Ketchup Clouds Review

I found out about this book through the pre-roll advertisment on youtube (you know, the unskipable ones before videos). Now, youtube knows how old I am, to the day. It knows my interests, my hobbies so it recommended this book. So why did Annabel Pitcher's marketing team believe I was her target market?

Sure, I bought it. I write a blog so she gets even more media attention. But am I likely to recommend a children's book to another year 11? Probably not.

Now, on the very small chance you have kids, because dear parent I am well aware you are not my demographic, I won't recommend it to you either. It has themes of murder, s*x, divorce (doesn't sound dark but it's dark to a child), money worries, s*xual abuse etc. Minefield of nightmares and awkward conversations waiting to happen.

Now I have had yet another rant about advertising (I have them all the time) let me review the book.

Ketchup Clouds is about "Zoe," a girl who holds a terrible guilt about an event that happened in the past. As a result she writes to a man on death row called Mr S Harris because she feels that he will understand her guilt. The plot was really strong in some places as you knew what was going to happen but not to which character. However, there was a bit of a YA Twilight love triangle and it was a bit tiresome because it was so infeasible and one of the characters was so unrealistic.

I think the characters could have been developed more, the only development that occurs is Zoe's affection for Mr Harris. The family were, I think, supposed to be relatable to everyday families but I haven't had any of those scenarios so I found myself disconnected from the family life.

The boys were two very different characters, one I really disliked and one I found too perfect. You'll know which one is which if you read it. It was a sweet concept, but it was just too YA novel "a 17 year old boy fancies the 15 year old girl."

Why didn't I hate this book with it's terrible love story and pathetic character development? Is it because I've gone revision crazy?

Maybe.

It's mainly because the writing style was really good, though very simplistic. Annabel Pitcher is very gripping and the overall plotline and not the "who done it" but "who died" was done fantastically. I mean really really well. It would be the reason to buy the book. The tension was built up brilliantly.

Hardback link: http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Ketchup-Clouds-Annabel-Pitcher/9781780620305a_aid=SophieCharlotte

I would hold out for the paperback though because the cover is gorgeous. It adds so much more to the book.

Link: http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Ketchup-Clouds-Annabel-Pitcher/9781780620312?a_aid=SophieCharlotte

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11088150-ketchup-clouds

I gave it 3 stars because it's quick and easy and some bits are well done, but in 5 years time it will sit alone because it doesn't fit anywhere, a mingle of terrible YA, inappropriate children's literature and adults who won't care.

Unbroken (Cedar Cove #1) - Melody grace

Sorry if I was harsh :)
Melody Grace is a fairly unknown writer. She has only released one book so far which is Unbroken.
Unbroken (Cedar cove #1): This is just an outline of the book.
(summary from Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17342189-unbroken)
POSSIBLE SPOILERS!!!!
Unbroken is the story of Juliet and Emerson. It is set after their summer of love 4 years ago in which Emerson broke Juliet's heart, which was already damaged. 
In present day Juliet has moved on and is currently attending University in the city, and is planning a life with her boyfriend of 2 years. But she "must" go back to Cedar Cove to clear out her families beach house because her Dad needs to sell it because he is out of cash. 

I had high expectations for this book. It looked like a really good book, still your typical romance but it seemed like it would be more interesting that there would be a lot substance to the book. But in all truth although I quite liked it, it lacked substance.

Negatives:
First of all there were a lot of exclamation marks!!!! In my head that made is sound like the characters were shouting all the time. They didn't affect the book too much but they were a bit irritating. Also I thought the character lacked emotion, it was a very physical relationship between Emerson and Juliet, one which didn't really involve much more than that. Although she said "I love you" a bit, I never really got the sense that she truly did. Also it said that Emerson fought for her. There  was none of that unless you count punching someone in the face then being a jerk towards Juliet as fighting for her. Most of the book he just tries to get rid of her.
Also there were quite a few unnecessary characters such as her sister and Emerson sister, they didn't add anything to the book.
Positives:
I liked the fact that the reason Emerson pushed Juliet away was because her mum before she died wrote him a letter explaining that if he loved her he let her go. I also liked the idea of there being two types of love. It was something that I hadn't read about, although it was part of the book I think she could've focused more on that. I liked the pace of the book, it was an easy read. Although it sounds like there were a lot of negatives that is more because I expected more from it. But on a whole I finished the book and enjoyed the read. In truth I didn't notice the lack of emotion until looking back on the book which was quite interesting for me. 
Overall the book was decent, but definitely not one of the best books  I have read so far.
Star rating:

Sophie's Stacking the Shelves

So I got a bunch of new books that I should review in the next month or two, unless they’re really, really boring. If they are and I lose interest I will tell you at the end of another review or my next haul.

