Girls Doing it For Themselves: Once Upon A Time

Ok, so I know I'm late to the party with Once Upon A Time by ABC, but I only signed up to Netflix a month ago and since exams finished (yay!) I've finally had the time to get some serious TV sessions in. I may or may not have just finished the 22-episode first season in 2 weeks. Netflix is dangerous when you're as lazy as me. 

It's a great show- I mean, the production quality isn't exactly Lord of the Rings standard, but when a story is as fun as this one, it doesn't really matter to me. Of course, that is subject to debate. 

First of all, the premise of the show; at the wedding of Snow White and her Prince, the Evil Queen (her stepmother) sets a curse that sends all fairytale characters to a world without magic, our world. So, all the Grimm characters (Snow White, Red Riding Hood, Cinderella et al.) are sent to 'Storybrooke' (I struggle with this name the entire time I watch the show) where they have forgotten who they are. A boy called Henry, the adopted son of the Mayor of the town, the formal evil Queen, reads a story book given to him by Miss. Blanchard (Snow White) and realises who all citizens of Storybrooke are. He then decides to find his birth mother, who he believes is the saviour to the town that is described in his book. 

Sounds totally mental, I know. But the big thing about this show that I couldn't get over is how great it is for girls. And boys, actually, at showing girls doing it for themselves. So the classic stories always have the handsome Prince, true love's kiss and then the *gasp* moment when said Princess wakes up. Well, Once Upon A Time has girls wielding swords, guns and occasionally turning into beasties that aren't always the nicest (trying my hardest here not to spoil anything for those who want to watch it). 

Don't worry, it also has a lot of unconscious Princesses and kissing too. 

Two of the leading ladies of the first series are Snow White and her daughter Emma, who carry the plot lines in both the real world and fairytale world. In both cases they have to save either love interests or children, often more successfully than their male counterparts. This isn't to say that the boys play damsels in distress in this show, but I feel like that they actually play equal roles in progressing the plot, which is refreshing. Emma carries characteristics that I think male characters have typically carried; being hurt by her past and therefore pushing people away, as per male brooding love interests in stories like Twilight (thinking of similar audiences here). 

I mean, it shouldn't be worth commenting on anymore, having girls doing the rescuing should be passed as normal in shows, but the excitement over the female characters in Game of Thrones shows that we just aren't over the idea of girls being physical characters, fighting and cursing. Emma and Snow are mothers in this plot lines, but that isn't labelled as something that means they should be protected, more that they're finding their inner lioness. 

The only let down is the aesthetic side of things. Emma does a fair bit of running around and it almost always in heeled boots. I don't see any guys having to do that. Also fake lashes irritate me no end when they are as obvious as the ones in Once, simply because they look cheap and make the girls look ridiculous. Of course it makes sense with the genre of the show, playing on the fairytale imagery with fluttering lids. I don't know if I just take it too far, but why can't these women look normal? The boys do, bar those fairytale characters like Rumplestiltskin that have to be green. 

This is a little bit of an excited rant, but I thought it was worth sharing my thoughts with you. Ironically I was eating an apple while writing this. 

Surviving Final Year/3rd Year

So this is a bit weird for me, simply because I don't really think of this blog as a place for advice, but here goes! 

I have (as I have previously mentioned) started my final year of university. It's looking like the year of extremes- stress and fun all bundled together. I thought I would compile a list of things that have helped me survive the shock of all this work (as well as the awful heating of student houses) 

1. Tea: 
Not to be laughed at, whether it's a classic yorkshire brew, peppermint or some of the more fancy herbal blends, tea has been my snuggly friend through freshers' flu and final year stress.

2. SNACKS
Doesn't matter what I'm doing, if I'm working, I'm snacking too. Doesn't always have to the be the naughty stuff (pictured here as I prepared for a full- blown dissertation day that actually became a blogging day...) but another personal fave are rice cakes and guacamole, or just anything with guacamole, really. 

3. Stationary you can bear to look at: 
Struggling to convince yourself to even start thinking about deadlines? Having a diary that doesn't look at sombre and serious as your workload is always recommended. Paperchase do some of the brightest and best academic diaries I have ever found, so take a look! 

4. A good book: 
If you've had a look at this blog before, you'll know that I'm a lover of all things literary. Books are the best way to start a slow morning, but wake your brain up for a bit of work at the same time. Baby steps towards the scary theories we have to wrap our heads around. 

5. A good show or film: 
Sometimes, you just need a time out. If work is just not happening and you are freaking out, give yourself 40 mins (the average TV shows without adverts) to curl up and calm down. My current favourite is True Blood, because those vampires are pretty...

6. Get out of the house! 
Don't get cabin fever, it never helps. Whether it's a trip to the gym or your campus library to work there, staying inside all day rarely works for me. If anything, it will mean a poor night's sleep before your 9am the next day, so even if it's to the corner shop to get pringles, get out there. 

7. Music
I can't work in silence, and when my headphones broke the other week I cried. It was tragic. But let's be honest, Taylor Swift keeps me going. You can deny it, but we all know...

8. Your bed: 
Sleep is key for this year- everything really does look better in the morning- I also like working from my bed (my desk this year is pathetic), so go to your nearest Wilko and get some cheap pillows and cushions to make it a snuggly home for you to do some seminar reading on. Providing you don't fall into the trap of falling asleep while reading. 

9. Your Friends: 
They will also be going mental, freaking out and scrabbling around too. Best thing to do is to not be alone and scare yourself that you're alone in the panic zone. Either give yourself a motivational night out together or have a film night and look super cool like Merryn and I here...

'I'm Not that Kind of Girl' by Lena Dunham Review

So I recently did a book haul and here is the first of the reviews for it. It's that simple really.

First Impressions:

I'm in love. With Lena, with the stories, with this book. It sounds a bit lame and arty-farty, but this book really gets me and all other 20-something women (I hope, maybe it is just me). Granted, some of the clothing choices that Dunham describes are quite my thing, nor would I go for canary-yellow hair. However, the ideas behind the evidence are bang on. It's reminding me a lot of How to be a Woman by Catlin Moran, which I expected. Yet it still manages to be different. Of course, it's in an American context, but I don't think that makes a difference. I think being predominantly first person and not being quite so didactic when directly addressing the reader (which I enjoyed in Moran's writing, don't get me confused for a critic) makes it a little more relatable. 

This could be because so far it has been mostly just college memoirs that I can relate to because the Lena that she's talking about is the same age as me. However, I think that girls and women of any age (though maybe not too young) should pick this up. I even instagrammed about it. I mean, woah. 

Synopsis: 

I realise that those first impressions don't really explain all that much about the book and therefore are a little bit useless, but really fun to write. 

Dunham's work doesn't really have a synopsis per se, but is a collection of chapters based around some the topics that women (with the extensive case study of just me) think about most. It's a coming of age story as well taken from her own experiences and follows a style similar to a self-help book. However, I don't consider it as tragic to read than your average 'how to make it' book. It's an honest depiction of how girls become women and what we need to understand how we identify ourselves as women. Mostly the conclusion I have received is to know what your comfortable with, set that boundary and don't let people push you around if that's the line you won't cross. 

In short, it's an empowering collection of lessons that I think every woman should know about just to escape the inevitable feeling of loneliness that sometimes occurs. 

Actual Impressions: 

I have now finished the book and enjoyed it immensely- it was a bit weird at times, but I think that was due to getting used to Dunham's 'voice' throughout the book and also the fact that I read it until 1am most nights, which resulted in me falling asleep with the book in my bed. Scandalous I know. 

In a lot of ways, the stories make you wish that as a 20-something, you were, or are half as cool as Lena Dunham was, but at the same time, really, really glad you weren't/aren't her. The stories are great, because they seem as honest as stories can get, plus make me feel a little less concerned about being me. 

All in all, it was a fun and slightly mental read- if you have the attention span of a caffeinated squirrel, then at least give the first 5 chapters a go and you won't regret it. 

Kindle Haul- Readings for the Cold and Stressed

As I mentioned in previous posts I am back at university- something that is both exciting and stressful. I also have a cold at the moment that has rendered me totally pathetic. As you may have noticed if you follow me on pinterest that I rather like reading and joke about it in gif form (along with cats, firefly and Sherlock...not that I'm a stereotypical youth on the internet or anything...). It's pretty clear that books are almost as good as comfort food for me, so I've been a little downloading fiend this morning and thought I should share it with you. 

1. Not that Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham: 
I am so excited to read this! It's a collection of essays, which I have never read outside of studying, so I'm curious to see how it works as reading for pleasure. It has also been popping up on my instagram feed non-stop recently, so I'm hoping it's worth all the hype. I don't really know what to expect from it, but I'm hoping for another perspective of How to be a Woman by Catlin Moran...but then at the same time if its completely different, I think I'll still love it. I'm not even a 'Girls' fan, but I still love Lena Dunham and am curious to see what she's like as an author. 

2. High Fidelity by Nick Hornby:
I watched the film adaptation of A Long Way Down over the summer and wasn't sure how I felt about it. However, it made me curious to read some of Hornby's work because I have loved previous film adaptations like About a Boy, but feel awful when I watch films that are based on books and never pick up the paper version. High Fidelity was adapted into a film in 2000 that I haven't seen either, so if I enjoy the book I may give the film a watch too and review them side-by-side for you. 







3. The Beach Cafe by Lucy Diamond: 
This was a totally random pick, which can sometimes result in finding a new favourite author. It was on the Kindle Bestseller list and is all about sibling rivalries and finding your place in the world- something I think most people can relate to. Moreover, it's predominantly set in Cornwall (see my St Ives post to understand my love for that county), which isn't far from where I go to uni. It looks like an easy read that I can curl up with a cup of tea with. 









4. Everyone's reading Bastard by Nick Hornby:
Another Horby book, simply because I couldn't decide which one to choose! Both are about breakups, but this is about a divorce that ends up being dragged out online and in a newspaper column. Not only did the title make me giggle, but it sounds like Hornby is exploring the complicated world of modern relationships. I love these kinds of books that try to negotiate how the internet affects relationships (just see my Fangirl review)- especially in a comedic setting. Another easy read to enjoy!








This should result in reviews coming out each week when I have finished these delights, so keep an eye on and don't forget to follow on bloglovin' to keep track of when I post- I'm going to try for every sunday and we'll see how that goes. 

'The Silkworm' by Robert Galbraith/JK Rowling

http://www.theedgesusu.co.uk/culture/2014/06/25/review-the-silkworm-by-robert-galbraith/

Hello all- another blog post that has been left lingering in the drafts section far too long...

So my commute to work was saved by the sequel to The Cuckoo's Calling also by Robert Galbraith.

We all know how J.K. Rowling's pseudonym was revealed with the first book, so let's move on from that excitement already and just look at the book for what it is- simply brilliant.

This book follows Comoran Strike and Robin once more as they investigate the disappearance of an author Owen Quine. As they go further they realise that his disappearance is based around the unfinished novel Bombyx Mori (latin for Silkworm, hence the title) and the characters that were involved in its creation.

I don't want to give too much away, because the twists and turns of the plot line were great fun to read. Galbraith is amazing at revealing just enough information to keep you reading without it being entirely predictable. Also, as with most sequels, both Strike and Robin get their own characters developed far more. Strike no longer appears like the stereotypical isolated he-man, but a full character with friends and thoughts beyond his case. His apparent 'use' of the new character Nina suggest that he's got a bit more going on- it certainly stops this novel being repeating the prequel.

