Books – Page 37 – as told by zaheerah

Monthly Rewind: May & June 2018

July 1, 2018July 1, 2018by Zaheerah4 Comments

I missed out on doing a May rewind because I was very mentally exhausted from finishing my first year of university that I didn’t even do much blog wise but I feel like I’ve jumped back from that dull feeling and I feel like I’m doing much better now! So I’ve quickly tacked on my May reads and music just so its documented.

B O O K S

M A Y

Restore Me by Tahereh Mafi | Song of Blood & Stone by L. Penelope | Skylarks by Karen Gregory

J U N E

There’s a big difference between me in a bad mood and a good mood and it can really be seen here. Haha.

Continue reading “Monthly Rewind: May & June 2018” →

Books, Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult/ Teen

Book Review: From Twinkle, With Love

June 29, 2018June 28, 2018by ZaheerahLeave a Comment

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

* I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This in no way affected my opinion of the book.

Told through letters to her favourite female filmmakers, Twinkle Mehra navigates her journey as she is approached to help direct a movie for her school’s upcoming festival. Wallflower Twinkle grabs at the chance of getting to show off her skills while using it as an opportunity to get closer to her long-time crush, Neil Roy. But she finds herself falling for her producer, Neil’s twin brother Sahil. Suddenly, a mystery person called “N” begins emailing her, Twinkle is dead set on it being Neil. Soon, everything spirals out of control but can Twinkle change the script in time?

Twinkle was such an adorable read. The characters are a bit younger than Menon’s debut characters, but you get the same feeling from this cast. Twinkle and Dimple share similar but different struggles when pursuing their passions so if you’re a fan of Menon’s first, you’ll definitely love this. There’s a lot to like in this book. The formatting was cute and worked well. The storyline with her family was one of the better parts of the book.

I enjoyed the dynamics of Twinkle and her friends. It’s more frenemy, but I liked how up and down the relationship went. It was a more realistic portrayal of teen groups in high schools. But I did feel like there was a lack of clarity as to why Maddie left Twinkle.

With everything that was good and enjoyable about this book, there was a lot that I didn’t enjoy. Everyone sort of becomes unbearable. Like all of them. Twinkle becomes really selfish and just belittles everyone around her and never really apologises for most of her behaviour even though she internally tells herself it wasn’t right to do that. And her stringing Sahil long when she begins to kind of date him even though she really just wants to date his popular twin brother, who literally doesn’t even know her. She uses him to try and shoe her way into the popular group, and her attitude towards everyone just didn’t make sense. She learns her lesson in the end, but that didn’t make it any better to read.

Overall, I’m glad I gave this book a chance since I wasn’t a huge of fan of When Dimple Met Rishi. I think I preferred Twinkle’s story over Dimple’s due to personal taste and how the plot developed and was wrapped up in the end. It was a fun, light read and great for the summer!

GOODREADS | THE BOOK DEPOSITORY | AUTHOR SITE

Books, top ten tuesday

Book Series I Don’t Plan to Finish

June 26, 2018June 26, 2018by Zaheerah2 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature once hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, but has now moved to That Artsy Reader Girl! Each week, a new topic is put into place and bloggers share their top ten (or your own amount) accordingly.

I have a habit of starting book series and never finishing them. Sometimes I just forget to continue the series (this happens a lot, especially if I didn’t enjoy the first) but I do try and continue onto the second book which is really where the make or break moment happens for me. But I think these are five series I definitely don’t plan to continue.

1. The Shadowhunter Chronicles by Cassandra Clare

I’ve only really read The Mortal Instruments series of this collection. But I really have no intention to continuing onto the other stories and series within this world. I hear her newer pieces are much better and more thrilling but, sadly, I don’t have any interest in the Shadowhunter series anymore.

2. The Selection by Kiera Cass

This series is truly the ‘we could’ve had it all’ series for me. I stopped after the third book and I chose not to continue into the series where it follows the main lead’s daughter. But I was so disappointed by this series. There was so much hidden potential that was just wasted and I think I’ll always be disappointed by this in the end.

