I think a change, a change, would do you good.

So if you were around my blog recently, you've probably seen the changes I've made to the header+background!
I really like this new design. I think its slightly darker, and reflects my state of mind perfectly. The books are there, the birds flying away are there, there's pink, because I'm still that girl, but its more grown up than the previous look ChickLitGirl had.
What do you think?
I've been in a massive book slump lately. I just don't feel like reading. Its so weird.
What I want to read, is something close to perfect, and all the books I've started, they just don't pull me in. I need an attention grabber, you know, one of those awesome books which hook you from the first page, and keep their claws in you, until you're a mess of happy or sad emotions at the very end.
Books like Shatter Me, or Stolen or even Gimme a Call.
Sigh.
So what HAVE I been doing? Working on... art.
Since my literature dreams have been crushed (daddy issues), I've decided to get into Pakistan's best art school. Is it weird that I've turned a completely different direction yet again? Nah, I don't think so.
Doodling and drawing are two things I've been doing for a long, long time now. During high school, a lot of friends told me to get into the arts scene, but I never paid 'em much attention. I mean, I'm not spectacular, I'm slightly above average. But then lit was a no-go, and that other uni I talked about a few posts ago? Sucked sweaty horse balls.
Yeah, that bad.
So now, art school it is.

Here are two pieces from my makeshift portfolio, since I've never taken any classes, *insert Taylor Swift voice* like, ever.

I call her, Girl With Hair

Girl With Hair2

I love the hair man. I really do. Pretty colors and swirly lines- there's just something about them ya know? YA KNOW?
What- No? Just me? Okay. :C

In case anyone is wondering, yes, that is me on the header up there. I'm wearing a long tunic, called a kurta, which most Pakistanis wear here, and a black dupatta, which is a long black scarf esq thingy. I WISH that bookshelf was mine, but sadly, the picture was taken by my bff at this cafe in Karachi.

Oh and before anyone tries to say the girls' boobs are wonky- THEY'RE NOT DUDE. They're supposed to be that way. *Shakes head/rolls eyes*

Art School interview was a nerve wracking experience.
First of all, before going in, a senior came by and demanded to go through my little file of art. Basic ragging, whatever. So I showed it to him, because you know, whatever. Might as well see his reaction.

He... scoffed.

Basically was like this:

Literally scoffed and laughed in this 'WTF are you thinking guuuurlll?!' way and told me to take in someone else's work if I really wanted to get in.
Obviously, that wasn't going to happen, and thankfully he left after letting me in on that nugget of wisdom. Leaving me on my uncomfortable folding chair, a total mess.
I wasn't good enough. I knew it, and now he knew it, and in a minute they would know it too. I was actually shaking at the thought of being a disappointment/failure yet again.

Me, from the inside.

Of course, it was at that very moment that I was called in.

There were twelve people there, sitting in a half circle, and I was supposed to sit in the single chair in front. Totally felt like a Wizengamot moment. The old dude right in front of me even looked like Minister of Magic gone bad, with a pinched face and this general air of meanness about him.

So I'm showing them my meager portfolio right, and they're questioning me about my family (Dad: Civil Engineer), interest in Art (doodling since 4eva, Mum loves to paint etc), then that old dude asks me if I've ever experimented with watercolors, AFTER seeing the above drawings. And I'm like, um yeah these are water colours- (Seriously? You're supposed to be the big art expert here.)

Him: Yeah, water color pencils.

Me: Um, no, actual watercolors.

Him: What? Okay, hand them over. *examines them*

Me: Yeeeeeahhh Bichezz this is the REAL DEAL11!!

Then the nice ladies and I had a talk about literature and English, where I also discussed this blog and they seemed actually impressed! Yay. Everyone seemed to like my art too, so I was feeling pretty confident at that point. But you just knew that Mr Grumpy had 'seen it all before'. *big fat eye roll* 

So then he asked me, pointing to the application in front of him 'You've written here you like to sing?' I replied in the affirmative.

Him: So what will you sing for us today?

Me: Um..? 

Lady: Oh singing! How lovely! Are you trained or is it just for fun?

Me: Yes, I love to sing. I'm not brilliant but, Im not that bad either! No training, but I've actually-

Man: -Sing 

Me: Um

Man: *creepy intense look*

Me: Okay... sing what?

Man: You tell us.

Me: Sings.

YEAH OLD MAN, TAKE THAT. I SANG, IN YO FAZE. THINK YOU CAN SHAKE ME? HUH? HUH?

Ahem. 

Anyway, so everyone smiled and half clapped in the end, then they asked me to gtfo.

I think it went well, don't you? 

So when I got home, a friend who knows people at the art school called me up later in the evening.

I was just chillin', watching the latest Revolution, you know, that show where the lights go out 4eva, and then I was told- I.GOT.IN.

I got in. 

