BB Book Club | Links Inspired By Broadcast

Wednesday, 7 March 2018

BB Book Club | Links Inspired By Broadcast

As we announced last week, this month's BB book club pick is Liam Brown's Broadcast, a novel which explores the topics of social media and living our lives online. The book follows popular vlogger David, who is presented with a unique opportunity to expand his audience and be the first star of a new show called MindCast where his every thought, feeling and memory is live-streamed to the world.

Whilst we may not all be YouTube stars like David, most of us have and regularly use at least one social media account - it's just a part of modern life, right? We know that many of our readers are fellow bloggers used to sharing snippets of their lives online whether it be opinions on books or more personal posts but how much more are we sharing without even realising?

"We're talking about creating a limitless universe inside each and every person's head. A truly inclusive utopia for all. A virtual heaven, right here on Earth." - Broadcast, p178

Perhaps at first the ideas explored in Broadcast seem far-fetched, and luckily no one is asking us to undergo surgery to implant microchips into our brains... yet. However advances in technology mean it's becoming increasingly difficult to find a balance between the online and offline worlds and many elements of David's story feel unsettlingly close to reality.

As an additional post for this month's book club I thought it might be interesting to create a Bookish Links style roundup with a bit of a Broadcast-inspired twist. Instead of sharing all things bookish, today's post is full of links related to the subjects and themes explored in our March book club pick.


To Read...

1. In this post Sali Hughes shares her experience of realising she was addicted to her smartphone and how she's tackled the problem.

2. This discussion explores the idea of privacy in the modern world and how we're sharing much more online than we may believe. There's also links included which will take you straight to the related TED talks from those contributing to the article.

3. If you've ever settled in for a relaxing evening with a good book only to be distracted by your phone you'll find Janine's post incredibly relatable.

4. Fitness tracker style bands feature in the novel and this article has some interesting information on the future of wearables.

5. Teen Vogue shared an article looking at the link between social media and anxiety.

6. For a longer read take a look at this article from The Guardian which discusses smartphone addiction, how tech companies can keep us hooked on social media and what all of this may mean for the future.

To Watch...

1. In this TED talk Zeynep Tufekci discusses algorithms, the data social media websites such as Facebook and YouTube are collecting and how this is used to influence the ads we see online.

2. Another TED talk to add to your watch list is Sherry Turkle's 2012 talk about her changing opinion on the internet and how we are both connected and alone all at once.

3. As the book's cover suggests, the story will appeal to fans of the anthology series Black Mirror (available to watch on Netflix). Season 1's Fifteen Million Merits and season 3's Nosedive in particular explore similar themes.

To Listen To...

1. Manipulation is a TED Radio Hour episode which includes a section from Tristan Harris that explores the idea of our devices controlling our lives.

2. Technology has come a long way since the 90's when Jennifer Ringley set up a website uploading a black and white webcam image from her apartment every fifteen minutes, allowing the whole world to watch her every move. In this early epsiode of Reply All Alex talks to her about the experience.

3. In the book all of David's thoughts are broadcast live to the world. This episode of Invisiblia titled The Secret History Of Thoughts looks at dark thoughts in particular - what do they really mean and how much control do we have over them?

4. The final link of this roundup is a podcast episode from Stuff They Don't Want You To Know which looks at how much the internet really knows about us and what happens when you 'delete' things online.

If you're reading our March book club pick don't forget to send us your feedback on the book via this Google form by 23rd March.

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Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda | Becky Albertalli | Review

Tuesday, 6 March 2018

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda | Becky Albertalli | Review

“People really are like house with vast rooms and tiny windows. And maybe it's a good thing, the way we never stop surprising each other.” 

Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised.

With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met. - Goodreads

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A few weeks ago I picked up the award-winning novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, by Becky Albertalli, just in time for the highly anticipated film adaptation, Love, Simon. While it had been on my radar for some time, I don't know why I never picked it up: it was so good.

The characters in this story are brilliant; Simon is so realistic it's like you know him in real life, he's funny and clever, and I really enjoyed his love of drama and performance. Simon's references to Harry Potter were absolutely fantastic and so relatable, as were the other pop-culture remarks (the dog is called Bieber!), the amount of Oreos*, and the fact that the whole drama begins with a secret Tumblr page.

“He talked about the ocean between people. 

And how the whole point of everything is to find a shore worth swimming to.”

The identity of Blue remained a mystery until right near the end, as one would expect, but I called who Blue was probably around half way. Simon's thought processes, reasoning and logic around who Blue was brilliantly written, and a lot of fun to read.

That's what this book was: fun. It was a fun, sweet, story, but at the same time tells a very important tale, which feels incredibly real. It's definitely a story I plan to re-read, and while the movie trailer looks like the film will be a bit different, I'm looking forward to seeing it.

Have you read Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda? What did you think? 

