Rapid Fire Book Tag

I nabbed this from SnowlyRamble’s page because I love a good book tag and if I’m reading one, I can’t help but answer them in my head, so here goes! Thanks to Leanne for sharing and credits go to A Girl Reading’s YouTube.

 

 

E-Book or Physical Book?
Physical Book. E-Book. Both. I don’t know. I LOVE reading on trains and planes so e-books are easier for me to have a whole library in my bad. But I love the covers on physical books and the way the pages feel and the smell. So both.

Paperback or Hardback?
Paperback. Hardbacks are so heavy and annoying to carry.

Online or In-Store Book Shopping?
In-store. I buy online if I know what I want to read, but browsing is so much better in-store. I get all these kind of endorphins from walking around and looking at books I like.

Trilogies or Series?
I like both – at least with a trilogy it has a defined end and you don’t feel too burdened by book after book after book. But then, Harry Potter.

Heroes or Villains?

I like heroes or anti-heroes. I like underdogs.

A book you want everyone to read?

Asking For It by Louise O’Neill. You seriously need to read this book if you haven’t. Like where have you been??

Recommend an underrated book?

I think I read a lot of mainstream books, so I might not be the best person to suggest these. But oh! One of my favourite books from the last year, which I do not understand why it hasn’t got more praise is The Good Liar by Nicholas Searle.

The last book you finished?
November 9 by Colleen Hoover. Swallowed that up like a hoover. (Pun intended)

The Last Book You Bought?
Hmm, toughie. My mum and I share a household account on Kindle so she’s bought the last few I’ve been reading and the book I’m currently reading was a freebie. So that would make the last books I bought the ones for my holiday and I cannot remember which was the last one. So all of these and these.

Weirdest Thing You’ve Used as a Bookmark?

I am a terrible person, I’m a corner-turner-downer. Hate me now, I’m a monster. But I think I’ve used a receipt before as a bookmark.

Used Books: Yes or No?
Yeah sure! I got used books all the time for studying and they’re usually cheaper. But tbh, I tend to buy new books just because of Kindle.

Top Three Favourite Genres?
YA contemporary, Psychological Thrillers/Domestic Noir (though I count those as separate, but whatever), and Dystopian YA.

Borrow or Buy?
Buy. I lent my Malory Towers books to someone in Year 4 (aged 8) and got them back all tattered. NEVER AGAIN.  And ditto wouldn’t want to borrow someone else’s because I’m selfish and want my own.

Characters or Plot?
I think a story needs plot but I have read so many good books where the plot is more a series of events that exposes the characters’ personalities and emotions i.e. The Great Gatsby and Catcher in the Rye. 

Long or Short Books?

I tend to read more short books because I like to swallow them all in one go. And there’s nothing worse than reading a long book that just drags. Having said that, there’s also nothing better than reading a long epic book like Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. 

Long or Short Chapters?

Shortish I think is better. It breaks up the book more easily and is easier to stop and start a book if you’re travelling or busy.

Name The First Three Books You Think Of…

 

Tender is the Night – Fitzgerald (because I’ve been thinking of it all day)

Into the Darkest Corner – Elizabeth Haynes (because my Kindle is open next to me and it was the book I read before November 9)

One Day – David Nicholls (because One Day and November 9 have a similar premise, even though Fallon strictly says in November 9 that their story is different)

Books That Make You Laugh or Cry?

I’ve only ever cried at one book (Me Before You) so books that make me smile. I love reading a good romance and having a goofy grin on my face.

Our World or Fictional Worlds?

Both! I love YA Contemporary, but I also love new worlds or Dystopian futures. I also think the Wizarding World parallel to our world is the best thing ever.

Audiobooks: Yes or No?

Yes! Love them. Only a recent convert and there has to be a good narrator. I find it quite off-putting when there’s an American narrator because I read in an English accent in my head. But I prefer audiobooks of something I’ve already read.

I find audiobooks really soothing because they remind me of being read to as a child. My love-affair with audiobooks began about 5 years ago, when I was really sick and all I wanted was someone to read to me. Since then I’ve listened to Harry Potter (Stephen Fry obvs.) pretty much every night as I fall asleep.

