Do or do not. There is no try!
4 November 2014
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: The Broke and the Bookish, Top 10 Books I'd reread if I had time!, Top Ten Tuesday
This week over at the Broke and Bookish this week’s topic is:
Top Ten Books I Want To Reread in an ideal world – an ideal world being – I suddenly discover the secret of:
- suspending time whilst I read;
- reading so quickly that it only takes the length of time to casually flip the pages to read the book!;
- becoming so filthy rich that I never have to lift a finger again and can focus solely on reading – i.e. no work, no housework, no garden, no dog walking and no cooking – I think I’d probably get bored though – I know these things are time consuming but they make life more enjoyable (well chores not so much!!)
- reading a book whilst listening to another book at the same time; or
- not being so damn greedy and wanting all the books even when I know I can’t possibly read them!
Anyway, without further ado I would check the following out again:
- The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons – just because Alexander!! Well, not JUST because of him – it’s a really good story, I love the setting (it’s in Russia) and the period is incredibly interesting to read about. Seriously though – check out the cover below and tell me would you really considering picking up this book with that cover?
- Cross Stitch by Diana Gabaldon – just because Jamie. Okay, again, not JUST because of Jamie. This is a great series of books (although I haven’t read them all). I love history combined with fantasy not to mention travel back through time.
- The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss – because it’s so brilliant. I really need to reread it. I really need to reread The Wise Man’s Fear as well!! Just such great writing it should be read and reread and then some more.
- The Broken Empire series by Mark Lawrence- I would love to reread the first three Jorg books. They’re so clever I would love to go back – especially as I practically raced to the end of each instalment!
- City of Stairs by Robert Bennett – such fantastic world building, plot, characters – in fact all round brilliance! I would like to read this just to savour it a little.
- Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier – I have already read this 2 or 3 times – one more time couldn’t hurt now could it!
- Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell – this was one of my teenage girl books – I would love to figure out how I feel about it now!
- The Secret History by Donna Tartt – I loved this book when I first read it and I’m just curious to see whether I’d still feel the same.
- Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman – this was my first Gaiman book. I would like to reread and try to capture that lovely happy feeling when you’re so satisfied with a book and realise you’ve found yourself a new favourite author.
- All of Scott Lynch’s books – just because JEAN TANNEN! That is all. Don’t bother to judge me – I have no shame whatsoever. Lalalalala…
‘I am the shadow on the moon at night, filling your dreams to the brim with fright.’
28 October 2014
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Halloween books/films, The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesday
That no account Oogie-Boogie!
This week over at the Broke and the Bookish the theme for Top Ten Tuesday is:
Top Ten Books/Movies To Read Or Watch To Get In The Halloween Spirit
Well – I’m going to go with a split of books and movies – and they might not necessarily be super spooky but I love em:
Books:
- Dracula, Bram Stoker. An absolute must read.
- Frankenstein, Mary Shelley. Frankly, another must read.
- The Woman in Black by Susan Hill – creepy and sinister.
- Longlankin by Lindsay Barraclough- down right scary!
- Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury- a fantastic book and totally apt for the season!
Films:
- Coraline – this is one of those rare occasions where I actually prefer the film to the book (although I like the book the film is such a visual feast).
- A Nightmare Before Christmas – this has to be one of my all time favourite films
- Witches – you have to have witches on Halloween
- Night of the Living Dead – this film I can always watch. A strange blend of creepy horror and humour plus such great quotes! ‘that thing in the cellar is not my mother!’ Not often you get to throw that into a casual conversation but still….
- Fright Night – the 1985 version with Chris Sarandon – downright cheesy and brilliant! Don’t be judging me! Just watch it. The scene with Evil – so funny! OMG – American Werewolf in London – another classic I’m having this on the list as well!
I really need another new series… right?
20 October 2014
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Books series I must have, The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesday
Well, lets face it, good sense never got in the way of me buying new books. So, even though I have Mount TBR and it’s threatening to topple any day and probably smother the dog, not to mention the butterfly effect if this little monster finally goes, this doesn’t stop me envying other people’s book purchases and coveting new shiny ones myself. And, yes – sometimes my ‘ordering finger’ gets a little trigger happy – not to mention that ‘one click’ which is just ridiculously tempting!
So, over at The Broke and the Bookish this week the topic for Top Ten Tuesday is:-
Top New Series I Want To Start (this includes those started fairly recently)
- Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie – had this book for a while – I’m saving it for all the lovely sci-fi goodness that’s just kicking off round the blogging community about now.
- Generation V by M L Brennan – tis the season for fangs after all!
- Prince of Fools by Mark Lawrence – I’ve started this series this year. And, its awesome sauce already. I kid you not.
- Sidekick by Auralee Wallace. This was good fun, I enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next.
- Bloodsong by Anthony Ryan – I’ve read the first and have the second waiting to be read. Bloodsong is so good.
