BOOK REVIEW - Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

I'm a few days late uploading this as I have been super busy and haven't had any time to take any pictures! I finished this book a few days ago and wrote this review straight after! :)

- - -

HOLY HELL. I am actually speechless... and trust me, that's not often. The only way to explain my brain right now is IOGAKbslizvqkavskjvzwkuqavdlvqwlauvc.

I actually cannot believe what I have just read. Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver has completely thrown me off balance. Just five minutes ago I jumped out of bed like a crazy person, feeling like I was suffocating and almost starting to hyperventilate (I know I'm dramatic). I just can't contemplate life anymore.

Okay enough of my rambling and onto the review:

Title: Pandemonium (Delirium #2)

Author: Lauren Oliver

Published: 2012

Rating: ★★★★

Pandemonium is the follow up to the book Delirium, the story is set in a dystopian world where the government has declared love a disease (I have a review of the first book right here). It is narrated by Lena, now 18 years old.

I can't really elaborate on the story more than I have in my last review, as I really don't want to spoil anything!

- - -

I really don't even know where to start with this review.

Pandemonium has quite a different feel than the first book Delirium. I remember I enjoyed the first book, but this one I absolutely LOVED. And it's not often I like the sequel better than the first novel.

The chapters in this book are separated by 'Now' and 'Then', as it switches between the past and present until they both kind of merge together at the end. I thought that this style of writing was extremely clever! It left you guessing a lot of the time as to how the 'Now' came to be, which was slowing revealed in each 'Then' chapter. I was absolutely HOOKED to both of the storylines, and was disappointed when each chapter would end because I wanted to continue the 'Then' story, then I would get hooked to the 'Now' story and want to continue with that. EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER PEOPLES.

Pandemonium was also a lot more engaging than Delirium. As I stated in my Delirium review, I loved the storyline, but sometimes I felt like it went a little slow and I wasn't always jumping on my chances to read it. It was so different when I was reading Pandemonium, as I was staying up as late as possible to read another chapter, and putting off other things I probably should of been doing *cough* sleeping, eating, breathing *cough* just to have an extra hour of reading.

I once again felt an extreme connection to the main character Lena, as the writing of this novel really allows you to understand her situation, and how this world, although it sounds ridiculous, could in fact be a reality.
There was also INCREDIBLE characters in this book. I felt that Delirium lacked a little bit of character development, but this book really nailed that right on the head! It's a little harder to develop other main characters in first person novels, but Lauren Oliver really did a fantastic job in Pandemonium!

And now for what I have been trying to get out of my system for pretty much all of this review, it has actually clouded my judgement...

THE ENDING

HOLY HELL.

I was shocked. I just did not expect it at all. I thought the ending to Delirium was a pretty big shock, but I really was caught of guard with this one.
Really, I write notes in the duration of reading a book so I know exactly what my thoughts were at the time, and there is a dot point that just says :

BOOM

... I mustn't say anymore or else I know I will spoil something.

Well another review has come to its end.
You will definitely be seeing a review of the third and final book in the series 'Requiem' quite soon and a review of the 'Delirium Short Stories' !

Until then, stay tuned for other book and movie reviews!

Have a lovely week!

-Bee

MOVIE REVIEW - Great Expectations (2012)

Title: Great Expectations

Director: Mike Newell

Starring: Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Jeremy Irvine, Holliday Grainger, Robbie Coltrane & Jessie Cave

Released: 2012

Rating: ★★★


I have been meaning to watch this film for ages!! I missed it in the cinema and completely forgot to watch it! I finally got the chance tonight and I thought I would share my opinion :)

So, Great Expectations; a lot of you probably already know this storyline, but for those of you who don't, here is a short blurb:

Phillip 'Pip' Pirrip (Cool name, huh?), is a poor orphan who is looked after by his sister and her husband, following the death of his parents. After an encounter with a escaped convict, a woman driven mad by love and the beautiful, but heartless Estella, Pip suddenly finds himself entangled in a great mystery; an unknown benefactor places a large fortune upon him, wishing for him to become a gentleman.

- - -

First off, I would just like to state that I am a Great Expectations fanatic. I am a huge fan of the book and have seen many adaptations, so I am quite the critic when it comes to them! :P

Great Expectations is by far one of the best books ever written. The overall plot is extremely unique and original, and the characters are mesmerising. Great expectations is one of Dickens' most famous novels, and for this reason there has been countless adaptations of this movie.

