A Summer Break Reading Challange…

by Zoë.Bestel on July 28, 2010

I noticed this on a friends blog (Love Reading X) and thought I’d have a go at ‘making’ my own virtual book.

What you have to do:

1. Go to ‘Fake Name Generator‘ The name that appears is your author name.

2. Go to ‘Random Word Generator‘ The word listed under ‘Random Verb’ is your title.

3. Go to ‘FlickrCC‘ Type your title into the search box. The first photo that contains a person is your cover.

4. Use Picnik or something similar to put it all together. Be sure to crop and/or zoom in.

5. Write a short synopsis to go along with it.

Here is my ‘book’

(Pictures with help from snazzy computer dad)

Run by Keira B. Barlette

Avalible in Paperback or Hardback…lol


The gunshot rang through my ears. I stood there, a bead of sweat trickled down my forehead. I fell against the wall behind me, too shocked to move. I watched as the limp body fell to the ground. A lump formed in my throat, making it even harder to breath. My brain felt like it was scattered into a millions pieces. What should I do? Where should I go?  I pulled in a gasp of air. I knew one thing. That this was it. I was the only one left and they knew where I was hiding. All I could do was what I do best, what I was known for, the way I escaped out of everything and anything that life threw at me…

Run.

What do you think? Would you pick this up and want to read it in real life? Tell me in comments.

VN:F [1.8.9_1076]
Rating: 10.0/10 (2 votes cast)
VN:F [1.8.9_1076]
Rating: +1 (from 1 vote)

{ 4 comments }

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

by Zoë.Bestel on July 22, 2010

My first summer read was a book I was extremly looking forward to reading. After reading thousands upon thousands of ‘You have to read this book’ on other Book Blogs I finally headed off to my favourite bookshop and bought my copy of Shiver.

After finishing the last book of the Twilight Saga in Janurary, I thought I would never find a book that would match up to it. But, after a (very) long time, I found Shiver and I am extremely glad I did.

Shiver is this amazing love story about Grace and a mysterious, yellow-eyed boy called Sam. It has been six years of watching eachother from a distance, then one hug changes Grace’s life forever. Meanwhile a local boy gets killed by wolves and proves Grace’s theory, revealing the truth behind Sam’s yellow-eyes, forcing Grace to help Sam stay with her through the ‘death’ chilling cold.

It is an amazingly written book by an amazing author and I really enjoyed reading it. It was so sad, lovely but intense and at times got me so emotional, I cried. Which for an author, is an amazing compliment! (I think?!)

So if you are into romance, drama and wolves, then this book is your kind of book. But if you are going to read it have a box of tissues at the ready – you will need them!

Oh and one more thing. Please, please remember ‘Just because a book has the same creature in it, doesn’t necessarily make them similar’ – quoted from a friend on twitter. It’s very important!

VN:F [1.8.9_1076]
Rating: 10.0/10 (4 votes cast)
VN:F [1.8.9_1076]
Rating: +2 (from 2 votes)

{ 0 comments }

Summer is here…

by Zoë.Bestel on July 2, 2010

…finally, YEY!

My summer holidays have just started and already I am reading non-stop. Since I have about eight weeks off, I am going to pick eight books to read. It might be tricky but I will try and pick ones that are not as big Host by Stephanie Meyer. (Which, a while ago, I said I would review once I have finished it – I still am not finished!) So I will be reading eight books each week and hopefully you will get a review for each one and by the end of the summer I will have made my own Top Eight Summer Reads.

Right I’m off with my cup of tea to find a comfy seat to start reading!

TTFN

VN:F [1.8.9_1076]
Rating: 8.7/10 (7 votes cast)
VN:F [1.8.9_1076]
Rating: +1 (from 1 vote)

{ 4 comments }

The Name of This Book is Secret – Teaser

by Zoë.Bestel on May 4, 2010

A bookish meme created by MizB from Should be Reading.

I am supporting this great idea and doing it myself. So here is my teaser of the book I’m re-reading, The Name of This Book is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch  (Not his real name!)

“Chapter One and a Half

Apologia*

*An apologia, if you’re wondering, is not a variety of insect. Neither is it a type of tropical disease. It’s an Apology. In other words, its not worth the paper it’s written on.”

Okay I understand that isn’t exactly a teaser, it’s a start of the chapter, but then it is almost a teaser of some sort…

Anyway. This is me re-reading this book, which I read about a year ago and really enjoyed. It’s all about Mystery and Adventure and is one of those books that gets you thinking about it even when you aren’t reading it.

A brilliant one to get if your into that kind of stuff – but be warned, you might need to re-read certain parts to understand, it can get kind of confusing.

A review will be coming soon.

Zoë xoxo

VN:F [1.8.9_1076]
Rating: 3.4/10 (9 votes cast)
VN:F [1.8.9_1076]
Rating: +1 (from 3 votes)

{ 13 comments }

My Best Friend’s Rock…

by Zoë.Bestel on April 28, 2010

…Well they do!

And if your BFF’s rock as well just enter in the most coolest comp run by Cathy Cassidy for all best friends in the UK and Eire. All you need to do is take just one piece of A4 paper, tell them why your best friend rocks. Using photos, or pictures, or words, or a mixture of all of them and send it in. (All details for competition click here) and you could win yourself:

  • The sleepover of your dreams for you and your friend including music, clothes, make-up, books, magazines, food and much much more!
  • Free tickets to Cathy Cassidy’s event at the Edinburgh Festival
  • The chance to meet Cathy and Girls Can’t Catch at the amazing award ceremony
  • A signed copy of Cathy’s new book Cherry Crush as soon as it’s out
  • Your entry published in Mizz
  • A very special and rare My Best Friend Rocks trophy!

Quite a competition huh?!

More details on Cathy’s Website by clicking here.

