What Alice Forgot Review

I have not done a review for such a long time! I don’t think I’m going to be doing it the way I usually do either. I just really want to write what I thought, my likes and dislikes. I guess, in that way this isn’t really a review, it’s just some of my thoughts.

Book Breakdown:

Imagine finding yourself, flat on the floor, in the middle of gym, complete strangers around you. Completely terrified you ask for someone to ring your loving, newly married, husband… Just too find out that you are getting divorced, have three children and have completely forgotten the last 10 years.

This is what has happened to Alice.

Positive Personal Perspective:

I thought that with a book that was about forgetting, I thought that I might become confused with the constant coming and back forth as (I thought) she might remember. I didn’t feel like I was getting confused at all. It’s one of those books written from the perspective of a couple of characters, and those can usually get quiet confusing, but I didn’t feel like that (until the ending).

Negative Personal Perspective:

I have to say I really did enjoy this book. The ending, I have to be honest, I got really confused  It almost felt like “Gotta finish this somehow” and then…I just became confused, I had to go back and reread what I had already read. I thought that somehow that there was just a huge tonne of characters being mixed up, or that I had somehow missed out an entire chapter. Turns out, it wasn’t, it was just the ending.
In hindsight, what lead up to the ending of the book, made the ending, make sense. I just don’t really read books going “I hope to have to reread this in case something doesn’t make sense, straight away”. It might be me being fussy, I like being able to understand straight away.

The End

However, apart from that one complaint, the rest of it was absolutely fantastic! It was a book that made me think, if something similar happened to you, would you want to even remember the last 10 years of your life? Despite everything you might miss, would it make you much more less bitter? Would it help you give a new lease to your life? Would it make you look at your current life a little different, and would you change just, a little on the inside. Would you decide to live your dreams from years ago? Every time I’d finish reading it a bit more, I would have all these questions in my mind, about my own life

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The Body in the Library

First Impressions:

Once again this is one of the books that I haven’t read but have seen numerous times on the television. It’s actually one of my favourites in the series. I started to read this with great anticipation. I really enjoyed the first couple of chapters. This is a book with Miss Marple in it, but she wasn’t in that much in the beginning. Yet, I’ve been enjoying it nevertheless.

Positive Impressions:

I really enjoyed this book, it’s interesting, especially at the beginning it doesn’t have Miss Marple in it that much. The reason why I found this so interesting was because in the show, she’s pretty much there straight away. There were a few differences, which I was actually glad of. It meant that when I read the ending it was a lot different than the television episode, which gives it a nice surprise. Of course the writing is beautiful. I would call the book gay in it’s original word sense. Even though it was about a body and a murder, it was quiet jolly.

Negative Impressions:

The only truly bad thing that I could say about the book was that a couple of the characters in the book itself. Although it was a happy read, some of the characters, for my liking were just a bit too happy. It could possibly be about my own cynical side coming through. I have a hard time believing that even if you know your husband is not guilty and you don’t know the victim. They were still found dead in your house and your husband in being accused of their murder, no one could possibly be THAT excited about it.

Next book:

Peril at End House

If you wish to learn more about the Agatha Christie Reading Marathon, please check This is my truth now – Agatha Christie Marathon

Fury Born Review

The Break Down:

Angels are Demons, and chosen ones seem to always fall to the dark side. You are taken along on the journey of two different female protagonist. You realise fairly early on who is who and who they are supposed too. It’s very much about the demon and angel within us all and how the choices we make affect us and those around us.

Positive Review:

I enjoyed most of this book. I think it definitely written for a young audience, I think it’s written for your Young Adult audience. The introduction was fantastic and it really will drag you in and make you want to keep reading. I always love a book that can drag me in to start with. The challenge is always keeping the reader interesting the rest of the way…

Negative Review:

Which then leads me to my negative review…The parts of the book that did frustrate me was the repetitiveness of the chapters. The same theme happening over and over again. I’m afraid to say that it became boring after a couple of chapters. I was hoping for something more.  I wish that instead of Rielle fighting with another element, every single chapter and nothing really that much more. It could have been condensed into a couple of longer chapters instead. I felt like it was dragging on and it didn’t need to be. I became one of those people who briefly read the ending just to make sure something does happen at the end.

