Book Review: One Memory of Flora Banks

5/5 stars! Loved it!

Trigger Warnings: Self harm, child abuse, death of a sibling

We follow Flora, a seventeen year old that has been struggling with Amnesia since the age of ten. Finally she has a new memory - she kissed her best friend's boyfriend, Drake. This storyline is somewhat frustrating because it makes it seem like a kiss was the magic cure. However, most of the time Flora forgets she is seventeen (she thinks she is still ten) and nineteen year old Drake knows this which makes the kiss very awkward in retrospect.

Flora has an older brother, Jacob who lives in Paris. Flora is only told that he is very ill and her parents have to fly over there to take care of him; leaving her alone with her best friend, Paige, for a week. Paige does not stay though because she hates Flora for kissing Drake. This puts Paige at the bottom of the list for "best friend of the year" as leaving someone with memory loss to fend for themselves for a week is ridiculous! Although she does feel guilty towards the end and redeems her caring qualities.

As Flora is now alone for the week, she has to repeat everything that is happening to her - I kissed Drake is probably the most annoying three words you will read in this book! (But they are important to Flora and the story.) Flora has learned to write important things on her arm or in her notebook that she takes everywhere with her. There are also notes all around the house, reminding her of what her favourite mug looks like or photographs of her parents and Jacob. The repetition throughout the book makes Flora's memory loss feel more genuine and realistic, although some other reviews have said that it is exaggerated. (In the acknowledgements, Emily does actually write that some details have been exaggerated - it is fiction after all!)

Flora writes emails to Drake, convinced that she's in love with him, and she decides to travel to the Arctic (alone) to see him. The characters, Agi, Toby and Henny, in the small town are very kind to Flora and help her to find Drake.

The big plot twists come quite late into the last third of the book but the story is so intriguing that you keep turning pages. It is quite an emotional rollercoaster!

Kazia x

Book Review: The Astonishing Lives of James and David - Part One

I reviewed this book on Goodreads after receiving an ARC copy via BookSprout which you can read here

Kazia

Book Review: The Hazel Wood

3/5 stars. Disappointing and over-hyped.

I started listening to this book on audible but quickly found that it wasn't for me. The narrator had a lovely voice but the story felt slow. So I moved on to my physical copy which I had bought after forgetting that I'd already got the audiobook! (Well done, Kazia!)

This story follows a girl called Alice who is constantly moving with her Mum, Ella, and being followed by "bad luck". Alice's grandmother, Althea, is a famous writer of The Hinterland which is a book of fairytales and lives in The Hazel Wood. They have never met and the book is very rare so Alice has never read it.

Alice takes a road trip with potential love interest, and The Hinterland super fan, Finch, to find The Hazel Wood. They eventually find a blogger that had tried to enter The Hazel Wood, resulting in her boyfriend being murdered and living as a recluse in a tiny apartment.

After around two thirds of the book, they finally get to The Halfway Wood. Alice is taken into her story and learns about Ella's past and relationship with Althea.

***

I found the book slow and the last third was much more action-packed than the first two thirds. I wasn't expecting Alice to stay in New York for the majority of the book.

Overall, I feel like this book lost its magic because it was over-hyped and I didn't feel a connection to any of the characters.

Kazia x

Book Blog Newbie Tag

I found this post and wanted to join in as I haven't written a book review recently.

1. Why did you start this blog?

To share study tips and advice because I was starting university in 2015/16. I'd written a few posts before that but didn't feel committed. I then left university and began studying with the Open University in 2016-present instead. I even changed my degree path from Film and Television to English Literature.

I started watching BookTube maybe in 2016 and so I wanted to share my own book reviews as well as studying. I finally got up the nerve to do it in January (2018) and I am loving it.

2. What are some fun and unique things you can bring to book blogging?

Hopefully I have a unique style when it comes to my reviews. I want to take more of my own photographs, I'm waiting on a new camera to arrive! I also want to write more than only book reviews, like book hauls and wrap ups. I have a few ideas for when my course slows down closer to the summer. (My final assignment is due in May)

I also have a bullet journal/book journal that I am using to illustrate my book reviews and notes for blog posts which I might share.

3. What are you most excited for about this new blog?

I would like to post regularly, at least once or twice a week depending on how many books I've read. I went through a phase of reading a LOT in February and posting all my reviews close together.

I would like my blog to grow this year, learning the names of regular readers and interacting with the community.

4. Why do you love reading?

I have been reading forever! I was quite competitive in school to read the biggest books amongst my friendship group. There were different coloured stickers on each book to mark the level of difficulty and we all wanted to be the first to read the books with the white label because they were the hardest.

5. What book or series got you into reading?

I don't specifically remember but I know that I always wanted to be like Matilda, with her little trolley filled with library books. I wanted to read ALL the books!

I used to email authors, I particularly remember emailing Michael Morpurgo. Lots of authors would send me bookmarks and sometimes free copies of their books. Cathy Cassidy and Jacqueline Wilson sent me a few books which was really lovely! I remember Michael Morpurgo's book Alone on a Wide Wide Sea and how much I was engrossed in the story. 

6. What questions would you ask your favourite authors?

Do you have any writing advice? What inspires you? Do you have a writing routine? How long does it take to research? 

