Cover Lust Friday: My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Winter Romances by 12 authors, edited by Stephanie Perkins (Blogmas Day #18)

   Cover Lust Friday is a new weekly meme that's all about covers. Pick a cover that stands out to you, add your reason why you've chosen that particular one or what you like about it. Let's have fun with it and share the love for our favorite covers.

   The Cover:

My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Winter Romances by 12 authors, edited by Stephanie Perkins
Published: October 9th 2014 by Macmillan Children's Books
Number of Pages: 355 Pages (Hardcover)
Series: No

   If you love holiday stories, holiday movies, made-for-TV-holiday specials, holiday episodes of your favorite sitcoms and, especially, if you love holiday anthologies, you’re going to fall in love with My True Love Gave To Me: Twelve Holiday Stories by twelve bestselling young adult writers, edited by international bestselling author Stephanie Perkins. Whether you enjoy celebrating Christmas or Hanukkah, Winter Solstice or New Year's there's something here for everyone. So curl up by the fireplace and get cozy. You have twelve reasons this season to stay indoors and fall in love. (goodreads.com)

   The Reason:

   For the last Christmas reads edition of Cover Lust Friday I'm going to talk about the gorgeous UK hardcover edition of My True Love Gave To Me.
   I really like this cover, a lot more then the original US one to be honest, despite the fact, or maybe exactly because, it's much simpler. The cover doesn't come across as beautifully on the picture as it does in real life, especially since the actual book as pink edges on the pages and a golden bookmark. I love how well blue, gold and pink go together. Personally, I think we need more such covers that are subtle, simple, but amazing to look at. I usually don't read short story collections but I couldn't not get this one.
   Well done, cover designers!

* * *

Want to join in? No problem! Just follow the 'rules' below:

1. Write a blog post about a cover you love.
2. Add your link in the comment section of the original post (click here) so we can have something like a list going on.
3. And if you’d be so kind, I’d appreciate a link back from your own post.
4. Check out other posts, and have fun!

My Year In Music (Blogmas Day #15)

   Welcome to Blogmas day 15!
   Today I'll be talking about music, again. But, this time I've consulted Spotify to find out what music I've listened to the most this hear, how much I've been listening to it time wise and so on. I've seen so many people talking about this so I thought I might share my results with you guys, especially since I've not actually taken a look yet so we'll, kind of, find out together.
   Counting just the music I'm listening to on Spotify I've spent 39.000 hours (27 days) listening to music. I've listened to 811 different artists and 2.146 different songs, which is crazy! I wasn't even aware of the fact that I know that many artists to be completely honest.
   Now, let's see, who were my top five most listened artists, along with how many times I've streamed their music:

1. Years & Years - 581 streams
2. Panic! at the Disco - 473 streams
3. Hozier - 374 streams
4. MS MR -372 streams
5. Hurts - 359 streams

   That does look pretty legit if I think back to everything I've listened to in 2015. It's interesting how big the gaps are between places 1 to 3 yet how tiny between 3, 4 and 5. To be honest, I would have though I listened to Panic! the most this year, but I guess I was loving Years & Years quite a lot. Then again, their album is brilliant so no wonder.

   Next, let's have a look at my top five most streamed songs. I'm actually really curious about this one because I cannot even begin to guess which one might be on top.

1. Pray to God by Calvin Harris feat HAIM - 69 streams
2. King by Years & Years - 62 streams
3. Collar Full by Panic! at the Disco - 57 streams
4. Real (Original Mix) by Years & Years - 52 streams
5. Desire by Years & Years - 51 streams

   I guess it comes as no surprise that Years & Years clearly dominates this list, though I'm actually really surprised by Pray to God being my most listened to song of the year. Who would have thought. But, I'm not surprised at all that Collar Full found its way into the top five since I've been really loving that one over the past two months or so.

   And lastly we have my top five most listened to albums. I'm going to take a very wild guess and say Years & Years will be high on this one. Let's see if I'm right:

1. Hozier (Delux) by Hozier - 374 streams
2. Secondhand Rapture by MS MR - 371 streams
3. If You Leave by Daughter - 277 streams
4. Chaos and Calm by James Bay - 274 streams
5. Smoke + Mirror (Delux) by Imagine Dragons - 239 streams

   I'm actually surprised because Years & Years have not even made it onto this list, despite being my most listened to artist of 2015. Then again, I'm not surprised that Hozier won this one, closely followed by MS MR, because I really love his album a lot. And again, it's interesting how close place 1 and 2 are and also place 3 and 4.

