Monday Reviews: The Hobbit: Battle of Five Armies

The last Hobbit movie is just pure fantasy action. The dwarfs, elves, orcs and men men of the lake go to war over the treasure of Erebor. I think that the last movie was really good despite a lot of changes from the original book. Moreover, there are those who hold the opinion that three films are too much for adapting one small children's classic. However, the Hobbit films, like the book, are just fun. If you want traditional epic fantasy then the Lord of the Rings fits that description perfectly.

Peter Jackson's interpretation of Tolkien's work divides opinion. However, if you want to read the original story then what are you waiting for? Both the Hobbit and the Lord of The Rings are brilliant fun and epic books to read. The movies are good to watch as well, especially with family or friends.

My favourite part of the movie is the scene where Sauron and the Nazgul are expelled from Dol Guldur by Galadriel, Elrond and Saruman. (oops a spoiler) I highly recommend watching this movie and then re-watch Lord of the Rings and if you have not already read the books, release your inner geek.

Though I liked the movie, I liked LOTR Return of the King more, so my rating is 8.9/10.

Reading Review of 2014

This year has been a good reading year. I have read more books than last year, including many good ones. Fantasy is still very much my favourite book genre though I have also read more sci fi.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern was the book that surprised me the most. It was a book that caught my imagination and reinforced my love of books. I have also re-read both the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Middle Earth is still a fantastic place to visit every year and the last Hobbit movie is not the end, the books and films will remain to be enjoy for eternity.

I am sure next year will be a good year to read books and explore many new worlds. My reading revolution is to try out more fantasy series, particularly ones written by Brandon Sanderson.

My review of the Hobbit: Battle of Five Armies should be up by the end the week. Hope everyone has nearly finished all their preparations for Christmas.

Xmas and imagination

Christmas is a time for children to enjoy being children. Imagination is key to bringing Christmas to life. As Dumbledore said "of course it is happening inside your head Harry, but why does that mean it is not real." The human world is shaped by belief and imagination.

The Greek philosopher argued that the world of our senses was an imperfect version of the ideal. Everything had its true form in the world of ideas. In our minds as children we believed in Santa Claus, and therefore for us he existed. On an adult level we believe in the existence of countries and democracy despite the corruption.

I would encourage everyone to enjoy jumping into their imagination. Next week the final part of The Hobbit is out and that is an example of how a vision of one author has impacted on many people. Many readers, movie fans and gamers have entered the realm of Middle Earth, in a way it has become a reality that exists inside our minds. Escape helps calm the mind from anxiety and stress and helps inspire more progressive thought.

Believe in the magic of this season, be as happy as possible and I hope everyone enjoys this season of good will.  

Christmas Blog Countdown 2

As promised I am blogging everyday on the lead up to Christmas. Today I will talk about Christmas food. Christmas is a time to celebrate with family and friends and that includes feasting on comfort foods. I cannot wait to have my first mince pie and I am really looking forward to eating lots of chocolate.

Love them or hate them this is the month for Brussel Sprouts. This is the season to be jolly and celebrate the end of the year. Hope you all are in good spirits, in my next blog I will share some jolly songs to get you all in the mood for Christmas.

Christmas Blog Countdown 1

It is the first of December and I am in a good mood. I  am currently reading Inkspell, which is good so far. The Christmas decs are up and it is starting to feel like Christmas.

I do need to wrap up some presents still, so preparation is still in need of doing. Also I cannot wait to see the final part of the Hobbit in cinemas in two weeks. I love Billy Boyd's song for the Hobbit, which is very poetic, which fits with the tone of Tolkien's world. I for one will be sitting through the credits and listening to The Last Goodbye by Billy Boyd and will reflect on the memories of watching Peter Jackson's excellent adaptations of The Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit.

Tomorrow I will talk about Christmas and food, seasons greetings :)

Book Review: Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

DARE TO READ ALOUD...

Meggie loves stories, but her father, Mo, hasn't read aloud to her since her mother mysteriously disappeared.

When a stranger knocks at their door, Mo is forced to reveal an extraordinary secret - when he reads aloud, words come alive, and dangerous characters step out of the pages.

Suddenly, Meggie is living the kind of adventure she has only read about in books, but this one will change her life forever. 

A YA fantasy novel about a girl who loves to read and book characters literally jumping out of the pages. I think this book explains the magic of reading whilst telling a fantastical epic adventure. The adventure puts the characters in danger due to the two villains Capricorn and Basta. Basta is very superstitious, which provides opportunities for laughs.

Though this book was aimed at younger readers, I would recommend this book to adults as well. Like the Hobbit, this is a book suitable for readers from 10 and anyone older. Each chapter begins with a quotation from a book and that quote relates to specific chapter. One can tell that the author of Inkheart is a book lover and her passion comes through in the premise of this story.

My only negative is that the story does not really get going until past the second chapter. Like all fantasy books, the start is slow in order to introduce the characters and create the starting point for a reader to get lost in the story.

8.9/10

Favourite Queen Songs

Queen are one of my favourite rock bands. Their music is timeless and genius. Freddie Mercury was and amazing singer and Brian May still is a brilliant guitarist. There are so many great songs to choose from so here are my favourites, in no particular order.

• You're My Best Friend
• Bohemian Rhapsody
• Don't Stop Now
• Liar
• It's Late
• Millionaire Waltz
• Love of My Life
• I Want It All
• Save Me
• Under Pressure
• Hammer To Fall
• March of The Black Queen 
• Seaside Rendezvous 

There are many more I really like, but I cannot list them all. Queen are so good and I still do not get Pop music today when you can listen to rock music and music made for art and not simply for money.

Update and TBR List

Hi, have not blogged a lot recently because of work. In terms of my reading I have nearly finished reading A Game of Thrones, which was a re-read. My next plan is to tackle a long TBR pile. Here it is.

• Inkheart - Cornelia Funke 
• Inkspell - Cornelia Funke
• Inkdeath - Cornelia Funke
• A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens 
• Dash and Lily's Book of Dares - Rachel Cohn and David Levithan 
• Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follet 
•  Wuthering Heights -Emily Bronte 
• A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens 
• The Bloody Red Baron - Kim Newman 

This list may expand as I may get gifted books at Christmas, plus impulse buys at the sales in the winter. Starting to get into the Christmas spirit, and good books help keep me in a positive mood.

