Book Review: The Great Gatsby

For the longest time I have wanted to start reading classics and as an avid reader I feel like I should have started years ago.  So for Christmas I got The Great Gatsby which I was delighted about because it is one of my favourite films and is also one of the books I want to read before I turn 21.  So without further ado here's my review on The Great Gatsby.

Reading the book will make you appreciate the film so much more because they are very similar.  I'm one of those people who is almost always disappointed when books are made into films because they never do the books any justice.  In this case the book and the film can go hand in hand because everything is almost exactly the same; the storyline, the character's personalities (but obviously Leo couldn't have got it wrong) and even some of the lines from the book are identical to those in the film.

If you don't know anything about The Great Gatsby it's written by F. Scott Fitzgerald and the story takes place in New York in the 1920s.  It follows Nick Caraway who moves to New York and ends up living beside the mysterious Jay Gatsby who lives in a mansion and throws regular extravagant parties.  Exaggerated rumours are continuously flying around about who Gatsby really is but he is just a man who is deeply in love with Nick's cousin Daisy.  It soon becomes Nick's job to reunite the two lovers but of course it is not straight forward.  Then again is any love story straight forward?

The Great Gatsby is a very easy read.  It's short and concise with simple yet elegant language.  The story line itself is easy to follow with no complicated plot twists.  If you love anything to do with the 1920s lifestyle then you'll love this.  It's a story that really tugs at the heart strings and if you're thinking of getting into the classics then I would highly recommend this as a starting point.  Go on and give it a go old sport!

There you have it, my review of The Great Gatsby.  I hope this gave you some kind of an insight into what the book is like and taught you that the classics are not scary, outdated and complicated.  If you want a break from the crazy stories we read nowadays then definitely read a classic.  Until then I'll see ya when I see ya!

Review: Breaking Bad

I'm not one for watching a lot of television series but when my brother bought the box set of Breaking Bad I thought "why not?".  It soon became part of the family routine.  Every night my dad, my brother and I would watch at least two episodes.  We became hooked and got so involved in the storyline and the characters.  It was widely discussed at the dinner table: our thoughts on last nights episode or our guesses for the next.  It was much to the annoyance of my mother I'm sure!

We finished all six seasons, sitting at the edge of our seats throughout the whole final episode.  It's been about a week and for the first time in my life I'm experiencing that withdrawn feeling.  I don't know what to do with myself anymore!  To fill in some time I thought I would give my opinion on the whole Breaking Bad series without giving too much away!

If you haven't seen it, it's basically about a high school chemistry teacher who has cancer and who struggles with money problems.  To help his family escape these troubles he decides to start cooking meth in secret and finds himself being dragged deeper and deeper into the dangerous drug dealing business.

The first season is one of my favourites.  The main character, Walter White, is no naive and clueless about dealing drugs.  Every situation he finds himself in is hilarious.  He eventually teams up with a past pupil of his, Jesse Pinkman, and together they cook the best meth around.

Throughout the whole series Walt and Jesse have dealings with many interesting characters including a dodgy lawyer, Saul Goodman, who I love, and many unpredictable and scary kingpins.  I was always kept on tenterhooks!

I found one season in particular quite slow and a little boring.  I found myself wondering if I would be able to finish it.  I needn't have worried because season five and six are the best of them all.  Things get really heated up and there is much tension and suspense.

The character development is incredible!  You find yourself hating the majority of the characters at some stages and completely drawn to them in others.  Each character is so unique with their own individual backgrounds which keeps everything interesting.  Although they are each so different their stories tie together seamlessly.

I would highly recommend you watch Breaking Bad.  It is truly gripping!  The storyline is incredible and will easily get you hooked.  I hope you enjoyed this review.  Let me know of any other series you think I should watch and until then...

I'll see ya when I see ya!

Book Review: A Thousand Pieces of You

A Thousand Pieces of You is the first book in the Firebird trilogy by Claudia Gray.  It follows the story of a young girl, Marguerite.  Both of her parents are scientists and have invented a device, the Firebird, which allows people to travel to different dimensions.  When her father is murdered, Marguerite suspects a close family friend, Paul.  Marguerite and another close friend, Theo, decide to follow him through dimensions in order to find out the truth.

The first thing that attracted me to this book was the cover.  I know they always say you should never judge a book by its cover but I have to admit that I am guilty of doing just that.  I always judge the book by its cover but who could blame me this time.  The cover of this book is beautiful with so many gorgeous, vibrant colours.  I was immediately drawn to it.

When I first started reading this book I was slightly confused.  I felt the beginning was very complicated and I didn't fully understand what was going on.  I had to read on for a chapter or two before I could get my head around it.  Once I got into the story I was hooked.  I felt the idea of being able to travel through dimensions to be very intriguing.  The whole concept of it is brilliantly created by Gray.  She definitely puts her own unique twist on it.

Not only is the main character searching for a suspected murderer but there is also romance in the midst of it all.  Of course the romance is not straightforward and so the story itself takes on new dimensions.  The book is full of suspense and tension as danger and deceit lurk around every corner.  It is truly a gripping story and I would highly recommend this to anyone if you are looking for something to read this summer.  I can't wait to read the next two instalments!

I hope you liked this little book review.  If anyone has any other book recommendations I would love to hear about them but until then...

I'll see ya when I see ya!