Books With Emma

YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING BLOG TOUR : INTERVIEW + REVIEW

2013-08-14T13:59:00.004-07:00

Paperback: 206 Pages

Publisher: Trans Über LLC

Language: English

ISBN: 0985900202

Why did God turn Lot's wife into a pillar of salt? Were there no other seasonings available? Why don't we know anything about the early years of Jesus? Did someone lose his baby book? Who reported the desert encounter between Jesus and Satan? Jesus-or Satan? And why does the Holy Spirit like to show up as a bird?

As irreverent as the musical The Book of Mormon, Joe Wenke's YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING: The Cultural Arsonist's Literal Reading of the Bible is an engaging, provocative and hilarious investigation into the bestselling book of all time. Written to "cause trouble" cultural arsonist Wenke, a keen observer of human gullibility, tempts readers to more closely examine the stories they think they know about the Bible.

Drawing upon the same pool of incendiary and cerebral humor as Bill Maher, Jon Stewart and the late, great George Carlin, YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING is a call for humor to restore our sanity and our ability to think for ourselves. Just as it was written in the Bible-or was it?

MY REVIEW:

	Let me just start out by saying that this is without a doubt the funniest book I've ever read. I sat with my parents and read aloud some of the passages and we all laughed a lot! It was such an interesting take on the bible and whilst I kind of always hovered between believer and non-believer this book tipped me into the non-believer category. This isn't a bad thing. It points out just how unfair, old fashioned, sexist and ridiculous some of the stories are, Noah's Ark for example. I highly recommend this book for those who don't believe or for those who aren't sure, it's very funny and very interesting. I don't think I'd recommend it to devout Christians though as it may cause offence.

Let me just start out by saying that this is without a doubt the funniest book I've ever read. I sat with my parents and read aloud some of the passages and we all laughed a lot!

It was such an interesting take on the bible and whilst I kind of always hovered between believer and non-believer this book tipped me into the non-believer category. This isn't a bad thing. It points out just how unfair, old fashioned, sexist and ridiculous some of the stories are, Noah's Ark for example.

I highly recommend this book for those who don't believe or for those who aren't sure, it's very funny and very interesting. I don't think I'd recommend it to devout Christians though as it may cause offence.

5/5 stars!

AUTHOR Q&A:

1. There is a famous quote which states ‘There are two things I’ve learned never to discuss with people … religion and politics.’ Were you nervous about sharing your views on religion with the public?

No, not at all. I could care less.

2. You have such a logical approach to religion in this book have you always viewed the bible this way or have your views changed over time?
I started questioning everything at a very early age, like around eleven or twelve, right when I was hitting puberty. It took a while to work through all of the crazy stuff that was drilled into my head, but once I had, I would have to say that I pretty much had this attitude and this approach.

3.This book made me laugh out loud, it is seriously one of the funniest books I have ever read. Was it your intention to make the book so humorous?
Thank you. I’m glad you found it to be so funny. That’s the exact reaction I was looking for.

4. What was the hardest part about writing YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING? What was the easiest?
The whole thing was really easy. It just was. That could of course change. At some point I might find it impossible to write another word, but for the time being everything is just sort of flowing out of me.

5. How did you get the inspiration for this book?
As I explained, I just rolled out of bed one day, and the whole thing came to me.

6. What is your typical writing routine?
I don’t plan. I don’t outline anything. I just get an idea and go with it. I don’t really revise anything, although I do tweak stuff and make sure that everything is grammatically correct and all of the punctuation is right.

7. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
Go with your ideas. Go with the positive energy, and don’t give a fuck.

The School for Good and Evil (Soman Chainani) Review

2013-08-06T13:07:00.002-07:00

Well well, where on earth should I begin with this one?

This book is about Agatha and Sophie, two girls from Gavaldon who are kidnapped and taken to The School for Good and Evil. Sophie is ecstatic about this certain she is destined to become a Fairytale Princess and Agatha gets dragged along out of loyalty to her friend. However, Sophie is placed in the school for evil where she must practice uglification and wear disgusting clothes, because apparently being less than attractive automatically means you're evil ... nice message for the kids reading the book! Agatha is then subsequently placed in the school for good where she is ridiculed for her looks (shouldn't the kids in the school for good actually be good and not judgemental little brats?!).

