To All the Boys I've Loved Before & P.S. I Still Love You

Saturday, December 12, 2015 Syahirah Skylar 16 Comments

Hello there readers!

Honestly, this is the first time ever i am posting a book review. I want this blog to have a variation and i thought i should do a book review since i do find myself enjoy reading in my free time. I like to read and i'm a sucker for teen romance novel especially if it is filled with humour (don't judge). I also like to read stories about werewolves on wattpad. Anyway, for my first book review i chose To All the Boys I've Loved Before and the sequel P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han. I had read this book in a around September or October and i really enjoy reading them.

This book is about a sixteen year old girl name Lara Jean who write love letters to all the boys she ever loved. However, she does not send the letters to them. She wrote their names and their addresses on the envelope and then kept it all in a hat box that her late mother gave it to her. She wrote those letters when she wants to get over her feelings for the boys. She pours out all her feelings on the letters and when she is done writing she will no longer have the feelings towards the boys. After years of keeping those letters in the hat box, the letters were mysteriously been mailed out.

“My letters are for when I don’t want to be in love anymore. They’re for good-bye. Because after I write in my letter, I’m not longer consumed by my all-consuming love…My letters set me free. Or at least they’re supposed to.”

What i like about this book is that it has a good description of Lara Jean's family. I love the fact that Lara Jean is so close to her two sisters Margot and Kitty. They called themselves as "Song Girl". Her sisters and her father are characters that came to life just as much as the heroine of this story. Margot is such a responsible, protective, mature and caring elder sister. She takes over the mother role in the family and look after her farther and sisters. She is also the one who manage things around the house. Her youngest sister Kitty, who is actually named Katherine is absolutely a riot. I find her quite hilarious when she is sulking and mad at Lara Jean. There is a scene when Lara Jean asked her to braid her hair and Kitty replied “You don’t deserve a braid from me…besides, a braid would take it too far". She is such a fun character and i think she is the one that fills the book with humour.

What's unique about this book is that it does not just focus on boyfriends compare to other romance novel. It focus on different kinds of relationship as in family, friends, and neighbors. It makes the main character Lara Jean's life to be well rounded and also filled with interesting family tradition. The romance is not really a strong element in the first book. However, it has an intriguing concept with the use of love letters. The actual romance starts when Lara Jean wants to avoid Margot's ex-boyfriend Josh who was in quite a vulnerable state after the breakup and also happens to be one of the recipient of the love letters since Lara Jean use to have a crush on him. Lara Jean try to avoid getting into a relationship with Josh by pretending to be dating the popular Peter Kavinsky, who is also one of the recipient of the love letters. Peter and Lara Jean were in a fake relationship in order to avoid Josh and also to get back on Peter's on and off ex-girlfriend Genevieve. Inevitable feelings starts to arise between Peter and Lara Jean but their relationship also filled with confusion between what's real and what's not.

A lot things happen after the letters were mailed out. Lara Jean's life become different when she starts being in a fake relationship with Peter. It wasn't until the second book that Lara Jean learns what is like to be in a real relationship. The story develops Peter a lot more and we can see how Lara Jean's character had grown. In the end of this book, i do become curious on what happens to all the other characters and i really do wish that there is a third book. I just can't get enough of Lara Jean and Peter Kavinsky. I grew so attach to the story and the characters but unfortunately there is no third book. That's it...that's the end of Lara Jean and Peter Kavinsky.

Anyway, i hope you enjoy reading this book review and my thoughts on the book. For those who had read this book let me know what you guys think of the book in the comments. Also, for those book lovers out there please leave a comment below about any books that you suggest that i should read. Other than that, if you want me to post some more book reviews...let me know in the comments below...

- Luminary Skylar

16 comments:

Be alright....

Tuesday, December 01, 2015 Syahirah Skylar 10 Comments

Hello there readers!

Today's post is gonna be a little different than my previous post. In this post i would like to share a so call poem that i had written a while back in 2013. I wrote this poem to an online friend who was going through depression and started self harming. I am aware that there are many people out there who is suffering from this and become suicidal. I may not completely understand of what they are going through but at least i know what is like to be depress.

I have my own depression times where i just feel like i am a useless human being and that i am a loser and just not good enough. I do once wished that it is better that i do not exist, if all i'm going to be is a burden to my mum. I've had that state in my life and it does keep occurring to me from time to time. However, I try my best to distract myself and diverge my thoughts into other things to avoid it from effecting me badly whenever the feeling and dark thoughts occur to me. There are times where i just sat on the bathroom floor and just let the water pouring on me while i cry my heart out. I find that it is a good way to let out my emotions by pouring it all out through my tears. The water from the shower that was pouring on me seem to calm me since i like to swim and i really love being in the water. All i'm saying is that it is okay to cry...than bottled up the emotion cause it will end up being a poison to your soul.

