•The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey comments and thoughts•

During this last month, I was lucky enough to meet up with some fellow bookworms and we all got to watch The Fifth Wave which is a book to movie adaptation. Of course, we had all read the book before ; never the less, everyone had very different opinions about the movie and the book. So I have decided to let you know what they all said!

Quick summary (from shmoop.com)

The human race stands on the brink of extinction as a series of alien attacks decimate the planet, causing earthquakes, tsunamis and disease. Separated from her family, Ohio teenager Cassie Sullivan will do whatever it takes to reunite with her brother Sam. Fate leads her to form an alliance with Evan Walker, a mysterious young man who may be her last hope. Forced to trust each other, Cassie and Evan fight for survival during the fifth assault from the invaders.

Questions

 Can you describe the book in 3 words?

• Interesting, dangerous and Divergent-like

• Amazing, hot characters

• Fictional, mainstream and... boring?

• End of Earth

• Classic teen novel

 What was your favourite thing about the book|movie?

• I liked the way Rick showed that the human race has a real chance of surviving against aliens if we are smart enough.

• My favourite thing would have to be the badass characters who managed to stay alive. 

• Surprisingly, there was one thing I did enjoy about both the book and the movie, and that was the fact that there was a huge plot twist... (spoiler free post).

• I liked to see the way the main character and her brother acted towards each other after so much had happened (the end of the world). I really enjoyed seeing that people still have human feeling even when they believe nothing could get any worse.

• Even though this novel was very much like any other teen-book that is out right now, I enjoyed the way the author came up with the different waves rather than just making it a normal invasion. 

 What was your least favourite thing about the book|movie?

• Honestly, even though the book was entertaining, at a few different points throughout the novel i felt like it would never end since whenever it seemed like it was coming to an end, another problem would pop up. The same thing happened to the movie. 

• The one thing that I didn't love was the way they made the aliens in the movie. I pictured them so differently in my head while I was reading and when I saw them on the screen... I wasn't disappointed, I just wasn't expecting it.

• As mentioned when I described the book in three words, I didn't really like the storyline of this novel|movie because it's just like any other teen book that it out on the market right now. The end of the world..., survivors, aliens, love... I didn't really enjoy reading it. It didn't have a special twist to it. 

• I didn't like how the story didn't have a final cut. I HATE CLIFF HANGERS!

 Who was your favourite character and why? 
• My favourite character is probably Ben because although he goes through a lot during the story, he is still alway able to find a way to keep everybody calm. He is also the smartest character, from my point of view. 
• The character whose story I enjoyed reading best was Evan because he was the one who went through the most character development. 
• Definitely Cassie! She is a badass but she is also loyal to her family. She is quiet and shy at first but then you find out that she is willing to fight anyone when she know what the right thing to do is. She is AMAZING!
• Honestly, I didn't really connect with any of the character.... but if I had to choose one, it would have to be Sammy, Cassie's young brother. This is mainly because she was really cute, not because he had any specific skills I liked. 
• BEN!!!! He was smart, a leader, a strong character. Overall, a really lovable character!

 What score would you give this book out of 10?
• 8 because it was fairly good. It was a really nice easy read. Probably won't read it again, but during the time I was reading it, I really enjoyed it. 
• 7... A fun quick read! 
• 8 because some of the characters had a really interesting and unique story! I definitely recommend it for any young adult reader. 
• 4 because it wasn't too bad but I though it was quite stereotypical. It was kind of like any other YoungAdult book that is out in market at the moment. The characters weren't great and there wasn't a lot of character development. 

• 10!!!! It was amazing! I absolutely tell in love with the book and I can't wait to read the Infinite Sea!

What is better, the book or the movie? 

• ALL THE READERS ANSWERED BOOK!!!! yet they all agreed that it was one of the best book to movie adaptations from a YA book they had watched. 

Looking For Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta - A.K.A. greatest book ever written

Hello Readers! 
I recently re-read one of my favourite books and it is easy to say that it is now my favourite book! I think that the reasons why I didn't like it as much when I read it the first time as the second time was because I was younger and couldn't really read between the lines as much. So! I'm going to tell you everything there is to the book without spoilers!

The first thing you should know are the facts about the actual book:

Author: Melina Marchetta

Adaptations: Looking for Alibrandi (2000)

Country: Australia

Genres: Young-adult fiction, Bildungsroman

Originally published: October 5, 1992

The book summary:

Josie Alibrandi is an girl from Italian descent who is growing up in Sydney, Australia. Josie is on scholarship at a prestigious Catholic school where it matters what her father does. Josie doesn't know who her father is as she lives with her mum, Christina, all she knows was that her mother had her against her fathers wishes when she was in her late teens. Josie and her mother's lives are interfered with by Nonna Katia, Christina's mother. 
Josie's father, Michael Andretti, comes back into Josie's life with no idea that he had a daughter. When he finds out he and Josie decide to have nothing to do with each other.

