Funny Fridays | Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

January 16, 2016January 16, 2016 | Shivalika

Hello Everybody!

Welcome back to Funny Fridays! Here I share a funny, silly snippet from the book I’m currently reading or recently finished reading. It could be a quote or a passage or an image related to the book. Today’s in dedication to Mr. Rickman. I can imagine well enough how this scene would carry out.

As most of you can figure out, this conversation is between Severus Snape, the potion mater and Harry Potter from the sixth book – Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

“This is your copy of Advanced Potion-Making, is it, Potter?”
“Yes,” said Harry, still breathing hard.
“You’re quite sure of that, are you, Potter?”
“Yes,” said Harry, with a touch more defiance.
“This is the copy of Advanced Potion-Making that you purchased from Flourish and Blotts?”
“Yes,” said Harry firmly.
“Then why,” asked Snape, “does it have the name ‘Roonil Wazlib’ written inside the front cover?”
Harry’s heart missed a beat. “That’s my nickname,” he said.

I have posted after a while today and that’s because I’m quite caught up with some stuff and will be for some time now. But I’ll try to be active on the comments and also try to schedule some posts for the coming weeks. I hope you all had a great week and have a greater weekend! Thanks for dropping by. 🙂 Loads of love,

Rest In Peace – Alan Rickman

January 15, 2016 | Shivalika

I just do not have enough words to tell how terrible I feel. I’m already going through a bit of a crisis right now and this news on top of it was too much too bear. It feels like Professor Snape died all over again and all I can do is cry. I might not know him personally but the quote is apt for Alan Rickman, who will ALWAYS be remembered as one of the bests.

‘To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.’

– J. K. Rowling

Funny Fridays | The Silkworm

January 8, 2016January 8, 2016 | Shivalika

Starting today, I’m starting a feature(or a meme) called Funny Fridays. For this I’m going to share a funny, silly snippet from the book I’m currently reading or recently finished reading. It could be a quote or a passage or an image related to the book. One of my goals this year is to be happier and spread happiness. And for that I decided to end my week with something a bit cheery or funny. Although for a few people like me who have to work Saturdays the weekend doesn’t start till tomorrow.

I just finished reading Robert Galbraith’s aka J. K. Rowling’s The Silkworm. I love, love how everything binds together in the end and man! She can write! And I’m going to kick-off this feature with a line from this awesome book. For the background

Robin – The Secretory

Strike – Private Detective

Jonny Rokeby – Strike’s rockstar father

Another flurry of snow passed the window, swiftly dispersing. Robin looked up at the black-and-white photographs opposite and recognised, with a slight shock, Jonny Rokeby, Strike’s father…

…After staring for a while at Rokeby’s very tight and revealing leather trousers, Robin forced herself to gaze out of the window again, afraid of Strike catching her staring at his father’s groin.

I just realised some of you might find my sense of humour poor/ lame. But those of you who don’t I hope it made you laugh or smile or atleast a bit interested in the book. Ofcourse if you like it and want to do it you can join in the fun too.

Have a wonderful weekend folks! 🙂 Love,

2016 Goals | Resolutions Tag

January 8, 2016 | Shivalika

Hello everybody! 🙂

I’ve made a huge list of things that I want to achieve by the end of this year and continue doing so. But knowing my lazy self, I’ve kept it simple and easy to follow through. This post was almost good to go when the lovely Ashley of Dreaming Through Literature tagged me for the Resolutions Tag. She writes some gorgeous reviews so do head over to check out her amazing book blog.

Bookish Goals

Reading 150 Books: Last year the goal was 100 and I definitely read more than that. So this time I’m going to push myself and notch it up to 150 books.

Classics Rush: I want to read as many classics as I can manage this year. I’ve always loved classics but they usually slow my reading pace drastically.

PopSugar Reading Challenge: Yep I’m planning to take this on as well because my schedule wasn’t hectic enough!<dripping sarcasm> I don’t know if I’ll be able to complete it – political memoir, an autobiography- these are so not my cups of tea but yell yeah! Bring it on!

