The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (2006)

Title: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

Author: Rick Riordan
Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1

Pages: 377

Published: May 4th 2005

Publisher: Hyperion Books


As I have promised in my TBR Announcement for Percy Jackson and the Olympians my goal was to read the series this summer and as I didn't know how to start of my June reading I thought it best to start with Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief to get going.

It was a good choice. This book was highly enjoyable and I see why people truly enjoy this series. I wish I had read them when I was younger because although it is suitable for the nineteen-year-old I am, it is initially written for 9-14 year olds and maybe I would have enjoyed it even more back then. But no point mourning the lack of Percy Jackson in my childhood. This book was so great. It's funny, exciting and entertaining.

I love how every day objects are turned magical
and that everything is not over the top supernatural. It's as simple as a magic cap or winged shoes. Makes everything funnier and a little more realistic. Although there is plenty of fighting in Percy Jackson its all written for a younger audience and everything is described with excitement and action. It's not graphic in the way that it's not PG, but it is described well and everything is played out in my head perfectly.

I have heard that people find that a lot of the story is lost if you do not know Greek Mythology. Let me tell you something about my knowledge about Greek Mythology. I know the names Zeus, Poseidon, Hades and Aphrodite. And, that's about it. I never got the opportunity to study the Greek gods in school and haven't read any books about them. I am clueless. But Riordan so cleverly interweaves little facts here and there for the reader to understand the story. Very simplified and interesting. You don't have to know anything of Greek Mythology because Percy will tell you about everything that is relevant. It's brilliant.

So this book was great. I think I may have enjoyed it even more if I'd been younger and I'm so happy I'm reading them now rather than letting them collect dust on my bookshelf. Highly recommend.

Plot Summary:

Look, I didn't want to be a half-blood. I never asked to be the son of a greek god.

I was just a normal kid, going to school, playing basketball, skateboarding. The usual. Until I accidentally vaporized my maths teacher. Now I spend my time battling monsters and generally trying to stay alive.
This is the one where Zeus, God of the Sky, thinks I've stolen his lightning bolt - and making Zeus angry is a very bad idea.


My Rating:
8/10

Other Books in Percy Jackson and the Olympians:

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1)
The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #2)
The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #3)
The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #4)
The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #5)
The Sword of Hades (Percy Jackson and the Olympians novella)
The Singer of Apollo (Percy Jackson and the Olympians novella)
The Stolen Chariot (Percy Jackson and the Olympians novella)
The Demigod Files (Percy Jackson and the Olympians companion book)
Percy Jackson's Greek Gods (Percy Jackson and the Olympians companion book)
Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes (Percy Jackson and the Olympians companion book)
Percy Jacksona and the Bronze Dragon (Percy Jackson and the Olympians novella)

Other Books by Rick Riordan:

The Lost Hero (The Heroes of Olympus #1)
The Son of Neptune (The Heroes of Olympus #2)
The Mark of Athena (The Heroes of Olympus #3)
The House of Hades (The Heroes of Olympus #4)
The Blood of Olympus (The Heroes of Olympus #5)
The Demigod Diaries (The Heroes of Olympus companion book)
The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles #1)
The Throne of Fire (The Kane Chronicles #2)
The Serpent's Shadow (The Kane Chronicles #3)
The Kane Chronicle's Survival Guide (The Kane Chronicles companion book)
The Sword of Summer (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard #1)
The Hammer of Thor (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard #2)
The Ship of the Dead (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard #3)
For Magnus Chase: Hotel Valhalla, Guide to the Norse Worlds (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard companion book)
The Hidden Oracle (The Trials of Apollo #1)
The Dark Prophecy (The Trials of Apollo #2)
The Burning Maze (The Trials of Apollo #3)
The Son of Sobek (Percy Jackson and Kane Chronicles Crossover #1)
The Staff of Serapis (Percy Jackson and Kane Chronicles Crossover #2)
The Crown of Ptolemy (Percy Jackson and Kane Chronicles Crossover #3)

Jag saknar dig, jag saknar dig (1992)

Title: Jag Saknar Dig, Jag Saknar Dig! (I Miss You, I Miss You!)

