tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87843494840878259122024-03-14T08:03:35.478+00:00Amy BookWorm<center>Feel free to contact me via Twitter, Goodreads or there's a contact form in the left sidebar for e-mailing.
There are also different ways to follow me in that sidebar.</center>AwesomeAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06412663427792021745noreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8784349484087825912.post-51943458367201926472014-07-23T07:15:00.000+01:002014-07-24T10:57:05.990+01:00Book Promo [#17]: Dream Cast for Hidden series.<div style="text-align: center;">
Ooh, Book 3 in the Hidden series is out soon is it?...<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9vzPi6gOiak/U81mTKm9BBI/AAAAAAAAA2o/Xxeg1PA0HqU/s200/countdownbuttonv2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9vzPi6gOiak/U81mTKm9BBI/AAAAAAAAA2o/Xxeg1PA0HqU/s200/countdownbuttonv2.jpg" /></a>Clare & I have joined the YA blog tour: Countdown to 7th August<br />
Some of you may be reading this may know already... I not, then thank you for reading my blog post today anyway! You can check out more of the countdown tour at <a href="http://countdownya.com/">countdownya.com</a><br />
I've got the pleasure of having Clare Davidson as my special guest! Together, we've created a dream cast for characters which appear throughout the series.<br />
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Here's the wraparound cover which includes the blurb, spine & the cover- its absolutely stunning!<br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large; text-align: -webkit-center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">RELEASED</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 20px;"> 7th August 2014! </span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">(didn't you already guess?)</span></b></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b style="font-size: x-large;">Series: </b></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 24px;">☑</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: xx-small;"> </span><b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"> </b></center>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b style="font-size: 18;">Shrouded Soul is a young adult urban fantasy, with a large dash of mystery set in modern day England...</b></span></center>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><u>Both of our suggestions:</u></b></span><br />
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You can <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1uJgoqTOlBQ4igfmo90_Wj3P79_b_hd6h7Hpl0RkY0PI/viewform?usp=send_form">submit this form</a> after if you want... Some parts have been blanked out & this is so it doesn't spoil for you whose choice it was... we want you to guess who you agreed with more randomly if possible. So, if you don't intend on voting on the dream cast then feel free to read the spoilers beforehand.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Bella Heathcote <b><i>OR</i></b> Dakota Fanning </span></div>
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<img src="http://tepasmas.com/sites/default/files/category_pictures/bella_heathcote.jpg" height="275" /><img src="http://i1.cdnds.net/14/07/300x450/dakota-fanning.jpg" height="275" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">as Charley</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ffe599; color: #ffe599;">Clare says: Dakota Fanning as Charley. Pretty, strong, confident and very blonde.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Alexa PanVega </span><b style="font-size: x-large;"><i>OR </i></b><span style="font-size: large;">Chloe Grace Moretz </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <img src="http://www.tvequals.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/The-Pregnancy-Project-Lifetime-3.jpg" height="315" /><img src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/a7/87/a8/a787a810d0a5acdcd45b2d4572cf67d7.jpg" height="315" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">as Kim</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f6b26b; color: #f6b26b;">Clare says: This was the image I sent to my cover designer, as the inspiration for Kim, only with auburn hair! So for me, Chloe Grace Moretz is my Kim.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f6b26b; color: #f6b26b;">Amy says: Yep, both would need hair dye ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lily Collins </span><b style="font-size: x-large;"><i>OR</i></b><span style="font-size: large;"> Sarah Bolger </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <img src="http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/images/stories/large/2009/10/14/Lily-Collins-91163846.jpg" height="275" /><img src="http://img.poptower.com/pic-49725/sarah-bolger.jpg?" height="275" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">as Sophie </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #6aa84f; color: #6aa84f;">Clare says: Another actress who would require hair dye to play the role (and green contact lenses), but Sarah Bolger has always represented a traditional British teenage girl to me. Probably due to the things I’ve seen her in. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #6aa84f; color: #6aa84f;">Amy says: Whereas Lily kinda has green eyes ;) Click on it to see an enlarged version & decide...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mike Lewis </span><b style="font-size: x-large;"><i>OR</i></b><span style="font-size: large;"> Mario Maurer</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><img src="http://www.damninc.com/images/modelsgallery/PRI-04525463-ml_2.jpg" height="275" /><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/8tdQZ6g3MfrfMQL20NiudpMt9VrnjIfp3OHexgHMqU-l4SB9oyJ05mnzqe6jJxMgy9jA4jLMYoTHO-1pdv-86xg2tpSNjKQwlnSK_28Di8TzjL3uuDw-3CaHVmFfcXtnO1BHukzE_oOurVDlz-s4qUbxJ5VaYfZPtA"><img border="0" src="http://diniismawati18goblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/6a00d8341df56c53ef0133f3dcc9c3970b-450wi1.jpg" height="275" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">as AJ</span></div>
<span style="background-color: purple; color: purple;">Clare says: Mario Maurer is an actor from Thailand and was the visual reference I used when I introduced AJ as a character. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Max Irons </span><b style="font-size: x-large;"><i>OR</i></b><span style="font-size: large;"> Anton Yelchin </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><img src="http://jeremyironsno1fan.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/max-41.gif?w=460" height="300" /><img src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/77/b3/4b/77b34be536d4d37398735bccf99895f1.jpg" height="300" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">as Matthew </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #999999; color: #999999;">Clare says: This choice might seem a little out there, but in this photo he’s just perfect for my vision of Matthew.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #999999; color: #999999;">Amy says: Actually, I can see this so easily... Forget Max Irons! I think Anton would actually be the better choice ;)</span></div>
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<b>Do you agree with these choices?</b></div>
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Have you done the survey! If so, thank you! If you just want to talk about an odd suggestion or pick one then feel free to comment instead!</div>
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Please check out Clare's books in the Hidden series which are already released, I've reviewed the first two already! Clare & I also casted actors for more of the minor characters in the series on her blog <a href="http://claredavidson.com/blog/2398-countdown-ya-project">here</a>, please check it out & you can find Clare elsewhere!</div>
Find Clare: <span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 24px;">S</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><a href="http://claredavidson.com/">ClareDavidson.com</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/ClareMDavidson">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClareMDavidson">Facebook</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6445758.Clare_Davidson">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://eepurl.com/zpjGf">New releases mailing list</a> <span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 24px;">S</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 24px;"></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://thetruebookaddict.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/cat%20thursday"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OoJA6hkMFTc/TwE9lqJSqnI/AAAAAAAAIfI/KCmuNxDZCp4/s320/cat+thursday+2.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> Thanks for hosting </span><a href="http://thetruebookaddict.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/cat%20thursday" style="font-size: 14px;">Michelle @ The True Book Addict</a><span style="font-size: 14px;">! Join us by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px;">This is my fourth Cat Thursday; thanks for having me again!</span></td></tr>
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Book post does benefit cats, as Caleb found out when a parcel from Fi (in case <a href="http://booksforbirdsblog.blogspot.co.uk/">her blog</a> needs introduction, probably not) arrived.<br />
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At first, I read the letter. And did one of the things Fi instructed me to. Said hi to Caleb...</div>
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His reaction:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff379/Smiles-R-Awesome/Our%20cats/Caleb-%20Adult/BILDJuly_zpsc7d00b8a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff379/Smiles-R-Awesome/Our%20cats/Caleb-%20Adult/BILDJuly_zpsc7d00b8a.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You thought he was social... I'm pretty sure that's not how cats, at least, greet each other. In Caleb's world, the way to do that is pounce at them & start fighting... Oh, you got a better greeting than that, Fi. He thinks humans are better than cats (I'm not so sure).</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And a mug shot (look at those possessed eyes & that tiny dot of a mouth)... but this displays his interest in Fi & her book post when he realizes it means good things for him. People tie up the parcels and stuff, presenting him with a simple toy. Cats have a tendency to be more interested in basically cheap toys rather than manufactured ones.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He may've looked like he wasn't that interested but he did get it... and no, he's not going to exactly look into the camera like a good boy, is he? :P<br />
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<b>Other toys Caleb likes:</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff379/Smiles-R-Awesome/Our%20cats/Caleb-%20Adult/CalebCatThursday7_zpsbe07de74.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff379/Smiles-R-Awesome/Our%20cats/Caleb-%20Adult/CalebCatThursday7_zpsbe07de74.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snakes. Would probably like the real variety too but he won't get the chance.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leads. Even more when he's tugged them so hard they've disconnected from whatever electrical appliance they were supposed to be attached to.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff379/Smiles-R-Awesome/Our%20cats/Caleb-%20Adult/CalebCatThursday10_zps18617c48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff379/Smiles-R-Awesome/Our%20cats/Caleb-%20Adult/CalebCatThursday10_zps18617c48.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one doesn't need explaining. Photographic evidence wasn't necessary either, but whatever.</td></tr>
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Hope you enjoyed seeing a day in the life of a book blogger's cat...!</div>
AwesomeAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06412663427792021745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8784349484087825912.post-71581782351775726522014-07-07T07:00:00.000+01:002014-07-07T07:00:03.793+01:00Reviewing... [67] Broken Bargain<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18;">The series continues, and the world builds up, now...</span></b></div>
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<i>you may have to expect some comparisons between this book, second in the Hidden series, and the first book... while it doesn't contain anything I view as a Reaper's Rhythm spoiler-and certainly not for Broken Bargain- if this bothers you or you'd rather get the picture from the first book, please feel free to instead check out my Reaper's Rhythm review (link in box below), either way... thank you for checking out this post!</i></div>
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You may be wondering, if you're still here reading, whether to continue the series, having read RR, and I'd suggest you do, in short! Why? Read on!</div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #c43cbd;">Reviewing... [67]</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><b><u>Source:</u></b> Received in exchange for an honest review (thanks Clare!)</span></div>
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<span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 8px;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1389783359l/20520212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1389783359l/20520212.jpg" width="165" /></a><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><b><u>Author:</u></b> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6445758.Clare_Davidson">Clare Davidson</a><br />
<b style="text-decoration: underline;"> Recommended for:</b> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Those who like plots which are particularly aided by driven characters, but aren't just controlled by characters... (wait, does that make sense? I hope it does?)</span></span></span><span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 8px;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #666666;">If not, I said in the <a href="http://spreadingukya2013.blogspot.com/2013/11/reviewing-47-reapers-rhythm.html">Reaper's Rhythm review</a>: </span></span></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 8px;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #666666;"><i>better to say who it's not recommended for. It tells you more.</i> (I have a new example for this: not people who only care about hyped, popular books... quality would be lost on some & unfortunately, this is not <u>YET</u> extremely popular- let's hope I jinx it.)</span></span></span></td></tr>
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It’s incredible to see how well character development has been sustained, especially for Kim. She is still a fabulous, relatable main character & its upsetting to see her friendship with Sophie, who was such a great support in Reaper’s Rhythm seem to unravel on the surface somewhat. Underneath though, the reader gets a fairly clear picture & we can understand why the characters feel as they do.</div>
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Magic hasn’t gone away, and Matthew isn’t far either, it seems. The closure with Matthew is good, and so is- but to a lesser extent- how she moves on. Actually, I would rather the former, not the latter, but I know I can’t have it & I’m not going to build up any expectations there!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14;">Sharing saliva didn’t seem to help much...<br />
at least not on the Maths front. If it makes you feel better/happier,<br />
by all means Kim, snog some face off.</span></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: x-small;"><i>(GIF Source link on image: 10 Things I Hate About You)</i></span></span></td></tr>
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Kim actually acknowledges that due to hormones & such, which she can’t control, she may have to move on & live, even though her sister can’t. Unlike in many books, her & an attractive, at first guy “friend” don’t play the friendzone charade, which is mostly an aside. I’ve got to say, he could’ve helped her with homework a lot unless he knows how to pass on knowledge to Kim through osmosis... or less scientifically (see gif).</div>
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OK, the romance wasn’t really here or there, but he was a nice new character, portrayed well & who later become very interesting, in his own right. It’s worth bearing with him, for his back story. He’s not just one of those troubled bad guys, and it’s refreshing to see a teen boy with his head screwed on... I mean, he may have started a relationship with Kim rather quickly but hey, he thought he wasn’t gonna be there very long & in all other aspects, I have to say I expect many readers to warm to him eventually. He’s not off the rails, and Kim doesn’t need to fix him.</div>
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Even from the blurb, I did wonder how he’d manage to fit him in! There was a bit of a panic moment with him & some of his... baggage but it doesn’t turn out too bad, hopefully ;)</div>
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It was resolved, and I love this about the books, they’re not too melodramatic about the intertwining plot lines through the series. The plot continued to be pretty proficient, and very gripping.</div>
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I hope in the next book, Kim keeps both AJ & Sophie at her side, though. Having a cast of relatable teenagers is a major plus point for me, I felt like the cast did expand & develop but it wasn’t as successful as in Reaper’s Rhythm. To some extent, adults dominated as secondary characters. In this book, there weren’t that many significant peers. Obviously, we caught glimpses of students in school, but her focus was (rightfully, I’ll admit, so it’s not really a complaint, just an observation) on Aunt Liz, AJ & where Sophie was... which wasn’t always at school (naturally).</div>
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<i><span style="color: #cccccc;">(GIF source link on image: How I Met Your Mother)</span></i></td></tr>
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As it may have sounded a bit like, sometimes it felt like Sophie was “third wheeling”, or sometimes left behind. This is reminiscent to real life, and not too badly played out, but when Kim finds out certain things regarding AJ & becomes more interesting, I still felt like Sophie’s family dilemmas which Kim should have been helping her with could’ve been focused on a little more.</div>
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I suppose it was easier for Sophie helping Kim in RR than vice versa, as in Broken Bargain, because she didn’t have a boyfriend... Not that Sophie knew what was going on, of course.</div>
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So, one more person shares the secret with Kim now, not her family, that’s all I’ll say... Will it make the events of Shrouded Soul easier for her? We hope to find out!</div>
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The world of the Hidden saga is deepening, and readers have discovered more of what lies within... The magic & how Kim is actually let in more by Matthew now (cos she’s damn well independent) is brilliant and I loved seeing the little touches.</div>
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In conclusion, its worth a read. The series is bound to continue in strength, while I feel like the quality hasn’t overall diminished between books, some parts were much better formerly. It’s still a sequel which has been carried out well & can, to some extent, stand on its own.<br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">Amy Bookworm <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">(</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Forte; font-size: large;">@Amy_Bookworm</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">)</span></span><span style="font-size: large;">rated this book:</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">Happy reading!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: 20;"><i>~Amy Bookworm</i></span></div>
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AwesomeAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06412663427792021745noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8784349484087825912.post-77980879828103703262014-07-05T10:30:00.000+01:002014-12-29T12:07:14.516+00:00Where Are The Books? Book Haul: Small 'Un.Considering how long its been, how many books would you think I'd have got?<br />
You know, 2 months, major book lover... What's your guess? Feel free to comment/tweet me your guess & how it compares ;)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tyngasreviews.com/">This meme is run by Tynga's Reviews.</a><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">This week I have stacked my shelves... umm, wait, no, I may have had too much self-control!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">In June, this would've been even smaller but I realized how little I actually had on my physical TBR & wonders of wonders- I panicked I didn't have enough. I love my kindle & all, but faced with the possibility that everything I have to read will have to be read in ebook form & what will I do in English when there's time to read... you get the idea.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">Books happened.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">I'll begin with the ebooks, cos I still acquired more of these (let's face it, its not as much of a problem with ebooks... I don't even try self-control if its a) free b) really good c) just cheaper than normal... you may see, the thing about ebooks is: they're pretty much cheaper than all other books... when there's no obligation to then review them (that idea does actually appeal).</span></td></tr>
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<b>The break up, the make up and a whole lot of pants!</b> by Josie Eccles and...</div>
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<img height="275" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1354449004l/16204452.jpg" /> <img height="275" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1400872670l/22221297.jpg" /></div>
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<b>Silence</b> by Natasha Preston - From Amazon UK</div>
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<b>Broken Bargain</b> & <b>Shrouded Soul </b>(cover yet to be revealed) by Clare Davidson - For Review.</div>
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<img height="275" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1389783359l/20520212.jpg" /><img height="275" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1400505465l/22081906.jpg" /></div>
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and <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00LF1VVW4/ref=kinw_myk_ro_title">A Little Like Fate (Robin and Tyler Book 1)</a>... also from Amazon UK; it's free this current w/end!</div>
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Then I...</div>
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Bought: <b>Dark Inside</b> (only a quid, can you believe Poundland had <i>good</i> books? :P) | Borrowed from the library: <b>Hate</b> (oh yeah, these are free too... but not for keeps, really can give book lovers commitment issues! XD)</div>
