Was Girl Online ghostwritten?

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Even though I love Zoella, I'm going to be honest here (no bias - I'll try).

Ever since Zoe Sugg announced she was writing a book, I knew I had to get a copy. So it's been on my christmas wish list ever since July! Books are kind of my thing, so there was quite a bit of excitement there.

Then about a week after if was officially released, it popped up in the news. Why? Because speculation suggested it was ghostwritten. Now, I didn't actually know what a ghostwriter was, so after a quick splash in the google box, I realised what this meant. Before freaking out, I did whatever research I could, because the media tend to exaggerate things.

Facts: Siobhan Curham is thanked in Zoe's acknowledgements as "being there every step of the way" along with the editor. It is unexplained what Curhams job in the book is. Not long ago, Curham published a blog post telling the world that she recently had to write a 400pg long novel for a company (approx the same length as Girl Online). She doesn't disclose what novel it was.

So, everyone is saying that Girl Online was ghostwritten. Appropriately, Zoe's addresses the issue in a tweet:

"Thanks for all the positive feedback about Girl Online and for the doubters out there, of course I was going to have help from Penguin's editorial team in telling my story, which I talked about from the beginning. Everyone needs help when they try something new. The story and the characters of Girl Online are mine. I want to thank all of you who have taken time to support the book."

Penguin also said “To be factually accurate, you would need to say Zoe Sugg did not write the book Girl Online on her own.”

Her name is on the book as the only author, but on GoodReads Zoe Sugg and Siobhan Curham and both listed as authors.

You can read about in depth here.

I believe she wrote parts of it, that it was a joint effort. I don't mind that she got help - that's fine, if you were her you would probably accept help too - but if she'd told us rather than the media blabbing it all, that would have been nice. I would have liked it if she'd disclosed it, rather than having to confess after someone found out her secret. I follow her blog, and she has written a few posts where she says she was "writing her book."

But I would like to say THAT IT IS NOT FAIR that Zoe is recieving all the backlash for something that has been happening for years. I'm not a fan of ghostwriting, but I don't blame Zoe for doing it, there are tons of celebrities that get their books ghostwritten, so why should Zoe get all the disparagement? She's one amazing young lady and she doesn't deserve all this hate! Plus, most of what the media is saying is bollux!

I don't have great expectations as to the quality of this book, but hey, I never did in the first place when I put it on my wish list!!! I don't expect it to be fantastic, I just feel like having it on my bookshelf will be an inspirational reminder to keep writing.

I don't care if people think I'm just another girl, buying into their schemes. I genuinely think that Zoe is a lovely person (even though I haven't met her). I think of her as a friend, and yes maybe she wasn't completely honest about who wrote it (I said maybe - I will never judge someone I have never met), but I can move past that and enjoy the book anyway.

So, I'll see you in a bit when I've finished reading it. Wish me luck.

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I'm back. Penny for my thoughts? You'll get this reference once you read it.

I can't stop thinking about it. In a wonderful way, I enjoyed Girl Online very much. I kind of forgot that it was Zoe's book halfway through, so for those of you who don't know who she is, I wouldn't completely discount this book. Although if you have never heard of her and don't follow her, you will probably not get all the references, the insight into her life, and it won't be as special. It doesn't compare in quality to something like "To Kill A Mockingbird" (not many books do to be fair) but it was a lovely read. Romantic too - and let's be honest, who doesn't love a sweet little love story.

The way it was written just made me feel all sweet inside, and the story flowed nicely. There were a few points when I would have pulled out my thesaurus and swapped some of the words to make it sound more eloquent, but I'm a word freak so we can forget I said that because it doesn't really count as criticism. The book was very "Zoe" (again it is better if you have been following her), but it didn't really feel like her "voice"coming from the pages. Loved it all the same though.

The word that is going to get overused in this part is "sweet." Because that's exactly how I would describe the plot. It's very relatable to a young girl, with fairy lights, bath bombs, New York, blogging, self-confidence, boys, photography. I've read a lot of reviews saying that the plot was "predictable" but I didn't find it too bad. I was actually on the edge of my seat to be utterly honest! (Let's just say it was a bit of no-makeup duvet day). It always amazes me when I read a book and I find my emotions getting entangled in the characters lives and beings, and it touches me in a wonderful way. I'm sounding cheesy now, it was inevitable at some point in this post.But seriously, it was....sweet.

Among the many positives, this book helped me gain an insight into panic attacks. After hearing Zoe talk about the Girl Online, I was a bit worried that it would be dominated with anxiety issues and whatnot, but it was all interwoven nicely and even though I don't struggle with anxiety myself, I found it mildly interesting and I finally get what a panic attack is.

Overall, I'd have to say that this novel is hard to fault. Sugary as frosted cupcakes with caramel sprinkles! And, did I mention, it is the fastest selling book of the year? Woo woo!