Okay so I guess I'll start off with the positives.
The acting was, as expected, fantastic. They had a mostly all star cast, and I really thought all of the actors and actresses did an extremely good job and were very believable.

Mike Newell is also a very well known director, directing films such as Harry Potter, Mona Lisa Smile and Four Weddings and a Funeral. He again did a great job, and the setting and costumes of this film were also perfect and very true to the book.

Now, this may be me just being picky, but I really feel like the main let down in this movie was casting. I don't know if it is just me, but I really didn't think that most of the actors and actresses cast were suitable, excluding a few exceptions, which I will mention later.
First of all, Helena Bonham Carter in my opinion was not a great choice for Miss Havisham. I am a huge fan of Helena's work, and her acting was great, but I just don't think she was right for this role. Miss Havisham is a woman who has been driven mad by love, loss, pain and revenge. Helena played the role more like she had just come out of a mental asylum, which was quite entertaining, but not true to the book or the character.
I also have my ongoing battle with finding the perfect Estella. Holliday Grainger is certainly very beautiful, I again just wasn't feeling like she was right for the part. This may be because the true Estella in my eyes is Jean Simmons in the 1946 Great Expectations, which has got to be my favourite adaptation. In this film, the script also changed Estella's characteristics slightly, which I felt took the edge out of her character.

The two actors that I felt were absolutely perfect choices, were Jessie Cave as 'Biddy' and Olly Alexander 'Herbert Pocket'. Although they are slightly minor characters, they definitely stood out when I watched the movie!
Jessie Cave has come from 'Ron's annoying girlfriend' in the Harry Potter series, to a truly fantastic actress (and comedian!?)! She has a very bright future ahead of her!
I had actually never seen Olly on screen before, and was quite surprised to see that he had only been in a handful of films. I hope to see more of him in the future, his portrayal of Herbert was absolutely perfect!


Again, this review might be just me being picky, I know people who haven't read the book who have given this 5 stars, so maybe knowing too much about it has spoiled it for me. On its merits alone, this was a great movie! I do however, think that if you haven't read the book you would enjoy it a lot more, as you won't be as particular as I am!

Three stars.

Comment below your thoughts on this film if you have seen it, or the book if you have read it :)

Have a lovely week!


-Bee

BOOK REVIEW - Delirium By Lauren Oliver

I just finished reading this book about an hour ago (I know, everyone has already read this), and I knew that I needed to put up a review ASAP. My thought vomit (is that even a term), needed to be put down on cyber paper. I really couldn't wait any longer.

Title: Delirium

Author: Lauren Oliver

Published: 2011

Rating: ★★★1/2







"There was a time when love was the most important thing in the world. People would go to the ends of the Earth to find it. They would tell lies for it. Even kill for it.

Then, at last, they found the cure" - Published by Hodder

Delirium is told by 17 year old Lena, and is set in a dystopian United States. The government has declared love a disease, more commonly known as 'amor deliria nervosa' or the 'delirium'. In order to 'protect' the US of this disease, they have created a cure, a surgical procedure involving the brain that everyone will undergo once they have turned 18, and will take away their ability to love. Resisting is punishable by death. Lena has always counted down the days until her procedure. She believes it will make her happy and safe. Until one day she does the unthinkable. She falls in love.

- - -

:O < Actually my face after I finished this novel.

At first when I heard about Delirium, I was very sceptical. I didn't really know how I would be able to connect to the book, and I also thought it would just be another plain predictable storyline. BOY WAS I WRONG.

After the first chapter of reading this book, I had instantly connected with the main character Lena. Not because we were extremely similar or anything like that, it was just that I understood exactly why she believed what she did; that the cure would be saving her from an extremely deadly disease. The writing of this book is really incredible, after that first chapter I knew how this could actually happen in real life. I understood exactly how the world came to that. When I was reading The Hunger Games, which is another dystopian world novel, I struggled to understand just why they were there. It wasn't a main issue or theme in the story, and was touched on very lightly. Don't get me wrong, they are some of my favourite novels, but it was something I feel the story lacked. But with Delirium, I really did just feel like another character living in the world. Lauren Oliver has literally written out a whole new world (cue the Aladdin music), and has done an amazing job of it.

One thing about these books that I also really love, and find very creative, is how at the start of each chapter it will have a verse, excerpt or quote from a book in the story. Example (taken from chapter 1):

"The most dangerous sicknesses are those that make us believe we are well.
—Proverb 42, The Book of Shhh"

They all really help you to understand the mind set of people living in this world, and it also gives you more information about the rules and restrictions.


