Dear Santa..
29 November 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Christmas list, 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.
Ten books to buy as presents for people who like ‘x’:
This week I’m choosing options for people who like a certain type of book – books I would pick for people looking for ‘x’
- The classics retelling – Longbourn by Jo Baker, a different take on Pride and Prejudice. I loved this, told from the ‘downstair’s perspective. I also have Eligibile by Curtis Sittenfeld waiting to be read too which might also make a similar list – hopefully. These are two books I know my dad would love.
- Romance – The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons – I don’t do romance but I’ll make an exception for this – because Alexander. Read it and then come back and tell if I’m wrong.
- Time travel – Outlander by Diana Gabaldon – again, I’m not overly fond of time travel (or romance) and this book mixes both but in a really good way.
- Short stories – Monstrous Little Voices. I don’t tend to like short reads but this book is great. A collection of short stories set in the worlds created by Shakespeare. No need to be an expert – I’m certainly not one. All of the stories interlink and they’re just really well done – which isn’t a surprise given the authors involved. Emma Newman, Jonathan Barnes, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Kate Heartfield and Foz Meadows.
- Urban Fantasy – Seanan McGuire’s Toby Daye series. A great series that I’m absolutely loving. If you know somebody, currently looking for a new UF series then add this one to our shopping list.
- Contemporary YA – 13 Minutes by Sarah Pinborough. This was a great read, Mean Girls sort of meets Gone Girl – for want of a better description.
- YA Fantasy – for those just dipping their toes into the world of fantasy – The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.
- Hardened fantasy fans who want something different and unique – The Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence.
- Sci fi for people who want more accessible sci fi – Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel. I’ve just read this and loved it.
- And, this one is blank – so you can all suggest a book you’d buy for somebody.
Sci-fi movie fest! #RRSciFiMonth
15 November 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: #RRSciFiMonth, Broke and Bookish, Movie freebie, 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 :
Movie Freebie

Given that November is Sci Fi Month (organised by Rinn Reads and Over the Effing Rainbow this is a fun event that celebrates sci fi) I’m going with science fiction movies and here are ten that I always enjoy:
1. Alien – I love this film. It’s dark and downright scary. I recall years ago watching a documentary about the making of the film and one story stood out to me – which was about the shooting of the ‘chest burster’ scene where the alien breaks out of Kane’s chest. Apparently the other actors – although they knew that the alien would be, literally, bursting out, they weren’t aware of all the special effects in terms of the blood and viscera. The scene was a one take effort and the stunned surprise that you witness was real as opposed to actual acting! I think that’s a great story. I have no idea if it’s true but the scene is brilliant!

2. Star Wars – and I’m talking about the first film now (as I refuse to call it No4). No funny story as such but a whole bunch of quotes – guess the character:
“You don’t need to see his identification … These aren’t the droids you’re looking for … He can go about his business … Move along.”
“I find your lack of faith disturbing.”
“Boring conversation anyway. Luke, we’re gonna have company!”
“Into the garbage chute, flyboy!”
“What a piece of junk!”
3. Jurassic Park. I thought maybe a little bit of useless (or incredibly useful depending on your pov) info about the main star – the T-rex. One of the largest built animatronics. 20 feet tall and weighing 17,500 pounds (which, wow!) The roar was a combination of a baby elephant, tiger and alligator. The breath was a whale’s blow and the sounds of the T-rex tearing apart a Gallimimus were created by recording a dog attacking a rope toy!

4. Avatar. Production originally began in 1994 and yet the film didn’t premiere until 2009! This film may have cost A LOT to produce but it surely must be one of the most visually stunning pieces of work ever and here’s the original trailer if you want to have a gander:
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5. Matrix – maybe not everyone’s cup of tea but I loved this and it certainly set the bar for action scenes with the invention of Bullet Time (not to mention a lot of spoofs)! I love all the references in the film, e.g. Morpheus (Greek God of dreams). But I particularly like the Alice in Wonderland reference. ‘follow the white rabbit’.

