Book Review~Confessions of a Shopaholic

Title: Confessions of a Shopaholic
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Series: Shopaholic #1
Publisher: Black Swan
Publish Date: February 12th 2009 (first published January 1st 2000)
ISBN: 978-0-552-77481-9
Pages: 319
Links: Goodreads ~ Amazon
Summary: Meet Becky Bloomwood, an irresistible heroine with a big heart, big dreams and a teeny tiny little weakness...

Becky Bloomwood has a great flat, a fabulous wardrobe full of this season's must-haves and a job telling other people how to manage their money. The only problem is, she can't afford to live the high life any longer. The letters from the bank are getting harder to ignore, she tries Cutting Back, she tries Making More Money, she tries really hard, but nothing is working.

Her only consolation is to treat herself to something - just a little something...

Confessions of a Shopaholic... the perfect pick me up when life is hanging in the (bank) balance!
  
Rating: 6.5/10
Source: Bought
Cover Talk:  I like it. I don't 'love' it. But it's ok. Not that bad. Though I'm not mush of a fan of the font used. And I don't like that big blue SOPHIE KINSELLA written on the top.

My thoughts: I didn't like this book as much as other people did. By the time I finished 1/4th of it I got bored. But I really liked Luke and wanted to read more of him. So I skipped ahead and read only the parts which had Luke in them. But then the story didn't make sense so I had to read the whole book. It wasn't a total waste of time. The story and writing was good and I really enjoyed the book at times. But Rebecca annoyed me so much! I didn't like her at all. Maybe because I've never met anyone like her. And if I have, I didn't like them either. But still I would like to read the next book. To see if Rebecca gets any better. And I want to read more of Luke. Plus the story and writing wasn't so bad. So I'll give it another try.

Movie: I saw the movie a very long time ago so I don't remember it right. But I do remember liking it. And I also remember that Luke was my favorite character in the movie too. =P

Book Review~The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

Title: The Notebook
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Publisher: Sphere
Publish Date: 2007 (first published in 1996)
ISBN: 978-0-7515-3891-5
Pages: 221
Links: Goodreads ~ Amazon
Summary: North Carolina, October 1926. Noah Calhoun has recently returned from war. He tries to forget the horrors he has seen and experienced by restoring an old plantation home. But though his days are spent working, his nights too often give way to dreams of his past.

Fourteen years ago Noah fell in love with a girl, and he is still haunted by her memory but convinced he will never find her again. But when the past slips into the present, Noah realizes his ghosts are never far away.

Rating: 8/10
Source: Bought.
Cover Talk: It's ok. Not anything special. =/

My Thoughts: I enjoyed the book. It was a quick read. But I didn't like it that much. I mean I've read better books by Nicholas Sparks. This wasn't his best one.

I really loved the story. And I liked how it was written too. But it was lacking something. I can't put my finger on what.... but something was missing...

I didn't cry while reading the book which is a new one for me because till now all Sparks' books have made me cry. I did cry a little. But not as much as people say they did.

I liked the characters. They were real and flawed and the character-reader connection was maintained pretty good. 

I can't say anything more because I read this a while ago and I don't remember much anymore. I know, crappy review =/ I'll try to review books as soon as I read them from now on.

In the end I'll just say I liked the movie better. It touched me more than the book did (another new one).

Aaagghhh!!! + The Earthquake Machine Giveaway Winner

I miss blogging so much! But life keeps getting in the way =/ First my computer broke down. Then my internet wasn't working. And now there are only 15 days left till my CIEs! And I'm a nervous wreck! *deep breath*

I just adore these GIFs! And lately I'm obsessed with Supernatural which explains the above GIF. Plus it suited the situation =P

I am so sorry I'm so late in announcing the giveaway winner. Well here it finally is. Congratulations to

Pragya Sharma!!

The winner will be contacted ASAP.

Note: The winner is chosen totally at random. There was no favoritism whatsoever. (I don't even know her/him =P)

News: I've read 2 books (in between my studying) and the book reviews which will be coming soon. To the authors/publishers I'm so sorry I'm so late in reviewing your books! I know this is very unprofessional but I'm just a student and exams are very very important (and always hanging above my head like a sword). My exams will end on 22nd and then my summer vacation will start so that's when I'll review your books. I know you must hate me, but I really am very sorry.