Similarly, Robin gets far more stage time- her relationship with Matthew, her fiancee is explored- especially in the triangle between them and Strike- but not to the extent that it slows down the story. You get to visit her home town and follow her as she looks into what she really wants in terms of working with Strike and the impacts that it has on her impending marriage. All in all, these characters are a bit more people-like than vehicles for a story.

The book certainly has a pace to it- but at times I did get lost in all the characters. As with most Crime novels that don't involve serial killers, new characters were always part of the new case. This one in particular involves a wealth of characters that are each well established, but still I was able to confuse them from time to time. I blame the early starts to my fuzzy head.

However, living in London this summer made this book great fun- Galbraith is great at dropping in landmarks and locations that aren't the usual tourist fare of London literature- a highlight for me was passing through one of the tube stops that was referenced as I was reading it. It certainly made the descriptions come alive. Also, the presence of diverse female characters was amazing. To be honest, the diversity of the characters was great, considering the numbers was impressive- I think the setting of the literary world certainly helped in giving a platform for it.

An amazing read, especially if you are a born londoner or part-timer like me.

'Wicked'- from page to stage

This post has taken too long to come out! A recent weekend in London reminded me of it and so here it is! 

As a belated birthday treat I headed to London to stay with my sister and saw the musical magic of Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz. It’s been running at the Apollo Victoria London since September 2006 and the original Broadway production launched the careers of people like Idina Menzel, so I’m not going to bore you with a review when there are billions of them out there.

I didn’t realise until a close friend mentioned it was her favourite book that Wicked isn’t just based on The Wizard of Oz, but it’s a novel in its own right. The Programme has an article by the author that was a great little read when I was tucked up in bed in a post-Wicked afterglow (anyone caught themselves humming ‘defying gravity’ only to then belt it out over the washing up? Just me?)

So I thought it would be worth a read. This spur of the moment decision (along with the idea to blog about it) is why I love my kindle- one quick tap and it was mine to read! (The ease of purchase also means that most of my money goes on books, but they’re so much cheaper I feel like it’s ok).

I’ve started this post before reading it and I’ll admit I have my reservations- when it comes from book to film adaptations, I stand by the book all the way. However, when it’s a musical adaptation, that’s a bit of a game changer. I love me a musical. Seriously. There were many looks of concern when I told my flatmates that during essay stress, I watched Legally Blonde: The Musical until 2am to calm me down.

Wicked is one of the big Broadway musicals- the production is a big blowout number. After all, it’s been so successful, why wouldn’t they go for it! Even in the dress circle seats we had (complete with my sister on a booster cushion so that it wasn’t restricted view for her) it was an immersive experience. The music was really only a significant, but not dominant part of it. The stage, set, costumes and overall production were out of this world. Can the book really live up to such a show?

For starters, the book is worth the introduction- I didn’t realise, but Gregory Maguire is/was an American who lived in the UK when he was writing Wicked- meaning that some of my literary heroes inspired his work- he mentions C.S. Lewis, Wordsworth and Coleridge. I seem to just really like his ‘voice’- the article he wrote for the programme was interesting and easy reading, much like this introduction. So far so good!

I have now finally finished the book- hence it's almost been a long time between starting and finishing this post! So without spoiling anything, here are my thoughts in comparison to the musical. 

Just a quick side note: read the book. Just do it. Also, go and see the musical. Doesn't matter which order, just do it. If this is all you take from this post, I'll be happy. 

The basic plot line: Set in Oz, Elphaba is born green- causes a bit of stir and she's deemed really really odd, but not evil. She grows up, meets Glinda and a few others at university. Most important out of these is Dr Dillamond, her tutor who is also a talking goat (notice the C.S. Lewis connection?). He tells her that the Wizard isn't as great as everyone thinks because he's passing new laws to oppress these talking animals. Elphaba takes up his cause against the Wizard and is named and enemy of the state. From there on it follows her struggles against the Wizard and the public smear campaign he sets up against her, before coinciding with the story of The Wizard of Oz. 