So I got:


The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oskar Wilde

This is about a man who models for an artist and wants to stay young forever as youth is valued as the most important aspect of a man’s character. It is a classic but it’s only 220 pages with good font size. It isn’t too heavy going so it’s a good introduction to classics. I’m about 2/3 of the way through and the first half was a bit slow moving in the same way Harry Potter 1 is slow moving when he’s at the Dursleys.

Book Depository Link: http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Picture-Dorian-Gray-Oscar-Wilde/9780141442464?a_aid=SophieCharlotte

Goodreads link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5297.The_Picture_of_Dorian_Gray



Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher

It’s about a girl who is writing to a man on death row in Texas and she feels very guilty about something and she thinks he is the only person that will understand. Tension starts to build as you realise what has happened but you can’t work out to who it happened to.

It’s good, despite her poor marketing department.

Book Depository Link: http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Ketchup-Clouds-Annabel-Pitcher/9781780620305?a_aid=SophieCharlotte

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Ketchup-Clouds-Annabel-Pitcher/9781780620312?a_aid=SophieCharlotte

Goodreads link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11088150-ketchup-clouds



Across the Universe

This is about Amy and Elder. Amy has been frozen with her parents, to be rewoken on the new planet only she is woken up 50 years too early in an attempted murder. Elder is the future leader of the space ship and is trying to discover how to be a better leader under the rule of Eldest. It’s my big leap into the world of sci-fi.

Book Depository Link: http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Across-Universe-Beth-Revis/9780141333663?a_aid=SophieCharlotte

Goodreads link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8235178-across-the-universe


Every Day by David Levithan

This is about a man who lives every day of his life in a different person’s body until he falls in love with one persons girlfriend. I read Will Grayson Will Grayson which I really enjoyed so hopefully this will be good.

Book Depository Link: http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Every-Day-David-Levithan/9780307931894?a_aid=SophieCharlotte

Goodreads link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13262783-every-day

AND TWO POST APOCALYPTIC FICTION BOOKS

YES I FILMED THAT.

I am Legend by Richard Matheson

This was made into a Will Smith film which I haven’t seen but apparently the book is amazing. Also I am pushing myself out of my comfort zone because it’s about zombies.

Book Depository Link: http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/I-Am-Legend-Richard-Matheson/9780575079007?a_aid=SophieCharlotte

Goodreads link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14064.I_Am_Legend


The Road by Cormac McCarthy

This is about a father and son walking down a road in America going South when the world has run out of resources. I probably will review these two together as like a comparison but don’t hold me to that.

Book Depository Link: http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Road-Cormac-McCarthy/9780330447546?a_aid=SophieCharlotte

Goodreads link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6288.The_Road

Oskar Wilde's Sexuality in Dorian Gray

I normally write one or two reviews, one on my opinions and one where I'll basically do your English homework. This is one of these.

"There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written or badly written. That is all... All art is at once surface and symbol. Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril. Those who read the symbol do so at their peril."

The start of Oskar Wilde's book seemed at first, quite poetical, and what I have always wanted to tell my English Literature exam board. However, after reading the first few pages, it seemed odd how much of himself he put into the book.

"I have put too much of myself into it... I am afraid I have shown in it the secret of my own soul."

Oskar Wilde was imprisoned at what is now my local young offenders institute for sodomy and indecency, which translated into Modern English, is homosexuality, though he pleaded not guilty.  When I was reading, I kept wondering why he put so much of his sexuality into the book when he could be persecuted for it. Dorian Gray is described as "beautiful" and "handsome" by two men over and over and one of the men is infatuated (this is not a spoiler, spoilers don't happen on the second page) by this man; his life revolves around Dorian Grey because he is so beautiful.

Do we notice Oskar Wilde's sexuality in this book because it is so clear or because homosexuality is not mentioned enough? Do we read books by heterosexuals and when they write that the opposite sex is beautiful do we brush over it because homosexuality is still not talked enough about, even in modern society?

(n.b. Admittedly, if you want to hear how the opposite sex is beautiful, you should probably read one of Maiya's books.)

I think I found it so obvious because when reading classics, homosexuality is unheard of. Even if the author had those feelings, they would have suppressed them because of the illegality and the consequences; prison did lead to Oskar Wilde's untimely death. 

