The Piper's Son was a little lacking.

The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta

Rating: 3 out of 5 hearts

328 pages

Released: March 2010

Buy it @ book depository

Award-winning author Melina Marchetta reopens the story of the group of friends from her acclaimed novel Saving Francesca - but five years have passed, and now it's Thomas Mackee who needs saving. After his favorite uncle was blown to bits on his way to work in a foreign city, Tom watched his family implode. He quit school and turned his back on his music and everyone that mattered, including the girl he can't forget. Shooting for oblivion, he's hit rock bottom, forced to live with his single, pregnant aunt, work at the Union pub with his former friends, and reckon with his grieving, alcoholic father. Tom's in no shape to mend what's broken. But what if no one else is either? An unflinching look at family, forgiveness, and the fierce inner workings of love and friendship, The Piper's Son redefines what it means to go home again.

Review

I read "Finnikin of the rock" in May and really loved it, so I thought I'd give another one of Melina Marchetta's books a go. Unfortunately, I wasn't as impressed with this. I didn't know that this was sort of a companion novel to "Saving Francesca", which I haven't read. I really wished I had read "Saving Francesca" first because I may have been a bit more invested in this.

The book is written from the third person but focuses mainly on Tom Mackee and his Aunty Georgie. Both of them weren't very interesting, so maybe that's why I didn't like this all that much. It's a shame I didn't feel as fondly for this as others did, I've seen many reviews from people who are in love with this.

After reading this though it makes me want to read "Saving Francesca" because Francesca was an awesome secondary character! I can imagine a book from her as the main character would be awesome. Another secondary character that I really liked was Tom's little sister. She isn't a big character, but she has balls and is totally cool! I wanted to read more about her.

On a side note, It was cool knowing this book is set in Australia because I got all the slang and references.

On the cover

This cover screams waking up after a big night out and not sure where you stayed. The backdrop looks exactly like a street in the city. It's not the best looking cover, but it's cool. 

What I'm listening on Audio to next: Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

Good old classic movies

I love watching movies and I watch so many new movies that I thought it's time I watched some of those good classic films. Working at the library I have some perks because I was able to borrow all these for free. Enjoy all these wonderful trailers and a short review of each movie by me! :)

Some like it hot (1959) in B & W 

Starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis & Jack Lemon

This was very funny and this being my first ever Marilyn Monroe movie, she didn't disappoint! She is cute and sexy just like I imagined. It's a shame this wasn't in colour because I would've loved to see all the beautiful dresses Marilyn wears. I actually knew the two male actors in this and they were fantastic as well. Great start to my Marilyn Monroe viewing.

Gone with the wind (1939) in Colour 

Starring Clark Gable & Vivien Leigh

The clothing/costumes were fabulous, I'm so glad this was in colour! The overall movie though wasn't all that appealing to me. I didn't like it mainly because the main character, Scarlett, was annoying. Oh and the movie was four hours long and it was so depressing the whole time. I have to admit it was filmed very beautifully but unfortunately it wasn't my cup of tea. Had to wait til the end of the movie to hear the line I know - "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn!"

Casablanca (1942) in B & W 

Starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman & Paul Henreid

"Here's looking at you kid" I loved this so much! No wonder it's considered one of the best classic movies, when it was finished I wanted to watch it all over again! Something I found weird was that Humphrey Bogart has little to no expression in this, I did see him smile once and it was strange. 

A streetcar named desire (1951) in B & W 

Starring Vivien Leigh, Marlon Brandon & Kim Hunter

Was a little slow and I didn't really get what was going on. I had a slight idea but I ended up looking on the Internet to make sure I was right. Marlon Brando has a really hot body and looks nice but he is such a pig, so that puts you off him completely! At least I can say that I've seen Brando yelling "Stella! Hey Stella!"

The Seven Year itch (1955) in Colour 

Starring Marilyn Monroe & Tom Ewell

Marilyn is adorable! If she wasn't in this it would've been a little boring. The story line was quite funny, and I loved that it was in colour so we could see Marilyn in all her glory. Loved the well known subway air scene of course - "Isn't it delicious"

Calamity Jane (1953) in Colour 

Starring Doris Day & Howard Keel

This movie was loads of fun! I love musicals and this was right up my alley. Doris Day plays a fantastic character, such a light-hearted movie with a happy ending. "Whip crack away, whip crack away, whip crack away!"

