Roll up, roll up, roll up
7 April 2017
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Books by Proxy, Friday Face off, Ray Bradbury, Something Wicked This Way Comes
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, compare a couple of the different covers available for that particular book and choose your favourite. Future week’s themes are listed below. This week’s theme:
Circus “You can get the monkey off your back, but the circus never leaves town!
Again, it feels like we only just had this theme so coming up with another cover was not easy. I’m not sure if my choice falls more into ‘carnival’ than ‘circus’ and I’m not sure if it matters so I’m just going to go ahead anyway:
I like a few of these. The copy I own is the green and black on the top row. I rather like the middle cover, the red one with the stormy clouds and the mysterious figure but I love this one:
Which is your favourite?
Next week – Easter
Future themes:
14/04/2017 – Easter “The rabbit of Easter. He bring the chocolate”
21/04/2017 – Bridge “I demolish my bridges behind me…then there is no choice but to push forward”
28/04/2017 – Beach/Seaside”Oh I do like to be beside the seaside!”
05/05/2017 – Lion “If you place your head in a lion’s mouth, then you cannot complain one day if he happens to bite it off”
12/05/2017 – Phone “Don’t use the phone. People are never ready to answer it”
19/05/2017 – Plane “When everything seem to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it ….”
26/05/2017 – Mice “Of all the words of mice and men, the saddest are, ‘it might have been’…”
02/06/2017 – Moon “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars”
09/06/2017 – Mummy “It shuffles through the dry, dusty darkness”
16/06/2017 – Guitar “You couldn’t not like someone who liked the guitar”
23/06/2017 – Cat “In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this”
30/06/2017 – Hat “It is always cruel to laugh at people, of course, although sometimes if they are wearing an ugly hat it is hard to control yourself “
07/07/2017 – Gold “All that is gold does not glitter”
14/07/2017 – Boats “The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea, in a beautiful pea green boat…”
21/07/2017 – Planet “Any planet is ‘Earth’ to those who live on it”
Friday Firsts: The Path of Flames by Phil Tucker
7 April 2017
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Friday Firsts, Phil Tucker, tenacious reader, The Path of Flames
Friday Firsts is a new meme that runs every Friday over on Tenacious Reader. The idea is to feature the first few sentences/paragraph of your current book and try and outline your first impressions as a result. This is a quick and easy way to share a snippet of information about your current read and to perhaps tempt others. Stop on by and link up with Tenacious Reader. This Friday I’m reading : Path of Flames by Phil Tucker.
The wind plucked at Lord Kyferin’s war banner, causing the black wolf emblazoned on the field of white to snap fitfully as if impatient with the delay. Asho shivered at the sight despite the quilted undercoat that he wore beneath his chainmail, and sat up straighter in Crook’s saddle. For years he had only seen the war banner hanging above his Lord’s high chair in the great hall, limp and still, but now it rippled and surged as if awakened and thirsting for blood. It was his first time riding into war with the Black Wolves. Even though he was at the back of the company with the other squires, he felt as vividly alive and terrified as if he were positioned in the vanguard.
Asho raised his chin. He’d die before he let the others see his fear.
“Asho!” Lord Kyferin’s bellow carried over the cacophony of the great army arrayed around them. “Where are you hiding? Get up here, now!”
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Alardus and Cuncz smirk, could feel the cold stares from Cune and Tyzce. A squire he might be, but the others saw only his white hair and pale skin, the tell-tale signs of a Bythian. That he was free and rode by their side was an outrage they would never forgive.
My First Impressions
I think this gets off to a very good start – and having read further on I confess that my first impression in that respect was spot on. Clearly, peace has reigned for a few years by the sound of it. What changed? And Asho, I’m very curious about him and the way he is treated.
What you reading this Friday?? What are your first impressions??
*The above excerpt was taken from an advanced reader copy and it is possible that the final version may have further changes.
The Music Box Girl by K A Stewart #SPFBO
6 April 2017
Filed under #SPFBO, Book Reviews
Tags: #SPFBO 2016, K A Stewart, The Music Box Girl
The Music Box Girl was my sixth SPFBO book (details here.). This is a book that borrows very heavily from the Phantom of the Opera story but brings something new to the tale with the addition of steampunk elements and a most unexpected ‘phantom’. To be honest I had a good time with this one. It’s got a good pace, the focus isn’t all on the musical elements, which I did worry about going in but needn’t have done so, and whilst there is a bit of a cheesy feel to the ending I found this a quick and enjoyable read.
At the start of the story we make the brief acquaintance of a couple of characters sorting through the clutter in an attic when they come across an unknown manuscript and this is where the story begins.
We start with a hopeful young man called Anton as he follows his dreams to the Opera House hoping to become the next tenor. The role is currently filled, albeit it by a fellow who is past his prime and is also something of a prima donna to boot. Anton ends the day without an audition in sight but with a job under his belt working with the stage crew. Anton has a wonderful voice, full of promise, if in need of a bit of tutoring. Waiting in the wings, of course, is the character that everyone believes to be the ghost of the Opera House, a character that wants the performance to be perfect and sees in Anton the opportunity to accomplish that goal. All Anton needs is a few lessons from a master performer.
I won’t go too much more into the plot, this is a fast paced book that makes for a remarkably quick read so there’s no need for me to be throwing out spoilers left and right.
The characters – the primary focus is Anton and of course the woman who reappears in his life, an adventurer known as Bess. These two were childhood friends but as their relationship began to develop, and perhaps teetered on the edge of something more, Bess was sent away to school by her mother who was only too aware of the inappropriateness of such a match. For years Bess has travelled the world, taking part in adventures with her stories being written about on a regular basis in the newspapers back home. She doesn’t want to stay at home and wear corsets – and who can blame her – she longs for something more, only returning begrudgingly home to recharge her batteries after her last jaunt went a little bit pear shaped. Of course, the fates intervene and not only does Anton find himself performing on the opening night but Bess, accompanying her old friend and husband on a rare night out, find themselves with box seats. And voila – the two are reunited.
Again, I won’t go into the mystery character – other than to say here lies jealousy, obsession and danger.
The setting is Detroit. A bustling hive of activity. Home to the invention of automatons that are now used far and wide it has become the centre of innovation and culture. The Opera House is the gleaming gem in the Detroit crown.
What did I like about this, there’s mystery and intrigue, secret passages, ghosts, steampunk elements, a mild romance, jealousy, murder and chase scenes that end in escape by dirigible. This is a fast paced read, the pages just fly by and I found myself wanting to read on to find out what was really going on. There is enough attention to detail to put you into the frame without being overdone and the author manages to create a lingering feeling of creepy suspense and provides the place with a touch of old fashioned gothic.
Did I have criticisms. Yes. This could have used a little more finesse. Certain elements were rather cheesy, particularly the ending. The characters are not particularly deep and certain elements of the story didn’t entirely make sense, or at least certain actions of some of the characters. I think if you were of a mind to, you could probably pick a few holes here and there but to be honest, I wasn’t of a mind to – I was, purely and simply, enjoying the fact that I could so easily sink into the story and enjoy the entertainment.
A good read, not particularly ground breaking I suppose but a new twist on an old tale with plenty of action and drama to help you power through it.
Waiting on Wednesday : The Space Between the Stars by Anne Corlett
5 April 2017
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Anne Corlett, Breaking the Spine, The Space Between the Stars, Waiting on Wednesday
In a breathtakingly vivid and emotionally gripping debut novel, one woman must confront the emptiness in the universe—and in her own heart—when a devastating virus reduces most of humanity to dust and memories.
All Jamie Allenby ever wanted was space. Even though she wasn’t forced to emigrate from Earth, she willingly left the overpopulated, claustrophobic planet. And when a long relationship devolved into silence and suffocating sadness, she found work on a frontier world on the edges of civilization. Then the virus hit…
Now Jamie finds herself dreadfully alone, with all that’s left of the dead. Until a garbled message from Earth gives her hope that someone from her past might still be alive.