Do You Ever Judge a Book by its Cover?
Yes. Some covers are really cringy. I love David Nicholls covers and David Levithan covers.

Book to Movie or Book to TV Adaptations?

Tbh I haven’t seen many Book to TV adaptations, only really Shadowhunters, and I’m liking that so far. I guess movie, if it’s done properly. Adaptors need to take tips from whoever did The Fault in Our Stars and Paper Towns because those were two perfect adaptations I think. Also Me Before You was stunning.

A Movie or TV-Show You Preferred to its Book?

I started reading The Mortal Instrument series after I saw the film and the TV show, but so far I’m preferring the TV show. I find the narration really irritating in the books, and I prefer the character development in the TV Show. The relationships seem more genuine and I love the Clary/Izzy relationship that seems to be missing in the books.

Series or Standalones?

Oh gosh I don’t know. They both have their merits. But a series can be annoying if you’re stuck in it and want to read something else. I think I prefer author collections. Like all of John Green’s books are standalones, but they live in the John Green Collection. I like that.

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So that’s my tag! Do join in and tag me if you do, I want to see all your answers!!

Musing Mondays – Monday 8th August

 

 

Wooee, welcome to August! Here’s another Musing Monday, courtesy of Books and a Beat.

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: Name a book that you hope to re-read some day.

 

I’m currently reading Foxlowe by Eleanor Wasserberg, which I was lucky enough to receive at an interview last week. Though I didn’t get the internship, I think it was so generous of HC to give me a couple of books just for coming to interview with them.

We were the Family, and Foxlowe was our home.

There was me – my name is Green – and my little sister, Blue. There was October, who we called Toby, and Ellensia, Dylan, Liberty, Pet and Egg. There was Richard, of course, who was one of the Founders. And there was Freya.

We were the Family, but we weren’t just an ordinary family. We were a new, better kind of family.

We didn’t need to go to school, because we had a new, better kind of education. We shared everything. We were close to the ancient way of living and the ancient landscape. We knew the moors, and the standing stones. We celebrated the solstice in the correct way, with honey and fruit and garlands of fresh flowers. We knew the Bad and we knew how to keep it away.

And we had Foxlowe, our home. Where we were free.

There really was no reason for anyone to want to leave.

Make sure to check back in in a couple of weeks and see if I’ve reviewed it. Though no immediate promises as I still have three other books I haven’t reviewed yet. It may end up that they come in another Mini Reads.

Also, slightly cheating but I had to put in a plug for my previous blog post, so this past week I blogged about Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Check out my review here and please note, it’s NOT spoiler free.

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: Name a book that you hope to re-read some day.

I am a huge fan of re-reading. In fact for great article on re-reading, have a look at this NPR article on ‘The Transformative Joy of Re-Reading.’

So because I re-read so much, I don’t really hope to re-read too many because they’re always there. I think for me books I hope to re-read are the classics where I feel like you don’t get the most out of them the first time.

I never quite got around to finishing Tender is the Night (Fitzgerald), but I’d like to re-read it/finish reading it. I also think Catcher in the Rye deserves a second reading, because it’s still sticking with me almost a year after I read it and I’m sure I can even more from it a second time.

 

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And that closes up Musing Mondays for this week! Check out all the other responses on Books and a Beat’s page!

Musing Mondays – Monday 23rd May

Happy Monday! Here’s another Musing Monday, courtesy of Books and a Beat.

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: Name a book you thought you wouldn’t like, but ended up loving.

Today I’m answering ‘I wish I could read____ but….’ and this is a toughie for me. I’ve interpreted the prompt a little differently than maybe you expect, but I’m going to talk about not enjoying a book (shock!!)

So I wish I could read ‘Find Me’ by Laura van den Berg, but I’m really finding it a struggle. I hate giving up on books and not finishing them, but I’m just finding this such a tough read. I don’t find myself intrigued by the plot or the characters anymore, and I feel like I’m only reading it to get it out of the way.

I don’t think I’ll write a full review of it, either, because that would be super unfair to the author. Maybe I’ll include it in my upcoming summer reads, as I have read about 80% of it. I guess it just wasn’t for me.

Do you have any experience with a book you just couldn’t finish??