3. The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

Actually, this series is a maybe I’ll pick it up or maybe I won’t. Very much depends on if have the time. Cinder was an alright read for me and this series is so loved which makes me want to finish it but I just don’t have the energy and time for it at the moment.

4. The Folk of the Air by Holly Black

The lack of feeling I had for Cruel Prince was disappointing. I’m in search of a fairy series but I was disappointed by how uninteresting this was. I usually hold on until book two but here I didn’t even to 50% before deciding the series wasn’t for me.

5. The Nightside Saga by Tristina Wright

I think in the review of 27 Hours I was going to read the second but my interest in this is gone after hearing about Tristina. All interest is gone.

There’s probably loads more to this list that I can think of (like the Hunter series, Kricket series or The Queen of the Tearling) But I’m very strapped for time at the moment so couldn’t spend more time on this post.

What’s on your TTT this week? Leave me a link or let me know in the comments! 🤗

Books, Contemporary, Graphic Novels, Other

Book Review: Amazing Women

June 25, 2018June 21, 2018by ZaheerahLeave a Comment

Rating: ★★★✰✰ (3/5)

* I received a physical copy of this book from the publisher. This in no way affected my opinion of the book.

Amazing Women spotlights a unique collection of female figures with a focus on British women. It features a vast variety of women in different fields from the sciences to the arts, including the lives of many women.

The illustration of this book is adorable. Sarah Green has a style that I just love and which worked well with this book. And I liked how the book is divided which highlighted the different areas in which these women contributed to society, highlighting older and new voices.

I believe this book can be inspiring to girl and women from all backgrounds and shows the diversity of women that did amazing things. I would say this is quite a cute book with unbiased overviews of every woman and their achievements. I loved the adorable designs and illustrations. I understand its need to be unbiased but I most likely would’ve never picked this book up when I can clearly see women on here I don’t personally agree with supporting.

GOODREADS |AMAZON

Adult, Books, Other, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Book Review: The Poppy War

June 23, 2018June 20, 2018by Zaheerah1 Comment

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

* I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This in no way affected my opinion of the book.

Rin is only sixteen when she passes the Keju, the Empire-wide test to find the best and brightest, and enters the Academy to escape an arranged marriage and finally prove herself worthy. However, passing the test and training at the academy, Rin learns, are two opposite things. Once she is there, she instantly targeted for her skin, her poverty and her gender. A war orphan from the Rooster Province should not last a day in the Academy. While a war grows between the Empire and the Federation of Mugen, Rin’s powers may be the only thing that can save her people. Until she learns that she holds a skill that could cost her the price of her humanity.

I do not doubt that this book will top most end of year lists. Believe the hype. It is truly worth it.

Check the content warnings at the end because The Poppy War is not a dull read. It is fast-paced, bloody and detailed with its scenes of violence. Fang ‘Rin’ Runin is an ambitious war orphan who blackmails her way into the Keju examination and is forced to contend with students whose privilege put their experience years before her own. Her drive to do better and take a reign in her life is compelling and fantastic to read.

The cast of characters we interact with are extraordinarily diverse and intricately detailed with complex and unique characterisations. You hate them on one page but slowly sympathise with the next. Their choices are dangerous but realistic. The story is uncomfortable but so real to read.

Many scenes are, I warn, very, very dark. Horrifically violent that felt physically ill to read at multiple points. If you have looked into the book world, The Poppy War is everywhere. Moreover, rightfully so. However, take note before you jump into this book.

The scale and depth of The Poppy War make this book nothing short of a masterpiece. The strong world-building with its detailed and crafted characters as they try to survive this brutal and devastating world.

I’m excited to see where it will go from here and what we will expect to see in future novels. Watch out for this series. It’s here to stay.

GOODREADS | THE BOOK DEPOSITORY | AUTHOR SITE

Trigger/Content Warnings: self-harm, suicide, rape, sexual assault, murder, genocide, massacres, torture, mutilation, drug abuse, ableism, physical and emotional abuse.

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