The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare- Review

This book was featured on my Stacking the Shelves post from December. Like I say in that, I got this and was so happy! Opening it on christmas day made me itch to read it- especially knowing that I had the rest of the series there too, incase I would be totally unable wait to read the second, then third and so on.

 

City of bones is all about Clary Fray who- until one day- was just another teenager. This changes when on one night out, she witnesses a murder of a cleverly disguised demon. The murder is committed by a group of teenagers who are, she thinks, so different from her. These teens are Shadowhunters, dedicated to killing terrible demons and sending them back to their own dimension. Clary find herself thrown into this weird world, and faces more questions and problems than expected.

 

Having recently been reading and obsessing over Contemporary and Dystopia books, I was slightly reluctant to start reading City of Bones because I was still wanting to read my most favourite genres. But... for some reason, I found myself with nothing to read and was drawn to picking this book up. And I'm glad I did. Written in third person, the story starts and is straight into action. There is not enough time at the start between action to get bored. It is fast paced and written in a way which is easy to follow and draws you in, which is obviously an important thing to do and which made me want to see what was going to happen next. As each new character is introduced, they are described and therefore easily imagined. For me, I liked the way that each character was different and I had a real idea of what they were like. This is sooooo important for me because unless the characters are strong, I find it hard to enjoy the book.

Around halfway through, I got into a bit of a reading stop. I was busy a lot and didn't have as much time to read as I usually would, which was really annoying. Also, personally, I thought that the beginning of the book was a lot stronger than the middle; but whether that was down to the fact I was reading in short bursts or not, I don't quite know. Also, as a fantasy book, I was less enthused to read this- but this did change when the action started back up! Despite this, I thought the overall storyline was awesome and wasn't short of twists and turns and this is always a good thing because now I want to read book 2!

 

Cassandra Clare writes this story in a way that- while still being fantasy- is very relatable. It would be easy to forget that theses characters were teenagers (because they aren't the teenagers we encounter ourselves) if it wasn't for her clever writing. She makes it obvious that Clary would be just an ordinary teenager and one from this generation, through the type of things Clary says and does and enjoys.

 

I think that although this is fantasy and I was all for Dystopia and Contemporary, this story was different and exciting. The drama in it was huge but it wasn't ever too much. If you enjoy Fantasy and haven't read this series then I would suggest you read it! Even if you're not such a fantasy fan, I think you might still enjoy this book because it isn't massively 'into another world' or unbelievable.

 

Buy the book here!

3/5- I liked it

Big Stacking the Shelves!

I hope that as I write this, on the 27th of December, you are all full with chocolate and cake and have had a great Christmas. I really enjoyed the last few days and had a great time. Also, I received quite  a lot of books as presents which is always a good thing!

This Stacking the Shelves is going to feature all of the books that I got for Christmas and a couple that I got just a day or two before.

Sorry for the bad quality pic by the way :(

(From the bottom)

1. Gothic Art by Nicola Henderson- I got this from my brother as we are both into art and some of the pictures in here are incredible so I can't wait to try and copy them! If you are into this sort of vampire, witches and dragon type of art then this is great for you! Buy it or look inside here.
2. Dear Me... Edited by Joseph Gallaiano- This was a present from a friend and it features letters that celebrities would write to their 16 year old self.
3. The next five books are The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. This was given to e by my uncle and I can't wait to read this series. I've heard lots of good things about it but let me know if you've read or reviewed these books! Buy them here.
4. The City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments- Book 1)- When I opened this, I was so happy because this is another book series which I haven't yet read- but want to. They look and sound briliant, and I have heard good things, so hopefully I wont be disappointed!
5. A Witch Alone by Ruth Warburton- These books keep popping up on my blog for some reason, but I got this the day before Christmas Eve when I was in Asda and had to buy it as I still haven't finished the trilogy! I'd read the first two books and didn't even realise the third was out, but now that I know I can't wait to read it and see how the story ends. Buy this here.
6. Divergent by Veronica Roth- Yes, I realise that pretty much the whole reading world has read this but finally I have a copy and can read it myself. I started reading just a few pages before the family came over on Christmas day and seem to love it already. You can buy it here.
7. Finally, Banished by Liz De Jager. When the post arrived Saturday morning I was not expecting this and it literally brightened up my day. This is the first proof copy I have received  and now that Christmas is over I cannot wait to get into this world which Liz De Jager has created. P.S. the cover is the most brilliant I have personally seen for a while!