   And that's it, that's my 2015 in music. I hope you enjoyed this little list, gotten to know my taste in music a little bit better. Share your most listened to artists, songs and albums down in the comments (no account required) or tweet them at me, @Alice_Reeds

My Bookish Christmas Wish List 2015 (Bookmas Day #14)

   Welcome to bookmas day 14!
   It's that time of the year again when we look at our growing list of books that we desire to own and read, and decide which ones are the chosen ones, the ones that end up on our christmas wish lists. Today I will tell you guys about the 10 books I've picked out that I would love to get for christmas this year. Last year I've actually gotten most of the books I wanted, which is always a nice thing, even though my bookshelves think otherwise because I barely have any space left.
   Without further ado, here are my chosen ones:

   #1 - Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
   On my most recent 4 hours bus journey I had the incredible joy of watching the movie based upon this book starring Keira Knightley, an actress I like a lot. I loved the movie and it's melancholic atmosphere so of course, the next logical step to do here, is go and read the book. I'm incredibly curious as to how the two, the book and movie, compare and how much has been changed.

   #2 - Illuminae by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman
   Fair enough, I've actually already read and reviewed this book a couple of months ago, but how could I possibly not want to own one of those amazing hardcover copies of this book? I want to experience the story again, have a closer look at all the design details that went into this book that were way too small on my eARC, and just have it stand proudly on my shelf. Besides, spoiler alert, this is one of my favorite books this year so.

   #3 - Night Film by Marisha Pessl
   I've heard lots of stuff about this book, lots and lots of praise because of the story and its originality. I've wanted to get it for surely a year or so now, so I guess Christmas is a good moment to possibly finally get my hands on it and see what all the talk is about. Hopefully it'll be a good one, if I do get it.

   #4 - This Is Not A Test by Courtney Summers
   This book sounds really interesting, since it combines two things I like a lot: a heavy topic and zombies. I really like zombie stories, the really good ones, so I'm curious to see if this will be a good one. A reviewer whose opinion I trust gave this one a high rating, despite not being the biggest fan of zombies, so I have truly high hopes for this one.

   #5 - The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu
   This is one of the 'heavy' books that can be found on my list. As you guys know I love books dealing with hard/heavy topics so of course there would be books like this one on my list. Also, let's face it, the title of this book definitely caught my attention due to obvious reasons.

   #6 - The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson
   This book is about a boy who wants to be a girl, who feels like he actually is a girl despite being born in a boys body. I've never read a transgender book before so of course when I saw this one I could not resist and had to put it onto this list asap. To be honest, I've already ordered it.

   #7 - This Shattered World and Their Fractured Light by Meagan Spooner and Amie Kaufman
   I've already wished for This Shattered World last year, but didn't get it, obviously. Logically I am wishing for it once more this year, along with the final book of the trilogy. This books are already totally worth getting even if only for those gorgeous covers, though the story in book one, These Broken Stars, was already pretty awesome so I cannot wait how the story continues.

   #8 - You by Caroline Kepnes
   This book sounds infinitely fascinating, especially because it's written in second person, as suggested even by the title. I've never read a book in second person and I'm sure it will take a little while to get used to it, but I've heard nothing but good things about this book so I have high hopes. It's supposed to be really creepy and that already tells me that I want to read it. As with heavy topics, creepy/scary books are another type of book that I happen to love.

   #9 - Some Boys by Patty Blount
   And here we are again, another heavy topic book that deals with rape. I think these types of books are incredibly important so of course I want to read them, spread the word about them, especially if they are good ones. I've been eyeing this book for months but never got it so I hope to get it as present.

   #10 - Paint My Body Red by Heidi R. Kling
   Again, I've already read, loved and reviewed this one in form of an eARC but, seeing as I absolutely loved it, I definitely want to get the physical copy of it so I can re-read it sometime. Seriously, if you've still not considered getting this book I strongly encourage you to do it. The story is amazing!

   Those are the 10 books I hope to get. I know, not the happiest list ever made but that's just me, I have a soft spot for the heavy/sad stuff. What are some of the books you hope to get for Christmas? Tell me in the comments below or on twitter, @Alice_Reeds.

Cover Lust Friday: Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle (Blogmas Day #4)

   Cover Lust Friday is a new weekly meme that's all about covers. Pick a cover that stands out to you, add your reason why you've chosen that particular one or what you like about it. Let's have fun with it and share the love for our favorite covers.

