WWW Wednesdays

To play along, just answer the following three questions…

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish?

What do you think you'll read next?

Here is a meme hosted by Shouldbereading that is really fun and easy to do. All you have to do is answer the 3 questions above.

Each photo will take you to the goodreads link for the book to get a synopsis if your interested in reading one of these books.

What are you currently reading?

I'm currently reading A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin George, I've been reading this for a week now and am slowly making my way through it. I'm really enjoying it so far and I think I'll end up liking it better than A Game of Thrones.

What did you recently finish?

This morning I started and finished Princess Academy by Shannon Hale. I brought this on a whim in kindles summer sale and I'm really glad I did, it was a really sweet middle-grade fairy-tale like story that had an interesting plot line. I just have to add as well, how beautiful is this cover?

What do you think you'll read next?

I want to read The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey next when I feel like I need a break for A Clash of Kings i'll pick this up. This is the first book in The Monstrumologist series and to say I've heard great things about this is an understatement.

Will you be adding any of these to your tbr? Or have you read them already?

Stacking The Shelves #2

Stacking the shelves is a meme hosted by Team Tynga's Reviews each week on whatever day you choose you create a post listing any books you've received for review, as a gift or just brought yourself. I'm going to be posting this every Monday (hopefully) except like today when I forgot yesterday was Monday.

All books this week were purchased by myself.

 Holes by Louis Sachar

Goodreads - Amazon

Captivate by Vanessa Garden

Goodreads - Amazon

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

Goodreads - Amazon

 Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Goodreads - Amazon


 Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
Goodreads - Amazon

Will you add these to your tbr? Or have you read them already?

Book Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - Ransom Riggs

Pub. Date- 2011 Publisher- Quirk Pages- 352 Readership- Young Adult 

Series- Miss Peregrine (Book 1) Genre- Fantasy Rating- 3 Stars

Goodreads - Book Depository

A mysterious island.

An abandoned orphanage.

A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive. A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

When I read the synopsis of this story I was so excited it sounded creepy, slightly scary and like nothing I had ever read before. I was tricked, these faults may sound silly but I feel like the synopsis was to a different book. First off the mysterious island isn't very mysterious is in Wales. Yes it may be a little behind the times in many aspects but that makes it antiquated not mysterious. Next abandoned orphanage I can't fully explain my annoyance with this without giving spoilers but don't be expecting a lot or for it to be anything like the synopsis describes.

Ransom Riggs does write beautifully throughout the book, but it is sometimes very choppy and disconnected with the placing of some of the photos. In certain parts it felt to much as though story was written around the photos, rather then the photo fitting in and flowing nicely throughout it. The book starts out perfectly, creating a mysterious creepy feeling that soon gets killed by a whiny protagonist and a loss of momentum by over explanations of the photos.

The major redeeming factors were it's original idea's that were wonderful and unique, but not written to full potential. With a decent climax that ended to soon and to many undeveloped side characters I was left wanting. Now for my favourite part of the whole book how was amazingly beautiful the cover, dust jacket, title pages, and even the page numbers. Everything  was lavish and just has a vintage feel to it.

With all this I could still get into the story so it wasn't a total loss and I'm not sorry I picked this up and will be buying the second book Hollow City just to see where everything goes.

Is this on your tbr? Have you already read it?

Stacking The Shelves

 I have only recently started my blog so I've been looking for some posts I could do each week as something a little different for just a blog full of review. Today while wondering the internets I found a post by Scott Reads It that talked about his books that he brought, won or got for review. This was created by Taynga at Taynga's Reviews with the idea that each week you post about any books you've acquired over the week either virtual or physical.

I purchased all books myself.

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry 

Goodreads - Amazon

In Time by Alexandra Bracken

Goodreads - Amazon

'

The Pact by Jodi Picoult

Goodreads - Amazon

 The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Good Reads - Amazon

Will you add these to your tbr? Or have you read them?

Book Review: The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy - Douglas Adams

Pub. Date- 2009 Publisher- Pan Books Pages- 199  
Series- Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy(1) Genre- Science Fiction Rating- 5 Stars

Goodreads - Book Depository

"Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last fifteen years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.Together this dynamic pair begin a journey through space aided by quotes from The Hitchhiker's Guide ("A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have") and a galaxy-full of fellow travelers: Zaphod Beeblebrox--the two-headed, three-armed ex-hippie and totally out-to-lunch president of the galaxy; Trillian, Zaphod's girlfriend (formally Tricia McMillan), whom Arthur tried to pick up at a cocktail party once upon a time zone; Marvin, a paranoid, brilliant, and chronically depressed robot; Veet Voojagig, a former graduate student who is obsessed with the disappearance of all the ballpoint pens he bought over the years."

I'd heard a lot about The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy by the time I picked it up, be it random quotes that never quiet made sense, or people telling this is a amazing book that will make me laugh continuously. This is the type of book that you have to set into with the right mind frame, be prepaid for things to not fully make sense the first time through.