Psycho (1960) in B & W 

Starring Anthony Perkins & Vera Miles

I recently watched "Hitchcock" starring Anthony Hopkins, who played Alfred Hitchcock and I enjoyed it. It made me want to watch Psycho as I have never seen it before. I thought Psycho was a really good movie. Great acting and had lots of suspense. It's not a gory scary movie, more of a psychological type of scary movie, I highly recommend it!

Have you watched any classic movies and enjoyed them?

Not your average zombie

Ashes (Ashes Trilogy #1) by Ilsa Bick

Rating: 4 out of 5 hearts

465 pages

Released: September 2011

Buy it @ book depository

It could happen tomorrow . . .

An electromagnetic pulse flashes across the sky, destroying every electronic device, wiping out every computerized system, and killing billions.

Alex hiked into the woods to say good-bye to her dead parents and her personal demons. Now desperate to find out what happened after the pulse crushes her to the ground, Alex meets up with Tom—a young soldier—and Ellie, a girl whose grandfather was killed by the EMP.

For this improvised family and the others who are spared, it’s now a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human.

Author Ilsa J. Bick crafts a terrifying and thrilling post-apocalyptic novel about a world that could become ours at any moment, where those left standing must learn what it means not just to survive, but to live amidst the devastation.

Review

This was not what I was expecting at all! That's not a bad thing though, it's a really good thing. I was expecting a gory zombie novel, which it is at times, but there was so much more than gore. It was a slightly romantic story where people are trying to survive during a confusing time.

Zombies aren't my favourite thing to read or watch, I think the whole idea of cannibalism is terrifying! But my boyfriend LOVES zombies and wishes the zombie apocalypse was here already... so because of this I've seen a lot of zombie movies and videogames. Normally in those movies there's usually an epidemic/viral outbreak that turns people into the undead. In this book they are called 'the changed' which is a completely different twist on your average zombies.

I think this was more scary because the idea of an electronic impulse knocking out all technology could happen now. Our society relies so much on technology that if everything was suddenly shut off not many people would survive, I know I wouldn't!

The story was very intriguing but the characters were also really easy to like as well. Although Ellie, who is an 8 year old tag along was quite annoying at times, but I guess most kids that age would find it hard to get used to living without technology. Alex is the main character and the story is told from her point of view. She is a very strong female character, but she has her weaknesses and I liked that she was both strong at times while also being weak at times because it makes her real.

There are two male characters in this that are vying for Alex's affections, but it's not a love triangle as such because they happen at different points in the novel (I don't want to give too much away). The romance was very slow paced, no insta love in this book. I like that guys who read this would not be put off because there isn't any mushy love.

Oh and that ending!! I was like "wha....??? There has to be another disc, that can't be the end please!" It was so excruciating, there are so many unanswered questions and you're left hanging. Have the changed become clever? I don't know if I should wait to get the audiobook version or just go out and read the book. I think the latter might win. I highly recommend this to people who would be put off by flesh-eating zombies because it's not a book about just that.

On the cover

That face is so creepy, I think it's the eyes that make it kind of scary - There's no pupils and they're white. I also understand now all the lines across the face, I guess they're to represent the Electro-magnetic pulse.

What I'm listening to next: The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta

Felt Macarons

Have a look at these yummy treats. Have you tried a macaron before? Well these ones aren't for eating. These delicious looking macarons are created by Ouissi Gresty, have a look at her blog!

I saw these on the front cover of Mollie Makes magazine and thought they were adorable, I just had to try to make them. Boy they were harder than they look! It's all about making sure both your macaron sides are the same size and then making sure the filling doesn't hang over the sides. I had fun making them and it took me just under an hour to make one. 

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with them, I was thinking of making a few more for some decorations at a friend's engagement party. I look forward to making the next thing I see in Mollie Makes magazine.

Took more than just one day to read

Just one day (Just one day #1) by Gayle Forman

Rating: 3 out of 5 hearts

368 pages

Released: January 2013

Buy it @ book depository

When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.

 

Review

"Because if time can be fluid, then maybe something that is just one day can go on indefinitely"

That ending! What a way to leave everyone hanging to find out what happens next. Luckily "Just one year" which is the sequel to this comes out in October, so there's not much longer to wait to find out what happens next.

The book started off a little slow and it took me a while to get any momentum to keep reading, I think that could be because the main character Allyson wasn't all that interesting. It wasn't until she met Willem and he named her "LuLu" that the story got so much better. Allyson took on a completely different personality when she became LuLu, she went from goody-two-shoes to rebel.