At school Josie hangs out with her misfit friends, Sera, Anna and Lee. She has a crush on the school caption of their brother school, John Barton. She also meets Jacob Coote, the school caption from the local state school, who asks her out... and I know you guys probably want to know more but I can't write any spoilers! 

The main characters:

Josephine Alibrandi

• The main character in the book

• The school vice captain of a high class school

• She is Italian

• She is the only child of single mother

Jacob Coote 

• The school captain from a local state school

• Has a crush on Josie 

• Is kind of a badass

• Is Australian

Christina Alibrandi
• She is Josie's mother
• Had Josie at 17
• She's not married
• She constantly gets told off by her mother
• She is Italian

Katia Alibrandi
• She is Josie's grandmother and Christina's mother
• She is referred to as Nona
• She treats her daughter badly because she is an only mother
• She is Italian











Michael Andretti
• Josie's father
• Lives in Adelaide
• He is unaware that Josie exists
• He owns a fair amount of money









John Barton 
• He's the school captain of a hight class school
• He has been Josie's crush since as far as sh can remember
• Josie's closes boy friend
• His father puts a lot of pressure on him

So now that you have brief idea of what the story is about the characters are in going to tell you what were the best things and the not so great things about this book:

Best Things:

-Such an fast and easy book to read
-Amazing and interesting storyline that makes you wanna keep reading and never let go of the book
-Really good character development throughout the book
-Makes you realise a lot of good and bad things about having different cultures 
-Teaches you so much about Australia

Not so good things:-Cliffhanger at the end! So if that annoys you...

-When I read the book, I would have liked to know more about how Jacob was feeling through the book
-Even though it will teach you a lot about Australian culture, there are some things that you could miss if you don't know a lot about Australia.

 Michael Andretti and Christina

Josie, Nona Katia and Christina Alibrandi

Josie Alibarndi and Jacob Coote

And for you guys who like watching movies... There's a Looking for Alibrandi movie!

Initial release: May 4, 2000
Director: Kate Woods
Running time: 1h 43m
Adapted from: Looking for Alibrandi 
Movie summary and actors:  Josie (Pia Miranda) is struggling to cope with her teenage existence. She lives with her single mother, Christina (Greta Scacchi), and attends a prestigious private school, where her snobbish classmates mock her Sicilian heritage. She contends with the dramas of teen romance, divided between John (Matthew Newton) and Jacob (Kick Gurry). When her family receives a visit from Michael (Anthony LaPaglia), her mother's former lover, Josie is overwhelmed when she discovers that he is also her father.

 

Sarah J Maas Meet Up

Hey guys,

So as you probably know from earlier posts, not long ago, i got to meet sarah J Maas. She is a magnificent author who has written many popular YA books, including a Best selling series, Throne of glass. Fortunately, Sarah travelled around AussieLand (australia), to meet all of her fans, and that included me! The event in Melbourne was quite a short yet very entretaining one.

Firstly, I would just like to describe the venue by quoting Sarah J Maas, it was like “a high school hall where everyone was forced to sit down and listen to her”. Of course, none of the people attending the event where forced to be there. In fact, most the people I met had been waiting and counting down to this day for months. There was a great lot full of young and grown up book worms. Absolutely amazing.

So the night went like this:

Everyone who walked in was given a lollie which represented their group for the book signing. Then we were able to sit aroud the hall freely. There was a lot of chatter between fangirls as everyone waited for the author that could have possible changed their booklovers lives. It didnt take long for sarah J maas to step in and see all of our extremely excited faces.

The first thing that took place after the author arrived was a Q’n’A about her books and their characters which was very entertaining, but unfortunately we weren't allowed to film so I can't tell you what the questions and answers were:(

After the questions where asked, we were sent down in our lollies groups to meet the author personally and get our book signed by her. The excitment to meet sarah was shown in every single one of the fan’s faces. For most of us, it was our first book signing and porbably the first author we had met in our lives since not many authors are able to travel all the way to the australia.  Just knowing that you were in the same room as the person who wrote the book that you were holding between your hand, the book that made you fall in love with mnay characters, that made you cry and laugh, the feeling was just unreal. So,  like many other things, after waiting, everyone got their turn to have a chat with Sarah and have their books signed.

And Sarah had a surprise for us too, she brought  along a copy of Throne of glass which she takes every where and gets her fans from all around the world to sign it. And we, fans from Melbourne, weren't an exception. All of the bookworms who wished to sign Sarah’s own copy of her book were able to do so:

And the last surprise was a give away! The hosts were giving away 4 huge/real size cardboard Celaenas. And no, I didn't get one even though I would have really liked too!

So! That was about everything that happened on that day. I had so much fun and from what i got out of conversations with other bloggers and attended, everyone enjoyed it very much. If there is an event around you with Sarah j mass, I strongly recommend you attend, she is so hilarious.  And for all of you readers from Melbourne, I’ll keep you updated if there are any other events.  For now, I hope you enjoy the reading time you hopefully have during the Christmas holidays.

