Book Review: Fallen - Lauren Kate

First published in Great Britain by Doubleday,
an imprint of Random House Children's Book.
Doubleday edition published 2009

*** - 3 Stars

 Instant. Intense. Weirdly familiar...

The moment Luce looks at Daniel,

she knows she has never felt like this before.

Except she can't shake the feeling that

she has... and with him - a boy she doesn't

remember ever setting eyes on.

 

Will her attempt to find out why

enlighten her - or destroy her.

Fallen by Lauren Kate is a great casual read.
 I feel like I've been reading so many heavy books recently I needed something to read that wasn't going to require me thinking too hard about what I was reading. This was just the thing.

Although this is an easy read, that does not mean its a bad book. Its reasonably well written with likeable characters and it wasn't too much about teen angst.

I liked the book and look forward to reading the rest of the series but I gave it three stars because some parts where so generic it made me want to stop reading which brought it down from four stars.

Let me know what you though of the book.

 ***
Lots of love, Lara xx

 

Harry Potter Tag | LaraluBooks

Favourite Book

My favourite book would have to be Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

 Favourite movie

My favourite movie is actually the second one which I know a lot of people don't like but I love it so...

 Least favourite book

Least favourite book would probably have to be the first one. I just feel like it is just setting the story up and the other books are just jam packed full of stuff.

 Parts of the books/movies that made you cry

Umm... obviously when everyone dies in the films. And yes I mean EVERYONE (even Cedric). And pretty much the same for the books only Dumbledore's death didn't make me cry in the book. The funeral did.

Oh! And also at the end of the first two (and I think eighth) films when they play that iconic music. Real tear jerker!!

 If you could hook up with any HP character who would it be?

Ohhh... I dunno. Sometimes I think Harry but I'm not entirely sure... Gun to my head, I'd say Harry.

 Favourite character

Umm... I think I'd have to say Ron. He's just amazingly funny and Rupert Grint did a great job playing him in the films.

 What would your Patronus be?

I'm not sure. You're not really supposed to know are you? It just is what it is. I think if I could choose though, I'd like to think it'd be something like a bunny rabbit.

Rabbit: self-sacrifice, humility, family. Rabbit people tend to be soft-spoken and non self-assertive. The symbol of the rabbit is strongly tied to the cycle of life, fertility, death and resurrection. The rabbit is also a symbol of luck, health and clear- sightedness.

 If you could have the Resurrection Stone, Invisibility Cloak or the Elder Wand which one would you choose?

Well... I don't think I would want the resurrection stone. That would cause more harm than good. I wouldn't want the Elder wand because I'm not really interested in being powerful. I suppose it would have to be the cloak. Although, I'm not sure I would use that very much either.

 What House would you be in?

This is a hard one. I know I wouldn't like Slytherin and I don't think I'd want to be in Ravenclaw. I'm torn between Hufflepuff and Gryffindor.

 IF you could meet any member of the cast who would it be?

Oh my gosh... this s SUCH a hard question to answer. I think it would have to be Helena Bonham Carter because I love Bellatrix and I'd love to talk to her about her portrayal of the character. 

 Have you played any of the video games?

Yes, I have Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on Nintendo DS.

 IF you were on the Quiddich team which position would you play?

I like to think I'd be good as a seeker but I would have a go at being a chaser too.

 Were you happy with the ending?

Hahaha.. no not entirely but there was never any way that everyone was going to be completely happy with how it ended so I don't mind the ending.

 How much does Harry Potter mean to you?

Harry Potter was my childhood. I literally grew up reading the books and watching the films so there is a great deal of sentimentality for me that goes with Harry Potter. I adore it. 

 

***

So, there we have it. I know you were probably expecting another book/film review but I feel like I do them a little too often sometimes and you never really get to learn anything about me. So, I thought I would do the Harry Potter tag this week and you can learn a little more about me and my interests.

Please feel free to do the tag yourself down below and I will look through them and we can all be a little geeky for a bit. ☺

I hope you had a lovely week and carry on having a lovely week and I'll see you same time next week for a book review.

