Everything I Read in May and June

May and June have come and gone and brought with it the end of lockdown in New Zealand and a little trip to the tippy top of the North Island. Here's what books I made my way through during these months.

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood: A satisfying and solid read, I enjoyed this follow up to Margaret Atwood's modern classic The Handmaid's Tale. As an avid watcher of the series, I was interested in seeing how her follow up book compared. It certainly gave more insight into the inner workings of Gilead and I enjoyed the passages that were told from Aunt Lydia's point of view. 

The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien: I've never been a big fan of "war books" but The Things They Carried isn't a typical book about missions and patrols. It's harrowing, sad and insightful but most of all gave a real sense of the pointlessness and numbness that many soldiers experienced while serving in Vietnam and the lives they returned to afterwards. 

The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin: An intriguing read about four children who pay a psychic to tell them the date they each die. Each child dies on the expected date, but was it fate or did this knowledge push those who were supposed to die young live more recklessly than their siblings? I enjoyed the premise of this book a bit more than the actual story but it left me with a lot of interesting thoughts nonetheless.

Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton: According to my British friends, Dolly Alderton is a bit of an icon for millennial women who have grown up with her columns and television appearances. I know her from the delightfully insightful podcast The High Low and was intrigued to hear more about her thoughts on relationships, dating and love. I have to think that had I grown with Dolly as an icon I would have enjoyed this book a bit more. It's a fairly light read, peppered with stories about her love life and her close friends' relationships. I did enjoy that the ending was much more focused on self-love and Dolly finding herself, rather than finding the perfect relationship.

Mosquitoland by David Arnold: Fifteen-year-old Mim runs away from her Dad's house and boards a Greyhound to visit her sick mother. This coming-of-age adventure story is peppered with a cast of crazy characters and missteps and a touching ending that has our protagonist realizing a thing or two about the adults in her life. While I enjoyed the story, the character of Mim felt less like a real teenager and more like a vehicle to deliver the wit and insights of the adult author. In the same way that many John Greene characters feel too precocious to be real, Mim didn't really encompass a teenagers point of view in my opinion.

The Bride Test by Helen Hoang: An easy read that has cute and realistic autism representation and a cast of funny characters. I have to admit that romances just aren't my jam. While I enjoyed that the writing and plot of this book are fun, I have a hard time staying interested in the will-they won't-they premise of this novel.

Top Ten Tuesday: DNF Books

I used to do Top Ten Tuesday's all the time, but it's been years since I've rounded up my favourite books that fit the weekly theme. First of all, my TTT happens on a Wednesday, because hello timezones, and this week the theme is books we Did Not Finish. I've tried to sum up why I DNF each book as succinctly as possible.

Moby Dick by Herman Melville :: I talked in my last post about being separated from my Kindle thanks to the lockdown, for the past six weeks. To combat having a lack of access to books, I downloaded this book (for free) onto my phone. I don't know what to say other than that I just don't gel with some overly flowery classics. I thought I would enjoy this book, since I lived in New England for the past year and a bit, but I could not deal with the convoluted language.

Emma by Jane Austin :: This is actually a firm favourite of mine! I downloaded it onto my phone and I think the main reason I stopped reason is I found a physical book to read. No idea what that book was but I would re-read Emma in a heartbeat.

A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway :: Sensing a theme here? I think there are classics that help you ease into the writing of old authors, and A Moveable Feast was not that book. The book is a bunch of stories told from Hemingway's point of view about life in the 1920s. I don't know what I was expecting but it felt like a lot of rambling with some famous names (Fitzgerald) thrown in for good measure.

Hitman Anders and the Meaning of it All by Jonas Jonasson :: I don't think I've ever read, or at least finished, a Jonasson book before. He had huge success with the 100 Year Old Man and The Girl Who Saved The King of Sweden. I think the writing style just doesn't hook me in that much. I like humorous books, but I felt like this book kind of banked on 'getting' the humour of his past work in order to keep you entertained.

Love Unscripted by Owen Nicholls :: This had all the hallmarks of a book I would enjoy; references to cinema, a love story, kind of snarky characters. I just couldn't get into this book. It's an adult romance, which is fine, but after reading the exceptionally cute Again, But Better, (which is YA) I just found the characters a little grating and unlikeable. It's told in retrospect, so a lot of flaws in their love life are discussed but...there was something about airing all the negative elements of the character's relationship that put me off being invested in their story.

None of these books were 'bad' reads, I just struggled with my own expectations to really get into any of them. I'd love to know if you enjoy any of the books I have mentioned above and what your most recent DNF books are.

Everything I Read In March and April 2020

March and April were significant reading months for two very different reasons; we started lockdown here in New Zealand, and I made the critical mistake of leaving my Kindle at my house, while I was 'sheltering' at my mum's house an hour away. Originally, my stay was supposed to be for 14 days, but six weeks later I was allowed to travel back home.

On the one hand, I had been trying to reduce the amount of money I was spending on Kindle Amazon books, but I don't think the pandemic was the best time to test how easy this would have been. Even so, I managed to read some great books over the past two months.

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck :: I absolutely fell in love with East of Eden when I read it two years ago and was excited to try a second Steinbeck novel. Overall, I didn't love the experience of reading this novel. It was driven by dialogue and written in a heavy Okalhomian dialect that required some mental gymnastics to interpret what was being said, and what was actually meant. I did like the overall themes of the novel and exploring just how abruptly lives were changed during the Great Depression. It certainly made me think, and considering I read this mere weeks before the lockdown, now have an even deeper sense of empathy for those who were forced to survive by any means necessary during this time.

Again, But Better by Christine Riccio :: This was the perfect follow up to the slog (sorry) that Grapes of Wrath felt like at times. It's a fun story about second chances that actually, unexpectedly hit me in the feels. I knew Riccio was a Youtuber and was intrigued to read her debut novel. It's a cute, funny YA novel about a college girl called Shane who has been 'doing college wrong.' Stuck in her room reading books and going to classes, Shane signs up for a year abroad and decides to put herself out there, make friends and is determined to have her first kiss. This is a really sweet read that hits on many pressures that students face about seeing their college years as the "best years of their lives." There is also a fun twist that I had to admit, I did not see coming.

The Farm by Joanne Ramos :: I wanted to love this book, but it almost became a DNF. I think part of the problem is that it's packaged as a dystopian novel which made me think it would be more like the Handmaid's Tale or The Power. Instead, the drama mainly centres around the mother, Jane, an immigrant from the Phillippines, who becomes a surrogate at The Farm. Overall I liked the premise of this book, but the way the drama was constructed was unbelievable at times. Mainly, Jane was prohibited from seeing her own daughter and was finding The Farm increasingly controlling. It just seemed weird to me that the book focused so much on surrogates living a stress-free and healthy life but then prohibited Jane from seeing her daughter, something which would be crazy-stressful for any parent. It had potential but didn't live up to the hype for me.

Know My Name by Chanel Miller :: Chanel was originally known as Emily Doe, the victim in the Brock Turner sexual assault case. I was surprised at how well Chanel writes and that the warmth and humour with which she tells her story only makes it all the more frightening. I came away from this book feeling angry that survivors like Chanel are treated more like victims, that privilege has an enormous part to play in how we treat offenders, and that Chanel spent more time fighting her case than her offender served in prison. For a dark read, it's still filled with moments of light and hope despite the subject matter.

Normal People by Sally Rooney :: Wow, what a showstopper of a read. I loved Normal People, but also kind of disliked the characters because of how realistically flawed they were. The book follows Connell and Marianne's deeply flawed on-again off-again relationship through high-school, university and into their adult lives. Messy, and realistic, it's one of the more interesting portrayals of growing up, finding love, and figuring out right from wrong.

Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton :: This was a cracker of a read.Told in a uniquely Australian voice, Boy Swallows Universe follows the life of Eli Bell, a 10-year-old boy growing up in 1980s suburban Brisbane. Eli's childhood is anything but normal. His brother is mute, his father is in prison, his mum is a junkie, his step-dad deals drugs and his babysitter is a notorious criminal. Even so, Eli's life is filled with love, albeit in a flawed way. When a local drug king-pin pays his family a visit, leaving his mum in jail and his step-dad missing, Eli is determined to set things right.

Top Ten Tuesday: Food Glorious Food

This week's Top Ten Tuesday with The Broke and the Bookish is a celebration of food in books.

Harry Potter :: From the feasts in the great hall to all the delicious candy featured in Harry Potter, it is hard to choose a favourite food from these books. I did always wish to try butter beer though.

The 100-Foot Journey by Richard C Morais:: A beautiful descriptive exploration of food, from India to France.

Chocolat by Joanne Harris :: My favourite book featuring delectable food because chocolate is my number one. Come to think of it, all of Joanne Harris' books feature richly descriptive foods that will make you increasingly hungry.

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen :: Like Chocolat, the food in Garden Spells holds its own type of magic.

Longbourne by Jo Baker :: Told from the servants perspective, Longbourne takes us inside the working quarters of Pride and Prejudice and while this is more about the workings of the kitchen's than a particular type of food, I can't recommend this book enough.

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Boyfriends

Today's Top Ten Tuesday with the Broke and the Bookish is all about Book Boyfriends. Initially I was going to do the best bookish boyfriends, I've put together a list of my favourite books whose boyfriend characters embody the love is complicated theme. Caution: You may not want to date some of them.

The Course of Love by Alain De Botton :: If you have never read or heard of English philosopher Alain De Botton and are interested in philosophy check out the School of Life series narrated by AdB on Youtube. The Course of Love follows the love story of a couple from the day they meet. Interspersed with reflections and nuggets of philosophy that explain why we make weird decisions in relationships, this is a great read that will get you thinking about the complexities of falling in love.

The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller :: Sometimes the most fleeting of love stories can have the most profound effect on us. A married woman has a brief affair with a photographer and can't forget him. Beautifully written and compelling.

The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P by Adelle Waldman :: Nathaniel P might be a bit of a twat (read: he is), but this is a highly entertaining read. Nate's star is on the rise, he's a literary up-and-comer, has an ivy-league education and his pick of women but just can't seem to figure out what it is he wants, until he gets the girl and no longer wants her. You'll probably enjoy reading about Nate the shallow man-child if you also liked About a Boy or High Fidelity, as it's a little in the same vein.

Landline by Rainbow Rowell :: I love how Landline is like a love story in reverse. Georgie and Neal's marriage is crumbling under the pressures of work and kids. When Neal takes their children to Omaha for Christmas and Georgie stays in LA for work, Georgie is forced to re-evaluate her marriage and re-discovers why she fell in love with her husband all over again. Cute.

Sidenote: If you're looking for actual Bookish boyfriends to crush on I would recommend Emma (because Mr Knightly = yes), The Winter Rose by Jennifer Donnelley or the Outlander series.

Top Ten Tuesday: My Spring TBR List

September brings with it the changing of the seasons and thankfully means longer nights, sunny days and the wild and windy weather Wellington is known for! Surprisingly despite the coming warmth my to be read list is looking pretty dark. Take a look at this week's Top Ten Tuesday!

The Power by Naomi Alderman :: A sci-fi novel about a diverse group of teenage girls and how their lives change when they inherit the physical power. Seemingly overnight the world changes. I love this take on feminism and whether the world would change for better or worse, if women were physically dominant.

The Girl Who Takes an Eye For An Eye by David Lagercrantz :: Continuing on the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo series, David Lagercrantz delivers the fifth book in the series. I read The Girl In The Spider's Web a few years ago and really enjoyed it.

The Break Down by B A Paris :: It's been a while since I've indulged in reading crime fiction and The Break Down has come up in my media feeds a lot lately.

Room and The Wonder by Emma Donoghue :: I absolutely loved Frog Music by Emma Donoghue and have always wanted to read more from this compelling author. Although Room and The Wonder are two very different books I love discovering authors who write a broad range of fiction.

Into The Water by Paula Hawkins :: Another crime book! I really enjoyed The Girl on The Train.

Top Ten Books: Featuring Students

This Top Ten Tuesday has a distinctive student theme. Here are ten great reads loosely featuring students!

Armada by Ernest Cline
I am 45 pages into Armada but this science fiction novel from the author of Ready Player One has sparked my interest. Zack Lightman a student (with a most excellent moniker) sees a flying spaceship from his favourite video game while daydreaming out the window one day.

Fan Girl by Rainbow Rowell
A coming of age story about a young girl who writes fan fiction. It's a cute, easy read that deals with all the anxieties of starting university and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. Oh, and young love.

Harry Potter by J K Rowell
Having recently binge watched the entirety of the Harry Potter movies it might be time to revisit these timeless books.

The Catcher in the Rye by DJ Salinger
16 year old Hayden Caulfield's story of teenage rebellion is a modern classic.

Paper Towns by John Green
A snappy road-trip coming-of-age novel from YA master John Green. I preferred the book to the movie.

The Opposite of Loneliness: Essays and Stories by Marina Keegan
A post-humous collection of writing from Yale graduate Marina Keegan whose essay of the same name went viral.

Top Ten Tuesday: Book to Film Recommendations

Top Ten Tuesday returns! While the rest of the world is basking in summer, down here in the south pacific we're rugged up on the couch with a blanket and a good book. With so many book to screen adaptations this year, here's my picks of what you should read first. Check out more from Top Ten Tuesday on the Broke on the Bookish.

Big Little Lies :: Liane Moriarty
An Australian novel that follows the lives of a handful of women and the suspicious circumstances around a murder. The movie version was set in California and has a stunning cast (Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon) but the book is really great and deserves a look in. Liane has a lighthearted writing style but manages to tap into the emotional heart of a story. I love that this book delves into the lives of 'normal' women, they are mothers and wives all balancing their own identities with those of their family and kids.

Ready Player One :: Ernest Cline
When I saw the trailer for this move a while ago I made a mental note to read the novel before I see the movie. Sci-fi and fantasy is something I have been pushing myself to read more and the fact that Ready Player One has a fun 'retro' element to it with references to the 80s makes it more palatable for non-science fiction readers.

The Handmaiden's Tale :: Margaret Atwood
I'm going to suck it up and just buy this damn book as every visit to the library has it checked out. Surely a classic that I would *probably* read again and again.

The Circle :: Dave Eggars
Staring Emma Watson, The Circle was a book I read earlier in the year and couldn't put down. It's a fast paced thrilling science fiction novel that had me questioning the future of privacy and sharing information online. The Circle is a giant tech company that encourages the use of shared information online but the loss of privacy comes at a cost.
  
Live by Night :: Denis Lehane
With Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone, The Drop and Shutter Island all successful movies adapted from Lehane's novels, it's no wonder there's another film the pipeline this year. If gangsters, prohibition and 1920s America sounds like your cup of tea then Live By Night might be too.

The Snowman :: Jo Nesbo
I love Scandinavian crime fiction and this adaptation makes me very happy since Michael Fassbender plays Detective Harry Hole. Dt Hole is called in to investigate a woman's disappearance, of which the only clue is a scarf left behind on a snowman. This is a Jo Nesbo book I haven't yet read but if it's anything like The Leopard I think I would enjoy it.

The Bedside Table Stack #14

This month's bedside table stack is a mash up of genres as I love switching up my reading pile.

