March Wrap Up (2019)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

And because it's the end of March, it's time for my wrap up! I'm talking about all the reading I've done this month, all the films I've watched, and all the things I've got up to!

Enjoy!

-What I Read-

I read a total of 4 books this month!

1. Noughts Forever, by Malorie Blackman

This may only be a World Book Day short story, but when I saw what it was, when it was set, and who was in it, it was a story I couldn't pass up. Malorie Blackman is one of my all time favourite authors, maybe even my favourite author, and for those that have read the Noughts & Crosses series, this takes place right after the events of Double Cross. Not only that, but it includes the first chapter of Crossfire, her upcoming novel that is out in June. I flew through this in one day and the moment I opened the first page, it all came flooding back.

2. Muse of Nightmares (Strange the Dreamer #2), by Laini Taylor

Although I didn't choose this myself, I stick by my word, and I picked Muse of Nightmares next. Although the story didn't go in the direction I was expecting, it was still an epic conclusion to the Strange the Dreamer duology. Not only that, it was my first TBR Jar challenge that I completed this year! Muse of Nightmares was action-packed, with new characters, and a whole new plot direction that I thoroughly enjoyed reading about. Not only that, but I got to see a heck of a lot more of the world than I did in Strange the Dreamer. An epic conclusion to the duology.

3. Pet Sematary, by Stephen King

Yet another TBR Jar Challenge achieved! My boyfriend gave me this because he wanted to watch the film, but he found the book for me first. Not a bad read if I'm being honest, it was just under 400 pages, so it was a quick-ish read, took me just over a week. It wasn't as polished as IT was, but it was still a decent read, full of horror and gore. What I also liked about this book is that horror wasn't shoved down your throat at every turn. It's what give it that sinister edge, the fact that something can go so dark with such a normal family.

4. The Sun Is Also A Star, by Nicola Yoon

I started this on Monday, and finished this on Thursday. Going into this, I knew that I would 1)fly through it, same as I did with Everything Everything, and 2)that I would at the very least really enjoy it. And I was right on both counts. I might not have enjoyed it as much as Everything Everything, but it's still a decent novel about love and family. If you haven't picked this up yet, I recommend that you do, especially if you are a YA romance fan.

-What I Watched-

The Madeleine McCann Documentary on Netflix

I'm only a couple episodes into this documentary, but it already looks quite interesting. The whole world is obsessing about this documentary, and I've heard some interesting theories and ideas about what happened to Madeleine. I'll keep watching, and hopefully I'll come up with my own theory.

Backstage

I'm literally watching this while I'm typing this. I watched the first season some time last year, and I got the urge to go back and re-watch it. But when I went back to watch it, I saw that Season 2 is up there as well!

If you haven't watched Backstage, it's about a school for Performing Arts, and all the students in it. It's got quite a young feeling, but it gets really good insanely fast. If you like watching dance, art, design and music, I recommend this show!

Dragonball Z

This is getting so good right I literally can't stop watching it. Every time we put it on, we get through like 4/5 every night. I'm on the edge of my seat every time it's on, both excited and nervous at the same time. Highly recommend anyone who likes videogames and or violence.

A Quiet Place

Although it wasn't the horror I was expecting, I thought that the characters were very well cast, the music was very well done, and that it was just a solid horror movie. You were rooting for the family to survive, even though the most horrific of events. I recommend if you are a fan of horror, or you think you might enjoy this film.

Oceans 8

I watched this film last year, you can read all my in-depth thoughts here. But this is like an all female, Six of Crows, for all my Six of Crows fans out there. They pull off a seemingly impossible heist, besting even the smartest of minds, all with a misfit bunch of females. It's one of the most epic films I've seen in my life.

Pet Sematary

The first thing I'm going to say about this film is: it's really dated. Even though the book is only 380 odd pages, it only shows the bare minimum. It was accurate enough, but I was kind of disappointed by what I was watching. I'm incredibly excited that they are remaking this film, because I wasn't impressed by this adaptation.

-What I Wrote-

Nothing. Absolutely nothing (besides this blog.)

But, I would like to mention, that I've started sending instalments of my book to beta readers!

(Finally got over the fear of getting criticisms from other people! Yay!)

Also, if you want to be a beta reader, send me a message on my twitter (@TheWorldIsBooks)

or my Instagram (Same name as my Blog.)

Okay! So that is my March Wrap Up (2019)! I hope you enjoyed it, and I will see you on Monday with my April TBR (2019)!

