The day has finally arrived! J. K. Rowling has announced she has written a non-Potter, adult novel. This is big news, as you would expect, as it's her first novel outside of the Potter series. As a huge Potter fan, I've always been on the side of the fence that doesn't want a new Potter book, just because I feel that story is done and the ending was satisfying enough, and to go back to it wouldn't accomplish anything. Of course I love the story and the characters, and re-reading Deathly Hallows and getting to the end is just heartbreaking, but the time has come for something new!
I'm an avid reader anyway, and so the prospect if something completely different to the Potter books doesn't scare me. But what am I hoping for/expecting from her mystery new book? With no title or genre yet released, it's speculating time!
1. Genre: I'm pretty much open to anything, but what I'm expecting is along the lines of contemporary fiction or crime fiction. A blog on the Guardian website explores the latter option more thoroughly, and I think a crime novel would be a great way to go. The Potter books contained a lot of mystery and suspense and huge reveals, so I think her writing style would suit the genre perfectly.
2. Main character: Personally I'm hoping for a female perspective for her next novel. Potter proved she could write incredibly strong female characters, and yet we never got to get inside their heads. What better than a lead female character written by JKR who has the whole story to herself?!
3. The hype: So Twitter pretty much blew up yesterday when the news was announced, and that was only the announcement that a book exists. Her website has been replaces with a screen allowing you to sign up for email updates (which I've done, naturally) and she's tweeted about it (a rarity) so what's next? Clues to the title like Potter books? Midnight releases? (I hope so!)
4. Series or standalone: I was talking about this with a friend after the news was announced. Of course Potter was a series and so the end of each book came with an expectation of more, but what about this one? If it ventures into the crime genre then that leaves an opportunity for more novels. I think a standalone book would be interesting, though.
5. Writing style: We've all come to love JKR's style over the course of 7 books, and although the latter Potter books were not strictly children's books, I'm really excited to see how her writing fares when aimed at adults. Will it still feel like JKR?
There's so much more to think about, but those are just my initial ramblings. I'm so excited for this book!
Read more over on HogwartsRadio.com.
Until next time,
Sarah x
Friday, 24 February 2012
Monday, 13 February 2012
House Highlights
One of my favourite TV shows, House, is to come to an end, as announced by the producers last week. I'm so sad! It really is a TV gem and one of the few American shows I've actually dedicated the time and effort to stick with, not wanting to miss a single episode. It was whilst I was ill that I started watching this show, and I am forever grateful to Channel 5 for putting it on in the middle of the day, where I happened to catch it accidentally whilst flicking through the usual daytime rubbish!
For this blog post I thought I'd list some of my favourite House episodes, those which really stand out for their absolute genius. Spoilers ahoy!
Three Stories - Series One - As House faces the moral dilemma of having to treat his ex-girlfriend's husband, we slowly start to learn more about House himself and the limp which dominates his life and fuels his drug addiction. A great look into the character of House, and an episode you'll want to re-watch immediately.
Euphoria Parts One and Two - Series 2 - If having any old patient facing life threatening, mysterious illnesses each week with a countdown to diagnose them keeping the tension up isn't exciting enough, then throw in one of House's own team falling ill with the mystery illness and you've got yourself one perfect drama! As Foreman battles against the symptoms which are slowly killing him, the rest of House's team must fight to save him, which is made tougher by Cameron and Foreman's ongoing animosity.
No Reason - Series 2 Finale - This episodes starts of as exciting as it gets really, with House getting shot. Over the course of the episode we see House's recovery, as he is forced to lie next to his attacker in a bed in his own hospital. Is all what it seems? Of course not! The twist at the end of this episode is one of the stand out moments for me, as I recall exactly just how shocked I was when I first watched this episode! Not seen it? Stop reading, now. The series ends with House's epiphany of how to potentially rid himself of his leg pain, after a dream sequence to put all other dream sequences to shame.
House's Head and Wilson's Heart - Series 4 Finale - House is involved in a bus crash and has to slowly piece together what happens and fill in the blanks in his memory. Being House, he knows something is amiss and so recovering from a head injury, goes on a mission to find out what really happens. Why did the bus crash, and more importantly, who was he with on the bus? Probably the best ever House episode, as you grab the box of tissues and mourn the loss of a character you never expected you would mourn, or even want to mourn.
Birth Marks - Series 5 - Let me hear you say road trip! Wilson and House head out to House's father's funeral, a task made harder by the fact that the two's relationship is still fraught after events at the end of series 4. This episode shows just what a great relationship these two characters have, even if they don't notice it themselves sometimes!
Both Sides Now - Series 5 Finale - One of the most defining episodes of House, that will change his future for ever. We've seen him battle drug addiction over the past 5 series, but now everything comes to a head. Will House be able to admit what's wrong and change for the better? Another one of those "I didn't see that coming!" endings, on a par of that in the series 2 finale. Also, the Huddy shipper in you will have you screaming "No!" if you're at all like me.
