Christmas/January Book Haul

This post is very very late as it is already into February! I've had a lot going on, so as I've finally got some head space I would go back to blogging!

For Christmas I received quite a few books and gift vouchers so these are all my lovely purchases!

Wreck This Journal by Keri Smith

After going through my friend's Wreck This Journal and watching countless YouTube videos, I decided to put this on my list to see what the fuss was about. After flipping through several times, I absolutely love the idea, however I am not one to even crack the spine on a book and would rather keep it in mint condition! So it has been a personal uphill battle to tear pages out but I'll get over it just this once! 

I'm quite excited to do the whole book and see the final result!

Poetry First Aid Kit by Abbie Headon

As a lover of poetry, my mum was spot on with this! It's such a beautiful book and I keep it in my bag for a little poetry fix through out the day. Poetry First Aid Kit is a collection of poems chosen by Abbie Headon. They are put into catagories depending on the situation you're in. For example some of the categories are: 

• Everyday Life
• Student Days
• Romance
• Love's Challenges
• Dealing with People
• Work and Money

there quite a few more along the same lines! Each category has a little poem for a particular situation within the topic. I love reading it on the bus or just at home. Definitely worth buying!

Quiet  by Susan Cain

At least one-third of the people we know are introverts. They are the ones who prefer listening to speaking, reading to partying; who innovate and create but dislike self-promotion; who favor working on their own over brainstorming in teams. Although they are often labeled “quiet,” it is to introverts that we owe many of the great contributions to society–from van Gogh’s sunflowers to the invention of the personal computer.

Passionately argued, impressively researched, and filled with indelible stories of real people, Quiet shows how dramatically we undervalue introverts, and how much we lose in doing so. Taking the reader on a journey from Dale Carnegie’s birthplace to Harvard Business School, from a Tony Robbins seminar to an evangelical megachurch, Susan Cain charts the rise of the Extrovert Ideal in the twentieth century and explores its far-reaching effects. She talks to Asian-American students who feel alienated from the brash, backslapping atmosphere of American schools. She questions the dominant values of American business culture, where forced collaboration can stand in the way of innovation, and where the leadership potential of introverts is often overlooked. And she draws on cutting-edge research in psychology and neuroscience to reveal the surprising differences between extroverts and introverts.

I haven't got round to reading this book yet but it has been on my wish list for quite a while. I think it's a book you have to concentrate on so when I've finished my current books I'll have a read of this! 

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September favourites!

Sorry it's a bit late, college is taking up all my time!


 

I absolutely love this product from Nivea as it refreshes my skin but it also feels so clean! As I have really dry skin, it can be hard to find a hydrating face wash that doesn't just dry my face out - especially as we're fast approaching winter. I tend to use it in the shower before I wash my hair as I can just wash it off easily. However, as it is a gel it's very easy to use as a general face wash in the mornings. I bought this product from Superdrug for £3.59 which is pretty cheap for face stuff. I shall definitely be using this all winter!


Nivea refreshing facial wash

I recently went shopping with Louie as he had to get his weekly shop. As he was looking at the range of meats, I wandered over to the tea section and found this lovely box. I've had at least to cups a day in the past week (slightly addicted!). I love cranberry juice and heard it's lovely as tea - M&S came to the rescue! The tea it's quite fruity and refreshing but also very subtle which is rather lovely. Funnily enough it tastes nice hot or cold and is very cheap at only £1. I can't find it online but it would be in most M&S shops. 

10/10!!

I've only recently got back into the Arctic Monkeys and what a fabulous time it is! AM is one of my favourite albums this year by far. The album certainly shows how wonderful Alex Turner is. My favourite song definitely has to be 'Do I Wanna Know?' the guitar riff and beat is so good! Arabella is also rather splendid. I would definitely recommend this album to anyone who likes good music!

Arctic Monkeys - AM

This book was sort of a hope you feel better present after a really bad week from Louie and it was such a great choice I wondered if he had found my book list. All the reviews I had read compared the writing and story to John Green, so it must be pretty good It's about a boy who went from being popular and have everybody know him to suddenly sitting at the table with people known as 'the misfits'. I haven't quite finished it yet but so far it is wonderful. The book is so wonderfully written and so engaging I can't quite put it down. I would recommend this book to any John Green fans, or fans of chick lit.

