A Year To Review

2012 has been a pretty big year for me. It was the Diamond Jubilee, the Olympics, my 21st birthday, I started my book blog, I joined twitter and thus made a load of new online friends. I had two summer holidays, Pottermore came out and I started my third and final year of university.

So yeah, big year.

I'm not quite sure where to begin! My year started at my boyfriends and is actually going to end at my boyfriends, because I'm staying for another new year party after we watch The Hobbit on Monday. Anyway, I attended lectures, bitched about my tutors a little, felt rubbish for a while after realising I hadn't accomplished much, spent Valentines Day ill with a cold - how romantic - struggled through my two exams in May and finally finished second year. Oh and I wrote quite possibly my favourite blog post from one of the funniest classes I've ever had right here about ultimate classmates.

Over the summer, I watched loads of great new movies, like Ice Age 4 and Ted and Dark Shadows. The Olympic Torch went through my town the morning of my final exam! My family and I spent the day in London getting absolutely drenched to watch the Jubilee Pageant. At the end of July, the family packed up the car and drove down to the Dordogne for a week, which was really fun. Then a month later I went to Cornwall with my boyfriend and his family.

I remember I spent September buying all my new books for university and trying to get a head start on reading - that didn't work as well as planned! The final week of September I sneakily moved around my timetable so that I had classes with my friends. Then it was back to work - thrown right in the deep end with essays and reading and prep work. Not to mention my dissertation - eeep!

Then it was my 21st birthday. We went to see The Lion King, which was epic; went clubbing for the first time which was cool and a little scary; got proper drunk which was hilarious. And got a kindle!

I've also read some really cool books this year, which I summarised rather nicely on my book blog, if you're interested.

So that's where I stand now, about to start the new year worrying about how little work I've done over Christmas and how much I've got to do these next few months. How about you? Had a good year or can you not wait until 2013? Until next time!

Days Of Summer

Oh hi! Another month, another crappy attempt at keeping you updated with my life. This time it is no university keeping me occupied but books. Lots and lots of books. And TV and writing and just general laziness. Well, that last may not be true (who am I kidding, it totally is!) because it's not that I haven't bothered writing a post, it's that I haven't had anything to write about.

It's been a lazy month. I've been shopping, been to the cinema a few times, met up with friends, did more shopping, ate quite a bit and read a lot. I think this is the most I've ever read in such a short period of time! I'm actually really impressed with myself! Of course it does mean that I have to try really hard to keep up with reviews.

So, the real reason I'm writing today is that I'm going on holiday tomorrow. I'll be gone a week and a bit, not that anyone will really miss me, and wanted to write before it was August. I'm going away with my family, probably for the last time as my brother and I are getting older, and we are staying in a house in the Dordogne, an area in south-west France. We're driving, because me and mum hate to fly, so it's going to take us two days to get down there! Hot really looking forward hours on end in the car, but I'm definitely looking forward to being able to have a bath and my own room!

That probably needs an explanation. If you can remember, or if you've actually read my past entries, we normally go away in a motorcaravan. But this year, we downgraded so our new one only sleeps two: mum and dad. Thus, we are renting a property and I don't have to walk across a campsite to have a shower. That will be a welcome change.

Actually, that's practically the only thing I'm looking forward to on this holiday. Sure, the castles and château's we'll end up going to will be cool, but I'm really going to miss my boyfriend. And don't give me all that 'it's only a week, man up!' crap, I've had all that from my dad. But we've been together over 5 years, I think I'm allowed to miss him while I'm abroad!

This has turned into quite a ramble, hasn't it? I think I'll stop there. I'm sure that I'll have some interesting stories to tell when I get back. Until next time!

Books and Atlantis

Oh, hello! Seems like we haven't spoken in a while, but actually it's been, what, a week? Well, it seems like longer than that, but maybe that's just me. Lately my days have been going rather slowly, merging into one another, you know? I haven't been up to much, reading a lot, as book nerds do. I'm also looking after the house while the 'rents have gone to a 24 hour car race in France. Which means I'm in charge of cooking, cleaning and everything with my little brother. I say little, I mean 17 year old who has only just learned how to turn our oven on.

