The Sunshine Award!

So I've become a little lax with this blog, particularly since I got rid of my Daily Shenanigans posts, and I have a heck a lot of tags and award posts to catch up on. I'm starting with The Sunshine Award, which my lovely sister Bev at My Senses Come To Life tagged me in a while back (almost a month ago)! I've never been nominated for this award before, so thanks very much to her for thinking of me! The rules are as follows:

• Thank the person who nominated you.
• Answer the questions you have been asked.
• Nominate a few other bloggers.
• Write some questions for your nominees.
• Notify the bloggers you have nominated.
• Put the award button on your blog.

Pretty simple, and similar to the Liebster Blog Award too!

Questions from Bev:

1) Who is the biggest inspiration in your life?

This is actually a really tough question. I get inspired by a lot of different people for various reasons but I wouldn't say that I'm hugely inspired by a particular person (I don't mean that to sound as terrible as it does). I am more inspired by the random acts of kindness I see or read about every day, as it reminds me that people are actually capable of being fantastic when they want to be!

2) Where is your favourite place to go shopping?

Oh now this is pretty hard. I'm terribly fond of quirky shops, I used to visit this amazing little shop called Celestial Star a lot, but it closed down a few years ago (a terrible loss). I suppose another favourite place of mine to go into is Burgate Books in Canterbury. It's a charity bookshop and so you can find some great bargains while knowing you're doing something good too. I pop in there quite a lot before or after work.

3) What are your Summer Plans?

Quite a lot of working I'm afraid! I've been on holiday to Wales which was lovely, and I would love to go on numerous day trips to various places, but my Summer will mostly be filled with travelling to and from work, and sorting out a lot of things in preparation for my move up to London.

4) Have you ever been in love?

I am one of the fortunate few who can say yes to that question. I have been and still am in love with my lovely boyfriend Mat! He's made me very happy for four and a half years, and I look forward to more of those.

5) What makes you keep blogging?

A number of reasons really. Firstly, I love it! It keeps me sane and gives me something to look forward to between facing the stresses that life delivers. Secondly, it means I get to read lots of books I've been looking forward to and don't fall into reading slumps like I used to. Thirdly, determination. I, as a person, am famed for procrastinating and this blog is part of a devised self-improvement programme so I don't let that terrible quality rule me.

6) What is your favourite thing about yourself?

This wins the award for the most difficult question so far.It's not that I hate myself, or even dislike myself, I just don't have anything about me that I think I particularly love. I am a big fan of my own interests so I'll say that.

7) If you could invite one person on a dinner date (dead or alive) who would it be?

Hands down, Stephen Fry. I think he would be an absolutely fantastic conversationalist and though I'd be a bit nervous, he always comes across as pleasant and easy to talk to. I love watching everything he's been in, and listening to his vast knowledge on various subjects of the world.

8) What is your favourite TV Show?

There are so many to  choose from! I'll put one down that I've watched every episode of and loved all the way through. Hustle. It's about a group of con artists who devise schemes to con awful people out of a lot of money, and I just loved it from start to finish! I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen it yet!

9) What is one of your happiest memories?

Quite a lot of my happiest memories either revolve around times spent with my sister during our childhood, friends at my Secondary School and the various things we got up to, or times I've spent with Mat that have left me grinning from ear to ear for days. I recently wrote a blog post on my favourite childhood memory too, which was the first time I went to the Theatre.

10) If you were stranded on a Desert Island, what five things would you take with you?

• My Kindle (so I can read many books).
• My ring (it has a lot of sentimental value to me, I always wear it).
• Mat (does he count as a thing?).
• Sun cream (don't ever say I'm not practical).
• A bed (I like to be comfortable).

11) Have you ever read a life-changing book?

I think every book I read changes my life in some way, even if the change is as minute as they come. Through reading I learn a lot of things: facts, things about myself, new vocabulary, etc. And all of these things are technically bringing a change to my life. Even bad reading experiences can be informative.

My Questions:

1) What is your dream job?

2) Favourite book character of all time?

3) If you could live in any time period of history, which would you choose?

4) Name something or someone that never fails to make you happy.

5) Favourite genre to read?

6) Have you ever broken any bones?

7) Do you prefer hot or cold days?

8) Is there anything in your blogging life that you wish you'd done differently?

9) Name one book you would recommend that deserves more hype.

10) Favourite animal?

11) Pick your favourite fairy-tale!

