Thursday, 9 July 2015

Kisscut: Review

Hello there internet.

Today i'm going back a couple of months to re-start all the reviews
that i've missed writing up while on my little internet break.

First book up is Kisscut by Karin Slaughter.


4/5


This book starts with a stand off between a teenage girl threatening to shoot a teenage boy, and the police chief Jeffrey Tolliver, where the young girl ends up dead.

The autopsy on the girl reveals years and years of horrific abuse (some of which was incredibly difficult to read about), and the people around her close up. No one wants to talk about what happened to this girl. 

Then another young girl is abducted, and what they thought was a case of one girl being abused turns out to be something far, far worse than any of them could ever imagine.

The book is told from the perspectives of Jeffrey, his ex and the towns pediatrician/medical examiner Sara Linton, and detective Lena Adams. And each perspective is interesting to read from, and each brings something new to the story.

There are so many twists and turns in this book, and it was near impossible to put it down. 
It seemed like every time we found out something new, it wasn't
exactly what they, or you, thought.

Seeing the way that Jeffrey, Sara, and Lena all interpret different aspects of the case was so fascinating to me. And seeing how they all dealt with the issues they each had going
on outside of the case was just as interesting as the case they were working.

I love the way Karin Slaughter writes, and i would quite happily marathon all of her books
after reading this one. 

This book deals with a lot of heavy stuff.
Trigger warnings for rape, abuse, self harm, child abuse, and heavy violence.
Meghan xxx



Tuesday, 7 July 2015

Something Like Thunder: Review

Hello there internet!

I am so so so so behind on reviews, (I'm blaming Pretty Little Liars and Netflix for that!) but now i am catching up on reviewing the books i've read so far this year!

I was planning on doing this in order, but i NEED to talk about this book first!!


Something Like Thunder by Jay Bell
5/5 

If you have ever spent more than about a second on this blog then you would
probably notice that i have a great love for Jay Bell and
his Something Like... series. And Thunder was no exception!! 

Something Like Thunder is told from the perspective of Nathaniel, and oh boy is it a good one.

After getting a glance at Nathaniel in Something Like Spring, then seeing him through Kelly's eyes in Something Like Lightning, i was so excited for finally get
to have a whole story from his point of view.

Getting to see how Nathaniel's story linked with the characters that i already loved (and hated...looking at you Caesar...although i am desperate for a book from Caesar's pov...)
and obviously seeing him interacting with Tim was all i ever wanted.

In this series Tim and Ben have always been the relationship that i cared most about, but after Thunder they definitely have some competition! Nathaniel and Kelly made me cry, and pissed me off, and made me want to hit them, and made me love them so so so much.

I love how when you think you know everything about these characters Jay will pull something out of the bag that makes you want to scream with recognition 
and excitement. Like finally realising who Nathaniel's mother is, by discovering who his father is! (Talk about a massive twist in the story omg)

I bloody love this book, and as always, i never wanted it to end. 

I don't know how Jay Bell does it, 
but i would happily read stories in this world everyday forever. 

Meghan xx



Wednesday, 20 May 2015

Something Like Thunder is Here!!!!

Hello there internet!
If you have ever spent more than five seconds on this blog, you'll
probably be aware that there is a series of books that i absolutely love,
and blog about all the time.

AND THAT SERIES JUST GOT ITS NEW ADDITION!!!


Welcome to the world Something Like Thunder! 

I don't think i have ever fallen in love with a group of characters as fast as i did with 
the ones Jay Bell has created in this series.
And i am so freaking excited to get home and get lost in Nathaniel's story.

So this is just a little post to say:
Happy Publication Day Jay! 
I know this one will be as utterly brilliant as the previous five!!

Meghan xx 


Monday, 4 May 2015

A Work in Progress: Review

Hey there internet!
It's been so long since i actually sat down and wrote something,
and i hate that it's been so long.

So today i decided i need to get back into the swing of things.
And what better way to do that than to write a review!

