Took a chance on an Amazon Prime First Reads selection. They never have a huge selection but I still check in every month to see if there is anything interesting.
This book caught my eye because I love a good thriller with lots of drama. And this had the potential to go somewhere. And go somewhere it did.
As soon I started to read this book I couldn’t put it down, I wanted to know more and what was going to happen.
I have to say though as it got towards the end it became somewhat predictable…I mean I guess from the beginning I was trying to figure out what was going on. I sensed that Niall was shady and I thought maybe he was the one who attacked Brienne in the beginning, I also suspected that the woman pretending to be her knew about the attack and wanted to take on her life. It didn’t make sense otherwise.
Though it didn’t seem to be too much of a mystery once the second part of the novel began and everything was about Niall. From then things started to get a bit more interesting and fast-paced, though his whole plan and backstory was revealed within the first five minutes lol.
I was surprised to find out that Niall hadn’t told Sam, the woman pretending to be Brienne, the plan. It just doesn’t sit right to me that she lived as Brienne for months and no one recognised her or that she wasn’t caught out in some other way.
I also think it was wild that they revealed all this information about Niall in the first chapter in his point of view but just threw in somewhere in the middle that he killed Sam’s dad like wow, I wasn’t expecting that for him. Sure he has done a lot of terrible things so far but just casually mentioning murder is crazy. But I guess it was to show just how far he was going to go.
Still, like I said things came predictable towards the end with the girls meeting each other and Niall was always either going to get away or get caught. It’s funny how after everything I still get annoyed when things wrap up too perfectly, like sure it’s a novel and fictional but sometimes you just wish for that one extra plot twist.
But definitely a good read, I enjoyed it and like I said I couldn’t put it down, finished it in two days. So I guess Amazon Prime’s First Reads isn’t too bad, I don’t always find something I like there but I might as well take advantage if it means a free book.
Next up on the reading list is probably the Handmaid’s Tale, I know I’m late to the party but what else is new? I picked up the book at the start of the year so I think it’s time to start reading it. I should be back with another review soon to let you know my thoughts.
I thought I would make a blog post to share some things I have been doing since lock down. I guess this will also serve as a little life update blog post.
But yes, lock down. We are all being told to stay at home to reduce the spread of COVID-19 aka Cornavirus and it’s not been easy.
I know when you were a kid, you thought not having to leave your house for school was the best thing ever, but now? It’s just kind of depressing, especially when you can’t go and see your friends or anything else. So it’s been hard to adjust.
It’s not that I did a lot of things outside normally, I’m a very inside person haha I enjoy sitting at home and watching TV etc, but when I think about my day-to-day activity, I still was leaving the house for work and exercise classes, so to suddenly have that taken away has been tough.
The hardest thing about it all is that we don’t have a choice, we have to stay indoors and reduce physical contact with people and it really sucks.
So I thought I would share with you some of the things I have been doing while being stuck at home and not being able to see anyone.
Animal Crossing
This is a big one. I have been spending most of my free time playing Animal Crossing. Even if I wasn’t in lock down, I know this is something I would be doing because I love Animal Crossing and I was so excited about the release of the new Switch game.
Not only does the game give me something to do and keep busy, it has also been a way that I can meet up with friends and spend time with them.
I have a few Animal Crossing friends that I made when playing the previous game on the 3DS and meeting up with them in Animal Crossing has always been our only form of communication so it felt natural to hang out with them this way again.
It has been super enjoyable being able to spend time diving into this new game and it definitely provides a good escape to the outside world.
YouTube
To go along with playing a lot of Animal Crossing, I have also started to film Animal Crossing content for my YouTube channel.
This makes me feel productive, and I enjoy doing it. I started YouTube as a hobby over the years and I actually started with Animal Crossing Let’s Plays, so it feels good to kind of go back to that.
TV
Naturally I have also been watching a lot of TV during this time, my boyfriend and I have recently started to watch Westworld on NowTV. It’s a bit of a confusing show but enjoyable, something different to say the least.
I have also been keeping up with watching some One Tree Hill which I started to watch before all this lock down business.
Netflix Party
Along with watching TV I have also been using Netflix party to watch Tiger King with my friends. We use the Chrome extension to keep our video in sync while we video chat using Skype.
I enjoy this because it allows me to speak to and see my friends, it’s kind of funny because we usually don’t see each other very often in real life as we all live across the UK in different places, but with this we have been able to see each other twice in one week.
It’s been fun and I’m sure Tiger King is not the only thing we will watch via Netflix Party.
Online Exercise
So because I can no longer go to my pole or aerial hoop classes I have started taking online classes. These are offered by my pole and aerial hoop studios, it’s not pole or aerial hoop – mainly because I don’t own either of those but I am enjoying the classes.
I am currently taking a floor flow class to work on some floor choreo and also a stretch class to work on my front splits.
I don’t have a lot of room to take these classes, I just do it in a tiny corner of my living room but it has been helpful to keep some exercise in my life.
