Gravity

Summary:

Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) in command of his last flight before retiring. But on a seemingly routine spacewalk, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalski completely alone - tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into the blackness.

Plot:

This is a very suspenseful movie. Although I’m not sure if it will be as good if you don’t watch it in cinemas or in 3D. In my opinion, it won’t be the same on a TV/computer screen. While the story is good, there comes a moment when you start expecting bad things to happen, and it doesn’t surprise you anymore. This makes it just a little tedious, and less thrilling. However, it is still a very good storyline, and it’s handled very well, considering how little the directors really had to work with in terms of setting and characters.

Characters:

There aren’t a lot of characters in this movie. All of them are quite memorable, but none as much as Matt Kowalski (George Clooney), he is very witty, and overly optimistic, and he lightens the mood of the film considerably, without him it would have been extremely depressing. The main character Ryan Stone (yes, Ryan is a woman) grows a lot during the movie and is a very relatable character, I feel, for many people.

Cinematography:

Exceptional. With only one or two exceptions, you really feel as if you are in outer space yourself. You can lose yourself in the amazing angles and beautiful photography and computer effects used in this film.

Who should watch this:

(PG-13) Mainly because of violence, suspense and language, but I also feel that this movie would either bore or upset younger viewers. If you love space, suspense, or just very well-made movies, you should go watch this one.

My rating:

I really enjoyed this movie, even though I’m not a huge fan of movies that make me nervous. I don’t think I’ll be watching it again, simply because I feel that it wouldn’t have the same effect without the big screen and the 3D, but I definitely liked it a lot. 4/5.

Quote:

Matt Kowalski: Houston I have a bad feeling about this mission...

Mission Control: Please elaborate.

Matt Kowalski: Well, it  reminds me of a story...

Watch the movie to hear the story! 

Gossip Girl

Cecily von Ziegesar

Gossip Girl #1

Summary:

Welcome to New York City's Upper East Side, where my friends and I live, go to school, play, and sleep-sometimes with each other.

S is back from boarding school, and if we aren't careful, she's going to win over our teachers, wear that dress we couldn't fit into, steal our boyfriends' hearts, and basically ruin our lives in a major way. I'll be watching closely...

You know you love me,

gossip girl

Plot:

This book is slightly confusing, especially if you haven’t watched the ‘Gossip Girl’ TV series. I have seen a couple of episodes from that, but despite that it was a little hard to follow. This is mainly because you usually don’t know who is narrating, whether it is ‘gossip girl’ or not. The story also seems a little silly, with not much really happening. Mainly it’s just about rich kids fighting with each other about stupid things...I feel like it had a lot of potential, but I would’ve liked a more original or entertaining storyline.

Characters:

I don’t like any of the characters in this book. In the TV series, some of the characters are at least decent people, but none in the book are even remotely likable. All of them are mean to someone else, are trying too hard or are just being a very bad friend. Although they are probably very relatable to some people, with all their problems etc. I would’ve liked at least one character that I could root for.

Who should read this:

13+, mainly for language, which there are a lot of, as well as quite a bit of sexual content, as you can see from the summary. I wouldn’t recommend this for anyone, honestly, but if you’re looking for a book about teenagers fighting about boyfriends etc, then I suppose you might like this one. This was definitely written with girls in mind.

My rating:

I really don’t like this book, the characters, the storyline, everything. I feel like the setting was a good idea, but it becomes stereotypical, and nothing really interesting seems to happen in the story...1/5

Quote:

“Oh, don't be a spoilsport. Gossip is sexy. Gossip is good. Not everybody does it, but everybody should!”

(I'm not agreeing here, I just feel like this sums up the intelligence level of this book pretty well...)

New Moon

Stephenie Meyer

Twilight #2

Summary:

‘Shoot,’ I muttered when the paper sliced my finger; I pulled it out to examine the damage. A single drop of blood oozed from the tiny cut.

It all happened very quickly then.

