Glory and Gore

Anthea. Student of SP, Diploma in Media and Communications. This is a blog made for SOCM where I post weekly reviews of the books i read :) "Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book."

[uwucrossing]

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Coraline - Neil Gaiman

First of all, why is this book even on the children's shelf?!?!?! this book creep me the heck out. not only is it creepy, it's disturbing as well. 

Read the book because i watched the movie first. the movie = CREEPY AS HELL. seriouslyyyyyy HOW IS IT EVEN CHILDRENS MOVIE I DONT UNDERSTAND. but its creepy in a good way. the kind i liked hence i went to the library and picked up this book.

Basically Coraline moved in to a new house. she's an only child but both her parents don't shower her with the kind of love and affection she craves. she's always left alone by herself and she felt really lonely. so she decided to explore the new house. she discovered a locked door in some random room and but it only reveals a brick wall. however, when she tries again later at night, it leads to another dimension. 

It's exactly the same house as her own but in an alternate world. then her "parents" were also there in the alternate world but with black buttons as their eyes. they were the dream parents Coraline'd always asked for. they gave her everything she wanted and more. 

As she began to visit the alternate world more and more often, she finds herself and her parents in terrible danger...

**

Neil Gaiman makes this children's book not only interesting for kids but appealing for adults as well. Good book. not the kind i'd usually read but i liked it a lot.

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The girl with the dragon tattoo - Stieg Larsson

  Picked up The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo due to its high ratings on Goodreads. Also, because there was a movie based on this novel so I decided I wanted to give it a read before watching the movie.

This book is beyooooond disturbing. The plot was quite a slow build-up for me. I felt bored sometimes because there was just too much talk and so little action. Sometimes it gets kind of confusing because the author had quite a lot of issues in the plot; corporate fraud, Nazis, extramarital affairs, dysfunctional family secrets, money laundering, sexism, sexual sadism.

To be honest, I didn’t enjoy the book at all. It was too overwhelming for me. But I got through the whole book because I wanted to know what the hype was about. I didn’t like how females were being portrayed in the book. There was quite abit of disturbing content and I suggest the author to get some professional help but he’s passed on so I guess there’s nothing much we can do about it.

I actually gave the movie a try and I gave up after a while because the scenes were too graphic for me and my poor innocent mind can’t handle it.

This book was okay I guess. Not fantastic but not that bad. Quite a creative plot. Didn’t really like the writing. But that’s just me. Won’t be reading the sequel though. It’s a little bit dark for my liking.

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Still Alice - Lisa Genova

"My yesterdays are disappearing, and my tomorrows are uncertain, so what do I live for? I live for each day. I live in the moment. Some tomorrow soon, I'll forget that I stood before you and gave this speech. But just because I'll forget it some tomorrow, doesn't mean that I didn't live every second of it today. I will forget today but that doesn't mean today doesn't matter"

**

Still Alice by Lisa Genova is beautifully written. Heartbreaking at the same time. It went in-depth on the devastating effect Alzheimer’s has on its victims and the people around them. The narration is told from Alice’s point of view. Hence, you are able to have a real look into Alzheimer’s and I have to admit the idea of the disease is frightening.

Imagine not remembering things five minutes ago. At first it seemed okay. But as the disease progresses, you start to forget where you live, what you were saying 2 seconds ago, who the person who slept beside you for thirty is. It’s really terrifying. It’s like the neurons in the brain being destroyed bit by bit, a little more every day, eradicating pieces of who you are.

The disease got so bad to the point of not knowing her daughters’ names at the very end was really heartbreaking.

The only hopeful note in the story was the love and support of the family.  

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Pandemonium - Lauren Oliver

Pandemonium is the sequel to Delirium. When I first read Delirium it was so good. The ending was a freaking cliff-hanger ending which leaves me at the edge of my seat and I was like I NEED THE SEQUEL NOW. I had such high expectations for the trilogy. However, I was tremendously let down.

*SPOILERS ALERT* (because I need to rant)

Basically in the first book Alex got carted off by some government guards and stuff. So in continuation, the second book is mainly about Lena. It alternates between Now and Then as the story goes back and forth between Lena’s life in the Wilds and her life in Brooklyn. The thing that frustrates me the most is SHE FALLS IN LOVE WITH SOME RANDOM ASS DUDE CALLED JULIAN. Like hello???? Weren’t you completely head over heels for Alex in the first book? Just because he’s gone you don’t just pounce onto another member of the opposite sex so soon???? Their love was so real in the first book I WAS ROOTING FOR THEM. THEY WERE MY OTP I FELT SO CHEATED WHEN SHE FALLS IN LOVE WITH JULIAN I JUST. She didn’t even make an attempt to find out if Alex is still alive. She. Moves. On. Just how much did she love him in the first place if she can’t even be arsed to find out the whereabouts of Alex?

