in the Divergent books is so amazing that I found it completely impossible to stop reading. The way Insurgent ended also was by far one of the most gripping endings I've ever read in a book and I can't wait for the 3rd book to come out!

1. The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

I love TFiOS more than any book I'd ever read before when I read it and the reason I've put it at the top of my list for 2012 is that it was the book that started my love of reading. I've always read books but after seeing so many people online talking about The Fault in Our Stars I decided to read it around April and it opened up a world of online book lovers to me, that I soon discovered I was part of. This book opened up a world of books that I never knew existed before it and since reading it I've found many favourite books and discovered the writing of many amazing authors. John Green has a way of writing about a sad topic in a way that remains happy and positive until the exact right moment and it is a truly amazing book.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Title: Thirteen Reasons Why
Author: Jay Asher
288 pages

Rating: 4/5

I was a little skeptical to read this after reading The Future of Us earlier this year and not enjoying it but it was on my shelf so I thought I'd give it a go and I'm so glad I did! I thought this book was really good and I can see why it gets so much attention. Not only is it written in a way that makes it absolutely impossible to put down but I found that it also had a really original idea behind it. The plot wasn't necessarily surprising but the general idea of the book and the way that it was written made it really gripping and impossible to put down.

Clay Jensen gets home one day to find a package on his doorstep that contains 7 cassette tapes. He quickly discovers that these tapes contain the 13 reasons his class mate, Hannah Baker, committed suicide. Hannah recorded these tapes just before killing herself in order to explain to certain people the 13 reasons why she did it. Clay listens throughout the night and what he discovers changes his life forever.

*SPOILERS* The one thing I thought was a little bit of a let down with this book was the fact that Clay's name 'didn't belong on the list.' I found that a little predictable and in a way, I thought it could have been better if he had done something to Hannah without knowing it. I did really enjoy the ending as well as I thought the way it ended with him going to talk to Skye left it finished but not in a way that left everything solved. It  left me wondering what had happened to the characters afterwards and I always think that makes the book good. *END OF SPOILERS*

I really enjoyed Thirteen Reasons Why and would definitely recommend it! It's not really for younger readers as there are certain bits that might be a little too mature for people under the age of about 13 but then the nature of the book, I would have thought, doesn't really appeal to young readers any way. A fantastic book though and definitely worth the read. :)

Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter

Title: Out of Sight, Out of Time
Author: Ally Carter
323 Pages

This is book five in the Gallagher Girls Series

Rating 4.5/5

I read the other Gallagher Girls books last summer after getting one of them free with a magazine and I fell in love with them, so when I saw this one a few months ago I had to buy it. I didn't get around to reading it until this week but I finished it in about 3 days, despite the fact I seem to be reading slowly at the moment. It's an amazing book and it reminded me of how much I loved the first 4 so I plan to go back and re-read them sometime next year!

This series focuses on a girl named Cammie Morgan who goes to the Gallagher Academy, a school which to the outside world is for 'exceptional young women' but to the people in the know is a school for training spies. When this book begins Cammie wakes up in a convent in Austria with no memory of how or why she got there. She soon learns that it is October, yet she can not remember anything past June. The novel follows Cammie and her friends Bex, Liz, Macey and Zach, along with her Mother and Aunt as they try to piece together the few clues they have and help Cammie remember her summer. But is remembering the summer the right thing to do or are there parts that are better left forgotten?

*SPOILERS* I have to say, at the beginning of the book I was a little confused as to what was going on when Cammie woke up in the convent but not in a bad way. I found that that confusion just made the reader feel a similar confusion as Cammie was meant to be feeling in that moment, as neither had any idea what had lead up to this moment. I found the music in Cammie's head was really clever, however all through the book I found myself thinking that it was obvious that this was going to be something key to her remembering something. Other than that, everything in the book was totally unexpected, especially the bit where they are at the castle in Ireland and Zach's mother turns up. Also, the ending where Dr Steve manages to hypnotize her into almost jumping off the roof and the fact that he turns out to be working against her I found was very clever. *END OF SPOILERS*

I would recommend this book to anyone who's a fan of YA. It's probably more of a girls book than a boys book but I still think it could be enjoyed by either. The other books in the series do need to be read first in order to understand a few little sections but it is well worth the time! I loved this book and I can't wait for book 6 to come out!

