Book Haul (27 July 2012)

From the Library:


1. Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1) by Laini Taylor;


2. Night Beach by Kirsty Eagar;


3. 7 Clues to Winning You by Kristin Walker;


4. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

These are the books that I bought:



5. The Story of My Life by Helen Keller;


6. Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie;


7. Murder on the Orient Express (Hercule Poirot #10) by Agatha Christie;


8. Forrest Gump by Winston Groom;


9. June (Conspiracy 365 #6) by Gabrielle Lord

These are the books that I got for review from Scholastic.


10. When it Happens by Susane Colasanti;


11. The Traitors by Tom Becker;


12. Ransomwood by Sherryl Jordan.

Follow Friday #41

Follow Friday is a weekly event hosted by Parajunkee & Alison of Alison Can Read.

This weeks question is:

 

 

 

Summer Reading. What was your favourite book that you were REQUIRED to read when you were in school?

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow when the War Began by John Marsden and Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta.

Book Review #164 - Matilda by Roald Dahl

For most kids, The Trunchbull is pure terror, but for Matilda, she's a sitting duck.

Who put superglue in Dad's hat? Was it really a ghost that made Mom tear out of the house? Matilda is a genius with idiot parents—and she's having a great time driving them crazy. But at school things are different. At school there's Miss Trunchbull, two hundred menacing pounds of kid-hating headmistress. Get rid of The Trunchbull and Matilda would be a hero. But that would take a superhuman genius, wouldn't it?

My Rating: 5/5

This is the first Roald Dahl book I have read since I was a child. I found this book to be engaging from the very first page.

Matilda is a very likeable character even if her family don't agree. I instantly liked her.

I found Matilda's family really interesting, especially her mother who had some funny quotes.

I would recommend this book for people of any age because I think everyone would be able to find something in this they will enjoy.

I am also looking forward to reading more of Roald Dahl.  

Book Review #163 - No Such Thing as Forever (Girl Heart Boy #1) by Ali Cronin

Real love. Real lives. The real thing . . .Four girls, three boys, turning 18. Get set to follow their eventful final year at school.

Cass is Ms Monogamy. Ashley is a player. Donna is a party girl. But what about Sarah? Her friends tease her for being uptight, but she's waiting for The One. Now she's found him, but is he forever - or is Sarah just his summer fling?

My Rating: 4/5

This was an interesting book to read. I read it really quickly as I was really absorbed in the story.

What I liked about this book the most was the protagonist Sarah. If Sarah wasn't as likeable as she was I wouldn't have liked this book at all. I didn't like any of Sarah's friends, they weren't developed enough.

The book was very predictable and although you wished Sarah would wisen up to all I never felt annoyed with her, like I normally would with characters in this situation.

This is the kind of book that I found enjoyable whilst reading, but after I had finished it didn't take me long to forget most of it. I am still intending to read future books in this series.





Blog Hop #21

Book Blogger Hop is a bookish meme hosted by the blog Crazy For Books.

This weeks question:

 

 

 

What’s the ONE super-hyped book you’ll NEVER read?

 

 

 

The Fifty Shades Series by E.L James because it's not my type of book.

Follow Friday #40

Follow Friday is a weekly event hosted by Parajunkee & Alison of Alison Can Read.

This weeks question is:

 

 

 

 

Christmas in July! Someone gives you a gift card for two books (whatever that costs). What two books will you buy?

 

 

 

The Harry Potter Page to Screen book which is about $70 in Australia and I haven't done anything book related in over a week because I've been sick, so I had trouble thinking of a second book.

Book Haul (14 July 2012)

Books I got during the last two weeks are:

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Hercule Poirot #4) by Agatha Christie;

Starcrossed (Starcrossed #1) by Josephine Angelini;

Matilda by Roald Dahl;

The Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2) by Richelle Mead;

Glow (Sky Chasers #1) by Amy Kathleen Ryan;

Spark (Sky Chasers #2) by Amy Kathleen Ryan - From Pan Macmillan Australia for review.

Survive by Alex Morel - From Hardie Grant Egmont Australia for review.

