Update - 100 Things this Summer 2.0 - #3

1) Run three times a week when possible

2) Watch the Fox and the Hound

3) Make (Vegan-ish) Nachos

4) Write 10,000 words of my book

5) Go to legoland

6) Drive on a motorway (3 months and still haven't done that)

7) Organise a summer party (not a "party" party). 

8) Go to the botanic gardens after school

9) Go to a concert

10) Finally meet Alexia Casale

11) Send Fanmail

12) Read a scientific book

13) Get an ARC

14) Go to Kew

15) Actually visit Notre Dame

16) Visit Shakespeare and Company

17) Read my books from the Strand

18) Finish PLL books

19) Make a birthday list

20) Post to Instagram regularly

21) Use my tripod

22) Run a mile

23) Avoid Parmesan

24) Get to level 10 on Dutch Duolingo

25) Go to Las Iguanas

26) Finish my 5000 word essay on PLP and TENS

27) Write a good personal statement

28) Go to the Harry Potter Studio Tour

29) Go to Birmingham

30) Take a friend to London (Nithya told me by taking her to the Breakfast Club this counted)

31) Go to South Africa

32) Go on a zip wire

33) Get my results

34) Be proud of my results whatever happens

35) Buy more Printics of my summer 

36) See some Shakespeare

37) Watch something at arts week

38) Reread a book

39) Have a picnic (Nandos does not work as a picnic)

40) Take more film

41) Camp

42) Go and visit UCL

43) Go to an author talk

44) Watch TFIOS

45) Go on a bookshop crawl

46) Do something brave 

47) Read 20 books

48) See an exciting animal

49) Play my guitar

50) Go to the theatre 

51) Read a Shakespeare play

52) Blog all the books I read this summer
53) Go on a roller-coaster
54) Go to the funfair
55) Discover a new bookshop
56) Go to the underground silver markets

57) Go to a London six times

58) Buy new clothes

59) Clear out my wardrobe

60) Learn a new piano piece

61) Go to Foyles 107
62) Go to the sea
63) Write every day
64) Take photos
65) Wear my new topshop shorts
66) Wear my lbd
67) Fix my laptop
68) Read more books on my kindle

69) Learn Let It Go on the guitar
70) Watch a Disney film I haven't seen in years
71) Register to vote
72) Actually learn about politics
73) Buy a book I've never heard of
74) Do a read-a-thon
75) Get better at not having "writers block"
76) Swim
77) Sprint faster
78) Get new sandals
79) Send a letter in the post
80) Read a classic
81) Read mermaid books
82) Watch something at the cinema on a whim
83) Cut out chocolate
84) Pick blackberries
85) Wear something I haven't worn in a while
86) Save
87) Reorganise my bookshelf

88) Read an adult fiction book
89) Read a Mark Haddon book
90) Read an HG Wells book
91) Organise my birthday
92) Read a translated book
93) Have a clear out
94) Do nail art 

95) To not get scared of flying
96) Keep tidy

97) Go to a new foursqaure area
98) Go to a beach
99) Use my diary
100) Wear my Dorothy shoes

Review #61 - Landline by Rainbow Rowell

This is Rainbow Rowell's fourth book and her second book for adults. It's about Georgie who's marriage is failing. Her husband has taken the kids to his parents for christmas while she stays at home and works on her sitcom that's finally taking off. One night she finds a "magic" phone that can call her husband in the past.

This is definitely a book for adults and not in the sense that it's not "ok" for teens but in the relationships and experiences. In the same way that I couldn't ever quite "get" the Bridget Jones mind set (or humour), I didn't really get Landline. What I really loved about Fangirl was the fact I felt like the book understood me and as a result I enjoyed reading it more.

I really liked the characters and the ways they interacted. I really loved the dialogue between Georgie and young-Neal. Again, that may be because I'm 17 and not 37 and because it was more intimate. Also, I love late night conversations.

This is a very introspective book as Georgie's family are away and it spends a lot of time in Georgie's head. And yet, the pace is maintained and it doesn't get boring. Four for you, Rainbow. You go, Rainbow.

This isn't a fantasy book even with the magic phone. It is first and foremost contemporary with an element that makes the relationships more complex and interesting.

This is a very Christmassy book so it's best not to read it midsummer like I did. If you are going to try it, try it at Christmas. If feels really festive and it's sweet.