Author: Peter Pohl, Kinna Gieth

Pages: 272

Published: 1992

Publisher: Rabén & Sjögren


I received this copy from my friend just prior to the film coming out because she had an extra copy. It's a beautifully tragic story about the twin sisters Tina and Cilla. Early on in the book Cilla dies in a car accident and Tina is left without her. The story is about how Tina is coping with the loss of her sister. It is happy at moments only to bring out the saddens even more and it truly stings. The book painfully realistic and triggers feelings of sadness and anger.

After having read this I decided to read into the back story of the book. This book turns out to based on a true story where the co-author Kinna Gieth lost her twin sister Jenny is a car accident. The sisters had been reading a book by Peter Pohl about a situation where the character Anette's twin sister had died. Gieth wrote to Pohl after her sister's death and asked him to write a book with her about this situation and 'I Miss You, I Miss You!' was the result. I was surprised to learn that the book was published in 1992 as I got the feeling that it was taking place in today's society - it's time less, which I think it very successful.

I can truly see why this is a Swedish Young Adult classic. There is also a film which was made in 2011.

Plot Summary:

It's now the month of April and at home on in the Rose Garden, two girls are sitting. They're called Cilla and Tina. They're identical twins and they're going to turn fourteen this summer. But Cilla doesn't get to experience that - she's soon going to die in a car accident. It's the most sickening thing that's happened to me, and I'm telling you that straight away, because this isn't meant to be a thrilling story, with a clever ending that has to be kept secret until the last page, it's about Tina whom was left behind, forced to try to stand straight and keep her balance in life without Cilla. And I, who is telling you this, is Tina, but I don't know if I can cope by taking about 'me', so I say 'her' instead.
A timeless description about endless grief, but also about love and hope.
- back of Book

My Rating:

8/10

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, Book 1) by Cassandra Clare (2007)

Title: City of Bones
Author: Cassandra Clare
Series: The Mortal Instruments #1
Pages: 485
Published: Mar 27th 2007
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books


It took me a while to actually start reading this. A few of my friends had read it and when one of them said 'she goes to this club and sees someone get murdered, but no one else can see them' I kinda felt 'um, ok, don't know if this is my kinda book'. But when I read it I got a whole new experience than that.

I read the Clockwork Trilogy first because, well, it takes place before The Mortal Instruments (except Clockwork Princess had not yet come out at that time).

Cassandra Clare has such imagination! This isn't just sci-fi. It's well thought through and the things that link the book together with the Infernal Devices is just really clever. Things like the family names, the objects and the how it's hidden. Everything is very well thought through. Thumbs up for that!!

I borrowed the books at the school library so I didn't even have to wait until I could go buy it, they were right there. Now, I've bought the whole series so they stand untouched on my book shelf and my mum keeps on reminding me that I have this whole unread series at home and I'm like 'no, I've read them, I read them at school, I just like to have my own copies, especially of the books I like'. I have to admit though, I prefer a bookshelf with physically read books that books that look brand new. Yet, I can't just take the books and bend the spine to make them look read (they're still so pretty) because I haven't, not that specific copy you know. I guess I'll just have to re-read them. I'm weird that way. Really weird.

I opened the book up a while ago just to read the first sentence and get that flashback for a moment and I realised that Clary is only 15! FIFTEEN!! I'm eighteen. Almost makes me feel like I should read adult books right now and I kinda want to at moments, but can't let go of YA fiction quite yet. Is it ok to still be reading YA books when you're like 25, cause I bet I will  be, no doubt.

Plot Summary: 

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder - much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing - not even the smear of blood - to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

Favorite Quote:

"The boy never cried again, and he never forgot that he'd learned: that to love is to destroy, and that to be loved is to be the one destroyed."

My Rating:

10/10

Other Books in these Series:

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, Book 1)

City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments, Book 2)

City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments, Book 3)

City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments, Book 4)

City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments, Book 5)

City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments, Book 6)

Other Books by Cassandra Clare:

Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, Book 1)

Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices, Book 2)

Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices, Book 3)

Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices, Book 1)
Lord of Shadows (The Dark Artifices, Book 2)

The Danish Girl (Hooper, 2015)

I've wanted to watch this film for so long so I managed to get away with my mum and friend Holly (the evening ended with a continued Harry Potter marathon at her place afterwards).

My theater friends and I debated about whether Lili should have been played by a transgender actress. Of course that would have given more transgender actress an opportunity in the spotlight which I very much support. I think that would have been amazing. Some thought it should have been done in respect to Lili as she was an actual person. Since the film is about transgender and supporting the idea of transgender it would've had a stronger impact if the actress therefore was transgender. However, the film would have been hard as Lili starts off as Einar Wegener and we have to see her as a man to be able to understand the situation and journey. Some scenes would have simply not worked if the actor had not been a man. I think you know what I mean if you watch it.

Eddy Redmayne was amazing as always. What I think is fascinating about him is that he dares to act unusual roles. Who else would have pulled off Stephen Hawking? Some critics said he was too masculine, but if anything I think he is very feminine, which worked perfectly. I love Alicia Wikander. She's beautiful and very very talented, and yes, she's Swedish. I completely got a feeling for how it must have felt for Gerda at the time. She seemed to have a full understanding for her character. I loved the chemistry between the two actors and they were phenomenal at portraying their relationship and it was truly believable.

Plot Summary:
A fictitious love story loosely inspired by the lives of Danish artists Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener. Lili and Gerda's marriage and work evolve as they navigate Lili's groundbreaking journey as a transgender pioneer.

My Rating:
8/10
I'm not quite convinced that Lili had so many friends during this time. After all, having to be the first transgender at the time must have been extremely hard, but Lili seemed to have a lot of supporters and I found this hard to understand.

Shadowhunters Season 1 Episode 1: The Decent Into Hell Isn't Easy (Decter 2016)

They are doing okay so far.

Simon is good at what he's doing and the relationship between him and Isabelle is very similar to that in the book. The silent brothers looked like I imagined.

However, I do have some major problems:

• They do not visit the Silent brothers this early. Right? And they are supposed to lead her to Magnus Bane. They certainly didn't do that.
• Since when does Clary find out that Valetine is her father this quickly. I think this causes major problems for the plot as we know it. It might allow possibilities in the plot for their plot, but it's based on the book.
• When the heck did Simon just get captured by the vampires in his car. Common. We're not even going to give the party ago with the funny drinks and the rat moment. That's how it all happened, right?
• Who the heck is Dot. Okay. So I thought she was the fortune teller kind of lady living down stairs who turns out to be a demon and attacks Clary. Whats up with this whole turns out to be a demon in Episode 1 and Jace kills her but then she turns up in her human figure again and is all of a sudden a warlock. I either really misunderstood something in the books or I've just forgotten, but Dot is confusing me so much.
• Where is Magnus Bane going? Where is he escaping and all that. And the circle members killing warlocks. Don't remember that either.

So either I really need to refresh my memory from the books or the series are changing a whole lot of things. If you disagree with something please tell me. I'd love to hear from you.

Shadowhunters Season 1 Episode 1: The Mortal Cup (Decter, 2016)

Sooooo....

What did you guys think? I've been quite critical towards this tv series, mainly because I though Clary look really scary on the poster. Otherwise, I was pretty excited. It was all over Instagram before Christmas and I was so confused until I finally realised... that they were making a tv series!! How cool is that?

I think there were pros and cons of the pilot. Clary was much better than the poster promised. Also, she's ginger. Guess what? She's ginger in the books! Well done! Jace I was pretty pleased with to be honest. I liked him in the film but he was really good here too. Isabelle and Alec I can't make my mind up about. They certain look like siblings so that's good. I don't think the "white" wig suits Isabelle, I'm going to be honest about that.

The institute confused me a bit. Have I missed out something in the books or is that high tech and that many people and so on? It was cool and impressive, but the film portrayed it closer to my interpretation.

The story about Clary's mum desperately trying to tell Clary about the shadowhunters bugged me a little. That was never in the books and it was slightly suspicious.

Although the TV series has added an odd character in: Simon's friend in his band I'll buy that for now. Although I swear he gets another friend later on the book series with a certain interest in the moon.

Overall, I'm quite pleased. It's hard to judge a series based on one episode. I think the action could be improved somewhat. Some scenes weren't quite as "actiony" as they could've been.

Also, what I find a little odd. Isabelle doesn't seem to be aware that Alec is gay and fancies Jace. She seems surprised when Alec is upset over the fact that Jace cares about Clary. This should not be the case. She knows.

We'll give it a try.

My rating:
6/10

For my review on the film The Mortal Instruments - City of Bones (Zwart, 2014) click here.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens - Episode VII (Abrams, 2015)

So this is the first Star Wars film I've seen from beginning to end. I guess I've never really given them a chance before. But since the show we are putting on (Loserville), makes loads of Star Wars references so I kind of had to go to see it for research if nothing else.

The props where amazing! I'm obsessed with props, because well, that's what I'm going off to study at uni!! People that went on the same course as I'm hopefully getting into have worked on past films, which I find quite cool.

I had a hard time in the beginning understanding who was who. Yes, call me stupid, but all I knew was that Darth Vader is Luke and Princess Leia's dad and the two of them are siblings. That's it. And I know why R2-D2 is. So guess how confusing I found it when Kylo Ren (who I thought was Darth Vader because come on they look the same) turns out to be Princess Leia's son when I thought she was Darth Vader's daughter. I didn't get it fully until I left the theatre and my dad told me.

I did enjoy it and I think I left with a development of a Star Wars fan inside.

Plot Summary:
Three decades after the defeat of the Galactic Empire, a new threat arises. The First Order attempts to rule the galaxy and only a ragtag group of heroes can stop them, along with the help of the resistance.

Favourite Quote:
Well can you unfix it? - Finn to Ray

My Rating:
8/10
Mainly because I was confused, but that's fault isn't it?

xmas presents

I promised I would show you what I got for Christmas and here goes.

From my parents I got two Pop Vinyl Figures. Tyrion Lannister in battle armour and scar and Joffrey Baratheon! I swear my Mum asked me near a thousand times which one I preferred and there are like a hundred I want from like a hundred different films and TV series so that was a tricky one but it turned out with two favourites.  

Along with that I got the fourth season of Game of Thrones from my parents and the film Insurgent from my younger sister.

If anyone's ever read "Fangirl" by Rainbow Rowell, I'm so excited to read it. I got the edition with fan art on the inside and it's so good.

From my aunt I got me the book "Lean In For Graduates" by Sheryl Sandberg because I start uni next year and she has read her original book "Lean In" for women in the work place and how to succeed.

From my grandparents I got a book called "Running for Women" and a yoga block with a yoga strap, which is perfect because I love yoga and I'm trying to improve my running routines.

Pan (Wright, 2015)

Everyone went to see Mockingjay Part II last weekend, but spending time with my Mum and 9-year-old sister we went to see Pan instead. It was absolutely wicked and I didn't want it to end at all. The special effects and costumes were wicked and the sets were amazing.

I loved the fact that Hook and Peter were friends to begin with, but the fact that when Peter asks 'Always be friends, Hook. Are we?' Hook answers 'Always. It can't possibly go wrong' messed me up so much. What on earth is that supposed to mean? Was it just a cliffhanger and I got to make up my own bridge from the film to the traditional Peter Pan where they are enemies or was there a possibility of a second film (I highly doubt it, it seemed like a stand alone film)?

For those of you that have watched 'Once Upon a Time', a series available on Netflix (spoiler ahead) Peter Pan is portrayed as the bad guy. A twist which I quite liked. However, throughout the film I was almost convinced that Peter had to turn bad sometime, but he never did and I was happy to learn that he really just is a good boy (although I already knew this). Another funny thing is that Hook isn't actually called Hook in 'Once Upon a Time'. His name is Killian Jones and isn't called Hook until his hand gets cut off. Here, he is called James Hook although he has two hands throughout the film.

What did confuse me a little was where Neverland started and ended for I thought people didn't get old in Neverland, but they did get old for Blackbeard had to inhale pixie dust in order to stay young and Hook was and adult. Did he come there as a kid and grew up there or did he come as an adult? If so, why did he come as an adult? Things like that didn't make sense to me, but I always have loads of questions after watching films and it drives me mad haha.

My final point and I have seen this across the internet. Tiger Lily is white. And she's supposed to be a native american. And none of the other natives in the film are white. No criticism to Rooney Mara, she's an excellent actress, it's more up to the casting director and the film makers for it's their decision and this one just doesn't make much sense. I think she portrays the role of Tiger Lily very well and the role suits her. It's just a question as to how the film makers really thought about the term natives.

Plot Summary:
12-year-old orphan Peter is spirited away to the magical world of Neverland, where he finds both fun and danger, and ultimately discovers his destiny - to become the hero that will forever be known as Peter Pan.

Favourite Quote:
If you don't believe, Peter, neither will they.