My Breakdown:

It starts off SO well. I can’t express how much the beginning of this book got me involved into it. I wanted to know everything about everyone, by the 6th chapter I felt like I knew where the story was going. The rest of the book felt a bit too dragged out.  Then as you head towards the ending of the book, it drags you back in again and it feels like it is going somewhere. I will be getting the book in the next series, but possibly I’ll borrow it from the Library first.

The Murder at the Vicarage

First Impressions:

It felt like I could honestly hear Geraldine’s McEwan’s “Miss Marple” as the Miss Marple in this book. It was uncanny! It was a very weird feeling, but it also made me feel happy to keep reading it as she was my favourite Miss Marple. Did anyone else feel like that as well?

Positive Impressions

I really enjoyed this classic novel! You can tell why Agatha Christie is one of the greats! I have seen this novel on tv and I still couldn’t remember how the two who “did the murder” how they did it. I did not skip to the end. It is a pretty short novel compared to some around her time and those of time, but it just means it makes good for some who finds reading boring. A little bit more pleasurable. (I don’t, but I would highly recommend this for someone who finds it difficult to read long books).

Negative Impressions

Too be completely honest with you all…I didn’t really have anything bad to say about this book. There was one point where I think they got the names wrong, but it was only once, if it happened. The writing was beautifully written and as I mentioned before, I have seen the tv series. However, I could not remember why and how they did it.

I did not read the ending of the book first.

Next book:

“The Secret Adversary”

If you wish to learn more about the Agatha Christie Reading Marathon, please check This is my truth now – Agatha Christie Marathon

March Goals…Too tick or not too tick?

• Write up about the Anxiety apps that I have found about over the last month. I will try and do this in next couple of weeks.

I did do this one and if you missed it or you just started following me or you lost it (i couldn’t find the original post myself,lol) Please find it here at: Like Peas in a Pod

• Get some craft supplies to start crafting ideas I’ve seen.

Okay so I have started to kind of do this one. My meaning with “kind of” is that  don’t have the actual supplies yet. However, I do know what I want to do. When my next pay comes around I am heading to the craft and charity shops! I am SO excited too, because I finally know what I want to do!

• Make sure my Winter clothes fit me…(We’re in Autumn at the moment, heading into Winter).

I’ve been doing this and I found that there were a couple of cardigans that don’t really fit anymore. Most of my jumpers still fit, except for one, it was always a little tight to begin with. Now I’m just making sure that my jeans all still fit, I haven’t had any of them on since last Winter.

• Look into how to start drawing…I am such a visual person and I have wanted to start learning how to draw…I think it’d be perfect!…I’m also open to any suggestions.

I haven’t even honestly even started looking into this. I just completely forgot about it altogether.

• Look into doing a pyjama movie night for my birthday.

One minute I want too do, the next I think…I’m too old for a pj party, then the next I am inspired again. So I have been looking into it and have seen some great ideas! I’m just wondering if I’m too old for one?

• Look for a frame that will fit 4 A4 size pictures in.

I keep forgetting to do this one! But I really want to do it!

Take 2!

I have decided to do a bit of a different review this time. I am kind of doing two at the same time, just not necessarily a whole review of each book.

I want to review and compare between the two. Both the books that I’ve read over the last month or so, are the second books in a series. I thought it’d be interesting to see how I felt they were the same, different etc.

*Now I’ll just also say that I am not doing any spoilers either*.

I decided because I was reading two of the most Young Adults series writers. I would compare what I thought of the two.

Now I just want to say that I am enjoying both of the novels…This is just a comparison, mainly on my observations.

Main Characters:

Similar: Both books have a young female as their lead characters…(Yay, Female empowerment). It’s actually part of the reasons that I wanted to compare the two really. They are both very similar but the writing is very different. Both female leads have a male love interest that pretty much throughout the end of the first book and the start of the second books, there has been some sort of quarrel. Which means at the beginning of both books the two love interests are not together, but there is tension as the books goes along.

Difference: In Endless Knight the two main love interests get back together rather early again. There was some serious miscommunication between the two. In the end though they ended up getting together. Also Endless Knight is not nearly as long as Lord of Shadows.

Lord of Shadows is a little different, at the end of the first book it seemed like they were going to get together, but then realised that they could not. Which means during the second book (I have not read all of it at this stage, but I there’s isn’t much story left for a romance). It doesn’t seem like they will get back together at this particular stage/book.

