Looking for Alaska - John Green

Cor blimey, gov'nor! Looking for Alaska... Well, that was an emotional journey.

When I wrote a review on The Fault in Our Stars (if you want to read it, I'll link it at the bottom because it comes with a big disclaimer), I found it difficult because I just wanted to talk about it; let out all of my feelings like I was in the support group in the novel. Hence, why again, I am finding it difficult to write a review like a review and not a huge text of my train of thought. However, this time, unlike my "review" of The Fault in Our Stars, I am determined to not have a large bit of text with the whole plot being covered!

Miles Halter seeks a Great Perhaps that he can't find at his school or at home or even with his memory of learning last words; so, he, after hearing stories about the boarding school Culver Creek from his father, knows where his Great Perhaps lies. Thrown happily into a world of pranks, friendship and the moments of drama and danger, Miles falls in love and learns about life.

Looking for Alaska is captivating, honest and raw: just how John Green does it. As per usual, he taught me something.

Alaska is quirky yet haunted by the past; Miles longs for a chance with this mysteriously beautiful girl. I spent the novel longing for them to meet in the middle, for Miles to banish Alaska's sadness and Alaska to show Miles that he is worthy of this Great Perhaps. I, like Miles, missed the whole point that John Green depicted to me through Alaska in true John Green Style. I'm not sure if that sounds cryptic, but, well, that's John Green for you! It's just not always about what you think it is.

A common attribute people will for other's to have and to share is honesty and this is both my favourite thing about John Green's writing and the aspect that saddens the part of me that hopes for complete harmony in plots. However, I am grateful for the way John Green can rip out of my heart and complete it all at the same time: I am always learning something important, just like the characters in his novels.

John Green puts me under a spell with his words; a spell I can't break. His novels are classics, they are beautiful and for ever haunting my heart.  I have done a review/long conversation about The Fault in Our Stars but before I link it, there are HUGE, unforgiving spoilers so please do not read if you've not read the novel: The Fault in Our Stars - John Green.

Have you ever read a John Green novel? Let me know!

Books & Pranks,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

The Freedom of Solace

Freddy paused at the gate, touching his forehead out of habit. He felt sweat cover the palm of his hand and was content at the touch of it. It was a relatively cool summer evening and he'd finished a ten mile run, feeling the motivated feeling he longed for at the end of the afternoon.

After drinking water, having a shower and eating dinner, Freddy sat down to read and wait.

He wasn't sure how other eighteen year olds spent their evenings, and although he wished the circumstances were different, he didn't envy the others. He enjoyed his own company. He liked to hear his thoughts; he enjoyed thinking. Sure, he had friends - well, acquaintances - at college, but he never felt comfortable when he occasionally decided to accept an invitation; he always found a way to end up by himself. The way he liked it. Tucked away, hidden in a corner, watching the night's sky through the window or sat at the table, mechanically shuffling cards. Though, at home, his loneliness wasn't normally absolute. With the company of books, air and the ability to hear his surroundings, Freddy knew he had a lot to be grateful for.

It was the silence that got to him.

Tonight, he ignored it, forcing himself to concentrate on the pages before him.

Hours passed before Freddy set aside the book and cringed at the memory of earlier that day. Absorbed by the thoughts his heart forced him to consider, Freddy wasn't taking any notice when he was placing a book about tectonic plates back, turned and walked straight into Amanda from his Geography class. He apologised and she smiled politely and carried on with her day.

Like he wasn't even there.

As the lunch break had carried on, he felt disturbed at the bother he felt. Most of him knew that he enjoyed the freedom of solace, but something was nagging him; his brain was trying to tell him something. What, he couldn't work out.

In fear of understanding, Freddy picked the book back up and drowned himself in the ink on the pages.

It wasn't long before the door opened and Freddy put down his book for the night, feeling numb and strangled by the silence.




One of my New Year's Resolutions is to post a creative writing piece (at least) once a month. *Smugly, ticks off an imaginary list before remembering there are eleven more months. Quietly, sets imaginary pen down and gets excited at the thought of at least eleven more stories created by my mind.*

Imagination & Motivation,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

Daydreaming

*Throws hands up and sighs guiltily.* I am a daydreamer.

I'm sure people would probably believe there is an age where daydreaming as often as I do (probably the same amount as a toddler) should be banished from a living style; it's probably naïve, potentially ignorant to "real life" and well, in truth, it's distracting. Daydreaming is my worst form of procrastination. I'll be sat, pens and pencils at the ready and suddenly my mind will (and I will willingly let it) transport me to a world where Tom Hiddleston proposes to me and my job is to read books.

It's definitely not just me, right?

No, I don't suppose it is. The problem is, my mind can go into real depth with daydreams that are plausible (not that I want to label me marrying Mr. Hiddleston as "implausible") but aren't happening because I'm lying across my living room floor balancing the remote control with my feet instead of taking action and making daydreams reality.