My Rating:
9/10
Just because there were so many unanswered questions.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Columbus, 2001)

I was babysitting the other night and the kids voted for us to watch Harry Potter. The youngest being five, we chose the first one as we thought it would be the least scary one, but also, because it's my favourite. Well, truth is, I don't know which one my favourite is, but I never get tired of the first one.

I've been to the studios three times so I'm starting to get the hang of what is used when and I almost think I can recognise it here and there. Where they're using the green screen and which one of the two Hagrid actors are on screen at that time and when they use the model of the castle. It's quite cool when you think of it. You can also tell, that although Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was extremely well done film making has improved over the years and it can be compared in the first and the eighth film. Nevertheless, I'm surprised by how well the film was made, for being made in 2001.

One of the times I was there I heard Columbus say (probably on one of those audio guides) that he they had to make the film amazing. Even if they were doubtful. They had to put down all their energy on it. Because if the first one is great then they'll want to make another. But none will buy it if it isn't great! I thought that was very clever, for they had no idea if the film was going to be such a success. They put down their souls and all the money and just hoped that people would love it. They did.

I will include a short plot summary just because I always do, although I don't think many of you will bother to read it.

Plot Summary:
Rescued from the outrageous neglect of his aunt and uncle, a young boy with a great destiny proves his worth while attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
- as on IMDb

Favourite Quote:
'I shouldn't have said that. I should not have said that' - Hagrid
(I haven't chosen the same one as in the book for two reasons. It's performed so well here by Robbie Coltrane and because in the books it means so much more because it sets of the whole thing. Both lines are said by Hagrid though. Lovely giant of a man.)

My Rating:
10/10
I think that's obvious.

A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 1) by George R. R. Martin

Title: A Game of Thrones

Author: George R.R. Martin

Series: A Song of Ice and Fire

Pages: 835

Published: Aug 6th 1996

Publisher: Bantam

I must say that I love these series. And there is only going to be minor criticism.

I heard about the TV series when they first came out in 2011, the posters were everywhere. Not having Sky however, I had a major problem and couldn't watch it (but believe me, I was dying for it). It had everything I could ask for: fantasy, history, dragons, magic, costumes, castles, royalties. I love that kind of stuff. Guilty.

So I bought the book. I got it at WHSmith for half price for buying The Fault in our Stars as well. This was back in 2012 and my mum had forbidden me to buy a new book unless I finished five because I had a ridiculous amount of unread books at home (I love buying books, don't have as much time to read them all). I bought them anyways and hid them. True story.

Anyways, onto the book. I love it. Not having watched the TV series I built my own interpretations of the characters and it was wonderful. The Stark children are younger which I appreciate because being 14 at the time, they were still older and I could really connect with them. They were still older than me. It took me a few chapters to understand which bastard was which, but we got there in the end.

The chapters I enjoyed the most were John Snow's, Daenarys and Arya's. I can't remember if I loved or hated Tyrions chapters. I love them nowadays and have loved them for a good while because he's so much like me in the way he behaves and his attitude. Please don't judge now.

However, the chapters I could not stand were Caitlyn's. I didn't like her as a character. I understood her, but I didn't like her. I didn't like Bran's too much either. Mainly because there were so many of them and I felt like we weren't getting anywhere. Now, I don't like politics, mainly because I don't understand a thing about it and can't be bother (I know, it's bad) and Ned's chapters were full of politics. I learnt to like it though because A Game of Thrones wouldn't get anywhere without politics. A fight between seven kingdoms. WITHOUT POLITICS?! Not possible. Sorry mate. I don't think I realized how much I appreciated Ned's character until the very end when I knew that I would read no more chapter of him. I wondered how the series could possibly go on without him. He died after the first book and it pretty much centred around him. I was wrong.

I love the world. Just like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings it was been so well thought through. Not a plot hole. The fact that it's based on pieces of history that I enjoy a lot, like the War of the Roses, makes me understand it better. It was probably the first proper fantasy book I pick now I've opened up to that genre completely. When I go into bookstores I go straight to that shelf. I always loved fantasy films but never really read anything until I picked this book up so thank you very much!

Plot Summary:

Summer span decades. Winter can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun.

As Warden of the north, Lord Eddard Stark counts  it a curse when King Robert bestows on him the office of the Hand. his honour weighs him down at court wher a true man does what he will, not what he must... and a dead enemy is a thing of beauty.

