Top Three Books of 2013!

   These are my top three books I have read this year. These are purely my opinions and I'd also love to hear your own in the comments below :) Enjoy!

 

1. Private Peaceful

   This is my all time favourite book and I know it's quite a few others' favourites too. Michael Morpurgo has been one of my favourite authors since I was a kid and the first story I read by him was The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips. Since then, I've always wanted to read Private Peaceful from the reviews and opinions I've heard from others who have already read it. However, because I had heard it's a tear jerker too, I'm not too big a fan of a story that makes you cry just because I don't like crying! This story did make me cry but it was a good cry because it was such a good book as to make me feel so much for the characters. It's amazingly written, accurate and though-provoking so that is why this was my top book read in 2013.

2. More Than This

   Patrick Ness became one of my favourite authors last year when I read A Monster Calls by him when it was up for, and consequently won, the Carnegie Medal for my English group. Ever since then I can't get enough of him. I was given More Than This to review by Movellas and loved every moment of it. The website also ran a competition based around this book's new release, which my short story was shortlisted for and I won a signed copy of it. The Knife of Never Letting Go, the first in his Chaos Walking Trilogy is next on my list to be read. More Than This was fast paced but, like Private Peaceful despite being on the complete opposite end of the genre spectrum, very thought-provoking. I loved the characters and the plotline and almost everything about this book was perfect and made me want to read on. It's a close second next to Private Peaceful.

3. Divergent

   This book got me hooked. I brought it with my book vouchers from last Christmas at the beginning of the year and began reading it around Easter time I think. It was fast-paced, original, full of action and suspense and twists and turns and, gosh, it was just amazing! Although I wasn't as impressed with the sequel, Divergent is a must-read to me for every teenage fan of dystopian and science fiction. The film comes out next year and the final instalment of the trilogy, Allegiant, is available to buy now. With its intriguing plotline, world and characters, Veronica Roth is an author to look out for and Divergent just had to nab the last place on my top three.

   And that's my top three books of 2013 in a nutshell :) What were your favourites read this year? Do you share any of my own opinions? Please let me know in the comments below and I look forward to more awesome reads in 2014 too!


   All reviews can be read on blog and you can be directed to them by clicking the links below:

Private Peaceful Review

More Than This Review

Divergent Review


~White Ravens~
http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/10321725/white-ravens-writing

National Poetry Day 2013

   Last Thursday, it was National Poetry Day and to celebrate, I wrote a poem based on this year's theme water.
   Check it out on Movellas too!: My Love From the Water

   My Love From the Water

The

water

gleamed as

I waded in waist-

deep, so cold; so inviting.

The sea, full of mystery, as the

waves pull my feet from its safe bed.

I wash in its  tranquility; wash away all

the pain I’d  been fighting.  The shock of

my head under, I will go where I’m being led.

But then you took the stones from my pockets

and taught me how to float. You were the changing

tide in my life, a breath of sea air to my chest. You took

my body,  empty along the current,  aboard your  boat;

Showing me there is still something in this world that’s

pure and so blessed. The water I had once seen as an

escape was now my saviour, your home. I followed your

rushing river as you chase freedom, wrestling the

flow. We dance in moonlight fractured under the

surface, rampant as we roam; Untouched by

reality’s rain and storms as

I bathe in your glow.

I feel so alive since you brought me back when I was close to the end;

You saved me with a soul so beautiful only angels could send.

My love from the water.

My Love From the Water © 2013 Rachel Lowson

   Hopefully the layout it's in works correctly XD



~White Ravens~
http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/10321725/white-ravens-writing

Walks for Inspiration and Writer's Block...

   On the same topic as my last post, inspiration has popped up again. I have recently started a new story (I know it's really bad of me since I've got so many ideas on the go at the minute ;) ) that I thought up whilst walking around Newstead Abbey, one of my favourite places to visit. It's so beautiful and peaceful that it's hard not to let your mind wander and pick up some new stories :)

   My new idea is fantasy and involves one of the most interesting and fearsome mythical beings; dragons. I've created some of the main characters and settings and I'm really excited because I actually really love these people and can't wait to write their story :)

   Another reason for this post is a way I used for this story when writer's block appeared quite early on. It's the bane of every writer but unfortunately most of us experience it from time to time. I wrote the first paragraph and then I was stuck already.

