Will you won’t you finish that book…
13 May 2014
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Books that you struggle to finish, The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesday
This week over at The Broke and Bookish the Top Ten Tuesday topic is:
Ten Books I Almost Put Down But Didn’t:
I actually found this harder than I’d imagined. I’ve gone for books that I struggled with at some point but ending up either liking or loving.
- We Need to Talk About Kevin – this is a very dark read indeed, it took me about 80/90 pages to get into the book but once it took hold it was a compelling read. A book that you read with a mounting sense of dread that you can’t tear your eyes away from!
- Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence – when I first started reading I found the age of Jorg a little off putting. Thankfully this was a very short lived feeling and I became hooked fairly quickly which is a good thing as it’s become one of my favourite fantasy series. Grimdark at its grimmest and darkest.
- The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher – I actually didn’t really enjoy the first book in the series – it was okay but not absolutely amazing, however, I pressed on because other bloggers told me to persist and I’m so glad I did. The second was great and the series has just gained in momentum and each new edition seems even better than the last. Thank you to all you lovely bloggers for encouraging me to continue!
- I am Legend by Richard Matheson – again, a very bleak read, however, one that is worth the perseverance as the ending is brilliant.
- Feed by Mira Grant – this book wasn’t what I was expecting really and that left me a little bit disappointed, plus there was quite a bit of repetition which slowed the read down somewhat – however the ending redeems it.
- The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo – this is another simple example of the book not being what I thought it would be – however, I don’t regret reading this as the writing is beautiful and evocative.
- The Mercedes Thompson series by Patricia Briggs – I really wasn’t taken with the first book at all – however, I completed it because I’d bought the first three in one buy and I then carried on with the second which greatly improved. I now really enjoy this series so I’m glad I stuck with it.
- The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch – the author uses a style that jumps backwards and forwards which at first I found a little confusing and threw me out of the story a little – again, this has turned into one of my favourite series so I’m really pleased I got over the initial feelings and definitely recommend this.
- Sunshine by Robin McKinley – I really like this book however the author did use a bit of repetition and also a way of reflecting on past events that came across as info dumping – however that was a short lived feeling and I did really enjoy the story. I would definitely read more.
- Witch Light by Susan Fletcher – when I first picked this book up I felt the narration was a little difficult to get along with. It probably took me about 40 or so pages to become hooked but when I did I absolutely fell in love with the author’s writing style and have read most of her other books as a result.
Book cover art
6 May 2014
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Gorgeous book covers, The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesday
This week over at the Broke and the Bookish the topic is :
‘Top Ten Book Covers I’d Frame As Pieces of Art’
I admit that I’m a sucker for cover art – but, in my defence I always maintain that it’s the first thing that catches your eye so it’s important! The main difficulty I had this week was restricting myself to 10.
1. Range of Ghosts by Elizabeth Bear – these covers are fantastic. The colours are gorgeous and I’ve only read the first, so far, but I really enjoyed the book as well!
2. Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson – I love the US covers for these – plus the books themselves are gorgeous and, well, the story – this is Sanderson so expect excellence!
3. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. I do really like this cover – okay, it could be influenced a little by the fact that I love the books but…
4. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch. I prefer this cover to the one I actually own but it’s the content that counts ater all. I like looking at this one though – my love of this cover could be influenced by my love of Venice as well as the story – the setting is amazing – not Venice but very similar.
5. Stormdancer by Jay Kristof – this cover is really gorgeously striking.
6. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman.
7. Miserere by Teresa Frohock – this is a great cover – I love the expressions on their faces = particularly the brunette and the poor guy stuck in the middle!
8. A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan – the covers for these books are brilliant and I just love them! Plus. Dragons!
9. Prince of Fools by Mark Lawrence – not read this one yet looking forward to it very much – and I love both covers for this so you can make up your own mind between US and UK.
10. Blackbird by Chuck Wendig – I love these books and the covers are ace! So, we’ll have all three!
Book to film/tv back to book..
This week the topic over at the Broke and the Bookish Top Ten Tuesday is:
Top Ten Books If You Like ‘X’ (tv show/movie/comic/play etc). (basically any sort of other entertainment):
Well, this one was a puzzle to think about but here’s what I’ve come up with:
- Game of Thrones – very popular series on the tv at the moment (based on the series of books by George Martin) – this is both strange and oddly satisfying. Strange because quite a few people usually say they don’t read or watch fantasy and oddly satisfying because it gives me an ‘I told you so vibe’ plus it means more people are maybe starting to like fantasy! I think if you like this series you would probably like the Farseer series of books by Robin Hobb or perhaps the Mistborn books by Brandon Sanderson (maybe even his way of Kings series). There’s lots of world building and some great characters and both books have a sort of mediaeval feel.
- Rebecca and Jamaica Inn have been on the screen a number of times and are two great stories written by Daphne duMaurier. I always think that if you like this sort of story you would probably love A Secret History by Donna Tartt or My Cousin Rachel also by Daphne duMaurier.
- Dr Who – this is a bit of an odd suggestion and so I’m probably going to be shunned or people will break out the pitchforks at this point but I can sort of imagine Harry Dresden as Doctor Who. Okay, he hasn’t got a tardis. There are no daleks. It’s not really concerning travel through space – okay, it’s a very slim reasoning altogether, but I just like the idea and I can picture Harry in his hat and duster with a good long scarf – The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher (or is it Dr Dresden?).
- And, for the gamers out there – Oblivion and Skyrim for example – well there’s such a lot going on in these games but it’s all pretty fantastic. I’m thinking obviously Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit by JRR Tolkien. If you don’t fancy them then Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series seems to have something for everyone – and, in spite of the massive extent of the series there are standalone novels and little mini series so you don’t have to read from beginning to end!
