Les Misérables

Summary:
Prisoner 24601, known as Jean Valjean, is released from prison and breaks parole to create a new life for himself while evading the grip of the persistent Inspector Javert. Set post-revolutionary France, the story reaches resolution against the background of the June Rebellion.

During the French Revolution, convict Jean Valjean is released on parole by prison guard Javert after serving a nineteen-year sentence. He is offered food and shelter by the Bishop of Digne, but later steals the Bishop's silver dishes after everyone is asleep. He is caught by the authorities, but the Bishop states that he gave the convict the silver and demands that Valjean be set free. Ashamed of his crimes against the generous holy man, Valjean breaks his parole and vows to start a new honest life under a new identity

Plot:

This was a very good story, a bit violent for my taste, but I get that it was necessary. It was heartfelt, and although it was quite long it didn’t bore me at all. The romance was great, although a little Romeo and Julietesque (not a word, I know...), and I loved Jean Valjean’s whole story. The music was fantastic, the acting superb.

Characters:

Wonderful! Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) is a marvelous character, he is caring and humble, but not perfect. Fontine (Anne Hathaway, who totally deserved that Oscar!) is also a great character, you can feel her every emotion. Javert (Russel Crowe) is the ‘bad guy’, but he truly believes everything he does is right, his character fascinated me personally. Cosette (Amanda Seyfried) is a pretty, innocent girl who falls in love for the first time, a wonderful contrast to most of the others, she is like a ray of sunshine the darkness of the rest of the film. Also the child Cosette (Isabelle Allen) was incredibly cute, and what a wonderful little actress! Marius Pontmercy (Eddie Redmayne) is Cosette’s love interest, as well as Éponine’s (Samantha Barks), he is a revolutionary, who sides with the poor people, although he comes from a wealthy family. I personally think Éponine was my favorite character, she was the most relatable for me. Then there is the Thénardiers (Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen) a pair of thieving innkeepers who were intended to provide some humor in this otherwise tragic tale. They were funny at times, although the humor was quite crude.

Cinematography:

Beautiful, stunning! This is a photographic masterpiece. The darkness that could be seen throughout the movie, and the lights at the end made the atmosphere in this movie so much more intense. The costumes and make-up were very well done as well. The singing were a little off-key at times, but considering the fact that the actors were singing live in many parts, this is completely understandable.

Who should watch this:

(PG13), there is quite a lot of mature content especially violence and crude humor. I’m not sure what I would compare this with, only know that it’s going to make you cry, so if you don’t like that you won’t like this.

My rating:

I really liked this movie, it was just a very well-made film, with wonderful acting and a good storyline. Like I said before, I’m not a huge fan of violent movies, but it was necessary. I’m also not a fan of crude humor, so that part bothered me a little…3/5

Quote:
I had a dream my life would be so different from this hell I'm living!

Sorry this was such a long review, it seems that the length of my reviews depend on the length of the book/movie!

The Little Mermaid

 Summary:
A mermaid princess makes a bargain with an unscrupulous sea hag in order to meet a human prince on land.

Disregarding her father's order to stay away from the world above the sea, she swims to the surface and, in a raging storm, rescues the prince of her dreams. Determined to be human, she strikes a bargain with the devious sea witch, Ursula, and trades her fins and beautiful voice for legs. With her best friend, the adorable and chatty Flounder, and her reluctant chaperone Sebastian, the hilarious, reggae-singing Caribbean crab, at her side, Ariel must win the prince's love and save her father's kingdom - all in a heart-pounding race against time!

Plot:

I love this story, I always have. It’s just so beautiful and fun and sad and wonderful! I love musicals, or any movies with music, and this is one of my favorites of Disney. The story is so well known, I don’t really know what else to say about it.

Characters:

Oh, I love the characters in this movie! Flounder, the wimpy best friend. Sebastian the crabby, singing crab. Ariel, the headstrong, beautiful, innocent mermaid. King Triton, stern, but loving. Ursula, the evil sea-witch. Her two pets, the eels! The French cook! The prince (no need to say more)!!! They’re all marvelous.

