The first phone call from heaven

Title: The first phone call from heaven
Writer: Mitch Albom
Pages: 308
ISBN: 978-0-7515-4120-5
Language: English
Filmworthy: Yes
When read: 26/10/16 – 14/11/16
Rating: 9/10
Goodreads

A small town called Coldwater is shaken up when a few people are getting calls from their loved ones. Nothing special, you’d say, but these loved ones are dead.
For weeks the town is all about the phone calls from heaven. There’s worshippers on lawns, believers, non-believers and a lot of press. But are the phone calls from heaven real, or not? That’s the question.

I’ve had this book on my shelves for quite some time now, and I thought now was the perfect time to read it. Don’t know why exactly, but it didn’t let me down.

I loved it. I don’t believe in God, which ever one, none of them, but people find comfort in Him and I find that beautiful. But it’s often paired with some strange or stupid things.
And this is one of them, talking to people in heaven. It’s a good thing it’s impossible. I think if it were possible, people would go mad. Cause how can you let somebody go and move on with your life when they’re still calling every Friday?

The idea for the book is amazing though, and I loved reading it. I don’t know why I waited this long. So if you own this book and you haven’t read it yet, go do it now! You won’t be disappointed.

Buffering

Title: Buffering
Writer: Hannah Hart
Pages: 249
ISBN: 978-0-0624-5751-6
Language: English
Filmworthy: No
When read: 18/10/16 – 25/10/16
Rating: 8/10
Goodreads

Hannah Hart is one of my favourite YouTubers ever. She’s smart, she’s funny, she’s gay, what more do you want? Oh, right, she can write too! In October she published her autobiography came out and I’ve read it during every spare moment I’ve had since.

Her writing is just like her talking, so you can actually hear her say it when you’re reading it. At least, I could.

But this book quite shocked me, to be honest. Most YouTuber-biographies are all about how they started doing what they do and how they rose to fame. But Hannah actually talks very openly about very (very!) personal stuff. Her childhood, her mother, her sexuality, her depression, even about hurting herself when it all became too much to handle.

I think it’s very brave of her to write Buffering the way she did. I admire her for it and I have so much respect for her and for how she took care of herself and her family. She came out of it so strong. I think I like her even more after reading Buffering.

Dudes, she liked my tweet ❤

Dear Nobody

Title: Dear Nobody
Writer: Berlie Doherty
Pages: 234
ISBN: 978-0-1413-6894-8
Language: English
Filmworthy: Yes
When read: 10/10/16 – 17/10/16
Rating: 8/10
Goodreads

Dear Nobody, may sound a bit strange at first when you read the first chapter, which is actually the same as the last chapter. This book is made up of letters written to an unborn child; Nobody.

Helen and Chris are head over heels for each other and without planning it they have sex for the first time. And the last time, cause guess what.. Helen is pregnant.
Dear Nobody is the story of an unwanted pregnancy and the unimaginable road to labour. A relationship that is so fresh and new, will it survive? And what about college? And future dreams?

It’s written in a way that it could’ve been a diary. It makes you believe it’s an autobiography. And sadly, for a lot of people it is. It’s written in a very special way. I think I will be remembering this book for quite some time.

Lord of the Dance

Title: Lord of the Dance
Writer: Michael Flatley & Douglas Thompson
Pages: 314
ISBN: 978-0-7432-9300-6
Language: English
Filmworthy: No
When read: 20/9/16 – 6/10/16
Rating: 9/10
Goodreads

This book is an (auto)biography of Michael Flatley, written together with someone else, who interviewed lots of his friends and relatives. He is the creator of Riverdance and gave Irish Dancing a completely new life. He made it fun and sexy and entertaining.

Michael Flatley is one of my childhood heroes. I say childhood, because that’s when it all began. We saw the performance during the Eurovision in 1994 on TV and we saw Riverdance on TV and when Lord of the Dance came on TV, my mum recorded it on VHS. I think I watched it at least once a week. Until my dad recorded something on top of it, probably the football or something stupid. My grandmother, his mother, made my dad buy me an official VHS copy of Lord of the Dance for me. I was so happy!

I think we lost that original copy when we moved homes after my parents split up. But now I have it on DVD, same with Feet of Flames and I still watch them regularly. As a late birthday present I will be going to Dangerous Games, Michael Flatley’s ‘new’ show, in Wimbledon, London next March. I’m so excited. I know I’m going to cry. I cried when Lord of the Dance came to a theatre near me. I started crying as soon as the tunes started and I only stopped when I got back in the car. I love it so much, it’s unreal. When I heard those tunes a few years ago, I realised I was actually hearing them being played live and they were not just om my TV or laptop screen anymore. I was actually at a show. It felt unreal and I couldn’t believe it. My mum laughed at me for being so sappy. I forgive her. I laugh about it too, now. But I do know I will cry again when I’m actually there in London next year.

Reading this book taught me so much about Michael, things I’d never realised, because I was so young when everything started. I grew up with his dancing, as my mother loves it as well. It’s a part of my life.

Generation Next

Title:  Generation Next
Writer: Oli White
Pages: 280
ISBN: 978-1-4736-3437-4
Language: English
Filmworthy: No
When read: 11/9/16 – 15/9/16
Rating: 7/10
Goodreads

Generation Next is the new big Social Media platform, created by a group of friends who go to school together. But that’s not everything. The first chapter starts with Jack and Austin doing a TV interview in America and… a threat.

