Harry Potter has long been a favourite for many people, whether that be the books or films you have got to love it. When the books and then the films finished, Idevastatedtated thinking that that was the end of harry potter... but of course I was wrong. Since then new additions have been brought out, new books, a film, a play and so much more: it's never ending, not that I am complaining at all!

I was so upset when I didn't get the chance to see the film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them as it looked so good, but I just couldn't justify the ticket price when I am desperately trying to save. Did anyone else find that the tickets were really expensive? But as soon as it comes out on DVD I will definitely be getting it! However, I don't have to wait too long to find out the story line as I read J.K Rowling's play script which I got at Christmas, along with many other books (which you can read about here). It is actually a surprisingly short book/play, much shorter than I thought it would have to be in order to make it into a film so I am really intrigued to see whether or not they had to add any scenes or if that really is how long a film is. Although now I am thinking about it, it would make sense as when books are adapted into films, so much of their plot has to be cut out.

I really loved the plot of this book and J.K Rowling has done another fabulous job at creating such a weird and wonderful world within ours. The characters were really endearing and I absolutely loved the little beasts Newt (the main character) had in his case, especially the Niffler! As a general overview with minimal spoilers, the book (do I say film or book? I am not too sure...) is set in 1926 New York where Newt has just arrived in the hope of finding some magical beasts to write about in his book. For any avid Harry Potter fans out there, this is the textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Harry uses in the series as well as the book J.K Rowling wrote in aid of Comic Relief. Of course, everything doesn't go to plan but I shall say no more in case you haven't read/watched it.

I have never read a screenplay before, apart from play scripts for stage plays at school, and I really enjoyed how it was a light, easy read and found it very interesting to see how the directions and descriptions of characters are put together to make the film. J.K Rowling has obviously had a lot of experience with films as I believe that she had quite a lot of input into the Harry Potter series, however, this is her first screenplay. Her character and scene descriptions really paint a visual in your head, making it so easy to create this wonderful image of what it would really be like This is one reason why I love reading the book before the film, but also why I am slightly reluctant, as when you read a book, you do imagine what the scene look like; how the characters look and act, so when you see it in a film it can either be the complete opposite of what you thought (and there for the film isn't as good as you hoped) or be exactly what you imaged but better as you can watch it on screen. Harry Potter is one of the few films that I love just as much as the books, and I think this is because they are so close to the books themselves. So here is to hoping the film is as good as the screenplay!

Overall, this was the perfect book to read over the Christmas break as it gave me a complete rest from the challenges of schoolwork and one I would recommend to anyone! Have you read it or watched the film? What were your thoughts?

I love books and currently has so many on my to read the list I have lost count so it is no surprise that I asked for quite a few for Christmas. At the moment, I am seriously considering going to university to study English literature so I am trying to get into reading more literary books which is why a lot of the books here are classic, well-known novels that may not seem that interesting but I can't wait to read them. I have a few reviews on books that are slightly more light-hearted but if you would be interested in any posts about these types of books let me know and I would love to write a few of those as well! 

Breakfast at Tiffany's is one of my most loved films, which is probably why I have a huge poster of Audrey on my bedroom wall. It is such a lovely story that is perfect to just curl up on the couch on a Sunday morning with a bowl of popcorn. I was watching someone's month wrap up on youtube and they mentioned this book and how different it was to the film which really intrigued me. I am alway a lover of the book more than the film but I wonder whether or not I will prefer the book over the film in this case, with the film has become so iconic, with it Audrey Hepburn's famous photo dressed as Holly Golightly and that initial love I have for the film.

I got this book not knowing too much about it, just knowing it is a great bit of literature that I really should read. After actually reading the blurb (something I would highly recommend when buying a book) I believe it deals with racism and social class in the 1930's which actually sounds quite interesting. I feel that it might be a book that you have to read in your life and will be very influential on how you look at life and how far we have come, or have to go, within society. 

Lolita is another book that I think you have to read in your lifetime. It was so shocking when it was first published - and possibly still now. It is about a middle-aged professor who falls in love with a 12-year-old girl, Lolita. Obviously, it will have some pretty hard hitting topics but will also make you question society which is what a good book should always do. I might leave this one for later in the year once school work has let off a bit as I think it will be easier to digest, sometimes I can't always focus on a challenging book when my brain is so filled with school work and worries so I prefer a much lighter read.

I read about this when looking at the different classics of this time. I had never heard of this novel or much of Anne Bronte's work with Charlotte Bronte and Emily Bronte being the more famous of the two. I have already read Jane Eyre by Charlotte and will be reading Wuthering Heights by Emily at school so it will be interesting to see the similarities and differences between the three sisters. I was intrigued by the blurb of this book; "the Tenant of Wildfell Hall sees a mysterious tenant, Helen Graham, unmasked not as a 'wicked woman' as the local gossips would have it, but as the estranged wife of a brutal alcoholic bully, desperate to protect her son." I love reading books in this period and especially ones that go against how society was at the time. A lot of the time, the characters lives are completely different to our now but they always seem so much more modern than you would think. This is in the Penguin Clothbound Classic editions.



If you read my Christmas book guide, you will know that I absolutely love the Penguin English classic books so it couldn;t really be a book haul without one in the collection. This book is one I keep seeing reviews and always think it sounds really interesting. It is again about different social classes between the North and the South (I am seeing a bit of a theme with society here...). I have got wuite a few classics that I have to read for school so it might take me a while to get to it but I can't wait to read it. 

I have already read this book as I was so excited and it is such an easy read. Can you believe I haven't seen the film yet? After reading it I am so intrigued to see how it conveys on screen. I was surprised at how you are still able to create such a detailed image of the characters and sets with so little words which I am sure is down to J.K. Rowling's talent as a writer. I am a true Harry Potter fan and wasn't sure how a book would fair with none of the original characters (although a few were mentioned in passing which I always like) and set in America but it still held the same magical feel that they always do. If you are a Harry Potter fan and haven't read this yet then you need to. Even if you have seen the film and don't tend to read books you've already watched, I think it would be really interesting to see how the screenplay was written and how true the film is to the original screenplay which is what I really want to see. 

Carrying on with the Harry Potter theme, I got the Chamber of Secrets in the illustrated edition. These books are so beautiful and totally worth their rather extortionate price (when they first come out they are usually half price which my brother didn't know and paid full price, much to his annoyance!) My only complaint is that they are only releasing one book each year which is too long! But at least it gives me long enough to re-read the book before the next release. I read all the Harry Potter books when I was in primary school but it is great re-reading them years later after all the films have come out and the series has ended - although with so many add-on books and new editions being released it almost feels like the series that never ends! I can;t wait to sit down and get reemerged into the word of harry potter. Has anyone else been watching all the films on tv this Christmas?

So that is a round up of all the books I got this Christmas, and I still have a book token to spend too!  Are there any there that are also on your wish list?  What books did you get this Christmas?