I think I have my tendency to daydream controlled in situations where I really shouldn't be daydreaming (although I definitely need to sort out removing it from revision segments of my life) but the problem isn't that I want to stop daydreaming: I enjoy that sometimes I realise what I want because my mind is so desperate to explore the option. My problem is making sure I listen to my daydreams.

My blog, for example, was a product of a daydream that caused a big smile on my face. I'd thought about blogging before I started The Girl in the Moonlight but put it out of my mind, in fear of letting myself write and let my thoughts spill onto a computer screen but then I thought about it and imagined myself as happy as I am right now, writing these words, and I knew what to do.

Daydreaming can highlight ambitions and give you a big metaphorical push in the right direction. I, for one am thankful for my habit.

Do you daydream?

Chocolate Digestives & Tea,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

P.S. I wrote a guest post for the lovely Simona that you can read HERE, if you would like! I really enjoyed writing this post and was excited to do so when Simona asked me to write a guest post!

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!

My Blogging Bucket List | 2014

Today was actually supposed to be a post titled "New Year, New Blog" as I planned to have my blog looking very different but sadly, I do not. However I do feel  the need to show you my wit with the title I planned, ha! Anyway, on with the actual post!

Last year I wrote a blog post called "My Blogging Bucket List" where I set out some aims for my blog. Now, I want to see how well (as I'm writing this, I'm not entirely sure whether I've completed them so far - I didn't set a time limit on most of them) I have done with my aims and set some aims to hope to have completed by the end of this year, where next January I will do another bucket list post.

One of my goals was to take pictures for my blog posts and although I don't use pictures all of the time, I think I've become a lot better! I also said I wanted to be more creative. Since writing the post, I think I've allowed my creativity to spill slightly onto my blog - not overly, because I don't want to bombard you with short stories and letters and similar posts but I definitely have made it more creative. As my goal has been since the beginning of The Girl in the Moonlight, I am still aiming for 50 members! On my last Blogging Bucket List post, I wrote that I'd like to have reached in the next year (since the post was written) so fingers crossed!

I want to...

Post at least one short story/story a month. Writing creatively is my favourite thing to do in terms of writing and so 2014 shall be the year of creativity. However, a side note to this part of my aims is that I don't want to overdo it and need to stay true to other posts that I assign strongly to my blog.

Write a conventional "facts about me" post. I enjoy these post by bloggers so much. I wrote one when I first started my blog and I wrote a sort-of-facts-about-me post late last year. However, I really want to write another one!

Write more lifestyle posts. I really enjoy taking pictures for writing lifestyle posts, so this year, I plan to write a fair few.

Write a DIY post. I'm writing this because I know I won't do it and if I write it, the chance of doing so increase - only slightly though. I'd love to do a DIY post. I don't know what I would write one about but, I will work hard to find a way to do one.

Change the look of my blog. This is something I've wanted to do for a while but it takes time, effort and a lot of sorting. I cannot wait to sort it out, although I'm not sure when I will.

It's been a busy month and a bit on my blog but it's finally, after this post, back to my normal routine. I will be posting three days a week: Monday, Wednesday and Friday and I can't wait for this blogging year. I wish a big good luck to you and your blog! What's on your blogging bucket list?

Chocolate Sprinkles & Cream,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

P.S. How incredible was Sherlock?!

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.

Happy New Year!

It's 2014. That feels weird to say... in a good way, though.

I am normally one to be sad when New Year's Day arrives (mainly because my favourite time of year is over) but this year, I refuse to be drowned in January blues. With a box of Cadbury's Milk Tray in front of me, an American TV box set ready to watch and my laptop in front of me, what could possibly go wrong? I've got a lot to be excited about this year!

First of all, there is my first blogging Birthday on the January 27th. I am so incredibly excited about it! I remember the evening I created this blog; the nervousness and excitement I was feeling and so, to think I will have been blogging for a year makes me smile a lot.

Something I am very excited for is a series for my blog that I shall be explaining very soon! I thought of it last year and it makes me childishly excited as I am incorporating two of my favourite things to do in one series! If you are one from the future after this mysterious post is published, I shall link it HERE. Oooo, I can't wait!

I am actually really inspired about my new year's resolutions this year. I know we all are at the beginning of January, and I hope you continue to be, but I am hoping with all of my might that I'll fulfil them! My New Year's Resolutions are these:

1) To carry on being excited by my blog; writing things I enjoy writing and making my blog a happy place for me to be whilst be daring with my posts - when I want to be.

2) To always be reading something.

3) To learn lots of new things.

4) To take a lot of photos.

5) To make this the best year so far!

What are you excited about for this year? Happy New Year! I wish you a lot of happiness and luck and for all of your aims to come true!

Happy Places & Photographs,

The Girl in the Moonlight.