The Book Theif - Markus Zusak

I am pretty excited to read this book! I hope I can finish it by the time the movie comes out! I think this will be an amazing and emotional story - and I love learning about the time of Hitler in history. I find it all so interesting (horrible, but interesting).
This book is uniquely written from the point of view of Death. I think I will enjoy reading all 584 pages of this novel! And I can't wait to see the movie also :)

'It is 1939, Nazi Germany. 

The country is holding its breath. 

Death has never been busier, 

and will become busier still. 

By her brother's graveside, Liesel's life is changed when she picks up an object, partially hidden by the snow. It is The Gravedigger's Handbook, and it is her first act of book thievery. 

So begins a love affair with books and words, as Liesel learns to read. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor's wife's library, wherever there are books to be found. 

But these are dangerous times. When Liesel's foster family hides a Jewish fist-fighter in their basement, Liesel's world is both opened up, and closed down.' 

I obviously love books as well - and I couldn't imagine living in a time where books were not allowed to be read. Books were dangerous. I can't picture what it would be like if I were not allowed to pick up a book and read the words on the page. It would be terrible. I am looking forward to reading this book. I've heard good things :) 

A World Without Bees - Alison Benjamin & Brian McCallum

I have always had an interest in bees - they're such incredible little creatures. I found this book a long time ago and have finally decided to read it! (I'm one of those book people who continue to buy books even though they have an uncountable stack they want to read!)

'If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left.' - Albert Einstein.' 

So amazing! Something so small and seemingly insignificant could have such an impact on life as we know it. 

On the subject of bees, I saw a couple photo opportunities yesterday and thought I would share them, just because it goes with this topic :) These were simply taken with my phone - the first one is my favourite, you can really see the amazing detail of the bee! ... Beautiful flowers too! 

Pocahontas, True Princess - Mari Hanes (complete)

That awkward moment when you discover Pocahontas didn't actually end up with John Smith...
I really enjoyed this book. Pocahontas was truly an amazing girl and changed history - like seriously. Such a brave young girl - saving John Smith from her tribe when she was only 10! She did end up marrying someone else named John, ironically, and she ended up staying in England (interesting!) She had a son with him, Thomas - I'd kind of like to trail her family line and see if there's anyone around related to her!! She died at the age of 20, which is so sad. So many extraordinary people died to young back then from simple things because they didn't have the medical know-how to prevent it.
I would give this one 4/5. It was great! Informative, inspirational, emotional, had action, some romance and was fairly close to what actually happened.
The movie Pocahontas is pretty off haha, but they captured her spirit and bravery well.
This is also a great book if you're looking for real-life transformations by God also. She was changed by God and became a very Godly woman. Reading this book just made me love her more honestly. Worth a read!!

Pocahontas, True Princess - Mari Hanes

Pocahontas is one of my favourite movies ever, and she is definitely my favourite Disney Princess (besides Anatasia who isn't actually Disney). I love the idea of a spirited girl who loves the wilderness and has some serious curiosity and beauty. So, I thought, hey! I'll give the book a go :)

'Children recognise her as the beautiful Indian woman who captured the heart of English captain John Smith. Yet history reveals Pocahontas was no more than twelve when she saved Smith's life. Years later she would be praised as the courageous defender of the Algonquins. But she was first known by her people simple as Pocahontas - "Favourite Daughter" - a child of tremendous character. 

Boys and girls today have heard the myth. Now they will see Pocahontas as history truly portrays her; a spirited child much like them. Based on careful and thorough research of the full record of her life, Pocahontas: True Princess tells the story of Chief Powhantan's favourite daughter - and the adventures that led this extraordinary child to her heavenly Father.' 

I was pretty excited when I was told a while back that Pocahontas was a real person. Of course, I know her as the Disney Princess, and probably always will. But I thought it would be great to learn more about this girl and read her story. It also excites me a little bit more, because I have some American Indian ancestors. Which is pretty cool, and even though it's only a very little bit inside me, I am actually quite proud of that particular part of my history. I don't know why, but I just get extremely excited and proud when I think of it (my Great Grandfather's wife was American Indian). I love to learn about the culture and people because of this. So that as well as Pocahontas being my favourite adds to the excitement of learning more about her story. 