Recently i read A Work in Progress by Connor Franta.


5/5

Now i'm going to be 100% honest, and when i first watched Connor's video announcing he had a book coming out i rolled my eyes. Hard.
Another YouTuber with another book...great. BUT I WAS SO WRONG.

I decided to pick up his book kind of on a whim, and i am so bloody glad i did.

It is so obvious that this book is 100% Connor, and it is so real, and so well written that i had to give it a 5/5. It made me think about a lot, made me smile, made me want to cry a bit, 
it was a truly great book. And one i know that i'll read again and again.

I read it all in one sitting, and it felt like no time had passed at all. 
The way Connor writes is almost exactly how he talks in his videos, and it was like 
having a talk with a friend rather than reading a book about a stranger.
It that's a lovely, if not slightly odd, feeling.

In this book Connor writes about stories from his childhood, right up to now, and
it's just this wonderful little insight into his life, which seems 
incredibly personal and slightly intrusive, but is filled with such great advice that i would
recommend to anyone. Seriously.

Here are just two of the little snipets of advice that i love from this book:
"Being alone is a chance to really get to know yourself, in isolation from the influence and chatter of others. Take a breath. Take a chance. Move on and move out. You've got this."

"So, yes, life has its up and downs. But those who learn to climb out of the downs and reach the ups will prosper. What are you waiting for? Start climbing."

Now i'm 22, so i don't really think i'm quite the intended audience for Connor's book, but 
i do know that the advice this boy gives is some of the best i have read.
And whether i am deemed "too old" for it, i loved this book, and it was exactly what i needed to read right now.

Connor has achieved so so so much in his 22 years, and from the way he 
comes across in this book i think he is going to achieve so much more, and do some truly great things.

I highly recommend it to everyone.

Meghan xxx  

Monday, 16 February 2015

The Book Life Tag

Hello there internet!

Today i thought i would do a quick little tag
i've seen around the book blogs, and thought that it looked 
pretty interesting, the book life tag!

So here we go!

1: Who would your parents be?
I would really love to have Jocelyn and Luke from the Mortal Instruments.
They would be such awesome parents, at least after they stop with all the secrets!

2: Who would be your sister?
Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter!
There is no one cooler, or better, to have as a sister! 
Life would never, ever, be boring with Luna.

3: Who would be your brother?
Tim Wyman from the Something Like... series by Jay Bell.
Tim is possibly my favourite fictional character ever,
 and it would be so great to be his sister!

4: Who would be your pet?
oooooh who is the best animal.....I'm going to have
to go with Crookshanks from HP!!

5: Where would you live?
Texas, with all the wonderful Something Like... characters!

6: Where would you go to school?
I mean has anyone answered this and not said Hogwarts??
Because i'd 100% go to Hogwarts, and i'd be a Slytherin!

7: Who would be your best friend?
Alec Lightwood from the Mortal Instruments. 
Alec is just the best! Plus i'd get to see Jace all the time ;)

8: Who would be your significant other?
I really want to pick someone not in TMI or HP....oh this is so difficult!
OH! Ethan from Between the Lives by Jessica Shirvington!
Ethan is just such a lovely, funny, all round great guy. So definitely him!!

Meghan xx

Thursday, 12 February 2015

Girl, 16 Review

Hello there internet!

Today i'm back with another review, this time of the third book in the 
Jess Jordan trilogy by Sue Limb!


I read the first two books in this series years ago and absolutely fell in love with them.
However my inability to finish a series, even if i love it, set in yet again,
and i put off reading this installment for so long, purely because i didn't want to stop reading about Jess and Fred!

As this is the third book in a series, there will be spoiler-y things ahead!

In the first chapter of Girl 16 the single worst thing that could have happened in the series happened: Fred and Jess broke up!
Devastation!

The whole book follows the fall out after the horrid break up and how Jess deals with it on top of having to go back to school after spending such a great summer with Fred.
The poor girl has so much going on for the first term back!