So, what interesting news do I have to tell you about? Been reading After The Snow; the colloquial language makes for some interesting characterisation of the narrator but God, does it make it difficult to read! Or maybe I just have no patience for that kind of thing. Yeah, that's probably it. Either way, I've been reading it for over two weeks, only just hit page 100! I've also been reading Undead by Kirsty McKay - amazing book but tell you what, making me really paranoid of zombie attacks!

Right now I'm watching Atlantis, that pretty old Disney movie. Actually, it's 11 years old. Huh. That doesn't make me feel old at all! Poor Milo, being bullied by the team! But god, do I love Audrey, the teenage engineer! I haven't watched this movie in ages, I'd forgotten how cool it was!

Ok, I've got to the bit near the end where Kida has gone all zombie blue eyes and the crystal wakes up. This is a pretty amazing story. Seriously, go watch this movie! It does remind me of a book though, A Quick Bite. It's a vampire book but Lynsay Sands writes it that vampires actually come from Atlantis and have these bug things that replace cells and cures their hunger and everything. Kind of clever and definitely a unique vampire legend!

Man, this has been another pretty crappy update hasn't it? Apologises for that. And that I haven't really said much of interest. So... until next time.

Catch Up (a.k.a. Sorry Guys!)

I don't really have much to say on this, the end of June. I've had a pretty lazy month since I finished second year at the end of May. I've gone shopping, had a couple of day trips out, been to the cinema a lot, caught up with friends; it's been good!

Speaking of cinema, maybe I should catch you all up on that. So, I've been to see Frankenstein, as per the last post, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, which turned out to be incredible but bloody scary! Snow White and the Huntsman, which I also wrote about before. Actually, Lincoln is the only one I hadn't written about. Oh well! I still want to see Rock of Ages, Ice Age 4, Brave and The Amazing Spiderman. Any other suggestions?

The other main thing I've been doing is reading. I've still got a huge pile of books next to my bed to be read (ha, awkward rhyme) and as I cannot stop buying books, the pile is not exactly lessening. But I'm getting there! For those interested, here is a link to my book review blog, where earlier today I posted about the books I plan to read next. Not everyone's thing, I know, but I'm afraid that's the best I've got today!

Sorry for the short post. Really, it's just because I noticed it's the end of June and I've only written 3 times this month! Hopefully I'll think of something more topical and interesting for next time. Until then!

Frankenstein

You may or not have been aware that Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller were in a production of Frankenstein last year. I was no aware of this so I won't blame you for not knowing. My point is, they filmed a show and played it in cinemas around the country. This is what my friend Sarah and I went to see the other night. 

Because there was an option, we chose to see Benedict Cumberbatch play Victor and Jonny Lee Miller play the Creature. Both were incredible, but I am glad we got to see Mr Cumberbatch with hair! 

Danny Boyle, the director person who wrote this version, decided to follow the creature's point of view, which meant there was a painful first 5 minutes where we watched him try to stand up, all alone. It really was heartbreaking actually, seeing the steampunk workers fear and hit him. And get chased away when he was just hungry.

For those who know, the book is from Victor's point of view, his letters and diary entries. Because the play is from the Creature's, we saw him kidnap William, learn English, get shunned from society which made me at least sympathise with him way more than I did when I read the book. It was especially impressive to see him learning to speak from the blind old man, although daunting that he quoted Paradise Lost when we, English Literature students, barely understand it! 

The ending was horrible, poor Elizabeth getting raped and murdered on her wedding night, Victor being too shaken up and weak to shoot his creation and chasing him all the way to the North Pole. It was an amazing show and I am really glad we saw this version, though I do not doubt Mr Cumberbatch would have been a brilliant Creature. The troubles with cloning, playing God, messing with humanity, what makes us unique were all potent themes in both the book and the production. I'm so glad we went to see it and even though it wasn't live, we did sit in plush sofas in the balcony!

Balls and boats

Ah, the month of June is upon us already which for me, and I'm sure many a university student, means that the summer has begun. Or it would have if English weather hadn't decided to make it rain! And as I have finally finished my second year of university and no longer have essays to deal with, I thought I would regale you with an update of the fun-filled weekend I started the summer off with.

