Beauty & The Books

Red Queen, Glass Sword, King's Cage, War Storm - Victoria Aveyard Genre: Young Adult/Dystopia/Action Pages: n/a Rating: 5/5 Format: Changing POVs ----- First of I need to state that this series fed my YA soul and I did not know I needed this till after I found it! I'll give a short summary of the series and then get into the review, CAUTION read only the first summery to avoid spoilers if you have not read the series!! I did warn you. RED QUEEN: This is a world divided by blood – red or silver. The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change. That is, until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power. Fearful of Ma...

We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves - Karen Joy Fowler Genre: Fiction/Psychological Fiction Pages: 336 Rating: 4/5 Format: Non linear storyline, moves between memories and present _________________________________________________ *WARNING, SPOILERS FROM THE ONSET* This novel is a heartbreaking tale that challenges the orthodox ideals of family and relationships. Rosemary's father is a university professor who takes part in many studies and publishes many papers, one of these studies happens to be about her life. Her life growing up with Fern, who is also a Chimpanzee! That was a plot twist that I did not expect at all! The way that Fowler introduces Fern and her character is one that people would usually associate with a human sibling, this makes the reader just assume that she is human (what else would we think?) and this is what Fowler wanted. The effect of the reader initially thinking of Fern as human, gives us just a small indication of what Lowell and Rosemary...

The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern  Genre: Fantasy  Pages: 387 Rating: 3.5/5 Format: Fiction Organised By Dates  _________________________________________________________________________________ *WARNING THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THE REVIEW, APPROACH WITH CAUTION* _________________________________________________________________ I went into this novel with high expectations and excitement but I was left somewhat disappointed, so much so that I did not even finish the novel. I loved the idea of the story and the plot and I feel like it had great potential! It was just the fact that the plot took time to develop fully that I had a problem with, it became something that I did not want to pick up anymore.  BUT... Here are some of the things that I loved about this novel! First of, I loved the detail in setting and the time period that it was set. A lot of the novel focuses on different places and setting and Morgenstern does not...

1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four) - George Orwell Genre: Dystopia/Political Fiction Pages: 342 Rating: 4/5 Format: 3rd person Standard Narrative _________________________________________________________________________________ I feel that this novel has a slow beginning with Orwell explaining all of the dystopian terms to the reader as well as emphasising the age and condition of the main character, Winston (despite the slow start I love the effort that has been put into creating this world it makes it more enjoyable) I think for the time of writing, this novel is definitely ahead of its time! I love how Orwell contrasts the dullness of the society with the brightness of Winston's fantasies and and relationship. I do find that there is not enough depth to the characters but I get that the novel is more about the collective and not so much the individual, Winston is just a representation of the larger. Overall I would most definitely recommend this thought provoking novel! ...

  Strong Looks Better Naked - Khloé Kardashian Genre: Nonfiction/Self-help/Biography/Memoir Pages: 220 Rating: 5/5 Format: Memoir with quotes and images _________________________________________________________________________________ Everybody always talks rubbish about about Khloé and her sisters but I must say this book is amazing, Kardashian or not the story and message within this memoir is amazing! The overall vibe from this is one of positivity and understanding, she knows that life throws unexpected twists and turns at us but then she also gives advice as to how to cope with these twists. From topics concerning the death of her father to the breakup of her marriage, as well as recipes and cocktails. This book is something that everyone needs to experience, not just because she explains the benefits of exercise and food but it just makes you rethink everything and look in the mirror. Not all self-help books can do this. Definitely recommend this to anyone, alon...

Great Expectations - Charles Dickens I have just started reading this classic by Charles Dickens, at this moment I am about half way through and I am pleasantly surprised!! Having read a few classics from this period before, I thought that I would get lost within all of the flowery language, but after a few pages (or chapters..) it became quite easy, although I do have to read it in a moderately quiet space. I have watched the recent BBC tv drama as well as the films before I read this and I must say that it definitely allows me to have an easier understanding of the plot. It took me a while to get into the start of the story but after pushing through and after Pip was later introduced to Miss Havisham, I was hooked! Also I got this copy for free from the English department at my college so that's always a bonus! Feel free to recommend anything you might feel like I'll be interested in :) xoxo P https://www.instagram.com/_beautyandthebooks_