Top 5 favourite books ever

Hi Guys

I have been meaning to write this post for ages and I am finally writing it. Yay me (did anyone else watch 'Suite life of Zach and Cody'/). This post is in order from 5th to 1st. Hope you enjoy.

5. Friendship according to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney

This is one of my childhood books and if there was a fire and I could only save one book it would be this one. I love everything about this book, it may be written for 5 year olds but that doesn't make it a bad book. One of my favourite things about this book is that at the end of each chapter there is a quote about friendship.

4. Neverland by Shari Arnold

Neverland is a Peter Pan retelling, which as I mentioned before is a type of book I can never say no too. I think Shari's take on peter pan is extremely original and that the way she writes is so beautiful, If you want to hear what else I loved about this book, you can read my full review here.

3. Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

I was in my school library one day and I fell in love with this cover, so I decided to read the first few pages but not take it out of the library until the librarian pressurised me into taking it out. I read this book so quick it is unbelievable. The amount of emotions I feel towards this book is amazing and the ending. OMG the ending was just like.

2. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

I went to see the play of this when it went on tour round the UK because it was my friends mum's favourite book. I already knew what happened at the end because I had read 'Beautiful Chaos' but I have never cried so much in my life then at the ending of this play, for the last 15 minutes 3 rows in front and behind and 8 seats either side heard nothing but my wailing. So, obviously I went home and read the book almost immediately afterwards and cried just as much the second time round.

1. Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo

I read private peaceful when I was in year 4 and I honestly don't remember much of the book except the ending. But the ending was probably one of the most important pieces of text I will ever read in my life. I remember I knew what was going to happen and that it was going to be too painful to read in my head, so I read it out loud to my dad on the way to school and we both walked into school hysterically crying,like to the point where people came up to me and asked who had died. This ending means so much to me because it was what really taught me that authors have this ability to really play with your emotions and it is the reason why I write. So private peaceful is my favourite book ever and it always will be

Waiting on wednesday (#12)

This is where it ends by Marieke Nijkamp
Published by: Sorcebooks Fire
Publication date: January 5th 2016
Genres: YA, Contemporary

10:00 a.m.
The principal of Opportunity, Alabama's high school finishes her speech, welcoming the entire student body to a new semester and encouraging them to excel and achieve.

10:02 a.m.
The students get up to leave the auditorium for their next class.

10:03
The auditorium doors won't open.

10:05
Someone starts shooting.

Told over the span of 54 harrowing minutes from four different perspectives, terror reigns as one student's calculated revenge turns into the ultimate game of survival.

My Sister Lives On The Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher : Review

My Sister Lives On The Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher 

Published by: March 1st 2011

Publication date: Orion's Children's books
Genres: YA, Contemporary

Ten-year-old Jamie Matthews has just moved to the Lake District with his Dad and his teenage sister, Jasmine for a 'Fresh New Start'. Five years ago his sister's twin, Rose, was blown up by a terrorist bomb. His parents are wrecked by their grief, Jasmine turns to piercing, pink hair and stops eating. The family falls apart. But Jamie hasn't cried in all that time. To him Rose is just a distant memory. Jamie is far more interested in his cat, Roger, his birthday Spiderman T-shirt, and in keeping his new friend Sunya a secret from his dad. And in his deep longing and unshakeable belief that his Mum will come back to the family she walked out on months ago. When he sees a TV advert for a talent show, he feels certain that this will change everything and bring them all back together once and for all.

My Thoughts
At school we are doing this Carnegie award project and we were given a book of books that had been nominated or were nominated for this year. When the teacher pulled this book out I knew I had to read it as I had read Annabel's other book 'Ketchup Cloud' and loved it.

The first thing I love about this book is the topic. 9/11 was a very tragic event and quite a touchy subject because of the amount of lives that were lost because of it, so there are very few books about it but personally I find books like this one very interesting. The main thing that is so compelling about this book is how one of the characters is quite often racist towards Muslims and its intriguing to understand why they act like that. 

Annabel really knows how to write an emotional book. I found myself crying about a cat and I don't cry a lot at books. The whole thing pulled on the heart strings. I thought she captured the age of Jamie great because we all know how much underaging irritates me. He made wrong decision because that was what he was brought up like, he had not yet fully developed opinions of his own but they were kind of there.

In conclusion it was great and everyone should read it. I'm giving it 5/5. 

Top 5 couples in book's

Hi guys
I have been thinking about doing this post for a really long time and I have finally got round to doing it. This is in no particular order.

1) Alec and Magnus (Malec) - The mortal instruments

Magnus and Alec are my favourite characters in the mortal instruments series. So, when they started to go out my little fangirl heart exploded. I don't know what I'd do if they don't end up together (I haven't finished the books yet, so don't tell me). I really love this GIF for some reason.

2) Nathan and Gabriel (Gathan) - Half Bad Trilogy

They don't have an official ship name but Gathan is what my friend and I have decided to call them (I felt proper posh writing that sentence). I think it should be illegal to read the series and not ship them because even Sally Green said they were soul mates. You are allowed to think otherwise but you would be wrong, it's just a fact. Gathan is definitely my OTP. Also this is the only fan art I can find of them.

Ridley and Link - Beautiful Creatures

I just love them. I don't think that I there are enough words to explain how much I love them. I just do. I couldn't find any fan art for them so I just used a picture from the movie (Why do I ship all the unpopular characters)

Draco and Hermione (Dramione) - Harry Potter

Dramione were my first OTP. So, they will always hold a special place in my heart.