Friday 1st
Haircut, met boyfriend for lunch, the normal stuff that I'm sure you are not all the interested in. It was a full-on day though. The parents drove me into Bath to my friend Sophie's house where I would be spending the night after the Summer Ball. But more on that later. First, we walked into town, had dinner at Wetherspoons and wandered to Waterstones where Cassandra Clare, of The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices, was giving a talk and signing books.

This was my first book event since I went with my family to see Caroline Lawrence, of The Roman Mysteries, many years ago and I fainted. Not dramatically or anything, but from the heat in the museum. Anyway, I was looking forward to seeing Cassie Clare, even though I hadn't quite finished her first book yet. So although the spoilers for her newest book (City of Lost Souls) were lost on me, I had a really good time. She was entertaining and adorable and I got my book signed without making a fool of myself.

Then, Sophie and I had to rush back to her's because we had to get ready for the Ball! And I do mean Ball, even though it turned out to be a marque in a field. We got dressed up and everything! I got blisters from my heels and trod on my dress and got elbowed so many times but it was really fun! We danced and drank and no one threw up, which is always a plus. And finally, my long day was over, collapsing in bed around 2 in the morning.

Saturday 2nd
As you can imagine, my Saturday was mostly spent sleeping off the effects of Friday night. Good times though, good times.

Sunday 3rd
Ah, yes. The Diamond Jubilee. Mum had made plans for us to go up to London to see the floating pageant thing down the Thames. We were all dubious at first, especially after our train got cancelled and we got separated on the next available, very crowded, train. But we finally made it, had lunch at Paddington station before setting off for Chelsea, our logic being we would be able to see all the boats set off. We soon realised that our logic had failed us. Even though the boats were not set to sail for another hour, it was packed. Like, there were at least 5 rows of people between us and the river. So, once the 1000 boats were floating past us, I was torn between looking behind us at the giant TV and sticking my camera in the air, hoping to get a focused picture of the river. It was fun though. We made friendly conversation with most of the people around us, chatting with them for most of the afternoon as we tried to watch the Queen and the royal family and the Mayor and other important people float past.

Didn't find out until this morning that we missed the boat with John Barrowman on. So disappointed.

Anyway, we walked up to The Mall, the giant road leading to Buckingham Palace, because Mum wanted a picture, when it started raining. Like proper chucking it down. For an hour. So not only did my legs feel like there were about to fall off but now I was soaked through my coat. Then of course, we couldn't find a taxi until we reached Piccadilly. Just go get a map of London to see how far we walked. In the rain. With aching feet.

So yeah, that was my weekend. I am still pretty tired so I'm taking it easy, reading and catching up on YouTube videos. Talk to you when something else interesting happens. Don't hold your breath though.

Fellow book-nerds, please don't hate me!

So, please don't judge me, hear me out, but I've been thinking about saving up for an e-reader or Kindle.

*runs and hides in corner* Please don't hate me! I have a serious reason for this - although, actually, it's just because I'm lazy.

Here's what happened. I had a long day at university yesterday. A two hour class at 9, a two hour class at 4, and a 5 hour gap in between. As I was packing my bag, along with my laptop so I could get some work done (which, by the way, I totally did!) I was considering taking the fictional, non-university book I'm reading at the moment, Good Omens. In the end, I didn't because this one small book apparently made my bag so much heavier! But that got me thinking that it would be easier to have an e-reader, so I could take multiple books with me to campus without weighing down my bag.

So, those of you faithful to the paperbacks will be, right now, not-so-secretly hating me for considering going to the dark side. Trust me, I kind of feel disappointed with myself for thinking it. And yet, the more I think about it, the more I like the idea.

When the e-readers and Kindles first came out, I was simultaneously excited and hurt. Oh, it will make carrying  multiple books so much easier! But how dare they try and get rid of my precious books! It looks so much easier to hold and carry. But I bet I would get a headache from reading off a screen.

Of course, Clarissa would have been so much easier to read on an Kindle! My fellow English students will know what I'm talking about!

So, yeah, e-readers. I'm probably not going to get one because I can't afford it but if I was offered one...? What about you, dear readers? Got one, or want one, even loath them with a passion?

Until next time!