Life… With No Breaks is a down-to-earth and downright funny. Slow at times, but considering it was written within 30 hours, I’m happy to overlook that!

My Goodreads Rating: ★★★★

Synopsis

Nick Spalding tried to write a book in 24 hours. Turns out that’s impossible… it took 30!

He had a dull, drizzly weekend to kill, so made a start on the book he’d been promising to write all his life… and had it finished by midnight Sunday.

You’ll laugh out loud reading his odyssey of non-stop writing, in a selection of anecdotes, asides and stories… all dredged up from an over-stimulated brain functioning on caffeine, nicotine and the occasional chocolate biscuit.

The book is a conversation with YOU and with Nick you’ll venture into the thorny topics of love, life, sex, horribly timed bowel movements and a deathly fear of sponges (among many other things).

After you’ve read Life… With No Breaks, you may never look at the world the same way again!

Review

How much I enjoyed the book: 7/10
How good the book was: 6/10

How many people can brag about writing and completing a book within 30 hours? I can’t help but admire Nick Spalding for managing such a feat. Particularly since Life… With No Breaks was a thoroughly amusing read!

Nick discusses everything from religion and politics to poop. (His transitions from one topic to another are also actually quite interesting if you’re wondering!)

Writing for 30 hours straight does take its toll at times. In the last few chapters of Life… With No Breaks I could feel Nick’s exhaustion as his writing became less animated. It’s a shame, but it’s something I’m happy to overlook!

Amongst the comedy and random chit-chat, Nick also discusses personal topics that are important to him. I particularly loved reading about Nick’s family, because the passion in his written voice was completely evident. In relation to his divorce, Nick explains that time was the cause: time away from his family and instead spent focussed on work. It’s a relatively simple reason for such a huge decision, but whilst reading I couldn’t help but wonder if any of my relationships were suffering in the same way.

I didn’t agree with everything he had to say, but at the same time I didn’t feel like he was trying to force his opinions on to me. There’s nothing worse than reading text that’s opinionated to the point of brain washing!

Recommendations

Availability

Life… With No Breaks on Amazon UK | Life… With No Breaks on Amazon

Disclaimer: I downloaded Life… With No Breaks by Nick Spalding on Amazon during a promotion in which it was free to download to the general public. Digesting The Words contains associate/affiliate links. Read my disclaimer page for more info.

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Luckily, May was a good month for reading for me!

Book of the Month, May 2013

How to Talk to Girls at Parties by Neil Gaiman

I haven’t read a Neil Gaiman book since Neverwhere back in my first year of University. Neil Gaiman’s writing was a breath of fresh air amongst my attempts to read Oliver Twist back then, and to my pleasure his writing was just as refreshing to read this time round!

How to Talk to Girls at Parties is light-hearted, funny and not to mention currently free on Amazon! I finished it within an hour and was left feeling amused and content.

Of course the book is a short story *grumble* so I wouldn’t put your whole heart in your reading. Taken as is, How to Talk to Girls at Parties is wonderful to fill in an empty gap in your day. The commute to school or work, something to help you switch off and de-stress after a long day, or even if you’re looking for a book slightly less stimulating before bed – How to Talk to Girls at Parties is perfect!

Download How to Talk to Girls at Parties for free on Amazon

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Date, Dump, or Marry (in my experience) was something we played in school, sometimes during lessons, to pass the time and to keep ourselves entertained. By we I mean a vast majority of the girls I knew and occasionally a few boys. The object of the game is to give one person playing a list of 3 (usually awful, horrendous and ridiculous) candidates to either Date, Dump, or Marry if given the choice. For example, we used to use teachers we *ahem* were less fond of, and the person in the hot seat would pick which teacher they’d date, which teacher they’d dump and which teacher they’d marry in the situation. There are no other options, so it would get pretty gross and hilarious for everyone else taking part but not necessarily playing the game!

To start things off, I decided to keep things simple and use popular, well-known books. What better book to start with than Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games Trilogy?!

Of course I am a solo blogger here at Digesting The Words *boooo* so I’ll be picking my three candidates for now.

My Characters

1. Gale Hawthorne
2. Peeta Mellark
3. Finnick Odair

I tried to be a little diverse… I failed. What can I say, my mind is set on its opinions!

Date: Finnick

Image Source: Fanmade Image at Fanpop

I’d love to give him a hug and a pat on the head. Maybe watch him whilst he’s fishing too… But nothing more than that because frankly he’s meant to be with Annie!

Dump: Gale

Image Source: The Hunger Games Wiki, Gale Hawthorne

Sure the actor who plays Gale is stunning so much so that I would probably faint if I ever saw him in real life… But that doesn’t mitigate the fact that Gale is an ass.

His radical ways would be too much for me to handle and I’d probably dump him by text just so I wouldn’t have to look into those beautiful eyes…

Marry: Peeta

Image Source: The Hunger Games Wiki, Peter Mellark

Of course I’d pick Peeta to marry. He’s perfect in every way: his undying love for Katniss despite her constant heartbreaking ways… You don’t go through a round of the Hunger Games and then say no to this guy! Especially not after he offers his life for yours on multiple occasions!

Don’t even get me start on his ability to bake bread…

I mean look at that face!

Image Source: The Hunger Games Wiki, Peter Mellark

The girls over at Hardcovers and Heroines have their own version of the game: Marry, Date or Dump which has been going since late 2012 so check out their version too!

I’m happy to take on board suggestions for next week’s round and I’m also happy to have other people take part in the game! If you’ve got an idea, feel free to mention it in the comments below.

What do you think of my answers? How would you have answered?

The post Date, Dump, or Marry: The Hunger Games Trilogy appeared first on Digesting The Words.

For starters, I am no longer a student at Roehampton University. Unfortunately, I haven’t graduated – I’ve had to take time off for personal reasons. Fortunately, I will be completing my BA in English Literature at a different university this September.

It’s not all bad since I’ve managed to also do a bit of travelling. I visited Paris (Disneyland!) and Scotland!

What have I been doing?

Other than blogging, book reviewing, arranging guest posts, and generally being rather impersonal here at Digesting The Words, I’ve been working on getting myself experience in the publishing industry. I’ve had poor luck for the most part, and it’s been pretty demotivating.

I’ve also been considering my future career aspirations in terms of post-graduate study. I love studying – always have! I’m considering studying for a Masters but I have yet to decide the subject. A Publishing Masters seems like the evident choice, but I’m leaning towards other interests to broaden my knowledge. Of course this is all speculation at the moment and there is plenty of time left to make more definitive, permanent decisions!

On the other hand, I have gained experience in hospitality and catering – specifically working as a waitress within my father’s restaurant.

I’ve also gained a Level 1 City & Guilds qualification in Employment within the Hospitality Industry, including: Level 2 Food & Hygiene, and Level 2 Health & Safety.

I’ve also attended a course in graduate job seeking – which of course would have been more helpful had I been a graduate. But as the diligent learner I am, I took notes where I thought necessary as the course included general advice on job seeking in terms of developing a long-term career. Thus, I have a ton of tips, tricks, and hints to help me once I am ready to develop a career for myself.

What now?

I’ve been applying for jobs regularly (almost every day in fact) and have been spending a great deal of time motivating myself to stick to it. Rejection hurts, especially when I give my all in the application process! I’ve recently begun searching for voluntary work (though I haven’t given up on paid work just yet!) and have had a little more luck. Hopefully things will go well from here!

My experience as a job seeker has inspired a couple of useful blog posts that will be coming up shortly, including: How to Remain Motivated whilst Job Hunting and Job Seeking Tips and Tricks.

The post Career Updates: Job Hunting .. Again appeared first on Digesting The Words.

Missing Rib is well written, thought-provoking and genuinely one of the quickest books I’ve ever read. A short story about love and family, I finished Missing Rib within an hour and a half.

My Goodreads Rating: ★★★★

Synopsis

Andrew McCarthy thought he found his other half. His other half didn’t agree, and since their break up he’s been moping around his apartment reliving the past. That stops the day his best friend Donald brow-beats him into being a groomsman at a wedding.

The day is filled with events, both tragic and funny, which make Andrew think about what it means to have family; to find love and to lose love. He’s forced to confront what it means to find someone who fits him, like a missing rib.

Review

How much I enjoyed the book: 7/10
How good the book was: 7/10

I’m not a fan of short stories. Never have been, never will be. Missing Rib is the very definition of a short story, yet Alex Clermont somehow managed to engage me to the extent that I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the book. I was quite happy to read the book in its entirety in one go.

Missing Rib begins and ends with our main character Andrew, with an uncomplicated plot that describes the events that take place in the space of 24 hours. In these mundane moments, Andrew begins to put his post-break up life back together.

I also liked the fact that story had an overall moral. Missing Rib reminds us of some very important life lessons: life doesn’t always pan out as expected, and that ‘perfect’ people don’t exist.

I enjoyed reading Missing Rib, but I couldn’t help but feel cheated once I’d got to the end. There was no resolution to Andrew’s story – it just ended. But that’s the trouble with short stories, they’re just too short!

Recommendations

For fans of: adult literature, contemporary fiction, contemporary romance and general light, quick reads.

Missing Rib has adult themes from the beginning so I don’t recommend it for anyone below the age of 16.

Availability

Missing Rib @ Amazon UK | Missing Rib @ Amazon

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the author, Alex Clermont, as a book review request. At no point did I receive any payment to express my opinions or to write this review. Digesting The Words contains associate/affiliate links. Read my disclaimer for more info.

The post Book Review: “Missing Rib” by Alex Clermont appeared first on Digesting The Words.

As my sister would say I’m “late in the game” (since most of the world has already read TFIOS) but I’ve never found that important when it comes to reading.

Bite Size Review

The Fault In Our Stars is well-written and highly emotional. I was in it for the long haul within the first chapter and I can’t stress how much of a must read this book is. John Green is a brilliant writer and I look forward to reading more from him.

My Goodreads Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

Review

I cried continuously whilst reading The Fault In Our Stars; especially during the latter half of the book. I even cried for a good half an hour after I’d finished reading. Tears of sadness, tears of frustration, tears from the overload of emotion… You name it! I turned to junk food (burgers and donuts) for comfort after I was finished reading!

The characters are all loveable but my absolute favourite character is definitely Augustus. I can’t explain how much I love love love Augustus! He became the perfect boyfriend, was always such an amazing friend, and generally went the extra mile for the people in his life – despite his own issues. I know if I were in his position I’d have been the exact opposite. I loved Augustus’ relationship with Hazel. Everything about the two of them together made me smile. I also loved the fact that Augustus shared his fear of nothingness and being forgotten after death with Hazel – for me, it made him relatable since it’s definitely a fear I share. I thought it was lovely that through TFIOS, Augustus’ wish is fulfilled and he is immortalised through fiction.

On the other hand, I was beyond disappointed with Peter Van Houten. I understand that his character represents the other side of life after the death of a loved one, particularly the misery and the depression. I actually hated him throughout the Amsterdam scenes, but once truth of his family was revealed I felt so bad..

The only gripe I have with TFIOS is the ending. I’m beyond frustrated with John Green for using the same  style of ending as Van Houten! After spending almost the entire book mocking Van Houten’s abrupt ending, he did the same thing! I feel like the whole book was just bracing us for the ending because once I’d read the last sentence, I felt the same way that Hazel and Augustus had.

Recommendations

I think The Fault In Our Stars would be a brilliant read for any fans of Jodi Piccoult, young adult readers and fans of contemporary fiction.

Availability

eBook: The Fault In Our Stars on Amazon.co.uk

Paperback: The Fault In Our Stars on Amazon.co.uk | The Fault In Our Stars on Amazon.com

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