The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

I'm not a child but unlike most of my friends who have both watched the film and read the book at a young age, I hadn't done either. I can't understand why, what with it being a puffin classic and all. Anyway, I was lured in by the cover, despite the saying "never judge a book by its cover" it's all I ever do. haha

It was a little slow and I can't even understand why it's a classic-giving the impression you HAVE to read this book or else your life won't be complete! Well, isn't that what classics imply. Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, Emma, Dickens etc etc aren't these the books all book lovers must read??! I think so and I intend to...

I don't think we can use in defence that it's a children's books and that is the reason why I didn't enjoy it, there are plenty of children's/pre-teens books that I can still enjoy, give my some Jackqueline Wilson any day and the prime example, Hazza!! I enjoy Harry Potter these days, as much as I did when I was 13.

Continuing with my thoughts on The Secret Garden, it was a little slow, the main gist of the book could have fit in half the pages-this is why I lost interest, all this description of the gardent and being outdoors, it just bore me. I did however adore the main characters, I especially loved Mary's transition from brat to relatively normal. My favourite parts were when she started adopting a broad lanchashire accent. V.endearing. I loved Dicken, there should definitely be more people like him in the world, if there were, then maybe , just maybe we coud have hope of making John Lennon's dream come true (see Imagine). Colin, the build up to his character was intriguing and it happened at precisely the point when I starting losing interest so I was quite excited by the apparent change that was occuring but he failed to meet my expectations. I lost interest quickly.

I liked how the book began with Mary as the main character and ended with Colin, I felt the were both equally as dominant and they were both very similar, going through similar experiences.

I'm just happy to have got through it. Book 7-done!

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella.

Okay, so it's not a classic, not one of those books which you can proudly say "oh, I've read that wonderful book" and start a debate on most interesting points blah blah blah but I was hooked, I finished it in one sitting. I must say, after watching the film I wasn't certain I would enjoy the book but what with me being a shopaholic and all I thought it might be a good read. It was fantastic, I couldn't put it down. A perfect, light hearted pick me up and the extent in which I could relate to the main character was alarming and somewhat worrying. But it has to be said, she is worse than me. it was a really sweet book, if you're a shopper, you have to read it!

An Education by Lynn Barber.

For me, my book list mainly compromises of books which have recently been adapted into a film. An Education received great reviews and an Oscar nomination for the adorable Carey Mulligan. I watched the trailer for An Education and was instantly attracted and wanted nothing more than to go see it when it was released. Unfortunately, due to lack of time I was unable to do so. Instead I bought the book.

The trailer gave away what most of the film is about, and I  presumed that the entire book was adapted into a film however this isn't the case at all. The book is in fact a memoir of Lynn's life and it gives a detailed description of her life from being a pre-teen to being in her 60s. I found the beginning very interesting but come mid way and I was bored. I can see now why the film is based on only the first 50 pages of the book as that is the only interesting part of the entire book. The rest is just boring! I mean why would I be interested in reading about someone's life, someone I know nothing of nor heard of until this film was released. The ending started to pick up a bit but I think that's only because it was in comparison to the middle which truly was dull. It took me so much energy to get through it. No offence Lynn and I am sure none taken, what with you being a successful writer and me being a blogger with no followers and the fact that you'll probably never read this!!

I did enjoy the ending though, maybe I'm being a little harsh.

Also, I didn't understand why there was so much emphasis placed on the older gentleman who lured her away to fancy places, she really didn't seem to be effected by him at all and I don't understand how her entire life stemmed from this one incident which occured. Everything in life effects what we do next. It jsut didn't seem like a life altering event at all, if anyone should have been effected it would be the parents, she just didn't seem at all phased by him.