Girl at War by Sara Novic
A young girl's idyllic childhood is shattered with the outbreak of war in Yugoslavia. Split between Ana's life in Zagreb in 1991 and her life as a college student in Manhattan in 2001, this book is part coming of age story part war novel.

A Darker Shade of Magic by V E Schwarb
Magic and fantasy combine in this story about multiple London's and the parallel universes each one exist in. Kell is a traveller who can move between all of them. A fun, magical adventure set in one of my favourite cities seems like a no-brainer for a good time.

Heloise by Mandy Hager
My writing tutor wrote her seventh (!!) book and I was lucky enough to attend the book launch a few months ago. 12th Century Paris. Heloise is a talented young woman, exceptionally bright and worldly, especially for a woman of no stature. This novel recounts the true story of her life and ambition to pursue learning and the relationship she has with famed philosopher Peter Abelard.

The Bookshelf :: To Hell in A Handbasket

I'm not saying that these picks have anything to do with how I feel about the state of the world at the moment but for some reason I've got dystopian and sci-fi thrillers on the brain.

The Handmaid's Tale :: Margaret Atwood
I have been wanting to read this before watching the television series. Margaret Atwood's novel explores a world where the Handmaid's are valued only for their fertility and are forced into breeding for the upper classes. Fancy living in a world where women don't have control over their own choices. Oh, wait...

The Circle :: Dave Eggars
A thrilling read in a which a Google-like company aims to make the world a fully transparent place where all knowledge is shared at the cost of privacy. It will make you question how much is too much when it comes to sharing on-line and is full transparency really a good thing?

1984 :: George Orwell
I feel as if this book has been on my need to read list forever (probably because it has). A timely read now more than ever.

Top Ten Tuesday: Feminist Reads

Today's Top Ten Tuesday is a selection of books brought to you by the F-word that still gets a bad rap, particularly on the internet. Here are ten Feminist reads that every human should take a look at:

How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran :: This book is hilarious and is part-biography part-feminist manifesto based around stories from Caitlin's life. She covers everything from wedding culture to beauty and babies and just generally has a wicked outlook on life.

Girls in White Dresses by Jennifer Close :: Speaking of wedding culture I haven't actually read this book but it's been on my radar for a while. It tells the story of three woman navigating their own lives while dealing with a never ending round of weddings and bridal showers. I'm at that age where every month seems to bring a new wedding invite and endless questions into my own (happily and actually not that into the whole idea of marriage thanks) unmarried status so I'm sure to get a kick out of reading this.

#Girlboss by Sophia Amoruso :: Not strictly a feminist book but I read this business book about Nasty Gal CEO Sophia Amoruso's rise to success and it really resonated with me as someone who is both young and female. The majority of business books seem to be about older white men so to be given advice from someone in my own generation was invigorating. Prepare yourself for sassy feelings of world domination after reading!

The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf :: Written in 1988 the year of my birth, I read this when I was 25 and was shocked to discover that we've really made zero progress when it comes to the pressure that women face on their bodies. If anything the rise of social media not to mention both obesity and anorexia are also a concern for womens' health today mean we've probably sliding backwards more than ever. A grim read yes, but many of Wolf's ideas resonated loudly with me.

A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf :: I've never read anything by Virginia Woolf (runs away and hides in shame) but after my own outburst at my significant other about not having a 'me' space own I think this book is actually quite fitting.

Have you read any of these books?

Top Ten Tuesday :: Most Recent 5 Star Reads

There's something very satisfying about this week's Top Ten Tuesday post in rounding up the cream of the crop of books I've read most recently. While I'm not 100% sure I gave these books 5 stars each, they certainly all tick the boxes for some of the best books I've read recently!

Emma by Jane Austen :: Witty, charming and hilarious, matchmaker Emma causes more trouble than she bargains for when it comes to meddling in her friends' relationships. Jane Austen's classic was hard to put down and I think I found some new favourite characters in Emma and Mr Knightley.

