Hollow City by Ransom Riggs

Title: Hollow City
Author: Ransom Riggs
Publisher: Quirk
Release Date: 24th February 2015
Genre: Young Adult, Thriller, Fantasy

Summary:
After fleeing their beloved island, Jacob and his peculiar friends journey to London in search of help for Miss Peregrine. However, can they stay ahead of the army of hollows and wights on their heels?

Review:
I read a book (finally)! I got Hollow City, the sequel to Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (review can be found here), back in October for my birthday and thanks to the Christmas break - I have finally gotten around to reading it.

"Sorry, I Have Deadlines..."

Friend: Emily, we need to go to the cinema or hang out soon!

Me: Sorry, I have deadlines...

This has basically I have said over the past two months, and as I have been swamped with university work, I have had absolutely no time to read any books apart from academic ones, or have a social life for that matter! I did not think you would want me to review a book on corporate communications and advertising, because you would probably fall asleep - so I have neglected my blog, sorry!

I have a big pile of books begging me to read them, which I was brought for my birthday, so hopefully over Christmas (university work permitting) I will have a chance to read something for enjoyment. If not, and if worst comes to worst, you will get a fascinating review of an academic book relating to my latest essay!

The Walking Dead Compendium: Volume Three by Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard, Stefano Gaudiano & Cliff Rathburn

Title: The Walking Dead Compendium: Volume Three
Authors & Illustrators: Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard, Stefano Gaudiano & Cliff Rathburn
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: October 2015
Genre: Horror, Comics

Summary:
Collect issues #97-144 of the popular comic series The Walking Dead. The wait is over...

Review:
After a long and agonising wait after Compendium 1 and 2 (my reviews can be read here and here) they finally released the third compendium of my favourite comic book series! It just so happens that it is my favourite television show too!

Life After Long Distance (A Soppy Post)

When my boyfriend of three months moved to California, USA in August 2014 - it thought it was the end of the world. The day he left my best-friend and myself, consumed about 5 kilograms of chocolate, approximately 2 kilograms of sugary sweets and numerous plates of ketchup covered chips; all whilst I tracked his flight for about 12 hours. Literally.

For me, ever the Drama Queen, the world had ended. However...

I do not regret being in a long distance relationship; not even one little bit. It proved to be the ultimate test of our relationship and revealed to each other our ugly sides (lets face it, we all have an ugly side) which we would have otherwise hidden from each other. At times, things were very tough and we considered breaking up on multiple occasions due to personal problems, but we pulled through because we had something worth fighting for. I now know that he is always there to support me and I am there for him also, unconditionally.

Creative Therapy: An Anti-Stress Colouring Book by Hannah Davies, Richard Merritt and Jo Taylor

Title: Creative Therapy: An Anti-Stress Colouring Book
Author / Illustrator: Hannah Davies, Richard Merritt and Jo Taylor
Publisher: Michael O'Mara Books
Release Date: 4th September 2014
Genre: Self-Help, Colouring

Summary: 
A stress-relieving colouring book containing series of detailed artworks and pictures of animals, patterns and flowers.

Review:
I have been wanting to try one of these therapeutic colouring books for adults for quite some time, so I thought what better time to try it out during one of the most stressful years of my life; final year of university!

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Title: An Abundance of Katherines
Author: John Green
Release Date: 21st September 2006
Publisher: Penguin
Genre: Young Adult, Romance

Summary:
Colin Singlton has dated nineteen girls, who were all named Katherine. All nineteen of these relationships have ended in heartbreak.

In an effort to get over the heartbreak of the latest Katherine, he goes on a road trip to nowhere with his bestfriend, Hassan. Ever the genius, Colin tries to prove an underlying theorem to help predict the future of any relationship and help Dumpees everywhere.

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Title: Looking for Alaska
Author: John Green
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: 3rd March 2005
Genre: Young Adult

Summary:
After transferring to a boarding school after being a social recluse, Miles Halter's world is turned upside down when he meets the crazy and beautiful Alaska Young.

