A-Z Survey

On loads of blogs lately I keep seeing this A-Z survey, created by Jamie at The Perpetual Page-Turner. I have loved reading all the different answers everyone has given to this, and I wanted to throw myself into this too. I know I'm really late to the party here, but here it is

AAuthor you’ve read the most books from:

I have read everything ever written by Maria V. Snyder, and loads of Richelle Mead's books.

BBest Sequel Ever:

 There are few series or sequels where the second book beats the first, but the first examples that come to mind are Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare and Where She Went by Gayle Forman. 

CCurrently Reading:

Monsters by Ilsa J. Bick- I'm struggling with this one a bit, it's very harsh and depressing and there are SO MANY different viewpoints to keep track of.

At work I'm reading If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch- so good so far!

On audiobook I'm listening to Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo.

I usually have 3 or 4 books on the go at any one time!

DDrink of Choice While Reading:

Tea. I love drinking tea. I can tell I'm completely absorbed in a book when I find a mug of stone cold tea next me that I'd forgotten about, and have to get up to make another one.

E-E-reader or Physical Book?

I prefer reading a physical book personally, and I love having the book on display on my bookshelves afterwards. I quite like reading on my kindle, but when I re-read my favourite books I like to dip in and out, and just re-read the best chapters and it's easier to do this with a physical book. I have been known to buy a paperback copy of a book I already own and read on kindle. 

FFictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated In High School:

I wouldn't have dated anyone fictional in High school- I was the biggest loser!

G

Glad You Gave This Book A Chance:

I didn't like the look of Divergent by Veronica Roth at all when it came out. Thank goodness for all the book blogs I read raving about it which convinced me to give it a chance! I love this series!

HHidden Gem Book:

I really enjoyed Angelfall by Susan Ee, which started off as a self-published book- a real hidden gem.

IImportant Moment in your Reading Life:

Learning to read... 

JJust Finished:

Requiem by Lauren Oliver.

KKinds of Books You Won’t Read:

I have never been interested in crime/legal/courtroom type books, and I've never been attracted by the "chick-lit" books like Sophie Kinsella- not saying that these are bad books- just that I have never been tempted to pick one up. 

LLongest Book You’ve Read:

The Diviners by Libba Bray is pretty long- but worth it! 

MMajor book hangover because of:

The Harry Potter series, and also the end of Breaking Dawn, I felt like nothing would ever move me like that again!

NNumber of Bookcases You Own:

One big one, and three small ones. But I have loads of books also just in piles on the floor. 

OOne Book You Have Read Multiple Times:

Fifty Shades Freed by E.L James. It's a secret though!

PPreferred Place To Read:

In bed or in the garden in the sunshine. I sometimes sit and read for an hour in a coffee shop after work- it feels very self-indulgent.

QQuote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:

“She craved a presence beside her, solid. Fingertips light at the nape of her neck and a voice meeting hers in the dark. Someone who would wait with an umbrella to walk her home in the rain, and smile like sunshine when he saw her coming. Who would dance with her on her balcony, keep his promises and know her secrets, and make a tiny world wherever he was, with just her and his arms and his whisper and her trust.” 

-Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

RReading Regret:

Lending 50 Shades of Grey to my mother. I still haven't gotten it back yet. 

SSeries You Started And Need To Finish:

This could take a while- there are so so many series, where I have read the first book, loved it, but STILL haven't gotten round to reading the rest.  Eyes Like Stars, Firelight, Nightshade, The Ghost and the Goth, Forgive My Fins... 

TThree of your All-Time Favorite Books:

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder, Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman.

UUnapologetic Fangirl For:

The Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead- love this series! 

VVery Excited For This Release More Than All The Others:

Cress by Marissa Meyer, and (yes I can have two!) Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor

WWorst Bookish Habit:

Keeping library books for months even after I've read them... because I haven't reviewed them yet.

X X Marks The Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:

Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

YYour latest book purchase:

All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

ZZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late):

Dare You To by Katie McGarry- I couldn't put it down

Thanks for stopping by my A-Z post! I hope you've enjoyed getting to know me a little better. 

The future of the blog (my blog)

*Tumbleweed blows past*

...Yeah, it's been a little quiet around here lately hasn't it? I feel guilty that I haven't been around much, but the truth is I have felt so poorly lately and it doesn't look like it's going to get any better any time soon, and I just feel so exhausted all of the time.

BUT the thought of just not blogging at all makes me feel so sad and just annoyed at myself. I really want to keep this blog alive, and so this is what I have concluded.