Soon Jamie finds other survivors, and their ragtag group will travel through the vast reaches of space, drawn to the promise of a new beginning on Earth. But their dream will pit them against those desperately clinging to the old ways. And Jamie’s own journey home will help her close the distance between who she has become and who she is meant to be…
Expected publication June 2017
Squee with me.
4 April 2017
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Fandoms, The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesday
Every Tuesday over at The Broke and Bookish we all get to look at a particular topic for discussion and use various (or more to the point ten) examples to demonstrate that particular topic. This week’s topic is:
top ten fandoms I’m in
I’m not really in any fandoms as such, I don’t think I am any way, but I am a fan of things. Especially bookish things – so without further ado here they are:
- Quotes. I’m in my own little fandom for quotes. Most of these are from films, some are from books. Now, when I say I’m into quotes let me be clear. I don’t mean wonderful words of literary wisdom – not because I don’t like ‘wonderful words of literary wisdom’ – just that they’re not the first thing that pop into my head given a situation. Of course, not everyone is always on the same page so when I come out with some line or other from Monty Python or Young Frankenstein or Star Wars, or just about any other film I’ve watched and enjoyed, not everyone is aware of what I’m going on about – inconceivable! Truly inconceivable.
- Lord of the Rings. You just have to love LotR – you really DO! It is folly not too. First of all the book is great. Second of all Aragorn. (c) three damn mighty fine movies – and, to get back to number (1) – lots of quote material ‘one does not simply…’
- The Classics Club – this is a great little club if you want to meet some friendly people who are all into reading the classics – its a really lovely easy going club, you can take part in their monthly memes or draw up your own list of classics that you’d like to read in your own timeframe – no stress. I like no stress.
- Harry Potter – quote fest much.
- Kindles – who knew that I would be my own Kindle (or e-rearder) fandom. Not me. I railled. I sulked. I practically had a tantrum when my husband bought me one with something along the lines of “How dare you, I will never read electronic books!” delivered in, I assure you, a suitably affronted and haughty fashion. And now, well, I just sit and eat humble pie. Lots of it. Mm, mm, I love that humble pie – everyone loves pie don’t they – and, you can eat humble pie whilst reading your favourite book on your e-reader, because it’s easy to swipe the page.
- Books, obviously.. But, notwithstanding the e-rearder comment above, I still love to collect books. Something about the feel and the smell of books. And lets face it the shelves won’t fill themselves now will they. Technically speaking, mine may be a little full already (hence the husband buying the e-reader).
- Jean Tannen. Yes, I am the Jean Tannen fandom. There’s only me in the fandom of course, not because nobody else likes Jean Tannen – I simply won’t let anybody else join. He’s all mine.
- Libraries – libraries are the bees hips, the camels pajamas and the cats knees. Me likey libraries. I don’t tend to use my library as much as I used to – I’d probably use it more if they had more ebooks available – it just makes life easier – and quick. But still I have to give a shout out to libraries.
- Book blogs. You people. You’ve given me a burgeoning TBR. That mountain is likely to fall over one day and smother somebody – if I go missing for a prolonged period, send out a search party. That is all. Although, in fairness, now I’m buying more e-books, the mountain has undergone a slight slow down in growth as the books are now stashed, safely, out there in the ether. Up in a cloud. But, without all you other bloggers and your enthusiasm and constant recommendations I would have missed some mighty fine books. Moving in your own little bubble does restrict your ability to pick all the good books after all. Thank you all of you, I’m your biggest fan!
- This one is for you – your very own fandom space – tell me what it is, so that I can join in with you.
And now, for posterity, whenever you’re in one of those situations, the one where you’ve just had enough, it’s all too much, and then, just one more piece of junk lands on top, the straw that breaks the camel’s back – this is just for you, this is what you can say in such a situation:
