Itch - Simon Mayo

Title: Itch
Author: Simon Mayo
Publisher: Corgi Childrens
Publication Date:25th October 2012??
Available Editions: Paperback, Kindle, Audio, Hardcover







Book Synopsis:
Itchingham Lofte had caused explosions before.

There had, in truth, been many bangs, flashes and smells coming from his bedroom in the past. But there had been nothing like this one. It wasn't just the bedroom walls that shook; it was the whole house.

Not that Itch was aware of any of that, as he was unconscious.

He would of stayed that way too if it hadn't been for the fact his eyebrows were on fire...

Review:

Admittedly this book had been sitting on my shelf for way over a year, around 16 months in fact. I had very little excitement when it came to reading it. the synopsis didn't do much for me and neither did the cover but I gave it a shot anyway. It took me the span of 3 days to complete the book and it wasn't a waste.

First reading the book I was unable to get truly into it, it was very slow paced to start with and I was beginning to grow completely uninterested. Itchingham known as Itch loves to collect things, elements of the periodic table to be exact. At the age of 14 he is full of scientific knowledge when it comes to the elements and he loves to experiment with them. After taking it a step overboard he has to attend school the next day with no eyebrows that his sister Chloe aged 11 put out after they burnt off. His cousin Jacqueline, known as Jack is his only friend at school and they both deal with the tormenting of the bullies together and all three of them have a strong friendship and personal family relationship that keeps them tightly together.

Sometimes throughout the book I had to stop and take a breather because I didn't want to believe what was happening, obviously those things had happened but it made the book more intriguing. It had facts within it that were highly accurate which added to the atmosphere of the book. After evens occur the strength and determination of Itch shows, his initiative even more so and it becomes impossible not to admire the young boy.

It's hard to write this review as I don't want it to contain any spoilers so that the book if you do read it isn't spoiled by me, but I must say the characters were well written along with the situations they are involved in. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes adventures and science. I rate it 5 out of 5.

Thursday Thought - Digital Drawing

Okay so earlier this year, maybe late July? I cant be exact but Hey Violet released their EP called Can You Feel it, there is a track on there called Sparks Fly and they wanted fans to create art that matched the lyrics for a lyric video. I immediately thought of the lyrics "there's a constellation in your eyes." and then thought up an image of someone's eyes with a constellation in them.

I hadn't been able to draw great on paper so I had a drawing app on my tablet but when I first drew it out using reference photos of eyes I realised the app didn't have the tool I needed to blend the skin tones together.

I ended up asking my mom if I could buy another app that had many tools that I could use including the tool to blend the skin tones. I got to it right away, I used reference photos, listened to the song and its album over and over just for fun as I drew. this was the first time I did digital drawing, and I was serious about it. Admittedly it didn't look too good at the start but then I finished it after 3 or so days, it looked good, my mom printed it off and framed it etc. and I entered it to go into the lyric video.

Unfortunately I didn't make it into the video with my digital art but I have now continued with the art. So far I have the piece I entered for the video, and incomplete full face drawing (missing hair) its only incomplete because I couldn't do the hair, I also have a drawing of my sister that I did in 1-2 days for her 19th birthday which was the first time I digitally drew hair and it turned out good in my eyes. I have a drawing of Michael Clifford from 5 Seconds Of Summer that turned out good and recognisable shall I add and I am currently working on a piece that is Luke Hemmings from 5 Seconds Of Summer but I am yet to find time to continue it. I would show you the finished products but adding photos to my posts doesn't seem to work properly.

If you're thinking of taking up digital drawing you do not need to splash a lot of money on special tablets, software and stylus'. I've been doing all of my drawings on a £3-4 app and a Samsung tab 2 with a broken rubber ended stylus that came with my leather case for the tablet. If you do continue with the art and want to take it next level and buy special things go for it, just don't think you'll be into digital art and buy all the expensive things to do it with and then find out you don't quite like it.