The former social recluse, Miles's heart is stolen as he is drawn into Alaska's world of rule-breaking and pranks.

Review: 
Looking for Alaska was John Green's (author of The Fault in Our Stars and Paper Towns - reviews here and here) debut novel, all the way back in 2005.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Title: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Author: Ransom Riggs
Publisher: Quirk
Release Date: 7th June 2011
Genre: Young Adult, Thriller, Fantasy

Summary:
Jacob grew up surrounded by the weird and marvelous stories his grandfather told him of peculiar children with weird powers. However, when Jacob witnesses a monster murdering his grandfather - the stories he was told as a boy become a mysterious reality.

Clues lead Jacob to an island in Wales, where he discovers; a peculiar orphanage, his grandfather's past and the monstrous danger he was running from his whole life.

Foxglove Summer by Ben Aaronovitch

Title: Foxglove Summer

Author: Ben Aaronovitch
Publisher: Gollancz
Release Date: 13th November 2014
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-fi

Summary: 
Peter Grant is back for the fifth installment in the Rivers of London series, in which we find him venturing out of the smog of London to rural Herefordshire to investigate the disappearance of two young girls.

At first it seems that Peter's magical abilities are not required, but upon further investigation a history of mysterious events have led up to present day and Peter steps in to bring order to the countryside.

The Lost World: Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

Title: The Lost World: Jurassic Park

Author: Michael Crichton

Publisher: Arrow Books

Release Date: 1995

Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Sci-fi

Summary:

Five years have passed since the disaster at Jurassic Park, and despite the authorities best efforts to keep the islands dangerous inhabitants existence a secret; a gingerbread trail of dinosaur remains are washing up on nearby beaches. Soon enough it attracts unwanted attention from both the good and the bad.

Ian Malcolm is soon back on the island to rescue his friend who has become an unwitting victim of the islands' allure despite still holding both emotional and physical scares from his previous visit. Can he survive a second time or is his time up?

The Bees by Laline Paull

Title: The Bees

Author: Laline Paull

Publisher: HarperCollins

Release Date: 6th May 2014

Genre: Fiction

Summary: 

Flora 717 is the lowest rank of her hive and is tasked with tidying up and cleaning after her fellow sisters all for the love of her Queen. Surviving internal massacres and purges, Flora's bravery grows and grows.

However, her love for the Queen is soon overruled by the maternal love of her daughter. Putting herself in serious danger after breaking her society's more sacred law, Flora must protect her daughter and the best interests of her colony.

Harry Potter: The Creature Vault by Jody Revenson

Title: Harry Potter: The Creature Vault
Author: Jody Revenson
Publisher: Titan Books
Release Date: 28th October 2014
Genre: Non-Fiction

Summary:
Behind the scenes of the Harry Potter films, hundreds of talented people worked hard to bring the creatures in J. K. Rowling's wizarding world to life. Harry Potter: The Creature Vault looks at the methods and techniques they used to capture the imaginations of millions across the world.

Review:
I love everything Harry Potter. The books. The films. Everything. And as I have always found the way the films were created fascinated (I've been to the Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studio Tour five times...) I was eager to read this book to learn a bit more about the series.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Title: The Maze Runner
Author: James Dashner
Publisher: Chicken House
Release Date: 6th October 2009
Genre: Young Adult

Summary:
All Thomas knows is his name when he is transported into the centre of dangerous and puzzling maze. Confronted by an army of boys who have been testing and running the maze for two years, Thomas soon realises that escape is seemingly impossible.

However, everything changes with the arrival of a mysterious girl who brings a message that their little world is in danger, and to live they must find a way out and soon.

Jaws by Peter Benchley

Title: Jaws
Author: Peter Benchley
Publisher: Pan
Release Date: 1974
Genre: Fiction, Horror

Summary:
There is a killer lurking on the coast of the summer town of Amity, Long Island. Beneath the waves the jaws of a great white shark are picking off holiday makers and residents one by one.

