Pottermore

I have been waiting a long time to get my Pottermore email that lets me know I can finally log in, and low and behold, it arrived today!
I love the Harry Potter franchise; the books, movies, toys, music... everything! The day that Pottemore was announced I was extremely excited!

If you are one of the lucky people to be on Pottermore, feel free to add me. My user name is AshHallow84. If not, do not fret, it will be open for everyone very soon.

For those of you on Pottermore, what do you think? Do you love having the experience of feeling you are Harry Potter? I am about to get my wand and am still excited about what else could happen.
I would love to hear what you think about it all and if you have any tips for me or any others starting out today.

Below are screenshots from Pottermore... from my homescreen to purchasing my first wand at Ollivander's.

Exclusive Hush Hush Saga sneak peek

Late this afternoon I received an email from Simon and Schuster newsletter with a great new exclusive! Silence, the third book in the Hush, Hush saga will be out October 4th. You can see the great little countdown on the left side of my blog.
Some of the features from this include an exclusive excerpt, a photo upload of you with Patch... and the best bit... create your own story!! This i s a great chance to get involved with the book.

To be a part of it, visit the website.

Friday's Five

With my little brother returning to university next week, I thought I would allow my brother to take over the blog and write his top five for the week. Plus, it wouldnt hurt to have a guys perspective on books.

Just a quick bio on my brother so that you understand his choices. He is a university student studying Automotive Engineering. He loves science, history, classics, myths, documentaries and video games, so expect books completely different to the ones I choose. He is very passionate about knowledge and discoveries.

If you would like to join in on Friday's Five, head over to Steph's Stacks.

1. Lord of the Flies by William Golding

This book portrays an Island as a microcosm of our world and if it were to be ruled by children. I love it because it makes you think of childhood and the outdoors, how your imagination would create something out of the ordinary.





2. Medea by Euripides

This is THE classic tale of a woman scorned. It is the original source of where that saying comes from. It is ingenious how she plots her revenge by using the people that are closest to her husband. I highly recommend it.





3. The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri

The Divine Comedy is about a mans adventures through heaven, hell and purgatory. It is such a classic that many things from today are based off this book, such as games eg. Devil May Cry and Dante's Inferno. There are also countless references to it in movies and other books.





4. A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking

If you have ever questioned the beginning of time, if it could ever run backwards or possibly even slow down, if the universe is really infinite or if you have ever wanted to know what a black hole is, this book will cover all that and more. This book isn't just for the scientifically inclined, it's for everybody with a hunger for knowledge.




5. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

It's a beautiful story, with ups and down, sadness and happiness. It is about two friends; one who is mentally challenged and one who takes care of him. It is a true tale of friendship. If you are not one for sad stories, this may not be for you.

Upcoming Reviews

Just a quick post to let you all know what reviews are on the way.... I thought It would be interesting to do something different for a change. All of these besides The Vampire Diaries are ebooks that I was sent, so it will be fun trying something new that I didnt pick up from the store myself.

If you have reviewed any of the following books, I would love to have a link to your review to add at the end of each post. It would be great to compare reviews. So do comment below or shoot me an email if you are interested.

Fangs for Nothing by Adrianne Ambrose

Goodreads Summary:

Grab some garlic and start sharpening your mother's wooden spoons because there are vampires living in the most unlikely of places.

I’ve always wanted to meet a vampire. Not to stake some poor bloodsucker as he sleeps in his coffin or have some sexy vampiress bite me on the neck, but just to see a creature so rare and infamous. What can I say? Some people want to sail to Easter Island, others want to fling themselves out of an airplane, I want to shake hands with a vampire. Well, maybe I should prioritize getting a girlfriend first, but a vampire sighting is pretty high up on the list. Trust me, a lot of kids my age dream about it. Like my two best friends, Rini and Xander. We spent half the summer searching the most notorious cities in the United States for the undead, but so far, no luck.

That’s why it came as a total shock to discover a living, breathing vampire in our hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. (Okay, so he’s more undead and not breathing, but you get the picture.) At first we were kind of excited, but then pretty freaked because it turns out our new fanged friend has a hold on the city's teenage population and a specific thirst for their blood. Which, in a word—bites.