Top Ten Tuesday - A Personal Non-Bookish Thankful List

So this is going to be a list of as many things as I can managed to get(close to 10 things) that I'm thankful for, unfortunately these are not Bookish but I do hope you enjoy the list none the left.

1. The family I have, even though they do get to me most of the time, they support me when they can and provide me with what I need when I need it.
2. My friends, I don't have many of them but the ones I have are great supporters and can always be counted upon to make me laugh, fill me in on gossip and make me an all around happy person.
3. The food I get to eat, this may sound a little bit of a weird one but I know that some people are not always guaranteed a 2-3 square meals a day and that gets to me because households all over the world waste a lot of food but yet people all over the world can not get access to 2-3 meals a day.
4. The Clothes on my back, even though you're likely to see me in black skinny jeans and the same band shirts and hoodie and shirts, I'm thankful that I get to have more than two lots of clothing. Much like the food part some people struggle with getting access to clean and new clothing, this is why any clothing I no longer want or do not wear are washed and taken to a store where there are weighed and given to charities that distribute them to places where they are needed.
5. The music I listen to, I know this may sound a little weird too but the music is an outcome of months of hard work and to be able to listen to a part of someone that can bring me and other people together is such a great thing.
6. Books, okay this is slightly book related but I'm thankful for having access to a piece of a creative person, much like the music point its hard work that the person has wanted to share with other people. I love books with all of my heart.
7. The weather, okay so this is by far a weird one especially coming from someone in the UK, The weather helps things grow, brings happiness to people and even though it gets cold and rainy here, there is something about the smell of the rain and the atmosphere that I just love and am Thankful for.
8. I'm thankful for great smells, this is a little weird but to be able to smell good things can put me in a good mood when I really need to be in a good mood.
9. Photographs, I used to do photography, I have taken a few good photos but in this sense I'm talking about all photos, photos of bands either taken by myself or other people, photos of family, pets, animals etc. they just capture a moment and it lives on forever and that has me thankful.
10. My pets, okay so I have 2 dogs and a fish, they have me thankful because like most of the things on this list, they supply me with happiness when I need it, the dogs keep me warm and give good company when they're with me on the sofa, the fish when I'm in my room. Although they are a lot of work to keep healthy and such, it's all worth it in the end.

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted over on The Broke And The Bookish

The Spooks Apprentice - Joseph Delaney

Title: The Spooks Apprentice
Author: Joseph Delaney
Publication Date: 2004
Publisher: The Bodley Head
Available Editions: Hardback and Paperback



Book Synopsis:

"Someone has to stand against the dark. And you're the only one who can."

For years, the local Spook has been keeping the County safe from evil. Now his time is coming to an end, but who will take over?

Many apprentices have tried... Some floundered, some fled, some failed to stay alive. Just one boy is left. Thomas Ward. He is the last hope.

But does he stand a chance against Mother Malkin, the most dangerous witch in the County.

Review:

This book was given to me a year ago by Chloe from the page starts here and my boyfriend at the time (hi there xD). I had begun to read it back when I had it for my 16th birthday but never got into it enough to finish it until now. It took me less than a day to finish it and I'm really not seeing why I wasn't interested in it a year ago. The Spooks Apprentice is the first book in the Wardstone Chronicles which is 15 books in total.

Thomas (the apprentice), his family, the Spook, and Alice are the main characters in this story even though there are several other strong characters in the book. I thought the vivid description throughout the book was amazing it really bought the book to life. It was easy to feel the relationship between the Spook and Thomas and his family, but as the story goes on the Spook and Thomas' bond strengthens, his family seem to be pushing themselves away.

The book plays out great, part of me wasn't expecting it to be as great as it was. I clearly underestimated this read. The book explores the period in life where a teenager has to establish the path they want to take even if it happens to be following in someone else's footsteps. Thomas faces many challenges throughout the book, causing him to think hard and make the best choice he could and to me it speaks volumes to me when it come to comparing that situation to teenagers.