This book is very British with satirical and concise humour spread throughout, there were the jokes that have been scattered around the internet for years that made this book feel like a much loved friend with a personality all its own. Douglas Adams must of been mad to write this yet it makes him amazing. I know now I will be a fan for life.

For such a short book you'll never feel like you missing anything, its such a fast paced narrative that some times I had to go back and reread just to figure out what was really going on.  The characters are what makes this book, the plot is second to them. There are a lot of social comments throughout the book that is very humourous without feeling like your being bogged down by it. 

All in all i enjoyed this book it was a fun read but can feel like it ends suddenly if you don't carry on with the second book. But that's understandable as they parts of a whole instead of different books in a series.

Will you add this to your tbr? Or have you already read it?

Book Review: Imaginary Girls - Nova Ren Suma

Pub. Date- 2011 Publisher- Murdoch Books Pty Limited Pages- 348  
Readership- Young Adult Genre- Contemporary/Suspense Rating- 4 Stars

Goodreads - Book Depository

"Chloe's older sister, Ruby, is the girl everyone looks to and longs for, who can't be captured or caged. When a night with Ruby's friends goes horribly wrong and Chloe discovers the dead body of her classmate London Hayes left floating in the reservoir, Chloe is sent away from town and away from Ruby.
But Ruby will do anything to get her sister back, and when Chloe returns to town two years later, deadly surprises await. As Chloe flirts with the truth that Ruby has hidden deeply away, the fragile line between life and death is redrawn by the complex bonds of sisterhood."

This story had me hooked from the first page be it from the chapter names, eerie beautiful settings or the way nothing is ever as it seemed at first. I expected this book to maybe take a few days but that was never going to happen once i started it. Within the first 10 pages I was caught in the trap Nova Ren Suma set.

The suspenseful nature had me on the edge of my teeth the whole way through I needed to know what would happen next, all along the way things were hinted and clues dropped to leave you begging for more. At some points in this book I was frightened but not in a 'monster in the cupboard' sense, it was a fear of what Ruby would do next or how Chloe would be affected.

The changes Chloe goes throughout are all very dramatic but quiet normal things when you think of them in a normal teenage girls situation, she tries to step out of her sisters shadow, get the boy she's always liked and figure out whats going on in the town.

This book had a very different ending then most people would expect of a contemporary novel, it is very open ended but still feels quiet rounded out in most of the plot points. I was left with a shell shocked feeling that was quiet unsettling but it was very thought provoking. If open ending plot lines aren't your thing then I don't think you'll enjoy this it does end with a massive climax.

I would recommend this to everyone even if it's just to try something different.

Will you add this to your tbr? Or have you read it?

Book Review: An Abundance of Katherines - John Green

Pub. Date- 2013 Publisher- Penguin Group, Australia Pages- 226
Readership- Young Adult Genre- Contemporary Rating- 4.5 stars

Goodreads - Book Depository

"When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton's type happens to be girls named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact. He's also a washed-up child prodigy with ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a passion for anagrams, and an overweight, Judge Judy-obsessed best friend. Colin's on a mission to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which will predict the future of all relationships, transform him from a fading prodigy into a true genius, and finally win him the girl.

Letting expectations go and allowing love in are at the heart of Colin's hilarious quest to find his missing piece and avenge dumpees everywhere."

When talking about contemporary young adult novels John Green is an author that is always mentioned and for a very good reason. This book follows child prodigy Colin Singleton who is trying to bridge the gap between highly gifted child to full blown genius. Colin only dates girls named Katherine and after dating 19 of them and feeling like he's failing at life he takes a road trip with his hilarious best friend Hassan Harbish.

I really enjoyed this story, it was interesting with its focus on Colin's dating Theorem but the math was never overwhelming. Everything that was needed explanation was always in the footnotes. The footnotes always have a witty feel to them that made them a true pleasure to read. I was 100% entertained throughout the whole story either by Colin's inner thoughts or Hassan's straight forward 'tell it how it is' manner. In all, the whole story flowed nicely with only some minor slow points. 

Hassan was certainly my favourite character through-out the book, his love of Judge Judy and sassy jokes sold him for me. I think one of the best parts of this story is that every character has some very relatable qualities even if all their others weren't. The character development was a very real feeling although everything wasn't magically perfect by the end. 

The only fault with this hilarious novel was its unreal feeling that some of the plot elements had. Why would any girl date a guy that had dated 18 girls before her with the same name? I know it was meant to be quirky but sometimes it just felt fake. That's the only reason to me this book isn't 5 stars.

I would recommend this to anyone looking for a quirky read, just don't try and  compare it to much to The Fault In Our Stars.

Will you put this on your tbr? Or have you already read it?

Bout of Books 9.0 - Book Spines Challenge

Today's challenge for day 5 was deceptively fun yet super challenging! Its called the Book Spines Challenge as a head nod to its creator The Book Spines. For this challenge all you had to do was create a poem using books spines. Poetry has never been my thing but it seemed like a good laugh to try.

My poem is the world was perfect would have some added words but you give and take when you make terrible poetry. In my head I read it as The indelible perks of being a wallflower across the universe and under the never sky cause a fragile eternity. I have doubts this is poetry, maybe a very short narrative but don't tell anyone. 

