In my world, reading is an experience that is more than just the pages I'm turning. The act of reading itself is one that can produce and accompany so many situations.
A book can make a bad situation less bad because time is being spent, alongside enduring a day full of rain, thinking about characters and stories and delving into their worlds. Equally, books will be my best friends in awesome times. They also carry me through lazy days or days without plans.
A few years ago I read The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks. At that point in time some rubbish things were happening but with these events being accompanied by one of my favourite novels, I had something to look forward to and to completely savour when I could pick up the book again. It caused me to feel relief throughout the day- even when I wasn't reading. When I was going through those days, I could spend my time excited to read my book and the same when I was reading it. It made the days happier.
I've said that books are exquisite company when the sun is shining in my world. For example, last year, at the point in which I was reading Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher, I was having an awesome time and, thereby, I assign Sophie May and Billy Buskin's story with my positive story last year.
More recently, I read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. At that point in time I was having a happy time mixed in with a lot of tiredness and stress but this wonderful story made my current story even brighter. I was completely entranced by the story (and still am!) and getting into bed to have a good ol' read really made my days!
Books really are my best friends.
Do you have any book memories that are attached to a certain book? Has a book ever made you feel more relaxed or more excited or more content?
Blossom & Butterflies,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Friday, 2 May 2014
Wednesday, 2 April 2014
The Chocolate Book Tag
I love books. I love chocolate. Chocolate Book Tag? Perfect.
Thank you Simona for tagging me in THIS post!
1. Dark chocolate: a book that covers a dark topic.
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, when read, doesn't feel like the obvious choice because the novel brings so much joy and happiness to readers, but in between there is so much darkness and sadness as it covers the naturally dark topic of cancer. Yet, John Green puts his honest, raw and real spin on it. It's truly wonderful.
2. White chocolate: your favourite light hearted/humorous read.
Choosing this was incredibly tough but Is It Just Me? by Miranda Hart had me laughing in public so I think this deserves the title. From discussing music and hobbies to dating experiences, Miranda splashes her hilarious thoughts and humour throughout this book. It's a seriously funny read!
3. Milk chocolate: a book that has a lot of hype that you're dying to read.
I've seen a lot of excitement over The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion and I'm SO excited to get cracking on it. It looks wonderfully endearing and sweet!
Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher is one of those gorgeously beautiful books that makes you feel at home! There are a bunch of relationships that make me feel gooey and warm, a like to the settings and... cake! It's a book I buy people for presents a lot because I know it's a read everyone will enjoy.
5. Wafer free KitKat: name a book that has surprised you lately.
Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah is one of my absolute favourite books. It didn't surprise me in that I wasn't expecting it to be awesome (I really was expecting it to be amazing- everything about it had me hooked before reading a single page), it surprised me because I wasn't expecting the story to go the way it did. This book really opened my eyes.
6. Snickers: a book that you're going nuts about.
I love The Accidental Life of Jessie Jefferson by Paige Toon. It's one of those reads that causes you to grin for days afterwards. It's an awesome plot that reminded me why I need to go back to the young adult section. It's a read that makes it feel like summer, even when it's not!
7. Hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows: a book you would turn to for a comfort read.
An Offer You Can't Refuse by Jill Mansell makes me incredibly happy. Jill Mansell can make any evening feel warm and magical with her lovely words and characters and plots. An Offer You Can't Refuse makes me feel very heart-warmingly happy!
8. Box of chocolates: what series have you read that you feel has a wide variety and something for everyone?
I have to say the Harry Potter series. It's so wonderfully captivating, sweet and full of beautiful friendships and exciting battles. I plan on re-reading them all next year and I can't wait. I chose Prisoner of Azkaban as I found myself wanting to re-read this one very soon and I will do in the summer (although I will re-read it again next year!).
Thank you Simona for tagging me in THIS post!
1. Dark chocolate: a book that covers a dark topic.
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, when read, doesn't feel like the obvious choice because the novel brings so much joy and happiness to readers, but in between there is so much darkness and sadness as it covers the naturally dark topic of cancer. Yet, John Green puts his honest, raw and real spin on it. It's truly wonderful.
2. White chocolate: your favourite light hearted/humorous read.
Choosing this was incredibly tough but Is It Just Me? by Miranda Hart had me laughing in public so I think this deserves the title. From discussing music and hobbies to dating experiences, Miranda splashes her hilarious thoughts and humour throughout this book. It's a seriously funny read!
3. Milk chocolate: a book that has a lot of hype that you're dying to read.
I've seen a lot of excitement over The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion and I'm SO excited to get cracking on it. It looks wonderfully endearing and sweet!
4. Chocolate with a caramel centre: a book that made you feel all gooey in the middle whilst you were reading it.
Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher is one of those gorgeously beautiful books that makes you feel at home! There are a bunch of relationships that make me feel gooey and warm, a like to the settings and... cake! It's a book I buy people for presents a lot because I know it's a read everyone will enjoy.
5. Wafer free KitKat: name a book that has surprised you lately.
Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah is one of my absolute favourite books. It didn't surprise me in that I wasn't expecting it to be awesome (I really was expecting it to be amazing- everything about it had me hooked before reading a single page), it surprised me because I wasn't expecting the story to go the way it did. This book really opened my eyes.
6. Snickers: a book that you're going nuts about.
I love The Accidental Life of Jessie Jefferson by Paige Toon. It's one of those reads that causes you to grin for days afterwards. It's an awesome plot that reminded me why I need to go back to the young adult section. It's a read that makes it feel like summer, even when it's not!
7. Hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows: a book you would turn to for a comfort read.
An Offer You Can't Refuse by Jill Mansell makes me incredibly happy. Jill Mansell can make any evening feel warm and magical with her lovely words and characters and plots. An Offer You Can't Refuse makes me feel very heart-warmingly happy!
8. Box of chocolates: what series have you read that you feel has a wide variety and something for everyone?
I have to say the Harry Potter series. It's so wonderfully captivating, sweet and full of beautiful friendships and exciting battles. I plan on re-reading them all next year and I can't wait. I chose Prisoner of Azkaban as I found myself wanting to re-read this one very soon and I will do in the summer (although I will re-read it again next year!).
The challenge, should they choose to accept it is set to the following lovely bloggers:
These are a few bloggers I know for sure are book fans and due to not knowing whether a few more are or not, I didn't tag them, so anyone reading this and wanting to complete this tag are tagged by me!
