Synopsis: Cath and Wren are identical twins, and until recently they did absolutely everything together. Now they're off to university and Wren's decided she doesn't want to be one half of a pair any more - she wants to dance, meet boys, go to parties and let loose. It's not so easy for Cath. She's horribly shy and has always buried herself in the fan fiction she writes, where she always knows exactly what to say and can write a romance far more intense than anything she's experienced in real life.

Without Wren Cath is completely on her own and totally outside her comfort zone. She's got a surly room-mate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can't stop worrying about her dad, who's loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

Now Cath has to decide whether she's ready to open her heart to new people and new experiences, and she's realizing that there's more to learn about love than she ever thought possible . . .

Pages: 445

Rating: 9/10

Overall: If you're a fangirl like me, it is hugely relatable. It made me nostalgic for the days when we were desperately waiting for the next Harry Potter book. A very relevant book right now.

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Hi there!

I know I've been missing in action on the blogging front. Kind of lost my groove with it, and had started to feel like I wasn't enjoying writing my little reviews, which in turn spoiled my enjoyment of the books themselves.

But I'm starting to feel the itch to write about the books I'm reading again so I'm vaguely back.

If you are still around, thanks for sticking around :)

Onwards and upwards!

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So that was very entertaining. I vote that Ellen Degeneres always hosts these things from now on. Or Neil Patrick Harris.

Let's recap my predictions and see how they match up with what actually happened on the night.


Yeah! Think that has easily been my best set of predictions! Thank you Oscars for being so predictable ;). I hope you've enjoyed this little game. Back to normal after this. Should finish a book to be reviewed soon.

I think for next year's Award Season, I will try to watch all the Oscar contenders... might make it a smidge easier to make the predictions.

Well, here's to another year of film!

It's here! The big one! The most anticipated awards of the them all. The 86th Academy Awards. Or the Oscars to you and me.

Let's be honest. This is the one everybody cares about the most. Winning an oscar can be the pinnacle for the winner's career or even skyrocket them into superstardom.

So for the last time time for me to guess who might win.

I'll be using a key to indicate my choices:

• Green for Most Likeliest Winner
• Purple for My Personal Choice
• Orange for Both

Combining two award show results... because I forgot want to. And squeezing this in yet again, as it is the Oscars on Sunday and I kinda need to get the predictions one for that done and out. Oops...

Anywhooooo.

So let's go back in time to the SAG awards!

Outstanding Performace by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

Prediction: Jared Leto – Dallas Buyers Club

The last episode of this series by ninebrassmonkeys came out last night delving into what makes YouTube, well, Youtube. Here's the trailer.


I have loved this series, partly because it helped me discover so many YouTubers but also because it is like proper telly. As in half hour episodes that you can really get into. In the past, TV has looked at the internet and tried to understand it. When BY looks into YouTube, and even the internet as a whole, it’s great because it gets the internet. It’s irreverent but thought provoking, and nerdy to the extreme.

Also Ben Cook (/ninebrassmonkeys) is really funny and so insightful. I met him at SitC ‘13 and he is the nicest guy, despite all video evidence to the contrary. I asked him a question and gave me a proper in depth answer even though there was a massive queue of people waiting to meet him. Huge respect for him.

The last episode really cracked me up at several moments. There was a huge reference to Harry Potter, which included Jack and Finn (/jacksgap) in it. Loved it. Nerd heaven… literally. It mainly talked about change. As always, very interesting. Especially as the interviews are all from a few years ago, and lots of the most controversial changes (G+, I'm looking at you) hadn't happened.


There was a hint at a second series of BY coming in the summer and I am so excited for it! So glad it’s coming back. If only to see how YouTubers' opinions have changed since S1.

Anyway, if you're at all interested in YouTube or internet community, you should definitely watch it.

It's been a while since the last award show but no matter! Tomorrow (Sunday 16th Feb) is the BAFTA award show. This is the British go and it's always a good one. Stephen Fry hosts and the British acting royalty comes out in force. Plus I can watch it live!