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: Name a book you thought you wouldn’t like, but ended up loving.

Interesting question, because I thought to myself, why would you buy a book if you didn’t think you’d like it??

Having said that, I bought Jodi Picoult’s The Storyteller, thinking it would just be okay. I bought it for Jodi, not for the plot, because, to be honest, I don’t really like reading Holocaust stories. I find them so sad and demoralising, and in some cases they can be quite repetitive. (An exception to this is, of course, The Book Thief, which is a work of genius).

Cover

However, maybe because of Jodi’s skill as a writer, or because of the multi-perspective narrative form her novels take, I found The Storyteller captivating and engaging throughout. It was a fantastic read in the end, and I’m really glad I read it. I remember staying up into the early hours of the morning to finish it – not a good idea as it was the day before New Years Eve!

So let me know your thoughts – have you read The Storyteller? And that closes up Musing Mondays for this week! Check out all the other responses on Books and a Beat’s page!

Musing Mondays – Monday 9th May

Throwing out another Musing Monday today, courtesy of Books and a Beat.

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: What is the best book you read LAST year?

Today I’m answering ‘I’m currently reading…’ and the book(s) I’m currently reading are two in fact! So I in turn ask you this question, do you have to concentrate on one at a time or can you read more than one book at once?

Most of the time I read one at once, but every so often I find myself dipping into two at the same time, whether that’s because I’m reading one in print and one on my Kindle or something similar. And I almost always have one book at home that I’ve put a bookmark in the last time I was home and then come back to the next holiday. (Even though I’m not actively reading it, I usually count it as a book I’m reading!)

So at the moment, I am currently reading:

Find Me – Laura van den Berg

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AND

Maybe Someday – Colleen Hoover

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I also have A Man Called Ove – Fredrik Backman on the go at home.

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: What is the best book you read LAST year?

Really tough one because I read so many great ones! These include some really popular books, so I could say The Girl on the Train – Paula Hawkins or Me Before You – Jojo Moyes.

But I think I’m going to go with a book that I think deserves a lot more love, and that’s The Good Liar – Nicholas Searle.

Cover

 

Roy is a conman living in a leafy English suburb, about to pull off the final coup of his career. He is going to meet and woo a beautiful woman and slip away with her life savings.

But who is the man behind the con and what has he had to do to survive this life of lies?

And why is this beautiful woman so willing to be his next victim?

It was such a cleverly written book and so skilfully done. I felt compelled to keep reading to find out more about Roy and his story, alongside his plan. I really recommend it to anyone – it was a rollercoaster of a read: it cranks up and up and hurtles down with twists and turns that make you unable to put it down.

That closes up Musing Mondays for this week! Check out all the other responses on Books and a Beat’s page!

Musing Mondays – Monday 2nd May

I’m trying something new today! Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by Books and a Beat, which asks you to answer  one of the following prompts and a random question:

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: Name any 5 books from your “to be read” pile (even if it’s a “virtual” pile).

I’ve gone for ‘I can’t wait to get a copy of…’ and the book I can’t wait to get a copy of is I See You by Clare Mackintosh.

I just finished I Let You Go (you can read my review here) and it was probably the best book I’ve read this year and definitely the best thriller since The Girl on the Train, so I’m really excited to see what Clare does next.

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: Name any 5 books from your “to be read” pile (even if it’s a “virtual” pile).

Let me whip out my Kindle app and have a look…

1. Maybe Someday – Colleen Hoover
2. The Fever – Megan Abbott
3. Find Me – Laura van der Beg
4. The Shock of the Fall – Nathan Filer (yes, still)
5. Asking for It – Louise O’Neill (yet to buy….)

You can read my full TBR list here, and let me know what books you want to read soon!

Shtum – Jem Lester

I must start this review by thanking the wonderful Sam Eades for sending me a proof of Shtum, along with The Versions of Us by Laura Barnet, which has been added to my expanding ‘To Read’ list, as part of a Secret Santa giveaway.

I had heard so much about this book: on THE Book Club on Facebook, on Twitter, and in the general book world. Since diving into the book world myself on my unwavering hunt for a job in a publishing house, I have become more eager than ever to read proofs before the book is publishing so that I too can rave about them upon publication. Therefore, I knew I had to get my hands on Shtum, if not to see what all the fuss is about really.