Cinematography:

This is quite an old movie, so the animation isn’t quite as good as today’s, but I like the old feel of it. The best part as far as the animation go is probably the scene where they sing ‘kiss the girl’. The fireflies and the different birds, makes it wonderfully romantic.

Who should watch this:

(A), is the official rating. There is no adult content, although Ursula might scare some little kids (she scares me! :P). Lovers of all the Disney princess classics, or any Disney classics really should have watched this already! Perfect for little girls (like me).

My rating:

I love this movie, because I’m a kid and a hopeless romantic (heehee). 4/5

Quote:
Scuttle: I haven't seen this in years, this is *wonderful*!
Ariel: What is it?
Scuttle: A banded, bulbous snarfblatt.
Ariel, Flounder: Ohhh.

The Elite

Kiera Cass

The Selection #2

 

Summary: 
The Selection gets fierce as rivals stake their claim on the Prince.

Six girls, one life-changing prize...

America Singer will leave her pre-destined life for a world of glamour and luxury, if she wins...

But surviving the Selection is tough. Rivals are battling to become Prince Maxon's bride as the threat of rebel violence just beyond the palace walls escalates into war.

Only six girls are left and sworn friendships are tested to breaking point. America's feelings for Maxon grow stronger, but she suspects darker mysteries in his royal past. With ex-lover Aspen waiting for her in the shadows, where do her loyalties truly lie?

Plot:

I didn't like this book as much as The Selection. It actually bored me here and there. The story seemed to go around in circles until I wanted to tell America to just make up her mind already. I had high expectations, but was pretty disappointed. I did like the interesting little twist on the history of Illea, though, and I will probably read the third book to see how that turns out.

Characters:

The characters stayed pretty much the same, which was quite irritating. I would’ve liked to see some growth or change. These happenings in all of their lives should’ve impacted them in some way, right? America makes some stupid mistakes, Maxon fools around and Aspen seems to move to the background every  now and then leaving me wondering what he’s up to. Not all that great.

Who should read this?

13+ for all the same reasons as the Selection. Mild mature content, a little violence. Fans of the first book should read this, but if you didn’t like the Selection don’t waste your time. I would definitely recommend reading The Selection first, or else The Elite won’t make sense.

My rating:

This wasn’t nearly as good as The Selection (I actually started painting my nails while reading, just for something to do…that’s not normal for me…) so I’m hoping the third book is better! I will read it, just because I don’t like not knowing what happens next, but not because this series is all that wonderful. 2/5

Quote:
“It turns out I'm absolutely terrible at staying away from you. It's a very serious problem.

I will link the reviews of The Selection and The Prince here!

The Prince

Kiera Cass

The Selection #1.5

Summary:
Before thirty-five girls were chosen to compete in the Selection…

Before Aspen broke America’s heart…

There was another girl in Prince Maxon’s life…

Plot:

Now I can’t really comment on this book’s plot, since it is the same as the Selection, but I did enjoy Prince Maxon’s point of view. It explains some of the questions asked in the Selection, but I do wish it had gone on longer, it stops in the middle of the Selection’s story. I wanted to know how Maxon felt about everything that happened later on. Still is was nice to see what his first impressions of all the girls were. Just so you know, the previous romance it talks about in the summary doesn’t play a huge part in this book.

Characters:

There are only one new character, which is the girl mentioned above. Daphne is a French Princess that loves Maxon so much she’ll give up her crown to marry him. I liked her character, although we didn’t see much of her, she reminded me slightly of America. Prince Maxon’s character is also shown a bit more clearly, not just how America sees him, but how he really is. However, my views on him didn’t change much.

Who should read this?

13+, although this one had absolutely no violence at all, simply because I gave the Selection that rating and you won’t like this if you don’t read the Selection first. Mild mature content, but nothing terrible. I guess fans of the Selection will like this, I don’t think I’ll recommend it to anyone else.