Help Me - Series 6 Finale - Although those sneaky House writers may have teased the audience at the end of series 5, series 6 is everything you want from the House/Cuddy storyline, as we finally get somewhere with those two! As the two of them attend the disaster scene of a fallen crane, there are lives to be saved, patients with legs to be amputated and Cuddy's engagement to address. A true roller coaster episode.
Those are just some of my House highlights, and reading those has made me realise just how much I'll miss this show when it's gone. Let's hope it goes out with a bang!
Until next time,
Sarah x
For this blog post I thought I'd list some of my favourite House episodes, those which really stand out for their absolute genius. Spoilers ahoy!
Three Stories - Series One - As House faces the moral dilemma of having to treat his ex-girlfriend's husband, we slowly start to learn more about House himself and the limp which dominates his life and fuels his drug addiction. A great look into the character of House, and an episode you'll want to re-watch immediately.
Euphoria Parts One and Two - Series 2 - If having any old patient facing life threatening, mysterious illnesses each week with a countdown to diagnose them keeping the tension up isn't exciting enough, then throw in one of House's own team falling ill with the mystery illness and you've got yourself one perfect drama! As Foreman battles against the symptoms which are slowly killing him, the rest of House's team must fight to save him, which is made tougher by Cameron and Foreman's ongoing animosity.
No Reason - Series 2 Finale - This episodes starts of as exciting as it gets really, with House getting shot. Over the course of the episode we see House's recovery, as he is forced to lie next to his attacker in a bed in his own hospital. Is all what it seems? Of course not! The twist at the end of this episode is one of the stand out moments for me, as I recall exactly just how shocked I was when I first watched this episode! Not seen it? Stop reading, now. The series ends with House's epiphany of how to potentially rid himself of his leg pain, after a dream sequence to put all other dream sequences to shame.
House's Head and Wilson's Heart - Series 4 Finale - House is involved in a bus crash and has to slowly piece together what happens and fill in the blanks in his memory. Being House, he knows something is amiss and so recovering from a head injury, goes on a mission to find out what really happens. Why did the bus crash, and more importantly, who was he with on the bus? Probably the best ever House episode, as you grab the box of tissues and mourn the loss of a character you never expected you would mourn, or even want to mourn.
Birth Marks - Series 5 - Let me hear you say road trip! Wilson and House head out to House's father's funeral, a task made harder by the fact that the two's relationship is still fraught after events at the end of series 4. This episode shows just what a great relationship these two characters have, even if they don't notice it themselves sometimes!
Both Sides Now - Series 5 Finale - One of the most defining episodes of House, that will change his future for ever. We've seen him battle drug addiction over the past 5 series, but now everything comes to a head. Will House be able to admit what's wrong and change for the better? Another one of those "I didn't see that coming!" endings, on a par of that in the series 2 finale. Also, the Huddy shipper in you will have you screaming "No!" if you're at all like me.
Help Me - Series 6 Finale - Although those sneaky House writers may have teased the audience at the end of series 5, series 6 is everything you want from the House/Cuddy storyline, as we finally get somewhere with those two! As the two of them attend the disaster scene of a fallen crane, there are lives to be saved, patients with legs to be amputated and Cuddy's engagement to address. A true roller coaster episode.
Those are just some of my House highlights, and reading those has made me realise just how much I'll miss this show when it's gone. Let's hope it goes out with a bang!
Until next time,
Sarah x
Saturday, 11 February 2012
A Bit of YA Inspiration
I thought I’d do a little blog post on my writing progress, as it’s a subject I haven’t touched on much since NaNoWriMo! So far I’ve found the editing stage to be quite frustrating, which isn’t helped by the fact I really struggle with opening sentences and paragraphs. I wanted to go through and edit my NaNo novel chapter by chapter, but so far chapter one just isn’t sounding how I’d like it yet. In the mean time I’ve started a few other stories, when bursts of inspiration hit me! These include a story about a teenager with M.E, something I’ve wanted to write about for a long time. Also, I’ve recently started a young adult supernatural story, something I never thought I’d write about, but having branched out into the young adult urban fantasy genre in my reading during the past year or so, I felt inspired to dive in there myself!
I’ll own up, with no shame, to being a huge fan of YA fiction. I honestly think it’s some of the best written fiction out there, from the plot to the humour, plus with my health problems I find the writing style a lot more accessible and comfortable to read. I don’t think an “easy-read” has to be a slight, or an insult on a novel. I’m not a book snob, I’ll read pretty much anything, but I find contemporary and teen fiction a lot easier on my tired brain, and a lot of the time more enjoyable, too. This is probably the reason that when I started writing, I immediately wanted to write for that genre. It’s my comfort zone, and I figured I might as well start writing from a teenager’s point of view whilst I can still remember being one!
