The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight Review

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?”

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith is a simple and romantic tale of young love.

Hadley is a typical teenage girl who is travelling from New York to London for her Dad’s wedding. The trip hits a bump in the road as she misses her flight by four short minutes but if she hadn’t she would have never met Oliver.

Oliver is an English boy, carrying out his studies in America, who is extremely likeable from the moment he offers to help Hadley with her luggage at the airport. He also happens to be on Hadley’s flight and they spend the many hours to come laughing, flirting and getting to know each other. Hadley opens up about the nature of her trip and about her relationship with her father. She tells him how she’s not seen him in over a year and never met his soon-to-be wife because she’s still angry about her parent’s divorce and her Dad’s move to London.

The pair have a wonderful bond as they land in London. Oliver kisses Hadley as they are about to get separated at border control and when they do, they have no way of getting in contact with each other again. Will they see each other again? Of course not! The flight is only the first half of their love story as they both go on wild goose chases round London to find each other.

The characters in the book are likeable characters and relatable to its young adult audience. Hadley is the fiesty but kind-hearted teenager and Oliver is the charming and funny young man. The reader could easily imagine themselves in the situation of the two lead characters.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight is an incredibly easy read which is short and sweet. This book is a light read which tells the tale of how two teenagers fall in love during a flight across the world. However, this book is not for you if you’re looking for a challenging read as there is not much complexity to the story, it is very predictable in places and the title says it all.

Details

Title: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

Author: Jennifer E. Smith

Publisher: Headline Publishing Group

Published: 5 January 2012

ISBN: 9780755384037

The Rosie Project Review

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion is a wonderful book which reminds us that love will find us when we’re least expecting it.

The book focuses on the life of Professor Don Tillman and his search for love. Don devises ‘The Wife Project’ by creating a questionnaire to find a suitable romantic match but when he keeps failing, he focuses his time to help his new friend Rosie find out who her father is.

Don Tillman is a thirty-nine year old geneticist professor who has trouble of getting to a second date in his love life due to his autism creating a lack of social skills. He has a resemblance to Sheldon Cooper from the American TV series, Big Bang Theory. As a lead character, he is very likeable and will have you feeling sympathetic towards him but also laughing hysterically.

Rosie is a Psychology student who has grown up never knowing her father. Rosie is a wild, unpredictable character who is the complete opposite of the protagonist, Don Tillman. She is an exciting and fascinating character who will have you wanting to read on.

The novel is incredibly well-written from the perspective of Don in an intellectual, concise and to the point manner. Although, the book feels repetitive at times, overall, the book is enticing from it’s likeable and intriguing characters.

The author, Graeme Simsion, is a full-time writer who previously worked as an international IT consultant and taught at four Australian universities.

The love story of Don and Rosie is unique, fun and heart-warming which tells a tale of how opposites really do attract! You can buy The Rosie Project from Amazon here.

The Rosie Effect, the sequel to the book, is due to be released on the 25th September so now is the perfect time to pick up a copy of The Rosie Project and have the next book ready and waiting for you!

Details

Title: The Rosie Project

Author: Graeme Simsion

Publisher: Penguin Books

Published: 2 January 2014

(First published 11 April 2013 by Michael Joseph)

ISBN: 9781405912792

The Shock of the Fall Review

“I’ll tell you what happened because it will be a good way to introduce my brother. His name’s Simon. I think you’re going to like him. I really do. But in a couple of pages he’ll be dead. And he was never the same after that.”

The blurb had me hooked before I even opened the book itself. Although, it does not tell you much about the novel’s topic, it does certainly intrigue the reader.

The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer is a heart rendering tale of Matthew Holmes’ struggle with mental illness. The ‘COSTA Book of the Year’ winner is written from the perspective of the mentally ill main character and focuses on the death of the narrator’s brother. It unchronologically follows Matthew Holmes from his childhood until his young adult years.

The novel is incredibly well-written, easy to read and will have you hooked throughout. The Shock of the Fall will perfectly capture a mixture of your emotions from shocked to humoured and sad to emotional.

The style of writing and tone has a resemblance to Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time which makes The Shock of the Fall personal and makes you feel like you know Matthew Holmes.

The Shock of the Fall is the first novel written by author, Nathan Filer, who is a registered mental health nurse and performance poet who regularly contributes to literary events. Filer also lectures at Bath Spa University for the Creative Writing course.

The book is based in the city of Bristol and for locals refers to many famous streets and attractions. As a Bristolian, it was relatable and created a sense of knowing. However, if you’re not familiar with Bristol it will not in anyway make the book less enjoyable. The book is an amazing read from anywhere in the world.

The Shock of the Fall is an incredibly well-written book which is a gripping read that will have you on the edge of your seat. You can pick up a copy of the book here.

Details

Title: The Shock of the Fall

Author: Nathan Filer

Publisher: The Borough Press

Published: 7 January 2014

ISBN: 9780007491452

The PR Masterclass Review

Alex Singleton’s new book The PR Masterclass gives advice to students and public relations professionals on “How to Develop a Public Relations Strategy That Works”.

Singleton tackles a topic, which you would expect to have been covered repeatedly by ex-journalists but surprisingly The PR Masterclass is one of the very few to focus on how to successfully deliver a PR strategy.

Alex Singleton is a world-renowned public relations practitioner who has experience of working with some of the largest companies in the world, such as Kellogs and Virgin Atlantic. Singleton’s PR career stems from his previous journalist roles in both the UK newspaper and magazine industries. He has worked at The Daily Telegraph, written for The Guardian, and appeared on the BBC, Sky News and CNN, just to name a few.”

It is clear that Singleton’s experience of both public relations and journalism enhances the credibility of his PR advice as he has knowledge of how journalists work first hand. In the chapter, ‘How to Develop a Story Idea that Is Newsworthy’ it focuses on ‘The perspective of the journalist’ which gives PR people, without familiarity of journalism, a great insight into their view and emphasises the need to make your PR strategy relevant to the journalists readers.

The book also offers PR experts or beginners advice on how to grab the attention of the media when writing press releases and how to build contacts with journalists.

The PR Masterclass is an easy-to-read book with its conversational nature and clear structure. The book is a great guide that can easily be referred back to again and again.

The book finishes by pointing you in the right direction of other useful resources such as other books to read and recommended website, including Behind the Spin!

You can start by reading the free chapter ‘How to Build and Maintain an Effective List of Journalists’ at http://www.alexsingleton.com/how-to-build-and-maintain-an-effective-list-of-journalists/.

Dare to read?

‘Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares’ is a charming, teenage tale which all begins with a red notebook containing the words: “I’ve left some clues for you. If you want them, turn the page. If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.” This is the beginning of Dash and Lily’s mysterious adventure.

The notebook embarks on a journey commencing in one of New York’s largest libraries, The Strand, right beside Lily’s favourite book. Dash stumbles upon the journal whilst scanning the shelves and can’t resist the temptation of Lily’s daring game. They complete each dare, leaving the notebook in various locations over the big apple, New York City, for the other to collect. The venture leads to fear, embarrassment and fun; the pair both undertaking things they would have never done before.

When Dash and Lily meet face to face, will they be as well-matched as they appear in writing? Every reader hopes they will be the perfect compatible couple.

The book is told in two voices, those of Dash and Lily, by two authors, Rachel Cohn and David Levithan. The alternating chapters gives the reader a real sense of reality of the notebook being passed and highlights the voices and diverse personalities of the main characters. ‘Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares’ is the third book Cohn and Levithan share together and once again they write a quirky and electrifying book. After the success of ‘Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist’ there is no surprise that the pair continue to write together.

‘Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares’ is a cheeky, unique and charming tale which is faultless for its young adult audience and will have each reader smiling, laughing and on the edge of their seat.

Paper Towns Review

“That’s always seemed so ridiculous to me, that people would want to be around someone because they’re pretty. It’s like picking your breakfast cereals based on colour instead of taste.”

John Green once again has written a humorous, thought-provoking and intriguing book which will have you on the edge of your seat.

This mystery novel will have you gripped from the very beginning as the daring, Margo Roth Spiegelman, persuades the rational-headed, Quentin Jacobsen, to embark on a night of mischief and adventure. Their all-nighter is an experience that the pair will never forget when they set off to complete eleven tasks, including revenge.

Margo Roth Spiegelman and Quentin Jacobsen, better known as Q, were childhood friends who drifted apart through high school, but when Margo turns up at Q’s bedroom one night not long before graduation, it makes Quentin wonder if their friendship will be rekindled.

The next day at school is not as Q hopes when Margo does not show up, but where has Margo gone?

Quentin Jacobsen, Q, is a loveable teenager with his sensible and caring nature but when Margo disappears he hunts to find her and finds he has a lot more courage than he thinks. He follows the clues she may or may not have intended to leave to solve the Margo mystery.

Margo Roth Spiegelman is a captivating character with an extraordinary mind for planning her wildest dreams. Her wild nature and huge personality leads to one big question ‘Who is the real Margo?

This book is perfect for its primarily teenage audience with jokes about a friend’s mum, worrying about dates for prom and trying to find romance. This is a story that teenagers can relate to and the mystery element will hook the reader.

‘Paper Towns’ will have you laughing, puzzled and questioning how you think of the world. This book is a must read if you love John Green’s style, you will love this one just as much as his other writing.

Gatsby the Great

The Great Gatsby has high expectations from any individual who has read the worldwide famous novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The film features a star-studded line up of talent, with the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan, that shows the first signs that it will be a hit.

The creation from Baz Luhrmann, director of Romeo and Juliet and Moulin Rouge!, takes a classic tale and turns it into a modern masterpiece. The contemporary, cinematic edge makes the film unique but the superb storyline remains.