Perception (The Tiger's Eye Trilogy, Book 1) by Heather Cashman

Goodreads Summary:

Your perception will sharpen once you see through a tiger's eyes.
More than five hundred years after the apocalypse, the survivors of off-grid genetic experimentation have refined their mixed DNA to the point that humans and their animal counterparts share physical and mental links. Varying species have divided into districts, living in a tenuous peace under the President of Calem.

Ardana and her tiger ingenium Rijan leave their life of exile and abuse in the Outskirts, setting out with their twin brothers to redeem themselves and become citizens of the Center. But shedding their past isn't as easy as they had hoped. When the system that shunned them becomes embroiled in political conflict and treachery, their unique abilities and experiences from the Outskirts make them invaluable to every faction. The runaways become pawns to friends as well as enemies, and with every step it becomes more difficult to tell which is which

Vampire Diaries - The Return: Midnight by L.J.Smith

Goodreads Summary:

The devil you know . . .

With the help of charming and devious Damon, Elena rescued her vampire love, Stefan, from the depths of the Dark Dimension. But neither brother returned unscathed.
Stefan is weak from his long imprisonment and needs more blood than Elena alone can give him, while a strange magic has turned Damon into a human. Savage and desperate, Damon will do anything to become a vampire again, even travel back to hell. But what will happen when he accidentally takes Bonnie with him?

Stefan and Elena hurry to rescue their innocent friend from the Dark Dimension, leaving Matt and Meredith to save their hometown from the dangerous spirits that have taken hold of Fell's Church. One by one, children are succumbing to demonic designs. But Matt and Meredith soon discover that the source of the evil is darker and closer than they ever could have imagined. . .

Chocolicious by Geraldine Solon

Goodreads Summary:

A week after Blair Nightingale’s husband, Larry, dies, she learns she’s about to lose everything she owns due to a foolish mistake Larry made. In an instant, Blair’s life is transformed from rich, Silicon Valley trophy wife to poor, widowed single mom. Her only goal now is to provide for her daughter. As Blair begins to pick up the pieces, George—Larry’s best friend and the man she truly resents—seems to always be around. When Blair is overwhelmed by all the challenges she faces, she seeks comfort in baking rich, filled, three-layered cupcakes that her grandmother once taught her, and soon Blair's life is changed forever.

Vampire Diaries Series

For those familiar with the Vampire Diaries on television, you should have heard that it comes from a book series by L.J.Smith. The tv series doesn't follow the books word for word, in fact the characters are different and most of the events that occur are not the same. If you are fond of the tv series, there is a good chance you will like the books, however the books are a bit more out there than what you see on tv. I know I have found myself questioning the book at times as there is more magic than my mind can handle and some aspects just don't make sense. However it still is a great read and if you thought the triangle relationship between Damon, Elena and Stefan was bad, it is off the charts in the books.

At this point I have read all the Vampire Diaries books to date, all of which I will review in time. The first will be up tomorrow. For reference of books, these include:
- The Awakening
- The Struggle
- The Fury
- Dark Reunion
- The Return: Nightfall
- The Return: Shadow Souls
- The Return: Midnight
- The Hunters: Phanton (October 2011)
- The Hunters: Moonsong (March 2012)

It really is an exciting series and I look forward to its return on UK television. For now, only the lucky US fans will be able to watch on tv. In the US, viewers are getting ready for the second episode tonight, which looks amazing. I managed to catch the first episode and it is safe to say it will be one action packed season. I am a big fan of Damon and am happy I will be able to see more of him this season with Stefan on a terror rampage with vampire-werewolf hybrid Klaus.

The promotional posters seem to explain the season in one look...

What do you think of the series (book or tv)?
Are you looking forward to The Hunters?

Review: How Football Explains The World

A bit of an odd book to add to the mix, but I thought it would be fun to add something for the football fans. For those of you in Aus or the US, I am talking about Soccer. I have loved the sport since I could walk and found this book fascinating.

