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Geek Girl – Book Review
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I only went and devoured the book in a couple of sittings. Goodreads will give you the low down on the plot.
As a self confessed geek I think there would have been something wrong had I not liked a book with this title but I was a little anxious when I started. What if I didn’t, would that mean I wasn’t a geek? But I am, I’ve spent ages getting to the stage that I’m proud of this fact and for a book to take it all away!! BUt thankfully that didn’t happen.
Why I loved this book
It starts with a dictionary definition of geek.
The main character (Harriet Manners) has the OED by her bedside (I have a huge dictionary and thesaurus that I once bought myself with some birthday money – it is downstairs – too big for the bedside table).
It literally made me laugh out loud on a few occasions and giggle quietly to myself on many others.
It reminded me a little of The Princess Diaries which I also loved.
The chapters are short and punchy which makes it easy to keep reading just one more until the whole book has gone (if pesky work hadn’t got in the way I’m sure it would have only taken me one sitting to read).
The first person POV talking to the reader really worked in this case.
There’s a nod to the fact that this is a story at the start of chapter 2.
Wilbur in the wheelchair!
Toby and putting the pieces of “the puzzle” back together.
Lion Boy (Come on! he’s nice – we don’t all like the treat em mean, keep em keen type).
That Harriet’s interesting personal style makes me have the idea that someone somewhere might have thought my cycling shorts over black tights period of “fashion” was darling.
It made me cry twice (in my edition on pages 295 and 312 if you like detail – as Harriet does). If you’ve read my recent 2012 review (the first bullet point) post that gives you a clue why. To say that I empathised with Harriet a bit might be an understatement.
That Harriet isn’t perfect but we still like her because underneath it she is a jolly good sort.
The message – that it’s ok to be yourself.
There’s more to come!! But that’s enough from me so you can enjoy it for yourself.
Holly Smale, I bow down to you (this book was up in a five-way auction before HarperCollins obviously beat the others into submission).
And just so that you know I have never hidden under a table – never ;o)
I did however punch myself in the nose while turning a page of this book though!
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Harry Potter Silliness
Harry Potter Silliness
Hi all, this is my fourth of a series of posts on my visit to ‘The Making of Harry Potter – Warner Brothers Studio Tour’ on 9th April 2012.
Just a short silly one today but I promise that tomorrow will be a proper tour review.
In the car on the way there my sister gave me ‘The Talk’. She said:
‘No embarrassment, when it is closing time we have to leave. You can’t live there.’
I was a grown up though and didn’t throw a tantrum – I think she was a little disappointed I behaved myself tbh.
As we neared the attraction and starting seeing the brown signs I said something along the lines of
When you need to go to the toilet at the Warner Brothers studio tour – you…
Image Expelliarmus Cutie by Whisperwings on devaint art.
(Yeah, yeah I know Expelliarmus is the disarming charm but it sounds like it fits, doesn’t it?)
Finally, I have a cuddly toy called Sultan that I’ve had since I was 1. He’s a ‘bit’ threadbare and a while back I made him a purple outfit to protect him a little. My friends initially joked that he had a smoking jacket but later that switched to Wizard robes. At one point I made him a Wizard hat but I couldn’t find it for the day of the visit. Knowing that him being there would make an entertaining picture I packed Sultan along with my wand. He had to come out for a sneaky photo op on the ministry set. I’m not embarrassed in this pic at all!!! But I know my friends will find it entertaining.
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I’m a geek and I’ll fly if I want to
I’m a geek and I’ll fly if I want to
Hi all, this is my second of a series of posts on my visit to ‘The Making of Harry Potter – Warner Brothers Studio Tour’ on 9th April 2012.
The geeky highlight of the tour for me was getting to ride a broomstick against a greenscreen. I had taken my Hermione replica wand to use for this very photo opportunity. When we spotted this (on the first Soundstage, J [the other is K!] so if you want to do this don’t leave because you can’t get back in again) the queue markers reported it was an hour wait. I think in the end it was about 45 minutes but because you can see everyone else’s turn on TV screens and everyone is so happy to be there it really didn’t feel that long.
There are two ‘stops’ in this queue – flying in the Ford Anglia (well sitting on green boxes which seems to seat 4 comfortably). One of you gets to drive if you can coordinate your hands with the steering wheel on the screen in front of you and everyone gets to scream and sway as the Hogwart’s Express comes up behind you. Then they take a snapshot (with warning so you can pose). You get given a ticket with your photo number on it for if you want to purchase it. Then you are back in the queue for a short while.
If you don’t arrive in robes (I will next time ;o)) you are loaned a set for the broomstick ride. They only seemed to be available in Gryffindor colours for adults, and as a Pottermore sorted Hufflepuff I felt a little disloyal to my house. I spotted Hufflepuff robes for kids though (but no Slytherin or Ravenclaw here) – one kid got asked if she minded being a Hufflepuff – minded. Harumf.
There are 3 broomsticks and if you are with someone it’s much more fun to watch each other. My sister went first. Then came my turn. Wand in hand I climbed into the upturned plate type seat and put my feet in the ‘stirrups’, grasped the broomstick firmly between my hands and acted to the scene on the screen in front of me. Putting my embarrassment aside I (to the laughs of some young girls) proceeded to sway side to side and shoot my wand over my shoulder, complete with shoop noises. Yes, I know, but as I said to the girls, you kind of have to don’t you. Don’t you?
At the end of your ride (and it isn’t that long but I still think it’s worth it) they take two pictures, one face on which they superimpose on a variety of backgrounds, and one aerial shot. For both my sister and I the aerial shot was the most flattering and the staff member complemented my casual swishing wand motion.
Photo prices were 1 for £12, 2 for £15, 3 for £18 and 4 for £20 and any after that were £5. Sadly there is no video footage of your ride but the photographs all come in a presentation frame. Come back for future posts where I’ll share more hints and tips about how to get the most from your experience. Including my Top Photo Opportunities post.
kirstyes 