7. What challenges do you think starting a blog will be the hardest to overcome?

Keeping a regular schedule and not prioritising blogging over studying. I have done this in the past and I want to keep a good, healthy balance.

8. When did you start reading?

For myself, when I started school around age 4/5. My parents would read to me when I was younger than that. I've always prioritised books and stationery over video games and sports. (They were my brothers interests)

9. Where do you read?

Anywhere comfortable - in bed, my chair, in the car/any transport, I used to read in school when I'd finished my work (and then one teacher threw my book in the bin!!), I used to read at break/lunch times in school.

10. What kind of books do you read?

I predominantly read Young Adult and modern poetry. I want to branch out this year into Classics, mainly because I will be reading a lot more for university in October and because Classics are still being published because they are SO important. I think there is a stigma around reading Classics because everyone had to deeply analyse certain books in school rather than reading them for what they are and enjoying the pleasure of reading.

That's all for now! Be sure to answer the questions if you are new to book blogging/want to join in.

Kazia x

Book Review: Beautiful Broken Things

This book was incredibly heartbreaking and I am stunned by its message of recovery and female friendships!

Trigger warnings: Abuse, suicide, depression

5/5 Stars!

To start with we follow Caddy and her best friend Rosie and then new girl Suzanne comes into the picture. Suzanne is trouble and Caddy's family are trying their best to prevent their friendship. Caddy is one of those girls that doesn't have much self confidence but always achieves high grades in school. She struggles with being in a different school from her best friend but they always catch up over the phone and hang out at Brighton pier.

We soon learn that Suzanne's troubled past is influencing her present behaviour as she takes Caddy along through her downward spiral. She takes Caddy to her old house in Reading and convinces her to take walks around Brighton in the middle of the night. Rosie becomes the voice of reason but sadly neither of the girls listen to her.

I really enjoyed this book as Caddy narrates it rather than the abuse victim, Suzanne. Caddy has to learn for herself what Suzanne is going through and how she can support her friend when said friend doesn't accept help very easily. I also liked that this story focused on female friendships rather than a romantic relationship.

This book was part of the Zoella Book Club 2016. Other titles include: All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven, We Were Liars by E. Lockhart, Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, The Potion Diaries by Amy Alward, Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon, The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson, and Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher.

Book Review: More Happy Than Not ( + audiobook experience)

This book was a rollercoaster and I am here for it! (Trigger warnings for suicide, self harm and death.)

Adam Silvera's extraordinary debut confronts race, class, and sexuality during one charged near-future summer in the Bronx.

5/5 Stars

Sometimes I like to take breaks between reading books by the same authors, particularly with stand alones but as you have seen from previous book reviews, I binge read series!

This book was stunning!

Aaron lives in a world where an institute, Leteo, can erase your memories if you have suffered significant traumas, like his Dad's suicide. It is a very expensive, experimental procedure and they won't give it to you unless your trauma is affecting your daily life.

We follow Aaron through his relationships with his girlfriend Genevieve and his new best friend Thomas as he learns to fit in and come to terms with his identity as a "dick liker". 

I love Adam's writing style and the way Ramon de Ocampo narrates each character is one of my favourite things. This book is such a genuine representation of teenage friendships.

*Spoilers*

I loved Aaron's relationship with Thomas as they grew closer but I was then devastated when Thomas wouldn't commit. There were a lot of awww! moments on Thomas' roof.

I didn't like Collin. Period. And I can't believe Aaron wanted to get back with him even though he wouldn't commit either. "My kid won't want a gay dad". He was such a frustrating character!

Genevieve loved Aaron even though she knew the truth, she was the most constant character and his only real friend that actually stuck around for him.

Book Review: The Chaos of Standing Still

This was the first physical book I've actually read this year and I loved it!

5/5 Stars

We follow Ryn as she struggles to grieve the loss of her best friend Lottie. Ryn is stuck in Denver airport, travelling home on New Year's Eve, due to a snowstorm. 

When Ryn walks into a guy and their phones get swapped, her anxiety increases and she is determined to get it back. She and Xander strike up a friendship, she finds out his identity and he learns about Ryn and Lottie's friendship. They play their own version of Poker where they ask each other questions and they go to Siri's party. 

Ryn learns about Troy's conspiracy theories, he's a young prodigy. I would have liked to know more about his character. I am forever hoping for a sequel even though this book works as a stand alone.

I enjoyed Ryn's lists throughout the book, questions that she had Googled/wanted to Google. I feel that she needed answers to everything because she didn't have an answer for Lottie's death.

I adored the scene in the Chapel when Ryn finally cries for her loss and the woman comforts her. I'm sure many people will have various opinions of who the woman was but I believe she was an angel. I sobbed because that was exactly what Ryn needed to be able to move on and to forgive herself.

*This final part may contain spoilers*

It is so frustrating when Xander deletes Lottie's text!!! >:| And then the note only says "Do you want to hear something crazy?" What else does it say though? We wait throughout the entire book, wondering what the text message says and I don't feel satisfied with the result although Ryn does and I guess I should feel happy for her.

*Unrelated*

Today is the first year anniversary of my dog death. Barney was 16, blind and could hardly walk. He would have loved this week, being out in the snow. My thoughts are consumed by his memory today.