And it’s completely worth the fuss.

Shtum tells the story of Ben and his autistic ten-year-old son Jonah, who are forced to move in with Ben’s father Georg in order to further Jonah’s case in an upcoming tribunal. Thus, three generations of Jewells are thrown together and a tale of family, history, identity and crisis unfolds.

I found the novel initially, not so much challenging, but challenging in its simplicity, in that I kept waiting for the bomb to drop and for it to to become the incredible novel I had read about. I did however, enjoy the opening sections for Lester’s writing similarities with Jonathan Tropper. I found his depiction of Ben to be quite similar to Tropper’s Judd from This Is Where I Leave You, though the two characters are on paper rather different. The way Lester plays with family dynamics and the meaning of family – in that family does not necessarily have to be blood – is incredibly reminiscent of Tropper’s writing, and Lester achieves that same casual elegance in his development of character and character relationships as does Tropper.

The wit and humour in Ben and his father Georg in times of hardship is what keeps the novel afloat and really makes up the heart and the emotion of the novel. The way the three generations interact and share their lives is simply charming and effervescent,

However, once the bomb dropped, and the bombs continued to drop, with more and more punches and twists to the tale that strike right at the heart, I realised just how fantastic this book would really be, and how it exceeds Tropper in so many ways. There is an emotional depth and an authentic sentiment to the closing chapters that really makes you root for the Jewells, despite their, at times, negative qualities, such as Ben and Emma’s dissolving relationship and their own individual demons.

The very end of the novel packs a serious emotional punch, that I was not expecting and really shook me as I read it. I don’t wish to spoil it here, but I will say that I felt it was slightly rushed, and though there were hints of it throughout the novel, I would have preferred a different narrative style, perhaps interweaving the close of the story throughout the novel in a dual narrative style.

I have seen much success with this kind of narrative in the past, though at the same time as it is a common narrative move, I can understand why Lester would choose not to write his story as such. But I really do feel that as impactful as the final note of the story is, it would benefit from more attention throughout.

I have no doubt that this will be a huge seller in 2016, and the success of it is truly down to Lester’s incredible ability to write compelling but relatable characters that really tug on your heartstrings, as well as packing a punch at the end of the narrative. I read it in approximately four hours, and have no doubt that with the right amount of hours in a day, you could too.

 

Shtum is published by Orion books on 7th April 2016 and again, all thanks go to Sam Eades for sending me a copy of this much desired first novel. 

Summer Reads Vol. II

Returning to my summer reads! If you need a reminder, this will be a blog post that recaps a number of books in succinct reviews rather than in depth ones. Because my life is dedicated to university reading at the moment (currently reading: NOT The Shock of the Fall, rather A Feminist Companion to Shakespeare – don’t be too jealous) I’m recapping the rest of my summer reads here.

I would’ve loved to review some of these books in far more detail but I feel it’s more important to get the reviews down on the page whilst the memory of reading them is still fresh. Forgive me, but hopefully you find these useful!

Summer Reads Vol. II

1. This is Where I Leave You – Jonathan Tropper

Cover Image

This is Where I Leave You is a story of a family brought together by tragedy. When Judd’s father dies, his last wish being that the family comes together to sit the Jewish tradition of shiva, Judd’s world becomes the suffocating circus that has been his life with his family.

This was a lovely, easily read book that really gives an insight into family dramas and relationships. It is a story about love, life, loss, faith, faith in people, and above all, family. I love the multiple character threads that all tie up nicely together. Judd’s ending is a little predictable, but the ensemble ending is definitely an unforeseen delight.

What’s really great about this book is the family dynamic, and showing how family don’t always have be blood relations. Tropper is a master of casual writing: none of the text seems forced or tries too hard, it sits comfortably within the pages and calmly unpacks the characters giving due attention to them and their needs.

It is tender and it is dysfunctional and it all comes together to make an extremely satisfying read.