Poems & Bicycles,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
P.S. Sorry for the awful picture- the sight of the beautiful books allows for me to forgive myself!
Poems & Bicycles,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
P.S. Sorry for the awful picture- the sight of the beautiful books allows for me to forgive myself!
Wednesday, 19 March 2014
How Did it Come to This?
"You don't need another one," I whisper to myself. I rub my hands anxiously and make a decision. "But I'm strong enough to look and not touch. Yes, I am. Of course I am."
Flippantly dismissing any good angel thoughts, I push forward the doors of a bookshop with trepidation and feel my eyes excitedly dart around. See, I can look at the books. Just no touching. It's a museum, not a shop.
My pulse races, my hands sweat and my purse is ghostly and knowing company in my bag.
As soon as I approach the row of shiny, beautiful books on offer, I forget my previous thoughts and suddenly the bright lights are brighter than they are and I'm confused. I'm really confused. With five books piled in my hands, I notice a "buy one, get one half price" sign. I use my mind to assure myself that, yes, I can buy into this deal. As all of the books in my hands are in this deal, I, with greedy eyes, excite over the names of books I've heard of and books I haven't, ready to find one more. It would be stupid to buy five when I can get another half price... right?
I'm sure it's not my hand the reaches out in front of me and picks up three more books.
But it is.
Staring down at the guilt staining my hands in the form of silky front covers and delicately strong pages, I force myself to put two books back, before, with an expression of glower, convincing myself that I should venture further into the shop.
...There are classics/books that are films/young adult novels/romance novels...
...I have a basket now. I also have panic and happiness racing through my veins.
The shop is like a museum of beauty with a forbidden display that you're allowed to touch.
Frantically admiring the books in my basket, I join the queue, feigning composure and demonstrating how normal the situation is by clasping my purse in one hand and one of the books in the other, re-reading the blurb and ignoring the feeling in my stomach and sticking with the one that smiles in my heart.
I think the woman at the desk speaks but I'm not sure so I smile - at least I think I do - and pay before exiting the shop.
The sun stings my eyes and confusion anchors my movements.
How did it come to this?
I love books. Does anyone else have this problem? Please let me know!
Glossy Front Covers & Sunshine,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Flippantly dismissing any good angel thoughts, I push forward the doors of a bookshop with trepidation and feel my eyes excitedly dart around. See, I can look at the books. Just no touching. It's a museum, not a shop.
My pulse races, my hands sweat and my purse is ghostly and knowing company in my bag.
As soon as I approach the row of shiny, beautiful books on offer, I forget my previous thoughts and suddenly the bright lights are brighter than they are and I'm confused. I'm really confused. With five books piled in my hands, I notice a "buy one, get one half price" sign. I use my mind to assure myself that, yes, I can buy into this deal. As all of the books in my hands are in this deal, I, with greedy eyes, excite over the names of books I've heard of and books I haven't, ready to find one more. It would be stupid to buy five when I can get another half price... right?
I'm sure it's not my hand the reaches out in front of me and picks up three more books.
But it is.
Staring down at the guilt staining my hands in the form of silky front covers and delicately strong pages, I force myself to put two books back, before, with an expression of glower, convincing myself that I should venture further into the shop.
...There are classics/books that are films/young adult novels/romance novels...
...I have a basket now. I also have panic and happiness racing through my veins.
The shop is like a museum of beauty with a forbidden display that you're allowed to touch.
Frantically admiring the books in my basket, I join the queue, feigning composure and demonstrating how normal the situation is by clasping my purse in one hand and one of the books in the other, re-reading the blurb and ignoring the feeling in my stomach and sticking with the one that smiles in my heart.
I think the woman at the desk speaks but I'm not sure so I smile - at least I think I do - and pay before exiting the shop.
The sun stings my eyes and confusion anchors my movements.
How did it come to this?
I love books. Does anyone else have this problem? Please let me know!
Glossy Front Covers & Sunshine,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Monday, 17 February 2014
A Bit of Book Chatter | February
I buy books at a ratio much larger than my how-many-I-can-physically-read ratio. I am happy as I know I am not alone in this, but slightly worried about how I am watching my piles of books increase as quickly as I'm turning one page (there's nothing like a bit of hyperbole, ay?). These are the books I've bought in the last month!
The Accidental Life of Jessie Jefferson by Paige Toon
I am currently holding my beautiful and shiny copy of The Accidental Life of Jessie Jefferson in my hands and after the first few pages I have been hooked. I had been craving this books for weeks and marvelled it for many moments when it arrived in the post There have been many reviews around the blogosphere for Paige Toon's first young adult novel. It's about Jessie, the daughter of rock star Johnny Jefferson. Only, she hadn't known for all of her life. *Claps excitedly.* A review will be up on my blog very soon!
How To Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran
I bought this book because I have heard SO MANY good things about it. How To Be a Woman is, as the blurb says, "Part memoir, part rant" and oh my golly gee, I cannot wait to turn the first page. From what I've heard, Caitlin Moran outlines truths about being a woman in the most hilarious way and I know I'm going to be on many train journeys chuckling away. I've been waiting for what feels like for ever and a day to buy this book and to finally have it is incredibly exciting.
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
Late last month I also bought the next book in The Mortal Instruments series as I was talking to someone who told me as soon I finish the first one I'll want to read the next. It makes me at ease to know that I can, as soon as I finish City of Bones, carry on to the next one!
Have you bought any books recently or read any of the above? I would love to know!
Rants & Cups of Tea,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
The Accidental Life of Jessie Jefferson by Paige Toon
I am currently holding my beautiful and shiny copy of The Accidental Life of Jessie Jefferson in my hands and after the first few pages I have been hooked. I had been craving this books for weeks and marvelled it for many moments when it arrived in the post There have been many reviews around the blogosphere for Paige Toon's first young adult novel. It's about Jessie, the daughter of rock star Johnny Jefferson. Only, she hadn't known for all of her life. *Claps excitedly.* A review will be up on my blog very soon!
How To Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran
I bought this book because I have heard SO MANY good things about it. How To Be a Woman is, as the blurb says, "Part memoir, part rant" and oh my golly gee, I cannot wait to turn the first page. From what I've heard, Caitlin Moran outlines truths about being a woman in the most hilarious way and I know I'm going to be on many train journeys chuckling away. I've been waiting for what feels like for ever and a day to buy this book and to finally have it is incredibly exciting.
