So, I finished The Hobbit and I decided I needed to take a break from new stories.
The whole purpose of this blog was to get me reading things that were new, to stop me rereading old stories and I can honestly say that in the year since this blog was set up I haven't reread a single book.
I've decided to take a break from new fiction for a month or so, I reread The Fault in Our Stars by John Green last week and I'm currently rereading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. I'll be back here no doubt with insights on these old books I think of as I reread them, and I already have my eye on what I want to read next, although I'm waiting for it to be released in paperback so it's easier on my student budget.
Don't go away, I'll still be here, just in smaller doses whilst I plough through these exams!
Thank you all for sticking with me, I appreciate it :)
Monday 22 April 2013
Friday 19 April 2013
FINISHED: The Hobbit
I finished 'The Hobbit' about two weeks ago, and still don't know entirely what I think of it.
I enjoyed the read, the process of reading it reminded me a bit of reading a Pratchett book in that I laughed out loud despite it not necessarily being a comical book. I loved the way Tolkien wrote little side notes to the reader, stating when he was going off track, or that such things were stories for other times. He reminded me of Gandalf (or should that be the other way around) in that he was very frank in his storytelling. It felt very much like an aural experience rather than a read experience.
I enjoyed the story, although like Lord of the Rings it had a few false endings I could have done without. Especially with children's fiction (which this is) I like my stories to have a defined ending point, one that matches the goal at the outset of the story. That didn't happen here, but that is more of a personal quibble than a fault with Tolkien's storytelling.
I have surprisingly little to say about such a popular work, but I enjoyed it, I will tell others to read it if they like fantasy and will probably read it to my children if I ever have them.
I look forward to the film!
8/10
I enjoyed the read, the process of reading it reminded me a bit of reading a Pratchett book in that I laughed out loud despite it not necessarily being a comical book. I loved the way Tolkien wrote little side notes to the reader, stating when he was going off track, or that such things were stories for other times. He reminded me of Gandalf (or should that be the other way around) in that he was very frank in his storytelling. It felt very much like an aural experience rather than a read experience.
I enjoyed the story, although like Lord of the Rings it had a few false endings I could have done without. Especially with children's fiction (which this is) I like my stories to have a defined ending point, one that matches the goal at the outset of the story. That didn't happen here, but that is more of a personal quibble than a fault with Tolkien's storytelling.
I have surprisingly little to say about such a popular work, but I enjoyed it, I will tell others to read it if they like fantasy and will probably read it to my children if I ever have them.
I look forward to the film!
8/10
Friday 5 April 2013
Currently Reading: The Hobbit
I'm getting there with The Hobbit, I promise!!
I am nearly 90% through, review will be coming soon. Stick with me guys, being home for Easter means I'm not reading as much as I should...
I am nearly 90% through, review will be coming soon. Stick with me guys, being home for Easter means I'm not reading as much as I should...
Monday 4 March 2013
STARTING: The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
Having recently watched the first two Lord of the Rings films with DB (we didn't have time to watch the third, although I guarantee we will watch it this weekend), I decided that I needed to read some Middle Earth tales for myself.
I also thought I'd ease myself in gently with the 'childrens' version... take from that what you will.
Tuesday 26 February 2013
FINISHED: Life of Pi (spoilers)
So, this story is about so much more than a boy, a tiger and a lifeboat. But the tiger certainly helped in my case (tigers are my favourite wild animals).
Pi is a boy who lives on a zoo in India, he has a passion for God so strong he is a practicing Muslim, Hindu and Christian. The passages where he describes his impressions of the seperate religions upon first encountering them and then as he comes to understand and appreciate them are beautiful and often hilarious. For the first time since The Virgin Suicides I found myself underlining passages in pencil.
After the family uproots from India, travelling on a cargo ship to Canada to start a new life, and to sell the animals abroad where they will get more money, the ship sinks and Pi is left stranded on a lifeboat with Richard Parker, the Bengal tiger. The desperation of the situation is put across perfectly, you feel as though you've been on the lifeboat by the time it reaches land. I simultaneously was desperate to find out what happened, but also to slow down to make it last longer. I didn't want this book to end.
The only part I felt uncomfortable with was during Pi's temporary blindness and the emergence of the frenchman, mostly because I was confused, but I assume that was the point.
It as been noted before I am not a fan of unreliable narrators, and the ambiguity in whether or not this part was real made my brain ache. But after Richard Parker intervenes (best name for a tiger.. none of these pet names), the story is back to its normal self and all the better for it.
But the ending is perfect, although somewhat sudden (but I suppose Pi's personal ending is spread throughout the book). Two stories, one fantastical, one incredibly grim but more realistic. Which do you choose?
I don't consider myself a religious person, but I prefer the tiger. Tiger over the true ruthlessness of the human race any day.
9/10
(On a side note I watched the film today and it was very well done considering the book is almost entirely internal monologue. Two things I would have liked to have seen more of were the writers opinions on the story which are interspersed throughout the book but only featured at the beginning and the end of the film, and Pi's struggle to find food for Richard Parker. His use of the turtle shells for defense against Richard Parker struck a chord with me. Although it may have been too gruesome for the screen...
It deserved its BAFTAs and Oscars wholeheartedly.)
Pi is a boy who lives on a zoo in India, he has a passion for God so strong he is a practicing Muslim, Hindu and Christian. The passages where he describes his impressions of the seperate religions upon first encountering them and then as he comes to understand and appreciate them are beautiful and often hilarious. For the first time since The Virgin Suicides I found myself underlining passages in pencil.
After the family uproots from India, travelling on a cargo ship to Canada to start a new life, and to sell the animals abroad where they will get more money, the ship sinks and Pi is left stranded on a lifeboat with Richard Parker, the Bengal tiger. The desperation of the situation is put across perfectly, you feel as though you've been on the lifeboat by the time it reaches land. I simultaneously was desperate to find out what happened, but also to slow down to make it last longer. I didn't want this book to end.
The only part I felt uncomfortable with was during Pi's temporary blindness and the emergence of the frenchman, mostly because I was confused, but I assume that was the point.
It as been noted before I am not a fan of unreliable narrators, and the ambiguity in whether or not this part was real made my brain ache. But after Richard Parker intervenes (best name for a tiger.. none of these pet names), the story is back to its normal self and all the better for it.
But the ending is perfect, although somewhat sudden (but I suppose Pi's personal ending is spread throughout the book). Two stories, one fantastical, one incredibly grim but more realistic. Which do you choose?
I don't consider myself a religious person, but I prefer the tiger. Tiger over the true ruthlessness of the human race any day.
9/10
(On a side note I watched the film today and it was very well done considering the book is almost entirely internal monologue. Two things I would have liked to have seen more of were the writers opinions on the story which are interspersed throughout the book but only featured at the beginning and the end of the film, and Pi's struggle to find food for Richard Parker. His use of the turtle shells for defense against Richard Parker struck a chord with me. Although it may have been too gruesome for the screen...
It deserved its BAFTAs and Oscars wholeheartedly.)
Tuesday 19 February 2013
Currently Reading: Life of Pi
Oh this book you guys, this book.
I'm only 89 pages in and I'm infatuated.
The descriptions of religion we've had so far have pushed me to underline certain phrases in pencil. And I barely ever write in my books. I'm pretty sure the only other paper book I have ever done this in is The Virgin Suicides and that is basically my favourite book. So this is saying a lot guys.
I have very few coherent thoughts about this book, all I can get out is a stream of ALKJALRILAJR IT'S SO GOOD but that may be the horrendous cold I am suffering from.
I'll be back once I'm done with hopefully a better review than bashing my hands off the keys!
I'm only 89 pages in and I'm infatuated.
The descriptions of religion we've had so far have pushed me to underline certain phrases in pencil. And I barely ever write in my books. I'm pretty sure the only other paper book I have ever done this in is The Virgin Suicides and that is basically my favourite book. So this is saying a lot guys.
I have very few coherent thoughts about this book, all I can get out is a stream of ALKJALRILAJR IT'S SO GOOD but that may be the horrendous cold I am suffering from.
I'll be back once I'm done with hopefully a better review than bashing my hands off the keys!
Tuesday 12 February 2013
STARTING: Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Not sure I really need to say much about this book! Other than it involves a tiger and therefore I have to read it! See you all soon!
Saturday 2 February 2013
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky (trigger warning for sexual assault)
I tried guys, I tried again. I wanted to like this book, I read the first page a few months ago and got annoyed at how he judged the person he was writing to's worth based on who they had sex with and put it back in disgust. But then I watched the film and really enjoyed it, felt I had misjudged it and decided to give it another go. So I did. But to no avail.
I just want to put the record straight that I do not think this is a bad book, I don't think it's a bad story. It is just not a book for me. I have a problem with unreliable narrators in books as a general rule, I don't like them, they stress me out. Sometimes I can cope, in murder mystery novels it can add to the plot, but in books not about mystery it makes me anxious and this book was no different.
I was doing fine and thinking maybe I could cope until we reach a scene *TRIGGER WARNING* in which the narrator describes a rape he witnessed in great detail to someone else, not realising what he had witnessed. And at this point I closed the book. I couldn't deal with reading something like that in somebody's voice. I have enough trouble reading accounts of sexual assault without being trapped in somebody's head. It makes me feel sick and shaky and everything is just far too triggering.
And knowing what was to come in the book (having seen the film) I decided for my own mental health not to read it.
So I understand why a lot of people really like this book, I just couldn't cope with the subject matter and the writing style together. So I won't be trying to read it again. But that doesn't mean I think it's bad.
Just so you know.
I just want to put the record straight that I do not think this is a bad book, I don't think it's a bad story. It is just not a book for me. I have a problem with unreliable narrators in books as a general rule, I don't like them, they stress me out. Sometimes I can cope, in murder mystery novels it can add to the plot, but in books not about mystery it makes me anxious and this book was no different.
I was doing fine and thinking maybe I could cope until we reach a scene *TRIGGER WARNING* in which the narrator describes a rape he witnessed in great detail to someone else, not realising what he had witnessed. And at this point I closed the book. I couldn't deal with reading something like that in somebody's voice. I have enough trouble reading accounts of sexual assault without being trapped in somebody's head. It makes me feel sick and shaky and everything is just far too triggering.
And knowing what was to come in the book (having seen the film) I decided for my own mental health not to read it.
So I understand why a lot of people really like this book, I just couldn't cope with the subject matter and the writing style together. So I won't be trying to read it again. But that doesn't mean I think it's bad.
Just so you know.
Wednesday 30 January 2013
FINISHED: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
This is not a bad book, I want to clarify this before I go any further. What it is is a potentially great book that fails to reach its potential.
The story of a boy who grew up with his grandfather's bizarre fairytales only to realise in his teenage years that they can't be real... or can they...? I won't go too far into the story, I wouldn't be able to explain it without it sounding over complicated and silly, when it really is neither.
This story wanted to be 2nd World War allegory, it wanted to be X-Men, it wanted to be 'boy thinks he's normal but turns out to have powers'. But really it should have picked one and run with it. It was as Tolkien said "like butter scraped over too much bread", the book was too long for the narrative and the story wasn't entirely completed (of which in the end I was glad as I couldn't see where it was going).
The setting of a tiny Welsh island seemed forced, and without any reason. It seemed too easy for Jacob (whose name I just had to look up... that says a lot) to get there from America without too much justification. The 'big bads' of the story were basically non-existant throughout the middle of the story, and entirely unthreatening by the end. It started off delightfully creepy and ended not so...
I just. I was underwhelmed.
And I know it's a first novel. But it needed a good editor to take the scissors and glue to it and say develop this more, show not tell, this is too contrived, get rid of this.
The photos were a lovely element, but gorgeous packaging does not a great novel make.