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...Especially when Hate has such a gorgeous cover.</div>
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Got offered by family: <b>Snowdrops</b>, <b>About A Boy</b> (yeah, I've watched the film) & an <b>English Colour Dictionary</b>...<br />
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No, you don't need a picture of the dictionary BTW. Boring, boring. But it did seem a bit stupid having a German/English one, and not a plain English one. Sometimes I just don't know the apt word. Don't ask, I'm still learning. But I <i>am</i> a nerd. Hooray for me? :P<br />
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and I'm currently deciding on buying three more books, some Art supplies & am waiting for a book parcel (that's why this post was so late, you wait for the postal service & umm... nope. Nothing!) so there should be more to come for your enjoyment... maybe sooner than you expect ;)</div>
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Also, c'mon Goodreads Giveaways... I haven't won any for quite a while... Why do you think I'm entering them? Books, goodreads. Good reads, books.</div>
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So, that basically works as an update on my life, my shelves & stuff.<br />
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How are ya'll, your shelves & whatnot? I'll be reading two of these in the pretty immediate future. How long does it normally take you to read books you hauled?... if you'd only hauled 8, which I bet doesn't happen. Less than a book a week, damn it. Bet you didn't guess that <i>few</i>. Tell me your guesses, it'll be entertaining :L<br />
So bountiful... NOT, but not depressingly small either. It should get me through another month or so... My parrents are probably happy, the 'buying Amy new shelves' thing might be able to be held off, still!<br />
Have you read any of these? Enjoy? What should I read first? (see if its actually what I was planning on!)</div>
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AwesomeAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06412663427792021745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8784349484087825912.post-3387351382062220152014-07-03T07:00:00.000+01:002014-07-03T07:00:04.433+01:00Entertainworm: How To Be The Best Townie You Can Be... (Mafia!)This is just my own personal way- the way I play Asti (and now Kelley's) <a href="http://ohthebooks.com/the-bookish-games/">The Bookish Games- hosted at ohthebooks.com</a><br />
. Even though it definitely doesn't guarantee you success (there's too many factors in Mafia etc.), it can make the game more fun & you know you're participated like a good player. Even if you don't win, there's still pride and you may win an award, not for winning, but for being your fantabulous self? I mean, you can talk to the ones who did win for better advice but for now, you'll have to take my word for it.<br />
This is a rather awesome way to play...<br />
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Asti recently posted a fab quiz to see what your chances of winning The Bookish Games are... I took it, but I found it was fairly complex & one blanket answer didn't necessarily describe my actions. So I want to share my thoughts with you. I'm such a team player, like that. <a href="http://ohthebooks.com/">Won't you be a good townie too?</a><br />
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1. <b style="text-align: center;">What's your strategy for Day One of the Bookish Games?</b></div>
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‘Keep tabs on everyone. I didn’t make that spreadsheet for nothing, right?’ Let me delve into this a bit more. Its not just my strategy in Day One, its a game long thing. Day One is one of the hardest to go off & normally an Innocent will be eliminated but it doesn't mean you shouldn't act. It later can make you suspicious. At least try & share suspicions. People, when they have more evidence at later days, should (ideally) be able to look at who defended who, even as early as that, and they are the clues. Nobody, apart from the mafia, knew anything.</div>
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<b>2. Someone has accused you of being a baddie! How do you respond?</b></div>
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<a name='more'></a>Weeeelll... ‘Acknowledge their vote and defend myself’ (not cool & calm) sometimes decide 'They're evil just for voting for me!' – it has to be with other factors however. If they're looking suspicious & then do that, I will vote for them. But you're not a team sport if you don't explain the vote. I make it clear it isn't just a comeback. I get pretty defensive & sometimes it works, other times it doesn't. It frustrates me, this most of everything in the game, when they don't. I end up being so honest (even when I was a Traitor most of what I said had 95% truth in it, you just had to add a pinch of salt & you were fine) & then it gets thrown back in my face. Well, I'm just rubbish at lying, so I'm not advising you are that honest but you know, try & make them trust you. The side effect is baddies will hate your guts...<br />
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3. <b>You're not sure who to vote for. Do you vote anyways?</b></div>
‘Maybe. Depends on what my gut tells me.’ Combined with ‘whatever evidence I can scramble together’. I do trust gut feelings when there's little evidence but I'm a digger & I normally find something, no matter how strange it sounds & some get suspicious for my reasons but I've found my kookiest reasons can actually sometimes be the most accurate. Think outside the box & please don't waste too many votes. Vote when you can, it helps. Or you're literally saying someone else's opinion matters more than yours.<br />
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<b>4. You just KNOW that so-and-so is evil. What do you do?</b></div>
This <i>could</i> be tricky but ‘Vote for them. Vote vote vote!’, obviously as a result that person will be ‘in my suspicion lists.’ You do need to back up your votes as aforementioned. Its just more benefical that way. I’ll try & find evidence instead of just coming out & saying I know straight away... Or you'll be targeted. Cops will die fast, I assure you. So if that's why, don't just come out & risk yourself. You're a huge asset, don't just say you know. Find reasons. They're less inclined to believe you as you can't say you <i><b>know </b></i>but still worth it.<br />
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<b>5. There's a lot going on in your life right now and you're not sure if you can keep up with the game this week. Do you…</b></div>
I actually do ‘Keep playing the game when you can, even if it's only the last day of voting’ even if I may ‘Ask the game master to be put in a coma for the week, but keep tabs on voting and discussion.’ I ended up coming back. There's not much to say. Even when you're busy, its definitely typical for me to forget which things are priorities & do fun stuff as well, reduces the stress. Its not advisable but it makes you a better player and can save your butt. Be dedicated! I know there's cases when you can't so don't take this as a thing you should 100% be able to do & if not, you're gonna fail. You may be fine.<br />
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<b> 6. The person who you thought was evil was voted off and ended up being a good guy. How do you feel?</b></div>
‘Eh. It sucks but we have to kill off someone, right?’ ...I just have to trust that I won’t always be wrong & will get lucky eventually, they may unintentionally acted evil so I would be bothered; it’s not their fault but it’s not just mine. Clearly a group effort... probably. Everyone does it, nobody manages to only vote for baddies so don't be too hard on yourself & never vote again. Not voting could lead to a townie dying anyway, by people's nonchalance so... Be wise about this. What do you think its better to do?<br />
Remember, what happens in the game should be only game-related. So, you voted out a good guy? They're not gonna condemn you & yell at you on Twitter, then or after the game. Asti would definitely do something about it if she thought this was happening or even just could. You're in good hands & have fun.<br />
There's no time for regrets in a game where your life seriously is so short.<br />
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<b> 7. There's a tie between two people and the deadline is almost here! You can be the tie-breaker. What do you do?</b></div>
I picked, easily, ‘Think through the arguments against each player and make my vote accordingly. One of them has to go.’ (though if its saving your own butt you may not want to break it...) A tie means nobody gets eliminated & yes, it may mean not acting on your suspicions then, if you had others, but its pretty likely you'll get a chance. So put it to one side & break that tie.<br />
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<b> 8. Everyone is name-claiming and role-claiming (ex. I'm Harry Potter and I can't be killed!). What do you do?</b></div>
Most mafia games aren't actually based on books or anything, so you can't even name claim. In real games I've never considered revealing my role & I hate doing it even online. It feels like cheating. Yet, the name thing, its a major advantage to The Bookish Games & people then reveal their roles as well as it's the next step, just as much of a part of your identity. I don't see any problem with doing this: ‘Share my name, but not my role.’ It has risks but is probably safest, not revealing anything can lead to death... I could potentially do either, that option or possibly, if my name is more important than a role I may ‘Share my role, but not my name.’ I prefer the former & I think you will too, just play & see the advantages of it.<br />
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<b> 9. No one died during the Night. What do you think has happened?</b></div>
‘What are the various possibilities? Let's talk it out together.’ The quiz mentions so many options and you only ever really get close by sharing as someone may be able to know for sure, and say so. As always, talking about things helps. The more minds working on something, the better. Simple.<br />
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<b><b>10. </b>My motto for The Bookish Games is... "The good always perseveres!"</b></div>
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100%. I can't not trust anybody. There are people that just need to be trusted. You can sometimes trust but be careful & be open to having your mind changed since it may come to that. If evidence springs up or 2+2 is not equalling 4, you're going to have to lose that person from your trust list. Have some resilience guys & it'll get you far.<br />
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Lastly, with all these, you can tell I share & my results show there is a point where you share too much. I can't resist not sharing, its for the good of the team, not just my own personal survival. If we win, it doesn't matter if I'm in that number. If I changed that, I think people would be darn well suspicious, don't you? So I'm going to stick with being 100% me.<br />
Do be yourself in the game as much as possible. If something, you know, will make you suspicious don't switch it completely off. Use analogue & just dial it down a tad. Maybe someday I'll take the risk in doing that but I'm always vocal...<br />
Do you think you'd be a vocal player?<br />
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I suggest you <a href="http://www.ohthebooks.com/bookish-quiz-would-you-survive-the-bookish-games/http://www.ohthebooks.com/bookish-quiz-would-you-survive-the-bookish-games/">do the quiz & share your results</a> (feel free to do so in my comments not just there). For your interest when it comes to me my results were fairly accurate (for one of two games):<br />
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<b><strong style="font-size: 150%;">You'd get Killed at Night by the Mafia.</strong></b></div>
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<b>You're pretty good, I'll give you that. You put a lot of effort and energy into the game, and you're pretty darn smart. But all your shared suspicions and speculation mean that you're too dangerous to keep around. The baddies will want to get rid of you before you can figure out who they are.</b></div>
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<b>So go you for being awesome, but maybe be a little less awesome so you don't die?</b></div>
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Nah, I like being awesome! Hope this helps some of you & bye for now!... Obviously, I can't help you separately or when the game has started so that's all you're getting but you never know, you may be luckier than me & survive :P If, you know, it was 100% down to luck. It is somewhat but unfortunately: skill is involved.</div>
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Be skilled, peeps. Happy reading & catch ya later!</div>
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~ Amy Bookworm x</div>
AwesomeAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06412663427792021745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8784349484087825912.post-21558392865875945942014-07-01T00:00:00.000+01:002014-07-05T16:01:40.611+01:00Reviewing... [66] The Ruby AirshipYou may be wondering why I haven't posted a review for exactly three weeks, since Pandemonium. Well, you know it was supposed to be blogoversary events... it was cancelled & I could've got on with it, posting reviews for you guys. But a hiatus felt better, where's the celebration in the same ol' thing as always? So, I gave myself a break & didn't write as many as I normally would, I even read quite a few books I don't plan on reviewing at all. In total now, 7 of the books I've read this year I have no intention of reviewing. You're still owed some after today, don't worry (if you were, I know reviews aren't <i>most</i> popular, they are pretty standard as a general blogging rule).<br />
On with the review of Sharon Gosling's <b>The Ruby Airship</b> now...<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/21853487-the-ruby-airship" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.curious-fox.com/assets/1/14/DimRegular/9781782020721.jpg" width="170" /></a><span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
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</span></span> <span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Source: Received in exchange for an honest review (thanks Fox!)</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Publisher: <a href="http://www.curious-fox.com/products/ruby-airship/">Curious Fox</a></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Author: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/87304.Sharon_Gosling">Sharon Gosling</a></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Reviewed by: Amy Bookworm </span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Recommended For: Anyone who likes discovering new cultures & their people in an almost roadtrip kind of setting*... its a historical though & steampunk so its on a Ruby Airship so... that's a really general statement.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">*almost as a substitute for worldbuilding from scratch, there is still worldbuilding & a fab sense of imagery)</span></td></tr>
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I don’t quite know what The Ruby Airship was missing but it just didn’t intrigue me like Diamond Thief did. It definitely suffers a little bit from Sequel Syndrome, I was feeling like it did exist just as a bridge for future books as really, which is even more evident at the end where you realize there’s many things left hanging. <br />
It didn’t feel as mysterious, I suppose is part of it. If Remy doesn’t know something, we find out because of Thaddeus. If Thaddeus doesn’t know something we find out because of J. If J doesn’t know something... You get the idea.<br />
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Thaddeus & Remy’s interactions started to lose their believability, since when would a guy think it was nice/affectionate for a girl to call him ‘little policeman’. It just sounds so rude and I started to really think Thaddeus was too good for Remy, not because of their lifestyles, or past lives, but because Remy clearly is somewhat up herself. Remy has also gone from being basically a heroine to a... damsel, I suppose. Before it seemed like a bit of love/hate, just a joke really, but now they’re supposed to be in love and they’re acting like classmates having a laugh?<br />
They say she has a strong mind etc., but isn’t it a contradiction to, as an example, allow her to be hypnotized? Plus, the hypnosis always seemed too coincidental, too fast & as though there was no aid. It was more like supernatural mind control, so strange...<br />
She really does run off with Yannick just to spite Thaddeus! It gets a bit tiring watching Remy and Thaddeus running circles around each other chapter upon chapter...<br />
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<a href="http://img.pandawhale.com/post-40618-Han-Solo-were-all-fine-here-no-2dLR.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img.pandawhale.com/post-40618-Han-Solo-were-all-fine-here-no-2dLR.gif" height="136" width="320" /></a>There’s tense moments, and juicy parts, but this really wasn’t what I was expecting after The Diamond Thief. I got one thing I asked for: they certainly took risks... But, in a way, these aspects would have been risks ordinarily and had more consequences, whereas the characters got off too lightly. It just didn’t ring entirely true. This can be a great thing, and luckily this isn’t a Dystopia so it isn’t necessary for characters to die or otherwise undergo horrible experiences.<br />
Diamond Thief seemed more accessible for older teens and appealed more, whereas The Ruby Airship seems more younger child friendly. I’m sure there are children who enjoyed it and maybe 4 or 5 years ago, I’d have really loved it. It just grates me when I can see over ideal plot twists in an otherwise magical world with intriguing situations & interesting characters. It wrecks all the rest- the good bits are worth reading for. I just wish it had lived up to the expectations I’d had, after Gosling’s stunning historical debut, the first in this series.<br />
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There is one big bonus to this sequel, which really has been more fulfilling than The Diamond Thief, and it’s the fact that yes- Remy ran off for Yannick, an old friend not to be trusted- but when we return to the French backdrop and she meets the more trustworthy of the circus crew there’s such relief. Obviously drama still ensues, but the secondary characters just give this book a delightful air. Claudette is fabulous and daughter Amielie so sweet, Augustus is refreshing and all the new acts and returning ones, there’s so many you can’t keep track but it’s great.<br />
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Unfortunately, there’s parts which cause me to be torn. Loved? Hated? I did both, but overall 3 stars.<br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">Amy Bookworm <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">(</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Forte; font-size: large;">@Amy_Bookworm</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">)</span></span><span style="font-size: large;">rated this book:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8784349484087825912" style="font-size: x-large;"><img height="80" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-fz27h8eI5J0/URAKzeALxjI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/S7Gxu1PE8Jg/w140-h51-p/3%2BStar.png" /></a><br />
<span style="text-align: start;">A likeable book that strived for stardom (or shall I say post-it note kingdom?), but just fell short.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="text-align: start;">Happy reading!</span></div>
AwesomeAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06412663427792021745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8784349484087825912.post-20688619946445688272014-06-28T05:00:00.000+01:002014-06-28T09:14:26.452+01:00Clare Bridgeman Interview<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<span style="color: #ffc000;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14;">(as we didn’t give Claire long to respond... here’s </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14;">some more of her bio! Claire Bridgeman is a secondary</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #ffc000;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14;">school English teacher living in Norwich, England with,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14;">her husband, their 1 year old daughter Pearl, their<br />
black fluffy cat and the fly infestation currently inhabiting<br />
the conservatory. She has written many books but it was only<br />
in 2013, at the age of 28, that she felt her work was good<br />
enough to be thrust upon the general public. </span><br />
<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14;">Bridgeman loves all things fantasy...)</span></div>
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Today I have author Claire Bridgeman of the Spellweaver chronicles with me... She'll be talking about her books, a fresh new series which awaits you... and me potentially, actually. But instead of reviewing, I decided just to have a chat with a lovely author! So thanks to Claire for coming today.<br />
I hope you like the questions, and especially the answers, sit back... relax!<br />
And we're ready-<br />
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">· QUICK! What's your name, where do you call home & what's chasing you (so you had to answer quickly)?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">My name is Claire, I live in Norwich (Norfolk) and I believe I am being chased by my one year old daughter, Pearl....! Oh wait, she's gone to bed for a nap so I think the coast is clear!!</span><br />
