Delighted, enchanted and thrilled to meet you!
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the Broke and the Bookish where each week we’re challenged to come up with 10 books or book related ‘things’ in line with the topic for that particular week. This week’s theme is:
Ten Authors I REALLY Want To Meet
So, firstly, I don’t want to meet any authors to be honest – they make me nervous which is a new feeling for me and not one that I enjoy. I simply become tongue tied and red faced. But, for the sake of this week’s theme I’m going to make out like that wouldn’t be the case and come up with ten authors who I can talk the socks off:
- In a twist of irony I’d like to travel back in a time machine and meet HGWells to discuss The Time Machine.
- Neil Gaiman, I’ve actually been to see an event at which Mr Gaiman spoke and he’s incredibly lovely – I’d like to meet him but only if he can take me on a tour of the streets from London Below.
- Jane Austen, I’m prepared to donn a long frock and bonnet for the opportunity for a chat with Ms Austen – preferrably over a tea dance or on a visit at Longbourn.
- JKRowling – a trip to Hogwarts and a ride on a Hippogriff and Ms Rowling can explain why the series had to end!!
- In which I travel to the Waystone Inn to be served a flagon of something tasty whilst listening to Bast play a fiddle and when, by hook or by crook I discover the release date for the next instalment from Patrick Rothfuss. That’s right Mr Rothfuss I’m inviting you for an ale or three! There will be words – tongues will be loosened (by alcohol that is!)
- Orson Welles – I don’t think any explanation is needed for this. Perhaps I could meet him in a dark gothic mansion – I’m thinking of the setting for a film he starred in – Jane Eyre, where he played Mr Rochester.
- Shakespeare – I’m going to need the time machine again! Wouldn’t you just love to travel back in time and be a fly on the wall in Shakespearean London? I’ve only read A Midsummer Night’s Dream but even though I’m greatly underread I would love to meet him.
- I couldn’t possibly have this list and omit Mr Tolkien – we can go on an adventure together! Rivendell, Fanghorn Forest even – maybe skip the mines of Moria – too many orcs and they have a cave troll.
- Gillian Philip – for this, I will be travelling beyond the veil to meet in the lands of the Sithe. Let’s just face it, yes, I would love to meet this lovely author and thank her for her rebel angels – in particular the rather easy on the eye Seth. Thank you again and again!
- Margaret Mitchell – who in fact I need to see just to ask ‘why?’ Why would you end it like that? Come on!
Tis all for me this week. Let me know who you would love to meet.
Never say never…
5 May 2015
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: 10 books, I will probably never read, The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesday
This week over at The Broke and Bookish the Top Ten Tuesday topic under discussion is:
‘Ten Books I Will Probably Never Read’
I found this one surprisingly difficult because it just seems so defeatist admitting that I won’t read these books because you never really know. The books I probably won’t get to fall into a few areas – either I’ve had them for so long that they’ve lost their appeal somehow, they’re so huge that I find it daunting or I’ve seen the film already and so lost interest in the book:
- War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy – I did buy a copy of this and tried the first few chapters but I seriously don’t think I will ever complete it. (Big Book Syndrome – BBS)
- Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time – which I feel bad about but the sheer scale of the series just distracts me. There’s a lot of love for this series though so part of me really does want to go there! BBS
- Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell – this is a book that has a lot of positive reviews but I’ve seen the film and it always puts me off reading the book. I have to read the book first.
- Life of Pi by Yann Martel – for the same reason as above – already seen the film.
- The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton – this book is suffering from being sat on the tbr for too long. I bought it ages ago and really liked the look of it but I find that the longer the book sits looking at me the more my interest dwindles.
- Looking for Alaska by John Green – another book that I bought eons ago!
- Part of a series that I’ve lost interest in – The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness. Read the first two but don’t think I will complete the series.
- Tallula Rising (The Last Werewolf No.2) by Glen Duncan. Unfortunately this was another series that I started but just didn’t work out for me.
- Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn – seen the film so won’t pick the book up now.
- The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson
‘Don’t make me angry, you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry!’
27 April 2015
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Characters with form than one form, Shapeshifters, Skinwalkers, The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesday
This week at the Broke and the Bookish the topic for Top Ten Tuesday is :
Top Ten Books Which Feature Characters Who _____:
– can change – either weres, shapeshifters, skin walkers, etc’
- Mercedes Thompson from Patricia Briggs series. Mercy is a great character, I’ve loved watching her develop throughout the course of the books. Mercy is a ‘walker’ who can turn into a Coyote.
- Suzume from M L Brennan’s Generation V. Suzume is one of my favourite characters at the moment. She has a great sense of fun and her cheeky nature stems from the fact that she is actually a fox – that can become human – that’s pretty unique I’d say!
- Atticus from Kevin Hearne’s Druid Chronicles – Atticus is a druid who can turn into a number of different forms – I’m pretty sure one of which is an owl and also a dog. Not sure if he has any others at this point.
- Tamlin – this is a recent read by author Sarah J Maas – A Court of Thorns and Roses – Tamlin is fae and has the ability to turn into a strange beast, a mix of bear, wolf and I don’t know what!
- Sam from Charlaine Harris’ True Blood series. Sam can take any form but usually takes that of a dog.
- Sirius Black from J K Rowling’s Harry Potter – a huge black dog. I do like the character Sirius
- Shallan Davar from Sanderson’s Word of Radiance. Shallan is a low born light eyes. It turns out she has many strange abilities, one of which is to capture somebody’s likeness in the form of a drawing and then to be able to change herself to take on their appearance.
- Cassell from the Curse Workers series by Holly Black. Cassell is a transformation worker – he can transform just about anything into anything – including himself!