Fingers crossed it isn't all a horrible misunderstanding.

xoxo

Chicklitgirl

(Book Review): Deity by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Deity {Covenant #3}

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

History is on repeat, and things didn't go so well the last time. 

Alexandria isn't sure she's going to make it to her eighteenth birthday--to her Awakening. A long-forgotten, fanatical order is out to kill her, and if the Council ever discovers what she did in the Catskills, she's a goner... and so is Aiden. 

If that's not freaky enough, whenever Alex and Seth spend time "training"--which really is just Seth's code word for some up-close and personal one-on-one time--she ends up with another mark of the Apollyon, which brings her one step closer to Awakening ahead of schedule. Awesome. 

But as her birthday draws near, her entire world shatters with a startling revelation and she's caught between love and Fate. One will do anything to protect her. One has been lying to her since the beginning. Once the gods have revealed themselves, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocably changed... and destroyed. 

Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than Fate...

Rating:  3.6 out of 5 stars

Published:  November 6th, 2012 by Spencer Hill Press
Series: Yes, this is part 3.
Romance: Yup
Action: Oh Hellllll Yeah
Highlights: Strong Protagonist, Action, Shock Factor

Needs Work: The first one third.


God I love books. The best ones have the power to suck all the venom out of a snake bite and leave you feeling an instant high, or they can bring you down to a whimpering mess and make you feel so many emotions you didn't even know existed in you.

Deity was awesome. The first one third was slow but boy did it pick up!
There was, as usual, a ton of action. So much kick ass Alex-ness and a lot of sweet romance. The love triangle seems to be favoring Aiden but... I suppose he might just win me over. I really liked him in this book. Seth was, as usual crazy sexy and just... Crazy. Loved him, but also, hated him. This is one love triangle where there really is uncertainty. Everything points to Aiden, but SETH! I love Seth, even in his twisty state. 
Jennifer L. Armentrout is an amazing, amazing author and not a single book that I've read so far by her has sucked. 
The ending was jaw dropping and totally, totally made me scream- I WANT THE NEXT BOOK! ARGH!
It's going to be a long wait for Apollyon. 
Sigh.

Thank you Spencer Hill Press so much for the ARC!

xx

ChickLit Girl

(Book Review): Cursed by J. L. Armentrout

Dying sucks-- and high school senior Ember McWilliams knows firsthand. After a fatal car accident, her gifted little sister brought her back. Now anything Ember touches dies. And that, well, really blows.

Ember operates on a no-touch policy with all living things--including boys. When Hayden Cromwell shows up, quoting Oscar Wilde and claiming her curse is a gift, she thinks he's a crazed cutie. But when he tells her he can help control it, she's more than interested. There's just one catch: Ember has to trust Hayden's adopted father, a man she's sure has sinister reasons for collecting children whose abilities even weird her out.

However, she's willing to do anything to hold her sister's hand again. And hell, she'd also like to be able to kiss Hayden. Who wouldn't? But when Ember learns the accident that turned her into a freak may not have been an accident at all, she's not sure who to trust. Someone wanted her dead, and the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she is to losing not only her heart, but her life. For real this time.

Rating: 3.2/5 stars

Published: May 24th, 2012

Series: Nope

Swoon Scale: 2.7/5; Sweet with a Spoonful of Sexy, 

Bonus points: Superpowers, Tears

Action: Ish

Cursed by Jennifer L. Armentrout was honestly, a bit of a letdown.  All her other books? They’ve been phenomenal. I mean, okay, the Obsidian series? So much swoon, great characters, a really amazing story with funny bits as well as the potential to seriously make you weep, drama, suspense, aKshUUUNNN!

The Halfblood books? Also really good, with a really strong protagonist, great story, etc.

But something was missing from Cursed. It was a good book, but not an amazing one, like Armentrout’s books usually are. 

However, give it a try, it just might be your cup of tea.

Cursed is about a teen with a messed up ability and messed up life. Since this is Jennifer Armentrout, and she’s boss, Ember’s sadness and frustration really brought tears to my eyes at one point. This is always a good sign, since it really tells you that the writer knows what he/she’s doing, especially in my case, since I’m not really a crier.

There was a nice little mystery and plenty of  swoony romantic bits, which is really saying something since remember, Ember can’t really touch anyone!

As usual, JLA’s writing style was perfect, simple and straightforward, yet capturing the authentic teen tone well.

The problems I had with the book were mainly to do with the pacing and the characters. The book, for me, totally lagged a bit in the middle,  but a good start and finish sort of made up for that.

At times I found Ember's self pity a bit annoying, but I suppose she couldn’t help it, being so alone for so long. 

Overall Cursed was your typical good paranormal romance read with a likeable protagonist and another Hotty Mc Hotterson as a love interest.

One of the best parts is that it’s a standalone, even though there is potential for a series, so yay for a good PNR standalone! No waiting around for a sequel.