I do aim to review most of the books listed above once I read them. Happy reading.

Doctor Who The Finale Review

Warning spoilers from the start.

Missy is The Master and she has been harvesting the dead souls of humans to create a cyberman army. The Doctor is left with a massive task to try and save the human race. One could call it the cyberman apocalypse.

Clara shows her inner strength once again in this episode by claiming that she is the Doctor. Though it could be claimed that Clara steals the Doctor's limelight, I will miss her when here character leaves. Having an assistant who does not panic and has intelligence did really work as the Doctor faced someone who could compete with him intellectually. Clara is the impossible girl and has become a excellent companion to the Doctor. Though it is sad the Mr Pink got killed off, which I honestly did not see coming.

All in all this series of Doctor Who was decent but by know means the best series of Doctor Who. I still miss both David Tennant's and Matt Smith's portrayals of the Doctor. Saturday nights will be less exciting without the noisE of the TARDIS, though it will be back for Christmas :)

The Night Circus - Book Review

The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstren 

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it ...
It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. 

Reading this book was an experience. The author introduces us to two magicians who have been set against each other in a endless game of trickery, but they end up falling in love. The Night Circus provides the setting for a fun story of magic, romance and death.

I really enjoyed reading this book; it was easy to love and enjoy this book. I like the writing style and was able to follow the story despite it going backwards and forwards at times. I also like the fact that the main characters, Celia and Marco, both are studious and love to read books. The Night Circus is a book for people who love the magic of reading fiction.

This is one of my favourite reads of this year, I highly recommend you pick this book up.

4.8/5

Happy Quoting

I will be reviewing The Night Circus in my next blog post tomorrow. Today I am going to list a number of positive quotes and some funny quotes. Christmas is approaching and I am feeling in a positive mood, so hear we go.

"Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light." - J.K. Rowling 

"In order to carry a positive action we must develop here a positive vision."-Dalai Lama

"Ah gravity, thou art a heartless bitch." - Sheldon Cooper 

“If you trust in yourself. . .and believe in your dreams. . .and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”  - Terry Pratchett

“Let me give you some advice, bastard: Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like armor, and it can never be used to hurt you.” - George R.R. Martin (I could quote Tyrion Lannister forever.)

Hope you enjoyed the quotes I have selected, though I am tempted to do a similar post with a long list of Tyrion Lannister quotes. 

The Countdown to Christmas has begun

November has only really just got going and I am already looking forward to Christmas. The season of joy and good will is almost upon us. My seasonal posts will cover Christmas reading material and Christmas movies. Moreover, The last Hobbit movie is out on the 12th December in the UK, so effectively an early Christmas present.

Today I may listen to some of my favourite Christmas songs, along with upbeat happy songs to get me in the mood. I do intend to list my favourite cheerful songs on my blog soon.

I am also determined to take part in a Christmas reading challenge as well.

Tips about buying new books and making time to read

For a variety of reasons us readers can full into a reading slump. One of the biggest reasons is that one can get bored of reading books which are too similar to each other. In this post I aim to give tips to help you find the right new book.

1. Decide what kind of book you want to read? (Classic, contemporary, fantasy etc.)
2. Find book recommendations from either friends or from people who blog or vlog about books.
3. Browse the bookshops or do a search on Amazon, and decide what you may buy.

Once you have bought a book you need to find time to read. Before bed is a good time or when on a bus. Weekends are a good time to read, especially if you are the first one up, because you could read for an hour or two without interruptions.

I find that reading something you enjoy helps make reading more fun. Once you have the habit of reading in full swing you may decide to read something more challenging. For example, I read many fantasy and science fiction books this year but I also challenged myself and read Gulliver's Travels and Frankenstein. The important point is to enjoy your reading without fear of judgement and it is perfectly fine to read books that are aimed at younger readers, especially if they have exciting plots.

I am currently reading the Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, which I am enjoying so far. A review should be up reasonably soon.

Creative Minds I Admire

I am always amazed at how creative some people can be, so I am going to list the creative people that I admire the most. This list will include authors, artists, musicians and people from other professions.

• Freddie Mercury  - One of my favourite rock bands is Queen and Freddie is one of the reasons behind the band's success. A talented song writer who was one of the driving forces behind the creativity of the band. 
• Neil Gaiman - A famous comic-book writer and fantasy novelist, who I have recently started to enjoy reading. The Ocean At The End Of The Lane, is one of the most extraordinary books I have ever read. A modern fairy tale which deals with the issue of adults forgetting their childhood. 
• Leonardo da Vinci - An artist and inventor who was ahead of his time. Da Vinci was already coming up designs for a flying machine hundreds of years before the plane was invented. The Mona Lisa is one of the must famous paintings which helps keep people interested in Renaissance art. 
• J.K. Rowling - Creator of the Harry Potter series, who helped encourage a whole new generation to pick up books. No author since Tolkien has succeeded in creating a fantasy world which people obsess over until Harry Potter. Some people call the books overrated or unoriginal, but in reality J.K. Rowling has captured the imagination of millions worldwide and let us not forget that Tolkien was greatly inspired by Beowulf when writing The Hobbit.
• J.R.R. Tolkien - Often called the father of modern fantasy; he has created one of the most detailed fantasy worlds. Both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are epic novels which transports people to a world of Hobbits, Men, Elves, dwarfs and Dragons. Tolkien's novels have inspired film adaptations, games and the direction of the fantasy genre. Geeks and nerds alike owe a lot of their culture to Tolkien, so cheers. 
• Tim Burton - Has written or directed some of the best films of the modern age of cinema. I love his version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Sweeney Todd. I still need to watch Edward Scissorhands and need to re-watch Corpse Bride as well. 
• Steven Moffat - Currently head writer of both Doctor Who and Sherlock. The majority of the episodes he wrote when Matt Smith was the Doctor were amazing. Moreover, Sherlock is just genius, need I say more

There are many other creative people that admire, but I cannot fit them all on this list. 

Favourite Characters from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings

It is no secret that I love The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings. They are epic books and have been adapted into amazing movies. Below is a list of my favourite characters from Middle Earth.