What do I love about blogging?
Well, first and foremost I just love the real sense of community online, and how friendly and warm other bloggers are. Actually, book bloggers are awesome people! I love finding out about what other people are reading, stalking the blogs of people who read similar books to me, finding out about new and upcoming books, and getting excited about books that I wouldn't otherwise have heard of if not for reading book blogs.

For my own part I enjoy the actual art of writing, and using my brain and language to get my own opinion across. I used to always want to be an author or writer of some kind, but as time has gone by I've just completely lost my confidence in my ability to do it. But with writing the blog, there is no pressure, no deadlines- I'm just writing when I want to/ am able to, and I'm not writing to earn a wage or anything- it's just something for fun, writing about things I'm passionate about- YA books. It feels good to create something, and work at stringing meaningful words and sentences together- even if all it is for is a short book review and not a novel.

So I don't want to give it up entirely but I have come to the decision that I am not going to feel any pressure or need to get a blog post out into the world- if I don't post anything for a couple of days that is fine.

I will write for myself, and for the love of it, and if anybody else wants to read what I write then I love them for it, but I'm not writing to specifically please anybody else. I won't be trying to just put anything up just because I think that other people will expect it.

From now on...
I will not be taking part in any new blog tours or review requests (apart from those I have already committed to) until I feel confident again that I can follow through on any advance planned commitments, simply because I feel so bad if a publisher has given me a review copy of a book and then I'm ill and unable to provide a timely review. I have also missed one promised blog tour stop and I feel terrible about it. So from now on- I make no promises to anybody about what will go up on the blog.

I also won't accept or ask for any more advance galleys, simply because it's not fair on the publisher when I read them all and then cannot provide a review. No more galleys until I am majorly caught up on book reviews. (Bye Netgalley- I will miss you!!)

So, to sum up, I think I'm coming back to my blog now- and look out for a much more regular blog in the future. Or at least I will try!

6 books I'm always recommending to everyone

I always find the question "so what's your favourite book?" impossible to answer- there are way too many and it depends on my mood etc. BUT- there are certain books that I always feel like I'm saying to people "you have to read this!"

(more of my stunning artwork!)

These are 6 books that I recommend all the time. 

• Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder. I love anything written by this author  but this book especially is one of my all-time favourites. I usually try and re-read it about once a year. It's a fantasy series but I think that it because it focuses on the emotions and lives of the characters it could appeal to anyone. I love Yelena the main character- talk about your strong every-woman. 

• Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. This series has to be one of the best ever written! It's beautiful, amazing, romantic, terrifying and just- wow! Read it!

My review

• Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman. This series is unique and powerful. I read it years ago and it blew me away then- it still blows me away now. Such a good book. 

• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Hehehe- I got everybody at work (who were initially like- "but it's a kid's book")- reading this and everybody LOVED it! This is one of those books I literally couldn't put down. I like my sleep so it takes a LOT to keep me up all night but this book managed it! This series is just amazing. 

• Northern Lights by Philip Pullman. It's the whole series I love not just this first book. This is another one that kept me up all night reading it. Thrilling, clever, and just brilliant- this is the book that I wish I'd written myself. It's pure genius. (Don't bother watching the movie though- it's crap).

• Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck. This is a series that I wish more people knew about. It deserves hype because it magical, lyrical and sweet, and I love how much detail goes into the story and the world-building. And Ren is pretty great too! ♥ ☺ I love this book and am always recommending it to people. 

My review

So those are some of my absolute favourite books ever. What are you waiting for?! Go read them!
☺

6 books everybody loved except me

This is a blog post idea inspired from Andye at Reading Teen- where I thought I would spotlight those books that EVERYONE else on the planet seemed to love... except me.

Do you ever feel like the only one who read a book and just thought... meh? But everyone else raves about it?
That feeling when you are so excited to read a book because it has gotten so many 5 stars- then you read it and wonder what all the fuss was about?

(my beautiful original artwork- I am quite the artist you know)

[I feel a little bit in danger of being surrounded and beaten with these books by people screaming "what do you mean you didn't like it??!!" but I love the variety of the YA book market, and the fact that what appeals to one person may not appeal to everyone. So I'm not saying that any of these books are bad books, just that  I never got the appeal of them.]

• A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young. So many people love this book, but I didn't like the fact that the main character has no choices. She is basically just told that she is destined to disappear and be forgotten by everybody who loves her, and there is nothing she can do about it. 

• I think I am the only person who found this book really dull. It has a very detached style, and it really bugged how the main character, after being released from the underworld for a limited period of time to see the great love of her life, just mooches about wasting time, and ignoring everyone, for MONTHS. I spent most of the book waiting for something to happen- but it has loads of 5 star reviews around the web.

