Amy Powis's Blog, page 15
March 28, 2019
Three Hallows March Post: On The Come Up by Angie Thomas Book Review
Title: On The Come UpAuthor: Angie ThomasPublisher: Walker BooksSource: Bought MyselfRating: 5/5 stars
(Amazon|Goodreads)
Book Summary:
Sixteen-year-old Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. Or at least make it out of her neighbourhood one day. As the daughter of an underground rap legend who died before he hit big, Bri’s got big shoes to fill. But now that her mom has unexpectedly lost her job, food banks and shutoff notices are as much a part of Bri’s life as beats and rhymes. With bills piling up and homelessness staring her family down, Bri no longer just wants to make it—she has to make it.
On the Come Up is Angie Thomas’s homage to hip-hop, the art that sparked her passion for storytelling and continues to inspire her to this day. It is the story of fighting for your dreams, even as the odds are stacked against you; of the struggle to become who you are and not who everyone expects you to be, and of the desperate realities of poor and working-class black families.
Book Summary:
After reading The Hate You Give when it came out I was excited to read what Angie Thomas was working on next. Although I enjoyed THUG, I didn't love it as much as everyone else but still thought that her writing and characters were great to continue reading her work. This leads me to be less than surprised when I fell in love with On The Come Up, it was also great to read with Alex and Rachel to see where our views differed.
From the moment I started On The Come Up I knew I was going to love it, I was pulled into Bri's world and didn't want to leave, it is probably one of the only books I liked being over 400 pages. From the start, we get the sense that Bri's home life is not the best and that her family struggles. This, although is hard to read about, was a part of the book that I liked to read as this idea is not often tackled in YA books. This is something that Angie Thomas does so well, tackling issues that we need to see more of in YA.
With this focusing so much on Bri's family life, one of the strongest parts of this book is clearly the family relationship. I loved the relationship between her Mum and brother, this was something that develops throughout the novel and evolves into something that is fleshed out and a notable part of the story. I also loved the relationship with her Aunt Pooh because, although starting off as something small, it becomes something more central to the plot.
This relationship also leads to more complex ideas of the book including the inclusion of drugs and the assumptions that black people have to face in daily life. This is something that Angie Thomas does so well in her books, tackling real-life issues that are intertwined with a narrative. I also think that with a character like Bri, who is so complex, handles all that the world throws at her and I loved that. I, also, felt that I connected well with Bri as well, there were so many characteristics and parts of her personality that I did like and kept me invested in the story. Bri also has a strong connection with her friends and I loved this about the story, especially as they had their own stories and paths to follow themselves.
The book, obviously, following rapping and Bri on the come up (I had to) on her rise to fame and I loved this part. The way that the lyrics were embedded into the story was great and I loved this. This was definitely the part of the story that turned my head and I knew that I was heavily invested into the story. There is nothing that I really disliked about, On The Come Up, I just loved it.
The Verdict:
On The Come Up is yet another amazing book by Angie Thomas that demands to be read by all.
Check out the other members of The Three Hallows here:
Rachel
Alex
Have you read On The Come Up yet? Do you want to? Let me know in the comments below.
March 6, 2019
Blog Tour: The Everlasting Rose by Dhonielle Clayton
*I am reviewing this book which I was gifted for free by Gollancz in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. *
Title: The Everlasting RoseAuthor: Dhonielle ClaytonPublisher: GollanczSource: GollanczRating: 3.5/5 stars
(Amazon|Goodreads)
Book Summary:
In this sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller, Camille, her sister Edel, and her guard and new love Remy must race against time to find Princess Charlotte. Sophia's Imperial forces will stop at nothing to keep the rebels from returning Charlotte to the castle and her rightful place as queen. With the help of an underground resistance movement called The Iron Ladies-a society that rejects beauty treatments entirely-and the backing of alternative newspaper The Spider's Web, Camille uses her powers, her connections and her cunning to outwit her greatest nemesis, Sophia, and restore peace to Orleans.
Book Review:
After reading the Belles last year I was interested in finishing the series to see where it goes so when an opportunity to read the next book in the series came up I was excited to pick it up. The Everlasting Rose is a good follow up to The Belles with the same great writing and characters.
I think that because I read the Belles so long ago I had basically forgotten a lot that happened but after reading a couple of summaries I was back on track. This did hinder my enjoyment a little but I don't think that this is the fault of the book so I can't fault it for that.