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</span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -14.2pt;"> <span class="SpellE">Haha</span>, your daughter is actually innocent. It was my readers anyway... They meant well ;)</span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -14.2pt;"> *raises eyebrows at readers* <span class="GramE">What</span> would your ideal idea of fame be, if it wasn't for your books?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">My ideal idea of fame is to be respected and well known for the work you have done or are doing, rather than by your image. I once had dreams of making it big as a singer, but I decided I didn't like the idea of having to be away from home and my family for months at a time or having to move somewhere like London (it might have also had something to do with trying it out and failing, <span class="SpellE">haha</span>!!). To me, fame is a <span class="SpellE">byproduct</span> of creating something that lots of people <span class="GramE">come</span> to know and (hopefully) love. My main purpose is to make good use of my <span class="SpellE">vivd</span> imagination and creativity and hope that others appreciate it as much as I do!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">· That's definitely <span class="GramE">ideal :D</span> Have any of your students that you teach English ever read your book?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I have donated 5 copies of my novel to my school's library and they have been out on loan constantly. I have not once seen it sitting on the shelf, and the librarian has told me that the kids are always asking for it but it's never there. As soon as it is returned, it's out again. Funnily enough, it's not the kids that I teach who have been reading it - it's been the kids in other classes, which is strange because as you can imagine, I definitely tell all my classes about it!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">That's weird, but kind of good. They may be worried (probably wrongly) what would happen if they didn't like it- could they tell you that? Probably not! Authors wouldn't like it <span class="GramE">either :P</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Also, what would you do if your book was on the curriculum & you had to teach about it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I have 5 years' experience as an English teacher and have taught many novels in that time, so I don't think I'd have any trouble teaching <span class="SpellE">Spellweaver</span>. I think the book could be used to explore character development, and there will be some prominent themes that could be explored, particularly in future instalments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">· If you had to read (and write) only one genre for the rest of your life, what would it be?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">It would definitely be fantasy. Fantasy gives us the opportunity to explore what could be or what should be. Utopias and dystopias, exploration of the most interesting areas of the human psyche... the possibilities are only limited by your imagination. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">· Fantasy is very wide. Just hope you write YA a lot as well ;) Next— <span class="GramE">Are</span> you better at analysing books (literature) or creative writing (language), outside of writing the <span class="SpellE">Spellweaver</span> Chronicles?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">A few years ago I might have said that I was better at creative writing, but as I have got older I have developed an appreciation for literature that though it was always there, was not always quite as developed as it is now. I used to hate dissecting books, picking out language use, imagery and themes that the author probably never even intended to put there. I used to think it ruined my appreciation for them, but I don't really feel that way <span class="SpellE">any more</span>. Of Mice and Men upsets me more with each year I have to teach it, not less!</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">BOTH OUT NOW IN KINDLE</b></center>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b>Spellweaver in Paperback.</b></span></center>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b>Read them this Summer!</b></span> <div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Series: ☑</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b> </b></span> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/116610-the-spellweaver-chronicles"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XBAYsKywr-M/UHyVZqjmMjI/AAAAAAAAUBg/u1nnyouaWqo/s1600/badge1.jpg" /></a> </div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">· Can you share with us what inspired you to write the <span class="SpellE">Spellweaver</span> <span class="SpellE">Chronicles?</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="SpellE"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Spellweaver</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> is the result of many, many, MANY years of wanting to write. I have books in my attic, 10 pieces of plain A4 folded in half and stapled together, chronicling the adventures of a girl called Isabelle, written when I was in primary school. The story where she is kidnapped by a man and held in a cage in a cave has a far more sinister side now than it had when I was 8, but it shows that I always wanted to tell stories. I have kept most of the ones that I have written throughout my childhood and teenage years, most of which are truly <span class="SpellE">cringeworthy</span>. As I got older I got more sensitive to how 'good' my writing should be before I endeavour to publish it, and it's only now, at the age of 28, that I feel that I'm ready to put my work out there. With the genre of urban fantasy I've found the avenue I need to express my creativity. I have so many ideas for the <span class="SpellE">Spellweaver</span> Chronicles that I know the series is going to go from strength to strength - as long as I can work it all out and give my ideas justice with my writing!!<span style="color: #ffc000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">· If you don't already know, what star sign do you think your main character is?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I had to look this up, but I believe Felicity would be Taurus. <span class="SpellE">Taureans</span> (allegedly) are known for having something very different on the inside to what they show on the outside, and this is something that Felicity has had to do all of her life. She has hidden her inner feelings so well that it even takes her a long time to find them, and secretly, though she would never admit it to begin with, all she wants is friendship and family, which I hear are the <span class="SpellE">Taureans'</span> secret desires!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">· Thank you for looking it up... I don't know much about star signs either but to try & categorize them... I like challenges XD Lastly, if you had to be stuck in a lift for a few hours with a fictional character, an author and another famous person who would they be?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I don't mean to sound arrogant but as far as fictional characters go, I would love to be stuck in a lift with one of my own characters. To see them come to life (much in the way a movie would do this, I suppose) would be the most amazing experience, I'm sure any author would agree. I would particularly like to meet Oliver, as I have had the most fun creating him. I absolutely love him as a character. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">True <span class="GramE">Or</span> False </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Symbol","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">❔</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 28.4pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -28.4pt;">
<span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Your books are fantasy set in our world. – True<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 28.4pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -28.4pt;">
<span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">You are a <span class="SpellE">hufflepuff</span>. - <span class="GramE">probably</span> true, though everyone wants to be a Gryffindor, don't they?!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 28.4pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -28.4pt;">
<span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Your characters end up leading the novel to places you hadn't predicted... – True<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 28.4pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -28.4pt;">
<span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">You're a plotter at heart, though. – True<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 28.4pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -28.4pt;">
<span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">You love the 'bad guy' in novels. - True <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 28.4pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -28.4pt;">
<span style="color: #f40225; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #f40225; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">You prefer funny books to sad ones. - False - I don't prefer one or the other, actually! I LOVE books like the <span class="SpellE">Discworld</span> series, which I find hilarious, but then I love sad stories, too. I like being made to cry. What I absolutely hate is horror. I don't like gruesome murders to being made to jump!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 28.4pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -28.4pt;">
<span style="color: #f40225; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #f40225; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Spring is your favourite season. - False - <span class="SpellE">Gotta</span> be summer. As a teacher, I live for the 6 week summer holiday!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 28.4pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -28.4pt;">
<span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">You are a cat person </span><span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol',sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">😻</span><span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> – True! Of course! I love dogs too, though.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 20;">Does this encourage you to try this new author? Any other new authors you've been trying recently?</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 20;">What do you think of fantasy? Would you be able to just read & write fantasy for the rest of your life? What would you pick?</span></b></div>
AwesomeAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06412663427792021745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8784349484087825912.post-58831590914989302512014-06-25T08:00:00.000+01:002014-06-28T09:14:11.240+01:00The Sucked In Books WWW WednesdayYou still here? (wait, you've only started reading so let me rephrase- you're here even though this post is long overdue!.. have you been waiting for my return? If so, thank you.)<br />
I think the best way to explain my absence (not the blogoversary events absence, you may have seen me tweet that it didn't get enough interest which is disheartening) is to show you what I've been reading...<br />
You can probably tell that reading slightly over 1000 pages of books in a week still isn't the cause of no blog posts. I've been busy for other reasons, y'all are aware of how busy school can make you I'm sure. I haven't even been simming for almost two weeks so it's not really procrastination (that would be easy to fix).<br />
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So here goes!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/"><img border="0" src="http://shouldbereading.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/www_wednesdays4.png?w=240&h=167" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/">WWW Wednesday's is hosted by Should Be Reading.</a> </td></tr>
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<i style="font-size: 16;">We just answer the following three (3) questions…</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What are you currently reading?</b></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a name='more'></a></b></span>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3777732-city-of-glass"><img height="250" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1369452339l/3777732.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span>The last in the first TMI trilogy... You can probably imagine my thoughts if you've read it. I do not like the guy displayed on this front cover, that's for sure.</center>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">What did you recently finish reading?</span></b></center>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/17183416-the-worst-girlfriend-in-the-world"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1390395042l/17183416.jpg" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1309277410l/256683.jpg"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1309277410l/256683.jpg" /></a><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327185424l/3229373.jpg"><img height="250" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327185424l/3229373.jpg" /></a></div>
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Yep, I've been busy. These all just sucked me in. </center>
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Fun fact: I mentioned CoG's front cover character, well for CoA, I can't believe it is Clary. Does it look like a 16-year old girl? If you look at the face even it really makes you think (or did me) it is actually Jocelyn. I know she's kinda out of it but still...!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> • What do you think you’ll read next?</span></b><br />
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An ebook! Probably one of these two...</center>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17724961-entanglement"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1364861559l/17724961.jpg" width="210" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21431896-true"><img height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sVKNVJ5Wedc/UWxO0pYqmmI/AAAAAAAAAZg/tijx8h0WJIM/s320/True.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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Both kindle ebooks I grabbed from Amazon UK.<br />
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Read any of them? (If you haven't read TMI then you can't blame me if you get targeted by Rita (Weaving Pages)' book pushing ways...) Feel like fangirling?</center>
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If you think I should check out some more ebooks let me know & I may do... (ebooks are often so cheap & you can have so many without worrying... I can't stay away). Which should I read first?</center>
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Have a great day!</center>
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Amy Bookworm x</center>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-sVKNVJ5Wedc%2FUWxO0pYqmmI%2FAAAAAAAAAZg%2Ftijx8h0WJIM%2Fs320%2FTrue.png&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sVKNVJ5Wedc/UWxO0pYqmmI/AAAAAAAAAZg/tijx8h0WJIM/s320/True.png" -->AwesomeAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06412663427792021745noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8784349484087825912.post-81034780511198717162014-06-10T08:00:00.000+01:002014-06-29T10:51:27.221+01:00Reviewing... [65] Pandemonium<center>
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347723773l/16009694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347723773l/16009694.jpg" width="170" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b>Reviewing... [65]</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Source: Bought myself</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Author: Lauren Oliver</span><br />
<span style="color: #7af6c2; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Reviewed by: Amy Bookworm | </span><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Holly Peckitt (<a href="http://hollydaydreamer.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/romance-in-delirium-with-amy.html">our other post is here</a>)</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Recommended For: Anyone :)</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The book starts with a Lena whose been in the Wilds, we quickly meet Raven. How did you feel about the way that she met Raven? It was a bit dramatic…. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #7af6c2; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was dramatic but the wilds are like that! I’m so glad that Raven chooses to save Lena but as we can see, Raven is a big softie inside. It was a great way to be introduced to her… Of course, with Lena in a difficult situation when they meet it’s hard to describe Raven at first & say we meet her XD So, later finding out about this hard exterior she has & which all need in the Wilds- including Lena is… interesting! Dramatic is one word but it’s so much more XD I think most readers will like the character of Raven; her & Lena are such different people. Raven could be like a substitute Mother; it partly seems that way! Lena learns from Raven… </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She learnt so much from Raven. And you could see that whilst they did argue and clearly had their moments of anger, she has so much respect for Raven and obviously looks up to her.</span></div>
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</b> <br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Surviving in the wild is hard, it also seems like a disaster then when Lena is in the wilds she experiences less love; it’s a harsh reality & I miss the family relationships. The friendships just seem so fragile, can you agree with that?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I couldn’t agree more with that. Whilst Lena made the choice that she made, it kind of feels like although she is letting people in, she doesn’t form friendships like the one which she had with Hana. I really missed the relationship between them that was there in Delirium. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #7af6c2; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I definitely concur! She’s forced to form friendships; she can’t rely on her own, none in the wild can- it’s like a pack :P So, it’s very different. Even with Raven, who does become like a friend, it’s still like a co-worker kind of relationship. They give & get, would these two girls have naturally been friends otherwise? Obviously, I think not! Lena also definitely misses family, esp Grace (who I adore also!) so when she’s back in US you kinda wish it was nearer Portland; things have changed but how much? :P</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #7af6c2; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Also, the way she meets Julian (maybe I’m getting ahead!) is very different to Alex. It’s less wild and impulsive; which is such a contrast to how she meets Raven, hehe.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Way that Julian met Lena was completely different. Lena was thrown into a situation from which there was no escaping.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #7af6c2; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maybe it’s more similar to the Wilds than I was thinking. I will always think the one between Alex & her was… wild. It was; you just wouldn’t expect to fall in love that way when love is forbidden. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</b> <br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
<a name='more'></a><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</b> <br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Lena arrives at the “settlement” of sorts where Raven and some of the other Invalids live, you see a very different version of the Wilds to the camp which Alex took Lena to. It was clear that it was also very different to how Lena had imagined. What did you think of this?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think the Wilds that Lena fell in love with, the one Alex showed her, is the one that readers would also fall in love with. It seems like a haven of sorts, an escape into a land of freedom where they can live happily and be in love. Then whilst Lena was living with Raven and the rest of the invalids at that camp, the bombing takes place and there is this constant sense of trying to get food and water; just to keep living. Lena sees that the Wilds aren’t how she saw them with Alex and there is this incredible atmosphere that symbolises the fact that this is the start of a brooding war. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #7af6c2; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s a bit like Lena was innocent & tricked; Alex could’ve made it clearer not all the Wilds was like that. I don’t know how she didn’t end up nearer to the Portland camp but it appears that way. Obviously, there is a time gap. Honestly, it’s so hard for her dealing with this reality. It’s not as idealistic; there’s love & freedom (both good) but there’s lack of privacy, violence, fear & so much more stuff. Would it be worth it? I don’t know but Lena later thinks it is!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Exactly! She was expecting to walk into a paradise where they’d be safe and could be in love, but that’s like the tip of the iceberg. She is dragged into a world where everything isn’t so perfect and that’s really unfortunate. She trusted Alex and he never mentioned the fact that America was still bombing the wilds. </span></div>
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</b> <br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Was Lena’s involvement in the DFA (Delirium Free America) confusing for you (at least at first)? But really, hiding amongst the enemy, in plain sight, has been known to make sense!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Honestly, it confused me so much! I was just reading and thinking “What on Earth is going on here?” Lauren Oliver was so vague at first I found, because it wasn’t at all clear what was going on. Hiding amongst the enemy does make sense, it’s rather logical but you’d think given that she broke all the rules and went into the Wilds, maybe she’d be recognised for that. It isn’t suggested but surely there is high security in situations like this in Amor Deliria Nervosa - free-America. Maybe she’d be on some sort of “wanted list”. Going and being involved with the DFA at first appears to be a dangerous move.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #7af6c2; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The ambiguity, in a way, is clever. It’s not all realistic but it’s not Portland & by the size of the resistance added to the fact maybe they think she’s dead there is a chance they just stopped looking for her...there’s so many similar cases they must move on at some point, mustn’t they? She did fear at first going back to non-Wild areas which I understand… we later find out why the resistance were taking this risk. Are the DFA all they’re cracked up to be, innocent? Readers will find out :P</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What did you think of how Raven was sort of whilst she’s clearly ran away for the sake of love, she appears to be very cold and unloving at times?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #7af6c2; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s not just Raven who is that way… *coughs* Umm, anyway, it’s natural? Bitter when we assume she’s lost it? We discover she does love someone in the Wilds but really, it’s toughened her up & I think it’s realistic. People react differently, even with love (as all things), she’s complex & I mostly understand why she’s like that. She has the freedom to love all things & there’s definitely things she doesn’t love which I wouldn’t. I think love & the Wilds has taken her toll, she sees herself as a boss & often takes others burdens & hardships on her own shoulders. Wouldn’t that make anyone a bit “cold”? I never see her as a whole “unloving”, she’s a brillant person & in her own way, shows she cares. It’s actions she uses to display love & how she feels she gets it back, I think. I love all the characters, they’re dynamic & come alive from the page but Raven, I have a soft spot for that woman!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you find it easy to empathize with Lena? Do you like her, or rather, her actions?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I found it very easy to empathise with Lena the majority of the time. There were times where I couldn’t as much, because for example, I, along with the majority of the people who’ve read this book, don’t know what it’s like the escape the rules of the society and then return under a new identity. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #7af6c2; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Oh, I do, don’t you know? :P Such a rebel me, jk XD) </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Haha! That was certainly a time when I couldn’t relate to her at all.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(for more on this see our post at Holly’s blog on ‘Our response to Love in Delirium & Pandemonium’</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As an overall reaction, what emotion did you experience during read? (I know that’s hard to say, you can GIF me if you like!)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oh…… I don’t think a Gif could summarise the emotions I experienced in this book.I’d need about 20 gifs... </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #7af6c2; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(I love GIFS too much, I’m sorry XD I find I use them better than words & summarizing in a GIF is just… humorous?) </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was a situation of anger at her for falling for Julian (I really didn’t want her to) and just pure, pure confusion. When I read the final few chapters, I was so puzzled and a little angry at Raven for the whole scenario that she put Lena in. But overall I was kind of just like ASDFGHJKL….. I was so happy and wanted so much more!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #7af6c2; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oh, ASDFGHJKL also works well, like a GIF XD At the end I definitely needed Requiem so badly XD I think overall I’d used the word intrigued. I was gripped to it & sure, it may have been confusing but I was IN LOVE. It’s the best book in the series for me XD I love Julian too. He made the book… Book boyfriends always do :P But mainly this:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #7af6c2; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(after holding your breath for the entire book, LOL, I found a way for a book to </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #7af6c2; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">actually</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #7af6c2; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> kill you XD)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think that this is the best way of describing it. The girl whose furthest to the right is the best way of describing my face when I finished the book hehehe!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #7af6c2; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">See? GIFs can summarize :P Readers, you heard right. We both think this is an accurate representation XD</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Found a Gif! This just seemed perfect in my eyes</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="shcok.gif" height="173px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/hbNc0Va0WjyrR55pmlSyz8Ru1liqrmxN5ReQrJTyuTmtJOGqx-OPj_xUDWMKPAKft57fbQnUdSigH247kN7kbcUrMm3fPTB2zKAqOAOwTUwehaqZ8k02LbMpj-8R7YxJig" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none;" width="219px;" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #7af6c2; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">:L Perhaps that also XD</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The description in this book (as it was in Delirium) is just phenomenal. How do you think Oliver manages to somehow create a detailed, lyrical book with her distinctive writing style but still, for the most part, have action & such… drama! We’ve heard some people not like the description as much. What do you think? Do you think it’s effective? :L</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #7af6c2; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think it’s a bonus feature to just have such entrancing writing skills when there’s enough action to move the story on as well. Obviously, if it compromised the plot and drama then it would be a problem but most of the time I definitely don’t think it does & as long as this is true, it’s great. No complaints, for sure. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think the drama would definitely be effected if it was too descriptive because it would appear as gentler - that’s not what you need in such a tense dystopian novel. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #7af6c2; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I do think it’s really suitable as well for a book about love; it’s like in poetry certain structures, styles & techniques are used… an example being rhyming couplets. Her style is the perfect one for a book mostly about love & describing that love, it’s in such an artistic way that you really get the pictures she writes about; maybe she describes it as a knife but it’s much more than that, of course. It’s Lauren Oliver!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I agree with you. I’m someone who reads books and just tries to remember what I’ve read, but there were so many beautiful passages throughout Pandemonium; and Delirium for that matter, that just made me add little post-it notes to the book. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #7af6c2; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I personally often then go either find the quotes on Goodreads or add them myself, it takes time out of reading but for books like this, it’s worth it. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s definitely made me excited to read Requiem and also to read more of Lauren Oliver’s books - just in the hope that they’re just as fantastic in a different way to this trilogy has been.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #7af6c2; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I haven’t read anything else by Lauren Oliver (have you?) but I feel it must be better in this book & suit it! Wouldn’t it work as well in others? I have my doubts, actually ;P</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No I’ve not read anything else by Lauren Oliver, I guess I’ve always been a bit weary about her books. It took me quite a while to persuade myself to read Delirium. It might not be as effective in other books as it has here. In a trilogy, there is so much that needs to be described and covered, because she has essentially created a whole new country - that takes a lot of work! Whereas in books like Panic - which is a Hunger Games-style-challenge, and Before I Fall which is someone who gets the chance to relive her last day alive - I don’t think it would have the same impact as it has in these books.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #7af6c2; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I can imagine it having a negative effect on Panic, but obviously don’t know but Before I Fall may work better. Anyway, I’m sure you’ll enjoy Requiem as I still did although I’d say Pandemonium just that extra star worth, a 5* marvellouisty. The reasons it wasn’t quite as amazing I believe aren’t anything to do with the writing style, it still has the potential to blow the reader away. Who knows though? That’s just my opinion that Pandemonium is 5*, one more than Requiem. You might like Requiem more, or just as much! I hope you LOVE, LOVE, LOVE <3</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Actually, thinking about it - it could work quite well in Before I Fall. You never know. I reckon I’ll enjoy Requiem. I’ve loved Delirium and Pandemonium both so much and so I can’t wait for Requiem. I think overall I’ve loved the first two books equally if not Delirium a little more than Pandemonium </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #7af6c2; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Whereas I thought that Delirium was 4* as well, not 5*)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and I hope I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE too!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #7af6c2; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">:D Thanks for reviewing Pandemonium with me, Holly. I enjoyed the discussion for your blog also (:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #7af6c2; font-size: large;">Amy Bookworm rated this book:</span></center>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Psst...Really liked it!... well, we both did!)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #7af6c2; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 14.949999809265137px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hope you all enjoyed reading this as well!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #7af6c2; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 14.949999809265137px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bye for now! Happy reading :)</span></span></div>
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AwesomeAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06412663427792021745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8784349484087825912.post-89347281878239816172014-06-07T05:00:00.000+01:002014-06-28T09:13:19.759+01:00Celebrations! 18 Months! (DAY ONE :D)I know you don't have birthdays for 18 month year old babies & the same should be true of blogs but since I didn't celebrate being a year old I felt I had to do something for a year & a half. I didn't do it then as my blog didn't really deserve it ;)<br />
This is JUST the beginning though, these celebrations are yet to properly unfold... I want to leave most of you in the dark *giggles*<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e9DwaWgWVTg/Utx_uAttgjI/AAAAAAAADPM/Mf9y00CpTiI/s1600/MIB.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e9DwaWgWVTg/Utx_uAttgjI/AAAAAAAADPM/Mf9y00CpTiI/s1600/MIB.gif" height="172" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I may have told you but now, FORGET.</td></tr>
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I've read 90 books, I believe, since I began this book blog. Over 2/3 I've already reviewed & some are still awaiting reviews. I've met new people, so many new people, I can't count them all on my hands and feet. I love the authors/publishers I get to review for and the ones I communicate with for other reasons are just as fabulous. I've only had one exclusive as a book blogger opportunity but it was enough to show me how worth it is this really is.<br />
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<a href="http://f2.thejournal.ie/media/2013/11/high-five-o.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://f2.thejournal.ie/media/2013/11/high-five-o.gif" /></a>There's many names I would love to run through & their corresponding souls I'd love to thank.<br />
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I know I'll miss people out accidentally but just so at least some of you know I'm thinking of you specifically, THANK YOU Rita, Fi, Gee, Ruby, Amber, Lucy, Sophie, Zoe (how many Zoe's do I know now? Bookhi Zoe & Zoe MacIver specifically), Charli, Holly, Erika, Orli, Nina, Rachel, Kelsey etc. really are some of the best teens I know. Karen, Trish, Roberta, Michelle & Debbie, you're inspirational adults.<br />
I've met so many other bloggers I love, so many authors & also those working in publishing. There's been many more but these are the ones I've noticed are still with me.<br />
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<a href="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lieh76Q8JN1qbsbszo1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lieh76Q8JN1qbsbszo1_500.gif" height="128" width="320" /></a>Also, Mum. If you're reading this, you COUNT. You're not a blogger or another bookish teen but you gave me the love of reading I know harbour, it's almost definite. You're brilliant at being supportive of my blog, if not slightly overzealous & very keen to tell people (who I probably don't want to know) about my blog. You took me to the Blogger's Evening I went to & it was fabulous that you were willing to come with me <3<br />
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It's been a BLAST & I'm sure, will continue to be. I'm just sad this post is my 146th, not my 150. That would have sounded nice, but eh.<br />
This is such an important post, it feels like, but I'm quite speechless. The time- as those involved with my preparations for the blogoversary know- seemed to actually run up at me. It passed in a blur, and then I was like "AH HECK!"<br />
So, I'm sorry, I can't find the right words. I've found some words but I'm not sure they're apposite.<br />
All you need to know, really, is you've been part of the journey, thank you. Stick around why don't you? You might enjoy the rest of the journey <3<br />
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THANK YOU <3<br />
*hands out party poppers*AwesomeAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06412663427792021745noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8784349484087825912.post-43728840637671493452014-06-05T06:00:00.000+01:002014-06-29T10:55:46.531+01:00Reviewing... Contemporary! (Mini reviews #3)I know I'm definitely known for short reviews (I'd love to be known for anything, so who wants to advertise that Amy Bookworm writes some stinking long reviews?) but today, shaking it up! Here's some mini-reviews, I hope you don't mind. They may not look mini but my ones (2&3) are definitely less than 200; it turns out my Mum does succinct naturally so that's short too! Hope you enjoy these reviews & find a book you'd like amongst more boyish humour, one for a little more chick-lit laughs & serious "issue dealing" contemporary.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Sources -- </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">JC: OUP. TPTD&awlol: Grabbed on Kindle from Amazon. H2SaL: Also Kindle ebook I bought from Amazon.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Private Blog Of Joe Cowley</b></span></div>
<i><span style="font-size: 14;">(Sidenote: This review is by my Mum, who loves OUP & since we got this from their Jan event she felt she ought to review it as a 'Thank You' so here it is; the main purpose of this post!)</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Lucida Calligraphy, cursive; font-size: x-small;"><b>Joe Cowley. </b>What a great dude!! (and I’m NOT saying that because I’m a secret Captain Picard follower!!) The main description is “Adrian Mole meets The Inbetweeners”: MUCH better than AM (tho I can see the same theme of trying to get the girl, his dad excruciatingly attempting to be young again). And despite the toilet banter between the lads, it’s actually not really sex-obsessed like Inbetweeners. Only using “cock” as favourite expletive reminds me of it...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Lucida Calligraphy; font-size: 13;">All characters are caricatures, but realistic enough that you bond with them while they entertain. Joe’s best friends are Harry, Sherlock imitator including empty pipe (I mean, do YOU know any 14-year-old boys who’d do that??), and hilarious (without meaning to be) sidekick Ad, who mostly reminds me of Max’s friend Ben in TV’s Dani’s House (yes, really that dippy :P) His nemesis is the school tough-nut Gav James, whose girlfriend Joe lusts after; though Lisa really is only a Barbie character, the alternative love interest shows that Ben Davis really does live in the real world, and he skilfully shows realistic dynamics of friendships and status through interactions with Gav, Greeny (the school outcast with media skills) & Natalie, and also shows some wider society issues, like confused Granny who finds solace in the General Studies mock baby. Though there are plenty of places where characters’ motives are glaringly obvious to the reader but apparently not to Joe, there are also times when Davis surprises us, and what keeps you going in the cheesier bits are characters’ very entertaining language, the “artwork...when I should have been doing my chemistry homework”, and that I personally found I really started to like many of the main players :)</span><br />
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</i></span> <span style="font-size: 14;"><i>(2nd sidenote: No, she didn't just like the characters in Joe Cowley, she liked it all so much & has been literally telling me to read it since March. She read it & now she near enough wants to force me to read it. I think you should before she starts work on you too! I honestly believe she might, she has Twitter so be warned...)</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><b>The prom, the date </b></span><span style="color: windowtext; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>and a whole lot of laxatives!</b></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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TPTD&awlol 4*</span></td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-family: Harrington; font-size: 11.5pt;">Funny quick reads are great when it comes to contemporary, but what about a bit of malice? Similar to Mean Girls in that respect, it’s a great bonus to a novel dripping with humour! The most crazy school antics occur in what Alex thinks will be her last month & a half of school... An easy read, so mainstream- I bet it will appeal to the reluctant readers hiding in the teen girl audience, but also much more bookish ones. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Harrington; font-size: 11.5pt;">Something for everyone, Alex is a main character who narrates this novel with such honesty & sometimes, stupidity! Seems like a great kind of nutty... will she nab the boys, or at least the boy she probably would want, with those nuts? (pun not entirely intended)... Which boy will you root for in the most realistic, unconventional love triangle I’ve ever read? Boys aren’t dropping at her feet, anti-Mary Sue, but she sure is oblivious to even some small attention! Unreliable narrator, what will you think? Does it work? Yes it does!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Harrington; font-size: 11.5pt;">Love Lewis, you know you wanna! </span></i><span style="font-family: Harrington; font-size: 11.5pt;"> He's a great lad & one I wish was in my classes... But to<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Harrington; font-size: 11.5pt;">conclude, an enjoyable read to pick up!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: KaiTi;">The song aside... (I’m sorry I keep being reminded of that; it’s Zarr’s fault for naming it the same XD), really interesting read! </span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: KaiTi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I'm glad other people have mentioned the song in their reviews :) H2SaL is a little creepy, in the same way as the song.</span><br /><span style="color: #181818; font-family: KaiTi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">
</span><span style="font-family: KaiTi;">The concept’s different (to the song & any other YA novels that I’ve read) but that doesn’t mean it would automatically be good; I can almost sense it took work. Research, perhaps? I think it’s great when you get a broader family outlook & even delving in deeper to a parent’s thoughts, even as a YA I find this amazing! That’s just one tick against a whole load for this one though, of course! Didn’t know what to expect so such emotion could’ve knocked me back with ease! Jill and Mandy aren’t the easiest girls to relate to & poles apart!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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How To Save A Life 4*</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: KaiTi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Ha, Mandy gives Jill the creeps. I don't think any readers are as accepting of her as much as Robin (that's Jill's MUM).You have to use your digression, take her actions with a pinch of salt & not expect to fully understand her. Jill’s a jigsaw puzzle too- great characterization lastly!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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So, to conclude, some great books which deserved a bit of attention from us. Thanks again to my Mum for writing a review for me to post here. I appreciate it Mum <3</div>
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I appreciate all of you reading as well. Care to comment (so I can appreciate you a little bit more)? Read any? Want to? Gosh, even my questions are short!</div>
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Bye! :D</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OBkyz2xh8zc/U1HYc1wQAKI/AAAAAAAACeM/2mlumDthuxg/s280/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OBkyz2xh8zc/U1HYc1wQAKI/AAAAAAAACeM/2mlumDthuxg/s280/unnamed.jpg" /></a>Some of you may be reading this as you know I'm on the Countdown to 5th June YA tour! I not, then thank you for reading my blog post today anyway! You can check out more of the <a href="http://www.countdownya.com/">countdown</a> tour there. Only 3 days left til'... Authors are getting very excited as most have still got a lovely publication date of June 5th! Congrats to them & any authors publishing soon anyway...<br />
What am I doing for the tour, the less prepared (for this post) might be wondering? I've got the pleasure of having Louisa Reid as my super special guest! She's answering my hard questions (apparently they're hard but as I haven't had to answer them I'm a bit more objective XD)<br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Asking Louisa...</span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">For the readers, what’s your name & where do you call home? </span><br />
I live in a little village called Rampton on the Fen Edge, ie on the outskirts of Cambridge, just before you get into the fens proper. I love it. <br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">What's your favourite literacy location? </span><br />
East Egg - the glamour! (and the horror, of course)<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">If you had to read (and write) only one genre for the rest of your life, what would it be?</span><br />
YA contemporary fiction without a doubt! (Also, that's the only thing I reckon I can write so the answer is inevitable). It's always been my favourite genre, ever since my Deenie days, and still is. I spent this weekend engrossed in Looking for JJ and Finding Jennifer Jones. Totally immersed. It was wonderful.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">I'm pretty sure you could write other contemporary or YA... considering your YA often crosses over how hard could NA or Adult be for you? :P Anyway, you may be great at writing full stop but you are SUPER great at writing antagonists... How do you get into their head & decide on how much ‘evil’ is enough?</span><br />
I don't know if I do get into their head. Because I narrate from the perspective of the heroine, the access to the villain's psychology is necessarily more limited. Of course I try and imply what makes my antagonists tick through showing their actions and their relationships with my protagonists, how successfully I'm not sure. I suppose reading a lot, researching and thinking about what drives different kinds of people helps to establish some idea of their motivation. In Lies Like Love the "villain" is clearly a very damaged person herself, which is not to excuse her behaviour, but perhaps explains it a little.<br />