• Before I Die by Jenny Downham. I read this one a few years ago, and it has recently been turned into a film starring Dakota Fanning (titled Now is Good). It is sweet and a real tear-jerker, but I struggled to like this one because I couldn't stand the main character. 

• Tithe by Holly Black. It's got fairies, a romance and it's written by Holly Black, but still, I just couldn't get into this book at all. It is one of the rare books that I DNF, and again- because I just couldn't connect with the main character. I didn't like the amount of bad language and the casual sex and drug taking among the teen characters. But other people (whose reviews I trust) love this series. 

• Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan. I know, I know- but I read the first one, and didn't hate it, but I still couldn't see what all the fuss was about. I've never been even slightly tempted to go on and read the rest of the series.  

• Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta. This is an okay book- I liked it- but all the reviews on Goodreads are 5 star, gushing reviews... and I don't quite get why. I love loads of contemporary YA fiction so it's not the genre, I just liked it instead of loving it. It was okay. 

Those are the books that everybody else seems to love... except me. 

*Hides*

Blogger interview with Kailia from Reading the Best of the Best

As part of the awesome book blogger Love-a-thon hosted by Alexa and Katelyn, I have been asked to swap interviews with fellow book blogger Kailia, who blogs over at Reading the Best of the Best. 

I love Kailia's blog because it is fresh, unique, and intelligent. She posts a wide variety of excellent discussion topics as well as book reviews, and I highly recommend you go check it out. 

Hi Kailia- would you like to tell us a little bit about yourself and your blog?

Hi all! My name is Kailia and I'm an 18 year old blogger at Reading the Best of the Best! I currently live in a small town in the south but I'm a city girl at heart! I started blogging because I loved books and I wanted to talk about them! 

How long have you been blogging for?

Since 2009 which is SUPER crazy to think! I actually didn't get into blogging before two years ago! Before than, it was just kind of here! 

What's been your best experience of blogging so far?

Meeting all sorts of people online and all of the books I've been introduced to because of blogging! I actually went to YallFest last November but had it not been for blogging, I would have NEVER heard about it! 

Do you have any particularly great blogging pals, that you feel closer to than others? Which are your favourite book blogs? 

I have blogging friends I talk to, mostly on Twitter. I love Keertana from Ivy Book Bindings and Ishita from The Reading Fish is fantastic! Katie of Katie's Book Blog is one of bloggers who has always been so sweet to me! I love all the blogs I mentioned but I also love reading The Perpetual Page Turner and Good Books and Good Wine! 

Roughly how many books do you read each month?

About 12 ish when I actually try. I'm still in high school and the last year has been full of tests and college prep which is SO time consuming! 

Do you prefer ebooks, paperbacks, hardbacks or audiobooks?

I have now tried to hear about 10 book on audiobook and have finished none so I personally don't like audiobooks. I LOVE a good paperback but hardbacks are nice too. If I have a series in all paperback then all of the books have to be in paperback and the same with hardbacks. I like ebooks because I have two e-readers so I can always store them on there! My shelves are very full! 

Is there an author that you would really like to meet?

SO MANY! The one I know will never happen: J.K. Rowling. She's my idol. I'd also love to meet Kristin Cashore. Her books are some of my favorites! 

Have you ever read a book that you would like to rewrite the ending of? Why?

The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray. Karthik turns into a tree. A TREE. I would change it so you know, HE DOES NOT TURN INTO A TREE. 

(OMG- I completely agree with you about that- I hated that ending!)

Quickfire questions

What is your favourite-

Food? Pizza. I know. But I LOVE pizza! 

Electronic gadget? my iPad! 

TV show? As of right now, Doctor Who

Book? (Hahahaha!) Any of the Harry Potters. Or Graceling. Or Anna and the French Kiss. 

Book crush? WHAT IS THIS?! Um. A lot of them? Po. Etienne. Peeta. 

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Find Kailia online

Goodreads 

Twitter

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The Book Blogger Love-a-Thon is an entire day dedicated to spreading the love among blogs in the book blogging community. Throughout the day, you'll spend time leaving comments on blog posts, discovering new blogs to love,  tweeting and posting about old favorites to share your thanks and promoting some of the awesome blogs that you follow!

For more interviews, mini-challenges, and giveaways- stop by the Book Blogger Love-a-Thon page (clicky link above)

I've been interviewed!

I've been interviewed by the lovely Michelle over at Fluttering Butterflies, as part of her British Bloggers feature.