Anyway the writer then spends a good chunk of the book going over and over the same 'problem' that the girls have been placed in the wrong schools. Around 300 pages in I felt really bored by this and wished the girls would just accept the schools they were in. This chunk of the book could've been written better, I would've liked to have focused on perhaps another storyline. I felt as though it was dragged out beyond belief.

The characters are a huge let down in this book too, I have never read such stereotypical characters in my life. It was actually cringeworthy, apparently having warts makes you evil and being blonde makes you good. This book is supposedly middle grade and this is not the kind of message to give to kids. It annoyed me throughout the book.

After I forced myself to push through the final chapters I almost laughed at the end of this book, I was in disbelief. I had gone through 500 pages on torture only to reach an ending that felt like a slap in the face, it was pathetic and a cop out.

I have heard there will be a sequel and I will NOT be picking it up. This book was awful and to be honest I am surprised it is middle grade it would be better suited to YA in my opinion. If I had not been reading this as part of a Buddy Read I would never have finished it.

On the plus side the cover is really gorgeous.

I gave this book a VERY generous 2 stars!

Leaving Paradise (Simone Elkeles) Review

2013-08-06T12:53:00.001-07:00

I just feel completely MEH after reading this book.

After reading The Perfect Chemistry trilogy by Simone (which I loved) I had high expectations for Leaving Paradise, maybe it's my own fault that I am so disappointed.

This book felt rushed and didn't really effect me in any way. I liked the characters but I wasn't given enough to fall in love with them. Caleb Becker has spent a year in jail after hitting Maggie Armstrong with a car. She has been left with a limp and he is seriously jaded from his experience of Juvie. They meet again and become friends and even develop feelings for each other. This should be interesting but it just wasn't.

My favourite character in the book was Mrs Reynolds she was a feisty old woman with a love for good food. If not for her I'm not even sure I would've finished this book.

The ending was so disappointing to me, I felt annoyed at how abruptly the book ended. I just found out there is a sequel and I will definitely be picking it up, I just NEED to know if things get better and I want to give Simone another chance as I really did love Perfect Chemistry.

I don't have much else to say really expect it was a very quick read and left no impact on me whatsoever. I generously gave it 3 out of 5 stars!

The Night Rainbow Review (Claire King)

2013-08-05T14:17:00.000-07:00

First of all let me just say ... this book made me feel all the feels!
The Night Rainbow is a beautifully written book about 5 year old Pea and her Maman (Mother). After the death of her new born baby and her husband Joanna is in a serious depression, neglecting her daughter and spending all of her time in bed. Pea and Margot look after themselves, spending their days out in the meadow and in the beautiful French countryside. Maman does not feed them properly or bathe them and they are basically left to fend for themselves.

They meet Claude and his dog Merlin and an unlikely friendship is formed, while I was suspicious of Claude's intentions at first we learn that he really is just a kind hearted man who is trying to help. He gives the girls food and attention and nurtures them.

The writing in this book and the descriptions were fantastic, I really felt like I was right there in the French countryside with Pea, I could taste the peaches, olives, baguettes and biscuits as she ate them. I could feel the hot summer breeze and her loneliness, I was COMPLETELY lost in this book.

I adored Pea as a character, Claire King does an amazing job of capturing the innocence of a five year old and it made me nostalgic. I think we'd all like to be children again to go back and see things as magical and wonderful in the way Pea does.

The relationships were both heart warming and heart wrenching at the same time. They were always believable and I cried a few times while reading this book. I loved how all of the characters developed and matured throughout the book. There were times when I wanted to jump into the pages and comfort Pea and give Maman a piece of my mind but everything worked out for the best I feel.

I completely adored this book it is a summer read in my opinion and I will be fishing it out again to reread next year for sure.

5 out of 5 stars!!

June 2013 Buddy Read

2013-07-10T16:11:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone.
So if you follow my Youtube channel you probably already know about this by now but for those of you who only follow my blog I thought I would let you in on a little project I am taking part in.
Along with two other Booktubers, Erin and Ryan, I will be taking part in a 'Buddy Read'. All this basically means is that each month we will all decide on a book and read along together. Last month we chose Acid by Emma Pass and we met on the 10/07/2013 to discuss it. I will post a recording of the live stream below if you're interested in finding out what we thought about it. I will create a separate post announcing our choice of book for July and please feel free to read along with us. You can keep up to date with our thoughts over on twitter I will post all of our accounts below.