‘No!’ Edward roared...Dazed and disoriented, I looked up from the bright red blood pulsing out of my arm – into the fevered eyes of the six suddenly ravenous vampires.

For Bella Swan, there is one thing more important than life itself: Edward Cullen. But being in love with a vampire is even more dangerous than Bella could ever have imagined. Edward has already rescued Bella from the clutches of one evil vampire, but now, as their daring relationship threatens all that is near and dear to them, they realize their troubles may be just the beginning.

Plot:

So this is most definitely my least favourite book in this series. This is because it mainly comprises of Bella being depressed, obsessed and just a little stupid. Her reaction to everything that happens between her and Edward in this book is, to say it in Charlie’s words: not normal. And while I get it, they’re soul mates, the belong together forever etc. it’s just really depressing to read about...The only good part is that we get to see more of Jacob and watch him and Bella’s relationship grow, but even that is tainted by the fact that she is basically just using him (which is her words, not mine...)

Characters:

Except for Jacob (who grows, like, literally a LOT) there is very little character growth in this book. Also, we get to see the ‘hero’ of the story, Edward, act like a total idiot. Not heroic at all...Bella, like I said, is just obsessed and depressed. Those are the main characters in this book, you don’t get to see a lot of anybody else, so there aren’t very much room for change there...

Who should read this:

12+, mainly for violence, there aren’t a lot of other mature content, and if there is it’s very mild. Obviously, since this book is about vampires there is some violence, but the vampires are pretty m.i.a throughout the book, so that is also kept to a minimum. If you absolutely love Twilight, you should probably read this at least once, but I would recommend reading the series without this instalment. Watch the movie so you don’t lose the storyline, it’s shorter, and you’ll still be able to understand Eclipse.

My rating:

Bleh, I don’t hate this book, but I really, really don’t like it...There are parts of it that make it okay, but mostly it’s just too long for so little actually happening. The characters are disappointing (Talking ‘bout you Edward!) and it’s just not worth it in my opinion. 2/5 

Quote:

“I think she's having hysterics. Maybe you should slap her.”-Alice (I know what you mean Alice!)

“Romeo wouldn’t change his mind. That’s why people still remembered his name, always twined with hers”-Bella (even she realised Edward was acting really stupidly for the hero of a romance story!)

And just to make sure you understand, I don’t hate the Twilight series/franchise in its entirety, in fact you can read my review for Twilight here, I just really don’t like this particular book...

The Atonement Child

Francine Rivers

Summary: 
In one horrific, terrifying moment, Dynah Carey’s perfect life is shattered by rape, her future irrevocably altered by an unwanted pregnancy, her doting family torn apart.

Her seemingly rock-solid faith is pushed to the limits as she faces the most momentous choice of her life-to embrace or to end the untimely life within her.

Plot:

This is a very good story, one that portrays a hopeless situation and yet gives hope. Francine is probably my favourite Christian fiction writer, because her books always come from the heart, and her writing and stories are all extremely honest. This is the second time I’ve read this particular story, and even though I knew exactly what was going to happen I still enjoyed reading it. That, to me, is a sign of a great book.

Characters:

The characters are all very relatable, even if you haven’t been in the same circumstances as they are. Dynah, the main character, is a good person, but she’s not too perfect to be believable, just the way a heroine should be. Joe, Dynah’s best friend, is probably my favourite character, coming from a violent background he turned his life around and is a loyal friend and an all-around good person. None of the characters are too good to be true, and none of them are completely hateful, which, if you’ve read my previous reviews you would know, is how I prefer these ‘realistic’-type books to be.

Who should read this:

13+, as this is a Christian fiction book, obviously there is no language or explicit content. However, the issues discussed in this book are violent and Francine is a very honest writer, as I’ve said before. She doesn’t describe everything in detail, but it’s enough to make this a book that will require a certain matureness, in my opinion. If you’ve been through something similar to Dynah’s story, this is definitely something I would recommend for you. Even if you haven’t been close to circumstances like this there are so many other issues addressed in this book that you will probably be able to relate to at least one of them.