There is also the perfect amount of romance in this novel! But don't worry, even though love is the main theme of this book, it's not too much or too cheesy. Love in this novel is not the way we see love today, it is seen as a fatal disease that must be erased from the Earth. How they were describing it in the novel almost made me believe that it was a disease for a second, by describing the symptoms of  increased heart-rate and disorientation as signs of having the Deliria.

 

The end was also very unexpected, and had a huge twist... which I won't say anything about, my lips are sealed ;)

The only thing that kind of let me down in this book was that it was a little slow paced, not in any way boring, I just sometimes felt that the story took a little while to unfold. There were also some main characters that I felt weren't really developed properly, but also many that I felt were developed amazingly! This is only me being particular though, and they really weren't major
issues.

I am eagerly looking forward to reading the next book, I'm looking at it on my bookshelf right now, but I promised myself I wouldn't start till tomorrow.. getting no sunlight for one whole day isn't the best.

I might go take a peek now.
No. I won't.
But you will definitely see a review of it soon.

I would absolutely recommend this book.
Three and a half stars.



Hope you all had a great mothers day!

Love,
Bee x

COVER REVEAL: ALLEGIANT - By Veronica Roth !!

I know it's been quite a few days since my last post, but what can I say, when you're busy, days just seem to go quicker and nek minnit, it's been a whole week.

Today's post will only be a short one... BUT ZOMG JSHAVKSZVAB!

Veronica Roth just posted the cover for Allegiant, the third instalment in the Divergent series. And seriously people, if you haven't read this series, get on it. It will take over your life.

If you saw my last post concerning Divergent, which was the Allegiant 'title' reveal, you would know that I completely freaked the hell out. Now you can imagine me when the actual cover of the book showed up on my computer screen. >> :O

These are definitely my favourite versions of the Divergent covers. I'm not even going to lie, when I first saw them when reading 'Divergent', I didn't really like them. I kind of thought they were a little tacky. (I know, shame on me)
But no kidding, while in the middle of reading the book, it completely grew on me. I almost feel that I understood them more, actually reading the book. Now I wouldn't change them for any other covers.

The Divergent and Insurgent covers:

The Allegiant cover is particularly intriguing, I am actually really digging the orange, and the wave is a complete mystery. The other two symbols on Divergent and Insurgent are known symbols in the story, but the wave is totally knew, I am very curious...

THEY ARE JUST SO PWETTY.
Ugh, I don't think I can wait till the next book comes out. Oh and just again, to anyone who hasn't read this book, READ IT. I have known people who dislike reading (dislike reading?! :o), who LOVE these books. That is just how amazing they are.

Oh and if you have read the series, then please, feel free to completely fan girl or fan boy with me in the comments below.

Well that will be all for today, hopefully I will have a review up tomorrow of a book that I have been dying to share!

Well wishes,
-Bee

Movie Review - Side Effects

Title: Side Effects

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Starring: Rooney Mara, Jude Law, Channing Tatum & Catherine Zeta-Jones

Released: 2013

Rating: ★★★ 1/2

I have been meaning to watch this movie for quite a while as I was intrigued from the first time I watched the trailers, and I am also quite a fan of Rooney Mara's work. I can say that I was quite surprised with how the story unfolded. So here I am to share my thoughts:

So 'Side Effects' is a psychological thriller which is based around a girl named Emily (Rooney Mara). It is shown that Emily is struggling with extreme depression and is constantly taking a variety of different prescription drugs in order to help cure it, none of which are taking effect. At the beginning of the film, we also see that Emily's husband Martin (Channing Tatum), has just returned after four years in prison.
After Emily is prescribed a certain drug which is new on the market, the side effects cause Emily to do something (which I won't spoil), which creates a dramatic turn of events (events which when I saw I was like @%&$!!!).
Jude Law also plays Emily's psychiatrist, the man who prescribed the drug to Emily, but I can't really say a lot more about his character without spoiling a lot of the movie.
The rest of the movie unfolds from the 'event', which I won't spoil, so I can't really say much more about the plot of the movie.


- - -

Whoa.. this movie is definitely a bit of a mind boggler. The story takes a shocking turn very early on, and from then on it takes you on a crazy roller-coaster ride. I didn't really know who to trust while watching the movie, and although I had a few suspicions, I definitely didn't realise what the 'big twist' was until it was revealed. The story keeps you on your toes till the very end, and the plot was quite well thought out.