1. Aragorn - The ranger of the North who becomes the King of Gondor. Aragorn is both wise and heroic at the same time. His destiny is closely linked with Frodo's and places a key role in bringing about the defeat of Sauron.
2. Gandalf - The wise wizard who guides both Bilbo and Frodo on their quests. Gandalf is very wise but has a lighter side which makes him more human than the power hungry Saruman. 
3. Frodo - Has to undertake the hardest task of all, taking the One Ring to Mordor and to destroy it. Frodo's story is about a humble Hobbit and his journey into the realms of evil, trying to resist temptation. Frodo has responsibility thrust upon him and he passes the test.
4. Galadriel - One of the oldest elves to still walk Middle Earth, she proves in advising Frodo about his path to take. She is as wise, if not more, than Elrond and is also Grandmother to Arwen. 
5. Gimli - A dwarf full of humour. In both the books and the films it is funny to see the growing relationship between Gimli and Legolas. At Helm's Deep they try to out do each other in the killing of Orcs. Elves and Dwarves do not always get along so it is nice to see Gimli make an attempt to befriend Legolas and improve Dwarfish relations with the elves. 
6. Bilbo - A simple Hobbit who wanted to the easy comfortable life; plenty of food and lots of tea (yes please). Gandalf pushes him into a dangerous adventure with 13 dwarfs which changes him forever. Bilbo becomes an adventurous Hobbit well learnt in Elvish lore. Bilbo's story is an attempt to encourage children and even adults to be a little more adventurous and see the world.   

A book: Escape from reality - Marketing the book

Have a spare hour and have nothing to do then here is the solution for you. A book provides the perfect escape from reality while still actively using your brain. Do you ever wish to imagine yourself in a fantasy world or solving a murder mystery, then pick up a book.

Books are generally cheap, portable and a hell of a lot of fun. Come to your local bookshop to admire the huge selection of books. For every interest there is a book for that. Books can take you to the past or indeed the future. So what are you waiting for go to the bookshop or library and pick up a book now!

The Big Bang Theory - Season 8 Episode 1: The Locomotion Interruption. Review

Last night saw The Big Bang Theory hit our screens again on e4. As usual Sheldon Cooper was his usual hilarious self. At the end of the last season Sheldon left to go on a train trip across the USA as life was getting on top of him. This episode explains what happened to Sheldon and his return to Leonard's apartment.

My favourite moment was probably when Sheldon quoted Sherlock Holmes in front of a police inspector. Sheldon has the knack of being blunt at the wrong times, but that is what makes him brilliant. The episode also updates us on the situation concerning Howard's mother and Stuart. The bro-mance between Howard and Raj is still there and still very funny.

I cannot wait for next weeks episode where hopefully we see how Sheldon and Amy move their relationship forward.

The Reason I Read Fantasy and Science Fiction

My favourite book genres are fantasy and science fiction; they are the book genres I read the most. I have recently got into reading books by Neil Gaiman, which have shown me how diverse the fantasy genre is. I read fantasy because I hope to lose myself in a fantasy world in hope that I will change my way of perceiving the world. For example, Harry Potter teaches the importance of friendship and the Lord of the Rings is a tale about war and fighting temptation for absolute power.

Getting oneself lost in the worlds created by fantasy authors enables me to leave this world and be transported to another. Getting lost in a good book is a unique experience itself, but getting lost in a fantasy world really helps to stretch the imagination. When one reads A Game of Thrones or Neverwhere, one gets transported into a completely different world. I could image the meetings at Kings Landing in A Game of Thrones and became engaged with the political games being played by Tyrion, Varys and Littlefinger.

One could also argue that fantasy books allows one to wonder into the minds of the authors. At times it feels that the author is speaking directly to you as the reader, and telling the story to you. Moreover, fantasy is more than magic and dragons, it is about the adventure, the use of myth and folklore, characters and world building.

To summarise, I read fantasy to escape the confines of reality, to relax my mind and to open my mind further to new ways of thinking. Also, I read fantasy for the epic story and amazing characters.

Doctor Who Series 8: Mummy on the Orient Express. Review.

The Doctor takes Clara on a trip on a space train, in an attempt to build bridges with Clara. Though in reality he is investigating the murders of passengers on a train. It could be said that this episode is like a classic Agatha Christie mystery, with a Sci-fi twist.

Frank Skinner, a British comedian, makes a guest appearance as a train engineer as they work out why only the victims can see a murdering mummy.

All in all a good episode, but not the best in the series. Peter Capaldi was excellent and you can feel that he is growing into the role as the Doctor.

Doctor Who Series 8 : Kill the Moon. Review

The Doctor takes Clara and one of her pupils to the moon, but in the future. The moon appears to be dying and is infested with alien spiders. A team sent from earth, armed with nuclear weapons are sent to do whatever is necessary to protect the earth.

This episode, without giving anything away, deals with a few ethical issues, and once again Clara is left to make the difficult decisions. This episode sees Clara's friendship with the Doctor get put to the test as the Doctor decides not take make the decision, which I will not say as it gives away the plot, to decide what is the most ethical thing to do.

I liked the development of the changing relationship between the Doctor and Clara, though the main plot is a little bit implausible. Though it is Doctor Who, so really plots can be as random as you want them to be. All in all a good episode.

Favourite Sheldon Cooper Quotes

With the new season of The Big Bang Theory starting next week in the UK, I am going to share my favourite Sheldon Cooper quotes. Sheldon Cooper is a brilliant character because he is himself and does not conform to social norms. Moreover, there is evidence to suggest that he has Asperger's Syndrome and has OCD. Sheldon is both funny and a character not afraid to speak his mind. I hope you enjoy the quotes that I have chosen.

• "One cries because one is sad. I cry because others are stupid, and that makes me sad." 
• "They were threatened by my intelligence and too stupid to know that's why they hated me."
• "Well, well, well, if it isn't Wil Wheaton. The Green Goblin to my Spider-Man, the Pope Paul V to my Galileo, the Internet Explorer to my Firefox!"
• "What type of computer do you have? And please don't say a white one." 
• "Wait, no. That's a false equivalency. More does not equal merry. If there was 2000 people in this apartment right now, would we be celebrating? No, we'd be suffocating."
• "You may not realize it, but I have difficulty navigating certain aspects of daily life. You know, understanding sarcasm, feigning interest in others, not talking about trains as much as I want. It's exhausting!"
• "Penny, while I subscribe to the "Many Worlds" theory which posits the existence of an infinite number of Sheldons in an infinite number of universes, I assure you that in none of them am I dancing."
• "Yet another child left behind."
• "I don't care if anybody gets it. I'm going as the Doppler effect. If I have to, I can demonstrate. NYEEEOOOOM." 

