Curious Candy

Bookiness

2009-06-23T11:33:00.000-07:00

1. What author do you own the most books by?
I own way too many Enid Blyton books, actually. My grandma was forever buying me them. I also have a lot of Jacqueline Wilson books and a lot of the Goosebumps series. I don't really collect many authors nowadays, though.

2. What book do you own the most copies of? I don't keep multiple copies of books, but if annuals count I have doubles of old Sabrina annuals. I used to love that show.

3. Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions? Not really. Mainly because I'm unobservant and didn't actually notice.

4. What fictional character are you secretly in love with? I think everybody who has ever read any of the Vampire Chronicles is probably just a little bit in love with Lestat. I don't think I'm secretly in love with any other fictional characters.

5. What book have you read the most times in your life? I have read Interview With The Vampire so many times I can't even count. I've probably read the first three Lola Love books oodles of times too, without even noticing.

6. Favorite book as a ten year old? I just adored Jacqueline Wilson books and the Sleepover Club books when I was ten. I flitted from one book to another, though - I'm not really a decisive person. Probably the Harry Potter series.

7. What is the worst book you’ve read in the past year? Ermm. . . Oh, I absolutely hated Holes. That's not because it was a bad book, that's because we did in English and this annoyed me for two reasons; one, we'd just finished pre-1914 horror (my favorite unit ever) and two, we had to analyse every last word in that book and I hate leaving the plot unanswered. Whilst everyone else was answering the questions, I was reading chapters and chapters ahead.

8. What is the best book you’ve read in the past year? This is such a hard question! I started reading Francesca Lia Block books this year, and Girl Goddess #9 is an awesome book that everyone should read, but I also read Stargirl and that is a book that I absolutely adore and am going to badger everyone I know into reading.

9. If you could force everyone you know to read one book, what would it be? I think I'd probably make them all read Stargirl. It's my favorite book of the moment, and criminally underrated considering the lack of people I know who have ever read it. By the way, that total is one. That one being me.

10. What book would you most like to see made into a movie? I don't like movie adaptations of books much, but I adore school movies and I just finished reading a boarding school novel called Secrets at St Judes, so that would probably make a good movie.

11. What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read? I own War and Peace. I got up to page four and gave up. I am going to read it if it takes me a year. Just not yet.

12. What is your favorite book? I hate this question. I love so many books I find it madly hard to actually choose one. Right now, it's Stargirl. That will change by next week, I promise.

13. Play? I don't read many plays, but I have read Romeo and Juliet, so I guess that's the answer.

14. Poem? I'm not good with reading poetry, but I used to have a friend on a writing website who wrote the most amazing fantasy faerie type poems. She was brilliant.

15. Essay? I don't have enough time to read essays, unforch.

16. Who is the most overrated writer alive today? Stephenie Meyer. I cannot stand the Twilight series. Overrated tosh.

17. What is your desert island book? Maybe if I was on a desert island I'd have enough time to read War and Peace (:.

Pop Princess - Cathy Hopkins

2009-06-23T11:18:00.000-07:00

Note : This is one of the middle books in the Truth, Dare, Kiss, Promise series by Cathy Hopkins. I'm aslo going to review (from the series) Teen Queens and Has-Beens and Starstruck, but this was my favorite so I shall start with it.

Pop Princess revolves around Becca, who missed out on her school's production of Grease, through a sudden fit of nerves. People always call her fickle and a dreamer, so she tries to prove them wrong after being dared to take part in 'Pop Princess', a TV talent show along the lines of The X Facter and Britain's Got Talent.

I have a habit of going for books about high school and young famous people. This is no exception, and seems to follow a pattern of books about young people who want to be famous - albeit with her group of friends putting a spin on the proceedings. One of my favorite parts of this book (and this probably makes me pretty mean) is the despair that Becca goes through for one reason or another.

There are other themes aside from fame running through the book; it's a book about friendship and overcoming odds. Becca thinks she's fat, and is afraid that this could put a dampener on her chances of winning the competition - but she never gives up. She carries on trying even when her boyfriend's sister Jade throws a spanner into the works.

The main problem with reading Pop Princess is a lack of reality in the actual audition process; whilst nerves are described admirably, other feelings such as happiness as getting through aren't described nearly as well. In fact, the audition processes may have made the book better if they were completely left out.

Nevertheless, it's a surprisingly good book that doesn't just fit in with every other teen-book going. I need to read the rest in the series now.

