Compared to Her - Sophie de Witt (complete)

I quite enjoyed this short little book. I have been reading a chapter a day with my normal Bible reading and devotionals in the morning and I liked it. This book is essentially about breaking down the way in which we compare ourselves to others, why we do it and how to stop it.
I think everyone has an issue with comparing themselves to others. Especially females. This book isn't a cure by any means - I don't think there will ever be one. But it talks about what God and the Bible say about comparing yourself to others - whether it's through pride and vanity as you see yourself above others, or through envy and despair looking up at others and yourself as a little nobody.
I found this book quite insightful. Not only do we compare ourselves with others based on our (and their) status, circumstance, appearance (my biggest one), but also with our spirituality and faith (for Christians).
I did learn a lot from this book, and I recommend giving it a read if you're a Christian struggling with CCS (compulsive comparison syndrome) - which, who isn't!? Even if you're not a Christian this will probably be worth a read as you will discover just how valuable you truly are! .. Much more than this world without God would have you to believe!
4/5

The Fault in Our Stars - John Green (complete)

I knew it wouldn't be long before I finished this one! I have literally read this in two sittings (I did eventually have to allow myself sleep).
He captures the beauty of teenager-ness so accurately and the confusion and excitement of one's first real love and how a teenager handles the effects of a disease such as cancer is boldly represented.
This book is sad. But I think everyone knows it's going to be when it's about cancer. But it is so impeccably written, that you're OK with that in the end.
There are so many thought-provoking ideas in this book and fantastic phrases that I just loved. The humour and wit is outstanding, the characters realistic and lovable, the story beautiful and painful.
I enjoyed this and I am definitely going to pick up some more John Green books to see how I fancy them.
5/5 for this one.

28/6/14 - UPDATE
I went and saw the movie last night! I love how they stayed really close to the book, the dialogue was almost exact in most places, and was in the most important places. I loved it. I laughed, I cried, I cried from laughing, I smiled like a dork, and I contorted my face into one of mystification and misery. It was all enjoyed. The actors were so well chosen and perfect. It was emotionally wrenching. If you have yet to see this, do it. You won't regret it. Also, I would recommend reading the book first. I feel like it's one where it matters a little more :)

The Fault in Our Stars - John Green

This book has gotten so much hype and I wanted to read it before the movie comes out in a month or two. Already, I love this book and how John Green writes. Augustus and Hazel's conversations are fantastic! So witty and intelligent, and I have laughed aloud many times.
It is an easy read and also extremely addictive.

'Despite the tumour-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.' 

I've heard so many good things about this book. I'm scared of the ending at the moment honestly because it is yet to be spoiled for me :P

I will have this one finished quite quickly I assume. I haven't been able to put it down yet :) 

Eva Trout - Elizabeth Bowen (complete)

Well, that was unexpected. Seriously, one of the most shocking endings to a book I have ever read.
This book was full of social awkwardness, hilarity, weirdness, unresolved quarrels, strange happenings, messed up relationships and some unexpected events and mysteries throughout.
Sometimes I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was unable to discontinue reading. However, at other points I was chronically confused and the whole thing seemed completely pointless.
However, by the end, I have to say that it really was a very well-written book and it contained quite a lot of very interesting, thought-provoking and wise comments and ideas.
I gave this 3/5 because even though I didn't enjoy it the whole time, that ending was brilliant. I mean, sad and frustrating, but still. When one doesn't see that happening even a little bit, it's a good ending! And still very well written with a lot of enjoyed moments. Hard to read at times, so if you struggle with reading older styled books and language, I wouldn't recommend this one.

Beautiful Darkness - Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

I am jumping straight into the next one! The last book was so extraordinarily good that I couldn't wait to start the next one! Luckily, I owned it :P My mother is reading the same series at the moment and she loves them - so this isn't only for teenagers!

'One night in the rain, Ethan Wate

opened his eyes and fell in love

with Lena Duchannes. 

His life would never be the same. 

Lena is a Caster and her family is locked in a supernatural civil war. On her sixteenth birthday Lena made a terrifying choice, which now haunts her day and night. 

And as her seventeenth birthday approaches Lena and Ethan face even greater danger. A Caster and a Mortal can never truly be together. 

Every kiss is a curse. 

Ethan's next heartbeat could be his last.

It is their curse now... ' 

Oooo!

