Two days in Paris

The first day was spent travelling to Paris and then exploring the city. I didn't realise quite how big it was going to be. We stayed at the Tim Hotel Gare de l'est which was very close to the main train station. At the hotel we started to plan out our day with regards to sightseeing and we went downstairs to ask the receptionist about the tour bus. On our way downstairs a group of Germans were checking out and gave us their boat sightseeing pass for the rest of the day. It was for a company called Batobus which is a hop on and off boat. The closed stop to our hotel was at the Notre Dame so we got the Metro there and explored the area. The first stop on the (that we particularly wanted to see) Batobus was The Louvre. However, by the time we actually got there is was shut! We did wonder why the queue to get in was so short. After the disappointment we deicide to walk through the Louvre gardens and then in the near distance we could see Arc de Triomphe. There was 'tuc tucs' around the road and one was actually a motorbike with a proper carriage on the back. We thought it looked fun so we hopped on that and the driver took us round the Arc and then dropped us off at the Eiffel Tower. He boomed music and we got some funny looks.

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After the Eiffel Tower and Joe pretending to propose to me underneath it we went to find the bookshop that I wanted to visit, Shakespeare & Co. It was a really quaint and lovely bookshop. The man working there recommended me a book written by a French author that I have yet to read... It was getting late and we wanted to go to a particular restaurant but by the time we found (by going on the Metro and getting a taxi) it the place was shutting so we went to another across the road. The meal was awful and I couldn't eat it so after reluctantly paying we quickly left. Joe bought me a crepe to cheer me up instead :).

On second day we woke up early and went down for some breakfast. We decided to visit Montmartre as I been recommended to go there. The day didn't start out quite as planned as a bird pooped on me and Joe was conned out of 20 euros before we reached the top! I tried to cheer myself up by buying a watercolour of the Moulin Rouge from a street artist. We wondered around a bit more and then got a cable car back down to the main road to visit the actual Moulin Rouge. After seeing the outside of the theatre we went to the gift shop and had a browse. Then decided to get something to eat and bought a pizza, the waiter wasn't impressed with tourists ordering pizza. 

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By this time we decided to get our things from the hotel and on the way to the train station I popped into Sephora which had been closed for most of the day with the staff just wondering inside the shop.

We waited for our train and got croque-monsieur to try some French food (not very fancy). 

And that was our little trip to Pairs! 

Sofiee

Alice Underground experience

Firstly, on our Alice in Wonderland themed day we went to the British Library. I bought the 150th anniversary book of Alice in Wonderland which was designed my Vivienne Westwood. I also bought a little book on the history of the story.

We got the Waterloo and eventually found the place where we needed to be. We all had to dress in either red or black so Joe had to buy a t shirt earlier that day saying 'Normal people scare me' (I thought it was fitting).
Our group walked in a large room covered in pages from books on the walls and a few mirrors where Alice's image spoke to us. The wall opened up and the White Rabbit came out and told us the follow him. We came to two doors, one larger and one smaller, we had to pick whether we were going to 'eat me' or 'drink me'. Joe and I decided to drink me and 'grew smaller'. After this we went into a dark room and the Cheshire Cat came out with three actors 'operating' the body and separately it mechanical head. This was very amusing but a little bit freaky. We got given identification cards to get into Wonderland. I received a spade and Joe a club so we had to split up into different groups.

In the group I was in we saw:

-The kitchen and met the couple's pig baby
-Met the card that was painting the roses red
-Met the caterpillar after walking through and up a tunnel of toadstool lights (favourite bit!)
-Saw a lizard dressed man who had the funniest accent, he told us what we were doing in Wonderland

After all this we met back up with the group and had an interval with cocktails at the Mad Hatter's tea party. The Hatter was played brilliantly by a woman too which I thought was an interesting take on the character.

Then, we sat in the court with our cards and saw the ending to the play... I won't ruin that for you all!

I bought the script book as I wanted to know what the 'eat me' group saw. I might have to go back and do that instead next time!

I would definitely recommend going, especially if you're mad!
Sofiee

#TBRTakedown 2.0 last day and what I have read...

