Monday Missions #3

I really need to clean up my bedsheets. 

Okay, so in my first Monday Missions, I said I was going to be reading "Gone" by Michael Grant and read it I did, so here in this mission, we are going to try and tackle the second book in the series, "Hunger" by Michael Grant. As suggested by the title, Sam is facing a new challenge on top of the already pretty large predicaments he faced in the first book where food is running scarce. The Darkness is growing, and animals as well as people are gaining powers. I am struggling to understand how an entire town manages to run out of food in just over two weeks, but it may be explained in the book. After the violence of the first book, I'm not too exited to be reading this but I will march on through in the hopes that I can finish this series at last. 

As well as starting that series, I started a new series I read a couple of books from when I was a young teenager but never picked them up again, until now. The second book of the Georgia Nicoleson series, "It's OK, I'm Wearing Really Big Knickers!" By Louise Renninson, is a book I regretfully never picked up as a child and am glad I get the chance to do so now, where she continues to obsess over her large nose and her fondess for the newly found 'Sex God'. 

The next book is a well loved film of mine starring Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep, and despite not having an interest in the fashion buisness of any kind, I love the story of Andrea and how far she goes to achieve her dreams in the big, open world. "The Devil Wears Prada" by Lauren Weisberger is just one of those novels I didn't know was a novel, and I just thought it was a movie, so I am really looking foward to see how they compare to each other. Amazingly, found this in a charity store for 50p so I won't be hesitating at all to going back there. 

Lastly, but certainly not least, is a book I don't plan to complete but read alongside the books I am reading. "All I Know Now: Wonderings and Reflections on Growing Up Gracefully" by Carrie Hope Fletcher is a guidebook for teenagers (and maybe even young adults) but all presented like a 

play. I have surprisingly never heard of her before Emma Blackery's review on the book in her second channel, BirdyBoots, despite Carrie being the sister of a member in my favourite childhood boyband McFly - although I doubt with all the great work she has done and is doing, she'd want to be remembered as her big brothers' sister and not for what she has actually done. I'm currently reading this book and so far, it's a wonderful read, I can't wait to get futher. 

Thank you for reading this weeks Monday Missions, I'll see you all again for next weeks' but until then, bye! 

May 2015 Book Haul: Xtra - Charity Shops

       

I know, I know, I said in part four I wasn't going to buy more books but I wasn't even intending on going out today - I just didn't want to stay cooped up indoors. I avoided all my favourite bookstores and instead I went to two chairty shops and a bookshop called Victoria Bookshop (I think). 

"Doctor Who: The Feast of the Drowned" by Stephen Cole - hardback, 50p. 

When a naval cruiser sinks in mysterious circumstances in North Sea, all aboard are lost. Rose is saddened to learn that the brother of her friend, Keisha, was among the dead. And yet he appears to them as a ghostly apparition, begging to be saved from the coming feast...the feast of the drowned. 

As the dead crew haunt loved ones all over London, the Doctor and Rose are drawn into a chilling mystery. What sank the ship and why? When the cruiser's wreckage was towed up the thames, what sinister force came with it?

The river's dark waters are hiding an even darker secret, as preparations for the feast near their conclusion... 

I am a huge fan of Doctor Who and, despite my lack of them, quite like science fiction too (I just wish more women were in them without families or marriage). At only 50p, it's the perfect time to try one out, and I believe every book is written by a different author so that's pretty cool too - I am exited to see if I can find new ones in the future. 

"The Twilight Saga: New Moon" by Stephenie Mayer - paperback, movie cover, 50p. 

I knew we were both in mortal danger. 

Still, in that instant, I felt well. Whole. 

I could feel my heart racing in my chest, the blood pulsing hot and fast through my veins again. 

My lungs filled deep with the sweet scent that came off his skin. 

It was like there had never been any hole in my chest. 

I was perfect - not healed, but as if there had never been a wound in the first place. 

Now. When i was fourteen, I loved the movies and the books. I had the DVD's, but now I only have part one of breaking dawn, and I had all the non-movie cover editions too but I thought since everyone else hated them, I didn't want to be different and gave them all away and deeply regret this decision. I was thinking lf rebuying them anyway, but I can live with a cheap movie cover for now (forever grateful Potter books never had movie covers). 

"Every Second Counts" by Sophie McKenzie, Book 2, Victoria Bookshop, £5. 

Outlawed teenagers Charlie and Nat are on the run, falsely accused of terrorism and kidnapping. With few people they can trust, they are desperete to bring down their accusers and return to their former lives. But time is running out. 

Charlie has a plan that might just save them - but it will only work if she goes it alone. 

Could being together be more dangerous then being apart? 

Before I went a little crazy and deleted so many posts, I wrote a review for the first book and said now eager I was to get the second because the covers matched so beautifully I couldn't not have it and boom, found it! I have been unable to buy anything online due to having no card so it was a book I was eager to get and am glad I didn't buy it on Amazon when I could as I got it cheaper today!

Lastly, but hopefully not least: 

"The Devil Wears Prada" by Louise Weisberger - movie cover, paperback, 50p.  

High fashion, low cunning - and the boss from hell. 

When Andrea first sets foot in the plush Manhatten offices of Runway she knows nothing. She's never heard of the world's most fashionable magazine, or it's feared and fawned-over editor, Miranda Priestly. 

Soon she knows way too much.

She knows it's a sacking offence to wear less then a three-inch heel to work - but there's always a fresh pair of Manolos in the accessories cupboard. 