And this was perfectly fine YA fodder, it didn't pander, it wasn't offensive in any way. Some of the characters were quite charming and anyone who knows me well will know I love pyro-kinetic characters, but this time, a girl who could make fire wasn't enough for me.
Sorry Ransom Riggs. Don't let it stop you from trying again, I do believe you have a great story in you, this just isn't it.
6/10
The story of a boy who grew up with his grandfather's bizarre fairytales only to realise in his teenage years that they can't be real... or can they...? I won't go too far into the story, I wouldn't be able to explain it without it sounding over complicated and silly, when it really is neither.
This story wanted to be 2nd World War allegory, it wanted to be X-Men, it wanted to be 'boy thinks he's normal but turns out to have powers'. But really it should have picked one and run with it. It was as Tolkien said "like butter scraped over too much bread", the book was too long for the narrative and the story wasn't entirely completed (of which in the end I was glad as I couldn't see where it was going).
The setting of a tiny Welsh island seemed forced, and without any reason. It seemed too easy for Jacob (whose name I just had to look up... that says a lot) to get there from America without too much justification. The 'big bads' of the story were basically non-existant throughout the middle of the story, and entirely unthreatening by the end. It started off delightfully creepy and ended not so...
I just. I was underwhelmed.
And I know it's a first novel. But it needed a good editor to take the scissors and glue to it and say develop this more, show not tell, this is too contrived, get rid of this.
The photos were a lovely element, but gorgeous packaging does not a great novel make.
And this was perfectly fine YA fodder, it didn't pander, it wasn't offensive in any way. Some of the characters were quite charming and anyone who knows me well will know I love pyro-kinetic characters, but this time, a girl who could make fire wasn't enough for me.
Sorry Ransom Riggs. Don't let it stop you from trying again, I do believe you have a great story in you, this just isn't it.
6/10
Sunday 27 January 2013
Currently Reading: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
A book written by John Green's (Paper Towns, Looking for Alaska) college peer Ransom Riggs, based around second hand photos the author collects, Riggs has strung together a story of fantasy and family. Really enjoying it so far, and some of the photos are really creepy.
A beautiful book that deserves to be read in paper copy!
Books finished:
Films watched: 2
Saturday 19 January 2013
Update: I've been neglecting you
So, these past few weeks have been a bit of a chaotic blur, I am currently in the middle of exams season with one done and two left to go, but with my final one on Friday and the promise of DB arriving that night I'm getting through!
I'm still in the midst of Grimm Tales, I can't have many stories left to finish, but my copy of Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children arrived in the post today and I simply can't not start it. It is absolutely beautiful, so glad I bought the paper copy. I regretted not buying The Book Thief and Why We Broke Up in paper copies as they were so beautifully illustrated but if I stumble upon them when I am monied I shall have to purchase them.
Here are some photos of the books on my hilariously messy bedside table. I apologise for the state of it, this always happens.
Also it snowed in Aber for once! It looked lovely even if it did make getting to my first exam a bit stressful.
I promise I shall get back into the blogging swing more successfully once term starts properly! Thankyou all for sticking around :)
I promise I shall get back into the blogging swing more successfully once term starts properly! Thankyou all for sticking around :)
Thursday 3 January 2013
50 Book Challenge
In the style of Sanne from Books and Quills I am going to set myself the challenge of reading 50 books in 2013.
I am also going to try and watch 100 films in that time, not sure which will be more difficult!
Wish me luck guys!
Books: 0
Films: 0
I am also going to try and watch 100 films in that time, not sure which will be more difficult!
Wish me luck guys!
Books: 0
Films: 0
Wednesday 2 January 2013
STARTING: Grimm Tales by Philip Pullman
I love fairy tales, especially the original tales with their darkness retained, and I love Philip Pullman, so this book seemed ideal for me.
I got the hardback edition for Christmas and it is absolutely beautiful (so much so I am worried about transporting it back to Wales).
I think it may end up being a dip in book so the review could be a while in arriving. Or I may read it from start to finish as I have been reading a few stories before bed each night. We'll see!
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