No Favourite Author?!?

Yes, it is true.

I, Eve Burch, do not have a favourite author.

I know, I'm an abomination.

I mean, I have favourite series, and a couple of favourite stand alone books, but I do not have a favourite author, why you ask? Because I do not like to limit myself to one style of writing, to one author. I like to explore, I want to read a mixture of books, I want to experience different styles and stories and characters.

I feel like if I pick a favourite author I will only stick to that person, or read books that are written in a similar styles to their's. I would feel limited and trapped, and I don't want that - I want the freedom to choose.

The Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness

Yes, I may love certain works, eg. The Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness (which is phenomenal by the way), but he is not my favourite author even though this may be my favourite trilogy (by far, if you haven't read it, what the hell have you been reading?). Also, I love The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (who doesn't?) and I've read Paper Towns, but that doesn't make him my favourite author.

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

 
And then there are other authors who played a significant role in my upbringing like J.K.Rowling, Cornelia Funke and Michelle Paver but none of them could be called my favourite, even though I loved their works as a child and still do to this day, and probably will for the rest of my life.

Ghost Hunter (#6 Chronicles of Ancient Darkness) by Michelle Paver 

After reading certain blogs and watching certain booktubers I feel pressured into acquiring a favourite author, why? Why must I have a favourite author? I don't understand. It's like limiting myself to one type of candy or cookie, I just can't do it, how can I pick a favourite when there's so many amazing ones left to taste; I've really got to stop comparing books to food...

I am quite happy staying unattached, thank you very much. I like not feeling pressurised into loving all of an author's work, buying every single book they're involved in, or loving what they love. It's too much of a hassle to do all of that. I like to be independent in my book buying.

So, do any of you have a favourite author? Or are you like me, unattached and alone? Let me know!

P.S I have entered a slight reading slump if you haven't already guessed, so if you don't hear from me for a while, that's why.

Eragon by Christopher Paolini (Inheritance Cycle #1)

Gah, this took me so long to finish.

It's so big.
And the next one is bigger.... *distant sobbing*

Now, this book has kinda been criticised because it's too similar to the Lord Of The Rings and other fantasy novels that set in an era like this; but, I don't feel this way, of course it's going to be similar! Besides, I actually quite like fantasy novels like this and I'm aiming to read more.

The concept of the main premise in this book is about dragon riders and their dragons (obviously), which I really enjoyed reading about as it's something I haven't really seen before. I like the idea of how the dragon and rider are sorta one, they're completely compatible (reminds me of best friends, who know way too much about each other.) I also quite like to read about a revolution (is it just me who enjoys reading about people who have had enough?) And holy hell is there a big one going on here.

But the main thing that made me enjoy this novel was Saphira who is about the sassiest dragon I've ever met, she just keeps coming up with all these small lines that make me giggle. She also puts Eragon in his place quite a lot, and lets face it, he does need it sometimes, being a Dragon Rider is getting to his head a bit.

I've also found an new ship which is always exciting: Arya and Eragon, because it's quite cute to watch him fumble around to please her and her not really caring about anything. I also quite like Arya because she's so kickass, I mean she sent a dragon egg across leagues which apparently is a very big deal and she fights better than most men (you go girl).

So yeah, this has been a very confusing review I think, I just sorta rambled on about different aspects of the book. Well, I did actually quite enjoy this book even though it took me a while to read and the first few chapters were a little slow, but once you get into it you're fine.

I'd love to hear your thoughts if you've read it.

Age: YA/A
Rating: 3.5/5

Noah - Movie Review (Spoiler Free)

I suggest you don't drink during this movie

You will need the loo.

There's no avoiding it.

So this movie started out okay and I thought I could go with it and enjoy it, due to the amazing imagery and interesting start to the plot, but then the actual movie happened... It felt like the movie was trying to be a part of too many genres at once, one minute it was a thriller, then an adventure, a romance, a religious/biblical film, then a family one; it was just too much (it also felt like it was none of those... a sort of nothing film.)

And then there was no plot, the start was good but then after that it fell apart... I didn't feel like there was a middle and an end to be honest, no good climaxes or anti-climaxes, it felt like they were just filling up empty space in the film. It felt like ordering a burger and only getting the bun (there I go again...) know what I mean? I'm sorry, but I was bored, even when everyone started dying from the giant waves. I didn't laugh, I didn't cry, my heart didn't bang wildly in my chest when it was supposed to, it was just awful as a plot; the only thing that sorta saved it was the scenery which was just so beautiful.