***

Lots of love, Lara xx

Book Review: The Mortal Instruments City of Ashes – Cassandra Clare | Lara Pass

**** - 4 Stars
The Mortal Instruments City of Ashes is the second book in the Mortal Instruments series and I was pleasantly surprised by it. Usually I get disappointed by book sequels because they're never as good as the first. However, this book did not let me down. I was anxious to know how the story of Jace and Clary was going to progress and it has been really interesting. I feel like I Clare had more confidence when writing this book and was more comfortable with the characters now. The relationships between both Jace and Clary and Clary and Simon, become a bit more complex. The brother-sister relationship between Alec and Isabelle also becomes more prominent in this book which I enjoyed.
Obviously, we get to meet new characters in this book. The rest of the Lightwood family come back from Alicante after the Accords and you get to see Jace's relationship with his adoptive family. What I loved about this book is, unlike the last book, this was not set from just Clary's point of view. You get to see how other characters view the situations and what their feelings are as well as Clary's and I enjoyed that aspect of the book. I constantly read books and get to a part thinking 'it would be great to know what this character is thinking right now, see their point of view' but I have never read a book like it until now. I love the idea and it makes for a more interesting read. Of course, a lot of books work better where it's just from one character's point of view, but this particular series works better when you get to know what multiple characters are feeling. I makes the story more complex and interesting and just makes it more enjoyable to read than the last book.
I gave this 4/5 stars for its originality but it is not quite good enough to get 5/5. Thank you again, Cassandra Clare, for writing a truly brilliant book.

Book Review: The Mortal Instruments City of Bones – Cassandra Clare | Lara Pass

**** - 4 Stars

The Mortal Instruments - City of Bones
Cassandra Clare
Publishers - Walker Books 

The City of Bones is the first book in the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. I'll be honest, I'm a late bloomer when it comes to this series. I didn't actually find out about it until the film came out last year and when it did, I knew I had to read the book first. It was only when I joined the 'BookTuber' community that I realised the hype around these books. I tend to stay away from YA series that get a lot of hype as they all seem to be knock off versions of Twilight (Stephanie Meyer) which – while successful – was not the best book series I have ever read either. As always, because this is a book series, I'm going to relate it to Harry Potter. (Sorry…) The reason I tend to stay away from big book series is because they all seem to be more of the same and it gets tiresome reading and reviewing books that are so much like everything else that is 'big' at the time. Twilight, The Hunger Games… they all just tend to bore me a little. The reason series have become such a big thing is
because of Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling wrote the most successful books in history and is one of the richest women in the world and because of the success of the book series, that's what all writers are doing now. Well, I say 'all writers', I mean writers of YA books specifically. I'm not saying that people can't write successful series anymore because of Harry Potter. What I am saying is, there is no point writing a book series if it is like so many other things that are being written and turned into films. I just don't see the point in it if I'm being honest.
This – while being another YA book series – is a little different. Since the release of Twilight all those many moons ago, everything that has followed after has come from Twilight. The next 'big thing' after Twilight was, of course, The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins). Both these book series were original at the time but now everything seems to be a knock off version of it. Teen romance novels became a massive craze after Twilight (Which is when I became uninterested), and dystopian novels became a massive craze after The Hunger Games (which – again – is when I became uninterested). The City of Bones is something I can't make my mind up about yet. I don't see it becoming as big of a deal as is predecessors but that's what I kind of like about it. Of course, it is kind of another 'teen romance' but the characters seem to have a bit of complexity and depth to them – which I have yet to see in other teen series.
There are reasons why I love Harry Potter and why it is my favourite book series ever. It's not because of the film series (that I found pretty average). There is something in Rowling's writing which makes you feel something. You can envision every nook and cranny of Hogwarts because her writing is so rich. There is a depth to her characters which makes you not only sympathise, but empathise with them. These are all the qualities I look for in a book. These are the things which – in my opinion – make a book good. There is something in Clare's writing which reminds me of Rowling a little. I can envision where Clary and Jace are standing quite clearly. Their relationship isn't simple and black and white but there are so many complexities to it which makes for an interesting read. Although I can never truly compare any writer to Rowling, Clare's writing skills are something to be admired and I can't wait to read the rest of the series and find out all the twists and turns. Well done Cassandra Clare on a smashing book. I give you 4/5 stars for your hard work.