Pimpin' Out Mah New Blog

2009-03-29T12:09:00.001-07:00

http://ellieandnatasha.blogspot.com/

Livin' La Vida Lola - Lisa Clark

2009-03-28T08:27:00.000-07:00

Livin La Vida Lola, by Lisa Clark, is the first in a series of books about the pink-haired heroine of the title, Lola Love. She starts off bored, alone and without her BFF Angel in a town she has dubbed "Dullsville-By-The-Sea". Her Aunt Talullah has gone away to work in New York and she feels completely alone - until, that is, she finds a flyer for a boutique with a postcard from Angel and meets punk-trash princess Bella!

As soon as I began to read this book, I seriously could not put it down. When they arrived in the post I was BEYOND excited and wandered around the house for the rest of the day with it in my hand - well, at least until I finished it! I also found myself talking in the way the book was written, which totally BAFFLED my parents and having the sudden desire to decorate my room pink, look through vintage clothing, start scrapbooking again and watch loads of old black-and-white movies!

Surprisingly, all of the characters were pretty easy to identify with! My personal favorite was Sadie, the busker with fairy wings, because how brilliant would that be? Also, Lola with her almost-permanently sunny outlook was awesome, and I probably would also list the cat as one of my favorite characters! Without the cat, the book wouldn't have gotten the happy ending it wouldn't have been complete without.

My favorite part of the book is very close to the end, just after the story finishes - and you get the 'Think Pink Zine'. This was especially awesome to read considering you'd been hearing praise for it all the while you were reading the book! It doesn't disappoint.

All in all, this is one of my new favourite books. It's perfect for a pick-me-up in a rubbish day, or even just to put a smile on your face on a mediocre day! It's inspirational, awesome and perfectly tailored to any girl - not just ones who have a thing for pink!

Worse Than Boys - Catherine MacPhail

2009-03-24T12:49:00.000-07:00

Okay, first of all just let me say that this wasn't one I picked up because it looked fantastically interesting. I took it because I needed one more and its cover looked interesting; bright pink with black silhouettes on over it. The cover said "Worse Then Boys" and told me that it was written by Catherine MacPhail.

The basic premise for the book was that in this school, there were two rival gangs; The Lip Gloss Girls, made up of Erin, Hannah (the main character whom we read the story through the eyes of), Heather and Rose, and The Hell Cats. They get into fights a lot and generally cause trouble - in fact, there's a rumour going round that their ringleader the tough-as-nails Wizzie carries a knife and that they mugged an old lady.

Then, Erin reveals a MASSIVE secret to Hannah . . . and suddenly it's all around school. Hannah finds herself cast out by her friends and completely alone - with the Hell Cats circling ever closer. . .

I have to admit, at first I just thought it would be a good way to pass the time. I didn't like the fantastic, awesome group of friends that the Lip Gloss Girls had - it suddenly all got interesting when Hannah was cast out. I admit to shedding a few tears as Hannah was abandoned by all of her friends, and I really felt for her (having been abandoned by friends a few times myself).

Things, of course, weren't helped by Erin's total inability to believe her friend.The best thing about this book? Nothing turned out the way you thought it would. Everything was the total opposite from what you expected.

I can't really say how because you haven't read it and hello, spoilers? But I can assure you it's probably not what you expect to happen. I've never heard of this book before; but I can guarantee you'll love it.You'll really get caught up in the story and by the time it ends, you'll be wishing that it never did.

Airhead - Meg Cabot

2009-03-24T12:48:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, I was bought a magazine that came with the first five chapters of Airhead in a teeny book. At first, I figured it wasn't something I'd like - I only ever read The Princess Diaries for the Buffy references, for Richard Hammond's sake! Then I read further in and I thought, 'yeah, actually, this book is a little me'.

The plot of this book is that tomboy Emerson Watts is in an accident and then when she wakes up she just happens to be in somebody else's body - the body of teenage supermodel sensation Nikki.

Oh yeah, add in the fact that she's in love with her best friend who ends up thinking she's dead and things just get a teensy bit more complicated.I found it relatively easy to relate with Emerson; big surprise when you consider how hard it is for me to relate with anybody, let alone fictional characters.

She seemed to be a little like me - occasionally obsessed with video games, average and in love with somebody who wouldn't even notice. It's nice to be able to relate with people.Although Emerson certainly was easy, I have to admit I much preferred Nikki's 'celebutante' best friend, Lulu. She was awesomeness personified.

And of course, I also preferred the afterwards when Emerson was being Nikki then the before when Emerson was being Emerson, or being Nikkie-but-not-quite knowing it.It's not a ground-shattering book or probably even one I'll remember next month. But for two hours or so entertainment, it's good enough for me.