- Zelda – love that game – I can’t help thinking of Neverending Story here – don’t even ask me why! I have no reasons. I just like it.
- Assassin’s Creed (Black Flag) – I can’t help thinking of Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch – course you wouldn’t want to jump in at No.2 so you’d have to go to the beginning of the Gentlemen Bastard series – but, great stories full of snark and banter and No.2 is all about the swashbuckling.
- The Harry Potter films (based on J K Rowling’s series of books) – I think fans of Harry Potter may very well enjoy Benedict Jacka’s Alex Versus novels.
- If you’re into graphics/comic books I would recommend the Girl Genius novels by Phil and Kaja Foglio – these are such good fun – this was originally a comic series that turned webcomic and was then printed into two books (I think two but there could be more). Very amusing tales.
- Zombies are making a resurgence (thankfully not in real life!) – World War Z, Walking Dead – If you enjoy these then I would very much recommend The Girl with All the Gifts by M R Carey, it’s a really good story, I loved Michelle and it has a slight twist plus an unexpected end.
- Classics – Pride and Prejudice – been made into film, play and series, really, you’re spoilt for choice in terms of tv – if you fancy revisiting the Bennetts but from a different POV then I would very much recommend Longbourn by Jo Baker – a really good book – I loved it.
Them’s all for me.
A hobbit hole is what we chiefly need….
15 April 2014
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Bookish Things, Top Ten Tuesday
This week over at the Broke and the Bookish the Top Ten Tuesday is :
Top Ten Bookish Things (That Aren’t Books) That I’d Like To Own
As my reading tends to lie predominantly in SFF I’ve decided to find 10 fantasy reading ‘things’ to wish for on today’s list:
- A hobbit hole, all warm and cosy, with lots of pantries and nice quiet spots for reading.
- One of those remote controls that means I can turn down the volume of life going on around me and focus on my current read.
- A time machine so that I can go forwards – and not have to wait for the next in the series and backwards to gain time and catch up on my TBR.
- Magical lights that illuminate as soon as I pick up my book and light up just enough to be easy to read but not too much to be glaring – you want the ambience, right?
- Books that have REALLY creative covers – I’m thinking of that book of Monsters from Harry Potter.
- My own portal that opens up the book worlds and allows me to enter (not all the time of course, brrrr).
- My own personal Brownie – to keep my books in some sort of order, help me with remembering plots and places, come in useful as some sort of dictionary, thesaurus, almanac and general know it all.
- Alien reading skills – the sort where you flip from cover to cover and you’ve completely read the book – imagine! – extreme speed reading!
- Photographic memory – because I’m so bad at remembering names and places.
- Some sort of bodyguard/slayer (okay, that’s probably a bit over the top) to stop all the pesky people on public transport who will insist on saying such things as ‘oh, you’re reading a book?’ – No, I’m just pretending. ‘Is it good?’, let me read it and I’ll let you know, ‘What sort of book is it?’, fantasy ‘Ohhh, I bet it’s that 50 Shades…’ Shut up and go away – I’m READING!!!! Or you know the bodyguard/slayer could just accompany me and scowl at people and look generally menacing.
What are your bookish ‘things’?
Are you one of a kind??
8 April 2014
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: The Broke and the Bookish, Top 10 Unique Books, Top Ten Tuesday
This week at The Broke and the Bookish the theme is : ‘Top Ten Most Unique Books you’ve Read (maybe the MC was really different, maybe it was the way it was written, a very unique spin on a genre or topic, etc.)’.
- All the Truth That’s in Me by Julie Berry – I just loved this story. It’s told in a very unusual and captivating voice – almost as though the storyteller is recounting a story to somebody ‘you never looked at me’ or ’you swept your hair from your eyes’, etc. The story just completely grabbed my attention from beginning to end.
- Longbourn by Jo Baker – a favourite classic told from a different perspective. This was so good and for me a really original way of looking at these stories with fresh eyes – I could read lots of classics retold in this way!
- Twleve by Jasper Kent – this is one of those novels that takes you back into the good old fashioned realm of ‘proper’ vampires – nasty, smelly and evil, will definitely drain your body of blood but they like to play with their food a bit first!! *be afraid*
- Witch Light – first book I read by Susan Fletcher – I love her books. She’s an author who literally makes you feel you’ve stepped into the book and Witch Light was such an unusual story. I don’t deny it took me a few chapters to get into but once it had my attention. Wow.
- The Sandman Graphic Novels by Neil Gaiman – first graphic novels that I ever read.
- The Girl with all the Gifts by M R Carey – basically, a zombie story with a difference and told from a different perspective. A ‘can’t put down’ book.
- The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt – my first, and only ever, cowboy book. I loved this. Not what I expected. Full of wit. If anybody has anymore cowboy stories like this one then count me in.
- Gail Carriger – her steampunk novels (The Parasol Protectorate). I haven’t read the whole series but I really enjoyed this and it was my first foray into steampunk. Steam? Punk?? Steampunk????? (why did nobody tell me about steampunk years ago??) *wags finger*
- I am Legend by Richard Matheson – got to be one of the most unique and unexpected endings. Ever!
- The Prince of Thorns, by Mark Lawrence – very original. Definitely the first time I’ve read about such a young anti hero. Split into two time frames. Grimdark in the extreme.
Now, I’m sure you’re going to remind me of loads of other great, unique books – but, you know this list is 10 only!!!
Books and travelling with Lynn 