Xor: The Shape of Darkness by Moshe Sipper - sent by the author for review

A Corner of White (The Colours of Madeleine #1) by Jaclyn Moriarty - From Pan Macmillan Australia for review.

 

Blog Hop #20

Book Blogger Hop is a bookish meme hosted by the blog Crazy For Books.

This weeks question:

 

 

 

How long does it take you to read a book?

 

 

That depends on the length of the book and how much I am enjoying the book. Normally, if I like the book it doesn't matter on the length I can finish it in a day. A book like Moby Dick that I am struggling to get into can stay bookmarked on the same page for months.

Follow Friday #39

Follow Friday is a weekly event hosted by Parajunkee & Alison of Alison Can Read.

This weeks question is:

 

 

 

What drove you to start book blogging in the first place?

 

 

I honestly don't remember. I don't even remember if I even read other blogs before starting my own. I wish I had a better answer than that.

Book Review #162 - Any Love But Mine by Debbie Davies

Look but don't touch has never been more true...

The gods forbade her to love, but love is a powerful force. Acacia has been created purely for Eros' pleasure but discovers within moments of being summoned into his presence that he has no interest in her whatsoever. Rejected, she is banished to Earth to serve as Eros' minion with the task of promoting the blissful state of love among all those around her, a state she must never indulge in with a human being herself on pain of immediate destruction. And then comes Josh, someone whose power of attraction over Acacia is so intense she will find it utterly impossible to resist him. But is he human? Is he a god? Or is he a trick of the gods? And what would happen should they kiss?

My Rating: 4/5

I would like to thank the author for kindly sending me a copy of this book for review. Her Goodreads page is here.

I didn't know whether I was going to like this book after the first chapter left me a little confused. The book was great from then on.

I really liked the protagonist Acacia, she was very stubborn yet likeable and very unique.

I found this book really fast paced and finished it relatively quickly.

The main male character Josh was very enigmatic and elusive to begin with and then slowly becomes more and more involved in the story and Acacia's life.

The mythology aspects throughout were a little confusing for me as I don't know much about it, it didn't stop me from understanding the story though.

I would recommend this book to anyone who liked The Goddess Test or Percy Jackson.

Book Review #161 - Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

It all starts when Nick asks Norah to be his girlfriend for five minutes. He only needs five minutes to avoid his ex-girlfriend, who’s just walked in to his band’s show. With a new guy. And then, with one kiss, Nick and Norah are off on an adventure set against the backdrop of New York City—and smack in the middle of all the joy, anxiety, confusion, and excitement of a first date.

This he said/she said romance told by YA stars Rachel Cohn and David Levithan is a sexy, funny roller coaster of a story about one date over one very long night, with two teenagers, both recovering from broken hearts, who are just trying to figure out who they want to be—and where the next great band is playing.

Told in alternating chapters, teeming with music references, humor, angst, and endearing side characters, this is a love story you’ll wish were your very own. Working together for the first time, Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have combined forces to create a book that is sure to grab readers of all ages and never let them go.

My Rating: 4/5

I was really excited to read this book because I really enjoyed Dash and Lily's Book of Dares which is by the same two authors.

I really think the two authors writing styles blend well together and I would like them to write more together.

I had watched the movie based on this book many years ago, and then rewatched it after reading it. The movie is almost as good as the book, although it does change alot of aspects from the book.

It took me just over a hour to read this book. I found it really fast paced and I was unable to put it down.

What I loved most about this book was that it was set in New York. The setting really felt like another character in the book.

Whilst I didn't really like either Nick or Norah, it didn't subtract anything away from the story. I still really enjoyed it.

Book Review #160 - Winter's Shadow (Winter Saga #1) by M.J. Hearle

Blake Duchamp...

He's all that Winter Adams can think of. Ever since their fateful meeting at Pilgrim's Lament. Ever since he looked at her with those emerald eyes. Ever since he saved her life.

But Blake isn't all that he seems. There is a strangeness about him, something dark and otherworldly. Something dangerous. In his attic is a secret he would kill to defend, but Winter seems to have a special ability to make him forget his duty. And he is her only protection against the gathering darkness.