Through the Zombie Glass - Gene Showalter (complete)

Wow. I guess I didn't quite realise how invested I was in these characters! Seriously. I read this book so quickly, I literally didn't want to put it down because I HAD to know what was going to happen.
It seems apparent, that I have indeed, fallen in love with these characters and absolutely loved this book.
It had a lot of the zombie attacks, nearly dying, love, sexual talk and teenage drama - but, I kinda loved it! *raises hand* Guilty! So much action was in this novel, and so many more twists and turns that I didn't expect.
The third one comes out this year in September. And no, I DO NOT WANT TO WAIT THAT LONG. I hate it when this happens. I was surprised how much I had actually, unknowingly, grown to love these characters and what happens in their lives. The first book I found myself in a sort of take it or leave it mindset (I mean I did like it of course), but this one, I was completely sucked in!
4/5 for this one! Cannot wait for the next one. This has gotten me super pumped and excited. I do believe this third one is the last one in the White Rabbit Chronicles. Which is probably a good thing. But this book I definitely enjoyed - a lot. I laughed out loud, I gasped, I freaked out a couple times. It was seriously an emotional roller coaster (and if the reader is feelin' it, then you know it's a damn good book!) Thoroughly enjoyed it! You go Gene!

The Shadowhunter's Codex - Cassandra Clare (complete)

I really loved the idea of this book - if you are a fan of her Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices series', you would have heard of the infamous Shadowhunter's Codex, a sort of text book for Shadowhunters in training!
I loved the added detail of Clary, Simon and Jace writing notes in the book, and Clary had sketched pictures all throughout the pages. It was an incredibly interesting read - however, much like reading a text book at times (boring). I did end up skipping a few sections, reading only their notes and things about the shadow world that interested me - things I didn't know.
It amazed me how much history Cassandra was able to basically "make-up" about this whole world. Thousands of years of history, dates, events, traditions - so much detail about everything! I cannot believe how much work and effort has been put into her novels. Just incredible.
This book is great for if you're reading the series and come across something you don't know, or you want to know more about - you can just look it up in the Codex and Bob's your uncle. It's hard to read as a novel in itself because of its textbook-like qualities (which is what she was going for - that's essentially what the Codex is). So I probably wouldn't read it as one, unless you were super into learning all these things like some fans are :)
I would give it 3/5. I liked it. And I loved the extras. Recommended for any fans of her aforementioned series. You guys will love it!

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Arthur Conan Doyle

I am a rather large fan of the Sherlock Holmes, and I definitely enjoy the TV series and movies created about him. I enjoy the character so much, I thought to myself, 'why have I not read the books!?'
So I downloaded the book onto my phone (as you can do with old books - how convenient!) and began reading!
It's very similar already to that of the TV series, Sherlock, with the incredible Benedict Cumberbatch as the infamous Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock Holmes is such a great character - so intelligent, so amusing, hilarious, captivating, frustrating and astounding. His attention to detail and thought pattern is both mind-boggling and infuriating.
I am looking forward to reading through some of Sherlock and Watson's cases (:

The Case for Christ (student edition) - Lee Stroble (complete)

I decided to read this short book (115 pages) as a sort of reminder and to get the mind and heart pumping due to me being finished school and no longer having a constant influence and intake of Jesus in my everyday life. I mean of course I still have Jesus with me, and I am constantly talking to Him - but when it's not a forced part of my daily routine, sometimes one can forget its importance.
This book I finished in just a couple of days. It is a simple read, basically going through all the evidence there is to Jesus being the man He claimed to be - God.
I had already read some of this book in my Christian Certificate classes, and we also watched a documentary of it - but it is always nice to be reminded of the incredible person He is and was, and the sacrifice He willingly made for everyone.
Some of the reading was a little emotional, and I find the details about his death thought provoking and tear jerking - there would have been so much pain endured, essentially, for me. It is hard to comprehend how someone could love me that much.
It is a great little book, and provides some simple evidence (archaeological, logical and scientific) in favour of the Bible and Jesus Christ. It's a good one to read if you're struggling with your own thoughts on the matter of God, but even if you're not, it's a great reminder!
Lee Stroble is a very smart man, and writes in such a way that makes it all easy to understand.
5/5