6. Terminator 2 – great film – and surely has some of the best quotes ever! Well, you might not really ever have need of them but I like them – here are a few:
‘I need your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle.’
‘Come with me if you want to live!’
‘Say… That’s a nice bike…’
‘Did you call *moi* a dipshit?’
7. 12 Monkeys – time travelling, post apocalyptic, neo noir – what’s not to love? In fairness though, I didn’t love this the first time I saw it! But then it just grew on me – like a mutated fungus!!!

8. The Fifth Element – funnily enough this is another Bruce Willis film (see above) and was also another film that took a little while to grow on me (yet more fungus – just call me a truffle!).
Leeloo: Leeloo Dallas mul-ti-pass. Korben Dallas: Yeah. Leeloo: Mul-ti-pass. Korben Dallas: Yeah, multipass, she knows it's a multipass. Leeloo Dallas. This is my wife. Leeloo: Mul-ti-pass. Korben Dallas: We're newlyweds. Just met. You know how it is. We bumped into each other, sparks happen... Leeloo: Mul-ti-pass. Korben Dallas: Yes, she knows it's a multipass. Anyway, we're in love.
And here: ‘Big Bada Boom!’
9. Interstellar – I think this film is fantastic. I definitely needed to watch it more than once though I will admit! Very clever and some mind bending scenes!

10. Finally, Rise of the Planet of the Apes. The movie trailer (plus bonus points for spotting the Potter character):
‘These are the voyages of one blogger… to boldly read’ #RRSciFiMonth
8 November 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: #RRSciFiMonth, 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’ve Added To My To-Be-Read List Lately

Given that November is Sci Fi Month (organised by Rinn Reads and Over the Effing Rainbow this is a fun event that celebrates sci fi) I’ve added quite a few sci fi titles to my tbr just recently:
- A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers – which I will be picking up in December as part of a readalong group – details on Goodreads.
- Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel – I’ve already completed and loved this book – I highly recommend it and my review is here.
- Doomsday Book by Connie Willis, Christopher Gibbs I love the sound of this one – recommended to me by Sarah over at Brainfluff
- Illuminae: The Illuminae Files: Book 1 (Illuminae Files 1) by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman – this is a book that has such positive reviews that I just can’t resist – next up for my sci fi reading.
- The Wolf Road by Beth Lewis – apparently this debut novel is described as perfect ‘for fans of Station Eleven – see above!
- Morning Star: Red Rising Trilogy 3 (The Red Rising Trilogy)by Pierce Brown – I loved the first two books in this series so it’s a bit of a mystery why I haven’t picked this one up yet – I think it may be part of my reluctance to finish series that I’m really enjoying!
- Leviathan Wakes: Book 1 of the Expanse by James S A Corey – another book that I’ve heard many many people wax lyrical about – I bought this for last year’s event but didn’t get the time to pick it up so hopefully this year will be the year!
- Defenders by Will McIntosh – another book that I’ve owned for quite some time – it could be bumped up the list for the sci fi event – sounds really scary to be honest!
- Or, if I want something a bit less scary by the same author Love Minus Eighty – which is currently sat on my wishlist (what to do – I suppose I should read the book I already own really!)
-
Authority (The Southern Reach Trilogy, Book 2) by Jeff VanderMeer – another scary sci fi – at least the first one was so I’m just gonna make that assumption
Well, seriously, I can’t expect to read all 10 but I have already completed one and I’m taking part in a readalong during December for the other so realistically I’m hoping to put about another 3 of the others under my belt! We’ll see.
It’s alive! #RRSciFiMonth
1 November 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Sci Fi Month 2016, 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 Books To Read If Your Book Club Likes ‘X’
And, given that November marks the start of Sci Fi Month 2016 – I’ve gone for sci fi reads. Here’s my top ten (and, yes, there are a lot of good books not on this list but I had a limit!) A mix of classic novels and recent additions to the genre so hopefully something here for all:
- Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
- The Martian by Andy Weir
- Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
- Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham
- The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A Heinlein
- Dune by Frank Herbert
- The Time Machine by H G Wells
- The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
- Red Rising by Pierce Brown
- The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger




