Title: 13 Little Blue Envelopes
Author: Maureen Johnson
Summary: If your free-spirited aunt left you 13 little blue envelopes: Would you follow the directions? Would you travel around the world? Would you open the envelopes one by one? Inside envelope 1, is money and instructions to buy a plane ticket. Inside envelope 2, are directions to a specific London flat. Inside envelope 3, tells Ginny: find a starving artists. Because of envelope 4, Ginny and a playwright/thief/man-about-town called Keith go to Scotland together, with disastrous - though really romantic - results. But will she ever see him again?
Genre: Adventure
Time Started: 7th September.
Time Ended: 28th September, 11:54pm
Page Count: 319
Age Rating: 13+
Warning: Minor sexual themes.
Appeal Rating: 9/10.
First things first, the blurb is really misleading. It makes it seem like a romance novel ... it's not. Yes, Keith and Ginny DO fall for each other and kiss a lot and sleep on a bench when Ginny misses lockout at the hostel, but it is not all about Ginny and Keith. It's about Ginny, about becoming independent, travelling the world, making friends, coming out of your shell. In no way is it a romance novel.
Anyway.
I really enjoyed this book. It took me a while to properly get into it, and it took me so long because (a) homework is ridiculous this year so it kept me busy, and (b) I wasn't reading much.
The characters are amazingly developed, and they all have fantastic, real personalities. Peg seems like such an awesome woman, and it's a shame Ginny didn't get to spend as much time with her as she could. Only a truly amazing person would take their niece around the world, through thirteen letters, in such a short amount of time.
Maureen Johnson is a fantastic writer, with a large imagination and an excellent sense of humour. I will definitely be checking out more of her books.
Now, I have to go do homework, so I can't write any more. Definitely recommended!
Wednesday, 29 September 2010
Sunday, 5 September 2010
Book Forty-One
Title: Thirteen Reasons Why
Author: Jay Asher
Summary: You can't stop the future, you can't rewind the past. The only way to learn the secret ... is to press play. Clay Jensen returns home to find a strange package with his name on it. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes rrecorded by Hannah Baker - his classmate and first love - who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Hannah's voice explains there are thirteen reasons why she killed herself. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out why. All through the night, Clay keeps listening - and what he discovers changes his life ... Forever.
Genre: Angst/Drama
Time Started: 31st August, time unknown.
Time Ended: 5th September, 11:45pm
Page Count: 288
Age Rating: 13+
Warning: Talk of suicide, mention of rape and sex.
Appeal Rating: 10/10.
Before I say anything about the actual book, I'm listening to Hannah's tapes here, and it's kind of freaky. If you want to listen to them, go to last page so you can start from the beginning.
Now, onto the book. It's so amazing. A favourite, most definitely. It's such a moving book, and anyone who reads this and doesn't at least get tears in their eyes at some point is heartless. Because the tapes are deep and so emotional, even Clay cries. I don't know about anyone else, but I was so anxious as Clay listened to the tapes, as if my name were to pop up (I was anxious about Clay's name, actually, but anyone would think I expected mine).
I love the format of this book, too. It's really imaginative and original, and that's an instant thumbs up from me. This story is so real and so unbelievably touching, it really is fantastic. And it's late (I turned the laptop on as soon as I finished, so I could tell you about it), so I really can't think of anything to say.
I definitely reccommend!
Author: Jay Asher
Summary: You can't stop the future, you can't rewind the past. The only way to learn the secret ... is to press play. Clay Jensen returns home to find a strange package with his name on it. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes rrecorded by Hannah Baker - his classmate and first love - who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Hannah's voice explains there are thirteen reasons why she killed herself. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out why. All through the night, Clay keeps listening - and what he discovers changes his life ... Forever.
Genre: Angst/Drama
Time Started: 31st August, time unknown.
Time Ended: 5th September, 11:45pm
Page Count: 288
Age Rating: 13+
Warning: Talk of suicide, mention of rape and sex.
Appeal Rating: 10/10.
Before I say anything about the actual book, I'm listening to Hannah's tapes here, and it's kind of freaky. If you want to listen to them, go to last page so you can start from the beginning.
Now, onto the book. It's so amazing. A favourite, most definitely. It's such a moving book, and anyone who reads this and doesn't at least get tears in their eyes at some point is heartless. Because the tapes are deep and so emotional, even Clay cries. I don't know about anyone else, but I was so anxious as Clay listened to the tapes, as if my name were to pop up (I was anxious about Clay's name, actually, but anyone would think I expected mine).
I love the format of this book, too. It's really imaginative and original, and that's an instant thumbs up from me. This story is so real and so unbelievably touching, it really is fantastic. And it's late (I turned the laptop on as soon as I finished, so I could tell you about it), so I really can't think of anything to say.
I definitely reccommend!