Conclusion: It makes you want to keep reading Lord of Shadows, because the two characters are going through so much. Including denying being together, the forbidden! Although the love interests between the two in Endless Knights makes me want them to get back together. I felt like they got back together really quickly considering there is a lot going on. However, I do understand it because of  what happens at the end of the book. If Endless Knight was a longer book, they probably would have gotten together later. It just felt more “Oh I don’t hate” “I don’t hate you either” “Let’s get together”. It felt a little rushed.

Theme/Plot

Similar: Both books take place in a “modern” type era, but these young women have discovered in the first book that there is some kind of magic land hiding. Both women end up being some kind of “Prodigy”, one-of-a-kind, destiny fulfilling…You get where I’m going with this…

Both of their parents are dead, usually killed by the monsters that they are now hunting. That’s how they discovered their new magical world. They both have another male “interest”. Which you get the feeling that if something happens to the other male love interest, the girls will be fine. Which kind of puts a damper on the whole “soul mate” bit. With one of Cassandra Clare’s series, this actually really annoyed me.

Difference: Endless Knight it’s a lot more straightforward (which probably explains when it’s a lot shorter book). Whereas with Lord of Shadows there is a lot more explanation and description of the battles and the places in the world. You get to know the minor characters a lot more.

Conclusion: Although the theme and killing monsters to get to the big boss type monster is pretty much the same. There is just a lot more description in Lord of Shadows compared to Endless Knight. In Endless Knight they don’t give much of a description, in fact I couldn’t really tell you what the monsters look like. However, in Lord of Shadow, as the go from character to character you get a little description (that’s interesting and pivotal to the story). I could more describe the characters/monsters in LoS.

Other Characters:

Similar: Both books have a group of other characters in the story that help defeat and travel through the book. Both books have characters where the main female lead relies heavily on another male character that makes the main male lead believe that she’s in love with the other guy.

Difference: The other difference is in Lord of Shadow, the other characters are mainly family. Whereas in Endless Knights the other characters are brought together more by Fate. Which means that main male lead in LoS believes the main female lead is in love with his brother!

Conculsion: It definitely does make it more suspenseful between the two brothers and the female lead in LoS. The main male lead is really upset but because it’s his brother, he feels like he can’t be upset. As well he’s not “legally” allowed to be with the female lead anyway. Endless Knight means that there’s just less emotions involved. One of the other female characters clearly has a crush on the male lead, but you don’t feel as sympathetic as you do with with LoS. Also the relationship between one the main female lead and “Death” in Endless Knight felt so forced to ymself.

Powers:

I have to say that the powers although both books/series do use Magic throughout the books as the main powers in each series. The way they use the Magic is totally different. Endless Knights is based more on more Tarot Cards, hence the series being “The Arcana Chronicles”. Whereas LoS is more based on using runes to heal and make their Weapons specific to them with more magic.

*Disclaimer*

 

Small Great Things or Talk Great Big Things?

*spoiler alert*

I don’t know why I wrote that title, it really doesn’t make that much sense. Here we have though another review! I really am enjoying these, I think I will be keeping these up in the new year. I may be changing the lay outs of my reviews…Watch this space for more!

The reason I wrote the title that I did was because I feel like this book has brought up some great big issues, that are very relevant for today. So let’s talk!…Write as the case may be.

Jodi Picoult: Small Great Things

The Break Down :

Ruth Jefferson works in Connecticut Hospital as a labour and delivery nurse, she has worked confidently for over 20 years, and working for many years as a single mother. During one shift Ruth begins her routine checkup on a newborn and when she returns, she has been told that she had been reassigned. As you read further into the book you find out that the parents are white supremacist, who do not want an African American taking care of their baby.

The Hospital takes the side of the parents and posts a post-it note. Even though this rule IS discriminatory.

During the next day the baby goes into cardiac distress while Ruth is alone with the baby. Ruth hesitates before performing CPR and when the baby dies, Ruth is charged with a serious crime.

Kennedy McQuarrie, a white public defender, takes her case but gives unexpected advice: Kennedy insists that mentioning race in the courtroom is not a winning strategy. Conflicted by Kennedy’s counsel, Ruth tries to keep life as normal as possible as the case becomes a media sensation. As the trial moves forward, Ruth and Kennedy must gain each other’s trust, and come to see that what they’ve been taught their whole lives about others—and themselves—might be wrong.

