9 Things I Didn't Realise I Had Forgotten about the Prisoner of Azkaban

18:32 Cilla 8 Comments

I am a die-hard Potterhead. I know the movies by heart. I write Harry Potter fanfictions. "You still love Harry Potter?" "Always." I remember everything about the books. Or so I thought.

See, I left my copies of Harry Potter at my parents' house, and so the only one I've reread in the last five years or so is Deathly Hallows. I've contented myself with the movies, which air on a regular basis on TV anyway, until recently when I discovered the audiobooks. Narrated by Stephen Fry, they're brilliant as bedtime stories. It wasn't until I got to Prisoner of Azkaban that I discovered something else: I've forgotten some details about the book's version of events.

Insert multiple shocked-face emojis here.

Beware: spoilers ahead if you haven't read the book.

5 Problems With Reading on the Commute

17:29 Cilla 18 Comments

I've been taking the public transport a lot more this year. Apart from rush hour, the occasional dodgy people, and occasional delays, I don't mind it much. There is one definite good thing about it: the extra two hours I get to read during the day!

Still, reading on a moving vehicle isn't always easy. Here are some potential problems I've run into:

1. You need to concentrate on maintaining balance (when standing)

I don't know about you, but if I don't hold on to the handrail when I stand on a moving train/bus/tram, 8 times out of 10 I will topple over. So I need to use a hand to hold on. I have yet to master the art of holding open a book with just one hand. There is a solution though: audiobooks + earphones!

2. Not enough time!

3. Missing your stop

4. When you come across a sexy scene, and there are people around you

I can't be the only one who feels super awkward when reading sexy scenes in public, right?? I'm always super conscious of people possibly looking over my shoulder.

5. Thick books = shoulder ache

Despite all of this, commuting is so much more enjoyable when I get to read! It's a matter of finding the right book, and keeping half of my attention on the road :D

Snazzy Snippets (2) -- When the Writing Hits A Wall

10:47 Cilla 0 Comments

Since I was staring down 5 assignments to be completed in 4 weeks, I decided to skip Camp NaNo in April. I found time to write though! Progress was slow as I kept getting stuck and changing my mind about what I wanted to happen. So, the theme for this month's Snazzy Snippets is actually perfect for me. You're about to read some snippets that I'm fairly sure I'll either scrap or heavily revise

The prompts this month are:

Quick Stops (1)

08:53 Cilla 4 Comments

I have been reading a lot more than I have been reviewing lately. My first thought when I sat down to actually write down my thoughts was "Great, I can queue a bunch of posts!" Then I found out that I either don't remember enough of the story to write a thoughtful review, or just don't have that much to say about something. So, welcome to my first edition of mini reviews, or as I'm calling it here, Quick Stops!





Seriously... I'm Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres: I love Ellen, and I couldn't resist when I saw a secondhand copy of this book. If you've ever watched the monologues she does for her show, this is pretty much like those: funny and warm. There were some parts that I felt didn't come across as well on paper as they would be spoken out loud. Still, this book made me laugh multiple times.  (★★★★)

The Maze Runner by James Dashner: I know this is like the cardinal sin of bookworms or something at that level, but it has to be said: I saw the movie before I read the book, and I really enjoyed the movie. Then I read the book and just... did not like it. Maybe I'm not the intended audience; maybe Thomas just grates on my nerves; maybe I wasn't in the mood for angsty teenage boys. Whatever it was, the book is not for me. (DNF)

Risk by Fleur Ferris: Fleur Ferris is a former police officer and paramedic, so you know there's a good dose of reality in this story. I'm generally wary of stories that seem to be written as a cautionary tale about the internet, as they can come off condescending. Risk doesn't; it gives us a glimpse into what can happen if someone falls prey into an online predator without talking down to its audience. I find the characters flat, however, and despite everything that happens in the book, I couldn't quite feel for them. (★★★)




The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater: My first foray into Stiefvater's writing happened quite accidentally. I was browsing the library's catalogue for audiobooks, and this was one of the options. I love the setting, both the small town feel of the island and the capaill uisce (I just had to google how to spell that). I love both Puck and Sean (the fact that I developed a voice-crush on the actor for Sean did not hurt), though I was constantly frustrated by Puck's brothers. The actual race didn't hold my interest as much as soon as Puck and Sean sorted out their emotions. I thought the ending was perfect though. (★★★★)

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner: I've heard rave reviews about These Broken Stars all over bookstagram and the book blogging community, so when I spotted it on a library shelf, I picked it up. One of the best decisions I made at the library, to be honest. I could not put this book down. I love how there was so few expositions, yet it was so easy to understand the world the characters operate in, and to understand the characters' back stories too. The plot kept me turning the pages the whole time; just when you think the stakes couldn't be higher, it got worse. I loved it. (★★★★★)

April 2016 Rewind

19:40 Cilla 10 Comments

Hello there! How did you go in April? For me, April was a balancing act (as always), but it was also a fun month.

In Life

• My friend got me to sign up for Active April, which basically challenged you to do something active for 30 minutes every day. I failed quite miserably, but I managed to exercise at least once a week. That's an improvement from practically never, so maybe it's not a complete failure after all!
• I've never been much of a cook, but lately I've been making myself try out new recipes. Really simple ones, of course, but I'll take my little victories. Like managing to cook a nice steak with mushroom sauce and roast veggies. 
• Cor and I went to see a talk by Isobelle Carmody, which was absolutely fascinating. I'm not as familiar with her work as Cor is - read about what that experience was like for her here - but I always love listening to writers discuss their writing process. 

New to My Shelves

Reviews

Other Things on the Blog

Challenges Progress

• Goodreads challenge: 16/30 books
• Discussion challenge: 3/24 discussion posts
• Diverse Reads challenge: 4 books
• #RockMyTBR challenge: 4 books
• Backlist Books challenge: 6 books
• Around the World challenge: Book Map
• Commenting 365 challenge: 44/365 comments 

In Store for Next Month

Am I a YA Blogger? A Mini Identity Crisis

18:30 Cilla 14 Comments

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I read a lot of YA. I love the genre and practically everything it encompasses. When I started blogging, the YA bloggers community is the one I gravitated towards, and I love it. The longer I blog though, the more hesitant I am to label myself a YA blogger. In fact, I'm hesitant to label myself with any genre.