I would recommend it if:
You are an adult who wants to read something cute
You want a christmassy book
You want a book of late night chats

I gave it four stars

Buy the hardback here (I got the US copy because I love the cover but it's gotten really expensive so here is the UK cheap one)
Buy the audiobook here

Review #60 - She is not Invisible by Marcus Sedgewick

She is not Invisible is the story of a blind girl, Laureth, who's father goes missing so she takes her brother on a trip to NYC to find him. It's a book about coincidence and numbers and bravery.

Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed this book. And I really enjoyed the voice and the writing style. I just had a large problem with how blindness was tackled. Sedgewick was very subtle with how he introduced her blindness. It let you work out that she was blind yourself which treated the reader as smart which was a nice idea. I just think that it should have been more obvious.

"But Sophie you shouldn't define a person by their physical limitations."

It's a really lovely idea that who we are on the outside doesn't alter our self perceptions on the inside. It does though. I am a white girl and my experiences are perceived from blue eyes. And this shapes how I view the world and how I view myself as a result. I am someone who has lived with physical difficulties, and I know they aren't equivalent with being blind, but they affect everything I do and most importantly how I view myself. And by denying Laureth the ability to tell the reader something that defines her I felt like Sedgewick wasn't treating her as he should have.

The book has an obsession with a certain number (but never fear, not in a maths sense). Some things are really really cool like the number of pages in the book is this specific number but sometimes it got a little tedious. I did like the pages from the fathers journal though that were inserted.

I did really enjoy this book though. I whipped through it and it was an enjoyable experience. The pace was great and the interactions and relationships were just fantastic and let me tell you, that is not an easy feat. Also I loved the setting and the characters, especially her younger brother.

I would recommend this if:

You want an entry into YA

You love books on coincidence

You want a quick read

I gave this four stars 

Buy it here

Review #59 - Seven Daughters of Eve by Brian Sykes

The Seven Daughters of Eve is part of my biomedical reading list this summer. It's about mitochondria and their genetics. Mitochondria are only in the eggs, not sperm, so everyone's mitochondria are pretty much identical to their mothers. As a result, Europe has seven mitochondrial ancestors - the "Eves" of the world. (n.b. if you're wondering why there are seven ancestors and not one 1) read the book 2) mutation)

This book goes over the research that Brian Sykes has done over the years. It was really interesting to read about and this was probably the strongest point of this book. If you're really interested in research and specifically research in DNA I would really recommend it.

The pacing in this book is weird. It takes 250 pages to get to the actual "daughters of Eve" and the research is the only bit that is really "exciting" to read. Also the end quickly declines into fiction and how the seven eves may have lived. Honestly the ending just made me feel like I was reading rubbish and took away from the quality of the book.

I feel like a few extra diagrams could have made it more interesting as the book went along just really to break up the text. It could have been much more visual.

The book is quite old which isn't always great for science books but it's still interesting none the less.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this but I feel like I could have got the same amount out of just a summary of the main findings of the book. Often it felt like Sykes was just padding.

I would recommend this if:

You are really interested in genetics

You want a book focused on research

You like learning about caveman history 

I gave this three stars

Buy it here

Review #58 - The Character of Rain by Amelie Nothomb

French literature is often highly acclaimed. Victor Hugo is basically god, while Albert Camus is regarded as a genius. I read Bar Balto and didn't love it so I decided to give French Literature another shot. I discovered that my opinion on French literature is similar to my opinion on French food. It's highly overrated.

The Character of Rain is an authors autobiography of her first three years of life. I'm pretty sceptical about this claim as there are few things that I remember before the age of three, and none are particularly profound whereas this book oozes pretentious philosophy. 

The main premise is that in Japanese culture a child is a god before the age of three and at three the child falls from grace and becomes a normal human. A French (maybe Belgian, I can't remember) family is living in Japan and it's the story of the child until her third birthday. 

The narrative is in third person before the author gains self awareness at the age of two and a half, leaves her vegetative state and goes into first person. Aside from the complete disregard for the science of how the human brain develops (it is not overnight), it is done well and is pretty clever.

This book is pretty disturbing for an autobiography. I don't think I would have given it three stars if I'd known it was an autobiography before rating it. The three year old is full of both wonder and innocence but also really, really dark feelings which are weird and psychologically terrifying. This isn't really a book for the masses.

I didn't really like the writing style but it sounded pretty and the plot was paced well.

I would recommend this if:

You are interested in Japanese culture

You love French literature

You like books about mental health

I gave this three stars

Buy it here

Review #54 - To all the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

This is a contemporary YA novel about Lara Jean who when getting over a crush writes a letter. Her big sister, Margot, is going to uni in Scotland and dumps her boyfriend, Lara Jean's long time crush. And then, somehow, the letters get out.