In My Mailbox~5

In My Mailbox is a bookish meme hosted by The Story Siren.

I've gotten A LOT of books for review by authors/publishers and I thought of show casing them over here to let you know what's coming up for you guys.

1. Spirits of Glory by Emily Devenport

Summary: One morning the people of the North woke up and the people of the South were gone. That s the first thing every child learns on the colony world of Jigsaw. But for one girl, knowing about The Disappearance is not enough. Hawkeye wants to know why.

That's why she spent half her life researching The Disappearance. And that's also why eight Neighbors show up on her doorstep, demanding that she accompany them into the Forbidden Cities ruled by the Southern gods to speak with the Spirits of Glory. Everyone thinks Hawkeye is an expert on Neighbors, these almost-humans who move, talk, and think as if they were born inside one of the Time Fractures. But she can't imagine what they want to ask the ghosts of their ancestors, or why they need her to go along. The Southern gods caused every human inhabitant of the Southern cities to disappear overnight :&emdash; what else might they do?


But the Northern gods say Hawkeye should go and her curiosity won't let her refuse, even though she's going into more danger than she can imagine. Pain and puzzlement wait along the broken interstate, along with scavengers who want to kill them all. Hawkeye's questions only generate more questions as they move farther and farther into the South, right into the heart of the Disappearance, until Hawkeye's questions have all been answered.

Even the ones she was afraid to ask.

2. Tess, Terrorists and the Tiara by Terry Baldwin 

 Summary: Tess has never been able to compete with her “perfect” older sister, but now she must—if she wants to inherit her grandmother’s priceless tiara. The two girls have been invited to their grandparent’s lake house for the summer to help take care of Grandma who’s been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The sister who earns the most “helpful points” wins the former beauty queen’s crown.
It’s not easy for Tess, who seems to always get things wrong despite best intentions. But when a secretive family of Muslims moves in nearby and Grandma disappears, Tess learns a lesson about prejudice, fear, and the real value of doing good—a lesson that may be worth even more than the tiara.

3.  The Godless-Mystery of the World by Suren Fant

  Summary: Centuries ago, when Earth was not under the control of God, it was controlled by a cruel and heartless creature, called Neuron. Coming to our planet, God saw, how Neuron treated as his subordinates. God and Satan decided to take to hands the authority on Earth. It was very difficult mission. God and Satan adapted all the people and their feelings.
In XXI century a young man from a wealthy family found new potentials, that ancestors of humanity and Neuron had. It becomes to him what had happened centuries ago and behind it hunting of angels has begun.

4. The Prince of Powys by Cornelia Amiri

Summary: In an age of heroes, Branda, a Saxon princess helps Blaise, a Prince of Powys, escape her father’s stronghold. In turn, he vows to escort the princess to her sister in Scotland so she can escape an arranged marriage. Instead, he holds her captive as his hostage in the unbreachable hill fort of Dinas Bran, where she captures his heart. Will Blaise be forced to throw away his honor for love or to tear out his heart for honor?

5. The Tide Breaker by Sonya Watson

Summary: A sixteen year-old girl tries to navigate through life and love without the guidance of her mother.

Exams =/

 Hey guys! I've missed you so much! These exams just won't end =/ They've been going on for 3 weeks now, and they're still not over! I have my last exam on Friday (Biology). No exam today and tomorrow and Biology is my best subject so I thought why not check my mails and let my readers know that I'm not dead.

And boy do I have mails! I spent yesterday reading all my mails and I'm trying to reply everyone as soon as I can. I'm so sorry to the authors and publishers who mailed me! I guess I should've put up a sign on my blog saying I was out for a few days. I'll get back to you guys ASAP.

And for my readers, definitely new reviews coming up. I think I'll continue with my old memes too. Plus I have to start on the challenges too. Wow, that's a lot of work!

And here comes the bad news. I have my CIEs in May =/ And these exams are VERY important because they will determine my future. And then from June I may be going on a vacation abroad. And that may last till August. So I may not be able to post during these months. I know I already post very less but I don't really have a choice =( I try my best to post as much as I can. But I can't neglect my studies...