T5W: Summer Reads

Hi All,

I'm here with my second Top 5 Wednesday which was started by Ginger Reads Lainey and is now being looked after by Thoughts on Tomes and the topics can be found on Goodreads

This weeks topic is Summer Reads, I found this one pretty difficult to narrow down to just 5. My list isn't in any particular order that would have been impossible to do :)

5. Lola & the Boy Next Door - Stephanie Perkins
Even the colour of the cover is summery to me. This is a very light and quick read. Even though I read it in Winter I think this would be perfect to take on holiday and read on a plane or by a poolside. The themes in the book are quite easy to follow and the premise is that of your average chick lit and the characters really made it fun to read.

4. Stardust - Neil Gaiman
This is a perfect read for anyone who loves books about adventure, anyone who likes fantasy books that seem to feel like a fairy tale or anyone wanting to try their first Neil Gaiman book. I have loved Neil Gaiman for years and I think this is the one I started with. His writing style is not for everyone but I've think he's a genius! This is such a fun read, it's fast paced and charmingly funny.

3. Sailor Moon - Naoko Takeuchi
If you are a fan of Manga and/or you loved watching Sailor Moon in your youth (like I did) then I highly recommend picking up the Sailor Moon books. There is so much more in the books than I remember ever being TV show. This is another really quick read, it's fun and the illustrations are really good.

2. Change of Heart Jodi Picoult
If you're looking for something that's a little more thought provoking and a little heavier than a lot of the contemporaries out there I recommend Change of Heart or anything by Jodi Picoult. Change of Heart was the first Picoult book I read and it got me hooked on her writing. Even though she writes about some difficult topics her style makes her books easy to follow and quick to read perfect for a day sat on the beach.

1. The Winners Curse - Marie Rutkoski
This is my perfect summer read. When I first heard about it I was little worried I wouldn't like it but I gave it a go anyway and it was so much more than what others had described it as. I think you should go into this read not knowing too much about it so all I'll say is if you like fantasy, political intrigue and a good romance you'll more than likely love this book. Oh and no love triangle, YAY!

Tag Tuesday: NY Times By The Book Tag

I believe this tag was originally started by Marie Berg on Youtube and I haven't been tagged to do this but I really liked the questions.

1. What book is on your night stand now?

2. What was the last truly great book you read?My go to answer would be The Winners Kiss or Salt to the Sea which were both truly great but I seem to have mentioned those on my blog a few times before so I will go with Wolf by Wolf which was just an incredible read. I can't wait for the second book to come out later this year - I really recommend this to anyone who wants a WWII book with a bit of a twist.

3. If you could meet any writer – dead or alive – who would it be? And what would you want to know?I know most people's answer to this would be J.K Rowling and as much as I'd love to meet her and ask her all the questions everyone else has already gone through with their answer to this question I would actually have to go with Neil Gaiman. I love Neil's writing style and his books have pulled me through some pretty dark times. I would love to talk to him about his writing techniques and how he creates such perfect worlds.

4. What books might we be surprised to find on your shelves?I have a really eclectic taste so my shelf doesn't really have anything surprising on it but some of my colleagues are usually a little surprised when they find out that I own quite a few Roald Dahl books and still re-read them at 25 years old.

5. How do you organize your personal library?At the moment we still haven't had chance to get a book shelf for our house since moving in so they are organised as boxes of read books and boxes or unread books but I used to organise it alphabetical by Author's last name. I tried other systems but it was madness trying to find anything!

6. What book have you always meant to read and haven’t gotten around yet? Anything you feel embarrassed never to have read?

I have a lot for this question so I will just put a picture of all the ones I own but haven't read because I'm intimidated by either the hype or the length of it, maybe you guys could recommend which one(s) are worth the risk?

7. Disappointing, overrated, just not good: what book did you feel you are supposed to like but didn’t? Do you remember the last book you put down without finishing?The Cuckoos Calling by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K Rowling). The blurb made it sound so interesting and exactly he kind of thing I would usually love but I was really disappointed I just couldn't finish it :(

8. What kind of stories are you drawn to? Any you stay clear of?I like multiple narative books because they tend to be quite fast paced and I like getting different takes on situations.

9. If you could require the president to read one book, what would it be?I have to say Animal Farm by George Orwell for this one :) I don't think much explanation is needed for this for those who have read it and for those who haven't please give it a chance I didn't think I'd like it but it's so easy to read, it's short too so its a one sit-in kind of book.

10. What do you plan to read next?When I have finished the that I answered for question I would quite like to re-read Jane Eyre and also give Me Before You a try.

Books Mentioned & Not already Linked;Saint Anything - Sarah Dessen

A Court of Mist & Fury - Sarah J Maas

Kiss of Deception - Mary E Pearson

The Final Empire - Brandon Sanderson

The Raven Boys - Maggie Steifvater

Queen of the Tearling - Erika Johansen

T5W: Characters You Are Most Like

Hi All,

I'm here with my second Top 5 Wednesday which was started by Ginger Reads Lainey and is now being looked after by Thoughts on Tomes and the topics can be found on Goodreads

This weeks topic is Characters You Are Most Like and this one was a fairly easy one for me to do. Most of the characters below I only feel I have one or two traits in common with but I feel I have most in common with my number 1 stop. So lets get started :)

1. Katniss Everdeen - The Hunger Games Trilogy
Trait; Stubborness
I had a bit of a love hate relationship with Katniss while reading the Hunger Games. I loved the series but found her to be quite frustrating especially with her stubborn behaviour but I am very similar to her with this. When I have decided to do something it's very rare I can be talked round although unlike Katniss it's very rare my stubbornness is out of wanting to survive life threatening situations.

2. Luna Lovegood- The Harry Potter Series
Trait; Spacey
I absolutely love Luna Lovegood and I'd like to think I had a lot in common with her but I think the biggest thing would be how spacey she can be. By this I mean that she comes across a little like she's half in a dream world, soft spoken and firm in her beliefs but not in an overbearing intense kind of way she just accepts that people might not believe what she believes and that's okay. 

3. Hannah Baker - Thirteen Reasons Why
Trait: Belief in the domino effect
I loved this book because I believe that everyone's actions have a consequence either directly or indirectly and this book goes into that a lot I often think that some of the things I do or say are because of what others have done or said to me in the past. However I also believe that anything negative I do or say might be because of this reason but it's not an excuse as everyone has the option to be the bigger person and there is lots of help out there for serious situations.

2. Fred & George Weasley- The Harry Potter Series
Trait; Sarcasm
I don't think much needs to be said here, I'm sure most of us if not all of us love the twins. I think they were amazing comic relief in the books and in some of the darkest moments they were there with a comment to break the tension. I am known as the person who is very quick witted and sarcastic and can often provide humour when needed with friends and family. 

1. Jane Eyre
I can't list just one trait I have in common with Jane. Since the first time I read the book at age 15 I have felt a deep connection to her and every time I re-read it I learn something new from it. It is the only book apart from the Harry Potter Series that I buy multiples of every time I see a cover I don't own I have to buy it. Jane see's herself as plain and unlovable which I can relate to but the thing I feel the closest likeness with is her independence she doesn't have anyone to guide her but when she feels very strongly about accomplishing things without any shortcuts.

Books Mentioned;
The Hunger Games 
Harry Potter 
Thirteen Reasons Why 
Jane Eyre

Tag Tuesday: The Ruler of Books Tag

I haven't been tagged but I loved the questions and the idea behind this book tag. The Ruler of Books Tag was started by Ariel Bissett. You should check her channel out I love her video's because she is so passionate about books and reading.

1) What book would you make everyone read?

For this I had two but I have decided to go with Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. I think it's a really interesting book and it really gets you thinking about how your actions can affect others. It really brings attention to bullying and how mental abuse can be just as harmful to others as physical abuse even if you didn't really mean what you did/said.

2)What would you abolish in book construction?

Stiff spines, they are the bane of my life! UK paperbacks tend to have really stiff spines which makes it a little tricky to read when it's a book over 350 pages long. The most annoying thing about stiff spines though is that when you get half way trough a book or if you open it a little too wide it wrinkles the spine and it makes the books look a little scruffy when on the shelf. I'd definitely have to get rid of this and ensure all books are made bendy.

3) What author would you commission to write you any book?

I'd have to go with Marie Rutkoski I fell in love with her writing about this time last year after reading the first two books in the Winners Trilogy and I would just love more books from that world from the points of view of a couple of commoners or people who fought on each side. I just need more, I would pay beyond the odds for more of this world.

4) What book would you demote to the library basement to make room for new books?

This has to be The Old Man & The Sea by Ernest Hemmingway. We were made to read this for school back when I was doing my GCSE's and I could not stand this book. Nothing of interest happens at all and to say it is such a short novel it sure does feel like it drags on! I sometimes think about re-reading this, maybe I didn't give it a fair chance because we were forced to read it but right now I have no interest in reading it again.

5)What cover artist would you choose to paint a mural?

I'm going with Ruben Toledo who did a beautiful cover of my favourite book Jane Eyre. He really captured the mood of the story with the colours and illustrations. It is my favourite cover of Jane Eyre I've come across and that's saying something since I own 7 copies of this book. I mean please just look at this cover, it's stunning!

6) What characters face would you put on a coin?

Hermione Granger - I tried to avoid referencing Harry Potter for once but I couldn't help it I think Hermione deserves her face on a coin. Without her Harry would not have survived to the end. I think she's a girl everyone can and should look up to and just an overall amazing character.

7) What book would you award the "Ruler of Books" 2016 prize to?

It has to be Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys, I read this at the beginning of the year and it's still something I think about on a regular basis. It's interesting, charming, captivating, funny and so well written! I can't wait to read others books by her but I don't feel emotionally ready yet.

Discussion; Buying Online Vs Buying In Store

This is a topic I'm quite interested in hearing other peoples views on. I'd like to start by saying that I don't think either way is right or wrong I think anyone buying a book and reading is doing a great thing in supporting authors and broadening their horizons (I know that was a little cheesy). Also if you live somewhere remote then it can't always be possible to get the book you want from a store, I myself am quite lucky to live in a village that's close to a small town and 2 cities but I do buy online as well as in store.

      So I think the obvious bonus to buying online and the reason most of us do it is because books tend to be a little cheaper and you don't really mind waiting a couple of days to receive it because it saves you money and time (that you could be spending reading). I am a writer and when I publish my first book it will probably be online for at least the first year because it is easier to send copies to people to review and it's easier to sell in general than it is to get a book on a shelf. Which leads me to another pro for online buying, because so many new authors choose to publish this way you might be able to find a gem of a book by and indie author who you would never have been able to find in the shop because it's so expensive for said author to get a publisher. Also you are more likely to find the book you are looking for online than you are to find it in a small book store as no book store can possibly house every book but if you look hard enough online you are likely to be able to buy even the rarest of books.
      To balance this though I am also a fan of buying from a store, I'm incredibly lucky to have a decent sized book store near where I live that has super helpful staff. I love going in a watching what other people pick up and the staff at my closest book store will often approach me now (as I spend so much time in there) and recommend books based on what section of the shop I'm in and even though some people might not like this I love it as I'd probably never have found the book myself or thought to pick it up. I know every store is different but I have found that people who work at book stores seem to be some of the friendliest people in retail too so I always feel at ease even I'm just browsing. Which brings me to another pro you can actually browse books you wouldn't normally think to pick up and it opens you up to so many different authors to give a chance to, if you're wanting something a bit different to what you would normally go for I think buying in store is the best way to do this. Also book stores will often have signings by authors or book events for releases and these can be a great way of meeting new people and making friends.

      I think the biggest cons for online book buying is the fact you can't browse the shelves and so you have to know what you are looking for. Many websites will probably show you recommendations based on your previous buys but if you are wanting something new and don't know where to start online shopping is going to be a little difficult. Also if you're wanting to start a book straight away that's impossible when buying online at the very best you can get it the next day but that can sometimes cost more in postage and packaging than the actual book! Lastly when buying online you don't get that feel of customer care, you don't get to meet people who have read the book and can tell you if it's good or not, there's just no social interaction and most the time that suits me fine because I can be so awkward when talking face to face but talking about books is one of my favourite things to do!
      So the biggest con for me when buying in store is that some times they don't have what I'm looking for, a lot of the books I want to buy are because of booktube and because most the booktubers I follow are american it can sometimes be a bit tricky to get the books in store here in the UK. You can obviously ask the shop to order the books in and even though they don't ask you to pay postage and packaging it can sometimes take up to a week depending on where they get the book from so it's quicker and easier to just buy it online yourself. Another con would be that book stores aren't always able to offer deals on books so it can get a little pricey when compared to online shopping and I can see why this would put alot of people off, why spend more if you don't have to -why, for all the pro's I listed of course :).

I would love to know if you guys have any other pros or cons to add to the list? Do you prefer instore or online shopping?

Much love to you all, Peace out :)

Kirsty & the Cat
xoxo

Book Review: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

15th April 2016 - 3rd May 2016

Audible 

Link to Goodreads book page

I have had a physical copy of this book for months now but I've been a little intimidated by all the hype over this book and it's characters. I finally bit the bullet though and downloaded the audiobook version so I could listen to it through the days at work and could get through it a little quicker than reading my physical copy. I loved the setting of this book It's very rare I read anything based in Victorian England unless it's a classic and I was pleasantly surprised at how well executed this was. Although I wasn't completely overwhelmed by the plot it definitely kept me interested enough to want to read the rest of the series. I'd heard a lot of good things about Will who seems to be every fan girls favourite but I must say I have a soft spot for Jem. I also loved the friendship between Jem and Will, the banter was a refreshing change from the bland friendships you tend to get in other books.

As I have just mentioned Will seems to be a big fan favourite but I personally didn't really like him. I used to have a soft spot for the brooding guys but for me Will was just too changeable throughout the book and more often than not came across as a bit of a jerk (in my opinion). I also think I should have read my physical copy of this book as the narration grated on my a little the English Accents that were put on were so cringe worthy in places, as someone who is English it tends to get my back up when people over exaggerate our accents. 

Overall I enjoyed the book and I like how it ended as it's got me wanting to pick up the next book. For the few faults I had with it though I couldn't give it more than 3.5 stars.

Tag Tuesday; Inside Out Book Tag

I love reading through and watching all the book tags that go around so I thought when I see one I like I'll join in and post it on a Tuesday.

I wasn't tagged by anyone to do this one and I'm not sure who started it but I love Inside Out and thought this looked like a fun one to start of with.

Joy; 

There are lot's of books I could pick for this one but I'd have to go with a long standing favourite Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. I have about 7 copies of this book and have read it many times since first picking it up when I was 15. Every time I read this book I'm Filled with overwhelming joy.

Fear;
This was a pretty easy choice for me when I read this book I remember having chills constantly and then when I found out it was based on a true story it freaked me out even more. Shatter by Michael Robotham is scary because it just shows how easily people can be scared into doing things.

Disgust;
I took a bit of a loose approach with this one and went with Heir of Fire by Sarah J Maas. There wasn't anything disgusting in the traditional sense but I found I was disgusted by the actions of Rowan especially when he is first introduced to the series. I know this is quite unpopular opinion but I just can't stand him and I don't think anything that is explained later on in the books excuses his initial behaviour.

Anger;
I had to pick The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins I was so frustrated throughout the whole of this book. It was very back and forth, very repetitive throughout and I saw the end coming from the beginning. I wanted to throw it across the room and probably would have DNF it if it hadn't been for everyone saying it got better.

Sadness;
I picked a recent read for this one and went with Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys this was the first book in a long time that was powerful enough move me. I don't tend to cry very often when reading books but a few tears fell by the end of this read. The writing was beautiful and it was a quick read that left a great impact on me.

Books Mentioned;

Jane Eyre

Shatter

Heir of Fire

Girl on the Train

Salt to the Sea