Sometimes I do cross a line in the inclusion of "evil" characters in my writing and have to pull back. I know when I've gone too far when a certain detail or character trait really nags at me until I delete it and then I can breathe a sigh of relief. It's an instinctive thing, really, and if something is making me too uncomfortable as the writer, then it's probably going to have the same impact on the reader. The question of how much is too much is a really interesting moral question and an important one.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">It is good when the villians are seen as human as well, with their own problems. What can you tell us about The Thing, the presence which haunts Audrey in Lies Like Love? Is it designed to be an antagonist?</span><br />
I have to be careful not to give too much away here! The Thing is something that I hope readers will interpret for themselves and is part of the way Audrey presents her problems to the reader. When she's really having difficulties, The Thing always seems to be there, waiting to drag her deeper into depression. It isn't necessarily an antagonist, perhaps, but rather the manifestation of one.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">You didn't give too much away but maybe that was a tad of the idea ;) I personally love reading about the relationships between siblings in books. You wrote about siblings in Lies Like Love, just as you did in Black Heart Blue, so how do form these interesting sibling relationships? Why have you chosen to include them in both books?</span><br />
I think a lot of readers can empathise with the way siblings interact so it's an obvious way to engage your reader's sympathy and interest. I have lots of siblings and maybe that's why I include that particular family dynamic, although I never call directly on real life experience, rather reinterpreting and reinventing to suit the purposes of my fictional characters. In Lies Like Love, there's a big age gap between Audrey and Peter and she has a lot of maternal feelings for him, I think, which is something that's easy to write as I'm a mum myself! The sibling bond is such an important one that when it's put under stress, as it is in both books, then that pushes the characters to their limits which makes for interesting reading.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">Lies Like Love has been described as heart-breaking & in many ways, Black Heart Blue was. Is it your intention to write books which are so sad?</span><br />
Making Black Heart Blue sad wasn't my primary objective. I actually hoped that the story would make the reader sit back and think about society, hypocrisy and injustice. But I suppose the very nature of the subject matter means that the sadness in the stories is an inevitable part of the narrative. Lies Like Love does have some heart-breaking moments, I think, and even though I've read it through about a million times now, there are parts which still catch my breath and make me tear up a little. When I read I like to be emotionally engaged and I therefore that naturally comes through in my own writing.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">On a lighter note, if you could have a dinner party with 5 other authors who would they be?</span><br />
I'm going to choose dead authors as I would hate to offend anyone!<br />
Shakespeare (my hero), F Scott Fitzgerald (he was wild) Tennessee Williams (also very wild), Emily Bronte and Mary Shelley - two incredible writers and incredible women.<br />
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<b>You are a cat person... </b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Apple Color Emoji';">😻 </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">FALSE</span> - I can't betray Mabel my dog!<br />
<b>You’re a plotter...</b> <span style="color: purple;">TRALSE</span> - I do try!<br />
<b>You read the book before the movie.</b> <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Apple Color Emoji';">📺</span> <span style="color: #6fa8dc;">TRUE</span><br />
<b>You’re quite good at telling when somebody is lying...</b> <span style="color: #6fa8dc;">TRUE</span><br />
<b>You prefer teaching English students literature, not language.</b> Not always <span style="color: #6fa8dc;">TRUE</span><br />
<b>Coffee is better than tea! <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Apple Color Emoji';">☕</span></b> <span style="color: #cc0000;">FALSE </span>- both beverages are excellent! And I cannot live without caffeine.<br />
<b>You like Youtubers such as Thatcher Joe ;)</b> Haha. <span style="color: #6fa8dc;">TRUE</span>, of course<br />
<b>You think the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTiJK-iwlJA&feature=youtu.be">book trailer for Lies Like Love</a> might intrigue some readers... <span data-externalstyle="false" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Apple Color Emoji';">🔜</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Apple Color Emoji';"> </span>I certainly hope that's <span style="color: #6fa8dc;">TRUE</span>!!<br />
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What's up in the tour now?... Tomorrow Susie Day appears at <a href="http://flutteringbutterflies.com/">Fluttering Butterflies</a>, followed by, to round up the tour on the 4th, Sally Nicholls at <a href="http://theprettybooks.wordpress.com/">Pretty Books</a>. Then it's done! Wow, it seems it's gone so quick.<br />
Thank you, Louisa, for visiting us here! It's been a great experience; I'm sure reading Lies Like Love will be too!<br />
So, everybody, if you could have a dinner party with 5 other authors who would they be? :PAwesomeAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06412663427792021745noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8784349484087825912.post-90741290745934935802014-05-31T09:00:00.000+01:002014-06-29T10:49:00.195+01:00Reviewing... [64] Who Framed Klaris CliffToday I have another joint-review, Mother (Mrs/Mutti/Mum Bookworm) & I discuss a MG novel, Who Framed Klaris Cliff? Hope you enjoy! *hands out popcorn while you view our exchange*<br />
Who did frame Klaris Cliff? Read it to find out!<br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Source: OUP (bloggers event)</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"> Author: <u><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/347427.Alyssa_Brugman">N</a>ikki Sheehan</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;">Reviewed by: Mother & daughter (Amy wins for dragging Mutti in today!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span font-family:="" font-size:="" new="" roman="" serif="" small="" style="color: #ad79c5;" times=""><span style="color: #444444;">Recommended For: We'd say especially for kids or preteens getting into reading! But, there's something for all the family.</span><span style="color: #cccccc;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ad79c5; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 15;">Mutti Bookworm: So, today Amy & I are discussing Klaris Cliff : I read this actually after meeting Nikki Sheehan at an OUP event, and hearing her inspiration for the story: on reaching the climax of the story, I wondered how I hadn’t guessed the twist!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Amy: Well, I’m not actually surprised that I didn’t. It didn’t seem like something which would be used as a plot point- after all, it could easily have just been something that made Joe & his Dad who they are, so was for that reason. Overall, it’s an interesting idea regarding imaginary friends... One Mum may have jumped into quicker than I did but we both enjoyed it when we did read it :D</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ad79c5; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 15;">MB: The story’s theme is that Rogue Imaginary Persons are believed to be behind many crimes including murder, and has set up a system that any who “harbour” such dangers must have The Cosh (“an operation that fries your imagination”) The main character Joe & his dad live next door to the chaotic Cliff family: older sister Pooh, rough friend Rocky, overlooked seven-year-old, Flea, and the manic twins Egg & Wills, and “the usual number of parents”, stern doctor father, and secret smoker mother. I really love the interactions between the characters: Joe & his dad, both missing his mum who went away two years previously to “find herself”, and having to continue life without her return; the family dynamics in the Cliff family; and especially everyone’s thoughts and behaviour towards Flea, whose longtime Imaginary Friend Klaris becomes accused of a series of domestic crimes.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Amy: My brother & I didn’t cause any problems when we had imaginary pets as young children so why would the human equivalent cause any trouble either?</span><br />
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</span> <span style="color: #ad79c5; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 15;">MB: As Joe fears Klaris may be “migrating” to his mind too, his concern for Flea’s imagination becomes a quest to protect them both from The Cosh – so he interviews the whole Cliff family for alternative explanations for the “crimes”.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ad79c5; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 15;">The basic theme, that Klaris has been framed, is pretty clear – and solving the list of incidents is only really a scaffold to show the human quirks of very different types of people, and how their relationships show or grow affection and concern, despite their differences.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Amy: Of course, some "crimes" aren’t as shrouded in mystery as others. I found that it was revealed so quickly sometimes how a certain crime Klaris had been accused of had happened, that it was a bit surprising that the characters had had to search for the reasons. But if you consider them all ways just to show humanity in its normality, like you did MB, it seems a lot more purposeful. It just proves how Dr Cliff really hadn’t bothered asking around himself! Who do you prefer, the mother or the father?</span><br />
<span style="color: #ad79c5; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 15;">MB: Definitely the poor downtrodden mum! The Dr doesn't seem connected to or caring for his family - until Joseph helps Flea investigate!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Amy: One of the things that make this seem like an MG novel in addition was actually the inclusion of a family. MG novels often have a family, as when would a pre-teen be wandering about for days on end without coming in contact with adults? Joseph, how he takes Flea under his arm now he has reason to, is so sweet. He doesn’t take advantage of the trusting, well-natured Flea & he realizes he has to protect him. It reminded both of us of Hilary McKay’s Casson family...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ad79c5; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 15;">MB: When I finished the novel, I immediately tweeted Nikki to ask for a sequel, as the characters were so vivid in my head, I wanted to continue their lives! Nikki hadn’t read the Casson family, but as Rose and Flea seem so well-matched, I’d love them to meet as teens!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Amy: The creation of the whole Cliff family & Joseph with his Dad was just as delightful to read- so I think if you’re beyond the age where a simple adventure with a small dash of mystery is intriguing- you would just take this for a very character-driven book. As an outsider, we (and Joseph) feel like this strange family could be a bit overwhelming, so the way it’s broken up, with short chapters as well, makes it more readable & allows all the characters to be appreciated- even Egg & Willis</span></div>
<span style="color: #ad79c5; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 15;">MB: Agreed! They were hilarious at the hospital, nice to see them vulnerable after they had been so creepy & hardened. What did you think of big sis Pooh, & potential romance possibility between her & Joe for any sequel? </span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Amy: Well, Mum, firstly, still the twins... all we can say is strange twins! There definitely wasn’t at all a substitute for them with the Cassons... Romance is definitely more likely between Pooh & Joe than Rose and Flea. That's a little beside the point. I liked Pooh on her own as well, she was the most helpful in the investigation & while at first she sees Joe as the boy next door... What the heck, that's romantic! I think it's a possibility for the sequel. But wouldn't mind either way.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall, Sheehan's debut was awesome, splattered with unique ideas & the creativity was really potent, so many avenues explored... What can I say? Just, read it! Overall it's a great book- you may not relate to Flea or Joseph, but maybe Pooh or the Mum?</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">Amy Bookworm <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">(</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Forte; font-size: large;">@Amy_Bookworm</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">)</span></span><span style="font-size: large;">rated this book:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8784349484087825912" style="font-size: x-large;"><img height="80" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-fz27h8eI5J0/URAKzeALxjI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/S7Gxu1PE8Jg/w140-h51-p/3%2BStar.png" /><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3rOeo8df1rI/URaBxM10DGI/AAAAAAAAARA/gsAVOrlkG4M/s1600/und+halb.png" height="80" /></a></div>
AwesomeAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06412663427792021745noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8784349484087825912.post-23294578973566611812014-05-29T07:00:00.000+01:002014-06-28T09:15:33.651+01:00Entertainworm presents... Cat Thursday: Photographic Black Cat :PWill Caleb be sharing the blog with other cats today? Or am I allowing my cat who has been lonely (missing coming on here, you see) to have this feature all to himself? Either way, I hope you're happy that a) this is a Thursday (and you may be on holiday like us English teens on half-term) b) there's cats here.<br />
I may have mentioned Fi almost every time I've posted this month but she reminded me about the time I'd normally post a Cat Thursday (somebody notices my unsaid pattern the time I can't keep to it perhaps?)... that's around the second Thursday BUT no... Today is the last Thursday & I feel like you also deserve to see gorgeous, cute cat(s?)... Even one cat might do :P<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://thetruebookaddict.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/cat%20thursday"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OoJA6hkMFTc/TwE9lqJSqnI/AAAAAAAAIfI/KCmuNxDZCp4/s320/cat+thursday+2.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> Thanks for hosting </span><a href="http://thetruebookaddict.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/cat%20thursday" style="font-size: 14px;">Michelle @ The True Book Addict</a><span style="font-size: 14px;">! Join us by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px;">This is my fourth Cat Thursday; thanks for having me again!</span></td></tr>
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"Hey, I'm not looking at the camera because... Why should I? You've been ignoring me for a few weeks over what you're allowed. I'm just going to pretend there's not a camera a few inches from my face!"<br />
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<a href="http://s1232.photobucket.com/user/Smiles-R-Awesome/media/Our%20cats/Caleb-%20Adult/Photo0238_zps8f4cd085.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo Photo0238_zps8f4cd085.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff379/Smiles-R-Awesome/Our%20cats/Caleb-%20Adult/Photo0238_zps8f4cd085.jpg" height="270" /></a><a href="http://s1232.photobucket.com/user/Smiles-R-Awesome/media/Our%20cats/Caleb-%20Adult/Photo0241_zps76bbc4a2.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo Photo0241_zps76bbc4a2.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff379/Smiles-R-Awesome/Our%20cats/Caleb-%20Adult/Photo0241_zps76bbc4a2.jpg" height="270" /></a></center>
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"OK, maybe I'll look at you but close my eyes! Hey, are you gonna poke me? FINE! I give in, I'll be in your post... I mean, I really did want to. All you had to do was be nice. Give me compliments like your friends do... Cats & books are such a good mix, aren't they?"<a name='more'></a></center>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Sidenote: Have no clue why I was pointing at Caleb... probably for my Mum's benefit?)</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 14; text-align: center;">"Yes, Your Mum is coming for me..."<br />
Mum: You're finally looking at the camera, not that it's much of an improvement, you're frowning!<br />
Cheer up charlie, it's Summer!<br />
"It's Caleb. The name is CALEB & I'm a black cat, I don't like it that much..." *gets too hot* (obvs I didn't take this photo as I'm sitting on the chair with Caleb almost digging his claws into my arm, jokes... that's rare in fact!)</td></tr>
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I'll just hand near the patio door instead... You can take artistic shots without your cat looking at you see? Obviously, credit doesn't go the cat owner... It's my fault it looks so gorgeous with artistic sun glarey bits or whatever photographers call it these days...<br />
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<a href="http://s1232.photobucket.com/user/Smiles-R-Awesome/media/Our%20cats/Caleb-%20Adult/CalebCatThursday11_zpsbdfad0fc.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo CalebCatThursday11_zpsbdfad0fc.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff379/Smiles-R-Awesome/Our%20cats/Caleb-%20Adult/CalebCatThursday11_zpsbdfad0fc.jpg" width="550" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff379/Smiles-R-Awesome/Our%20cats/Caleb-%20Adult/046.jpg" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 14; text-align: center;">Amy can take credit for this if she insists. I was just looking at my reflection a bit you know, we don't just want to take the camera's word for it! She also was a bit artistic when she took this & then made a watercolour of it. Strange, I know. But cats are a piece of work, I'm sure you've realized by now. You also know she has this artsy thing going on, you've seen in previous "Cat Thursday's" that she has sketchbooks, which are might comfy & actually double as cat chairs. So I sit on them, logically.<br />
Anyway, I think Amy wants to say goodbye to you now. I hope you've enjoyed looking at lovely pictures of me & ONLY ME.</td></tr>
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I'm sure some at least have liked looking at Mr Cheeky Paws (aww, that actually sounds quite cute! :P I've enjoyed this post as always. It's a delight to look through cat pictures! But now I don't have a good camera (the things you lose when in a foreign country, yup- the German exchange) so it sucks. I do intend on still doing this semi-regularly still though (bimonthly roughly is something of regular, who's with me? :P)!</div>
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Thanks for reading (:</div>
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Amy Bookworm & her cat Caleb...</div>
AwesomeAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06412663427792021745noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8784349484087825912.post-46349182361658962312014-05-26T06:30:00.000+01:002014-06-29T10:47:07.791+01:00Reviewing... [63] Alex As Well<b>What if you felt like you had to prove your gender?</b><br />
I wouldn’t like it but I could probably prove that my characteristics are typically more feminine ones, that my interests are more feminine and so on... That’s beside the point.<br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Source: Curious Fox; for an honest review! Thanks to THE FOX :D</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"> Author: <u><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/347427.Alyssa_Brugman">Alyssa Brugman</a></u></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Recommended For: </span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">You like books which are unique, aren’t afraid to be completely honest (in their perception, I understand it'd mean lots of research & a bit of guessing, we can allow artistic license though, I think!) & discuss issues(?)- these issues many authors, and in general many human beings, don’t go near enough to touch with a very stretched out toe... but maybe, you're this person who does dare to read it. If so, YOU. Definitely perfect for you.</span></div>
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Alex As Well isn’t just a story about an intersex teen, that’s not what it’s about.<br />
<i>No, the blurb, reviews and labels aren’t lying to you. I mean, Alex is boy and girl I suppose. The way this came across at first was that Alex compartmentalizes in her head that something is a girl thing, another thing a boy thing. Splitting up what girls say, what boys say.</i><br />
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<b>It’s about good people, it’s about bad people.</b><br />
Some of the themes have been told in YA before, others haven’t that I know of. It’s not just the gender exploration based bit, it’s other parts.<br />
Alex As Well is about family relationships and socialisation in that; in fact... this book does put quite a weight on nature I suppose as it doesn’t seem like she’s been ‘nurtured’ to be a girl. Alex isn’t who she is as much as you’d expect because of her parents. Definitely not.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>One thing I love is that I’m not the only one that has noticed how society has been shown to be part of the reason Alex wasn’t a boy, despite her parents choosing for her to be, a quote which demonstrates this is: “ <i>that book "Fun Experiments for Boys". I'm not sure why possession of a penis was so important for the science.”</i><br />
Yeah, why? Maybe because I have quite a scientific mind and do find experiments fun I can’t be a girl anymore. No. Of course not!<br />
Alex actually talks as if the boy/girl part of her are separate- how can she be so sure the girl ‘personality’ is the dominant one when they both are present? I really did wonder... I didn’t see why gender had to be so defined for Alex that she’d think ‘that’s the guy part of me’... Unfortunately, sometimes she contradicted herself (it seemed like that was when the two Alex persona’s opinions clashed).<br />
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Alex’s parents chose for her to be a boy. Do you know how hard that must be? I can only imagine. Having to chose somebody else’s gender for them. It’s almost surreal. Shouldn’t birth certificates have a ‘neither/both’ option or something?<br />
