Wednesday 27 February 2013

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac

A novel by Gabrielle Zevin about self discovery and teenage life. Entertaining and moving. All in all a good book.

Monday 25 February 2013

Arrow: Dead to Rights Preview

Buenos Aires: La Bombonera

Located in La Boca area of Buenos Aires this football stadium known as the Chocolate Box is owned by Boca Juniors one of the most popular football teams in Argentina. 

By Pibe




Thursday 21 February 2013

ParaNorman

One of the most innovative companies according to the magazine Fast Company is  Laika which created the original stop-motion animation film ParaNorman.


Wednesday 20 February 2013

Hats Galore

Plenty of hats to choose from in this Vietnamese market stall.

Tuesday 19 February 2013

The Vampire Diaries 4x15: Sneak Peak

Genesis by Bernard Beckett: review and book trailer

GenesisWhat makes us human?

What's the difference between a super intelligent robot and a human being?
Can robots and humans co-exist?

Bernard Beckett raises all these questions in Genesis a short and compelling dystopian novel.It is an unusual book since most of the action is narrated by Anaximander who is taking an exam to become a member of The Academy ,the most relevant institution of her time.

I must say that  I am not easily surprised and I have read many dystopian novels , from classic ones such as 1884 , Brave New World and Fahrenheit 451, The Handmaid's Tale .... to the newest The Hunger Games, The Other Side of The Island , Delirium, Eve, Divergent....But  this novel really took be aback , I didn't see it coming and had to read the same line twice because I couldn't believe that such a surprising (to say the least) ending hadn't crossed my mind.

If you are a fan of dystopian novels, this is a must. There is no romance but there is plenty food for thought.


Friday 15 February 2013

The Perfect Cupcake Couple


The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater Review

The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle, #1) There is only one reason I read the book:  it was  written by the author of  The Wolves of Mercy Falls, otherwise I would never have read a novel which starts with the idea of someone's death, it scares me too much, not to mention knowing it a year in advance.But I decided to give it a try and hope for a happy ending.

Seers,psychics,witches and mediums are the members of Blue's family,whose only paranormal power seems to be to increase her relatives' abilities ,Maura , Neeve and Orla.

Politicians' sons,oil barons' sons and the sons of mistresses living off hush money are the pupils of Aglionby school where Adam,Ronan,Noah and Gansey became close friends.

Blue and Gansey have nothing in common, except for the fact that she sees him on St. Mark's Eve  and it means that he is either her true love a or that she is going to kill him.

This could just  be the story of two  star-crossed lovers or a cliche love triangle, but I expected more from Maggie Stiefvater and I got it.There's the legend of a Welsh king, a wonderful friendship ,a family of psychics ,and well developed characters that make you want to continue reading and get to know them better.

There is some fun  :

  " What did you say your name was? "
                                  "Blue.My name's Blue Sargent"
                                  "Blair?"
                                 " Blue"
                                 " Blaize?"
                                  Blue sighted. "Jane".

There is sadness:

 "...he had nothing to miss, that he effectively had Stockholm syndrome , identifying  with his captors,considering it a kindness when his father didn't hit him."

And there is love:

"Maybe it wouldn't hurt if I kiss you, he said.Maybe it's only if you kiss me"

And I am growing a plant just like Gansey.




Thursday 14 February 2013

Japan: Beautiful Gardens

Valentine's Day


You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.
Dr. Seuss

“Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.”
Robert A. Heinlein, Stranger in a Strange Land

“You love me. Real or not real?"
I tell him, "Real.”

Suzanne Collins, Mockingjay

“You don't love someone because they're perfect, you love them in spite of the fact that they're not.”
Jodi Picoult, My Sister's Keeper

“You are, and always have been, my dream.”
Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

“Where there is love there is life.”
Mahatma Gandhi

“So, I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you.”
Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist



Friday 8 February 2013

All Unquiet Things : Book Review and Trailer

All Unquiet Things " It is indeed a mistake to confuse children with angels" Douglas Coupland .

This quote at the beginning of the book made me curious, and I decided to give it a try.The book is easy to read but it is not about the easy life of some upper-class teenagers but about the hardships they have to endure and the choices they make in life.

 I wouldn't say it was entertaining because there is  a lot of suffering involved but it was a nice break from dystopia and paranormal novels.