After You by Jojo Moyes :: The follow-up novel to Me Before You, I really enjoyed picking up again with Louisa who was struggling to move on from her relationship with Will. Sad, funny and hopeful, I thought this book dealt realistically with the struggles of moving on from grief and Lousia's struggle to discover what she really wants out of life.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor :: I wasn't expecting to enjoy this fantasy novel but something about the setting of Prague combined with the mystery of Karou's origins (blue hair, tattoos) and what all those teeth are for really struck a chord in my imagination. I can't wait to read the second installment.

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins :: While I can't say this book lived up to the hype of Gone Girl as so many people were tauting it to, The Girl on the Train was a very solid thriller, mysery which had me addicted to finishing it as fast as possibly.

What book have you read recently that you would highly recommend?

Top Ten Tuesday: Books On My Autumn TBR

While the rest of the world welcomes the first petals of Spring, us Southern Hemisphere lot are looking forward to the colder weather if only because it removes any sort of guilt associated with not being outside and instead we can reserve every right to get snuggly with a good book. This Autumn I'm hoping to tick off the following books:

The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell :: My current read, (is that cheating? nope, okay then) which started off fantastically but halfway through I'm feeling a little bit defeated by the length. I'm going to carry on and hope that future chapters pick up the pace that this novel started off so strongly with.

Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray :: I feel bad even talking about this book because I bang on about this series so much (The Diviners, it's ammmmaaazing!) and yet I've been slacking on reading the second one. Maybe I have THE FEAR? either way it needs to happen.

Under the Spanish Stars by Alli Sincair :: I was very kindly gifted this book from Harlequin Aus a while back and have been meaning to pick it up. All I know is that it looks exactly like the kind of wunder-lust inducing read that I love so much.

A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby :: One of my favourite funny authors, I have had this book reserved at the library to read and then promptly forgot to pick it up for weeks.

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness :: I've really enjoyed getting into more YA last year and this book about finding the extraordinary in ordinary lives sounds like a something I would very much enjoy.

The Drop by Dennis Lehane :: I feel like it's been too long since I've picked up a crime read and indeed the last book I read from this genre was The Girl on the Train last year. Dennis Lehane is one of my favourite authors for crime fiction so any of his books will do but in particular I really want to read this one that tells the story of a 'drop bar' in Boston.
I'd love to know what books you are itching to read this season?!

Ten Books To Read If You're In The Mood For...Wanderlust

For today's Top Ten Tuesday post I thought I would put together a collection of books that have really given me a bad case of wanderlust. Some of these books have inspired me to go to specific countries while others just invoke a sense of adventure through their writing. Either way you're sure to get a feeling of itchy feet after reading them!

African Dawn by Tony Parks :: South Africa. I loved reading this book after my trip to Botswana and the imagery it evoked of everything from the animals to the dusty sunsets made for a truly immersive experience.

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts :: India. This is an epic book (it's huge) but so worth it for all the colourful, vibrant and noisy descriptions of India.

The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver :: Mexico. I absolutely adored this book especially the beachside setting of Mexico to begin with.

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon :: Spain. I love the descriptions of the Spanish architecture and winding cobbled streets, not to mention that amazing secret library!

Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier :: United States of America. The descriptions of travelling through Virginia in this book are so beautiful it really appealled to me.

All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy:: Mexico. One of my favourite books ever Cormac McCarthy is a master of creating evocative landscapes and this book about two brothers who travel from Texas across the Mexican boarder is beautiful.

The Hundred Foot Journey by Richard C Morais :: India/France. Not only did this book conjure up beautiful images of India but the food, ohhhh the food!

Chocolat by Joanne Harris :: France. Cobbled streets, a quaint French village and sumptuous food make this book one for all of the senses.

Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres:: Greece. I loved how descriptive the island setting of this book is!

