Life Update

Today was my official last day of class, this week was really stressful with exams. I got two of my marks back and there both above 80% ! I need to wait till next week to get the other two back. It was hard saying good-bye to everyone knowing they have another year ahead of them that I won’t be a part of. I will be going back in 2019 but it will be with a different group of people. I’ve met so many great girls this year and I don’t regret going into the program.I got hired at a nursing home down the street from my home, that I will be starting at on Monday ! 🙂

So, I have 3 book reviews that I’m currently working on and mini review of all the poetry collections I’ve read this year. Also have a Thirteen Reasons Why series review I’m working on.

Poem -Anxiety-

For World Poetry day I decided to share a poem I have been working on for the last couple of days with you. I have been nervous about sharing it because I’ve been out of practice with writing and scared that it wasn’t very good. Also my poetry is personal so it feels as if I’m sharing a piece of myself with you all. I posted a picture on Instagram and I have gotten some support from people, which is incredible, thank you !

 

It whispers in my ear,
I shouldn’t listen to it
Telling me
all the things
that could go wrong
I struggle to breathe
As hands
wrap around my lungs
People just look
Judging me
I can’t fight off
this monster
they don’t see
nobody does
my heart throbs
my muscles contracting
mychest burning
the monster
tightening it’s grip
I feel sick
Its too hot
I wish I could tell
But when asked how I am
I smile
and say
Im fine

-Anxiety — Stephanie Gillespie

 

Please leave me feedback and let me know what you think ! 🙂

 

Instagram: _stephgillespie_
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Goodreads: Stephanie Gillespie

What I’ve been doing while not Blogging

Hey everyone! I’m so sorry I have been gone for so long! Nursing school is kicking my butt.  I was unsuccessful in one of my classes, and its a prerequisite to continue. SoI won’t be returning to school until winter of 2019 when the class is offered again.It’s been a really tough time for me. Trying to figure out what I’m going to do. My anxiety has been really bad these past few months, and the class I failed were video taped while doing demo’s. I made such stupid mistakes because of my anxiety. There have been day’s I felt like giving up, I am finishing the term which in done in April, then its job hunting time.

So coming up in the next few few week’s I will be returning !! I have read 12 book’s so far this year. I am so excited to be coming back. Reading and blogging help my anxiety but with school I had zero time. I have missed you all and reading your reviews.

Tv has saved me since I have no time to read. Some new shows I’m currently watching: Supergirl ❤ !! ,This is Us,Riverdale. That’s not to mention the shows that are staples in my life.Also I have been trying to get back into writing poetry. I used to write all the time then, life happened and I got busy with work then school. Gretchen @chicnerdreads  has inspired me with her poetry book “Love , and you “coming out April 4 🙂 Im so excited for her !! She’s such an awesome person and so nice. Please support her ❤

What has everyone been reading? Leave me some comments 🙂 I’m counting the days till April 10 !

 

Christmas Break TBR !! 🎄

Officially done with my first semester of nursing school!!! As much as I didn’t think I would make it through this semester, I did!It was the toughest semester by far, but next semester will be even harder. Now it’s time to relax over the break and prepare my mind for its next beating.

I don’t usually make TBR’s but I haven’t read a novel since September and I have a stack of book’s I really want to get too. These are my top 3 I want to read and if i have time to read more then thats a bonus 🙂

1.Heartless by Marissa Meyer: I’ve been dying to read this and it will be the first thing I pick up to read.

2.Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff: This is another one Ive had since it’s release date and haven’t had the time to get too.

3.Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

It’s Christmas Eve Eve! 😂🎄 I hope you all have a wonderful christmas! And if you don’t celebrate Christmas, I hope you have a lovely day anyway 😄

Passenger by Alexandra Bracken Review

Book:Passenger
Author:Alexandra Bracken
Genre:YA, Fantasy,Historical
Pages:486
Rating: 5 Stars

Synopsis:

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.”