It is up to police chief Martin Brody to bring peace to the shores.

Review:
I have only recently watched the Jaws film and loved it! I was therefore quite excited to read the book upon which the film was based on. I thought it was going to be exciting and gory but I was quite wrong...

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

Title: The Miniaturist
Author: Jessie Burton
Publisher: Picador
Release Date: 3rd July 2014
Genre: Fiction

Summary:
Nell Oortman thought that was she marrying into the wealthy family of an Amsterdam merchant. However, her new husband, and his family, are hiding a dangerous secret. He presents Nella a curious and unique wedding gift in the form of a miniature model of their house. Nella soon enlists the help of a miniaturist to help decorate her new toy.

Things soon take a dark turn when she is sent mysterious and intrusive decorations for her model home and the secrets hold within her family start to leak...

Paper Towns by John Green

Title: Paper Towns
Author: John Green
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: 13th December 2013
Genre: Young Adult

Summary: 
Margo Roth Spiegelman is a mystery, to even her friends.

So when she wakes her neighbour Quentin, who has secretly been in love with her since they were nine, up in the middle of the night and takes him on an adventure around Orlando, Florida - he is left baffled.

Her unhappiness with her life is so made clear, when the next day she disappears without a trace and it is left to Quentin to find her.

The Goldfinch by Donna Tart

Title: The Goldfinch
Author: Donna Tart
Publisher: Abacus
Release Date: 5th June 2014
Genre: Fiction, Drama

Summary: 
At the age of thirteen Theo's life is turned upside down when he loses his mother in a horrific terrorist attack at her favourite museum. Deterined to keep her memory close, he takes a valuable painting from the crime scene that reminds him of her. For years to come he takes the wanted painting wherever he goes, but it also takes him into uncharted territory in the criminal underworld.

Review:
This book is probably the most challenging book I have read in a long time, for many reasons.

Firstly, it is unnecessarily long. The paperback, coming in a just over eight hundred pages, is like a paperweight and actually broke my bag because it was so heavy! I feel that a lot of the plot could have been cut and was unnecessary to the story-line.

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Title: Allegiant
Author: Veronica Roth
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: 22nd October 2013
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi

Summary: 
As the pressure builds between the factions in the city, Tris and Four make a break for it and venture where no one has gone before.

But will they find what they are looking for? Or will their new home bring more destruction, death and loss?

Review: 
Well, after the disaster that was Divergent (view my review here) and the redemption that was Insurgent (view my review here) I was not sure what to expect from Allegiant. However, I found myself unable to put it down and ended up getting quite burnt whilst reading in on a sunny afternoon!

Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus by John Gray

Title: Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus
Author: John Gray
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: 1st January 1992
Genre: Self Help

Summary:
Do you sometimes feel that you are your other half are from different planets? That is because you kind of are.

John Gray explains how men and women are both biologically, emotionally and mentally different, in our use of language, body language and stress coping methods.

Review:
So I was recommended to read this book by a work friend, and was quite excited about reading it. I got through it in four days, which for a non-fiction book is quite good for me!

Some Honest Truths About Being in a Long Distance Relationship

For the past my boyfriend and myself have being in a long distance relationship whilst he jetted off to live in sunny California (the lucky bugger). Whilst it has not been plain sailing, and we have had a few problems, I feel that I have learnt a lot about each other and really learnt how to work together.

To be honest I was terrified before he left as I had no idea of what it would be like or what would happen. He is currently back in the UK (although albeit the other side of the country) and, although I am no expert, I thought I would share a couple of things.

So for those of your thinking about getting in to a long distance relationship, here are some honest truths which I wish I would have known before getting in one...

1. Lets face it, you are NOT in a relationship...
A long distance relationship is not really a relationship per say; it is a promise. A promise to support each other and wait for a time when you can be together, whether that will be in a couple of weeks, months or years. It is a promise for a future not present.