Now to the ratings.

Writing: 3 stars ★★★
Plot: 3 stars ★★★
Characters: 3 stars ★★★ (I would give more but I don't think "Penny" and "Noah" are particularly original names - sorry to be picky, it's a personal thing!)
Quality (as in would it be a classic in english lit): 2 stars ★★
Enjoyment: 5 stars ★★★★★
Overall: 5 stars ★★★★★

I want to spend a whole page fangirling and raving about Girl Online, but who would take me seriously if just said that I loved loved loved loved loved loved this book?

Well.....the truth is.....

I LOVED LOVED LOVED LOVED LOVED THIS BOOK.

I'm VERY if not SUPER EXCITED for Zoe's second novel, all the best for the future babe! You deserve the best!

X

PS: I'd like to point out that all the hate she is getting online right now is quite ironic - SPOILER ALERT - that's what happens to Penny in the book. She recently tweeted out, which was also written in the book as one of Penny's blog posts, that "every time you post something online you have a choice - either to make someone happy, or to take away their happiness."

Pride and Prejudice | Book Review

Rustling around in my grandpas attic, I found this copy, dusted it off, and to my delighted 11-yr-old self, I knew I had found a gem.

I was instantly excited because I had seen the Keira Knightley version of the movie many times. I did try to watch the other versions but every time I do, I find myself in a confused state asking the (slightly annoyed) person next to me "But WHERE is Keira Knightley??" You can only imagine the exasperated sighs that this evokes. What? No one will watch it with me?

Hardly containing my naive anticipation, I turned the first page. "Blah blah blah solace blah blah blah blah felicity." This is what fell on my eyes when my 11-yr-self surveyed the red and gold bound book. Silently, I closed it back up, and vowed to get a sandwich, I believe.

Some years later, I cautiously picked up this novel after it appeared on several must read lists. Bracing myself, the first page was again turned, and a pleasant surprise awaited me. I couldn't put it down for three days straight and wished there was more of it to be devoured.

Classics get a bad rap. Perhaps they're not as "cool" as young adult fiction, or they're viewed as merely high school books. But this......oh sweet joy.....it is amazing. Jane Austen is a genius and once again, I have adorned my fluffy socks, to sit refreshing the library page in hope it will say "Ready for Pick Up" on her other novels. Really cool, Madison.

First published in 1813, although set in the turn of the 19th century, it has all the old fashioned goodies you would expect. Lots of long skirts, dinner parties, and gossip (yes, they had such a thing in the old days!). The opening sentence of the book is as follows:

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." 

This immediately introduces the theme of marriage, and in a sneaky way, tells us the outline of the plot.

It is an absolute masterpiece, absolutely brilliant, and has sold over 20 millions copies. The characters are the kind where you find yourself saying "I know someone just like so-and-so!" The most unlikely of people end up together, and the story triumphs over pride, prejudice and love. The story is built up from an ordinary home, but as the plot thickens the drama also rises just as if they were royalty.

The courtship is of the best kind, the emotional, wanting, fearful, fearless, kind. This would have to be one of my favourite books. It contains one of the most coveted and cherished love stories of all time. Because really, it is what we know and adore, a good ol' romance.

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Someday someday maybe | Book Review

No photo today! Had to return it before I could snap one :( Search it on google images and ta dah you will know what I'm talking 'bout

I hate to review books that I didn't like, but I console myself with the fact that it may serve as a warning to those who haven't read it. Or something-or-rather.

"Someday someday maybe" is a book that I really wanted to like, because, have you SEEN the cover? Oh so cute. If I'm honest, that MAY have been why I picked it up.

It was tolerable for the first 1/3 of the book. It was amusing for the first part. I kept hoping it would get better. A few swear words, but in this day and age that isn't so much of a shocker.

I won't spoil it for you (although I hope you won't read it), but things starting going downhill until I actually literally skipped to the very end of the book. I can't bear to not finish a book so having to skip ahead is major for me. Very weak and absurd storyline, and nothing more worth mentioning. I am aware I did just mention it, but that's not the point. Well, it is the point that I shouldn't mention it, but what I am saying is.....oh never mind. Also, too many unnecessary "bad bits."

Thankfully I got this from the library so it didn't cost me anything except my time. I know people that tend to buy books straight off the bat, and I do this if I know (like, really know) that it is going to be good, but I would generally recommend getting the book out first, and then you can buy it if you love it (I usually buy all my books from The Book Depository). And it's free! A whole place full of books FREE to read! How could you not?

In short, I don't want to be negative, and I hope I won't be doing too many more of these types of reviews. It is the most frustrating thing to get into a rut of bad books and just mope about, bobbing your tea bag up and down, wishing that the world would JUST GET ITSELF SORTED and produce some decent literature.

If you have read this book, what were your thoughts?

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