Twitter:
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My Twitter: @EmCharlton_xo
Erin's Twitter: @Wrathsqueen
Ryan's Twitter: @RyanHeartsBooks

The Live Stream:
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I hope you are all well, speak soon!

Emma
x

The Elephant Girl (Henriette Gyland) Review

2013-07-09T18:55:00.000-07:00

I absolutely loved this book and was hooked from the first chapter.
As a child Helen witnesses her mother's murder but due to an epileptic fit her memory is a bit hazy, rejected by her family and handed over to child services Helen grows up seeking revenge on her mother's killer.

After reading the first couple of pages I was totally sucked in to the book, resulting in a very late night and a whole day spent with my nose in this book. It was gripping and I became completely lost in the story.

Gyland has a fantastic writing style and not once during this book did I feel bored, the plot is well paced and flows well. I was eager for answers along with Helen and by the last 50 pages I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the big finale.

The characters were my favourite aspect of this book though, each and everyone of them are three dimensional and have interesting back stories, Gyland must have took an awful lot of time creating these characters and their lives. They're all entertaining and engaging and they really brought this book to life.

I enjoyed the romance aspect of this book and I loved how protective and caring Jason was, he is man all women dream of meeting and I suspect many women will swoon at the thought of him after reading this book.

I gave The Elephant Girl 5 out of 5 stars it was a fantastic, thrilling and engaging read and I cannot recommend it enough. Definitely one of my favourites of 2013 so far.

The Rosie Project (Graeme Simsion) Review

2013-07-03T17:23:00.003-07:00

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion was a highly addictive and pleasurable read that may very well be one of my favourites of 2013.

We are introduced to Don Tillman a middle aged Professor of Genetics at a prestigious university who has Asperger's syndrome but doesn't know it. He designs a questionnaire in order to find the perfect mate and names it 'The Wife Project'. Enter Rosie Jarman a bartender / student who does not meet the ideal criteria and is the complete opposite of what Don is looking for.

These two are polar opposites and make for some pretty funny reading, there is one particular dance scene that had me laughing out loud. Don as a character is so lovable and I loved every moment spent with him whilst I read this book, he is socially awkward and lacks empathy but still managed to capture the heart of the reader.

Don Tillman reminded me very strongly of Dr Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory which is not a bad thing at all being that I am a huge fan of the show. If you are a fan of The Big Bang Theory I cannot recommend this book enough.
In fact I cannot recommend this book enough to everybody it is funny, engaging and heart warming with lovable characters.

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars and I will definitely be re-reading this book again and again for many years to come.

Countdown City (Ben H Winters) Review

2013-07-02T19:46:00.002-07:00

Another great edition to the Last Policeman series as we all anxiously await the arrival of the deadly asteroid Maia.

Hank Palace as we know from the first book has been dismissed from his duties as a detective but after being contacted by an old friend decides to take on the case of Martha Cavatone's missing husband. The people around Hank can't seem to understand why he goes out of his way to solve this case, especially when he is not being compensated, but he remains moral and determined. In my opinion I believe he stays so focused on his cases in order to distract him from the end.

Throughout this book we see society slowly breaking down and it becomes a more dog eat dog world with people rioting and taking supplies from one another. The one thing I love most about this series is Hank Palace, he appears to be the last moral person on earth and he brings a slice of normality to the chaos. He is witty and I thoroughly enjoyed getting inside of this characters mind and reading his inner monologues with himself. He truly is a unique and upstanding character.

Countdown City was a fantastic edition to the series and although I didn't enjoy it as much as the first book I was hooked from the very beginning. I have become attached to the characters in this series and eagerly await the next instalment. Ben Winters does an amazing job of making this world on the brink of apocalypse come to life and it is a world I will enjoy revisiting as I plan on rereading the books again and again.

4 out of 5 stars.

ACID (Emma Pass) Review

2013-06-30T16:52:00.001-07:00

My first thoughts upon finishing ACID? WOW, what a rollercoaster ride!

ACID boasts a badass cover with a badass main character which I loved, I have grown so weary of YA books that only seem to contain weak damsels in distress so this was very refreshing indeed.

We are introduced to Jenna Strong in prison for supposedly murdering her parents at age 15. The books starts off when Jenna is 17 and incarcerated and within the first couple of pages we realise she is no wallflower she kicks the asses of fully grown men and knows how to look after herself. ACID is literally action packed from the get go and it doesn't stop until the very end. It was exciting, frustrating, energetic and horrifying.