I give the book an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5, even thought I found very little wrong with it I just don't feel that I can give it a 5 even though I wish I could. Part of me really wants to buy and read all of the other 14 books in the series but the other part of me knows I cant afford it. Hopefully I will get around to it one day. I fully recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy like books and who just want to pass time. I hope that if you give it a read that you enjoy it.

Thursday Thought - My Favourite Photo's That I Have Taken.

I'm going to share with you some of my photography that I did a while ago, some of them were taken 2 years ago some 2 months but if you do use any of the photos for anything please credit me.

These are pretty much all of the good photos that I've ever taken, I'm no longer in love with Photography but I really treasure all of the good photos I took when I was.

Top Ten Tuesday - Quotes I Loved From Books I Read In The Past Year Or So

Who doesn't love a good book quote? I LOVE THEM WITH ALL MY HEART.

"Just don’t trip. Whatever you do, don’t trip, Addie.
The limb from the fallen tree did not hear my inner monologue, because my foot caught on the log and slung me onto the sidewalk." - This quote is taken from the first page of Memphis Hoodoo Murders written by Kathryn Rogers, I love it because its what would happen to me, tell myself not to trip, trips up in the most embarrassing way.

“You know, I've worked out that if I lived on Mercury I'd be sixty-six years old tomorrow. I'd be twenty-six on Venus, and half a year old on Saturn. I'm only sixteen because I'm on this planet.”  This quote is taken from Geek Girl Picture Perfect - Holly Smale. I just love the fact that Harriet Manners knows how old she is on other planets, it kind of makes me think of how old I am on other planets.

"That's the thing about parents. They ask what you think, but they don't really care, or at least they don't care enough to let it affect the outcome.”   This is from The Before Now And After Then by Peter Monn, I love it because its truthful in many cases. I love many quotes from this book but I chose this because I just relate to it a little.

"I wake up thinking of yesterday. The joy is in remembering; the pain is in knowing it was yesterday.”- This is from Everyday by David Levithan, I love how I can relate to it, I always think of the day before inducing the pain of knowing it was yesterday.

“The world moves fast, changing everything around us with each new day. Photography is a gift that can keep us in a moment forever, blissfully eternal.” This is from The Heartbreakers by Ali Novak, I love that its true, photos can keep us in a moment forever and I think we kind of forget that sometimes.

“God gave men both a brain and a penis and only enough blood to use one at a time,” he replied matter-of-factly.” This is from Confessions of a queen B* by Crista McHugh. I don't love it as a quote I just like it because it made me giggle. I don't want the quote to offend anyone.

“So I walked back to my room and collapsed on the bottom bunk, thinking that if people were rain, I was drizzle and she was a hurricane.” This is from Looking For Alaska by John Green, I love many quotes by John Green but this one is one of my favourites.

So I didn't want to use all book quotes, and I didn't want to use more than one quote from a book so I have added three quotes that I have found in the last year than I love.

"You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it." Benjamin Mee, We Bought A Zoo.

"So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers."- Jorge Luis Borges.

"I've had so many knives stuck into me, when they hand me a flower I cant quite make out what it is. It takes time." - Charles Bukowski.


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke And The Bookish.

Thursday Thought - Memories

Okay so in this post I want to share some of my memories with you, I hope you find the funny ones funny and such. Feel free to share some of your memories too.

1. Me my mom, my dad and my sister were on holiday in Turkey in August of 2014, we had gone horse riding (it hurt afterwards, if you know what I mean) and then a few days later we went buggy riding and I was with my dad in one buggy and he went around a corner and I was yelling with excitement and such and a large lump of Turkish wet mud came off the tyre and landed square in my mouth...tasty.
2. As part of my media course that I am currently in the second year of, we had to learn about multi camera, its pretty clear what that is, more than one camera. We were taken to watch the filming of Countdown and afterwards we got to meet everyone, I walked up to Rachel Riley and every word I had known in the 16 years of my life at that point just went out the window but she gave me her autograph and we had a group photo with her like all of the class and everyone else who is in front of the cameras on set including Jack Whitehall's dad.
3. Back in my primary school I was in maybe year 6 and I was learning a dance for a memorial day for a close friend of my mother who worked at the school and I had to do these dance moves to a song from grease and once I did those moves I had to jog backwards into a semi circle and I fell flat on my ass in rehearsal and everyone laughed. I did the dance on the day but since then, never danced in front of anyone.
4. My final memory I want to share with you so it's and even number is even, my best friend was staying over and it was maybe 2am and I was in bed and she was on the bed on the floor and we had had a great time together and you could tell we were tired because we were talking about random things whenever they came to our minds and somehow she came out with 'portable microwave' and it gave us stitches and this was maybe 5 years ago?? she still hasn't lived it down and has yet to create the portable microwave.

