Lobsters

I'm really happy to review this book because it really gave me what it promised! I'm talking about the book: Lobsters by Tom Ellen and Lucy Ivison. I have seen this book in the bookstore in many, many occasions but only decided to buy it two weeks ago. The book really attracted me each and every time in the bookstore because (the Dutch edition) is very bright, intense and flashy as you can see on the photos BUT I wasn't all too sure about the content...

Hannah and Sam don't want to be virgins any longer when they go to university. That means they've got only one summer left to find the one and to reach that mile-stone. It all doesn't go as easy as both had planned, especially when you feel like your friends are better at everything. Hannah feels less beautiful and not worthy of a boy while Sam struggles to be, according to his friends, "a real man". Both must navigate social misunderstandings, the plotting of well-meaning friends, and their own fears of being virgins for ever to find happiness. And in the end, it all boils down to love.

Both the Dutch and English editions promise to give you a "social awkward love story". When I saw that for the first time, I was very curious in what way this could be awkward. As I said before, I wasn't all to sure if I wanted to read this book because of the content. It seemed (on the Dutch edition) as if it was going to focus a hell of a lot on the 'virgins' part which I really wasn't that interested in.

So how did I end up with this book? I can't say that I wasn't attracted to the book. It's flashy cover and part of the content really made me want to read it. The cool thing on the Dutch version is that they try to make you 'buy' it. On the back of the book it says "Not convinced yet? Read pages 42-43." And of course, I did! That really took me over the edge and made me take the book with me. Did I regret buying it? Was it really concentrated on the "virgins" part? Not. At. All.

I haven't laughed this hard with a book since a while! So I'm already warning you, if you read this book in public environments people will stare at you because you laugh. Hard. It was just how the writers wrote particular sentences. Sometimes you'd get the feeling that it maybe wasn't meant like that but you laughed with it anyway. Sometimes the drama and jealousy would've been told with very funny aspects and on a very, very funny way!

Speaking of drama, as in every lover story there's the drama with the drama queens, drama kings! The first character I'd like to discuss therefore is Stella. I'm going to be very blunt now but I didn't like her at all. She really acted like she was the center of it all, she also was a drama queen I can't put it into words! I just didn't like her because sometimes, even if she meant well, she just seemed so mean. If you have read the story you might understand!

Hannah is one of the main characters with whom I really could connect. The exams just passed and at times she was really stressed to find out the outcome of it all. She's also very shy and introvert. Stella is one of her best friends but because Stella is such a drama queen, Hannah feels like she's less than her. And not only on one particular aspect but on many, that we see throughout the story. I really liked Hannah a lot! It's not that I had 'awkward' moments with her but...

I did have awkward moments with the other main character: Sam. He's just so funny! But because of that he sometimes makes many situations awkward. Other than that, Sam's really sweet, calm and very self conscious. He also feels that his other friends are more like a man than he is because he's still a virgin. 

As for another friend that feels like he's the man: Robin. What did I think about him? He was Stella but than less dramatic and mean. He really did want all the best for his friends even though he sometimes forgot that he's not the most important all the time. He's also really funny but also stubborn and vain but those are the things I appreciated the most with Robin. These aspects about him really gave more fun to the story and more awkward to the situations. 

As for the plot it was as I already have said a thousand times in this review, very funny! Also they give you a reason why the book is called "Lobsters", I thought it was weird... They used it as a design above each chapter and it was the title... but they explain which I found very good and useful because later on something happens to that meaning. I laughed with it... a lot because not only were they lied to, but also I was told lies! 

And yes there are certain parts are about the whole 'Hannah and Sam are a virgin and don't want to be' and also the language changed then but it didn't bother me as much as I thought it would. From the Dutch description we get, it feels like it's all going to be about virgins and sex which I didn't want because that'd be awkward, right? Luckily for me it was different in a good way! Next to the funny parts there were also very romantic scenes, very friendly scenes but also dramatic scenes because what would a book be without drama? 