Whole Divergent Trilogy- By Veronica Roth Review

I wanted to write a review for the Divergent stories as a whole, rather than separately, mainly because you're probably going to read all three and not just one book from the trilogy. Unless you are a superhuman who is immune to wondering what will happen next, but mainly immune to...feels. I reviewed Divergent on it's own because as it's the first book, you need to see if you're going to like that to start with! You can read that here. Finished reading that? Okay...

To sum up the trilogy, I'll have to start with how it begins, so this is the summary of Divergent from Goodreads:
In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. 

The story develops throughout the next two books after Beatrice has made her choice. In Insurgent, Beatrice becomes even stronger than before, making decisions which will change not only her life, but so many others. There is drama and action through all three books, meaning that I was hooked and literally couldn't wait until I was on to the next book. Insurgent features a lot of twists and turns and when you add all of these things together, I think that an amazing Dystopia is born.

Veronica Roth has created a world in her stories that is described so brilliantly that I feel that if you gave me a piece of paper, I could draw a map of it. Her characters- while ever changing and introducing more- are so strong and so easy to imagine. I loved that Tris was an awesome character because unlike other female characters in books, she was strong in her own right. She had an angry side to her which gave her more character and made me like her a lot, which I sometimes don't with the whiney female characters that are way too common. But oh my gosh, can I just talk about Four for a second... FOUR! He was my favourite character for definite, not only because I fell in love with him, but also because he was broken but carried on. Th way he had gone through a lot but wasn't as hardened from it as he thought. Something about the little things he says and does made me adore this character.

And then, there was Allegiant. The book that is notorious for it's mixed reviews and split opinions. I was apprehensive to read this, fearing that I would hate it, but I guess that all I can say was that I was just a tiny bit... disappointed, I guess. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. I don't want to give it away but I just didn't think the ending was very strong. Although what happened was shocking, I just thought that an alternative ending would have pleased me a lot more. Maybe I was just too hopeful. But, obviously, there are people who loved Allegiant so, so much, so I think its just a personal view really. If you disagree, let me know why! I would like to have my opinion changed. :) This hasn't made me dislike the trilogy at all though, because I still think that the rest of the story and previous books were AMAZING!

Out of all of the books, Divergent was my favourite. It was such a great story line, and being the first book, it opened up a trilogy which I knew I was going to be addicted to. I met the characters for the first time, the characters that I grew to love. Overall, this has been one of my favourite trilogies, has given me my all time favourite character (Four <3) and has made me want to re-read it again.

Buy the books.        

So, I'm going to give it 5/5, despite THAT ENDING. I still loved it and would recommend it to every Dystopian fan. A must-read.

WWW Wednesday

This is a weekly meme which is hosted every week, and is hosted by MizB at Should be Reading. It asks you to share these three things:

1. What you're currently reading
2. What you recently finished reading
3. What you think you'll read next

I really like the idea of this meme and if you've done this too then link it in the comments so that I can see what you're reading too!

So, question 1: What are you currently reading?
I am reading A Witch Alone by Ruth Warburton. It's the third in the trilogy and I loved the first two books and I am enjoying this one too, so far. :)
Buy the book here.

Question 2: What have you recently finished reading?










I recently finished Insurgent by Veronica Roth which I thought was brilliant! I really recommend it if you enjoy YA dystopias. I can see why there's such a huge fanbase for this book.
Buy the book here.


And... Question 3: What do you think you'll read next?