Basically im really really disappointed in the sequel. The first book was so promising but the second book is just. LOVE TRIANGLE? WHY WHY WHY.

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Shutter Island - Dennis Lehane

Wanted soooo bad to read this book after watching the movie. 

After reading this book, i have to say that the movie did the book justice!!! (very rarely movies does that so you have to give the director credit for it.) since i already knew the ending and plot twist while watching the movie, obviously i knew what was going to happen. 

The book was quick paced, exciting and keeps the reader at the edge of his seat. the characters were very well-developed and the plot was wickedddd awesome. i also liked the fact that the setting took place at an asylum which gives off a more creepy feel to it. with all the government conspiracies and crazy doctors with their surgeries and all, it was very well-written in my opinion. 

After i finished the movie, my mind was B L O W N. the plot twist was the BEST I'D EVER WATCHED. totally unexpected. the whole time i was like "?????!!!!???? OH MY GOD NO" it feels like someone is playing around with my head. i loveddddd that feeling. so immediately after the movie i was like I NEED TO READ THE BOOK so here i am.

This book is definitely a MUST READ for all mystery novels lovers. MUST MUST MUSTTTTT 

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Every Day - David Levithan

Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.

This is my first book by David Levithan. This was an interesting read because it's not paranormal, not fantasy, abit of romance and realistic fiction. 

Basically the main character A, wakes up in a different body every day and lives different lives. he/she does not have an identity. no friends no family no name no nothing. he/she just drifts from body to body his/her entire life (???)/existence. 

Then one fine day A wakes up in the body of Justin and fell in love with his girlfriend, Rhiannon. this was the first time this sort of thing ever happened to A and he/she sought after many ways to keep seeing Rhiannon even after changing bodies every day. 

A then decides to tell the truth to Rhiannon and she finds it really hard to keep up with things as A takes on a new body every day and it isnt easy to keep up with the r/s/friendship.

I'd have to say that this book was quite a heartbreaking read. its quite emotional at times and you really feel for the character A. I dont know if its considered a happy ending in this book but my heart kind of breaks at the end of it.

Recommended to anyone who loves a good/sad romance.

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A Girl Like You - Gemma Burgess

1. Be cool 2. Be detached 3. Act brutal 4. Stay in control 5. Bulletproof 6. Always leave them before they leave you.

Abigail Wood has been in a relationship for seven years and just recently broken up with her boyfriend. right now, she decides that she wants to enjoy the liberating single life. she then takes up tips from her womanising flatemate, Robert. She uses these tips and practices the arts of being bulletproof. the new Abigail Wood is confident, calm and cocky... but what happens when she meets her match?

*

I'm basically a huge fan of chick-lit. this book is one of my fav chick lits ever. it was a fast-paced read. nothing to draggy or slow. it's funny; i had my laugh-out-loud moments while reading. and it leaves the reader feeling good and light-hearted at the end. 

The relationship between Abigail and Robert is the CUTEST EVER (new otp alert) they are always bantering and teasing and stuff. there were also emotional moments when they needed each other's friendship and were there for one another. it all felt so natural and cute. I WAS ROOTING FOR THEM FROM THE START I COULD FEEL THE SEXUAL TENSION RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING I SWEAR.

I recommend this book to chick-lit lovers who likes a good laugh and happy ending. ok the ending was predictable but it was a fun book okay? it had me grinning from ear to ear. Would love to read more books from Gemma Burgess. 

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Heart-Shaped Bruise - Tanya Byrne

"They say I'm evil. The police. The newspapers. The girls from school who shake their heads on the six o’clock news and say they always knew there was something not quite right about me. And everyone believes it. Including you. But you don't know. You don't know who I used to be.  Who I could have been. Awaiting trial at Archway Young Offenders Institution, Emily Koll is going to tell her side of the story for the first time. "

Emily Koll is pure evil. At least, that's what the tabloids say. People see her as the psychotic kid who is a danger to society and deserves to be locked up. 

We all know that Emily did something wrong. Her dad shot a policeman and his daughter, Juliet, who was there, saw it and stabbed Emily’s Dad. Juliet then moves in with her foster parents and slowly began to start her life again. Emily then takes up a persona and pretends to be Juliet's friend while plotting schemes to watch her life fall apart again.

This book is told from a perspective of the offender. It is rather refreshing as the book takes us through a journey of not a girl who committed a crime but someone who feels like she'd lost everything in her life, not just her family but her sense of identity. 

I did enjoy this book. I liked it but not loved it. There wasn't any big plot twist or dramatic scenes. At times it's quite heartbreaking at times and haunting. It provided suspense, thrill and evoked emotions from a reader. 