I liked Jenna as a character she had many different layers and she felt realistic to me, I also really liked the budding relationship between Jenna and Max I felt as though looking out for him matured and softened her a lot.

I also LOVED the writing style in this book it was perfect and sucked me into the book completely. There are plenty of twists and turns and just when you feel as though things are going a certain way something would happen that would take the book in a totally new direction.

There were some parts of this book that I didn't feel were relevant or necessary to the storyline, I feel as though maybe this book had TOO MANY plot twists. I feel that the ideas were there but maybe they weren't fleshed out as much as I would've liked them to be. A lot of questions were created throughout this book and I can't honestly say we are given enough satisfactory answers.

That being said I did really enjoy this book and gave it 5 stars although there was something about it that just prevented me from falling totally in love with it.

The end of the book does hint on that perhaps there will be a sequel but I really hope the author decides against writing one as I feel that maybe the story has been stretched out enough as it is.

The Last Policeman (Ben H. Winters) Review

2013-05-07T14:47:00.002-07:00

On the 2nd of May 2013 The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters won Best Original Paperback at the Edgar Awards and after reading this book I can see why. Ben H. Winters takes the classic 'whodunnit' premise and adds his own refreshing twist to it. The Last Policeman is unique and so well written and in my opinion a deserved winner.

The basic plot is as follows; in 6 months time an asteroid named maia will collide with earth brining about the apocolaypse. It is believed that no one will survive and everything has pretty much gone to pot.
Ben has presented a fascinating portrait of pre-apocalyptic America.

The Last Policeman is an exciting and engaging read, it grabbed my attention from the begining and managed to hold onto it right until the very end. I felt as though I was with detective Hank Palace every step of the way as he tried to solve the murder case of Peter Zell, much to the amusement of his co-workers (who believe Peter committed suicide). I too was excited when new clues were uncovered and was shocked by the ending, something I didn't see coming at all.

This book was interesting and made me think about how I would personally cope knowing the world was going to end in a matter of months. It is a terrifying thought and added a kind of dark feeling to the book. On many ocassions I found myself wishing that it was all a mistake and wanting a happy ending.

I can not wait to read the second book as Ben has created a world I am eager to revisit. I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars as I believe it was a great starting point for the trilogy and I cannot wait to read more.

Teacher's Pest, Tales From Lovecraft Middle School #3 (Charles Gilman) Review.

2013-04-21T08:40:00.001-07:00

This is the third instalment in the Lovecraft middle school series and it is just as good as the first two if not better.

This series keeps going from strength to strength, Charles Gilman is able to keep taking me back to Lovecraft middle school and the Tillinghast Mansion without me ever getting bored of it.

First there was the demon Professor Gargoyle, then the serpent Price twins and in this book we have Howard Mergler, a supposed good kid who is actually a giant fly creature named a Shaggai. I cannot wait to see what creature Gilman creates for the 4th book.

This book is a quick read and fast paced with all the fun and excitement of this first two books. We get a deeper insight into the characters in this book, we find out a bit more about their family lives and it is definitely interesting to read.

There is a certain ick factor if bugs bother you but it's nothing too over the top.

I give this book 5/5 stars and I cannot wait for the next book in the series.

The Slither Sisters, Tales From Lovecraft Middle School #2 (Charles Gilman) Review

2013-04-18T06:08:00.001-07:00

NOTE: I was sent this book for review by Quirk in exchange for an honest review. The fact that I was sent this book has not influenced my opinions or review in any way.

Much like Professor Gargoyle this book is aesthetically beautiful, with its hologram cover, excellent quality of paper and fun illustrations.

This second novel in the Tales from Lovecraft Middle School series begins right where Professor Gargoyle ended. Seventh-grader Robert Arthur has discovered that two of his classmates are actually sinister snake-women in disguise. Even worse, his new middle school is full of “gates” to a terrifying alternate dimension – a haunted mansion full of strange spirits and monstrous beasts. For Robert to protect his teachers and classmates, he'll need to return to this haunted dimension with his best friends Glenn and Karina. Can they uncover the secrets of Lovecraft Middle School before it's too late?
The Slither Sisters features more bizarre beasts, more strange mysteries, and more adventure. It's perfect for readers ages 10 and up.