With the break up, Ben acting a little weird, Fred avoiding her, a new substitute teacher, the show she's been looking forward to all summer has been cancelled, her mother is spending a lot of time with her new Japanese student, Jess can't seem to catch a break!

I love how just when things look like they couldn't really get any worse for Jess, they do.
Maybe that speaks more about my sick sense of humor, but still it's so great to read
how Jess tries to deal with everything.

As far as the story in this book goes, it was okay...
I didn't love it quite as much as the first two, and at points i did
find myself wondering whether the series needed to be a trilogy, or whether it would
have been better as a duology...who knows!

All the way through the book i just wanted Jess to march round to Fred's house
and find out what really happened, and sort everything out.
Of course that didn't happen.
When the pair finally talked about everything, it felt incredibly rushed.
I think i would have preferred to have more talking it through time and maybe cut
down on the 'spend time with Ben, oh no Fred has seen and now thinks something's going on' time....

However, i still enjoyed the book and thought it was a nice little ending to Jess' story.

3/5

Meghan xx

Monday, 9 February 2015

Fahrenheit 451 Review

Hello there internet!
Today i thought i'd do a little review :)

So here is my review of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
I gave the book a solid 5/5 because my gosh did i love it.

I am so glad that i decided to pick this book up after debating whether or not i would like it.
No worries there, i bloody loved it!

If you don't know what Fahrenheit 451 is about, i'll try to give a spoiler free little bio: 
It is a classic dystopian set in a world where books are banned. Not just banned, if you are found with a book then the book, your home, and possibly you, will be burned by the firemen.

In this world firemen are not the great fire-fighting people we have now, instead they are the ones that set the fires. And the book follows one of these book burning firemen called Guy Montag.

Books have been banned because they are the source of all the unhappiness and discord in the world. However, Montag is starting to doubt that idea, because even without reading
a single book in his life, Montag is unhappy. 

I think the plot of this book is unbelievably clever and it is so wonderfully executed.
I was really skeptical about Montag at the start of the book, but as the story went on i actually started to really like him. 

This is where the review might get all spoiler-y. Read on if you wish :)

I bloody loved Clarisse, and that is one of the big issues i had with the book. I wish we had more of her, and got more of a backstory about her life, or maybe just
a little bit more time with her.

Although saying that, i think that a lot of the parts of the story that i loved, wouldn't have happened, or just wouldn't have been as good, if Clarisse hadn't vanished/died...WHAT HAPPENED TO HER???

My favourite moment of the entire book is when Montag and the rest of the firemen all climbed into their van and drove to a new house to burn, and they ended up in front of Montag's house.
It was like my heart stopped for a beat.
It was so incredibly well written, and they were outside of the house for so long before
he mentioned/realised that it was his house, that everything just stopped for a second.
Amazing.

I think that this is easily one of the best books i have read, probably ever, and
it has quickly made its way onto my favoutites shelf.

I cannot wait to read more of Ray Bradbury's books!!

Meghan-Alice xx






Monday, 2 February 2015

The Ultimate Book Tag!

Hey there internet! Today i thought i'd do a tag i've seen floating around the book blogs and thought it looked fun.
So here is the Ultimate Book Tag!

1. Do you get sick while reading in the car?
I do, but only in the car, all other transport i'm totally fine with?!

2. Which author's writing style is completely unique to you and why?
Stephen King. Every book is so unique and yet so obviously him. 
I love it so much.

3. Harry Potter Series or the Twilight Saga? Give 3 points to defend your answer
Harry Potter. Obviously. 
1) Better storyline, 2) better characters, 3) better writing.

4. Do you carry a book bag? If so, what is in it (besides books...)?
I don't. I have a handbag that pretty much always has a book in it though?

5. Do you smell books?
Nope.

6. Books with or without little illustrations?
Usually without, but i don't mind them.

7. What book did you love while reading but discovered later it wasn't quality writing? 
Oh i'm not sure! Maybe Twilight? I really can't think of one.

8. Do you have any funny stories involving books from your childhood?
It's not really funny, but the only thing i can think of is when i was about 6 or 7 i had a tots tv annual, and everyday for months i would sit inside this big cardboard box we had, with a hole cut out in one side, and read the annual to my family like it was very important news on the tv. I read the same things out everyday for about 6 months...no idea why!

9. What's the thinnest book on your shelf?
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them..i think..

10. What is the thickest book on your shelf?
Under the Dome by Stephen King?

11. Do you write as well as read? Do you see yourself in the future as being an author?
I do write, but it's just something i do for fun, i don't want to be an author really.

12. When did you get into reading?
I've loved reading as far back as i can remember tbh, they were my favourite things when i was a toddler and they still are now.

13. What is your favourite classic book?
The Catcher in the Rye OR Great Expectations

14. In school was your best subject Language Arts/English?
I was really good at English, but Maths was probably my best.

15. If you were given a book as a present that you had read before and hated...what would you do?
Say thank you, hold onto it for a year or two, then donate it.

16. What is a lesser known series that you know of that is similar to Harry Potter or the Hunger Games?
The 'Blue is for Nightmares' series. 
It's about a witch, which is as close to Harry Potter as i can think of right now...

17. What is a bad habit you always do (besides rambling) while filming?
I look in the viewfinder a lot to make sure everything's still in focus and looks okay.

18. What is your favourite word?
Photosynthesis

19. Are you a nerd, dork, or dweeb? Or all of the above?
Nerd? Maybe? I prefer geek tbh.

20. Vampires or Fairies? Why?
Vampires. They're probably my favourite thing to read about.

21. Shapeshifters or Angels? Why?
Angels? I haven't really read any shapeshifting stories.

22. Spirits or Werewolves? Why?
Werewolves, again not read a lot of books about spirits either.

23. Zombies or Vampires? Why?
Vampires!!

24. Love Triangle or Forbidden Love? Why?
I'm a big sucker for a forbidden love story.

25. AND FINALLY: Full on romance, or action-packed with a few love scenes mixed in?
Both!! A mix up of themes is always a good thing though!

Meghan xx 

Thursday, 29 January 2015

Books on my Tablet #1

Hello there internet!

Today i thought i'd do a sort of mini-haul to go along with my haul video that i did earlier this week.

This one however, is all about the books i've downloaded onto my
new tablet. So much new space for books!

Here we go!

Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevensen

Treasure Island is something i've always wanted to read and yet for some reason have never picked up. So when i saw it on the bookstore i had to download it straight away! 
I'm so excited to get into this one soon!

The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas

I have loved the story of the three musketeers as far back as i can remember, so obviously when i saw it on the bookstore i had to have it right away.
Hopefully i'll get to this one soon!!

Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte

This is one of my mum's favourite books, yet i've never read it! No idea why, so i thought i'd download it for whenever i feel like getting into a classic that i'm 99% sure i'll enjoy - i have watched so many adaptations i'm bound to love it!

Shakespeare's Sonnets - William Shakespeare

I love Shakespeare. So much. I actually own a physical collection of all of Shakespeare's works, but i thought this would be a nice little thing to have on my tablet for any train journeys, and it definitely came in handy on my trains to and from Leeds!

Critique of Pure Reason - Immanuel Kant

Kant is my all time favourite philosopher. And this ebook version is my...third?..fourth?..i can't remember...anyway it is one of many copies i have of this book. 
It's just so good!

The Importance of Being Earnest - Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde is one of those authors who i know so much about, and find fascinating as a person, and yet i don't think i've ever read any of his works?
I own a physical copy of The Picture of Dorian Gray, so sometime soon i plan on marathoning these two books together. 

A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens

I love Charles Dickens so much. I'm pretty sure i already own this both in physical form and on my kindle, and yet i really, really wanted a copy on my tablet.
I love the way Dickens writes, so this will definitely be read many times!

Kant's Theory of Religion - Immanuel Kant

Again, Kant is my favourite philosopher.
My undergraduate dissertation actually featured this book pretty heavily, and yet it's the only work of Kant's i don't have in physical form.
At least now i actually own the book i spent a year analysing!

And there we have it!
All the books that i have downloaded to my tablet so far!

I'm very excited to dive right into these beauties!

Meghan xx

Tuesday, 27 January 2015

A Schedule of Sorts!

Hello there wonderful people of the internet, today i thought i'd make a quick little post explaining the schedule i will (hopefully) be sticking to for the foreseeable future.

This is something i've put a lot of thought into 
and i have split my week somewhat evenly between both of my blogs 
and my YouTube channel.

So hopefully it will all work out!

Monday: Post on Not Quite Alice (this blog!)
Tuesday: Post on Meghan's Make Up Box 
Wednesday: Video up on my YouTube Channel 
Thursday: Post on Not Quite Alice
Friday: Bonus Post!

The friday bonus post will pop up either on this blog, my beauty blog,
or on my YouTube. It will change every week, and hopefully this will make
everything a little bit less stressful than my previous plans, as it gives 
me a little bit more freedom with what posts i want to do.

So, whether you only read this blog, or check out all three, i hope
that you find something you enjoy!

Love,
Meghan xx

Monday, 5 January 2015

Review: Death Note Vol. 4

Hey there internet, and welcome to 2015 here on Not Quite Alice! :D

I thought i'd kick this year off with a review of the first book i read this year: Death Note Vol. 4 Black Edition.

I absolutely love the Death Note series and i was so so so so excited to finally pick up volume 4 at Christmas time, so naturally i had to start the year reading it!

As this is the fourth volume of a series, expect spoilers ahead! If you haven't read it, maybe best not to read it?!

One of my favourite parts about this volume is when they find the Death Note and as each person touches the notebook they see Ryuk. Every reaction is absolutely perfect for the characters, it's one of my favourite parts of the series so far! 

In the same way as that, i absolutely LOVED when Light touched the notebook and all of his memories came flooding back. I adored the way that we were shown all of the back story of Light coming up with his plan, and how well thought out and intricate he had planned everything. Light's scheme throughout this volume was beyond amazing. Going into it i was hoping for lots of Light time, and it definitely happened!!

Can we talk for a little bit about L's death? I never thought that i would care all that much about L dying, but as soon as it happened i had to stop reading for a little bit. It was so wonderful, and perfect, and heartbreaking, but oh so great. So well done on that section team!

Near and Mello. How great are they?! I absolutely how much like L Near is. It's amazing. I love how different they are, and how they were both introduced was beyond wonderful. They have fast become some of my favourite characters in the series, especially Near!

One of my favourite aspects of this volume was when Light started taking over the role as L while he was still acting as Kira. I think all of this power is starting to really get to him, but watching it happen is amazing. 

I think one of the best parts of this volume was the dynamic of Light taking over from L with the task force in Japan, and then Near taking over from L with the original side of the whole investigation. It was such a great thing to read, with both of them being overly sarcastic with each other. Got to love a bunch of sarcasm in a police investigation. 

THE KIDNAPPING. Okay, we need to talk about that for a minute. The director being kidnapped, and then 'committing suicide' was such an ingenious part, and then Sayu being taken. It was one of the most exciting parts of the series so far. When Light's dad had to get off the plane in a random place, then was taken underground, it was just so exciting and it made me want to keep reading and reading.

NEW SHINIGAMI. NEW. SHINIGAMI. This was possibly the most exciting moment of the book? I loved that a new shinigami came down to the human world, it was beyond great. So happy that a new guy came down, seeing as we're now a Rem down. 

I'm pretty sure out of the volumes i've read so far this was my favourite. It was so exciting and the story was just incredible, i loved every second of it. Especially after the third volume was slightly disappointing to me, but this one was great from start to finish. 

5/5 easily.

Meghan xx