Uglies by Scott Westerfled

Title: Uglies
Author: Scott Westerfeld
425 Pages

Rating 3/5

I thought this book was great, however it didn't really live up to the expectations I had of it. From what I've seen online everyone loved this book and I have to say I don't really get why. It's a fantastic book, don't get me wrong, and the story line is really original and the writing is good but there's just something about it that meant it took me ages to read. Usually books in this sort of genre I love and read in a few days but this one I read on and off for nearly 3 months because I just couldn't get into it.

Uglies is the story of a girl named Tally Youngblood who lives in a world where when you turn 16 you have an operation to turn you pretty. When you go from being an Ugly to being a Pretty you also move over to New Pretty Town and 'your only job is to have a really great time.' Tally makes a new friend Shay just before she turns Pretty and Shay doesn't want to become a Pretty so decides to run away. The authorities then offer Tally the choice of finding Shay and turning her in or never becoming Pretty at all. The novel follows Tally's journey of trying to find Shay and her discovering things about the city that no one else knows.

It sounds pretty much like the plot of any dystopian book so I'm not really sure why I didn't enjoy it much. I guess it was because I've recently read things like The Hunger Games and Divergent so I have high standards for dystopian books and this one just didn't seem as good. I stuck with it because I was determined to finish it to see what all the rave reviews I read were all about and I found that just over half-way through it did become a lot more interesting and fast-paced but until then I found it dragged a little.

*SPOILERS* I found that once Tally had actually got to the smoke it was a lot better and then got better again when she got closer to David and his parents told her more about the operation. I thought the end of the book was great as well with Tally and David having to go back to the city and rescue the others from the Specials and I think I might read the next book, more than anything just to see where Scott Westerfeld went with the story line from there. *END OF SPOILERS*

If you've read this book and are one of the people that think it was really good I've love to hear your opinion of why it's so fantastic because to me, it was just average. Not bad at all, but just not amazing either. Also, let me know if you think it's worth it to read the other books in the series or not. :)

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Title: Insurgent
Author: Veronica Roth
525 Pages

Rating: 5/5

To see my review of Divergent click here

I absolutely loved this book. I actually find it difficult putting into words how good it is! For the last 250 pages particularly I just couldn't put it down! I've seen some reviews say that they felt the same story could have been portrayed in less words but I disagree. I feel like everything that was in this book was there for a reason and I don't think the story as a whole would make as much as an impact if any of it was missing.

*Divergent spoilers from here on*

Tris has managed to survive an attack on Abnegation, her former faction, and has escaped from the Erudite leaders, all while avoiding being put under simulation. But for how much longer can she run from Erudite? Insurgent follows Tris and Tobias in their attempts to save the people of the remaining factions and bring down the Erudite leader, but will they succeed?

*SPOILERS* I loved how the factionless were used throughout the book. I liked the fact that they always seemed to be there in the back ground and just as you forget about them being there a little they appear. I absolutely loved the ending too. I thought the last 3 pages or so were perfect and the whole idea is amazing. The fact that the book ends with them finding out what's outside 'the fence' just left me wanting to read the next book in the series straight away! I also thought the whole idea that there is a 'normal' world outside of the world we've learnt about in Divergent and Insurgent leaves the plot of the next book open to almost anything. I can't wait to discover whether they will venture outside of the gate and explore the world that they know nothing of or whether they will stay inside and try to fix some of the mess that Erudite created in this war. As soon as the next book comes out, I will be buying it! *END OF SPOILERS*

Overall, I loved this book so much and would definitely recommend reading this and Divergent. One of my favourite books I've read this year and I have read a lot of good books this year!

The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Macker

Title: The Future of Us
Authors: Jay Asher and Carolyn Macker
356 Pages

Rating: 3/5

I saw this book in the library and I've got 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher at home ready to read so I thought I'd pick this one up and see what it's like. Mostly, I enjoyed however I didn't find that I wanted to read a lot in one go but I'm not quite sure why. The plot was really good and clever and I loved the idea of it but I couldn't help but feel it could've been better.

The Future of Us is set in 1996, when the internet was just begging to become popular and Facebook wouldn't be invented for another 8 years. When Josh gets an AOL CD-ROM in the post he takes it straight to his next-door neighbor/best friend's house to put on her new computer. Emma then creates an email account and gets taken to a website called 'Facebook' that asks for her email and password. She enters them both and finds her Facebook page from 15 years in the future. She and Josh can see what not only their own lives will turn out like, but also the lives of their Facebook friends.

