tunn300 Posted December 28, 2013 Share Posted December 28, 2013 (edited) So here we are at the start of another new year and another new book blog. As you can see below my reading picked up a little last year after a big dip in 2012. There was a valid reason in that my son came into the world but now as he is slightly older I do have a little more time for reading. No real specific reading goals this year, just to read more than I did last year. Don't think I will be back anywhere near 30 books again but one can but try. I do have one big goal though and that is to buy less than 10 books this year (excluding any bought with vouchers given to me for Birthdays etc). This is fuelled by my ever growing TBR pile that this year I will list below as a constant reminder to myself to stop buying books!! All my previous book blogs since I joined BCF four years ago can be found by clicking the links below should you wish for some crazy reason to peruse them. Previous Blogs 2010 - 30 books read (BCF blog - Here) 2011 - 39 books read (BCF blog - Here) 2012 - 11 books read (BCF blog - Here) 2013 - 19 books read (BCF blog - Here) Edited December 28, 2013 by tunn300 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tunn300 Posted December 28, 2013 Author Share Posted December 28, 2013 (edited) Books Read in 2014 - 24 [Kindle eBooks - 5 Paperbacks - 5 Library Books - 12 Hardbacks - 2] January The Honey Guide - Richard Crompton - 8/10 Trap Line - Carl Hiaasen and Bill Montalbano - 6/10 Charlotte Street - Danny Wallace - 6/10 February My Autobiography - Alex Ferguson - 4/10 The Blasphemer - Nigel Farndale - 7/10 This is Life - Dan Rhodes - 10/10 Love From Both Sides - Nick Spalding - 7/10 Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock - Matthew Quick - 8/10 March The Rosie Project - Graeme Simsion -9/10 The Executioner - Chris Carter - 8/10 April The Shock of the Fall - Nathan Filer - 7/10 Stone Bruises - Simon Beckett - 6/10 Bad Monkey - Carl Hiaasen - 8/10 May The Radleys - Matt Haig - 6/10 Who is Tom Ditto? - Danny Wallace - 9/10 June July Live the Night - Dennis Lehane - 9/10 The Facts of Life and Death - Belinda Bauer - 7/10 August Moonlight Mile - Dennis Lehane - 8/10 The Girl With All the Gifts - M.R. Carey - 9/10 Love and Sleepless Nights - Nick Spalding - 8/10 September Love Under Different Skies - Nick Spalding - 8/10 October Apple Tree Yard - Louise Doughty - 9/10 November KP: The Autobiography - Kevin Pietersen - 4/10 December The Miniaturist - Jessie Burton - 7/10 Edited January 24, 2015 by tunn300 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tunn300 Posted December 28, 2013 Author Share Posted December 28, 2013 (edited) TBR Pile - Kindle Books Start of 2014 - 35 books Currently - 33 books Trap Line - Carl Hiaasen Rush of Blood - Mark Billingham Bloodline - Mark Billingham Th Casual Vacancy - J.K. Rowling The Executioner - Chris Carter The Night Stalker - Chris Carter Wolf Hall - Hilary Mantel Bring up the Bodies - Hilary Mantel Lawless - Matt Bondurant White Bones - Graham Masterton The Debt - Simon Kernick The Hundred Year Old Man who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared - Jonas Jonasson Life of Pi - Yann Martel Blood Brother - J.A. Kearley Into the Darkest Corner - Elizabeth Haynes The Stranger's Child - Alan Hollinghurst Perfect People - Peter James The Sealed Letter - Emma Donoghue Look at Me - Jennifer Egan The Dogs of Rome - Conor Fitzgerald Back of Beyond - C.J. Box May I Have Your Attention Please - James Cordon Nemesis - Jo Nesbo The Leopard - Jo Nesbo Afterwards - Rosamund Lupton The White Tiger - Aravind Adiga Let the Right One In - John Advide Lindqvist Ordinary Thunderstorms - William Boyd The Book Thief - Markus Zusak Playing the Game - Simon Gould The Blasphemer - Nigel Farndale The Shadow Project - Scott Mariani Moab is my Washpot - Stephen Fry The Hanging Shed - Gordon Ferris The Trophy Taker - Lee Weeks Purchased in 2014 Love From Both Sides - Nick Spalding The Cuckoo's Calling - Robert Galbraith The Shock of the Fall - Nathan Filer I Am Pilgrim - Terry Hayes Edited August 26, 2014 by tunn300 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tunn300 Posted December 28, 2013 Author Share Posted December 28, 2013 (edited) TBR Pile - Hardbacks Start of 2014 - 14 books Currently - 13 books My Autobiography - Alex Ferguson Is it Just Me? - Miranda Hart My Time - Bradley Wiggins Camp David - David Walliams Booky Wook 2 - Russell Brand My Spin on Cricket - Richie Benaud Why Do I Say These Things - Jonathon Ross Being Freddie - Andrew Flintoff Twirlymen - Amol Rajan Cricket: A Modern Anthology - Jonathon Agnew The Swan Thieves - Elizabeth Kostova Two Caravans - Marina Lewycka One Fine Day in the Middle of the Night - Christopher Brookmyre The Sacred Art of Stealing - Christopher Brookmyre Purchased in 2014 The Miniaturist - Jessie Burton Edited August 26, 2014 by tunn300 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tunn300 Posted December 28, 2013 Author Share Posted December 28, 2013 (edited) TBR Pile - Paperbacks Start of 2014 - 37 books Currently - 37 books Charlotte Street - Danny Wallace Too Close to Home - Linwood Barclay Blood at the Bookies - Simon Brett Carte Blanche - Jeffery Deaver The Pirate's Daughter - Margaret Cezair-Thompson The Rapture - Liz Jensen Child 44 - Tom Rob Smith The Fry Chronicles - Stephen Fry Drowning Man - Michael Robotham Darkhouse - Alex Barclay Grave Sight - Charlaine Harris The Honey Guide - Richard Crompton A Cricketing Life - Christopher Martin Jenkins Oh Dear Silvia - Dawn French Death Trip - Lee Weeks Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern The Hypnotist - Lars Kepler The Universe Versus Alex Woods - Gavin Extence A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseni Brixton Beach - Roma Tearne The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - Rebecca Skoot Tideline - Penny Hancock Skippy Dies - Paul Murray Six Suspects - Vikus Swarup The Time Traveller's Wife - Audrey Niffenger The Memory Keeper's Daughter - Kim Edward Fingersmith - Sarah Walters Orpheus Rising - Christopher Brookmyre The Horse With My Name - Christoper Brookmyre Belfast Confidential - Christopher Brookmyre The Twilight Time - Karen Campbell Count to Ten - Karen Rose The Taliban Cricket Club - Timeri N. Murari in the Woods - Tanya French The Caller - Alex Barclay Heart Sick & Sweetheart - Chelsea Cain The Prophecy - Chris Kuzneski Purchased in 2014 The Rosie Project - Graham Simsion Apple Tree Yard - Louise Doherty Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock - Matthew Quick The Lost - Claire Mcgowan Until You're Mine - Samantha Hayes Edited October 19, 2014 by tunn300 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tunn300 Posted December 28, 2013 Author Share Posted December 28, 2013 (edited) So that puts my total books unread at the start of 2014 at 86 books, which based on my reading speed from last year would take around 4 and a quarter years to clear. Hence the maximum of 10 book purchases this year to try and reduce my list.Books Purchased in 2014 (4 left)Love From Both Sides - Nick SpaldingForgive Me, Leonard Peacock - Matthew Quick Cuckoo's Calling - Robert Galbraith The Shock of the Fall - Nathan Filer One Summer: 1927 - Bill Bryson I Am Pilgrim - Terry HayesBooks given as gifts in 2014 (including those bought with vouchers)The Rosie Project - Graeme SimsionApple Tree Yard - Louise Dougherty The Miniaturist - Jessie Burton Love, Love Me Do - Mark Haysom Blood & Beauty - Sarah Dunant Won on BCF February Crime Month The Lost - Claire Mcgowan Until You're Mine - Samantha Hayes Edited August 26, 2014 by tunn300 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tunn300 Posted December 28, 2013 Author Share Posted December 28, 2013 (edited) Well I think that is everything set up so I declare my 2014 Reading Log open for business!! Good luck to everyone with their reading this year and hope you drop by and say hello from time to time. Edited December 28, 2013 by tunn300 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athena Posted December 29, 2013 Share Posted December 29, 2013 I hope 2014 will be a good reading year for you . Of your TBR, I've read two books, that I both really love. They are Audrey Niffenger - The Time Traveller's Wife and Markus Zusak - The Book Thief. Good luck with getting your TBR down, I hope they're all great reads . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julie Posted December 29, 2013 Share Posted December 29, 2013 Good luck in the coming year . I agree with you, I also need to get my pile of books down and stop buying. I'm not real good at that, so we shall see . I'm not familiar with very many of your books, so I'll be watching your reviews .I have a few of the same on my Kindle unread, so maybe we'll find out this year how much we like them . Have a fun reading year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marie H Posted December 29, 2013 Share Posted December 29, 2013 Great TBR lists you have got there Wolf Hall - Hilary Mantel The Stranger's Child - Alan Hollinghurst The Book Thief - Markus Zusak The Universe Versus Alex Woods - Gavin Extence A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseni The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - Rebecca Skoot Skippy Dies - Paul Murray are in my TBR list too . Hope you have a good book time in 2014 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobblybear Posted December 29, 2013 Share Posted December 29, 2013 You have some great books on your TBR list. The ones that stand out in particular for me are: Life of Pi - Yann Martel Into the Darkest Corner - Elizabeth Haynes The Book Thief - Markus Zusak Happy reading in 2014. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tunn300 Posted December 30, 2013 Author Share Posted December 30, 2013 (edited) Thanks for all the messages and recommendations. I really hope 2014 is going to be a great reading year for me. I have started reading 'The Honey Guide' by Richard Crompton and know I won't finish it tomorrow so it will become my first read of 2014. It is the authors debut novel and made it into the Telegraph's best books of 2013. I picked it up in the summer when it was part of Waterstones book club. I am about 50 pages in and really like it thus far. Am off now to do a little more reading before bed. Edited February 3, 2014 by tunn300 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 Hope you find time to read for yourself in 2014, tunn, as I guess it won't be too long before you're reading plenty of children's books to your son! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Pixie Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 Good Luck with your TBR in 2014 ! I`ve seen a lot lately about ` The 100 year old man..