Book Review: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Book Review: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Summary:
This story is about the Sinclairs, a beautiful and distinguished family, who spend their summers on a private island. I won't reveal much more, because I feel it would take away from the reading experience. Let's just say this story is filled with mystery.

Review:
First, let me say, I had very high expectations when I started reading this. Sadly, I think that may have ruined it a bit for me. I felt like before I even started reading, I expected it to become my favorite book, but it just didn't turn out that way. It was very, very good, just not as great as I had thought it would be.

For the first 100 pages or so, I felt very ambivalent. I had a hard time getting really into the story. However, it certainly got better and better the more I read.

I really love the setting on the island, and I imagined it vividly. I also, once I'd read quite a bit, really liked the characters, and how the facade came tumbling down for a lot of them, and you're exposed to the centre.

I felt like the ending surprised me a lot, but it didn't make that huge of an impact on me. I think I'd built it up in my head to be this extraordinary, completely shocking, twisted ending, and yes, it was surprising, but somehow... I wasn't all that shocked.

I think the writing was beautiful, and I think rereading this book could be quite interesting, as I imagine I missed a lot of clues while reading it for the first time.


I may still sound a little "meh", but it was really, really good! I would recommend this to anyone who wants to read a cool and interesting mystery novel that isn't too hard to read. I especially think it could be a good summer read.

Book Review: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
Title: We Were Liars
Author: E. Lockhart
Published: 2014
Language: English
Pages: 227
Rating: 3/5

Top 5: Book to Movie Adaptation Wish List

Top 5: Book to Movie Adaptation Wish List
I really like watching movie adaptations of books. Although I usually prefer the book, I like seeing someone else's interpretation of a story I've read and connected to, and see what we imagined different and what we imagined the same.

I have a bunch of books I'd like to see as movies, and here are my top 5.

1. The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

I finished this very recently, and I knew instantly that I'd love to see it as a film. I think it could be a really funny, exciting and adventurous movie with some fantastic characters.

It also has a dragon in it, which is always a plus.

2. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

Somebody needs to make this into a movie ASAP!

This is one of my favorite fantasy novels, and I would love to see this universe on the screen. The world building in this novel is very thorough, and the story is very interesting, and I think it could be translated beautifully into a film. If done right, it would be a revelation.

3. Inferno by Dante Aligheri

I have no idea if anyone has ever made a movie about this, but I'd like to see someone make a new spin on it in a modern way. I think a more free adaptation of this text could be really interesting.

4. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

I have seen a movie adaptation of this from 1993, I watched it when I was little and I remember enjoying it. I would like to see a more modern adaptation of this though, I think it could be a very beautiful movie. I imagine beautiful scenery and very appropriate music.

5. Across the Universe by Beth Revis

I bet at some point someone is going to make this into a movie. I hope it happens soon. I have a very clear picture in my head of a lot of things in this story, and I think it would be fun to see it on screen. I also think this would be something a lot of people would like to see, even though they haven't read the book.

Notebooks

I absolutely love notebooks, and today I thought I would show you some of my favorites that I own.

I use some for jotting down ideas and things on the go, others I use to write down poetry I like, and in some I try to draw in. I really like writing things down by hand and not always making a note on my phone.

from Peter Pauper Press

from Laura Biogiotti

from Il Papiro

from PaperBlanks

from Lanybook

Book Review: The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

Book Review: The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
This is the first book in the "The Heroes of Olympus" series.

Summary:
This book tells the story about three misfits; Jason, who does not remember anything before he wakes up on a bus full of classmates, Piper, who carries a secret about her father, and Leo, who is really good with tools but is also carrying a dark secret.

While on a class trip to the Grand Canyon, Jason, Piper and Leo are attacked by wind gods, hurled off to something called Camp Half-Blood, and each told that they're the child of different Greek gods, making them demigods. And that's all fun and great, but there's also an unknown threat on the horizon, and they must set off on a dangerous and possibly deathly quest to defeat it.

Review:
As far as I know, this is set in the same universe as the Percy Jackson series, but I've never read them, so this was my first meeting with this particular world.

I really enjoyed this book, it was so entertaining to read. Right of the bat, it's very exciting and action packed. I had no problems understanding what was going on and I had no problems with the world building. It's a sort of adventure fantasy book, which is right up my alley. I am really interesting in the Greek Gods, so I absolutely loved that particular aspect of the story.

One of my favorite things was the humor, I thought it suited the story well. I kept snickering to myself and smiling. Leo quickly became on of my favorite characters. I also really like that you get to read from three viewpoints; Leos, Jasons and Pipers. I liked how we got to see them develop through the story. Also, Coach Hedge was very much a comic relief.

Overall, this was an action packed, exciting adventure story with great characters and lots of funny moments. Loved it!

I would recommend this to anyone who wants to read a fun and exciting book. I also think this is an easy way into fantasy if you've never read any of that genre before.

Book Review: The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
Title: The Lost Hero
Author: Rick Riordan
Published: 2010
Language: English
Pages: 576
Rating: 5/5

Book vs Movie: The Great Gatsby

Book vs Movie: The Great Gatsby
I recently read The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and I really enjoyed it. I then watched the movie a few weeks later, and I thought I would share my thoughts about it.

Summary:
The story is about Jay Gatsby, a very rich man who lives his life in the obsessive pursuit of being worthy and reclaiming the woman he loves, Daisy.

The Book:

I really liked the book, I found it very beautifully written, and I found the characters to be very interesting. My favorite part about the book was how Gatsby is this mystery that slowly unravels, and you get to meet the man behind all the fabulous parties and rumors.

I liked that it was short, and nothing felt excessive or boring.

The Movie:
First of all, I really enjoyed this movie. It's definitely my cup of tea. I love the colors and the location. I liked that it had a sort of "fake" feeling to it, like it wasn't real.

I really loved how these huge parties really came to life. It was even more grand than I had imagined, but I thought it fit very nicely.

One of my few problems with this movie was that I felt it didn't have the same sense of mystery surrounding Gatsby. Maybe it was because I already knew Leonardo DiCaprio was playing him, but I didn't feel the same about him. I was also a tiny bit bothered by the use of the phrase "old sport", as I felt it didn't fit as well on screen as it did in the book.

I also thought the reaching for the green light was a little over the top.

One of my favorite scenes was the one between Gatsby and Daisy, when they're in Nick's house and meet for the first time in a very long time. I thought it was funny and adorable.

I mostly enjoyed the rest of the characters, and I especially liked Tom Buchanan. I thought he was portrayed very much like I had imagined. Daisy was also very good, just as air headed and annoying as I thought she was in the book.

Book Review: Shades of Earth by Beth Revis

Book Review: Shades of Earth by Beth Revis
This is the third and final book in the Across the Universe trilogy.

Summary:
After being trapped on Godspeed for so long, Amy, Elder and other citizens of the ship, finally land on Centauri-Earth. They are ready to start fresh, build a new home... but this planet is not what they expected. Danger lurks in this unknown world, and they must find a way to establish their colony without being killed.

Review:
I thought this was a very good ending to the series. Finally we reach Centauri-Earth. I loved how Amy relishes in all these things that she knew back on Sol-Earth (like rain and lighting), while most of the shipborns find it frightening. The beginning felt a tiny bit slow for me though.

I really liked how the main characters really grew more and more adults in this book. I also liked how Amy and Elders relationship bloomed, while still being reminded that they are very young. I thought the mystery of the new planet was so exciting and at time very gruesome, but that just made it more realistic.

I think a certain transformation in one of the characters was slightly far-fetched. The end is very action-packed, and I didn't feel like it really addressed what was happening when it came to that. It just happened, and was accepted, even though it was a huge thing. And although, in the end, the author made some sacrifices in characters, it is a part of me that wished that the ending wasn't wrapped up so neatly. But that is simply a personal preference.


All in all, this book was very entertaining and very much a page turner. As the others, I would recommend this to anyone who likes science fiction and dystopian fiction, and anyone who wants a fascinating, exciting and easy read.

Book Review: Shades of Earth by Beth Revis
Title: Shades of Earth
Author: Beth Revis
Published: 2013
Language: English
Pages: 441
Rating: 3/5

Gift Guide: For Booklovers

Gift Guide: For Booklovers
Sometimes it can actually be quite difficult to buy gifts for booklovers. You'd think: just buy a book, right? But sometimes it's really hard to find the right book; would this person like this? Have they already read it?

So, I thought I'd give you some ideas as to what you could a booklover if you can't find a book.

1. Bookmarks

Because all booklovers need them!

from The Book Depository

from Franklin Mill

From Etsy

2. Literary Cups

Because sometimes we want coffee or tea or hot chocolate.

from Etsy

from Etsy

from Society6

3. Tote Bags

Because they are handy, and you can carry all the books you want.

from RedBubble

from Society6

from Society 6

4. Notebooks

Because we all love them.

from Franklin Mill

from Etsy (you can get these personalized)

from Franklin Mill

5. Pens/Pencils

Because you need something to write in your notebooks with.

from Franklin Mill

from Franklin Mill

from Etsy

Hope this gave you some ideas!

Book Review: A Million Suns by Beth Revis

Book Review: A Million Suns by Beth Revis

Summary:
It's been a while since Amy was woken up from her frozen sleep. Elder has become the leader of the ship, and he although he tries to lead, the people are restless, angry and confused.

There are still many secrets lurking about the ship, and now they must try to find a way to complete their initial mission: arrive and start a new life on Centauri-Earth.

Review:
I felt like this was a good sequel to the first book. We start off almost right after the first book ended. The fragile society that came with the Elder/Eldest system is falling into chaos. The people, accustomed to not having a voice or free will, don't really know what to do with themselves. I thought it was interesting to watch and quite realistic.

I found the characters to still be interesting, but I felt the story was a bit slow at times. It felt like the first one was so explosive, this was a little duller in comparison. And although there were still many secrets to uncover, it didn't feel quite as surprising as it built up to be. The ending was good, although I figured it was going to end that way.

Book Review: A Million Suns by Beth Revis
Title: A Million Suns
Author: Beth Revis
Published: 2012
Language: English
Pages: 404
ISBN: 978159145376
Rating: 4/5