Here’s a selection of YA urban fantasy/supernatural novels I’ve read over the past year, along with a plot description and my rating from Goodreads (http://www.goodreads.com/thatsizgirl). I’d highly recommend them all!
Dreaming of Amelia by Jaclyn Moriarty – My rating: 4*
Amelia and Riley have transferred to Ashbury for their final year of school, and everyone is completely obsessed with them. Glamorous, talented and totally devoted to one another, the two of them drift through school in their own world. But there's more to the couple than meets the eye - they have secrets. And some of them are dangerous to share. As Riley starts to lose his grip on Amelia, the repercussions affect everyone around them.
A spellbinding story about ghosts, secrets, madness, passion, locked doors, femme fatales, and that terrifying moment in the final year of high school when you realise that the future's coming to get you.
The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong – My rating: 5*
All Chloe Saunders wants is a life like any normal teenager – the chance to get through school, make friends, and maybe meet a boy. But when she starts seeing ghosts, she knows that life will never be the same again.
Soon the ghosts are everywhere, demanding her attention. When Chloe finally breaks down, she’s admitted to a group home for disturbed kids. At first Lyle House seems okay, but as she gets to know the other patients – charming Simon and his ominous, unsmiling brother Derek, obnoxious Tori, and Rae, who has a 'thing' for fire – Chloe begins to realise that something strange and sinister binds them all together, and it isn’t your usual ‘problem kid’ behaviour.
And they’re about to discover that Lyle House is not your usual group home, either...
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare – My rating: 4*
'It's after dark in New York City, and Clary Fray is seeing things. The best looking guy in the nightclub just stabbed a boy to death - but the victim has vanished into thin air. Her mother has disappeared, and a hideous monster is lurking in her apartment. With her life spiralling into darkness, Clary realizes that she has stumbled into an invisible war between ancient demonic forces and the secretive Shadowhunters - a war in which she has a fateful role to play...
The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson – My rating: 5*
The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.
Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.
You can find my full reviews of these books on my Goodreads page (note: I tend to keep my reviews short and sweet, honest and personal!). Currently I'm reading An Abundance of Katherines by John Green, another YA author whose books I'm discovering a love for! My "thing worth sharing" would simply be The Fault In Our Stars by John Green, go get your hands on a copy :) You won't regret it!
Until next time,
Sarah x
I’ll own up, with no shame, to being a huge fan of YA fiction. I honestly think it’s some of the best written fiction out there, from the plot to the humour, plus with my health problems I find the writing style a lot more accessible and comfortable to read. I don’t think an “easy-read” has to be a slight, or an insult on a novel. I’m not a book snob, I’ll read pretty much anything, but I find contemporary and teen fiction a lot easier on my tired brain, and a lot of the time more enjoyable, too. This is probably the reason that when I started writing, I immediately wanted to write for that genre. It’s my comfort zone, and I figured I might as well start writing from a teenager’s point of view whilst I can still remember being one!
Here’s a selection of YA urban fantasy/supernatural novels I’ve read over the past year, along with a plot description and my rating from Goodreads (http://www.goodreads.com/thatsizgirl). I’d highly recommend them all!
Dreaming of Amelia by Jaclyn Moriarty – My rating: 4*
Amelia and Riley have transferred to Ashbury for their final year of school, and everyone is completely obsessed with them. Glamorous, talented and totally devoted to one another, the two of them drift through school in their own world. But there's more to the couple than meets the eye - they have secrets. And some of them are dangerous to share. As Riley starts to lose his grip on Amelia, the repercussions affect everyone around them.
A spellbinding story about ghosts, secrets, madness, passion, locked doors, femme fatales, and that terrifying moment in the final year of high school when you realise that the future's coming to get you.
The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong – My rating: 5*
All Chloe Saunders wants is a life like any normal teenager – the chance to get through school, make friends, and maybe meet a boy. But when she starts seeing ghosts, she knows that life will never be the same again.
Soon the ghosts are everywhere, demanding her attention. When Chloe finally breaks down, she’s admitted to a group home for disturbed kids. At first Lyle House seems okay, but as she gets to know the other patients – charming Simon and his ominous, unsmiling brother Derek, obnoxious Tori, and Rae, who has a 'thing' for fire – Chloe begins to realise that something strange and sinister binds them all together, and it isn’t your usual ‘problem kid’ behaviour.
And they’re about to discover that Lyle House is not your usual group home, either...
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare – My rating: 4*
The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson – My rating: 5*
The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.
Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.