Hello,
So I have not finished all of the books I wanted to but I feel like I made a good attempt!

I managed to finish Legend by Marie Lu on the first day as it was a quick graphic novel. I can see why people love her novels so much.

On the second and third day I read ella minnow pea by Mark Dunn and finished that off, it was a really interesting and quirky read!

Next, I read Soulless by Gail Carriger which I finished yesterday but in between reading the last too books I also read: LOW volume 1 and Mr. Men in London.

I am currently over half way through The Book of Lillit by Rober Brown which is a strange but also interesting read. I hope to finish this book tonight.

Unfortunately, I didn't manage to read This Shattered World but I am putting that on top of my TBR list.

I hope you all managed to read all your chosen books,
Sofiee

An Unespected Book Crawl Around London

My boyfriend and myself decided to have a day in London and didn't know what to do. We tried to visit some interesting bookshops so without further ado here are the shops and books bought:

Persephone Books
William-an Englishman by Cicely Hamilton
(Recommended by the bookseller!)

The Persephone Book of Short Stories

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred  Watson
(This is a movie and I didn't know...)

Foyles 
The Days and Nights of London Now-As Told by Those Who Love It, Hate It, Live It, Left It an Long for it LONDONERS by Craig Taylor

Suicide Squad by Adam Glass et all

Mr. Men in London by Roger Hargreaves
(Just because)

Orbital Comics
LOW Volume 1 by Remender Tocchini

Death Note (Black Edition) by Tsugumi Ohba

Waterstones
Armada by Ernest Cline

The Runaway by Elizabeth Anne Hart (A £1 clearance from Persephone books!)

Now for a book buying ban!
Sofiee

MINI REVIEW: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J.Maas *No Spoilers*

I read this book for TheBookLife's (www.thebooklife.co.uk) readalong for July. There will be a live show on the August 1st at 9PM UK time/4PM EST time.

Here are my thoughts on the novel:

When I first started reading A Court of Thrones and Roses I thought that I wouldn't like due to the description. However, as I got used to Maas' writing style (this was the first book I have read of hers) I really, really enjoyed the novel.

The story is about a young woman named Feyre whose family lost their fortune and their Mother. Feyre has to hunt for meat and one day comes across a wolf and shoots it dead. However, this wolf was actually a magical creature and killing a magical creature is forbidden. She has to pay the price for her crimes...

This plot if full of twists and some very interesting sub plots. I absolutely love the love story too...

I would definitely recommend this book :)
Sofiee

Birthday Book Haul!

On the 20th of July I turned 21! I got given and bought some books that I thought I would share with you :) On my birthday I went to Paris and went to the Shakespeare and Co bookshop were some of these books are from.

Legend: A Graphic Novel by Marie Lu (reading for the #TBRTakedown)

New Suicide Squad: Volume one Pure Insanity

YOU by Caroline Kepnes

The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

How To Run Your Home Without Help by Kay Smallshaw (Persephone books on sale!)

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Notre-Dame de Paris by Victor Hugo

HATE a romance by Tristan Garcia

5 to 1 by Holly Bodger

Pulchritude by Ana Mardoll

ODY-C Vol 1 - Off To Far Ithicaa by Matt Fraction and Christian Ward

Shakespeare and Company book

If you have read any of these or want to review let me know :)
Sofiee

#TBRTakedown 2.0 tbr...

In preparation for the TBR Takedown readathon (midnight of 25th to 31st July) I have decided on a few books for the challenges. This readathon is lead by the lovely Leaninglights at https://twitter.com/leaninglights and youtube.

The challenges and books I have chosen are...

1) First book in a series
Soulless by Gail Carriger

2) Sequel book in a series
This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spoonner

3) Out of your comfort zone (genre, author ect)
The Book of Lilith by Dr. Robert G. Brown

4) On your shelf for over a year (or thee longest)
ella minnow pea: A novel without letters by Mark Dunn

5) Most recently hauled book
Legend: The Graphic Novel by Marie Lu

I am hoping to read most of these but I will be busy everyday during the time of the readathon!

Good luck book worms,
Sofiee