Byeeee

Christmas TBR List

Hello Readers! 
We are officially 25 days away from Christmas and that means that holidays are coming really soon. That also leads into a lot of free time... which ends up being amazing reading time! So I've put together a list of books that I am looking forward to reading this Xmas and hopefully this will inspire to pick up a book to read during this cozy time. 

• Girl Online • by Zoella (Zoe Sugg)

Girl Online follows a typical girl-meets-boy storyline with a few 21st-century twists. The "girl online" is Penny – a clumsy, anxious but thoroughly likeable lead character who struggles with panic attacks that have plagued her since she was involved in a car crash. Like all teenagers today, Penny has to deal with the cripplingly awkward period of young adolescence while also coping with her life being broadcast online. She struggles with growing up in a world where her friends post bitchy comments on her blog and publish a video of her accidentally flashing her knickers during the school play. Her blog is the only place where she feels safe to open up to the world – but she learns the hard way that it's not where personal secrets should be shared. After falling in love with a boy called Noah on holiday in New York, she returns home to find that he is, in fact, a famous musician with a huge YouTube following – and a girlfriend. Her supposed best female friend leaks her relationship with Noah to an online celebrity news site and her blog goes viral. Penny vows never to write on her blog again. Penny's best male friend is her next door neighbour Elliot, who is rejected by his father after coming out to his family. The pair mock Elliot's dad's comments that you can "grow out of being gay".

So as you can probably tell, it's more of a contemporary novel rather than Sci-Fi, which is what I usually read. But the reason why I'm going to read it is because this book has been recommended to me by more people than I can remember. So after a few months of people telling me that i have to read it, i have finally picked it up and I'm really looking forward to reading it. 

• The Iron Witch trilogy • by Karen Mahoney

Freak. That's what her classmates call seventeen-year-old Donna Underwood. When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed her father and drove her mother mad. Donna's own nearly fatal injuries from the assault were fixed by magic—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. The child of alchemists, Donna feels cursed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. The only thing that keeps her sane and grounded is her relationship with her best friend, Navin Sharma. When the darkest outcasts of Faerie—the vicious wood elves—abduct Navin, Donna finally has to accept her role in the centuries old war between the humans and the fey. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous half-fey dropout with secrets of his own, Donna races to save her friend—even if it means betraying everything her parents and the alchemist community fought to the death to protect.

I've actually had this trilogy waiting on my bookshelf ready to be read for about a whole year now! But in that whole year, I was never able to even bother to pick it up Recently, I was rearranging my shelf and found this books. So I did some research on them and it turn out that they look amazing! And I will definitely write a review about them when I finish reading them!

• Dance of Shadows • by Yelena Black   

Dancing with someone is an act of trust. Elegant and intimate; you’re close enough to kiss, close enough to feel your partner’s heartbeat. But for Vanessa, dance is deadly – and she must be very careful who she trusts . . . Vanessa Adler attends an elite ballet school – the same one her older sister, Margaret, attended before she disappeared. Vanessa feels she can never live up to her sister’s shining reputation. But Vanessa, with her glorious red hair and fair skin, has a kind of power when she dances – she loses herself in the music, breathes different air, and the world around her turns to flames . . . Soon she attracts the attention of three men: gorgeous Zep, mysterious Justin, and the great, enigmatic choreographer Josef Zhalkovsky. When Josef asks Vanessa to dance the lead in the Firebird, she has little idea of the danger that lies ahead – and the burning forces about to be unleashed . . .

• Breath of Snow and Ashes • by Diana Gabaldon 

A Breath of Snow and Ashes continues the extraordinary story of 18th-century Scotsman Jamie Fraser and his 20th-century wife, Claire.

The year is 1772, and on the eve of the American Revolution, the long fuse of rebellion has already been lit. Men lie dead in the streets of Boston, and in the backwoods of North Carolina, isolated cabins burn in the forest.
With chaos brewing, the governor calls upon Jamie Fraser to unite the backcountry and safeguard the colony for King and Crown. But from his wife Jamie knows that three years hence the shot heard round the world will be fired, and the result will be independence — with those loyal to the King either dead or in exile. And there is also the matter of a tiny clipping from The Wilmington Gazette, dated 1776, which reports Jamie’s death, along with his kin. For once, he hopes, his time-traveling family may be wrong about the future. 

As you may know if you are one of my readers, I am currently reading the Outlander Series and it is safe to say that I am in love with this books. I have read the first 5 books and I'm really, really looking forward to reading this 6th one. Everyone of this books is outstanding and from what I've heard, this one won't disappoint me since it is great as well. 

You can probably tell that I'm not reading the books one after the other, instead I'm reading books in between them. This isn't because I need a break from them, but instead because i don't want to get bored or sick of them since I am not use to reading such long books and so many of them. By separating them, it gives me a bit of time to get into my normal reading speed and stuff and then I get back onto reading them! 

So! this are the 6 books that I will be reading over Christmas. But also, I have very exciting news! As I said in one of my earlier posts, Sarah J Maas came to Melbourne this month! And meeting her and talking to her was so amazing and it was such a great experience. I will definitely write a post about this event so stay tuned!