Lilywhite Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 Currently Reading Read so far* 1. Lena Dunham ~ Not That Kind Of Girl: A Young Woman Tells You What She's Learned * 2. Willy Vlautin ~ Lean On Pete * 3. Bec and N J Pearce ~ Nemesis * 4. Philippa Gregory ~ The White Queen (Cousins War Series book 1) * 5. Amy Poehler ~ Yes Please * 6. Gillian Flynn ~ Gone Girl * 7. Markus Zusak ~ The Book Thief * 8. Philippa Gregory ~ The Red Queen (Cousins War Series book 2) * 9. Caitlin Moran ~ How To Build A Girl *10. Emma Healey ~ Elizabeth is Missing *11. Kathy Lette ~ The Boy Who Fell To Earth *12. Mo Hayder ~ Poppet *13. Mo Hayder ~ Wolf *14. S J Watson ~ Before I Go To Sleep *15. Fiona Neill ~ What The Nanny Saw *16. Truman Capote ~ Breakfast At Tiffany's *17. Zak Baggans ~ I Am Haunted *18. Sylvia Plath ~ The Bell Jar *19. Karen Rose ~ Closer Than You Think *20. Tom Cox ~ Under The Paw: Confessions of a Cat Man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilywhite Posted December 30, 2014 Author Share Posted December 30, 2014 To be read (from the bookshelf) 48 Catherynne M Valente ~ Deathless (review)Trudi Canavan ~ Magicians Apprentice Trudi Canavan ~ The Rogue Trudi Canavan ~ The Ambassadors MissionPhilippa Gregory ~ The Red Queen (Cousins War Series book 2)Philippa Gregory ~ The Lady of the Rivers (Cousins War Series book 3)Charlaine Harris ~ Dead and Gone (book 9)Charlaine Harris ~ Death's Excellent VacationGregory Maguire ~ Out of OzChristopher Paolini - Inheritance (book 4)PD James ~ Death Comes to PemberleyGeorge Bernard Shaw ~ PygmalianSusan Hill ~ DollyChristopher Fowler ~ Spanky (RISI)Jostein Gaarder ~ Sophie's World J M Warwick ~ A Season of Eden (possibly Mum's copy?) Stephen Foster ~ Walking OllieGail Carriger ~ SoullessPen Farthing ~ One Dog at a Time Holly Black ~ Tithe Holly Black ~ IronsideAlison Weir ~ The Lady Elizabeth Trudi Canavan ~ The Priestess of the WhiteTrudi Canavan ~ Last of The WildsTrudi Canavan ~ Voice of The Gods Kelley Armstrong ~ Waking The Witch (Otherworld book 11) Kelley Armstrong ~ The Summoning (Darkest Powers Book 1) Kelley Armstrong ~ The Awakening (Darkest Powers Book 2) Kelley Armstrong ~ The Reckoning (Darkest Powers Book 3) Kelley Armstrong ~ Men of the Otherworld Kelley Armstrong ~ Tales of the Otherworld Kelley Armstrong ~ Made to be Broken (Nadia Stafford Book 2) Kelley Armstrong ~ Exit Strategy (Nadia Stafford Book 1) Raven Hart ~ The Vampire's SeductionRaven Hart ~ The Vampire's Kiss Michele Bardsley ~ Because Your Vampire Said So! (book 3) Jeanne Kalogridis ~ Burning Times Sue Townsend ~ The Queen & I Jean Plaidy ~ Uneasy Lies The Head (Tudors bk1) Donald McCaig ~ Rhett Butler's People MaryJanice Davidson ~ Dead and Loving It Susan Hill ~ Mrs DeWinter Karen Chance ~ Touch The Dark Freda Warrington ~ A Taste of Blood Wine Torey Hayden ~ Beautiful Child Margaret Atwood ~ The Handmaids Tale Stieg Larsson ~ The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Somewhere in the attic (still) Mitch Albom ~ For One More DayMichele Bardsley ~ Come hell or high water (book 6)Christie Dickason ~ The PrincipessaTess Gerritsen ~ In Their FootstepsTess Gerritsen ~ StolenSeth Grahame-Smith & Jane Austen ~ Pride and Prejudice and ZombiesVicky Halls ~ Cat CounsellorMandasue Heller ~ The PactKaren Moline ~ BelladonnaKate Morton ~ The Forgotten GardenJean Plaidy ~ Castille For Isabella (Isabelle & Ferdinand Trilogy bk1)Terry Pratchett ~ The Light FantasticJustine Picardie ~ DaphneEva Stachniak ~ Dancing With KingsAlison Weir ~ Innocent Traitor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilywhite Posted December 30, 2014 Author Share Posted December 30, 2014 Previous Book Logs Reading with Kat 2014 (15) Reading with Kat 2013 (19) Climbing Mount to be Read with Kat 2012 (26)Kat's 2011 Reading (25)What Kat Read Next 2010 (34)Kat's Reading in 2009 (42)Kat's Reading 2008 (44)Kat's Reading 2007 (43)Kat's Reading 2006 (126) Somewhere to jot down books I'm interested in (so I don't forget them!