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!

King of Lions and Reaching Adulthood

Apologises for, once again, abandoning this blog to live life and breathe air and... hang on, have I stolen that from something?

Anyway, I wanted to do a write up last week because my family and I went to see The Lion King at Bristol Hippodrome - it was awesome! I'm sure most of the English-speaking world has seen that play but if not? Go see it! Right now! It is incredible! The puppets and the songs and the dances - oh wow. Seriously, I have so many great things to say about this show but do not have the time to list them all.

In other news, I have started my third and final year of university - scary or what? As it's only the third week, the work load isn't too bad, just a crap-load of reading and prep to do. Plus my dissertation. Eeeep! So, I'm sure you'll forgive me when I say that this blog is taking a back seat, even more than usual, for the foreseeable future.

And, finally, it is my 21st birthday next week. I'm really excited, even though I'm getting old. Last night, some of my uni friends took me out clubbing, admittedly for the first time, which was really fun. I got just a little drunk, also for the first time - I know, I've led such a sheltered life! - which Sophie in particular found hilarious, apparently. We went dancing, collapsed in bed around 2 with seriously aching feet, and I slept awful, considering how exhausted I was! I have a cold, you see. Mother thinks I 'caught a chill'. I, meanwhile, was not aware that I had been transported back to 1856 without my shawl.

Anyway, I am recovering from my "wild" night out by watching QI on iplayer and eating chocolate fingers in bed. I have a ton of reading to do for next week; even though it's my birthday I still have to work. How unfair is that!

Until next time!

France and Teddy Bears

Hello there! Yes, I have returned from holiday, not very well tanned and with a cold. Because only I can go holidaying in France and come back with a cold. Typical.

Anyway, it was a lovely holiday - the house we rented was quite pretty, if a little old and covered in spiders. It was atop a hill that overlooked part of the Dordogne valley, which was gorgeous. We hit most of the local highlights: Rocamadour, the town and château clinging to a cliff face (a very long walk to the top, mind!); Sarlat with its awesome market and lovely cathedral; Martel, another market town and it had seven towers. No idea why, just had seven towers dotted around the town; and Beynac, a medieval castle and stronghold with a wicked view of the river and surrounding area.

All in all, a good family holiday. Most likely the last one abroad for a while, as us kids are getting older. But definitely worth the two day drive down there!

I'm afraid I don't have many funny stories to tell, because most of them are sort inside jokes with our family and because I can't remember them! It was a week ago! But let's just say that my parents and little brother are pretty awesome and really funny, if slightly disgusting.

So, the other thing I wanted to talk to you about was Ted. You know, the movie? Yeah, boyfriend and I went to see it last night and it was hilarious! Typical of Seth MacFarlane's writing, it was quite similar to Family Guy, but a little more plot-driven.

The story was basically that this little boy wished to have a best friend, his teddy bear came to life and they're still best friends at 35. Mark Wahlberg isn't moving on in life, his girlfriend Mila Kunis makes him choose between her and Ted, Ted gets bearnapped by this creepy guy and his kid, and all's well that ends well. Yeah, I didn't explain that very well, did I? Well then you will have to go see it to get it! Trust me, it was so funny!

Well, now I have to go order books for my course - why they make us buy the most expensive editions I have no idea! 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!

Snow White and the (really hot) Huntsman

So, the other day my friend and I went to the local cinema to watch Snow White and the Huntsman. Yeah. That happened.

I wasn't all that fussed about watching it, partly because the trailer was all action-based and not necessarily my thing, partly because I have a thing against Kristen Stewart. I don't know what it is, it's nothing personal but since Twilight, I get the impression that she can't express ... expressions. I'm not gonna say she can't act because they were moments in the movie - Snow White that is - that she was really good at playing the innocent princess but a lot of the time, she has this seemingly permanent smirk on her face and it annoys me.

Anyway, the movie was still pretty good. Chris Hemsworth was brilliant. I will admit, he is the main reason I watched this film. The evil queen was sufficiently creepy, her brother was just pervy and the seven dwarfs were adorably tough. Did you know that Blackbeard was one of them? That was a pleasant surprise!

Oh, I have to tell you this. At one point near the beginning, Snow White runs away from the evil queen by slipping down the sewer which opens out half way down a cliff into the sea. As she is tying up her skirts and preparing to jump, my friend leaned over and said 'No, don't do it Bella!' Don't know about you, depending on whether you've read or seen New Moon, but I found this hilarious!

In other news, I got some marks back after finishing second year. My core exam was pretty poor but considering I suck at exams, it wasn't that surprising. Still got a 2.1 overall, which I am pleased with. Also got my last essay of the year back: 58. Not too bad, considering I forgot to use secondary sources! Again, still got my 2.1 overall, so I'm happy =D

I believe that is about it. Hopefully, I will be going to see Benedict Cumberbatch play Frankenstein in an encore performance of last year's production on Thursday. It's a film, though, so we can't see him at the stage door or anything, which kind of sucks but still, it's Benedict Cumberbatch! So, with any luck, I will have an amazing review to give you next week. Until next time!

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.

Vampires and Hell

Hey guys.

So this will be a quick one, just to let you know I'm still alive, if anyone was missing me which they probably weren't.

