What if I don't like the book I'm reading?

DNF'ing books.

For those who do not know, DNF means 'did not finish', therefore, if you were to DNF a book, you would not be finishing it for whatever reason.

So what happens when you get this feeling? Simple. DO IT. You are not someone who can be controlled by the thoughts and opinions of others. If you pick up a book on the recommendation of others, be it through Google, Goodreads, YouTube, the newspaper, the shop, a friend or family member etc., and it turns out that really, you aren't enjoying it, then that is completely fine.

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When I first joined the blogging and BookTubing worlds, I never expected to dislike a book. Before I joined, I read tried and tested authors who had either written something else that I had previously read, or were so similar to another franchise I liked, that they couldn't go wrong (I'm looking at, and blaming you, Twilight). But then I joined YouTube and began a BookTube channel and this blog (which is now a year old - yikes!), and realised that there are so many authors out there, who write so many different things, and in different styles, and that I wouldn't mind trying them all out.

Well that was a bad idea.

I found authors I didn't like, topics I thought were very very wrong (I'm looking at you Stolen, and Gone Girl), and to be perfectly honest, BookTubers who only seemed to be in it for the money. That wasn't what I wanted. So I began properly researching.

I looked first of all for BookTubers who were based in the UK. Why? Because that is where I am from. No, I'm not being culturally picky here, I couldn't care less where you come from, particularly if you're a wonderful person (and I'm sure you are). The reason I chose the UK to start my search was because if I found book recommendations from UK BookTubers, I knew I was guaranteed to find books they were talking about. Which was also a weakness. It opened my eyes to the various ways I could access books in the UK, and I bought pretty much every recommended book going that I thought I would enjoy. And in all honesty, I really didnt enjoy a lot of them. Some I found were juvenile, other just weren't to my taste.

And do you know what?

That's okay.

If you do not like a book, for whatever reason, you are not required to read it. This isn't school or college or university, you will NOT get an exam in it. It's almost guaranteed that if you force yourself to read a book, you will decrease your chances of ever enjoying it, and pretty much end up in a reading slump - another place you do not want to be headed too.

I don't really know where I was going with this, I just wanted to blog some thoughts that have been going around in my head the past few days. I hope you're all well, and do you ever DNF books? Or have you ever wanted to, but didn't grab the opportunity? Let me know in the comments!


Goodbye for now!

The Maze Runner - A Film Review

Hello! This week I went to the cinema and got to see The Maze Runner, a film adaptation of the dystopian novel written by James Dashner. 

***Please note, this review may not be completely spoiler free!***

As an avid reader (although my blog fails to show this right now) I found myself in a bit of a dilemma with regards to this film. I hadn't read the book, although the trilogy and its prequel are currently housed on my shelf, yet I knew what the film entailed - to an extent - due to booktubers reviewing the novel and some film reviews. Therefore, I decided perhaps I should find out what I'm missing and go see the film.

I don't know how to feel about doing this.

After seeing the film trailer, which you can find below, I found myself under the belief that it was similar to The Hunger Games trilogy. And I was right in a way. People get randomly chosen and thrown into an arena in The Hunger Games to fight to the death, and in The Maze Runner, they are systematically chosen to be put in the centre of the maze, most likely until death. There's clashes in both, and alliances in both, theres bad guys in both (The Capitol in THG and Grievers in TMR) and somewhat good guys in both. You get the picture.

From the reviews I'd seen, I went into the cinema preparing myself for drama, violence and endless tears. What I got was something else, and I fear that it didn't meet my expectations because they were seemingly high,

The film itself was very fast-paced and you're thrown right into the action. It is as if you're Thomas, without any idea of who you were before waking up in the box. I'm not sure I liked that. However, you see his memory unfold before your eyes and that is something that couldnt really be done if you already knew his past, so its understandable why the film starts with complete mystery. 

So, just as Thomas seems to be settling in nicely, after being attackedand going off into the maze, just three days later the community get a new arrival (which is odd considering they are meant to be once a month) - a girl. Which naturally rocks the community a little. From then on, the film really does pick up pace and before you know it, the end credits are rolling and youre left kind of wanting more, kind of hoping that they dont actually do the sequel. 

However, with the film ending how it did, you kind of need the sequel for closure.

Going in blind to that film, I have to give it an honest review, as I have no book to compare it with. I did enjoy it, although I left with a bad feeling inside me, and I don't know if that was just because it was over, or the film in general, or the final death (which does tug on your heartstrings). Therefore, I am giving the film a hopeful THREE OUT OF FIVE STARS.

The Maze Runner is currently doiing well in box office and is therefore still out in UK cinemas with numerous showings in a day. The trailer I feel is best to make you want to go see the film can be found below!

Have you seen the film or read the book? Either one or the other, or both, or neither? Please let me know what you think below, I read all of your comments and will reply when I can!