Starting the book the way Oli did, kind of saved it. The story is cool, I really liked it, but it wouldn’t have been this intriguing if he started the book with chapter two and kept it chronological. Do mind, that’s the only time they jump through time. Everything from chapter two is chronological (which is good, cause it keeps you wondering how they got to that point).

I think Oli did a great job. It’s a nice story. The writing is a bit child-like at some points, but that may be because the book is aimed at a younger audience. So it’s all good.

Wat ik was (What I was)

Title: Wat ik was (What I was)
Writer: Meg Rosoff
Pages: 224
ISBN: 978-9-0488-0258-6
Language: Dutch
Filmworthy: No
When read: 4/9/16 – 11/9/16
Rating: 7/10
Goodreads

This story is about Hilary and Finn. Hilary is a boy who is sent to St. Oswald’s boardingschool on the coast of England, after failing to behave at his previous schools. This one is very strict but he tries to get kicked out again, until he meets the mysterious Finn (16), who lives alone in a hut on the beach, the only company he has is his cat.

Hilary is intrigued by this boy and he tries to spend as much time with him as possible. They have the best of times together, they even spend an entire school holiday together. But then the tide changes.

The story is very beautiful but also quite strange. It’s written very beautifully, in a way you really get involved in their lives and how they slowly become inseparable. It’s a friendship most people dream about having. Until everything changes of course, but I don’t want to give away too much.

Dromer

Title: Dromer (Dreamer)
Writer: Saskia Maaskant
Pages: 324
ISBN: 978-9-0590-8803-0
Language: Dutch
Filmworthy: Yes
When read: 17/9/16 – 19/9/16
Rating: 9/10
Goodreads

This story is about a boy named Dromer (Dreamer), who lives in Hofstad. It’s a place where other people decide how you will live your life. But what if you don’t agree?

This book is recommended for everyone who likes the Divergent trilogy. But it also reminded me of the Hunger Games and the Maze Runner. Standing up against the regime, fighting your way to the future and hiding to come up with the perfect plan. This book is a perfect mixture of those three dystopian saga’s, but it’s also really good on its own. It’s written very well, everything is thought out and explained.

It was very fun to read, very catchy, especially with the countdown at the start of every chapter. It made me nervous, but in a good way. It got me exited and hyped up.

I loved it, Saskia. Well done! Now I’ll just wait two years for your next book.

Everything Everything

Title: Everything Everything
Writer: Nicola Yoon
Pages: 306
ISBN: 978-0-5525-7423-5
Language: English
Filmworthy: YES
When read: 21/07/16 – 24/07/16
Rating: 9/10
Goodreads

Madeline is literally allergic to the world. She gets an infection from almost everything and there is a nurse with her for the entire day. Her mom is a doctor and takes care of her when the nurse is not there. Her father and brother died in a car accident when she was only a few months old. And then a new boy moves into the house across the street. Everything changes.

I don’t want to give away too much about the story itself, because I don’t want to ruin the whole thing.

It’s very well written. It wasn’t a book that I couldn’t put down, but it’s a book that makes you forget about everything and everyone around you.

The story might be a little bit cliché at some points, but the big picture was different from everything that I’ve ever read before. I loved it.

Een bewogen leven

Title: Een bewogen leven
Writer: Queen P
Pages: 203
ISBN: 978-9-0435-2636-4
Language: Dutch
Filmworthy: One of those based-on-a-true-story-drama-movies
When read: 17/7/16 – 18/07/16
Rating: 7.5/10

Queen P (real name Petra Pelties) is a female rapper from Enschede in the east of The Netherlands. I met her during my internship over there, got to interview her and we sort of kept in touch (we’re friends on Facebook, you know how it works). One day I see her new status update saying she wrote a book and I definitely wanted to read it.

It’s a book about her life. The abuse, bad relationships, hope, fear, her beautiful children and her music career. I have to say that I found it quite scary at times. At one point she even made me tear up.

It was a rough life, but she fought her way through with God by her side. I’m not religious at all, but I find it very inspiring and beautiful when people can really hold on to that and survive everything that blocks their path.

Petra, if you read this, I’m very proud of you, your book is amazing and I wish all the best for you and your career.

The Sky is Everywhere

Title: The Sky is everywhere
Writer: Jandy Nelson
Pages: 313
ISBN: 978-1-4063-5438-6
Language: English
Filmworthy: Yes
When read: 11/07/16 – 14/07/16
Rating: 9/10
Goodreads

This book is about Lennie Walker. A girl with an unknown father, her mother left when she was only one, she lives with her Gram and Uncle Big and her sister Bailey unexpectedly died a few weeks ago. Her life is a mess.

Lennie’s story is all about dealing. Dealing with the fact that her mom is not there, dealing with the fact that her sister is dead, and all the secrets that come out. And because of that I think this story is quite relatable  for a lot of people, not just young adults.

She falls in love for the first time, she has her heart broken and there are some mixed feelings. She also gets her courage back and she comes to terms with the fact that she will be forever mourning the death of her sister.

It’s so well written that it sucks you in completely, but that was no big surprise, as I also loved I’ll give you the sun.