Clockwork Princess

*Warning* I wrote this post minutes after finishing the book and I basically wrote down all the emotions and thoughts that were going through my head. Needless to say, I was a mess. This post is a jumble of words and emotions that may not make much sense but I hope you enjoy.

I've just finished reading Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare and oh my, I am speechless. I'm currently surrounded by a mountain of tissues. I've never cried so much in my life before. Clockwork Princess is the final instalment of a trilogy called the Infernal Devices. The first one was called Clockwork Angel and the second, Clockwork Prince. They were both great books as well but Clockwork Princess was the best. Here's the summary from the publisher:

Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy. 

Tessa Gray should be happy - aren't all brides happy?
Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute.
A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan. He needs Tessa. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart, will do anything to save her.

This book was simply beautiful. It was phenomenal. I want to thank Ms. Clare for writing such a fantastic novel and creating such a unique and fascinating world that I would have loved to live in. As well as creating such complex, flawed but loveable characters. I've never been so emotionally involved with characters before, I've never cared so much about what happens to them before. Jem, Will, Tessa and everyone else are such selfless and loving and brave people.
Jem Carstairs is the kindest and gentlest soul I've ever had the pleasure to read about and fall in love with. He is wise and patient and completely selfless.
Will Herondale comes off as cocky and rude but he is hiding his true caring, loving and loyal self from a horrible mistake he made when he was young. He's intelligent and charming and a character I am glad I didn't give up on.
Tessa Gray is pretty much everything I want to be. Smart, independent, strong, loyal, kind and loving. She is selfless and puts everyone she loves before herself. She also isn't afraid. She isn't afraid to give herself up to a madman, she isn't afraid to put her heart out on her sleeve and love.

I can only wish to be as good of a person as they are.

Her book wasn't just a beautiful story, it also taught me a few things about life itself. I look at love, caring and death differently now. They're all a part of the human experience and definitely what makes it worthwhile. Love isn't all hugs and kisses, it's about selflessness and genuinely caring for another person more than yourself. Doing anything for them, even if it means letting them go. Caring about someone means always being there no matter how cruel and rude and horrible they are to you. If you genuinely care for them you will do whatever it takes to help them and ignore all the horrible things they've done. And death. Death is a scary thought and I still haven't been able to wrap my head around it completely. But this book helped me realize in some ways death isn't a bad thing. It is a good thing. If you were to live forever you would outlive everyone you ever loved and cared about. Imagine a life like that. And death makes you cherish people more. You realize they won't be apart of your life forever and you need to start showing them how grateful you are to have them and how much you care for them.


Sorry for getting all emotional and philosophical and what not but honestly this book is a gem. There is so much more to it then killing the bad guy while dealing with a love triangle. Go check it out and Cassandra Clare's other amazing novels.

One Line A Day

During this past Christmas' return/exchange haul (I know how bad that sounds, but if they gave me a gift receipt and it doesn't fit or I don't like the colour, why not?) I had this journal that I wanted to exchange. Originally I was just going to get a gift card for it instead since it was from Chapters, and I just loooove my books. But, plans changed as I was browsing through the store, I stumbled upon this little, but thick, blue and gold journal. Little did I know this would be one of my best finds of the year yet!

It's so pretty and has this classic look which I love, it can be laying about in my room and look like a decoration haha. 

So basically you would write a line, or a few, each day for 5 years! Each page has 5 sections for the 5 years and once you're done, you can look back and flip through the pages and see how much you've changed or how much have stayed the same in your life over the course of the past 5 years. 

As a person who has always wanted to keep a journal, but never had the patience or the memory to write in it, this journal is perfect because all I need to do is write the most important parts of my day and I'm done! No fuss, no pressure to write perfectly and cover everything well. Also, the fact that I could have the same journal for 5 years and would be able to easily compare my life day to day really appealed to me. Since I'm 16, the next 5 years will be huge for me. A lot is going to change and I'm really nervous and excited about it, and this journal is perfect for me to record it all in. 