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
Late last month I also bought the next book in The Mortal Instruments series as I was talking to someone who told me as soon I finish the first one I'll want to read the next. It makes me at ease to know that I can, as soon as I finish City of Bones, carry on to the next one!
Have you bought any books recently or read any of the above? I would love to know!
Rants & Cups of Tea,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Wednesday, 12 February 2014
My 5 Favourite Romantic Moments in Novels
With the week of Valentine's Day here comes another lovey-dovey kind of post. I thought it would be exciting to name my five favourite romantic moments in novels I have read. They're not really in an order I've thought about but the order in which they popped into my head!
*Contains strong traces of spoiler.*
1. Dear John by Nicholas Sparks
Dear John was one of the first Nicholas Sparks novels I read and as it's sprinkled with lovely and sweet moments between John and Savannah, it was the first novel that came to mind for this post.
It is actually the thoughts that John Tyree thought that is one of my favourite romantic moments:
"Nothing would ever compare to that single moment when I first kissed the girl of my dreams and knew that my love would last forever."
Beforehand John uttered those three words to Savannah and the sweetness of him fearing that she didn't feel the same way made the "I love you" she said back all the sweeter.
2. Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher
Sophie May and Billy are obviously perfect for each other from the start of the novel and one of my favourite romantic moments is from the start of their romance.
After whispering in Sophie's ear, telling her she's beautiful, the two of them, dressed in wellington boots, ride horses through the woods on the sweetest date. Afterwards, Billy leads Sophie to a gorgeously romantic destination of "twinkling fairy lights", a "canopy of stars" and the perfect picnic. The easy conversation and beautiful setting makes me envision my Friday, Valentine's night: my lounge floor warmed by a picnic blanket, fairy lights and my copy of Billy and Me!
3. One Perfect Summer by Paige Toon
Alice and Joe meet and immediately there is a connection. My favourite romantic moment in the novel will always be this one, though...
A childhood romance is ripped apart and it turns out neither Joe nor Alice really ever moved on. Although Joe's life has. Now an actor and being interviewed on TV, my heart, like Alice's is "in my throat" as Joe makes it clear that he isn't over his "first love": "I've never stopped loving her [Alice]." As I whisper knowingly, "I've never stopped loving you, Joe", I am in love with the romantic gesture.
4. Scarlett by Cathy Cassidy
Even though I read the book (and re-read it) years and years ago, Scarlett and Kian will always make my heart see rainbows and although many moments of the novel deserve to be in this post, one still has a particularly tight grasp on my heart. It was and still is my dream.
Kian suggests an alternative way to spend a day and as he and Scarlett ride horseback, Scarlett can't help but smile. As the sun makes way for rain before a rainbow inhabits the sky, my smile matches Scarlett's and my love for Kian increases. With the setting of an Irish lough, the company of apples and fairy cakes, the romantic scene makes my inner-romantic swoon.
5. The Truth about Forever by Sarah Dessen
Wes and Macy are upsettingly lovely together and whenever I read The Truth about Forever I'm not only dreaming of Wes (he is one of my absolute favourite male characters) but also the happiness they find in each other.
At the end of the novel Macy does something that she maybe wouldn't normally have done: she jumped. She put her heart out on the line and felt "alive". Despite everything that was going slightly wrong in her day, she made her heart happy and mine too. Carrying on a game that the two of them play throughout the novel where they ask each other a question and they have to tell the truth, when Wes asks "What would you do, if you could do anything?", Macy replies "This" and kisses him. The scene makes me the most cliché of girls.
What books have you read that have had some heart-achingly romantic moments in?
Love Hearts & Dandelions,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
*Contains strong traces of spoiler.*
1. Dear John by Nicholas Sparks
Dear John was one of the first Nicholas Sparks novels I read and as it's sprinkled with lovely and sweet moments between John and Savannah, it was the first novel that came to mind for this post.
It is actually the thoughts that John Tyree thought that is one of my favourite romantic moments:
"Nothing would ever compare to that single moment when I first kissed the girl of my dreams and knew that my love would last forever."
Beforehand John uttered those three words to Savannah and the sweetness of him fearing that she didn't feel the same way made the "I love you" she said back all the sweeter.
2. Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher
Sophie May and Billy are obviously perfect for each other from the start of the novel and one of my favourite romantic moments is from the start of their romance.
After whispering in Sophie's ear, telling her she's beautiful, the two of them, dressed in wellington boots, ride horses through the woods on the sweetest date. Afterwards, Billy leads Sophie to a gorgeously romantic destination of "twinkling fairy lights", a "canopy of stars" and the perfect picnic. The easy conversation and beautiful setting makes me envision my Friday, Valentine's night: my lounge floor warmed by a picnic blanket, fairy lights and my copy of Billy and Me!
3. One Perfect Summer by Paige Toon
Alice and Joe meet and immediately there is a connection. My favourite romantic moment in the novel will always be this one, though...
A childhood romance is ripped apart and it turns out neither Joe nor Alice really ever moved on. Although Joe's life has. Now an actor and being interviewed on TV, my heart, like Alice's is "in my throat" as Joe makes it clear that he isn't over his "first love": "I've never stopped loving her [Alice]." As I whisper knowingly, "I've never stopped loving you, Joe", I am in love with the romantic gesture.
4. Scarlett by Cathy Cassidy
Even though I read the book (and re-read it) years and years ago, Scarlett and Kian will always make my heart see rainbows and although many moments of the novel deserve to be in this post, one still has a particularly tight grasp on my heart. It was and still is my dream.
Kian suggests an alternative way to spend a day and as he and Scarlett ride horseback, Scarlett can't help but smile. As the sun makes way for rain before a rainbow inhabits the sky, my smile matches Scarlett's and my love for Kian increases. With the setting of an Irish lough, the company of apples and fairy cakes, the romantic scene makes my inner-romantic swoon.
5. The Truth about Forever by Sarah Dessen
Wes and Macy are upsettingly lovely together and whenever I read The Truth about Forever I'm not only dreaming of Wes (he is one of my absolute favourite male characters) but also the happiness they find in each other.
At the end of the novel Macy does something that she maybe wouldn't normally have done: she jumped. She put her heart out on the line and felt "alive". Despite everything that was going slightly wrong in her day, she made her heart happy and mine too. Carrying on a game that the two of them play throughout the novel where they ask each other a question and they have to tell the truth, when Wes asks "What would you do, if you could do anything?", Macy replies "This" and kisses him. The scene makes me the most cliché of girls.