For such a short book, the plot is nicely twisty, and the writing is light and humorous, albeit with some definite creepy moments. I must admit, the ending had a surprise for me! It's a good set-up for #3, but also allows this one to have a solid ending, not stop on a cliff-hanger.

Also in the book the friendship between Robert, Glenn and Karina grows stronger and it is one of the more endearing parts of the book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, maybe even more so than the first (which I didn't think possible) but I can't wait to read more.

I gave this book 5/5 stars!

Professor Gargoyle, Tales From Lovecraft Middle School #1 (Charles Gilman) Review

2013-04-18T05:55:00.004-07:00

NOTE: I was sent this book for review by Quirk in exchange for an honest review. The fact that I was sent this book has not influenced my opinions or review in any way.

Before I begin to talk about the plot and my thoughts on this book I have to take a moment to mention the aesthetic beauty of the book itself. The front cover boasts a fun hologram which gives it automatic shelf value it loos great and it is appealing not only to children but to adults like myself [I'm 21]. Inside the book is just as beautiful the paper quality is exquisite and there are numerous illustrations which are beautifully done. This book is possibly one of the most well presented books I own.

Now onto the plot; Strange things are happening at Lovecraft Middle School. Rats are leaping from lockers. Students are disappearing. The school library is a labyrinth of secret corridors. And the science teacher is acting very, very peculiar. Robert Arthurt knew that seventh grade was going to be weird, but this is ridiculous! With the help of some unlikely new friends, Robert discovers there's more to Lovecraft Middle School than meets the eye. Can he uncover the secrets of the school before it's too late?

Professor Gargoyle is an easy read and moves along at a good pace, I personally devoured this book and read it from cover to cover. It was fun and creepy and while a little twisted at times it is sure to delight readers of all ages.

The main character Robert was awesome, even more so when he gained a backbone and stood up for himself. Charles Gilman has a fantastic way of creating characters and putting a spin on them.

I personally would recommend this book for anyone aged 8+ I believe that even teens and adults can enjoy this book too.

I gave this book 4/5 stars and look forward to reading it again and again [plus it really does look beautiful on my shelf]

Slide (Jill Hathaway) Review

2013-04-08T13:22:00.003-07:00

Slide is a fast paced, emotional and suspensful whirlwind that managed to capture my attention from the get go. It is without a doubt one of the best books I've read in a long time.

The whole idea behind Slide is fascinating to me, haven't we all longed to see the world through someone elses eyes at one point? Haven't we all wanted to know what really goes on behind closed doors? I know I have but reading this book may have changed my mind, maybe seeing the world through someone elses eyes isn't always a good thing, especially if that person is up to no good. Jill Hathaway has created a scenario that may seem like a dream come true but that just isn't the case for Sylvia 'Vee' Bell.

Slide was one of the most suspenseful novels I have read in a long time, I was literally devouring the book needing to find out who the killer was. I had my theories and they were blown out the water, everyone was a suspect and halfway through the book I felt the same desperation as Vee, I NEEDED to discover who the killer was.

Jill also managed to create three dimensional characters who were more than they seemed. Everyone had a secret and everyone had a past which made for interesting reading and made the characters more realistic. I have never seen an author create such a diverse cast of characters before and I think that is part of the books charm. Props to the author for that.

The pacing was fantasic Hathaway never misses a beat. There are no slow parts or areas of the book that bored me, every last word is relevant to the story and enjoyable.

I know I should probably be objective about this and try to point out some negative points in order to make this review fair but in my own personal opinion this book has NO negatives. I would've love the book to be longer but that is for my own selfish reasons (I want to know more).

I finished this book in two sittings and I loved it. I highly recommend it. Can not wait for book #2.

5 out of 5 stars!

The Vincent Boys (Abbi Glines) Review

2013-01-21T14:56:00.002-08:00

This book follows the friendship/relationships between Ashton Gray, Sawyer Vincent and Beau Vincent who have been friends since childhood. Ashton and Beau were super close as kids getting into all kinds of trouble and Sawyer was always there to bail them out. Fast forward ten years and Ashton is in a relationship with Sawyer, who is seen as the towns golden boy and her friendship with Beau is practically non-existent. Sawyer goes away for the summer leaving behind Ashton who reconnects with Beau.

This book was a little cheesy at times but it was an enjoyable read. I liked the idea of the main characters being flawed as it felt more realistic. Too many YA books portray their characters to be perfect and it was refreshing to see these characters making mistakes and trying to fix them.