She knows that eight stone is fat. That you can charge anything - cars, manicures, clothes - to the Runway account, but you must never leave your desk, or let Miranda's coffee get cold. That at 3am, when your boyfriends dumping you because you're always working and your best friend's just been arrested, if Miranda phones with her latest unreasonable demand, you jump. 

Most of all, Andrea knows that Miranda is a monster boss who makes Cruella de Vil look like a fluffy bunny. But this is her big break, and it's all going to be worth it in the end. 

Isn't it? 

This was one of my favourite movies as a kid, and I still love it today (despite not being interested in fashion), and even though I was interested in the book, I had no plans to actually go out and buy it. Till today, that is. I'm so eager to read it, in fact, it might be next weeks Monday Mission. 

I don't see the point in doing one for Harry Potter because everyone knows what it's about and if you don't, you should, but it's a hardback first edition copy and on the inside, the two books after it aren't even there because they haven't been published yet, how cool is that?!? I also bought "All I Know Now" by Carrie Hope Fletcher, but I'm going to be talking about that in the book discussion/review when I finish it in a lot more detail and...to be honest, couldn't be bothered taking the photo and writing about it here, in my wrap up and the the review, haha.

Thank you so, so much for reading as always. I do hope you habe enjoyed this lengthly series of book hauls and I'll see you next time, bye! 

 

Book Review: "Over You" by Lucy Dimond.

                                     

Ever wondered how your friends see you now?

Josie, Nell and Lisa go back a long way - they were flatmates, soulmates and best mates back in their twenties when life was one long party. 

Five years later things are different. Josie is married with kids, in deepest surburbia, free-spirit Nell has travelled the world, and Lisa is on the path to career-glory (and the salary Premiership). A reunion weekend in London seems a great idea to Josie...until she discovers something which threatens to blow her marriage apart. 

Punlished in 2008 by Pan Books.

I have never heard of Lucy Diamond before this book but as small background, she's married with three kids and writes children's books under her real name (Sue something). 

This book was incredibly predictable. You could tell what was going to happen way before you even hit that point. I can bet you probably guessed what this book was about just from the back cover and almost exactly what was going to happen. Did that make this book any less enjoyable? Certainly not. It was fast paced,  the writing style was just delightful and it had that some rather dark themes that were presented in a moving, but not deep, way. 

The character devlopment was not the greatest, I have to say. At first, it was hard to distinguish two people from each other - even as the book ended, although they all had their own personality, they all seemed to talk like each other, and there was no difference. Granted, modern day and middle aged mothers all seem to have a certain way of conversation and from the perspective of an eighteen year old, childless female I could not tell any originality. 

As for recommendation, I gave it a four out of five and would lend it to anyone who loves romance/comedy and light hearted, easy to read novels. 

May 2015 Book Haul: Part Four.

Finally, you say! We have reached the last post of my May Haul (and if you see a post following this one called the same thing but instead of having a part, it says Xtra, you know my buying books for this week has failed, but this is meant to be the last part!) 

"The Twins" by Saskia Sarginson. 

Isolte and Viola are twins. 

Inseparable as chirldren, they've grown into very different adults: Isolte, a successful features writer for a fashion magazine; and Viola, desperetly unhappy and struggling with a lifelong eating disorder. 

What happened all those years ago to set the twins on such different paths to adulthood? As both women start to unravel the esculating tragedies of a half-remembered summer, terrifying secrets from the past come rushing back - and threaten to overwhelm their adult lives...

What first caught my eye with this book was the beautiful cover and how it feels different (kinda a rough and tough texture, weird for a paperback) but the eating disorder really sealed the deal for me. I have always had an interest in eating disorders and first started research on the topic when I was thirteen and I feel like not enough women and men are educated on the subject so I want to be one of the people who do, even though I have never had one. 

"The kite runner" by Khaled Hosseini. 

Afghanistan, 1975: twelve-year-old Amir is desperete to win the local kite-fighting tournament and his loyal friend Hassan promises to help him. But neither of the boys can foresee what will happen to Hussan that afternoon, an event that is to shatter their lives. After the Russians invade and the family is forced to flee to America, Amir realises that one day he must return to Afghanistan under Taliban rule to find the one thing the world cannot grant him: redemption. 

This is a book that has been on my Amazon book wishlist for quite some time, so I'm glad I found it in a discount bookstore. I've heard mixed reviews on this book but, especially with all the racism in the news lately, I thought I would educate myself on the world around me. This might not be based on actual events in the world or the past, but it might give me an idea on what is happening in places I can't see. 

"Talon" by Julie Kagawi. 

'There are a dozen soldiers hiding in that maze. All hunting you. All looking to kill you'

To the ouside world, Ember Hill is an ordinary girl, but Ember has a deadly secret. A dragon hiding in human form, she is destined to fight the shadowy Order of St.George, a powerful society of dragonslayers. 

St.George soldier Garret is determined to kill Ember and her kind. Until her bravery makes him question all he has been taught about dragons. 

Now a war is coming and Garret and Ember must choose their sides -fight to save their bond or fulfil their fate and destory one another. 

This was very much an impulse by, but the cover and the general human-but-actually-a-dragon plotline had me reeled in. I've heard some mixed reviews about this book, but in general I'm quite exited to read it - a shame this is not a standalone, because it will take me a while to get the second if it's good enough for me to want to continue the saga. 

