Switching Accounts

Switching to my gigglemiggles blog! Link below! Hope to see you there ^^

http://gigglemiggles.blogspot.ca/

Harry Potter and the Fantastic Beasts Logo Released

What is Headmaster J.K Rowling doing do us all ... The official logo for the 'Fantastic Beasts' movie which is to be released November 2016. As a fellow graphic designer the logo is so beautiful ♡

Here is the link to Pottermore for more information:

https://www.pottermore.com/news/fantastic-beasts-and-where-to-find-them-logo-revealed

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Yes, i'm slightly behind and i'm sure a good chunk of the world already knows about the instalment in the Harry Potter series. But ... EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP! I CAN'T HELP BUT FANGIRL!

Instead of a film which we all wish, the addition will be a play. The play is based off of Harry Potter dealing with his past. And his son, Albus - struggling with his fathers legacy. The past and the future intertwine and both father and son confront dark secrets.

The release date is aimed for July 30th 2016. I'm sure everyone can't wait, I know I can't!! More details must be leaked or ...

20 Things bookworms will understand

1. When your favorite character dies.

2. When someone spoils the end of a book.

3. When you walk into a bookstore or a book is available for pre-order.

4. The moment you realize you're about to fall into a reading slump.

5. When someone interrupts you while you're reading.

6. When someone constantly asks you what happened in the book but won't read it themselves.

7. When you finish an amazing book or if the ending is a cliffhanger.

8. Accidentally folding a page of your book.

9. When you open a new book and get a rush of excitement.

10. When people tell you that you read too much.

11. When there's a plot twist.

12. When the story has potential but the writing is terrible.

13. When you're reading in public and you get emotional.

14. Waiting for your favorite author to write their next book

15. Trying to stay awake at work after staying up all night finishing the "one last chapter".

16. When people tell you that you have too many books.

17. When you smell books.

18. When there's an intense moment in the novel that makes you question your existence.

19. When you can't decide what to read next.

20. When the movie is nothing like the book.

Top 10 Beautiful Libraries of the World

I don't know about you lovely people but visiting gorgeous libraries even cute little book shops across the world is on my bucket list. Here are a few that I would like to visit before I die:

1. New York Public Library, New York

2. Trinity College, Dublin Ireland

3. Strahov Library, Prague

4. Libreria Alta Acqua, Venice Italy

5. Atlantis, Santorini, Greece

6. Shakespeare and Co., Paris

7. The Hearst Castle Library, San Simeon, CA

8. House on the Rock,  Spring Green, WI

9. Leakey's Second Hand Bookshop, Scotland

10. The Ateneo (Beunos Aires), Argentina

There are so many more book shops that I would like to visit but these would be my top 10 that I would love to visit someday. Which library or book shop would you like to visit? 

Tiger's Curse By: Colleen Houck (Tiger Saga #1)

Tiger's Curse By: Colleen Houck (Tiger Saga #1)

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Synposis

Tiger's Curse follows 18 year old Kelsey Hayes - an ordinary girl trenching through her summer. She teams up with a mysterious white tiger named Ren heading face to face with dark forces in a mystical world to piece together a prophecy in order to break an ancient curse forever.

Thoughts

If you own the physical book then you'll know how gorgeous this cover. It has a beautiful metallic sheen to it. I honestly want all of the books in the series because of how beautiful they are lined up together. But any who, back to the story.

When you read the beginning the pacing is good. It did have the cliche introduction of characters. You have the heroine who is "chosen" to fulfill a prophecy/find their destiny. And you have the hot shot handsome love interest that is the finest of the land. When it comes to the dynamic and dialogue between the characters specifically Kelsey and Ren - just .. what. Pure awkwardness. I don't know if the aim was supposed to be quirky and adorable but the vibe I got was awkwardness:

“But it won’t work out.” I finished. There, it was out.

Ren looked confused. “Why not?”

“Because I’m too attracted to you.”

“I don’t understand what you are saying. How can your being attracted to me be a problem? I would think that’s a good thing.”

“For normal people… it is,” I stated.

“So I’m not normal?”

“No. Let me explain it this way. It’s like this… a starving man would gladly eat a radish, right? In fact, a radish would be a feast if that’s all he had. But if he had a buffet in front of him, the radish would never be chosen.”

Ren paused for a moment. “I don’t get it. What are you saying?”

“I’m saying…I’m the radish.”

“And what am I? The buffet?”

I tried to explain it further. “No…you’re the man. Now…I don’t really want to be the radish. I mean, who does? But I’m grounded enough to know what I am, and I am not a buffet. I mean, you could be having chocolate éclairs for heaven’s sake.”

“But not radishes.”

“No.” 

____________________

What initially drew my attention was the unique background - Indian folklore entwined with fantasy. As the story progressed the story itself started to go downhill. The story really had potential and I have to admit I had moments where I was like:

But that slowly dissipated halfway through the book. It seemed like there were just too many unnecessary details that weighed down the story, which I ended up pulling myself through the book to finish it.