My Chosen Nominations:

Jillian at Jillian's Books

Valerie at The Innocent Smiley

Chrissi at Chrissi Reads

April at The Steadfast Reader

Stephanie at Don't Be Afraid Of The Dork

Book Review: 'Life Of Pi'; Yann Martel.

Hooray, I finally finished this book! Why on earth has it taken me so long to get through it? Seriously. Nine days? I'm totally shocked at myself. Nevertheless, I won't dwell on it. I've been pretty busy! No challenges for this one, just a review!

SOURCE: Bought
TYPE: Paperback

TITLE: Life Of Pi
AUTHOR: Yann Martel
SERIES: --
PUBLISHER: Canongate Books
PAGES: 319
GENRE: Young Adult, Contemporary, Adventure

RATING: 4/5 Stars

Blurb:
One boy, one boat, one tiger...

After the tragic sinking of a cargo ship, a solitary lifeboat remains bobbing on the wild, blue Pacific. The only survivors from the wreck are a sixteen year-old boy named Pi, a hyena, a zebra (with a broken leg), a female orangutan and a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger. The scene is set for one of the most extraordinary and best-loved works of fiction in recent years.



What I Liked:

• My first thought, and one that stuck with me throughout this read, was that Yann Martel writes beautifully. He has a real knack for knowing exactly the perfect imagery to use, so that I can instantly see the stunning Pondicherry Zoo in my minds eye, or hear the endless sound of waves running along the vast expanse of ocean. Not only did his writing spark the imagination, it was well-researched, informative, and deeply philosophical at the same time. I certainly learnt a few things while reading, both factually and spiritually.
• The plot concept is a really good one. Just the idea of being stuck in the middle of the ocean, with a huge great tiger, totally stranded is frightening. And yet, it is also a really intriguing story-line at the same time. I have actually seen the film so had a pretty basic overview on what I was going to read, but it still surprised me in so many ways.

What I Disliked:

• I did have a couple of things I didn't like. Namely, the ending. It wasn't a really bad way to end, it just felt a little anti-climatic after waiting for it to happen. I did love the final scene with Richard Parker though. It totally summed up the book's message for me.
• I also didn't find myself totally attached to the more emotional aspects of the story. Pi goes through a pretty harrowing experience, and I felt like I should feel more upset and sympathetic than I was. I felt more like a neutral observer, rather than totally drawn into the Pi's journey.

Overall Conclusion:

There were so many interesting aspects to this book and I loved the story. As I've said, Martel's writing is absolutely gorgeous and I would happily experience another of his books to get more of it. It's worth a read just for that alone! I really felt like I learnt something from this book and it's an experience I haven't had for a while. The ending didn't totally satisfy me, and I wish I had been a little more emotionally attached to the characters, but to be honest those things didn't bother me too much because everything else was just so good!

Life Of A Blogger: 'Best Childhood Memory'.

Wow so this is a pretty difficult topic. I have a ton of childhood memories, but to pick a favourite? Nearly impossible...

I suppose it could be the first time I went to the Theatre. I was in Year 7 and our Community Leader decided to take us to see 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang', that was in London's West End at the time. I absolutely adored the film and, found myself totally bedazzled by the show, cast, special effects, lighting, live music etc. I'm pretty sure I fell in love for the first time that day, and my passion for live Drama, Musicals and performances has never died. If you ever get the chance to see the show (or even the film) then do, it's fantastic!

Man there are so many! This is probably the one memory that really impacted my life though, I ended up studying Performing Arts at University after all! 

Top Ten Tuesday: My picks for 'Books I'd Recommend For People Who Haven't Read Historical Fiction'.

The natural instinct here was to go for something Fantasy related, but actually I am a pretty big fan of Historical Fiction and read across a variety of time periods, so hopefully I'll recommend something for everyone!

1) The 'Cat Royal' Series by Julia Golding. 

This is probably the first Historical Fiction series that I remember reading and really enjoying! It was a Young Adult series and I really remember getting into the story of a young, streetwise orphan who ended up travelling the world and going on various adventures. The first book is 'The Diamond of Drury Lane' and there are five books in all. It is not the most realistic of fiction I suppose, it is after all aimed at a younger audience. It is a hilarious, heart-warming tale however, with a great cast of characters and I adored it! 

2) 'To Kill A Mockingbird' by Harper Lee.

This book is a Classic, and to me, it's obvious why. Though written in the 1960s, it's set 30 years prior in the Deep south of America during the Depression. It's a tale that focuses on the dangers of prejudice, and how lives can be affected by ignorant close-knit communities such as Maycomb. I would recommend that any person should give this book a read, it's a real eye-opener!



3) 'The Secret Garden' by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

The book itself was written a fairly long time ago, and I really enjoyed this book! Set at the turn of the 20th Century, it focuses on the life of a young girl, who is pulled from her life in India to live with her Uncle in England after she is left without parents. I've loved this book for a long time and it is a great story for many ages.




4) 'A Swift Pure Cry' by Siobhan Dowd.

Now perhaps this doesn't technically count as Historical Fiction as it's set in the 1980s. But seeing as that's a good 30-40 years before it was written I'm going to pop it here. This book is just simply beautiful and I've never really mentioned it in the past. Dowd has a gorgeous way of writing, and she covers some very sensitive topics very well. I just adored this book when I read it and it deserves some recognition.


5) 'The Book Thief' by Markus Zusak.

This is my favourite Historical Fiction book, hands down. In fact, it's my favourite book of all time! Zusak writes so well and I love the narrative style of this one, particularly as it's told from the point of view of Death. It's a heart-breaking story about a young girl living in war-time Germany and trying to understand the discriminatory world around her. The ending made me cry, but I would read it again and again. Definitely read this book if you haven't!


6) 'The Tale Of Raw Head & Bloody Bones' by Jack Wolf.

Now this is Historical Fiction, set in the mid 18th Century, that focuses on the topic of mental illness, and does contain elements of fantasy (though we are never sure whether the fantastical are real or imagined). I loved this book, the lead is both the most sympathetic and likeable character, and yet he is sadistic and cruel also. The cover art is wonderful and for me, the story inside is even more so. It has so much to it!


7) 'Pure' by Andrew Miller.

Set in Paris (1785) this book records the year in the life of an aspiring engineer who gets more than he bargained for when he is tasked to dig up a famous Graveyard. Watching Jean-Baptiste struggle to keep peace between the locals, his employers and the rebels that seek a revolution is entertaining and intriguing to read. I enjoyed the underlying love story, and the dramatic build-up to the book's ending was gripping. I loved Miller's writing too!


8) 'The Snow Child' by Eowyn Ivey.

Now yes this book contains a little bit of magic and points heavily towards it's fairy-tale origins. But set in Alaska (1920), I  thought this book was amazing! The plot-line was really good and it just felt like such an emotional and raw read, with gorgeous imagery to compliment it. It is definitely one of my favourite reads of the year and I think that most people who read this would love it. 



9) 'The Invention Of Wings' by Sue Monk-Kidd.

Set in the 1800s again, this book (like To Kill A Mockingbird) focuses heavily on prejudice, racism and sexism in particular. It is based on the lives of the Grimke sisters, women who fought heavily for gender equality and opposed slavery and racism. It was well researched, thoughtfully written and I really loved the characters. Such a good book and is certainly a must-read in my eyes.



10) 'The Luminaries' by Eleanor Catton.

Now anyone who read my review for this might be a little confused, as although I didn't despise it, I did have a few issues. However, in terms of being well-researched and really revealing the way things worked in the time period (1866 in this case) it really did it's job so well! Anyone who is dying for their first Historical Fiction read to be a huge story with plenty of detail and lots of elements to it, then definitely try this! As well as that, the focus is on mystery, not romance so if the idea of a Historical Romance puts you off, give the genre a chance with this read!

Last Week's Shenanigans: Making the most of Netflix and a broken boiler!

So this week has been pretty uneventful I suppose! I spent a lot of it watching TV and Films, but I'm really glad I did! They were well worth the watch. Bev got a Netflix account after the 30 Day Trial finished, so we've been really getting into some of the things on there!

Monday 28th - So this was actually a day off for me, from work. I had a bit of a lay-in (I was super tired) then when I woke, I spent the morning doing some blog bits and bobs, and reading some more of 'Poison Study'. In the afternoon, Bev and I decided to watch some things on TV, starting with 'The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas', a film we bought a while back and never watched. It was extremely heart-breaking and sad, and we loved it! Bev's 30 Day Trial was ending too, so we began watching 'American Horror Story' and 'Doctor Who' with Christopher Eccleston on Netflix, as she wasn't sure whether to start paying for an account. Unfortunately, the Boiler broke too so we were without hot water for part of the day.