My rating:

I loved this book the first time I read it, and the second time was no different. It’s not my favourite of Francine’s books, but it’s definitely higher up on the list. 4/5.

Quote:

“Everyone wanted to be the best. Best student. Best servant. Best Christian. They got caught up in it, pressing and pushing until they forgot whom it was they were trying to please.”

The Universe Versus Alex Woods

Gavin Extence

Summary:

A rare meteorite struck Alex Woods when he was ten years old, leaving scars and marking him for an extraordinary future. The son of a fortune teller, bookish, and an easy target for bullies, Alex hasn't had the easiest childhood.

But when he meets curmudgeonly widower Mr Peterson, he finds an unlikely friend. Someone who teaches him that that you only get one shot at life. That you have to make it count.

So when, aged seventeen, Alex is stopped at customs with 113 grams of marijuana, an urn full of ashes on the front seat, and an entire nation in uproar, he's fairly sure he's done the right thing...

Introducing a bright young voice destined to charm the world, The Universe Versus Alex Woods is a celebration of curious incidents, astronomy and astrology, the works of Kurt Vonnegut and the unexpected connections that form our world.

Plot:

This is one of the more original stories I’ve read, I’ve never seen a story that has two extremely unusual plotlines and yet make them both seem believable. It is very entertaining to read, and definitely not boring. However, I couldn’t really get into it. While the author managed this very unique storyline really well, I just wasn’t as drawn in as I would’ve expected to be by a story like this.

Characters:

The characters are all very quirky, unusual and some might even be slightly insane. I really like the main character, but I feel like he’s the only one you really get to know well enough to develop an opinion on. The other characters are really interesting and all, but I honestly don’t feel like I know very much about them. All you know is what Alex knows, as the book is written from his perspective, and so you get a limited view on what they’re really like. I found Alex to be quite relatable, even with his decidedly odd circumstances, but I don’t think everyone will be able to relate to him.

Who should read this:

13+, this is almost completely because of the use of language in this book. One character in particular curses in almost every sentence she speaks. The other topic that might disturb some people is death, I cannot say any more, because I don’t want to ruin the story, but it is a slightly different aspect of death that is seen in this story. Mr Peterson uses drugs, and there is some violence, although it is not extreme. There is very little to no sexual content, mainly because Alex is almost completely anti-social, and doesn’t know much about human contact in general. If you’re looking for something completely different and unique this might be the one for you, but I don’t know if it’s something I would personally recommend to anyone.

My rating:

While I found the idea of this book fascinating, and the storyline very original, it didn’t draw me in like I’d hoped it would. It took me way too long to finish this book, and that usually means something is off about it. I’ll give it a 3/5, I would’ve gone for a 2 if it hadn’t been such a unique read.

Quote:

There are so many to choose from so I’m giving you two:

‘A pariah is someone who’s excluded from mainstream society. And if you knew that at twelve years of age, you’re probably an inhabitant of Pariah Town.’

‘Despite its faults, my brain, I decided, was not the worst place to be.’

Brisingr

Christopher Paolini

The Inheritance Cycle #3

Summary: 

Oaths sworn . . . loyalties tested . . . forces collide.

Following the colossal battle against the Empire’s warriors on the Burning Plains, Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have narrowly escaped with their lives. Still there is more at hand for the Rider and his dragon, as Eragon finds himself bound by a tangle of promises he may not be able to keep.

First is Eragon’s oath to his cousin Roran: to help rescue Roran’s beloved, Katrina, from King Galbatorix’s clutches. But Eragon owes his loyalty to others, too. The Varden are in desperate need of his talents and strength—as are the elves and dwarves. When unrest claims the rebels and danger strikes from every corner, Eragon must make choices—choices that take him across the Empire and beyond, choices that may lead to unimagined sacrifice.

