The Unpopular Book Opinions Tag.

Hello fellow bloggers;

I've seen this tag being carried out by many a booktuber so I thought that it would be interesting and fun to carry it out myself so here we go. ALSO I thought it would be best to state that these are just my own opinions. 

1. A popular book or series that you didn't like.

One certain book comes to mind when I think of my answer to this question and that is Looking For Alaska by John Green. Typically I've been very fond of anything that John Green has written however I didn't like this novel at all. Personally I found the whole progression of the novel very slow and tedious which wasn't aided by some of the unlikeable characters. I couldn't bring myself to like Alaska within it at all, and maybe that's the exact reason why I didn't like the book overall. 

2. A popular book or series that everyone else seems to hate but you love.

I'm not sure if this book is exactly classed as popular however from reading the reviews on Goodreads, it doesn't seem to receive the praise that it deserves and this is regards to Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfield. Overall on the website it only has received an average of 3.39 out of 5 which seems quite low to me since I certainly enjoyed the mysteriousness and beauty of it. 

3. A love triangle where the main character ended up with the person you did not want them to end up with or an OTP that you don't like.

*Just a warning this does contain spoilers.* 

This one was very hard to decide however I could only think of one love triangle which I wasn't too happy about the outcome of and that was within the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. I do love Peeta a great deal however I spent most of the trilogy hoping that Katniss would chose Gale instead. 

4. A popular book genre that you hardly reach for.

There aren't many book genres that I don't read however I'm not personally very keen on the Fantasy genre.

5. A popular or beloved character that you do not like.

This is where I go for Alaska yet again. 

6. A popular author that you can't seem to get into.

My answer to this has to be J.K. Rowling.

7. A popular book trope that you're tired of seeing. (examples: 'lost princess', corrupt ruler, love triangles).

I'm certainly tired of love triangles as I don't find them interesting at all. 

8. A popular series that you have no interest in reading.

I have no interest at all in getting into the Harry Potter series as I believe that it is something that isn't going to interest me a great deal thus linking with my lack of interest in the fantasy genre. 

9. The saying goes "the book adaption is always better than the movie", but what film or television show do you prefer more than the book?

I found the television version of The Vampire Diaries much better than the books. 

I hope you've enjoyed this book tag, and feel free to comment any opinions that you have.

Top tips for freshers.

Recently I finished my first year at university and I have been reflecting upon my experience. It's been a rollercoaster ride of an experience which can be easily expected as it's a big change however I wouldn't change any of it for the world. Yet I believe that if I was given a top tip guide the year at university may have went a lot smoother so I've decided to come up with one for you upcoming freshers. Don't take everyone of them too seriously as it's all a learning curve so let's get on with it. 

• Make a big effort to get on with your new flatmates. If you ask me this is honestly one of the most important tips that I could give you because you're going to spending a whole year with these people. It's certainly a good idea to make as much effort as you can to get to know everyone because these are the first and most easiest friendships that you can make when you start. These are the people that are going to be there for you when you need a shoulder to cry on or if you just want someone to go out with so try your best!
• Enjoy freshers week and go out as much as possible. When I started university I didn't really drink so I used that as an excuse not to have to go out and socialize however now I really regret that. Since I go out often now I really wish that I had taken advantage of the fun of freshers especially since you normally meet the best people when you are drunk.
• Say yes to anything that gives you a chance to be sociable. It's so much easier to make new friends through social events especially if you join a sports team or a society. So definitely look into what societies are offered at your university.
• Don't miss seminars or lectures because you're hungover or just can't be bothered.
• Try your best to keep up to date with your reading list. Considering I personally study English Literature my reading lists have certainly always been very busy and I've always struggled to keep up with it. However it makes your university life much more easier if you manage to keep up to date especially if you have seminars on the texts.  
• Don't leave assignments to the last minute (especially if they are worth 60/80% of your grade). For many people first year won't count towards your final year at university however don't use this an excuse to leave everything to the last minute like I did. Give yourself plenty of time to get your assignments done so you don't have to stress about them at the last minute.
• Budget your student loan wisely. I feel like a hypocrite for including this one because it isn't something that I did or do myself but it's honestly the best thing to do. You need to make your money last as long as possible.
• Keep in touch with your family and friends at home. Now this is an important one for me because without both my family and friends I probably wouldn't have completed my first year. It's best to keep in touch with these people as they will always be there for you when you need support.
• Consider who you would like to live with in second year. Even though this is probably one of the last things you'd think you need to consider it's important that you do because you don't want to make the wrong decision. Many people put a deposit down on their house for next year in the December/January of the first year so you should get thinking about it early.
• Don't be scared to be yourself. University itself and the independence you gain from it should help you gain confidence it who you are as a person. Yes you are going to meet many people who are very different to you but you are also going to meet people who have similar interests so don't change for anyone. 
• Most importantly have FUN. You only get one chance to be a fresher so enjoy the experience and have as much fun as possible.

I hope this is helpful to some of you, and I hope you all have a great first year at university.

-Natalie. 

Horror film recommendations.

Horror has always been my favourite genre when it comes to films, even though that may sound odd as not everyone is keen on them. However these are the types of films that I have spent a great deal of time watching while growing up thus why I have decided to recommend some to you.

House Of Wax (2005)

House Of Wax is one of those films that you either instantly hate or love, and this is one that I certainly did love. I found the whole premise of the film rather uncanny which is what made it so good. Not only was the plot hooking but the acting was also up to standards even though Paris Hilton was also within the film. However I wouldn't completely class this as a horror as it isn't very scary or gory. 

Freddy Vs. Jason (2003)

It's rather crazy to think that this film came out over a decade ago now, yet I still can remember it pretty well. What more could you ask for from a horror film than a slasher showdown? I think the whole concept of two of the most well known slasher icons from horror films having a showdown was what made me love the film so much. 

The Strangers (2008)

When I first watched this film I wasn't that keen on it because I found it slightly slow however after watching it a few times I have begun to rather like it. I found the plot rather interesting and believable which is rare when it comes to horror films. This is certainly one you should go into watching with an open mind. 

The Breed (2006)

This film is rather different from some of the stereotypical horror movies as it offers an enemy/killer which is quite realistic. Without spoiling much of the plot this film is about a breed of dogs which are interested in killing humans. As this was different from the normal horror films I've watched I rather enjoyed it. 

The Ring (2002)

Similar to The Grudge, The Ring offers a scary and creepy young girl killer which also seems to be rare within the genre. Based upon a Japanese novel, the film offers a creative and unique story line which keeps you gripped to the very end. 

-Natalie.