Honest Scrap

First, I'm going to tag Velvet at vvb32 reads, Adam at Roof Beam Reader and Kirsty at the overflowing library.

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I was tagged by A.J. at Collections (Thanks A.J:) with this award and now have to list ten things you didn't know about me (and probably will wish you didn't by the end haha). 

1. I lost the entire nail from my little finger (of my left hand, I think) when I was around five because this girl slammed a door on my hand. Yes, I remember it in graphic detail. Luckily, it grew back and looks completely normal.

2. I love collecting things like pictures and quotes. Inspiring things. I used to collect sweet wrappers when I was in primary school. Sometimes, I watch shows like Antiques Roadshow and wonder why I can't just have an attic full of valuables at hand. Sadly, I don't even have an attic.

3. I love poetry. Reading it is fun but writing it is a great stress-reliever. I have a folder where I put all my poems in and I look through them every once in a while (when I'm feeling particularly sentimental:). The majority of them fall into three categories: love, angst and nature.

4. I'm short. One of the worst things about being short is getting on the tube (subway) for obvious reasons-other people's armpits lol- and one of the best things about it is also getting on the tube. I can sometimes get into small gaps where a taller person wouldn't hehe!

5. One of the worst things that happened to me is walking in thirty minutes late to an exam:( I was hyperventilating on a crowded bus at 9 in the morning. Luckily, I got an A for it (they gave me the thirty minutes back at the end in which I wrote like crazy, thank goodness).

6. I have a fear of heights. Oh, and rollercoasters. We do not go well together.

7. I can't sing to save my life, yet as a child, I was constantly singing out the window to an avid (and imaginary:p) audience. I also used to sing and dance in front of the television (My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion was a particular favourite) which prompted my family to throw numerous cushions at me. Alas, no encore from them.

8. I'm nocturnal.

9. One of the most surreal things that ever happened to me occurred in college. I was finished for the day and decided to go shopping. After I'd finished, I walked out and not two seconds later came face to face with my English teacher from secondary school. Awkward. We asked each other what we'd been up to and then as the conversation carried on she told me that she thought I had been the best at English from the class I was in. That was a really big compliment from her. Yeah, I was in shock. I think I'm still in shock:o

10. I take forever to make a decision on anything.

Hah, that's it. It took really long to come up with this list. If you've somehow managed to get to the end, I commend you;) 

Review: Leviathan (Leviathan #1) by Scott Westerfeld

Synopsis from back cover:

Alek is a prince without a throne. On the run from his own people, he has only a fighting machine and a small band of men.

Deryn is a girl disguised as a guy in the British Air Service. She must fight for her cause-and protect her secret-at all costs.

Alek and Deryn are thrown together aboard the mighty airship Leviathan. Though fighting side by side, their worlds are far apart. British fabricated beasts versus German steam-powered war machines. They are enemies with everything to lose, yet somehow destined to be together.  

Review:

 

LEVIATHAN is a great addition to the steampunk genre. Westerfeld has created a fantastical alternate history of World War 1. Two sides are on the brink of war- the Darwinists, who use genetically engineered 'beasties' and the Clankers, who use mechanical machines. Leviathan gives an alternate history of The First World War by incorporating future technology with the past. Though humans have not yet mixed up the DNA of animals and created whole new creatures, it is an all-too-real possibility in the near future.

I was very excited to read Leviathan because I had previously read Westerfeld's Uglies series and enjoyed it to a great extent. Furthermore, steampunk is one of my most favourite genres and to top it off- parts of Leviathan takes place in London.

Alek and Deryn were very good characters. After finishing the book, I asked myself whether I liked one more than the other, but they were always quite equal in my affections. Alek is a Prince and does not know much about the real world, so it was highly interesting to observe him out of his comfort zone. He behaved how I suspected he would; unsure of how to act and making numerous embarrassing mistakes that frustrated both him and me. However, I found that he acted in a very realistic way for someone who had never really interacted with 'common' people.

Deryn was also a good character. She knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go out and get it. Disguised as a boy to enter the Services, I thought that it would only be a matter of time before she was caught out, as she is fifteen years old after all. Deyrn does have quite a potty mouth, what with her constant use of the swear words 'bum rag', 'barking' and 'blistering' in a lot of the dialogue. This slightly annoyed me because they occurred so often and sometimes felt unnecessary. The secondary characters were all very good. I found them entertaining, though Volger, Alek's fencing master, is my favourite because of his acerbity.

Westerfeld has created a strong, visual world in Leviathan and I was very interested in this world. The story really picked up momentum about halfway through the book, however, the first half was really good at setting up the world. I enjoyed all the action sequences because it made me sit on the edge of my seat. When describing a machine or an animal, I did, on occasion, feel myself zoning out, so the exquisite illustrations by Keith Thompson scattered throughout the book were highly usefel in furthering my understanding.

The plot was great overall, though I was expecting much more to happen. The ending was a slight cliffhanger and I confess, I did turn over the page, expecting another chapter to wrap it all up. This did not happen. I will read the sequel to find out what happens next.

Leviathan reminded me of books by Philip Reeve; The Mortal Engines Quartet and The Larklight Trilogy. I would recommend these to anyone who enjoyed Leviathan and who are looking for similar books to read. Leviathan was entertaining and action-packed and I look forward to reading Behemoth, the second in the trilogy. I would recommend this to anyone interested in steampunk, action/adventure and alternate history.

Rating: 4/5

 Concept: 5/5

Cover: 5/5

Author: Scott Westerfeld

Peeta's Song

Every time I hear this song, I think of Peeta from The Hunger Games. Every word applies to how he feels for Katniss. *Goes and cries in the corner*