What books have you read that have had some heart-achingly romantic moments in?
Love Hearts & Dandelions,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Friday, 31 January 2014
My Favourite Books: The Teenage
Excluding the Harry Potter and The Hunger Games series as well as any Nicholas Sparks book, I must talk about my favourite books of my teenage years. Although I am still a teenager (and will be, even when I'm not), these are the books I read, I would say from the ages of about 13 to 16. The majority of these are from the young adult section in a book shop and a few are where I found a deep love for authors of girly fiction.
To start with, I wanted to talk about my favourite girly, teenager series that is, of course, the Georgia Nicolson Georgia Nicholson diaries. I was completely in love with this series and the front covers were always awesome. As Georgia lives her teenage life, she falls out with friends and falls for boys. It's a fabulously funny account of her life.
The Airhead trilogy were just awesome. The books tell the story of Em Watts who is in the body of a teen supermodel and while she has to learn to live Nikki Howard's life, she can't help but think of her best friend, Christopher.
These years were the years where I branched out of just the young adult part and started reading Sophie Kinsella books. These were my favourites (although it's a tough call between the Shopaholic series); Sophie Kinsella always has beautifully unique ideas when it comes to storylines and that's what I love about her writing.
The Shopaholic series were an absolute treat and I spent all of my pocket money on them. I remember being on holiday and just finishing a book and so when we took a trip into the local town I bought the next one. The series is full of joy and humour, about Becky and her addiction to shopping and spending.
Remember Me is about Lexi; a woman who wakes up in hospital in 2007, thinking it's 2004. Her life is significantly different to how it was before and while she is now married and a boss, she learns a lot about how imperfect her new life is.
Twenties Girl is a book full of charm. The ghost of Lara's great aunt Sadie is insistent in staying in her life until Lara finds a necklace that Sadie needs. Lara may just become excited by the hunt for the necklace, with her life becoming all the more intriguing too.
I Love the 80s is one of my favourite books I read as a teenager as it's fun and unique and a storyline that, as a big fangirl, I would like to live! Life hadn't been treating Jenna too well and so, as a result, she became entranced, once again, in the life of her (long-dead) idol, Tommy Seer. In a wonderfully excited turn of events, Jenna is back in 1987 and in Tommy Seer's life. It's truly fabulous.
The Truth about Forever by Sarah Dessen is crowned with the title of my favourite book I read as a teenager. It remains one of my absolute favourites as the male in it, Wes is definitely in my top three boys in books. Macy is still drowned in memories and grief from her father's death and whilst she thinks her boyfriend is everything she needs and more, she meets artistic, mysterious and caring Wes and soon realises life has more to offer than she had been taking.
Have you read any of these? What books did you read as a teenager or what do you read now? I am incredibly tempted to start the Georgia Nicolson diaries again and I, as I do every year, will re-read The Truth About Forever as it's one of my absolute favourites!
Here are the other posts I've written for this series:
My Favourite Books: Before The Teenage
My Favourite Books: 2013
Guitars & Rockets,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
To start with, I wanted to talk about my favourite girly, teenager series that is, of course, the Georgia Nicolson Georgia Nicholson diaries. I was completely in love with this series and the front covers were always awesome. As Georgia lives her teenage life, she falls out with friends and falls for boys. It's a fabulously funny account of her life.
The Airhead trilogy were just awesome. The books tell the story of Em Watts who is in the body of a teen supermodel and while she has to learn to live Nikki Howard's life, she can't help but think of her best friend, Christopher.
These years were the years where I branched out of just the young adult part and started reading Sophie Kinsella books. These were my favourites (although it's a tough call between the Shopaholic series); Sophie Kinsella always has beautifully unique ideas when it comes to storylines and that's what I love about her writing.
The Shopaholic series were an absolute treat and I spent all of my pocket money on them. I remember being on holiday and just finishing a book and so when we took a trip into the local town I bought the next one. The series is full of joy and humour, about Becky and her addiction to shopping and spending.
Remember Me is about Lexi; a woman who wakes up in hospital in 2007, thinking it's 2004. Her life is significantly different to how it was before and while she is now married and a boss, she learns a lot about how imperfect her new life is.
Twenties Girl is a book full of charm. The ghost of Lara's great aunt Sadie is insistent in staying in her life until Lara finds a necklace that Sadie needs. Lara may just become excited by the hunt for the necklace, with her life becoming all the more intriguing too.
I Love the 80s is one of my favourite books I read as a teenager as it's fun and unique and a storyline that, as a big fangirl, I would like to live! Life hadn't been treating Jenna too well and so, as a result, she became entranced, once again, in the life of her (long-dead) idol, Tommy Seer. In a wonderfully excited turn of events, Jenna is back in 1987 and in Tommy Seer's life. It's truly fabulous.
The Truth about Forever by Sarah Dessen is crowned with the title of my favourite book I read as a teenager. It remains one of my absolute favourites as the male in it, Wes is definitely in my top three boys in books. Macy is still drowned in memories and grief from her father's death and whilst she thinks her boyfriend is everything she needs and more, she meets artistic, mysterious and caring Wes and soon realises life has more to offer than she had been taking.
Have you read any of these? What books did you read as a teenager or what do you read now? I am incredibly tempted to start the Georgia Nicolson diaries again and I, as I do every year, will re-read The Truth About Forever as it's one of my absolute favourites!
Here are the other posts I've written for this series:
My Favourite Books: Before The Teenage
My Favourite Books: 2013
Guitars & Rockets,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Friday, 24 January 2014
Carrie Says | Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
I am proud to say my New Year's Resolution of reading books recommended by Carrie Hope Fletcher is going very well and what's more, I am enjoying it so very much! The blog post series that goes alongside it is called Carrie Says and you can read more about it HERE. My first post was about An Offer You Can't Refuse by Jill Mansell and I was so excited to read Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli from THIS video.
Carrie says she read it and found herself "wanting to be Stargirl for months on end."
Where to start...
Stargirl is a girl who's far from lost in the crowd. With a ukulele, a pet rat and quirky ways, she often finds herself at the centre of attention that others may find unwanted. When Stargirl becomes the light beaming through a school full of "following the crowd" characters, a wave of non-conformity is evident. Only, with this came problems.
I have to talk about the cover of the book. It's so quirky. In my eyes, it reflects what Stargirl is like: exciting, bright, different. I have never tried as hard to preserve a book's beauty as much as I did when I read Stargirl (which may seem ironic as I have photographed it on grass). I really couldn't bare the thought of a creased page or a bent corner on the front cover. It's too sweet.