Worth a read.

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The Boy Who Could See Demons - Carolyn Jess-Cooke

Have you ever read a book, finished it in one sitting and it leaves you evaluating and questioning your own existence for the next 2346783242 days? 

This book did. For me.

Honestly. the synopsis of this book looks quite promising when i first picked it out in the library. 

"Alex Broccoli is ten years old, likes onions on toast, and can balance on the back legs of his chair for fourteen minutes. His best friend is a 9000-year-old demon called Ruen. When his depressive mother attempts suicide yet again, Alex meets child psychiatrist Anya. Still bearing the scars of her own daughter's battle with schizophrenia, Anya fears for Alex's mental health and attempts to convince him that Ruen doesn't exist. But as she runs out of medical proof for many of Alex's claims, she is faced with a question: does Alex suffer from schizophrenia, or can he really see demons?"

Basically this kid, Alex claimed to be able to see and communicate with a demon called Ruen. the child psychiatrist Anya, thinks that this could be due to the fact that his mother is diagnosed with depression and has tried to take her own life multiple times, hence it scarred Alex, resulting in the imaginary friend. Anya becomes emotionally attached to Alex and was very concerned about his well-being that she takes an extra step to look out for Alex's well-being.

The ending scares the crap out of me. and i dont mean like a ghost jumping out and going BOO! kind of scare. it's the scare that plays with your mind, leaving you disturbed and creeped out. 

The book alternates the narration between the view of Anya and Alex. it was an easy read. straightforward and simple. 

There is a major giant plot twist at the end and i TOTALLY did not see it coming. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT??!??!?!?!

This book is a dark and disturbing exploration of a human's traumatized mind. Its amazing what the brain can do when and makes you see and believe in things that defy logic. 

100% recommend to people who loves a good plot twist out there!

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SP Open House 2014

On the 9th of January, me and afew of my classmates were asked to go back to school to help out in the open house. we were supposed to come up with our own live show and present it to the visitors in the TV studio at the Agency. 

Basically we were all assigned different roles and mine was the vision mixer as it was the role i took up during RTPM ca. it was quite an experience as we are supposed to promote our course and what we do for the visitors during the open house and we need to look  like we know what we're doing. 

it was my first time being involved in open house and i have to admit i had quite an enjoyable time with my classmates.

In addition to that, we had to do a class assignment for News Feature Writing by interviewing one visitor during the SP open house. we need to craft out our own questions beforehand. during the interview, it is interesting to hear what outsiders think about Singapore Poly. their expectations/the reality/what's interesting and what's not/why do they want to come and why not etc. it was quite an eye-opener as the interview offered quite abit of an insight to what we're doing and how we are portraying ourselves to the people outside.

It is also great to see many different kinds of people coming to Singapore Poly along with their parents. it is also important to impress the parents so they will be supportive of their child's choice if they were to pick SP as one of their schools to go to. 

Overall, this open house was above my expectations and am looking forward to the next one.

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Don't you wish - Roxanne St. Claire

Be careful what you wish for...

When i first picked this book up i thought i was in for a typical chick-lit about wanting what you don't have/grass is greener on the other side kind of thing but im amazed at how much depth this book contains considering its a Young Adult fiction book.

It was quite a fast paced read and i was hooked from page one. 

Basically Annie Nutter wishes that she has the life of a popular high school kid, with rich parents, nice car, lots of friends and a boyfriend. One day after some lightning and thunder, she was transported to another life and did got what she wanted. She becomes Ayla Monroe, the Queen Bee. Annie soon finds out being all rich and popular isnt what she pictured all along. 

Then she meets Charlie, a social outcast in the school. She slowly fell in love with him. Slowly, they opened up to each other and Annie confessed that she's not Ayla. Charlie then worked out a plan for her to get back to her old self and he too, wanted to go back to when before his sister was involved in a car accident and was paralyzed from waist down.

After several attempts, Annie managed to go back to her old life and Charlie was transported to another life. 

Shall not spoil the ending but the end had me smiling from ear to ear. its such a sweet sweet book i loved it so much. this plot has been used so many times in chick-lit genre however, the writing of this author and the mapping out of characters were so in-depth and so good. 

100% recommend.

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Delirium - Lauren Oliver

"Love, the deadliest of all deadly things: It kills you both when you have it and when you don't."

THIS BOOK WAS FRIGGING AWESOME. it was so creative and refreshing and captivating and suspenseful I JUST

if you plan to do anything productive then i suggest you DONT pick up this book because once you start, its impossible to put down.

so basically this book is about living in this world where "LOVE" is a disease. and by the age of eighteen, everyone will have to go through a process which will make them immune to love. the authorities will then matchmake them a partner and they're to get married and have kids (without love, yes.) 

then the main character, Lena, was just about to go through the procedure but it was interrupted. hence, her appointment was scheduled for a later date. 