I absolutely enjoyed this book SO SO much! I could connect with the characters, I laughed my butt off, I felt happy because of the romance. Altogether it was a very good read to me and absolutely deserves its 5 stars I'm giving it! They give you what it says on the cover: a very awkward but romantic story and it all completed each other, together with comedy. I do think that it's one of those books you either love or hate. If you hate the beginning and think "oh boy, if this is going to be like this all 272 pages long, I'm quitting NOW." hold on! Maybe you'll change your mind after reading pages 42-43 and following!

"But fate is at work to bring them together."

Shout out!

So this is going to be an all new kind of blog post! And it has to do with my book challenge for today, which is "Bookmarks". You might have seen that I don't have the normal printed bookmarks as I used to... That all has to do with my mother!

My mom is an artist and makes many projects on a very creative manner. She uses all kinds of markers, paper, stamps and is even a member of various designteams. Maybe one you might now is Kuretake! Since my challenge told me to make a picture with a bookmark, I challenged her to make me another one due to today! 

I told her that I'd love one with black and that black and gold are in a marriage. As she and you guys already know, I'm a huge fan of books with angels and demons in it. Mainly the 'wing' part to the characters and she has a lot of stamps with beautiful angel wings! 

That said and done she made me this beautiful bookmark with black feathers and gold specks: 

She outdone herself again! If you want to know how she has made this beautiful bookmark go to her blog: http://acoloredmind.blogspot.be/ or directly to the blog post that handles this subject: Shout out to...  

She also has other tutorials on how to make very creative and beautiful things such as cards for birthdays or other occasions. So make sure to go check on her blog: HERE and show your creative side! She also joined Instagram a while ago so make sure to go and follow her there to see the beautiful pictures she makes with her projects: INSTAGRAM 

Voor de Belgen en Nederlanders onder ons, mijn mama geeft ook verschillende workshops met de verschillende producten die ze gebruikt. Als je zin hebt om je creatieve kantje te tonen, binnenkort is er een workshop in Wommelgem! Voor meer informatie KLIK HIER, maar ook voor You Do (Schleiper) doet ze workshops, ga dus zeker eens een kijkje nemen op haar blog! Je kan haar ook vragen om een workshop te geven door haar te contacteren. 

Deity

So I finally got to the third book in the covenant series: Deity by Jennifer L. Armentrout! It has been laying on my shelf for a month and I honestly can shoot myself in the head. This book has so much and did so many things to me on a whole new level! 

If you haven't read any books in this series I recommend you do because Holly Daimon Babies, it's so addicting! I hated the fact that I couldn't get any further into it... School has me wrapped around the neck like a snake, but luckily the weekend arrived and I had more time to read in this amazing, thrilling book! There is so much more to discover in this book but I don't want to get to detailed because then spoilers would slip out. So I'm staying very superficial but if you'd like to read the review to the first book: Half-blood or the second book: Pure. 


Ever since the second book a hell of a lot went down. Back to the Covenant secrets begin to develop and mysterious acts start to enroll. Alexandria has many doubts to what to do and who to trust, especially after everything that happened. 
After all the loss she has felt through the past months and past events she's struggling more and more with who she is and what will become of her in the future. She gets support of a lot of people but can't deny that many are avoiding her. While she struggles with the new behavior, more mystery seeps in and starts to shake up the covenant. Alexandria is caught between love and fate, truth and lies. One will do anything to protect her. One has been lying to her since the beginning. Once secrets are being revealed, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocably changes... and destroyed.

Can we all just take a moment and appreciate Jennifer L. Armentrouts' writing skills? She keeps me on the tips of my toes with joy but at the same time with despair. I had so many emotions during this book that went from loving to irritation and back. 


After the second book being full with action, romance, suspicion, thrill and so much more I thought this couldn't get any better... But it did! I haven't felt more irritation toward one of the characters in a lifetime but I really enjoyed the characters presence because of another book. Let's just say that this character was pushing my buttons to the limit but I'm still irrevocably happy with him. Which is so bad of me because this character was not how this character should've be! 

