Saturday 31 May 2014

Oh, Trampi. I'm replacing you.

My mother has decided that I'm getting a Trampoline and a trampoline I shall have. It should come on Monday. It Octotal shape. You may know that I already have a trampoline, well I've been having issues with that one as it's bars snapped, fixed it and then other bar snapped and I lay on ground to test it jump-ability.

Yeah, that's fucked. I now can look forward for to have a reason to be outside during Twilight. I've kinda been going outside, wandering about for a wee bit and coming back in. My theory is my mum is that my mum decided to get me it because my dog has been unsufferable lately and when I go out, he goes out.

He's annoyingly cleavor. He reads me in a hoodie with my ipod as going out; so he jumps up at me and smiles at me till I break or in most occasions go back up stairs. He then brangs through my door and then lick me to death. My mum can also set him on and I can't set him on anyone else since I was only one still in my house he bothered to learn. I feel such guilt about leaving him for three weeks whilst we go off to Florida. I'm planning to sneak him into my dorm room somehow when I go off for Uni. It doesn't help that he 13 and I get paranoid about him sometime.

I spent most of today to catching up on Reviews. I managed to finished four today, so good start on tackling the other seven I have to catch up. I have read two of those books and got a good chuck read of one today, so review are just a case of writing, though if were that easily they would have been written before. I don't have a lot of books waiting to be review in June so hopefully I'll have caught up by the end of next month.

Today is obviously the end of May, meaning next time I type to you I will only have 11 months left of being 21 years old. It's probably not good to think like that. I'm thinking of posting a video everyday in June as I have a list of videos I got behind on. Maybe video every other day would be more realistic but I guess I want to push myself as I know there are ways of doing such a feat.

I still have to do something about my TBR Mount challenge. I have a few series that I want to get through so I think that will help me do it. I've got a lot of reading ahead of me. I would have a lot reading a head of me anyway. It is my thing.

My room is livable state but still not done. I have these boxes that I have to move across the room to swap their places. There is other stuff but the boxes are currently the main mission.

That's all for today, I have more reviewing to do.

Wednesday 28 May 2014

Book Review: Zom-B: Underground by Darren Shan



“If I only had heart” should become the theme tune of this book series now.

Waking up in a military complex, months after zombies attacked school, B has no memory of the last few months. Life in the UK has turned tough since the outbreak, and B is woven into life- and battle- in the new military regime quickly. But as B learns more about the zombies held in the complex and the scientists keeping them captive, unease settles in. Why exactly was B saved? And is there anyone left in the world to trust?

This is the second book in the Zom-b series so if you haven’t read the first one, go check out my review of it. Beware I assuming you have read the first so spoilers for that one in this review but not for the actual book I’m reviewing because I only spoiler books I hate in their reviews. Moving to the point:

I enjoyed this book, not as much as the first one. I don't think anything was going to match that ending though, with reveal that B was girl and even I presumed going off gender norms. Though, I don't get why a white person would shave their head (I mean most white people don't suit it) unless you were going bald. Something I want to say about the last book because I couldn't in that review I was really annoyed when all the girls were dead but of course they weren't because B is girl. 

B continued to be her unlikable self but now is a zombie. Apparently we get to know the supporting characters better in this book but I didn't want. Zom-heads or whatever they call themselves, ain't that likable or interesting. I don't remember their names. The only other girl is stereotype of the type of girl I hate, who sadly do exist. Though, B doesn't help the situation at all. The boys are forgotable mess, the girl is too, but stands out as a female. 

In terms of plot, this book just seems to be step note explaining more about the zombies but not giving any real answer to what the hell is going on. The setting is sort of interesting and I can see why this book is probably nessascy for the series but I want answers to who behind this whole thing.

Overall, I give this book 4 out of 5 stars for white, lumpy stuff. The quality does continue from the last book 

Book Review: The Finisher by David Baldacci


I just leave this book for the Finisher to finish, shall I?

Welcome to Wormwood: a place where curiosity is discouraged and no one has ever left. Until one girl, Vega Jane, discovers a map that suggests a mysterious world beyond the walls. A world with possibilities and creatures beyond her imagining. But she will be forced to fight for her freedom. And unravelling the truth may cost Vega her life.

Disclaimir: I never actually finish this book. Ran out of time on ebook rental thing and didn’t like it enough to buy actual copy of it.

I started seeing this book everywhere and intrigued when I read the summary but not enough to buy it and I knew it was Netgalley. Mainly I requested this book because I wanted to know why my local Tesco was supplying a YA book since they usually only have adult book. I’m quite glad that I never brought it.