Kiss Kill Love Him Still - Jamie Blair and Dawn Rae Miller

Title: Kiss Kill Love Him Still
Authors: Jamie Blair and Dawn Rae Miller
Publisher: Jamie Blair LLC
Publication Date: 10th December 2015
Available Editions: Ebook, Paperback




Synopsis:

Jackson Landis kept secrets. It's how he got girls into bed, the grades he wanted, and a reputation for being the life of the party.

But now he's dead, and no one knows how or why. Especially not the four girls whose secrets he protected. Secrets so scandalous they could cause each girl to lose something valuable. Secrets so dark, someone may have killed for them.

The four girls - a campus drug dealer, an overweight bookworm, a closeted lesbian, and a spoiled princess have one thing in common – they’re terrified the things Jackson knew may not have died with him. As Reggie, Haddie, Val, and Livie try to piece together her own role in Jackson’s death, each girl realizes Jackson had some not-so-pretty skeletons of his own. Which makes a girl wonder, who really wanted Jackson Landis dead?

Review:
So as part of the Scavenger Hunt Blog Tour I also asked to do a review of the book. It took me 3 days to read the book and I have to say it was thoroughly enjoyable. Chloe from The Page Starts Here had sent me the link to the Scavenger Hunt Blog Tour for this book and when I read the synopsis I was easily won around and wanted to read it.

As part of the Scavenger Hunt Blog Tour I also requested a copy of the book so I could review and three days later I was done, and very much in love with the book.
I must declare that this review will hold NO SPOILERS and will only review the book and possibly help those come up with ideas of who really did kill Jackson.

So the book bounces between 4 points of view, Reggie, Val, Haddie and Livie. All of them have one thing in common. Jackson Landis. After he turns up dead they are sent into a swirling spiral of who did it.

The characters are perfectly written, they are all individuals who in my opinion would never look at the other, they are all too different from each other to like or get along. I can relate to small parts of each characters, they all have something in them that somehow makes them the same. If that makes any sense?

I have to say the story progressed  well, there was never a large time gap that lead me astray, and throughout the reading process my brain was burning out trying to piece everything together from each character in order to try and figure out who did it.

I felt that how it ended was the right way to do it. I think that the book is perfect for anyone, literally anyone no matter what your favourite genre is. The only slight downside I had for the book was only my mind, as I begun reading I was losing myself with who's POV I was witnessing but within a few chapter I managed to get the hang of it and I have to give the book a go 4.9 out of 5.

I really hope you give this book a read and enjoy it as much as I did.

Scavenger Hunt: Kiss Kill Love Him Still by Jamie Blair and Dawn Rae Miller

Kiss Kill Love Him Still
by Jamie Blair & Dawn Rae Miller
Release Date: November 10th 2015
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary.

Synopsis:

Jackson Landis kept secrets. It's how he got girls into bed, the grades he wanted, and a reputation for being the life of the party.

But now he's dead, and no one knows how or why. Especially not the four girls whose secrets he protected. Secrets so scandalous they could cause each girl to lose something valuable. Secrets so dark, someone may have killed for them.

The four girls - a campus drug dealer, an overweight bookworm, a closeted lesbian, and a spoiled princess have one thing in common – they’re terrified the things Jackson knew may not have died with him. As Reggie, Haddie, Val, and Livie try to piece together her own role in Jackson’s death, each girl realizes Jackson had some not-so-pretty skeletons of his own. Which makes a girl wonder, who really wanted Jackson Landis dead?