I really want to read Allegiant by Veronica Roth, which is the final book after Insurgent. I'm sort of left not knowing what's going to happen next at the end of Insurgent, so I really want to find out! As soon as I get some money I am going to buy that book and see what I think, as there have been so many mixed reviews. Let me know if you've read it and what you thought!
Buy the book here.


  

Divergent by Veronica Roth- Review

This was in my stocking at Christmas which I was so pleased about! I literally wanted to start reading it straight away and after all the Christmas excitement, a couple of days later, I read this book in just a day and a bit. This was such an anticipated read for me and it was even on my Wanting to Read List which you can read here. And it didn't disappoint.

Divergent is set in a world where everyone has their own place in a faction. These factions are: Dauntless- for the brave, Abnegation- for the selfless, Amity- for those seeking peace, Candor- honesty and Erudite- knowledge. At 16, the residents of this dystopian Chicago have to decide which faction they will enter and therefore spend the rest of their lives devoted to. Beatrice has a tough decision because while she doesn't want to leave her family, she knows that Abnegation is not where she belongs. When she chooses her faction she is faced with an initiation that is tougher than she imagined she would be able to cope with. She also has a secret that she wants to keep, for her own safety.

The best thing about this book for me is the plot which is very strong and the whole story is so fast paced. There are no parts in it which I found boring and no parts in which I wanted to stop reading at. Action is on nearly every page. Also, I really liked the way that the book was written because it was easy to read but in a really great way with some lovely phrases and words that I want to use myself. I think that this book is everything a Dystopia should be- full of excitement and thrilling plots. This has definitely got to be one of my favourite books that I've read for a while.

For anyone who is prepared to fall in love with another book and who is prepared for the feels, this book will be perfect for you! The characters are likeable and- where appropriate- loathe-able. Also, I thought that the thing Veronica Roth did best was describe settings. With every new place the characters entered, I had the most clear image of it in my head and could imagine it being so real which I love to happen in stories.

I think that this book would be good for 13 ears and onwards because adults love Divergent too. Buy it here. P.S. if you enjoy it, but Insurgent (2nd in the trilogy) as soon as you can because you will want to carry on reading!

 5/5

Requiem by Lauren Oliver Review (Delirium Trilogy)

So, I finished the trilogy. And I miss it. I miss the adventure and the unpredictable story lines and the characters too.

In Requiem, the book is one chapter written from Lena's point of view and one from Hannah's, then one from Lena's, then one from Hannah's and so on. I liked this because it showed what was going on in different places and how the characters had changed and, in places, remained the same.
As with a lot of trilogies, I was worried that the final book would be an anti-climax or end somewhere that didn't seem right. But, with Requiem, I actually really liked the ending. I liked the message that it gave out and that small parts were left to be made up by the reader. It is the ultimate ending and throughout all three books there is a constant undertone of suspense- an always there question of what is to happen next. The last book didn't disappoint, containing a lot of action all the way through.

As always, Lauren Oliver's writing is brilliant and something that I think is really good for this book. It's not too easy to the point of being patronising as some YA books can be, but is also not too heavy or hard to read. Sort of like a perfect balance.

It's hard to write a review that doesn't give a lot away when writing about a book series, but I really wanted to review this because I enjoyed it so much. What I can say though, is that Lena, as a character, becomes even more likeable for me. She is no longer the weak girl that we met in Delirium, which is such a relief. The story continues from Pandemonium and stays with a strong plot, extending on from the last book but adding new things as well. It never gets boring and is likely to make you not want to put the book down.

I would recommend this book for ages 13 upwards and know that adults love the Delirium trilogy too. (My mum is reading it now.)

You can buy it on amazon here for £4.39 or from Waterstones here for £5.24.

Book series

*Sorry for the late post, my laptop was not being useful*

Reading a book series can be wonderful for so many reasons. Especially because when you've finished the first book, if you've enjoyed it, you won't suffer from post book depression but can just glide flawlessly into the next. It allows extra and extensive fangirling and there are always huge fandoms over trilogies or series. As the story develops the characters do too which makes you more attached to them.