Severed Head, Broken Hearts by Robyn Schneider

Thank you for reading!

Slumping

I've recently started going back to college and it has already worn me out. I'm in my final year and hoping to go to university next year which means I have to work 10 times as hard as I did last year! Having troubles outside of college does not help in the slightest either - so I'm already questioning whether I'll get the grades I need to go to my desired uni. I know that if I work hard I will probably get the grades, I just never have any motivation regarding college. Since starting college, I've gone back into my little slumping state where I'd rather not communicate with anyone or do anything other than stay at home and read. I've found it's so much easier to plan everything and say you're going to things then actually do them!!! On a positive note, it is my last year and I finish in May/June, yay!!

Book Review: Ketchup Clouds

Fifteen year old Zoe has a secret - a dark and terrible secret that she can't confess to anyone she knows. But one day she hears of a criminal, Stuart Harris, locked up on death row in Texas. Like Zoe, Stuart is no stranger to secrets. Or lies. Or murder.

I stumbled upon this book on a random trip to a book shop and I am so glad I did! Ketchup Clouds is one of my favourite reads of 2013.

This book is about Zoe coping with her daily life whilst trying to keep her big secret from the world. Zoe decides she can't keep her secret in anymore so decides to write letters to Stuart Harris on death row as he is all to familiar with her situation. Zoe tells him about the events leading up to the big event and how things got to that point. The letters include her troubles deciding between Max and Aaron, her parents troubles, her little sister who is deaf and her feelings throughout the book. The book did lack in mentioning Zoe's friends which made me feel as though it was lacking in her teenage social life which may have made it a bit more relatable to some situations in Zoe's life

Sometimes Zoe was quite unlikeable on how she treats Max, Aaron and her parents, however, Pitcher made up for this by showing us a softer side to Zoe when comforting her younger sisters. I especially liked the way Zoe communicated with her sisters and was always there no matter how big the problems in her life were.

I definitely recommend this book to fans of YA novels!

Book Review: Heart Shaped Bruise

When Archway Young Offenders Institution is closed down a notebook is found in one of the rooms.
"I have to start by saying that this isn't an apology. I'm not sorry. I'm not"
That is this notebook.
"They say I'm evil and everyone believes it. Including you. But you don't know."
It's pages reveal the dark and troubled mind of Emily Koll, Archway's most notorious inmate.
"Sometimes I wonder if I'll just carry them around with me forever like a bunch of red balloons.

I received this book for Christmas last year, and had finished it by Boxing Day! It's a book that I would happily read over & over again!

Heart Shaped Bruise is absolutely brilliant and so well written. The story line is clever, addicting and thrilling all at once.
Emily Koll writes about how she came to be in the young offenders institution and what life is like inside. Even though Emily is the antagonist in the book, I can't quite help but really like her. Her dry sense of humour and view on life is quite intriguing making her some what rather likeable!
Tanya Byrne gives us an insight into Emily's mind, relationships, opinions and what life was like before conviction.

I would highly recommend this to anyone and everyone! I'm looking forward to reading Tanya Byrne's most recent book!

Book Review: Looking for Alaska

"In the dark beside me, she smelled of sweat and sunshine and vanilla, and on that thin-mooned night I could see little more than her silhouette, but even in the dark, I could see her eyes - fierce emeralds. And not just beautiful, but hot too"
Alaska Young. Gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, screwed up - and utterly fascinating. Miles Halter could not be more in love with her. But when tragedy strikes, Miles discovers the value and the pain of living and loving unconditionally.

Looking for Alaska was a deep and powerful read. It's a tale about love, loss, growing up and friendships. John Green writes Looking for Alaska in Miles' point of view, we see the world through his eyes as he goes through the journey of a new school, new friends and new experiences. I found this novel incredibly engaging, interesting and so beautifully written.

A part of the story I particularly liked was how Miles' main interest was famous people's last words. It perfectly intwined with the storyline and made it all more special. The only downside was a friend of mine told me the whole ending of the story meaning I wasn't shocked when it happened, it ruined the intensity for me as I knew what happened. I wouldn't let this put you off though!!

I recommend this book for all YA enthusiasts and John Green fans.