The Essential Reading List for Geeks

This is a list of essential reading material for people who consider themselves geeky. I intend to cover mostly fantasy novels, science fiction novels and some comics.

Books

• The Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien 
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams 
• A Game of Thrones - George R.R. Martin (Plus the rest of the books) 
• Good Omens - Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett 
• Ready Player One - Ernest Cline
• The Hobbit - J. R. R. Tolkien 
• The Discworld Series - Terry Pratchett 
• Dracula - Bram Stoker
• Frankenstein - Mary Shelley 
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - J. K. Rowling 
• Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card 
• The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Arthur Conan Doyle 
• Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll 
• The Chronicles of Narnia - C. S. Lewis 
• The Eye of the World - Robert Jordan 
• The Belgariad - David Eddings 
• Animal Farm - George Orwell 
• Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens 

Comics and Graphic Novels

• Sandman - Neil Gaiman 
• Maus - Art Spiegelman 
• Marvel Superheroes 
• Batman 
• Watchmen - Alan Moore 

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Discussion

Listening to Pippin's song this morning made me think about the impact that Tolkien has made on fantasy fiction an popular culture as a whole. The world of Middle Earth is so richly brought to life in both the books and in Peter Jackson's films. In this post I am going to discuss my favourite things about The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings.

Favourite Character
My favourite character is Aragorn simply because apart from Frodo he is the typical heroic king, who has to reclaim his throne. I also like the way that his character evolves from the guise of a ranger to the king of Gondor. Aragorn is both a strong warrior and well educated, as he was brought up in the House of Elrond.

Favourite Quotes
"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world." - The Hobbit

“So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” - The Lord of the Rings 

"It comes in Pints, I'm getting one" - Pippin in the Fellowship of the Ring (Movie) 

Books vs the Movies
In my opinion both the books and the films are equally awesome in their own unique ways. Both display a story focused on hobbits leaving the Shire and entering into a world under threat from dark powers. Tolkien's love of trees and nature is displayed both in the books and the films. The emblem of Gondor is a white tree and the Ents look after forests. More on Ents, it could be argued that the Ents attack on Isengard was a representation of nature fighting back against industry. 


Final Thoughts

The world of Middle Earth is truly magical and well thought out. Do not be afraid to be labelled a nerd if you admit to people that you really love Tolkien's work, because it is quality literature. If you have not read the books or watched the movies then get a move on as The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies is out in December.

Bonus blog

This post is mostly going to be random. I am going to discuss the positives and negatives of book to movie adaptations. Many movies popular at the cinema started of life in books; from Harry Potter to the Hunger Games and many other examples where books are made into movies. Some books make good movies and some do not. However, I intend to list the good points and then the bad points about book to movie adaptations.

Positives

• Advertises the book, which in turn gets more people to read. For example, the Lord of the Rings movies encouraged more people to try out the books.
• Provides a visual representation of the world described in the book. 
• Some books are poorly written but have a good plot which are more suited to the movie format.
• Stories become accessible to those who struggle to read or lack the ability to imagine the story taking place in their head.

Negatives

• Can encourage people to be lazy and take the attitude that there is no need to read a book as it will probably get made into a movie.
• Movie adaptations are not always true to the book.
• Can cause books to be over hyped and make more people over critical of certain books. For example, some people mock Harry Potter when they forget that the intended audience are younger readers. 

Hope you have enjoyed reading this post. Personally I support the adaptation of books into movies. 

Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman. Book Review

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
Published by Headline Publishing Group

Under the streets of London... It's a place most people never even dream of. A city of monsters and saints, murderers and angels, knights in armour and pale girls in black velvet. This is the city of the people who have fallen between the cracks.

Richard Mayhew, a young businessman is going to find out more than enough about this other London. A single act of kindness catapults him out of his workday existence and into a world that is at once eerily familiar and utterly bizarre. And a strange destiny awaits him down here, beneath his native city: neverwhere. 


An interesting novel, telling the story of Richard Mayhew, who was living an ordinary life until he got pulled into a dangerous adventure in London below. London below is a London which exists underneath the real London. The world underneath is like a fantasy world, but unlike fairy tales there is not a happy ending for everyone.

Other important characters are: Door, a young women saved by Richard Mayhew, and the mysterious Marquis de Carabas. Two murderers have killed Door's family, and it is left to Door, Richard and de Carabas to unmask the one behind it.

The story is both funny and dark. Gaiman cleverly mixes history with myth to create the vivid world of London below. I would describe this novel as a unique way of describing  society of people who are forgotten and ignored by the majority.


I really liked this book and would recommend this book to anyone, even if you are not a huge fan of fantasy. My only criticism is that there is not a sequel.

Rating: 10/10

Plot vs. Characters

As a reader it is always a conundrum when deciding if the plot is less or more important, than the characters in a book. I loved reading the Perks of Being a Wallflower, which was mostly character driven. When a novel is character driven you get to know the main character really well, I felt really did connect with Charlie in the Perks of Being a Wallflower. However, I also have a liking for fast paced plot driven novels. One example being Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. This novels has lots of funny characters which are used to enhance the plot. Good Omens is a really funny book but you never fully connect with a single character on an emotional level.

I believe that the plot can be balanced by detailed narrative concerning specific characters. It is no surprise to see book series like a Song of Ice and Fire and Harry Potter do so well. Both book series have interesting plots, but you also get to really know the characters. Granted the plot for a Song and Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Maritn, is long and complicated, but the fact the story is told through various viewpoints enables the reader to connect with many characters.

There is a reason why Dracula by Bram Stoker is still widely read and that is because it is a perfect balance between character development and plot building. In my opinion good films follow a similar formula. Iron 3 was better than Iron 2, because it balanced out the epic action sequences with good character development. As a viewer I want to know who Iron Man really is.

My conclusion is that character development is equally important as plot development, though neither work without a good setting and concept.

The Pokemon Tag

Just a fun tag where I associate pokemon with questions to do with interests and likes. I tag anyone who wishes to do this tag.

Rattata: What is your favourite thing to eat?