My Thoughts

WOW. An awesome book to start out the year! Oceans, deserts, forests, London, France, New York City.. I wish every book could have these amazing settings. swoons* I LOVED this book

I love both Etta and Nicholas so so much. Etta is such a strong character,shes stubborn and head strong, shes impulsive but not in a stupid way and i love her for that. Shes realistic and believable. Nicholas, is such a complex character. He is a person of color, and he has a lot of struggles with that while traveling to different time periods. I’m extremely impressed with how she handled the topics of racism and sexism between time periods—accurately and head-on. Etta and Nicholas have such a a strong connection to each other that I love, they have a really beautiful romance.

I love the history in the story. The time travel was explained really well and so much research and thought had gone into writing this book. The ending was so intense, the twists and turns. I had no idea how it was going to be resolved, and it blew a hole in my heart. I can’t wait for the sequel !

The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich Review

Book:The Dead House
Author:Dawn Kurtagich
Genre:YA, Horror, Paranormal
Pages:400
Rating: 5 Stars

Synopsis:

Three students: dead.
Carly Johnson: vanished without a trace.

Two decades have passed since an inferno swept through Elmbridge High, claiming the lives of three teenagers and causing one student, Carly Johnson, to disappear. The main suspect: Kaitlyn, “the girl of nowhere.”

Kaitlyn’s diary, discovered in the ruins of Elmbridge High, reveals the thoughts of a disturbed mind. Its charred pages tell a sinister version of events that took place that tragic night, and the girl of nowhere is caught in the center of it all. But many claim Kaitlyn doesn’t exist, and in a way, she doesn’t – because she is the alter ego of Carly Johnson.

Carly gets the day. Kaitlyn has the night. It’s during the night that a mystery surrounding the Dead House unravels and a dark, twisted magic ruins the lives of each student that dares touch it.

Debut author Dawn Kurtagich masterfully weaves together a thrilling and terrifying story using psychiatric reports, witness testimonials, video footage, and the discovered diary – and as the mystery grows, the horrifying truth about what happened that night unfolds.

My Thoughts

I love scary books but it’s extremely hard for me to find books that actually scare me. A lot of Ya horror isn’t scary, but 99% of horror movies don’t scare me either. But this book is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. The Dead House was exactly what I was looking for in a horror book.

I loved the format in which this book was written. Written from pieces of a journal, the story unravels in a unique way. Mostly there’s journal entries, newspaper clippings and even some video camera screenshots. I can’t believe this is the author’s first novel! Unreliable narrators are one of my favorite kind of stories. The main character(s), Kaitlyn and Carly, are wonderful and complicated. .You can literally feel their fear and confusion in the diary entries.

It is the kind of book that you’d love to read and hate to put down, if you’re into psychological thrillers with all kinds of creepy. The ending is a shock as well, I wasn’t expecting what happened. A very fun read. Spooky and fantastic for October/Halloween read.

THE CREATURES OF THE NIGHT TAG

This tag was created by Kat over at  Katytastic channel

1.Vampire
Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris

2. Werewolf
New Moon by Stephanie Meyer

3. Zombie
Something strange and deadly by Susan Dennerd

4. Ghost
The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall by Katie Alender

5. Witch/Warlock/Spellcaster
Harry Potter is the obvious answer

6. Fairy/Fae
The Fever series by Karen Marie Moning

7. Demon
The Mortal Intruments, The infernal devices by Cassandra Clare

8. Angel
Daughter of smoke and bone by Laini Taylor

9. Alien
The Lux series by Jennifer l Armentrout

10. Superpowered human
Juliette (Shatter Me) by Tahareh Mafi

Fall Essentials + Obsessions!

This post of going to sound so basic but I love the fall so much. It’s the season I look forward to all year. The leaves are starting to turn color,and its glorious. I love it so much.

I like to read paranormal/horror books in the fall. Coming in October I will be making a post of “spooky” recommendations. It’s such a good essential to have to get into a darker Halloween mood.

Make a Fall playlist, my favorite kind of music to listen to in the fall time is more indie, acoustic. I put a bunch of my favorite songs into a big list. Just a nice chill playlist to listen to while studying or reading.