Sometimes, however, the first in a series is amazing and you need to tell the world just how great it is... Until the next book comes along and is a disappointment. I think that that is the risk you take when deciding to read a set of books- whether the story will get better or just downhill. But, I'm a big fan of book series and find that I enjoy them more than not. They let me enjoy the characters for longer, have a longer look into their lives and the story that they carry with them. 

Here, I'm going to list a few book series that I have read and give a brief review of each one. They are in preference order! 

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins- Probably most of the people reading this will have read this trilogy. I loved each book, didn't find any disappointment and found the stories fast paced and never boring. Katniss lives in Panem, a place where each year 12 boys and 12 girls have to compete in the Hunger games where they have to survive. The winner is the last one alive. Just read it, honestly. There's not a lot I can say because I would go on for too long if I did. If you like books that are awesomely great and greatly awesome then read this.

(YA, would recommend for ages 12 up)

2. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling- Again, another extremely popular series. There are 6 books in total, all promising huge excitement and should come with a warning that once you start getting into the adventures, you will not put the book down. For me, the books get better as the series goes on. I don't really know how I can summarise a series of books that are so well known and adored. You've undoubtedly heard of the books anyway, if not read the books or seen the films yourselves. On every page is a sprinkle of magic and although I read this quite a while ago, I will definitely be a potterhead for a long, long time.

(YA- I would recommend age 12 and up again)

3. The Deliruim Trilogy by Lauren Oliver- I've literally only just finished reading this trilogy and I enjoyed it so much! I think that the story line and plot are incredible and are very original. I loved the way Lauren Oliver wrote the story and am eternally jealous of her writing skills and the imagery she creates! Delirium is set in an America where love is a disease and anyone who shows signs of having the 'disease' is killed or punished severely. It is full of twists and drama and makes me grateful for the way we are at the minute.

(YA- I would recommend this for ages 13 onwards)

4. A Witch In Winter Trilogy by Ruth Warburton- These books are not as well known as the previous three, but I enjoyed them a lot! The books feature a girl called Anna who doesn't believe in magic- let alone witches- until she moves to the small town of Winter where her powers reveal themselves. She meets a boy called Seth and in my opinion, he sounds pretty amazing, but there are things that could stop them from being together...
(YA, probably 13 up)

Friend Recommendations:
I asked on twitter which series people enjoy and was told The Hunger Games, which I have already featured, and the Deepwoods Series by Chris Riddell and Paul Stewart. These were given to me by @Charliebookworm. Also, I was told that the Percy Jackson series and A Series of Unfortunate Events are great book series. Percy Jackson for a younger and teen audience, and ASOUE for a younger age group. These were given to me by @VerbosityRevws of the awesome http://verbositybookreviews.wordpress.com/.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness- Review

Firstly, I know you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover but for some reason, I LOVE this cover. I don't know what it is but there's just something about it. Anyway, the story is one that I really enjoyed too, which is what counts the most.

At the start of the book, I struggled to get into it. I think this was because I wasn't sure where the story was going, but once I was past a certain point, I was fine and started to enjoy it properly. The story was started by Siobhan Dowd, who very sadly had time as an enemy and asked Patrick Ness to complete the story for her. Personally, I think he did a great job.

The story's main character, Connor, is immediately likeable and although to begin with you don't know a lot about him, he becomes more interesting as a character because of this. During the story- and at the very beginning- Connor has a nightmare. It is a recurring nightmare which seems so real yet so unbelievable that he worries about it a lot. It talks to him, grabs him, it happens almost every night. It is just him and his mum at home and he doesn't tell anyone about the nightmare. The way that the book is written in the third person, I was originally annyoyed about. I thought 'the story would be even better if we saw everything through Connor's eyes.' But soon I realised that in third person, I get to make up Connor's character a bit more which I enjoyed quite a lot.