One aspect I really liked about the movie was the lighting and colouring used. It almost gave the movie this eerie, kind of hospital or clinic type feel, which definitely suited the storyline. I also loved the way this movie was directed, I have never watched any of Steven Stoberbergh's films, and now I think I am going to have to check out his other work!

Can I also say that Jude Law was pretty smoking in this film (as always)? Rooney Mara also did an exceptional job, it was terrific acting as expected.
Channing Tatum wasn't really much, I mean he did an okay job, but nothing too stand out.

The only fault I found in the movie, was the way that the plot unravelled at the end, as I feel that there wasn't enough build up to the final twist, and when it was revealed, it was a little rushed, and I wasn't on the edge of my seat as I was when I watched other psychological thrillers such as 'Shutter Island' (Bloody amazing movie. Go watch it, you will be changed!).

Anyhow, I enjoyed watching Side Effects, and found that it was quite unique, had great acting and amazing directing. Three and a half stars.

I would be really curious to hear your opinions on the movie if you have seen it, or are thinking about watching.. or if you really don't care. So leave comments down below telling me what you think! :)

Thanks for reading
-Bee x

Book Review - Anne Series Part I: Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea and Anne of the Island

So I have just recently finished reading the first three novels in the Anne of Green Gables series, and before you say "Oh Anne of Green Gables, booorrringgg", and click out of this post. Just hear me out first, you may be surprised. K?

Now the Anne series is something extremely close to my heart, which my seven year old self would have disagreed with, as I was the cartoons #1 hater, and a name like Anne of Green Gables didn't really seem to strike a cord with me. Something like 'My Secret Unicorn' did tickle my fancy though. *Hides Copy* Don't judge.


I started to love the series by actually watching the movies first, (which are awesome movies, and I definitely recommend checking them out) and I realised that I actually connected to series on so many levels, and apparently people of all different ages all over the world could too. The series is so loveable because it covers so many aspects of life, many of these things relatable to most people. Not to mention the series is extremely well written, and makes you feel as if you are on an adventure with every turn of the page. (Too cheesy?)

Anyway, I am going to be sharing my thoughts and reviewing the first three novels for you guys. So maybe you can get a better idea of what the series is actually like if you were thinking of reading them. So without further ado, I give you, my review:

Title: Anne of Green Gables

Author: L.M Montgomery

Published: 1908


Rating: ★★★★

"Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert are in for a big surprise. they are waiting for an orphan boy to help with the work at Green Gables – but a skinny, red-haired girl turns up instead. Feisty and full of spirit, Anne Shirley charms her way into the Cuthberts' affection with her vivid imagination and constant chatter. It's not long before Anne finds herself in trouble, but soon it becomes impossible for the Cuthberts to imagine life without 'their' Anne – and for the people of Avonlea to recall what it was like before this wildly creative little girl whirled into town." - Puffin Books

The book that started it all. This book is seriously filled with mischief and laughter, and gives me the biggest sense of nostalgia. I love this book because it takes me back to my childhood memories, and always makes me wish I could just go back to when I was younger. This novel is so entertaining because you are taken on so many adventures throughout the story, which only makes the world of Anne seem so much more alive, as you get really well acquainted with the characters and the settings. This book is also pretty hilarious (seriously I get weird looks for laughing out loud in public places), and just puts a smile on my face any time I read it. Not to mention how CUTE the Anne/Gilbert stuff is in this book. Anne's innocence really touches my heart, I know that may sound soo cheesy, but seriously, it does. It just really makes me think of how life is when you are a child, and how you feel as if you can do anything and believe in all this crazy stuff that becoming an adult ruins for you. This book also really touches on friendship, grief, loss and maturing, and most girls who have gone through their teens can relate to a lot of the stuff that happens in this book, despite it being written and set in the early 1900's.
 Love it. Four stars.

                                                             

 Title: Anne of Avonlea

Author: L.M Montgomery

Published: 1909

Rating: ★★★ 1/2

"Now Anne is half past sixteen and she's ready to begin a new life teaching in her old school. She's as feisty as ever and is fiercely determined to inspire young hearts with her own ambitions. But some of her pupils are as boisterous and high-spirited as Anne, and so life in her Avonlea classroom becomes a lesson in discovery and adventure." - Puffin Books

The second in the Anne series. This is the book that runs through Anne's time going from a young adult into adulthood. I like this one, because it mostly touches base on the issues of growing up, as Anne struggles with this constantly throughout the novel. She still has her childish ways with her, which definitely brings the humour into the novel, as she is still finding herself in all sorts of trouble. I just loved being able to live once more as a character in the town, and go on more adventures with Anne. The only thing this book is lacking is more GILBERT! I would have loved to see more development on the Anne and Gilbert relationship in this novel, as I really thought that this book would have benefited from it. Aside from that, the book was quite entertaining and I enjoyed reading it. Three and a half stars.