My favourite meal is Macaroni Cheese.  

Alakazam: What is your favourite book?

My favourite book is the Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. Fantasy is one of my favourite genres, and this is an amazing book. 

Chansey: How do you relax at the end of a stressful day?

When feeling stressed I put the kettle on and have a cup of tea. I also tend to read or watch TV to relax as well. Moreover, music is also a help, especially when one is feeling anxious. 

Porygon: Your favourite game? (video game or tabletop)

I sometimes play video games. My favourite game at the moment is Pokemon Y, though I will play any game that involves more than one player and have a mess around. 

Mewtwo: Your most powerful quote?

Exploud: What music do you listen to?

I listen to mostly rock music and music from movies. I love the Lord of the Rings soundtrack as it helps bring the films to life. 

Moltres: Dream holiday? 

I would love to visit Japan. The culture in Japan interests me as it is so different than Western culture. 

Birthday and New Books

I turned 23 this week and for my birthday I was given two books. They are both novels by Neil Gaiman. I am particularly looking forward to reading Neverwhere, urban fantasy is a genre I do want to get into.

My reading habits are changing as I am trying to read from a variety of different authors. Novels are pieces of art, sources of entertainment and portals into the minds of different people. Books cannot be replaced by films and video games, but I believe they can co-exist with each other. Personally I enjoy reading books, watching films and playing video games.

In my next blog post I will be discussing the importance of strong characters in a book or film versus the importance of a gripping plot.

Doctor Who - Series 8 - Time Heist

The Doctor is apparently forced into robbing a bank by the mysterious architect. He must lead a team including Clara, Psi and Saibra to follow the architect's instructions to rob the Bank of Karabraxos. The bank's security is tight which includes an alien called the Teller, which feeds on the thoughts of a person's mind until their mind becomes soup. The Teller senses guilt so the Doctor and the team must not show guilt. 

This episode involves a lot of more traditional Sci-fi elements; aliens, advanced technology and time travel. Spoiler alert, do not continue to read if you have not watched this episode. Towards the end of the episode it is revealed that the Doctor was the architect and that the robbery was a well planned heist in order to save the last two Tellers in existence. The reason for the memory wipe was to prevent the Teller from sensing any guilt. 

In this episode the Doctor take the lead and Clara is not quite the centre of attention as in previous episodes. Both David Tennant and Matt Smith did a fantastic job at being the Doctor, and I hope that Peter Capaldi gets the opportunity to bring something new to the character of the Doctor. 

Hunger Games, Animal Farm and liberty.

The books I have recently read have a common theme, liberty. The Hunger Games is about how one girl inspires a rebellion against a totalitarian state, the Capitol. Katniss is a strong character who has to deal with media attention, staying alive, keeping others alive and inspiring a rebellion. The plot of the Hunger Games trilogy is based around the fight for liberty. However, Katniss ends up becoming a tool to bring down President Snow and is given little liberty.

Animal Farm by George Orwell is about the animals rebelling against the human farmers and creating a farm run by pigs. Similar to the Hunger Games, the leaders of the rebellion become corrupted by power and become no better than the previous regime. The pigs become human, just like the Soviet Union became a totalitarian state. Orwell was a socialist, but he was against any state control that threatened human liberty.

Coin, leader of the rebellion became corrupted by power and saw Katniss as a threat to her ambition to become the next President of Panem. Power can even corrupt those who fight from liberty.

My interpretation of these two works of fiction do not completely address the issue of liberty and the methods to achieve it. Moreover, universal agreement of the definition of liberty needs addressing. Is liberty the freedom to do what we want or is it the freedom to live our lives whilst following the laws created by the politicians we vote for? If the latter, then the issue of constitutional reform becomes an issue. In the USA they have two elected houses and the President is also elected directly. The UK may need a similar system to become fully democratic.

Reading dystopian novels can help give answers because they create an image of a world in crisis. In times of crisis governments make tough unpopular decisions. I do intend to read Nineteen-Eighty-Four, because it deals with the issue of too many cameras watching our every move. CCTV cameras are supported by people who have nothing to hide, but there is a danger that increased surveillance could lead to a big invasion of our privacy. I will end the post here as the debate is endless.

Geek/Nerd Culture

I myself consider myself somewhere between being a geek and a nerd. I am obsessed with reading books, especially Sci fi and Fantasy. In terms of video games I really like Pokémon; I cannot wait for November for the new games. Lord of the Rings is my favourite book and film trilogy. I admire the amount of detail and work Tolkien put in to create Middle Earth.

In the 21st century geek/nerd culture has become a little more mainstream. More people are proud to proclaim their geekhood and now laugh in the face of ridicule. Most elements of being a geek are no longer looked down upon, though I do think that more people need convincing that reading is cool as well. Science fiction and fantasy novels, along with comic books and manga, are in my opinion are awesome and show that you are a true geek/nerd. I was a major Harry Potter geek, (I still am), which included reading the books, watching the films and owning some Harry Potter merchandise.

There is an old saying that geeks would one day inherit the earth. In a way they already have. Modern life is dominated by technology, the most popular films at the moment are sci-fi, fantasy or based off comic books and video games have become more universally popular. My only problem is people who pretend to be geeks to appear cool. I consider myself mostly a book geek, though I have other geeky passions, like playing pokemon. Though it is difficult to pretend to be a geek because geek culture is so diverse. There are book geeks, comic book geeks, video game geeks, technology geeks, tabletop gaming geeks, film geeks and many more. The diversity in geek/nerd culture is what makes it so great, lots of people being proud of having obsessions and intellectual interests.

My book recommendation if you consider yourself a bit of a geek/nerd is Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, though Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett is also awesome.

Doctor Who Series 8 - Robot of Sherwood Review

This episode I enjoyed quite a bit. The Doctor gets to meet the legend that is Robin Hood, though he himself cannot believe it. This episode deals a lot with the issue of rationality versus legendary heroism. The banter between the Doctor and Robin Hood was quite funny. The sub-plot involved robots and the sheriff of Nottingham. The robots add the sci-fi dynamic to this medieval themed episode, though the main part of the episode was focused on the Doctor and Robin Hood. Clara played the role of the clever seducer against the Sheriff of Nottingham. The episode was not perfect, and I still missing Matt Smith. This episode was pure fun and may not please die hard sci-fi fans, but perfect for family viewing. 

