I am Malala - Malala Yousafzai

This book continues to amaze me. Usually I am much faster at reading books because I can somewhat skim the words and still take in what I need to in order to understand and follow the story. In this book, I find myself unable to do so. I cling to every word she says and cannot skip a single letter.
She doesn't only talk about the one attack that occurred - she talks about a great deal of things. Things that are happening in her country, things that have happened, anecdotes from her family, legends and old tales - I have actually learned a lot about the history of Afghanistan.
This book so far has filled me with anger, sadness, guilt, amazement and admiration.
I believe this is my first autobiography that I have read, but it makes me want to read others. Learning about other peoples' lives is actually entirely fascinating and real. Very much enjoying this right now.

I am Malala - Malala Yousafzai

I believe this title won the best autobiography last year - and already I can see why.
This story, this girl, is absolutely incredible. She is yet to be an adult, and already has endeavored to change the world more so than those of a much wiser age and "well-off" situation.
I cannot believe how brave these girls are. There are girls like Malala all over the world - all of them fighting to be heard, fighting to make a difference for girls' education.
I watched a movie last year called 'Girl Rising'. I do recommend everyone seeing this movie at one stage. It is inspiring. It has girls from all kinds of situations - some poorer than others, some in abusive situations, some in relatively normal situations, some in horrific and sad situations - all of them doing everything they possibly can to make a difference for the women of their country.
Not many of us can say we do that - we can talk about it, and agree that something needs to be done. But how many of us actually do it?
Well this girl did. Malala is an incredibly brave and inspiring girl, and her story is definitely worth being told, and definitely worth being read.

'I come from a country that was created at midnight. When I almost died it was just after midday.
When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley in Pakistan, one girl spoke out. Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced and fought for her right to an education.
On Tuesday, October 9, 2012, when she was fifteen, she almost paid the ultimate price. She was shot in the head at point-blank range while riding the bus home from school, and few expected her to survive. 
Instead, Malala's miraculous recovery has taken her on an extraordinary journey from a remote valley in northern Pakistan to the halls of the United Nations in New York. At sixteen, she has become a global symbol of peaceful protest and the youngest nominee ever for the Nobel Peace Prize.
I Am Malala is the remarkable tale of a family uprooted by global terrorism, of the fight for girls' education, of a father who, himself a school owner, championed and encouraged his daughter to write and attend school, and of brave parents who have a fierce love for their daughter in a society that prizes sons.
I Am Malala will make you believe in the power of one person's voice to inspire change in the world.'

Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky (COMPLETE)

This book only took me two days to complete. As soon as I began reading, I was hooked! It is written so realistically and intriguingly, it is impossible for anyone, and I mean anyone (with some exceptions) to put this book down until it is finished.
It has such a beautiful, emotional and relatable story. The characters are lovable, relatable and all-together characters you could imagine being real people in the real world.
I enjoyed this book very much, and I also really enjoyed the movie. The movie has less swearing, sex-talk and nudity however (just a warning). Due to this book being about American teenagers in the early 90s, there is quite a large amount of sex, drugs, and all that good stuff.
The protagonist, Charlie, I found to be slightly more likable in the movie because he was less inclined to smoke - in the book, it is something he does all the time.
I love these characters, and they all have warm personalities. The story is great and I enjoyed the different way it was written - in letter form - it was unique and I liked it muchly :)
4/5 for this one folks! :D

Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky

It is time to read Perks of Being a Wallflower!
I have wanted to read this book for some times now and have heard many great things about it and the movie. I have actually seen the movie, and so far (only 20 or so pages in), the movies seems to be closely dedicated to the book. The book doesn't seem to have chapters, rather it has larger parts. Four to be exact, with an epilogue. So if you're one of those people who must read one chapter, or two, you will find this book more difficult to put down :)
I was counting on reading a chapter before bed, and realised they don't exist, so you have to stop mid-way. Which I find irritating - possibly merely because I'm weird ;P
I am enjoying this so far, and like the way it is written - as though Charlie, the protagonist, is in fact writing it himself. Very well done.

'Charlie is a freshman. 

And while he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it. 

Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mix tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. But he can't stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what is looks like from the dance floor.' 

Stardust - Neil Gaiman

I just completed Stardust by Neil Gaiman! You know you love reading books when literally moments after finishing one, you pick up another.
I did enjoy this book, he writes very beautifully. I must admit, this is one of the very rare occurrences in which I enjoyed the movie better than the book. It's like they took the simple idea of the book and created this movie with hilarity, action, adventured and romance - when the book was a much more serious and long-winded interpretation of the journey. There was also a couple of things I didn't even think about - but in the movie there are a couple of spicy moment (if ya know what I mean, *nudge nudge*), but they are in the book - which I found a bit awkward to read myself. I mean, they're probably no where near the depth or description of the likes of Fifty Shades of Grey (I wouldn't actually know as I refuse to read them), but just keep that in mind if you choose to read this book.
I would recommend reading the book first in this case, as it is possible to enjoy the movie once you find you already like the book - it's harder to do so the other way around.
My expectations were high for this book, and I must say I was slightly let down. But if you can see the movie and book as somewhat separate entities, I am sure you will enjoy both. The movie was so much funnier and had much more of the romance involved, which is probably why I like it more than the book. It also seemed to flow just a little bit better. The book was a massive adventure that was confusing at times, and even disappointing in moments because the movie had brought these certain characters or moments into life and had taken them so much further than the book had written them to be.
All in all, the book is good, the movie is better. I still enjoyed it. 3.5 or possibly 4 out of 5 for this one.