Title: Anne of the Island

Author: L.M Montgomery

Published: 1915

Rating: ★★★★ 1/2

"As her childhood friends get married and move away, Anne too leaves Prince Edward Island for college in Kingsport. Although Priscilla Grant and Gilbert Blythe are there, too, she feels lonely and out of place. But Anne soon makes new friends, one of whom is rich, handsome Roy Gardner, whose attentions to Anne make Gilbert very jealous..."

This is by far my favourite book in the Anne Series so far. I love the whole college life, and how this book really starts to develop each and every character very well. This book I can probably connect to most, and I really believe a lot of other people with too. I can't even begin to describe this novel, it is amazing!
It's main themes are love, acceptance, loss and change. As Anne finally becomes an adult, she realises that it is not what you imagine when you are child, and wishes she was younger again. She really struggles with change, as everyone around her seems to have left their childhood behind them and started on a new path when she is lost in the world. This book is definitely the most emotional, but what I love about it, is that it still keeps that sense of humour that all the Anne books have.
OMG AND WE CAN'T FORGET ABOUT GILBERT! The Anne books aren't based around romance, yet L.M Montgomery still wrote it perfectly into this book, and it's not predictable either. Montgomery always ends the books with the most beautiful lines, and this one was certainly one of my favourite book endings ever.
LOVED this novel! Four and a half stars.

                                                                         -  -  -

The Anne series really just makes me think about life, and be more aware of my surroundings.
L.M Montgomery must have had a pretty awesome life, as the setting of Anne of Green Gables is based off her hometown. If I could pick any era to go to right now, it would be early 1900's in Prince Edward Island countryside Canada, and it's all thanks to Anne.

Anyways, thanks for reading me ramble. I will be reviewing the other books in the Anne series in separate parts, so don't forget to check them out when they are released if you liked this one! :)

-Bee

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Movie Review - Silver Linings Playbook

Title: Silver Linings Playbook

Director: David O. Russell

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver.

Released: 2012

Rating: ★★★★1/2


Okay, I already know that I am a little late and everyone and their mumma has already seen and reviewed this movie, but hey, I just thought why the hell not?

Silver Linings Playbook was released in the US and a bunch of other countries way before Australia. It's actually still showing in cinemas over here. That it sometimes the downside of being so far away!

Anyway, the movie surrounds the life of Pat Jr. (Bradley Cooper). Pat has just been released from hospital after 8 months of receiving treatment for his bipolar.

Pat is determined to turn his life around and in order to do that, he needs his wife Nikki back. But there's only one tiny problem.. she has a restraining order against him, as Pat attacked the man who was having an affair with Nikki, nearly killing him, and resulting in Pat's treatment at the hospital.

In comes Tiffany; a young and beautiful woman who is suffering from a mental disorder similar to Pat's, after the death of her husband and the loss of her job.
Through Tiffany, Pat finds a way to communicate with Nikki, but only at a price. He must compete in a dance contest as Tiffany's partner, and in order to do that, must attend the many rehearsals held at Tiffany's house in the weeks leading up to the contest.

During this time period the two start to form a strange bond, and impact each other in ways they could never have imagined.


                                                                              - - -

This movie is seriously worth the hype. I was completely in love with the characters and the storyline from the word go. It was fantastically made and I can definitely see why it has won the awards it has. Bradley Cooper's performance was incredible. It was so believable, I am crushed he didn't win the Oscar he was nominated for, as he definitely deserved it.
Of course we can't forget Jennifer Lawrence, whose performance was extremely well deserving of the Best Female Performance Oscar. I loved the way she portrayed Tiffany, it was so raw and real.

A huge highlight for me was Robert De Niro's character Pat Sr. Pat Sr. was not only trying to help his son get through his mental illness, but was battling one of his own. Although the situation was very emotional, it was also extremely comical at times, which added a real light-heartedness to the movie, and created that perfect balance.
Australia's own Jacki Weaver also did a fantastic job of portraying the mother in the middle of a completely dysfunctional family!
The camera angels were also quite interesting, with many effective close ups which helped you to really understand what it was all like from Pat's point of view.

Overall this movie was extremely enjoyable and had a clever and unique script! I rate this four and a half stars, and would definitely recommend it to the small majority of people who haven't already seen it! :)

-Bee