My rating:

It was okay, a little short for my taste, just like this review! 3/5

Quote:
“Knowledge isn’t love”

Read my reviews for The Selection and The Elite here!

The Selection

Kiera Cass

The Selection #1

Summary: 
For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.
But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself, and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined

Plot:

I liked this book’s story, I know that dystopian books are a trend right now, and this one was a little less violent than some of the others I’ve read or heard of. The story is simple, but nice, with enough action to keep me interested. This is first and foremost a love story, (with a love triangle, because where would any book be without one?) and the dystopian world is merely the setting to provide a twist and make it different. 

Characters:

I liked the characters in this book. The heroine, America, is a witty, slightly strange girl with a sense of humor, who isn’t always sure of herself. The hero, who I suppose is the Prince, is a very nice guy, and though he comes of as a bit of a wimp around girls he is quite level headed and intelligent in matters of state. The other person in the love triangle, Aspen, is a passionate and slightly overeager character, he is very caring, but sometimes acts without thinking.

Who should read this?

13+, I think, there are some references to mature content and some scenes between Aspen and America might not be appropriate for younger readers. However, there is not a lot of violence, and the little that is mentioned is not described very graphically. I think this book is mainly aimed at girls, and if you liked the hunger games, but wished there were more romance and less violence, read this one.

My rating:

This book managed to keep my interest throughout, it wasn’t written as well as some of the other books of this genre, in my opinion, but it was readable. Probably won't make my favorites list, so I’ll give it a 3/5

Quote:
“You get confused by crying women, I get confused by walks with princes.” 

I will link my reviews for The Elite and The Prince, the sequel and a novella from the prince's perspective here!

A Pocket Full of Rye

Agatha Christie

Miss Marple #7

Summary:
King Rex was in his counting house, counting out his money. The Queen was in the parlour…

But where and why the blackbirds?

There are baffling similarities between the rhyme and the action and it takes all Miss Marple’s ingenuity to find them…

Plot:

Another epic ‘who dunnit’ murder by the queen of crime herself. Those of you who are familiar with Christie’s stories knows that she is a master at surprise endings, and pulling all the little random facts, scattered throughout the story, together. This book was no different. And I honestly can’t say too much, because I don’t want to give anything away, but I loved how the murders connected in a seemingly random way through a nursery rhyme…I mean…how do you come up with something like that?

Characters:

The characters are pretty much the same in all Christie’s writing, but the story is usually so fascinating you don’t even notice them that much, except as could be murderers. Mrs. Marple, the  ‘detective’ in this story is an old grandmotherly type lady and a wonderful character. She has a way of finding out things through the most roundabout ways, and it never seems strange that an elderly woman would be able to solve a crime, because it’s always through cool use of intellect, of which she has a lot. She uses that gift some women had of sticking their noses into other people’s business and puts it to good use. I find her fascinating.

Who should read this?

10+, while this is a crime book, and contains murder, the descriptions aren’t gruesome or even very detailed, so I feel the violence in this book is quite mild for one of its genre. There aren’t any other mature content, maybe some references to a woman being unfaithful to her husband. The style in which this book is written is not complex, or confusing, even if the story can be, but some of it may be hard to understand for younger readers. I think fans of Sherlock Holmes should enjoy this and, of course, any fans of Christie’s, because we all know she’s brilliant.

My rating:

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I don’t have anything bad to say about it. So 4/5, although I probably would’ve given it a higher rating if I wasn’t familiar with Christie’s work, since I know now to expect the unexpected, so the ending is still very surprising, but I know it’s going to be. If that makes any sense…

Quote:
“Nobody believes in magicians any more, nobody believes that anyone can come along and wave a wand and turn you into a frog. But if you read in the paper that by injecting certain glands scientists can alter your vital tissues and you'll develop froglike characteristics, well, everybody would believe that."