The marketing plan of this book really emphasises the letter's importance in the book so I thought it would be the romance in letters sort of like My Life on the Refrigerator Door. In fact, the book has very little emphasis on the letters which I was kind of disappointed by as the letters are why I bought the book.

The pace at first is diabolically slow but it does warm up until the end where it has a good pace. I did have to push through the first 100 pages which is a shame because it is an enjoyable story.

The ending is pretty ambiguous which I loved because I do like an ambiguous ending. Then I find out there will be a sequel. This is not cool, Jenny. I was very happy with my slightly ambiguous but complete end to this book but then you announced a sequel to a book that doesn't need a sequel. 

I did guess "the twist" but I did really enjoy the romance and how the romance formed. It was sweet but not vomit-worthy. It was also pretty different to most teen novels. Originality is awesome.

The cover is really nice. I also like it emphasises the fact that we have a non-caucasian heroin in the book. I'm also a big fan of the hardback as it's purple.

I would recommend this if:

You want a romance that doesn't make you want to hurl

You want a book with a really pretty cover

You want a romance which is different

I gave this three stars

Buy the hardback here
Buy the paperback here

Review #73 - The Wish by DS Affleck

I went on a school trip to South Africa with Biology in July and one of the teachers who went with us (who I'm going to call Tim though I am not supposed to call him by his first name but we like to remain anonymous here) was reading a book and I asked it what it was.  Tim said his best friend had written a book and then when he finished it he leant it to me and I devoured it.

It's about a boy who's just moved schools and finds a magic orb in his grandmothers attic. He has to help five people in order to get a wish in 30 days and if he fails he loses his soul.

The best part of this book is not only is it really exciting but it really mixes fantasy and real life really well. It has magic and powers in a senior school setting with problems that occur in the real world. It makes the magic feel much more tangible.

The plot twists are not predictable at all which I loved because so many books are obvious. It was really smart and different, especially the ending. The ending does leave room for a sequel but the book feels very much like a book in its own right, not just a book that sets up a series. 

It is quite clearly written by a teacher which entertained me. It's littered with information like how weirs work but it also has knowledge of what activity residential trips are like. 

I don't quite know which demographic the author was writing for because I don't think it's YA as the romance is described as "his teenage hormones kicked in" which is fairly mild compared to the sultry scenes of Twilight. However, it did feel quite dark for a children's book because some of the emotions felt by teenagers were pretty strong (relax though, it's not like the Bell Jar for kids). 

I would recommend this if:

You want an introduction to fantasy

You want something that feels like YA without the romance

You want a book with a great bad guy

Buy it here

Review #53 - Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour

Everything Leads to You is a book about a set designer living in LA who finds a letter from a famous movie star. 

This book is a romance and the romance was sweet. The romance is also LGBT which is different and refreshing in YA if the book is not by David Levithan. It was also quite subtly done and not one of those books that has to announce (through a megaphone) that the protagonist is in fact, gay.

The protagonist works as a set designer so large amounts of the book are about finding and capturing personalities through furniture and homes. It is very vivid in its descriptions which really made a lasting impression on me and really (to use junior school terminology) created a picture in my mind.

It is quite an emotional and passionate book but the pace did slow down a little at times which made me bored and as a result was less emotional than it had the capability of being.

That said, the characters were all very real and I really enjoyed the fact it was a very female cast of characters. It did make me relate more to the characters but it could lock out some of the male YA demographic, if the pink cover did not already do this.

I would recommend this if:

You want to work in Hollywood

You have a very visual mind

You want a LGBT romance

I gave this four stars

Buy it here

Stacking the Shelves - July Haul

A book I got in South Africa

1. Missing Microbes by Martin Blaser

 

Books I got from The Book Depository

2. Genome by Matt Ridley

3. Nature via Nurture by Matt Ridley

4. Landline by Rainbow Rowell

5. She is not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick

Books I got from Blackwells

6. The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon

7. Popular by Maya Van Wagenen

8. My Second Life by Faye Bird

9. Winger by Andrew Smith

10. How to Craft a Great Story

11. Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly

Books I got from YALC

12. Vivian Versus the Apocalypse by Katie Coyle

13. The White Light Chronicles by R J Truman

14. The Invisible Friend by Louise Arnold

Things I learned in South Africa

How is a trip to South Africa for Biology? Well, you do learn a lot so here are some of the lessons I learned from my South Africa Trip