I love this book, because it's an easy read that actually still requires your brain to engage in some pretty topical ideas- ultimately the idea that 'one man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist'- Maguire makes the witch of the west out to be a full character, rather than the 2-dimesnsional baddie that we know from Oz. 

In that sense, both book and show are pretty similar- but they don't have all the same characters, or follow the same story. In fact, the story that the show picks up on makes me love it even more. 

In the book, they talk of 'the clock of the time dragon' a weird wind up play with puppets- all run on cogs. The description in the book of this construction I realised fits the set design of the show entirely. Later on in the book, Elphaba watches another show in the clock of the time dragon that ends up being scenes in the Musical. Essentially, the musical picks up on the themes of the book and projects them through the play that is within the book, rather than the plot line of the book itself. 

It sounds a bit confusing, but in all honesty it relieved me to see such a clear connection between page and stage because I was so worried that they would have created a watered-down adaption- in fact for a very long time while reading, I was pretty angry that they had. However, by taking on one aspect of the book that is distinguished as separate from the main plot line but still with all of my favourite characters in, it's pretty clever. 

It also makes me kind of pleased that all aspects of the show are inspired by the book in some way- not just the story but the set, music (Elphaba in the book is known as an amazing singer) and the ideas of 'good' and 'bad' coming together. 

It's impossible to capture both a book and a musical in one blog post, but I think ultimately what is amazing about this story is that presents itself as something fun- a spin off from a children's book, or a show with amazing music, when it's actually so much more powerful than that. I had no idea what I was getting myself into until I was reading/watching it- so find out for yourself and if you can't get down to London for the show, at least read the book! It is well worth it, I promise you. 

'Eleanor and Park' by Rainbow Rowell- Review

Now you know I have a deep love for Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell and I knew that Eleanor and Park also existed. I was kind of afraid that it would be the 'bad second album' syndrome (despite being the first book she wrote). However, once more I was completely obsessed and this book stopped me from going insane during exam season. 

Basic plot: Eleanor is a teenage girl, the eldest child and lives with her mum and stepdad. She's just returned after moving out because of problems with one of the most evil characters ever- the stepdad, Richie. Park is a half- American half-Korean boy who keeps to himself and has a fully functioning family- except relations with his Dad are strained. These two find each other and form an unlikely bond. It basically follows their lives.  

It sounds like there isn't much that goes on in this book, but I just don't want to spoil it for you. Inside each chapter you see both Eleanor and Park's perspectives as the events play out, meaning that their plot lines run parallel to each other. I guess I have a thing for novels written in the first person; I either love them or hate them. Fortunately in this case, I really cared about both Park and Eleanor. I have found with other books written in the same style (sadly, I thinking of The Song of Ice and Fire series here) where I'm reading as fast as possible through one section just to get back to characters I actually like. 

I think it's the combination of characters that makes this book, highlighting a really important concept; what people find hard to deal with isn't comparable or relative, but difficult in itself. Park and Eleanor's families are their biggest challenges, but on different scales and in different ways and you sympathise with both of them. It's not really a light and fluffy read, but don't be scared off by it- Rowell manages to take you through the tough parts with the sweetness of Eleanor and Park's relationship. 

A great read and it's made me a certified Rowell fan- here's hoping there's more to come! 

'Half Bad' by Sally Green- Review

Sorry I've been a non-blogger recently, but while I take time to revise (there will be updates from my Easter soon I promise!) here's another book review to delight you with. 

This was another 2-day speedy read. It's really easy to just fall back into this story and the language isn't challenging at all. Authors who try to be fancy with their writing style really irritate me. I'm there for the story, so tell it to me. 

That being said, this is written in first person so I was a little lost for the first few chapters, but the story does clear itself up pretty quickly. 