"Hollow Earth by John and Carole.E.Barrowman (yes, John as in actor who was in Doctor Who and yes, Carole as in his wife I think)

Twins Matt and Emily Calder have imaginations so powerful that they can make art come to life. Their powers are sought by villians intent on accessing the terrors of Hollow Earth - a place where all the devils, demons and monsters have imagined lie trapped for eternity. If Hollow Earth is breached, the world will be plunged into chaos. If Hollow Earth is breached, the twins are as good as dead. 

Possibly surprising to some, but I did not pick this up because of John Barrowman and my love for Doctor Who - at the time, I was rushed, and even though the name triggered a memory in my mind somewhere, I couldn't remember what it was. I just have an interest in the power of imagination (and art, hence Dorian Gray), so picked it up on impulse, the same time I got Talon and Over You. When I get round to reading it, you'll know in my Monday Missions/wrap ups so I can write a review, because I too am curious about Barrowman's writing style. 

"City of Heavenly Fire" by Cassandra Claire. 

Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. When one of the greatest betrayals the Nephilim have ever known is revealed, Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon and Alec must flee - even if their journey takes them deep into the demon realms...love will be sacrificed and lives lost. 

The first three books I actually quite liked, even if I much preferred Simon over Jace as I have no attraction towards the bad boy type, but as the series went on I found I wanted to read less and less of the story. I didn't even finish the second to last book, but picked the last book up anyway as I wanted to give it another shot and re-read it again. I felt like there wasn't enough mystery or suspence to want me to keep reading, and plus, it was on sale anyway. 

We have reached the end! Thank you SO MUCH for reading, especially if you got this far, and don't hesitate to let me know what you thought about it or the books I picked up. Sorry for any spelling errors, I have been so tired lately and if you click on the tabs above, you'll find a link to my second blog where I am doing a picture a day challenge for a year, so if you'd like to join or be a bit nosy, please go visit it! Thank you again, peace out!  

May 2015 Book Haul: Part Three.

Not to worry, there is only one more after this and then no more haul posts! Although I am kinda enjoying this...

Anyway! 

"Mr Mercedes" by Stephen King. 

'Who is going to be the fish in this relationship and who is going to be the fishermen?'

BILL HODGES retired cop, tormented by 'the Mercedes massacre', a case he never solved. 

BRADY HARTSFEILD perpetrator of that notorious crime, and preparing to kill again.

Now each is closing in on the other in a mega-stakes race agaisnt time. 

I wanted to buy this anyway because I have a small collection of Stephen King books and, although I am sensitive to violence and King is the wrong person to read, I do plan on getting round to them eventually. I saw it on sale in my local supermarket and couldn't pass it up (even though I found it cheaper somewhere else so that was a bummer, but I got paid today...I'll try to be resistant, but they have great deals over there!). 

"Hatchet" by Gary Paulson (this weeks Monday Missions) 

Thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is on his way to visit his father when the single-engine plane in which he is flying crashes. Suddenly, Brian finds himself alone in the Canadian wilderness with nothing but a tattered windbreaker and the hatchet his mother gave him as a present - and the dreadful secret that has been tearing him apart since his parents' divorce. But now Brian has no time for anger, self pity or despair -it will take all his know how and determination, and more courage then he knew he possessed to survive. 

This one was actually bought for me by Austin (thank you, dear) so I don't feel as guilty about buying it, and again it was mentioned in my Monday Missions in more detail but I basically wanted to read it after a series based from it and am very exited to finally get round to reading it later on in the week. 

"Alice in Zombieland" by Gena Showalter. 

I wish I could go back and do a thousand things differently. 

I'd tell my sister no. 

I'd never beg my mother to talk to my dad. 

I'd zip my lips and swallow those hateful words. 

Or, barring all that, i'd hug my sister, my mum and dad one last time. 

I'd tell them I love them...

One last time.

When I get around to reading it, I'll tell you more information on the others so if you don't mind I won't right now as I don't want any spoilers for the first book. I'm not a huge fan of YA dystopian, but I am of Alice in Wonderland so (even though I have been told they have little relation, despite the title) I really wanted to read it and was ecstatic when I saw it on sale for the whole series. I have a feeling this book is over hyped so I won't go in with too many hopes, especially seeing as it's zombies and in my opinion, zombies are much better done on screen then in books. 

(part four up shortly) 

May 2015 Book Haul: Part Two.

Welcome back and thank you for continuing to read this rather lengthly book haul! My first monthly book haul ever, not even just on this blog, I add! I won't keep rambling, I have a lot to get through so let's Glen GoGo: 

"Over you" by Lucy Diamond (review in progress). 

Ever wondered how your friends see you now...? 

Josie, Nell and Lisa go back a long way - they were flatmates, soulmates and best mates back in their twenties when life was long party. 

Five years later things are different. Josie is married with kids, in deepest surburbia, free-spirited Nell has travelled the world, and Lisa is on the path to career glory (and the salary Premiership). A reunion weekend in London seems a great idea to Josie...until she discovers something which threatens to blow her happy marriage apart. 

Again, I don't want to give too much away but it was such a lovely, laidback and well written book that before I had even finished it, I went out and picked up another book by Lucy Diamond: 

"Sweet Temptation" by Lucy Diamond. 

Maddie's getting it from all sides. 

Her bitchy boss at the radio station humiliates her live on air, her glamour-puss mum keeps dropping hints that she should lose weight (like signing her up for the gym) and her kids are embarrassed to be seen with her after the disastrous mums' race at their sports day. Something's got to change...