I have an exam tomorrow. My last of two for this year. Thank God I picked modules without too many exams! My first exam last week went pretty good. It was seen, which means we had the question a week beforehand, but we were not allowed to take any notes in so I had to memorise my essay plan, which surprisingly I managed to do! I am only half confident on tomorrow's exam. Seen again and able to take notes in but I think I will only be able to be properly coherent and argumentative on one of the questions, not both. Want to know what I'm writing about? I thought so.

One question is about vampire fiction's criticism - I am looking at Carmilla ( from In A Glass Darkly) and Dracula, discussing erotic language and vampirism. The second question is about remote regions of the UK being just as fearful as the exotic Orient. Here, I will argue that neither are fearful but both draw on exotic description and horrific elements such as Hell. Pretty good, huh?

In other news, it's boiling hot in England right now. Probably not helping that I am not moving from the bed or the laptop, but meh. Too tired. After tomorrow, I will have the whole summer to relax and read all the books I've being putting off til after university's finished.

Apologises for the ramble. Any exams or final essays to submit before you can enjoy the sun? Until next time.

To tweet or not to tweet?

Hey guys, it's been a while and my internet is buffering '2 Broke Girls' so I thought I'd do an update. By the way, anyone else been watching that? It is hilarious!

Apart from all the drama of trying to finish 2 essays this week - done one, by the way, nearly finished the second - I've been thinking about The Future! Imagine that in the booming voice that normally comes with things like Star Wars and you're good. My well-meaning but occasionally annoying mother wants me to start looking for work, volunteer or otherwise. I know I finish at the end of the month, but right now, I'm just trying to survive these essays and the impending exams!

The other thing I've been thinking about - and my friend Sophie has been nagging me about - is getting Twitter. I honestly don't see the appeal but according to Sophie it's a great way to get the attention of authors and publishers and reviewers, which would be perfect with my less-than-popular book review blog and my aspiration to get into publishing.

So. I looked it up earlier, even starting signing up. But the username I wanted to use (AwfulLofOfReading) is too long apparently. So now I don't know what to call myself. I don't want to officially go by my real name, I want to be known by my blog. So, any suggestions?

What else is new? I finished all lectures last week, which is apparently surprising to most people. Yeah, it is only May and I will have a long summer - that's the great thing about university! I have one more essay to finish, hand in one tomorrow and then next Tuesday. Actually, I have a few things to do up on campus next Tuesday - hand in my last essay, tutorial and pick up my exam. Ahh, the joys of seen exams!

Ok, I think that's about it. A lot shorter than I thought but seriously - twitter name! Until next time.

Ultimate Classmates

My friend Sarah and I were feeling lonely yesterday in our seminar class. On a table of six, we were the only one's sat there. So, while we were waiting for our tutor to turn up, Sarah turned to me and said 'We don't need people to sit there, we can make some up!' And, pointing to the seat opposite her, she asked 'Who should sit there?' Without a moment's hesitation, I said 'Alan Rickman'. I have no idea what he could contribute to our seminar on 'The Woman in White' but I wanted him to sit with us.

This went on for a few minutes, getting funnier and more pathetic by the second, until we had a full table. Going anti-clockwise, starting with Sarah and then me, we had:
- Mary Shelley - we thought, as we were discussing the Gothic novel, we needed a Gothic author. Plus, we didn't want Horace Walpole, who kind of creeps me out
- Alan Rickman - for no other immediate reason then because I like him. Plus, we believe he would have something intelligent to say (more intelligent than us at least)
- Benedict Cumberbatch - I think he came up because we are currently obsessed with Sherlock and also because he has the most amazing voice. We both fantasised of him reading passages aloud from the novel
- Stephen King had to replace John Barrowman, as we felt John would not get on with Mary Shelley, due to his "extreme" personality. I originally wanted him to join us because with our tutor, we end up talking about sex or grave-diggers or other random topics that he thinks are relevant... anyway, I think John would find our talks hilarious.

And that's it. As the late-comers arrived, we actually found ourselves not wanting anyone to sit with us, as thy would take one of our imaginary guests away. During the hour's class, we did occasionally whisper to each other things like 'Imagine Benedict reading this out loud' or 'I don't think Mary Shelley would agree with that'.

Yeah, that is how sad and pathetic we are. Have any ideas who you would want to sit with you in class?

Anyway, I am spending this extra day of the year at university. I am currently in between classes and trying to write an essay on Joseph Andrews but failing miserably. Maybe that's because it's lunchtime? Hmm. Until next time!

or a Young Lady's Entrance into the World

I'm feeling the urge to write, even though I cannot spell, because I haven't in over a week. But to be honest, nothing that extraordinary has happened in the last week. If you will remember, I mentioned last time that I had a presentation. Well, that happened on Tuesday. It went alright, actually! Even though my hands shook, I didn't speak really fast and whiz through my part like I did in History last year!

Right now, I should probably be working on my essay, or at least reading the novel I need to finish by Monday, but I'm not. I am in fact at The Boyfriend's house. And apparently I am "tempting" him by lying on my stomach on the bed, typing this.

He wants me to add that he thinks I make a nice pillow. As he is currently drifting off on my back. Yes, before you ask, we are a very weird couple.

Yes, Cazz, last week's title was from Samuel Richardson - it's the alternate title to his first novel Pamela. See if anyone knows this one! Gosh, I am so imaginative with title's at the moment, aren't I?

Ok, I think that is enough rambling for now. I haven't written a very good post but I have at least let you guys know that I'm still around. So, until next time!