The only problem is, to protect Winter, Blake must risk exposing her to an even greater danger. Himself.

My Rating: 5/5

I wasn't exactly sure what this book was about prior to reading as the synopsis was vague. This turned out to be a positive thing.

Winter was an interesting protagonist although even at the end of the book I never really felt like I knew alot about her.

Blake wasn't that unique. He reminded me of any male protagonist in young adult books.

The paranormal aspect was entirely unique as I have never read anything even remotely similar to it.

The ending was the best part of the book, it was not how I thought it would end. It had a huge cliffhanger.

I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series Winter's Light which I will try and read sometime later this week.

It's Monday! What Are you Reading? #7

"It's Monday! What are you reading?" is a fun meme hosted by Sheila @ Book Journey. This is where we share the books we have read last week and our reading plans for this week.

The books that I reviewed last week are:

 

 

 

Harry a History by Melissa Anelli;

 

 

The Faustian Host by Dave Becker

 

 

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

 

 

The book that I am currently reading is:

 

 

 

 

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

 

 

Originally published in 1954, William Golding's Lord of the Flies is one of the most disturbing and celebrated novels of modern times.

A plane crashes n a desert island. The only survivors area a group of schoolboys. At first they revel in the freedom and celebrate the absence of grown-ups.

Soon though, as the boys' fragile sense of order begins to collapse, their fears start to take on a sinister, primitive significance. Suddenly, the world of cricket, homework and adventure stories seems a long way away. The boys are faced with a more pressing reality - survival - and the appearance of a terrifying beast who haunts their dreams.

TGIF #21

Hosted by Ginger over at G-Reads

This weeks question is:

 

 

Comfort Reads: Which books do you go to for comfort & familiarity?

Is there a type of book you seek out when you're needing that extra bit of comfort in your life?

 

 

 

Whenever I find myself in a reading slump I re-read the Harry Potter series. So far this year I have read the first two books.

Follow Friday #38

Follow Friday is a weekly event hosted by Parajunkee & Alison of Alison Can Read.

This weeks question is:

 

 

 

Jumping Genres: Ever pick up a book from a genre you usually don't like and LOVE it? Tell us about it and why you picked it up in the first place.

 

 

I never thought I would like the Chick Lit genre until I read the  first four books in the Pretty Little Liars series by Sara Shepard. Now I read that genre quite alot.

Blog Hop #19

Book Blogger Hop is a bookish meme hosted by the blog Crazy For Books.

This weeks question:

 

 

 

If you could be a character from any book, who would you be?

 

 

I was trying to pick someone other than a character from Harry Potter because I am always choosing Harry Potter characters for these questions, but how cool would it be to go to Hogwarts.

Book Review #159 - The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1) by Julie Kagawa

"In a future world, vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity."Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of "them." The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked--and given the ultimate choice. Die...or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.

Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend--a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what--and who--is worth dying for.

My Rating: 5/5

This is the first Julie Kagawa book I have read, although I do have the first three books of the Iron Fey Series on my TBR shelf.

I had really high expectations for this book because it combines two of my favourite genres - vampires and dystopian.

It took me a while to like Allison and I am not sure why. She was really strongly portrayed and it wasn't that I failed to connect with her I just didn't like her at first.

My favourite male character was Kanin and I wished there had been more written about him. Hopefully in the next book.

Zeke was an okay character, I didn't really like him in this book. He was too much of a wimp. I wished he had stood up to Jeb from the start.

Until about 300 pages I would have given this book either a 3.5 or a 4 star rating because I was liking it but I wasn't loving it. Around 300 pages in I really started to enjoy it.

I really liked how Allison was able to hide the fact that she was a vampire from her human friends as I was was looking forward to when they found out.

Ultimately, the ending sealed the deal for me. It had a huge cliffhanger and I can't wait to read the next book, and I am definitely going to buy my own copy of this book.

