The Fault in Our Stars. John Green

It’s been a few months since I read this book, but I remember it well enough to review it now, prompted by my watching of the film of course. If you want to read my review of the film check it out on my film blog here.

Plot synopsis:

Hazel Grace Lancaster is a sixteen year old cancer patient. At support group she meets Augustus Waters, a seventeen year old cancer survivor. She doesn't want to fall in love, but she can’t help it.

Rating: 3 stars

Front Cover (As displayed): 

I love the colour of this book, its bright and striking, ironically uplifting and the writing and clouds are bold against it and look modern and perfectly simple.

Review (Unspoiled):

This was the first John Green book I read and was not used to his style of writing, now after reading others I see they all follow the format of tons of emotion and moral messages, lightened periodically with good one liners and comedic moments to keep it from getting to deeply saddening and philosophical. Now I know that sounds horrible, and your probably wondering why I still gave it 3 stars. Well my reasoning is that it the best out of all his books and had a great message; to live for now and not let the idea of losing someone/something or getting hurt stop you from doing so. This book has some good characters, heart-warming moments, and though I personally didn't cry as I know many others did, it still is a decent book and worth a read.

Bottom line: 

This book is worth a read, I may not have loved it but the story still makes you think.

Recommend: 

Yes I would recommend this book because the overall message is fantastic and it does have its moments.

Spoiler Section:

Best Character: 

Isaac or Gus, they have the best lines out of everyone. Isaac definitely adds a lot of humor to the book and acts as a fantastic supporting character to the two main characters.

Worst Character: 

There are three; Kaitlyn, Monica and of course Van Houten. The first, Hazels old ‘bestie’ was heavily uncaring and distant, as if she found her ‘friends’ condition awkward. The second, just comes off as a bitch, but is partly forgivable for I could easily understand how overwhelming the situation with Isaac would be. The last, needs no real explanation. Though he lost his daughter, you would think this would make him want to bring some sort of closure to Hazel over the ending of the book.

Best Moment: 

The egg throwing scene, it was hilarious and perfectly timed to ring Hazel and Gus closer as well as adding great humor to the book, and giving Isaac a chance to release his anger.

Worst Moment: 

Hazel finding Gus at the petrol station, it was horrific to read and tapped straight into my own fear of not being incapable of taking care of myself.

Please feel free to comment your own views on this book if you've read it, I would love to know how others felt about it.

Little Women. Louisa May Alcott

I started reading this book in year 6, as it was recommended to help me with my reading skill before I took on the 11+. I never finished it and watched the film a few months ago so I knew the narrative, but as I needed a stand alone book to read, so I chose it off my shelf, as I havent read a ‘classic’ before I thought it would be refreshing.

Book synopsis:

The book follows the story of the four March sisters; Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy, in nineteenth century new England as they come of age and try to become gracious ‘little women’.

Rating: 4 stars.

Time to read:

A week and a bit. Don’t laugh, its 491 pgs and the text is almost teasingly small. I normally only read in the evenings so that also slowed me down, but it was a long haul to finish.

Front Cover (Penguin Classics edition):

I adore the penguin classics front cover, its drawing of the young sisters. The style is charming and it helped me to form the characters in my head.

First thoughts (Prior to reading):

As I have already written, I knew the narrative and was not sure if this would stop me from enjoying or finishing the book. (A problem I’m currently having with Harry Potter and trying to overcome.) I was apprehensive about the text, having not read it in ages I couldn’t remember if the wording would be as annoying and as complicated to understand as many ‘classics’ seem to be. You know what I mean, when they go page after page just to describe one simple thing or they use tons of old fashioned words.

Review (Unspoiled):

I actually really enjoyed this book. At the start I was wary but I felt a kind of pull to carry on and I’m happy I did. This book really makes you think and be aware of just how much you’ve got in life, as the moral throughout is that you should always be thankful and enjoy what you have whilst you have it. It’s a charming little novel, and though sometimes the length of it was maybe a little tiresome, it tells you the full story, where every last thread is tied neatly.

The writing is not hard to understand, the few words that I didn’t recognise I guessed the meaning of and moved on, or skipped over without care.

Recommend: Yes I would recommend this book, I’m sure that all good libraries would have it in case your dubious and don’t wish to spend your money.

Bottom line: 

Long but you can see why it’s a classic, and treasured so.

Spoiler Section............................

So I thought I knew the narrative. I was sure about Beth’s sickness, but for some reason thought she survived and it was the mother that died. So it was doubly as hard to read through the pages of her death. I think that each sister had their good and bad traits and am happy that they all, even Beth in some way, made it to a peaceful place. Though they did have their trying moments, and it was interesting to see these moments as it made it easier to sympathise and connect with them. When I watched the film I had my doubts about the Laurie and Amy relationship, as I felt he didn’t really love her and just wanted a March, and she was just a self obsessed girl who always wanted her sisters man. But in the book it makes a bit more sense, as you get their feelings on both sides, and though I still loved the idea of Laurie and Jo, Mrs March was right, they were not be a good match in the long run.

Best Character: 

Either Laurie or Jo. They were both the most comedic and I connected the most with Jo over her boyish ways and independent, society defying manners.