I didn't like Ashton a whole lot as a character, she redeemed herself a little towards the end of the book but I felt like she was constantly making selfish decisions. I liked the idea that she wasn't this perfect 'Bella Swan-esque" character but that still wasn't enough to make me like her. Reading this book I was frustrated by how much hurt she caused so many people.

I loved Beau, he was probably my favourite character in the book. Unlike Ashton he didn't seem to have any selfish motives to me, he did what he did because he was deeply in love. I felt heartbroken for him that Ash had snubbed their close bond and dated Sawyer, even I could see how much Beau loved her and how perfect they were for each other.

I felt sorry for Sawyer he is portrayed to be a perfect Prince Charming, Ashton even mocks him in her mind for this but he didn't do anything wrong. Towards the end of the book I felt like the author tried to make him seem "less perfect" to prompt the reader into forgiving Ash and Beau for hurting him but it didn't work on me. I only hope in the next book he finds happiness because he truly deserves it.

My favourite thing about this book was that Ashton wasn't a typical stroppy bad ass character and she didn't lie about her feelings for Beau. She was pretty honest and didn't fight her feelings which again was refreshing. This book was a quick read, although I felt the beginning was rushed I did enjoy it. I can't wait to read the next book as I'm curious as to how things turn out with Sawyer.

4 out of 5 stars.

Rules of Attraction (Simone Elkeles) Review

2013-01-21T14:51:00.001-08:00

This book is a sequel to 'Perfect Chemistry' it follows Carlos Fuentes, Alex's younger brother as he moves from Mexico to Colarado for his senior year in high school. Carlos is a smart mouth know it all that is determined to be bad, he doesn't admire his brother for leaving the Latino Bloods and settling down instead he looks down on him for it. Carlos' character was almost impossible for me to like at the begining but throughout the book he began to redeem himself.

Kiara Westeford is a good girl who comes from a wealthy family who are super supportive of her. She is a bit of a tom boy and enjoys hiking and fixing cars. She is assigned to help Carlos find his way around his new high school and the two immediately but heads.

After Carlos is framed for a crime he didn't commit he moves into Kiara's house and her parents become his temporary guardians. He resists their kindness and continues to do his own thing but as time goes by he begins to appreciate Kiara and her family.

This book was enjoyable but I didn't enjoy it as much as Perfect Chemistry. I wasn't that fond of Carlos but I loved Kiara's character. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

4 out of 5 stars.

Dare You To (Katie McGarry) Review

2013-01-21T14:42:00.001-08:00

I absolutely loved Pushing The Limits so I was super excited to receive an arc copy of this book on Netgalley!

I didn't like Beth in Pushing The Limits, I didn't like how she gave Echo a hard time so I was worried I wouldn't like Dare You To but I needn't have worried it was fantastic and once again McGarry has written another hit!

Beth is a hard nosed, foul mouthed bitch to put it politely so at times it's very hard to read about her and sympathise with her situation. However as the book continues we get to see other sides to her and find out who she really is which was interesting. By the end of the book I felt like she was a better person and it was as though I had watched her mature, you can't help but feel proud of her.

Ryan is not your typical jock love interest, he too has many things going in in his life which makes for interesting reading. I didn't expect to like him especially as I wanted Beth and Isaiah to be together but he really is perfect for her. He helps her to realise that she deserves a better life and he helps her to rediscover herself.

I loved watching Beth evolve as a character, there would be little moments such as her refusing to smoke pot that would give me hope that she could turn her life around. I also liked the appearances of Noah, Echo and Isaiah.

Her uncle Scott was a very likeable character too I liked that he took Beth away from her Mother and gave her a better life.

5 out of 5 stars.

Big Book Challenge 2013

2013-01-13T17:26:00.002-08:00

This year I have decided to try and broaden my bookish horizons and one of my goals is to read longer books. I found this group on Goodreads which is called The Big Book Challenge 2013 and here are the rules:

Books over 400 pages.
These can be one novel,
a collection of short stories,
or a bind-up of several novels.
eBooks can count too as long as the total pages on your reader is over 400!

So basically you decide how many books with 400+ pages you want to challenge yourself to read this year. I have set my goal as ten books as I don't want to overwhelm myself but I am really looking forward to getting my teeth sunk into some epic novels. I will place a widget on my blogs main page so you can keep up to date with my progress and if you are interested in joining this group I will leave a link down below.