Maddie reluctantly joins the local weight-watching group where she finds two unlikely allies:

Jess, who is desperete to fit into a size ten wedding dress for her Big Day, and Lauren, who despite running a dating agency, has signed off romance for ever. Or so she thinks...

As they all count their calories, new friendships develop, and secrets are shared - but can they resist temptation? 

This usually wouldn't be my thing and if it wasn't written by Lucy Diamond, I wouldn't have picked it up as I believe being healthy is more important then your weight, and you are beautiful no matter what size you are anyway. Usually, in dieting, people are a lot more concerned over how much weight they are losing rather then what's going inside their body which I believe is the wrong way to do it, and you may know already but I have no intrest in having my own family ever in my life, but in the last book I read from her, Nell was a person who didn't want a family either so it wasn't always "women want kids!!!" In her book. I'm still pretty exited to read this. 

"You Had Me At Hello" by Mhari McFarlane. 

Rachel and Ben. Ben and Rachel. 

It was them agaisnt the world. Until it all fell apart. 

It's been a decade since they last spoke, but when Rachel bumps into Ben one rainy day, the years melt away. 

They'd been partners in crime and the best of friends. But it's clear that life has moved on. Ben is married. Rachel is not. 

Yet in that split second, Rachel feels the old friendship return. And along with it, the broken heart she's never been able to mend. 

I briefly talked about this in my second Monday Missions, but I felt like I really wanted to read it after the first book I had read from her, "it's not me it's you", even though this one is actually her first book just because I thought they were interesting and entertaining, although not the most amazing. I believe I wrote a full review on that if you want to know more on the previous book I have read from her. 

Thank you for reading, part three will be up shortly. 

Monday Missions #2

So really, I should be reading the next book in the "Gone" series called "Hunger" but that book is quite heavy on the brain and emotions (more on that when I eventually upload the review) so I've decided to wait this week until starting it. Instead, we are going to go with much lighter alternatives and I think I'm going to aim for three books this week. Even though I have been reading as slow as a snail lately, and it's 9pm as I write this and I haven't read a book all day, I think two is a good option as the other two I could just breeze through. Anyway, without more rambling, my picks for this week:

"You Had Me At Hello" by Mhari McFarlane. 

Rachel and Ben. Ben and Rachel. 

It was them agaisnt the world. Until it fell apart. 

It's been a decade since they last spoke, but when Rachel bumps into Ben one rainy day, the years melt away. 

They'd been partners in crime and the best of friends. 

But it's clear that life has moved on. Ben is married. Rachel is not. 

Yet in that split second, Rachel feels the old friendship return. 

And along with it, the broken heart she's never been able to mend. 

As I didn't know but was said in the first page, this book is McFarlane's first book, however I had read "It's not me, it's you" beforehand and enjoyed it so much, I would not mind giving her another go (although buying another book by her was a mistake, I had seen it around and had a catchy cover so I picked it up without really reading it and noticed oh, it's her!). She had some flaws in her second book, but I am still quite interested in what other stories she can produce. 

"Angus, thongs, and full-frontal snogging" by Louise Renninson. 

There are so many things very wrong with my life. 

The boy I like hates me and prefers a wet weed with sticky out ears. 

My so-called 'pet', Angus, just spat at me. 

I have a three-year-old sister who may have peed somewhere in my room. 

I went to a party dressed as a stuffed olive. 

Another romance book, yes. For someone who doesn't really like romance, I am starting to realize I actually do, but the romance in YA dystopian novels (to me) is somewhat forced and uncomfortable, therefore making me believe I didn't like romance. It also took the spotlight of the action in the books and makes them a whole lot less enjoyable. However, when you read a book that's soley about romance, I found them interesting and very much enjoyable. So, I guess it depends what type of romance, really. I know these books are full of teenage angst but I found them funny as a kid so I hope to find them just as funny now. 

"Hatchet" by Gary Paulson. 

Thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is on his way to visit his father when the single-engine plane in which he is flying crashes. Suddenly, Brian finds himself alone in the Canadian wilderness with nothing but a tattered windbreaker and the hatchet his mother gave to him as a present - and the dreadful secret that has been tearing him apart since his parents' divorce. But now Brian has no time for self-pity, anger or despair - it will take all his know-how and determination, and more courage he knew he possessed, to survive. 

According to Austin, a lot of American students might already be strongly familar with this book, but I had not heard about it until my favourite gaming YouTuber Stacyplays had featured the book in one of her MC series, and usually I don't buy the books she mentions but this one had be interested. It's a very short read so I doubt it will take me long to get through, and I am very exited to do so. 

That's all I have for this weeks Monday Missions! Remember to check out my picture a day challenge on my second blog, link is in the tabs above, and look out for a monthly book haul and wrap up coming this week as we see the end of the month, thank you so much for reading and I'll see you all soon, bye! 

Book Review: Gone by Michael Grant.

299 hours. 54 minutes. 

Suddenly it's a world without adults and normal has crashed and burned. When life has you know it ends at fifteen, everything changes. 

A small town in Southern Califonia: in the blink of an eye everyone outside the age of fifteen dissapears. Cut off from the outside world, those who are left are trapped, and there's no help on the way. Chaos rules the street. 

Now a new life order is rising and, even scarier, some survivers have power - mutant power that no one has seen before ...

Escapism doesn't get better then this. (Followed by a cruelty and violence warning). 

Maybe I am just a sensitive person, but man, is that cruelty and violence warning neccesary. If Stephen King wrote books for YA, this is exactly what I would have in mind. Detailed, action packed, some scenes will really make your skin crawl...