`, so I`ll be interested in how you like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissy Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 Happy Reading in 2014! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 Hello tunn, I hope you have an excellent reading year in 2014! And I hope you discover some great Gold like reads Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devi Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 Happy reading in 2014! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tunn300 Posted January 2, 2014 Author Share Posted January 2, 2014 Thanks again for all the lovely messages. I am already doing lots of reading with the little one. He has his own book box in the living room and he often walks over and brings one to me/attempts to eat it. His favourite is the gruffalo touch and feel book and he has now learnt you must kiss the gruffalo on the last page which is very cute!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 Aww, that's so adorable! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyshake Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 Aww .. so sweet Happy Reading in 2014 tunn .. both you and your precious little one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athena Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 Thanks again for all the lovely messages. I am already doing lots of reading with the little one. He has his own book box in the living room and he often walks over and brings one to me/attempts to eat it. His favourite is the gruffalo touch and feel book and he has now learnt you must kiss the gruffalo on the last page which is very cute!!x That's so cute! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 Thanks again for all the lovely messages. I am already doing lots of reading with the little one. He has his own book box in the living room and he often walks over and brings one to me/attempts to eat it. His favourite is the gruffalo touch and feel book and he has now learnt you must kiss the gruffalo on the last page which is very cute!! Awwww That's priceless! He'll be an avid reader... Or at least a book eater! A bookworm! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tunn300 Posted January 4, 2014 Author Share Posted January 4, 2014 Awwww That's priceless! He'll be an avid reader... Or at least a book eater! A bookworm! Hopefully the eating of the books will stop as he grows older. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tunn300 Posted January 4, 2014 Author Share Posted January 4, 2014 (edited) I have finished my first book of 2014 today. 'The Honey Guide' by Richard Crompton. I did start it a few days before the New Year but I am still classing it as a 2014 read. I enjoyed and will post a full review on here soon. Mount TBR has decreased by 1 as so far I have managed to resist buying any books or ebooks in the various sales around. Edited January 4, 2014 by tunn300 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tunn300 Posted January 4, 2014 Author Share Posted January 4, 2014 The Honey Guide - Richard Crompton Synopsis - Amazon Nairobi 2007. In the lead up to the presidential elections, this is a city poised on the brink, a place where the divisions between ethnic groups run deep and where a small elite has vast power over the poor majority. It will only take one spark for the whole city to ignite.Amid this unrest, Mollel, a former Maasai warrior whose wife died in the bombing of the US embassy, is called to investigate the brutal murder of a prostitute in a public park. Regarded as something of an outsider by his police colleagues, he is also struggling to maintain custody of his son.As riots sweep through the city following claims of vote rigging and corruption, Mollel suspects there is more to the case than he thought. But are his warrior's instincts-which have never failed him-as true as they feel? And can Mollel ever truly find justice for one poor girl who trusted the wrong people? Review Well my first book of 2014 is the last of the books that I bought in the summer with my Birthday vouchers. I had not heard of the book before but was attracted by the synopsis and also the fact it was in the Waterstones book club list. These are books they guarantee you will enjoy or give you your money back. The book is set in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, an area the author also lives in so you feel you are getting an accurate feeling of the area. It follows a Masai who has left his home village for a life in the city and is a detective in Kenya's police force. We learn lots about Mollel as the book progresses and he is certianly a character I feel an affinity too and look forward to his next adventures. This story is set with the backdrop of the Kenyan Presidential Elections and accusations of vote rigging which for me give the book another edge and again make it seem all the more convincing. I like the writer's style of mainly short, sharp chapters to move the action on and although I saw the ending coming a little way off there was still one little twist that surprised me. I constantly kept picking the book to just see what happens next which for me is always the sign of a good book. Overall I highly recommend Crompton's debut novel and look forward to the next adventure for Mollel. 8/10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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