Will and Tessa (Wessa) - The Infernal Devices Trilogy

First of all can I point out their awful ship name. My feelings are a bit conflicted with this triology because I prefer Jem but I think Tessa loved Will more.

Waiting on Wednesday (#11)

What We Left Behind by Robin Talley

Published by: Harlequin teen

Publication date: October 27th 2015
Genres: LGBT, Contemporary

What We Left Behind follows a teen couple—Gretchen, who identifies as a lesbian, and Toni, who identifies as genderqueer—as they struggle to stay together during their first year in college, despite the growing rift caused by distance and Toni's shifting gender identity.

Hook's Daughter by Heidi Schulz : review

Hook's Daughter by Heidi Schulz

Published by: Chicken House

Publication date: March 5th 2015
Genres: Peter Pan Retelling

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Twelve-year-old Jocelyn dreams of becoming every bit as daring as her infamous father, Captain James Hook. Her grandfather, on the other hand, intends to see her starched and pressed into a fine society lady. When she's sent to Miss Eliza Crumb-Biddlecomb's Finishing School for Young Ladies, Jocelyn's hopes of following in her father's fearsome footsteps are lost in a heap of dance lessons, white gloves, and way too much pink.

So when Jocelyn receives a letter from her father challenging her to avenge his untimely demise at the jaws of the Neverland crocodile, she doesn't hesitate-here at last is the adventure she has been waiting for. But Jocelyn finds that being a pirate is a bit more difficult than she'd bargained for. As if attempting to defeat the Neverland's most fearsome beast isn't enough to deal with, she's tasked with captaining a crew of woefully untrained pirates, outwitting cannibals wild for English cuisine, and rescuing her best friend from a certain pack of lost children, not to mention that pesky Peter Pan who keeps barging in uninvited.

The crocodile's clock is always ticking in Heidi Schulz's debut novel, a story told by an irascible narrator who is both dazzlingly witty and sharp as a sword. Will Jocelyn find the courage to beat the incessant monster before time runs out?

My Thoughts
As many of you know I love Peter Pan Retellings, always. So, I went into this book knowing I was going to love it and I was right. I read it in 2 days. Once Jocelyn got to neverland I was glued but I thought that the build up to that sometimes dragged on a bit but you realised it was necessary to have the extremely emotional ending.

I think Heidi was great at creating characters, I loved every one of them all having their own little quirks. My two favourite characters were Roger and One-Arm-Jack. I thought Jack was a complete idiot and everything he did made me laugh and I liked Roger because of his storyline which I can't tell you because it's a spoiler.

In conclusion, it was a great debut novel and I can't wait to see what else Heidi writes. I give the book 4/5 stars. Definitely worth reading.   

Waiting on Wednesday (#10)

The Night We Said Yes by Lauren Gibaldi

Published by: Harper Teen

Publication date: June 16th 2015

Genres: YA, Romance, Contemporary

A fun, romantic read, perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Susane Colasanti!

Before Matt, Ella had a plan. Get over a no-good ex-boyfriend. Graduate from high school without any more distractions. Move away from Orlando, Florida, where she’s lived her entire life.

But Matt—the cute, shy, bespectacled bass player who just moved to town—was never part of that plan.

And neither was attending a party that was crashed by the cops just minutes after they arrived. Or spending an entire night saying “yes” to every crazy, fun thing they could think of.

Then Matt abruptly left town, and he broke not only Ella’s heart but those of their best friends, too. So when he shows up a year later with a plan of his own—to relive the night that brought them together—Ella isn’t sure whether Matt’s worth a second chance. Or if re-creating the past can help them create a different future.

In alternating then and now chapters, debut author Lauren Gibaldi crafts a charming, romantic story of first loves, lifelong friendships, uncovered secrets, and, ultimately, finding out how to be brave. 

salad anniversary by Machi Tawara : review

*This book was given to me for free by netgalley in return for an honest review, however this doesn't effect my opinion*

Salad Anniversary by Machi Tawara

Published by: Pushkin Press

Publication date: June 9th 2015

Genres: Contemporary Japanese Poetry

Machi Tawara's first book of poems, The Anniversary of the Saladcombines the classical 'tanka' form with the subject of a modern love affair. It became a sensation, selling over 2 million copies - and the 'salad phenomenon' in Japanese culture was comparable to the 'bananamania' that followed publication of the first novel by Tawara's contemporary Banana Yoshimoto. Contains 15 poems:
'August Morning'
'Baseball Game'
'Morning Necktie'
'I Am the Wind'
'Summertime Ship'
'Wake-up Call'
'Hashimoto High School'
'Pretending to Wait for Someone'
'Salad Anniversary'
'Twilight Alley'
'My Bisymmetrical Self'
'So, Good Luck'
'Jazz Concert'
'Backstreet Cat'
'Always American' 

Thoughts

I am giving this book 2/5 stars. I, by no means hated this book. Machi writes beautiful poetry that is so unique and different. The only problem is that all her poems are about love. Now I don't have anything against love, I've just never been in love. This made her poems really hard to connect with and I personally think that the main point of poetry is to connect with people. Half the time I had no idea what she was talking about. It was all just going straight over my head. 

This book is a great poetry book. I think in a couple of years time I will pick it up again and really fall in love with it but for now I'm not the target audience. To enjoy this book you have to have been in love at least once. This just wasn't the book for me.