The Fault in Our Stars

John Green

Summary:

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

Plot:

First of all, let me just say that this is probably one of the hardest books to review I’ve ever come across. I can’t decide if I love it or like it or hate it. The story is quite simple and straightforward, but with a few interesting twist and turns thrown in here and there. John’s style is quite interesting, mixing typical everyday English with words I’ve never even seen (and it takes quite a lot to find a word I haven’t read at least once!). The only word I could think of, while reading, to describe this book is ‘real’. This story is realistic, and simple and tells it like it is. All in all, I would say I liked this story in general, but it kind of disappointed me at the end, but maybe I was expecting too much.

Characters:

The main characters in this book are wonderfully normal teenagers, with a terrible illness, raising questions most teens wouldn’t ask themselves about death, and what comes after it. I liked most of the characters, except the writer guy, I can’t remember his name, although I get why he was made to be a disappointment, showing us we can’t always get everything we want and adding to the authenticity that made this book different. The characters don’t get a fairytale ending, but they learn about the importance of love, family and friends.

Who should read this?

13+ as there are some language and other mature content. I think someone who likes sad books, but wants something different. I might even compare this to ‘the perks of being a wallflower’, the style of writing, and the type of characters reminded me a little of Chbosky’s style. This is not a light book, and while it’s easy to read it can get a bit depressing, so if you like fun, upbeat books don’t read this one.

My rating:

This is seriously the first time in my life that it’s happened that I don’t know if I like a book or not. And that’s saying a lot, considering the wide range of ones I have read. So based on that I’m going to give this a 3/5, simply because I do not know what to think of this book, not because it was bad in any way. (I will tell you if I read it again and my opinions have changed).

Quote:
“As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.” 

Eragon

Christopher Paolini

The Inheritance Cycle #1

Summary:

When poor farm boy Eragon stumbles upon a strange blue stone in the forest, his journey into a world of magic and adventure has only just begun. For the stone is in fact a dragon’s egg from which will hatch his beloved blue dragon Saphira. Overnight his simple world is changed.

Eragon and Saphira must take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders to rescue an Empire that is ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds. There are bloody battles ahead and lessons to learn, and it is only Eragon who can restore goodness…

Plot:

This was a great story. It was well paced, without long descriptions of the setting, and with just enough action and mystery to keep me interested. Paolini’s way of writing has just the right mixture of old and modern English, making it easy to read, but keeping the medieval feel of the book alive. The story itself is fascinating, with secrets, adventure, a long journey, war and the sparkle of magic (I love the word sparkle J). Although I’m not a huge fan of fighting scenes, or war etc this book had just enough. It wasn’t fighting from beginning to end, but had enough action keep it interesting.

Characters:

I loved the characters in this book. And I loved their names. The dragon, Saphira, is a wonderful, witty character, keeping Eragon (Eragon..Dragon, am I the only one who picked up on this?), who is prone to lose sight of reality, in check. You have bad guys, and good guys, and guys you can’t figure out. You have humans, and dragons, and elves and dwarves. Some of the characters are all out evil, which I always appreciate in a fantasy novel.  The hero, Eragon, develops throughout the book, and goes from a normal young boy to a strong warrior. This book has a lot of characters, but they are all different enough to not get confusing.

Who should read this?

13+, because of violence. Also this is a long book, and if you don’t like spending a lot of time on one novel you should probably skip this one. I think fans of the Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien would enjoy this, or those who tried to read them, but found it too hard. This book is written more simply, I think and is easier to read. Any fan of fantasy books should read this.

My rating:

I loved this book, and I can’t wait to read the others in this series (which I will review if I get around to it!). Also, when I read that Paolini started writing this book when he was just  15 I was like…whaaat??? I’m sorry, that wasn’t a very grammatically correct sentence, but I just had to say it like that. So my rating for this book is: 5/5

Quote:
Saphira: “If anything happens, I'm going to pin you to my back and never let you off."
Eragon: "I love you too."

Read my reviews for 'Eldest' and 'Brisingr' here, as well as the movie 'Eragon'. 

Safe Haven

Nicholas Sparks 

Summary:
Love hurts. There is nothing as painful as heartbreak. But in order to learn to love again, you must learn to trust again.