Soon, the book starts to get quite sad. This is because Connor's mum is ill and reading it is upsetting because it shows just how much illness affects the people around the ill person. Even without meaning to, or without being able to stop it. The monster in the nightmare doesn't leave and gets more physical- an all consuming worry that is a permanent resident in the brain of Connor O'Malley. Lots of things have to change for him. As a reader, I thought that this was the best part of the book; a bit into the story where you're not quite sure what's going to happen but are desperate to find out. That is, I find, usually the greatest part.

Overall, the story and ending of the book is one that you will remember. It might make you sad but the greatness of the story will outweigh the sadness. I don't want to say much more because I don't want to spoil what happens for you. Patrick Ness is a brilliant writer- that is all,
I'd recommend this book for people between the ages of 12- 16 but I know that my mum enjoyed this book too!
Let me know if you've read it!
You can buy it from Amazon here for £3.86 or from Waterstones here for £5.29.

Partick Ness has also written 'The knife of never letting go' which I started but never finished, for no particular reason. Tell me if you've read it and think I should read it again?

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme where you write about a book that you're looking forward to reading when it is released. It is originally hosted by Jill at http://breakingthespine.blogspot.co.uk/ and I think t is a great idea!
The book that I would like to put in my first Waiting on Wednesday post is Seven Days by Eve Ainsworth. Some might say that this is a slightly biased review because of the author being related to me, but honestly, I really can't wait for it to be released. It is the sort of book that is so realistic that everything seems familiar in a really good sort of way. It means that the characters are relatable and can be imagined into everyday life and situations. Overall, the story is sad, happy, different and brilliant all at the same time and is written in a way that makes you feel as though you know the characters personally and once you've finished the book, you'll forget that they are just that: characters and not real people that you actually have to worry about.
The story is about a girl called Jess who, putting it simply, doesn't have the easiest of lives. She lives in a pretty rough estate with kids that all look down on her because of her weight and other things that people are shallow enough to care about. It is set over just seven days (hence the title) which makes it really different to a lot of books I have read and it also means that a lot of detail can be put into each part of the story. On top of this, it is a dual narrative- written from the point of view of Kez who, on the surface, appears to have it all. This makes a lot of the story contrast which then makes it interesting because you get to view things from a different perspective.Over the course of the book, lots of things happen which change the girls and how they see themselves and each other, and that seems relevant for a lot of teenagers.

It is not to be available until 2015! A long wait, but well worth it. It is being published by scholastic and at the minute, the cover is not yet released.  I can't wait to read it as a proper paperback and also I can't wait for it to get the readers that it deserves!

To find out more about the author, her blog is: eveainsworth.blogspot.co.uk
For updates on writing and other things:@EveAinsworth

Delirium by Lauren Oliver- Review

My mum bought me this and straight away I wanted to read it because my English teacher had recommended it to me also. I really enjoyed it, especially when the story really started to develop and my craving for the sequel got huge.

Delirium is set in an America where love is a disease, and that is what you are taught and that is what is enforced. When you turn 18, you receive an obligatory procedure which 'cures' you from ever getting the disease of Amor Deliria Nervosa and basically from feeling any emotional attachment ever again. There are regulators everywhere who make sure that no dancing happens, that no sign of love or emotion passes between anyone. Boys and girls are separated until they are matched with someone after their procedure who they are made to stay with forever. They hunt out people who show signs of the disease and the consequences are horrific. But... there are people who go against the regime. People who believe love is good and natural and who disagree that it should be eradicated without choice.
The story is from the first person point of view of Lena, who is nearing her procedure and unashamedly cannot wait for the calmness that it boasts. For the end of the fear of catching the disease and the constant watchfulness that is placed upon the uncureds. Until, she meets somebody who might be able to change the way she thinks about the place she lives and the rules which she follows so robotically...

