Speak - my book review

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A fantastic read: nothing more, nothing less.



'Speak' follows Melinda Sordino, an outcast at school and an introvert. But there are reasons why.



Several times I have asked myself while hungrily devouring this book: "Are schools really like that? Are we really like that?" Well, yes, we are. Heather is a perfect example for one half of teens. Enthusiastic. Hardworking. Backstabbing. The other half of the world of teenagers are like more like Melinda. Harmless. Nostalgic. Fearful.



I am disappointed in myself for not being able to resist the sheer temptation of reading a spoiler or two... but if you haven't read this brilliant novel yet, DON'T. I repeat, DON'T. You will find out why as you progress through this book.



There is no way that I'm not gonna read the rest of Laurie Halse Anderson's books. They are absolutely brilliant, from what I have gathered from with 'Speak' and 'Wintergirls'.



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Stolen: A letter to my captor - my book review

Stolen: A letter to my captor by Lucy Christopher

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The descriptions of the desert are so vivid. I can picture it in my mind. Feel the individual grains of blood red sand rubbing against the soles of my feet. Here the soothing yet menacing voice of Gemma's captor. He expected her to love him. And so she did, in an odd, twisted kind of way.

We follow Gemma's story, or letter, of her kidnapping from Bangkok Airport. From the start to the end. Gemma's letter to Ty explains it all.

I found Stolen: A letter to my captor slow to begin with at first. It was just an endless, wordy chunk of what happened. It was only from Page 102 that things got interesting. And the thing was that it wasn't romance that caught my attention. I was ultimately surprised that there was not one kiss shared between the two of them in this book. The relationship between them is unique. She hates him, she loves him and he loves her only. He thinks that he has come to her aid, separating her from what she is used to, and bringing her into the Australian Sandy Desert.
To sum up, below is an image that perfectly illustrates what I thought their surroundings looked like:






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Thirteen Reasons Why - my book review

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Well, what can I say? I did not overestimate this book, but yet I didn't underestimate it. But I gave Thirteen Reasons Why 5 Stars. Why? It didn't fail to impress me, but I had pretty high expectations for it from the beginning (due to the hype) and Jay Asher provided exactly what I was hungry for. So all in all, this novel was perfect.



Okay, before I get onto the praise, I would like to state the 'bad news' before the good. So, even though this story is told in first-person perspective, I know very little about the protagonist, Clay Jensen. How old is he? I suppose he is 16. What does he look like? I suppose he is tall, lean and has brown hair. Who are his friends? Hmm, well I suppose Tony...and...and... My point is that the character profiles are built up so strongly with every character, except for the main man, Clay. How can that be? I am guessing that Jay Asher wanted Clay to remain mysterious, of sorts. However, I am one that likes to know about every little-ittle bit about people; characters. It doesn't bother me too much about the absence of knowledge on Clay, but next time, a bit more filling in, please.



Now... onto the good news, ladies and gentlemen!!!



I love books that make me think differently of the world. Helps me see everything in a different light. Only one other book (that I can think of) gave me this satisfaction, apart from this one. And that other life changing book was Wintergirls. --for my review on it, click here. Anyway, by the time I reached the final words of Clay's on the final page, I thought: "Wow! We can all make a difference! That isn't just an overused cliché!" Although we don't really know what happens afterwards, I hope that *the name of that person* is saved. No, I am sure the person will be.



And yes, Thirteen Reasons Why is a pretty depressing book. I didn't cry in it at all, but I felt this dull weight on myself, even though I have no link to Hannah Baker. But knowing her motives for her death, and piecing everything together bit by bit, that's what gives this novel that extra oomph that sends a chill up your spine.



In short, this is a magnificent book.



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The Boyfriend List - my book review

The Boyfriend List: 15 Guys, 11 Shrink Appointments, 4 Ceramic Frogs and Me, Ruby Oliver by E. Lockhart

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


To be frank, I was surprised that I so thoroughly enjoyed The Boyfriend List: 15 Guys, 11 Shrink Appointments, 4 Ceramic Frogs and Me, Ruby Oliver! I'm not usually into those type of books (E.g. Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging), so I assumed that I wouldn't like it. It had started gathering dust in my library books box, until I finally decided to pick it up and READ . And I am so glad I did, too!

Ruby Oliver is a somewhat popular girl with problems. Small predicaments to big ones. Firstly, her boyfriend abruptly broke up with her. Then her friends ignore her and bitch bitch bitch about her. And what next? Well, Ruby starts getting panic attacks. And so, she has shrink (I had to look that up in the dictionary, embarrassingly enough... basically a shrink's like a counsellor) to sort out her problems.

I definitely don't wanna reveal too much, otherwise if the curtain is lifted, the funniness and craziness of the book is hidden away. SO this is all I'll say.

What a debacle.



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Wintergirls - my book review

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


When Lia's friend, Cassie, dies, Lia feels no pain. Or that's what she says, anyway. In actuality, Lia heads down a dangerous, self-destructive path that ruins not only her life, but the ones around her.

What happened to Lia? What happened to make her change from a 'real girl' into one that hates herself and calculates calories like a number-obsessed dietician? Wintergirls looks at all the difficulties (particularly in our teens) related to mental disorders, such as: anorexia, bulimia, hallucinations, cutting... but also death, independence and family. This book alone is worth ten trips to the psychiatrist. Since reading this book, I have looked at myself differently. Instead of thinking: 'ugh, my bum's so fat', I actually stop and say to myself: 'you know what? I'm alright!" Sure, this book has scared me a bit, but it's scared me the right way.

There was not one second in the book that I doubted Lia was messed up. Throughout the whole entire novel, I felt like screaming at her. But strangely enough, I realised that anyone, even me, could be Lia. One wrong step and you could turn out like her.

I admire Laurie Halse Anderson's choice to write this book in first person perspective. After reading this, we all must admit that it is very, very hard to write at this level, and to especially make it believable that Lia is killing herself through starving herself. I felt like an intruder, diving into Lia's thoughts and eavesdropping on the awful conversations she has with herself. In Wintergirls, I have also learnt that a lot more happens to you turn anorexic, apart from getting skinny.

In the end, Lia Overbrook knows best. She does know deep inside her heart that what her folks said the whole time was right. And that's what lightens up the whole book. That you can repair yourself, pick yourself up again, start afresh.



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Whisperer's Secret

I've always, always wondered... can mute people whisper? Because, once you really think about it, when we whisper, we don't really use our voices. I've searched Google and I've seen 'no, they can't whisper' a few times. Originally I thought that being mute means that your voice box is no longer working, or is damaged. Well, if this were true, then I believe that whispering is possible for mute. But is it really? Do you think they can whisper?

The Hunger Games - more youtube videos

...this time it's fanmade art!!!

The Hunger Games - movie

There has been A LOT of buzz regarding the casting of the well talked about 'The Hunger Games' film. I'd just like to let out in the air who I think should be cast as the two main characters:

• Katniss Everdeen

Emily Browning

Emma Roberts

AnnaSophia Robb

• Peeta Mellark

Chord Overstreet

Lucas Till

Austin Butler (wow that's too creepy...he looks so much like Chord Overstreet)