   The Cover:

Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle
Published: September 5th 2013 by Penguin UK (first published January 1st 2008)
Number of Pages: 368 Pages (Paperback)
Series: No

   An ill-timed storm on Christmas Eve buries the residents of Gracetown under multiple feet of snow and causes quite a bit of chaos. One brave soul ventures out into the storm from her stranded train and sets off a chain of events that will change quite a few lives. Over the next three days one girl takes a risky shortcut with an adorable stranger, three friends set out to win a race to the Waffle House (and the hash brown spoils), and the fate of a teacup pig falls into the hands of a lovesick barista.
   A trio of today's bestselling authors - John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle - bring all the magic of the holidays to life in three hilarious and charming interconnected tales of love, romance, and kisses that will steal your breath away. (goodreads.com)

   The Reason:

   To start of the Christmas reads edition of Cover Lust Friday I'm here to talk about the cover of Let It Snow.
   Quite obviously this isn't the original cover, or a cover that belongs to an english edition of Let It Snow. This is the Polish cover for Let It Snow, the one I have on my shelf, and I absolutely love this cover. It fits perfectly into stories set around christmas and winter. I love how the cover looks like it's been painted with water colors and is held in blues and pinks, simply perfect. You can really see that someone sat down and really thought about the cover and put in a lot of work to make it look like that.
   All in all, bravo Polish publisher, great job, don't you think?

* * *

Want to join in? No problem! Just follow the 'rules' below:

1. Write a blog post about a cover you love.
2. Add your link in the comment section of the original post (click here) so we can have something like a list going on.
3. And if you’d be so kind, I’d appreciate a link back from your own post.
4. Check out other posts, and have fun!

Waiting on Wednesday: Passenger by Alexandra Bracken (Blogmas Day #2)

   Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine in which we discuss our most anticipated upcoming releases.

   The book:

Passenger by Alexandra Backen
Expected Publication:  January 5th 2016 by Disney-Hyperion
Number of Pages:  464 Pages (Hardcover)
Series:  Yes, #1 the Passenger Trilogy/Series (?)

   passage, n.
   i. A brief section of music composed of a series of notes and flourishes.
   ii. A journey by water; a voyage.
   iii. The transition from one place to another, across space and time.
   In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles but years from home. And she’s inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she’s never heard of. Until now.
   Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods—a powerful family in the colonies—and the servitude he’s known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can’t escape and the family that won’t let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, Nicholas’ passenger, can find. In order to protect her, he must ensure she brings it back to them— whether she wants to or not.
   Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods’ grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are play­ing, treacherous forces threaten to sep­arate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home . . . forever. (goodreads.com)

   My thoughts:

   Let me start off my saying that I've not read Alexandra Bracken's The Darknest Minds trilogy. I tried but I really couldn't get into it at all, which is a shame, but this book sounds really intriguing! I definitely want to give Ms. Backen another chance and I really hope Passenger will be good. Just look at that cover, it's absolutely gorgeous so I think I will get this book even if only to have that beauty on my shelf. Usually time travel isn't really my cup of tea but this time it sounds really interesting. 
   January 2016, you here yet?

   Let me know in the comments below or via twitter (@Alice_Reeds) which books you're waiting for this Wednesday!

Announcement: Blogmas 2015!

   It's almost December, a couple more hours, and that means many bloggers like me are getting ready. For what you ask? We are getting ready for the madness that is blogmas. What does that mean you ask? Well, it basically means that starting on December 1st until December 25th we will be posting stuff on a daily basis, much like vlogmas over on YouTube.
   As you guys know I've never done this before, which only makes me more excited to participate this year. I've only found out about blogmas yesterday, meaning that my brain currently trying to figure out all the things I could post about on overdrive, since I didn't have much time to prepare, but don't worry, I have lots of ideas.

   Among the things you can expect will be:

• Waiting on Wedesnday
• Cover Lust Friday
• Ask the Author
• Three or four giveaways (unfortunately the three main ones will be Germany only since the books are in German)
• A couple of reviews and possibly recommendations.

   I'm working on planning out more fun things, but if you have any suggestions as to what you'd like to see, leave a comment below (no need to log in or anything) or tweet me @Alice_Reeds.

   To kick off blogmas on December 1st I will post review for "The Awakened" by Sara Elizabeth Santana, so get excited. I hope this is going to be a fun experience and you'll enjoy it just as much as I hopefully will. And wish me luck on actually making it, 25 posts in 25 days!

Waiting on Wednesday: The Lies About Truth by Courtney C. Stevens

   Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine in which we discuss our most anticipated upcoming releases.