I feel sorry for them that they made the wrong choice, it must make them feel guilty as that’s caused Alex to not be happy for years. I can see why Heather, Alex’s Mum, feels like she’s a bad parent and she is. There are reasons, such as she isn’t a strong person & she’s been put under immense pressure so it’s starting to show strain. But she really, really is. The characters are all complex, Heather’s a great example and the fact that she has an online support group where we hear her thoughts when she’s actually not being impulsive & is given some time to think it through is helpful. It’s often different to what she says when we see her & Alex interact, which is interesting but shows that perhaps Alex is a bit of an unreliable narrator. Additionally, it illustrates misunderstandings, a much worse & obvious one nonetheless, that happen between teens & adults. The brain works differently at those ages, so, like Alex, I still found it hard to relate to Heather. The internet group commenters helped form my opinion, I’d wonder who I most agreed with & this is how I decided what I thought of Heather (I got yo back, Vic!)<br />
It seems like Heather just could never be nice to her daughter to her face, only insults would come out. Which is why Alex feels unloved... a little praise would go a long way. How nice would it have been if Alex had known that her mother thought she was “strong and fierce... she's going to need to be fierce, because the path she is on is going to be so painful”.<br />
I do agree, <i>Alex is <b>definitely</b> a strong character</i> who narrates (epistolatory writing) this book with such a gripping tone and brutal honesty, it really reminds me of Charlie’s narration in Perks Of Being A Wallflower. It’d be incredibly rude to blank her talking to you so I just... carried on reading... and read Alex As Well is one day. There obviously are key differences, for example, as I said, you hear from more than one narrator!<br />
Heather thinks Alex has had everything she could want. Well, I think she’d probably have liked to actually have a gender as easily defined as the majority. I think she’d like better memories of nursery. I think she’s like to not be called ‘perverted’ as if it was a choice she made. Plus, what’s perverted about just not being 100% male or female? I’m sure a little less verbal abuse would help.<br />
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There were a few minor points which I thought were unbelievable:<br />
How did Alex just manage to enrol herself in a school so easily? The secretary could tell Alex had signed herself in & there was no parent actually filling in anything. They just hand her Uniform & she goes to a new school while still being enrolled in her old school. That major flaw in the education system has to fictitious, doesn’t it?<br />
Some of Alex’s reactions to things, a specific thing which she just blurted out, also seemed highly unlikely, for anyone, regardless of gender. But overall- I enjoyed Alex As Well. As you can tell, it brought lots of different thoughts to the surface & could really spark discussion for a reading group!<br />
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I really do recommend at it, at the end of this all though; books like this are thought-provoking issues & they are very awesome to read about. Yes, that’s my experience with the first book in the LGBT I’ve read that actually probably explores a teen’s life with a debate about sexuality and, not only that, gender. I hope you like ‘Alex as Well’ if you decide to read it. What are you waiting for? You’re not that spoilt for choice if this is a topic you’d want to read about but luckily, you got a great option- a book I read in one day (which I manage about once or twice a year!), I wasn’t quite sure what to think at first as so much had happened... but yes, it’s incredibly worth it.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Amy Bookworm <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">(</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Forte; font-size: large;">@Amy_Bookworm</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">)</span></span><span style="font-size: large;">rated this book:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8784349484087825912" style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--3e5ipREJwA/URAK_sE4T5I/AAAAAAAAAQY/QWs52GDS0cY/s320/4+Star.png" height="104" width="320" /><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3rOeo8df1rI/URaBxM10DGI/AAAAAAAAARA/gsAVOrlkG4M/s1600/und+halb.png" height="102" width="60" /></a></div>
AwesomeAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06412663427792021745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8784349484087825912.post-37223198351037916662014-05-23T03:00:00.000+01:002014-06-28T09:15:58.890+01:00Marvel Madness: Females I Love<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Hellooo-</span><br />
OK, just to be clear (instead of continuing with a Marcus Butler like welcome). Females are often awesome & I love this, but there's some who are way more kickass than normal in fiction (in real life, there's not as many opportunities to be kick-ass; at least not in my life experience!). Some of these awesome females are in Marvel.<br />
This post is no way saying females aren't normally or they only exist in Marvel. I'm a female, I'm not underestimating GIRL POWER. I'm not surprised they exist as they do in real life & as females are almost half of the human population... Yeah, we've got this covered.<br />
Do you see tropes appearing though? Damsels in distress, love before all else, flimsy females? You know the kind of thing; making us seem less strong than our male counterparts mentally as well as physically! This is rare in SHIELD & other Marvel shows/comics I know/read (I mainly watch, sorry!)<br />
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Skye's love plot line? What Peggy Carter goes through? How she punches a male who's disrespecting her (the perfect example; probably set it all off)? Maria Hill being Fury's right hand... WOMAN. Romanoff being awesome & like a replacement Peggy in some ways, but others totally different. I've got to admit, I was disappointed in Captain America 2 when<span style="background-color: #999999; color: #999999;"> the lady in the heads of SHIELD meeting turned out not to just be also kickass & stuff but actually Romanoff, it meant there were actually less who were awesome-sauce </span>which is a bit of a complaint of mine... Marvel can't be perfect, I guess. Romanoff, anyway, beats lie detectors, is a master but still... there's more.<br />
Do you recognize the names in the infographic below?<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Do you know the names of the big three who I could find comic book style pictures for as well?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">If so, you're in the right place... BTW, this post is loosely a 3 things- a recurring type of post on this blog- but there are way more than 3 & they seem almost as awesome as well XD)</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">People who make infographics a lot, I admire you. While I loved making this, the images etc. for it, it takes longer than it looks. Why did you not tell me it took so long? :L Oh well, maybe I'll do more of these anyway if people like them!</td></tr>
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I bet you do recognize those names. A few Carters :P Mystique/Raven is super well know & if you've missed me yabbering on about Simmons (or more likely, FitzSimmons, my OTP) then where have you been? </div>
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Marvel, and esp SHIELD, has been receiving a lot of love & popularity recently, even amongst book bloggers. I could name 4 other bloggers & one author, of the top of my head, who share this obsession *cough* I mean, OK, there's no other word for it, is there? But I'll just link to Rita @ Weaving Pages to you as <a href="http://weavingpages.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/please-people-why-agents-of-shield-is.html">this is her wonderful Marvel-based </a>post. I was already thinking of doing this but that gave me a push. Fi gave me a push in a just "POST SOMETHING NOW :P" way & Gee, you inspired me to create this as an infographic without even knowing it... surprise! Hope you like this Marvel Madness.</div>
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Are you mad for Marvel? Let's have a discussion! In the comments OR or Twitter, either! :D</div>
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Everyone else who I know loves Marvel, you know I know & you know who you are. You're fab fangirls & keep it up this Friday! I love you guys too with all my fandom appreciation <3</div>
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#GirlPower by <a href="https://twitter.com/Amy_Bookworm">@Amy_Bookworm</a></div>
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Thanks for reading (:</div>
AwesomeAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06412663427792021745noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8784349484087825912.post-70195009965962730582014-05-20T06:00:00.000+01:002014-05-20T06:00:00.520+01:00Top Ten Books About FriendshipFirstly, I'm back (I guess? It's hard to tell in this... situation). Secondly, sorry that this post involves 3 books with main characters called Alex (but they're all different genders so...). Thirdly, yes... some books were mentioned in my last TTT (I guess I loved them). Oh, and I'm actually encouraging myself to post this as it was a month since that TTT & I've only posted one review since *hides* Unless you liked that review & aren't mad at me?<br />
Talking of reviews, besides #1, these books/series I haven't reviewed which means I'm glad I've got to feature them now & I hope, if you pick up any of the books on this list, that you enjoy them.<br />
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Either way, for those who are interested in this list, without further ado:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">hosted by </span><a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.co.uk/" style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">The Broke And The Bookish</a>...<br />
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Top Ten Books About Friendship</span></b></span><br />
<span style="text-align: start;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">clicking on the book covers should direct you to its Goodreads page if all went right...</span></b></span></td></tr>
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<li><span style="text-align: center;"><b>Perks Of Being A Wallflower</b>- This is the only book/series here I’ve actually properly reviewed (it was my first review) & it blows you away. The friendship, too. Rocky Horror... Patrick, Sam, Charlie... even Mary Elizabeth. This book is a must-read & for friendship... it gets gold stars on that, too. READ IT. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<li><b>Sweetly</b>- not only does it involve such a lovely sibling relationship (yes, I adore it- infact they’re often some of my favourites!) but it involves other friendship, with a town & a girl called Sophia Kelly. (now I’m not being as book pushy as I was for Perks & won’t be as much for any of the following but still, if you like the things I mention, feel free to take it as a recommendation). </li>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15774265-the-prom-the-date-and-a-whole-lot-of-laxatives?ac=1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1343478136l/15774265.jpg" width="125" /></a> <b>The Prom, The Date & The Laxatives</b> – well, you could argue (if you’ve read it, which... have you? Probably not!) that it involves more romance but actually, there’s definitely realistic friendship- with strains- between Alex & her friends, plus for most of the books she has a friendship with a guy... which is all I’ll say. It was a super friendship, I’ll say. </div>
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<li><b>How To Save A Life</b>- if family relationships are friendships... oh heck, they are. This definitely counts. <img height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1337211222l/10757806.jpg" width="132" /></li>
<li><b>Who Framed Klaris Cliff</b>- Imaginary “friends”, see... they count. And Flea & Joseph’s friendship builds; Joseph & Rocky’s perhaps seems less important but it’s still the background & how much of this came about so definitely a book about friendship worth a read :) <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18065059-who-framed-klaris-cliff?ac=1"><img height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1393342388l/18065059.jpg" width="130" /></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5997368-perfect-10?ac=1"><img height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1395610636l/19152661.jpg" width="130" /></a> <b>A Perfect 10</b>- You may think, as I did, that my Chris Higgins’ days were over but... nope. In 2013, I read this gem & remembered how her books often involved friendship, as well as other issues, which make her books worth a read. Whether you’re still that 10-year old girl or around 50% older (you could be 500% older & probably still be OK)! </li>
<li><b>Requiem</b>- for wrapping up those all in important friendships & being a great finale to a series. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<ol style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/862631.Harry_Potter_and_the_Order_of_the_Phoenix" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1374679068l/862631.jpg" width="128" /></a><a href="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1393354775l/20911885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1393354775l/20911885.jpg" width="130" /></a><b>8. Alex As Well</b>- Obviously, you may think friendship is overshadowed by the more obvious themes in the book (and more important) but coming out as homosexual & also trans can put a strain on friendship & it shows how Alex’s friendships cope with this- not just her family relationships. Some are more accepting than others which I’m sure is true to real life. Also, Heather (the Mum) has found friends on an internet forum...
<b>9. Harry Potter</b>- You all know the golden trio. Stuff happens but there’s lots of friendships which withstands it all. ‘Nuff said. You’ve all read it, I’m sure. (There’s obvious reasons why I didn’t review all of this series but it could happen)</ol>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15984268-the-universe-versus-alex-woods?ac=1"><img height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1352436020l/15984268.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
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10. <b>The Universe Vs Alex Woods</b>- OK, I’m actually reading this for book club now & may review it (I haven’t discussed it enough XD)... it’s not the easiest book to get through & I guess I’m somewhat ambivalent but I saw this list & I’m reading this book so... it seemed right when this book involves such unconventional friendships. Issac Peterson, Dr Weir, Ellie, his book club for Kurt Vonnegut... it goes on & this is one of the highlights of the book & definitely, its friendship filled.<br />
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So, have you got a TTT? Happy reading no matter what!</div>
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Hope to see you here again soon... or maybe a comment, anything. Thanks for reading...</div>
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Amy Bookworm x</div>
AwesomeAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06412663427792021745noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8784349484087825912.post-68719528604541349132014-04-26T05:00:00.000+01:002014-05-18T16:24:52.898+01:00Reviewing... [62] Leopold BlueLeopold Blue is given away on the first page (takes away some of the mystery, I do like the hunt sometimes to see how it relates). It's not perfect, like the book- of Meg's life. So, in that way, fitting.<br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Source: Received through a Twitter Giveaway by HotKeyBooks.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Author: </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Rosie Rowell</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Recommended For: Anyone interested in the close history, which shows us a culture which has since moved on, but is different from ours anyway (ie. UKYA readers, heads up!)</span></div>
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You know that feeling when there's many awesome books but there's one standing out for a ridiculously gorgeous cover? You can see where I'm going with this? So, part of the reason I was attracted to it was the gorgeous font, a leopold blue, contrast to the grey sky- supposed to be blue- with a plain girl, windswept hair & OK... you probably can see for yourself that's it's eye-catching.<br />
Another: a vital part of our history is ingrained in this book. This isn't too historical (I'm not ashamed to admit I dropped History) but of two important periods- to me- personally- this holds one so it was going to be a hit on that level anyway, unless it was totally inaccurate to my knowledge. But for Rowell, knowledge was on her doorstep. I always love it when you find out afterwards that the author themselves knew more about this first-hand & from their direct surroundings than research found in books (which is awesome, though), internet & the such. So, I loved this aspect. Any period where there was civil rights movement around that time, or it had newly been affected by that, is a gem to me. I just love it, I love it when I have it in school, to write essays about (but not in History... HAH!) & I love reading about it- fictionally is amazing too.<br />
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You can tell, even if you don't have former knowledge (where have you been? :L), that the history surrounding the story, around Meg, is of much significance. It feels powerful & there's unrest as socially & politically, society begins to change. You can tell our society, probably not just South Africa's, wouldn't be the same without the historical background in Leopold Blue. Apartheid has just been broken down & I know about this, I think all teens should. Some history seems "dead" but I assure you: this history isn't yet. This book hasn't died & I hope never will (but if it does, read it before it's too late *evil laugh*). I was kind of surprised though how it was only the 1990's (heck, I was born then), that seems even more recent when Mandela's work started much more before then & often the civil rights is focused on a period before. I think some other decades would've been accurate, but this gives an indication & I guess, some parts moved slower than others. So others may have been several years ahead of those in this rural town, where AIDS is rife (and being sorted by Meg's Mother).<br />
SO, yes... Another thing which actually interlinks is the notes on the bottom of the page (I assume these also exist in the final edition, they simply must!). They provide further information & define "language" which South Africans use, thus they appear a lot more at the start but lessen out as you go along. Later on, you're aware anyway & remember for the most part what a bakkie is, what a Dominee is & such. It's mainly a good thing, but when you're not used to it- as many books don't call for it- it can be a little distracting to need to look mid-sentence or something. It's a unique feature to this book which gives it flavour.<br />
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Meg's coming of age" didn't really make me like her, I can't for sure say she improved but she changed. She became less bored & came to respect her Mother's decisions & fantastic work, she ended up realising what had become of other relationships she had & yes, Meg was always too good for Xanthe & while Meg may have been different to the girls she'd become tired of, Xanthe was still more flawed than Meg had considered. I hated the peer pressure, but I guess it was realistic, raw & will never be a nice thing to read about it. Being aware of how Meg deals with it, gives purpose & honesty to the book. While I wouldn't go so far as to say there were dull moments, the actual plot & some of Meg's life, were overshadowed by bits where there was Xanthe being "colourful". I wouldn't want a selfish, misleading influence like Xanthe on myself or my children but Meg's Mother & her... the relationship between them was fragile, to say the least. It built up & this is one of the elements which gave me most satisfaction. It shows, family are there for you, even when friends aren't. Or at least in Meg's, which is enough of a happy ever after for me. I also don't think Meg needed a guy to complete her, making this seem more like reality- a teenage girl's life- than a work of fiction, where many things seem ideal, fit for a movie.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>XANTHE:</b> I can't relate to you. Just let me have Meg as she <br />
is, without having to go through tons of stuff... mountains.</td></tr>
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I do think I found it hard to like Meg's Mum at points as well, I couldn't for a while think I was on the side of both. Beth & her Dad seemed to get the less interesting flaws, seemed nicer, for most of the novel, while you have Meg & her Mum being more reckless; it was so interesting to see both evolutions- their shades of different & daring varying & how they tied up together.<br />
Of course, as you may have guessed, Simon, to me, wasn't significant nor Xanthe. I just am not sure I would try & befriend someone like Xanthe, especially not when it hurts others. Xanthe certainly had no trouble hurting others... Perhaps I had the biggest problem with some of the characters but they made the story which sat in a vibrant setting, enabling this to be a fictional novel- not historical non-fiction.<br />
So kudos, this was mainly enjoyable & I would recommend it, whether you'll agree with all parts- this certainly allows you to become more concrete in your morals- as its interesting, short & bitter-sweet. It's important to read about self-focused, temperamental, flawed teenagers to gain a balance in the whirlwind of YA, its important as the themes & history behind it are just SO thought-provoking & need to be understood & known about, or it may go to waste. This isn't a ranty, "history preaching" novel, its just a story, like all stories.<br />
And I'll shut up now before I return to complaining about Xanthe. That girl, seriously!<br />
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Hope you enjoyed this review (:<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Amy Bookworm <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">(</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Forte; font-size: large;">@Amy_Bookworm</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">)</span></span><span style="font-size: large;">rated this book:</span></div>
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AwesomeAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06412663427792021745noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8784349484087825912.post-74163009633916614622014-04-22T03:00:00.000+01:002014-04-22T03:00:00.016+01:00Top Ten Characters Who Aren’t Afraid To Be DifferentObviously, not all characters are the same but there are some traits which occur time & time again while others pop up less often. I wanted to feature characters who either have different traits or just act different, anyway, which is what we love. I tend to find characters like these ones mentioned are ones which stick in my mind better anyway- I respect them & connect with them more. IF you’re an author, can I please encourage you to write characters who aren’t clichés? Ones with diversity, it won’t hurt!<br />