Well let's get on with it.

I'll be using a key to indicate my choices:

• Green for Most Likeliest Winner
• Purple for My Personal Choice
• Orange for Both

Synopsis: 1993. San Francisco. The digital and pharmaceutical industries are booming. They're looking for the young, the hip, and those on the counterculture fringe to be both the face and consumer of their new world order. Recruited by an advertising agency focused on targeting a new drug to her own age demographic, Sarah Striker is grateful for the steady income, but she begins to question the side effects of the products she's pushing. Sarah begins publishing an underground zine to expose the secrets behind the pharmaceutical industry's aims. Fulfilled by her quest to spread the truth, her new life seems to be working out perfectly until she realises that she herself is perilously close to becoming a victim of this new corporate world.

Pages: 214

Rating: 4/10

Overall: An interesting look at the early digital boom and the drug industry. Bit too cynical for my taste, but has some colourful characters to fill the story.
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Oops, getting this in just under the wire. This time it is the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards.
The SAG awards is quite an interesting one as it is voted by those in the guild i.e. actors vote for them themselves. It is also entirely about the actors with no awards given for technical film-making skill.

Well, let's get on with it. As usual I don't pretend to actually know what I'm talking about. This is all in the name of a bit of fun.

I'll be using a key to indicate my choices:

• Green for Most Likeliest Winner
• Purple for My Personal Choice
• Orange for Both

Last night was the first big award show of the season, the Golden Globes. Now it is time for me to see if I was even within a country mile of getting any of my predictions right.


Wow! I did much better than I expected!

Well, I do enjoy the Golden Globes. It seems a bit more irreverent than the Oscars and some of the other award shows, while still maintaining its prestige as an achievement for those who win.

So how did you do with your predictions? The next one will be... the BAFTAs I think. A particular favourite if only because I can watch it at a reasonable time, rather than in the middle of the night!

It's that time of year again: Award Season! As I did last year, I'll be predicting, using very scientific prediction algorithms obviously, the outcome of some of the biggest award shows.

This is just an exercise in fun to involve myself in the razzamatazz of these big parties as I'm a bit of a film fan. I hope you will indulge me in this.

First up is the 71st Golden Globe Awards which will be awarded this Sunday (12/1/14).


I'll be using a key to indicate my choices:

• Green for Most Likeliest Winner
• Purple for My Personal Choice
• Orange for Both

I can't believe it but it's come around again. Christmas is just around the corner, as is 2014. So it is about time for a run down of the year.

Before I run through the books I've read this year, I think I'll just recap the highlights of my year.

• In April, I got offered a job at the school that I'd been volunteering in. At the end of that school year, that job was extended/increased for this school year.
• May/June. Amazing holiday to Florida, which took in the Harry Potter world at Universal, and some diving in Key West.
• New baby cousin, Imogen, was born in June. I was also asked to be the Godmother.
• July. Quit my job waitressing. Can't say I miss the job. Though I made some good friends there.
   
• August saw my sister and I attending two conferences in quick succession: LeakyCon London and Summer in the City. Both were awesome experiences that I will never forget. Here's hoping to attending those events again at some point.
• October. Another new cousin (this time, once-removed), Libby was born. 
• Finally got my certificate saying I'd passed my Level 1 in British Sign Language. Finished Level 2, waiting for the results...
• Also my parents have managed to sell our house. Just in the process of finalising everything. So we could be moving house at any moment!

This year's 'Read' books

Synopsis: Sutter Keely. He’s the guy you want at your party. He’ll get everyone dancing. He’ll get everyone in your parents’ pool. Okay, so he’s not exactly a shining academic star. He has no plans for college and will probably end up folding men’s shirts for a living. But there are plenty of ladies in town, and with the help of Dean Martin and Seagram’s V.O., life’s pretty fabuloso, actually.