Despite the actual premise of the film being awful, I found that both Emma Watson and Logan Lerman carried their roles well, and I did enjoy watching both of them. Although, I really do have to congratulate Emma because it couldn't have been easy to cry the much, and still make it look believable; also, Logan fitted into his character really well and could see from their point of view easily (which was an interesting one). Although, I found Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly's performances really disappointing, it was kinda of a drag watching them and they didn't sound or feel realistic (sorry guys).

Despite saying all of this, it was still interesting to see their spin on the classic Bible Story, and how a different artist could interpret it. The way it was interpreted wasn't bad as a whole, it was quiet interesting to see the emotional and inner turmoil that everyone experienced on The Ark in the film, but at the same time it was presented in the wrong way and some of it really wasn't necessary and was over the top... really over the top (you'll know what I mean if you've seen it.)

So overall I didn't really get anything from this movie, I may have felt something towards Emma and Logans' performances, but, they were ruined by the lack of plot and over the top suspense. Don't watch it unless you really want to see it, it's not worth the money.

Rating: 2/5 cookies

Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison (The Confessions of Georgia Nicolson #1)

Oh how I love you Georgia.

You big, stupid fool.

But how I wish my sister never grows up to think like you.

So I originally read this book when I was in year 7 -  I was about 12... maybe? (I want to stab 12 year old me, I was so embarrassing...) So yeah I found this series again and figured why not, it's been a long time since I read something targeted at a younger audience.

So for those of you who don't know, this book series is written in diary form by none other than teenage Georgia Nicolson. We get to explore her deepest thoughts (which are stupidly ridiculous) and join her in the adventure that is growing up and 'maturing', and watch her peruse what she believes to be love and is important to her friends and her.

Despite Georgia being selfish, arrogant, immature and sometimes very needy she is quite fun to read about, because you can tell the author is simply poking fun at us teenage girls. It's not done in a cruel way, but it's light-hearted and amusing; and makes you want to go back and change who you were when you thought like her, or were her age

Georgia carries all the traits that quite often people hate reading about, but she is different. You can also see the good things about her: her humour (which is great by the way) and the love and care she has for Angus and Libby, which if you look at closely is really quite cute. I understand that not everyone is going to enjoy reading from her perspective and hearing her thoughts, but it is worth trying, you don't have to carry on with the series if you don't like it.

I found there wasn't much of a plot when it came to this book, but I suppose that's what you get when reading it from a diary point of view. Even so, it just felt like stuff happened (like in real life... god forbid...), it just felt like there wasn't enough; it's like when you bite into a burger and you can't wait for the whole taste, and experience, even the bit where grease runs down your chin, but that's didn't happen... It just felt satisfactory as a burger, there was no taste explosion in your mouth, no grease ruining your new top, get what I mean? Did I just compare a plot to a burger...?

So overall, I enjoyed this book even though it was aimed at a younger audience, but I felt like it needed more (which I may get from the next nine books, who knows?) It was a great light read, perfect for spring and summer and amusing at times. I will be carrying on with this series.

Rating: 3.5/cookies

Age: -13/13+

IMAX Review

Why do these things exist?

I mean honestly, what is the point?

It is just a giant ass screen that makes your eyes hurt.
And deafens you with over the top music.



So yeah, this review is going to be different. This weekend I was up in London with my family and we decided to go to an IMAX (never again) to see Noah, I personally thought it was absolutely pointless and a waste of money.

So an IMAX is supposed to give the viewer the ultimate experience (it only gave me a headache), it's supposed to do this through a screen that is bigger than the side of your average house and surround sound or something. Firstly, the big screen is stupid, why the hell do you need a screen that big? I personally really struggled watching a screen that big because it's hard to concentrate on the whole picture, I had to keep looking away or at it indirectly because IT HURT AS IT WAS SO BIG.

And then the sound was ugh, I was deaf for half the film... not even kidding. You know these really tense moments when there's a really big build up in music? Yeah, well those were the moments when you had to curl up into the fetus position and cover your ears, what was the point? None. There was none.

So yep basically IMAX's are the most stupid concept ever, there is no need to replace cinemas with these. All in all, it was too much for my senses (although mine are quite sensitive due to a couple of personal reasons), so I'm not sure if it will have the same effect on everyone else, but if you're like me then just don't go. They're just a giant overwhelming cinema that cost more (I think?)

This has just been a long winded way of saying don't go, just don't... So yeah I'm done for today, let me know if you thought differently or if you have any expierences with an IMAX! I will be back soon with two reviews, one a book and on a movie (oooh exciting....)