The characters in general were still very alike but I did see many developments. Especially towards Alex because I think she's under a lot of pressure and it makes her do stupid things which we already know about her but the way she handles it is different. It did give her another spotlight on her, she's a lot more different that I originally thought. What was supposed to be the all tough girl seemed now the all though girl into another perspective. Which is something positive!

I also was very happy that we got to see more of a particular side character for reasons I can not tell... I just loved it that he/she was more involved and that we saw the side character grow and develop him/herself to a whole new level. To me, I saw a big change in his/her behavior and I was so happy that it happened because I was doubting the character and its intentions in the first two books. 

We also discovered some things that were left unanswered at the end of the second book which I was a great fan of. But if I want to explain that, I'd spoil. There are so much more things I want to tell but can't because of the spoiler alert so I won't tell. Only that this book was a lot more different than I had imagined and that in a good way. It still surprised me and got me in all sorts of moods! I'm eager to read the fourth book in this series but I'm thinking it's time for a novella of this series first. 

"Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than fate..."

The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden

Finally, I'm going to review my all time favorite not-paranormal, not-angel-like, not-goddess-like book! This is one of my favorite authors, well I only have like 2 big favorite authors and she's one of them. I wanted to talk about this book forever but it's been a while, around February 2015 since I read it. It's still my all time favorite in this category though! And it's a series which made it even better, I could keep reading about them and love them more... I'm talking about this book: The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen.


For us, our home means safety, Kayden doesn't feel safe in his own house. He's suffering in silence and hoping that's the only way to survive. One misstep will mean the worst, one misstep could be his end. One day that end came very close but his savior was even closer... 

On her twelfth birthday her luck ended, everything was taken from her. Hoping it would never happen again, Callie turns her whole life upside down. She no longer wants to feel, she wants the pain to stop. Now, six years later, she continues to struggle with the painful secret that threatens to consume her.

When fate brings them at the same college, Kayden wants to get to know his savior who changed his destiny. Callie still fears that everyone will take advantage, even Kayden. Despite her ignorance, Kayden tries to be a part in her life and then realizes that this time, Callie needs to be saved... 

The first time I saw this cover I was hypnotized, I found it so stunning! I had heard so many things about this book, positive parts but also negative parts. The negative mainly said that there was a lot of sexual tension in this book and that it wasn't appropriate for Young Adult. So I began my own investigation to find out how people felt about it and the ones that I asked told me that it isn't like that. 

Of course other people I asked said that there was a part where the characters are that intimate but that it didn't really bothered them and really enjoyed the story. That really got me over the line to get the book and I'm so glad that I did. I was very happy about the outcome for all different reasons but let's just start with the characters!

The first, and for me, most important character is Callie. Something horrible happened at her 12th birthday, something she can't recover from. Ever since that day she has closed off her world for others to see. She wears the ugliest clothes that make her look big and neglected, she even had cut off her hair. Nobody really knows what made her change, and eventually everybody decided to stay away and defriend her. 

Callie is one of those girls that doesn't find a way out and feels really insecure about herself but also about the world around her. She feels as if everybody is going to be horrible because of that one person. Basically one ruined it for all of them out there! I really felt with her because of how she's feeling. We get to see a lot of her emotions throughout the book and also her doubts towards many characters. She doesn't trust like she used to, she is very introverted and shy. With those things I could really connect with this character!

The one that really helps her with her insecurities and tries to get her out of her shell is a side character. I wouldn't see this one as a side character because I feel like he has a big impact on her and does come into view various times. Seth is the one that changes her and makes her try a lot of different things once they met each other at college. It's not that Callie just has a change of heart and trusted him, he has his own dark secrets and inner demons that's why they have bonded over the summer. 

I really liked Seth because he mainly lightened the mood and really fulfilled his duty as a best friend. He was always there for her and made sure she started to trust again and to be her beautifully self. He also does that in a very special way, they make a list that they need to do and that also has some impact on the plot. So that's why I see him more as a main character than a side character! I really loved him and was fond that he was around.

The other important character was our dear Kayden. Kayden seems as if he's got it all figured out as if he's the man. He seems popular, he could get girls if he wanted to, for short he seems rather happy and okay. Though also he has his own secrets and wants to escape all the danger. 