Doctor Who Seires 8 - Into the Dalek Review

This second episode sees the Doctor go inside a Dalek itself. The Doctor and Clara with a team of soldiers enter the Dalek with the hope of fixing it because it could be the first good Dalek. I love the concept of this episode as I have always wondered about how the thought process of Daleks works. However, my main problem with this episode is that it meanders a little in the middle. Moreover, I have still not got used to Peter Capaldi’s Doctor yet. The potential was there for this episode to be really great, but unfortunately the potential was not fulfilled. 

What I look for in a good book

Whether you are in a book shop or library, it is always difficult to try out a new book at random. Eye catching covers can help, but sometimes the opening chapter gives me an idea about the content of the book. My personal preference when it comes to books is that I want to read a book that keeps me interested.

An example of this is the Hobbit by Tolkien. The novel is a narration of Bilbo's adventures with 13 dwarves and Gandalf. The way the world in the Hobbit is described made me keep reading. Moreover, Tolkien's individual writing style makes the story even more connecting. The Hobbit is written as fairy tale for children, one could imagine Tolkien telling this story to his children.

For me to become totally lost in a book, then I do often need to get to know the characters. This is where authors like Pratchett and Dickens excel. For example, Pratchett clearly describes Vimes' habits and ways of thinking, which enables the reader to understand the political satire which ensues whenever Vimes has an interview with the Patrician, Lord Vetinari.

To sum up, a good book for me is a book with an interesting plot and characters which you get to know well. Though be warned George R. R. Martin may kill the characters you full in love in, if you enjoy reading the Song of Ice and Fire series.

Top 23 Fictional Characters

Below as part of my 23 themed month, as I am 23 on the 23rd of September, are my 23 favourite fictional characters.

1. Tyrion Lannister (A Song of Ice and Fire)
2. Aragorn (The Lord of the Rings)               
3. Samuel Vimes (Discworld)
4. Sherlock Holmes
5. Sheldon Cooper (The Big Bang Theory)
6. Luna Lovegood (Harry Potter)
7. Arya Stark (A Song of Ice and Fire) 
8. Iron Man (Marvel)
9. Jon Snow (A Song of Ice and Fire) 
10. Death (Discworld)
11. Wade (Ready Player One)
12. Captain Jack Sparrow 
13. The Doctor (Doctor Who)
14. Corporal Nobbs (Discworld)
15. Petry Baelish (A Song of Ice and Fire)
16. Hermione Granger (Harry Potter) 
17. Sweeney Todd
18. Mustrum Ridcully (Discworld)
19. Amy Pond (Doctor Who) 
20. Homer Simpson (The Simpsons)
21. Rajesh Koothrappali (The Big Bang Theory)
22. Gandalf (The Lord of the Rings)
23. Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games) 

Re-discovering Your Love of Books

Many people who enjoy reading books may sometimes find themselves in a reading slump. Quite often the reading slump is caused by struggling to get into a book or having a frantic busy period where it seems difficult to find time to read. I hope that these tips will help those who want to become more frequent readers.

1. Read something light to get back in the habit. Many times I have turned to children's books to get back in the habit of reading. Harry Potter or the Hobbit are my most frequent books I turn to to; when one is fulling out of love with reading. 
2. Read something funny. Choosing to read a book that is funny can make oneself feel more positive and may promote a love for books. The best bit about reading for pleasure is that you can read anything you want. Good writing is subjective so do not feel ashamed to read a book which may seem childish or silly, because no one should judge you. One of my favourite authors is Terry Pratchett, a writer of satirical fantasy. The basic idea is try to make reading fun to start with before tackling a more serious read.
3. Read when you can. Even if you only can read in twenty minute bursts, it still is time well spent reading. On other days you may have a spare hour to read and on other days you may only find ten minutes. However, to keep the habit going it is worth trying to read a little every day. My advice also is that if you are not enjoying a specific book, then stop and read another book which you will enjoy and read the abandoned read another time. The first time I tried to read the Lord of the Rings I could not get into it, but on my second attempt after reading other books, I found myself addicted to the book.
4. Expand your reading tastes. For example, if you are growing tired of fantasy novels then try darker fantasy or horror. Reading more genres enables you to discover new authors which will hopefully promote a greater love for books. I used to read mostly fantasy, but now will read books like Dracula and World War Z, which I loved. Treat books like films, read action packed books as well as more methodical emotional reads like Frankenstein. Some books like the Hunger Games, are both emotional and action packed. 

World War Z - Max Brooks. Book Review

This book completely exceeded my expectations. I usually do worry when reading a book hyped up to be good and then it turns out it is not, with this book that was not the case. World War Z is a well thought out novel about how humanity would deal with a zombie apocalypse.

The novel is written in the style of a news reporter interviewing different people around the world about their experiences during the zombie war. Reading the different stories about the zombie war made the story about largely the human condition. Max Brooks is trying to get the reader to imagine themselves in a position where it is you who has to kill what was once a person. The use of different ethical dilemmas make this novel more than simply a novel about a war involving humans and zombies killing each other.

Unlike novels focusing on a select number of characters, World War Z is about the human experience and how different people experienced World War Z. It could be described as a documentary about World War Z in book form. I would hugely recommend this book to anyone with an interest in zombies and a like for dystopian novels.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Doctor Who Series 8 - Episode One - A Deep Breath. Review

The first episode for Peter Capaldi to feature as the Doctor. Peter's Scottish accent may take time getting used to, but my first impression is that Peter will play the role of the Doctor well. Similar to past re-generations, the Doctor struggles to get used to his new body. This episode was always going to be more of an introduction to Peter Calpaldi's Doctor almost comparable with David Tennant's first episode as the Doctor.

Like every episode of Doctor Who, random things happen. Deep Breath has everything from a dinosaur to killer cyborgs. Moreover, this episode deals with the a change in dynamic of the relationship between Clara and the Doctor. The cheery energetic Doctor of Matt Smith is very much gone, to replaced by a Doctor who is eccentric but yet not as flamboyant as before. I have done my best to keep this review spoiler free for those yet to watch this episode. I intend to post short reviews on every episode of this series of Doctor Who, so stayed tuned for more next week.