Indie-ish(?) Movies

So lately I've been seriously into indie movies. Or what I think are indie movies.... To me, indie movies are movies that are not the typical movie where a guy and a girl meet and fall in love, only to have some twist (one has a life threatening illness, an evil villain is trying to take over the world, they turn out to be siblings, etc.) but in the end, all is well, and ends off happy. These are my top movies recently:

 Perks of Being a Wallflower

It's actually the perfect coming of age story, and I know how cheesy and cliche it sounds but it's really good. The movie is about Charlie (played by the adorable Logan Lerman) who is a shy, introverted wallflower trying to find his way through his first year of high school. 

Charlie meets two seniors, Sam (the gorgeous Emma Watson) and Patrick (super cool Ezra Miller) and they take him under their wing and guide him through freshman year. Perks gets a little dark near the end but I think that's kind of what makes the movie, it makes it mean that much more and all the puzzle pieces connect.

For those of you who read the book first (like me!) and are unsure about the movie version, you will be please to know it's stays pretty true to the novel because Stephen Chbosky, the author, is also the director of the movie! How awesome?

Silver Linings Playbook

If you haven't heard of this movie then I am quite shocked. Silver Linings Playbooks is nominated/won so many awards this season and for good reason! 

 

It's not your typical romance story, yes there is a man and a woman the movie centres around, and I assume you can make the connection with what happens between them. But, it's different because they're both 'crazy'. They have diagnosed disorders like anger management issues and bipolar. Silver Linings Playbook is genuinely funny and touching. I watched this in the theatre and I was laughing the whole time along with the rest of the theatre (which was packed) and was constantly saying to my friend beside me, "Oh my god this can't be happening." "No way." "No, No, No!" 

This is the cover of the book Silver Linings Playbook, and I know it looks like a floating logo but the background is white and so is mine!

Silver Linings Playbook is originally a book, unfortunately I did not know that before I saw the movie but I will definitely be picking it up sometime soon! 

LOL 

(I know, I know, this is probably the furthest thing from an indie movie, even my definition of one, but I recently discovered it and watched it way too many times to count, I love it, and Douglas Booth in it, I just had to throw it in here!!) 

To be honest, it is quite the chick flick and coming of age story. If your heart melts at the sound of a British accent and cute montages of couples being all couple-y then this movie is perfect for you! But this movie isn't for a 12 year old either, there's some drinking, drugs and sex in this movie too which makes it even more realistic I think, part of the reason why I love it! 

Douglas Booth being all cute and sexy and what not. 

And he is also part of the reason why I love this movie. If you haven't noticed by now, I have a major thing for British guys. No shame. (But I hope you all don't think I'm just another shallow teen who swoons for hot guys I promise there is so much more to me!!)

Hope you all enjoy my movie recommendations! 

xoxo 

The Fault In Our Stars

Okay, so this is hands-down one of the best books I've ever read. (I'm actually currently re-reading it.) The Fault In Our Stars is Time Magazine's #1 book of 2012 and is on my list of fantastic books that will never get old. (Which is much more exclusive.) You know when you read a book that just makes you think about life? After reading it you look at the world differently, even if it is just for a few moments, but everything just feels so... good? No? Just me? Okay. But honestly, it's an incredible novel, every person I recommend it to, love it, even those ones who don't live in their room for 24 hours when they find an awesome new read like me. 

"And in freedom, most people find sin."
The book is filled with quotes that make you think and put a smile on your face.

I'm horrible at summaries, I either don't put enough detail past the name of the main characters or simply give away the entire story, but I shall try my best, so please bear with me.

The Fault In Our Stars is about a girl named Hazel who has cancer.... and meets this guy named Augustus.

So that was it. I won't do the story justice whatsoever and will spoil it, but pick up the book and you'll find out what happens to Hazel and Augustus yourself! This isn't a typical 'cancer book' filled with grief and tears that makes you want to hug everyone you see. There is so much more to it. The way John Green writes makes you believe she is just a typical teenager (granted, she is pretty smart) trying to live her life the best she can with her cancer as a 'professional sick person' as Hazel puts it.  

It's so good that even Hollywood has picked it up for a movie! Read it before you see it, it's always better that way. If you ever find yourself wandering through a bookstore pick this book up, you won't regret it trust me.