Ruby Parker Series - Rowan Coleman

2009-03-24T12:46:00.000-07:00

I haven't read all of the Ruby Parker books and I didn't do them in order. I've read the first three - up to Ruby Parker, Hollywood Star, and I've enjoyed them in the sort of way I enjoy these books.

Ruby Parker starts off as Angel MacFarley in soap Kensington Heights, becomes Polly Harris in a movie, and ends up with a snotty characters in an American drama by the end of Hollywood.

All of the time the chapters are interspersed with letters, newspaper columns and emails; which occasionally prove a nice escape from Ruby's tumultous world.

I can't say I like Ruby very much - in fact she came off as a little snobby, just like Anne-Marie said she was. I much preferred her nice friend Nydia, who reminded me more of me then Ruby did.

I love books about stage schools and theatres and people getting big chances to be famous, but this book really wasn't for me. It seemed it was aimed a little below me, and sometimes I couldn't help but notice how mean Ruby was acting or how oddly written it was. I can't help it; I just always nitpick.It's not the worst book, but it's not the best.

If you like books about the stage and fame and acting, go for it. I can't say my opinion caters for everybody. It was alright - but to be honest, as a rabid musical theatre geek, I'm looking forward to reading the next Ruby Parker book - Ruby Parker, Stage Star!

Ginger Snaps - Cathy Cassidy

2009-03-24T12:45:00.000-07:00

Ginger Snaps - Cathy Cassidy

I saw an advertisement for this book yesterday in my magazine, saying it was new, and I just thought "Hey, I've read this . . ." So I'm going to review-ify now! You see, my library are just brilliance personified in that they had this book a few months ago and I borrowed it. All Hardbacky and ribbony, it was AWESOME.

Basically, it all centres on Ginger, who used to be puppy fat and pigtails and has grown up into hair straighteners, make-up etc. - and her best friend Shannon!

Then, Shannon befriends Emily and it all goes downhill from there! Plus, an odd saxophone playing boy in a trilby. . . Yes, I did go out and buy a trilby after reading it. Is that so bad?

It all seems pretty straightforward if we take away trilby dude. There have been hundreds of books about people leaving for others, etc. But this book was different because of trilby dude. I really can't say much more for fear of spoiling the plot, but suffice to say it gets veeery interesting. . . .

It's really easy to identify with Ginger - we've all been at the stage in our lives when we weren't liked very much, and we've all adapted ourselves. Not to mention Ginger doesn't do really stupid things to send us off her, which is GOOD.

All in all, Ginger Snaps was a really good book, for an hours reading or so. I loved it, obviously. Why are you still reading? Go out and buy it!

Twilight - Stephenie Meyer

2009-03-24T12:42:00.000-07:00

I'm archiving my old book reviews ;D.

I first picked up Twilight when I was wandering around a bookstore searching for a book I wanted for Christmas. Recognising the name and the 'Edward Cullen' it spoke about on the back, I though that I would buy it and I could join in the hysteria surrounding the book. I bought the book, and inside of me knew that if it was half as good as the other vampire books I had read, I would love it. How foolish I was.

When I began to read the book, I was hit by the uncomfortable realization that this wasn't really very good. Hoping it would pick up, I finished the book - whilst all the while, my inner editor was yelling at me to put the book down and never read it again. Sadly, I didn't listen to him.

Let me explain - Twilight is a book about 'average' human Bella Swan, who moves to the rainy town of Forks and falls in love with the vampire Edward Cullen. So it's not the most interesting premise in the world, or the most original. It still could have been a decent book. But it wasn't.

First of all, we have Bella Swan. Bella Swan, I'd like to point out is a Mary-Sue. Not only is she apparently 'fantastically average' but she manages to have five (count'em) boys lusting after her by the end of the book, including the unreachable Edward Cullen. She isn't selfish, or vain, but 'brilliant and kind-hearted'. Her only flaw is what I shall now be referring to as her 'cutesy-Sue flaw' is clumsiness. This, coincidentally, is found endearing by all boys who meet her.

Then we have Edward Cullen. A ridiculously flat, but OMG HAWT character who has all of the personality of a cardboard cut-out. He also exhibits some darn creepy stalker characteristics - appearing mysteriously wherever she is and watching her while he sleeps. Is that romantic if Jed the ninety-year old janitor does it? So why is it romantic when a hundred and eight year old vampire does it? That's right, it's not. Plus, he sparkles. Enough said.

I could go on for hours about the grand lack of plot that was sleeping until a hundred pages before the end. I could go on about the mad anti-feminist undertones. I could go on about the SPARKLING. THE SPARKLING. I'm not going to. Just, trust me when I say you'd be better off reading Anne Rice.