The book does follow on straight from the last which leaves us straight into the action which works for a really engaging book straight away and makes it really fast paced meaning that I raced through most of this book. This is in part to Dhionelle Clayton's writing which is so compulsively readable.
Although I did like the plot a have seen a couple of reviews that mention that the book packs a lot into the story and that it seems like this book should have been made into two. I think that I do agree with this. I think the overarching story does seem like it has been put into one which can leave a lack of room for development at times. It does, however, make it the part which is clearly quite good for reading.
I also think that the characters were also quite good for the story but again I did forget who was who in many parts which did let the story down a touch but overall I did really enjoy them.
The Verdict:
The Everlasting Rose is a good sequel which has an engaging plot and kept me reading until the last page.
Have you read The Belles or The Everlasting Rose? If so what did you thinkof them? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Title: The Everlasting RoseAuthor: Dhonielle ClaytonPublisher: GollanczSource: GollanczRating: 3.5/5 stars
(Amazon|Goodreads)
Book Summary:
In this sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller, Camille, her sister Edel, and her guard and new love Remy must race against time to find Princess Charlotte. Sophia's Imperial forces will stop at nothing to keep the rebels from returning Charlotte to the castle and her rightful place as queen. With the help of an underground resistance movement called The Iron Ladies-a society that rejects beauty treatments entirely-and the backing of alternative newspaper The Spider's Web, Camille uses her powers, her connections and her cunning to outwit her greatest nemesis, Sophia, and restore peace to Orleans.
Book Review:
After reading the Belles last year I was interested in finishing the series to see where it goes so when an opportunity to read the next book in the series came up I was excited to pick it up. The Everlasting Rose is a good follow up to The Belles with the same great writing and characters.
I think that because I read the Belles so long ago I had basically forgotten a lot that happened but after reading a couple of summaries I was back on track. This did hinder my enjoyment a little but I don't think that this is the fault of the book so I can't fault it for that.
The book does follow on straight from the last which leaves us straight into the action which works for a really engaging book straight away and makes it really fast paced meaning that I raced through most of this book. This is in part to Dhionelle Clayton's writing which is so compulsively readable.
Although I did like the plot a have seen a couple of reviews that mention that the book packs a lot into the story and that it seems like this book should have been made into two. I think that I do agree with this. I think the overarching story does seem like it has been put into one which can leave a lack of room for development at times. It does, however, make it the part which is clearly quite good for reading.
I also think that the characters were also quite good for the story but again I did forget who was who in many parts which did let the story down a touch but overall I did really enjoy them.
The Verdict:
The Everlasting Rose is a good sequel which has an engaging plot and kept me reading until the last page.
Have you read The Belles or The Everlasting Rose? If so what did you thinkof them? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
February 27, 2019
Three Hallows February Post: My Favourite Quotes From I Believe In A Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo
This month, the book club, Three Hallows that I have been taking part in with Alex and Rachel have been reading I Believe In A Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo. All of us enjoyed the book although I did have some problems with it, it was an entertaining read. In this one, I would like to share my favourite quotes from the book. So let's get started...
Number 5:
Number 3:
Number 2:
Here is a summary of the book...
Desi Lee believes anything is possible if you have a plan. That’s how she became student body president. Varsity soccer star. And it’s how she’ll get into Stanford. But—she’s never had a boyfriend. In fact, she’s a disaster in romance, a clumsy, stammering humiliation magnet whose botched attempts at flirting have become legendary with her friends. So when the hottest human specimen to have ever lived walks into her life one day, Desi decides to tackle her flirting failures with the same zest she’s applied to everything else in her life. She finds guidance in the Korean dramas her father has been obsessively watching for years—where the hapless heroine always seems to end up in the arms of her true love by episode ten. It’s a simple formula, and Desi is a quick study. Armed with her “K Drama Steps to True Love,” Desi goes after the moody, elusive artist Luca Drakos—and boat rescues, love triangles, and staged car crashes ensue. But when the fun and games turn to true feels, Desi finds out that real love is about way more than just drama.
Check out the other members of The Three Hallows here:
Rachel
Alex
Have you read I Believe In A Thing Called Love? Let me know in the comments below.
See you soon,
Amy
Number 5:
“Real love: It was all about risk and having faith. There were no guarantees.”Number 4:
“That's sexist crap. When a guy goes through obstacles to get a girl, it's considered 'romantic.' Think climbing through a girl's window unannounced to watch her sleep. However, when it's a girl making dramatic gestures for a guy, it's creepy. Double-standard bullshit!”