2. The Forty Rules of Love – Elif Shafak 

What’s firstly so fabulous about this book is that it has just been reproduced as part of the Penguin By Hand collection by Penguin General, which means the cover has been re-made with a beautiful craft-inspired jacket, in this case, a tapestry. I think we can all agree that artwork is simply stunning.

I found the book a little harder to get my teeth into; with complex language and subject matter that does not necessarily prescribe to my own interest, it was a book I ploughed through without my usual vigour. The novel (again) has two parallel narratives: the first of the unhappily married Ella in Massachusetts who whilst working for a literary agency is instructed to read the novel that makes up the second narrative. “Sweet Blasphemy” tells of the wandering dervish Shams’ life and his interaction with the Sufi Rumi.

Interestingly, within the novel Ella herself originally struggles with the second narrative, but soon grows to become deeply attached to it and its author. I, myself, preferred Ella’s narrative, though the multiple perspectives of Shams’ story were certainly an interesting addition to perspective.

This book has been wonderfully celebrated, and thus I do encourage reading it. Though for me, it just wasn’t my favourite.

3. The Girl on the Train – Paula Hawkins 

What a novel. As soon as I got stuck into this, I certainly knew why it was one of the most popular and talked about books of the year. It is full of frustrating stops and starts and twists and turns, with a huge killer twist at the end. Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning and every morning stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. “Jess and Jason,” she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost with her ex-husband Tom, who happens to live just down the road from “Jess and Jason”, with his new wife Anna.

Through a series of events, Rachel finds herself in the middle of “Jess and Jason”‘s lives and dramas and turns everything upside down as the tangled web she weaves gets more and more messy.

What’s great about this novel is that the narrator and main character, Rachel, isn’t really the most likeable person in the world. In fact, she’s pretty unlikeable – she’s a drunk, she’s a mess, and she doesn’t help herself with her obsessive personality. There were multiple times whilst reading that I just wanted to scream at her, ‘Rachel, get your act together!!”

It was an incredibly unsettling book, frustrating and times, compelling at others but the mystery at the heart of the novel is what keeps the book alive. Hawkins’ combination of relationship drama with criminal possibilities illustrates the dark secrets behind the facade of perfection, and how this perfect mirage can break down to reveal horrors underneath. It’s a totally gripping novel that I would thoroughly recommend to any reader who enjoyed Gone Girl and wants more of that sticky, interesting drama.

4. Me Before You – Jojo Moyes 

I loved this book. I could tell, as I read it and immediately afterwards, that – like Cecelia Ahern novels – it would be a book that I would return to again and again (though I will have to buy it first, as my kind best friend let me read it on her Kindle!). Like Cecelia Ahern, Jojo Moyes has the ability to create captivating and relatable characters and she certainly punched me in the gut with the ending.

This was actually the first book I’ve ever cried at. I’m a cryer, but my tears are usually reserved for films. This is definitely a testament to Moyes’ writing, her beautiful words and her wonderful, wonderful characters. The story tells of Lou, an out-of-work 26-year-old, whose only option left to support her family is to take employment as a carer for Will, whose successful, glamorous life has been ripped away from him in a motorcycle accident and left him as a paraplegic.

The story in itself is basic rom-com narrative, going back as far as Much Ado About Nothing: Lou and Will are mismatched, don’t get on and are frustrated with each other, but eventually they find a way to work together and find that their lives before each other are nothing compared to their lives with the other in it.

What truly makes it special is the navigation of relationships between family, between lovers, between employers and employees and how that really comes alive on the page through Moyes’ deep, complex and entertaining characters. I’ve always loved the kind of sarcastic bad-boy that Will brings to the table (seen in characters like Finnick Odair – coincidentally also played by Sam Claflin in The Hunger Games, and who plays Will in the upcoming film adaptation).

Lou and Will’s relationship is at the heart of the novel, and the development of their progression from uncomfortable employer/employee to friends really fuels the narrative and made the page ever turning for me.

I read it in one sitting and wouldn’t be surprised if you did too. Grab it now before the movie comes out and you won’t regret it.

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So that’s the end of my summer reads (even though it’s now November) – I hope you enjoyed them! Do let me know in the comments below if you’ve read any of these (I’m sure you have) and what you thought of them.