Walking
As well as online exercise I have been going on walks with my boyfriend, this is nice just to get outside in the fresh air. Something simple and also nice because we live near the coast.
It’s also helpful to get out somewhere when you live in an apartment without a garden. I feel like if I had a garden I would just go out there and enjoy the weather, but because I do not I have to go further out. It can be a bit tricky avoiding people this way because other people are also out walking but you do the best you can.
So these are all the main things I am doing to keep busy during lock down. Of course I am still able to work from home so that has been keeping me occupied during the weekdays.
It’s been an adjustment to work from home full time, I mean it’s hard to really get into the mindset of work sometimes because you are at home and just want to do anything but work. But I think I’m getting better at it though some days are better than others for my concentration.
But I am doing the best I can and I guess that’s all we can do in this situation. I’m also very glad that I’m this time we do have so much technology because it allows us to stay connected even when we can’t see each other in real life.
I am hopeful that if we all are following the guidelines and doing our best that we can get out of lock down soon. I know things won’t go back to normal right away but it would be nice to see some of the restrictions lifted.
In the mean time I will just be sitting inside playing Animal Crossing until we can actually be outside again.
I decided to read a little blast from the past! So the first memory I have of reading Holes is actually when I was in primary school. Except I didn’t read it, my teacher actually read it to the class.
I don’t remember much about it other than sitting on the grass outside on a nice day while the teacher read to us. Then after she had finished reading the book we watched the movie.
Ever since then I have enjoyed this story. I’m not sure why this story has stuck with me but it just has. And I still enjoy watching the movie from time to time.
I decided to reread after all this time because my boyfriend ended up buying the book last year and I thought why not – he hasn’t even read it yet but oh well.
I think I’ve said this before but reading a book that has a movie adaptation can be tricky. And by that I mean there isn’t always a huge amount of difference between the book and the movie, and that was the case here.
I’m not saying that as a bad thing but at the same time I think it would have been nice to have some kind of variation, just because it would add something extra to reading the book. But the story is basically the exact same, except for Stanley being overweight lol.
But because the movie and the book are the same and I remember the movie so clearly, it made this a bit of a boring read.
The story is still great though, and if you haven’t seen the movie or read the book I do invite you to do one or the other. But you do not have to do both.
I know in school they always told you not to watch the movie and to read the book instead but sometimes that just isn’t true lol. I enjoyed the movie and reading the book was nice, but there is not much difference so I think you would be just fine with the movie.
Anyway, it was still nice to read something from my childhood, it was kind of wild to me that the book is only like 240 pages because when I was younger I swear it was a lot more than that. But then I guess it’s different when someone is reading to you, and when you’re eight years old 240 pages is a lot.
But there we go, another book read. I haven’t been reading as much because of lock down and the fact Animal Crossing came out. I used to read a lot before because I read when I was travelling to and from work but since that is not part of my routine right now, I have to work harder to fit in some reading.
I’m still hoping to reach my reading goal of 30 books this year. Which I think I will but probably not as fast I as I would have liked.
Anyway, I’m not sure what my next book to read will be, I actually think Holes has a sequel book which I might try to get if my library has the ebook version. Otherwise I think I would be okay leaving this as a stand-alone book.
Either way I will do my best to keep reading and will maybe be back with another review soon! (Or at least a blog post not Animal Crossing related…)
Feels like it’s been forever since I talked about One Tree Hill.
This was a shorter season than others but that doesn’t mean there was any less drama. Last we saw everyone they had just graduated from high school and the future was looking bright.
Now we jump into season five where there was a huge time jump and I wasn’t expecting it:
A time jump?! Seriously? I mean I was wondering how they were going to focus on everyone as they went their separate ways. They could have pulled a Gossip Girl where they all started at college and then just stopped going lol
That being said they were all looking way too old to play high school students so at least now they can play proper adults because they are
So Haley is a teacher and Nathan doesn’t want his son to play basketball – drama, also Nathan does not look good with long hair and a beard
Oh my God Brooke really went full boss bitch with Clothes Over Bros, I never saw it coming because the fashion thing came on so rapidly but yay!
Peyton is a lowly assistant in LA who is being told to “drop buttons” to be allowed in meetings – she so does not belong there
Nathan was in an accident and his dream is crushed…poor guy he worked so hard
Lucas as kind of a washed up writer and basketball coach? Never saw that he was destined for greatness and that is not it
I figured Lucas was sleeping with his editor…I don’t like it but that’s because we don’t know the story but it seems so cliche
We love a Tree Hill reunion – I knew Brooke and Peyton couldn’t stay away
Yasss Nathan fighting back
Omg I actually do hate Lucas dating his editor like Peyton doesnt show up at his book signing and he just decides to date her. That’s so not cute
Also this new jock guy is the worst like the actor I only know from being the nice cheerleader guy from Hellcats. I don’t like this version of him haha
I’m sad Mouth isn’t living his sports announcer best life
Also what happened to Karen’s cafe?! Where even is Karen and her baby?