Leo's heart is captivated by the presence of Stargirl at Mica High; her lovely nature, her odd but wonderful ways, her faultless kindness and meaning behind everything she does sparks his interest. Yet, it is also everything that tears them apart. One moment the school is entranced by everything she does and the next they are not; one moment Leo is fascinated by her every move and the next he feels the pressures of normality.
I loved Stargirl because it is isn't like anything I've every read before. Although it is aimed at a younger audience, I've never learnt so much from one book. It felt very real and honest even if the actions of Stargirl were like nothing I've ever experienced; it's a refreshing read. Stargirl is a beautifully eye-opening novel. It is sweet and moving and I recommend it to all of my friends.
Porcupine Neckties & Magic,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Carrie says she read it and found herself "wanting to be Stargirl for months on end."
 |
| Doesn't the grass look healthy? Ha! It's er... symbolism for Stargirl being so awesome compared to everyone else being like... dead grass. Oh. |
Where to start...
Stargirl is a girl who's far from lost in the crowd. With a ukulele, a pet rat and quirky ways, she often finds herself at the centre of attention that others may find unwanted. When Stargirl becomes the light beaming through a school full of "following the crowd" characters, a wave of non-conformity is evident. Only, with this came problems.
I have to talk about the cover of the book. It's so quirky. In my eyes, it reflects what Stargirl is like: exciting, bright, different. I have never tried as hard to preserve a book's beauty as much as I did when I read Stargirl (which may seem ironic as I have photographed it on grass). I really couldn't bare the thought of a creased page or a bent corner on the front cover. It's too sweet.
Leo's heart is captivated by the presence of Stargirl at Mica High; her lovely nature, her odd but wonderful ways, her faultless kindness and meaning behind everything she does sparks his interest. Yet, it is also everything that tears them apart. One moment the school is entranced by everything she does and the next they are not; one moment Leo is fascinated by her every move and the next he feels the pressures of normality.
I loved Stargirl because it is isn't like anything I've every read before. Although it is aimed at a younger audience, I've never learnt so much from one book. It felt very real and honest even if the actions of Stargirl were like nothing I've ever experienced; it's a refreshing read. Stargirl is a beautifully eye-opening novel. It is sweet and moving and I recommend it to all of my friends.
Porcupine Neckties & Magic,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Monday, 6 January 2014
Carrie Says | An Offer You Can't Refuse by Jill Mansell
*Breathes slowly and grins childishly.* It's the first post of my "Carrie Says" series and I'm so excited that all of my thoughts are making me confused as to what I should say. *Composes self.* I am reading every book from four of Carrie Hope Fletcher's videos that she's suggested or has chosen to read that you can read more about HERE and the first book I read was An Offer You Can't Refuse by Jill Mansell from THIS video.
Carrie says it's "so good."
*Looks in the mirror and tells the reflection off for never reading a Jill Mansell book before.* I will be reading every one of her books and I can't wait.
Lola and Dougie were planning their lives together; uni and distance wasn't going to get in the way, but something else was: a mother who didn't approve of her son's girlfriend and an offer of £10,000 to be rid of the burden that was sure to eventually ruin her son's future. Two broken hearts and years later, Lola and Dougie are in each other's lives but feelings might just have changed.
An Offer You Can't Refuse is charming, funny, sweet and real. With an exciting storyline straight away followed by obstacles throughout the novel that are realistic and characters that aren't the protagonist but are endearing too, I didn't put the book down for just less than two days, when the final page had been turned. It really brightened the beginning of my January!
The story is told mainly through Lola's eyes but the key characters of the novel also have their thoughts shared; their endings being equally as important to me as Lola's. It's a story of first loves, friendship, family and the battle of moving on from that first love. I became very attached to Lola throughout the novel. She's positive, witty and ambitious - even if it was sometimes ambition that didn't fit right in other's hearts. Yet, that's what makes her so likeable. What's more, she loves books!
I loved this book as it's a charming and delightful read and after I recommended it to my mum, she's half way through and loving it, pestering me with questions about what will happen and although I'd never spoil it for her, her eyes widen in fear when I open my mouth as she exclaims, "DON'T TELL ME." An Offer You Can't Refuse really is so good.
*Clasps hands together and excitedly nods.* I know I'm only one book of the way into Carrie Says, but I'm enjoying this a lot and know I will continue to do so; it leaves me excited to start reading a book, excited to delve into the different world and then when finished, it feels like Christmas picking up the next book.
Pot Noodles & Magazines,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
P.S. I am not skilled with photography, as per usual!
Carrie says it's "so good."
*Looks in the mirror and tells the reflection off for never reading a Jill Mansell book before.* I will be reading every one of her books and I can't wait.
Lola and Dougie were planning their lives together; uni and distance wasn't going to get in the way, but something else was: a mother who didn't approve of her son's girlfriend and an offer of £10,000 to be rid of the burden that was sure to eventually ruin her son's future. Two broken hearts and years later, Lola and Dougie are in each other's lives but feelings might just have changed.
An Offer You Can't Refuse is charming, funny, sweet and real. With an exciting storyline straight away followed by obstacles throughout the novel that are realistic and characters that aren't the protagonist but are endearing too, I didn't put the book down for just less than two days, when the final page had been turned. It really brightened the beginning of my January!
The story is told mainly through Lola's eyes but the key characters of the novel also have their thoughts shared; their endings being equally as important to me as Lola's. It's a story of first loves, friendship, family and the battle of moving on from that first love. I became very attached to Lola throughout the novel. She's positive, witty and ambitious - even if it was sometimes ambition that didn't fit right in other's hearts. Yet, that's what makes her so likeable. What's more, she loves books!
I loved this book as it's a charming and delightful read and after I recommended it to my mum, she's half way through and loving it, pestering me with questions about what will happen and although I'd never spoil it for her, her eyes widen in fear when I open my mouth as she exclaims, "DON'T TELL ME." An Offer You Can't Refuse really is so good.
*Clasps hands together and excitedly nods.* I know I'm only one book of the way into Carrie Says, but I'm enjoying this a lot and know I will continue to do so; it leaves me excited to start reading a book, excited to delve into the different world and then when finished, it feels like Christmas picking up the next book.
Pot Noodles & Magazines,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
P.S. I am not skilled with photography, as per usual!