When I first started reading the book, I was sort of half doing other things at the same time because I was super busy then, so I didn't really get into the book properly until a few chapters in. But, believe me, when the plot really kicks in, you will be gripped and have to pay full attention. In fact, it will be hard for you to pay attention to anything else. I'm not sure if I didn't get into the book straight away because of my bad attention or because the book starts quite slowly. I'm not sue, but I do know that if you find yourself in the same position, carry on! The main character becomes even greater as the book goes on and it is such a gripping story in so many ways. I also really, really like the way everything is described in the book in such detail or with such great metaphors and similes. My favourite part is defintely near the end of the book where the action is unfolding and the story starts to get properly interesting. Not that the rest of the book is boring, just that at the end, the story gets so fast-paced and amazing! I would suggest that if you start enjoying the book and think you will want to read the sequel, order it straight away! I waited days after finishing Delirium for the package to arrive and wow, it was harder than it should have been.

I would recommend this book for anyone from ages 13- 18, because I think that it is written in a way that is suitable for a wide age range, but I know that a lot of adults really enjoy the book too, so I guess it depends on the sort of plot that you enjoy as well. :)
The sequel to Delirium is called Pandemonium, which I am currently reading and will review soon! If you've read it, let me know what you thought. Also-unrelated but oh well,- if you've read the Divergent series, please tell me, I'm thinking about reading it soon! The third in the trilogy is called Requiem

You can buy the book on amazon for £4.15:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Delirium-Trilogy-Lauren-Oliver/dp/0340980931/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383589273&sr=8-1&keywords=delirium
And at waterstones for £5.29 here: http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/lauren+oliver/delirium/8179635/

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher- Review

I got this book for my birthday after asking for it because I'd seen it in the bookshop and wanted it straight away. The blurb (hahaha) made me want to read it there and then, and it seemed different to any storyline I had read or heard of before. I hate to say it however, that I didn't enjoy the story half as much as I expected to. Not that it was bad, just slightly disappointing. You could argue that that was because in my mind, I had set  it on a pedestal up there with my favourites, so maybe it was doomed for failure.

The book is, I guess, mainly about a girl called Hannah, except you don't get to ever meet her personally because she committed suicide. Before doing so, she recorded some tapes giving 13 reasons why she committed suicide, and sent them to the people involved in these 13 reasons. What is unique about this book is that it takes place over just one night, which I thought was quite good. You read from Clay Jensen's point of view: from the moment he opens the package with the tapes in, to the moment the 13th tape is finished. You find out how he fits into the puzzle that was Hannah Baker's life and how others shaped her into becoming fed up with her life.
The plot, I thought was genius and I immediately started reading but hit a wall when I realised I just wasn't getting into the book.  I can't really decide exactly why, but I have a few reasons that maybe, when combined, just don't really equal a perfect story for me personally. Firstly, I think a lot of it was down to the fact that you never properly get introduced to the characters. This is completely personal because some people might prefer not to get a description of the characters, however I really love to be able to know everything about every person in a story. I never found out whether Clay Jensen gets on better with his mum or dad, or if Hannah Baker liked the gherkins in her McDonald's cheeseburger. And that, for me is earth shattering information.
Or perhaps I didn't enjoy the story so much because of the way it was written. I can't really explain what it was about it that I didn't really like, but maybe I'm just strange and very particular with style of writing. But... I think the main reason was because I didn't like the reasons that were given for Hannah to commit suicide. I just felt that the reasons were really minute. I understand that suicide can be caused by very small things which all add up and I am not trying to sound insensitive, but for a story I just thought that something drastic needed to happen. There was no shocking moment, nothing that would make me want to recommend this to the whole solar system, and nothing that was really exciting.
Overall, I would recommend that if you still want to read 13 Reasons Why, before you buy it, you could go onto the amazon link below and click on the 'look inside' feature just to see if the style of writing is for you.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thirteen-Reasons-Why-Jay-Asher/dp/0141328290/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382911066&sr=8-1&keywords=thirteen+reasons+why It is £5.24 new from Amazon and the same price in WHSmith http://www.whsmith.co.uk/search?keywordCategoryId=&keywords=thirteen+reasons+why&results=60&page=1

I would recommend this book to 13-16 year olds because I'm not sure if adults would like it very much.
The book has been made into a film, which I found out about the other day, so if anyone has seen it, let me know. :)
Jay Asher has also written The Future of Us.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio~ Review

A book that you will remember for a very long time is Wonder. It is a book that teaches you kindness and equality like no person could do and it is written in a really beautiful way that I thought was quite unique.
August is the main character and right from the start of the book you learn that he looks different from others. If August was a real living human, I would want to be best friends with him because his attitude is amazing and his niceness comes in an abundance. His face is different and he was born like it, but my favourite thing is that- because it is a book- you don't judge the character by how he looks, but his personality. I know August is a character, but I feel like in the real world it should be that way too. That's the sort of thing you will think about after reading this book. If you thought you were morally a good person, this story will make you want to be better. Anyway, August has nothing wrong with his brain or limbs or anything and his face is the only thing that makes him different to others, and the story is mainly about how this affects his life (even though it shouldn't).
He has a sister, Via, who is protective of him and when he starts real school for the first time in fifth grade, his parents are protective too. Through the story, I found a lot of things really upsetting because I only just realised how horrible children can be, but how thoughtful and great they can be too. The whole book just makes you think about people more. I love a lot of the characters in the book, August in particular but others too like his parents, sister, and the friends who stick by him.
It's hard not to give the story away, but he meets a lot of nasty people and goes through a lot of nasty things before the end of the story. However, it is from the end of the story that I would like to share a poem that I really, really adore.
"Do all the good you can,
 By all the means you can,
 In all the ways you can,
 In all the places you can,
 At all the times you can,
 As long as you ever can.- John Wesley's Rule"
I can't recommend this book highly enough. It is honestly so brilliant and it makes you think but it isn't a book that makes your head hurt because you can't do anything but think. It is written quite simply but in a way that is great and not patronising and is perfect for boys or girls.
I would say this is suitable for anyone from the age of 10-16. This is because it is written simply enough for a 10 year old to enjoy, but not too simply that a 16 year old would not enjoy it. The story, in my opinion, is perfect for any age, bit or small and the morals are even more suitable for everyone. Adults, I think could enjoy the book too because it is basically just great.
Sadly,I can't find any more books that are by R.J. Palacio, and this is bad because I would love to read more by her! If anyone can suggest any similar stories please, please let me know!


Wonder is available from Amazon for£5.24 with free delivery in the UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wonder-R-J-Palacio/dp/0552565970/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382551359&sr=8-1&keywords=wonder+by+rj+palacio

It is the same price in Waterstones with free delivery in the UK also.http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/r-+j-+palacio/wonder/9208412/

The Fault in Our Stars- Review

Okay, so this first review may be quite unoriginal given the amount of popularity that the book has increased in recently, but I felt like this book had to be on here. The title is The Fault in our Stars and the author is John Green, a magician with words and the king of imagery. I could literally just list the phrases and metaphors and similes that I wish I had poured onto a page for ever, but I won't. 

Instead, I will review the story, hopefully without John Green's genius clouding my vision. 

The story is written from the point of view of Hazel, who is seventeen and is an avid reader, watcher of reality t.v, and fan of Peter Van Houten- her favourite author. She also has cancer. But this isn't a story in which you spend the whole time feeling sorry for the girl. Sometimes female characters in books, I find, are a bit irritating- whiny and un-likeable but Hazel is a representation of someone I would like to meet. Quite early into the book, she meets Augustus who is charming and kind and understanding of Hazel because he had cancer also. Throughout the book, we follow Hazel and Augustus- but don't worry, it's not an annoying romance story; it is just sweet and brilliant. They aren't the only characters who are likeable and intriguing. Their friend Isaac is great, and personally, Hazel's mum (or mom) is one of my favourites because she is just so mum-ish. Overall, the way the characters are put together is incredible. Every cell of each character is made easy to picture and  as the story develops so do the characters. Lots of things happen in the story, which I don't really want to give away, but you will laugh a lot. You will maybe cry, but it is worth it.