How can I talk about fall without talking about candles! My favorite fall scents from Bath and Body works; Leaves, Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin, your whole place smells great and its just awesome. My new favorite is marshmallow fireside,I didn’t think I would like it but omg its amazing !!

Fall is by far the best time to wear boots. I’m so excited I got a new pair of boots and I love them !! Go for long walks in the afternoon with the crisp fall air and crunching leaves under my feet. Super comfy cozy sweaters, and it wouldn’t be Fall without flannel.

And of course you need fall drinks weather you like tea or coffee, if not then grab a hot chocolate. Personally I love pumpkin spice lattes. I’m a very basic person 🙂

I love spending time outside this time of year. So of course apple picking is a must. To be honest I went last weekend and it was so much fun. Something new this year where I live is Zombie Manor, its a house set up and you walk through it and its filled with zombies and other creepy things,I’m planning on going next weekend. Hopefully I don’t get too scared haha. Another thing they do around my city is Boo at the Zoo, it’s honestly my favorite thing, they decorate they zoo in all things Halloween, this is where I’m having my sons birthday party ( his 10th birthday is Tuesday, Where has the time gone ! )

It wouldn’t be fall without Halloween/horror movies. My favorite is John Carpenters Halloween and Earnest scared stupid I used to watch it every year as a kid and want to pass the tradition on to my son 🙂 I’ve been so busy since school started and I haven’t had much time but these are some simple things I love to do and I’m so happy I still have time to do these things. Oh and I almost forgot Gilmore Girls, I dunno why but watching it in the fall there’s just something that makes it so much better. What are some of your favorite fall essentials?

 

Hiatus**

Hey everyone, I’m sorry for the lack of post but I’m going to have too go on a small hiatus. I started school last week and I was in the Personal Support Worker course and today I was informed that I could transfer to the Practical Nurse program !!!! I’ve been on the waiting list since March and I gave up hope that I would get in this year.

I know it’s only been a week, but these classes move fast so I’m all ready going to be behind. I’m really excited to have gotten in the program. So now instead of being in school for 8 month I will be there for 2 years.

I’m currently reading Empire of Storms (slowly cuz I have no time). Just wanted to let you all know that I have some scheduled post but I’m not sure when I’ll get any reviews up for the next week week’s.

Unpopular book opinions tag!

Unpopular book opinions tag!

I haven’t done a tag in a while and with school started I won’t have as much time to read, so less reviews. But Tag’s are fun and fast to do so expect a few coming up 🙂

1.A Popular Book or series that you didn’t like.
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld,I didn’t feel an attachment to any of the characters and I felt like they were really one-dimensional. I found the story line to be really predictable and it didn’t grip me whatsoever unfortunately.

2.A Popular Book or series that every one else seems to hate but you love.
Twilight,and I read all the books and watched all the movies.

3.A Love Triangle where the main character ended up with the person you did NOT want them to end up with (warn people for spoilers) OR an OTP that you don’t like.
I’m not gonna say who they are but I really just don’t agree with the endgame in the Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo, which makes me really really sad. I totally ship her with someone else.
Two: The Throne of Glass series, it’s not finished yet but Dorian is such an obvious good choice for her that it blows my mind that people see her with anyone else.

4.A popular book Genre that you hardly reach for.
Sci-Fi. Or Ya contemporary. I prefer fantasy and magic.

5.A popular or beloved character that you do not like.
Four,Why do people even like this guy? Please enlighten me.

6.A popular author that you can’t seem to get into.
David Levithan. I just don’t get him.

7.A popular book trope that you’re tired of seeing. (examples “lost princess”, corrupt ruler, love triangles, etc.)
Insta-love– Sometimes I don’t mind it, depending on the intensity of it. Other times, it’s a little ridiculous.

8.A popular series that you have no interest in reading.
I would have said Red Queen but I caved and I loved it

9.The saying goes “The book is always better than the movie”, but what movie or T.V. show adaptation do you prefer more than the book?
The television series for The Vampire Diaries,far superior than the books. Yes, I liked the books and enjoyed reading them, but they have nowhere near the depth or complexity of the television series.