Now, i know that my depression does not effect me as badly as it does to a lot of other people who are suffering from it. Some may have been suffering from it in years. Depression is a mental disorder and it is a serious matter but unfortunately some people are not that aware about this and how serious and badly it can effects people.

Anyway, I hope you would enjoy reading the so call poem. I know i'm not a poet and that i'm not as good in literature as Shakespeare....but i do enjoy pouring my thoughts and feelings paper.

I hope you will be alright,

Do not harm yourself tonight,

All the things you have to cope,

I pray that you will never lose hope,

I may not be your saviour,

But please do me one favour,

Put down the razor blade,

Let the scars heal and fade,

The world may seem darkness,

Life may fill with sadness,

Hope you will find the light,

That could make you smiling bright,

Sorrow may fill your heart,

Do not let it tears you apart,

Hold on to your tears,

May your heart fills with cheers,

-Syahirah Skylar

So, this is the new edited version of the poem that i wrote. It is the first poem that i'm satisfied with. I would like to dedicate this poem to each and everyone of you who are going through depression and also to those who are going through a tough time in life. Never lose hope. Whatever you are going through, you can get through it. I believe in you.

Ps. If you like me to post some more poems...let me know in the comments below.

-Luminary Skylar

10 comments:

Being an Only Child

Tuesday, November 24, 2015 Syahirah Skylar 8 Comments

Hello there readers!

First of all, thank you to those who had visited my blog in the past week and a big thank you to those who had follow my blog. I really appreciate that. By the way, i had put a chat-box on the right column, underneath the blog archive. So, feel free to leave a message there even if it is just a simple hello. It lets me know that they are actual people visiting here and i would like to interact with all of you. Also, you can enter your website or blog link there for me to go check it out. I love reading people's blog in my free time. So, don't be a ghost reader and lets be friends.

Now, back to the title of this post. Yes, i am an only child and this post allows you to know more about my experience and thoughts on being an only child. When my friends found out that i am an only child, their reaction will be "Oh god, you are so lucky! i wish i was an only child". While me on the other hand will look at her and in my mind i say "You really have no idea what it is like". Also, people can be a little judgmental and stereotype when it comes to an only child. Here are some statements and thoughts that people have on an only child.

"You must have been spoiled child and get everything you want!!

No, i am not spoiled and i do not get everything i want. I don't just say the things that i want and then in a blink of an eye it will be in front of me. No, that does not happen. I am not Aladdin and my mum is not a genie. I admit i do get certain things that i want but that only happens when it is something that my mum can afford and only if she thinks it is useful or how it will benefits me. You have no idea how many times my mum say no to things that i want back when i was little but i learn to understand that the things i want is not really what i need. Also, i am not the kind of girl that is very demanding on things that i want. When i was at the age of 10 i wanted a nintendo DS but i know that my mum would never buy me one because to me it is expensive and my mum never give me any exposure to video games and stuff. I looked through catalog and think how cool it would be to have one and that i probably won't get bored ever again. It wasn't until i was 11 or 12 and most of my friends had one. She started to consider buying me one knowing that i was always on my own whenever i had been tag along with her to events where there were bunch of adults and there were no kids that are my age. So, she bought one as my birthday gift.

Only child are stubborn, bratty, selfish and always act like a boss.

No, that is so not true. Being an only child i really work hard on making friends because i had spend too much time being alone and i need friends to play and interact with. When i spend time with my friends back then i don't really mind on what are we playing. I always ask them on what they want to do. I didn't make them agreeing to what i want to do or bossing them around...no. I made them feel comfortable around me and just have fun. Even when my friends, cousins or when my mum's friends who had kids came over to my house I let them play my nintendo Wii. I don't really mind whether i get to play or not. All i want is for everyone to have fun and have a good time. Watching them play and have fun is enough to entertain me and it makes me happy.

"You are an only child. You are lucky that you don't have siblings for your parents to compare you with."

Yes, that is true. I do not have siblings that my parent compare me with but that does not mean i am lucky. I have a lot of friends complaining how they always get compare with their big brothers and sisters. Well, guess what? i get compare too. The only difference is that instead of being compare to siblings i get compare with my mum's friend's kids. I still remember the time when my mum and i visit her old friend's house. In the living room there was this big shelf filled with medals, trophies and plagues belongs the old friend's kid. My mum was amaze by it and somehow end up saying "When are you gonna get one of those?". I was stunned and honestly i was hurt. I am not the kind of girl that is active in sport and my school doesn't organised much event and competition unlike the school that my mum's old friend's kid went to. It sort of make me feel like i am not good enough.

One thing that most people do not know is that being an only child has a lot of pressure. Parents will have high expectations on you since you are the on child that they have. They want you to get good grades in every exam especially in their favourite subject in my case it is Math. No one is perfect and everyone has their own weakness. When you end up not achieving those high expectations, your parents will be very disappointed and you end up being a little depress at times. If you have siblings, the pressure a little less. For example, your parent is a lawyer and want to have someone being a lawyer too. They also want grandkids someday and want to have somebody supporting them financially and taking care of them when they are getting old. Now, what if you don't want to be a lawyer or you don't even want to get married and have kids and you are having financial problems yourself. Well at least you will have other siblings that would want to be a lawyer. Then you have this other sibling that are really responsible and independent they could support your parents and family financially. Then your have other siblings happens to found a partner that she end up marrying. While you on the other hand, get to do whatever you want since all your parents expectations are being fulfilled.

Another thing about being an only child is that you get bored a lot. I mean think about about it. Most board games, sports and other games requires at least 2 people to play, Even though you can play video games on your own, it is way more fun playing it with someone. Am i right? Being an only child, you couldn't play those board games because you don't have siblings to play with and your parents are busy doing their own stuff. A lot of people said that it is better being alone, you have your own personal space and privacy. That you don't have annoying siblings disturbing you. Yes, that is true. I admit i do enjoy the personal space and privacy i have but when you're being on your own almost 24/7 it gets really bored and lonely and sometime felt like you have no life.

All i am saying is that even though your siblings can be annoying, there are the ones that somehow will help you in some ways. You might find your big brother or sister extremely annoying but soon when they go to college and move out you will miss them. The house will start to be strangely quiet and then somehow it starts to have this sombre vibe. The point is..appreciate the siblings you have, you are in some way fortunante to have them in your life.

P.S. Feel free to leave a comment about your thoughts. If you are an only child comment below whether or not you are going through the same thing i do. If you have siblings...comment on how many siblings you have and what are they like. I would love to see your response.

- Luminary Skylar

8 comments:

A New Leaf Online

Saturday, November 14, 2015 Syahirah Skylar 4 Comments

Hello there readers!

I decided to start a blog. Well actually, i started a blog a long time ago back in 2010. I was 13 back then and blogging was a common thing among my friends. I enjoyed writing and reading other people's blog and also getting to know their insight. After about two years of blogging i started to slack off a bit and then became inactive throughout 2013. I have not been blogging since then and it has been two years now. Which is why this post is call "A New Leaf Online". I am turning over a new leaf, a new blog and i am making a fresh start on blogging online.

Why do i want to start blogging again all of a sudden?

Well, I find blogging a good way to express myself and it keeps me occupied. I know i had been slacking off before but i have found new inspirations after reading Bailee Madison's tumblr post and read Girl Online, a novel by the famous female YouTuber and blogger, Zoe Sugg also known as Zoella. It reminds me of how i use to love blogging and that i shouldn't just stopped. I logged in to my old blog and had read what i had been posted. The blog kinda seem childish to me now and back then i wrote my post in mixed language which is in Malay (my first language) and English. The blog doesn't seem like me anymore. I feel like i am totally a different person now. Well, not completely but i had been growing up in the past years so my thoughts, perspective, and interest changes a little. Which is why i am creating this new blog called LUMINARY SKYLAR and i am going to write this blog in fully english because i dont just want to share my post to only malays...i want to share it with everyone...no matter where they are from in this world.

Why is it call Luminary Skylar?

First of all, Skylar is not my real name but i had use it a lot online when i talk to people from other countries. They have difficulties on pronouncing my name so i decided to give myself a nickname that is easy for others to pronounce and i wanted it to start with the letter 'S' since my real name starts with letter 'S' too. I just feel that keeping it with the same first letter will keep me grounded to my actual name. In the end, i came up with the name Skylar and had been using it for almost two years now. I like the name and i like to think its my english name.

Now, Luminary. Luminary means a person who inspires or influences others. It also means a body or object that gives light and it also mean a celestial body, as the sun and moon according to astrology...if i'm not mistaken. Anyway, i just like to stress the meaning on a person who inspires others and object that gives light. I want to inspires others to have a positive perspective on life. Life can be complicated but i believe that each one of us are strong and capable in dealing with life. We just have to find that strength. I know that it is not that easy...but i believe that the strength is deep somewhere inside each and every single one of us. This is my big dream...to be able to inspires others. Even if i might not be that inspiring to you...i want to be a light that somehow lightens up your day and your mood for a certain period of time or maybe just a gleam of light when you are in the dark. Anyway, I am not perfect and i have my flaws too but this is just my dream...because Life is Beautiful...no matter how complicated it can be...

So...this is like a comeback for me. Have you ever stop doing or become inactive in something you enjoy doing? Feel free to leave comments on what you enjoy doing and also if you somehow had stopped doing it...are you planning to start doing it again? I would love to see the response.

- Luminary Skylar

Luminary Skylar