Guilt Free Book Haul (In Which My Relatives Feed Me Pretty Books)

There’s a lot of things I like about Christmas – the food, spending time with family, chilling out and watching lots of movies, but I have to say one of the biggest perks of all is being able to add a few more unexpected books to my shelves. And better yet – I don’t have to feel guilty about buying books when I have so many unread ones because other people have done it for me. Double win! I always tend to have a book wish list on the go so that if any of my relatives are stuck for present ideas, they can randomly pick something off it. This way, it’s always a surprise and I never have any clue which books I’m going to get. And I have to say, this year I was ecstatic with some of their choices! So, without further ado, allow me to present you with lots of bookish pictures and nerdy goodness, mwuhuhuuuu. 🙂

New Years: 2012 in Review from a Bookish Perspective

2012 has been a year of firsts for me; my first big holiday to New York City, getting into university and moving away from home. (As well as the first movie parts for The Hunger Games and The Hobbit, can’t forget about them now can we? ;).)

It’s also been a year of lasts for me; my last day at the school I frequented for 7 years, the last time I will be considered a child, and hopefully the last year that my anxiety will spiral out of control. (It was also the end of the Twilight films, and the Inheritance series! :()

So 2012 was a pretty turbulent year in general. Crazy, stressful and a pretty exciting adventure!

I am not one to hide my love of New Years even though I know a lot of people don’t like it. For me it represents hope and new unchartered waters, and I love reflecting on the year that’s passed. I think that’s something to be excited about anyway! 😀

Bookish stuff:

The Hunger Games Film Review 4/5

Yesterday I painstakingly counted down the hours, the minutes and then excitedly, the seconds, until entering the cinema for the advanced screening of The Hunger Games. You could feel the excitement, the tangible buzz of everyone in the cinema. Friends whispered enthusiastically to one another, others shuffled impatiently in their seats, and when the lights finally dimmed clapping and cheering ensued, but when the first set of words were flashed up on the screen, everyone became entirely silent, utterly focused.

This was the moment we had all been waiting for.

A glimpse of the girl on fire.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins Review 5/5

Overall Impression: A fantastic, action packed and emotive end to the brilliant Hunger Games trilogy.

To read my review of the previous book from The Hunger Games trilogy, Catching Fire click here)

Over two weeks ago on a Friday night at just past 4am, I slowly turned the last page of Mockingjay with tears streaked down my face.
As you may have noticed, it’s taken me a lot longer than normal to get this out to you. I seem to be having trouble articulating what I want to say in terms of this review, as there’s so much to say. In all honestly I felt almost shell shocked after finishing this book, I didn’t know what to think, and it’s taken me a while to process the ending but I think I’ve finally got to grips with it. I’ve also found it hard to comment on the book without revealing spoilers, however not to worry I’ve managed it now. 🙂
There is a lot of disagreement about the final installment of The Hunger Games trilogy. Many people absolutely loved it, but a large proportion of others were extremely disappointed. As I fall into the former category, I will be arguing this view below.

Please note: For those of you that haven’t read the previous books, The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, skip the blurb and the first paragraph as it will contain spoilers. However, for those of you who have read the previous books, this review will not contain any major spoilers about the book Mockingjay. 🙂

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins Review 4/5

Overall Impression: A brilliant and enthralling second book from The Hunger Games trilogy that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

(To read my review of the first book in the Hunger Games Trilogy, click here)

Hello all 🙂 A worn out Becky takes a break out of her revision time to bring you the review of Catching Fire, the second book in The Hunger Games Trilogy! Wooho! Ok so I seem to have switched to third person. Bear with me my brain is a little fried okay? Since finishing the first book I’ve watched the Hunger Games official trailer about ten times and listened to the song Safe & Sound quite a bit too. So I’m getting extremely excited for the film release in late March!

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to discuss Catching Fire without ruining the first book from the series, in fact you can’t even read the blurb without it spoiling the first book The Hunger Games! So please, if you are planning on reading this series, now or sometime in the future, don’t read where I state there will be spoilers However, for those of you who have read the first book, this review will not contain any major spoilers about the book Catching Fire. 🙂

********************************* SPOILERS BEGIN **********************************

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Review 5/5

Overall impression: This book is a piece of YA genius! It’s absolutely impossible to put down!

This is the first book I have read for the Eclectic Reader Challenge for the Young Adult section! Click here to find out more.
Before entering the blogosphere I had never even heard of this book. Then the name began to pop up left right and centre. The Hunger Games. “It’s the most amazing book ever” people were saying. Again and again it emerged in my books tags. Repeatedly I would come across book blogs singing it’s praises and declaring it their favorite YA book to date. So what does one do in this situation? Why, turn to Google of course! I looked it up and discovered it was also soon to be released as a full major motion picture with stars such as Taylor Swift lining up to help create the soundtrack. I was beginning to feel very out of the loop, so at this point I immediately bought the books. No way was I going to let a YA craze like this go by without joining in. I must admit, I was almost apprehensive to begin reading the book. What if I I’m the only one on this planet that dislikes it, and I get attacked with hate mail from dedicated Hunger Games fans I thought. Luckily, I absolutely loved it, so I no longer have to worry about that scenario!

In the dark vision of the near future, twelve boys and twelve girls are forced to appear in a live TV show called the Hunger Games.
There is only one rule: kill or be killed.
When sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her sisters place in the games, she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature.

This book jumps right in and quickly sets the scene. Katniss Everdeen lives in a dystopian future in a place that used to be North America.