After a misbehaved hiatus (nobody actually asked to see some of the posts I hinted I wouldn’t mind doing so I decided I’d stay away longer til’ I had better posts- I didn’t have to come up with ideas though thanks to the fantastic meme by <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.co.uk/">The Broke And The Bookish</a>)... Oh, I did also want to see if any of you would hold me to it & whether I'd have an increase in views on the Monday with people thinking I was back but actually it was the lowest for more than a week, so forget that!... Wishful thinking ;) I guess I've got a lot to gain from The Blog Notes Project by Amber #3 (you'll get it later on).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Top Ten Characters Who Aren’t Afraid To Be Different </span></b></span></td></tr>
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For once I actually managed to think of 10 (actually, I considered 2 others but they weren’t as awesome, clearly, in the battle of the characters XD)</div>
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<li><b>Zeb from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13809806-secrets-lies-and-locker-62">Secrets, Lies and Locker 62</a></b>– This character just sticks in my head and its for a reason. This book actually shows religious diversity and outward appearance diversity. So, Zeb might seem really out about being different at school, with her gothic get-up but she’s a deep character & she’s definitely worth a mention (another! After the <a href="http://spreadingukya2013.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/the-end-of-year-book-survey-part-1.html">2013 End Of Year Survey- q 11</a>)<a name='more'></a></li>
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<li><b>Alex from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17155735-alex-as-well">Alex As Well</a></b>– This one is probably the most obvious choice so far (but there is a more obvious one to come, believe it or not) as Alex actually changes genders, kind of. I haven’t really read it yet but I know this book about a transgender teen definitely fits the bill. Alex stops taking medication which has lead to him being more male, even though he could never be entirely physically, as he wants to be a female. So, switch to female. That’s the camp Alex’s foot is going into. It means turning into somebody different, or so it appears, with the appearance of breasts being one physical change. Definitely a prime example. If you do want to see a review of it, my friend kind of did a review of Alex As Well- but Georgia's infographics could be considered <i>better</i>. Check out <a href="http://booksandwritersjnr.wordpress.com/2014/04/07/review-graphic-alex-as-well-by-alyssa-brugman/">The Bibliomaniac review-graphic</a></li>
<li><b>Meg from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18680452-leopold-blue">Leopold Blue</a></b>– It takes her awhile to accept firstly, that her Mother is different & will fight for the prevention of AIDS but eventually Meg accepts that, she too, is different. She doesn’t have to be loud about it but when friends are trying to lead her astray, she may just have to step out & decide to make her own choice, even if it means standing on her own.</li>
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<a href="http://spreadingukya2013.blogspot.com/2013/03/fave15-bookboyfriendsANDprotags.html"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/Us27lNgIvO0NCl8P5duM2iopkq68QEPetfIrBDO0B8ANFVAlTnyTjd5kTAF95zy6VkYz1HncV90SBjidJYaPBXlABQgEznNcbRpStKFTOfP03NRWdoqcJ89gvm2SufsUloLOIFyLD5DK4qdETPBiWg imageanchor=" style="clear: right; float: right;" /></a>
<li><b>Peeta from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2767052-the-hunger-games">The Hunger Games</a></b>– What can I say? Gender stereotypes dictate that people tend to think of women as bakers. But this book changed that. Of course, Katniss wasn’t a typical girl either but I’d rather mention my book boyfriend if you don’t mind... one of the reasons I like him is he’s different, emotionally too (he’s sensitive & I need a guy like that, he’s on my wavelength). You can’t go wrong with a baker who will make you tasty desserts & treats, can you? He even chucks bread at you! Tough, this catch is mine. I claimed him ages ago (and in past posts, just click on him to go to that post).</li>
<li><b>Amber from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18339522-amber">Amber</a></b>– Wow, that sounds confusing. Amber’s amnesia eventually wears off & when she becomes aware of her own identity, it’s something awesome. She definitely can’t be afraid to be different when it’s something so brilliant & when she can use it to make such an important difference in the world. She also has a photographic memory, that’s an awesome difference (but more common in books... aye?). Can I just point out <a href="http://www.themilelongbookshelf.com/">Amber #3</a>.</li>
<li><b>Charlie from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22628.The_Perks_of_Being_a_Wallflower">Perks Of Being A Wallflower</a></b>– What on EARTH do you mean Amy? He’s a wallflower. He doesn’t stand out. Really? He showed himself to be different when he defended Patrick using his fists. He showed physical strength people didn’t anticipate when he did that. Also, performing in Rocky Horror... that’s different. There’s just so many ways I love Charlie, because he’s different. He’s not a typical boy & you’ve got to love him for it.</li>
<li><img height="250" imageanchor="1" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1361979896l/16275049.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left;" /><b>Eva from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13062488-the-lost-girl">The Lost Girl</a></b>– Well, you might think otherwise... Especially if you were just judging by the synopsis. Of course, most of what she’s known was Amarra but it doesn’t mean she’s got to be a completely effective “clone”, does it?</li>
<li><b>Ryan from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16275049-cruel-summer">Cruel Summer</a></b>– Compared to other characters in the novel he definitely isn’t afraid (and he shouldn’t be) about being honest about his sexuality. This book has LGBT books & I love that it’s not made a big deal that he’s homosexual- that’s 100% right!</li>
<li><b>Riley from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18754847-afterlife-academy">Afterlife Academy</a></b>– Well, it doesn’t really qualify as a choice but Riley has to stand out now for reasons that aren’t just popularity (when everyone knows who you are, you can’t blend in). Even though she’s dead & shouldn’t have any colour, she actually does have some colour on her... Hence, she stands out. </li>
<li><img 1="" border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-w88CxmflL1w/U1FaBcX3jMI/AAAAAAAAA0s/ZujtF6dAlwM/s1600/candor.png%20imageanchor=" style="clear: right; float: right;" /><b>Tris from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13335037-divergent">Divergent</a></b>– I wanted to leave what might seem the most obvious to you til’ last (that’s the only reason this list is randomized, not alphabetical). She’s Divergent. I know this should mean she’s the character of Divergent who I think this applies to most, there’s numerous characters. Caleb wasn’t afraid, he realized it was faction before blood. Christina knew being a Candor with what some considered a “big mouth” or “smart mouth” could be a bad thing but I was always glad when she said something I don’t think many would dare mention.</li>
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<b>Which characters stand out to you for not being too typical? Did you do a list? What do all your characters have in common?</b></div>
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You'll have to read it to find out...<br />
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<b style="display: inline !important; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 8px;"></b></div><div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Source: Received for an honest review. </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Author: </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4727364.Shalini_Boland" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">Shalini Boland</a><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Recommended For: </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">This book seems to captivate one type of reader for the former half the book and another for the latter half, I'm not too sure...</span></div></td></tr>
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Hidden is definitely a book about vampires that I’d consider different and it works. I mean, even though there’s definitely insta-attraction at some point its explained well so its somewhat understandable. It, I’m just being vague to avoid wrecking the book for you, did seem gorgeous enough to warrant insta-attraction. Maddie certainly did discourage her own feelings and didn’t understand the supernatural; in fact this is another book where the protagonist experiences hate/love for somebody.<br />
I found that, strangely, Maddie’s perspective wasn’t actually believable. I guess there’s something magical & transporting about the Victorian England and even more so the foreign lands. <br />
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Readers tend to prefer one half to another, its possibly due to the fact they are very different. I, for one, can see why the background information was very important and was written. Especially for the Victorian half, which is probably the alternating perspective I looked forward to. I actually decided, as awkward as it is to do with an ebook lacking a contents page (that may not be all the editions), that I would not hop back & forth between the Past (1881) and Present Time chapters. It just led to slow reading, if I’m honest. I just don’t like it that much when I don’t understand why there are two different stories- or at least not completely. You may guess how they interlinked but that doesn’t mean you have to like the format of alternation. I’d be so engrossed in one & then have to be snapped out of it for different characters, a different era and a different plot that I was reading it at a snail pace so when I began to read several of Past & then several of Maddie’s story, it was much more enjoyable & quicker to read. It stops part way through, anyway so I found the novel better when it had stopped switching perspectives. <br />
You see, Maddie’s experiences before were OTT, in what I considered a ‘not just because it’s fiction’ way, it was inaccurate . It’s awful that her foster parents would just give her & her brother up for money, even though it was to her fortune. Plus, how did they manage to earn out of her working in the supermarket? That would’ve been her own money to keep & she should not have to choose to look after herself at 16. Obviously, solicitors may exist similar to the ones dealt with in this book- they can overrule Social Services, are made of money and such- if they do I hope I never have to deal with them. I felt sorry for her, even though I knew that some of her background story could be considered ludicrous & actually, wasn’t the main entertainment to begin with.<br />
It’s your own choice to make: Perhaps a rebellious, independent teenager, so caring when it comes to her brother will touch your heart? Will you empathize with the wronged intellectual Victorian lad dealing with reaching manhood as he becomes obsessed with an archaeological dig? You might not think you will... His charm & respect for females will endear you to him if nothing else ;) The mannerisms he has & fortitude shown as he makes hard decisions & cares about his family (those characters were all so interesting & the fact I may get to read more about them in the next book? I think I’d definitely be interested in that!) is a major character strength & this leads to interesting, key plot points...<br />
I’ll leave the recommendation hanging!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Amy Bookworm rated Hidden...</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--3e5ipREJwA/URAK_sE4T5I/AAAAAAAAAQY/QWs52GDS0cY/s320/4+Star.png" height="104" width="320" /><br />
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Hope you all are having a 'Good Friday' ... OK, that wasn't much of a pun. Happy reading! Hope you'll be saved from further awful jokes ;)</div>AwesomeAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06412663427792021745noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8784349484087825912.post-57454359220573664272014-04-02T09:15:00.000+01:002014-04-02T09:15:00.826+01:00Waiting On Wednesday in April- new releases edition<b>Fellow UK readers! Look at these releases we're having! I think these are all released in the UK this upcoming April (I say UK as some appear to be avaliable on US sites, like B&N & the main Amazon, but not UK)</b><br />
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"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at <a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #155585;">Breaking the Spine</span></a>, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.<br />
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Here's mine:<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18599820-tease"><img height="222" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1381254003l/18599820.jpg" /></a> <img height="225" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1379583074l/17338059.jpg" /> <img height="225" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1372086100l/15749186.jpg" /> <img height="225" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1385548046l/18692305.jpg" /></center>
<img height="225" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1382698850l/18486825.jpg" /><img height="225" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1391181967l/17586458.jpg" /><br />
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Tease - Amanda Maciel - Publishing Apr 29, 2014 | The Fearless Emma Pass - Publishing Apr 24, 2014 | To All the Boys I've Loved Before - Jenny Han - Publishing Apr 15, 2014 | Hate - Alan Gibbons - Publishing Apr 10, 2014 | The Private Blog of Joe Cowley - Ben Davis - Publishing Apr 03, 2014 | The Summer I Wasn't Me - Jessica Verdi - Uncertain in Apr 2014 <br />
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That's the April releases I know about anyway. Looking forward to any yourself or did you read pre-release? Thanks for checking this post out! Share with me your thoughts on the books and... Happy reading all! (:</div>
AwesomeAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06412663427792021745noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8784349484087825912.post-83364575301219854082014-03-24T02:00:00.000+00:002014-03-24T02:00:00.976+00:00I'm In Germany! ...A Hiatus Announcement<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 18;">Hello friends,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 18;">readers</span></b> (hopefully you’re both... if not make it that way XD)!<br />
As you read this I’m in Germany, on an exchange so I’m not blogging with you this week. This is just a quick post I wrote so you know- for once- about my blogging break. This one is planned & probably the best type (and could even be a bit productive, wouldn’t you be amazed!) <br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/qaYxil0MeKSl28H1O-wntLAjLjr5kiAXpeQvMqGFWFEtmMtEzSa9668bwGkcS3mqgBqnUai7Uc1cgCxKfpeNX6AfVL5SfT0f_09lJ8Cuag" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view/215247/plane-take-off-o.gif" width="225" /></a>I won’t stay in Germany, I promise. Not even if the chocolate’s better than books (now, what?). Not even if I love it enough to forfeit school. NOPE.<br />
I wouldn’t be allowed.<br />
So, I’m hoping to be on hiatus for a bit when I get back at the weekend (you should see me tweet at that point though!), until the second week of my Easter holidays, so <i><u>all in all three weeks</u></i>. This helps me to enjoy Germany & then my holiday. I will need to catch up on school work that I miss; I want to fit in some reading & blogging also but it would be best if any I get done is extra & can be scheduled in my opinion. *fingers crossed* some posts get scheduled or you’ll have me on the 14th sitting there at like half 8 trying to write a post before Australia goes to sleep ;)<br />
So, no, I’m not just having a break- like I have before- due to blogging slumps. Those I always feel bad about but this one... do you feel bad about it? I feel a little bad, but not in the way where it’s out of panic. I feel bad as I know I’ll miss you... even though lots of you read my blog sporadically, don’t lie :P Hehe, only joking.<br />
Anyway, back to the Twitter point, tweeting you when I’m back in England will be super important. You want me to have some sanity left, don’t you?<br />
I think as bloggers we all take blogging breaks, it's a need & sometimes a want... right? <b><u>What’s your view? Do you agree? </u></b><br />
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<img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mb7yn90Q6D1qmtldn.gif" height="160" width="400" /><br />
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There are some posts I hope to post during the hiatus:<br />
<b><span style="font-size: 18;">April Releases</span></b><br />
and...<br />
A Post About <b>Germany</b> & Catching Up (probably be a bit like a recap with other things I missed in the blogosphere but then found when I returned, have photos & maybe thoughts on TV I caught up on :P)<br />
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Would you like that latter post if I did it? Both of these will be in April- if people want them- so... return in April why don't cha?</div>
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Love you all,<br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Non-MIA Amy Bookworm :D</span></div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Fstream1.gifsoup.com%2Fview%2F215247%2Fplane-take-off-o.gif&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/qaYxil0MeKSl28H1O-wntLAjLjr5kiAXpeQvMqGFWFEtmMtEzSa9668bwGkcS3mqgBqnUai7Uc1cgCxKfpeNX6AfVL5SfT0f_09lJ8Cuag" -->AwesomeAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06412663427792021745noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8784349484087825912.post-26740004881796263242014-03-21T04:00:00.000+00:002014-04-05T18:20:43.422+01:00*Feeding My Kindle* For A Long Time *Friday* [3 stages book haul]<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UHVrCBHuJwo/ULeoacodKlI/AAAAAAAAXXw/0diHw1v4cpU/s1600/Feed+My+Reader+Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UHVrCBHuJwo/ULeoacodKlI/AAAAAAAAXXw/0diHw1v4cpU/s320/Feed+My+Reader+Banner.jpg" height="108" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My kindle is the second one- Kindle Fire FTW (no offence obviously,<br />
it's about the books not the e-reader!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>These books have taken me about half a year to accumulate, oops. That's <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>the first stage</b></span> to this book haul (or any, books <i>are</i> something to accumulate. Also, readers like to be fed them -have I pointed that out? It's the kindle's fault that I've so many there, not mine!)<br />
I haven’t done a book haul which has included ebooks in it for quite a while it seems. Well, I’ve been building my kindle collection although there was absolutely no reason to do so. Oops. I am not including ones which I’ve already reviewed as, you need to see them again why?<br />
To be quite truthful, it’s a miracle you’re seeing this <u>AT ALL</u>. I’m not the best at adding kindle books to Goodreads & I believe I’m not eligible for the intergration (as it’s SO exclusive at the moment, normal kindle users in the UK thank you, Amazon!)<br />
I know this is probably less than 50 books (oh, you know, not a lot... I'm just guessing so if it is... *winks*) but... I tend to not read many ebooks, unless they're review copies, in a series I want to keep reading on kindle or short stories. Problem, right there. So, how many of these have I read but <i>NOT reviewed?</i><br />
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Apparently one... it was a short story.<br />
But <b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">the second stage</span></b> to this book haul is to list all the books (so I won't review <i>yet</i>, for your inquiring minds (which will probably then go & hunt down a few). Recent ones are at the top, if that helps.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Ghost Unbroken by Annie McLeod</div><div style="text-align: center;">Five Shades of Fantasy - an anthology | Kristen Middleton, W.J. May, Chrissy Peebles, CM Doporto, Kaitlyn Davis & Tiffany Evans <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>--> because Ignite (Midnight Fire Series) by Kaitlyn Davis was in it. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Enigma Black (Enigma Black Trilogy Book #1) by Sara Furlong-Burr <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">--> she kindly tweeted me saying that her book was free on kindle, as I'd shown interest in it!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Boys of Summer (Book # 1 The Summer Series) by C.J Duggan</div><div style="text-align: center;">Legacy Rising by Shane Scollins</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1388245825l/20332837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1388245825l/20332837.jpg" width="131" /></a>Nightmare City: a Post-Steampunk Dystopian Lovecraft Adventure: Part One by Jack Conner</div><div style="text-align: center;">Saving Wishes (The Wishes Series #1) by GJ Walker-Smith</div><div style="text-align: center;">Dragonfly by Leigh Talbert Moore</div><div style="text-align: center;">In Your Dreams by Amy Martin</div><div style="text-align: center;">Rag Dolls: Callie's Story An Orphan In Crisis (A Real Life Fiction Novel) by Shelley Terrell <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>--> very interesting as involves sociological elements, also fostering & in case you don't know, some careers I'm interested in involve Social Work, Sociology etc. I love Sociology in books <3</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Key (The True Reign Series) by Jennifer Anne Davis<br />
Monster by Annie McLeod</div><div style="text-align: center;">Phantom Summer by Amy Sparling</div><a href="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1369078712l/17937354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1369078712l/17937354.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Therianthropy (Paradox Child) by J Yates</div><div style="text-align: center;">Paradox Child (Paradox Child Series) by J Yates</div><div style="text-align: center;">Wyrd Girl by Jon Jacks,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Outcast by Susan Oloier</div><a href="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1345753972l/13119752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1345753972l/13119752.jpg" width="138" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">My Daylight Monsters (Kindle Single) by Sarah Dalton</div><div style="text-align: center;">One Night With The Fae (Chaos Series Prequel Companion) by Claire Farrell</div><div style="text-align: center;">Stormwinter by Jeremy Vineyard</div><div style="text-align: center;">UnEnchanted (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale) by Chanda Hahn</div><div style="text-align: center;">Any Red-Blooded Girl (The Flora Fontain Files) by Maggie Bloom, </div><div style="text-align: center;">Invisible Paterson by Anne Cecily</div><div style="text-align: center;">Entanglement (YA Dystopian Romance) by Dan Rix</div><div style="text-align: center;">daynight by Megan Thomason</div><div style="text-align: center;">Halifax by Leigh Dunlap</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Don't you want to know what <b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">the third stage</span></b> is?</div><div style="text-align: center;">...It is a review. Of the one book of these I've read *gives myself a shiny*<br />