In Defence of Reading

Reading is fun. Reading is a cheap hobby. If one feels stressed then one can rely on a good book to read. Fed up with the humdrum of riding a bus, then read a fantasy novel and imagine you are riding a dragon. Reality is about perception but how we change reality depends on the imagination.

The written word is an art form capable of inspiring happiness as well as making oneself sad. Be warned words have the power to inspire revolutions and radical political movements. However, books do have a lighter side. Through the power of books, one can read the musings of a person who lived hundreds or even thousands of years ago. Everyone has their own opinion and books preserve that opinion for future generations to read. One could argue that the opinions of Charles Dickens are still relevant when talking about social issues in the UK.

The future brings new problems, new technology but human nature has changed little over time. Greed has always existed and conflict is nothing new. In a world full of negativity one needs joy. In my opinion, books bring joy to millions of people. Reading allows oneself to think deeply about the world in the mind and the real world. Books can offer an escape, but they also help change one's perspective on life itself.

What I am Reading Now.

Currently I am reading World War Z by Max Brooks. A book giving a detailed account of a zombie apocalypse. I am enjoying the book so far, as it is clear that the author has really thought long and hard about what would happen in the event of a war against zombies for the survival of humanity.

This book is my first zombie novel and it will not be my last. I am only halfway through the book and I already rate it highly. World War Z can easily be classified as a  dystopian novel about a zombie outbreak. The dystopian genre is interesting as it allows the reader to create a world in their head of an earth where humanity is fighting to survive. I may talk further about the dystopian book genre in a future post. A full review of this book should be up some point next week.

Have a good week and keep reading.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower By Stephen Chosky. My Thoughts.

This book is about a 15 year old boy called Charlie. Charlie is an introverted teenager who has just started his first year at High School. Having no friends at first he writes letters about his life at High School. The key story in the letters being how Charlie became friends with Sam and Patrick.

The letters form the basis of the novel, which deals with a number of teenage issues. The issues include sex and sexuality, drugs, relationships and emotions. Charlies is a bookish teenager who is trying to learn to survive in social situations for the first time.

Personally as the reader I can relate to Charlie and how he finds the extroverted world of partying and drug taking alien. I connected well with the main character and enjoyed the style of Chosky's writing. It is similar to the Catcher in the Rye but much more focused on the emotions of a person considered as a social outcast my most of his peers.

I would recommend this book to anybody who likes to read YA fiction and is understanding of the challenges of being an introvert in a world dominated by extroverts. 

Favourite Book Quotes

A collection of my favourite book quotes.

"How dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to be greater than his nature will allow." - Mary Shelley, Frnakenstein.

"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world." - J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit. 

"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only one." - George R.R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons. 

“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." - J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. 

"Humans need fantasy to be human. To be the place where the falling angel meets the rising ape." - Terry Pratchett, Hogfather. 

"To give the short version, I've learnt that every human being, with or without disabilities, needs to strive to do their best, and by striving for happiness you will arrive at happiness. For us, you see, having autism is normal -- so we can't know for sure what your 'normal' is even like." - Naoki Higashida, The Reason I Jump. 

My Book Recommendations

This post concerns books I would recommend reading. This list will cover a range of genres, so there should be something for everyone.

Fantasy Book Recommendations

• The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien
• The Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien
• A Game of Thrones - George R.R Martin
• The Colour of Magic - Terry Pratchett 

I would recommend these book to readers who enjoy a tale driven by world building and character development

Books for Younger Readers or Young Adult 

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - J.K. Rowling
• The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
• The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger 
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl

These are fun books to read if you are still in your teens, though they can be enjoyed by older readers. Reading for pleasure requires reading enjoyable books, so do not feel guilty about reading these books even if you are an adult. 

Classics

• Dracula - Bram Stoker
• Frankenstein - Mary Shelley 
• Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens 
• The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Arthur Conan Doyle

Classics by nature are tougher reads because they often use words which have fallen out of usage. However, the classics listed above are some of my favourites and are worth a read. Dracula is a classic vampire book which helped define the horror genre. Sherlock Holmes also is worth reading if you are a fan of mystery and intellectual thinking. 

Books for Nerds

• Ready Player One - Ernest Cline
• Good Omens- Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
• All the Sherlock Holmes short stories and novels by - Arthur Conan Doyle

The books listed above are well suited, in my opinion, to to nerdy readers who enjoy science fiction and fantasy, clever humour, and intellectual mystery. Ready Player One is especially suited to those who have an interest in the pop culture of the 1980s, geek culture especially.  

Reading Update

As a reader I enjoy reading books with a plot which engages me. The plot for twilight failed to set my imagination alight, so I stopped reading it. I am currently reading the Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb.

The Royal Assassin is the second book in the Farseer Trilogy; a trilogy focusing on royal politics, assassinating people and two branches of complex magic. The two branches of magic are the Skill and the Wit, which I will not be discussing in this blog post (spoilers). Royal Assassin is like other fantasy books I have read as it has plenty of world building, combined with interesting characters and a plot to keep you guessing. A full review of Royal Assassin will be posted not long after I finish reading the book.

As a glorified bookworm, one does enjoy the pleasure of reading a good book. On a daily basis I suffer from anxiety. Reading a good book helps distract the mind to reduce my anxiety. A big reason why reading is one of my favourite pastimes.

Update

I am an open minded person when it comes to reading books, so I have decided to give the Twilight series a read. Twilight has got a lot of bad rep dues to criticism over the quality of the writing. I am a few chapters in and I am already entertained. Sure it is by no means the best book I have ever read but I am enjoying it more than I thought I would.

I am a fan of first person narratives like Frankenstein, the Catcher in the Rye among others, so I am happy that Twilight is written from Bella’s perspective.  Reading from a different viewpoint may help me change my view on the world, which is a positive of reading a range of different books.

The review of the entire Twilight saga will be posted as soon as I have finished reading all the books. Have fun reading. 

Harry Potter and Me

I am having a good week helping to create a outdoor reading space at a primary school. Makes me more proud and passionate about my favourite hobby, reading. Today I have decided to discuss the impact that the Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling, has had on my life.

Before reading Harry Potter I was a casual reader, with an imagination in need of being exercised. A friend recommended the Harry Potter series to me, so I read Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in one week. The result was dazzling, I fell in love with the characters immediately and often fantasized about receiving my Hogwarts letter. For the first time a book was able to draw my mind completely out of the real world and into a fantasy world dominated by magic, trolls, goblins and many other fantastical creatures. Every time the I received the latest Harry Potter book it was like Christmas come early. My passion for books was unlocked.