Tuesday 29th - Most of Tuesday was made up of work or travelling too and from Canterbury. It was pretty busy and there was a lot to do, but it wasn't really an eventful shift as such. I took the opportunity to get a load of reading done on the train however meaning that by the time Tuesday was over, I was almost done! After work I did my Top Ten Tuesday post also, which was a lot of fun this week! 

Wednesday 30th - Once again I had work, but first Bev and I had to stay in for the Engineer to come and fix the boiler. She invited her friend Caz round and together we watched an episode of 'American Horror Story' which is a bit weird but I am starting to really get into it! Work was once again a little boring but it broke up my day and I completely finished 'Poison Study'.

Thursday 31st - Thursday marked another day off with Bev (if you haven't guessed by now, she's out of school term time). And we watched some more 'Doctor Who' and 'American Horror Story', as well as a wonderful film called 'Driving Lessons'. We had Stir Fry for lunch which was delicious, but we didn't do an awful lot else.

Friday 1st - Mat had been away to Dymchurch with a friend of his for a few days, but he came back on Friday and came round late morning. As I hadn't seen him for quite a chunk of the week, it was nice to spend some time with him again. We spent the afternoon helping Dad with some chores, attempting to watch 'Game Of Thrones' and failing because my HDMI Cable was broken, and relaxing. Then in the evening he took me out for Fajitas at Chiquitos and to go and see 'Guardians Of The Galaxy' at the Cinema, which was an amazing film! I've never laughed so hard at a Marvel film (Bradley Cooper as Rocket Raccoon is hilarious) and I thought it tied into the bigger picture pretty well. It does mean I have to wait a long time for the next installment though!

Saturday 2nd - Mum and Dad went away to Nottingham for the weekend to attend a party, meaning my Sister and I were alone. Bev went to see her friend Caz again, and I had work in the afternoon. When I came home, I watched some 'Misfits' with Caz and Bev (Netflix again) and we waited for Mat to come round, though he didn't finish work until 8. As soon as he arrived, we ordered pizza (yes I know I don't really like it but it was a treat because Bev managed to get £10 off of the order as last time she ordered from them, they were apparently late. We played Cards Against Humanity, which is a great game though you need to have a pretty dark sense of humour. Both Caz and Mat stayed over, even though Bev started to feel unwell towards the end of the evening.

Sunday 3rd - After Mat slept over, we decided to go to his house because he had the day off from work. For the most part, we watched 'Game Of Thrones'. Season 3 so far is awesome, though I have a real feeling of impending doom. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, 'Game Of Thrones' is pretty ruthless. Generally it was a bit of a lazy day, but a nice one nonetheless. Bev still wasn't very well, both before I left and after, so I was glad that Mum and Dad came home to entertain us with their Hotel stories!

Memes:
Top Ten Tuesday (Topic: Authors Whose Books I Own The Most Of).
Life Of A Blogger (Topic: Favourite Outings)
Six Degrees Of Separation (Gone Girl; Gillian Flynn)

Books Reviewed:
Poison Study; Maria V. Snyder

Six Degrees Of Separation (Gone Girl; Gillian Flynn)

The first Saturday of August? It can only be time for Six Degrees Of Separation! I  almost forget this so many times, but it's so much fun and I really don't ever want to stop doing it! Hosted by Annabel Smith and Emma Chapman, I really recommend giving this challenge a go.

This month's book is Gillian Flynn's 'Gone Girl', yet another book I haven't actually read. I know a little more about this one because there's a movie coming out for it soon, but I'll be going off first impressions rather than actual book knowledge!

So to start with, 'Gone Girl', as far as I can tell, is about a girl that goes missing. 'Paper Towns' focuses on a similar plot-line. Both girls are headstrong, a bit strange and certainly induce strong feelings in the main male characters (to an almost obsessive point), who are hopelessly in love with the girl/woman in question. Also, there's a character called Margo in both books!

'Paper Towns' is written by John Green, as is 'The Fault In Our Stars'. This book was my first ever John Green read and I adored it. I thought it's take on the tender subject of Terminal Illness was tragically realistic and I cried so much while reading this book.

Another book that I read a while back which gave me my first real taste of a book about Illness was 'Before I Die' by Jenny Downham. I cried ridiculous amounts and recommend it to anyone who liked 'The Fault In Our Stars'. It's take is a little more serious perhaps, but it's still a great contender and absolutely heart-wrenching.