What I liked most about this book was Allyson's transformation. I went on a journey with her learning about Paris, culture and love. During the year that she travels around looking for Willem she changes the most. This is what I loved most about her, she learned to take risks and make friends with strangers. By the end of the book I felt that Allyson and Lulu started to melt into one person.

For those that have Gayle Forman's other books and didn't like them, I would recommend you read this because it's different from "If I stay". If you loved Forman's other books then I don't need to tell you to read this because you probably already have!

I can't wait to read the follow up book just to see what really happened when Willem left and what happened when they found each other again. It will also be interesting to read his point of view and see if Forman can write Willem in a way that lives up to everyone's standards.

On the cover

When I see this cover I think relaxation. She's staring out into nothing while enjoying a hot drink, sounds good to me! Only one thing is missing, a book! After reading I can see why that watch is a prominent peice on this cover.

What I'm reading next: Girl Defective by Simmone Howell

Flowers & Flocking Powder nails

I've seen people using flocking powder on their nails for a while, so I bought some flocking powder off eBay and I finally decided to give it a go. It took me so long to get round to using my flocking powder because I wasn't sure what to do! My pack has 12 different colours so you can imagine it was difficult to decide.

Finally, I decided to do the mani above. I think light pink and mint green look great together but I wanted to do more. I thought sweet white & pink flowers would just top it off.

I started the flowers by doing the middle part and then the petals. To achieve the middle of the flower I used a dotting tool to blob on orange and once that was dry I did the same step again with yellow. Use a small brush and do small brush strokes to create the flower petals. I did the pink flower petals first and once they were dry I did the white petals.

I watched this great video to get an idea of how to put the flocking powder on my nails. The effect of the powder on the nail is awesome! Unfortunately it didn't last long for me, It lasted only a couple of days until most of it had rubbed off. That won't stop me from doing it again because it's very simple and looks fantastic!

Have you used flocking powder before?

An author I'm never letting go of

The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking #1) by Patrick Ness

Rating: 4 out of 5 hearts

478 pages

Released: May 2008

Buy it @ book depository

Prentisstown isn't like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts in an overwhelming, never-ending stream of Noise. Just a month away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd and his dog, Manchee -- whose thoughts Todd can hear too, whether he wants to or not -- stumble upon an area of complete silence. They find that in a town where privacy is impossible, something terrible has been hidden -- a secret so awful that Todd and Manchee must run for their lives.

But how do you escape when your pursuers can hear your every thought?

Check out this book trailer - it's amazing!

Review

"The Noise is a man unfiltered, and without a filter, a man is just chaos walking.” 

I read and reviewed "A Monster Calls" which was also written by Patrick Ness and it was AMAZING! It was too hard to express it's awesomeness, this book is also pretty amazing. Ness has an incredible talent to writing a story.

The writing style was hard to get used to, but it didn't take long for me to fall deep into the story. It's difficult to get used to because there's deliberate grammar mistakes to give the reader the sense that the characters aren't well read or very clever. I feel that listening to this on Audio helped with getting used to the writing mainly because I didn't have to read the mistakes.

I loved the idea of the "Noise". Of being able to hear everyone's thoughts, even animals. It's so unique and I think Ness did a fantastic job of writing it in a way that was believable.

Todd and manchee are a perfect team. Then they meet up with Viola and the twosome becomes a threesome. Manchee reminded me of Dug, the dog from Up (the disney-pixar movie), mainly because he's a talking dog and because at one point in the story he spots a squirrel and yells "SQUIRREL" just like Dug in Up. Todd and Viola are two young kids I want to wrap up in my arms and keep them away from the bad men. But I wouldn't need to do that because they have so much strength and take care of themselves, It made you want to root for them.

This is a very long winded epic story about two kids and their dog who are walking, and at times running, away from the bad guys. But there's so much more in this book to enjoy. There's mystery, friendship, love and heartbreak. There are many twists and turns with lots getting revealed along the way, some things I had guessed but most was very eye-opening.

In a way this reminded me of World War two. There's an evil dictator who determines a certain group of people are bad and influences the rest of the people to take them to war. Even when the certain group have done nothing wrong. 

The book ended with a bit of a cliff hanger but not big enough for me to rip my hair out. I really look forward to reading the next book in the series.

On the cover

I don't particuarly like this cover but it's perfect for this book. The noise, the knife and the trees in the background. There is another cover I have seen which has the same red knife but the background is white, I prefer that cover.

What I'm listening to next: Ashes by Ilsa Bick