1 / Apartheid is far more recent than you could imagine

2 / Faeces can be really interesting

3 / There is no such thing as a tamed leopard

4 / It is very easy to find oranges

5 / You can see your breath at 5.30 in the morning it's so cold

6 / You can melt the soles of Doc Martins

7 / You can take Sophie out of the west but you can't take the west out of Sophie

8 / Lions have carb comas

9 / They don't have paprika Pringles

10 / If your teachers are amazing at school, they'll be more amazing if you stay with them

11 / Bars can be found in really cool places

12 / Koeksisters are the proof that something can be both amazing and make you want to vomit at the same time

13 / Honey badgers are really smart

14 / If you see a honey badger cup and run

15 / Monkeys do actually like bananas

16 / Monkeys also like packets of sugar

17 / A Mugg and Bean meal will feed you for the next 24 hours

18 / Hyena poop is white from the calcium in the bones they eat

19 /  South Africa does not put much emphasis on speedy broadband

20 / If you get close to an ostrich lie on the ground and protect your head

21 / Deet melts plastic

22 / Urban Decay eyeshadow can last for two days

23 / Be brave

24 / When hippos yawn it's actually a sign of aggression

25 / Barbequed pineapple is really good

26 / If you speak Afrikaans you can't understand Dutch

27 / There is always room to haggle

28 /  Everyone will love you if you have the good hair dryer

29 / A lot of information can be attained about the land from the vegetation

30 / Herbivores have their eyes on the sides of their head, not the front

31 / The Tropic of Capricorn runs through South Africa

32 / Adults don't mind if you talk about books to them

33 / Mr Brightside is the best sing a long song

34 / Eyelash curlers are something I should have been using

35 / If you are using a hair dryer, don't turn on a hand dryer in the same room or you could fuse the room

36 / If someone says hello to you when you don't have your glasses on just be friendly and hope you know them

37 / Some people are brave enough to go for a wee in Kruger Park

38 / The best way to count animals is from a helicopter

39 / Disposables make really nice pictures

40 / You will become closer to your friends in two weeks away than you will in two months at home

Update - 100 Things this Summer 2.0 - #2

1) Run three times a week when possible

2) Watch the Fox and the Hound

3) Make (Vegan-ish) Nachos

4) Write 10,000 words of my book

5) Go to legoland

6) Drive on a motorway (3 months and still haven't done that)

7) Organise a summer party (not a "party" party). 

8) Go to the botanic gardens after school

9) Go to a concert

10) Finally meet Alexia Casale

11) Send Fanmail

12) Read a scientific book

13) Get an ARC

14) Go to Kew

15) Actually visit Notre Dame

16) Visit Shakespeare and Company

17) Read my books from the Strand

18) Finish PLL books

19) Make a birthday list

20) Post to Instagram regularly

21) Use my tripod

22) Run a mile

23) Avoid Parmesan

24) Get to level 10 on Dutch Duolingo

25) Go to Las Iguanas

26) Finish my 5000 word essay on PLP and TENS

27) Write a good personal statement

28) Go to the Harry Potter Studio Tour

29) Go to Birmingham

30) Take a friend to London

31) Go to South Africa

32) Go on a zip wire

33) Get my results

34) Be proud of my results whatever happens

35) Buy more Printics of my summer 

36) See some Shakespeare

37) Watch something at arts week

38) Reread a book

39) Have a picnic

40) Take more film

41) Camp

42) Go and visit UCL

43) Go to an author talk

44) Watch TFIOS

45) Go on a bookshop crawl

46) Do something brave (note on this one: I'm a veggie because I'm super squeamish and I hate the idea of eating a dead animal but in SA I went to see a dissection of a bison (ok, I can't remember what the name of the animal is. It looks like a buffalo) and I'm really proud of that.

47) Read 20 books

48) See an exciting animal

49) Play my guitar

50) Go to the theatre 

51) Read a Shakespeare play

52) Blog all the books I read this summer
53) Go on a roller-coaster
54) Go to the funfair
55) Discover a new bookshop
56) Go to the underground silver markets

57) Go to a London six times

58) Buy new clothes

59) Clear out my wardrobe

60) Learn a new piano piece

61) Go to Foyles 107
62) Go to the sea
63) Write every day
64) Take photos
65) Wear my new topshop shorts
66) Wear my lbd
67) Fix my laptop
68) Read more books on my kindle69) Learn Let It Go on the guitar
70) Watch a Disney film I haven't seen in years
71) Register to vote
72) Actually learn about politics
73) Buy a book I've never heard of
74) Do a read-a-thon
75) Get better at not having "writers block"
76) Swim
77) Sprint faster
78) Get new sandals
79) Send a letter in the post
80) Read a classic
81) Read mermaid books
82) Watch something at the cinema on a whim
83) Cut out chocolate
84) Pick blackberries
85) Wear something I haven't worn in a while
86) Save
87) Reorganise my bookshelf