Zoë xoxo

VN:F [1.8.9_1076]
Rating: 5.5/10 (8 votes cast)
VN:F [1.8.9_1076]
Rating: +3 (from 5 votes)

{ 5 comments }

First Aid for Fairies by Lari Don

by Zoë.Bestel on April 13, 2010

In depth reveiw…

Full Name: First Aid for Fairies and Other Fabled Beasts!

Author: Lari Don

Illustrator: Amanda Sinclair

Published by: Floris Books

Why I picked to read this book: My friend was introducing her at the book festival and I said I’d come along and cheer her on! I then found out that the book was my kind of book to read, from the bit my friend read to me on the school bus! I decided to buy a copy and start reading!

How did I feel when I read the book: I always felt ‘magical’ when I read the book and the feeling you have when you really enjoy it and can’t put it down! I especially felt nervous and scared when it came to the evil bits!

The main Characters:

Helen – The (So called by her new friends) Healers Child

Yan – The brave Centaur

Rona – The young Selkie

Lavender – The small flower fairy

Catesby – The flustered Phoenix

Sapphire – The Fiery, young Dragon

The Book – The book of all answers!

The Master – An evil bull/man who wants the book!

My favourite Character/why/description: Rona, because she is very peaceful and calm and will help people to calm themselves down. She is very kind and loves all her friends dearly. She has a beautiful singing voice and loves to show other people/creatures it!

Briefly, What the story is about: The friends – Yan, Rona, Lavender, Sapphire and Catesby – needed to ask the book of answers a question, but they were only allowed to at the Summer Solstice and the Winter Solstice! So when they went to have a peek, the book got scared and fled leaving them clues to find it! But the Winter Solstice was drawing near and they still hadn’t found it! Then Yan gets bitten by one of The Master’s henchmen (Who is also trying to get the book!) and has to ask Helen (The Vets daughter) to help him with his wound! Suddenly Helen wants to help them and throws herself into the adventure!

Ratings:

Characters: 9/10

Set out: 10/10

Illustrations: 9/10

Story line: 10/10

Feel for book: 10/10

Can’tputdownability: 9/10

Imaganation-abliity: 9/10

Over All:  9/10

VN:F [1.8.9_1076]
Rating: 4.6/10 (5 votes cast)
VN:F [1.8.9_1076]
Rating: -1 (from 1 vote)

{ 4 comments }

Wayside School by Louis Sachar

by Zoë.Bestel on April 12, 2010

(Since I have just started the last term of School – I decided to put up a review of a brilliant book based in the weirdest school I have heard of. Read on to find out why…)

Louis Sachar is the best-selling author of ‘Holes’ and has gone on to writing for younger children. I read this book to review for younger readers but ended up really enjoying it and wasn’t ashamed to read it as someone older. It is an extremely clever but weird book and is one of the best laughs I’ve had.

‘Wayside school was built all wrong; the classrooms were meant to be in a row and now are in top of each other…all thirty if them. (The builder says he is very sorry!) Maybe that’s why strange things happen at Wayside School…?’

I swear if you want a funny book to read Sideways Stories form Wayside School is definitely the best book for it. I have just finished reading the next book from the Wayside School series; It’s not as funny as this one – maybe a little weirder though…

So if you enjoy a laugh and you’re OK with weird, (and you don’t mind reading about teachers who turn their students into apples) This is definitely the book for you.

Zoë xoxo

VN:F [1.8.9_1076]
Rating: 6.4/10 (5 votes cast)
VN:F [1.8.9_1076]
Rating: -1 (from 1 vote)

{ 4 comments }

Angel Cake’s with Cherries on top…

by Zoë.Bestel on April 11, 2010

Dear Diary,

A new edition of Angel Cake is now available to buy in paperback for just £4.19. The most coolest and wicked thing about this version is that on the last few pages…

…You get a sneak peak into Cathy’s first book of the brand new Series, The Chocolate Box Girls, Cherry Crush!!!

I am so looking forward to its release in September. From that snippet – I am sure it will become one of my favourite books!

So be prepared, a new race of brilliant Cathy Cassidy book’s are on their way!

Zoë xoxo

VN:F [1.8.9_1076]
Rating: +4 (from 6 votes)

{ 1 comment }

Kidpreneurs by Adam Toren and Matthew Toren

by Zoë.Bestel on April 10, 2010

Now what could I say about this book? – It’s amazing for starters!

A brilliant guide for ‘kids’ to understand not just what an Entrepreneur is, but how to become one too. It helps kids with big idea’s to make the most of them and become a very rich person, very young – or close to that…

Fantastically written with an easy to understand way of teaching step by step ways to become a ‘Kidpreneur.’

I loved this book and was very enthusiastic to become a Kidpreneur, just after reading the first couple of pages.

If you are young and want to succeed in life then this book is definitely the best to start you off…

As they say – ‘Tomorrow’s Future Starts Today’

Zoë xoxo

VN:F [1.8.9_1076]
Rating: 7.0/10 (6 votes cast)
VN:F [1.8.9_1076]
Rating: +3 (from 5 votes)

{ 0 comments }

11+10=1 by Lawrence Fine

by Zoë.Bestel on April 9, 2010

“ How the Addition of 10 Principles in Life Turned 11 Players into 1 Team”

Oh so that’s how it works…

An unusual way of writing, neither fact nor fiction – but almost both together, made this book interesting to review.

I wouldn’t say it was a children’s book – but an inspiring one for older readers and adults. It shows you that if you take a couple of steps back and get your mind to it – You can succeed in anything. With morals hidden inside others this book can be inspiring and helpful with every day life.

Zoë x

VN:F [1.8.9_1076]
Rating: 6.4/10 (5 votes cast)
VN:F [1.8.9_1076]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

{ 1 comment }