Until the morning he wakes up on a random front lawn, and he meets Aimee. Aimee’s clueless. Aimee is a social disaster. Aimee needs help, and it’s up to the Sutterman to show Aimee a splendiferous time and then let her go forth and prosper. But Aimee’s not like other girls, and before long he’s in way over his head. For the first time in his life, he has the power to make a difference in someone else’s life—or ruin it forever.

Pages: 294

Rating: 7/10

Overall: A really good insight into the teenage boy's mind, and also a look at alcholism and self-destruction/sabotage that leaves you frustrated and sad for Sutter. His denial in the face of his feelings for Aimee keeps you hopeful that he might see the light, right until the last page.

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This week, due to the high number of films out at the moment that I want to see, I went to three films at the cinema. I know, bit excessive but needs must and all that jazz.

So I though I would do three mini reviews for them, for a bit of a change. Probably spoiler free, no promises though.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Donald Sutherland, Francis Lawrence (dir.)

Certificate: 12A (PG-13)

Rating: 9/10

So, as you probably know, Catching Fire is the sequel to The Hunger Games, and to all intents and purposes is almost a scene for scene rehash of the first. Obviously some of the plot points are different, but Katniss (and Peeta) is chosen again as Tribute in the Hunger Games. Except this time the stakes are even higher. Not only does Katniss have to try and survive the games, she has to convince President Snow that she loves Peeta. And he's not exactly buying it...

I loved this film. I've read the books and could remember the main points, but didn't remember everything but I feel like they nailed it. The action and tension is non-stop. Donald Sutherland's President Snow really makes you know that he will stop at nothing to prevent a rebellion. There's a bit of Umbridge about him. Jennifer Lawrence, in my eyes, can do no wrong and Josh Hutcherson makes me fall for Peeta again and again. Perhaps my favourite new character was Johanna Mason who is so completely badass, you can't not love her boldness.

Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor

Cast: Matt Smith, David Tennant, John Hurt, Billie Piper

Rating: 8/10

Yep, I went to see this at the cinema when it was simulcast on telly. Definitely worth seeing it in the cinema. The atmosphere was buzzing as we waited, and everyone laughed or gasped at all the right points.

I would try to summarise the plot, but being Doctor Who, I'm not sure I can. But suffice to say, there was plenty of wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey stuff, and things that went ding. It was definitely a fitting tribute to 50 years of the Doctor, and I loved how they managed to include all the Doctors, even if it was just a small way. The banter between Ten and Eleven was perfect. I think I could sit and listen to them chatter away for hours. John Hurt only had this episode to establish his Doctor - Eight Point Five - and did it admirably ("Oh! For God's sake!").

I still a bit bemused about what happened with the Zygons. Did they sort themselves out? Also, I'm slightly disappointed that I didn't cry, but I imagine the Christmas special will make up for that.

Fingers crossed for more future multi-Doctor outings, because they are always fun!

Gravity

Cast: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Alfonso Cuoron (dir.)

Certificate: 15

Rating: 10/10

I don't think I've ever felt so tense watching a film as I did watching Gravity. Holy crap. Dr. Ryan Stone (Bullock) and Commander Kalowsky (Clooney) are on a space walk when disaster strikes and they are set adrift in space, with no communication with Earth. The story follows them as they desperately try to find a way home in an impossible situation.

Gravity is a visually stunning film. I don't think I've ever seen anything like it. Earth makes a phenomenal and peaceful backdrop to the action happening miles about its surface. The cinematography, however they managed to do it, is also brilliant. The shot from looking at Dr. Ryan Stone to looking out from her helmet was seamless. I should note that I didn't see it in 3D, but apparently it is every more stunning with that extra dimension. Let me know if you think so!

As the cast is literally made up of Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, they have to carry the film, and they do so very well. In particular, Bullock's reluctant Ryan has you rooting for her so hard. I almost wanted to cheer for her at many points.