Like I guess it’s cool Brooke is taking the cafe but like what happened to Karen tho
Lol I knew the nanny was going to be trouble it was only a matter of time
Also yasss Nathan getting his life together but if he gets with the nanny he is even more of a cliche then I thought
Okay so we found out Lucas is only with his editor because he thought Peyton didnt come to his book signing. That is lame and I don’t accept it
I think Haley and Nathan’s kid is probably one of the best characters not gonna lie
I never thought Mouth would end up sleeping with his boss to keep his job and yet here we are. Poor guy…he better sort it out soon
Lucas is a freaking idiot for choosing to ask Lindsey to marry him lol are we all gonna pretend that’s a good idea
Oh my God Rachel is a drug addict? I thought we had seen the last of her
Awww Tim! Cute memories
Wow of course the nanny was in the shower and Haley walked in…she better change her mind about this divorce
At the same time Nathan should have said something sooner
Mouth and Millicent are super cute. Also can’t believe Mouth’s boss was literally sleeping with everyone. What a power move lol
Glad Peyton and Lindsey got to air their drama
Hahaha Chase showing up to date Peyton. What are the odds? Love seeing everyone again
Tim and Bevan got married?! Wild. What a small world lol
So Lucas and Lindsey’s wedding arrives and she comes to her senses and says no, we were all expecting their marriage to fall apart right? So at least it happened before they were officially married
Brooke wants to have a baby? Interesting
Oh Karen got back with Andy? Seems kind of lame, it would have been okay if she stayed a single mom with a child. She did it for Lucas ya know – strong independent woman and all that
I knew the babysitter was going to kidnap Jamie, it was only going to be a matter of time
And Dan showing up, isn’t this turning out to be quite the wild episode
I kind of figured Dan would have been following the nanny, I half expected the police to get him though – still wild
Brooke actually got a baby! I was half expecting her to hate being a mother but she got it going for her. So yay! Sad her boy toy couldn’t hang around though
Yas Nathan and Haley working things out I mean I don’t think divorce would have been right for them
Lucas still choosing Lindsey over Peyton…this is something I didn’t expect. I thought maybe he would have come to his senses but okay
Dan saying he has 6 months to live sounds pretty fake… I mean after everything that has been going on but we see what the tea is
So Dan really is going to die…but part of me wonders if he gets that heart transplant because he somehow keeps surviving no matter what
I feel so bad for Jamie when he saw his card in the trash, it was just so sad – HE IS SO LITTLE. I know why they are keeping Dan from him but it hurts to see him always being sad about it
Lucas going mad after her found out Lindsey was seeing someone else…yikes. I feel like I’ve always underestimated how he felt about her but I guess he really does care
Is Brooke gonna get with that surgeon because something seems to be brewing there or maybe I’m just wanting good things for her
Also Millicent and Mouth are the cutest ones out there, can’t even deny
Deb sleeping with Skills is actually hilarious and it still stands that Deb can be one of the best characters when she wants to be
Mouth quitting his job like a boss – showing them what he is going to be missing
Where is Lucas going? I need him to sort his life out also as if Brooke is in the running to be his Vegas bride? I don’t see it.
Talk about your karma, Dan getting hit by a car right outside the hospital…
So this is where we end things for another season.
I gotta say I will not be surprised if Dan somehow survives because like I’ve said that’s just how things are for him, though I feel like it is definitely time to close his storyline.
Lucas has been annoying me this season because he needs to choose a woman. I wish he would just get back with Peyton because Lindsey was nice and all but she doesn’t seem like the kind to be sticking around. I like that he was still there to be a friend to Brooke but that seemed to be the only thing he was good at this season.
I am loving seeing Nathan taking his life back and also being a good father, we love a character who has growth. It will be interesting to see what things will be like when he returns to basketball.
And with Mouth going to take a new job, is this him out for good? Like I said before I enjoy Mouth’s character and I will be sad if this is the last we see of him.
But we see what is next for everyone. I honestly couldn’t tell you where we go from here, this show has surprised me a lot so I’m just in to enjoy the ride. And as always I will be back with another season recap/thoughts post just like this one real soon.
Even though we are all on lock down and are not able to see people in real life, there are lots of ways we can still talk and interact with people.
This past week I have been spending basically all my free time playing Animal Crossing and I’ve been able to spend lots of time with old friends and new.
I really love this aspect of Animal Crossing because it really helps fight the loneliness of being on lock down. I am thankful I am living with my boyfriend so I am not totally alone in this whole craziness but sometimes you need to talk to other people lol.
Please enjoy some cute screenshots of me and my friends living our best island lives in Animal Crossing. 🙂
I finally got my Animal Crossing: New Horizons game!
I had to wait an extra day and it killed me inside but now I finally have the game and I’m ready to spend all day every day playing it now.
If you want to follow my adventures you can check out my Animal Crossing Tumblr! But that doesn’t mean I won’t be posting pics here from time to time 🙂
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