                          So Who Killed Jackson Landis?

                                  WELCOME TO THE SCAVENGER HUNT BLOG TOUR.

We're trying to discover who killed Jackson Landis in Jamie Blair and Dawn Rae Miller's book. In the 7 days that the tour will be running, you will find interviews with the suspects, their profiles and music playlists that will help you decide who you think did it.

Each day you will find a team that will introduce you one character. The winner team will be picked on November 11th and will have the pleasure to host an exclusive excerpt from Kiss Kill Love Him Still.

Please note that reviews from bloggers will be published on November 11th and November 12th, see schedule, and that might give you an extra insight to the book, too!

Suspect Profile -  Valerie “Val” Ortiz

 

Height: 5’7”

Weight: 125 lbs

Hair: Brunette. Long.

Eyes: Brown

Demeanor: Haughty. Fidgety. Can’t focus.

Motivation for killing Jackson Landis: He knew she was bi-sexual.

Interview With Valerie

Officer Ruiz: Val, you need to answer my questions.

Val: Why? All they do is make me look like a criminal.

Ruiz: Are you?

Val: Isn’t that your job? To prove my guilt. Why would I help you with that?

Ruiz: This is getting us nowhere. The longer you stonewall, the longer we sit here.

Val: That’s fine. I have nowhere to go and nothing to do.

Ruiz: But you’re hands are shaking. You need a drink – something stiff, don’t you?

Val: I don’t need alcohol if that’s what you’re asking.

Ruiz: Were you drinking the night Jackson died?

Val: Yes.

Ruiz: Maybe that’s why you don’t remember anything? You had a black out?

Val: It happens.

Ruiz: Have you had anything to drink today?

Val: A few. But you can’t book me on that. I’m of legal age and didn’t drive anywhere. I’ve done nothing wrong.

Ruiz: Fine. I’m letting you go, but don’t leave town. We’re going to have to talk to you again - when you’re sober.

Val: Then I’ll see you never.

 Valerie's Playlist

So Who Killed Jackson? 

NOW ITS YOUR TURN TO DECIDE.

             

                                                     This Is What The Authors Propose:

Follow The Scavenger Hunt

Follow the Kiss Kill Love Him Still by Jamie Blair & Dawn Rae Miller Scavenger Hunt Blog Tour and don’t miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.

 

Jamie Blair 

 Young adult author of the Kirkus-starred novel Leap Of Faith (Simon & Schuster 2013), and Lost To Me (2014), featured in the New York Times and USA Today bestselling anthology, Dirty Boys of Summer. Represented by Rebecca Friedman of RF Literary.



Dawn  Rae Miller 

Dawn is a Twitter and fashion addict whose favorite things in life are her family, gorgeous dresses, tea leaf salad, and French macarons. She splits her time between San Francisco and Northern Virginia, and is always up for a trip to Paris.

Enter The Pre - Order  Giveaway.

During release week the book will be on sale for $.99. On top of this sale Dawn and Jamie will also be giving away 2×3 book buttons to the first 100 people who buy the book!

Do you want a Kiss Kill Love Him Still button? Just click here to submit your entry.



 Giveaway 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Top Ten Tuesday - Book To Movie Adaptations I'm Looking Forward To/Book To Movie Adaptations I Cant Wait For

I myself love book to film adaptations, if I know there is a film adaptation of a book I tend to read the book before watching the film just because I would like my own imagination to create it all before I watch someone else's imagination create it on TV.

This post is a mix of both adaptations I'm looking forward too and those I can't wait for.