As I already said he tries to find a place where he doesn't need to do what he's told and doesn't need to be scared. One night Callie also saves him for what seems his end. The night is also retold through their eyes which I was happy about because it's a big thing to know. It's how they met and how Kayden got so determined to get to know Callie. Now he's in college the danger doesn't seem very close and that's why he seems more free. 

What I liked about Kayden was that he was the most realistic. Nowadays many teenagers pretend as if they're all fine but deep inside they're breaking down and that's how Kayden is represented. He's very realistic and also someone I could really connect with! Now he has his duty to fulfill which is getting to know Callie and that makes him think about more positive things. It makes him happy because he finds a distraction. 

Though nothing is really alright, which brings me to the plot of the story, this time Kayden feels like our Callie needs saving. The further you read into the book the more you'll understand about what's going down and what might happen (again). Let's say that all danger isn't averted and both will need each other really badly. 

Of course their relationship will grow, I think that's kind of clear because of Kaydens stubbornness to find out more about Callie. The characters will have major changes but so will the plot! It's nothing fast paced but you'll feel like something is going to happen while hoping it isn't going to be something bad. 

If you think this is a very sad and emo-book, it isn't. Of course it's about sad teenagers with their secrets and problems, their inner demons but it's so much more! This book and all the books I've read by Jessica Sorensen are about teens with problems but also about how to get stronger. This is the main subject and moral about these books, it's how they find a way to live with it or to make it bearable. How they find others that are alike and how together they find a way out. I wouldn't say it's an emotional book on level of sadness at all, it's more about the many friendships that come and the brighter future that's near.

I don't want to go too detailed in it because then I'll spoil so much fun but I do want to tell you guys that it's really good! The plot never felt boring to me, I kept excited about it and there were many parts that I was so hyped about! The ending also made sure I wanted to read the next two books because it's a special ending, not a normal one that I can tell! 

I remember that I came down screaming because of the end and told my whole family about what had happened AND that I needed the next book directly, as in right now! Also the second and third book didn't disappoint me at all which is a good thing! Ever since that book my collection of Jessica Sorensen has been growing... 

I already told you guys about the special list you'll read more of it in the book itself, well every beginning of the chapter there's one thing that stands on the list. In the beginning I was confused about what it really was but once I got what it meant, I felt like it was a nice and simple thought to add to this book. So totally a fan of those!

It's actually a series of 7 books, I did made a little mistake in the order because I read all of Callie and Kayden first but then one book already spoils things for the other books in the series. Do I recommend the other books in those series? Absolutely. We get a trilogy about the best friend of Kayden which was really good but very different from this one. Different in a way that Kayden is more "lovable and calm" and Luke is more strong and you'd think he has an ego but that all changes, that makes it really interesting! And as far as I can remember, all the scenes were new and not repetition. 

The last book in this series is about my lovely Seth and about his secrets and problems! I really liked it because it retold you how Seth and Callie have met which was a very nice surprise. It does have many repetitions of scenes which was a little bit a downer for me but I still enjoyed the new parts! 

I do recommend this book to absolutely anybody, don't let the negative comments stop you from reading this book! I really enjoyed it even though many said the sexual tension wasn't bearable in it. This type of genres is really something à la Jessica Sorensen, if you don't like it, I don't really recommend you to read the other books because they handle the same topics. 

If you do want to try out another book about her, even though this one wasn't the bomb, then I recommend the story about Luke or 'Breaking Nova' because it's another series of her. But this is really the first book I'd recommend from her because it's my number 1!

“In the existence of our lives, there is a single coincidence that brings us together and for a moment, our hearts beat as one.” 

The Sky is Everywhere

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson is a book that I had my eyes on quiet a while. My parents eventually bought me the book as a Christmas present. Thanks! I'm really happy that I got it, as well as another book by this author. It's the first one on the list of my January TBR.