When a mysterious woman named Katie appears in the small town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet unassuming, Katie is determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships.

Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to lower her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community. But even as Katie starts to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts her.

Plot:

Another epic Sparks love story, however this one was a bit more intense, and dark in a way, than his usual novels. He even has a bit of a supernatural element, which I didn’t quite get, but he gets a point for trying. He does switch up the story a bit, making the bad things happen throughout the novel, not just after the main characters fall in love (read my review on ‘the choice’ here to understand this reference :P). Honestly, I didn’t love the plot of this book, his stories always move at a good pace, but this one bored me here and there.

Characters:

I liked the main character Katie, but Alex, the other main character, seemed too good to be true. This story also has a bad guy, which is quite unusual for Sparks. Truthfully I liked reading about the villian more than the main characters, wondering if he was insane or just evil. I didn’t like him, but at least he was interesting.

Who should read this:

13+ most definitely as there are quite a bit of mature content including violence. If you’re a fan of Sparks’ sad, romantic novels, be warned this one isn’t quite the usual. Honestly I’m not quite sure who would like this book. Someone who likes a little action mixed in with the romance? Maybe.

My rating:

I didn’t hate the book, but I didn’t really like it all that much either. 2/5

Quote:
“Maybe I don't want to be defined by what I do. Maybe I'd like to be defined by what I am.”

P.s. There is a movie out, based on this book. If I watch it I will link my review to it here!



Finding Neverland

 

Summary:
Award winners Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, Dustin Hoffman and Julie Christie star in this magical tale about one of the world’s greatest storytellers and the people who inspired his masterwork “Peter Pan”. Well-known playwright James M. Barrie (Depp) finds his career at a crossroads when his latest play flops and doubters question his future. Then by chance he meets a widow (Winslet) and her four adventurous boys. Together they form a friendship that ignites the imagination needed to produce Barrie’s greatest work!

Plot:

I enjoyed this movie’s story very much. It was well paced and I didn’t get bored with it once. It’s one of those movies that makes you think a little, it’s story seems simple, but when you think about it a bit you realise it’s much more complex than you thought. Also this is based on true events, which makes it seem all the more magical.

Characters:

I loved J.M. Barrie’s character (although I might be a little biased, since I am a huge Johnny Depp fan) he was fun, but still serious when necessary. He wasn’t too perfect, which is always good in a main character. Characters who doesn't make mistakes just irritates me. I also really like Peter (the inspiration for Peter Pan, played by Freddie Highmore) who is a little boy, bitter after losing his father and just an all around wonderfully interesting character who develops awesomely during the movie. The other characters were all excellent and the acting every bit as superb as can be expected from these actors/actresses.

Cinematography:

The photography of this movie was great. The colours were rich and made the story seem magical. Definitely a very well-made movie. The costumes, make-up, sets etc. were all beautifully picturesque.

Who should watch this:

 (PG 13) this is the official rating. There aren’t any mature content, but I don’t think young children will enjoy this film, I think it might bore them or they might not understand it. There is also the issue of death, it is brought up quite a lot during this film.

My rating:

I loved this movie! (And Johnny’s English accent) I loved how magical not only Peter Pan is made, but also the magic surrounding J.M. Barry’s life. 4/5

Quote:
J.M. Barrie: Write about your family, Write about the talking Whale.
Peter Llewelyn Davies: What Whale?
J.M. Barrie: The one that is trapped in your imagination, desperate to get out

See my review on the book Peter Pan here!

The Hiding Place

Corrie ten Boom

Summary:
As the Nazi madness swept across Europe, a quiet

watchmakers family risked everything for the sake of others, and for the sake of Christ. Shadowed by danger and threat of discovery, they offered shelter to persecuted Jews. Then a trap brought the family’s arrest. Could God’s love shine through even in Ravensbruck? Corrie ten Boom’s personal story is an inspiration to millions.

Plot:

This is an incredible story, beautifully written that will have you crying over the tragedy and joy that comes with living. There are moments of terror, horror over what people can do to each other and moments of humor and happiness reminding us that there is always a silver lining. The story had me hooked from page one. Honestly incredible.