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

Title: Jurassic Park

Author: Michael Crichton

Publisher: Arrow Books

Publication Date: 1991

Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Sci-fi

Summary:
John Hammond, a mad, eccentric billionaire, has done the impossible and brought history back to life on a remote island far off of the coast of Costa Rica. He calls it, Jurassic Park.

But his dream is riddled with flaws that, in an unfortunate and terrifying sequence of events, prove that man cannot play God and recreate nature and history.

Review:
I cannot rave about this book enough! It may be quite old and not well known (lets face it, who knew that Jurassic Park was a book before it was a film?) but I could not put this book down and finished it in four days!

Apart from the Harry Potter series, I have not felt so gripped and immersed by a book in a long time! I cannot exactly put my finger on why the plot is so thrilling. I think it is to do with the mix of life threatening danger, like the terrifying tyrannosaurus and velociraptors, and the scientific explanation.

So why would you read the book when you can just watch the film? Well, the book is immensely more detailed in the genetics and reasoning behind how the dinosaurs were recreated whereas the film just brushes over it and leaves unanswered questions. The same is with how a supposed colony of female dinosaurs are able to breed - the book explains this perfectly with a totally logical explanation that could be plausible.

Lets face it though, you probably could not recreate dinosaurs from scratch through the method described by Crichton in the book but it does make you think...

I also liked the foreboding through the constant references to the Chaos Theory. If you watched the film, this keeps you on the edge of your seat as you are constantly wondering when everything is going to go crazy!

Rating: 10/10. I bet you cannot read it without imagining Sam Neill as Dr Grant...

You can buy Jurassic Park from Amazon here.

Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey

Title: Elizabeth is Missing

Author: Emma Healey

Publisher: Penguin

Publication Date: 10th June 2014

Genre: Fiction, Mystery

Summary:

Maud is forgetful, but there is one thing she is one hundred per cent sure of - Elizabeth is missing. 

Review:

I honestly thought this book was going to be great and, given that it was the winner of the 2014 Costa Book Award, I was looking forward to reading it. However, surprise surprise, this book was, in my opinion, pretty poor. 

Without giving too much of the plot away, two plots are interwoven throughout the book; one of when Maud was young and one in the present day following the old, forgetful Maud. I think this aspect of the book was the only bit I liked. The past life of Maud helped explain her current behaviour and raised interesting questions about how certain events can impact you for the rest of your life. However, I did actually find the past plot line more interesting than the present and skim read the other story line just so I could get to the interesting part.

A Dance With Dragons 2: After The Feast by George R. R. Martin

Title: A Dance With Dragons 2: After The Feast
Author: George R. R. Martin

Publisher: Harper Voyager
Publication Date: 15th March 2012
Genre: Dark Fantasy

Summary:
Conflict is reigning in Westros. With those that were once powerful fallen from grace, the underdogs are rising from the pits to take advantage.

Review:
Firstly I would like to say that a year ago, before by boyfriend disappeared to America for the year, he let me borrow his entire collection of the A Song of Ice and Fire books. One year on, I can proudly say that I finished reading them all one week before he came home for good! Yay!

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Title: Insurgent
Author: Veronica Roth
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: 6th November 2013
Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Summary:

Unrest is tearing the long-established faction system apart and the ideologies of those in power is corrupting Tris's family, friends and world.

Haunted by the horrors of the last simulation, Tris must carry on and fight for the right cause, whichever that is.

But will she survive and at what cost?

Review:

Okay so I was not a big fan of the first book in the Divergent series (which you can read here) but I watched the filmed and loved it.

A Dance With Dragons 1: Dreams and Dust by George R. R. Martin

With travelling to California (again) and university assignments, it has taken me a while (a month) to read this book. However, going to Disneyland, Hollywood and Huntington Beach was way more fun than reading... soz! Anyway, at long last, here is my review...

Title: A Dance With Dragons 1: Dreams and Dust
Author: George R. R. Martin

Publisher: Harper Voyager
Publication Date: 15th March 2012
Genre: Dark Fantasy

Summary:
New wars are raging in the North and East.