   The book:

The Lies About Truth by Courtney C. Stevens
Expected Publication: November 3rd 2015 by HarperTeen
Number of Pages: 336 Pages (Hardcover)
Series: No

   Sadie Kingston, is a girl living in the aftermath. A year after surviving a car accident that killed her friend Trent and left her body and face scarred, she can’t move forward. The only person who seems to understand her is Trent’s brother, Max.
   As Sadie begins to fall for Max, she's unsure if she is truly healed enough to be with him — even if Max is able to look at her scars and not shy away. But when the truth about the accident and subsequent events comes to light, Sadie has to decide if she can embrace the future or if she'll always be trapped in the past. (goodreads.com)


   My thoughts:

   Last year I've read and loved Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens, even though it wasn't an easy story, so I immediately knew that I would read any and all books she's going to put out. The Lies About Truth sounds amazing and the cover is stunning so I cannot wait to finally read it and see it standing on my shelf. Courtney is an amazing author so I'm positive that this book will be just as good as Faking Normal.

   Let me know in the comments below or via twitter (@Alice_Reeds) which books you're waiting for this Wednesday!

Waiting on Wednesday: Underneath Everything by Marcy Beller Paul

   Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine in which we discuss our most anticipated upcoming releases.

   The book:

Underneath Everything by Marcy Beller Paul
Expected Publication: October 27th 2015 by Balzer + Bray
Number of Pages: 304 Pages (Hardcover)
Series: No

   Underneath Everything is a seductive, gorgeously written debut about two girls bound by an obsessive and toxic friendship, perfect for fans of Lauren Oliver and Courtney Summers.
   Mattie shouldn't be at the bonfire. She should be finding new maps for her collection, hanging out with Kris, and steering clear of almost everyone else, especially Jolene. After all, Mattie and Kris dropped off the social scene the summer after sophomore year for a reason. But now Mattie is a senior, and she's sick of missing things. So here she is. And there's Jolene: Beautiful. Captivating. Just like the stories she wove. Mattie would know—she used to star in them. She and Jolene were best friends. Mattie has the scar on her palm to prove it, and Jolene has everything else, including Hudson.
   But when Mattie runs into Hudson and gets a glimpse of what could have been, she decides to take it all back: the boyfriend, the friends, the life she was supposed to live. Problem is, Mattie can't figure out where Jolene's life ends and hers begins. Because there's something Mattie hasn't told anyone: She walked away from Jolene over a year ago, but she never really left. (goodreads.com)

   My thoughts:

   This book sounds absolutely amazing. I mean, a toxic friendship and an LGBTQ undercurrent, what more could you ask for? The cover is also really pretty, nice and simple with a interesting light blue font. I cannot wait to dive into this one, especially since I've had my eye on it for months now. Can it be October 27th already? Please?

   Let me know in the comments below or via twitter (@Alice_Reeds) which book you're waiting for this Wednesday!

Review: The Martian (Movie, 2015)

Title: The Martian
Release: 2015
Runtime: 141 minutes
Cast: Matt Demon (Mark Watney)
Jeff Daniels (Teddy Sanders)
Sean Bean (Mitch Henderson)
Chiwetel Ejiofor (Vincent Kapoor)
Based on The Martian by Andy Weir

During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. (IMDb.com)

   Last year I read the book that this movie is based on and loved it. It was one of my top 5 favorite books of 2014 and I told basically everyone I know about it. So when I heard that there will be a movie I was both super excited and scared. Most of the time book to movie adaptations, with the exception of very few, are not quite good, or at least not as good as fans of the books would wish them to be. But, The Martian was amazing.
   Ever since I saw the first trailer for it, which I've also reviewed and teared up while watching, my expectations shot sky high which only made me more nervous when I went to see it with my friends yesterday (thanks Germany for making me wait a week). But, as previously mentioned, I was not disappointed and my expectations were met, a huge relief really, because I wouldn't have forgiven Hollywood and Ridley Scott if he would have messed this up.

   I'm having a hard time with figuring out how to transfer my thoughts and emotions about this movie onto a review that would make sense so maybe let's start at the beginning of the movie.
   We start off right before the incident that leads to Mark being left behind on Mars since his crew thinks he is dead, though he obviously isn't. I enjoyed the fact that there wasn't some long made up stuff before that but that we were thrown right into the story just when everything got messy, though we started off with a joke about Mark having found dirt on Mars which I thought was actually funny.
   I know from articles and YouTube videos that the sandstorm is more fiction then non-fiction, but the author needed a reason for him to be left behind so that's okay, considering how scientifically accurate everything else that happens in the movie is. That brings me to my next point, the fact that this isn't one of those action filled space stories but one filled with actual survival, science and jokes. I liked the fact that the movie, and book, showed just how hard it would be to save an astronaut due to the cost and distance between the Earth and Mars. They didn't just mud that over and make it unrealistic and easy, but in a way that felt realistic which I always appreciate. Everything had a scientific base, though the movie science was a little easier to understand then some of it in the book.
   Next up, as someone who first read the book with no real knowledge how all things Mars missions look like, I definitely appreciated the fact that I now know how the rover really looks like or the HAB in which Mark lives during his Mars time. While reading I had no actual clue how these things look like and I can tell you that my imagination was very far of from how everything actually looks like.

   As for the actors, especially Matt Damon, I really liked all of their performances, even though Sean Bean did not die in this movie. Can you believe it? I've never been much of a fan of Matt Damon so when I first heard that he would play Mark Watney I wasn't sure if I liked that casting choice. But now that I saw the movie and his performance I definitely changed my mind. He played Mark amazingly and believably. Surprisingly enough he fit the role really well which is always a plus point. 
   I really like Mark's character and the fact that he never gave up, never just sulked around and contemplated how high the chance is of him dying. Every day he got up and kept himself busy to stay alive a while longer, to make his chances of surviving a little bigger. I cannot even imagine how hard that would be in reality and how lonely he felt but I guess in his situation you would try to not think about it since that could just ruin your motivation and you could run into just giving up which wouldn't really help you.
   We didn't get to see the rest of his crew that much throughout the movie but what we did get to see of them was also really good. I liked how mixed the cast of characters was and how well the actors fit their roles. That also goes for the NASA members. Usually when movies involve nerds or super intelligent people we only get to see them portrayed in a very stereotypical way but not in this movie. There were many different ones around and, as far as I've heard, the fact that they use Lord of the Rings references is also a thing that actually happens so that's awesome.

   The scenery shots of 'Mars' were breathtaking. I enjoyed all the wide shots of Mark driving around in his rover that allowed us to see more of the 'planet' and proved even more just how hard it would be for a real astronaut to survive on a planet like that completely on his own.
   What I also liked was that many of the jokes from the book made it into the movie, though it's too bad one of my favorite quotes about duct tape didn't. Even the Iron Man joke made it, though in the movie it was a little bit sillier then in the book but that's okay.

   All in all I loved The Martian and how true to the book it was. Sure, a couple of things didn't make it into the movie and others were changed a little to make the movie more interesting but that's not big of a surprise. I'm happy with how the movie turned out, with the actor's performances and everything.  I definitely want to see the movie again, many times though for that movie tickets are too expensive. I think this might so far be my favorite movie of 2015 so I recommend it to basically everyone. It's not scary, doesn't involve aliens or random jump scares and idiocy. It's a brilliant movie about survival on a planet that is definitely not made for humans as is.

I give The Martian 5 out of 5 Stars.

Ask the Author: Francesca Zappia (Made You Up)

   Hey guys!
   Today I have something really special for you, something that's never been on Bettgeschichten before and I am super excited because of it. I got the chance to interview Francesca Zappia for you guys! Her book, Made You Up, is currently way up there on my list of most anticipated books of 2015, and it also happens to be her debut novel.

Made You Up by Francesca Zappia
Published: May 19th 2015 by Greenwillow Books
Number of Pages: 448 Pages (Hardcover)
Series: No
Pre-order it: Book Depository
~ Free worldwide shipping ~

   Reality, it turns out, is often not what you perceive it to be—sometimes, there really is someone out to get you. Made You Up tells the story of Alex, a high school senior unable to tell the difference between real life and delusion. This is a compelling and provoking literary debut that will appeal to fans of Wes Anderson, Silver Linings Playbook, and Liar.
   Alex fights a daily battle to figure out the difference between reality and delusion. Armed with a take-no-prisoners attitude, her camera, a Magic 8-Ball, and her only ally (her little sister), Alex wages a war against her schizophrenia, determined to stay sane long enough to get into college. She’s pretty optimistic about her chances until classes begin, and she runs into Miles. Didn't she imagine him? Before she knows it, Alex is making friends, going to parties, falling in love, and experiencing all the usual rites of passage for teenagers. But Alex is used to being crazy. She’s not prepared for normal.
   Funny, provoking, and ultimately moving, this debut novel featuring the quintessential unreliable narrator will have readers turning the pages and trying to figure out what is real and what is made up. (goodreads.com)

Interview with Francesca Zappia

   1 - Describe Made You Up in the shortest way possible.
   Schizophrenic teenage girl must survive her senior year of high school intact.