- Age of Iron by Angus Watson – I loved this book and can’t wait for the next instalment – which I believe won’t be too long (next Spring?)
- Red Rising by Pierce Brown – I really enjoyed this first in series. It has a lot of promise and I’m excited for No.2
- City of Stairs by R J Bennett – Mr Bennett is such a talented author. I’ve loved all his books and this one was seriously serious! Epicly epic!
- The Copper Promise by Jen Williams – OMG – The Copper Cat. This is all. Read this book.
- The Broken Road by Teresa Frohock – deliciously creepy, only a novella – I want more from Ms Frohock please.
Look at all the pretty covers precious!
Wishing you were there.. catacombs to castles!
14 October 2014
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Places you wish to go, Top Ten Tuesday
This week over at the Broke and the Bookish the Top Ten Tuesday topic is:
‘Places Books Have Made Me Want To Visit’
My list contains not only places as such – hope that’s not cheating!
- Prague – Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. I loved the descriptions in this story. I’ve always wanted to visit but this book made me want to go immediately! As it happens, I haven’t been yet, but… I will!!
- Not a place but a house – Longbourn by Jo Baker. I’d like to be a fly on the wall and watch the ‘upstairs/downstairs’ goings on of the inhabitants of Longbourn.
- The University in Patrick Rothfuss’s Name of the Wind – particularly the library! No naked flames!!!
- The Catacombs underneath Paris – The Undying by Ethan Reid, Creepy, yes, intriguing – very!!
- Alaska – The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey. The descriptions in this story are quite entrancing.
- The Castle from Howl’s Moving Castle – a castle that moves from place to place with a door opens into four different places. A talking fire and Howl. Magical and wonderful.
- The Room of Requirement – Harry Potter by J K Rowling. There are lots of things that I require – more often than not, some extra time and a quiet corner in which to read – I think the Room of Requirement could sort me out.
- The Shire – LoTR by Tolkien – I would love to visit the Shire and in particular Bag End. Fortunately, not being statuesque I could probably walk around in Bilbo’s home with no problems or bumps.
- Fairyland – as written about by Catherynne Valente – because it sounds so strange and magical.
- London Below – Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. Who wouldn’t want to visit – I’m not saying it’s perfect but it’s full of all the strange things that lurk in your imagination. Plus the Marquis.
I know I’ve missed loads of places but this is what I came up with. No doubt I’ll be kicking myself when I read all the other lists.
They broke the mould when they made….????
7 October 2014
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Character driven novels, The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesday
Over at the Broke and Bookish this week the theme for Top Ten Tuesday is
“books for readers who like character driven novels’
My choices this week are:
- Mercy Thompson from Patricia Briggs urban fantasy series. I really like Mercy and it’s great to watch her character change as the series progresses. She sometimes makes mistakes and she’s not perfect but she’s also not afraid to ask for help and to understand that she can’t always do everything single handed.
- Alexia Tarabotti from Gail Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate. I haven’t actually finished this series but I enjoyed Alexia’s character. Very witty and intelligent. Intriguing steam punk with vampires, werewolves and gadgetry.
- Harry Dresden from Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files. It’s very simply. I like Harry!
- The Copper Cat from The Copper Promise by Jen Williams – I’ve only recently read this novel and loved the Copper Cat character. This was a very character led novel and the CC was my favourite.
- Dug, Spring and Lowa from the Age of Iron by Angus Watson. I loved this book and the main three characters were just excellent. None of them were perfect and Dug in particular was quite flawed – that being said so was Lowa. Very easy to read due to the characters just being so easy to get on with.
- Melanie and Miss Justineau from M R Carey’s The Girl with All the Gifts. This is such a good read and I thought was a really unique twist on the ‘zombie’ theme. Melanie and Miss Justineau definitely steal the show with their teacher/student relationship.
- Mark Watson from Andy Weir’s The Martian. Basically, if you don’t like Mark you’re going to struggle with this book as he pretty much is the main focus of the whole story. A botanist, stranded on Mars and coming up with all sorts of drastic measures to survive until a rescue mission can be pulled together. A guy who thankfully retains his sense of humour.
- The Thousand Names by Django Wexler – two very different characters who stole the show – Captain Marcus D’Ivoire and Winter Ihernglass – military ‘flintlock’ fantasy. Really good.
- Lisbeth from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson – such a kick ass character. I love the way that she survives against the odds. A tough character who actually does have a softer side – not somebody to mess with though!
- The characters from The Way of Kings/Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson – I could literally chat on and on at great length about the amazingness of these two books. The plot, the world building and the strength of the writing – but, without doubt Sanderson manages to pull out of the hat a whole bunch of characters that you can’t fail to love. My personal favourites are Syl and Kaladin but frankly there’s no shortage of characters to adore!
Books and travelling with Lynn 