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilywhite Posted December 30, 2014 Author Share Posted December 30, 2014 Lena Dunham Not That Kind Of Girl: A Young Woman Tells You What She's Learnt Lena Dunham, acclaimed writer-director-star of HBO and Sky Atlantic’s ‘Girls’ and the award-winning movie ‘Tiny Furniture’, displays her unique powers of observation, wisdom and humour in this exceptional collection of essays. “If I could take what I’ve learned and make one menial job easier for you, or prevent you from having the kind of sex where you feel you must keep your sneakers on in case you want to run away during the act, then every misstep of mine was worthwhile. I’m already predicting my future shame at thinking I had anything to offer you, but also my future glory in having stopped you from trying an expensive juice cleanse or thinking that it was your fault when the person you are dating suddenly backs away, intimidated by the clarity of your personal mission here on earth. No, I am not a sexpert, a psychologist, or a dietician. I am not a mother of three or the owner of a successful hosiery franchise. But I am a girl with a keen interest in having it all, and what follows are hopeful dispatches from the frontlines of that struggle.” Started: 28/12/14 Finished: 31/01/14 Rated: 5/5 Comments: Absolutely brilliant. I loved this very candid but funny collection of stories and memories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 Hope you have a great reading year in 2015, Kat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollaig Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 I notice you've got two Holly Black titles in your list, the first and third Modern Faerie Tale stories - but not the second, Valiant. I was wondering if you had already read that, or...? Valiant is actually the only one I enjoyed, and I still quite like it now. It's a good stand alone story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athena Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 Happy Reading in 2015, Kat ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 (edited) I hope you have a great reading year in 2015, Kat! And you're already reading a book I cannot wait to hear your thoughts on (the Lena Dunham book). Kylie read it some time ago and I tried reading it some time ago. Edited January 3, 2015 by frankie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobblybear Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 I hope you have a great reading year, Kat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julie Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Happy Reading this year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilywhite Posted January 4, 2015 Author Share Posted January 4, 2015 Thanks my lovelies! So far so good with my first book. I've been waiting to read it since it first came out and I've had to make myself put it down a couple of times as I could quite easily have read it all in one go. I'm a big fan of Lena Dunham and so far have found her story and experiences incredibly interesting. Noll, I haven't bought the second one yet as I wasn't sure if I would like them. I think I got one and three together in some sort of offer (two wasn't available) so I thought I would wait and see before adding to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollaig Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 Noll, I haven't bought the second one yet as I wasn't sure if I would like them. I think I got one and three together in some sort of offer (two wasn't available) so I thought I would wait and see before adding to it. Ahhh fair enough! It makes sense as those two have the same main character and don't relate much to book 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 I loved Lena Dunham's book - so glad you're enjoying it too! Happy reading in 2015. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissy Posted January 11, 2015 Share Posted January 11, 2015 I hope you enjoy your reading this year Kat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilywhite Posted February 19, 2015 Author Share Posted February 19, 2015 Willy Vlautin Lean on Pete Fifteen-year-old Charley Thompson wants a home, food on the table, and a high school he can attend for more than part of a year. But as the son of a single father working in warehouses across the Pacific Northwest, Charley's been pretty much on his own. When tragic events leave him homeless weeks after their move to Portland, Oregon, Charley seeks refuge in the tack room of a run-down horse track. Charley's only comforts are his friendship with a failing racehorse named Lean on Pete and a photograph of his only known relative. In an increasingly desperate circumstance, Charley will head east, hoping to find his aunt who had once lived a thousand miles away in Wyoming but the journey to find her will be a perilous one. In Vlautin's third novel, Lean on Pete, he reveals the lives and choices of American youth like Charley Thompson who were failed by those meant to protect them and who were never allowed the chance to just be a kid. Started: 01/02/15 Finished: 21/02/15 Rated: 2/5 Comments: I feel bad rating this book only a two as it isn't particularly bad; I just didn't like it. The story is told from the point of view of 15 year old Charley who isn't having the best of time in his life. For this reason, the story is slow and told in the way a 15 year old would tell it. There are lots of irrelivant details, such as I went here, it took 15 minutes. I bought this and this at the store and then went home. At times it's almost like reading a written statement but I understand that this is the style of the book. It's supposed to sound this way because we are in the thoughts of a young boy. Despite this. I couldn't help but feel for poor Charley. He really is having a bad time of it and unfortunately it gets worse before it gets better. This was a tale of a young boy who had nothing and nobody, developing a friendship with an old horse and finding someone to talk too and depend on and survive a harsh world with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilywhite Posted February 19, 2015 Author Share Posted February 19, 2015 Bec and N J Pearce Nemesis “I am Death. I am the Grim Reaper… It is my job to take the soul of the newly departed, from the life they knew to the next stage of existence… ”Annabelle Décor is a woman betrayed who is on a mission to punish infidelity, marking her victims with the make-up of those they have deceived. From his position of power, Death watches the story unfold before his eyes. Is this merely a woman driven crazy, or a possession by an old and vengeful god? Started: 01/02/15 Finished: 21/02/15 Rated: 3/5 Comments: This is the first book by my very dear friends and I was able to get my hands on a copy the moment it was released. I remember being asked to read the first segment, years ago, and finding myself needing to know what came next. Unfortunately, being friends with the authors didn't get me any more privileges and I had to wait, like everyone else, to find out what happened. This is Death's story. Not the story of Death; but a story told through the eyes and experiences of Death as he goes about his business of escorting people to the next world. The story is that of Annabelle Decor and her vengeful mission to punish those she sees as having cheated on their significant others. Having dealt the final justice to her victims, Annabelle would make up their faces to resemble those that were wronged and send a message to the world that infidelity would not be tolerated. Death is as much as a spectator in this story as we, the readers are, however, his job allows him to be at the scene of each crime and be able to interact with each of the victims on their way to their next destination. Piece by piece we follow Annabelle's handy work to a thrilling conclusion but will we ever really know what drives this woman to her chilling crimes? This is the first book by Bec and NJ Pearce and if it's a sign of things to come, then I'm excited. In places, it is a bit rough around the edges but, hey, show me a first book that isn't. This does not detract from the story, or the development of a fantastic character in Death. He is brilliant. I loved his old school demeanour and gentlemanly characteristics. Overall, this is a great read and hopefully, not the last we have heard from Death. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilywhite Posted February 22, 2015 Author Share Posted February 22, 2015 Philippa Gregory The White Queen Brother turns on brother to win the ultimate prize, the throne of England, in this dazzling account of the wars of the Plantagenets. They are the claimants and kings who ruled England before the Tudors, and now Philippa Gregory brings them to life through the dramatic and intimate stories of the secret players: the indomitable women, starting with Elizabeth Woodville, the White Queen. The White Queen tells the story of a woman of extraordinary beauty and ambition who, catching the eye of the newly crowned boy king, marries him in secret and ascends to royalty. While Elizabeth rises to the demands of