Book Review #158 - The Faustian Host (Apocalypse Signs #1) by Dave Becker

Plymouth Rock is bleeding. Day has turned to night. Hundred-pound hailstones level buildings. The small town of Clement seems cursed, and the residents know who's to blame: the new kid, Tony Marino.

After losing his family and his home, 14-year-old Tony is forced to move from Florida to Massachusetts to attend Kalos Academy, an unconventional school for gifted children. Strange things begin to happen the day he arrives, and soon stories of plagues, monsters, and mystical objects surround him. Refusing to believe superstitions, Tony struggles to explain the occurrences logically, until he comes face to face with a satanic cult determined to bring about the end of the world.

 

My Rating: 4/5

I would like to thank the author for kindly sending me a copy for review. Here are the links to the author's Goodreads page and his website.


This was a very unique take on the apocalyptic genre. For one, it didn't have any paranormal creatures at all, which I found refreshing and different to what I usually read.


I liked everything about this book except for the protagonist Tony. He was too arrogant and not very likeable at all.


I really liked the adventure involved in this book, it made the book fast paced and unable to put down.


Whilst there are religious aspect to this book, I didn't find them overwhelming and it did not impact my enjoyment of the book.

Book Review #157 - Harry, a History: The True Story of a Boy Wizard, His Fans, and Life Inside the Harry Potter Phenomenon by Melissa Anelli

During the brief span of just one decade, hundreds of millions of perfectly ordinary people made history: they became the only ones who would remember what it was like when the Harry Potter saga was still unfinished. What it was like to seek out friends, families, online forums, fan fiction, and podcasts to get a fix between novels. When the death of a character was a hotter bet than the World Series. When the unfolding story of a boy wizard changed the way books are read for all time. And as webmistress of the Leaky Cauldron, one of the most popular Harry Potter sites on the Internet, Melissa Anelli had a front row seat to it all. Whether it was helping Scholastic stop leaks and track down counterfeiters, hosting live PotterCasts at bookstores across the country, touring with the wizard rock band Harry and the Potters, or traveling to Edinburgh to interview J.K. Rowling personally, Melissa was at the center of the Harry Potter tornado, and nothing about her life would ever be the same. The Harry Potter books are a triumph of the imagination that did far more than break sales records for all time. They restored the world's sense of wonder and took on a magical life of their own. Now the series has ended, but the story is not over. With remembrances from J. K. Rowling's editors, agents, publicists, fans, and Rowling herself, Melissa Anelli takes us on a personal journey through every aspect of the Harry Potter phenomenon-from his very first spell to his lasting impact on the way we live and dream.

My Rating: 4/5

I didn't know what this book was about prior to reading other than it had something to do with Harry Potter. Had I known, it was somebody's autobiographical account of how Harry Potter changed her life I would probably have been hesitant to read such book. So I am glad I went into this book blind as I really enjoyed it.


It was good to look at Harry Potter through the eyes of an older person at the time where you had to wait anxiously for the next book, because around that time I was the same age as Harry.


The book showcased all different Harry Potter fandoms from music (wizard rock), fanfiction writing, fan sites and exhibitions, which I didn't know much about until reading.


I found this book to be very interesting and would recommend it for any Harry Potter fan.

It's Monday! What are you Reading? #6

"It's Monday! What are you reading?" is a fun meme hosted by Sheila @ Book Journey. This is where we share the books we have read last week and our reading plans for this week.

The books that I reviewed last week are:

 

 

 

The Lure of Shapinsay by Krista Holle;

 

 

Xoc  by Matt Dembicki;

 

 

Dads, Geeks and Blue Haired Freaks by Ellie Philips

 

 

 

 

 

The book I am currently reading is:

 

 

 

 

 

Blake Duchamp...

He's all that Winter Adams can think of. Ever since their fateful meeting at Pilgrim's Lament. Ever since he looked at her with those emerald eyes. Ever since he saved her life.

But Blake isn't all that he seems. There is a strangeness about him, something dark and otherworldly. Something dangerous. In his attic is a secret he would kill to defend, but Winter seems to have a special ability to make him forget his duty. And he is her only protection against the gathering darkness.