The main character makes a weird point of over emphasise her sex after it had already been establish that she was indeed female.  Sexism is featured in this book, but it not handled well. It just seems like afterthought.  It goes no way into plot. There is a guy who’s a rape threat.

It has the weird choice of using different words for basically things without explanation e.g. sessions instead of years and slivers is something?  So just dumps you in the deep end and having no clue what Baldacci meant which is something I totally would not expect in YA novel.  It’s totally unnecessary and just plain confusing. I also think that these words are used more often on purpose. There is definitely not a good attempt. The youngs instead of children was my favourite, then there was these: Feather=bird; Male-handled. Male-handled.  There is also lack of description in needed places. The writing itself is confusing and disjointed.

After the first chapter I was not loving it. For some reason the chapter are numbered in Latin words.
Vega Jane is utter idiot. She knows someone is following her yet she goes to incriminating places. She has a little brother who is reliant on her and does things she knows might get in jail all the time.

I got half through the book, before coming ill and decided to sleep rather than actually reading the book properly. I read the last few chapters and skimmed read other parts. I know the ending and all that jazz. In terms of plot, I didn’t buy a lot of stuff. I sort of have questions still, but can’t comment on that much as I never read the entire book.

None of the characters are that likable. You should at least feel sorry for Vega with her home life. However, the more I was with her the more I didn’t care about her. She just this cliché strong female character.

Overall, I gave this 1 star out of 5 stars for big useless hole of crafts. I just have found the book rather boring and not all enjoyable. I have theory that this was idea of agent or something not because the writer wanted to write YA book. That just theory that I have not all investigated.

Saturday 24 May 2014

We are the Procrastnators

If you've read the walking dead then you're realise what a plavic attempt at parody that title is. I finished reading what I owned of the Graphic novels and I might start watching the TV series now. I also brought the season 2 of the Telltale game. Telltale are awesome video game company, having played serveral of their games I have seen how much they've adapted. For example, the Jurassic Park game has element of choice on the ending alone but now with the Walking Dead games you choose who dies and who lives. Also you actually have to be fast pace some times and not just wander around in a circle before you find the right thing. Though, nothing really happens if you die like sixty times.

The Walking Dead, we're get you emocately invesigated only to do the most terrible things to the characters and dying is only the type of the iceberg. Another possible motto is: The Walking Dead we're make you weep yourself to sleep and then have nightmares.

Besides my procrastinating with the zombies, I've tided my room more.The job is no way done, but slow progress is better than none. Been focusing on the clothes that meant to be going under my bed. Tourses and hoodies basically. The hoodies have been dumped under the bed for a bit but I need to sort them. It kinda nice being able to move around my room more. I can mostly get into my bookcase now; I could get the books from them if had to.

I'm really looking forward to be able to reorganise my bookshelves, specially as some of them have basically had books just dump on them so I could put them out the way. I'm also planning to look through them and get rid of my doubles. Freeing up some space for more books. I've been drinking lot of energy drinks to get the job done. Not that I think that the caffeine is actually giving me that much of a boost. Maybe the placebo effect will get me through. I actually once drank a big can of redbull only to crash a second later.

This week I also met up with the new YA carer person. It was awkward afair. We didn't really discuss much.

The most eventive thing about today is that I lost my ipod. You're probably wondering why I didn't lead with that considering I'm attached to that thing at least two hours a day, most days. The thing is I was told someone had found it before I knew for certain that I had lost it. Someone found on the street, who was the mother of friend of my uncle, the thing is I don't know how got the link to him. I'm thinking its my contracts phone or maybe pictures in it. I did think for a moment something was up with my ipod, like I thought it was in my pocket and I noticed it wasn't as I was walking along the street. So it must have fell out.

The most annoying thing about this is might cause a series annoying conversations with my family as they think I'm really lucky for some reason. I lost my phone on the first day of college, left it on the bus, a teacher found it and called my mum who went and got it the same day. I didn't feel lucky as that day was panky enough without my phone disappearing. I also lost the same ipod at friend's party, got it back though there was suspection of the hotel staff trying to keep it for themselves. This story is for all dress to have pockets with zips or something. I also won a lot raffive prizes one year but I entered a hella lot of them.

So I'm not lucky, my tech just doesn't want to be separated from me. We have a mutal loving relationship or something, Maybe I'm lucky therefore have a chance in the field of my choice which involves luck, hard-work and talent. We're see. That all for this issue, continued in "The case of caffeine high".

Wednesday 21 May 2014

Book Review: Reckoning By Kerry Wilkinson


The Prime Minster is now a transformer.
Woman, not 16 year old girl.

