Issue 4 of The Fangirl Guide: Arts & Crafts

I have always been an arts and crafts lover, from when I was drawing pictures as a toddler, to sewing my own dresses now. So, when thinking about this guide, and the various book related arty things you can make, I discovered I could combine the two. I have used pages from the internet to create my own simple to follow guides, so I will give credit for everything I find at the end of the guides.

Below you will find links to help indulge your crafty side:

A clutch made from an actual book

A fabric tote to carry your books

Fox Bookmark (because you can never catch the fox!)

Cute Lacing Bookmarks

-Beth

Happy Reading (and crafting!)♥

Review: Summer of Secrets by Rosie Rushton

 

Summer of Secrets is a book by Rosie Rushton, first published in 2007 by Piccadilly Press Ltd.

What would happen if the traumas of teenage life from Jane Austen's 

Northanger Abbey surfaced in our modern day lives?

   Caitlin Morland has always craved excitement and mystery. When she wins an art scholarship to Mulburry Court School, she's delighted to suddenly befriend the glamorous Izzy Thorpe and guarded but intriguing Summer Tilney. 

When Summer unexpectedly invites Caitlin to join her family on a holiday to their villa in Italy, Caitlin readily agrees. But will her dreams of a romantic getaway turn into something so much more?

♥

Caitlin felt as if she was sitting in the middle of one of those TV adverts for Italian cars or jars of pasta sauce. A long trestle table had been set up under the trees at the side of the villa and was laden with bowls of salad, dishes of olives, baskets of garlic bread and jugs of wine. Two barbecues sizzled away at the side, grilling huge shrimps, whole fish and chicken legs doused in honey and herbs. 

Sir Magnus had invited friends from the neighbouring villa to the meal, and Caitlin's ears were assailed with the rapid staccato of Italian spoken so fast that she couldn't understand a single word, despite having scanned the pages of Italian in Seven Days at the airport. 

She felt as if any moment now a Fiat Punto would hurtle through the olive groves, or some fat senora would brandish tomato sauce to background music of Arrivederci Roma and pronounce that it was full of Italian sunshine for just two pounds thirty-five.

♥

   I also managed to pick up this book second hand, luckily, but I did think I hadn't read this one. It turns out I have read it before, also a couple of years ago, but I had no clue about the ending, which means I re-lived this book as if it was my first time reading it. 

I have read other Rosie Rushton books in the past, such as the What a Week series, but I really believe that her true skill for writing comes through in Summer of Secrets and The Secrets of Love. 

Although I have not read the original Northanger Abbey, I think she portrayed the original story, and the romance and mystery is included brilliantly. 

The only thing I would change about this book is the start. Nothing is wrong with it, I would just like to know how Caitlin became friends with Izzy and Summer, as it's not really explained. Aside from that, the plot is great, with enough excitement to get you involved in the novel and make you want to find out what happens.

-Beth

Happy Reading!♥

Review: Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

   Where to begin with this book.
 
   Maybe I should start with the fact that I absolutely loved it. I loved the writing, the characters, the setting.

It was awesome.

   It was just so addictive to read. The words, the sentences, the paragraphs... And to think, it contained the adventures over only a night's spread.

   Nick and Norah are both suffering from broken hearts. It all starts with Nick asking the strange girl next to him to be his girlfriend for the next five minutes, and for reasons of her own, Norah agrees.

   There starts the sexy, funny, roller coaster of a story of a first date over one very long night in New York.

   If you haven't read this book, you need to. Like it says, this book is one roller coaster of a story.

Thanks!

- Emma

Happy Reading! <3

Review: Girl (Nearly) 16: Absolute Torture by Sue Limb

 

Girl (Nearly) 16: Absolute Torture is a book by Sue Limb, first published in 2005 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.

Jess's dreams have finally come true. She is in love. And not just with anyone, with Fred the Perfect. She is the happiest she ever has been, but not for long.

The moment Jess gets together with Fred, the goofy boy of her dreams, her mom decides to take her on a surprise history tour of England. Along with granny, and grandpas ashes. 

Normally Jess would jump at the chance of going on holiday, and especially seeing her dad in St Ives at the end of there trip, but why now? 

♥

'As a matter of fact,' said Jess, in a casual, airy kind of way, 'I've got a proper boyfriend - somebody my own age.'

Mum whirled round, her face transformed in an instant. Her blissful yearning for the spirit of Lawrence of Arabia was replaced by a wide-eyed alarm and terror. As if she'd suddenly seen a snake in a flowerbed. 

'What?' she hissed. 'What's all this? What on earth are you talking about?'

Oh my God, thought Jess, I've blown it. In an instant the skittish, holiday-Mum had gone, and the anxious disapproving old bat of normal everyday life was back in charge. Jess would have to blag her way our of this one. 

'Yeah,' she went on, 'haven't I mentioned him? His name's Siegfriend de Montenegro and his family made a million our of marzipan. They live in a castle on a hill in Transylvania. We're planning a December wedding and I'm going to have a troupe of vampires-in-honour, all in pink and white.'

♥

I have read this book before, a few years ago, but I had borrowed it from the library, so when I saw it in a second hand bookshop, I just couldn't help but want to own it. So, I didn't try to resist temptation. I now own the delightful copy in the picture above.

So, I had a pretty crappy week this week, but Emma has really helped (thank you bookdragon ♥) and so has reading. This book, to be precise. 

I think this book is a really good choice after reading a short one, as it is just so easy to read, and will convince you to read thick books again in no time. 

-Beth

Happy Reading!♥

Notes

Hi bibliophiles!

Just a quick note to say these two things:

We now have a @the_perksinourstars Instagram page! Here you can find shelfies (and other book pictures) along with book quotes and other things! To be featured on our page tag your shelfies #theperksinourstars ! Click on the link at the top of this page to be transported into magical unicorns and become a book dragon.

Also, I wanted to add this:

I use public transport a fair amount, and there is usually someone with a book or reading, especially on long journeys. But the other day, I saw THREE people reading on a train. Yes, three. I didn't see all of the titles, but there was a teenage guy reading the hobbit. Really.

As I sat there, I thought about how sometimes, with the hype of gadgets, social media and gaming, we book-lovers really feel alone. I'm not saying I don't love the modern world, I am a big daily internet user and gamer (fact about me there!), and I enjoy them as much as the next person. But basically, please don't feel alone.

There is definitely a surviving community of bookworms (and dragons), so don't be afraid to admit you are one.

We are readers, and we are proud.

-Beth

Happy Reading!♥