As I walked into the cinema I hoped the film would give me the same reaction as the book and without a doubt, it fulfilled my hopes. Although, the impact of the climax of the film would be heightened if you are unaware of what happens in the story.

The soundtrack to the film is remarkable and is the perfect fit for the Great Gatsby. The music includes a mixture of songs from the likes of Florence and the Machine, Jack White, Jay-Z and Lana Del Ray. The soundtrack is available to buy on CD and is a great way to relive the film through sound.

Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance as Jay Gatsby is astounding and he creates amazing chemistry with the relationships he makes in the film. His friendship with Tobey Maguire’s character, Nick Carraway, shows a unique bond which is hard to find. The whirlwind romance of Gatsby and Daisy, played by Carey Mulligan, really highlights the talent and passion the cast put into their roles.

The Great Gatsby takes a classic tale and modernises it with top quality music and marvellous effects. The film is a must watch just like the book is a must read. Catch the Great Gatsby in cinemas now.

An Abundance of Katherines Review

It’s safe to say John Green has taken over our bookshops with ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ receiving remarkable reviews, which made me wonder if any of his other books could ever live up to the superiority of his bestseller.

‘An Abundance of Katherines’ is the third John Green book I’ve got my head stuck into after reading ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ and ‘Looking for Alaska’. The book lived up to the high expectations and even carries a surprisingly unique and unusual style. It stands out from Green’s other books due to its mathematical sideline and happy ending.

If you’re after a John Green tearjerker, this is not the book for you. Nonetheless, ‘An Abundance of Katherines’ will have you laughing throughout, with the humour matching the young adult audience perfectly.

Genius prodigy, Colin Singleton, sets off on a road trip with his only friend and sidekick, Hassan, after getting dumped by yet another Katherine (the 19^th girl he has dated named Katherine!). The road trip turns out to be a new adventure for the best friends, meeting new people along the way and Colin’s place to work on his theorem to predict the curve of a relationship.

Colin and Hassan end up spending their summer in the town of Gunshot, where they meet Lindsey Lee Wells, who sets them up with a home and work for the season with help from her mother, Hollis.

Will Colin Singleton break his streak of only dating Katherines? I recommend you read ‘An Abundance of Katherines’ to find out. This book will have you gripped from the very beginning, smiling throughout and unless you’re a Maths genius, have you baffled but intrigued by the mathematics.

Jeopardising Journalism

Most journalists often avoid talking, and especially writing, about journalism ethics due to the fear that admitting the subject matters will destroy their story. Malcolm dives in and tackles the topic by focusing on the lawsuit filed by convicted murderer, Jeffrey MacDonald to sue journalist, Joe McGinniss.

Joe McGinniss is the author of the best-selling book, Fatal Vision, in which he wrote about the conviction of Jeffrey MacDonald for the murders of his wife, two daughters and unborn child. McGinniss had exclusive access to MacDonald, his legal team and the murder trial allowing him to interpret the case as he wished.

After Fatal Vision was published in 1983, MacDonald sued McGinniss for misleading him to think he believed his innocence, but writing him as a “murderous psychopath”. Janet Malcolm analysed the MacDonald-McGinniss case within the book which teaches journalists a valuable lesson, and other readers how journalists should not be trusted.

The way in which Janet Malcolm tells the true story constructs it somewhat like fiction. The people feel like characters, the case seems unreal and overall the horror is unbelievable. Joe McGinniss is a journalist who deceived his subject and Jeffrey MacDonald is a convicted murderer. Strangely, the reader can’t help but side with the betrayed murderer as he is not the one on trial and is part of the prosecution.

The book is intelligent in the way that it compellingly compares journalism to psychology. Malcolm’s comparison of a journalist’s subject to participants, in Milgram’s psychological study of Obedience to Authority, suggests people look at journalists as authority figures who they can trust with their deepest darkest secrets. In the research subjects were asked by an authority figure to shock the learner every time they answered a question incorrectly. Results showed that many participants shocked learners to what would have been a painful level of shock if they would have been real. Malcolm describes the “experience received by the subject of the Milgram experiment when he was debriefed” to be “comparable to the dislocation felt by the subject of a book or article when he first reads it”.

Now published by Granta Books, with only 163 pages most would assume the book is an easy read but after reading the book the audience will discover they have been on a deep, dense and controversial journey, teaching journalists the necessity of honesty. However, as each sentence is complicatedly structured holding a dense amount of information, this is not a book to read without full concentration, or you may find yourself re-reading the same line twice or even for a third time.

The book’s fictional feel, knowledgeable comparisons and analytical critique takes readers on a remarkable journey through the MacDonald-McGinniss case. The book is a captivating read which allows the audience to make their own decision on whether the writer or subject is in the right. It may additionally teach journalists crucial lessons of the trade, however, it will cause any reader not interested in journalism to bore extremely quickly due to its repetitive nature.

Details

Title: The Journalist and the Murderer

Author: Janet Malcolm

Publisher: Granta Books

Price: £9.99

Published: 7 June 2012 (Third Edition)

ISBN: 9781847085344