Sea, Sun, Sand and something good to read…

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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.

  1. Romance factor: The Outlander (Cross Stitch) by Diana Gabaldon. Alternate history/time travel.
  2. Fun factor: The Traitor’s Blade by Sebastien de Castell – really good, fun and easy to read.
  3. Whimsical/Fairytale feel: Dreamer’s Pool by Juliet Marllier – which I absolutely love!
  4. Longer vacation book: Patrick Rothfuss the Name of the Wind – because this is a bit of a huge book but well worth it!
  5. Book to concentrate on: The Shards of Heaven by Michael Livingston – this is a great book, alternate Roman.
  6. Thought provoking: Just City by Jo Walton.
  7. Love story: The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons.
  8. 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.
  9. Something scary: The Beast of Barcroft by Bill Schweigart – critters in the dark and creepy woods.
  10. 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!

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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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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!
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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..

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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:

  1. 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’!
  2. 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.
  3. Poison Study by Maria Snyder – which I loved and also found similarly to the above.
  4. 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!
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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!
  8. Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice – this was another of my The Works ‘specials’ and I was really pleased with it.
  9. 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.
  10. 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!

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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:

  1. 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’
  2. Carmen’s books and movies – although this does include some book reviews as well I really enjoy Carmen’s thoughts on films.
  3. @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.
  4. Bayou Quilts – a blog belonging to Jenclair – a very creative blogger with lots of ideas for arts and crafts
  5. imdb – i love movie sites!
  6. Rotten Tomatoes – ditto the above
  7. Wikipedia – just because I use it for all sorts!
  8. Any number of foodie websites – for example BBCGoodFood
  9. 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!
  10. This is a blank space for you to give me some ideas

Where are they now??

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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:

  1. Alice from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland – just what did happen to Alice?
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Nobody, Neil Gaiman’s Graveyard Book.  To be honest I really thought we might hear more about what happened to Bod.
  5. Mowgli from Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. Katsa from Kristin Cashore’s Graceline – I really enjoyed this world and the character of Katsa.
  9. Judith from All the Truth That’s in Me by Julie Berry.  I loved this book and would gladly return.
  10. 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!

 

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