*So many Oreos. Check out this fantastic Simon Spier's Guide To Whether You Should Eat An Oreo infographic from Epic Reads. 

Post script: Yes I was reading Simon in my lunch break at work, hence the cup of tea in the 'coolest boss' mug (which isn't mine) and the apple.

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Features | On March's TBR

Monday, 5 March 2018

Features | On March's TBR

Since last month's TBR ended up working out pretty well for me I thought I'd share another one here for March. This time I've only picked out a few titles, leaving room for me to hopefully squeeze in a couple more along the way, although I've just started a new job and whilst my commute is set to potentially be great reading time, I haven't settled in to a new routine yet!

Scythe, Neal Shusterman (2017)

I feel like I've been waiting to read this book for such a long time! I'm sure you've already heard a lot about Scythe as it's been all over blogs and booktube but if you've missed the hype the basics are that the book takes place in a 'perfect' world with no war, hunger, disease or misery, where scythes are in charge of keeping the population under control.

I added the book to my TBR as soon as I heard about it as I loved Shusterman's Unwind series (please go and read this if you haven't yet!). Whilst I usually find myself disappointed by books that have such a big hype surrounding them, in this case I'm pretty sure I'm going to love this series as much as everyone else! I'm also planning to team up with Anjali to review the book so keep an eye out here if you want to hear our thoughts.

Always & Forever Lara Jean, Jenny Han (2017)

The final instalment in Jenny Han's YA Contemporary 'To All The Boys I've Loved Before' series catches up with Lara Jean as she gets ready to head off to college. Similarly to Scythe, this book was on my 2017 TBR but at the end of last year I was still sitting patiently in the library queue so ended up adding it to my 2018 sequels challenge instead. My friend recently lent me her copy so this month I'm planning to finally finish the series.

Clean, Juno Dawson (2018)

Juno Dawson's latest novel Clean focuses on Lexi, who finds herself in rehab for drug addiction. The book is due for release in April and I was lucky enough to be auto-approved for a copy through Netgalley, so of course I jumped at the chance to read it. I've heard nothing but amazing things about this one (including Ria's 5 star rating) and have really enjoyed many of Juno's other books so I can't wait to find out more about Lexi's story.

Pretty Monsters, Kelly Link (2005)

Another book that's received the stamp of approval from a member of team BB is Pretty Monsters, a short story collection, which made Stasia's 2017 favourites list. The collection is described as 'weird, wicked, spooky and delicious' and it sounds set to be a completely unique read. At this rate I'll be reading at least one short story collection per month this year...!

Which books are on your TBR this month?

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Bookish Links #40

Sunday, 4 March 2018

Bookish Links #40

1. Illustrated Reads - we loved Katie's recommendations for illustration books. All of her picks look gorgeous but we've got our eye on Home in particular.

2. Wanderlust - if travel is high on your to-do list this year check out Heather's post all about Culture Smart travel guides!

3. For The Bookworms - we enjoyed this post featuring some bookish invention ideas. If you could invent a product perfect for bookworms what would it be?

4. Peaks & Pages - one of our favourite new bookstagram discoveries is Amanda's page full of beautiful bookish photos!

5. Share Your Book Photos - speaking of bookstagram, if you're looking to start your own you'll love Brittney's top tips!

6. A-Z Must-Reads - we loved this idea from Carolanne's blog where she shared a full A-Z of book recommendations. Which books would make your list?

7. Feel Inspired - we adored Lucy's post all about writing her first novel. It will definitely leave you feeling inspired if you're dreaming of getting published!

8. Meet Cute - if you're looking for an adorable selection of YA tales we think you'll love Meet Cute. Check out this review for more info on each of the stories included in the book!

9. All The Audiobooks - we loved Jannsen's list of amazing audiobook recommendations. Are you a fan of audiobooks?

10. Step Into The Spotlight - we think you'll love this list from Bustle which showcases secondary characters who definitely deserve to be the stars of their own novels! Who would make your list?

11. Magazine - we love this online magazine from Stay Bookish. Make sure you check out the latest issue for a bunch of great bookish articles!

12. 2018 Debuts - this list from Epic Reads is definitely one to bookmark!
 
Links From The BB Archives... The Strange Library, Haruki Murakami | Sneaky Bookshops | The Magician's Land, Lev Grossman

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The Exact Opposite of Okay | Laura Steven | Review

Friday, 2 March 2018

The Exact Opposite of Okay | Laura Steven | Review

Izzy O'Neill is an aspiring comic, an impoverished orphan, and a Slut Extraordinaire. Or at least, that's what the malicious website flying round the school says.

