Fangirl : review

by: Rainbow Rowell


I only just read this book but when someone mailed me asking had I read this/can I do a review on it my reaction was: "Ha...have...have I...read it!!" Yeah pretty much... So as you probably can see I kinda liked it. A bit more than that... Yeah it was suprisingly astonishing.

The title wraps the story in a nutshell pretty much... So what is it about (other than fangirling that is)?

Cath has a twin but now that they are going to college they will separate.
Cath loves Simon Snow (a book series in this book), and writes a popular FanFixx about it. The thing is the last book is coming and then it'll all end.
All these changes, and Cath doesn't like changes.
She gets a roommate, finds love, has an english teacher who is not too crazy about FanFixx and a handsome classmate who loves to talk about writing.
All of this and she's worrying of her dad, who she doesn't think should be alone in that fragile state of his.
Coming of age, getting friends and starting to live can be quite a task for Cath.
Can she do this all? Start living, forget and continue, not to worry but write?

Now onto thoughts. As I might have mentioned I liked this book. I have to be honest, I was some what afraid of starting the book... I had heard only good things and all, but multiple over hyped books I read are not as special as I first thought they would. I have this problem that I have too great expectations for them and get disappointed even though they were good books. This is why if you are wondering, I read very hyped books later when it has died down a bit. Yes I am often not able to join the fandom but there are other great books to read too other than the most popular books at that time. If you only read books at the moments they are hyped you won't be reading some amazing books where the fandom has died already or if they are older!
So after these thoughts I must say I was suprised at how good Fangirl was. It was refreshing and somethings I could relate to in a weird way. The Simon Snow series of course were the Harry Potters, and FanFixx fanfiction if you didn't catch that, and they brought back the feelings from those books. The Harry Potters hold a place in my heart and Fangirl brought it closer.
I am not saying Fangirl was only good because it brought memories of Harry Potter, no Fangirl was a fantastic book itself! It brought some problems in personal qualities I have and showed ways to go on happily. It was SuCh a fun read overall and I'm excited to read other books by this author (nope haven't read anything else by her, I know).

Was it realistic?
At first it came all in a rush, but then again when does not life act that way? I was surprised to see how so many realistic things happened! Then again who finds guys and love right like that?... Through all of these things, realistic and realistic-only-to-some qualities, Cath grew definitely learning from mistakes. I liked that you could really see the character development and not only in Cath but other characters. I know it sounds cliché and all but I know I learned things from the characters too. I am sure I wasn't the only one, right?
Rainbow Rowell hit all the marks she tried and I am sure she will also in the future. There are some bright reading moments coming up

So have you read it?

Hugs,

Sally

Top 5 Wednesday

May 28th
First Sentences

This list is in No particular order.
I found it, lets say, insightful reading other peoples Top fives last week and I came to realize how tight the booktube and book Tumblr communities are. On Tumblr I see all these posts and thoughts of other fellow book readers, and on multiple occasions it has made my day. So I just wanted to say thank you to those who do the same thing as I and to all you readers and followers of my Tumblr (True Bibliophile) and this blog. :)

1. The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
The start of this book was so gripping it made me want to devour it in one sitting, but I have not had the time to continue it, yet that is.
1st Sentence: When the white noise went off, we were in the Garden, pulling weeds.

2. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
This book steps into the world before it steps into the characters and it was really well done, and it was fun to read.
1st Sentence: In these dungeons the darkness was complete, but Katsa had a map in her mind.

3. Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier
The prologue in this book does not make Any sense until you finish the book and read the epilogue. And the same goes for the second book.
1st Sentence: As she fell to her knees and burst into tear, he looked all around the park.

4.The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
There was no wait until all the action came bouncing in, and all those action packed and fast paced books are right for me.
1st Sentence: 10 years ago, on my sixth birthday, my father disappeared.

5.Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
This book jumped right into action, and I liked it for it.
1st Sentence: Walking to school over the snow-muffled cobbles, Karou had no sinister premonitions about the day.

Love,

Sally

Books I Haven't Read Yet

Top 10 I am ashamed of not having read...

I did do a Top 10 authors I haven't read anything by, so go check that, and so this list has completely different ones!
So, I am a bit late for some of these but I wanted to gather them all into a list.

1. The Lord of the Rings
I have read the Hobbit and I really want to get to reading the Lord of the Rings!

2. Narnia by C.S. Lewis
I know! I haven't! I'm sure you're all surprised… :) on with the list, after you've calmed down.

3. His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
I have read Clockwork so I guess that's good...

4. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
I need to get to reading this!

5. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
This might be a bit unbelievable, since i love fairy tale retellings, and I have all the three books that have come out in this series, so of to read then.

6. Legend by Marie Lu
Again, what is wrong with me, I have the whole trilogy and haven't read even the first one!

7. Enclave by Ann Aguirre
I'm so excited, but haven't bought it yet.

8. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente
I will be reading this soon, and I'm just so excited. (I've been saying that a lot, writing that is)

9. Half Bad by Sally Green
It is on ym TBR and mostlikely I'll read it in May.

10. The Princess Bride by William Goldman
I have it and will be reading it next month! If you don't konw it's a classic fairy tale of some kind.
>I now realize I didn't post this after I wrote it, so I DiD read this one as my classic for May!

Please comment or e-mail me (stuff931@gmail.com) on what you want me to read next (of these or not I guess) as usual! Keep it coming guys I appreciate it :)

Dear,

Sally

Top 5 Wednesday

May 21st
Books You Devoured

Once again these are in No particular order! This weeks topic is something I think I have written about already, but they have changed and are constantly changing by reading more.

1. The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
One of my favorite books but I have yet to continue to Enna Burning, even though I have it...

2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
As you all know I'm trying to read more classics and in January I started with P&P and LoVeD it to an extent

3. United We Spy (last book in the Gallagher Girl series) by Ally Carter
I have made a post about this if you want to see, and after waiting a year for the last book I read it in a sitting

4. Clockwork Princess (last book in the Infernal Devices) by Cassandra Clare
Even though this book is bigger than most of mine I read it in a quick burst

5. Ruby Red/ Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier
This trilogy is one of my favorites and I read them So fast! I don't want it to end so I am postponing reading the last book, even though it has already come out. Yes, I know, the logic...

Love,

Sally

Top 5 Wednesday

May 14th
Magical Items

When I saw what this weeks topic was I think I might have squealed... Might have...
Starting this I suspected it to be one of the hardest ones yet. So I made the list using one series only once. Otherwise ones from Harry Potter would overpower in this post, but I want other books to have a better chance so, onto the list (You will see later why I crossed this)

1. Harry Potter - Wand
Um... Yeah self explanatory, and I'm slightly cheating with this because with it you could get anything... But it is still amazingly extraordinary so hope I'm forgiven

Kay, so after I got that out of the way... I couldn't think of any other ones! Even from HP! Like, what magical items are there? I thought this would be hard to choose from the multiple but I mean come on I can't think of even five.

2. The two mirror halves that you can see the other on that side from the one on your side
great explanation, right? it's from Harry Potter

3. Mortal Instruments/Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare
All  of Cassandra Clares imaginative inventions, using magic, were amazing.

4. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
I put this here not because of a single magical item but because the creativity used when gathering all those bits of the magical realm (and how wishes are gotten!). It was so interesting to read, even though I was so confused not remembering all the names, I love it.

5. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
The world building in this reminded me of Harry Potter, it made me like the book less since I get those moments when I think it's thanks to HP since it was first and all... If that makes any sense. But yes after I got over all that I really liked this trilogy over all (and oh my the wittiness!) I liked all the magical portals and all the magic involved in this since  it was more complicated than it seemed at first.


You can join the group and see the topics at:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1803987-may-topics

Love,

Sally

DNF

"Did Not Finish" Part 1.

So, as I was floating around the internet yesterday, I found this question flying in places.
Yeah I use weird terms for internet scrolling, because think about it,  it's a magical place.
So I started forming a listt, and tadaa, here it is! I don't tend to start a book and not finish it, since  I can be quite a curious person. I think I should stop though since I have So MaNy books  I should read, that I know I'll like (at least enjoy finishing), so I added series I won't be continuing.
These are my personal  thoughts so please don't get affended if you love some books here!

So to the list I gathered:
1. The Matched trilogy by Allie Condie
I read matched and it was fine. I read crossed and I greatly disliked it (I use the word hate, only in some situations since it is a strong word for something I didn't like any part about). So my point is I will not continue to Reached. I have heard it is MuCh better AnD it ends the trilogy, but I cant' do it.

2. Warriors by Erin Hunter
(I talked about this in a tag on my tumblr: booksonal if you want to read more)
But yes, so I did finish the first book in the series but found it too ridiculous to continue.

3. Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
I have read the first four, and they were fine. Not great but fine. I just have too many books to read a series that was fine (and has 15 books in it).

4. Arabel and Mortimer by Joan Aiken
I have read the first  one, and even though I enjoyed it I won't be continuing with the series.

5. Sarah Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachan
The same witht he one before: I've read the first one but won' tcontinue to the next four.

6. Gifted by Marilyn Kaye
I read the first three and enjoyed them greatly but I don't think I will get to reading all six, since I would need to reread them first three (I have quite a bad memory if you didn't know)

Dear,

Sally

TBR Jar

Instead of my normal Top 5 Wednesday I decided to talk about my new TBR jar :)

I have seen this idea floating around YouTube and I wanted to make one. And so I did.
The consept is getting a jar, I used and old and used one for age, and putting the title of every book you have in your room/house that you still have yet to read. Your To Be Read pile.

Then for me I take one out every month and read that book. If I've already read it I'll take another one. If it's a second in a series but I haven't read the first one, I'll read the first one (When the first ones title comes out you read the second book).

There is a catch though. If you don't want to read the book that comes you probably won't at all so you needd to give it away. This is perfect for any used book stores you might have somewhere where you live or just give it to a friend who reads.

I made the jar at the end of April, but I still had time to pick out a title for that month. I got Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. I then proceeded to reading it (I won't say anything about how I liked it since I'll be doing a review soon).
For this month I got The Drakest Minds by Alexandra Bracken (I know I still haven't read it, but now I'll get to it). I also have Never Fade, the second book, so I will probably read them both this month :)

So this is my update if anyone was wondering why my  Read This Month had Fangirl with TBR Jar in brackets.

Love,

Sally

The Crucible vs The Witch of Blackbird Pond

The Crucible vs. The Witch of Blackbird Pond

Now, I know these are both VeRy different but I still wanted to discuss them in a same review since they reminded me of each other. Both take place somewhere in the 17th century and have a theme on witch trials.

Arthur Miller- The Crucible (published 1953) takes place in the17th century
The Crucible- This play is a drama set in Salem, where people are starting to be accused of witchcraft. A trial is brought and a lot of violence come about. The people in this town are part of a theocracy and all the religious matters hold a hand with this book.

Elizabeth George Speare-  The Witch of Blackbird Pond (published 1978) takes place in the late 17th century
The Witch of Blackbird Pond- The main character Kit travels to some relatives after being orphaned. She meets new people amongst who there is an older woman who is seen as a witch and a sailor. When the people find out about Kit being friends with the lady by the meadow theyr suspisions grow and accusations start flying.

The historical events are closish to true but largly fiction. These stories follow small towns and how rumors and fights, accusations and beliefs on neighbours and anyone really start to grow. Both the societies are so fragile that the poeple pretty much believe anything told, even things against people thought to be friends of theirs. They have all grown together buildings whats around them but they have no trust whatsoever. If they have a bad crop they could techniquelly blame their neighbours and spread rumours how they are witches and destroying others crop.

The trials held were similar in a way that it was the word against the person wringed and the believed witch. The 'witch' was then most-likely killed even when innocent. The reputation of these people also mattered. They needed all the trust they could build and if you found out someone is lying you assume straigh that they have been lying all the time and therefor most likely to be a witch or posessed.
Obviously right? That is DeFiNeTlY the way to go. Note the sarcasm.

Which one did I like more, you aks. In my opinion I liked The Witch of Blackbird Pond more since I enjoyed it far more. I did like the plot in the Crucible though but it was a bit slower and did not contain as much character development. This was because we didn't have a main character since it was a the play (it was like you were there and you could only hear what they were saying and doing, not thinking or reasoning).

Dear,

Sally

Top 5 Wednesday

April 30th
Hated Characters

1. Voldemort (from Harry Potter)
- Voldemort was propably the first character I truely hated for not understanding, why he was evil I guess.

2. Count Saint-Germain (from Ruby Red)
- I strongly dislike this fictional character. I do enjoy hating him though, if that makes sense.

3. The Magister (from The Infernal Devices)
- At times when reading these books I wanted to stop and just think how I wanted him to be killed.

4. President Snow (from The Hunger Games)
-This character truely creeped me out. I felt like he was everywhere and nowhere at the same time. I guess he was through the cameras and people working for him.

5. Selia (from Goose Girl)
-I disliked her from the beginning. Even when she was on the good-guys side. She made me angry and hateful toward her even by being nice.

Love,

Sally

Read This Month

April

1. Kirottu Koodi (A Finnish book)
2. The Assassins Blade (5 Novellas)
3. Water Horse
4. Under the never sky
5. Through the ever night
6. Into the still blue
7. Fangirl (TBR Jar)
8. Alice in Zombieland
9. Seriously... I'm Kidding
10. The Crucible (CftM)

Love,

Sally

CftM--> Classic for the Month