First of all, character development, I think that instead of them developing, their real person started to show as they became brave and all of them (even the crazy ones) had a great personality in the book that shone from the pages. Not great as in good, great as in well done. Luna is, by far, my favourite so it was a dissapointment that she didn't get more parts in the book as I hoped she would. I also kinda like Diana, as even though she is an evil person, good shines from her occasionally. Very occasionally and subtly. 

It was action packed and there was rarely a chapter without something happening. Oddly realistic to what might actually happen if this situation was ever to happen. I also like how Little Pete was seen as powerful and smart, as I too have autism and dissaprove of the way autism is being presented (even if Grant still used the autism stereotype of a young, smart boy). 

Overall, if you don't have a weak or sensitive heart like I do, you'll love this and will be eager to continue on with the series. I rated this four out of five stars. 

Monday Missions #1

I believe this is a tag video created by someone who I will mention in another post when I find out who it is, but I will basically be telling you what I managed to accomplish the previous week, and what I will be reading this week. Because this is my first week, this is just going to be a what I am reading this week post (and I am still going to be doing a May 2015 wrap up). 

                      

We can start with the book I am reading right now, "Gone" by Michael Grant which is a re-read so I can finish the rest of the series that I had bought a while ago. It's basically where this myterious force suddenly eliminates every adult in the area, leaving only kids under fifteen to fend for themselves in a supernatural forcefeild where everyone is seemingly growing a supernatural power. 

I'm going to be doing this a little bit differently from the orignal way and give myself two more choices for the rest of the week. I am not a fast paced reader so I am probably not going to get to them both, but it'll help my indescive self. 

The two options I have chosen are both romance/romance comedies (a usual none favourite of mine, but have had a craving since reading Bridget Jones' Diary to read romance comedies), one is from the author of a book I have recently reviewed, but this one is called "You Had Me At Hello" by Mhairi McFarlane. The second option is called "Over You" by Lucy Diamond, or Sue Mongredien as she is known by in the chirldren's books she writes. 

                       

I believe "Over You" is a book about friendship and also about a seemingly happy marriage with kids falls apart as she falls for someone new, which to me is interesting because I have only ever seen people fall in love rather then fall apart with someone and falling in love with someone else, I can't wait to get around to reading that (even though I have expressed numerous times how I myself do not want kids at all and am not too fond of the idea of marriage). 

"You Had Me At Hello" is about a woman who meets up with her long lost boyfriend again and he's doing well, he married and she's still single and it follows the friendship they manage to create with each other, which I like but am a bit on the edge about as I prefer stories with morals where you don't need to be in a relationship or have lots of money to be sucessful and happy. 

i hope you enjoyed this weeks Monday Missions and I'll see you next week! 

     

   

May 2015 Book Haul: Part One.

Twenty three books this month! Jeebus. I'm actually writing this a few days before May has even finished but I know I won't be buying anymore books for the rest of this week, I think I have bought enough. All of these are from discounted bookstores, of course, so only ended up costing me £36. 

Let's dig in, shall we: 

Angus, thongs, and full-frontal snogging. 

There are so many things very wrong with my life. 

The boy I like hates me and prefers a wet weed with sticky-out ears. 

My so-called 'pet', Angus, just spat at me. 

I have a three-year-old sister who may have peed somewhere in my room. 

I went to a party dressed as a stuffed olive. 

It's okay, I'm wearing really big knickers. 

What is the matter with my life? Why is it so deeply unfab? 

It's a day and a half now since I snogged the Sex God...

I think I have snog withdrawel. My lips keep puckering up...

I tried snogging the back of my hand, but it's no good...

I wonder if the Sex God is having second thoughts about me because of my nose...

I have a HUGE nose that means I have to live forever in the Ugly Home. 

Knocked out by my nunga-nungas. 

Ellen's brother says if you pull out a girls breast and let it go...it goes nunga-nunga-nunga! 

My nunga-nungas are like two sticky-out beacons attracting all the sadsacks in the universe...

My nose is gigantic. It must have grown overnight...

My eyebrows are approaching the "it's a moustache! It's a hedgehog! No it's Georgia's eyebrows!!!" Stage...

I just inspected my legs. It looks like I have hairy trousers on...

Dancing in my nuddy-pants! 

The Sex God's friends think I'm a bit weird. 

I don't know why, I've always been the height of sophisticosity around them. 

Apart from that time Dom asked me what I wanted to do at college and I said "backing dancing..." 

And when I danced around in front of his dad because I thought he was a talent spotter...

And then I put my foot through Dom's base drum...

But apart from those minor hiccups I've exuded sophisticosity, I like to think.

And that's when it fell off in my hand. 

This is my fabulous life: 

The Sex God left for Kiwi-a-gogo land last month and he has taken my heart with him. 

Not literally, of course, otherwise there would be a big hole in my nunga-nungas. 

And also I would be dead. 

Which quite frankly would be a blessing in disguise. 

Then he ate my boy enchancers. 

We are going on holiday to Hamburger-a-gogo land and Masimo the Luuurve God is there. Let the overseas snog fest begin! 

I've whittled my wardrobe down to six cases...and a rucksack...and my shoes - only eight pairs...

Oh, the tension, the tension...

I'll just have a little zizz and then plan my cosmetics routine...

Z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z ... 

...just woke up from a horrible dream - a customs official charged me excess baggage for my nose! 

