Tag: TheBookofLostThings

October 2016 Wrap Up!

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I read a great amount of books this month and all of them I really enjoyed! Since NaNoWriMo is finally a go, I might not get as much reading done so I’m glad I read all these books before my numbers begin to decline…Anyways, here is my October 2016 Wrap Up!

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen – Just Listen follows a girl named Annabel who is believed to have “everything” but that is until the new year starts and she is alone with no friends, that is, until she meets Owen, a mysteriously quiet boy who helps Annabel in her dark times. I really enjoyed Just Listen by Sarah Dessen, it was really fast paced and easy and I flew through it. There were times were the main character was very frustrating but other than it was just a really fun contemporary read! 4/5 stars

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen – This book follows Auden, an insomniac who is staying at her dad’s for the summer. Throughout this summer, Auden gets a job, makes some friends and meets a mysterious and damaged boy named Eli. I also liked this book but sometimes I felt like the characters were very plain and nothing really stuck out about them. Apart from that though, I flipped through this quickly and it definitely satisified my contemporary need! 4/5

The Book of Lost Things by John Conolly – I had to read this book for my English class and let me tell you, it was definitely one of the better books I’ve had to read for school. This books follows a young boy named David who after the death of his mother, turns to books for comfort. One day he finds himself in a land of twisted fairy tales and he goes on a journey to get out. It was a very dark novel but I actually enjoyed it quite a bit. 3/5 stars

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling – It was so amazing reading this book again because it is my favourite book in the Harry Potter series! It was so good and I cannot wait to continue on with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (another favourite of mine). It is really fun following Harry as he tries to survive the Triwizard Tournament and I also just really enjoy reading about the tasks. 5/5 stars

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han – Oh my goodness, this book was so fantastic that I couldn’t put it down! I really love reading contemporaries and while all of them are pretty good, there are some that just make me feel super warm and fuzzy inside and this book definitely did that. This book follows Lara Jean, a quiet girl who writes letters to all the boy she has loved before. But when they one day get out and are sent to each boy, she quickly makes up a fake relationship with a boy at her school but it turns into something much more. I also cannot wait for the 3rd book which comes out April 4th of next year! 5/5 stars

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han – This is the 2nd book in the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before trilogy and I am so happy to say that I loved it just as much as the first book! I really enjoy reading Jenny Han’s books because her writing style is very fun and easy and just flows really nicely. I love how she portrays the relationship in this novel because it is just a complete rollercoaster and it really hit me in the feels! 5/5 stars

Those are all the books I read this month and I am very satisfied with all the books I read and cannot wait to read some more this month! Don’t forget to comment below any books you read this month and what you have planned to read this month because I would love to know 🙂

Reading Update!!!

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I am back with another reading update and I am pretty happy with where I am with reading right now.

At the moment, I am reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (again obviously) and I am about half way through. I’ve been kind of slow with reading lately but I still have been reading so that’s always good. I am also reading a book for my English class called The Book of Lost Things and I am actually enjoying a lot more than I thought. It is very dark and twisted which is perfect for this month. It also includes fairy tales which makes everything better. I will most likely finish this novel by the end of the weekend because I only have about 70 pages left. The beginning of this novel was kind of dull but I am at a great part now and even right now, I find myself itching to pick up the book and continue reading.

That was just a quick update on my reading and I hope you have a great rest of your Friday!

Mental Illness Book Recommendations

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This week is Mental Illness Awareness Week and I thought it would be a good idea to recommend a few books that involve mental illness. It is really important to be aware of mental illness because it is something that affects many, many people. Anyway, here are a few books with mental illness and I hope you enjoy!

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky – This book displays mental illness fantastically and I really think everyone, whether you have a mental illness or not, should pick it up. It follows Charlie who suffers from anxiety and PTSD, as he struggles to fit in after loosing his best friend to suicide the pervious year. That year though, he meets two friends named Sam and Patrick and they turn his world around for the better. I absolutely loved this book more than I ever thought I would and it is a great way to understand what is going on in someone’s head who suffers from a mental illness.

Looking for Alaska by John Green – I was hesitant about putting this one in just because I think it really romanticises the concept of mental illness but overall, it does make you aware of it. Looking for Alaska is about a boy named Miles who is sent to this boarding school where he meets this smart, funny and very messed up girl named Alaska. It is obvious from the start that Alaska suffers from depression and bi polar disorder  but I just wished they were displayed better than how they were in the novel. Needless to say, it was still informative and it was an interesting read.

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen – I actually just completed this book and I had to add it in here because even though the mental illness isn’t the main part of this novel, it does play a big part. Just Listen is about a girl named Annabelle who on the outside looks like she lives a perfect life but really the total opposite of that. She starts the school year with no friends and a career she doesn’t want. That is, until she meets Owen and he begins brightening up her life. The mental illness that plays a part in this novel affects Annabelle’s sister, Whitney who suffers from an eating disorder. This totally changes Annabelle’s way of life and I found it to be very realistic and accurate.

The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly – I am reading this book in my English class and while it is a fantasy book there is mental illness portrayed in it. This book is about a 12 year old boy named David who after he just lost his mother, has begin hearing his books talk and has been seeing things that shouldn’t be possible. This book really plays with your head as you are trying to decide whether or not this is real or just all in David’s head. Apart from deciding what is reality or not, it is clear David suffers from OCD as we see at the beginning of the book right before and after his mother has died. I know quite a few people with OCD so I felt like I got to understand their illness better after reading this.

Those are a few recommendations and I hope you enjoyed! Please don’t forget to spread the word about mental illness, not just this week but always.