In the village of Martindale, hundreds of miles north of the new English capital of Windsor, sixteen-year-old Silver Blackthorn takes the Reckoning. This coming-of-age test not only decides her place in society – Elite, Member, Inter or Trog – but also determines that Silver is to become an Offering for King Victor. But these are uncertain times and no-one really knows what happens to the teenagers who disappear into Windsor Castle. Is being an Offering the privilege everyone assumes it to be, or do the walls of the castle have something to hide? Trapped in a maze of ancient corridors, Silver finds herself in a warped world of suspicion where it is difficult to know who to trust and who to fear. The one thing Silver does know is that she must find a way out . . .

I hate when people blindly tell you something is a mix of two other books but this book did remind me very much of Hunger Games by Suzanne Colins and Pawn by Aimie Carter. Basically, Typical Dystopia set up.  Set after some sort of civil/global war, most people are hungry and impoverish, the ruling government is lying to you and is incredibly corrupt.  The catalase for all this is, oil has run out, I don’t buy that much because they actually alternative to most oil products but you know it doesn’t matter how and why. It’s just how things are now. It just has certain of aspects of those two books but it does become its own novel once you really get into it. Also Pawn only came out last January so it’s probably a coincidence that they both have tests in them, that classify your rank in society.

This is set in England.  Now I say England because the top half of Britain a.k.a Scotland a.k.a my homeland is not part of this government and we never actually go where Wales is. England and Wales have been spit to four realms. Sometimes in books, it's the off-hand comments are what stick with me. Map of England & Wales is shown; something like a Scotland use to be a top is said. So now I’m left wondering if Scotland is literally gone (in this world places have been completely destroyed) or is its own country and there is a guarded border. This is a start of a series so hopefully we learn that and stuff about other countries. The civilians have no contract with people from other countries so have no idea what happening out there except going off what knew before they were cut off. In times of war sharing a border does make things interesting; I feel like that could be a feature in the next books.

The world building in this book is interesting. I’ve got to say going off the given summary I don’t fully get that it’s a dystopian. Basically, it has the fun of a dystopian set in a castle. Except for that it doesn’t have medieval vibe at all. Class stuff does sort of play into it, with the Elites tending to come from families of Elites and be raised to think the better than everyone else. It doesn’t play much in the actual story as you think it would because the situation of the castle levels out everyone.

The character all seem to have some depth. I think the relationships are well done. They all fairly realistic and no one does something completely mind dumbing for the sake of the plot. There is one case of someone does deciding to reveal information at the perfect time for the plot though. I don’t care that much for Sliver but the world is interesting enough to out balance that.

Overall, I gave this book four out of five stars for Minster Primes. This was good start of a trilogy (the Sliver Blackthorn Trilogy if you're wondering). Main plot points of that book are resolved but there tons left to be developed on.

Saturday 17 May 2014

Missing in Writing

I've been sort of have been MIA when it comes to this blog and my other internet presences in general. I got sick whilst trying to do all these things and once I was well again I had to focus on a musical that look like it wasn't going to happen (though I seem to say that every year and every year it seems we're more unprepared for opening tham ever).

I've just not feeling it. I literally have a stack of videos waiting to be edited since the start of April and I have yet to even start on them. Nevermind the videos I need to for May. To be honest I don't myself getting on to that till after I have managed to do something about my room.

Speaking of that issue, I have finally properly trying to conquer the mess that is my room. It feels like I've been sorting it for years. My new bed finally has something underneath it. It has actually got to the point where I am throwing stuff out but I do still appear to have all my school work since first year. It's the guilt that makes me keep it, specially when it was stuff that I was meant to give them back before I left. I have textbooks that I don't remember ever coming into contact with. I think they might be my sib's.

I also have every issue of Kerrang! that I have ever brought. It's a weekly magazine and I had subscription for years. You can do the maths. Hint: there are 52 weeks in a year. I know I shouldn't keep them, but who knows maybe it will be collectable in a few years or I will want to read all again. I also have all my groovy chicks which

I haven't wrote a review in awhile and with that absence I have developed a opinion. What I'm saying is that I can actually write something and plan to backtrack the review I negated to write for their scheduled times.

I've also not read a lot and it didn't help that I had to basically give up on two books. I'm still way ahead of my goodreads goal though. Not so much on my TBR mountain challenge. I've read 6 books out 60 for that one. Need to change that soon. 

I'm off now, I've got things to write, books to read & review and messes to stare at. Type you next week. 

Wednesday 14 May 2014

Book Review: The Bubble Wrap Boy by Phil Earle

I wonder how Charlie would react if he actually found out a shocking secret.

All my life I've been tiny Charlie from the Chinese Chippie, whose only friend is Sinus, the kid who stares at walls. But I believe that everyone's good at something. I've just got to work out what my something is...
 
Charlie's found his secret talent: skateboarding. It's his one-way ticket to popularity. All he's got to do is practice, and nothing's going to stop him - not his clumsiness, not his overprotective mum, nothing. Except Charlie isn't the only one in his family hiding a massive secret, and his next discovery will change everything. How do you stay on the board when your world is turned upside down?

This book annoys me more than I enjoyed it. It's the secret I think, it was petty obvious what type it of secret it was going to be and it is not as big as the blurb makes it out to be. It might freak you out a little bit, it certainly does not change everything. He does not turn out to be a lost heir to a throne or something.

His mum annoys me a lot, because she really just a bad parent. She treats Charlie more like a object than a son, she doesn't think about him as a person. She is inconsistent with her overprotectiveness. She lets him walk to school and make food delivery, as someone who has overprotective parents, not a chance in hell. She also buys him a death trap of a bike and the wrong equipment for it. She also doesn't care where he is. He wanders around town whilst she in the house.

Charlie also gets punished for trying to make new friends. Sinus isn't really a friend to Charlie, that does sort of changed, but to start with they're only really friends because the other is only one around which is not that great a base for friendship. Generally, it seems Charlie lives in a town of arses. The book opens with him getting the blame for something out of his control even by the teacher.

Generally, I didn't feel for any of the characters, despite heart strings being pulled. I just didn't find myself connecting with Charlie. Maybe it's because he didn't know who Tony Hawks was. I wasn't allowed to skateboard either.

Overall, I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars for wasted bubble wrap. This book tries to be funny whilst having this deep level that doesn't work. I feel like it tries too hard. There were certain moments that I did enjoy but they were overshadowed by the features that I really didn't like.

 I got this off Netgalley for Review. It published by Penguin and is out now.

Wednesday 7 May 2014

Book Review: Above by Isla Morley

Well, way to be depressing.

Blythe, a sixteen-year-old Kansas schoolgirl is abducted and kept in an abandoned silo by a survivalist, who is convinced that the world is about to end. A chilling novel of survival and hope and heart-stopping plot twists.

This book is separated into two parts. Below and Above. Below is fine, good, you know with the plot and content. As I started reading Above, I was just no. That's not what I want at all. I actually stop and had fo myself into reading the second part.

The big twist thing, that I didn't see quite coming and did cause some actual shock. I just didn't like it because it made the first part seem rather pointless. There was no overshadowing and the time scale seems whack.

Overall, I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars for stolen children. It mostly just big depressing scenes. It bit too much "You think things are bad but wait?". The writing was pretty, but the second part just wasn't for me.

I requested this off Netgalley for review. Published by Two Roads.

Book Review: Thirteen by Tom Hoyle



Wow, cults are thing you know. Five year old self had no idea.

Born at midnight in London, on the stroke of the new millennium, Adam is the target of a cult that believes boys born on this date must die before the end of their thirteenth year. Twelve boys have been killed so far. Coron, the crazy cult leader, will stop at nothing to bring in his new kingdom. And now he is planning a bombing spectacular across London to celebrate the sacrifice of his final victim: Adam.

This book has so many issues. The believable factor went out the window half way through the book. It meant to deal with this real thing of cults but all the main characters, protagonist and antagonist get out situations in ways that make no sense. Bodily harm is threaten a lot in this book but no one gets majorly hurt (until convenient). I mean Adam has the best luck in the world, besides having a cult after him. Coron does as well.

My real issue with this book that it has the adults and police that only exist in horror films within it. They’re idiots that don’t question anything, even stuff that clearly dodgy. In this modern world you don’t get away with just stating things, you need evidence. Except if you make bomb threat. Plot is just filled with too many holes to float. Yes, cults are scary and have power but a cult with this much power would have a very hard time staying secret. These things get out; they also do crimes in very public places. This is meant to be Young Adults but it falls more into the Middle Grade age range of well 13 and younger. It’s too immature for teenagers, mainly due to these plot holes.

I didn’t get very attached to the characters. They just have their roles in the stories.

The writing style was alright. It’s written in third person and point of view jumps from character to character a lot which I liked.

Overall, I gave this book 3 out of stars for over stimulated ears. It was alright, light read. It was enjoyable once I ignore my issues with it.

I got this off Netgalley for a review. It’s published by Macmillan Children's Books and out now.