Startled by his furry shorts! 

Why did I admit I wanted Masimo as my proper boyfriend? Why?

One minute he was snogging me, and then the next he was snogging Wet Lindsey, stick insect and drip. 

Perhaps I should tell him he can go out with her as well as me...

But then I might snog him just after she has, which means I have pratically snogged her! Erlack!! 

I would rather snog my cat, Angus!

He has certainly got nicer legs...well, more of them, anyway. 

Luuurve is a many trousered thing 

I may or may not have accidentally acquired two boyfriends...

This means I have to be on high beauty and glamorosity alert at all times, even in the loo. 

I must be prepared. But no one must know. I must exude glamour but in a natural just-tumbled-out-of-bed way. 

So just a hint of foundation, lurker eradicator, touch of bronzer, and leave it at that.

Oh yes, and a touch of lipgloss, mascara and a tiny bit of eyeliner. 

I don't suppose they would consider a time share girlfriend...

Stop in the name of pants! 

He is quite literally gorgey porgey beyond belief. Times a hundred. 

I will never again be on the rack of boynosity, hanging around the cakeshop of luuurve, trying to find a spare eclair. 

So tell me this. How in the name of giddygodspyjamas have I ended up snogging Dave the Laugh? Again!!!

And it wasn't just matey-type mate snogging. 

It was a 'phwoaaaaar' snogging situation, verging on number five!!

Why won't he stop sneaking around in my brain?

Are these my basoomas I see before me? 

Oh yes, the hilariousity goes on for one last time. Here it is...maybe probably...pants for the memories! 

My marvy Luuurve God boyfriend has got the full Humpty Dumpty with me for accidentally twisiting with Dave the Laugh. 

Which is not actually my fault. I cannot be expected to control my body parts, they pop out unexpectedly and so on. 

For instance my lips do ad-hoo puckering up every time Dave the Laugh comes near them, I don't know why. 

Ditto jelloid knickers. 

Anyway shut up about Dave the Laugh, he has got a GIRLFRIEND. 

Not that I care. Or do I?

Oh I don't know, so many boys, so little time...

By Louise Renninson. 

These books all cost just £10 for all of them, which I thought was pretty amazing so I thought hey, why not get them seeing as I really enjoyed the first one a couple of years ago but never got around to finishing the rest. I'm eighteen, fully aware I am past the stage of Georgia, but I'll probably enjoy these books all the same. If you missed it, the first book is in my Monday Missions so by the time this is published, I'd have already read it and you will shortly hear an update! 

(Go to part two for the rest of this post) 

May Reading Wrap Up.

Yes, the books are stacked on top of my pen shoebox and yes that is a rather lot of books behind it. 

*coughs* 

Let's continue. 

"it's not me it's you" by Mhari McFarlane. 

This book, I owe a lot to. Before it, I was in a reading slump. At school, I didn't do much at break and lunches apart from scroll on Facebook on my phone or wander around the corridors so thank you Mhari McFarlane for helping me fall in love with reading all over again. It wasn't the kind of romance comedy like Bridget Jones, which had me in fits of laughter, but it was the kind of book I smiled at and even chuckled occasionally. It was amazing to me how long Delia was in a relationship that wasn't giving her what she wanted and a job she got next to nothing from for so long and had never considered before to go for something new. Despite wanting to hit her at the end, it really was a great book (if you want to know more about it, search for my review).

"The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde. 

The prime reason as to why I started this book was because it was my A Level English Lit exam book. But, despite having revising this for such a long time, I will probably never stop loving this book. 

"Gone" by Michael Grant. 

Ehhhhhh...YA dystopian really is not my thing, especially to this level of violence and graphic scenes, but I did re-read it for a reason and despite not really wanting to, I will be starting "Hunger" on my third Monday Missions, along with two other book choices. It's not that it's a bad book, it just was not my thing 

"Over You" by Lucy Diamond. 

Predictable as hell but the writing style was heavenly. Something about the way she did it drew me in and kept me wanting more and more. Before I had even finished this book, I went out and got "sweet temptations". Her writing is just so light and beautiful, such a great follow up to such a dark book. 

"You Had Me at Hello" by Mhari McFarlane. 

I think my hopes for this book was much too high as I wasn't so much dissapointed, the book was just really dragging on and I feel like her job as a journalist was there just to add drama and put a wedge between her and other characters'. I haven't much interest in journalism, though, so my opinion may be biased. More to come on that in my review, but it wasn't a half bad book and it was certainly not a waste of money to add this to my shelf. 

"Angus, Thongs and Full-frontal Snogging" by Louise Renninson. 

I used to love this book as a kid and, recently, I acquired the rest of the series and I only had this one and the purple book before (both have been read, the rest of the series hasn't been read) so I thought I would give it a read as I'm still in the mood to read something light and casual and funny - it was just as amazing as I remember it. 

"Hatchet" - Gary Paulson. 

Secret - I haven't read this book yet, I just hope that by the time May ends, that will change. Shameless promotion, check out my Goodreads (link in the tabs) if you want to know if that goal has been achieved ;) 

"All I Know Now: Wonderings and Reflections on Growing Up Gracefully" by Carrie Hope Fletcher. 

This book is not written like a book, more like a guidebook, so I have been reading this alongside the books I am already reading and I already can't wait to talk about it in a review/discussion (it's not the kind of book you can spoil, but I won't go into much detail). That is why it's also included in my monday missions, this book is just a book I am reading alongside the one's I plan to read next week. 