Blogging Goals

Schedule: The most important thing and which I almost fail to follow most of the time is a proper schedule. But this time around I really want to stick to it. As long the Internet connection does not give me troubles.

A Feature: I’m toying with the idea of a Friday feature or a meme as it’s more popularly called. Obviously with my disregard for tight schedules I don’t want it to be weekly but whenever it suits me or you if you like it. But there will be more on it tomorrow.

Career/ Academic Goals

Career wise, my only goal is to study my arse off till I get that government job. It’s not like I’m not happy with my current position..I’m not really..but I’m not one of those ambitious people who want to climb and get at the top of the ladder of success. I just want to be happy and satisfied with what I do at the end of the day.

Personal Goals

Getting up Early: Reading all the way into late night has thoroughly disrupted my sleeping schedule which I need to get back on track. And also some exercise/ yoga to keep me fit and improve my week stamina.

Eating Healthy: After taking up this resolution for past a few years and failing spectacularly I’ve decided to take a baby step this time and planned on ditching soft drinks. And also to eat breakfast everyday religiously. I’m in a bad habit of skipping my meals.

Some Adventure: Going on a sole trip is one of my major goals and not necessarily for this year. But it’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. Also I’ve never gone for any kind of adventure sport so since I’d have the easiest access to go for rafting that’s on my list too!

Swish n Flick: I would love to learn to magic at Hogwarts but no that’s not what this is about. What I really need to learn is how to put on eyeliner. I mean I can’t get my sis to do it for me forever.

A Happy Diary: At the end of the day I want to jot down one instance that made me smile or happy. Imagine going through it a few years later and remembering so many good moments.

Whew! So that’s all I’ve come up with this year and let’s hope none of us falls off the wagon! Thanks a lot for the tag Ashley!

Now I’m going to tag:

Claire @ Art And Soul

Cassidy @The Little Book Cottage

Alextheshadowgirl’s Blog

Simon @ Sfarnell

Morgan @ The Secret Diary of a Computer Science Student

Until the next post. 🙂 Love,

‘Tis The Season Book Tag

January 6, 2016 | Shivalika

You might be wondering why I’m doing this now. It’s simple, I had been saving ‘Tis the Season Book Tag to have something cheery after the holidays are over. Now that the dreaded back-to-work day is gone, I finally came around to do it. Thanks Calliope the Book Goddess for this fun tag! Without losing much time let’s get started.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE WINTER READ?

As I said on my previous tag, Harry Potter and The Witch, The Wizard and the Wardrobe are some of my top winter reads. For the rest you can check out my Christmas reads post here.

FIND A BOOK WITH BLUE ON THE COVER!

The lovely Bones is the first one I got out from my book cupboard!

FIND A BOOK YOU’D USE AS THE STAR ON A CHRISTMAS TREE!

This cover of The Gift by Cecelia Ahern is so pretty. It couldn’t be better than this.

PICK ONE FICTIONAL PLACE THAT WOULD BE PERFECT FOR A WINTER VACATION!

I think it’s been said a gazillion times already by loads of bloggers. There’s no place better than Hogwarts where one can spend winter holidays. Or any season for that matter.

PICK ONE FICTIONAL CHARACTER YOU’D TAKE WITH YOU ON YOUR WINTER VACATION!

Alice from Twilight and Percy from Percy Jackson would be perfect vacation mates. Vacations mean fun and laughter and craziness and these two are full of it!

NAME ONE BOOK ON YOUR WISH LIST THIS YEAR!

The Rogue Not Taken by Sarah Maclean is the latest addition to my wish list so that’s the one I’m going to pick!

FAVORITE HOLIDAY DRINK, TREAT, & MOVIE?

Holiday or not, tea is the only drink for me. Best treat would be chocolates and more chocolates. And any movie would as long as I’m cuddled in my bed with tea or chocolates any movie would be great