What would your book spine poem say?

Bout of Books 9.0 - Reading Tactics Challenge

Todays first Bout of Books challenge is something I love! Reading tactics! Ways to cram more pages into a day. Todays challenge is hosted by Sarah Says Read who seems awesome. Anyone that has a nice simple challenge is my friend.  Todays challenge is to answer a simply question.

How do you fit in as much reading as possible during Bout of Books? How do you squeeze in those extra pages?

I do lots of small things to try and cram in more pages. If I have to go out anywhere I take my books with me in my bag, when I'm in the car I read as well (only when I'm not driving) I also take baths instead of showers so I can sneak in more pages. All in all I usually just spend the week with a book in my hand.

Bout of Books 9.0 Updates

To make things a little bit easier to read and follow I've decided to put all my updates on a separate page with a slightly edited template from Bout of Books, each day my goal is going to be to read 143 pages so by the end of the week I've read over 1000 pages. I also want to try and finished all my books but who know if that will happen. 

6/1

Books I’I've read today: An Abundance of Katherines - John Green 
Total number of books I've read: 1 

Pages read: 226 
Things I learned on Twitter: People are wonderful! 
Final Tally: One Book, 226 pages.

7/1

Books I've read today: Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident - Eoin Colfer

Total number of books I've read: 2

Pages read: 288
Things I learned on Twitter: People have good taste in books

Final Tally: 2 Books, 514 pages.

8/1

Books I've read today: Imaginary Girls - Nova Ren Suma

Total number of books I've read: 3

Pages read: 346
Things I learned on Twitter: Yarn groups exist

Final Tally: 3 Books, 860 pages.

9/1

Books I've read today: Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children
- Ransom Riggs

Total number of books I've read: 3

Pages read: 146

Things I learned on Twitter: Its a wonderful distraction

Final Tally: 3  Books, 1006 pages!
(I reached my page goal for the week)

10/1

Books I've read today: Miss Peregrines Home For Peculiar Children
- Ransom Riggs

Total number of books I've read: 4

Pages read: 206

Things I learned on Twitter: People share my hate for Cersei 

Final Tally: 4 Books, 1,212 pages

11/1

Books I've read today: The Darkest Minds - Alexandra Bracken

Total number of books I've read: 4

Pages read: 163

Things I learned on Twitter: I didn't really check twitter (opps)

Final Tally: 4 Books, 1,375 pages

12/1

Books I've read today: The Darkest Minds - Alexandra Bracken

Total number of books I've read: 5

Pages read: 365

Things I learned on Twitter: People are so incredibly kind and helpful

Final Tally: 5 Books, 1,740 pages

The stats for the last 2 updates might not be 100% correct I had a little bit of a situation with saving this post I did read and finish the books but I didn't write down the exact pages other than on the original post.

All in all I'm so happy with everything I accomplished in over the week, I completed my goal of finishing 1,000 pages! I did go off my TBR but i read 3 of the 5 books on it so I'm giving myself a pass. I did some of the challenges set each day and most importantly had so much fun and met a bunch of great bloggers.

How'd you do during the week ?

Bout of Books - Book Buying Spree Challenge

Each day of the read-a-thon Bout of Books has challenges hosted by wonderful people. Today's challenge is a great one something that every book lover does frequently(I know I do)! It's the Book Buying Spree hosted by Bookish Comforts

The Challenge

Imagine if you will: you’ve just received some FANTASTIC news! You have won a $100 book buying spree! Now comes the hard part though: what books will you buy?! For this challenge, you’ll be creating your book buying spree wishlist, and sharing it in the comments.

The List

My list has a lot of pre-orders I'm dying to have, as well as some fantasy that looks amazing. What's would you pick if you had $100 guilt free dollars to go nuts with?

Bout of Books 9.0

As a kick in the bum to officially start my book blog and start my reading year off properly I've decided to join the Bout of Books 9.0

I'd never heard of this great event before, so if your a bit like me here is some information.
The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 6th and runs through Sunday, January 12th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 9.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Time devoted to reading

I plan on trying to read for the whole week with the exception of the middle of Monday. Being that we are having a heat wave in Brisbane at the moment I can think of nothing better than sitting in air con and binge reading. I'm also currently on holidays so hopefully I'll be able to achieve my goals.

Reading goals

My goals for the week are not to crazy but they are slightly more than what I would normally read so I'm going to try and read 4 books and possible finish 2 others if I have time.

Books to read

• Stand alone novels

          An Abundance of Katherines - John Green

          Imaginary Girls - Nova Ren Suma

• Continuing series

          Artemis Fowl; The Arctic Incident - Eoin Colfer

          The Hero of Ages; Mistborn Book Three - Brandon Sanderson

• Extra just in case

         A Game of Thrones - George R.R. Martin 

 I'm going to try and stick to these but I have a tendency to go off topic on random reading sessions when the mood takes me.

I'll post my updates daily here and on twitter.
Thanks for reading xxx