The Pen and Inkpot

This novel was interesting and entertaining to read. It seemed a shame that it felt like almost every aspect of this novel I had read before. The overall idea was so similar to other dystopian novels I have read and even many details were cliche. It seemed like a copy of Divergent with different characters and different settings but the same events and plot line.  A girl lives in an "ideal" world and doesn't doubt it until her mind starts to rebel and she realises that the world is bigger than the wall she is trapped inside. After a series of events, the girl escapes with a guy and they fall in love. Sound familiar? This is exactly what happens in Divergent too! In a nutshell, that is vaguely what happens in "The State of Grace" but here is a more specific blurb.  Although nobody exists beyond the garden where Wren lives, that doesn't matter since she has everything she will ever need. Living in paradise, a  community with freedom and fun, every...

I have recently made an amazing discovery. Checking out magazines in a news agency shop, I stumbled across the very first edition of the Teen Breathe Magazine. I didn't buy it at the time but later I purchased the second and third issues and have absolutely adored them. Breathe magazine has apparently been around for a long time and they have finally released this new version aimed at teenagers. I find the design of the pages beautiful and the articles very uplifting. Articles in the magazine cover topics including body image, peer pressure and friendships, along with lighter subjects including hobbies, creative project ideas and setting goals.   Teen Breathe magazine focuses on empowering teenagers and giving them hints and advice in a positive way. The craft and hobby pages are usually my favourites and I can see a whole range of age groups enjoying reading it, not just teens. I would recommend checking out the Teen Breathe Magazine and it just might become your new favo...

I have been left with quite mixed feelings about Black Rabbit Hall after reading it. I began the story expecting a cunning mystery but it ended up being more of a teenage love story. That is a little bit of an exaggeration, but I will explain after a short summary of the book. Amber lives a happy life spending the Autumn and Spring at Black Rabbit Hall with her family. They love that place. No one seems to mind the ivy crawling up the outside walls and  the fact that none of the clocks work. Black Rabbit Hall has always been a happy place for Amber. One ordinary afternoon, that changes and her life takes a dozen twists and turns that she could never have predicted.  30 years later, Lorna and her husband are driving through the Cornish countryside trying to find the perfect venue for their wedding.  After getting lost, running over a deer and being soaked in rain, the couple arrives at Pencraw Hall, or what the locals call Black Rabbit Hall. She immediately ...

In case you didn't know, I live in Australia. I also went on a trip to Europe   last year which involved 24 hours of travelling to get there. It took two flights of fourteen and ten hours with a stopover in between. After getting there and back, I can consider myself an expert in travelling on long plane flights and I would like to share with you some of my top tips on making it as smooth as possible.  Carry-on Luggage What do you pack in your suitcase and what do you pack in your carry on luggage? It is difficult when you have to pack to last for 14 hours, so here is what I did and found useful. I took a backpack full of the necessary things to get me through. This included a magazine and a book, headphones, my phone, iPad and chargers. I took basic toiletries such as my toothbrush and toothpaste, lip balm, face wash etc. These sorts of things are useful for freshening up between flights too. Also, some fluffy, bed socks and a beanie (more on that later). Just tr...

I have had this book on my shelf for a while and now that I've read it I wonder why I did not read it sooner. The Reader on the 6.27 is a french novel and a heartwarming read. With many quirky characters and some great concepts, this is a simple but enjoyable book. Guylain Vignolles is drowning in the hollowness of his life. Working at a book pulping factory drains the life out of him and with only his pet goldfish to keep him company at home, there's not much for Guylain to live for. There is only one thing that brings him pleasure. Every morning on the boring commute to work on the 6.27 train, Guylain pulls out pages from his briefcase and begins to read aloud. These assorted pieces from a variety of books have been saved from the jaws of the the pulping machine and they bring both him and the travellers on the train the power of reading. One day, Guylain finds the diary of Julie, a woman just as lonely as he is. The lavatory attendant's fascinating story is re...

I would not consider myself an expert in photography, but I wanted to share some tips with you anyway as to how I create photos that I am proud of. I am not a professional photographer, I just take my photos around my room on my phone but I have come a long way since starting my blog in terms of my photography skills. Also, these tips apply mostly to photos for blogging and instagram but may be different for you depending on the personal style of your photos. In this post I will tell you tips that have improved my photography and  that you may also find useful.  White Backgrounds This one is pretty self explanatory. I have found that consistently using a white back drop for my photos makes them look cleaner and more professional. It stops colours clashing and focuses the attention on whatever object is being photographed.  The background could be a white wall in your house or the top of your white desk, I sometimes use a white sheet with also adds texture t...

The London Eye Mystery is a light hearted, easy read with a clever plot and an important message. As a mystery novel, I found the clues entertaining and the ending wasn't easily predicted. It was written in a way that made me think hard and try to solve the mystery alongside the main characters which is an aspect which I really enjoyed about the novel.  When Salim and Aunt Gloria visit the Spark family, it seems like a harmless idea to take them up the London Eye. The Spark kids, Ted and Kat take Salim to the Eye and accept a mysterious free ticket from a stranger which sends Salim up the London Eye alone. He never comes down. Ted and Kat create a list of theories as to what happened to him. With the police not listening, Aunt Gloria devastated and their parents shaken, Ted and Kat set out to overcome their prickly relationship and solve this mystery alone.  This novel is actually a children's novel but I still think that older audiences would enjoy it too. The ...