88) Read an adult fiction book
89) Read a Mark Haddon book
90) Read an HG Wells book
91) Organise my birthday
92) Read a translated book
93) Have a clear out
94) Do nail art 

95) To not get scared of flying
96) Keep tidy

97) Go to a new foursqaure area
98) Go to a beach
99) Use my diary
100) Wear my Dorothy shoes

July 2014 Wrap Up

1. The Seven Daughters Of Eve by Bryan Sykes (★★★☆☆)
2. She Is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick (★★★★☆)
3. Landline by Rainbow Rowell (★★★★☆)
4. Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek by Maya Van Wagenen (★★★★☆)
5. The Bone Season (The Bone Season, #1) by Samantha Shannon (★★★★★)
6. Adorkable by Sarra Manning (★★★★☆)
7. Vivian Versus the Apocalypse by Katie Coyle (★★★★☆)
8. Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly (★★★☆☆)
9. The Giver by Lois Lowry (★★★☆☆)
10. Reboot by Amy Tintera (★★☆☆☆)
11. September Girls by Bennett Madison (★★★☆☆)
12. Heart-Shaped Bruise by Tanya Byrne (★★★☆☆)
13. Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige (★★☆☆☆)
14. The Wish by D S Affleck (★★★★☆)

London Count: 2

I went to YALC this month and met some amazing people and got loads of books signed. The one that meant the most to me was meeting Alexia Casale because she was just so lovely and let me sit with her and talk about writing.

I also did a bunch of amazing things: I went to legoland, the dandy warhols and of course, I went to South Africa which was just amazing. I did my first two weeks with my school which felt so cool and like a proper adult holiday with amazing people. I then spent some time with family but shh that was in August.

1. I want to do well academically RESULTS DAY IS LOOMING
2. I want to get interviews for medicine  I've chosen not to do medicine and I'm really happy with my decision
3. I want to start writing a novel  I'm getting better.
4. I want to get well enough to go to South Africa with Biology.  I went to South Africa with Bio and even though I wasn't well for parts of it I'm so much better than I was when I made this resolution. I'm really proud of myself.
5. I want to write more. I'm writing a diary (yey) but I'm so behind on blogging
6. I want to write more reviews. THREE WEEKS WITH NO BLOGGER
7. I want to blog more consistently. ditto
8. I want to do more for my future.  So many books. 
9. I want to take more photos.  I've filled up my phone memory. So yes.
10. I want to keep my room tidy. It's good. Mainly because I didn't live in it for three weeks.
11. I want to be more productive.  I guess?
12. I want to stop being terrified of growing up. YES (but sometimes no)

Review #52 - Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

I'll admit it, I bought this for the cover. But I read it and I could not put it down.

This is about a shy girl who's wild best friend goes missing leaving only a list of things to do this Summer behind her. As a result she is pushed out of her comfort zone to try new things.

This was a really fun book to read. It was entertaining and sweet and the way that shy people try things was so relatable. I normally just enjoy the reading of a book but I really enjoyed the story itself. The book was paced well, at no point did the plot dry up or go so fast that I had no idea what was happening.

There is a romance but I liked how it wasn't the sole purpose of the story, it was a side plot in a book that is very much about a girl finding herself. I love books about girls that care about themselves not just their love lives.

A great part of this book is how the characters make playlists throughout which makes their personalities more real and makes the story much richer and more dynamic. 

The book made me really excited for Summer and inspired me to try and make the most of my summer holiday by doing cool things. It is probably not a book to read in Winter. Also, I almost had a breakdown when there was a wedding in the orchard behind my house.

The cover is gorgeous, try and get the US Hardcover because it is so attractive I want to turn it into a person and marry it. With my parents permission. I'm not 18 yet, people.

If you want to try a sampler Barnes and Noble has the first couple of chapters. I love Barnes and Noble.

I would recommend this if:

You want a summery read

You love contemporary

You want something fun

I gave this five stars.

Buy it here

Hiatus

I sort of deserted this blog. I'm back though. Promise.

I went to South Africa for three weeks, two with my school's Biology department and one week with my family.

Fun fact about South Africa - they lack good wifi. Also, I was trying to not be so dependent on the internet and accept the culture of where I was staying.

I had a truly wonderful time and I have a huge blogging back log that will go up in the near future. 

I hope you guys are having wonderful summers.

Sophie