Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Outlander (published in the UK as Cross Stitch) is the first in a series of novels (currently seven) by Diana Gabaldon.
My sister recommended Cross Stitch to me saying "it took me a while to get into it, I had to be in the mood. But I loved it by the time i was halfway through." So I bought this book and it was sat on my 'to read' pile for months, I kept picking it up and then before opening it putting it down again to read something else. When I finally did pick this up I couldn't figure out why my sister found it hard to get into. I was initially worried because I had heard there was alot of scottish dialogue and I thought i'd be reading sentences over again and again to figure out what was being said. Thankfully that wasn't the case. I did find after I had finished I kept accidentally speaking with that scottish accent. I have a friend who loves accents she would of loved talking to me then.

Outlander is an amazing combination of mythology, love, war and Scottish history. If you love your history like me, It's a must read!


Outlander:
The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon--when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach--an "outlander"--in a Scotland torn by war and raiding Highland clans in the year of Our Lord...1743.  Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into intrigues and dangers that may threaten her life...and shatter her heart. For here she meets James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, and becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire...and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

          UK cover version                                                                                     US cover version

                                                                                    

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson.

I was out of town and just browsing in a bookstore, which isn't unusual for me. What is unusual is the book I bought it is so unique, it's so hard to describe, scattered throughout the book are letters and conversations written on scraps of paper and take away coffee cups. 

My usual genre of book is paranormal romance or murder mystery/crime. This book is niether, it's a story of grief and loss, but also of  love, life and romance. Although I found it in the Young Adults section don't let that put you off, because it was amazing and adults along with young adults will love it.   

The Sky Is Everywhere is the kind of book you don’t just read, you live. From the very first page, I fell in love with its wonderfully quirky characters. I cried my eyes out and then laughed through the tears. It's such a heart warming story.

The Sky is Everywhere:
Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey. But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her own life—and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two. Toby was Bailey’s boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie’s own. Joe is the new boy in town, a transplant from Paris whose nearly magical grin is matched only by his musical talent. For Lennie, they’re the sun and the moon; one boy takes her out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it. But just like their celestial counterparts, they can’t collide without the whole wide world exploding.

Jandy Nelson did a wonderful job, its a brilliant debut novel.
US. Trailer for The Sky is Everywhere.
I'm currently only halfway through this book, but it is so unique. I am really enjoying it. I saw it in the shop and thought it looked quirky as it has notes and conversations written on scraps of paper and takeaway coffee cups. Its brilliant it kpt me reading on a late night 3hr flight. When i thought i would just sleep through the flight once we got up in the air.

Now I have finished this book I am so happy I picked it up even though it had nothing to do with vampires or werewolves, w...more

The Karate Kid.

My kids have been nagging to see "The Karate kid" since the first trailer was shown on TV weeks ago. The minute i saw Jackie Chan was in it i decided we had to go see it!

Today was the day we finally went, I say finally but it was only released here 4 days ago.

I was very intrigued to see how Jaden Smith would be as an actor, as bad as this will make me sound I was wondering if he got the part because of his high profile father (Will Smith) or his own acting skills. I am very glad to report it is the latter, he is a brilliant little actor, he will definitely be giving his dad a run for his money as he gets older.

The film was great and took nothing away from the original. In my opinion it surpasses the original in its kung fu and spirit. We get to see some breathtaking views of China, including the Forbidden City and The Great Wall of China.
Overall "The Karate Kid" gets five out of five stars from me

Unfortunately when we got back home my boys, who are 8 years old (twins) decided they wanted to try out the cool kung fu moves on each other. So I have a feeling im going to be doing a lot of telling off over the next couple of days.


You can visit the movie's website here > The Karate Kid

Rasta Thomas' Rock the Ballet.

Last night I went to see these "Bad boys of dance", and they were amazing.
HOT, HOT, HOT!!!



If they come to a town near you I highly recommend you go see them, you will NOT be disappointed.

To find out their schedule visit their website by clicking here > The bad boys of dance.

My Challenge List

Here is my List for July's Challenge, fingers crossed I get through them all by July 31st!!

1. Read a book that is set in the past (historical).

2. Read a book that is set in the present (contemporary).

3. Read a book that is set in the future (futuristic).

4. Read a book that involves time-travel.

5. Read a book that was popular on the year that you were born.

6. Read a book that is set in a major city (urban)

7. Read a book that is set in a rural setting, small town or country.

8. Read a book that is set in space or off-planet.

9. Read a book that happens in a place that is completely created by the author's imagination or a place that cannot be found in a current world map. (fantasy).

10. Read a book set in the city, state or country you currently lived in, or a place, city, state or country you have visited. (Scottland)