Thank you so much for reading, I'll see you all on Monday, toodle pip! 

COMPUTER UPDATE

Hey there computer fans of which I'm sure none of you are but that's okay because I'm writing this for fun and enjoying this run on sentence as well.

As an update to my savage freezing and driver issues, I talked to EVGA support, who are the company that made my GTX 660, and they offered to replace it, completely free of charge. SO, it looks like things are looking up on that front!

Other than that, I will share some other news. I recently picked up "The Complete Works of H.P. Lovecraft", so you'll be seeing some of that from me as well in the near future! Have a great day, and remember, technology is always temporary, but the connections you can make with it can last a lifetime, so, enjoy it!

New Project and Update!

Basically, this project is going to be a photo project where I take a photo everyday for a whole year. It's taking place on my second blog, themissingpeices , if you want to check it out and find out more information on the project and I can not wait to get started. 

At the end of the month, I'm going to be telling you what my book challenge for myself in June is going to be and I am also going to do a wrap up and an end of the month book haul which is all new to me and I might even get Austin to join in on that if I can get him to finish a book (he likes to read. He just doesn't read a lot) so you can get two different reading and writing styles for June. 

I also no longer have computer access, so sorry for the poor quality blog posts (Austin will do any edits needed because he has a computer but we're long distance, so if anything goes wrong, blame him ;) ) and my final school exam EVER is tomorrow morning, that means I will have so much more time to create more blog posts for the future, I already have so many ideas. 

Thank you for reading, I hope you take part in the photo project and I will see you soon! 

Computer building and you

Wow, it's been a while, hasn't it, and for that I apologize, I've not rightly found the energy or the motivation to make another post (even though I quite like doing it!). I have however, found the motivation shortly after I finished building my new computer, which is what this post will be about! It will be a slightly shorter post, but that's okay since I plan on soon writing another post about my future projects which will likely entail a LOT more typing, if I had to guess.

Well then, now that that's out of the way, let me tell you why and how I did all of this. As of recent, I've noticed my poor old computer was having issues with even not very graphically intensive games, and it's been killing me. I couldn't even play GTA V online on the lowest settings without it killing my frame rate, especially while driving, which is crucial, might I add. Anyways, following some crashes and some lock ups that lasted far too long for my liking, I made the decision it was finally time to put the old thing to rest.

Now, the process in building my computer was a PAIN, getting the money was easy peasy in comparison. I had ordered almost all of it right away. My issue, however was that the motherboard I got with it, HAD A BENT P I N. Just one, and it completely ruined it. So, I had to ship it back for an RMA, (which thankfully was approved, hello 185$) so I easily got a new one that works better. I put it all together after a LOT of troubles, and it's come together wonderfully, I'd have to say. I'll include some basic specs at the end of this post.

Some issues I've noticed have been quite annoying. The only remaining piece of my previous computer is a GTX 660, and that's where I believe my issues remain. My drivers have been crashing quite often. And it causes freezes and lockups. I think... the poor thing may be in for a replacement as well... Rest in Peace, GTX 660, you'll have a month of service left, I imagine, and you'll be replaced by the newer generation, but I shall keep you as a memento.

Memento Mori.

Well, I did promise I'd add some specs, so here you are!

Haswell i7-4790k
MSI-7821
8 Gigs of Sniper Ram
GTX 660
250Gb SSD
2TB HDD

Hope you guys enjoyed! If not, that's cool too, at least you read it, right?

Exam stress? Here's useless advice!

So, the reason why you're stressed is probably this: you procrastinate and therefore you have not done enough work. Actually, right now, I have two essays to write that have to be done by tomorrow evening and instead of working on them, I am writing this. Even if you do a lot of work...do more. 

I know this is boring, but revising (or studying) every single day will help reduce your stress...by quite a lot. Not for long, just one or two hours and try to focus on the things that you don't actually know. The mistake I did an awful lot for my maths exams back in Year Nine/Year Ten (ages 13-16) was revising stuff I knew but didn't know that well and stuff I knew from the back of my hand and that's it. I didn't even bother trying to learn the 3D shape with the X and Y on it and...yeah, I hope you know that one, because I still don't have a clue.

This one is preached an awful lot, but drinking water and snacking on healthy food often will increase your brain's ability to do a better job, put simply. What's the point in revising a lot if you're not going to remember it, or you'll be so tired on the day of your exam that you just want to fall asleep on the desk rather then spend the little hour you have on that essay? Which is another thing, go to bed early and get at least eight hours rest everyday. Finding a place where you feel like you have the most sleep is best, but it's usually about eight. I think, don't quote me on that, but I'm pretty sure *nervous giggle*. 

I have also developed revision sheets (I may or may not show in a future post) that I find quite helpful. I, for background information, am re-sitting my A Level exams and coursework, and one of them is "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde. The other thing we are doing is poetry by W.B.Yeats, which is...quite a lot of poems, at least ten I think. For poetry, I have created summary sheets quickly explaining what the poem is about, any context that goes with it, important quotes/verse form/words etc that would be useful in the exam, and a quote from another Yeats poem for a quick comparison between them, with the full poem attached to it just in case I want to look over it quickly. For "The Picture of Dorian Gray", I have created very similar profile sheets for each major character in the book, the same goes for themes, and also a couple of sheets each dedicated to critical opinion and context. 