Characters:

The characters in this book are vibrantly human. Some not so likable, but we’re always reminded that, no matter how it may look, no person is ever completely and utterly evil. Corrie is a wonderful narrator, as the perfect example of a completely ordinary person. She’s by no means perfect and you find yourself experiencing her pain and joy throughout the book.

Who should read this?

13+, the violence and horror of the concentration camp may be too much for younger readers. Also not for very sensitive readers, the descriptions aren’t very graphic, but this book is extremely emotional. If you like books that make you cry, this is the one for you!

My rating: 
This was an amazingly written story that I couldn’t put down, definitely one  I will read again…I give it a 5/5

Quote:
“This is what the past is for! Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see.”

The Choice

Nicholas Sparks

Summary: 
Travis Parker has it all: a good job, great friends, a dream home in North Carolina. And in this dedicated pursuit of the good life, Travis has absolutely no interest in a woman ruining it all. That is, until Gabby Holland moves in next door.

Despite his extra neighborly efforts, the alluring redhead simply will not warm to him, rebuffing his every attempt.
But Travis is strangely compelled to get closer to her, leading them both down a road where they will face tough decisions, shocking revelations and heart-wrenching consequences.

How far would you go to keep the promise of love alive.

Plot:

As those who are familiar with Sparks’ novels know, most of them are about two people falling in love…then something terrible happens and their love has to withstand it. And even though this is the case in almost all his stories he manages to add something special to them most of the time, making it all new again. However, while this story was nice, it was quite predictable all the way through. The romance and love was beautifully portrayed, but I needed something more to capture my attention. While the summary tries to make this book sound exciting and emotional etc. it wasn’t that way for me.

Characters:

Sparks has a way of creating extremely lovable, but essentially flawed characters. The type of characters you start to care for, and the ones in this book weren’t any different. I liked both the main characters, although my favorite was Stephanie, the main character’s sister. She’s the type of person I admire, strong, self assured and funny. All in all the characters weren’t very memorable, but quite likable. The type you really like while reading about them, but forget about soon after.

Who should read this:

13+ as there are some mild mature content. Lovers of romance will probably like this book, and anyone who is a fan of Sparks. However if you’re looking for something new, exciting or thought provoking this isn’t the right book. Go read the notebook, or a walk to remember…my personal favorites of his so far.

My rating:

This was a mildly entertaining book, that I’ll probably only remember if I actually read it again. It wasn’t bad, but it didn’t exactly get me excited either. I’ll give it a 3/5

Quote:
“Staring at the stars was like staring backward in time, since some stars are so far away that their light takes millions of years just to reach us. That we see stars not as they look now, but as they were when dinosaurs roamed the earth. The whole concept just struck me as…amazing somehow.” 

Peter Pan

J.M. Barrie

Summary:

One starry night, Peter Pan and Tinker Bell lead the three Darling children over the rooftops of London and away to Neverland- the island where lost boys play, mermaids splash and fairies make mischief. But a villainous-looking gang of pirates lurk in the docks, led by the terrifying Captain James Hook. Magic and excitement are in the air, but if Captain Hook has his way then, before long, someone will be walking the plank and swimming with the crocodiles.

Plot:

Oh, wow, how do you even begin to explain the wonderful magic that is Peter Pan? Few stories have captured people’s imaginations as this one did. If you ever pretended, as a child, to be anything impossible, like a princess, an animal, a superhero…whatever, then I believe that some part of you will understand the brilliance that is Peter Pan. The whole story sounds like a children’s game, I have yet to find another book that is so well written, but still so completely silly. This story is unrealistic, even in its description of the ‘normal’ Darling family…at times it makes absolutely no sense, and yet I find myself drawn to the sheer imagination of it all.