Thursday, 2 January 2014
The Enjoyable Resolution: Carrie Says
Along with a few generic resolutions I've made (and assume I'll fail) and a few I plan on seeing through, I've decided to have another New Year's resolution that I will enjoy and will make sure that I succeed with. Last year my enjoyable resolution was to start a blog and that went well (in my eyes), so this year (drum roll please) I will be reading books that Carrie Hope Fletcher (itswaypastmybedtime) has recommended or spoken about in four of her videos then writing a blog post about each one! I have called this challenge "Carrie Says"!
The reasons for doing this are because I know I'll love it. I love to read and I love to write about books I've read so it's a win-win situation. In turn, whenever I've watched videos of Carrie talking about books, I've always said "I want to read them"... So I will! Lastly, when I'm busy but have enough time to sit down and do something for myself, I can be lazy and so instead, I'll read!
I'll be setting no time limit on when I read each book and I will have times when I'll be stupidly busy and won't be reading one of the books and although this may look like I'm not sticking to the resolution, it's just that sometimes I'll need to be focusing on something else and it would take the enjoyment away from it for me if I have a strict routine. Despite this, it will make me more motivated to make time to read as I really am "asdfghjkl excited" about this.
It means I will be reading books that I may never have read without a push in the right direction, guided by Carrie. It will especially encourage to me to read books that I wouldn't have (mainly because I'm terrible for sticking to one author because I love them so much - although I've been getting so much better, I'll have you know) and this way, I can fall in love with loads of novels and authors.
This enjoyable resolution will probably carry on way into the next year and even the year after as I will still be buying books that I've wanted to read myself or have been recommended to read by others. I already, however, have reviews I wrote last year (oooo, it feels so odd writing "last year") that will be posted but even more postponed because of this, but that's okay! Considering written reviews, it should be mentioned that two books in these videos, I've already read and posted reviews about (Billy and Me and The Fault in our Stars) and so, they're not part of this!
These are the videos I will be choosing the books from:
Books and Cake
The October Club
"Finish Fewer Books"
Carrie's Book Haul
A new addition:
Dear Tom&Gi | The One When I Read Lots Of Books
I will be picking books from these videos randomly, in no particular order. I'm super excited to be joining two things I love together: reading and writing. I can't type how warm and fuzzy I feel about this. I'm feeling very motivated and that type of anticipation that makes my insides feel all gooey and my face all warm and red from wanting to get on with it.
This will take me ages to complete - especially considering I've got the busiest year coming up in terms of exams - but eventually, if it takes two/three years, I don't mind, I will complete this!
Words & Pages,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
The reasons for doing this are because I know I'll love it. I love to read and I love to write about books I've read so it's a win-win situation. In turn, whenever I've watched videos of Carrie talking about books, I've always said "I want to read them"... So I will! Lastly, when I'm busy but have enough time to sit down and do something for myself, I can be lazy and so instead, I'll read!
I'll be setting no time limit on when I read each book and I will have times when I'll be stupidly busy and won't be reading one of the books and although this may look like I'm not sticking to the resolution, it's just that sometimes I'll need to be focusing on something else and it would take the enjoyment away from it for me if I have a strict routine. Despite this, it will make me more motivated to make time to read as I really am "asdfghjkl excited" about this.
It means I will be reading books that I may never have read without a push in the right direction, guided by Carrie. It will especially encourage to me to read books that I wouldn't have (mainly because I'm terrible for sticking to one author because I love them so much - although I've been getting so much better, I'll have you know) and this way, I can fall in love with loads of novels and authors.
This enjoyable resolution will probably carry on way into the next year and even the year after as I will still be buying books that I've wanted to read myself or have been recommended to read by others. I already, however, have reviews I wrote last year (oooo, it feels so odd writing "last year") that will be posted but even more postponed because of this, but that's okay! Considering written reviews, it should be mentioned that two books in these videos, I've already read and posted reviews about (Billy and Me and The Fault in our Stars) and so, they're not part of this!
These are the videos I will be choosing the books from:
Books and Cake
The October Club
"Finish Fewer Books"
Carrie's Book Haul
A new addition:
Dear Tom&Gi | The One When I Read Lots Of Books
I will be picking books from these videos randomly, in no particular order. I'm super excited to be joining two things I love together: reading and writing. I can't type how warm and fuzzy I feel about this. I'm feeling very motivated and that type of anticipation that makes my insides feel all gooey and my face all warm and red from wanting to get on with it.
This will take me ages to complete - especially considering I've got the busiest year coming up in terms of exams - but eventually, if it takes two/three years, I don't mind, I will complete this!
Words & Pages,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Saturday, 28 December 2013
My Favourite Books: 2013
A couple of months ago I published a blog post about my favourite books I read before I was a teenager (which you can read HERE, if you would like) and I thought, to round up 2013, I would do a post on my favourite novels of 2013.
All I can say about these beautiful books is... they're life-changing. When people ask me what John Green books are about, I can't put it into words. Why they're so wonderful. Why they're some of my favourite books. Why he always leaves me crying. They're classics of our time. Of course, the fabulous Will Grayson, Will Grayson is also written by the equally brilliant David Levithan. These books have a special place in my heart. You can read my review about The Fault in our Stars HERE.
Let's get the me-shamelessly-plugging-old-reviews out of the way: HERE, HERE and HERE. My point of putting these wonderful books in this post is to express how beautiful these books are (inside and out). One Perfect Summer by Paige Toon is a young love story that is soon less beautiful as Alice and Joe are no long in each other's lives. Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher follows Sophie May's life as she becomes involved with the famous Billy Buskin with a romantic tale full of happiness and heartbreak. Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah is the story of Kate and Tully's lives as they go through school, love and life. These three books are in my favourites of this year as they are delightful and charming reads.
I'd waited for The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks for so long, excited at every tweet he tweeted about it and as usual, Mr. Sparks did not disappoint. The text on the inside cover makes my heart tingle and tells me of the need to read it again. I'll write the last part of it here:
Ira and Ruth. Sophia and Luke. Two couples, separated by years and experience, whose lives are about to converge in the most unexpected - and shocking - of ways.
It's a book that has captured my heart and won't let go.
Me Before You is the tale of Lou and Will; the story of how two people find each other when they need it the most - a book I was recommended and a book I now recommend.
2013 was an amazing year, partly due to these wonderful books. Although I'm pretty sure I read One Perfect Summer at the end of last year, it was one of the first books that came to my mind from this year as I definitely re-read it this year, so I thought I'd include it! All of the books here that I haven't already written about have reviews ready and waiting to be published but as I've got so many waiting, it may take a while!