In my opinion, the whole story is believable and at no point did I think 'this would never happen'. The way in which it is written makes me jealous of John Green's talent and I find myself wishing I could read it again for the first time. I don't think I am the only massive fan of the book, as a film of the book is out in 2014. I'm not a fan-girl of the book, don't worry, I just really, really love it. From the moment I started the book I couldn't put it down. Literally could not put it down. Lots of things happen in the book which will make you think about things differently, and if you are like me, you will read the book more than 78983 times. 

Finally, I would recommend this book to people from the ages of 13 onwards. This is only roughly, and I say onwards because my mum read it and she's a fully grown adult and loved it! I can't think of any books this is similar to- plot wise, I haven't actually read anything similar, but the obvious books that are alike would be others by John Green, and they are only alike in style of writing I think. 

Other Books by John Green:

• Paper towns
•  Looking for Alaska (I read this but didn't enjoy it as much as TFIOS)
• Will Grayson, Will Grayson
• An abundance of Katherines

You can buy The Fault in Our Stars on amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Fault-Stars-John-Green/dp/0141345659/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382374875&sr=8-1&keywords=the+fault+in+our+stars for £3.49 with free postage in the U.K. You can also look inside the book on that link which is always good.

Other places to buy:http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/john+green/the+fault+in+our+stars/9378186/

http://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/the-fault-in-our-stars/product/9780141345659

What I will be doing here...

I will hopefully post a new review every week or for a while maybe twice a week as there are a lot of books I really want to write about that I read a while ago. Once I've done them I can review the books that I'm currently reading. I want the reviews to be easy to judge so you will know from the review what I thought about the book and for you to be able to decide if this book belongs on your bookshelf. To make this happen I'll include these things in each review:

• A picture of the front cover (or one version of the front cover)- because although you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, it's okay to do that every once in a while!
• A link to where you could buy the book- I will try to find the cheapest place or give a few different options :)
• An honest and hopefully non-boring opinion of the book, with reasons and an idea of who might like this book (e.g.age groups it would suit)
• A few books that the book I'm reviewing is similar to <--- That was phrased really badly!
• And finally, other books by that author or in the same series

The reviews will go up every week on a Sunday and a Wednesday but this week, as I set this up on a Sunday, the first review will be up tomorrow. 

Everyone likes different types of books, and I guess I probably subconsciously stumble across the bookshelves ignoring certain genres, oblivious to the fact I may be missing out. So I will try to read books that I normally wouldn't. However, this could be difficult as I've kind of read all the popular, stereotypically teenager-ish books of our generation already. The Hunger Games (love, love loved it), The Twilight Saga (was slightly obsessed, now questions why), All of the Harry Potter books (amazing) and as a girl, I've read pretty much all of the popular teenagery, girly books. 

I'm now into a different type of books but I guess I would call it miscellaneous because there isn't really a name for it but as I'm reading the books there is a quiet and subtle likeliness between the current and the last. If I find a word for it, I will be straight here!

Hello :) I've never had a blog before but I'm excited about being able to write on here and work on it until it's how I want it to be. I started this blog because writing is fun and interesting and exciting. Reading is too. And to write about something that is equally as enjoyable as the writing part seems like a good idea.

 I feel like sometimes there are so many books that there is nothing to choose. If that makes sense. Because there are too many to choose from, I just leave the bookshop/exit amazon.co.uk/step away from the shelf in my mum's room/remove myself from the library slightly disappointed by my indecision. However... when I finally pick a book or am recommended a book to read, if it's good I want to tell somebody. Usually that's like my mum or aunty or the friend I have who reads also, but I would like to try and tell more people what I thought. Not that my opinion holds any judgement onto whether you would like it or not but it might help you in the very difficult desision of What Book To Pick.

So basically, that's why I called my blog The Blurb, because it will pretty much be a blurb of the book, just less biased, longer and hopefully it will be helpful.

I'm 15 by the way so most reviews will be Young Adult books, but there is almost always an exception to every rule. I would love that if you enjoy the reviews or find them useful, you could recommend my blog to somebody or maybe even follow it!
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