Monday, 30 August 2010
Book Forty
Title: An Abundance of Katherines
Author: John Green
Summary: When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton's type is girls names Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact. On a road trip miles from home, this anagram-happy, washed-up child prodigy has ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a bloodthirsty feral hog on his trail, and an overweight, Judge Judy-loving best friend riding shotgun - but no Katherins. Colin is on a mission to prove the Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which he hopes will predict the future of any relationship, avenge Dumpees everywhere, and finally win him the girl.
Genre: Adventure/Romance
Time Started: I can't remember
Time Ended: 30th August, 3:38am.
Page Count: 215
Age Rating: 13+
Warning: Profanity, suggestive conversation.
Appeal Rating: 7/10.
It started off really slow and I admit, I wasn't getting into it. But about a third of the way through, I started getting into it, and it kept getting better, and I started to connect with the characters and I really liked it.
In certain aspects, I'm like Lindsey, but not drastically similar. It's in the sense that she's "not real" because she changes herself for people. Around TOC, she's bubbly and giggly and preppy. Around the oldsters, she has a Southern accent and she's sweet and generous. Around Colin, she's herself. She stops pretending.
In a way, this is like me. My truest form is the one I show online. Offline, people will judge me for what I like and who I like, etc., so I hide certain things from them. Online, people don't judge me, and those who do - well, who cares about them?
It's the way I hide offline that makes me like her. The Internet is the Colin to my Lindsey.
But enough rambling - it was a great book and I recommend it.
Author: John Green
Summary: When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton's type is girls names Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact. On a road trip miles from home, this anagram-happy, washed-up child prodigy has ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a bloodthirsty feral hog on his trail, and an overweight, Judge Judy-loving best friend riding shotgun - but no Katherins. Colin is on a mission to prove the Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which he hopes will predict the future of any relationship, avenge Dumpees everywhere, and finally win him the girl.
Genre: Adventure/Romance
Time Started: I can't remember
Time Ended: 30th August, 3:38am.
Page Count: 215
Age Rating: 13+
Warning: Profanity, suggestive conversation.
Appeal Rating: 7/10.
It started off really slow and I admit, I wasn't getting into it. But about a third of the way through, I started getting into it, and it kept getting better, and I started to connect with the characters and I really liked it.
In certain aspects, I'm like Lindsey, but not drastically similar. It's in the sense that she's "not real" because she changes herself for people. Around TOC, she's bubbly and giggly and preppy. Around the oldsters, she has a Southern accent and she's sweet and generous. Around Colin, she's herself. She stops pretending.
In a way, this is like me. My truest form is the one I show online. Offline, people will judge me for what I like and who I like, etc., so I hide certain things from them. Online, people don't judge me, and those who do - well, who cares about them?
It's the way I hide offline that makes me like her. The Internet is the Colin to my Lindsey.
But enough rambling - it was a great book and I recommend it.
Thursday, 12 August 2010
Book Thirty-Nine
Title: Paper Towns
Author: John Green
Summary: Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificent, adventurous Margo Roth Speigelman from afar. So when she opens his bedroom window late one night and summons him to join her on an ingenious campaign of revenge - he follows. After their all-nighter ends and a knew day breaks, Q arrives at school to find that Margo has not. Always an enigma, she now becomes a mystery and Q soon learns that there are clues to be followed in his search for Margo.
Genre: Adventure/Mystery
Time Started: 9th August, time unknown
Time Ended: 10th August, time unknown.
Page Count: 305
Age Rating: 13+
Warning: Profanity, talk of sex/genitalia
Appeal Rating: 9/10.
This book is so amazing. I had high expectations, and Paper Towns beat them. The characterisation is fantastic, the friendship between Quentin/Ben/Radar/Lacey/etc. is so believable, and I lost count of the amount of times I literally laughed out loud at this book. But as funny and witty as it was, it really made me think. Margo's clues are really complex, and honestly, I wouldn't have gotten half as close to Margo as Quentin managed -- even if I had friends helping me.
The road trip was awesome. Most authors would skip over it, or touch on it lightly, because road trips can be quite boring ... but John Green made it amusing, kept our interest from beginning to end (well, that goes for the whole book, not just the road trip). When Ben started complaining about needing to pee, 'Peeing In A Bottle' by Armoured Bearcub started playing (I was listening to my phone-come-MP4). That was so freaky.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Paper Towns. Definitely recommended.
Author: John Green
Summary: Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificent, adventurous Margo Roth Speigelman from afar. So when she opens his bedroom window late one night and summons him to join her on an ingenious campaign of revenge - he follows. After their all-nighter ends and a knew day breaks, Q arrives at school to find that Margo has not. Always an enigma, she now becomes a mystery and Q soon learns that there are clues to be followed in his search for Margo.
Genre: Adventure/Mystery
Time Started: 9th August, time unknown
Time Ended: 10th August, time unknown.
Page Count: 305
Age Rating: 13+
Warning: Profanity, talk of sex/genitalia
Appeal Rating: 9/10.