   Rather then just staring at the screen for hours or putting off writing for a while, I used a tip that I got not too long ago and that was to just write something you feel like writing. As long as you try and write a little everyday, it's OK to leave the first chapter halfway through and go onto the next. If you feel like you have a burning idea for that part of the story, go for it! You can always come back later and fill in the gaps when you feel more motivated to finish it.

   It's not a crime as long as you finish what you've started once you feel up to it. Another way this is helpful because you know how that chapter will lead onto the next easily by already writing it's end.

   So, if you hit writer's block, start a new small project, such as a poem or short story, and get inspired or write the next chapter whilst you wait for the first to unravel itself in your mind. :)

   I'm going to share another photo with you because creativity is in words and pictures and can be found everywhere :)

~White Ravens~
 

Divergent by Veronica Roth Review

   My second review is of the book Divergent by Veronica Roth, a YA dystopian fiction :)
   I'm sorry it's taken me so long to post again. Thankfully exams are all over (FREEDOM!!!) and now I will probably have more time to myself to read, write and post :)

Rating: 

 

   4/5

  This book really keeps you on the edge and I love female leads kicking butt ;) I read it every day to try and finish it, but I've only given it four out of five because I didn't want to read it every second of everyday.Yes, I did finish it quite quickly but it didn't captivate me so much that I wanted to get to the end within an hour. I'm very picky with my 5/5s :)
   

Who I think it's for:

 

   Although it can get rather bloody and contains a few kissing scenes, there's no adult themes so I would say it's for 13+. It is a young adult book so, obviously, that is the main target market but I'm sure many adults would love it too, with it's strong and fresh characters, interesting plot and important themes. If you love sci-fi and dystopian fiction that this is for you. I'd say girl's would be drawn to it more but it has enough action to appeal to both genders.

"We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another.” 

Plot Summary:  

 

   In a dystopian future where Chicago is split into five factions representing specific qualities important to their citizens: Amity for the peaceful; Abnegation for the selfless; Candor for the honest; Erudite for knowledge; Dauntless for bravery.

   It is sixteen year old Beatrice 'Tris' Prior's turn to choose. Torn between staying with her family or changing for her own future, she decides upon her faction, shocking all, and is hurtled into their grueling initiation trials. Juggling friends, love, having her life on the line as well as coming to terms with being 'Divergent', a secret underlying her city could change everything they ever knew.

The Character that stood out most:

 

   Caleb Prior, 'Tris Prior's brother, stood out a lot to me. He, too, makes a shock decision at the Choosing Ceremony, which he took at the same time as 'Tris, but appeared as a very determined character. However, what really made him stand out was how much he changed throughout the book.

   In the sequel, 'Insurgent', he is obviously easily manipulated by the 'Faction over Blood' message that every child has had drilled into them from birth. Under this manipulation, he does something completely unexpected, which really disappointed me about the book. I knew that the society had misled him, but I have my own sister so I don't understand why he would do what he did. (I don't want to give anything away so that is all I will say about the matter)

   We'll have to wait for the final book, 'Allegiant', to find out why Caleb took this abrupt turn.

Why I read it:

 

   Dystopian fiction for young adults are all the rage now so naturally I was drawn to the book. I remember one of my friends recommending Veronica Roth as a good author a while back, so when I saw the name in a book shop, I thought I'd give it a go :) It had gained good reviews and I also saw that it would become a film next year, so I wanted to read it before I saw it.
  

Why you should read it:

   

   It had me hooked from the beginning. It has something for everyone, with action, love, friendship and trying to find yourself in a difficult world, which everyone can relate to. It's great for teenagers and I would recommend it to anyone. If you want to see the film, I think you should read the book first because I like to know what's going on and how it differs :) It's a very popular book amongst YA readers too :)


   Well, that's my second review done :) I will get to writing the remainder of the character questions soon. Leave your thoughts in the comments :)


~White Ravens~


  The final installment of Veronica Roth's best-selling series, 'Allegiant', is out October 22nd, 2013 and the 'Divergent' film release is in 2014 - 21st March 2014 in the USA.