I hope you have a lovely weekend full of reading, and I will see you soon!

Byeeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

Books/Series I Doubt I'll Pick Up

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

It's been a while since I posted a list, so I thought I'd list the books I doubt I'll pick up, ever!

Enjoy!

1. The "Anna and the French Kiss" trilogy

Nothing against this trilogy, I just genuinely think that it wouldn't mesh well with me. I tend to have a limit on cutesy romance and I think that this trilogy might just exceed that. If anybody loves this trilogy and would like me to try it, then let me know in the comments. It's unlikely I'll change my mind, but I might be convinced!

2. The Astonishing Colour of After, by Emily X R Pan

I started reading this last autumn, and I got maybe 70 pages in before I DNF'ed it. And I can say, with a fair amount of confidence, that I am never going to pick this novel up again. As much as some people may have loved this novel, because of it's mystery and the journey of the protagonist to make sense of their heritage, it was just too slow to me.

3. The "Renegades" trilogy, by Marissa Meyer

Although I love Marissa Meyer and her novels, I get the feeling that I won't be into this series as much as the others. The hype is real for these novels, make no joke. But there's something about the blurb that just doesn't gel well with me.

4. The Selection series/trilogy by Kiera Cass

There have been some mixed reviews about this series, and I have never expressed any interest in this series, nor am I going to. Although I'm sure it's very good, it's not a series' I think I'll be picking up any time soon.

5. Hollow City

Library of Souls

Having read the first one, I can say that I highly doubt that I will be picking up the next two. It seemed like the story was created to fit the pictures into them. There wasn't much to the story until the very end and I was left bored. Sorry for all the people that love this trilogy, but I was very underwhelmed.

Okay! So that was my list! I hope you enjoyed it, and feel free to let me know in the comments what you doubt you'll ever pick up!

I hope you have a wonderful day, and I'll see you soon.

Byeee!

-Abi xxxxx

On the Come Up, by Angie Thomas

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

It's been a while since I've posted a review, so I thought I'd kick things off with a bang!

Here's my review of Angie Thomas' second book, On the Come Up!

Hope you enjoy it!

Title: On the Come Up

Author: Angie Thomas

Genre: Hard-hitting contemporary

Release date: 7th February, 2019

Status: Standalone

Pages: 435

Blurb: "Sixteen-year-old Bri wants to be one of the

greatest rappers of all time. It's hard to get your

come up, though, when your labelled 'trouble'

at school and your fridge at home is empty after

your mom loses her job. But Bri's success is all

that stands between her family and homelessness,

so she doesn't just want to- she has to.

Even if it means becoming exactly what the

public expects her to be."

My Thoughts

How does a book even compare to the success of The Hate U Give? Picking up this book, I was genuinely sceptical about whether I would love this book as much as I did it's predecessor. I'll tell you something. I had nothing to worry about. I'm not going to say that it was exactly the same as The Hate U Give, every book is unique. It had similarities between the structure of The Hate U Give, even went as far as to interweave specific points of THUG into the story. But it was a different type of story. The characters were different; the issues introduced were different; and this time, there were conflicting factors that meshed into the overall story.

Writing and venting my thoughts, even now, it's all coming rushing back. This book was amazing. There's nothing that I love more than some family subplots, and family, loyalties and hope was such a recurring theme in this novel, and because it didn't have the picture of the perfect family, it made it that much easier to delve into Bri's life.

Another aspect that I loved about Bri and her life, was the passion to take the risk and follow her dream, even though there's still other people trying to encourage you to do well and try hard in school, make the most of your education while you still can.

Not to mention, the pressure to live up to what people think of you, whether they're thinking true things or not.

One thing that I will say is that Angie Thomas is so smart in the way she weaves her story, it's like each subplot is balanced within the story, nothing is over-used, they each have that time in the story when it's the main plot, and that's subplot is being brought front and centre, and all the time, the story is being weaved into a perfect tornado of characters, tension, plot and funny/heartfelt/mad moments.

When it comes to the writing, one word I will use to describe it is definitely, intriguing. I was constantly intrigued, as to what was going to happen to Bri, her friends and her family within the next chapter. Whether Bri will get her Come Up, whether it'll all come crashing down around them.

Overall, a fantastic book. If there's one book up that you pick up this year, make it this one.

Let me know your comments down below, we can have a right natter about it.

Right! That is my post for today, I hope you have a wonderful weekend, and I'll see you all on Monday!

Byeeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx