Thursday

Moving Home

Hello bloggers of the world. It is me, Marian. I have risen from the leaving cert and I am slowly wading my way back into normal life. Alas, this blog " A Certain Perhaps" is no more. But do not fear I just have moved.
You can now follow me on my new blog Ivory Clouds.
ivoryclouds.blogspot.ie

So Long Farewell Aufwiedersehen Goodbye!!!

Marian ^_^

Wednesday

Why I detest the Leaving Cert

It is 41 days, 14 hours, 3 minutes and 35 seconds until the leaving cert. Yes, I counted. Yes, I think it is ironic that I'm sitting here in front of the laptop whilst freaking out about how little time I have to study. Yes, I know I should be studying. Yes, I know I'm going to fail because of this. Yes, I know - OH MY GAWD, JUST GIVE IT A REST ALREADY!!!! You don't have to rub it in that my future looks so so bleak!
*flings laptop out the window* *falls to knees in defeat*
*runs outside and brings back poor laptop - "I'm so sorry, please forgive! You're the only thing getting me through the next 60 days"*


Okay?
Okay.
(hehe, sorry, had to that)

I'm calm now. Let this post recommence.
I detest the Leaving Cert. I'm not sure if you got that from my little spiel up there but I really can't stand it. Why you ask?
Well, have you never heard of this horrific exam at the end of secondary school that determines your ENTIRE FUTURE? No? Yes? Maybe?
Anyhoo, basically all the students in sixth year in Ireland sit in huge halls together with a single table, chair and a fully equipped pencil case to do a 3 hour exam per paper per subject in June. This year I'll be one of those misfortunate people.
The Leaving Cert infuriates me because
  • It's a really big test. And who likes tests?
  • The pressure and stress that accompanies it is huge
  • How well you get on can decide what you will be studying next year
  • It can affect you for the rest of your life
  • I have to study 41/7
  • There is not enough hours in the day to fit all that in.
  • I have no time to do anything else
  • I never get to blog or read other blogs
  • I fall asleep every time I open a book. (I think it's a reflex action to seeing words in sentences)
  • I have no life now
  • I can't blog
  • I can't enjoy reading
  • I can't blog
  • I miss my favourite programmes (Grey's Anatomy)
  • I can't blog.
  • I can't blog
  • And oh - I can't blog.
On the plus side my aunt gave me a bag full of chocolate and Coke to keep me awake at night.... to study...

The real reason for this post was to explain why I can't keep up to date with blogging for the next 2 months. Apologies. And please ignore my very bad mood and ranting.
Happy Blogging!
Marian  ^_^  x

Sunday

Adventure is Out There!

You probably recognise the quote from "Up". It's such a lovely movie, isn't it? I though that this quote would be perfect for my travel diary. When I turned 16, I decided to make a separate scrapbook that essentially shows everywhere I've been. I thought it was a cool idea and a great way to remember my times away. So far the countries and cities I've been to and have stuck into my diary are Spain, London, Sligo, Cape Clear (island off cork), Rock of Gibraltar and Geneva in Switzerland. Here's some photos I took.
This probably sounds stupid but I'm kinda hoping to travel to every county in the world. I know if I'm I 'm being realistic, it is highly unfeasible. I mean, do I really want to visit a county that is condemned with disease and war? Who knows, maybe I'll become a charity worker.
Happy blogging!
Marian ^_^  x

Thursday

The A to Z Book Survey

I found this really cool tag at Through a cats's eyes. I'm surprised that it's been so long since I've done a tag...... Anyhoo, here goes...
 Author you've read the most Books from
This has to be Jacquliene Wilson. From the age of 8 to 12 I was completely obsessed with her books. Looking back now, I don't know how I like to read them. They were just so depressing!
Best sequel ever
I'm not sure if you can count City of Glass, as it is the third in the series, but that book was brilliant!
Currently Reading
Eleanor &Park by Rainbow Rowell
Drink of choice whilst reading 
Without a doubt; Tea! I can never get enough of tea. Combing it with a good book well that's just heaven.
E-reader or physical book?
Physical book. I don't own any kindle/ipad/tablet etc.
Fictional character you would have actually dated in school
Augustus Waters.Love . Love. Love. LOVE!!!
Glad you gave this book a chance
 Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult. I was a bit sceptical thinking that this was another one of those middle aged women books that women read on holidays but in the end I thought it was actually very good.
Hidden gem book
 Hmmmm..... I'm going to say Amy and Roger's Epic detour.
Important moment in your Book Life
When I came home one day to find this really pretty bag just outside the front door. And inside was the last Harry Potter book. My aunt had driven like 5 hours to our house just to give me the book. Best of all, at the time, I had no idea who it was from or that I was even going to get it.
Just finished
City of Glass , the mortal instruments by Cassandra Clare
Kinds of book you won't read
It's not that I wouldn't read any book but the last genre I would pick up would probably be contemporary.
Longest book you've read
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - the long version. I think it was around 700 pages.
Major book hangover because of
The Fault in our Stars. I read it in one day. And there was Gus. Need I say more?
Number of bookcases you own
Well, there's one in my room, but we have another huge one in the front room. Most of my books are scattered around my room holding up shelves and used for making tables etc.
One book you've read multiple time
Eh..... honestly.... Twilight. But that was a LONG time ago. Yes, I was one of those ott people.... *moving swiftly on*   
Preferred place to read
On my bed
Quote that inspires you
"And in that moment, I swear we were infinite" ~The Perks of being a Wallflower.
Reading Regret
There was this book I read in primary school that I was absolutely enthralled by. I never got a chance to finish it but now I don't even remember the name. It was really old. I think the title was something like friends or friendship....
Series you started and need to finish it
The mortal instruments. And also the gallagher girl series. I have the last book but I want to read them all again first.
Three of your all time favourite books
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
 The Perks of being a Wallflower by Stephen Chobosky
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusack
Unapologetic fangirl for
TFiOS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Very excited for this release
emm... nothing really at the moment....
Worst bookish habit
impulse buying. I always ALWAYS have a pile of books to read. It's never ending! *not that I;m complaining*
X marks the spot: start at the top right of your shelf and pick the 27th book
The Night Circus
Your last book purchase
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
ZZZZZ.... Snatcher book (last book that kept you up)
Looking for Alaska by John Green
Well, that was fun!
Happy Reading
Marian ^_^ x
    
                        

     

Sunday

Looking for Alaska

As you all know John Green is one of the most greatest, skilled and absolutely heart-wrenching authors known to the readers of the world. So when I finished The Fault in Our Stars during the summer. I just had to run to the book store and buy as much John Green as I could get. Looking for Alaska is such an incredible book that made me laugh, bawl and hate hate HATE John Green so much more.

Before. Miles "Pudge" Halter's whole existence has been one big nonevent, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the "Great Perhaps" (François Rabelais, poet) even more. Then he heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed-up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young, who is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart.

After. Nothing is ever the same.
.
Okay, so, I'm sure most of you have read it and can understand when I say that that book was horribly beautiful and tragically brilliant. John Green did it again. It's been a few months since I've read it, but there are parts that stick out in mind, as if I only read it yesterday. The characters, for one thing, are gorgeously written and they are people you can relate to. Looking for Alaska includes all the elements of a typical teenager life; friends, school, love, smoking, drinking, breaking rules, having fun and the confusion we seem to face daily.

I absolutely loved this books. It's interesting to read from a boy's perspective. Pudge seems to be the only normal and ordinary kid in the books. But travels this journey through life that mainly focuses on the very wild and completely screwed up Alaska Young. She is a character that I would probably hate in real life but when you get to know her and all her craziness you can see that she is her own person. And I respect that.

In the book there is the "before section" and the "after". After what? Well, that's part of the story.When I was reading the after section I could barely see the page as tears streamed down my face. I think I almost cried as much as I did with TFiOS. -well, not quite as much. I mean, I don't think you can get a more heart-strangling book!
I most definitely, absolutely, completely give this book 5 stars!
Happy Reading!
Marian ^_^  x