This book is so amazing. I had high expectations, and Paper Towns beat them. The characterisation is fantastic, the friendship between Quentin/Ben/Radar/Lacey/etc. is so believable, and I lost count of the amount of times I literally laughed out loud at this book. But as funny and witty as it was, it really made me think. Margo's clues are really complex, and honestly, I wouldn't have gotten half as close to Margo as Quentin managed -- even if I had friends helping me.
The road trip was awesome. Most authors would skip over it, or touch on it lightly, because road trips can be quite boring ... but John Green made it amusing, kept our interest from beginning to end (well, that goes for the whole book, not just the road trip). When Ben started complaining about needing to pee, 'Peeing In A Bottle' by Armoured Bearcub started playing (I was listening to my phone-come-MP4). That was so freaky.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Paper Towns. Definitely recommended.
Book Thirty-Eight
Title: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Author: JKRowling
Summary: Harry Potter, along with his best friends, Ron and Hermione, is about to start his third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry can't wait to get back to school after the summer holidays. (Who wouldn't if they lived with the horrible Dursleys?) But when Harry gets to Hogwarts, the atmosphere is tense. There's an escaped mass murderer on the loose, and the sinister prison guards of Azkaban have been called in to guard the school ...
Genre: Fantasy/Adventure
Time Started: 8th August, time unknown.
Time Ended: 9th August, time unknown.
Page Count:317
Age Rating: N/A
Warning: Total awesomeness
Appeal Rating: 10/10.
This is one of my favourite books in the Potter series, and effectively, of all time. Enough said.
Author: JKRowling
Summary: Harry Potter, along with his best friends, Ron and Hermione, is about to start his third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry can't wait to get back to school after the summer holidays. (Who wouldn't if they lived with the horrible Dursleys?) But when Harry gets to Hogwarts, the atmosphere is tense. There's an escaped mass murderer on the loose, and the sinister prison guards of Azkaban have been called in to guard the school ...
Genre: Fantasy/Adventure
Time Started: 8th August, time unknown.
Time Ended: 9th August, time unknown.
Page Count:317
Age Rating: N/A
Warning: Total awesomeness
Appeal Rating: 10/10.
This is one of my favourite books in the Potter series, and effectively, of all time. Enough said.
Book Thirty-Seven
Title: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Author: JKRowling
Summary: Harry Potter is a wizard. He is in his second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft of Wizardry. Little does he know that this year will be just as eventful as the last ...
Genre: Fantasy/Adventure
Time Started: 6th August. Time unknown.
Time Ended: 7th August. Time unknown.
Page Count: 251
Age Rating: N/A
Warning: Total awesomeness
Appeal Rating: 10/10.
It's Harry Potter.
Enough said.
<3
Author: JKRowling
Summary: Harry Potter is a wizard. He is in his second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft of Wizardry. Little does he know that this year will be just as eventful as the last ...
Genre: Fantasy/Adventure
Time Started: 6th August. Time unknown.
Time Ended: 7th August. Time unknown.
Page Count: 251
Age Rating: N/A
Warning: Total awesomeness
Appeal Rating: 10/10.
It's Harry Potter.
Enough said.
<3
Book Thirty-Six
Title: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Author: JKRowling
Summary: Harry Potter thinks he is an ordinary boy - until he is rescued by a beetle-eyed giant of a man, enrols at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, learns to play Quidditch and does battle in a deadly duel. The Reason: HARRY POTTER IS A WIZARD!
Genre: Fantasy/Adventure
Time Started: A while ago. Date uncertain.
Time Ended: 6th August, time unknown.
Page Count: 223
Age Rating: N/A
Warning: Total awesomeness
Appeal Rating: 9/10.
This is the third time I've re-read the series, and I started re-reading it for a book club on a forum I'm on. We were meant to read three chapters a week and then discuss them. However, that book club slowly disappeared, and I didn't really put much effort into reading. I wasn't in a reading mood, see. I went on holiday this weekend and, with nothing to do during the evenings, I relied on books. And so I got this finished the first night we were there.
Just like the past two times, the story never grows old. Being a huge Potternerd, I can read and re-read and re-read and re-read the books without ever getting bored, and I know it.
Author: JKRowling
Summary: Harry Potter thinks he is an ordinary boy - until he is rescued by a beetle-eyed giant of a man, enrols at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, learns to play Quidditch and does battle in a deadly duel. The Reason: HARRY POTTER IS A WIZARD!
Genre: Fantasy/Adventure
Time Started: A while ago. Date uncertain.
Time Ended: 6th August, time unknown.
Page Count: 223
Age Rating: N/A
Warning: Total awesomeness
Appeal Rating: 9/10.
This is the third time I've re-read the series, and I started re-reading it for a book club on a forum I'm on. We were meant to read three chapters a week and then discuss them. However, that book club slowly disappeared, and I didn't really put much effort into reading. I wasn't in a reading mood, see. I went on holiday this weekend and, with nothing to do during the evenings, I relied on books. And so I got this finished the first night we were there.
Just like the past two times, the story never grows old. Being a huge Potternerd, I can read and re-read and re-read and re-read the books without ever getting bored, and I know it.
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