Positive:

This book is an interesting one to read and is strongly written as well. I felt so uncomfortable reading it, but I felt like I needed to read it. As a white woman, there are topics that come up in the book that I had never considered before. Even thought it made me feel uncomfortable, I am very glad that I read it. You can tell that Jodi Picoult actually put a lot of research into it.

Even thought it is an extremely depressing type and eye-opening written book, it was so well written that you keep reading. I did struggle to read it initially because I was finding the topic so hard to read about. I am one of those positive people, that just wants to believe in the best in people. I found it hard to read because I just wanted the Hospital to stand up for Ruth and I wanted the white supremacist to get “over themselves” so to speak. I don’t get being angry at someone when you don’t know them.

This is an eye opening book! I cannot repeat this enough!

Negative:

Even though it was a great book I just didn’t like the ending. It felt like an Anakin Skywalker to Darth Vader kind of scenario. I felt that it just happened too fast. It wasn’t the result of the court case that annoyed me, that was great. It was the very last chapter, about the father of the dead baby.

What I mean by Anakin Skywalker to Darth Vader fast. I mean that one of the characters suddenly seems to switch complete personality, like a total finger click. I am not going to say which character in this book does that. I am just having a hard time believing that someone would change that fast. Sure it jumps ahead a few years into the future in the last chapter, which might account for the change. Considering it’s the very next chapter though in “our world”, I just found it difficult to believe.

Overall:

Overall I really enjoyed the book, even though it did make me squirm and made me feel uncomfortable,e but it was not because of bad writing or bad characters. I highly recommend everyone read this book, no matter your colour of skin!

Do we actually prefer negativity?

I am starting to believe that quiet a few people out there actually prefer negative, they want it, they need it…God knows why…I try to avoid at all costs…But I’m starting to wonder if we prefer negative over positive? I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately.

I went to write a review on Goodreads and I read the comments about the book I just read and I have to say I agreed with some of what they were saying. Some of them weren’t so nice and some were down right nasty and uncalled for. I realised that all the negative comments seemed to get all the most comments and likes.

Do these people not want people to read?

In my reviews I’m honest about what I thought was negative, but I don’t really give bad reviews and I definitely do not attack the author or people who are fans of the book. There was one reviewer who even admitted to not reading the book and had just read a few excerpts and she knew that she didn’t have to read it to know it was bad. That review had more likes than people who HAD read it and liked it. The irony was she became very offended when other people said that we shouldn’t take her review seriously because she didn’t even read the book. Then attacked all the other people and told them to stay off her review. Then said they were “hopeless fan-girls”. I did point out that Goodreads is actually a public forum and if people don’t agree or don’t like what she wrote that they have every right to tell her so.

Or the situation with Ed Sheeran being on Games of Thrones. I usually tape and watch it a couple of days later, so when I heard that Ed was terrible and it was the worst scene ever in the history of the show. I was expecting something truly terrible. When I realised the scene coming I braced myself for some terribleness (apparently that’s an actual word,lol). He sang a 30 second “diddly” and that was it…It was such a big nothingness. I kept waiting for the bad to happen…and nothing, he didn’t say another word. It was a good diddly too.

What about those Instagram, Facebook pages etc. That people create where all they do is “bash” on a celebrity? If you don’t like someone don’t watch, scroll past, don’t press the link. I’ve seen so many people, for example, hate on Kylie Jenners new show, by saying how boring or or how bad it is…But they watched it? I do genuinely believe that they don’t like her, but why are they watching the show? When I don’t like an artist or a show, I just don’t watch it. My life is hard enough without constantly concentrating on things that I don’t even like?lol

What bad reviews?

This or That? #67

This or That? #67

This week Bookmark Chronicles would like to know:

This week’s question is…..

If you could only get information about books from one of the following sources, would you choose book blogs or booktube? 

So basically would you want to read about it or watch videos? *It depends* is not an option.

After recently finding the wonderful world of Booktube, I’ve actually started to watch a few videos. I think that they are great, but one of the reasons I’ve enjoyed watching is because you can see the body language of the person. So this means you can see if they are really happy about the book or really hated it through their body language.

I will keep reading Book Blogs, because I just find them more, I can read it and make my own mind up, rather than get pulled into someones excitement or hate for a book and not read it based on that. Reading something I can imagine, or maybe even question why they wrote that bit in. Sometimes I just personally feel that it can keep some of the mystery, reading a review, rather than seeing someone’s reaction to it. It makes me want to get out and get out and get it, bad or good.