 

Elizabeth Is Missing

What a novel. Elizabeth is Missing is the debut novel by Emma Healey, broken by Penguin General in 2014 to rave reviews, incredible debut sales and went on to win The Costa Book First Novel Award . I myself swallowed it in half a day and couldn’t read it fast enough.

Simplistically, it tells of Maud, a charming old lady suffering from dementia who can’t remember buying food, never mind where her friend Elizabeth is. As her dementia worsens, so too does her determination to discover what happened to dear Elizabeth and even more dramatically what happened to her sister Sukey when she mysteriously disappeared after the Second World War.

Having a narrator who can’t remember her own daughter’s name sometimes adds a depth unexamined in previous literature. Not only is the narrator unreliable and questionable, one can never guarantee exactly what is happening in the novel.

The novel comes alive with Maud, her characterisation and Healey’s flair for language. The beautiful way in which she constructs Maud’s past and interweaves it with her disjointed present allows you to really feel for Maud and her snatching attempts to grasp at something to answer her questions.

Whilst she fails to obtain more answers, the reader begins to have more questions. I thought I had guessed the ending about three quarters of the way through the book, but unfortunately, I found that by the time the ending had come around, I actually preferred the one I had invented in my own head.

Perhaps this novel is an example of exactly that: the life and stories in our heads are more interesting and more obtainable than those in real life. Is Elizabeth really missing? Or is Maud just missing some marbles?

I found it an incredibly satisfying read and rather refreshing from the usual crime thriller. Healey’s unreliable narrator is comparable to another unreliable narrator of another novel I read on holiday, The Girl on the Train. Though Rachel in the latter is a drunk forgetful, whilst Maud is merely forgetful, both delay the progression of the novel by forcing the reader to ask questions of the narrator, rather than just the story.

Despite my misgivings about the ending, I was wonderfully impressed by Healey’s narrative and her skills as an author. The book was funny, warm, heartbreaking at times, and had an element of old Hollywood drama in the flashbacks to the past, which I thought were beautifully constructed.

Maud is a refreshing voice in the canon and as I said, not often do we get a narrative from an elderly lady, especially one who can’t even remember her own daughter at times.

I would indeed recommend the novel, though do take it with a pinch of salt. It’s a fabulous debut from an author with much promise, and if you are disappointed by the end as I was, remember the beauty of the middle. The construction is an art in itself.

Cover Star.

Summer Reads Vol. I

Because I read quite a number of books this summer, and I feel like some of them don’t need as in-depth a review as others, I’m going to publish a series of ‘Summer Reads’ posts, which will each have a few of the books and their reviews on. I’ll also be doing some full, in-depth reviews.

So here’s the first of my Summer Reads:

1. The Five People You Meet in Heaven – Mitch Albom

This was such a sweet and lovely read, that in a way is less about the story itself and more about a journey of self-reflection. Because the chapters are fairly short and the narrative style is simple, it’s a really easy read, which means that everyone should really be reading it. It tells the story of Eddie, who after death meets five people whose life he impacted, whether he was aware of it or not.

This is definitely a book that is more about the characters and character development than the narrative plot, because at its most simplistic level, it is a very basic narrative plot, which allows Albom to develop Eddie’s character, and the characters of those around him.

I found this book a really valuable read, and a very easy read, so I would definitely recommend it to anyone.

2. Dangerous Creatures – Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

I loved the original series Beautiful Creatures and I think it’s such a shame they really messed up the movie, because I thought the book was so brilliant. I don’t know about you, but when I read an original series, sometimes I get more attached to secondary characters than primary characters, and that definitely happened to me with Link and Ridley, so I was super excited when I found out about this spin-off.

I think it was an excellent idea and really well-written, keeping Link and Ridley the same characters that we loved in Beautiful Creatures, but I did feel like the plot and the story itself wasn’t as deep or well-thought out as the original series. I definitely felt that the original was a lot stronger and more emphatic, whereas this was more take-it-or-leave-it. I read the whole of the Beautiful series in a week, whereas I feel like I could leave Dangerous to the side and not be massively bothered.

Having said that, I do feel like it might grow and develop as the series continues, so maybe it is worth persevering and seeing whether Dangerous Deception adds a little more depth and gravitas to the series.