Book Review: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Last Battle - C.S Lewis | Lara Pass

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Last Battle
- C.S Lewis
Published by -  Harper Collins Publishers Ltd. 1953

 ***** - 5 Stars
This book... oh my goodness me. I have read a lot of book series in my time and have always found myself disappointed with how it ends. There just always seems to be something missing. Something not right. Something unsatisfactory or unfulfilling about the last book in a series. This book however... is something else entirely.
As you can probably imagine, with my past experience with book series, I was really apprehensive about this book. I was so worried it just wouldn't work but it seems my worries were for nothing.


Clive Staples Lewis - Author

Never in my life have I read a book series and been totally happy with the ending. I've always found it too hard to accept that that is how it was going to end so I would just read the series again and again because I refused to accept that that's how a story that I had invested so much time in, was going to end. However, The Last Battle from The Chronicles of Narnia series lived up to all my expectations and in my eyes, it couldn't have been a better ending.
Of course, I found it sad - just like I do with many book series but I was so delighted with how it ended that I didn't feel I needed to go back and read the whole series again to make up for a shoddy ending. There was nothing over the top about it. Lewis wasn't trying too hard to make it a good ending, he just wrote how he thought it should end and I admire him tremendously for that. It ends the way it should have done. It all made perfect sense and it was beautifully done.
It made me cry (as only a good book can) and I applaud Lewis for just finishing the story off in a perfect way.
I really didn't want the series to end as Narnia is a land I should very much like to live in constantly. The beauty and timelessness of this series will never again be repeated but I am glad in a way. It is what makes this such a special book series. Its what makes a good writer.
I'm thrilled I own these books and I will treasure them forever. So now, I will leave you with the last sentence from this book and say thank you for reading.

'All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever: in which ever chapter is better than the one before.'

Book Review: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair - C.S. Lewis | Lara Pass

The Chronicles Of Narnia:
The Silver Chair - C.S Lewis
Published by - Harper Collins Publishers Ltd 1953

 ***- 3 Stars
Everyone that knows me knows that I am a HUGE fan of the Chronicles of Narnia Series by C.S Lewis. However, this is probably my least favourite of the Chronicles. Although a reasonably good story in itself, when it comes to the whole series, I did not think this story delivered as well as the 5 novels preceding it.
This is something I really hate writing because I adore this book series and the whole story collectively but I do have to say; I feel it let the series down a little.
As I said, the story in itself is a good one. Well written, lots of action and adventure in it and lots of the wonderful world of Narnia. However, in relation to the story so far and the book that follows, I don't really think this one fits. It is a beautifully written book - as are all the others - but this story, I (personally) don't feel coincides with the others and I don't feel this is a relevant story to tell in relation to the story of Narnia.
I do however, understand that Lewis had to bring this new character into the story somehow as he is extremely relevant to the last book.  In some ways though, I wish he had just kept Prince Caspian around a little longer as he is a character I rather adore and feel should have stayed in the series longer than he did.

Clive Staples Lewis - Author

I have to say that I love how in every single book in this series, the story has a moral and is extremely heartfelt whilst also being action packed, exciting and magical. It is a great way for kids to learn what is right and wrong and (ideally) what they should and shouldn't do in regards to growing up and becoming more mature. The way Lewis does this means that you are learning all these valuable life lessons without even realising it. Its a subconscious thing and I think its very cleverly done.
I'm sorry C.S. Lewis for not loving this book as much as the others but I am completely head over heals in love with this books series. Its magical, wonderful, heart-breaking, funny and so many other things all at once and that is why it is still a firm favourite among children and adults alike, even after all this time!