Emma
xoxo

Link to Goodreads challenge page: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/59600-2013-big-book-challenge

Emma The Author?

2013-01-10T22:59:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone I thought I would just post an update blog for anyone who is interested.
Some of you may or may not know that I am an aspiring author and had big plans to write a novel last year for NaNoWriMo. However, that didn't happen I managed to write around 10,000 words and then I gave up I guess I just didn't have that much faith in my idea. I am constantly conjuring up ideas in my head for potential novels some are good and others not so good.

I have made it a personal goal to complete a novel this year though and I have finally settled on a plot that I feel really pleased with. It will be a YA Contemporary novel as those are my favourite books to read and to write. I have written a brief synopsis and the first three chapters that I may eventually post on here. I am not 100% sure on the title but at the moment is is named : Scaredy Cat.

So here it goes guys I am going to post the synopsis on here in the hopes of gaining some feedback. I hope you enjoy :)

'My name is Caterina, although my friends call me Cat, Scaredy Cat. They think it’s charming but I hate it. When I was sixteen I realised I was too scared to go outside and by the time I was seventeen I was too frightened to leave my bedroom. That's when Mum admitted me to Thornecliffe, and that's where I met Nate. Mysterious, troubled Nate who just happens to be my opposite. His problem is he isn't afraid of anything, maybe he could save me, or maybe he is living proof of why it's good to be a scaredy cat after all.'

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (JK Rowling) Review

2013-01-07T08:39:00.003-08:00

I have no idea why I waited so long to finally read these books. I have heard so many good things about this series so I had high expectations and I wasn't disappointed. Having already seen the movies I wished I had read the books first as I alredy knew what was going to happen, another downside of seeing the movies first was that I pictured everything as it is in the film, I wish I had read the book first in order to use my own imagination.

However, that being said I thoroughly enjoyed this book. While reading it I found it pretty obvious that it was geared towards children but that didn't bother me in the slightest. JK Rowling has managed to create such a wonderful and magical world that it was a pleasure to become lost in it. I noted the differences between the movie and the book and I was so pleased that Neville Longbottom plays more of a central role in the book, he is one of my favourite characters so I enjoyed reading more about him.

I read this book in a day and I am absolutely hooked, I will begin reading the second book right away as like most of the people who have read these books I have fallen in love with Harry Potter and his world.

5 out of 5 stars.

A Midsummer's Nightmare (Kody Keplinger) Review

2013-01-04T08:43:00.002-08:00

I had recently read The Duff which I adored so I rushed out and bought two more books by Kody, one of them being A Midsummer's Nightmare. I was super excited to read this book as the synopsis had me intrigued.

This book follows Whitley who goes to stay with her Dad for the summer, she discovers he is engaged and his new fiancee has two children Bailey and Nathan. She is horrified when she realises Nathan is a guy she had slept with at a party a couple of nights ago. Naturally they both feel awkward and end up clashing.

I was so interested to see where Kody would take this story I was hoping it would be really romantic and about forbidden love but it was nothing like that really. I kinda felt like there were elements of instalove.

Whitley's character is hard to like, but I think that was what Kody had intended, she is difficult, parties a lot and hooks up with a lot of guys. She isn't very friendly and pushes people away, there was times in the book when I wanted to slap her for being such a brat. Her parents aren't very likeable either her mother is described as being selfish and absent and her father is just as absent, rejecting Whitley on numerous occassions in favour of his new family.

I enjoyed this book it was a nice light read but I didn't love it. The story felt pretty generic and to be honest I wasn't that bothered about Whitley and Nathan as a couple, when the book ended it felt kind of anti-climatic. Probably not my go to book by Kody but enjoyable none the less.

3.5 stars :)

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Michelle Hodkin) Review

2013-01-04T08:41:00.001-08:00

My first reaction when I finished this book was 'Oh my god, I need more!' Which is exactly what a good book should make you think. Literally from the get go this book had me hooked, I felt like I had no idea what was going on and I was desperate to know more.

This book follows Mara Dyer a girl who wakes up in a hospital after being in a terrible accident. She was in a building when it collapsed killing her best friend Rachel, her boyfriend Jude and his sister Claire. She has no recollection of that day and has no idea what she was doing at that building in the first place.

