Harry Potter Studio Tour!!

On Tuesday I returned to the Harry Potter Studio tour in London, it was as magical as the first time. The studio is split into two stages coincidentally called J and K. The first stage begins entering the great hall, which contained the professors costumes and school uniform from each of the houses. From there you were allowed to wonder around at your own pace, (the longest someone has been there is 13 hours).

In between the stages J and K there was a garden area showing number 4 privet drive, Hagrid's motorbike, the flying car, some chess pieces, the bridge and the Knightbus. You were also given the opportunity to buy and try some butter beer it was amazing! From here you went on to the K stage which is full of masks and art work and gives you the opportunity to walk through Diagon Alley (So magical) and a large model before going through Ollivander's wand shop and ending in the gift shop. I had a magical day and would love to return again. Below are some photos I took while I was at the tour.

Lots of Love
Dayna xxx

The A to Z Book Survey

So I saw this survey over at Cat's blog 'Through A Cat's Eyes' and thought it looked good. I also think it will go well with my recent posts.

Author you've read the most books from:

Melissa de la Cruz. Blue Bloods series

Best sequel ever:

Second Form at Malory Towers. All of them really, it's hard to choose. 

Currently reading:

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Drink of choice whilst reading:

A big mug of Earl Grey tea!

E-reader or physical book?

Physical books!!!! Nothing beats a traditional physical book. The feeling when you turn the first or last page of book is in my opinion ruined with a kindle. Or putting a book on the shelve after reading it and then one day just randomly picking it up and reading through your favourite quotes. Is it just me that does that?  

Fictional character you probably would have actually dated in high school:
Augustus Waters, I loved his quotes :D

Glad you gave this book a chance:

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green. I was forever hearing of this book and of John Green himself, it took me a while to buy the book and read it but I was glad when I did. An imperial affliction...Don't you just want to read it?  Anyone who has read The Fault In Our Stars will know what I mean.  : )

Hidden gem book:

Before I die by Jenny Downham, it is a sad book that encourages you to appreciate life.

Important moment in your book life:

When I was 9 and first read Enid Blyton's Malroy Towers series. They were so funny! If you have never read them, then I recommend you do, you won't regret it. :) 

Just finished:

The Ask And The Answer by Patrick Ness  

Kinds of book you won't read:

I'm willing to give most books a chance to be honest but I'm not the biggest fan of science fiction.

Longest book you've read:

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows by J.K Rowling, it was 831 pages long. 

Major book hangover because of:

The final novel in The Hunger Games trilogy Mockingjay. After finishing the book in the early hours of the morning, I just lay there going over everything that had happened.

Number of bookcases you own:

Two and a small one on my windowsill. 

One book you've read multiple times:

Life as We Knew It by Susan Pfeffer. Not the sort of book I would normally read as it's a science fiction novel but I ended up loving it.  ^_^

Preferred place to read:

Lying in or on my bed.  

Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you've read:

"I'm on a roller coaster that only goes up my friend" Augustus Waters, John Green The Fault In Our Stars. I thought most of the stuff Augustus said in that book was inspiring.  

Reading regret:
Getting into the Harry Potter books late, I kind of wished I had read them as they came out from book one, but didn't really do that until book six.

Series you started and need to finish:

Divergent series, the last book is to be published in October. I can't wait! Also Chaos Walking series by Patrick Ness, I need to buy and read the last book Monsters of Men.

Three of your all-time favourite books:

Okay this is a hard but I would have to say The Fault In Our Stars by John Green, Life As We Knew It by Susan Pfeffer and The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. 

Unapologetic fangirl for:
Blue Bloods series by Melissa de la Cruz, I really enjoyed that series. 

Very excited for this release:

The next in the Divergent series, I hate not knowing what happens.

Worst bookish habit:

Not reading for a long time. 

X marks the spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:

Insurgent by Veronica Roth 

Your latest book purchase:

My last post is best at answering that question although I was given a couple of them. I bought The Green Mile series by Stephen King, Looking For Alaska by John Green and The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time. :) 

Zzzz-snatcher book (last book that kept you up way too late):

The final book from The Hunger Games trilogy Mockingjay  I remember not being able to sleep until the book was finished ^_^

It took me two hours to complete this, as some of the questions are really hard. Like three of your all-time favourite books. Any book lovers out there I wish you all the best attempting to do The A to Z Book Survey, when you do leave your link in the comments and I'll check it out. Hopefully you'll manage it in less time than me.  ^_^

Lots of Love

Dayna xxx

Books Books Books!!

So recently I have acquired a lot of books either buying them myself or being given them, a couple of them were given to me as a birthday present.

The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-time 
Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. And he detests the color yellow.

This improbable story of Christopher's quest to investigate the suspicious death of a neighborhood dog makes for one of the most captivating, unusual, and widely heralded novels in recent years.

The perks of being a wallflower 
Charlie is a freshman.
And while he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it.
Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mix tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. But he can't stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.

The film was released in 2012 and stars Emma Watson and Logan Lerman and Esra Miller and was directed by the author Stephen Chbosky.  Personally I would read the book before watching the film as I think you would appreciate the film more.
Check out the trailer!

The Green Mile Series At Cold Mountain Penitentiary, along the lonely stretch of cells known as the Green Mile, killers are depraved as the psychopathic "Billy the Kid" Wharton and the possessed Eduard Delacroix await death strapped in "Old Sparky." Here guards as decent as Paul Edgecombe and as sadistic as Percy Wetmore watch over them. But good or evil, innocent or guilty, none have ever seen the brutal likes of the new prisoner, John Coffey, sentenced to death for raping and murdering two young girls. Is Coffey a devil in human form? Or is he a far, far different kind of being?

The film came out back in 2000, while I have heard of it I have never seen. I will more than likely read the books before watching the film. 

Looking For Alaska Before. Miles "Pudge" Halter's whole existence has been one big nonevent, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the "Great Perhaps" (François Rabelais, poet) even more. Then he heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed-up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young, who is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart.

After. Nothing is ever the same

The HostMelanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of human hosts while leaving their bodies intact. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, didn't expect to find its former tenant refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

As Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts with visions of Jared, a human who still lives in hiding, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she's never met. Reluctant allies, Wanderer and Melanie set off to search for the man they both love.

The film was released earlier this year, I have not seen it yet as I want to read the book first, but have heard it received mixed reviews.
Here's the trailer

Trailers came from YouTube and synopsis from Goodreads  

Lots of Love
Dayan xxx

Currently listening to...

So lately I have been listening to songs from Sara Bareilles new album The Blessed Unrest. My favourite songs are Brave, Little Black Dress and I choose you. And I love the music video for Brave so much I thought I would share it with you.

I also found this fun video of Sara singing Part Of Your World from the Little Mermaid on her Brave tour.

Enjoy :)

Lots of Love

Dayna xxx