   2 - What was the first initial thought or thing that sparked the idea of Made You Up? Was it a name or the most basic idea of a story about a girl with schizophrenia?
   Made You Up started a LONG time ago, and the story has changed a lot since then, but one thing that has always stayed the same are the main characters, Alex and Miles. I think they're the initial spark--them as people and their relationship together.

   3 - How much research did you do on schizophrenia? And did you, at some point during research, feel discouraged or anxious in terms of writing about it, or rather incorporating it into your story?
   I wrote most of Made You Up while I was in high school, and I did about as much research as a high school student could do. I read books on it, I watched documentaries, and I went online to forums where people who have schizophrenia were discussing the illness. Weirdly enough, I never felt anxious or discouraged while writing about it. I do get anxious now, though. Many people have said they're interested in reading the book because they know someone who has schizophrenia, and I just hope I don't let them down.

   4 - Did you have a personal motivation behind writing a story with schizophrenia or was it out of pure interest in the illness itself?
   I actually didn't want to write the story because of the schizophrenia. I wanted to write about Alex and Miles, people who needed help but didn't quite know how to ask for it. I don't have any personal ties to schizophrenia, but it has interested me for a long time, and I wanted to explore that.

   5 - How long did it take you from first thought until publishing deal? Out of curiosity, how many queries did you have to send until you found 'the one'?
Oh, gosh. Probably ten years? Like I said, it went through a lot of changes since the very first draft I ever wrote, and I probably queried with it and other stories for around five years before I landed an agent. I believe the final time I sent out around seventy-five queries before signing with my agent (whom I actually didn't even query). In the entire five years of trying to get an agent, I sent out hundreds of queries. It was a very long process.

   6 - How do you feel about the fact that in only a few more months thousands of readers will be able to hold and read your debut novel?
   Very, very nervous. But it's also exciting, because it's like, "This thing I've been working on my whole life will finally see the light of day! People will read it!" It's awesome.

   7 - Why do you thing the readers out there should pick up Made You Up?
   Because it's way more lighthearted than they'll expect. It's not just about Alex's problems, it's about this whole community around her, the friends she makes, and the mystery she unravels. I had a lot of fun writing it, and I think people will have fun reading it.

   8 - While writing the story did you ever imagine how a cover might look like and what do you think about the absolutely gorgeous final version?
   I did sometimes think about what the cover might look like--and even tried making some myself, when I was in high school--but I never imagined it would end up looking the way it does. The cover Greenwillow came up with for Made You Up is stunning, and I couldn't have asked for anything better. What I love most about it is that it encompasses so much of the story without giving away anything.

   9 - Did you listen to any particular songs or artists while writing Made You Up? If so, could you give us an example?
   Yes! I always listen to music while writing. Every story has its own flavor of music, and if I can't find any music for an idea, that typically means the idea isn't going to go anywhere. For Made You Up, it was a lot of music that makes me feel nostalgic--like Eve 6's "Inside Out" or Harvey Danger's "Flagpole Sitta". Then there's "Clint Eastwood" by Gorillaz and "Touches You" by Mika. My favorite songs, though, are the German ones--particularly "Guten Tag" by Wir Sind Helden. If anyone wants to know what kind of mindset I was in while writing Made You Up, listen to "Guten Tag."

   10 - Any final words or message to your future readers out there?
   I hope you enjoy the ride!

About the Author

   I'm a YA writer represented by Louise Fury of the Bent Agency. My debut, MADE YOU UP, will be out from Greenwillow/HarperCollins on May 19th, 2015. I like writing, reading, drawing, anime, playing way too much Pokemon, and other things.
   I'm on Twitter @ChessieZappia, Tumblr (exeuntstormtroopers.tumblr.com), Instagram @ChessieZappia, and on my website, www.francescazappia.com.

Review: Fifty Shades of Grey (Film, 2015)

Fifty Shades of Grey
Originaltitel: Fifty Shades of Grey
Erscheinungsjahr: 2015
FSK: 16
Länge: 125 min
Hauptdarsteller: Jamie Dornan (Christian Grey)
Dakota Johnson (Anastasia Stelle)

   Während eines Interviews für ihre College-Zeitung lernt die 21-jährige Studentin Anastasia Steele den 27-jährigen Milliardär Christian Grey kennen. Nachdem sich zwischen ihr und Christian langsam eine Beziehung entwickelt, erfährt sie, dass Christian in seinem Appartement zahlreiche BDSM-Utensilien bereithält. Dort überreicht er ihr einen Vertrag, der klarstellt, dass ihre Beziehung eine rein sexuelle Form von Dominanz und Unterwerfung sein soll, und zwar ohne romantische Bindung. Ana willigt ein und begibt sich damit auf eine immer intensivere Reise ins Reich der sexuellen Praktiken. (moviepilot.de)

   Fifty Shades of Grey mag vieles sein, langweilig und unbehaglich sind zwei davon, jedoch interessant, sexy oder gar romantisch ist dieser Film definitiv nicht. Viele meinen der Film sollte eher Fifty Shades of Beige heißen, und dem kann ich nur zustimmen.