As far as Izzy is convinced, she is a normal teenage girl. She lives with her grandmother, spends most of her time with her two best friends, and yes, sometimes she goes to parties. Sometimes she drinks. Sometimes she has sex with two guys in one night, one of whom happens to be the son of a Republican senator. Izzy isn't ashamed of that and she knows no one else has the right to shame her for it. Except someone at school doesn't agree. Someone has made a website, detailing all the ways in which Izzy O'Neill is a "world-class whore", including details that no one else should know. Including a picture of Izzy and the senator's son having sex on a bench at a party.

Dealing with the entire town knowing all about her sex-ploits is hard enough, but suddenly Izzy's oldest friend, Danny, is acting weird too, like maybe-he-likes-her weird, and although Izzy tries to let him down easy, Danny doesn't seem to be taking 'no' for an answer. The only things keeping Izzy sane are the screenwriting competition one of her teachers encouraged her to enter, and her best friend Ajita, and even those things aren't beyond screwing up.

Told through blog posts, The Exact Opposite of Okay reads as a feminist manifesto for the digital age. Slut-shaming, revenge porn, and the friend-zone all get a thorough examination through Izzy's story and from the very start Izzy knows exactly who is in the wrong in every case, and it isn't her. Although it can feel at times as though the reader is getting hit over the head with a very specific message, these are important messages to tell and it's great to see a female teenage character who is so confident in herself and her own decisions. 

Of course, as Izzy begins to see the negative effects from the website, and as her friendship with Danny begins to slide rapidly downhill thanks to his ever growing Nice Guy routine, her confidence and strength begin to waver, but it would have been unrealistic if they hadn't. The invasion of her privacy and the subsequent reactions from those around her really knock Izzy for six in a way that is crushingly realistic and important to see, but the real heartache comes when Izzy fears she may have accidentally hurt her best friend, Ajita, or embarrassed her grandmother, who supports her unconditionally. These are the things that truly break Izzy's heart, and her sense of humour is such an integral part of both the story and her personality that it is hard not to feel heartbroken too when her devastation breaks through.

Refreshingly for a teen protagonist, Izzy has no real desire to go to college. It's only her and her grandmother at home and, like plenty of real life teenagers, she knows they would never be able to afford a college education for her, and so she throws herself into writing her screenplay instead, hoping that this passion for comedy might be a better way of making a living one day, and in the mean time, it will be something fun to do while she works, and if it's never any more than that, then that's fine too. Izzy is down to earth and realistic but she is also smart and hilarious and if a film written by her was as funny as her blog posts, then I'd watch it in a heartbeat. The messages in this book are certainly important, but the real enjoyment of it comes from that sense of humour and I defy anyone to read The Exact Opposite of Okay and not laugh out loud at least once.

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To All The Boys I've Loved Before | Jenny Han | Review

Thursday, 1 March 2018

To All The Boys I've Loved Before | Jenny Han | Review

I finished reading To All The Boys I've Loved Before at the start of February and I flew through it. There are a lot of mixed reviews floating around about this book but I personally really enjoyed it! It’s a fluffy YA novel and if you can’t accept that then, of course, you won’t like it, but if you’re happy to settle down for a few hours and distract your mind with some cheesy romance then I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. Warning there are some tiny spoilers but nothing that will spoil the plot/storyline for you!

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Lara Jean's love life goes from imaginary to out of control in this heartfelt novel from Jenny Han. What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them...all at once? Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren't love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she's written. One for every boy she's ever loved--five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean's love life goes from imaginary to out of control.

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I really enjoyed how the characters were written and developed. Lara Jean was half Korean and her mother died when she was young, in other YA books either one of these would be the main part of her personality let alone both. The entire book would focus on how she developed from her mother dying being the reason for everything, to acceptance that her mother’s gone. “Oh yes I couldn’t complete that assignment as my mum died years and years ago” “Oh yes feel sorry for Lara Jean because she has no mum” BUT THIS ISNT LIKE THAT! Being half Korean raised by her dad adds to her personality but it doesn’t revolve around it. Not only that but being a quiet person, she wasn’t written as boring and ordinary like most quiet people are usually. Nor does she suddenly come out of her shell and become this super extrovert character. I mean I could go on for a fair while about all the things about her personality that was so much better than usual fluffy YA’s but I’ll stop here.

I really enjoyed it, and how it wasn't just like your regular love story I mean it sort of was but it also wasn't. Her older sister, Margo, I didn't like. Seriously she was way too controlling, I know she was written as a mother figure but I just wanted to punch her a lot of the time. The same with her boyfriend/sometimes ex-boyfriend Josh. I could not stand the way he handled the whole letter situation and basically shoved himself onto Lara Jean because he apparently wanted her all along. THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU ASK HER OUT AND NOT HER SISTER! Argh, those two belong together the idiots.

Anyway, I said I liked this book right? The demon couple aside, it was just a good easy read YA. I can't really say much more about it other than it's fluffy and will make you cry and the ending makes you want to read more as it's kinda an average ending. But hey there are two more books in the series so let's read them too!

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