Book To Film Adaptations I need to watch;
1. The Hunger Games - Mockingjay Part 2
2. Room - The book is written by Emma Donoghue and the film released November 6th.
3.The Martian. The Book is written by Andy Weir , the movie starts Matt Damon
4.The Scorch Trials, I actually haven't read any of the books by this point but I can make an exception.
5. Paper Towns, originally written by the fabulous John Green I have read it but have yet to see it, but lets face it, I half want to see it just for Cara Delevingne and Nat Wollf. Sorry Not Sorry

Book To Film Adaptations I Cant Wait For; (this will list apparent adaptations set for 2016 with supposed actors and some confirmed films.)
1. The Jungle book written by Rudyard Kipling is set to start Scarlett Johansson and is apparently due out in April 2016
2. Allegiant, well what can I say? I loved the movies and books so far.
3. The BFG written by Roald Dahl is set to hit cinemas in July 2016
4.A monster calls written by Patrick Ness is apparently hitting cinemas in October of 2016
5. Looking for Alaska written by John Green is apparently in production?? due to hit cinemas sometime in 2016??


Please know some of the above in the last 5 are alleged adaptions, with alleged dates and actors. Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke And The Bookish.

Everyday - David Levithan

Title: Everyday
Author: David Levithan
Publication date: August 28, 2012
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Available editions: Paperback, Audio, Kindle Edition.

Book Synopsis:
Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.
There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.

It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.


Review:

I read a few pages back when I first bought the book but it didn't spark amy bond of me wanting to keep reading it at that time. I decided one night I would try again leaving me only 3 books I my shelf. It took me 6 hours to read the book, I got carried away and did a 5 hour non stop period which went by with no problem.

The book follows A, everyday A wakes up in a different body always of the same age 16. A wakes up as Justin and meets his girlfriend Rhiannon and he treats her well for a day but after that day Justin returns to his former self but A can't forget her. The days that follow, turning into weeks A returns to her trusting her enough to tell her everything and they form a bond that even though they can't ever be a solid pair or friends or any hug beyond that, they are both still the same inside but one just happens to change bodies every day.

What I love about the book is how it explores every 'kind' of person their is. Every person A becomes is different from one another, the way they treat people,  the colour of their skin, their beauty levels, their size. Each person provides A with experience. I fell in love with the relationship between A and Rhiannon and the trust they have in each other. I loved how it played out, how A became stronger and more confident in his choices.

I give this book a 5 out of 5 purely on how great it was, I didn't think it was going to bee all that good when I first got the book but I retract that statement it was a throughoughly great read and I recommend it to anyone who wants to explore life through the eyes of many people or just want a great read.

Thursday Thought - My Last Concert Experience

Okay so my last concert was June 6th 2015, it was 5 Seconds Of Summer in Birmingham. I went with an old school friend who had bought the tickets.

I left my house at like 11pm and met my friend at the bus stop 20 or so minutes later. We missed the bus to Birmingham but waited for the next one that game at like 12 ish and we got on and started the journey there. We walked the few minutes walk to the arena and we had a lot of time to waist until the support act would hold their acoustic hangout so we just sat and spoke, walked around a library and before we knew it we were lined up to meet the support act Hey Violet.

I was so nervous and nearly backed out like my friend did but I didn't, I made a friend in the line and we spoke a lot, even though I never got her name, she let me go before her and soon we were just waiting for the doors to open. A few other friends sat with us and then walked with us to our doors to wait and get in.

The doors open at I think 6, and we got in but the merchandise table was really busy so we decided to go and sit down. I felt sick when I sat down, so I had to go out and then I went tot he merchandise table and bought a t shirt and wristband and then I went back feeling better and then felt sick again. I went out and then went out into the smoking area for the fresh air because no one was smoking out there at that time and then the man who was on the door offered to take me to the medic place and they said everything was fine but then the support act came on whilst I was in the medic room. I went back in half way through their set but I got to see them preform and they were amazing.

5 minutes later after their set ended 5 seconds of summer came on and I nearly cried. They were truly amazing and it was an amazing experience and my sickness feeling subsided and I got to enjoy the concert without any more sickness and then when they played Amnesia I was crying because of a whole lot of things. They preformed really well and when the concert was finally over, I just didn't know what to do with myself. I got home after my dad and mom picked us up and dropped my friend off at home and It didn't feel like I had been to see my favourite band ever.