Booktube-a-thon | Day One

DAY ONE

Yesterday was Day One of the Booktube-a-thon! I don't plan on doing updates every single day, because I'll be doing a wrap up at the end of the week, but I thought I'd do one today. In case any of you haven't heard of this event, it was was created by Ariel Bissett and the Youtube channel where she explains in more detail can be found if you click here. There is also a twitter page to follow called @BookTubeAThon which you can follow for updates and also reading sprints! The event runs for 7 days in July: 24th July - 30th July starting and ending at midnight wherever you live. There are also challenges to take part in during the event, but these are entirely optional.

I have had to work today, so I've got slightly less reading done than I would like (I also spent several hours playing the new Crash remake because it's amazing). However, I did manage to read on my lunch break and for a few hours tonight! I'm managed to re-read Illuminae by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman. I'd forgotten how amazing this book is, and I'm so excited to have read it again. I've now moved on to Gemina (the companion novel for Illuminae, I believe). I've also been listening to the audiobook of In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park.

Below is my current total pages read for Day One:

Illuminae - 608 pages
In Order to Live - 10 pages (audiobook)

Total so far: 618 pages.

2017 Booktube-a-thon Challenges and TBR!

This year I'm going to take part in the Booktube-a-thon properly for the first time in three years! In case any of you haven't heard of this event I'll explain a bit about it before I continue. The event was created by Ariel Bissett and the Youtube channel where she explains in more detail can be found if you click here. There is also a twitter page to follow called @BookTubeAThon which you can follow for updates and also reading sprints! The event runs for 7 days in July: 24th July - 30th July starting and ending at midnight wherever you live. There are also challenges to take part in during the event, but these are entirely optional.

I'm very excited to take part again this year so, without further ado, here is my TBR!:

1. Saga Volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

2. Saga Volume 2 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

3. Saga Volume 3 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

4. Saga Volume 4 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

5. Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

6. Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

7. If I have time I will choose another book for the read-a-thon for this slot!

I just realised I seem to be planning a very sci-fi week, but I thought these books would be the most realistic goals as they're quick and easy to read.

And below are the 2017 reading challenges and which books will complete them:

1. Read a book with a person on the cover.

Saga, Volume 2 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

2. Read a hyped book.

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

3. Finish a book in one day.

Saga Volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

4. Read about a character that is very different from you.

Again, the characters in Saga are very different  from me in many respects: race, gender, sexuality, etc.

5. Finish a book completely outdoors.

I definitely think that Saga Volume 3 can be completed outdoors.

6. Read a book you bought because of the cover.

Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. These books are very pretty.

7. Read seven books.

I'm not sure if I'll manage to complete this one but I've picked some realistic goals this time, so hopefully I will! I'll choose a book on the day if I manage to complete the above.

I definitely don't expect to complete all of these books and challenges as I will be working nearly every day, but I will definitely be trying. Fingers crossed! Let me know if you'll be participating this year and what books you'll be reading! Feel free to leave links to your blog posts/videos below!

Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag 2017!

So, it's been a while but I'm going to stop saying that whenever I have long gaps between blog posts! Had a very busy year with moving and starting a new, awesome job. Because of this I've read 46 books so far this year, which is good but not as well as I've done in previous years. Regardless, I've decided to do the Mid-Year Book Freak Out tag as it's one of my favourite tags to see on Booktube/Book Blogs. I'm not sure who originally created the tag but all credit goes to them! Basically, the tag is to go through the books you've read so far this year to see which are the best/worst/etc. I'm going to try not repeat myself too much with these so hopefully there'll be no books mentioned twice, even though I definitely could! Here we go:

1. Best book you've read so far in 2017

For this it will have to be Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo. In fact, I would love to pick both books in the duology because they were such incredible books! I first read Bardugo's YA Shadow & Bone trilogy this year which I found to be pretty good, but this spin-off duology just blew me away. The world was so well built and the characters were some of the best I've ever read. I would definitely read more books with these wonderful characters in them and I recommend them to anyone, whether you've read the original trilogy or not (although it will have spoilers for the trilogy!). 

2. Best sequel you've read so far

I've read so many incredible sequels this year (as mentioned above already), but for this I will have to say Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake. It's the second book in the Gormenghast trilogy; a high fantasy set of books that are absolutely incredible and not that well known. My sister has been telling me for years to read them and I'm really glad I finally got around to it. They are quite dense and intimidating but well worth the read as the story is so captivating. 

3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas. No two ways about this one! I am currently re-reading A Court of Mist and Fury (one of my favourite books from last year), so hopefully I'll be on to this soon!

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year

This one is a bit tougher as there are a lot of books I'm looking forward to coming out, but I think it will probably be a toss-up between Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas or Warcross by Marie Lu

5. Biggest disappointment

I've already had a few disappointing reads this year and this question is definitely between two books: Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige or Caraval by Stephanie Garber. Unfortunately, I think Caraval has been the bigger disappointment purely because I got an advanced reader's copy and it had so much hype around it, but didn't live up to it. I may write a full review of my biggest gripes at some point.

6. Biggest surprise

Where am I Now by Mara Wilson. This was mostly a surprise because I don't often read non-fiction and really enjoy it, but I most certainly did for this. In fact, her book was absolutely incredible and perfectly described what growing up with anxiety is like. It also contained so many anecdotes from her time on Matilda, Mrs Doubtfire and many more films, which made me chuckle.

7. Favourite new author (Debut or new to you)

Tara Altenbrando who wrote The Leaving. This book was captivating and just perfect for me. I love thriller/mysteries and this was just what I needed at the time. If you enjoy that genre of book then you'll definitely enjoy this suspense-filled novel. Could not recommend it more.

8. Newest fictional crush

Meh, I don't usually get these, but I do love Rhysand as a character from the Court of Thorns and Roses trilogy.

9. Newest favourite character

Ronan from the Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater. I think I found him to be the most three-dimensional. I also loved how much of anti-hero he was because of his struggles, but he was still ultimately a good guy.

10. Book that made you cry

The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer. This book was spectacular. It portrayed someone suffering with mental health difficulties in an extremely realistic and moving way. It was so cleverly written; skipping between the past and present and using different fonts to portray where the character was. It was also full of unreliable narration and drew attention to the fact, which I also really enjoyed. I read this book in one sitting and it moved me to tears. Highly recommend it!

11. Book that made you happy

Pokemon Adventures Volume 1 by Kusaka and Mato. I first read this when I was about 7 or 8 and I've finally bought them all and read them in order. So much nostalgia. They follow Red, Blue and Green, and their adventures as Pokemon trainers. If you were a fan of the Pokemon video game then these are definitely for you. Also, a lot more sinister than the TV show ever was!

12. Favourite book to film adaptation you saw this year

I actually haven't seen any yet, but I did read If I Stay this year so I might try the film! Let me know if any of you thought it was any good.

13. Favourite review you've written this year

As you might have noticed, I've been rather absent this year on my blog so I don't have a favourite review. Hopefully, I'll write another one before the end of the year.

14. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received)

This has to be either The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon, or Uprooted by Naomi Novik. Those covers <3

15. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

SO MANY BOOKS. I have a very large TBR Pile. To name a few I definitely want to get to soon though, I'll limit it to the top five I want to read this year:

1. Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

2. The Black Prism Trilogy by Brent Weeks

3. American Gods by Neil Gaiman

4. Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith

5. Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

So many books! Let me know if you've done this tag and if you've read any of these books! :) 

BOOK REVIEW | Strange Lands by Anderson Atlas

Genre: Middle Grade/Adventure

Publication Date: 1st August 2016

My Rating: ★★★

Goodreads Page

Goodreads Summary:

Ripped from his wheelchair by a massive flash flood, Allan drags himself through dense forest only to find himself surrounded by strange and ruthless creatures who are not from Earth. Allan can’t run away and has no means to defend himself. Instinct overcomes his terror and his cleverness blossoms, which is all he needs to survive the dark jungles, poisonous plants, Shadic hunters and the vile slave trader Killian Crow.

Follow Allan's path of self-discovery, and watch him take back what he's lost. Surviving the Improbable Quest is a spine tingling adventure, with exciting twists & turns. A perfect and inspiring read for 10 and up. 

**No Spoilers**

I received a copy of this book from the author of this book in exchange for an honest review. When I was contacted about this book I was extremely intrigued by its premise: a young boy in a wheelchair is taken to another land and has to survive in order to get back. And it didn't disappoint as a middle grade novel. I read through this book in just one sitting as it was such a quick, enjoyable read.

The book was exciting and fast-paced, and I loved the cast of characters that came into the book, especially Allan's Uncle, who was just a wonderful person (seriously, I couldn't have loved his character any more, he was just so selfless throughout). Despite the book being short, I felt like nearly all the characters were fleshed out enough although I would love to hear more about some of their backstories and more about the world they live in (but this is the first book in the series!). 

The land that Allan ends up in was so imaginative and fantastical that it almost reminded be of and Alice in Wonderland-like place, where everything was a bit bizarre and also a little bit twisted on how we would expect the world to work. I also really liked how it tied the real world to this magical land and the idea behind it was very cleverly written. I have to say I did not see the twist at the end coming and it worked so well, adding some very tense moments to the last few chapters! 

But, I think the main thing I loved about this book was the fact that we had a teenage boy having to deal with a lot of stress and tragedy in his life, and he didn't always deal with it well. It was very realistic in that respect and the author's treatment of PTSD and disabilities was handled wonderfully. Allen was such a relatable character for anyone who's suffered trauma and I can see hundreds of children feeling grateful that someone else has felt this way; knowing it's okay to be angry and sad, but also how to deal with that. I especially loved that the adventure was a way to help Allan come to terms with being unable to walk.

Overall, I felt like this book was a lovely middle-grade adventure book for both children and adults. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy/adventure books. 

2016 | My Reading Year in Review!

Welcome to my 2016 Year in Review!  This survey was created by The Perpetual Page-Turner, who has an amazing blog which you can find here.

Number of Books you Read: 114
Number of Re-reads: 15
Genre you Read the Most From: YA Fiction

*Disclaimer* Although I re-read the Harry Potter series this year, none of these are included in my answers as they are all amazing and I wanted to try and put more varied books in my answers

1. Best Book you Read in 2016?

The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson

2. Book you were Excited About & Thought you were Going to Love More but Didn't?

Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin 

3. Most Surprising (in a good or bad way) book you read?

Stray by Rachel Vincent (Definitely in a good way!)

4. Book you "pushed" the most people to read (and they did?)

Cinder by Marissa Meyer 

5. Best Series you started in 2016? Best Sequel of 2016? Best Series Ender of 2016?

Gone by Michael Grant
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson

6. Favourite new author you discovered in 2016?

There's too many! But probably Michael Grant or Donna Tartt

7. Best book from a genre you don't typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

9. Book you read in 2016 that you are most likely to re-read next year?

Throne of Glass series (always a yearly re-read)

10. Favourite cover of a book you read in 2016?

Dancing with the Doctor by Lorna Jowett

11. Most memorable character of 2016?

Rhysand or Faythe

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2016?

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandell

13. Most thought-provoking/Life-changing book of 2016?

The Dig Tree by Sarah Murgatroyd

14. Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2016 to finally read?

The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan

15. Favourite passage/quote from a book you read in 2016?

I'm afraid I can't think of any right now - I read too many books to be able to remember a specific passage off the top of my head!

16. Shortest and Longest Book you read in 2016?

From the Editorial Page of the Falchester Weekly by Marie Brennan
 and Winter by Marissa Meyer

17. A Book that shocked you the most?

A Mother's Reckoning by Sue Klebold

18. OTP of the year (you will go down with this ship!)

Rhysand and Feyre (ACOTAR series)

19. Favourite non-romantic relationship of the year?

Sam and Caine (Gone series)

20. Favourite book you read in 2016 from an author you've read previously?

Empire of Storms or A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

21. Best Book you read in 2016 that you read based SOLELY on a recommendation from somebody else/peer pressure?

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

22. Best 2016 debut you read?

I didn't read any debut authors this year! :O

23. Best world building/most vivid setting you read this year?

The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

24. Book that put a smile on your face/was the most FUN to read?

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

25. Book that made you cry or nearly cry in 2016?

Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

26. Hidden Gem of the year?

The Lost and the Found by Cat Clarke

27. Book that crushed your soul?

The Boy in Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne

28. Most unique book you read in 2016?

I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

29. Book that made you the most mad (but doesn't necessarily mean you didn't like it)?

The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons (and I didn't like it)

1. One book you didn't get to in 2016 but will be your Number 1 priority in 2017?

The Leaving by Tara Altebrando

2. Book you are most anticipating for 2017 (non-debut)

 A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

3. 2017 Debut you are most anticipating

 Frostblood by Elly Blake

4. Series Ending/a sequel you are most anticipating in 2017
Untitled Throne of Glass (#6) by Sarah J. Maas 

5. One thing you hope to accomplish or do in your reading/blogging life in 2017?
Ideally find more time to blog and make more time to read now that I don't have a long commute anymore!

6. A 2017 release you've already read and recommend:

None yet!

I hope you enjoyed this survey! Let me know about how your 2016 went in terms of reading, and let me know below if you've done this survey too! Feel free to link it for me to read if you have. Here's to another good year of reading!

 

Thoughts and Discussion | Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

 

NO SPOILERS!

 

So, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child came out a few days ago and already there are reviews that are damning the play for various reasons. I was fortunate enough to go and see the play in June before the script was released as abook, which meant I got to see it first hand rather than reading it (thank you Hollie for getting the tickets!). And I have to say, I absolutely loved the play - the acting was the best I'd ever seen (especially Scorpius, Draco, Harry, Ron, and Hermione); the characters were on point; the stage direction and magic done onstage was astounding; and the music and special effects made the entire night magical. But, the one thing I thought while watching the play was 'This will absolutely not translate into a written book/script to read at all - people who read this will never want to go and see the play'. And it seems I was mostly right, which is very unfortunate.

 

Now, I was never a massive fan of reading plays anyway. I thought I hated Shakespeare for years throughout school because we'd only ever read the plays and I found them boring. However, when I went to see them at a Theatre or watched a film version of them, I found out how much I loved them. I think reading plays will never have the same impact as watching them - they're basically all the dialogue of a book but with very little description, so they don't translate well as written word. Plays should never be purely read as I think half of it is lost.

 

I agree with what many people are saying about The Cursed Child: it's a bit cliché, it reads a bit like fanfiction, some of the characters are different to how they were in the books, and most of all I don't believe for a second that one of the things in the play could have happened at all. In spite of this, the play is still a wonderful masterpiece to see and I highly recommend seeing regardless of how you felt about the script of The Cursed Child. It's an experience that can't be felt through the pages of the script and it's worth being there for the atmosphere of having hundreds of Potter fans in one room seeing something new in the fandom. That being said I'm aware of how difficult it is to get tickets, but if you get the chance then take it!

 

I mostly wanted to put this out to counteract (slightly) the awful reviews the book has been getting, and also to give some advice to those people who intend to watch the play, I recommend not reading this until after you've seen the play as I think you'll find the experience more enjoyable and not tainted with the views you might have on the script (not something I ever thought I'd say as I'm a big proclaimer of reading a book before a movie!). Anyway, I've had my say! Let me know what you guys think about the script or play if you've seen it and what you think!

 

 

 

Tome Topple Read-a-Thon

So next week I've decided to participate in the Tome Topple Read-a-Thon, created and hosted by @thoughtsontomes (also on Youtube). To see the original video announcement you can click here!

The Read-a-Thon will take place between June 6 - June 19 and the idea for this read-a-thon is to get through as many tomes (a tome being any book over 500 pages) as possible. There are so many Read-a-Thons dedicated to reading as many books as possible, so it's nice to see one dedicated to reading as many pages of a larger book as possible instead!

There are also optional challenges to participate in: 

1. Read more than one tome
2. Take a graphic novel break
3. Read a tome that is part of a series
4. Read 500+ pages in one week
5. Read an adult novel

My TBR

My aim is to read:

1. The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons
2. Tatiana & Alexander by Paullina Simons
3. Saga: Volume 1 (re-read) by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
4. Saga: Volume 2 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

If I complete all of the books mentioned above then I will have completed all five of the above-mentioned challenges! However, as I'm working full time and will soon have a shorter commute to read on, I'm not sure how much I'll manage here, but we'll see how it goes! Good luck to everyone participating!