What are your favourite books you've read this year? Let me know in the comments!
Saturday Nights & Books,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
All I can say about these beautiful books is... they're life-changing. When people ask me what John Green books are about, I can't put it into words. Why they're so wonderful. Why they're some of my favourite books. Why he always leaves me crying. They're classics of our time. Of course, the fabulous Will Grayson, Will Grayson is also written by the equally brilliant David Levithan. These books have a special place in my heart. You can read my review about The Fault in our Stars HERE.
Let's get the me-shamelessly-plugging-old-reviews out of the way: HERE, HERE and HERE. My point of putting these wonderful books in this post is to express how beautiful these books are (inside and out). One Perfect Summer by Paige Toon is a young love story that is soon less beautiful as Alice and Joe are no long in each other's lives. Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher follows Sophie May's life as she becomes involved with the famous Billy Buskin with a romantic tale full of happiness and heartbreak. Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah is the story of Kate and Tully's lives as they go through school, love and life. These three books are in my favourites of this year as they are delightful and charming reads.
I'd waited for The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks for so long, excited at every tweet he tweeted about it and as usual, Mr. Sparks did not disappoint. The text on the inside cover makes my heart tingle and tells me of the need to read it again. I'll write the last part of it here:
Ira and Ruth. Sophia and Luke. Two couples, separated by years and experience, whose lives are about to converge in the most unexpected - and shocking - of ways.
It's a book that has captured my heart and won't let go.
Me Before You is the tale of Lou and Will; the story of how two people find each other when they need it the most - a book I was recommended and a book I now recommend.
2013 was an amazing year, partly due to these wonderful books. Although I'm pretty sure I read One Perfect Summer at the end of last year, it was one of the first books that came to my mind from this year as I definitely re-read it this year, so I thought I'd include it! All of the books here that I haven't already written about have reviews ready and waiting to be published but as I've got so many waiting, it may take a while!
What are your favourite books you've read this year? Let me know in the comments!
Saturday Nights & Books,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Monday, 7 October 2013
My Favourite Books: Before The Teenage
I want to address my favourite books, however today I will be talking about the books I enjoyed most between the ages of about 6 and 13 (excluding Harry Potter).
I remember really enjoying Midnight, reading it while I was ill one time. Violet was my favourite Jacqueline Wilson character; she's imaginative, different and more exciting than she would ever realise.
My absolute favourite Michael Morpurgo book has to be Friend or Foe. Sadly I don't have the book. I think I borrowed it from the library but I will definitely be purchasing it again because I remember it making a young me very thoughtful. However Escape from Shangri-La is so good. I remember it being very raw and captivating.
So I was a big Cathy Cassidy fan. I loved everything about her books and as soon as the next one was out, I'd be there: ready to read. Looking back, her books have a really deep meaning in them all and I actually plan on re-reading them all very soon. I won't talk about them each separately but they are all fabulous. I think I read Ginger Snaps when I was just a teenager but it had to be in this post because the moral of this novel is the bomb; it's about non-conformity and breakdowns in friendship and realising the important things in life.
Scarlett was my favourite Cathy Cassidy book and I consider it one of my favourite books of all time. There was something about this particular novel that made me re-read it within weeks of reading it. I was head over heels (and still am) in love with the boy in it, Kian and I adored Scarlett. I thought she was the bee's knees. It's, I'd say, a coming of age story after Scarlett causes trouble wherever she goes. She moves away to live with her dad and, well, the story that begins makes my heart smile. Cathy Cassidy was what I call my favourite before the teenage author. I religiously read all of her books and fell in love with all of the characters. There was always something different about her books; a theme would be explored that wasn't something typical and it made them something special; it made them charming.
Mallory Towers are just... I loved these books so much! They are brilliant. Everything excited me about them: the sports, the lessons and the scandals of Gwendoline Mary. Oooo, I'm getting all nostalgic thinking about it!
Oh golly, I love books and I have for ever (as you can see). Getting all of these books out brought up a lot of nostalgia and excitement and thinking about the plots and characters. Out of all of the books I read when I was younger these are the ones I was most obsessed with and
Old Books & Old Smiles,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
I remember really enjoying Midnight, reading it while I was ill one time. Violet was my favourite Jacqueline Wilson character; she's imaginative, different and more exciting than she would ever realise.
My absolute favourite Michael Morpurgo book has to be Friend or Foe. Sadly I don't have the book. I think I borrowed it from the library but I will definitely be purchasing it again because I remember it making a young me very thoughtful. However Escape from Shangri-La is so good. I remember it being very raw and captivating.
So I was a big Cathy Cassidy fan. I loved everything about her books and as soon as the next one was out, I'd be there: ready to read. Looking back, her books have a really deep meaning in them all and I actually plan on re-reading them all very soon. I won't talk about them each separately but they are all fabulous. I think I read Ginger Snaps when I was just a teenager but it had to be in this post because the moral of this novel is the bomb; it's about non-conformity and breakdowns in friendship and realising the important things in life.
Scarlett was my favourite Cathy Cassidy book and I consider it one of my favourite books of all time. There was something about this particular novel that made me re-read it within weeks of reading it. I was head over heels (and still am) in love with the boy in it, Kian and I adored Scarlett. I thought she was the bee's knees. It's, I'd say, a coming of age story after Scarlett causes trouble wherever she goes. She moves away to live with her dad and, well, the story that begins makes my heart smile. Cathy Cassidy was what I call my favourite before the teenage author. I religiously read all of her books and fell in love with all of the characters. There was always something different about her books; a theme would be explored that wasn't something typical and it made them something special; it made them charming.
Enid Blyton was my favourite childhood author. I probably read her boarding school-based books between the ages of nine and eleven, as suggested by my mum as she loved them so much and I didn't look back as soon as I turned the first page of The Naughtiest Girl in the School.
Mallory Towers are just... I loved these books so much! They are brilliant. Everything excited me about them: the sports, the lessons and the scandals of Gwendoline Mary. Oooo, I'm getting all nostalgic thinking about it!
