Booking Ahead/Weekly Wrap Up
23 January 2022
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Booking Ahead, Caffeinated Reviewer, Weekly wrap up
I’m trying to get back into the habit of doing a round-up of the week just completed and also take a look at my plans for the forthcoming week. I rather got out of the habit of doing this but I would like to reinstate this type of post as I feel it keeps me on track. So, I’m linking up to The Sunday Post over at Kimberly’s Caffeinated Reviewer. Without further ado:
So, this week my reading has been a little slower but I’ve read one book and started on the second. I would like this week to pick up another of my SPFBO books. I managed to complete A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross. I did enjoy this but it certainly isn’t a fast read and it didn’t quite knock my socks off the way I’d hoped. Well, highs and lows but the main story is good if a little slow to move forward. My review will be up tomorrow. I’ve started The Great witch of Brittany by Louisa Morgan and although its early days I’m fairly confident in saying I like this one very much already.
Books read this week:
Next Week’s Reads:
I’m definitely going to complete The Great Witch of Brittany by Louisa Morgan and will then make a start on Echo by Thomas Olde Heuvelt.
Reviews Posted since last week:
None this week – eek – but A River Enchanted will be forthcoming.
Outstanding reviews:
A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross.
Friday Face Off : Like a fine wine
21 January 2022
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Books by Proxy, Friday Face off, Harry Harrison, The Stainless Steel Rat
Here we are again with the Friday Face Off meme created by Books by Proxy . This is a great opportunity to feature some of your favourite book covers. The rules are fairly simple each week, following a predetermined theme (list below) choose a book (this doesn’t have to be a book that you’ve read), compare a couple of the different covers available for that particular book and choose your favourite. Future’s themes are listed below – if you have a cover in mind that you’re really wanting to share then feel free to leave a comment about a future suggested theme. I’ve also listed events that take place during the year, that I’m aware of, so you can link up your covers – if you’re aware of any events that you think I should include then give me a shout.
I’ve added themes in below. For information, I’m trying out some new ideas so along with coming up with particular items for book covers I thought we could also look for certain elements contained within the book or that play a large part in the story – this really broadens things out because I have plenty of more ideas with this – I’ve gone for a few of the Tough Travel Themes (so a book with that theme – just choose any book – the theme isn’t necessarily on the cover, then compare covers), also, I’ve thrown in some genres and some colours. Hopefully this will open things out a little and give us some more freedom to come up with new books.
This week’s theme:
Like a fine wine – a sci fi book written on or before 1975
Well, there are plenty of sci-fi books published before 1975 so I look forward to seeing what everyone comes up with. I can’t remember whether I’ve used this book before but it’s a book that I read as part of an early Vintage Sci-fi event. The Stainless Steel Rat by Harry Harrison. Here are a small selection of the covers:
I cannot deny that the cocktail glass appeals to me (ahem) and is that a tiny little space ship stirrer – I want one! I also like the cover with the chaotic background and bodies flying to and fro. But, I’m going with the red cover with the stainless steel rat because it feels appropriate:
Do you have a favourite?
If you know of an event that’s coming up let me know and I’ll try and include covers that work for the event itself so that you can link up to the Friday Face Off and, as always, if you wish to submit an idea then leave me a comment – or if you’d like to host a week then simply let me know. Also, I would just mention that it’s very possible that some of these might be repeats from previous FFOs although I have tried to invent more ‘open ended’ prompt that can be interpreted differently and also prompts that relate to emotions. Finally, don’t struggle with any of these, this is meant to be a fun way of highlighting books. If you can’t come up with a book you think fits for a particular week use a freebie – perhaps a recent read for example:
Next Week – In space nobody can hear you scream – murder mystery in space
2022
When is a challenge not a challenge?
20 January 2022
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Bingo, Book Challenges, Picture Prompt Book Bingo, The Sound of Madness
When it sounds like so much fun that it will be a doddle (words that may come back to bite me).
I don’t usually sign up for challenges – well apart from 100 books a year over at Goodreads – but that doesn’t feel like a challenge because I roughly read two books a week so it’s more a given rather than an actual achievement. Anywho, this year I’ve seen two challenges that I really like the look of. Both of them are book bingo. To be honest I’ve never really been drawn to book bingo before which is kind of crazy because I’m sure I would easily be able to fit some of my reads to the prompts – but, what can I say, I’m a bit lazy.