*SPOILERS* I have to admit, you could see Josh and Emma ending up together a mile off. I would have liked to read more about them at the end though, maybe a little epilogue of what their future actually turns out like or something. I found a lot of this book predictable, like the fact that once Josh finally manages to win over Sydney, he doesn't want to be with her and the same with Emma and Cody. *END OF SPOILERS*

I would recommend this book if you're looking for something with quite a unique story line to it, however be prepared to know what's going to happen next all the way through it. I'm not sure if it was the dual-narrator of Jay Asher and Carolyn Macker that made me not that interested in it but there was just something about it I wasn't quite sure on. Overall however I did think it was a good book, I just wouldn't re-read it.

Book Survey!

So I saw this on Kayley Hyde's blog from a while ago and really wanted to do it so here it is! :)

My 'To-Read' shelf

1. Favorite childhood book?

To be honest, I used to read anything my Jacquline Wilson.
2. What are you reading right now?

The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson and Insurgent by Veronica Roth

3. What books do you have on request at the library?

None at the moment. 

4. Bad book habit?

Buying loads even though I already have loads to read...

5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?

I went to the library today actually and had to rush to leave so just grabbed one called The Future Of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler, partly because I liked the cover and partly because I've heard good things of Jay Asher's writing before.

6. Do you have an e-reader?

I don't but my Mum recently got an e-reader but doesn't use it all the time so I borrow it sometimes. I was surprised by how much I liked reading on there actually!

7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?

I like to read one at a time because I find I focus on it more but if I'm not really enjoying a book I find I end up reading 3 or 4 at the same time. Also if I buy some books, often I can't wait to start one of them. 

8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?

I haven't had my blog for long so not really, however discovering the booktuber community on YouTube did! That and The Fault In Our Stars by John Green got be back into reading after a while of not reading much at all. I'd forgotten how much I loved books!

9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far?)

There's a few I've read and haven't been very impressed with at all. Off the top of my head, probably Abandon by Meg Cabot because nothing seemed to really happen in it other than her explaining her past and Theodore Boone by John Grisham but that's more because it's just not my kind of book.

10. Favorite book you’ve read this year?

I read The Fault in Our Stars by John Green not long ago and I think that will probably be my favourite book of all time but close behind that is Paper Towns also by John Green, Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, The Hunger Games (the full trilogy) by Suzanne Collins and Divergent by Veronica Roth.

11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?

Not often but I don't think I've fully found my comfort zone just yet. I like to try and read different things and I know roughly what I enjoy but sometimes I'll pick a book up thinking I'll like it and I won't or even the other way round. I do quite often pick up book at the library that are a bit different to what I usually read just because that way I can see if I like them without having to spend money on them. :)

12. What is your reading comfort zone?

I guess I read mainly YA but I don't pick books out based on what genre they are. It's more if I like the sound of the book from the blurb and the reviews.

13. Can you read on the bus?

I don't often get the bus because where I live we use the train more because it's quite far from Cardiff which is the nearest city and the towns are all quite spaced out but I love to read on the train so I guess so. :)

14. Favorite place to read?

If I'm on the train on my own (which admittedly I rarely am), in the back garden on a sunny day (again, a rare occurrence in Wales), in my room, on the sofa or in bed before I go to sleep.

15. What is your policy on book lending?

I share books really often but only to about 3 people. I find that I read a book and then want someone to talk to about it so I'll either lend it to one of my friends or if I think it's really good I'll convince them to buy it. I also often try and get my friends that don't read much to read books I like by offering to lend them books or just making them borrow them. :')

16. Do you ever dog-ear books?

Never, I like books to look like new. I don't crack the spine on most books either. There are certain books that just look like they should be destroyed though so I will on them.

17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?

Not really, I just never really think of it. Also, my obsession to keep books looking like new might make that a little difficult. :')

18. Not even with text books?

All our text books in our school belong to the school and we don't take them home or anything, so no.

19. What is your favorite language to read in?

English. I can't speak any other languages, as much as I'd like to be able to speak Welsh, German, French and Spanish.

20. What makes you love a book?

It depends but usually if it flows really well I'll enjoy it. I like books that you can just sit down and read until you've read most of it without it feeling like you've been reading for very long, like with The Fault In Our Stars by John Green or Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. Also, if the characters are amazing I fall in love with a book like with Paper Towns by John Green where I found Q, Radar and Ben to be a believable friendship group and found myself comparing them to people I know or Along For The Ride by Sarah Dessen where I completely fell in love with Eli.

21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?

If I finish it and feel like I want to talk to someone about it or immediately want to read it again I'll recommend it to my friends. 

22. Favorite genre?

YA fiction I guess but I don't really think about it while I read. 

23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)

I wish I read more classic books but there's so many that I really want to read that I never seem to get around to it.

24. Favorite biography?

I don't really like biographies but I actually really liked Miley Cyrus' book when I read it a few years ago and I got both of the One Direction books this Christmas and had read them within about a day because they were really easy to read and I find it's nice to read the biographies of people who either have an interesting story to tell or are just getting started in their career and it's about how they got to where they are now.

25. Have you ever read a self-help book?

Nope.

26. Favorite cookbook?

I don't really cook but a friend of mine got me a book called 1001 Cupcakes, Cookies and Other Tempting Treats for Christmas a few years ago and there's a few really cute and creative things to do with plain cookies and cupcakes so I quite like that. :)

27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?

Probably The Fault In Our Stars by John Green. That's the only one that really made me think about things after I'd finished it.

28. Favorite reading snack?

I don't really eat while reading. I drink quite a lot of water though. 

29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.

Most of the time I feel books sort of live up to the hype. It's the same with music, I feel like if things are 'mainstream' or whatever you want to call it there's a reason for that and it's a lot of people like it. I wasn't particularly keen on the first Darren Shan book that I read this year though despite the fact everyone seemed to love it.

30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?

I don't really read critics reviews or anything but I often agree with reviews I find on YouTube, Goodreads or on here.

31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?

I feel like if I really don't like a book, especially if it's one most other people seem to like, I should give it a negative review, however I do try not to be mean to a book for no real reason. I try to just explain why I didn't enjoy the book while keeping in mind that someone spent a long time and a lot of effort writing what I'm criticising. 

32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you choose?

It's not a foreign language technically but I wish I could speak and read in Welsh, purely because I feel like I should be able to speak the native language of the country I've always lived in but we all speak English here. I'd like to be able to read in French and Spanish as well but I don't have reasons for them, I just like the languages. :)

33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read? 

I don't really read intimidating books because I know I won't finish them.

34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?

There isn't really one. :') 

35. Favorite Poet?

I know it's bad but I don't really read poetry. I don't even know why because I'm a massive fan of song lyrics but I guess I just haven't read any.

36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?

Usually about 3. Not too many that I can't read books I own but a few.

37. How often have you returned a book to the library unread?

 I have returned them quite a few times where I've read the first few chapters and found I didn't really like it. I'm about to do the same with a book when I take this lot back.

38. Favorite fictional character? 

After recently reading Paper Towns I think Margo Roth Spiegelman is absolutely amazing and I found myself wanting to be her but also, when I was reading the Harry Potter books for the first time when I was quite young I remember having a bit of a weird love for Fred Weasley...not George, just Fred...yeah I don't know about that one. :L I really liked Gus from The Fault In Our Stars by John Green too, purely because I felt like he brought out the best in Hazel and I found their friendship, as well as their relationship, inspiring.  

39. Favorite fictional villain?

Probably Voldemort.

40. Books you’re most likely to bring on vacation?

Anything on my to-read list but I do find when I'm in another country I tend to like romance books or books that are set in a country or city that is a big tourist location a little more when I'm at home. I'm not quite sure why. 

41. The longest you’ve gone without reading.

I didn't really get into reading a lot until earlier this year so I've gone months before.

42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.

There's a book I bought whilst in Primary school called Mariah Mundi: The Midas Box by G. P. Taylor and there's just something about it that I can't read it. I find the way it's written to be really difficult to read, especially seeing as though it's meant for late Primary school readers and it's also a little scary. I've started it about 4 times and never got past about chapter 10.

43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?

If I've been listening to a song that's stuck in my head I find I can't fully concentrate on the book. 

44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?

I think the only films that are adaptations of novels that I've not had any criticism of at all are the Harry Potters. The books and the films were equally as amazing and when I am 80 I will be reading and watching them still.

45. Most disappointing film adaptation?

I can't really think of any. To be honest, I don't think I read many books that get adapted into films. I wasn't a massive fan of The Hunger Games movie though, controversial I know.

46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?

If I'm buying the books I don't think I've ever bought more than 6 at one time and I mostly buy them online on amazon so probably about £30 ish. I usually buy 3 at a time which ends up at about £15.

47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?

Never, I read the blur and although I know I probably shouldn't, kind of judge by the cover if it's meant for people like me and if I'll like it. If I'm not buying a book I already knew I wanted I tend to stick to authors I know I like though. Otherwise I could buy loads.

48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?

I hate it when the writing style of a book makes it seem like a chore to read it. 