Want to know how I started blogging? Who is my favourite literary crush? Head on over there and check it out!

Bookish gifts for book lovers

So, I keep looking online for inspiration for gift ideas for my family- but unfortunately I keep seeing things that I really want instead!

I'm not on commission for anything here- but I just think these things are really cool, and I wanted to share them.

I absolutely love this book scarf I found on Etsy. It's quite pricey for a scarf, but I think it looks so original and quirky- and gives a new meaning to the phrase "wrapped up in a good book"!
This one has printed on it the proposal letter from Captain Wentworth from my favourite Jane Austen book, Persuasion.


Buy here

Spineless Classics produce these utterly amazing posters- that have the WHOLE TEXT of the book on them. I love so many of them- just incredible. 
This one is Alice in Wonderland

Buy here

Necklaces!
Buy here
Buy here

There are so many absolutely gorgeous book necklaces online- it was hard to narrow it down to which ones to feature!




Check out this mug! *sings* "I like big BOOKS and I cannot lie...!

Buy here








Book charms. I love these book charms. This seller can custom order any book you want. I just bought myself the entire Harry Potter series on a necklace. I also have a plastic book charm of Inkheart on my keyring.


Buy here

And of course, lets not forget the book marks...

Elegant- Buy here              Leather Steampunk- Buy here
Harry Potter- Buy here      Zombie hands!- Buy here

And okay- I know it's Harry Potter themed (again!), but I love these Order of the Phoenix room of requirement book ends. Buy here

Or what about these very original ones?

The End- Buy here

Cute tea party- Buy here

Horror- Buy here

----------------------------------------------------
I'm going to leave it there but I could keep going on all night gushing over some of the bookish stuff I've found in the past couple of weeks. Have I given you some ideas for new things to pine over? Sorry about that!

I've been interviewed!

I've been interviewed by the awesome Liz at Fictional Candy as part of her blogger on blogger feature.




I just realised that I use way too many exclamation marks when I write *cringes*

Want to find out what are some of my absolute favourite book blogs? What I do when I'm not blogging? Check it out here!

Wanna see my shelves?

If you're anything like me (ie. nosy), you love peering round other people's bookshelves, and having a good look at all their books.

My bookshelves are currently featured on Kirsty's Bookcase Showcase over at the Overflowing Library.
Check 'em out!

(But please ignore the dust bunnies- I'd rather read than clean!)

A bit about me...

I have decided to post some of my answers from my Formspring account- sort of like an interview, (except it's about myself!)
These are genuine questions that I have been asked by various people at different times- and my answers.

How long have you been blogging for?
I started blogging in January 2011, so almost a year and a half now


On average, how many times a week do you post on your blog?
The aim is to try and post something every day, but usually after work I'm too exhausted to write anything, plus I like to read and comment on other blogs, and catch up on my twitter feed, so in reality I end up posting around 4-5 times a week. Only once or twice I think have I ever managed to post every day for a whole week. I'm usually pretty proud of myself if I manage 6 times in a week.


Best snack and drink to accompany a reading session?
Tea, and Nutella straight out of the jar
:D


Do you ever find yourself copying the characters facial expressions when they're described in a book?
I don't think so...
One thing I definitely do though is start to crave whatever food they're eating in the book. If a character mentions they love hot chocolate and toast for breakfast, I will suddenly need to go and make hot chocolate and toast. If a character starts cooking mushroom pasta for their dinner, I will be reading it and thinking "Cor, I could just eat some mushroom pasta right about now!"


Do you carry a book with you everywhere you go?
Oh yes- "just in case", to much mocking by my non-bookish family. I love to read any chance I get, and you never know if you're going to break down and have to wait ages for the breakdown service, maybe the trains will be delayed, maybe I'll get locked out of the house or [some other random reason] but I would hate to just sit there when it's prime reading opportunity! I always have a book with me.


Have you ever been criticised/ bullied because of any of your reviews or blog posts?
No not really. In general I think the blogging community is so lovely and I get so many positive comments and so much encouragement from other bloggers.
The only thing I have been told is that I sometimes go into a bit too much depth with my reviews and maybe give too much away. And I think that maybe they have a valid point. I try to never post spoilers, but sometimes I find it difficult to state exactly what I did or didn't like about a book without saying about some elements of the plot. I think I'm getting better at this though, and I really try not to explain the whole book or be spoilerish in any way!


Do you have any weird bookish habits?
When I'm reading and I have to put the book down (maybe to go back to work or because my TV show is starting) I HAVE to stop reading around 1 inch down from the left hand page. Every time.
(I'm a freak!)


