5th Book Review: The Amazing Book is Not On Fire

The Amazing Book is Not On Fire

Authors: Dan Howell, Phil Lester

Publisher: Ebury Press

Publication Date: Oct. 8, 2015

Pages: 224

Setting: United Kingdom

Price: £16.99

ISBN:1785031090

Readers Rating: 4.59/5

My Rating: 5/5

Goodreads Link

Synopsis: Hello reader, in this book is a world. A world created by two awkward guys who share their lives on the internet! We are Dan and Phil and we invite you on a journey inside our minds! From the stories of our actual births, to exploring Phil's teenage diary and all the reasons why Dan's a fail. Learn how to draw the perfect cat whiskers, get advice on what to do in an awkward situation and discover which of our dining chairs represents you emotionally. With everything from what we text each other, to the time we met One Direction and what really happened in Vegas...

25th Completed Drama: Oh My Venus

Oh My Venus

Synonyms: Oh My God

Episodes: 16

Country: South Korea

Aired: Nov. 16, 2015 - Jan. 5, 2016

Network: KBS

Duration: 60 mins.

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Viewers Rating: 8.4/10

My Rating: 8.5/10

MyDramaList Link

Synopsis: Kim Young Ho is a personal trainer for Hollywood stars. Even though he comes from a wealthy family background, he suffered a devastating injury during his childhood days. Now, he overcomes his problems with patience and stubbornness. Kang Joo Eun is a 33-year-old lawyer who has struggled to support her family. Now, she's overweight and not as attractive. These both go on a diet together, which leads to them becoming healthier and having a romantic relationship.

Resolutions

This will be my last post for this week (unless I do a review for Oh My Venus since it's ending on Tuesday), but at least I've made my blog slightly more active. Anyway, let's get on with the actual post.

Every year, I make the same resolution and it always fails within a month. The resolution to read more and to get more exercise (for hypertension and weight loss purposes). This year, instead of making that a resolution, I'm making it into a schedule, along with all my other hobbies. This is just a mockup of what the schedule will look like for January - it'll need to change every month for new kdramas and anime releases.

Most Anticipated Upcoming January 2016 Dramas

Moorim School

Airs: January 11, 2016
Every Monday + Tuesday on KBS2

The Moorim School isn't focused solely on high academic scores. The school teaches its students virtues including honesty, faith, sacrifice and communication. The teachers and students at the school come from different countries and each have their own stories.

December 2015 Choices - Videos, TV Shows, and more!

Every Breath You Take - feat. Various

Glad You Came - feat. Oh My Venus

Wonder - feat. Oh My Venus

Stand By You - feat. Remember

Battleships - feat. Reply 1988

They Want Me To Be Perfect - feat. G-Dragon of BTS

Newtmas (Newt x Thomas)
I have only seen and read the first Maze Runner in the series, but after watching various fan made videos by a subscription of mine, I fell in love with the Newt and Thomas ship. It's so cute and their relationship is just perfect. And I loved how they messed around in the bloopers, sometimes showing themselves in a "romantic" relationship.

Best and Worst of 2015 Life [Part 2]

Now it's time for a life post, yay! I don't know how 2015 has been for everyone else but it's been a pretty shit one for me. I can even say that it's in the top two worst years of my entire life, up there with 2010 - the year I moved from Belgium to England away from my friends, homeland and dad and the year I started my last year of primary school at St. Joseph's.

Best and Worst of 2015 Life [Part 1]

Today and tomorrow, I'll be writing about how 2015 has been for me (it's honestly been quite shit - just hope 2016 is better, which I doubt with exams and not being able to see half of my friends anymore because of college). Anyway, I'm writing the first part today - which is a k-drama exclusive - and the second part tomorrow - which is about my own personal life. So here's the best and worst of the 2015 K-Drama Life.

End Report: Top K-Dramas of 2015

Over the next week or so, I've put together a series of posts to do with both my life and k-drama related articles (which will include choices and upcoming January 2016 dramas). Anyway, I'll be talking about the best dramas that this year has given us. I don't know how other years have gone, but I'd say 2015 has been pretty good for Korean dramas. Anyway, here they are, my 10/10 dramas for this year.