The old gods have no power in the south, Stark's family is split and there is treachery at court. Worse, the vengeance-mad heir of the Dragon King has grown to maturity in exile in the free Cities. He claims the Iron Throne.

-as by the book cover

My Rating:

10/10

Other books in this Series:

A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 1)
A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 2)
A Storm of Swords 1: Steel and Snow (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 3 Part 1)
A Storm of Swords 2: Blood and Gold (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 3 Part 2)
A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 4)
A Dance with Dragons 1: After the Feast (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 5 Part 1)
A Dance with Dragons 2: Dreams and Dust (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 5 Part 2)

Available on:

Amazon
Book Depository
Waterstone

The Great Gatsby (Baz Luhrmann, 2013)

I love this book. I love this director. Can it get any better? I'm so happy with this adaptation of the classic novel.

Baz Luhrmann is known for his Red Curtain Cinema which is almost like a genre by itself. Modern music, dancing, special effects, amazing sets and costumes and glitter. Everywhere. This film is truly amazing.

As the book is told in first person narrative Nick Carraway, Luhrmann as chosen to tell the story through the same person as though he was writing the story as part of therapy reflecting back with included voice over. I think the idea is brilliant because one wants to include that narration otherwise Nick is forgotten. People either hate or love Luhrmann and I love him. I think his style is original, exciting and full of surprises. I don't think that every film can be portrayed this way but this one certainly can. It's got it's calm moments too. This is a film that I believe is just a bit too hard to explain without watching it. I will just leave it up to you and you can make up your own mind about it.

Plot Summary: 
An adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's Long Island-set novel, where Midwesterner Nick Carraway is lured into the lavish world of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. Soon enough, however, Carraway will see through the cracks of Gatsby's nouveau riche existence, where obsession, madness, and tragedy await. - IMDb


The Stars:
I love Leonardo DiCaprio and he was born for this role. No question. No comment. This is a statement. I'd never heard of Carrie Mulligan before, but I was impressed and she has gone quite far now I believe. And let's just appreciate how far Tobey Maguire has gotten from the nerdy kid with certain spider super powers. I'm impressed. As for the others, I think it is very well cast overall!

My Rating:
10/10
I know I do this a lot. But Luhrmann knows how to pull it off. Also, the soundtrack is AMAZING (and I usually don't like this type of music). I ordered it before I'd even seen the film.

The Mortal Instruments - City of Bones (Zwart, 2013)

I read the book before it was out so I have to admit that I was disappointed. It's not that I'm always disappointed in films based on books, but this one was so clearly a great book that the film couldn't compete with it.

The film was great on its own and I'm sure that if I hadn't read the book before I would have loved it, but it was too different. It followed it quite well in the beginning, but towards the end I had no clue what was going on. The fight took place in the wrong place to begin with (and yes, it matters) and I barely understood what the fight was based on.

Plot Summary:
When her mother disappears, Clary Fray learns that she descends from a line of warriors who protect our world from demons. She joins forces with others like her and heads into a dangerous alternate New York called Downworld.

The Stars:
I don't think I disagree too much with the stars at all. Yes, I imagined Clary as a red head but Lily Collins performs it well. Jamie Campbell Bower is an excellent actor in my point of view. I loved him in 'Anonymous' and we did get a glimpse of him in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I. I think Robert Sheehan managed to portray Simon really well as the boy with a crush on his best friend. I was critical towards Jemima West as Isabelle and Kevin Zegers as Alec to begin with, but learnt to accept it. It wasn't too bad. It took me longer to accept Godfrey Gao as Magnus Bane, but when I saw the film I saw that he was in fact quite good. What I don't understand though, is that Valentine and Hodge are supposed to be the same age but Valentiene (Jonathan Rhys Meyers, who's in the Tudors btw, just saying) is in his thirties and Hodge (Jared Harries) is in his fifties. How does that even make sense!!!!???? Lena Headey (Jocelyn) is a Game of Thrones star though so <3!!

My Rating:
7/10
The ending was so different from the book that I barely understood a thing. Major let down.

