Book Review: The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets

Today, I thought I would do something a little different that I have only done once before, A book review! The book in question is "The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets" by Eva Rice, which was actually recommended to me by a very good friend a few years ago. 

Can we first talk about this amazing cover? I am guilty of always judging a book by it's cover. When I am in a book shop the thing that makes me turn over the book to read the blurb is the cover, and this particular copy also has pink edged pages which make it a little bit different and a great addition to any bookshelf. 

If you know me, you know I love anything to do with the 1950's, the fashion, the food, the style and of course who can forget the Rock and Roll! Therefore, it is no surprise that this book is on my list of my favorite books of all time. 

The book is set in 1950's London where the world is recovering from World War 2, rationing is becoming a thing of the past and everyone is getting excited about a little musical craze sweeping the world called Rock and Roll. 

Enter our protagonist and trusty 18 year old narrator Penelope. The book opens with her standing at a bus stop when suddenly she is asked by a complete stranger called Charlotte to hop in to her taxi and accompany her to tea with her aunt,strange I know but so is Charlotte's crazy yet absolutely fabulous Aunt Clare, her strange yet witty cousin Harry and the loaf of Bread Julian (another great reason to pick up this book). 

The story follows Penelope falling into the glamorous world of Post War London with Charlotte and getting caught up in other plot twists along the way. She, however welcomes the change in scenery compared to her crumbling stately home that she lives in with her mother Talitha and her music crazed brother Indigo.  

This is one of those books where the story line is hard to explain because it is spread over a vast amount of time and there is so much happening but a story worth reading. I especially love the colourful and deep characters, they all have their own intriguing personalities and personal traits, for example Harry's dry sense of humor and his lack of decorum. Eva Rice really paints a beautiful picture of 1950's London through Penelope's eyes and something worth checking out if your looking for something fun and fantastic.Who needs a time machine when you have Eva Rice?

Until next time 

Erin

The Fault in Our Stars

Hey!

I really haven't updated in a while due to two things.

1. I really do not like to post with no inspiration because I think it makes things messy and unorganized (which is me all over)

2. I have been completely snowed under with exams, exams, exams!

I cannot wait until summer then I will be able to post daily. Ok, so as promised in the title of my blog I said I would bring you all things that are fabulous and my past posts have mainly been fashion based which brings me neatly on to the next post...

Yes, you guessed it, give yourselves a round of applause it's 'The Fault in Our Stars' by John Green. Amazing, fantastic, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Words cannot describe this book so I will let amazon

set the scene as it were.

The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green, Amazon description

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumors in her lungs... for now. Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means) Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumors tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault. Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly, to her interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

 I will give away no spoilers. If you knew me you'd know I am not usually into books like this, however, I love reading so I am willing to try anything. A friend recommended this to me, despite being apprehensive at first I was pleasantly surprised (with 'pleasantly surprised' really meaning jumping up and down and thinking "This is the most amazing piece of literature I have ever read in my entire life!" ahem...) 

The protagonist Hazel is not one of those sick teenagers you usually read about where you feel sorry for them and then after a while you start to find their constant "I hate my life's" becoming annoying and repetitive ( a little bit like Bella from Twilight except she was not ill and had no excuse for her constant whining). It's true that Hazel is cynical in her outlook on life but she makes you feel and understand her pain and she slowly grows on you. Her and Augustus definitely balance each other out which makes their characters more believable and 3-dimensional. Augustus is one of those men that makes us girls cry into our pillows at night screaming "Why won't you love us!". Augustus is kind to Hazel and brings out the best in her, he's also sweet, caring and despite the things he has gone through and all the obstacles he faces within the novel he still has a smile on his face and really shows true loyalty and compassion. 

This book evoked every emotion possible within me. It made me laugh, cry and made me want to beg John Green to write a sequel. It is definitely a must read! 

Until next time 

Erin

It's been a while

Hey... Yeah sorry it's been a long time! Over a year actually oops xD

It's currently 4:07 am and I haven't slept at all tonight, and morning really. See my friend recommended this youtube guru Superbeautynerd and i've been watching her non stop all night. She's really good you should check her out!

So at this point I haven't really established what this blog is going to be about really I'm not very good with these things but I was thinking about just displaying my interests, books, movies, fashion, drama you know. I was thinking of making a youtube channel because it looks like good fun actually, except i'd probably get like 0 viewers, subscribers etc. but it's for fun :D. I was thinking of people suggesting things I could discuss and do which would be kinda fun I like trying new things.

I think I should probably properly introduce myself. Hi, I'm Erin I'm 16 and live in Northern Ireland! Woo... I have blonde hair, green eyes! Most people do not know that Northern Ireland and Ireland are two different countries, I mean they're are plenty of differences. Too be fair though, it doesn't really matter I don't really care, I mean I think that the 30 years of violence and general horribleness is really not worth a single identity. Although, everyone's entitled to their own opinion and I did a school history coursework on it and frankly I thought the whole sha-bang was pretty pointless to be honest. However, there are plenty of differences. I will go through them so if anyone's confused or like me thinks it's completely stupid lets go over them.

First, Northern Ireland is part of the Britain, So therefore, we are ruled by the cute little queen (she is quite cute you have to admit) therefore we reap the benefits that England, Scotland and Wales get to enjoy. This includes using sterling, This is another thing I really don't get, to go off topic for just a moment, I mean why don't we just convert to the euro like the rest of Europe? It's so complicated, ANYWHO! Our health service is the NHS, Free health care woo! Whereas in Ireland you pay :(. GSCE'S, A levels, the 11 plus (R.I.P. old friend) and Ireland do completely different exams. Junior Certs, leaving certs etc. Ok enough about the whole country thing xD I love reading, films (old ones preferably) drama!, singing playing video games. I like fashion and make up and beauty too I just wish I had enough money to get all the stuff I'd like and what make-up gurus tell you to use in their videos.

So that's me I'll try and update more even though it's pointless as I'm like Shirley Valentine and might as well be talking to a brick wall

Erin