- Lord Maccon of Gail Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate – I had to go there – he is a bit of a studley after all! A werewolf.
- Jacinda from Sophie Jordan’s Firelight series – I had to include this one as Jacinda is a draki, a descendant of dragons who can shift into human form
Thought I’d spotlight the Hearne books – I do love the covers for this series:
The best of the best of the best, Sir!
21 April 2015
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Best of the Best of the Best, The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesday
I think one ‘best of the best ‘would suffice but nothing like a bit of overkill…
This week at the Broke and the Bookish the topic for Top Ten Tuesday is :
‘Top Ten ALL TIME Favorite Authors’
What a terrible list to have to make! It’s bad. Very. Very. Bad. But, I will choose 10 authors – they will more than likely be the most recent read (although maybe not all). And, yes, of course I will think of 10 others as soon as I commit – but, pffft, time to stop prevaricating and put a ring on it:
- JRRTolkien – I had to go there – Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit. I have read his other books but these are the two stand outs for me. He’s not for everyone but I just love these stories.
- Scott Lynch – The Gentleman Bastards. This is a great series that I love. And, frankly, I’m not kidding anyone here – any author who comes up with Jean Tannen goes on my top 10 best authors. That is all.
- Alice Hoffman – I love her books. They’re just absolutely lovely to read. I definitely recommend Practical Magic, The Story Sisters and Dovekeepers – and, well, let’s face it – lots more!
- Sarah Pinborough – is a fairly new to me author but I love her works, her writing is gorgeous and she’s impossible to pigeon hole – she just totally refuses to get stuck in a box. You never know what to expect because her writing is so diverse. I absolutely loved her fairytale retellings Charmed, Poison, Curse (sorry, that’s probably not the right order).
- Robert Bennett – I love his books. Again, a fairly new to me author introduced to me via a bloody good blogging buddy (Little Red Reviewer – for which my deep thanks!) and my first book being The Troupe which I loved so much I immediately backtracked and read Company Man and Mr Shivers – both really good. Then he came up with American Elsewhere and then blew my mind with City of Stairs. What next!
- Joanne Harris – I’ve not read all her books but it’s probably not for the want of trying. She has a lovely magical way of writing. Chocolat – which everybody knows thanks to the film and the rather lovely Johnny Depp, Blackberry Wine, Coastliners, Holy Fools and The Gospel of Loki – I could go on but nobody wants to read an essay when they’re expecting a list!
- Neil Gaiman – my list would simply not be complete without him. His writing makes me sink, into the chair, through the carpet and straight into the world that he’s writing about. I totally (in an unstalkerish way) love him. The Graveyard Book, Stardust, Neverwhere, the Ocean at the End of the Lane, The Sandman graphic novels, and on and on and on!
- Mark Lawrence – my first introduction into grimdark fantasy and what a fantastic place to start – in fact I don’t think it can get much better. Prince, King and Emperor of Thorns and now from the same world Prince of Fools and the Liar’s Key. If you haven’t read them then what are you waiting for!
- Kate Atkinson – I’ve been reading her books over the years and she’s a great and versatile author. She doesn’t get bogged down in one particular style but always comes up with something fresh. I loved Behind the Scenes at the Museum, Case Histories and Life After Life.
- Daphne DuMaurier – my list wouldn’t be complete without her on it – I haven’t read all of her books but I’ve given it a good try! Rebecca, Jamaica Inn and My Cousin Rachel – just read them.
“Tomorrow, I’ll think of some way to get him back. After all, tomorrow is another day.”
6 April 2015
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: 10 characters you would revisit, The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesday
This week over at the Broke and Bookish the topic for Top Ten Tuesday discussion is:
‘Top Ten Characters You’d Like To Check back In With’
So, would you like to jump back down the rabbit hole again or crawl through the Wardrobe or do you have some place else you’d love to go back to.
- Richard Mayhew from Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere – I loved the world created here in London Below and would love to join Richard again on some more adventures, maybe avoiding the Angel.
- Rhett Butler from Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind – last words being along the lines of ‘frankly my dear I don’t give a damn’ – you have to kind of want to go back and see if Scarlett can win him back.
- Aragorn from Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings – any excuse frankly just to see Aragorn again!
- Melanie from The Girl with all the Gifts by M R Carey – I could definitely read more from this world and I think the ending would lend itself to another book. Although – I think whatever happens next would not have been pretty in most respects.
- Shai from The Emperor’s Soul by Brandon Sanderson. I loved this book and the main character Shai. I hope that Sanderson will one day revisit and give us a few more of her adventures.
- Robert Neville from I am Legend by Richard Matheson. You may think this an odd one. At the end of the book the outcome is bleak for the human race but part of me thinks really, in all the world – which is a pretty big place – there could still be a few people hiding/surviving couldn’t there???
- Wade from Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One. This was such an entertaining read with one of those endings that give you a smile and want you to punch the air. It would be nice to check in on Wade and see what he’s up to now.
- The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt – this was a surprising book for me in that I had no idea I would enjoy a western type story. I loved this and the ending was brilliant. Sometimes it’s best just to walk away with a smile on your face but in their case i would like to revisit the Sisters brothers to see what happened to them – did some of their old exploits come back to haunt them?
- Sunshine and Con from Robin McKinley’s Sunshine. I would definitely like to read about what these two got up to next. An interesting world and definitely worth a visit – don’t think I’d want to relocate there though!
- Corrag from Susan Fletcher’s Witch Light. I absolutely loved this book. It totally captured my attention. I’m just greedy and want more of this so would definitely revisit.
Books and travelling with Lynn 