So, why the change this year. Well, I’ve seen two bingo cards that I just like the look of – and I really am that fickle.
One is a picture prompt and the other are prompts inspired by music. Here they both are:
The first book bingo event has been created by the ever so lovely Mayri over at Bookforager. Check out her original post here and be simply in awe of the beautiful visuals that she’s come up with.
I love the pictures – I am a simple soul after all – and what really grabs me for this one is that I have absolutely no idea what I’m going to come up with for some of them. There may be some very creative book keeping going on and maybe a few crazy interpretations. The first rule of book bingo is that everybody talks about book bingo. The second rule of book bingo is that there are no (other) rules.
My second book bingo has been dreamt up by ‘She Who Must Be Obeyed’, Queen Terrible Timy over at the Queen’s Book Asylum. This challenge is called the Sound of Madness and all the prompts are music inspired. The original post is here and the bingo card is below:
Image created by Queen’s Book Asylum
Again, I’m going to have to do some creative thinking to shuffle some books into these spots – but I’m sure there will be crossovers between the two bingo cards, right??
I think part of the fun for both of these will be looking at my shelf for the first half of this year and seeing how I can manhandle some of my books to fit these prompts.
This should be fun and I’m not going to give myself any stress about it so take a look at both these and see if you fancy joining in one or both.
That’s it for now. I’m thinking I may post a monthly progress report (combined with my last of the month bookish update post).
(Mayri/Timy – I’ve used your bingo cards which I hope is okay but if not then let me know and I’ll remove them)
Can’t Wait Wednesday : Nettle and Bone by T Kingfisher
19 January 2022
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Can't wait Wednesday, Nettle and bone, T Kingfisher, Wishful Endings
“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme that was originally created by Breaking the Spine. Unfortunately Breaking the Spine are no longer hosting so I’m now linking my posts up to Wishful Endings Can’t Wait Wednesday. Don’t forget to stop over, link up and check out what books everyone else is waiting for. If you want to take part, basically, every Wednesday, we highlight a book that we’re really looking forward to. This week my book is: Nettle and Bone by T Kingfisher. I love the description:
After years of seeing her sisters suffer at the hands of an abusive prince, Marra—the shy, convent-raised, third-born daughter—has finally realized that no one is coming to their rescue. No one, except for Marra herself.
Seeking help from a powerful gravewitch, Marra is offered the tools to kill a prince—if she can complete three impossible tasks. But, as is the way in tales of princes, witches, and daughters, the impossible is only the beginning.
On her quest, Marra is joined by the gravewitch, a reluctant fairy godmother, a strapping former knight, and a chicken possessed by a demon. Together, the five of them intend to be the hand that closes around the throat of the prince and frees Marra’s family and their kingdom from its tyrannous ruler at last.
Expected Publication : April 2022
Top Ten Tuesday : 2021 Releases I Was Excited to Read But Didn’t Get To
18 January 2022
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Books I hoped to read in 2021, That Artsy Reader Girl, Top Ten Tuesday
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme where every Tuesday we look at a particular topic for discussion and use various (or more to the point ten) bookish examples to demonstrate that particular topic. Top Ten Tuesday (created and hosted by The Broke and Bookish) is now being hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl and future week’s topics can be found here. This week’s topic is:
2021 Releases I Was Excited to Read But Didn’t Get To
I actually did a very similar post just before Christmas but the theme today gives me the opportunity to highlight a few more books that I didn’t manage to get to. I know, I am suitably ashamed. I tried to read them all but my over enthusiastic optimism of wanting far too many books got the better of me I’m afraid. Plus, last year was definitely a bit of a write off for me and my blogging and reading suffered as a result. Hopefully, I can catch up with some of these books this year in fact I have a couple of ideas for challenges that I think some of these books will be perfect for:
Game Changer by Neal Shusterman
Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller
The Broken God by Gareth Hanrahan
The 22 Murders of Madison May by Max Barry
Spirits of Vengeance (A Mortal Techniques novel) by Rob J Hayes
Given to Darkness by Phil Williams
The Infernal Riddle of Thomas Peach by Jas Treadwell
I shot the Devil by Ruth McIver
The House of Dust by Noah Broyles
Last Girl Ghosted by Lisa Unger
Books and travelling with Lynn 