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory (2003)

Title: The Other Boleyn Girl 

Author: Philippa Gregory

Series: The Tudor Court Novels, The Plantagenet and the Tudor Novels

Pages: 661

Published: May 21st 2003

Publisher: Scribner

This book is one of my favourites. It is told in first person narrative from Mary Boleyn's point of view and is set during the Renaissance over a number of years. It has not chapters but rather sections of the year and season. I originally read this book in Swedish because my grandma had all the books in the series and. She doesn't really read in English so I took all the books and started with this one because I'd seen the film a while ago.

The book is more about Mary than Anne which I think is good because you get the view of someone who stood Anne close. Now this book is classified as historical fiction rather than non-fiction because it's based on historical events and facts, but Gregory has made up the plot based on what she knows. I think it's done very effectively because you learn from it, but you don't read a history book; hence the genre historical fiction.

I highly recommend this book for any history/royalty lovers. Historical fiction at it's best! Philippa is one of my favourite authors. She writes in such a capturing way you absolutely fall in love with it!

Plot Summary:

When Mary Boleyn comes to court as an innocent girl of fourteen, the catches the eye of Henry VIII. Dazzled, Mary falls both in love with her golden prince and her growing role as unofficial queen. However, she soon realises just how much she is a pawn in her family's ambitious plots and the king's  interest begins to wane and she is forced to step aside for her best friend and rival: her sister, Anne. Then, Mary knows that she must defy her family and her king and take fate in her own hands. 
- Goodreads

My Rating:

10/10
Favourite historical novel of all time.

Other Books in the Series:

The Constant Princess
The Other Boleyn Girl
The Boleyn Inheritance
The Other Queen
The Queen's Fool
The Virgin's Lover

These books are technically stand alone books as they have nothing in common except the historic era and the Tudor court. However, if you are unfamiliar with the history behind them you may wish to read them in the order they take place historically to get a greater picture but it is certainly not necessary.

Available on:

Amazon
Book Depository
Waterstones

Friday Night Lights by H. G. Bissinger (1990)

Title: Friday Night Lights

Author: H.G. Bissinger

Pages: 357

Published: Sep 28th 1988

Publisher: Da Capo Press

I have mixed feelings about this book and I feel like I'm going to say worse things about it than it deserves so hold on.

Reading the prologue and the preface of this book I got really excited. The book seemed to have a meaning and I was prepared to get seriously blown away. The characters were introduced and I felt like we connected straight away. However, as the book started to actually give me history about Odessa, the politics and the economic situation I started to loose interest. The chapters on racism, discrimination, education and economy were interesting, because I can relate to it, I understood it. But frankly, I don't understand economy and politics. Not my area. At all.

I didn't quite understand the football parts either, although I mean, what else did I expect? It's a football book. About Football. A Town. A Team. And a Dream. Literally. But I didn't get the semantic field. I don't understand how it can matter how far you run in one season. I don't know what's a lot and what's not. I know three words: touchdown, quarterback and running back. That's my vocabulary. Finito. Unfortunately. I think I may have enjoyed the book much more if I had understood it.

I would highly recommend the TV series 'Friday Night Lights' which is honestly more about the characters and their lives rather than the football itself. That appealed more to me. The series is only based on the idea surrounding the book. It does include any of the characters, the same team or town. The film however, which is based on the book is quite boring. I lost interest quicker than I lost interest in the book.

Despite all my criticism about the book it is still regarded as the best sports book written, so if you do understand the language of Texas football, by all means go for it. But I'm a fantasy/history/sci-fi/romance kinda person and maybe it had to do with the fact that it was a school book.

Plot Summary:

In the state of Texas American football is a religion. And nowhere is more fanatical about its football than the small town of Odessa. There, every Friday night from September to November, a bunch of seventeen-year-old kids play their hearts out for the honour of their high school. In front of 20,000 people. In 1988 H.G. Bissinger spent a season in Odessa discovering just what makes a town pin its hopes on eleven boys on a football field. He lived with the students, coaches and townspeople who dedicate their lives to their team, sharing their joys and triumphs, their pains, injuries and bitter disappointments. He returned with a compassionate but hard-eyed story of a town riven by money, race and class, where a high school can spend more on medical supplies for its athletic program than on its English department. Friday Night Lights is one of the best books about sport ever written. It is the story of how dreams and reality collide, at once glorious and immensely sad. Because for the 30-odd boys of the Permian Panthers, these days will have been the best of their lives.

- Waterstones.com

My Rating:

5/10
It really wasn't my kind of book.