With a Kingslayer on the run, a dragon princess without her dragons and a bastard son about to rule, there is never any rest when playing the Game of Thrones.

Review:
A Dance With Dragons 1: Dreams and Dust is very much the same as all of the other books in the A Song of Ice and Fire series. However, where I got bored and tired of the plot and characters in the other books; this installment seems to be picking up... at long last!

A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin

Title: A Feast for Crows
Author: George R. R. Martin

Publisher: Harper Voyager
Publication Date: 15th March 2012
Genre: Dark Fantasy

Summary:

The battle in the Seven Kingdoms is dying down and the Lannisters have claimed their place on the Iron Throne. However, with houses seeking revenge for their dead, and the sordid antics of the Lannister children spreading, their reign is crumbling away...

Review: 

Okay, so I have not enjoyed the A Song of Ice and Fire series that much recently, and I was not expecting much from this installment - particularly as my boyfriend forewarned me that this book was pretty boring - but I thought this book was actually okay...ish.

Fairest of All: A Tale of the Wicked Queen by Serena Valentino

Title: Fairest of All: A Tale of the Wicked Queen
Author: Serena Valentino
Publisher: Disney Press
Release Date: 18th August 2009

Summary:
The story behind Snow White's evil step-mother and why she poisoned Snow White. Pretty much sums it up...

Review: 
My second Disney themed read this week (you read my review of Maleficent here) was not as good as I had hoped!

Now, Snow White is not my favourite classic Disney story but I found this book unbearably boring! At times I even started to skim read just so I could finish it...
The main issue I had with the book is its' pace. It started off really slow, and got slower and slower. The plot was filled with pointless events which did not add anything to the story. Then, at the end, everything happened so fast and then it ended. I think the problem with this book was that I knew what happened at the end, and so does everyone who has ever watched Snow White...

Maleficent adapted by Elizabeth Rudnick

Title: Maleficent
Author: Adapted by Elizabeth Rudnick, original screenplay written by Linda Woolverton
Publisher: Disney Press
Release Date: 29th April 2014

Summary:
Everyone knows the story of Sleeping Beauty, but not what what really happened...

In a long running war between the Fair Folk of the Moors and humans, Aurora is the innocent victim of a betrayed fairy whose desire for revenge soon gets the better of her.

Review:
Okay, so I have never actually watched Sleeping Beauty but I knew the general gist of the story before reading this book. However, I much prefer this version of events! The story gives a background, and a name, to the villain instead of just being a pointless evil fairy who is, as ever, after the innocent princess.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Harper Perennial Modern Classics published 

23rd May 2006

Title: To Kill a Mockingbird
Author: Harper Lee
Publisher: First published by J.B. Lippincott and Company
Release Date: 11th July 1960
Genre: Classic, Fiction

Summary:
In a small American town in the Deep South, Atticus Finch, a prominent lawyer in the community, is about to defend a black man charged with the rape of a white girl.

To Kill a Mockingbird follows the case through the eyes of his children Scott and Jem, who struggle to make sense of the adult world and attitudes towards race and class.

Review:
I started this book in April 2014, got sixty pages in and gave up. It has been sitting on my bookshelf ever since. Annoyingly, I hate leaving books unfinished so with a great sigh, I picked up To Kill a Mockingbird again and trudged through.

Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

Penguin Classics edition,
published 27th May 2003

Title: Tess of the d'Urbervilles
Author: Thomas Hardy
Release Date: 1891
Genre: Classics, Romance

Summary:
The life of Tess Durbeyfield, a simple, family girl, is changed forever by the greed and lust of a wealthy man. Can society and the man she loves forgive Tess, or will she be judged for a crime she did not commit?

Review:
I have not had much success with "classic" books in the past, but I was pleasantly surprised about how easy to read this book was and emotionally gripping it was. However, I am not going to lie, it was extremely hard work to get in to, but once you get past the first one hundred pages; you just want to carry on reading and reading and reading...