So far so good…
21 June 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: The Broke and the Bookish, Top 10 books for first 6 months of 2016, Top Ten Tuesday
Every Tuesday over at the 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. The topic this week is:
Top Ten Favorite 2016 Releases So Far This Year
Not sure if all of these are new releases this year but these are my top 10 books so far this year:
- The Wheel of Osheim by Mark Lawrence
- City of Blades by Robert J Bennett
- The Immortals by Jordanna Max Brodsky
- The Silver Tide by Jen Williams
- US of Japan by Peter Tieryas
- Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye
- Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
- Stranger of Tempest by Tom Lloyd
- Monstrous Little Voices by Jonathan Barnes, Emma Newman, Kate Heartfield, Fox Meadows, Adrian Tchaikovsky
- Company Town by Madeline Ashby
Wait till they get a load of me…
14 June 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: 2016 anticipated releases, The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesday
Every Tuesday over at the 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. The topic this week is:
Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases For The Second Half Of The Year
- The Thorn of Emberlain by Scott Lynch. I love this series and can’t wait to read more of Locke and Jean’s adventures.
- The Waking Fire by Anthony Ryan. Loved the first series by this author and very keen to see what he does next.
- Den of Wolves by Juliet Marilier (Blackthorn and Grim #3). I have to catch up with No.2 but even so I want this book – the writing is gorgeous and so are the covers.
- Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo (Six of Crows #2)
- The Last Day of New Paris by China Mieville – I haven’t read this author yet but love the sound of this one.
- Ghost Wakers by Mary Robinette Kowal – another author I really want to read and this book looks like a great starting point.
- Gods of Nabban by K V Johansen – I love the sound of this one
- The Wall of Storms by Ken Liu. The first book was epic! I need more
- The Gates of Hell by Michael Livingston
- With Blood Upon the Sand by Bradley Beaulieu (the Song of the Shattered Sands No.2) No cover or firm release date for this one yet but fingers crossed.
What makes made it onto your most wanted list?
Sea, Sun, Sand and something good to read…
31 May 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: 10 beach reads, The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesday
Every Tuesday over at the 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. The topic this week is:
Beach Reads Week — top ten great beach reads
To be honest I don’t really pick books that I think are suitable for the beach, I just read what I like to read all year round. In terms of books that I’ve read though that I think would be suitable I’ve gone for a mix of complicated and light and easy. After all when you’re chilled out and not stressing about all your usual activities it’s easier to concentrate isn’t it.
- Romance factor: The Outlander (Cross Stitch) by Diana Gabaldon. Alternate history/time travel.
- Fun factor: The Traitor’s Blade by Sebastien de Castell – really good, fun and easy to read.
- Whimsical/Fairytale feel: Dreamer’s Pool by Juliet Marllier – which I absolutely love!
- Longer vacation book: Patrick Rothfuss the Name of the Wind – because this is a bit of a huge book but well worth it!
- Book to concentrate on: The Shards of Heaven by Michael Livingston – this is a great book, alternate Roman.
- Thought provoking: Just City by Jo Walton.
- Love story: The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons.
- Alternate stories: Jane Steele by Lindsay Faye – this is a story with parallels (although not a retelling) of Jane Eye and it’s brilliant. Definitely make a great holiday read and one you won’t be able to put down.
- Something scary: The Beast of Barcroft by Bill Schweigart – critters in the dark and creepy woods.
- The series that keeps on giving: (so you can continue with yet more after you come off holiday) Grimdark reading by Mark Lawrence: The Broken Empire and The Red Queen’s War). Great series, highly recommended.
Purely on a whim..
17 May 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: 10 books picked up on a whim, The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesday
Every Tuesday over at the 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. The topic this week is:
Ten Books I Picked Up On A Whim
So, these are books that I sort of idly picked up, not based on recommendations or were just found at book sales when I wasn’t looking with anything particular in mind:
- Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss – I actually found this at a second hand book store and just quite liked the cover and blurb – I also figured it might be something my dad would enjoy so I thought ‘why not’!
- The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch – was another book store find – similar to the above. I think it was super cheap so again I thought I’d give it a try.
- Poison Study by Maria Snyder – which I loved and also found similarly to the above.
- Longbourn by Jo Baker – I really did pick this one up in a moment of whimsy because I’ve never liked the idea of authors tackling subjects written by other authors – and look what happened – I loved this!
- Jane Steel by Lindsay Faye – I was sent this book by the publisher and was so intrigued by the concept, plus it has a similar storyline to Jane Eyre which is one of my favourites so I though I’d have a go – I really enjoyed this one.
- All the Truth That’s in Me by Julie Berry. Oddly enough this book was a recommendation but to be honest it was one that I didn’t really fancy having a go of. Fortunately I went for it and I’m so pleased I did. This is a really compelling tale.
- Witch Light by Susan Fletcher. This is one of my favourites. I found this in a ‘3 books for £5 sale in The Works and think I chose it to make up the numbers. As it happens it was an absolute ‘find’ and I’ve read everything by this author since!
- Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice – this was another of my The Works ‘specials’ and I was really pleased with it.
- The Rebel Angels by Gillian Philips. This wasn’t a recommendation but I saw an article about the first book – Firebrand and decided to give it a go. I loved this series.
- Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier – I found this, along with a lot of other favourites, amongst my dad’s books. He never actually told me which books to read I just slowly made my way though them and Rebecca was and still is a firm favourite.
#artitupwithfriends : Wicked Fairy
5 May 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: #artitupwithfriends, 'wicked fairy', @badaliceshop, @pabkins, The Broke and the Bookish
For the month of May I am going to try and take part in a daily drawing challenge organised by @pabkins and @badaliceshop. These will only be sketches but if you check out the #artitupwithfriends hashtag you’ll see some really excellent pieces of art! Each day the aim is to sketch or draw using the word for the day. Today is ‘wicked fairy’. This is a sinister and sweet themed month. Tomorrow’s prompt is ‘Wishes’. (This could be either a fairy who has just stolen a fairy cake or just a fairy fairy cake! You decide..
Books and travelling with Lynn 