Sunday 31 March 2013

The Vampire Diaries 4 x 20: The Originals (photos)

Beta by Rachel Cohn review

Beta (Annex, #1) One of the very few disadvantages of using an e-reader is that you can't really enjoy beautiful covers just like the one on this book,but it is also true that you are less likely to buy a book because of the cover.

Beta is more than a beautiful cover,though.It's the story of  Elysia , a  clone with no soul who  starts having human feelings and desires even if she was created in a laboratory.And it is also the story of the people who surround her .

Demesne , the island where the novel takes place , is like heaven on Earth,but unlike  in heaven good deeds are not necessary to get in , only wealth .The rich and the powerful do as they please on the island and despite being human and having souls their behaviour is rather inhuman .

Are clones better than the humans who created them?Are they really capable of feeling love and what about hatred?.The book answers some of these questions and ends with a cliffhanger that makes you want to continue reading.




Friday 29 March 2013

Ravenwood: Pretty Little Liars Spin-Off

If you just can't get enough of Pretty Little Liars , Ravenswood ( a cursed town not far from Rosewood) is here to quench your thirst for mystery. The spin off series will  premiere this October following the PLL Halloween special.The plot is intriguing to say the least : five strangers(I think we may already know some of them) suddenly find themselves connected by a  fatal curse and need to dig into the town's mysterious and terrible history before it's too late for each of them (as usual, it may already be too late for at least one of them).

 

Happy Egg Hunting in the UK

101 Giant Easter eggs will be hidden throughout the United Kingdom as part of the Lindt Egg Hunt supporting Action For Children.

Wednesday 27 March 2013

Teen Wolf Season 3

The long awaited third season of the coolest wolverines ever will be back on June 3rd.

Saturday 23 March 2013

How to pronounce Saoirse

Saoirse Ronan is going to become even more famous after the movie The Host, however, the pronunciation of her name, I believe it's Irish is quite tricky.

Tuesday 19 March 2013

Monday 18 March 2013

Fragments by Dan Wells: Mini Review

Fragments (Partials, #2)
Just like with most trilogies, it took me several pages to remember who the characters where and what was going on. I wish there was a summary of the previous book included in the second one and it is even worse for compulsive dystopia readers like me.
Having said this I must confess that I was eager to read fragments since Dan Wells is one of my favourite authors of dystopian novels.The book is packed with action and just a little bit of romance. There are shocking revelations about RM and more . I can't wait to read the next one.

Pretty Little Liars: Finale promo

Friday 15 March 2013

Borneo: Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park by TA

A 15 minute speedboat ride from Kota Kinabalu will take you to Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, a cluster of five beautiful islands where I was lucky enough to spend a day.




Tuesday 12 March 2013

The Other Side of the Island by Allegra Goodman Review

The Other Side of the Island After having read so many dystopian novels it is good to know that some books can still capture my attention ,this one did . Although the classic elements of a dystopian novel are present ,The Other Side of the Island combines them in a really interesting way.

The main character Honor a.k.a Heloise is both lovable and  annoying .She  doesn't question what she should  and accepts what she shouldn't ,she makes wrong choices and has mixed feelings about her family.But she learns, she gradually sees things the way they are although Helix,his friend,has to open her eyes more than once.

One of the most appealing  elements of dystopia in the novel is the way books are changed to suit the needs of the almighty Earth Mother ,pages are ripped and destroyed and whole passages are completely rewritten.It really makes you wonder about the books we are reading now,how our history was also written by the victors.

Another element that stands out is the presence of  the orderlies ,people deprived of all identity,with no memories ,no personal thoughts and who look alike on the outside,like sheep.They somehow remind me of some people in our society who are so eager to fit in that lose themselves in the process although ,unlike the orderlies , they do it voluntarily.

The book is a page turner,I wanted to read it but I didn't want it to finish.It has an open ending but not so open that you cannot figure out what is going to happen.

The author ,who grew up in Honolulu ,has an interesting biography,  I still  haven't read any of her previous books but I may give them a try.

The Vampire Diaries : 4x16 sneak peak

Tuesday 5 March 2013

Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa

Winner of the Travel and Leisure Design Award ,this hotel set in Patagonia ,on the banks of Lake Sarmiento and overlooking the magnificent Torres del Paine park is a gem.


Monday 4 March 2013

Mooncake by Foodie

Eaten during the Mid-Autumn festival , this Chinese pastry is among my favourite cakes.The Lotus Seed one in the picture ,bought at Bangkok airport, was good enough to satisfy my craving.


Friday 1 March 2013

Mystic City by Theo Lawrence Review

Mystic City (Mystic City, #1)
Gossip Girl becomes Dystopian girl and leaves the Upper East Side for the Depths of Manhattan and a gorgeous mystic whose powers go far beyond our expectations.

A modern ,and yet innovative remake of Romeo and Juliet with not all the deaths , but almost , and certainly all the love. Worth reading if you are a fan of dystopia and a sucker for romance.