Worst Character: 

Mr Brooke. I see no real appeal and his sexist thoughts on page 278. “She was wrong, of course, but then she was young. I must be patient, and teach her.”, “And show her where she had failed in her duty as a spouse.” Left me rolling my eyes. Now I know, I know. It’s the nineteenth century; women were raised to know that their place was at home and their role as wife is to look after house, husband and children. But it still pissed me off, and set my opinion on the sod for the rest of the book.

Best Moment: 

Just all the little joys the family had, and funny conversations between them all.

Worst Moment: 

Beth’s death of course. I was close to crying as she lived out her last days and finally passed away.

Please feel free to comment your own views on this book if you've read it, I would love to know how others felt about it.

We were liars. E.Lockhart

I purchased this book as part of a buy one get one £1 in my local book shop and since one of my favorite booktubers recommended it I thought I would give it a try, the second book of the deal 'Lobsters' by Tom Ellen and Lucy Ivison awaits patiently on my desk till I finish my current read.

Book Synopsis: 

The Sinclair family, go to their private island, Beechwood each summer. They are beautiful. They are privileged, and perfect. At least from the outside. But there are secrets.

Rating: 4 stars

Time to read: 

Two days, though it could have been one if I tried. Its clocks in at only 225 pgs so a relatively short read with standard font size.

Front cover (As displayed): 

I think its interesting enough, the image kind of reinforces my first thoughts about it, with the teens in the water it looks like a 90210/The O.C snapshot.

First Thoughts (Prior to reading): 

Its been well reviewed by other book reviews and authors, from what I know about its synopsis and its blurb I get a 90120/The O.C basis with a Pretty Little Liars/Revenge feel to it. I’m anticipating a classic rich kid scandal story, probably involving money and love troubles.

Review (Unspoiled): 

I was pleasantly surprised by this book, at first I was worried that the ‘We’re rich and I don’t need to worry about anything but looking good’ rich kid vibe was gonna get on my nerves but it didn't. Yes there are moments when you think ‘Ah, how the other half live’ but once you get into the story and start trying to figure everything out and piece together the mystery woven fantastically through the book you don’t really care too much. The plot is well thought out and sophisticated, as is the writing.

Recommend: 

Yes, I would recommend this read.

Bottom line: 

A good short read, good plot. I doubt I will reread it now I know the secrets and lies. I would loan it out for sure, but if you’re not sure there’s always the library.

Spoiler Section.................................

Okay so again, I started with the thought “Damn, these rich kids are gonna get on my nerves!”. But the second the main character uttered the words ‘Pulled out a handgun and shot me in the chest.’ To describe an emotional breakdown, I was hooked. I wanted like I suspect most readers wanted, to be able to read along whilst simultaneously going all Sherlock on this books arse and predicting what happened before it was revealed, but failed. The twist, so wonderfully shocking, I was not expecting, (Though I expected a twist, I didnt expect that). I had to read the page twice to take it in. It was just the right level of plausible and acceptably shocking. Once you understand the big picture your mind works back, through it all, the way the liars behaved during summer seventeen, the conversations with the remaining Sinclair’s and missing giveaways and unread E-mails. It is all there, but you needed the last little piece to really see it.

Overall I loved the way it was written. In short, blunt, well thought out sentences. All are put in for a reason, to make a point. There is no rambling and you have the feeling you've read a lot more than you have because the author somehow gets more emotion and information into the short chapters without having to write much.

Best Character: 

N/A. I loved no character. All had elements that made them unlikable and none were so unlikeable they were loveable.

Worst Character: 

Harris Sinclair, Granddad. He was pathetically prejudice and power hungry. Both him and the sister’s were blinded by money to the point that I wanted to smack them though the pages. Really it was their fault, that the fire was planned at least, because they drove the liars to take their problems on themselves.

Best moment: 

The short little fairy tales Cadence wrote, they made you think and helped build the narrative.

Worst: 

The fire. No doubt. And I’m not saying so because it was sad and all, but stupid. I understood and value their reasoning. Old Clairmont was a symbol and they wanted it all gone. But their plan was unbelievably, almost ridiculously stupid. They go to separate floors? And light separate fires? Do they know nothing of how fire works? Lay a trail through all the rooms, and cover all the crap you want really burnt up well, than light a match from OUTSIDE. The whole time she was remembering it I was trying not to scream from their idiocy. This is my only real quarry with the entire book, but I know others that agree, as for four well educated beings, supposedly only slightly drunk, they were moronic.

Please feel free to comment your own views on this book if you've read it, I would love to know how others felt about it.

Hello Fellow Bookworms...

Hello follow bookworms,

Welcome to my blog, where I wish to cast my view on books, old and new. To converse with others and share discussion, as well as help you with that little question; is it worth a read? I have read too many books that were well reviewed, that left me wanting, unsatisfied and annoyed to have spent my money on them. So here I am to stop, or at least warn others from making the same mistake.

You may agree with my thoughts, you may not. Either way, comment and share your views with me, I’d love to know what others think.

I have tons of books already to review, many I will group into their finished series and others that stand alone. Recently I was very ‘naughty’ and splashed out on a decent sized book haul. I plan to review them as I go, as well as the old ones that currently clutter my bookshelves.

I will warn that my taste in books might not be extremely diverse, but I welcome recommendations and hope this blog will help me to expand my horizons and try new types of books. Thank you for reading, and I look forward to your feedback.