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<tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 5px;"><div style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/487809255" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Reviewing...</span></a></div><h4 style="color: black;"><span style="display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">Unofficially! Because it's a mini-review of Monster </span></span></h4><div style="color: black;"><span style="display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18307894-monster" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1376244571l/18307894.jpg" width="170" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><b>Author:</b> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6591531.Annie_McLeod">Annie McLeod</a></span></span></div><span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 8px;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><b>Source: </b>Just randomly decided to get.</span></span><b style="color: black; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Rating:</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"> 3.5*</span></b><span style="color: black; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><b>Recommended for:</b> Anyone that has 20 minutes. You have it now? Oh, it'll take an extra to download unto your device (ie. Kindle for PC). Just do it.</span></span><span style="color: black; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px;"><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">My Thoughts:</span></b></span><span style="color: black; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px;"><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"></span></b><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">I’ve read this by Annie McLeod because... well, you know that feeling when you’ve not read anything by an author & you don’t want to start the sampler as then you could need the whole book straight away & TBR lists? Well, it’s easy to pick up a short ebook which take 15-20 minutes by such an author, isn’t it?</span></span><span style="color: black; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"> This book doesn’t really leave much to the imagination is my first impression, in a good way. You know that this is a story where he’s going to get the girl, that’s why it’s taking us through the lives where... well, there’s other courses. It’s sweet, from the offset. And like the shortest fairytale retelling you’ll ever devour, most likely. So, Caroline... she knows of this monster. Reoccuring. Oh, it’s such an interesting concept. <br />
I liked that at the start it was this novella was from the point of view of Victoria, who apparently was Caroline’s friend in her first life but I don’t understand that because the novella is about all three. </span></span><span style="color: black; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">So yes, not everything was clear and it was a fault that there was an imbalance between leaving stuff to the imagination & not. However, overall it was a good novella & as it was so short you probably won't over-analyse it. You will enjoy it, I recommend this good use of 20 minutes- or maybe less </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">(if you do find them wasted, at least it wasn't a whole novel!)</span></span><span style="color: black; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Additionally, for something which takes like 5 breaths to read (oh, I breathe more than that without realizing?) that is such a good cover. Nicer than books more than 15x have! So, yes, that'</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">s splendid.</span></span></td></tr>
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That's all of the stages. Hope you enjoyed this post more than you'd normally enjoy a list of books. Hey, we're readers. We like it <3 Or so I hope. What's your biggest haul? Has it been <i>one</i> spanning six months EVER... no, that's just me. I get it, I do. <b>Your thoughts on these books? More specifically Monster? Read any? Going to grab any if you can?<br />
</b>AwesomeAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06412663427792021745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8784349484087825912.post-41759495396681671302014-03-18T08:00:00.000+00:002014-04-05T18:22:12.596+01:00Reviewing... [60] The Disappeared<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18072225-the-wilderness">The Wilderness</a>, the sequel to this, came out on Thursday so... if you see it in the bookshelves, you may want to grab it & this one. What did I think of The Disappeared?<br />
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<a href="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1340452076l/15718367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1340452076l/15718367.jpg" width="170" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b>Reviewing... [60]</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Source: Won as part of last year's British Book Challenge.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Publisher: Simon & Schuster</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"> Author: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4717795.C_J_Harper">C.J. Harper</a></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Recommended For: Those who want a YA series which is easy to read, doesn't end in cliffhangers but is still compelling.</span><br />
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...don't we all want a book like that?</span></div>
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Well, the concept's kooky... Seriously, when I read that there were teachers in cages I was a bit sceptical and surprised. Sure, it's a dystopia and anything can happen but it doesn't mean anything should. I know this isn't that far on the insane spectrum but it's still strange. But, it makes sense now to some extent. It's the literal teachers being detached from the students. So detached in fact that, cages aside, they allow fights to happen after dinner (that's when they don't care), they punish the children with electric shocks, they don't even give the students the most basic necessities... But, what could you expect? These are the kids who don't have futures, or the very least, or so the system says. Everyone has some future, but is trapped to quite an extreme extent in that 'future'.</center>
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It's really a horrifying idea, and is like an Orwellian concept suitable for pre-teens, mostly. I wouldn't give it to primary school kids but stock the high school library shelves with this. It's a great read, really dark and recognizably has that British streak- or what we like to think is mainly from Brit's pens- of grit, satire, lack of comfortableness and a layer of being plain, and yet... almost out of this world. That's what happens when it's dystopia.</center>
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It can't have those britishisms but it's got that feel. It was brave of Harper to have this as her debut, a dystopia truly must be hard to create... no? But the deceptive storytelling is the spark which gave this book the life it needs and allowed everything else to function. </center>
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Another thing was absolutely unsound was how the gingers were the best. I love it. It seems unusual, doesn't it? But when you think about it, gingers often aren't top of the game in life, but now we are! That's terrific. I'm having a proud ginger moment...</center>
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I get the notion Jackson was written, then the plot & then the author figured out how Jackson could change with the plot. Sorry for the over analysing but how it just happens and the fact it's not that subtle, really... I love the plot though & how Jackson's opinions have to unravel first to become a proper tapestry. It's just <i>awe</i>some (really, awe). </center>
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I've read a few times books which are dystopia and communication has been altered & the way characters then speak can really be disjointed but in The Disappeared, for once, I wasn't irked at all by it. It worked and, hallelujah, they started to learn how to speak like Jackson. Frankly, the Academy's way of speaking does get the point across but it's the beauty of language most of us want. So, The Disappeared has both in this incredible blend. Seeing the development in something as simple as speech really allows a bond between reader and characters.</center>
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Lastly, I'm really hoping I'll get to read The Wilderness at some point soon as some of my favourite parts in this book where when The Wilderness was explored. Some of the superb action happened in the Wilds and it was almost like Jackson became a different person out there. He was more like this old self but learning to adapt with what The Academy had taught him but on his own. You get the impression that naturally Jackson is the type of character who is more comfortable in his own company but this book doesn't allow him that.</center>
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Overall, wow. I just enjoyed this immensely. So...</center>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Amy Bookworm </span><span style="font-size: large;">rated this book:</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/751195329" style="font-size: x-large;"><img height="80" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--3e5ipREJwA/URAK_sE4T5I/AAAAAAAAAQY/QWs52GDS0cY/w140-h46-p/4%2BStar.png" /><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3rOeo8df1rI/URaBxM10DGI/AAAAAAAAARA/gsAVOrlkG4M/s1600/und+halb.png" height="80" /></a><br />
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and she hopes you'll read it. What are you delaying for? Get on it.</div>
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AwesomeAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06412663427792021745noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8784349484087825912.post-44630700342894828742014-03-15T09:45:00.000+00:002014-04-05T18:22:41.477+01:00Entertainworm: Bookish TMI tagRecently, I was tagged to answer many, many questions which were created by Amber, booktuber and blogger (<a href="http://www.themilelongbookshelf.com/%E2%80%8E">here</a>!) and passed on to me- as a form of... torture?- by Orli @ <a href="http://blamemybookshelf.blogspot.co.uk/">Blame My Bookshelf</a>. What actually reminded me that I needed to blog this on Monday was watching <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGCj3CsdGnY">Jim Chapman's too much information</a>... I know it's different (this is the bookish one) so I just need to clarify that but whatever... happy reading millions of things about me.<br />
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</b> <b>How old are you?</b><br />
It takes hands and feet... don't have enough fingers. I'm obviously not ten (I hope it's obvious!)<br />
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<b>What books are you reading?</b><br />
Well, it's not been a good week, if I'm honest... I continued being relaxed with Delirium and as of right now you'll see... I haven't read the other books I <a href="http://spreadingukya2013.blogspot.com/2014/03/entertainworm-wow-or-www-march-new.html">set out to read</a>. Fail. But you know, I'll be relaxed in Germany with reading so will this month <a href="http://spreadingukya2013.blogspot.com/2014/03/amy-bookworms-2014-so-far.html">go to plan</a>? At the moment though, I have 2 English CA's, only one of which I knew about then.<br />
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<b>What are you wearing? </b><br />
School uniform and a fluffy jumper over the top (it has spots & stuff). PRO.<br />
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<b>OTP?</b><br />
Hehe, if this stands for one true pairing... FitzSimmons (Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has returned but as of writing I'm waiting to see the new episode 'The Magical Place' after 3 months of no SHIELD)... or if you want books... No, that would be too, too much information. Why do I have more than one?<br />
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<b>Blogger or Wordpress?</b><br />
Blogger. I wonder if its because that's what my blog is on... Never used WP but I'm 99% sure it's more confusing. <span style="color: #999999; font-size: 14;">(Update on Saturday morning when I realized that a) this had saved as a draft instead of scheduling b) some text- thankfully only two or so questions- had started to escape... it literally deletes your text & tells you data escaped or something. What a joke, I think my blog decided it liked the idea of making me rethink this question but it being Saturday morning... I'm not going to do<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>anything. </i>However, if you notice anything looks funny or whatever can you tell me as I think this messed up the post a little also & then I can fix that!<i>)</i></span><br />
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<b>Going outside, being active or staying in?</b><br />
I can go outside & also read though (one thing that annoys all the hecks I have out of me is when people suggest you stop reading & go outside *goes outside with book*)...? Or be active inside, like on the Wii Fit or something. Even ARCHERY is indoors. Well, at my club. Cos the wind makes it much harder. For that, I'd probably just say indoors XD I know I like more books than I do sports though, I will say. There probably aren't even as many sports as books.<br />
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<b>What is the last book you read?</b><br />
Apparently Leopold Blue... It seems like I finished that AGES ago though. Or can I say Delirium?<br />
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<b>What book are you going to read next?</b><br />
That's TMI for me to even have the answer. I don't even know... I feel so disorganized saying that XD Hopefully *fingers crossed* the Joe Cowley one (by OUP) though... But, don't hold me to this. Or hold your breath. One will be fatal for me, the other for you.<br />
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<b>E-books - yes or no?</b><br />
Yes. My kindle is very much loved; I love real books too but there are so many advantages to books which you can have thousands of without them taking up more than the space a kindle takes up. This month: ebooks, I won't neglect you.<br />
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<b>Where do you prefer to read?</b><br />
I often read in our little room in our house, that used to be where my brother played Xbox. I just sit in that comfy chair & chill.<br />
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<b>Who is the last person you tweeted?</b><br />
As is typical, it was more than one person mentioned in the tweet. So, Rita, Amber & Ruby. For once not Fi...<br />
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<b>Which blog did you look at last?</b><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Well, when I go look up GIFs it takes me to that blogger's blog. But in the normal way </span><a href="http://ohthebooks.com/">Oh, The Books</a> which is a bookish excursion by Asti, Kelley & Leanne.<br />
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<b>Who is your favourite blogger?</b><br />
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...So many worthy candidates but y'know, I have my own Jennifer Lawrence of the Golden Globes for this... Rita <3 I trust she won’t get a big head... Now, if in this hypothetical little thing she’s J-Law & I’m Taylor Swift she now gets to push me down the stairs :’(<br />
Hehe, IDK, I feel like I’ve known her blog forever (I don’t know how old but I think I recall her blog being new when we met so it’s close). She is one of the bloggers who I can be entirely honest with (or at least I think I can & I have been) and oh, lawl, this is turning corny.<br />
<o:p></o:p>Now I’ve wrecked it & it’ll seem corny if I say I love you all too. Well, I do. It’d have been so nice for me to say I don’t have favourites or something equally kind to ya’ll but even if we only have half the bloggy friendship there then you’re still very loved and I think your blog is awesome. I could never just love one blog & it's a hard choice as... even book blogs are all so different.<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Also, my favourite bloggy author is Fi... I generally half think of her as a blogger, half as a bird, half as an author and half as a better mathematician than me (hehe, I don’t know but it didn’t sound write to say I third think of her... no that’s not good grammar but WHAT IS?)</span><o:p></o:p><br />
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</span> <b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Who is your favourite booktuber?</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I... Can I say the BookishBrits cos technically that’s one booktube account? I don’t know if they’re my fave or not. Some of them have VERY different british accents to me so I’m just sitting there like, cool.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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What do you think when someone says they think reading is boring?<br />
I just think they haven’t found the book which isn’t boring for them. I mean, we must all have read something boring to read. Whether it’s an ingredient list on a cereal pack or something (no, I don’t EVER read them... Nu-uh *hides*). Even some books... But, you know, you can’t generalize it & say all reading is boring. I’m sure they’ll find one book or magazine or tweet or something which isn’t. The amount most read per day probably means they don’t find it boring. Unless they’re the person who plays all the FB games & doesn’t actually read any of FB, in which case... NO WORDS. My Dad doesn’t like reading many books but he’ll happily read newspapers or the TV guide etc. He obviously has to read cooking instructions or our family would starve etc. Oh, it’s so good this is a TMI tag, isn’t it? <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Who is the last author you spoke to?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, this made me think of the Holden Caulfield quote this brings a whole new meaning to: </span>you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it.<span class="apple-converted-space"> I’d rather quote a book than answer cos... I talk about authors I’ve actually seen IRL later on. I emailed Louisa Reid recently though...</span><br />
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</span><b>Who is your all time favourite book character?</b><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14;">Oh look! I've developed selective reading (selective ability to see words). I'm gonna pick from books I've read this year cos I haven't found enough loopholes to take with this book yet... KIERAN. FLIPPIN'. STORM.</span></div>
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<b>UKYA or USYA?</b><br />
UKYA, evidently. I mean, I like USYA but sometimes the publishers haven't made it that obvious for UK readers to understand, at least not at the proof stage (I've found). There's some USYA authors who are awesome & whose books I don't recall many issues with. Now, I wonder why I have so many Meg Cabot books? I haven't checked, but she's probably the US author I have the most books by. IT'S NOT CASSANDRA CLARE <b><u>YET</u></b>.<!--3--><br />
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<b>What is your preferred drink whilst reading?</b><br />
Coffee or squash, depending on whether I need something hot or cold... but frankly, I don't care that much.<br />
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<b>If you hated reading, what would you be doing?</b><br />
Tweeting and wasting time on other sites. Oh wait, I already do that? Whoops.<br />
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<b>How many bookshelves do you have?</b><br />
Two. They only have three shelves each as well! I wanted to trade one of the 3-shelvers for a 5-shelf but it hasn't happened yet...<br />
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<b>If you had the chance to meet all your favourite bloggers or all your favourite authors, which would you pick?</b><br />
Bloggers... but wait for it, lots of my favourite authors blog too so HAHA, tricked ya! Also, I've already met a few of my favourite authors & haven't got as close to meeting fave bloggers XD<br />
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<b>Insta-love - yes or no?</b><br />
No. Insta-attraction, OK. Insta-dislike. GIMME. Insta-bit-of-both. WELL, NOW we're getting somewhere. BUT Insta-love? When is it EVER yes?<br />
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<b>Favourite author?</b><br />
Hmm... I'm going to cheat. You saw that question where I mentioned meeting some of my favourite authors? I'm just going to mention them for coping with seeing the horrendousness <span style="font-size: x-small;">(technically not a word)</span> that is me. CJ Flood, Joss Stirling & Nikki Sheehan.<br />
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<b>What is the number one book on your wishlist?</b><br />
Probably Downside Up, The Naturals or Pandemonium. I also can't wait for Misty Falls & 'Infinite Sky #2' (not real book title).<br />
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<b>Do you prefer books with male or female protagonists?</b><br />
Hmm... I like both. There's more female protagonists around in 1st person novels, sure... I like both, OK.<br />
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<b>Which is your favourite book to film adaptations?</b><br />
Catching Fire <3 But ask me again when Mockinjay is out, OK? More longterm movie love is Stardust (though I haven't been able to read the book :P) probably?<br />
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<b>Which do you enjoy reading more - positive or negative reviews?</b><br />
Probably positive, but negative reviews with lots of GIFs always end up seeming really snarky. Just include GIF's, I'll read it.<br />
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Do you want to do this tag? Then go ahead! I'm not really sure who to tag... Lots of you have already done this, eh (you can link me up if you want, whether you've done it before or am responding to this open tag)? Pick a question randomly & answer it anyway in the comments, I dare you. </div>
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Have a great day all (:</div>
AwesomeAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06412663427792021745noreply@blogger.com2