My favourite character is Luna Lovegood, because she is different and she does not fear judgement. Moreover, Luna's philosophy is based off faith, which is still relevant today despite Science trying, unsuccessfully, to disprove all religions and supernatural events. Luna was introduced, in my opinion, as a perfect companion to go alongside Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Neville.

My teenage years were very stressful, dominated by anxiety. When I needed to get away everything I could escape to Hogwarts and in my mind recreate the story of Harry Potter as I was reading. In the age where many choose to use video games as a form of escape it is a great achievement that J.K. Rowling managed to encourage a new generation of passionate readers, we all say thank you.

The Long Mars - Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter. Book Review

Publication Date:19th June 2014
Publisher: Doubleday

The third book in the Long Earth series which explores the Long Mars. The first two books introduced the concept of stepping between parallel Earths which differ from each other. Some Earths have life and there are some that do not. Our earth known as the datum is the only earth where humans exist.

Pratchett and Baxter develop the idea of infinite parallel words further by introducing the Long Mars, an infinite number of Mars where some have life on them.

I adore the characters, especially Lobsang, a deceased Tibetan monk whose spirit resides in a network of computers, (sometimes referred as the God of the Long Earth). Lobsang's philosophy combined with the ethical issues dealt in the Long Earth series make this Science Fiction series a must read. The only possible negative is the constant switching between characters, which for some readers may be completely alien because there are readers who want to get to know the characters properly before the plot starts to quicken.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars  

Catch up

I have nearly finished my re-read of the Lord of the Rings. I really like Tolkien' s writing, which brings Middle Earth to life. The journey which one goes on in this book shows the amazing power of books.

I intend to re-read a Terry Pratchett book in hope to laugh out loud and to keep my current pace that I am reading books at. Book review of the Long Mars by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter will be coming soon.

Life of a Reader

I go to a bookshop and buy a book with the intention of reading that book. The book gathers dust as one neglects to read the unread book. Favourite books are re-read and still the new book remains unread. Eventually I decide to read the once new book and my mind is blown and I begin to wonder why I did not read the book at the first opportunity. This all part of the fun of being a reader.

Physical Books vs E-readers

Generally I prefer to read physical books, though I have started to read more book on my Kindle. Below I am going to list reasons why physical books are better than e-books and then a list of reasons of why e-books are better than physical books.

The Positives of Physical Books

• Turning a page-The feeling one gets when turning a page with the anticipation of what I am going to read on the next page. Moreover, it does feel natural not to read a book without the physical action of turning a page. Some books are called page turners for a reason.
• Displaying Books- The major advantage of physical books is that you are able to display your book collection on a bookshelf for all to see. It is easy to store 1000 books on an e-reader, but nobody can see the books you own. Displaying the books you own is a way of letting a visitor to your house know something about yourself. 
• The smell of old books- Many readers, myself included, love the smell of old books. For me the smell of an old book gives it character, because the book may have been read and enjoy by many readers before myself gives me the sense of the power of a good book. E-books are digital products which lack the same character and history of a second-hand physical book. 
• Visiting a bookshop- Despite the age of the internet I do still like to visit my local bookshop to browse and buy new books. One picks up a book that catches my eye, reads the blurb, and may decide to buy the book straight away. Also, the staff in bookshops are often book lovers themselves and may recommend books similar to the book you are purchasing.

The Positives of E-books

• The ability to carry more books at once- Choosing how many books to pack for a holiday can be a pain, especially if you have limited room in your suitcase. An e-reader enables you to take more than enough books with you on your holiday, and if you can access WiFi on holiday you can also purchase more e-books as well.
• Access to books not stocked in a bookstore- In the age of the internet book bloggers and booktubers are recommending books which may not be available at bookshops in your country. However, thanks to e-book stores such as the kindle store and the kobo store, one is able to purchase a book recommended by somebody in America relatively easily. 
• Free e-books- Many e-books, such as classics, are available to download for free. If you feel guilty about not having read books by Charles Dickens or Jane Austin and you are low on money, you are able to download these e-books for free. Most book lovers want to read as many books as possible, and free classics downloaded from the internet is a simple way to increase your collection of books. 
• Saving trees- E-books requires no paper. Therefore, in the long run if more people were to switch to e-readers, it would decrease the demand for paper and may save trees. Of course, e-readers are not totally environmentally friendly because they require electricity, which is generated by the burning of fossil fuels.

  Thanks for reading, feel free to let me know your preference in the comments and I hop to have a review of the Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman up by the end of the month. 

My Favourite Books

1. The Lord of the Rings- J.R.R. Tolkien 
2. The Hobbit- J.R.R. Tolkien 
3. Night's Watch-Terry Pratchett
4. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone- J.K Rowling 
5. Little Dorrit- Charles Dickens 
6. Good Omens- Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
7. A Dance With Dragons- George R.R. Martin 
8. Ready Player One- Ernest Cline
9. Pandemonium- Lauren Oliver
10. Thief of Time- Terry Pratchett 

Pandemonium My First Book Review

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver 
Published by: Harper Collins Children's Books, 2012. 

Rating 8.3/10

The second book in the Delirium trilogy, where Lena experiences to full reality of what it means to be an invalid and working for the resistance. Like the first book, Pandemonium takes place in a world where love is considered a disease. Dystopian themes relating to state control, censorship and lack of liberty are explored to a certain extent in this novel.

The relationship which develops between Lena and Julian is interesting because Lena was in a relationship with Alex in the first book, which meant Lena felt guilty about having feelings for Julian. The fact that Julian is the son of the leader of the DFA (Deliria-Free America) adds a second dimension to the relationship between Lena and Julian. Julian was raised like Lena was that deliria was a contagious disease and that the cure was the only solution. 

I enjoyed the plot in this book, which I felt to be slightly better than Delirium. The most interesting new character introduced in this book is Raven, a young woman who wants totally forget her past life before she escaped into the Wilds. To learn more about Raven and her role as the leader of a community in the Wilds read the book, I do not want to spoil it for those who have not read the book.


 A solid second book to a trilogy, cannot wait to read the final book.