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

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

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 :)

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

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!