   Ich habe das Buch, oder eher gesagt die gesamte Trilogie, gelesen und fand diese schon ausgesprochen miserabel daher hatte ich keine wirklichen Erwartungen was den Film angeht. Ich war daher nicht wirklich überrascht, als sich herausstellte, dass der Film ungefähr genauso schlecht ist. Schlecht genug das einer der Kinobesucher während meiner Vorstellung eingeschlafen ist.
   Wenn mich jemand fragt worum es in Fifty Shades of Grey geht, lautet meine Antwort ganz schlicht: ein Reicher Mann erkauft sich eine persönlichkeitslose Durchschnitts Frau mit seinem Aussehen und teuren Geschenken um diese dann als "unterworfene" zu halten. Keine Beziehung, keine liebe nur Sex, wenn er gerade Lust darauf hat, und auch nur so wie er es will.
   Wenn es um die nackt-und Sexszenen geht, kann man sagen, dass, wenn man mit denen bei Game of Thrones kein Problem hat, man mit denen in Fifty Shades of Grey auch keine haben wird.

   Die Dialoge sind oftmals schmerzhaft kramfig und beinahe schon unangenehm mitanzusehen, denn man wundert sich echt was mit den beiden, und besonders mit Anastasia, nicht stimmt. Während des Interviews mit Christian ist sie tollpatschig und schüchtern, aber auf eine übertriebene Art und Weise. Und dann folgen auch noch solche Aussagen wie "sieh mich doch mal an", was so viel bedeutet wie "wer bin ich denn schon". Anastasia stellt sich selber als ungenügend und 'unwürdig' dar, nur weil sie keine teuren Klamotten trägt oder Wagen fährt. Sie ist nicht wie Christian auf mehr als nur eine Art und Weise. Generell stellte sich mir des öfteren die Frage, warum sie eigentlich immer weiter macht, da sie beinahe von Anfang an mit der ganzen Situation Unglück zu sein scheint. Es ist fast traurig mitanzusehen was Anastasia willig ist mitzumachen nur um mit Christian "zusammen" zu sein.
   Wenn wir schon bei dem Thema Christian Grey sind. SM hin oder her, jedem das seine heißt es ja so schön, jedoch was mir ein noch viel größerer Dorn in Auge war, war die Kontrolle die er über Ana ausübte. Er musste immer wissen was sie macht, er sagte was sie machen werden, wann sie es machen werden, was sie tragen soll. Er legte ihr auch einen Vertrag vor, der so etwas wie eine Willenserklärung ist all die Dinge zu tun, die eine 'Unterworfene' tut, jedoch reichte dieser noch viel weiter in ihr Leben als nur in ihr sexuelles Zusammensein. Er verbot ihr bestimmte Dinge zu essen, Alkohol zu trinken, zu rauchen, falls sie dies den wollen würde, und noch so vieles mehr. Oft benahm er sich einfach wie ein Stalker, was definitiv nicht romantisch ist. Sicher, er gab ihr Geschenke, nahm sie auf einen Flug mit seinem Helikopter und Gleitflugzeug mit, jedoch war dies alles was er ihr gab. Sie durfte nicht einmal ein Bett mit ihm teilen.
   Die Schauspieler an sich gefielen mir auch nicht sonderlich gut. Jamie Dornan war meiner Meinung nach nicht das, was man sich vorstellte wenn man das Buch gelesen hat. Ihm fehlte ein gewisses etwas und das aussehen. Er mag nicht schlecht aussehen, aber eben auch nicht wie der atemberaubende Christian Grey der einem im Buch vorgestellt wird. Dakota Johnson spielte Anastasia Steele recht gut, wobei dies keine wirklich große Herausforderung war, da Anastasia die meiste Zeit über beschämt aussah. Sie sieht mehr oder weniger genauso aus wie das "graue Mäuschen" welches man, oder zumindest ich, mir beim Lesen vorgestellt habe.

   Der Film folgt jedoch, soweit ich mich daran erinnere, der Geschichte des Buches recht treu und so lassen sich auch hier und da ein paar dialogstellen aus dem Buch wiederfinden, zumindest in der englischen Version die ich gesehen und gelesen habe. Jedoch hat der Film, zumindest die ersten ca. 45% davon, mehr Humor als das Buch, welche das Publikum zum Lachen gebracht haben. Am interessantesten war jedoch die Tatsache das so ziemlich der gesamte Kinosaal in tosendes Gelächter ausgebrochen ist als die Credits kamen, und somit der Film vorbei war. Dies mag an dem gesamten Film, oder an dem (zwar dem Buch treuen) ende gelegen haben, dass abrupt und unnötig überspitzt und dramatisch war.

   Das einzige womit der Film bei mir punkten konnte ist, nicht wie erwartet Christian Grey oder eher gesagt Jamie Dornan und sein aussehen, sondern der grandiose Soundtrack den dieser Film hat. Der Soundtrack enthält unter anderem zwei geniale Songs von Beyoncé, The Weeknd und auch Ellie Goulding. Die Songs passen wirklich gut zu den Szenen in denen sie gespielt wurden.

   Alles in allem hat Fifty Shades of Grey ein paar, sehr wenige, Moment die ganz gut sind dadurch wie sie gefilmt worden sind oder weil jemand etwas lustiges gesagt hat, jedoch ist der Großteil des Films einfach nur langweilig. Fifty Shades of Grey fehlt einfach das gewisse etwas und dieses gewisse funken zwischen den Hauptdarstellern welches ihre 'Beziehung' glaubhafter machen würde. Meiner Meinung nach wurde dieser Film fiel zu sehr gehypt wodurch man viel zu hohe Erwartungen an den Film hat, welche er einfach nicht erfüllen kann.

Ich gebe Fifty Shades of Grey 2 von 5 Sternen.

Review: Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
Published: August 5th 2014 by Atria Books
Number of Pages: 322
Series: No
Buy it: Book Depository
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   When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she doesn't think it's love at first sight. They wouldn't even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn't want love, she doesn't have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.
   Never ask about the past.
   Don't expect a future.
   They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can't handle it at all.
   Hearts get infiltrated. 
   Promises get broken.
   Rules get shattered.
   Love gets ugly. (goodreads.com)

“When life gives you lemons, make sure you know whose eyes
 you need to squeeze them in.”(Cap)

   I've heard a lot about this book, and I have heard even more about Colleen Hoover in general. Before picking up Ugly Love I've read one other book by her, which I quite enjoyed but it wasn't mind-blowing or anything. I was sceptical when I started to read Ugly Love but Chapter 1 already made me change my mind.
   This is a story which at first might remind you of movies like Friends With benefits (hated that movie) but at the end of the day this story has  way more to offer than just that.
   One thing that definitely makes this book different is the style in which some of the chapters are written. They are much more lyrical and have a beautiful prose, while the rest of the chapters are written in the typical way we are used to. Some of the chapters carried much more weight with them which was even more pronounced by the way it was written, sometimes it looked like the text was about to fall off of the page or dance from joy.
   I am a fan of stories which are not just focused on the romance itself but also on sad topics and tragic moments and all that dramatic stuff. Sure, contemporaries are in most cases aimed at making you feel happy and fluffy, but Ugly Love rather does the opposite. It makes you think about Love, it makes you think about human nature and about how certain events can change an entire person and their view on life and love.

“I wish I were in high school again so I could call him a butthole. 
Adults don't call their brothers buttholes, though.” 

   Tate was an interesting and also entertaining protagonist. She was working as a nurse and she just moved in with her brother, Corbin. Despite the fact that she knew that she shouldn't hope, she still did. She shouldn't ask but she still wanted to. I liked her, but she wasn't necessarily one of those mind blowing characters which will stay in your mind for days.
   Miles on the other hand was a fascinating character scared by what he went through with a past so horrible you wouldn't even wish your worst enemy one like that. I liked how guarded and dark he was. I really liked reading his chapters, which played six years in the past, which slowly and in a very beautiful way explained why Miles is the way he is when he met Tate.

   All in all, this book is just like the title. This book is Ugly Love and exactly what you'd expect from a contemporary with such a title. Colleen Hoover managed to spark my curiosity about Miles which kept me reading and the chapters in which Tate and Miles interacted with each other were cute and funny, though sometimes also really frustrating.
   This book was exactly what I wanted it to be and I had a great time reading it, though it took me longer then I thought it would. And it definitely gets a plus point for the awesome cover.

I give Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover 4 out of 5 Stars.