2015 Beanie Awards: K-Drama Edition (My Choices)

Favourite Drama Series of 2015 (choice of 5):

• OH MY GHOST: Possess my heart.
• KILL ME, HEAL ME: Does my vote count 7 times?
• MASK: Don't mask your love for me.
• CHEER UP: Vote for the underdog! You can do it!
• WHO ARE YOU: SCHOOL 2015: Head of the class.

Favourite Action or Thriller Drama: I REMEMBER YOU: Forgotten thrills.

Favourite Comedy Drama: CHEER UP: Cheering on the laughs.

Favourite Historical Drama: SCHOLAR WHO WALKS THE NIGHT: Hellmouth of yore.

Favourite Family or Weekend Drama: MY HEART TWINKLE TWINKLE

Favourite Melodrama: MASK: It hurts because there's an evil guy trying to destroy us.

Favourite Lead Couple (choice of 3):

Trying Something New + Update

Okay, as you people know, my blog is mainly focused around Korean dramas. But due to the amount of things happening in my life and the posts I've cut down on, this blog is rarely active now. So I've decided to make this blog a more personal blog (aka writing about stuff happening in my life) than an information blog. I'll still probably do reviews, choices, upcoming dramas, etc., but I need a place to put down some of feelings when there's no where else to talk about them.

So yeah, look forward to more life posts from me.

Most Anticipated Upcoming December 2015 K-Dramas

Remember

Airs: December 9, 2015

Every Wednesday + Thursday on SBS

Seo Woo Bin has the condition of hyperthymesia, which allows him to remember almost every day in perfect detail. To prove the innocence of his father, Woo Bin becomes a lawyer. He struggles to prove his father's innocence, but he begins to lose his memory due to Alzheimer's.

November 2015 Choices - Videos, K-Dramas and more!

Battle Scars - feat. Cheer Up!
Fly Like An Eagle - feat. Various
I Don't Need You - feat. She Was Pretty
Uptown Funk - feat. Various
Certain Things - feat. Oh My Venus
Can't Take It - feat. Missing You
Save a Life - feat. Cheer Up!

Oh My Venus (2015)

A lot of people who are watching Oh My Venus aren't enjoying it very much because the only thing original compared to other romantic comedies is the story for the main female lead to lose weight. Everything else is cliche and unoriginal, however, I can't help finding myself enjoying this drama. It's cute and quite sweet. Plus, the main male lead is hot as anything.

24th Completed Drama: She Was Pretty

She Was Pretty

Synonyms: She Was Beautiful, Puzzled Lovers

Episodes: 16

Country: South Korea

Aired: Sep. 16, 2015 - Nov. 11, 2015

Network: MBC

Duration: 60 mins.

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Viewers Rating: 8.5/10

My Rating: 8.5/10

MyDramaList Link

Synopsis: Kim Hye Jin was a very pretty girl from a rich family. After her family's publishing company went bankrupt, she experienced hardships then lost her beauty too. Ji Seong Joon was an unattractive boy with low self-esteem, but grows up as a handsome and successful editor.

23rd Completed Drama: Cheer Up!

Cheer Up!

Synonyms: Starting Now, Cheer Up!, Sassy Go Go

Episodes: 12

Country: South Korea

Aired: Oct. 5, 2015 - Nov. 10, 2015

Network: KBS2

Duration: 59 mins.

Genres: Drama, Romance, School, Sports, Youth

Viewers Rating: 8.5/10

My Rating: 10/10

MyDramaList Link

Synopsis: Set in a highly competitive school that emphasizes achievement and scores above all else, the drama will lay bare the absurdities and hypocrisies of the education system while also featuring the growth stories of the students who struggle to move forward, one step at a time.

Currently Watching: The Village: Achiara's Secret

The Village: Achiara's Secret

Warning: this article contains spoilers and if you have not watched the first six episodes of this drama, you may want to stop reading now.

Firstly, this is my first article that I have done so I apologise in advance if my writing style is not to your taste. Anyway, the main reason I started watching The Village: Achiara's Secret is because of Yook Sung Jae. I have been a fan of his since his debut in 2012 with the rest of his group, BTOB. And for those who have watched his previous dramas will know that he has broken the idols-can't-act stereotype. However, this drama itself did interest me as well because I'm a sucker for anything horror or thriller themed. I believe that thriller dramas bring out the best in actors and I just love the suspense as well.

My Most Anticipated Upcoming November 2015 K-Dramas

Oh My Venus

Airs: November 16, 2015

Every Monday + Tuesday on KBS

Kim Young Ho is a personal trainer for Hollywood stars. Even though he comes from a wealthy family background, he suffered a devastating injury during his childhood days. Now, he overcomes his problems with patience and stubbornness. Kang Joo Eun is a 33-year-old lawyer who has struggled to support her family. Now, she's overweight and not so attractive.

These two had a connection when they were younger. Now as adults, they meet once again. They both go on a diet, which leads to them becoming healthier and having a romantic relationship.

Cast: So Ji Sub - Kim Young Ho

Shin Min Ah - Kang Joo Eun

October 2015 Choices - K-Dramas and Videos

Cheer Up! (2015)
I didn't think I would like this drama as much as I am, but this is just amazing. I think I must love school dramas a lot because all of the ones I have watched have been absolutely superb. Also, Cheer Up! (mainly known as Sassy Go Go) has led me to a new experience. This has been the first time in my life that I have loved everyone in a whole love triangle. I love the main couple together (Kim Yeol and Kang Yeon Doo), but my heart is also falling for second lead syndrome again (Seo Ha Joon and Kang Yeon Doo). I DON'T KNOW ANYMORE.

Set in a highly competitive school that emphasizes achievement and scores above all else, the drama will lay bare the absurdities and hypocrisies of the education system while also featuring the growth stories of the students who struggle to move forward, one step at a time.

Patriarchy, Abuse and Gender Roles in Asian Dramas

WARNING: This article contains sensitive content

Note: Also, I'm aware that some of these dramas have good aspects as well, but I'm going to focus only on patriarchy, abuse and gender roles. I'm also aware that what I'm talking about here is not restricted to Asian culture only, so there is no need to get insulted if it so happens.

Asian dramas in general are very entertaining, however, there is a dark side to almost everything, and that includes Asian dramas and some of the values and relationship models that have been promoted by them and media. This topic is not related to the Asian entertainment industry alone, its roots are deeper and they lie in Asian culture, history and gender issues.

22nd Completed Drama: Mrs. Cop

Mrs. Cop

Episodes: 18

Country: South Korea

Aired: Aug. 3, 2015 - Sep. 29, 2015

Network: SBS

Duration: 1 hr. 5 mins.

Genres: Action, Crime, Detective, Investigation

Viewers Rating: 8.0/10

My Rating: 8.0/10

MyDramaList Link

Synopsis: Choi Young Jin is a female detective squad chief. She also raises her daughter Ha Eun. At work, she deals with brutal crimes with her senior detective Park Jong Ho and squad members Min Do Young, Han Jin Woo, Jo Jae Deok and Lee Se Won.

21st Completed Drama: Yong Pal

Yong Pal

Synonyms: The Gang Doctor

Episodes: 18

Country: South Korea

Aired: Aug. 5, 2015 - Oct. 1, 2015

Network: SBS

Duration: 1 hr. 5 mins.

Genres: Action, Drama, Medical, Romance

Viewers Rating: 8.1/10

My Rating: 7.0/10

MyDramaList Link

Synopsis: Kim Tae Hyun is a talented surgeon. Desperate for money to pay his sister's medical bills, he adopts the code name Yong Pal and offers his medical skills to those in need of medical attention but who cannot do so publicly, dealing with gangsters and corrupt plutocrats. It is while making such a house call that Tae Hyun rescues "sleeping beauty" Han Yeo Jin, a chaebol heiress, from a medically induced coma, leading to unintended consequences.