It's set in contemporary Britain (to start with), but in this version witches exist- White and Black witches to be specific. Instead of muggles we have fains (non-magic folk) who feature very rarely. White witches use their magic for good and black witches use their magic for evil- but this is one of the ideas that comes under questioning within the book. It's based around a boy called Nathan, who is described as a 'half code'; his father is a black witch, the worst of them all called Marcus and his mother was a white witch. As a result the council of White Witches keep him under close observation. 

When every witch turns 17 they are given three gifts and drink the blood of their ancestors, as a kind of initiation ritual into adulthood. Nathan realises he will be denied this right due to his parentage and believes that he will die as a result. Therefore he goes on the run from the council in search of someone who can perform the ceremony: his father. 

The book seems to be based on the quote from Hamlet by Shakespeare: 'for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so'. An interesting idea that has definitely been explored in other novels, but never quite so literally as in Half Bad. The discussion over whether Nathan is intrinsically evil and whether the actions of the council being for the protection of white witches really is good occurs early on and openly within the book. I found that engaging, but at the same time wished it could have been more subtle. 

This book is perfect for all lovers of Divergent in particular, simply because Nathan is a slightly more violent version of Tris. 

However, I loved Divergent and I can't really say that I loved this- it's a great read, certainly, but not something I would jump to read again. There was a lot of scenes where Nathan is alone with his thoughts and after a while the lack of other characters to engage with meant that he was going around in circles. 

It really picked up when he was on the move again, largely because it involved him travelling to Geneva! (That is the only real spoiler you get). It's not described in any great detail, which is a shame, because it would have been great to have that The Fault in Our Stars moment that Dutch people had when reading about Amsterdam. However, Green (Sally, not John) does mention travelling to Switzerland for another setting that features in the book, which is always comforting to know that it's not just from a copy of Lonely Planet that inspired her. 

All in all, I think it's worth a read to make your own mind up, certainly a great YA novel, but I would recommend my other reads from the holidays beforehand. 


On a quick side note- how cool is it that Penguin do YouTube Trailers for their books! Here's the one for Half Bad: 

Fangirling over 'Fangirl' by Rainbow Rowell

http://rainbowrowell.com/blog/book/fangirl/

It has taken me 2 days to read this. I have literally finished the last chapter and run up here to share it with you.

Now asides from the fact that I need to get out more, let's just work out what this means. 

Basically, this book is incredible. I mean, it's not Homer's Iliad or anything, but I'd say it's pretty damn good. 

This review may be semi-delusional, but it's an accurate account of a great book afterglow. 

The story is about twin sisters called Cather and Wren, in the first year at College in America. They've always shared everything in their lives, including a bedroom, but college is where Wren decides to break out on her own. Alongside the challenges that their relationship faces, Cather is also an extremely popular FanFic writer, based on the Simon Snow books. These are another creation of Rowell's and seem to be based on the Harry Potter series. Ultimately it is a coming of age story, but it's more about families and fandoms. 

There are so many opportunities for this book to turn into a cheesy All-American young adult bit of blah (genuinely, I don't know how else to describe YA books that just fail at saying anything about teenagers). There's romance and boy drama, family issues and nervous breakdowns- all sounds a bit heavy and teenager-y. I'm sure for some people, it will be like that- but for me at least, the characters have enough depth diversity between them to keep me interested. 

Also, this is the first book I've ever read that deals with the internet like it is a positive force. Cather obviously feels the pressure from her thousands of readers to keep her story going, but in the end Rowell captures how the internet is a community- she even thanks the writers of fanfic in the acknowledgements for writing parts of this story themselves. 

I'm excited that literature and the creative outlets of the internet are coming together to make a book that is widely appealing to the YA audience. It's not a patronising story (as so many YA books can be) it doesn't really follow a trend that's popular (RIP vampire fiction, may the stake remain in your heart) and it finally gave weird internet things a voice in the mainstream. Wanker-y Milly moment over. 