Lennie lost her only older sister, Bailey. She's still adjusting to being an only child which isn't as easy as it seems. Sleeping alone in their room, seeing her things, reminding herself to old conversations they had, don't do any good to Lennie's loss. She feels as if she's abandoned by yet another person. 
Together with Bailey's boyfriend, they seek peace and comfort. Toby gives her that calmness, the feeling that she's not alone and for a moment it's all she wants. That until a new boy in town gets on her way and makes her feel a lot more. More than grief, sadness and loneliness. He makes her forget, even for a moment. Although Lennie struggles with that, she can also find peace in moving on. Two boys, 1 future but who'll it be?

I was really excited to read this book and it met so many expectations! I liked Lennie so much, the grief she's feeling while still holding on to every last memory of her sister. Throughout the book we also see these memories and past conversations that Lennie scribbles down on paper she finds on her way to wherever she's going. That's something I loved about this book because we could see the scribbles in the margins and find the story behind it. It really made you feel like you were a part of it, like it was something you needed to complete the puzzle. With every paper and poem there was a description on where it was found and at the end of the book we'll get to see why it's written by it.

I sometimes was really moved with memories she told us but sometimes confused too. Her story suddenly went over to the present and sometimes I didn't see that transition. That's really too bad because that made it harder to read for me. It doesn't mean that I didn't like it because I obviously loved this book, but I do wish sometimes the transitions were clearer.

Bailey's boyfriend, Toby is a whole different kind of feeling. I don't really know if I should hate him or like him but for me it was already clear I didn't want Len to end up with him. Somehow it just didn't fit. He wasn't like her but I did like to see them go from a dark place to a brighter one with the sky around them, together. Their final part together was also very special! Throughout the story Toby reveals a lot of things to Lennie that leave her both shocked and more alone. I was shocked myself, and felt really sorry for Len because in the end if he didn't tell her, she'd never have known. 

As for the new boy in town, God I just loved that one! He has so many similarities with Lennie and he was such a romantic, which could be a little cliche when you know where he has lived. But that aside this character really was the one for me! He didn't drown Len in more 'I'm sorry for your loss' which I think did help her figure things out. I don't want to spoil a lot about him because I think it'd be more pleasant for you guys to discover him all by yourself. 

This book wasn't all focused on the whole love situation. It really did capture the feeling of loss and grief but also the many consequences of it. The not talking anymore and the hiding from everyone you loved. So more the pushing away and trying to give it some space, to accept. I think it really gives you some insight in how it really must feel for that person to lose someone that important. 

The grief and sadness was very often switched with the romance part but also with the family part! The many questions Lennie had according to another family member that has abandoned her, give you a good variety on the whole sadness and loss part which I find really good. Otherwise it would've been a very sad book but that's absolutely not the case! 

At the end I did want more closure because I find it that there wasn't a real finale to the book. And I did wish to know more about some things Len wrote or how everything ended up later on with the characters. But this is very personally, it's known that I really want closure after every story! ;) 

Overall this book was a fantastic and realistic read about a girl finding peace and comfort in all different kind of ways. It captured certain emotions and personally I really longed for the romance that tore away the sadness. Don't think this is an all emo-type of book because it really isn't! It's all about the accepting of the loss and finding new things to be happy about, without having to feel guilty about it. It's okay to accept and find new things that bring you joy, that's what life is all about and Jandy Nelson really showed me this in the story! 



"If anyone asks where we are, just tell them to look up."

TBR of January

First of all I want to wish everybody a happy (late) new year! I hope this year will bring you both joy and happiness, a good health and I hope all your dreams may come true! And of course, why not wish a year full of books?! 
With Christmas passing by and New year that just happened, I got some new books. I still have around 10 books to read and I already pre-ordered other books. Anyone who might be on Goodreads knows that there is a 'book challenge' and also this year I'm participating. 

Last year I said I'd read 20 books because I just started to enjoy reading again and who knows, maybe it was just a bypassing hobby? But it wasn't! So I went up to 40 books and at the end of 2015 I read 65 books. This year I'll start with 30 books because I feel like this year will be very busy. We'll see where it'll be heading? What about you guys, how many books would you like to have read at the end of 2016? 