Number 3:
“You cannot control who you love, Desi, but you can always control how hard you fight, okay?”
Number 2:
“Everyone’s weird, though. If you’re not even a little weird, you are truly weird. In that bad way. Not in the good way.”Number 1:
“I believed, and still believe, that you can build your dreams brick by brick. That you can accomplish anything with persistence.”
Here is a summary of the book...
Desi Lee believes anything is possible if you have a plan. That’s how she became student body president. Varsity soccer star. And it’s how she’ll get into Stanford. But—she’s never had a boyfriend. In fact, she’s a disaster in romance, a clumsy, stammering humiliation magnet whose botched attempts at flirting have become legendary with her friends. So when the hottest human specimen to have ever lived walks into her life one day, Desi decides to tackle her flirting failures with the same zest she’s applied to everything else in her life. She finds guidance in the Korean dramas her father has been obsessively watching for years—where the hapless heroine always seems to end up in the arms of her true love by episode ten. It’s a simple formula, and Desi is a quick study. Armed with her “K Drama Steps to True Love,” Desi goes after the moody, elusive artist Luca Drakos—and boat rescues, love triangles, and staged car crashes ensue. But when the fun and games turn to true feels, Desi finds out that real love is about way more than just drama.
Check out the other members of The Three Hallows here:
Rachel
Alex
Have you read I Believe In A Thing Called Love? Let me know in the comments below.
See you soon,
Amy
February 18, 2019
Dealing with Embarrassing Moments
Having anxiety doesn't lend itself to embarrassing moments. Instead of saying fuck it and moving on, our mind decides to let the memories stay and linger. Replaying themselves again. And again. And again until we start to go a little crazy.
Today has been that day. First there was the answer that I couldn't give in class. Then the fact that I accidentally fell into a couple of people on the tube. At rush hour.
There have been some good things. I met Hank Green and didn't make a complete fool of myself and this was because a nice guy from Waterstones gave me the correct raffle ticket. (THANK YOU!) I mean I look terrified in the pictures but still...
Anyway back to these embarrassing moments. I know and my head knows that I should forget them. That the moment should become a distant memory that I laugh about but instead I hear the echoes of laughter and shock and embarrassment plaguing my existence. My waking thoughts.
I want their to a day. A good day where I can brush these moments. Laugh at them and get on with my day but I can't. Sometimes I can. On the good days I can. But this is an OK day and I am just trying to get through the OK day.
One day I will be better but today I am me. An anxious person just trying to get a little better.
See you soon,
Amy
February 8, 2019
Blog Tour: The Year After You by Nina de Pass Book Review
*I am reviewing this book which I was gifted for free by Ink Road/ Black and White Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. *
Title: The Year After You Author: Nina de PassPublisher: Ink RoadSource: Ink RoadRating: 4/5 stars
(Amazon|Goodreads)
Book Summary:
New Years’ Eve, San Francisco. The most promising party of the year ends in a tragic accident. Cara survives. Her best friend Georgina doesn’t.
Nine months later, Cara is struggling, consumed by guilt and grief. Her mum decides a Swiss boarding school will be the fresh start Cara needs. But Cara knows that swapping sunshine for snow won’t make a blind bit of difference. Georgina is gone, and nothing will bring her back.
Up in the Alps, Cara’s old life feels a million miles away. At Hope Hall, nobody knows about her past. And she intends to keep it that way. But classmates Ren and Hector have other ideas. Cara tries to keep her distance, but she’s drawn to the offbeat, straight-talking Hector, who understands her grief better than anyone. Her new friends are determined to break down the walls she has so carefully built up. And, despite it all, Cara wants them to.
The closer Cara grows to Hector, the more Georgina slips away. Embracing life at Hope Hall means letting go of the past; of her memories of that fatal New Year’s Eve. But Cara is quite sure she doesn’t deserve a second chance.
Book Review:
The Year After You has been a book that every book blogger has been praising even before it's release. This meant that I was super excited to read it and that I was so excited that I did. The Year After You is a great story to read and you will be sad to miss out on this gem.
Honestly I didn't know much about The Year After You before I read a part from that it was set in a boarding school which I tend to enjoy. As I mentioned before the book was praised by so many book bloggers so I then learnt that it was going to be emotional. Which is was and I was not expecting it. The book deals a lot with grief and mental health which I thought was one of the best parts of the book as it was so raw and touched me emotional.