Something I found really useful in my high school exams, too, was printing off past paper questions from online websites and just doing at least three or four per week and continuously improving them and improving them, because not only does this help you practice actual writing but as you do it, all the useful information you need will start to sink into your head. Do it in exam style conditions, which would only take an hour per essay for example if you're doing English Literature like me, or however long you'll think will be given per question if you're doing something like science or geography.

I never had any friends in school, so if you're like me on that front, don't worry about having someone there to ask questions to and have them tell you if you're right or wrong, you can do that yourself with study cards! You can get them in a variety of colours so they're pretty useful. Which reminds me, making things eye catching for you (it doesn't matter if they are to anyone else), that will help you take the information in, especially if you're a visual learner. 

Remember, the more work you do, the less stressed you get, I promise. It'll all be worth it in the end.

With that said, I wish you good luck on your upcoming exams and will see you for my next post!

Book Review: "It's not me, it's you" by Mhairi McFarlane (spoilers)

How do you start again when everything falls apart?

When Delia's life is turned inside out - from a disastrous proposal to resignation-worthy team-building exercises - moving to a new city looks like the answer. But this has its own measure of problems, and Delia finds herself in a distinctly shady job where telling the truth seems to be entirely optional. As an investigative journalist starts digging, Delia must ask herself where her loyalties lie - and if this life is truly better than the one she left behind. 

A moving, hilarious and insightful tale that questions what you do when your life is broken: do you try to put the pieces back where they were, or build something new? 

The first thing I have to say about this book is that it's a romantic comedy - something that I don't usually go for. This book reminded me why, but not entirely in a bad way. You see, I always see romantic comedy's that are just one giant cliche. They're usually about a woman (sometimes attractive, usually they're typically not) in her thirties, mid-thirties, going through some life crisis and talking about how their biological clock is ticking and how they just want to jump right in with someone and make a family - something, of which, I would never relate to so that's one downside. Delia was no exception. It related to Bridget Jones so, so much - they met someone they hated but grew to love, they first had a relationship with an asshole so they could compare the asshole to the nice guy, they for some reason kept going back to said asshole as if nice guy was naturally repelling (as a feminist, this sentence would never usually leave my mouth apart from in this occasion, only because this time, he was actually a nice guy) and that frequent feel of messing up a lot and wanting to have babies before "time went out". 

Also, despite this being listed under "feminist" in the Goodreads section, it didn't have many ideals of feminism in there. The again, I'm eighteen, never had a proper job, and the idea of being a housewife makes me want to run to the nearest, deepest cave and never emerge again - so the connection I will have to a thirty year old woman who is quite the opposite to me was simply not there. 

The relationship between Adam and Delia was not believable to me ... to begin with. It started of as anger, and only when Emma commented on the "sexual tension" that was in the air did I feel like that was what I was supposed to be reading from the pages. It wasn't until the ending that I really loved their relationship, but that connection I didn't feel from them and I don't think they'll last - have a couple kids by accident, marry because of said kids, then divorce because they're not right for each other. Although, of course this is just my personal opinion on that subject. I would comment about her running back to Paul three different occasions but, I mean...I feel there's no need. She was highly stupid at the end but I'm glad she made the right decision eventually. 

Even though in this review I have done nothing but criticize, I actually quite liked the book - Naan (Joe) being my favorite character of all of them. It was funny, and entertaining, and I found myself wanting to pick the book back up in the middle of my English lessons at school to read it some more - it got more gripping the more the book went on (even though it was a really long book) and I think, despite my original rating for this book, I will give it a 3.5 stars.

2015 Reading Challenge!

If you are an active user on Goodreads, you probably take part in or know about the yearly reading challenges you can set yourself. 2013 was to read fifteen books, 2014 was twenty five (which I ending up going over, v.g) so I decided to really push the limits this time and try to read fifty books. Well...it's the 1st May as I write this, so by halfway through the year (End of June, I believe), I should have reached half of my goal, twenty-five. How much have I got to, you may ask? Seven. I've almost finished the book I am on - "It's not me, it's you" by Mhairi McFarlane - so that would make it eight, therefore I am going to need to read about seventeen books by the end of June in two months time. 

Now, my typical reading speed really does depend on the size of the book so let's just say a typical 500 page novel will take me three days, so that's two books per week - I'm going to round it and say there's an average of four weeks per month, so if I really pushed myself I could finish eight books a month and therefore sixteen by the end of the two months - and that's if I really try hard. I'm probably going to end up reading a few more books made for kids/teenagers just to sneakily boost my numbers and be somewhat proud come December, and this time I will try not to get too ahead of myself and set a reasonable and achievable goal - taking in the fact that if I don't want to go to a library for books, I cannot afford to buy them. Which I really didn't take into account four months ago.

Anyway, the point of this ramble-y post being? I want to set myself some upcoming book reading goals (about one goal per week/month, depending on the type of challenge it is) so I get through my TBR books in my bedroom and read a lot more actively. I already have a few small ideas and I haven't even looked for any yet - October is obviously going to be the book of the horror/thriller genre, so I am going to save all my Stephen King books and any books I want to re-read for that month. I'm only going to pick about five books out for that month and I will try to get through them all. I also want to do a Harry Potter read-a-thon, because well I've already read them before so it's pretty boring not being able to write a review or anything on here for quite some time (as it is seven books).

Also, I made this blog to be a book blog and it's swerved more to beauty related topics and random tags then books recently. I really like those kinds of posts so I will still be doing them, but this is the sort of thing I want to do more. 

Thank you for reading this very long post, and I will see you soon!

What's your reading challenge of the year, and how many books can you handle?