20, 000 Leagues Under The Sea 7/10

20, 000 Leagues Under The Sea by Jules Verne

7/10
"Verne's prophetic masterpiece of maritime adventure has fascinated every generation of readers since its publication in 1870"

Jules Verne's 20 000 Leagues Under The Sea is a science fiction novel following Professor Aaronax, a professor of marine biology, who goes to study a mysterious submarine creature that is wrecking ships in the year of 1866. When the Professor is lost overboard along with two of his companions, he is saved by this creature, which turns out to in fact be an extremely modern submarine vessel known as the 'Nautilus', run by the erratic and allusive Captian Nemo. The novel follows the Nautilus as it journeys around the world, with each chapter having a new adventure that reveals more about the the world, the vessel and the characters within.

I really enjoyed reading this novel. It is slow to read due to the older-fashioned language used however this does not detract from the story line. It is a fascinating read and if you are looking for a more classic novel to fill your bookshelf, I would recommend. You need to have patience to read this book, but it is well worth it. Travelling under the sea with Professor Aaronax has taught me so many interesting things and I feel that I have a better grip on the world- as crazy as that sounds. Also as a side note, Jules Verne wrote Journey To The Center Of The Earth, which you may have seen the adaption in cinemas. :)

The Selection Series 6/10

The Selection Series by Kiera Cass

Book 1: 7/10, Book 2: 6/10, Book 3: 5/10

The Selection Series follows the story of America Singer, a low class girl who is chosen to participate in what is known as The Selection- where her and thirty-five other girls will compete against each other to win the heart and hand in marriage, of gorgeous Prince Maxon. However, America wants nothing more than to stay with her family and love of her life Aspen, not prance around the Kings castle competing for a man she doesn't know's hand in marriage. As America learns the way of royalty, she begins to see that Prince Maxon is much more than he seems, and she may want to stay after all...

I didn't really like this series. I think that I would have enjoyed them much more a few years ago. Nevertheless, here I am. The major bone that I need to pick with Kiera Cass is the plot of the novels. This is as the romance feels rushed and the set-up unnatural. The series is basically a written version of The Batchelor- and this is a bigger fail than Blake & Sam in 2014. I definitely do not recommend this book, whilst the first is not bad, the rest of the series will let you down and there are thousands of other amazing books out there. Go check out my recommendations if you are thinking of reading this- because I don't think it is worth your time. Click here to see The Selection Series on goodreads

Since You've Been Gone 7/10

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

7/10 

Morgan Matson's 2014 novel 'Since You've Been Gone' is a contemporary novel that delves into the the importance of friendship and love, especially for seventeen year-old Emily Hughes. When Emily's best friend Sloane disappears with her family, leaving no trace except for  a list of things for Emily to accomplish in the summer, Emily is lost. She resolves that if she completes the list she may be able to find Sloane. However the list is made up of things that are the opposite of Emily's shy, reserved nature, including to go skinny dipping, kiss a stranger, break something and more. The novel follows Emily as she ventures to complete the list over the summer, and the relationships that form as a consequence.

I very much enjoyed reading this book. Morgan Matson makes her books really special as she includes extra things into the book such as music playlists and handwritten letters, almost as if it is a journal. This is really awesome because it is fun when you can recognise some of the songs and feel more deeply involved with the characters. Also, Frank is an awesome, funny and easy-to-love character that is created so well by Matson.
The reason that I am not giving this book a higher rating is simply because it is not the type of book that I love to read. However, this is the type of book that would be perfect to cure a book hangover after a particularly good series or a world-stopping romance as it is an all-round feel-good book with a fantastic storyline and comforting ending. Click here to see Since You've Been Gone on goodreads