'Before I Die' is the first book and only book by Jenny Downham that I have read. 'This Lullaby' is my only Sarah Dessen read. It's not that I didn't enjoy it, I did! I just didn't totally love it and to be honest, I found the lead girl irritatingly stubborn for her own good. I completely questioned why such a sweet guy like Dexter would even consider such a horrible person!

Talking of main characters I didn't like, I think it's time I brought 'Twilight' into the mix. Bella Swan was the complete opposite of Remy from 'This Lullaby'. She was moody enough, but in a simpering, awkward way. Instead of being too anti-boy, I found she was too needy and so disliked er in equal amounts, but for completely different reasons.

Any time I included 'Twilight', 'Finding Sky' was always going to be linked. Why? Because it followed the same sort of formula, but did it so much better. No annoying main girl, not such a clingy love interest, no 'main character is an instant school outcast and the few friends she makes are awful' problems. The one thing I liked about 'Twilight' was the villains, and I liked the ones here too. Much better.

Planned Reads For August.

As usual I'll have a fair few choices up here, a lot of them coming from last month's planned reads that I didn't get round to and really need to! I feel like I'm so behind on my reading list but I really do have so many to get through that I'll probably never catch up with myself.

Crossover Book:

1. 'Life Of Pi'; Yann Martel. This has been sat on my bookshelf for a while and I initially chose it as a challenge book for last month. I've made a start though so this will be my first read of the month. I'm looking forward to it!

Challenges:

Jumble Your Genres Challenge: Paranormal. Otherwise known as 'Midnight Riot' this book is the first of what looks to be a great series. It's a Paranormal Mystery novel that caught my eye a while back, and my sister bought it for me for my birthday! I can't wait to give Ben Aaronovitch's 'Rivers Of London' a go, it looks awesome.

2014 'Key Words' Challenge: Forgotten, Down, True, Run, Danger, Me. This book was on one of my Wishlists a while back, and I was especially intrigued by the plot-line. 'If You Find Me' by Emily Murdoch was fantastic and I look forward to getting into it.

2014 'Monthly Motif' Challenge: Alternate Reality. That's it, I'm sick to the back teeth of not reading this book and being so behind. I'm making sure I read it this month, no matter what. Marissa Meyer's 'Cinder' has been recommended to me by basically the entire Universe and I think I should pay attention.

Netgalley/Edelweiss Reads:

1. 'Smiler's Fair'; Rebecca Levene. So this is me doing a spot of catching up. I was meant to read this book last month and I didn't get round to it! So here I am, reading it this month instead. It looks too good to miss, I'm really looking forward to it!
2. 'A Discovery Of Witches'; Deborah Harkness. I've seen this book around a few times and was really happy when I was approved by Netgalley. I know the third in the series is out soon (if not already) so I thought I had better get cracking!
3. 'Doll Bones'; Holly Black. Yet another book I was happy to be approved for, I have missed Holly Black! She's a great author and I haven't read something of hers in a while. Why not this month?

And that covers my 'Books I really need to read'. Now onto the books I would also love to get round to. A lot of these have been up before, maybe more than once. Please don't judge me, I'm the queen of spontaneity!

1. 'The Shock Of The Fall'; Nathan Filer. I really hoped to have read this one last month, for one of my challenges. I did actually get an entry in, but didn't get round to reading this book. I had been really looking forward to it too, so I'm having another go this month.
2. 'Under Fishbone Clouds'; Sam Meekings. Yet another book that constantly evades me. Enough is enough, it's going near the top of the priority list because it looks so good! I've been wanting to read a Sam Meekings book for too long to keep putting it off!
3. 'Coraline'; Neil Gaiman. I got round to reading my first Gaiman book a couple of months ago and adored it! Time to get onto another that I didn't have time for last month. I love the film so the book should be even better, right?
4. 'Aristotle & Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe'; Benjamin Alire Sáenz. This book just looks amazing. I've wanted to read some kind of LGBT fiction for a while, and I think this is a really good novel to start with. I've seen it recommended on other blogs, so it should be an interesting read!
5. 'Siege & Storm'; Leigh Bardugo. I read Shadow & Bone and loved it. Time to get onto book two! Seeing as book three is now out and I've heard so many good things, I really want to continue with this series!
6. 'Dreams Of Gods & Monsters'; Laini Taylor. Similarly, I've read the first two books in this series and adored them. Why I haven't got round to reading Book Three yet, I have no idea! I think it's time for that to change.