Beautiful Creatures - Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (complete)

OK. This book was seriously FANTASTIC! Especially toward the end there. My heart was racing! I have definitely fallen in love with these weird and whacky characters and I think Lena and Ethan's relationship is really quite adorable. They captured this adorableness in the movie, but nothing else really. Most of the contents in the book wasn't in the movie at all - it was almost as though it was just a completely different story.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am SO EXCITED to read the next one! Beautiful Darkness is next. I do believe there is a 2.5 "filler" book before Beautiful Chaos and then Beautiful Redemption. I found it extremely difficult to put this book down. It was so enticing and just awesome really. I really liked the way it was written in the male protagonist's point of view also - I thought that was extremely interesting and a unique perspective.
5/5 for this lovely novel. I hope the others continue on with this high level of writing!!

Beautiful Creatures - Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

I am very excited to begin this book. I have heard that it is fantastic! I have seen the movie, but apparently those who were fans of the book didn't like the movie at all because they changed too much - and they didn't make any more movies, so I suppose it didn't do too well :P

'In Ethan Wate's hometown there lies the darkest secrets...

There was a girl. Slowly, she pulled the hood from her head... green eyes, black hair. Lena Duchannes. 

There is a curse. On the Sixteenth Moon, of the Sixteenth Year, the Book will take away what it's been promised. And no one can stop it. 

In the end, there is a grave. 

Lena and Ethan become bound together by a deep, powerful love. But Lena is cursed and, on her sixteenth birthday, he fate will be decided. Ethan never even saw it coming.'

This book, interestingly for a love story, is written in the male protagonist's point of view. And instead of chapters, there are dates. So far, it has already been an addictive read that I don't want to stop reading. I already love the characters and it's already SO different from the movie it's insane. I imagine I will like this book immensely :) 

Eva Trout - Elizabeth Bowen

One of my Vintage Classics collection :)

'Imposing, rich, unloved and with a genius for unreality; Eva Trout has a 'capacity for making trouble, attracting trouble, stewing trouble around her' that is endless. Eva Trout was Elizabeth Bowen's last completed novel, and in it her elegant style, her gift for social comedy and her intense sensibility combine to create one of her most formidable - and moving - heroines.' 

If that blurb doesn't give you enough reason to pick up this book and give it a go, I don't know what will! It promises to be quite a joy to read. 

The Book Thief - Markus Zusak (complete)

OK. I would go as far to say that this, The Book Thief, is my favourite book of all time. Never have I read such a book, or had such a reaction from a book.
This book was written so elegantly and so powerfully and so differently you'd be inhuman not to be captivated by its words. So beautiful and emotional. I even cried.
I don't even know what else to say. I absolutely loved this book. To have been written by death was an extremely intriguing and clever choice by Markus Zusak. The book is not written in chronological order, it goes from past to present to future and back again constantly - like a book of small stories then explains how they got there, then where they will go, and then back to where they are. And I loved that. And even though I knew what was going to happen before it happened (because Death explained beforehand) I still needed to read on.
Such an incredible and ambitious book.
Definitely 5/5, I would give it more if logic allowed it.
I am excited to see how the movie has been made with such a book.

The Prayer of Jabez for Teens - Bruce Wilkinson (complete)

This. Was such an incredible little book. So thought provoking and challenging. I have been having some trouble lately with feeling in-touch and close with God, and I think this book helped. I don't think it is the only thing I needed. But I think it helped me to realise what else I needed.
There are a lot of challenges in here and a lot of things that made me think about what I have been doing. It made want to do more. To do better. To grow more. And to pray this prayer.
Everything in here just got me so excited about such a journey with God and showed me how much I wanted it. It's one thing to know you want something. But it's another thing entirely to feel it. And this made me feel so much more than I ever have.
I want this. I want God to do such incredible things in my life. I want Him to use me and guide me. I want Him to see my light shining for Him.
Honestly, I find these things hard to say for some reason - as though these words make me vulnerable and weak. Which is precisely the point! He wants me vulnerable - that means I need Him. He wants me weak - that means I need Him. '...for my power is made perfect in weakness.' With my weakness, comes God's unimaginable power.
I think I'm ready for this. I'm scared and worried that I will fail. But I think that is a good thing. Take me on this Journey God. Please.
This is my prayer.

5/5