Do you read graphic novels?
I've never been tempted to try. I think my eye would be too distracted by the artwork to read it like a story, I would be looking all over the page at once.


Would you ever consider writing your life story?
No- It would be pretty boring! I love to read and don't get out much!


Worst book to movie adaptation?
Oooh- there are a few. Eragon, Inkheart, City of Ember.
Worst one is probably the Golden Compass (Philip Pullman). Fantastic book- crap film.


Best book to movie adaptation?
The Lord of the Rings series is amazing. I prefer the movie versions to the books because it keeps the heart and the emotion behind the story, but it cuts out all the waffle.


Do you re-read books?
I do re-read my favourite books, but I very rarely re-read a book straight through from cover to cover. I usually just dive in to the middle and re-read bits of the book.


Do you have to have silence to read or can you read with background noise?
I don't mind listening to music when I read, especially ballads, but I get too distracted if the TV is on in the background or people are having conversations around me. I quite often go to coffee shops to read, and I don't mind the general background hum and clatter of noise around me there.


Do you actually believe that some people read in the shower?
Wouldn't the book get wet?!
I usually have my eyes closed in the shower to avoid getting water and shampoo in my eyes. How do people do this?!


 Would you ever jump with a parachute?
I have done! I trained for 2 days to be able to do a solo jump for charity when I was 18 years old. Scariest thing ever! I wouldn't do it again...






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If you're still with me- thanks! I may do more of these posts. If you feel like asking me anything at all about books or blogging, or anything at all no matter how random it is, feel free!
There is a formspring box (in blue) on the right hand sidebar ---->

Waterfall Read-along event- count me in!

I have only just heard about the awesome event hosted by Tina at Tina's Book Reviews, Missie at The Unread Reader, Joy &Serena at Edgy Inspirational Romance, Nic at Irresistible Reads and Jenny from Supernatural Snark.
It's a read-along of Lisa T. Bergren's YA novel Waterfall. From the 31st August and every wednesday for the month of September we can read a few chapters of the book and then talk about the book and the characters. Also, every week somebody taking part will win a box set of the 3 books in the series. That's five winners.

The discussion schedule-
August 31- Chapters 1-6 Hosted by Tina at Tinasbookreviews


Sept 7- Chapters 7-11 Hosted by Missie at The Unread Reader

Sept 14- Chapters 12-17 Hosted by Joy&Serena at Edgy Inspirational Romance

Sept 21- Chapters 18-23 Hosted by Jenny at Supernatural Snark

Sept 28- Chapters 24-28 and Wrap Up Hosted by Nic at Irresistible Reads

I got a copy of Waterfall a couple of weeks ago and am really looking to reading it. This is just the push that I need to get started on what looks like a fantastic time-travelling series.

If you want to join in it's not too late- follow the link to Tina's blog, sign up with the linky, find yourself a copy of the book and read chapters 1-6 by the 31st of August.

Impromtu read-a-thon results!

On Friday I posted that I was joining in with a weekend read-a-thon hosted by Amber at Down The Rabbit Hole. I didn't get as much reading done as I had hoped (I'm too easily distracted darn it!) but I did manage to finish a couple of books and think I have at least read as much as I had challenged myself to read.

I finished reading The Iron Knight. (Great series)

I read all of A Monster Calls (fantastic, beautiful, powerful book- review coming soon!)
And I'm up to page 110 of Starcrossed (which is a 500 page book)

Back to work tomorrow (boo!)



              

                                                                                110/513 pages

aaaThanks Amber for hosting this!

Impromtu read-a-thon, count me in!

Amber over at Down The Rabbit Hole is hosting an impromptu read-a-thon over the weekend, and, as I'm not working this weekend, I have decided to join in and try to tackle some of the mammoth reading pile that I have lined up to read. I'm hoping it will be sunny this weekend, and that I can soak up the rays with a book and a cup of tea- bliss!
I'll post regular status updates on my Goodreads profile and hopefully finish a couple of books!

During the readathon I hope to:

Finish reading The Iron Knight. I'm reading this on my kindle and am currently at 40% through.

Read all of A Monster Calls. I love the sound of this. It doesn't look very long, so I'm hoping that I can set a couple of hours aside tomorrow and read it in one sitting.

Start reading Starcrossed and get a respectable way through it before I start back at work again on Monday.











Those are the books I've challenged myself to try and get through, I think that this is fairly realistic and achieveable. If you want to join in, hop on over to Amber's blog and check it out (she is generously doing a giveaway as well).