When reading classics, I read into the meanings of the book, I don't just accept them for what they are. I think maybe that is why I was surprised by the amount of homosexuality in the book. This brings me back to my first quote:  "There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written or badly written. That is all." Was Oskar Wilde going to be told that these thoughts were "immoral" and is this why he put this two page introduction discounting the homosexual references? He knew his book was well written, but some of the subjects were just too modern for his time.

I think it would be interesting if we could know if this introductory passage was written before or after the whole book was written. Did he realise what could be read from his book and change it so no one could accuse him? He calls it "art." This simply makes it sound like societies vanity which the book is written around, but I believe it is much more than that.

Oskar Wilde's story was tragic, but Dorian Gray, so far, is brilliant. Honestly, pick up a copy. Hetero or homosexual, Oskar Wilde put himself into the book and I think the part that an author puts into a book should be taken into account.

If you buy this I get a commission so I would love you forever and ever, and it's 25% off: http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Picture-Dorian-Gray-Oscar-Wilde/9780141199498?a_aid=SophieCharlotte

The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines

So I think I should start off by saying there is no point discussing the meaning of any of my books or the writing style because in all honesty there isn't much to say about it. The reason we read these book is to fall in love, cry, laugh and generally have a good time. So anyone who tries to be super analytical of these books is just wasting there time cause it's TEEN FICTION. It ain't gonna win prestigious book awards :) 
LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! So this is probably the best time to tell you that Abbi Glines is one of my favourite authors ever! (Apart from Richelle Mead). This book is part of a series I read last summer, I wanted to review it because I loved it!! It was a great book which has recently been modified if that's what you call it! You can still get the original which is what I recommend you do, because the newer version is quite descriptive. (The correct book: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12900174-the-vincent-boys)

This book is a good read for about 15 year old's. When I read the book I instantly fell in love with Beau. He is so handsome (not really the word for him, he is hot!) and amazing in every way!

The book is about Ashton, Sawyer and Beau. As children they were inseparable. Ashton and Beau were always closer with each other and they used to be the trouble makers. But everything changes when the boys start to notice Ash differently, but Sawyer is the first to make a move. Ash becomes his girlfriend because she thinks Beau isn't interested that way. They have been dating for the past 3 years and Sawyer is the perfect boyfriend. He is the star quarterback, son of a respectable business man and goes to church with her every Sunday. But Ashton finds it hard to keep up, she is trying to be perfect for him, but still doesn't feel good enough for him. Beau is the bad Vincent boy, he doesn't care what anyone think, he's on the football team, but he is trouble and he doesn't do relationships. Ash and Beau have barely said two words to each other since she started dating Sawyer. But then Sawyer goes away for the summer and thing heat up........

First of all Ashton: I loved this character, she wasn't too girly but also she wasn't self concious. I hate books where the girl complains about not being hot enough or pretty enough. But also I liked the fact that she had a conscience, because in some books the girl completely forgets she has a boyfriend which really irritates me! But Ash cares about the fact that Sawyer may get hurt. Ash felt quite real to me because a lot of people try to be someone their not for the people they love. But is it love if they can't accept you for who you are? 

Sawyer: He is the perfect boyfriend, with the perfect body and the perfect life!! He is generally a great guy. He plays a decent part in this book but not a huge part (do not worry he plays a bigger part in the second book!). But one little downer was that Sawyer did not feel 100% real he was just a bit too perfect for me.

Finally BEAU: Hot, amazing, sexy, love of my life! He is the most amazing boy/ man ever! Beau is trouble. He is the bad guy that everyone loves but never dates. But that happens to be for a reason. He has been in love with his cousins girl for years. Ash is the only one who knows the real Beau. And he will do anything for the girl he loves. Okay I wish I could say Beau is 100% true, but he's not. I love him but that's because boys in books are always better!

This book was a page turner for me, the main reason was because of how I wanted to find out how they were going to deal with Sawyer. My favourite moment has to be when Sawyer gives his  blessing. Although I didn't cry, I have only ever cried in one book (Sophie has hell to pay for that!), the book did make me laugh!

Negatives............ Well I can't really think of any, I mean although the storyline was predictable what else do you expect? TEEN romance is predictable and I love that about it. It gives me an escape from studying and The Great Gatsby and GCSE's! (Ha Ha Sophie see I do read sophisticated books........ just not voluntarily.)

Overall the book was amazing, it follows the typical storyline for teen romance. But I love that. This book will make you swoon and it will minorly shock you! It is a good book which will leave you in love with both Vincent Boys! 

Star rating: (five stars if you couldn't tell, I know it looks like none but this is my attempt at being arty!)