The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson 

The first book that I'll read in the year 2016 is The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson. I really wanted this book so badly! The cover is stunning and the Dutch hardcover even has a special feeling to it! Sadly, there are no hardcovers with this cover but I really wanted to read the book in English. I already started in this book and to be fair, I don't mind that it's not a hardcover. I'm enjoying this book a lot! And it's also very 'floppy' so easy to read. For the people who don't understand what I mean with floppy, the book'll just lay open without you having to hold it open... Does that make things clearer?So thanks mom and dad for the present!

Basically it's about a girl that has lost her sister and is grieving. She finds comfort with her sister's boyfriend but on the other hand, the new boy in town brings her something else she needs. She's torn between those two boys and her own sadness that she doesn't know what to do.

I'm also already picking a side. Does anybody have that too? When there are two boys involved, you pick a side and hope they'll end up together but then might change your mind because why not? For me it won't be the sister's boyfriend... It's not that I don't like him because what I can see now, they really find comfort with each other which I think is what they both really need. The new boy though, has something special that I can't describe yet. But I'm really curious how this story will develop itself! 

Deity by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Next on my TBR list is the third book in the Covenant Series. I've been putting it on hold for a long time and I honestly don't know why. It may be because I feel I'll be torn in this book between two boy sides.

This series is about gods and goddesses and an extraordinary girl. And as in every book there is the boy she loves but can't have! 

I don't want to talk about it too much because it's the third book and it'll spoil so much! I do have a review on the first book which you can find here: Half-blood. I recommend the series and to be really honest, I recommend almost every book by Jennifer L. Armentrout because they're always thrilling, they have romance and funny bits in them. Her writing style is very fluently and I never manage to put the book down once I start in it! 


End of Days by Susan EE
I uploaded a review on the second book in this trilogy two days ago. And this month it's time to say goodbye to this series by reading the last book. I hope it'll be good but I think it'll be even better than that! I enjoyed the first book a lot because of the characters really.

The characters aren't helpless in this angel apocalypse. For example the main character, Penryn, she's strong and knows how to handle all sorts of weapons. She'll go to the end of the world to find her sister and there isn't a moment where she stops and cries. She goes out there, steps into war to go find Paige because she means everything to her. It's thrilling and mind blowing! 

The second book was even better than that, because there were still developments in the way the characters behave which I was very fond of! So, very curious to were this ending will lead... I've got all sorts of hopes and dreams according to this book!  

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Another present, one that I got from my niece! I've never read any books by this author but I have heard really great things about her. If I'm not mistaking, she wrote Vampire Academy and those books have already been recommended to me. 

I don't really know what to expect from it because I have a feeling this is about vampires and I've never read any book that had vampires in it. This is what the back says: 

Sydney's blood is special. That's because she's an alchemist - one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives. But the last encounter Sydney had with vampires got her in deep trouble with the other alchemists. And now with her allegiences in question, her future is on the line.

When Sydney is torn from her bed in the middle of the night, at first she thinks she's still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway. But what unfolds is far worse. Jill Dragomir - the sister of Moroi Queen Lissa Dragomir - is in mortal danger, and the Moroi must send her into hiding. To avoid a civil war, Sydney is called upon to act as Jill's guardian and protector, posing as her roommate in the unlikeliest of places: a human boarding school in Palm Springs, California. The last thing Sydney wants is to be accused of sympathizing with vampires. And now she has to live with one.

The Moroi court believe Jill and Sydney will be safe at Amberwood Prep, but threats, distractions, and forbidden romance lurk both outside - and within - the school grounds. Now that they're in hiding, the drama is only just beginning.

So yes, I'm looking forward to read this book! Mostly because it's something 'new' and something to be excited about. 
And for the moment these are the only books that I'll start in January. I don't know how busy this month will be but if it's calm (which I'm hoping on) I'll read: Finding Sky by Joss Stirling, Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and another book by Jandy Nelson but only if there is time for that!

Life of Pi

I wasn't sure if I really wanted to write a review on this one but then I was like why not? So here I am! And this review is about the book that is a major hype: Life of Pi by Yann Martel. I don't really know what to think about the book to be honest.