I really wanted to love this book but it fell short. I may give the second book a chance, but I have a feeling I might not be able to pick it up anytime soon.

Overall,  If you don't mind a story with very many details and cheesy eye-rolling scenes  but also an unique concept involving indian culture, a mystical world, and adventure then this is a read for you.

“I wrapped the unyielding woman I loved in my arms & kissed her slowly, hoping that some part of her would sense my absolute devotion.” 

Reading Slump!!

Hello world! Yes it has been half a year since I have been on and blogging. I am in dire need of help! I am in the biggest reading slump ever. I stopped by the bookstore 2 days ago and I'm hoping this will help me out of it. Anybody have any suggestions on how to get out of oh so dreadful slump?

Anna and the French Kiss By: Stephanie Perkins

Anna and the French Kiss By: Stephanie Perkins

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Synposis

This YA contemporary piece of work starts off with a girl in her Senior year named Anna who is completely happy with where she is. Until she is set off to a boarding school in Paris, where she meets the humorous charming Étienne St. Clair. Étienne has it all - including a serious girlfriend. 

Anna and the French Kiss will leave you laughing, smiling, and aching. 

Thoughts

First of all, there was a HUGE hype when this book debut. As per usual, whenever there is a huge hype on a book. I tend to avoid to read the novel until eventually i'll pick it up. But because I heard a bunch of amazing reviews on Anna and the French Kiss - I thought why not?

Every contemporary book i've read is completely cheesy, but when it comes to Anna and the French Kiss ... oh my goodness - I couldn't help but swoon over Étienne St. Clair. What I love about this novel is despite it being a contemporary read, Anna and the French Kiss wasn't completely revolved around the romance. There were interesting, humorous, unforgettable characters. This book was a mash up of everything. There are certain moments in the book between Anna and St. Clair that just make you think about yourself. Things happen, whirlwind of drama, tension outbreaks, adventures of discovery and then ... well you'll have to read to find out.

Overall, I believe that this is a perfect spring/summer read. I felt like I was in a movie!

“For the two of us, home isn't a place. It is a person. And we are finally home.” 

Bloglovin' Disaster

A lot of people have been telling me they are having issues with my GFC, and have been asking if I have a BlogLovin' so here it is at last!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Spring ... Book Cleaning?!

What is it time for? SPRING CLEANING?! Specifically, bookshelf cleaning.

Now I just have one question, how do you organize your bookshelf? Do you organize your bookshelf accordingly to the magical colors of the rainbow? Or do you do what you please and leave your books scattered in whatever order?

I personally organize my bookshelf accordingly to genre. Usually I read books coinciding with whatever mood I'm in. Trying to juggle a current MUST read and another book that I'm just digging with how i'm feeling can be a struggle. I'm trying to get over doing this, but what can I say ... So many books, so little time!

Do you have any tips you could give me? How do you organize your bookshelf? Let me in with your thoughts :)

The Little Prince By: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

The Little Prince 
By: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry 
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Synopsis

The Little Prince tells the tale of a little boy who travels away from his planet to travel the wonders of the universe. His journey through the cosmos leads him to meet "adult-such" characters, leads him to the fascination of the adulthood demeanour.



Thoughts

Just like I've mentioned before with my other review on Love and & Misadventures by: Lang Leav this is another novella you just have to engulf yourself in and really judge it upon yourself whether it's worth the read or not.

Of course, along with the rating I gave - I fell in love this book. I heard the hype about The Little Prince and I always saw people at the bookstore pick this book up but never bothered reading it myself - until my freshman year in high school. After I read it, I thought this was the perfect time to read such a influential book. This book really makes you stop and just listen. To really take a look at the world and think, "Am I happy with what i'm doing with my life? What do I want to accomplish when i'm all grown up?".

I honestly believe that The Little Prince is a classic must read.

“Of course I’ll hurt you. Of course you’ll hurt me. Of course we will hurt each other. But this is the very condition of existence. To become spring, means accepting the risk of winter. To become presence, means accepting the risk of absence.”

****

EXCITING NEWS! The Little Prince will be adapted into a film which has not been given a release date. The feels are are unreal. The artwork is simply outstanding.

The Maze Runner Trilogy

The Maze Runner (Trilogy) By: James Dashner

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Synopsis

The series starts off with a boy named Thomas who is sent up the "lift". He's brought into a new world called the Glade. 

In the Glade, there are only boys - boys with no memory except their own names. What keeps the Gladers inside are colossal stone walls and what's behind the walls is an inescapable wavering maze. Members of the Glade have sent "runners" to find an escape through the maze, but no one has made it out of the maze alive. 

But then everything changes when a girl is brought up the lift. The first girl ever. And the chase officially begins.

Thoughts

Let's start from the first book, shall we? I honestly thought that "The Maze Runner" was amazing! I couldn't put the book down, it was an absolute page turner. I personally enjoy books that are told in third person and when the story follows a male protagonist. 

Just the whole idea of "The Maze Runner" is so creative and imaginative, plus I couldn't help but laugh throughout the book. All of the characters are so enjoyable; you really get attached to them. There are twists and cliffhangers that make your jaw drop to the floor, but there are also moments where you want to chuck the book across the room. At one point, I actually enjoyed this series more than the Hunger Games. But, that's when I only read the first book. 

Onto the second and third book, the only thing that I have to say is. It dragged on unnecessarily. I thought it was just fillers on top of fillers on top of fillers. Once I reached the end, I told myself "Wow, that was it. After all of that." From the beginning, I was completely head over heels over this series. But by the time I reached the end of the Death Cure, I lost the WOW factor.

Overall, I loved The Maze Runner it's a great story. But personally, I think that this series could've been written into one book.

Adorable Tea Rooms

As a child I loved having tea parties, despite just using oreos as my cookies and milk as my tea. To this day I have a really old fashioned tea set (picture below) that my godmother bought for me as a birthday present. Just found it so cute with the little animals in the cute little scenery.

BUT ANYWHO! Who doesn't love Buzzfeed?! I came across this article that showcases various charming tea rooms. One day I will engulf myself in your beauty, one day ❤

Click to see the cute Tea rooms

Cupcake time!

It was just recently that I have been selling my delicious cupcakes! Just last week I made these simple cupcakes for a baby shower (as you can tell - it's a boy!). I had so much fun making them. The cake itself is just classic chocolate, topped with a cream cheese frosting, then white chocolate for the decor.

Love & Misadventure, Lullabies by: Lang Leav

Love & Misadventure, Lullabies by: Lang Leav

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Oh, how my heart aches for these two books. Whether you're a poetry fanatic or not, these magnificent pieces of work will draw you in. Well, for me they most definitely did!

The comparison between the two? Love & Misadventure contains short poetic verses where as Lullabies also contains poetry but a larger body of beautifully written short stories. 

Lang Leav has such an essence with the flow of words leaving you breathless with each verse. She has a remarkable ability to see underneath her readers - through mind and soul.

It's quite difficult to explain. I just cannot find the correct words to prove the books justice. Here is a taste of two of my favorite pieces from both Love & Misadventure and Lullabies. 

"It was a question I had word on my lips for days - like a loose thread on my favorite sweater I couldn't resist pulling - despite knowing it could all unravel around me.

'Do you love me?' I ask.

In your hesitation, I found my answer."

"I don't know if he truly loves me- how can I be sure exactly? I can't say with any conviction that he won't break my heart - but how could I have stopped him from taking what was already his? He swept in like a Tsunami, wave after wave and I didn't stand a chance. All those warnings, all the things they tried to prepare me for- lost in an instant to the enormity of what I felt."

Splintered by: A.G Howard

Splintered (Splintered #1) by: A.G Howard
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Synposis

Splintered is a rendition of the classic Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Splintered follows the original descendant of Alice Liddell, Alyssa Gardner - a girl who seems to hear the voices from flowers and bugs. A family curse has been passed down from generation to generation all leading to ancestor Alice Liddell.

Alyssa must find a way back into Wonderland, which is much more disturbing and twisted then what the classic tale seems to be. She must face different tasks, in order to break the family curse. Which was created from the mistakes Alice Liddell had made during her last trip to Wonderland.

Thoughts

First off, the cover of this book ... BEAUTIFUL! I definitely bought this book because of the cover. The bold red of her lips and of the title, just soars off the page. I couldn't take my eyes off this book every time I walked past the shelves.

As I read the synopsis, my initial thought was "A twist on Alice in Wonderland? This has got to be interesting." After reading the book, it was indeed quite interesting.

What I liked about the book was the plot, I loved the fact that Howard uses Alice from the classic story we all love and continue on from it. I honestly believe that the storyline of Splintered is an amazing concept.

The creatures that Alyssa encountered along her journey were quite crooked, compared to the latest film of Alice directed by Tim Burton, his creatures had nothing compared to the beasts in this novel. Throughout the book, Howard connects scenes that we all love in Alice in Wonderland and takes it to another level.

What I disliked was the characterization, specifically Jeb. Jeb is the main love interest, and how I wish he weren't. His character development was a roller coaster ride that just went downhill. I tried to understand and love his character and failed. But as for Alyssa, I actually saw her characterization pick up and develop quite nicely once she entered Wonderland. Although there wasn't a significant amount of character develop where I was left there like, "That's my girl! DAMN JEB!".

I honestly believe that the book would've gone a better path if there was no love connection between Alyssa and Jeb. Their chemistry felt like it was a forced and an unnatural romance, which didn't make me hope onto their love boat.

I would even have to say there was just a bit too much description, so much description I didn't know how to piece the imagery together anymore.

Overall, Splintered will definitely keep your imagination going. If you can overcome a bad romance for a twisted eminent universe of a classic tale, a tale that will have Wonderland leaping off the pages, by all means go for it. But sadly, this book just wasn't my cup of tea.