I loved uncovering Mara's past along with her I really felt like I was part of the story and it was a thrilling ride. The begininng was fast paced and full of interesting 'happenings' however, I felt the middle slowed down a lot which I think was due to the romance aspect of the novel. Although I did enjoy the romance between Mara and Noah I just really wanted to find out more about Mara's accident and her past.

Mara throughout the book has what she thinks are 'Hallucinations' due to her PTSD and I found these 'hallucinations' really creepy and eerie they brought a little extra something to the book and I loved it.

This book would make an amazing movie, I loved it so much.

5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful Disaster (Jamie McGuire) Review

2012-12-11T16:58:00.001-08:00

This book has been really difficult for me to rate and it is even harder for me to review. I enjoyed reading the book but I didn't like it that much, that probably makes no sense so I'll try and explain myself a little better.

For starters the back of the book boasts that this is a love story between 'good girl' Abby Abernathy and 'bad boy' Travis Maddox. This idea fascinates me and I will shamelessy read books about good girls taming the bad guy and settling down because it is every woman's fantasy and I enjoy reading about it. However, Abby was not a good girl which really irritated me, the back of the book goes as far as to say she doesn't drink which is annoying because in one scene she downs 15 shots of patron. The author seems to think Abby is a good girl because in the opening scene she is wearing a cashmere sweater and pearl earrings, so stereotypical it is sickening and not even true to her character.

As for Travis's character, I started out really liking him and I even got a bit of a crush on him, he seemed too good to be true... and he was!
I found his obsessive behaviour towards Abby downright creepy, if I had of been her I would've run a mile.

So for about 300 pages of this book the two main characters take part in this really annoying will they / wont they situation. I disliked them both and by the end I thought they were good enough for each other. They are both volatile and obsessive and I didn't like either characters.

I am not a feminist at all but I hate the way authors glorify these volatile and dangerous relationships, Travis smashes up his apartment and viciously beats up guys that look Abby's way and that is not 'Beautiful' it is just a plain 'Disaster'. Nobody should aspire to be in such an obsessive unhealthy relationship. Perhaps this book did nothing for me because I like my female protagonists to be strong willed and independant and Abby was neither of these things.

1 out of 5 stars.

The Giver (Lois Lowry) Review

2012-12-08T14:34:00.002-08:00

This book opens, as many dystopian books do, with a seemingly utopian society. We follow a little boy names Jonas who is about to become a 'Twelve' which means he will be given the title of his new job and become an adult so to speak.

The society in which Jonas lives appears to be idyllic, there are no wars, no pain or suffering and no body has to think for themselves as every important detail is decided for them by The Elders. It is referred to as 'Sameness'.

When Jonas is selected to take on the roll of 'The Reciever (of memory)' he is both startled and afraid, it is a great honour and responsibilty. During his training he meets daily with 'The Giver' a kind but troubled old man who intends to pass down all of his memories from the past and some of them are quite terrible. Through recieving the memories Jonas begins to change, he experiences things not experienced while living in the 'Sameness' such as seeing colours and feeling sadness.

This book was an interesting look at not only the dystopian society from the novel but a look at society today. It makes you question how far you would go to create the 'perfect' life. Is giving up all feelings in order to not experience pain or hunger really worth it?
Watching Jonas' realisation was both beautiful and sad, I wanted only good things to happen to him and 'The Giver' who both seemed so burdened by the memories of the past. It made me realise how beautiful the world is and how in order to experience the good we must also experience the bad.

I really enjoyed reading this book and I took a lot away from it, it wasn't fast paced but I enjoyed that. This book was a leisurely read and being that it is only 179 pages it wasn't overly long. I did feel a little frustrated at the end but that is only because I wanted to find out more about Jonas and Gabe and their new adventure.

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars and I look forward to checking out the next book in the series.

#FridayReads (07.12.2012)

2012-12-07T11:08:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, it's that time of the week again where thousands of people over on twitter tweet about what they plan on reading at the weekend. I haven't done it on my blog for a few weeks as I have been so busy but it is back for good now!

As you can probably tell from the picture above I plan on reading The Giver this weekend by Lois Lowry. This book was gifted to me by a fellow booktuber and a dear friend. She was kind enough to send me over a gift package for Christmas and this book was part of that package. I am have already read 80 of the 179 pages and I am really enjoying it so far.
When I finish this book I will probably go on to read The Shining by Stephen King.