You can find my full reviews of these books on my Goodreads page (note: I tend to keep my reviews short and sweet, honest and personal!). Currently I'm reading An Abundance of Katherines by John Green, another YA author whose books I'm discovering a love for! My "thing worth sharing" would simply be The Fault In Our Stars by John Green, go get your hands on a copy :) You won't regret it!
Until next time,
Sarah x
Sunday, 5 February 2012
Snow!
Ok, so when it comes to snow I turn into a six year old and get majorly excited! Most of this excitement is when the snow is falling, and I can't help but sit by my window and take in the view. I honestly think falling snow is one of the most beautiful things to look at <3 But when it comes to going out in it, I have to take advantage because there have been times where I just wasn't well enough, and it feels like I'll never make up for those torturous years where all I could do was look upon the snow from afar and not go out and play in it.
The past few years we have had more than our fair share of snow, and I was starting to fear that this would be a rare snow-less winter, but yesterday the snow just didn't stop falling and by evening it was pretty thick. I've been out a few times, which has resulted in very tired legs and a very tired Sarah so I think I've had my fill for now. But this is yet another thing that has made me happy this week!
The past few years we have had more than our fair share of snow, and I was starting to fear that this would be a rare snow-less winter, but yesterday the snow just didn't stop falling and by evening it was pretty thick. I've been out a few times, which has resulted in very tired legs and a very tired Sarah so I think I've had my fill for now. But this is yet another thing that has made me happy this week!Now if it could just disappear before I have to go out for my CAB appointment tomorrow that would be great ;) Shaky legs on icy ground isn't a good combination!
Wherever you are, stay warm and stay safe!
Until next time,
Sarah x
Friday, 3 February 2012
Why So Serious?
Recently I've been coming to post blogs on here, writing them up and then saving them as drafts, never to see the light of day. I've figured out the main reason behind this is because I wanted this to be a serious blog, with proper topics and well argued points, but frankly I just don't have the energy right now ;) I'm just getting over a cold (which are hell when you have M.E!) and I'm just about to start my DLA appeal (many attempted blogs ranting about the government, but I can't justify posting a blog post that is 100% RAGE) so I want to focus my mind on happier things ;) Here are some things that have made me happy this week :)
1. The Hunger Games trailer got released this week! A brand new shiny one. I loved The Hunger Games when I read the series last year, and since then friends of mine have read it and everyone seems to be hooked. I honestly can't wait for the film!
2. Charity shop bargains! Recently St Leonard's Hospice opened a charity shop near where I live, and so I popped in for the first time this week. The shop is lovely, and had a great selections of things, especially books! I'm a huge bookworm but due to previously mentioned DLA appeal don't have the opportunity to buy every book I would like at the moment. But when I went in I managed to find a load of books that interested me, for 50p each! And I'm supporting charity :) why not stop by your local charity shop?
3. My volunteer job! Back in December I started a new volunteer job for AYME who I've been volunteering for for over a year now. I love it, and it's a great way to build my skills and keep me busy whilst I'm still to unwell for paid work :)
4. A Storm of Swords: Steel and Snow. I got the Song of Ice and Fire box set for Christmas, and am currently on the third book in the series :) they're pretty big books but I'm struggling to put this one down at the moment, so gripping!
5. F.R.I.E.N.D.S. So the show may have finished years ago but this show is my pick-me-up, no matter how many times I've seen the episodes, they still have me crying with laughter! There is something funnier than Friends, though. That's right - Friends bloopers!
That's all for now, but I'll try and do more posts like this in future <3
Until next time,
Sarah x
1. The Hunger Games trailer got released this week! A brand new shiny one. I loved The Hunger Games when I read the series last year, and since then friends of mine have read it and everyone seems to be hooked. I honestly can't wait for the film!
2. Charity shop bargains! Recently St Leonard's Hospice opened a charity shop near where I live, and so I popped in for the first time this week. The shop is lovely, and had a great selections of things, especially books! I'm a huge bookworm but due to previously mentioned DLA appeal don't have the opportunity to buy every book I would like at the moment. But when I went in I managed to find a load of books that interested me, for 50p each! And I'm supporting charity :) why not stop by your local charity shop?
3. My volunteer job! Back in December I started a new volunteer job for AYME who I've been volunteering for for over a year now. I love it, and it's a great way to build my skills and keep me busy whilst I'm still to unwell for paid work :)
4. A Storm of Swords: Steel and Snow. I got the Song of Ice and Fire box set for Christmas, and am currently on the third book in the series :) they're pretty big books but I'm struggling to put this one down at the moment, so gripping!
5. F.R.I.E.N.D.S. So the show may have finished years ago but this show is my pick-me-up, no matter how many times I've seen the episodes, they still have me crying with laughter! There is something funnier than Friends, though. That's right - Friends bloopers!
That's all for now, but I'll try and do more posts like this in future <3
Until next time,
Sarah x
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