3. These Days Are Ours – Michelle Haimoff

Interestingly, when I just Googled this book to find the cover image, an alternative cover popped up that was different to the one I read. I definitely think the original is better suited to the novel as the second one is a little too dark and thriller-y for a novel that in my opinion was about growth and rebirth.

Second cover

This book is about a post-9/11 group of privileged Upper East Siders (though far less wild and dramatic as Gossip Girl would have you believe), primarily the protagonist Hailey, who is drifting after college with no real direction, in a way that I think represents the same sentiments felt by many New Yorkers after 9/11.

Haimoff states that she wrote the novel because she was surprised to see how little actually changed in the lives of New Yorkers post-9/11 and she wanted to represent it. Indeed, for the characters in These Days Are Ours, life seems to go on as it did before. Hailey is dealing with unemployment, divorce drama and the unstoppable desire for a boyfriend. But her world starts to change bit-by-bit when a non-Upper East Side boy enters her life and changes the life she was accustomed to.

It was a really easy read, I think it took me half a day, and it was light and reflective and really enjoyable. It packed a bit of a punch at the end, and got me totally terrified about graduating university next year, but I would definitely recommend it for anyone look for a light read.

4. The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared – Jonas Jonasson 

This title isn’t actually a metaphor or something literary and fanciful, this novel actually is about a hundred year old man who climbs out of a window and disappears. It’s not a thriller either. I’m struggling to decide what genre of novel it really is: it’s humorous, it’s very literal (as in, it relays facts and events, not metaphors and themes) and it’s rather uplifting.

Whilst relaying the events of what happens after centenarian Allan Karlsson wanders off from his retirement home and goes on an adventure, the parallel storyline tells of Allan’s life and in many instances he accidentally finds himself involved in world events and associating with world powers such as Franco, Truman, Stalin and Mao.

It was a really enjoyable read, though I didn’t find it as enjoyable as my dad who told me he had laughed out loud many times whilst reading. It definitely made me smile, and I enjoyed reading how Allan figured into world history, though I felt overall it was a long book and definitely took effort to get through the first half.

I think it’s one of those books you need to read, just to see what the fuss is all about. Even though it was a hard read at times I would still recommend it.

5. The Secret Place – Tana French

The beauty of this novel is that it inserts the reader right into two sets of action: past and present; the past action events leading up to the crime, and the present, one year later, in the aftermath of the crime and solving a crime that was laid to rest immediately after the initial investigation.

It tells of a murder of a boarding schoolboy that takes place in the grounds of the girls’ parallel boarding school. The key characters are a group of girls seemingly unconnected to the murdered Chris, their ‘rival’ gang and the two detectives on the case. French also brings in the legal thriller genre by making one of the girls the daughter of a detective who has worked with the lead detective, Stephen, in the past.

The novel is a work of ice: there are many layers and parts to chip away at, with more clues and details becoming apparent as the novel develops. I thoroughly enjoyed the relationship between the group of girls, and that of the two detectives, and seeing the plot lines in tandem. It’s definitely a worthy read and really highlights the themes of loyalty and betrayal with both the young and adult characters.

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So there you have it! The first volume of my Summer Reads, with a solid mix of books in there I think. Let me know in the comments below if you’ve read any of these and what you thought of them!

A to Z Bookish Survey

I saw this on Paint and Butterflies Books’ page, the first blog I’ve actually got around to following, and couldn’t resist filling it in. Anyone who knows me knows I love a quiz or a survey or putting my two cents in. As I read it on her page, I couldn’t help answering it in my head, so I thought I’d give it a go. As I’m fairly new to the creative/book blogging world, this is my first tag, so be gentle and don’t be shy in the comments.

 

A: Author you’ve read the most books from- 

Probably John Green if I’m being honest. Discounting series like Harry Potter, which is obviously seven books by one author, the most different books I’ve read by one author is probably John Green.

B: Best sequel ever

Catching Fire – Suzanne Collins. Better than the first, I thought.

C: Currently reading

The Good Liar by Nicholas Searle. (Shh, it’s not actually out yet, but so far I can tell it’s going to be one of the best books of 2016)

D: Drink of choice while reading

I’m not really a big drinker or eater whilst reading – I don’t like anything interrupting me!