Through the Zombie Glass - Gena Showalter

Through the Zombie Glass is the second instalment of the White Rabbit Chronicles series by Gena Showalter. I believe there are just the two published ones so far, the third being, The Queen of Zombie Hearts - expected this year in September.
Again, the cover of Through the Zombie Glass is just awesome. These covers all seem to just have an amazing, magical, mysterious, creepy and eerily beautiful design. On the front the words 'Curiouser and Curiouser' are displayed on the bottom. - I like this added Alice in Wonderland touch.
This book begins on Halloween - which is a pretty cool setting for a Zombie book - in which she dresses as Alice in Wonderland for her costume (I thought this was actually kind of cool).
So far, however, the book seems to be simply a depiction of sexually frustrated and hormonal teenagers. There continues to be a lot of making out and sexual promiscuity. Ali continues to have inappropriate visions (with someone else this time!). I do hope this whole book isn't only a plethora of sexual content with 17 year olds - not only does it get annoying and uncomfortable, but it's honestly just inappropriate at times. I mean, Ali has been portrayed as a Christian at times - with her disdain for bad language and immorality with way girls dress - and yet she is completely fine with allowing a boy to touch her, tease her and get pretty close to having sex with her. (Perhaps I don't like this because of my own faith - however, I think my main annoyance is the hypocrisy and repetitive nature of these happenings).

'ZOMBIES STALK THE NIGHT. 

FORGET THE BLOOD AND BRAINS. THESE

MONSTERS HUNGER FOR HUMAN SOULS. 

SADLY, THEY'VE GOT MINE.... 

Alice Bell has lost so much. Family. Friends. A home. She thoughts she had nothing else to give. She was wrong. 

After a new zombie attack, strange things begin happening to her. Mirrors come to life, and the whispers of the dead assault her ears. But the worst? A terrible darkness blooms inside her, urging her to do very wicked things...'

Having said all the above. I am still excited to read this book and see what happens! I sincerely hope I enjoy this one (as I did the first). 

Alice in Zombieland - Gena Showalter (complete)

This book has gotten very mixed reviews from what I have seen. At first I was excited to read this, then apprehensive when I saw all these reviews about the book and the collective disappointment it seemed to come with from the lack of 'Alice in Wonderland'-ness. I have actually read Alice in Wonderland and I noticed quite a few similarities - small ones, but similarities nonetheless.
These similarities became more and more infrequent as the story continued, and Gena took over with - her own twist - personally, I'm not sure that was the best decision ever. I enjoyed looking for and noticing all these similarities - it excited me.
I appreciated the sarcastic humour of Gena's characters - Ali, in particular made me giggle several times. It has been written from Ali's point of view, so contains some hilarious and sarcastic thoughts which I quite enjoyed and could almost relate to (she's 17 I believe, I am 18 - but we have a similar sarcastic, smart alec kind of humour).
I found the book fun to read for the most part. She kept me guessing about what would happen next, for the most part. Some things were predictable, some things were really not. I found Gena used some serious cliches in her novel, which was slightly annoying. I mean the new girl, beautiful, something was different about her - falls for the bad boy, brooding in the corner with piercings and secrets on his lips - who hasn't heard that one before?? Some of the characters can be irritating at times, but then they can also be loveable.
Alice in Zombieland could be seen as repetitive. She and Cole's relationship is a little back and forth - having visions of them making out all the time... Then they would ACTUALLY make out all the time, she fights zombies, gets hurt, almost dies, gets saved. And the same thing happens the next time she fights them. Then the next.
I liked it enough that I would read the second one. I found myself still wanting to know what happened that I continued to read on. I was able to skim some of it. The text language (for texts written in the book) was annoying, but that is possibly because even though I'm a teenager, I use proper grammar and spelling in my communication. I think she was just trying to be relatable to American Teens - which she probably was with many.
Honestly. I did enjoy the book. Some things annoyed me as mentioned above. But ultimately, the book wasn't written badly by any means and I still wanted to read it, which is the sign of a successful book really.
I would give this one a 3 or possibly 3.5 out of 5.