Characters:

Pirates, Indians, fairies, dogs as nannies, people who fly, mermaids, birds who save people, the characters in this novel are so diverse,  to write about all of them would be impossible. You have the cocky boy Peter Pan, who doesn’t grow up. Motherly, loving Wendy, who despite her caring nature, breaks her mother’s heart. The incredibly evil, but charismatic Captain James Hook who thrills and terrifies you. The funny lost boys. Jealous, vain Tinker Bell. Most of these characters are so marvelously childish, innocent and like it says in the book, heartless. You find yourself wanting to throttle them at times and yet almost wishing you could still be like that.

Who should read this?

Anyone. Adults, children, teenagers. No matter your age, I think this is a book that can be enjoyed by everyone. However, if you like realistic, simple books, this might not be the one for you. If you like fantasy, or just a book that seems to go deeper than just the story definitely read this one.

My rating:

I adored this book. It was excellently written, fascinating and made me wish I was still little. 4/5

Quote:
“For to have faith, is to have wings"

Read my review on the movie about J.M. Barrie's inspiration for Peter Pan, Finding Neverland, here.

Honour Among Thieves

Jeffrey Archer

Summary:

Who would pay a billion dollars to humiliate America?

The time, 1993. The place, Washington DC. Of the adversaries in the Gulf War, the sole survivor is Saddam Hussein. And Saddam is planning a revenge so diabolical that the United States will be left with no choice but to retaliate.

Plot:

As anyone who’s read an Archer novel knows, he is a master storyteller. This book started off a little slow, but picked up the pace quite early in the story. And what a story! It will terrify and amaze you. I loved the action and the suspense in this book. Also, Archer almost always adds a twist to his endings so expect the unexpected! The story of this book was fascinating and thrilling.

Characters:

Archer rarely writes a story about characters, but rather uses characters to make the story work. His plot always comes first. This book contains a lot of characters, each important to the story as a whole. Although they aren’t the main focus Archer manages to make them human and unique, earn our sympathy, dislike and even hate. The fact that some of these people were/are real makes it all the more interesting. It gives a sense of authenticity to the story.

Who should read this?

13+, not because of the content, although there are some mature content and violence, but younger readers will probably find this book boring and hard to understand, since it is quite complex. Also, if you prefer simple, light reading this is not the book for you. Any fans of Archer’s should definitely read this, as well as fans of John Grisham and Robert Ludlum.

My rating:

This was a very good book with an excellent ending, but a little confusing here and there. I’ll give it a 4/5.

Hello, I love books! Okay...sorry...(sheepish smile, nerd face, facepalm and whatever) :P

Hello, and welcome to my blog! And I really don’t know why I started this post so lamely. Okay so here’s the deal. I'm a nerd and I know it (and I'm proud of it heehee). I love books, I’m obsessed with books. Books are my passion, my favorite pastime is reading and I can get lost in bookstore or library for a whole day. I cannot emphasize my love for books enough, but I’m going to try to keep it short and sweet. I also really like movies, so I will review those as well, just because I can! Now I am not going to limit my reviews to certain genres/age groups and I probably won’t review all the latest books and movies. I will review every book and movie I read and watch as I go along. So you will find everything from Twilight (yes Twihards, I will dedicate a tiny space of my blog to you sometime in the near future) to Jane Austen to Nancy Drew to Jeffrey Archer to I don’t know, anything, on here. Since I love reading, I have had a lot of practice, so I’m pretty fast, so I will probably be uploading quickly, depending of course on the length of the book etc. The movies, I’ll review as I watch them, so it depends on my schedule and when I have time to watch. My reviews will not have any spoilers as far as possible. I will not be telling you the story of the books or movies. I will simply be giving my opinion on the plot, the characters and so forth. I will provide a summary, either from the Internet or the back cover of the book/DVD if possible. I will also give suggestions as to who should read this, as well as my opinion on the appropriate age for both the movies and the books. Most of this is probably going to be my personal opinion, but I will try to give both the good and the bad on everything I review. Any suggestions on what I should review, what info you would like, or anything really is very welcome, as well as CONSTRUCTIVE criticism. So now this post is getting way too long and if you read it this far you’re probably going ‘okay we get it’ so…one last thing. I love books! :D