Lena used to think that the government is protecting them by "curing" them from love and she even thinks its a good thing and cant wait for it to be done. THEN SHE FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS BOY ALEX AND EVERYTHING CHANGE. SHE THEN SUCCUMBS TO THIS DISEASE, BECOMING HOPELESSLY ENTANGLED IN A FORBIDDEN ROMANCE. 

the authorities then found out that she's in love so they decided to get her to be "cured" asap. Lena and Alex then decided to make a run for it then Alex was captured and 

bam. cliff hanger ending. CAN YOU IMAGINE THE SUSPENSE. off to read the sequel now bye

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Life in DMC

Diploma in Media and Communication at SP was my first choice and i've been in this course for almost two years now.

when i first joined DMC, i was a bit hesitant and kept myself to myself because the people here seemed so loud and intimidating. but after a few weeks, i started opening up to my classmates and they are a cool bunch of people.

in my class, everyone looks out for one another and we enjoy each others company as well. we also have fun doing projects together and work hard towards our goal. there was no tension within our class and we all get along well with one another. we also hang out outside of school occasionally. 

the lessons were interesting and lecturers in CASS are very engaging. in this course, i learnt so many things about stuff that i'd normally don't give a second thought about. it really opened up my eyes to so many things. the things we learnt are also very relevant to what kinds of career we aim to be pursing in the future. we do not only learn things that from the media but others as well. for example, radio/tv production, news feature writing, advertising, marketing, media law ethics etc. 

I'm now proceeding to my third year and i'm dreading it as it meant i only have one more semester left with my classmates and it'll be followed by internship and then graduation. 

in any case, even if i didnt end up in the media career, i do not regret my decision in coming to DMC. i'm so grateful for all that i'd learnt these 3 years and all the amazing people i'd met in SP. 

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Memoirs of an imaginary friend - Matthew Dicks

Here is what I know: My Name is Budo. I have been alive for five years. Five years is very long for someone like me to be alive. Max gave me my name. Max is the only human person who can see me. Max's parents call me an imaginary friend. I love Max's teacher, Mrs Gosk. I do not like Max's other teacher, Mrs Patterson. I am not imaginary.

This book is creative. It is narrated by Budo, Max's imaginary friend. I have never read it from an imaginary friend's point of view before therefore i find it a very refreshing read indeed. surprisingly, the author pulled this off very well. 

So basically, Max Delaney has autism (not properly diagnosed) hence his imaginary friend, Budo. The novel sucks you in immediately. Budo is a very loyal friend and is constantly on a lookout for Max's welfare. Then one day some psycho pedo teacher kidnaps Max because she lost her own child and wanted a replacement or something like that. So Max went missing and no one knew where he was except Budo. however, Max is the only person who can see Budo hence its impossible for Budo to alert the adults on Max's whereabouts. The worst part is that Max wasnt even trying to escape because the psycho teacher made sure to meet the needs of Max's and took good care of him.

SHall not spoil the ending but do prepare a box of tissue by your side. very touching story. it teaches us loyalty, bravery, friendship and love. 

Highly recommended. 

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Prisoner -3087 - Alan Gratz

This is a horrifying read to me. it completely blew me away, it's not like BOO scary but more of like disturbing to know that such things actually happened in real life. Although this book is classified under Young Adult Fiction, it is actually based on a true story and the author does not hold back on the violence and experiences that happened during the Holocaust.

Yanek Gruener is Jewish and lives in Europe. The germans then invaded Europe to conquer it. He is a holocaust survivor who survived TEN concentration camps and two death marches. He was tattooed with "Prisoner B-3087" across his arm.

It was such a heat-wrenching read. Yanek lost EVERYTHING. his home, his family, his friends, yet his will to survive is so STRONG. while reading, I was admiring his strength and determination to keep going despite having lost everything and the horrors he encountered every single day for YEARS.

Overall, this book was amazing. it kept my captivated from the first page. the characters were well-developed and it felt real and you find yourself growing attached to them I just CANT.

Please please please read this book its so good I cant stress enough

10/10 recommend

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The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud - Ben Sherwood

Picked this book up because i wanted to give it a read before watching the actual movie.

This was quite a fast read i finished in one sitting. also due to wanting to know whats going to happen next. it's a really touching book and i cried. its paranormal but it's not a ghost story or creepy in any way but rather it tugs at the heartstrings of the reader. the plot twist made me choked up so bad i just. the romance in the story was good. it wasnt too cliche or cringey or typical love story. also the relationship between Charlie St. Cloud and Sam makes the whole story even more moving. 

The underlining of the book is: in order to move forward, you need to let go of your past.