In review: 2015 so far…
29 June 2015
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: the best of 2015 so far, The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesday
This week over at the Broke and the Bookish the Top Ten Tuesday topic for discussion is:
‘Top Ten Books I’ve Read So Far In 2015
This should be an interesting week checking out everyone’s ‘best of so far! I must admit it wasn’t as easy to choose as I hoped as I’ve read such a lot of good books so far this year but these are my choices so far listed in the order in which I read them:
- The Just City by Jo Walton – thought provoking
- The Iron Ghost by Jen Williams – great characters and action
- Flex by Ferrett Steinmetz – so unique and compelling
- The Mechanical by Ian Tregillis – excellent and gripping story
- Dreamer’s Pool by Juliet Marillier – beautifully written and fairytale(esque)
- Lives of Tao by Wesley Chu, The Deaths of Tao by Wesley Chu, The Rebirths of Tao by Wesley Chu (bit of a cheat here but I read all three in fairly short order – bit like reading Lord of the Rings all in one go – so, not really a cheat at all when you think about it!) – really original, full of action
- When We Were Animals by Joshua Gaylord – strange and yet unputdownable
- Traitor’s Blade by Sebastien de Castell – good action, good characters, plenty of humour
- The Liar’s Key by Mark Lawrence – fantastic story arc, amazing ending, great writing
- The Tower Lord by Anthony Ryan – action packed and wonderful characters
And – because I’ve already got my 10 – an honorary mention to:
Death House by Sarah Pinborough – unique, beautiful writing, emotional
Ode to Summer past…
15 June 2015
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Summer Reads 2014, The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesday
This week over at the Broke and Bookish the topic for Top Ten Tuesday is:
Top Ten Books For Summer 2015 2014
I’ve had a bit of a cheat with this one because I think most of the books on my Summer TBR will be duplicates of the books I’m looking forward to for the rest of 2015 – which was posted last week. So this week I’ve gone for the top 10 reads from last Summer:
- Blood Song by Anthony Ryan – this was such a good book. I’d put off reading it for a long while for some strange reason but I’m so happy that I’ve now picked it up.
- Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson – this was a readalong that I took part in last year which was awesome – I love this series.
- Icefall by Gillian Philip – this book was the last in series of the Rebel Angel books – this is such a good series – seriously I don’t think it gets as much recognition as it deserves. And in terms of being a Summer read – what can I say, Seth is very easy on the mind!
- Half a King by Joe Abercrombie – my first Abercrombie – really good and I’m looking forward to No.2.
- The Martian by Andy Weir – this book is just so good, with lots of amusement.
- Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer – scary – probably not your usual Summer read but very good nonetheless.
- The Thousand Names by Django Wexler – my first Flintlock Fantasy. Another that I have to get to the second book!
- Age of Iron by Angus Watson – I loved this – I’m such a broken record ‘I need to get to No.2)
- Red Rising by Pierce Brown – finally, I’ve already read No.2 and it was equally excellent.
- City of Stairs by R J Bennett – this book is so damned fine that I will simply beg you to read it if you haven’t already done so. I loved this.
Wow, I have to say – I read a lot of good books last Summer – hope this year is just as good and hope your reading is too.
We wants the precioussses
8 June 2015
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: SFF, The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Anticipated releases for 2015, Top Ten Tuesday
This week over at the Broke and Bookish the topic for Top Ten Tuesday is:
Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases For the Rest of 2015
So, not in any particular order of release my choices are as follows:
- Armada by Ernest Cline
- The Dinosaur Lords by Victor Milan
- Twelve Kings in Sharakhai, The Song of Shattered Sands book one by Brad Beaulieu
- Queen of Fire by Anthony Ryan
- Time Salvager by Wesley Chu
- The Thorn of Emberlain by Scott Lynch
- Tower of Thorns by Juliet Marillier (Blackthorn and Grim No.2)
- Cold Iron by Stina Leicht
- The Hunter’s Kind by Rebecca Levene
- The Flux (Mancer) by Ferrett Steinmetz
To adapt or not to adapt!
2 June 2015
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book/movie Adaptations, The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesday
Today over at the Broke and Bookish the topic for Top Ten Tuesday is:
Top Ten Books I’d Love To See As Movies/Tv Shows
This is a tricky one because sometimes I feel really unhappy with adaptations, particularly when they don’t, for me, do the book justice. Yes, I know that movie/tv is a different medium however I don’t like massive liberties being taken with the overall story. My motto: if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. This makes me cautious about picking my favourite stories to be brought to the screen. I considered cheating here and picking 10 books already adapted that I enjoy, but then I decided to stay on track:
- All the Truth That’s in me by Julie Berry – a really good story that I didn’t know what to expect and thoroughly enjoyed.
- Beauty/Poison/Charm by Sarah Pinborough – mashed up and twisted retold fairy tales
- Life After Life by Kate Atkinson – would make a great movie with a strange Sliding Doors type feel – but one that continues throughout the life of the main character and ends up in all kinds of situations
- The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman – I would love to see this adapted – it could be such a lovely and slightly creepy adaptation – perhaps Tim Burton could give it his special touch?
- The Gentlemen Bastards – I would love to see this series converted to film – but, by the same token I’m scared to see it adapted. Jean is one of my favourite characters and I’d hate it if somebody I didn’t like was chosen to play his role!
- Flex by Ferrett Steinmetz – this is an excellent book and could be a brilliant, exciting and totally over the top film almost in the style of comic book super hero.
- The Prince of Fools and The Liar’s Key by Mark Lawrence – so far, this would make an excellent series – or epic type films for that matter!
- Hexed by Michael Alan Nelson – this could be really creepy!
- Longbourn by Jo Baker – just to visit with the Bennet’s again, A bit of a period drama but from a different perspective.
- The Just City by Jo Walton – I would love to see this on the big screen.
‘Summer’s lease hath all too short a date…’
25 May 2015
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Holiday reads, The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesday
Today over at the Broke and Bookish the Top Ten Tuesday topic for discussion is:
‘Ten Books I Plan To Have In My Beach Bag This Summer or Ten Books I Think Make Great Beach Reads’
Well, I don’t really enjoy the beach – all that sand is just too inconvenient, but sitting on a nice balcony with a book, an umbrella and a long drink – that I can do. I must confess that I don’t tend to think of myself as a ‘seasonal’ reader although I suppose it’s nice to sit in a comfy chair on a dark night reading something scary and likewise my definition of a summer read would be something that works out as a little more fun or maybe with the odd bit of romance thrown in – providing it wasn’t all the story was about. And of course urban fantasy stories. In that case here goes:
- Uprooted by Naomi Novik – this seems to be receiving a lot of positive attention. Rooted in the world of fairy tales – so colour me happy.
- Written in Red by Anne Bishop – a series that I’ve been thinking of starting for a long while. Urban fantasy/paranormal.
- The Thorn of Dentonhill by Marshall Ryan Maresca – magical student who leads a double life. Sounds promising.
- Cold Iron by Stina Leicht – this book probably doesn’t fit the above description of fun/romance or urban fantasy – but, flintlock and with pirates. Oh yes, I’m reading this.
- The Girls at the Kingfisher Club by Genevieve Valentine – ‘gorgeous and bewitching” (Scott Westerfeld) reimagining of the fairytale of the Twelve Dancing Princesses as flappers during the Roaring Twenties in Manhattan – everybody wants to read this one surely!
- Darkwalker by E L Tettensor – dark, Victorian(ish), paranormal mystery – perfect methinks!
- The Hobb’s Bargain by Patricia Briggs, paranormal romance with a Beauty and the Beast theme.
- Tower of Thorns by Juliet Marillier – not due out until November but I so want to read this book – I absolutely loved Dreamer’s Pool
- Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier – had this for a while now so will definitely be reading soon.
- White Hot by Ilona Andrews – again not due until October – but I wants it now! Burn for Me was the first in the series – all I can say is that I want No.2 sooner rather than later!
Books and travelling with Lynn 