• Uncategorized

    3 YA books TBR in 2018

    This is a post dedicated to the top 3 YA books that were talked about all over the bookish community that I didn’t get chance to read in 2017. They are below with front covers and synopsis’s’ so you can see if you want to read them too… I’m sure you will!

    Turtles all the way down – John Green

    The story centers around 16-year-old Aza Holmes, a high school student living with multiple anxiety disorders, and her search for a fugitive billionaire. The only other details of the plot known to the public before release were that it contains, either literally or figuratively, tuatara, Star Warsfanfiction, an unexpected reunion, friendship and values of life. -Wikipedia.

    La Belle Savage – Phillip Pullman

    Set ten years before the His Dark Materials trilogy, the story follows 11-year-old Malcolm Polstead, his dæmon Asta, a village girl named Alice and her dæmon Ben who become the protectors of the infant Lyra Belacqua and her dæmon, Pantalaimon, in their canoe, La Belle Sauvage, after a flood. The novel introduces the alethiometer specialist Hannah Relf and a new villain, Gerard Bonneville. Returning characters include Lyra’s father Lord Asriel and mother Mrs Coulter, and the Gyptian elder Farder Coram. -Wikipedia

    Stalking Jack the Ripper – Kerri Maniscalco

    (Actually this is the first book in the series, released 2016 but I want to read this before starting her 2017 “Hunting prince Dracula”)

    The book follows Audrey Rose Wadsworth, in 1888 London. Audrey along with Thomas Cresswell twist their way through the London back world in order to discover who is harvesting and killing woman. And the shocking discovery of who is JacktheRipper. – Wikia/Fandom

    Have you read any of these? Are they on your TBR? Would you recommend them?

  • Books,  REVIEWS

    [REVIEW] Wicked – Gregory Maguire

    Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

    All about Politics, Witches and Wizards.

    I want to say I am reviewing this book after not reading in ages! Now that I think of it, I really should do a re-read at the end of the year when I get some time out of my busy reading schedule.

    This book is my all-time favourite book and it’s pretty good if I may say so myself. On my first read, I dived right into and it took me about 3 days to finish it. I really loved it.

    It is basically the backstory of who the “Wicked Witch of the West” in “The Wizard of Oz” is; where she came from, how she became “wicked” and why the wizard doesn’t like her.

    WARNING:

    I personally read the book before seeing the musical and felt it was an added bonus to the book & a FANTASTIC SHOW but do not be under the illusion that if you do decide to choose to approach Wicked the other way you will get the same experience ..you WON’T

    If you are looking to read this book (and the rest of the series) before watching the musical on Broadway/west-end I would wholly recommend this. However, I must caution anyone who has watched the Musical – This book is a long and sometimes quite a hard read. Although it is interesting it’s NOT like the musical suggests; fun and easy.

  • Books

    Christmas Reads? 2017

    As you are probably already aware, by the date this was posted, that Christmas isn’t far away. This is the closest I get to being festive online and I am getting excited to have lots of fun with family and friends!

    I am doing my top 3 reads that I think you could read this Christmas (2017). As always it is your choice on what you read but I think these are some brilliant suggestions to get you in the Christmas mood…

    1. Harry Potter – JK Rowling – Yes, there are scenes where the characters are around at Christmas but it is not a festive book as such but when I read the books they made me feel awesome & festive!
    2. Little Women – Louisa May Alcott – This is a book I am currently reading. It is a classic & once again after watching the old film I understand there are scenes of Christmas but not Christmasy.
    3. A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens – This is the classic tale of a business man in Victorian London who gets shown how to be festive. I’ve seen loads of film adaptations but never read the book.

    Are you planning on reading any Christmasy books this year? What are they & are they traditional tales or modern classics? Tell me in the comments below.

     

    MERRY CHRISTMAS, ONE & ALL

  • Books

    GoodReads Reading Challenge 2017.

    I am finally coming up to the end of my GoodReads Challenge in 2017.

    As you might have noticed I upped my amount of books to 15 as I went over 12 earlier in the year.

    This may seem quite small but it is because I am going from; A person who would not touch a book, in months, to; A girl who is now reading pretty much all my free time (when not sleeping, volunteering at a library – with free access to more books, learning a language or studying at home.)

    The reason I choose the GoodReads Challenge was that I needed the motivation to read again.

    I had the perfect opportunity to start from scratch and make a new blog . to try and encourage me to carry on going. I am now in about 4 groups on facebook dedicated to reading and blogging so I have the community around me now.

    How are you progressing with your Goodreads challenge? Are you happy reading? Do you feel more pressure to read within the book community because others are? Give me your thoughts and your responses to others!

  • Books

    About unpaid books online,

    Well, this topic has recently come to light. How do you free about sent copies of books online? Are they worth it? How do you get them? I have found out the hard way, via Facebook, how controversial this subject actually can actually get.

    I asked an innocent question “how do you get free books and how long does it take you read them. I had over 130 comments ranging from”good luck with your blog, it takes time” to “I think you’re blogging for the wrong reasons” type thing.

    I then went out there anyway and just asked for one – YES, it is worth trying.

    I have recently joined up on NetGalley and got 9 online e-books in the last month. The idea is that I go on to give full feedback & publish a review about how the book was. This has made me feel honoured as a new blog reviewer that they would allow me the opportunity to do a good service and be trusted to follow out on my review.

    On top of that, I saw by chance a new up-and-coming author on Twitter showing her new book and read an excerpt. I was hooked. I found out by browsing her tweets that she was giving away a load of ARCs from USA so I messaged her my address to send me the book (bear in mind I live in the UK) and she said Yes.

    I have never felt more humbled that she said yes to me out of anyone, but then again I think it was “first come, first serve” kinda thing. I am so excited to receive this book, read it and then review – it’s crazy. The thing is I still don’t know if I’m going to receive it. I guess I just need to be patient and wait it out.

    ISN’T READING, WHAT BOOK BLOGGING IS ALL ABOUT?

    My main query is: are “sent” books really acceptable? is it rude to ask? & should you just stick to book sales or the libraries?

    What are your opinions? Let me know!

    • Would you ask online for a copy?
    • how long did it take you to your 1st?
    • Have you regretted ask/reading?
    • Do you find ask/receiving ARCs offensive?

    ALSO – Are e-book better than paper copies?

    EDIT: I now have a review policy for authors who wish to send me a copy of their book to read and review. This is at their discretion – I reply with either yes or no – also depending on whether it hit my criteria for a book I would read normally.