Oh golly, I love books and I have for ever (as you can see). Getting all of these books out brought up a lot of nostalgia and excitement and thinking about the plots and characters. Out of all of the books I read when I was younger these are the ones I was most obsessed with and
Old Books & Old Smiles,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
Monday, 18 March 2013
My 7 Favourite Nicholas Sparks Novels
Picking my top seven favourite Nicholas Sparks novels was literally one of the hardest things I have ever done. It should be known that the novels not mentioned were obviously all close to being in my top seven as I often changed my mind! There may be what you consider spoilers in this so do not read on if you haven't read the magic of these novels. I seriously spent time scratching my head and wanting to cry but here you go!
1. The Lucky One is based around Logan and his search for a girl that he believes saved his life as well as his life when he found her. I love The Lucky One because Logan is probably my joint favourite Nicholas Sparks male character. He is so caring and sweet and when I finished the novel I had to remind my self he's not real. Yes he's perfect, but he's not real. Beth is so strong but vulnerable, that these two together made my favourite novel that I return to if I have nothing to read. It is the perfect love story.
2. Safe Haven, a very gripping novel about the beautiful Katie overcoming her ex and finding peace with the lovely Alex never fails to have me up throughout a night reading. I have already raved about before: http://thegirlinthemoonlight.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/safe-haven.html and I just love Alex (my joint first favourite).
3. A Walk To Remember, I read in a night because I was so gripped with the characters of Jamie and Landon. The fact that they were polar opposites and yet their relationship was so fairy-tale-like gave me those goosebumps that can only be produced from books. I love how, when reading it, you see Landon change in front of you and how his love is so big for the lovely and selfless Jamie. "You have to promise you won't fall in love with me." When I first read Jamie saying this, I knew Nicholas Sparks was going to make my heart weep, and I thank him for it because this novel is just fantastic.
4. The Choice has to be in my top seven because I love the development of the characters in this novel. I fall in love with each male character in Nicholas Sparks novels too quickly, but I love Travis for different reasons. I love him for how he is with his friends as well as how lovely he is to Gabby, his neighbour who didn't return it straight away but yet he was still somewhat besotted with her, at first not knowing why. Reading the change in Gabby was incredibly sweet as, in her eyes Travis went from being someone who "knew" he was "really good-looking" from her being able to "imagine spending the rest of [her] life with [him]" and that's what makes this novel perfect to me.
5. Best of Me is heart-breakingly beautiful, not only because two teenage sweethearts regretfully went their separate ways, but because of the moral, yet incredibly needed ending. I loved the book so much that I wrote a song about it because, out of all of Nicholas Sparks' novels, Best of Me touched me in a really different and solemn way.
6. Message in a Bottle is based around Theresa Osborne, a journalist who becomes interested in a charming, but heart-breaking love story from a letter that washed up onto a beach in a bottle. I love this novel because I feel like the two main characters, Theresa and the lovely Garrett find some kind of calmness after overcoming events that happened before in their lives. Garrett, to me is charming and sweet and his troubles with moving on from Catherine make it all the more tragically beautiful.
7. True Believer really is joint sixth because I could not choose between this and Message in a Bottle. This novel is just an endearing and lovely story about a seemingly "cynical" man, Jeremy and one of my favourite of Nicholas Sparks' female characters, Lexie. She is so seemingly strong and independent that when her walls break down - so to speak - she becomes even more awesome. There's something about the way Nicholas Sparks presents small towns and even how some of his characters resent characteristics of them that makes me want to live in one all the more and this novel certainly captures why I do so much! The ending to this novel is my favourite ending ever...I genuinely was in tears for an hour.
Dear Nicholas Sparks,
Please can you write me my story?
x
Books & Hot Chocolate,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
1. The Lucky One is based around Logan and his search for a girl that he believes saved his life as well as his life when he found her. I love The Lucky One because Logan is probably my joint favourite Nicholas Sparks male character. He is so caring and sweet and when I finished the novel I had to remind my self he's not real. Yes he's perfect, but he's not real. Beth is so strong but vulnerable, that these two together made my favourite novel that I return to if I have nothing to read. It is the perfect love story.
2. Safe Haven, a very gripping novel about the beautiful Katie overcoming her ex and finding peace with the lovely Alex never fails to have me up throughout a night reading. I have already raved about before: http://thegirlinthemoonlight.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/safe-haven.html and I just love Alex (my joint first favourite).
3. A Walk To Remember, I read in a night because I was so gripped with the characters of Jamie and Landon. The fact that they were polar opposites and yet their relationship was so fairy-tale-like gave me those goosebumps that can only be produced from books. I love how, when reading it, you see Landon change in front of you and how his love is so big for the lovely and selfless Jamie. "You have to promise you won't fall in love with me." When I first read Jamie saying this, I knew Nicholas Sparks was going to make my heart weep, and I thank him for it because this novel is just fantastic.
4. The Choice has to be in my top seven because I love the development of the characters in this novel. I fall in love with each male character in Nicholas Sparks novels too quickly, but I love Travis for different reasons. I love him for how he is with his friends as well as how lovely he is to Gabby, his neighbour who didn't return it straight away but yet he was still somewhat besotted with her, at first not knowing why. Reading the change in Gabby was incredibly sweet as, in her eyes Travis went from being someone who "knew" he was "really good-looking" from her being able to "imagine spending the rest of [her] life with [him]" and that's what makes this novel perfect to me.
5. Best of Me is heart-breakingly beautiful, not only because two teenage sweethearts regretfully went their separate ways, but because of the moral, yet incredibly needed ending. I loved the book so much that I wrote a song about it because, out of all of Nicholas Sparks' novels, Best of Me touched me in a really different and solemn way.
6. Message in a Bottle is based around Theresa Osborne, a journalist who becomes interested in a charming, but heart-breaking love story from a letter that washed up onto a beach in a bottle. I love this novel because I feel like the two main characters, Theresa and the lovely Garrett find some kind of calmness after overcoming events that happened before in their lives. Garrett, to me is charming and sweet and his troubles with moving on from Catherine make it all the more tragically beautiful.
7. True Believer really is joint sixth because I could not choose between this and Message in a Bottle. This novel is just an endearing and lovely story about a seemingly "cynical" man, Jeremy and one of my favourite of Nicholas Sparks' female characters, Lexie. She is so seemingly strong and independent that when her walls break down - so to speak - she becomes even more awesome. There's something about the way Nicholas Sparks presents small towns and even how some of his characters resent characteristics of them that makes me want to live in one all the more and this novel certainly captures why I do so much! The ending to this novel is my favourite ending ever...I genuinely was in tears for an hour.
Dear Nicholas Sparks,
Please can you write me my story?
x
Books & Hot Chocolate,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
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