Wednesday 30 November 2016

Book Review - Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Title: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Author: Ransom Riggs
Publisher: Quirk Books
ISBN: 978-1594746031

Synopsis
A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of curious photographs.

A horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.


My Review
I heard a lot about this book when it first came out but never picked it up, then I saw trailers for the film and thought it looked really good. I never see a film before I've read the book so I decided to give it a go.
As a young child Jacob loved listening to his grandfathers stories of monsters and strange children with mysterious gifts but now he's sixteen he feels he's too old for such nonsense. However when his granddad is attacked by a strange being, Jacob finds himself emerged in a world he didn't think could actually exist. He must journey back to his Granddad's children's home but what Jacob finds there truly changes the way he sees everyday life.
I loved the pure imagination within this story and all the strange places and 'talents' of the Peculiars. I found it very hard to put it down and had to know more, the book is a bit dark in places and some of the photos included are purely creepy but they really add a layer of atmosphere to the book. 
This is a book that really grabs you in and makes you want to know more so you can guarantee i will be diving into the second book as soon as possible.


Movie - I have since seen the film and thought it was very good but was disappointed by how much they changed, given the Peculiars different skills seemed silly and changing the date was pointless but other than that was most enjoyable. Book is definitely better though - as usual!

My Rating


Wednesday 16 November 2016

I am back!!!

To all my old followers if you are still out there, then thank you for being patient and holding on. I know I haven't really published much in the last year or more, but I am going to kick start this blog back into business.

I didn't disappear for no reason though, firstly I started an English Literature degree course with the Open University 2 years ago. For anyone that doesn't know what that means, basically I still work full time but in my spare time I study from home using materials provided by the University and submit assignments that get marked by a tutor. All the study is independent and takes up a lot more time than I expected. This wasn't helped by the fact that 'part time study' was supposed to take 6 years, but I decided this was far too long so I combined years 1 and 2, then years 3 and 4, so I was doing the equivalent of full time study i.e 30+ hours a week on top of full time work as well as keeping up with all the sports clubs I do. I know I'm crazy right!!! I'm now onto year 5 (3rd year of actual studying though) and have decided to do years 5 and 6 as separate modules so it will be another 2 years of study but far less intense!
My current module is 'Children's Literature' which is what I've been waiting to do and it's really good so far and will give me lots of books to read that i can then review on here too!

On top of all that I have some very exciting news. On the 25th July 2014 I met the most incredible man and started dating him. A year later on my birthday in August he proposed to me!!!! Then exactly 2 years after we met, we got married. The 25th July 2016 was the most magical day of my life and I felt like a real fairy-tale princess. But of course organizing the wedding, particularly on a budget was hard work and took up a lot of my time so my books had to go to one side for a bit.
But it was totally worth it in the end!!


So i hope you will all forgive my absence!!

I read a few books over the summer before this years module started so have some reviews that I will be posting over the next few weeks. And then hopefully I will fully re-submerge myself in this wonderful community of bloggers.

Let the barmyness begin!!!