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.
I love you, I love you not!
24 May 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Broke and Bookish, Ten books I feel differently about, 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 Feel Differently About After Time Has Passed
I think this is a tough one and required a lot of thought. Of course ‘feeling differently’ I suddenly realised doesn’t have to be a negative! Anyway, for differing reasons here are my books – some that I think I would like more and some maybe not so much.
- The Hobbit by JRRTolkien – this was a school book and so I never really had good associations with it – until I reread it later on in life and was able to take in the detail and enjoy it more.
- The Lord of the Rings by JRRTolkien – this is a book that I read years ago and really enjoyed it, I then reread it years later, after all three films, and loved it even more!
- Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. This is a book that I read after my own personal discovery of Neil Gaiman and before I really had a proper appreciation for Terry Pratchett. As it is I feel I could probably reread this as at the time I didn’t really give it proper attention.
- The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe – I read this when I was in my ‘romantic’ years. I’m not sure I would enjoy this now, I did at the time because it had this gothic feel – I think I would probably find it a bit tedious now.
- Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte – not my favourite Bronte novel to be honest as the two main protagonists are so selfish. I sometimes wonder if I should give it another go though – just purely because I think my view on this was coloured by the film which isn’t quite as bleak.
- Moon Called by Patricia Briggs – this is the first of the Mercedes Thompson stories – and to be honest, though I love this series now – I didn’t enjoy the first book and in fact only kept reading because I bought all three at the same time and so was determined to finish. I think it could be interesting to revisit this and see how I feel about it now given that I know Mercy a little better.
- The Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine – I read this entire series out of sheer ‘I will not be beaten’ syndrome. Would I particularly recommend them – not really. That being said there’s nothing wrong with the series and I did have fun with it but these are very much YA books.
- The Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks – I love this book, except the ending, which felt almost tacked on. I quite often feel like I should go back and revisit it – maybe I just raced to the end in my eagerness to find out how things would conclude.
- Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier – I’ve read this book a few times and I always love it – in fact I think each reading just makes me like it more. I can’t pin down why it’s just one of my ‘go to’ books.
- The Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer- this is a series that seems to take a lot of ‘beating’ nowadays. In fairness, I read all the books and at the time I enjoyed them. I can’t and won’t try to deny it and I was certainly swept up like a lot of others! However, on reflection, would I still read them. No. Probably not. I think I would be annoyed with both main characters if I was to read this series now. I can’t be sure of course but I don’t feel inclined to try.
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.
Not at all bookish!
10 May 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: 10 none bookish websites, Broke and 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 Websites I Love That Aren’t About Books’
Wow – I found this one a toughie to be honest. I don’t think I check out too many websites or blogs that aren’t book-centric but here are mine:
- Genkinahito – a great site mostly about movies that I’ve been following and enjoying for years: Taken from the about page: ‘I work in an art gallery but I love films, anime, gaming and Japan. I am also learning Japanese. I sometimes write for magazines and film festivals and other websites and I have been known to interview/talk to the odd director and actor’
- Carmen’s books and movies – although this does include some book reviews as well I really enjoy Carmen’s thoughts on films.
- @pabkins – on twitter and instagram. Also a book review blog called Not Yet Read – but, I’m focusing here on the twitter and instagram. All sorts of arts and crafts. Lots of fun events. Great personality and very talented.
- Bayou Quilts – a blog belonging to Jenclair – a very creative blogger with lots of ideas for arts and crafts
- imdb – i love movie sites!
- Rotten Tomatoes – ditto the above
- Wikipedia – just because I use it for all sorts!
- Any number of foodie websites – for example BBCGoodFood
- Amazon – and, yes, I know this is a source for books – but I use it for Prime which allows me to watch certain series – such as Outlander or Vikings – because, VIKINGS!
- This is a blank space for you to give me some ideas
Where are they now??
3 May 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Broke and Bookish, Ten characters we'd like to read more of, 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 Childhood Characters You’d Love To Revisit As Adults’
Now, it’s quite possible that some of these already have follow on novels – but I’ve either not read them or I’m not aware so here are mine for this week:
- Alice from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland – just what did happen to Alice?
- Harry, Hermione and Ron – I know that J K Rowling wrote them grown up with their own children – but I’d like to see maybe a few of the years in-between.
- Merry, Pippin and Sam from JRR Tolkien’s LotR – I mean, we know that Sam married his young lady from the Inn but what happened to Merry and Pippin.
- Nobody, Neil Gaiman’s Graveyard Book. To be honest I really thought we might hear more about what happened to Bod.
- Mowgli from Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book.
- Christopher from The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night by Mark Haddon – it would be interesting to read another tale from Christopher and gain a little more of his perspective.
- Melanie from the Girl With all the Gifts by M R Carey – I am curious. Or maybe I just want to read more from this particular alternative world.
- Katsa from Kristin Cashore’s Graceline – I really enjoyed this world and the character of Katsa.
- Judith from All the Truth That’s in Me by Julie Berry. I loved this book and would gladly return.
- I have to go here – Kvothe, Patrick Rothfuss – yes, I so want to read more about what happens to Kvothe. If any one wants to throw me a line and let me know when the third book will be out then please do so!