I think that with the nature of the book and how Cara reacts to G's death it was understandable that she reacted this way and I really liked to see how journey evolved over the course of the book. She definitely is changed and I think that it was interesting to see how this developed by the end.
I think that with Cara's journey, comes from that this book also has a small number of reveals throughout which I really liked as I thought that it was a nice way to tell the story. Even though the reveals may not be the nicest. These reveals come at the perfect times at the book and I think that I loved the way that these were told.
Except from Cara, we also get relationships with her family and friends and I did like these. Her family is not mentioned as much of her friends but I liked her relationship develop with her Dad throughout the story. Her Mum was also a side relationship but I liked seeing the family playing a pivotal role in the story.
As well as her family, her friends are also important and I liked how they all had their own problems and again these were also revealed throughout. This is mainly seen with Hector although he is a bit more than just a friend but I still loved this develop and grow throughout the story. I also loved her relationship with Ren as they had their own problems to work out and seeing them rely on each other.
I did really enjoy The Year After You and would recommend it to another who wants to read it!
The Verdict:
The Year After You is an honest and unflinching that tackles grief and mental health perfectly for a heartbreaking read.
Title: The Year After You Author: Nina de PassPublisher: Ink RoadSource: Ink RoadRating: 4/5 stars
(Amazon|Goodreads)
Book Summary:
New Years’ Eve, San Francisco. The most promising party of the year ends in a tragic accident. Cara survives. Her best friend Georgina doesn’t.
Nine months later, Cara is struggling, consumed by guilt and grief. Her mum decides a Swiss boarding school will be the fresh start Cara needs. But Cara knows that swapping sunshine for snow won’t make a blind bit of difference. Georgina is gone, and nothing will bring her back.
Up in the Alps, Cara’s old life feels a million miles away. At Hope Hall, nobody knows about her past. And she intends to keep it that way. But classmates Ren and Hector have other ideas. Cara tries to keep her distance, but she’s drawn to the offbeat, straight-talking Hector, who understands her grief better than anyone. Her new friends are determined to break down the walls she has so carefully built up. And, despite it all, Cara wants them to.
The closer Cara grows to Hector, the more Georgina slips away. Embracing life at Hope Hall means letting go of the past; of her memories of that fatal New Year’s Eve. But Cara is quite sure she doesn’t deserve a second chance.
Book Review:
The Year After You has been a book that every book blogger has been praising even before it's release. This meant that I was super excited to read it and that I was so excited that I did. The Year After You is a great story to read and you will be sad to miss out on this gem.
Honestly I didn't know much about The Year After You before I read a part from that it was set in a boarding school which I tend to enjoy. As I mentioned before the book was praised by so many book bloggers so I then learnt that it was going to be emotional. Which is was and I was not expecting it. The book deals a lot with grief and mental health which I thought was one of the best parts of the book as it was so raw and touched me emotional.
I think that with the nature of the book and how Cara reacts to G's death it was understandable that she reacted this way and I really liked to see how journey evolved over the course of the book. She definitely is changed and I think that it was interesting to see how this developed by the end.
I think that with Cara's journey, comes from that this book also has a small number of reveals throughout which I really liked as I thought that it was a nice way to tell the story. Even though the reveals may not be the nicest. These reveals come at the perfect times at the book and I think that I loved the way that these were told.
Except from Cara, we also get relationships with her family and friends and I did like these. Her family is not mentioned as much of her friends but I liked her relationship develop with her Dad throughout the story. Her Mum was also a side relationship but I liked seeing the family playing a pivotal role in the story.
As well as her family, her friends are also important and I liked how they all had their own problems and again these were also revealed throughout. This is mainly seen with Hector although he is a bit more than just a friend but I still loved this develop and grow throughout the story. I also loved her relationship with Ren as they had their own problems to work out and seeing them rely on each other.
I did really enjoy The Year After You and would recommend it to another who wants to read it!
The Verdict:
The Year After You is an honest and unflinching that tackles grief and mental health perfectly for a heartbreaking read.
Blog Tour: The Year After You by Nina de Pass
*I am reviewing this book which I was gifted for free by Ink Road/ Black and White Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. *
Title: The Year After You Author: Nina de PassPublisher: Ink RoadSource: Ink RoadRating: 4/5 stars
(Amazon|Goodreads)
Book Summary:
New Years’ Eve, San Francisco. The most promising party of the year ends in a tragic accident. Cara survives. Her best friend Georgina doesn’t.
Nine months later, Cara is struggling, consumed by guilt and grief. Her mum decides a Swiss boarding school will be the fresh start Cara needs. But Cara knows that swapping sunshine for snow won’t make a blind bit of difference. Georgina is gone, and nothing will bring her back.
Up in the Alps, Cara’s old life feels a million miles away. At Hope Hall, nobody knows about her past. And she intends to keep it that way. But classmates Ren and Hector have other ideas. Cara tries to keep her distance, but she’s drawn to the offbeat, straight-talking Hector, who understands her grief better than anyone. Her new friends are determined to break down the walls she has so carefully built up. And, despite it all, Cara wants them to.
The closer Cara grows to Hector, the more Georgina slips away. Embracing life at Hope Hall means letting go of the past; of her memories of that fatal New Year’s Eve. But Cara is quite sure she doesn’t deserve a second chance.
Book Review:
The Year After You has been a book that every book blogger has been praising even before it's release. This meant that I was super excited to read it and that I was so excited that I did. The Year After You is a great story to read and you will be sad to miss out on this gem.
Honestly I didn't know much about The Year After You before I read a part from that it was set in a boarding school which I tend to enjoy. As I mentioned before the book was praised by so many book bloggers so I then learnt that it was going to be emotional. Which is was and I was not expecting it. The book deals a lot with grief and mental health which I thought was one of the best parts of the book as it was so raw and touched me emotional.
I think that with the nature of the book and how Cara reacts to G's death it was understandable that she reacted this way and I really liked to see how journey evolved over the course of the book. She definitely is changed and I think that it was interesting to see how this developed by the end.
I think that with Cara's journey, comes from that this book also has a small number of reveals throughout which I really liked as I thought that it was a nice way to tell the story. Even though the reveals may not be the nicest. These reveals come at the perfect times at the book and I think that I loved the way that these were told.
Except from Cara, we also get relationships with her family and friends and I did like these. Her family is not mentioned as much of her friends but I liked her relationship develop with her Dad throughout the story. Her Mum was also a side relationship but I liked seeing the family playing a pivotal role in the story.
As well as her family, her friends are also important and I liked how they all had their own problems and again these were also revealed throughout. This is mainly seen with Hector although he is a bit more than just a friend but I still loved this develop and grow throughout the story. I also loved her relationship with Ren as they had their own problems to work out and seeing them rely on each other.
I did really enjoy The Year After You and would recommend it to another who wants to read it!
The Verdict:
The Year After You is an honest and unflinching that tackles grief and mental health perfectly for a heartbreaking read.
Title: The Year After You Author: Nina de PassPublisher: Ink RoadSource: Ink RoadRating: 4/5 stars
(Amazon|Goodreads)
Book Summary:
New Years’ Eve, San Francisco. The most promising party of the year ends in a tragic accident. Cara survives. Her best friend Georgina doesn’t.
Nine months later, Cara is struggling, consumed by guilt and grief. Her mum decides a Swiss boarding school will be the fresh start Cara needs. But Cara knows that swapping sunshine for snow won’t make a blind bit of difference. Georgina is gone, and nothing will bring her back.
Up in the Alps, Cara’s old life feels a million miles away. At Hope Hall, nobody knows about her past. And she intends to keep it that way. But classmates Ren and Hector have other ideas. Cara tries to keep her distance, but she’s drawn to the offbeat, straight-talking Hector, who understands her grief better than anyone. Her new friends are determined to break down the walls she has so carefully built up. And, despite it all, Cara wants them to.
The closer Cara grows to Hector, the more Georgina slips away. Embracing life at Hope Hall means letting go of the past; of her memories of that fatal New Year’s Eve. But Cara is quite sure she doesn’t deserve a second chance.
Book Review:
The Year After You has been a book that every book blogger has been praising even before it's release. This meant that I was super excited to read it and that I was so excited that I did. The Year After You is a great story to read and you will be sad to miss out on this gem.
Honestly I didn't know much about The Year After You before I read a part from that it was set in a boarding school which I tend to enjoy. As I mentioned before the book was praised by so many book bloggers so I then learnt that it was going to be emotional. Which is was and I was not expecting it. The book deals a lot with grief and mental health which I thought was one of the best parts of the book as it was so raw and touched me emotional.
I think that with the nature of the book and how Cara reacts to G's death it was understandable that she reacted this way and I really liked to see how journey evolved over the course of the book. She definitely is changed and I think that it was interesting to see how this developed by the end.