Piscine Molitor Patel, also known as Pi, is a Tamil boy from Pondicherry. He explores different cultures and issues of spirituality and practicality from an early age. His father is a zoo owner and he always loved the animals. When his parents decide they're going to move across the world, they sell their business and transport animals to another zoo by boat. 
Pi survives 227 days after a shipwreck while stranded on a boat in the Pacific Ocean with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. This is his story...

So to be really honest, I didn't want to start this book. I have to read it for school and make a task. And as every book I need to read for school, they just aren't my thing. The genres that they want us to read are genres I absolutely don't like. I don't know why they keep doing it but they make sure that a reader starts hating to read. 

That said, I started reading it. I still don't know how to feel about the story. I didn't like it, I liked it? It's kind of a mixture, because I do feel appreciation for this book in some sort. In the beginning I didn't like it, at all. I couldn't connect with the character. I didn't always understand what he was trying to tell me. 

As we get to see more of his childhood, we see that Pi is very open for other cultures and other believes. He believes that there is a God. He starts checking out all sorts of different believes. That part I found really interesting, nowadays a lot of teens don't believe. Even kids don't believe but Pi was so focused on it and he really believed in it. It gave you no other choice than to believe a little with him. 

Then there followed a part that for me wasn't always clear and made it confusing until the part when they were on the ship. He explains a little bit when he's on the ship but the story developed really fast to where the ship is sinking. I did feel the horror he had when this whole event was taking place. Everybody is panicking, Pi doesn't find his family and get's on a lifeboat with uncertainty.

Now about that lifeboat, he describes it. Where he's sitting and were the other animals are sitting. Because yes, there are animals aboard, it kind of made me think about the ark of Noah but then a little bit more realistic. I found it very hard to understand how this lifeboat was build. English isn't my native language so that might explain why I didn't understand what a tarpaulin was. I guess not to everybody this story might be hard, but it was for me. 

After the shipwreck, I started to appreciate this book. I don't want to go into the details a lot because that'd spoil a lot. Let's just say that I really liked seeing how on such a young age, he managed to survive. What he did during those 227 days was kind of impressing! 

But I was very confused when the name 'Richard Parker' was said. I didn't understand it at all. Who was it? Why didn't he say something? Later we get to know that actually, it's a tiger. I was very dumbfounded but also a little excited. Excited because I like tigers so this made things look a little brighter. I was waiting on the tiger for a long time because I knew there'd be a tiger aboard. I only wouldn't have named him Richard Parker because that sounds very humanly. 

I also was really fond of the relationship, maybe even a friendship that's come out of this tragedy. Pi was all alone on the boat only with animals, only with Richard Parker. Richard Parker was also alone, in a total different environment. I think both got at least a little attached to each other and I found that really beautiful. 

For me this book also had a moral. Since Pi really believed in God, he talks about that a lot. He really believes that this is his only way to survive. Only if you believe in something, you'll find a way out. It doesn't have to be finding land on a boat. The lesson this book gave me can be tested on a lot of things. 

My teacher asked us the question if we'd like the book better without animals or with animals. If it would've been with other human beings on the boat? I would've had the same reactions as I did now, I think. I do guess that it'd be very interesting to see how people behave when they're on a small boat, trying to survive. 

But this story was with animals... Although many may think such things aren't possible, Pi made it seem possible. He was so convincing that I really can believe in the story and I wonder if that was the purpose of this book. To make you believe. If it was, it did make me believe in most of the story. 

Do I recommend the book? For me it'd be kind of a yes but also a no. I still don't know how I should feel about it. And because it gave me a lot of confusion, I gave it a 3.5 out of 5. It was something very extraordinary, I have to admit and yes some parts were written very beautifully. But it doesn't make it all good for when I was confused. I don't know if the film is better than the book, I haven't seen the film. If you have seen the film and read the book, which one did you appreciate more?

“It is true that those we meet can change us, sometimes so profoundly that we are not the same afterwards, even unto our names.”