All in all, fellow internet lovers and readers, buy this. 

'The Cuckoo's Calling' by Robert Galbraith/J.K. Rowling Review

http://www.robert-galbraith.com

I promise a review of this soon, and here it is! I know this book has been out for ages, but the sequel is out on 19th June, so if you want to know what all the fuss is about, here's an

insight! 

I have read The Casual Vacancy (let's all be honest now, we both know that J.K. Rowling is Robert Galbraith) and just did not enjoy it. However, I went towards this with an open mind and promises that it was actually a great read. 

The basic plot line is about a failing private detective, Camoran Strike (Rowling's protagonist for a series it seems) who has a new case landed in his lap. It's the reported suicide of model Lula Landry- her brother believes that she died under suspicious circumstances. While Strike works on the case he also hires a temp secretary called Robin who forms a friendship with the detective. 

I'm not a big fan of reading crime novels, simply because I think they're great stories for the TV. There were times in this where I felt it was a little too slow to really capture my attention- I actually started and finished another book while reading this one, it was that easy to put down. 

It does have it's advantages though. Namely it means I actually get some sleep rather than sacrificing it to find out what happens next. 

Anyway, I ended up really enjoying the interactions between Robin and Strike more than the actual case solving bit, but there was also a great twist at the end (no spoilers, don't worry). 

It shows that if I didn't find the characters endearing then I wouldn't have finished this book. Strike being an army veteran with a prosthetic leg meant that I cared for him, because he had vulnerabilities- his challenging family also linked to that, but it was a bit too Casual Vacancy for me having an addict for a mother. Alternatively, Robin's struggles to do what was expected of her and what she really wanted to do struck a chord. Rowling once again presents a female character that is strong, but without shoving the Vindication of the Rights of Women down your throat. 

Definitely a great holiday read- was perfect for escaping the horrors of EasyJet on my latest flight out to Geneva. 

Amazon Kindle: A traveller's best friend

I've recently headed back to Geneva for my Easter holidays, and want a break from the horrors of university work before revision sets in...

...and there it is, sitting pretty in it's Klevver Case cover with a whole world of books for me to enjoy. 

I am a sucker for a good book- therefore expect more reviews to appear on here from time to time. 

However, I do not appreciate the size and weight of my limited 20 kilo allowance that books take up. Enter Amazon Kindle as my hero. 

I've had this for a while, since my birthday in November to be exact and I'm just loving it. It's light, easy to use and has meant that I read for pleasure so much more- something that had rapidly declined when I went to uni. 

Anyways, my companion at the Bristol Airport Starbucks, here are my recent purchases from the Kindle Store: 

1. The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith- This is the book that caused a stir when it came out because of the not-so-new news that it's J.K Rowling actually writing it- the sequel is now open for pre-order. I'm currently half-way through and loving it! It's taken a while to get into it, but now it's a great little bedtime read. I'll review it properly once finished. 

2. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell- This was recommended in a review by booksandquills on YouTube- her excitement and enthusiasm for the book piqued my curiosity. It's about twins who are heading off to uni and one of them is a fan fiction author. I'm excited to see developing internet crazes and social media starting to feature in literature- it seemed to be what Sanne (booksandquills' actual name) was excited about too. 

3. Half Bad by Sally Green- This was another booksandquills recommendation from her haul. I wasn't convinced until I saw the review comments on the Amazon site- sounds like it's going to be the next Hunger Games, so of course I have to see what all the fuss is about. 

4. The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides- A bit of a heavy-going choice, I know, but YouTuber JustKissMyFrog is to blame here- she was so passionate about the ideas explored in it and it just sounds so... cool? I'm hoping it's going to be as interesting as The Five People You Meet in Heaven or Perks of Being a Wallflower. 

Side note- how cool is this cover? You can still appreciate these things with a Kindle 

As you may have guessed, these will probably be the first on the review list, but I make no promises!