The only problem is, to protect Winter, Blake must risk exposing her to an even greater danger. Himself.

 

 

Add to Goodreads

Book Haul (2 July 2012) 28 Books

1. Daniel Radcliffe by Grace Norwich;

2. Wicked 2: Legacy and Spellbound (Wicked #3-4) by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie;


3. No Time to Die & The Deep End of Fear (Dark Secrets #2) by Elizabeth Chandler;


4. Vampire Kisses: Blood Relatives, Volume 1 by Ellen Schreiber;


5. The Shadow of Death (Thirst #4) by Christopher Pike;


6. The Last Vampire and Black Blood (The Last Vampire #1-2) by Christopher Pike;


7. Jessie Hearts NYC by Keris Stainton;


8. Two Steps Forward (Steps #2) by Rachel Cohn;


9. Wake (Dream Catcher #1) by Lisa McMann;


10. Gone (Dream Catcher #3) by Lisa McMann;


11. Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves;


12. Ironside (The Modern Faerie Tales #3) by Holly Black;


13. The Swordhand Ombibus (My Swordhand is Singing #1-2) by Markus Sedgwick - Previously read from Library.


14. Phoenix (Beautiful Dead #4) by Eden Maguire;


15. The Off Season (Dairy Queen #2) by Catherine Gilbert Murdock;

16. 13 Little Blue Envelopes (Little Blue Envelope #1) by Maureen Johnson;


17. Wicked (Pretty Little Liars #5) by Sara Shepard;


18. Killer (Pretty Little Liars #6) by Sara Shepard;


19. Heartless (Pretty Little Liars #7) by Sara Shepard;


20. Wanted (Pretty Little Liars #8) by Sara Shepard;


21. The Carrie Diaries (The Carrie Diaries #1) by Candace Bushnell;


22. Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers;


23. Take Me There by Carolee Dean;


24. L.A. Candy (L.A. Candy #1) by Lauren Conrad



These are some ebooks that I got since my last book haul:

and the book I am about to pick up from the Library:



Cover Reveal - A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Madeleine Tully lives in Cambridge, England, the World – a city of spires, Isaac Newton and Auntie’s Tea Shop.

Elliot Baranski lives in Bonfire, the Farms, the Kingdom of Cello – where seasons roam, the Butterfly Child sleeps in a glass jar, and bells warn of attacks from dangerous Colours.

They are worlds apart – until a crack opens up between them; a corner of white – the slim seam of a letter.

A mesmerising story of two worlds; the cracks between them, the science that binds them and the colours that infuse them.

Quote from the cover by Markus Zusak:

‘Perfectly strange, and absolutely comical and heartfelt ... Jaclyn Moriarty is one of the most original writers we have.’

Best of the Bunch - June 2012

Best of the Bunch is an awesome end-of-month meme created at Lyrical Reviews and now hosted by Sally at Always Lost in Stories. All you have to do is pick your favourite book of all the books you've read that month and post it.

Books that I have read and reviewed this month are:


The Heaven I Found in Hell by Ashley Andrews;
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky;
Scary School by Derek the Ghost;
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling (re-read);
Loners by Lex Thomas;
The Brotherhood of Piaxia by Michael Drakich;
Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky;
Of Poseidon by Anna Banks;
The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross;
Struck by Rhonda Stapleton;
Dads, Geeks and Blue Haired Freaks by Ellie Philips;
Xoc by Matt Dembicki;
The Lure of the Shapinsay by Krista Holle


And the books that I read but haven't yet reviewed are:

Harry a History by Melissa Anelli;
The Faustian Host by Dave Becker


I only have one 5 star rating this month (although I did give 4 stars 6 times). The one book with the 5 star rating is:

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

Galen, a Syrena prince, searches land for a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. It’s while Emma is on vacation at the beach that she meets Galen. Although their connection is immediate and powerful, Galen's not fully convinced that Emma's the one he's been looking for. That is, until a deadly encounter with a shark proves that Emma and her Gift may be the only thing that can save his kingdom. He needs her help--no matter what the risk.