I think that with Cara's journey, comes from that this book also has a small number of reveals throughout which I really liked as I thought that it was a nice way to tell the story. Even though the reveals may not be the nicest. These reveals come at the perfect times at the book and I think that I loved the way that these were told.
Except from Cara, we also get relationships with her family and friends and I did like these. Her family is not mentioned as much of her friends but I liked her relationship develop with her Dad throughout the story. Her Mum was also a side relationship but I liked seeing the family playing a pivotal role in the story.
As well as her family, her friends are also important and I liked how they all had their own problems and again these were also revealed throughout. This is mainly seen with Hector although he is a bit more than just a friend but I still loved this develop and grow throughout the story. I also loved her relationship with Ren as they had their own problems to work out and seeing them rely on each other.
I did really enjoy The Year After You and would recommend it to another who wants to read it!
The Verdict:
The Year After You is an honest and unflinching that tackles grief and mental health perfectly for a heartbreaking read.
January 31, 2019
Five Reasons To Read A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi
This month, the book club that I have been taking part in with Alex and Rachel have been reading A Very Large Expanse of Sea. All of us enjoyed the book although I did have some problems it that is for another post. In this one, I would like to explore why you should read A Very Large Expanse of Sea. So let's get started...
Number 5: The Romance
Although I wasn't a massive fan of the romance at the beginning, Ocean and Shirin's romance really blossoms throughout the book. It is complex and they have ups and downs like any teen romance would. There is also a need for romance and it is just really nice and cute for the most part. The romance also is effective in the text and messaging format which makes the book even better.
Number 4: The Complex Characters
I think that I do really love Shirin as a character. You definitely see her develop throughout the book and I think that Mafi does a great job overall. Also, I think that Ocean is a really great character too. They both have problems in their lives and have to deal with it throughout the book. Also, I loved the links to Shirin's culture and her brothers were also really good characters and added to the story.
Number 3: YA and Hobbies
I remember seeing a video a couple of years ago that was basically that we need more hobbies in books and although we do see this to some extent, it's not often. This book does feature a hobby: break dancing. I have to say that like many others reading the book I don't have much knowledge on the subject so it was nice to learn more about this as a dance form and for a character to do something in their time except reading. (I am definitely not dissing reading guys.)
Number 2: The Writing
After reading the Shatter Me series I did enjoy Mafi's writing but it was a little flowery and poetic. AVLEOS is different. It has straight-talking characters and it fits the straight to the point writing and Shirin's character which was great. It was also easy to read and explores and develops Shirin as a character.
Number 1: How the book deals with xenophobia
Being a book that deals with a Muslim character after 9/11, the book was always going to deal with this. Mafi also has personal links to the subject so this makes the book deeply personal and raw. I felt for Shirin the whole story and the ideas that are explored are so powerful. It was addressing these issues head-on and I really loved this part. The way she dealt with this made her a great character and this was great to read about.
Here is a summary of the book...
It’s 2002, a year after 9/11. It’s an extremely turbulent time politically, but especially so for someone like Shirin, a sixteen-year-old Muslim girl who’s tired of being stereotyped.
Shirin is never surprised by how horrible people can be. She’s tired of the rude stares, the degrading comments—even the physical violence—she endures as a result of her race, her religion, and the hijab she wears every day. So she’s built up protective walls and refuses to let anyone close enough to hurt her. Instead, she drowns her frustrations in music and spends her afternoons break-dancing with her brother.
But then she meets Ocean James. He’s the first person in forever who really seems to want to get to know Shirin. It terrifies her—they seem to come from two irreconcilable worlds—and Shirin has had her guard up for so long that she’s not sure she’ll ever be able to let it down.
Check out the other members of The Three Hallows here:
Rachel
Alex
Have you read A Very Large Expanse of Sea? Let me know in the comments below.
See you soon,
Amy
Number 5: The Romance
Although I wasn't a massive fan of the romance at the beginning, Ocean and Shirin's romance really blossoms throughout the book. It is complex and they have ups and downs like any teen romance would. There is also a need for romance and it is just really nice and cute for the most part. The romance also is effective in the text and messaging format which makes the book even better.
Number 4: The Complex Characters
I think that I do really love Shirin as a character. You definitely see her develop throughout the book and I think that Mafi does a great job overall. Also, I think that Ocean is a really great character too. They both have problems in their lives and have to deal with it throughout the book. Also, I loved the links to Shirin's culture and her brothers were also really good characters and added to the story.
Number 3: YA and Hobbies
I remember seeing a video a couple of years ago that was basically that we need more hobbies in books and although we do see this to some extent, it's not often. This book does feature a hobby: break dancing. I have to say that like many others reading the book I don't have much knowledge on the subject so it was nice to learn more about this as a dance form and for a character to do something in their time except reading. (I am definitely not dissing reading guys.)
Number 2: The Writing
After reading the Shatter Me series I did enjoy Mafi's writing but it was a little flowery and poetic. AVLEOS is different. It has straight-talking characters and it fits the straight to the point writing and Shirin's character which was great. It was also easy to read and explores and develops Shirin as a character.
Number 1: How the book deals with xenophobia
Being a book that deals with a Muslim character after 9/11, the book was always going to deal with this. Mafi also has personal links to the subject so this makes the book deeply personal and raw. I felt for Shirin the whole story and the ideas that are explored are so powerful. It was addressing these issues head-on and I really loved this part. The way she dealt with this made her a great character and this was great to read about.
Here is a summary of the book...
It’s 2002, a year after 9/11. It’s an extremely turbulent time politically, but especially so for someone like Shirin, a sixteen-year-old Muslim girl who’s tired of being stereotyped.
Shirin is never surprised by how horrible people can be. She’s tired of the rude stares, the degrading comments—even the physical violence—she endures as a result of her race, her religion, and the hijab she wears every day. So she’s built up protective walls and refuses to let anyone close enough to hurt her. Instead, she drowns her frustrations in music and spends her afternoons break-dancing with her brother.
But then she meets Ocean James. He’s the first person in forever who really seems to want to get to know Shirin. It terrifies her—they seem to come from two irreconcilable worlds—and Shirin has had her guard up for so long that she’s not sure she’ll ever be able to let it down.
Check out the other members of The Three Hallows here:
Rachel
Alex
Have you read A Very Large Expanse of Sea? Let me know in the comments below.
See you soon,
Amy
January 23, 2019
On Turning 22
So on Wednesday (today when this goes up) I will be 22. *is currently listening to 22 by Taylor Swift* Obviously.
The thing about turning 22 is the fact that you have just turned 21. I say just it was a whole year ago. 21 which has so many meanings behind it which is what I mentioned in my post last year so turning 22 feels kind of meh.
21 felt to me last year as to be some big thing like my whole life was going to change. I was graduating from university after so much in my life felt like it was going to change.
But the thing is it didn't.
I stayed for a Masters in History. At the same university with people that I have know for some year and new ones and of course the people the people that graduated last year ain't there anymore and I do miss them. Things are still kind of the same.
Turning 22 feels like it's in the middle. It's not special. It doesn't hold special meaning. It's just itself. This is how I feel like 2019.
2019 is such a middling year for me. I'm not doing anything life changing. I will stay in the same degree until 2020. (AH!!!) Everything is just in the middle. Don't get me wrong this is not a bad thing. It is the opposite if a bad thing. In 2019 when I'm 22 I'm just going to do me. It probably won't be special bit that's OK. I'll have time to work on me which is what I need.
So with that I am going to have a completely normal birthday.
See you soon,
Amy
January 15, 2019
Three Hallows Book Club Pick: January
A couple of months ago, a couple of friends and I created a book club which we called the Three Hallows Book Club. Last month we read Dear Evan Hansen. This month we are of course reading a different book
And That Book is...
A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi
Here is a summary of the book....
It’s 2002, a year after 9/11. It’s an extremely turbulent time politically, but especially so for someone like Shirin, a sixteen-year-old Muslim girl who’s tired of being stereotyped.
Shirin is never surprised by how horrible people can be. She’s tired of the rude stares, the degrading comments—even the physical violence—she endures as a result of her race, her religion, and the hijab she wears every day. So she’s built up protective walls and refuses to let anyone close enough to hurt her. Instead, she drowns her frustrations in music and spends her afternoons break-dancing with her brother.
But then she meets Ocean James. He’s the first person in forever who really seems to want to get to know Shirin. It terrifies her—they seem to come from two irreconcilable worlds—and Shirin has had her guard up for so long that she’s not sure she’ll ever be able to let it down.
I have started to read this one and am unsure of what I think so I will see. I should have a post up at the end of the month so stay tuned...
Check out the other members of The Three Hallows here:
Rachel
Alex
Have you read A Very Large Expanse of Sea? Let me know in the comments below.