How Football Explains The World is a non-fiction book written by American journalist Franklin Foer. I picked this book up in Singapore several years ago as I was intrigued by the title. The book is exactly as I expected; tales and opinions on how Football explains different cultures, society and behaviour.
Franklin Foer takes us around the world, introducing us to fans and clubs, discussing different aspects of the game and the culture surrounding it. It is interesting to see how fan clubs emerge. Some fans are backed by love for the game where as others support a team for political reasons and associate the club with freedom and patriotism.

What I love about this book is that it is written from an American's perspective, where american football and baseball are the national sport and soccer falls behind. I thought he may be blinded by his background, but he does his research well and is able to give an honest look into the sport without being subjective. One thing that does come up is that Foer wasn't raised breathing and dreaming about the sport, therefore I find his opinion may not always be equally met by readers who have a passionate love for the game. I have heard from some readers that his views are quite arrogant as he is an outsider, but I will leave that to you to judge for yourself.

To football fans, this is not a book about your favourite club or players, this is all about the love of the game and the effect it has on the world. Foer goes deep into the sport, talking about rivalries, hooliganism, migration, corruption and nationalism.

Cover:
There is nothing too spectacular about this cover. It is predominantly text with a small photo of two children playing with a ball. One thing I am glad about is that there is no giant picture of the world made to look like a football, that would have been worse. I do however prefer the US cover - It makes much more sense.

Final Comments:
This was a great read! If you hate football, it would probably be boring for you and I would suggest you dont bother. However, if you love to learn about cultures or love the sport, you will like this. This book does not explain how football explains the entire world, it only explains how football has shaped cultures and behaviours that are associated with it. It is not a boring history lesson on the world.

Release Date: March 2002
Publisher: Arrow (Cornerstone)
Author: Franklin Foer

Friday's Five!

Last week, I took part in Friday's Five, a weekly list of five of my favourites, which has been started by the wonderful Steph at Steph's Stacks.

1. Emma by Jane Austen

Emma is one of my all time favourites. Emma Woodhouse is a smart and beautiful girl that comes from money. Her life has never been difficult as she is spoiled by her father and those around her. She takes joy in matchmaking, however for the first time in her life she realises people arent as simple as she imagined. Sometime what you need is in front of you, even if it could take you years to realise. Like in other Austen novels, there is a handsome and rich gentleman who can win a girls heart... Mr Knightley!

2. The Marriages Between Zones Three, Four and Five by Doris Lessing

I approached this book with strong hesitation as I dont typically read science fiction novels. That was a mistake on my part as this was a rather fascinating read. It is the second book in a five book series by Doris Lessing who has a Nobel Prize in Literature. The great thing about this book is you can read it without having to go through the entire series.
For those who are unfamiliar with the story, it isn't a simple one. It tells a story of marriages, love, struggles and differences between men and women. Each zone is different; from militaristic, matriarchal to barbaric. Doris Lessing really is an amazing writer, creating a superb feministic novel.

3. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Yes I am a twihard and proud of it. For a teen book, this took the world by storm. Bella and Edward are this generations Romeo and Juliet. I think what works is that most teenage girls see themselves in Bella and can relate to her. The bonus is that there is a handsome teen looking vampire ready to devote his life to her..

4. The Initiation and The Captive, Part 1 (The Secret Circle) by L.J.Smith

I read this book as it came in a set with another book I wanted. I was pleasantly surprised. It is a great read if you want to get away from vampires and go back to witches. If you watched The Secret Circle last night, the book isnt exactly the same. Some of the story has changed. In fact, the story between Cassie and Adam is more complex and goes beyond the time she moved to live with her grandma. Her mother is also alive in the book. So if you loved the new tv series, I recommend you give this book a go.

5. How Football Explains The World by Franklin Foer

When I say football, I mean soccer, as in the round ball you kick. I picked up this book in Singapore when I was heading for a non stop 19 hour flight to Newark. This book is a bit of fresh air from what I usually read. It is written by an American Journalist and football fan. It gives you an insight into how one of the worlds most popular sports shapes behaviour around the world. If you love football/soccer I highly recommend this book as you will learn new strange and interesting things about fans and the sport.