A huge thankyou to SpencerHillPress for providing me with the Cursed ARC!

Xx

ChickLitGirl

A Day Of Firsts

Tomorrow is a day of firsts.

Its my 20th birthday, and the first day of my brand new college.

You would think I'd be excited, and I suppose I am. Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of my life, but you see the problem is, I hate the university I'm supposed to go to. And I know, this birthday will suck.

So here's to tomorrow. Fingers crossed that I'm wrong.

Me, Eid

xx

CLG 

Books:

I'm reading Pushing The Limits by Katie McGarry and its good so far. I read From What I Remember by Stacy Kramer a few days ago and really, really liked it- 3.2 stars outa 5.

Misc:

SUITS is my current TV addiction. Even though half the time I don't understand any of the lawyer mumbo jumbo, I love the witty banter and the sheer awesomeness of the main characters. Also I am totally into the marvel comic movies. Thor was ADORABLE and I loved Captain America's innocence, chivalry and personality. Actually, all the Superheros- Iron Man, Thor, Cap A- were awesome. Need to watch The Incredible Hulk now. Can't wait. Then I'll start the Batman movies. Yay.

(Movies): I'm In Love. #1

And his name is Mr SuperHero Man.

So I watched the Avengers, and really liked it. Maybe even loved. Then I wiki-ed it, because that's a thing I do, and found out its sort of a sequel movie to the others- Iron Man, Thor etc! I was totally excited. People, yes, I was living under a rock. I didn't know. 

Anyway so then I had to go and watch them all, because have you SEEN Thor? Hes a hunk. And Iron Man? Funny, witty, sexy AND SO SUPER INTELLIGENT. Captain A's a sweet heart. And I love Mark Ruffalo.

So far, I've only managed to see both the Iron Man movies, so maybe next week I'll be in love with Thor.

The only superhero movie I really saw and followed up with was Spider Man, because A) The first movie was awesome, and B) I read a Spiderman novel, where the thoughts and actions of Peter Parker were so swoon-worthy heroic/nice/adorable/badass, that I obviously fell in love. Plus the story was pretty cool as well.

And come on, Andrew Garfield? He is the epitome of hot guy. Tobey was cute too.

So: Iron Man 1 & 2 get 4/5 stars

The Avengers gets 3.95/5 stars

xoxo

CLG

(Book Review): Easy by Tammara Webber

Easy

by Tammara Webber

A girl who believes trust can be misplaced, promises are made to be broken, and loyalty is an illusion. A boy who believes truth is relative, lies can mask unbearable pain, and guilt is eternal. Will what they find in each other validate their conclusions, or disprove them all?

When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup two months into sophomore year. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she's single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, and failing a class for the first time in her life.
Then one night, a horrible thing happens and Jacqueline's life is changed forever.
Jacqueline has a choice: crumple in defeat or learn to fight back. Suddenly appearances are everything, and knowing who to trust is anything but easy.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Published: May 24th, 2012

Series: Nope

Swoon Scale: 4.8/5; Longing Filled Sigh, Big Creepy Smile Of Anticipation, Sweet Frustration, 

Heated Moments: Yes

Bonus points: Assault scandal- Delicious Superhero Boy.

Action: In a I-kicked-that-bad-guy's-ass-since-he-was-a-douche! sorta way.

'Love is not the absence of logic but logic examined and recalculated heated and curved to fit inside the contours of the heart.'

-Easy

Wow. This book. This book left me all gooey and smiley inside and out. It's one of THOSE books you guys.
PLUS it has a MESSAGE. And oh my God... Lucas! *fans self*


The story is about Jacqueline and that horrible thing that happens to her one night. Its about how hot and sexy and awesome Lucas is, and it is a must read for lovers of contemporary romance, and people who want to read outside young adult, but not inside Adult: New Adult!

Jacqueline was a good, strong heroine. Even with what happened to her, she was never over the top whiny, or damsel in distress-y. Tammara Webber wrote her in a perfectly balanced way.The writing of the novel itself was good too, and mature, but still relatable. It was simplistic, but not juveniley so. 
The pace of the book was well balanced as well, being not too fast, nor too slow.
I loved reading Easy, it was like savoring a special box of rich chocolates. And Oh my God the tension and the sexy times? They were so well done, -the icing on top!
Several times I was close to tears- the feelings surrounding the assault bit were written very well and made you really feel for Jacqueline. Even with a topic like assault, something which has been done quite a lot,  none of the book felt cliched at all. Reading about college life was also refreshing and I've realized, I really like the New Adult genre.
Aside from Jacqueline, Lucas was also a very interesting character. His story was as intriguing as hers and I liked reading about his layers as well.

All in all, the book was EASY. It was good and delicious. Reading it was fun and emotional and the love story was beautiful as well as believable!

Loved it.

xoxo

CLG