Let me know which books you love to read to give you a feeling of wanderlust?!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Unexpectedly Enjoyed in 2015

Today's Top Ten Tuesday with The Broke and The Bookish is all about books that took me by surprise in 2015. Last year I really tried to read outside of my comfort zone more and there were a few titles which I didn't expect to like but really did.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor :: A blue haired girl, covered in tattoos who travels the world collecting teeth (when she's not an art student) was not a story I thought I'd be into. Well, I was definitely wrong.

Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinseller :: I've never read Sophie Kinseller and I don't read a lot of YA but I really really enjoyed this book and everything about it.

The Diviners by Libba Bray :: Anytime I can bring up this book in conversation you know I'm going to. Reading paranormal Young Adult fiction was not something that I thought I would ever enjoy but this book is amazing and I'm so glad I picked it up.

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norell by Susanna Clarke :: The main reason I didn't think I would enjoy this book is that it is epically long and I didn't think I actually had the dedication to read a 1000 page book. I was pleasantly surprised and although it did take some commitment to pick it up every night am quite glad I finished reading.

You by Caroline Kepnes :: The fact that I enjoyed this book so much is the unexpected part. It's creepy, like really creepy which kind of worries me that I was so enjoying reading it.

What books did you unexpectedly enjoy reading last year?

January and February Book Haul

I have been spoiled these last two months with my birthday and Valentine's Day bringing me some lovely books! There's a mish mash of genres from contemporary to classics and paranormal and sci-fi plus some quick reviews of a few I've already managed to read!

Top Ten Tuesday: Songs I Wish Were Books

Todays Top Ten Tuesday is something a little bit different and is all about music! Often when I'm

listening to music I'm daydreaming about a scene in my head related to that song so I thought it would be fun to pick songs that would make a great book scene or spark an idea in my head for a book. Here goes:

I'm on Fire :: Bruce Springstein. Possibly my favourite Springstein song ever (it's a tough call) this song brings up images of unrequited love and two people who long to be together but can't.

Pieces by Chase and Status :: Im kind of a big fan of 90s club movies (think Human Traffic, 24 Hour Party People) so wouldn't it be epic to have a book that hails the club culture I was actually old enough to enjoy. Drum and bass was pretty much my jam about 2010 and I still love this song for bringing back memories of going out and listening to great music.

Santeria by Sublime :: I actually really enjoy sports related movies if they have good female characters in them and anything by Sublime makes me think of roadtrips and surfing and any book that wants to conjure up those images together is fine by me.

Punching in a Dream by Naked and Famous :: I love this song because it always makes me think of being young and doing stupid shit and I think more books should kind of celebrate being at a stage in your life when this is possible.

Burn by Ellie Goulding :: This song always makes me think of someone overcoming an epic battle, more in the emotional sense than anything else. It's uplifing and empowering and some type of badass chick should probably be involved in it coming to life.

Hold me Down by Halsey :: Any Halsey song would be a fantastic book idea I feel but something about this song reminds me of a character like Lisbeth Salander from Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.

Top Ten Tuesday :: Favourite Book Couples

In honour of Valentines Day this weekend, Top Ten Tuesday has gone all mushy on you and this week I've decided to pick my favourite couples!

The Bronze Horseman :: This is a love story of survival guys, Alexander and Tatiana have a war, starvation and the freezing Russian winter to contend with, it's pretty much the definition of epic. Sidenote, also this is a really great book if you enjoy reading historical fiction!

Emma :: I just recently finished this Jane Austen classic and I have to say I'm much more of a Mr Knightley fan than Mr Darcy (although maybe that has something to do with prefering Johnny Lee Miller to Colin Firth?)

Must Love Otters :: Holly Porter is a trainwreck albeit a hilarious one and I do approve of her trading up her dropkick boyfriend for the very sweet ex-ice hockey player Ryan. Their romance is so cute, and embarrassing if you're Holly but also cute.

The Winter Rose :: Good girls falling for bad boys probably doesn't get much better than India and Sid. This book is an emotional rollercoaster guys, you have been warned.

Outlander :: Although I'm a bit partial to Claire (I like her but at times she lacks commonsense) but there is no denying her and Jamie Fraser's relationship is one of the best things ever.