E: E-reader or physical book

Ahh the endless debate. Of course we all prefer the physical book, to smell it and to feel it, and also to admire the cover (designers do some seriously good work), but I love how easy it is to have a whole library in my bag at any one time. Especially on the train/tube, having my Kindle is so perfect.

F: Fictional character you probably would’ve dated in high school

I don’t know to be honest. I’m trying to compare my high school boyfriend with any fictional characters and I just can’t. I know who I’d like to have dated: Etienne St Clair, from Anna and The French Kiss.

G: Glad you gave this book a chance

The Storyteller – Jodi Picoult. I don’t usually like Holocaust books, but this story was just so captivating. It made me stay up way past my bedtime.

H: A hidden gem book

I think maybe Hopeless by Colleen Hoover. I’m not sure actually how many people have read this or how popular it is, but I barely hear about it. It was just a really deep, thoughtful, beautifully written romance with a realistically dark undertone.

I: Important moment in your reading life

I remember being maybe seven years old and being an avid and hungry reader, but refusing to read Harry Potter. My mum got me the audio tapes and I remember sitting on the floor of my bedroom listening to Stephen Fry tell me the most wonderful story. I kept my tapes in a long red box and not soon after devoured as many Harry Potter books as were publishing at that time.

J: Just finished

We Need to Talk About Kevin – Lionel Shriver (Review to come).

K: Kinds of books you won’t read

I generally don’t read non-fiction, and I don’t like anything too ‘out-there’ or scary. I also tend to avoid vampires.

L: Longest book you’ve ever read

I have the Riverside Chaucer, which contains almost everything Chaucer ever wrote… I’m not sure if that counts? Otherwise probably Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The Count of Monte Cristo is giving me a dirty look from my bookshelf because I just can’t bring myself to get into it.

M: Major book hangover because of

I don’t know really, I’m trying to think. We Need to Talk About Kevin certainly made me stop and think and I felt shaken by its ending… but it didn’t stop me from starting a new book the next day.

N: Number of bookcases you own

This mishmashed collection is meant to be my bookshelves, but when it was put in, I started using the shelves for lots of other things and now my books have resorted to spilling out everywhere at the bottom. No shame.

O: One book you’ve read multiple times

Just one?? The Harry Potter series (I actually still listen to the audio tapes whilst I sleep) and The Fault in Our Stars are probably the most re-read books. And Where Rainbows End by Cecelia Ahern.

P: Preferred place to read

Trains and Planes.

Q: Quote that inspires you or gives you all the feels

 

“You like someone who can’t like you back because unrequited love can be survived in a way that once-requited love cannot.”

― John Green, Will Grayson, Will Grayson
R: Reading regret

Not spending more time reading instead of re-watching American TV shows. I can’t help it, they’re my guilty pleasure.

S: Series that you’ve started and need to finish

 

The Regeneration Trilogy – Pat Barker. I really really want to get around to finishing The Eye in the Door and The Ghost Road.
T: Three of your all time favorite books

This is painful. It’s like choosing a child.

1. Starter for Ten – David Nicholls
2. The Fault in our Stars – John Green
3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – JK Rowling

 

U: Unapologetic fan girl for

John Green. As an author. I think people are so dismissive because he writes YA fiction and they’re technically ‘easy’ reads. But his books and his writing are so deep and so important. No word is written by chance.

See? He gets us.

V: Very excited for this release

The Good Liar, because I’m reading it and I want everyone else to.

W: Worst bookish habit

Leaving books in various rooms in my house and forgetting about them. Also forgetting to read books I’ve bought excitedly when I get a new book that I’ve bought excitedly.

X: X marks the spot pick the 27 book on your shelf

The Boy that Never Was – Karen Perry.

Y: Your latest book purchase

Well I just amassed a whole haul of books from my two weeks at Penguin, so those are all my ‘To Read’ books. But the last one I actually bought was We Need to Talk About Kevin.

Z: ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late)

Also We Need to Talk About Kevin. We need to talk about how I always stay up late reading.

 

 

So there you have it. An insight into my reading life, and my first tag. Comment as you will.