The way the story manages to seem strangely plausible is amazing. Each solution to a problem seems to cause another, which keeps you on the edge of your seat from the first minute to the last. The very idea of being adrift in space is utterly terrifying but it makes a cracking film. I will be extremely surprised if Gravity does not win any Oscars this year.

There we have it. My week of cinema overload. I'd love to know your own opinions about any of these three, so drop me a comment below. Until next time!

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Synopsis: On May 30th, 1593, a celebrated young playwright was killed in a tavern brawl in London.
That, at least, was the official version. Now let Christopher Marlowe tell you the truth: that his 'death' was an elaborate ruse to avoid his being hanged for heresy; that he was spirited across the channel to live on in lonely exile, longing for his true love and pining for the damp streets of London; that he continued to write plays and poetry, hiding behind the name of a colourless man from Stratford — one William Shakespeare.

Pages: 407

Rating: 6/10

Overall: The Marlowe Papers is challenging but ultimately rewarding read that makes you questions the official history of Shakespeare. It has a shaky start (no pun intended) but finds its feet eventually. Compelling and suspenseful, if slightly confusing to begin with.
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It's been a while, what with RL taking up too much time... BUT it is that time of the week again! Top Ten Tuesday hosted by those lovely people over at The Broke and the Bookish.

Names can tell you so much about the character before a single word of description has been read. It's like the cover of a book for each individual character, where a snap judgment is made, to be proved or disproved as the story unfolds. So here is my list of Top Ten Character Names I Love in particular order:

1. Augustus Waters (TFiOS) - Augustus suits the character perfectly. Augustus comes across as grandiose and a bit full of himself, but as Gus, he is a warm, funny, loving boyfriend to Hazel, and who is fully aware of his own fragility.
2. Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore (HP) - Albus Dumbledore is a majestic name that fits the perception of Dumbledore held by most of the Wizarding community. Also his lovely mix of middle names almost give a story of Dumbledore on their own. Particularly Brian, which makes you think of the little twinkle in Dumbledore's eye, and his mischievous streak.
3. Sirius Black (HP) - When Sirius is revealed to be the Big Bad for PoA, you're going to accept that as fact with a name like that. The sly sounding first name and, well, Black = obvious baddy. This made the reveal that he was actually good even more dramatic.

4. Étienne St. Clair (AatFK) - The mystery surrounding his first name added a nice touch to the romance. And the name Étienne just created oodles of swoon factor... French and British?? Like the best of both worlds!
5. Dolores Umbridge (HP) - I mean, come on, there was no way she was gonna be a nice character with a name like that. Such a great character name.
6. Zaphod Beedlebrox (H2G2) - Completely insane and resplendent in equal measure. Just like the character.
7. Fitzwilliam Darcy (P&P) - Just the name conjures up, well, good thoughts... Also, a great excuse for a picture of the best Mr. Darcy around, right?
8. Xenophilius Lovegood (HP) - A brilliant name for such a quirky character. Fits like a glove as Xenophilius is so accepting of the weird and wonderful. And it starts with an X, so...

9. Katniss Everdeen (THG) - She sounds tough just from her name, like a cat hissing a warning, and protecting.
10. Dobby (HP) - Well, we named the dog after him so this has a special meaning. (It really fits a dog, by the way.)

Synopsis: Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?
Imagine if she hadn’t forgotten the book. Or if there hadn’t been traffic on the expressway. Or if she hadn’t fumbled the coins for the toll. What if she’d run just that little bit faster and caught the flight she was supposed to be on. Would it have been something else - the weather over the Atlantic or a fault with the plane?
Hadley isn’t sure if she believes in destiny or fate but, on what is potentially the worst day of each of their lives, it’s the quirks of timing and chance events that mean Hadley meets Oliver...
Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver’s story will make you believe that true love finds you when you’re least expecting it.

Pages: 215

Rating: 7/10

Overall: The perfect travel read that quick and really cute. The two characters, Hadley and Oliver, have a great chemistry, and I love the banter between them. Waiting for my airport romance now...


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