The Diviners :: While I suspect I may be wrong in wishing that Evie and Sam get together, I think they would make the best couple! Evie's so funny and Sam's cheeky and a total flirt.

Leave your TTT links down below!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I'd Like To See As Movies

It's Tuesday which means it's also time for the Top Ten Tuesday post and this week it's a freebie! Since I'm a bit of a movie buff I thought I would pick ten books I would love to see made into movies.

Rachel's Holiday by Marian Keyes :: This is by far my favourite Marian Keyes book and it's so so funny as well as being heartwarming and enduring and also tackling a big issue like addiction. I think this would be the perfect chick-flick but with heart and actual substance to the story line.

Beauty and the Beast :: Cheating totally here since this is actually coming out in 2017 but I am so looking forward to seeing this! This was the movie of my 90s childhood and having mega babe Emma Watson playing Belle has me even more excited.

The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly :: This book would make a wonderful movie adaptation or like a three part BBC miniseries or something. Historical fiction on the big-screen isn't done that often and an epic book deserves a big budget.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor :: I think mainly I just want to see Kerou with blue hair and all her awesome tattoos but with CGI and special effects being pretty amazing these days, fantasy novels being adapted for the big screen is getting more common.

Catch 22 by Joseph Heller :: I know that this is actually a movie but it was made decades ago and I've never been that interested in watching it (despite the fact that I do love old movies). I love sartirical comedy and am actually partical to the occasional war film - if the characters and plot are there - and would love to see an updated movie of one of my favourite books!

Night Circus by Erin Morggenstein :: Magical realism + a historical setting makes me one happy bunny. I loved this book because I thought the circus was so real and vivid in my mind and I'd love to see it adapted for screen.

Olivia Joules by Helen Fielding :: After the hype of Bridget Jones' Diary author Helen Fielding wrote a female spy novel Olivia Joules that a lot of people will probably have not heard of. Its like James Bond meets Bridget Jones and is so funny and ridiculous that I think it would be a great action comedy to script.

Longbourne by Jo Baker :: I'm a big Pride and Prejudice fan and this novel tells the point of view of the Bennett household from the view of the servants. I would love to see another adaptation of Pride and Prejudice as I wasn't a big fan of the Keira Knightly version but Longbourne also takes the story to a different place and offers something new for audiences.

Top Ten Tuesday :: My Current To Be Read List

This week's Top Ten Tuesday by The Broke and the Bookish is kind of perfect for me considering I am constantly adding new books to lists on my phone so that I don't forget all of the wonderful recommendations I find weekly via Youtube and book blogs. Here are ten of my most recent additions to my reading wish list.

Lorali by Laura Dockrill :: A book about mermaids that is actually pretty highly rated? Count me in.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater :: The more I read of Young Adult paranormal magical shenanigans the more I discover I actually kinda like it. Hence the addition of this book to my reading list.

The Enchanted by Rene Denfeld :: Enchanted magic and a book narrated by an inmate on death row have certainly piqued my interest in picking up this book.

The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell :: I have no idea how to even begin describing the plot for this novel other than it is told over many decades of time and I know that it has quite a few interesting characters. More than that though David Mitchell's writing is both beautiful, quirky and laugh-out-loud funny which is three very good reasons to read.

The Rest of us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness :: I love the premise of this book. Ever wondered what it would be like to be the normal friend of someone who is super-hero level remarkable?

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch :: Described as like Robin Hood meets Oceans Eleven this story of a conman and his band of followers has been mentioned quite a few times to me and it's time I picked  it up!

The Ice Twins by S.K Tremayne:: You guys now I need me some crime and thriller fiction and this creepy novel involves a creepy mystery of the death of a twin and mistaken identities.

The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare :: I've never read any of the Infernal Devices novel but the mix of historical and paranormal has me intrigued!

What books have made your TBR list recently?