Booktober: week 2

This week I've been extremely busy and had so little time to relax or do anything that I really wanted to so I had every excuse not to read a full book this week. But I was not letting that stop me! You have to make time for the small things because sometimes they become the big, important things!

I was in work today on a break and decided that I'd read this week's book: Dead Time by Anne Cassidy. Cassidy is an author that I used to absolutely adore! Her stories have an enjoyable element of mystery and usually a very unpredictable ending which is what I love most. And I thought I'd read all of her books but was thrilled to find she'd relatively recently published a new series called The Murder Notebooks. Obviously I had to get hold of a copy of the first one as soon as possible! 

This book tells the story of not-quite step-siblings Rose and Josh who end up separated after their parents mysteriously go missing. The police insist that it was most likely murder but then close the case and the children are not convinced! They take matters into their own hands to try and discover the truth about what happened that night.

Dead Time was a fantastic read; definitely not a let down. I loved the way that different parts of the story were linked together and the way that mystery and suspense was created. This would definitely be a recommendation to others! 

Keep smiling,

Kathryn x

Booktober: week one

Ketchup Clouds. So this is where I started Booktober. I will admit that this book, by Annabel Pitcher, had been sat on my bedroom floor for quite some time but I've been extremely busy recently and struggled to find time to read. This was the fantastic opportunity to get me reading again!

What I didn't realise until after finishing the book is that she is the author of a book that I read a long time ago and thoroughly enjoyed! 

Ketchup Clouds tells the story of a teenage girl (who's name I'm not going to say because that's part of the mystery) who starts writing to a prisoner as a way to deal with her guilt. Her guilt as a result of an event that she blames herself for. We never hear from the convict, who is on death row, and the cliffhanger you are left on has you dreaming up all sorts of different endings.

Throughout the novel, there are several themes, both obvious and hidden, that manage to get you questioning things about your own life. It has you wondering how you would react in certain situations and teaches a very important lesson: sometimes letting go is the only thing that you can do to stop you making yourself crazy with guilt. 

If you don't mind reading something with quite serious underlying themes covered up quite well with the odd bit of humour, then this is certainly a book for you! The way family, friendships and feelings are portrayed is so unique and definitely worth trying to understand.

That's all for this weeks review because I don't want to ruin something that you might read but I look forward to hearing about what you're reading and I'll be back next week with another.

Keep smiling, 

Kathryn x

When it all gets a little bit overwhelming...

For some of us it's that time of year that may be even more stressful than exams; time to apply for university! Now I can hear it, some of you are asking 'how can applying for something be more stressful than getting the grades to get in?' But it really is! 

I'm 17 years old yet suddenly have to be making grown-up decisions about money about accommodation and about where I want to spend the next three or four years of my life. Not only that, I'm expected to make life-changing decisions. And I'm not talking 'I can't decide whether to pick music or art for GCSE' sort of decisions. In no way am I belittling GCSEs but, for anyone worrying about them right now, they're just a little stepping stone. In two years time you won't even remember your results from them. But now I have to pick one course that limits my career options so much. Am I really expected to know what I want to do for the rest of my life? 

And we have to 'sell ourselves' to the university in 4000 characters or less. That may seem like a lot but I don't think I've written a blog post that's shorter than that yet and the personal statement has to include enough information about me to earn myself an offer! 

For the last few weeks, I have been filled with worry and dread. I've been constantly anxious and panicky but I can see that it hasn't been necessary. My UCAS form has gone now; there's absolutely nothing that I can do to change anything so I can eagerly anticipate replies from my chosen universities. 

This experience has helped me to realise that sometimes it's extremely important to just take a minute to step back from the situation, relax and look after yourself. I have felt completely overwhelmed by the idea of choosing five universities but it's important to remember that whatever happens, it happens for a reason. Right now you're exactly where you're supposed to be and you have to trust that in the future you'll end up exactly where you're meant to be too! For the time being, when things get a little bit overwhelming, sit back and enjoy the ride because things won't be like this forever. 

Keep smiling,

Kathryn x