See you soon,
Amy
January 3, 2019
Popsugar Reading Challenge 2019
So for the last couple of years, I have been doing the Popsugar Reading Challenge and 2019 is no different. I think that this year is more challenging as the prompts are a little weird but I am always up for a challenge. So let's see the prompts:
Book Becoming a Movie in 2019:Book That Makes You Nostalgic:Book Written by a Musician (Fiction or Nonfiction):Book You Think Should be Turned Into a Movie:Book With at Least One Million Ratings on Goodreads:Book With a Plant in the Title or on the Cover:Reread of a Favorite Book:Book About a Hobby:Book You Meant to Read in 2018:Book With "Pop," "Sugar," or "Challenge" in the Title:Book With an Item of Clothing or Accessory on the Cover:Inspired by Mythology, Legend or Folklore:Published Posthumously:Book You See Someone Reading on TV or in a Movie:Retelling of a Classic:Book With a Question in the Title:Set on a College or University Campus:About Someone With a Superpower:Book Told From Multiple Character POVs:Set in Space:By Two Female Authors:Title that Contains "Salty," "Sweet," "Bitter" or "Spicy"Set in Scandinavia:Takes Place in a Single Day:Debut Novel:Book Published in 2019:Featuring an Extinct or Imaginary Culture:Recommended by a Celebrity You Admire:Book with "Love" in the Title:Book Featuring an Amateur Detective:Book About a Family:Written by an Author from Asia, Africa, or South America:Zodiac Sign or Astrology Term in the Title:Book That Includes a Wedding:By an Author Whose First and Last Name Start with the Same Letter:A Ghost Story:Two-Word Title:Novel Based on A True Story:Book Revolving Around a Puzzle or Game:Your Favorite Prompt from a Past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge:Advanced:"Cli-Fi" (climate fiction) Book:"Choose Your Own Adventure" Book:An #OwnVoices Book:Read a Book During the Season it is Set In:A Lit RPG Book:Book with No Chapters/Unusual Chapter Headings/Unconventionally Numbered Chapters:Two Books That Share the Same Title (1):Two Books That Share the Same Title (2):Book that has Inspired a Common Phrase or Idiom (e.g., Big Brother from 1984):Book set in an Abbey, Cloister, Monastery, Vicarage or Convent:I will hopefully update this throughout the year so stay updated with how it goes.
See you soon,
Amy
Are you doing any reading challenges this year? If so what are they? Let me know in the comments!
Book Becoming a Movie in 2019:Book That Makes You Nostalgic:Book Written by a Musician (Fiction or Nonfiction):Book You Think Should be Turned Into a Movie:Book With at Least One Million Ratings on Goodreads:Book With a Plant in the Title or on the Cover:Reread of a Favorite Book:Book About a Hobby:Book You Meant to Read in 2018:Book With "Pop," "Sugar," or "Challenge" in the Title:Book With an Item of Clothing or Accessory on the Cover:Inspired by Mythology, Legend or Folklore:Published Posthumously:Book You See Someone Reading on TV or in a Movie:Retelling of a Classic:Book With a Question in the Title:Set on a College or University Campus:About Someone With a Superpower:Book Told From Multiple Character POVs:Set in Space:By Two Female Authors:Title that Contains "Salty," "Sweet," "Bitter" or "Spicy"Set in Scandinavia:Takes Place in a Single Day:Debut Novel:Book Published in 2019:Featuring an Extinct or Imaginary Culture:Recommended by a Celebrity You Admire:Book with "Love" in the Title:Book Featuring an Amateur Detective:Book About a Family:Written by an Author from Asia, Africa, or South America:Zodiac Sign or Astrology Term in the Title:Book That Includes a Wedding:By an Author Whose First and Last Name Start with the Same Letter:A Ghost Story:Two-Word Title:Novel Based on A True Story:Book Revolving Around a Puzzle or Game:Your Favorite Prompt from a Past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge:Advanced:"Cli-Fi" (climate fiction) Book:"Choose Your Own Adventure" Book:An #OwnVoices Book:Read a Book During the Season it is Set In:A Lit RPG Book:Book with No Chapters/Unusual Chapter Headings/Unconventionally Numbered Chapters:Two Books That Share the Same Title (1):Two Books That Share the Same Title (2):Book that has Inspired a Common Phrase or Idiom (e.g., Big Brother from 1984):Book set in an Abbey, Cloister, Monastery, Vicarage or Convent:I will hopefully update this throughout the year so stay updated with how it goes.
See you soon,
Amy
Are you doing any reading challenges this year? If so what are they? Let me know in the comments!