Eragon is the greatest hope to rid the land of tyranny. Can this once-simple farm boy unite the rebel forces and defeat the king?

Plot:

I thought this was a very good continuation of a series that I’ve enjoyed a lot so far. While it kept the beauty and mystique of Eragon’s homeland, Alagaësia, alive, it is filled with all the horror a country at war has to endure. It answered many of the questions that arose in ‘Eldest’, although the answers may not be what you expected (I’m trying very hard to not add any spoilers here...). Paolini’s writing stays constant throughout this series. He writes in an old-fashioned, but not hard to read, style that compliments and authenticates his stories. I would suggest trying to create a mental image of the action and setting while you’re reading. It makes the book incredibly thrilling when you have a picture in your mind of a sparkling blue dragon, sweeping, soaring and diving through the air.

Characters:

It was very interesting to see how Eragon adjusts to his newfound powers (not saying more, read Eldest to understand!), however this is overshadowed by the dynamics between him and the other characters. These relationships are constantly shifting, changing and growing, and it is fascinating to see. The evil characters are also brought to the forefront and we learn a lot about them during the novel.

Who should read this:

13+, the violence are quite graphic and sometimes even slightly disturbing. Strange and sometimes scary creatures are also seen frequently. I also know people who may find the magic used throughout disturbing, so if that’s an issue for you, be warned. If you liked the previous two books, you will probably like this one, although many fans say this was their least favourite. Definitely not one for people who want a light, quick read.

My rating:

While I prefer Eldest with all its beauty and magic, I definitely enjoyed this story. I’ve said before that I’m not a huge fan of violence, but in this case I found it necessary and I wouldn’t have enjoyed the book nearly as much without it. It made the book thrilling and very hard for me to put down. 4/5

Quote:

”Always you get into trouble when I am not with you.” (Saphira)

His (Eragon's) smile widened. “And when you are?”

“I eat the trouble before it eats you.”

Read my reviews for the other books in this series that I've read, 'Eragon' and 'Eldest' here, as well as the review for the movie based on 'Eragon'.

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You.

Ally Carter

Gallagher Girls #1

Summary: 

Cammie Morgan is a student at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, a fairly typical all-girls school-that is, if every school taught advanced martial arts in PE and the latest in chemical warfare in science, and students received extra credit for breaking CIA codes in computer class. The Gallagher Academy might claim to be a school for geniuses but it's really a school for spies. Even though Cammie is fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways, she has no idea what to do when she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she's an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, or track him through town with the skill of a real "pavement artist"-but can she manoeuvre a relationship with someone who can never know the truth about her?
Cammie Morgan may be an elite spy-in-training, but in her sophomore year, she's on her most dangerous mission-falling in love.

Plot:

This first installment in the Gallagher Girls series is a pretty unique and very entertaining story. A boarding school with a twist might not be thát original, but this one is very well-written and interesting. A normal (sort of) girl who is studying to be a spy falls in love for the first time. With many funny moments and some sad ones this was a fun read.

Characters:

While the girls are all exceptionally smart and trained in combat, they’re still just teen girls. You have the ‘cooler than you’ ones, the ‘forgetful, hare-brained, but extremely smart’ one and the main character, Cameron/Cammie, whose nickname is chameleon, because she feels invisible. They’re all relatable and that makes it fun to read about their escapades and wonder how you would’ve handled the same situations. Josh, Cammie’s love interest, is also a very nice character, but since the book is written from Cammie’s perspective you don’t really get an objective view of him.

Who should read this:

10+, very mild violence, one mild curse word. Definitely written with younger girls in mind, although I'm not sure if this is YA, or a children's book, which is why it's tagged as both, this will probably bore anyone under 20. If you like romance, but are tired of the norm, this might be something you’d enjoy.

My rating:

I really enjoyed this book. It was funny and I connected with the characters. I’ll definitely be reading the rest of the series. 4/5

Quote:

‘All these years I’d thought being a spy was challenging. Turns out, being a girl is the tricky part.’