49. Do you like to keep your books organized?

I reorganize my bookshelves all the time. Mostly I tend to put the ones from when I was younger that I can't throw away at the bottom and then as it gets the top it's what I like the most and then I have a to-read shelf and a separate shelf that has the Harry Potter books, movies and things I bought from the studio tour. Certain shelves like the one with my favourite and my tbr shelf are organised alphabetically by author too, because I get really bored. :')

50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?

I keep my books. I aim to one day have enough books I could have a house with a room dedicated to books that had walls full of them and had a sliding ladder. I love lending them though and if I don't want to keep it for whatever reason I'd give them to a charity shop, so it's helping charity and someone else can enjoy it just as much as I did. :)

51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?

Not on purpose. There are quite a few books I've wanted to read for a while but just either haven't got round to it or haven't got round to buying them yet but it's not on purpose. Just lack of time and money.

52. Name a book that made you angry.

Abandon by Meg Cabot annoyed me. I don't usually get annoyed by books but it just seemed like such a bad book and I've never read one of her books before, despite the fact I've heard a lot about them and absolutely loved The Princess Diaries films. I just felt like nothing really happened and what did happen you could see coming a mile off. I think books that aren't unique or interesting at all annoy me because that's what I found with that.

53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?

We read Noughts And Crosses in year 9 English in school and I didn't think I would like it because most books we read in school I don't like and I ended up loving it so much that as soon as we finished reading it, I went and bought the other 3 in the series online and read them all that summer. It's not the type of thing I usually go for but I really really loved them.

54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t?

The Chronicles of Narnia books. I got given the series as a Christmas present when I was about 7 and although I don't remember not liking them, I have never read the full box set. I think I've read the first 2 out of the 8. I do plan to read them someday though, even if I may be too old for them now. 

55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?

My Harry Potter Books

I don't feel guilty about reading. I feel like reading is my equivalent to my friends watching movies because I don't really watch many films. Also, I think that reading is better than watching TV because you're learning and experiencing new writing and being creative by imagining it in your head but very similar because it's all being told a story that someone has created for the purpose of entertainment. 

Theodore Boone by John Grisham

Title: Theodore Boone
Author: John Grisham
263 Pages

Rating: 3/5

I picked this book up at the library, more because I couldn't really find anything else I wanted to read and I thought I may as well give a different kind of book a go but I didn't really enjoy it. It was well written but wasn't particularly gripping and I didn't feel like I wanted to read it all the time like I usually feel with books.

Theodore Boone comes from a family where both of his parents are lawyers, and he plans to follow in their footsteps. At only 13, Theodore already has his future planned out, although he often changes his mind about whether to be a judge or a lawyer. The novel follows Theo as he finds himself in the middle of the biggest murder trial his town has seen for decades with a vital piece of evidence that could be the difference between someone getting convicted and someone walking free.

*SPOILERS* I found the fact that Theo's friends go to him for legal advice and the fact he knows the solution to anything they ask him ever so slightly unrealistic. I understand that this is his character and it doesn't necessarily need to be believable because at the end of the day it is a work of fiction but I felt that the rest of the novel was written in a naturalistic way, other than this aspect of his character. *END OF SPOILERS*

Overall I thought the book was well written although I probably wouldn't recommend it to someone who enjoys similar books to me. I almost feel like it was a waste of time me reading it when I could've been reading something else. The only real reason I gave it a 3/5 is because the writing style was good.

Along For The Ride by Sarah Dessen

Title: Along For The Ride
Author: Sarah Dessen
424 Pages

Rating 4/5

I really enjoyed this book however it took me a while to get into it properly. Once I was into it I thought it was a lovely book and I would definitely read one of Sarah Dessen's books again.

When Auden finally has enough of things at her Mother's house she packs up and moves to her Dad's for the summer. While at her Dad's she gradually becomes less of the studious bookworm she's always been and begins to get to know herself a little more. She also meets a mysterious boy that she can't help but want to get to know more about. Along For The Ride follows Auden and Eli as they spend their nights together, keeping each other company and getting to know each other, due to the fact neither of them sleep.

*SPOILERS* I found that the reason it took so long for me to get into it is because at the start it seems to be all to do with the baby and it got kind of boring after a while. I wouldn't have minded if it showed at some point in the story that this was essential but it didn't really. I did find that I was totally in love with Eli and fell more and more in love with him as we got to know him more. I thought the way Sarah Dessen brought the whole plot to life was beautiful and everything from her relationship with her Mother and Father to the way she is kind of socially awkward until she gets to her Dad's adds to the story and makes it a wonderful read. *END OF SPOILERS*

I would recommend this book as a summer read for people looking to try Sarah Dessen books. I've heard a lot about her and this is the first book I read by her and I really liked it.