her exalted position and fights for the success of her family, her two sons become central figures in a mystery that has confounded historians for centuries: the missing princes in the Tower of London whose fate is still unknown. From her uniquely qualified perspective, Philippa Gregory explores this most famous unsolved mystery of English history, informed by impeccable research and framed by her inimitable storytelling skills. With The White Queen, Philippa Gregory brings the artistry and intellect of a master writer and storyteller to a new era in history and begins what is sure to be another bestselling classic series from this beloved author. Started: 22/02/15 Finished: 08/03/15 Rated: 3/5 Comments: Typical Philippa Gregory. Bursting in with yet another series of books that I just can't read fast enough. I usually stick to the Tudors with my historical fiction but these sounded just as awesome and I haven't been disappointed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilywhite Posted April 3, 2015 Author Share Posted April 3, 2015 Amy Poehler Yes Please In a perfect world . . . We'd get to hang out with Amy Poehler, watching movies, listening to music, and swapping tales about our difficult childhoods. Because in a perfect world, we'd all be friends with Amy - someone who seems so much fun, is full of interesting stories, tells great jokes, and offers plenty of advice and wisdom (the useful kind, not the annoying kind you didn't ask for). Unfortunately, between her Golden Globe-winning role on Parks and Recreation, work as a producer and director, place as one of the most beloved Saturday Night Live alumni, involvement with the website Smart Girls at the Party, frequent turns as an acting double for Meryl Streep, and her other gig as the mom of two young sons, she's not available for movie night. Luckily, we have the next best thing: Yes Please, Amy's hilarious and candid book. A collection of anecdotes, essays, ideas, lists, and haikus from the mind of one of America's most beloved entertainers, Yes Please offers Amy's thoughts on everything from her 'too safe' childhood outside of Boston to her early days in New York City, her ideas about Hollywood and showbusiness, the demon that looks back at all of us in the mirror, and her joy at being told she has 'a face for wigs'. A delight on every page, Yes Please is chock-full of words, and wisdom, to live by. Started: 25/02/15 Finished: 31/03/15 Rated: 4/5 Comments: I've only really seen Amy in a few stand up roles but her book had popped upon my radar a few times. I really enjoyed this candid insight into her life and career. She is delightfully honest throughout, which makes you feel like you have known her for years. A fantastic dose of real life, girl power! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilywhite Posted April 3, 2015 Author Share Posted April 3, 2015 Gillian Flynn Gone Girl Who are you? What have we done to each other? These are the questions Nick Dunne finds himself asking on the morning of his fifth wedding anniversary, when his wife Amy suddenly disappears. The police suspect Nick. Amy's friends reveal that she was afraid of him, that she kept secrets from him. He swears it isn't true. A police examination of his computer shows strange searches. He says they weren't made by him. And then there are the persistent calls on his mobile phone. So what did happen to Nick's beautiful wife? Started: 31/03/15 Finished: 05/04/15 Rated: 4/5 Comments: It's been a long time since I read a book this quickly. I devoured it. So simple, yet intricately complicated. A fantastic read that I highly recommend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilywhite Posted April 6, 2015 Author Share Posted April 6, 2015 Markus Zusak The Book Thief HERE IS A SMALL FACT - YOU ARE GOING TO DIE1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier.Liesel, a nine-year-old girl, is living with a foster family on Himmel Street. Her parents have been taken away to a concentration camp. Liesel steals books. This is her story and the story of the inhabitants of her street when the bombs begin to fall.SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION - THIS NOVEL IS NARRATED BY DEATHIt's a small story, about:a girlan accordionistsome fanatical Germansa Jewish fist fighterand quite a lot of thievery.ANOTHER THING YOU SHOULD KNOW - DEATH WILL VISIT THE BOOK THIEF THREE TIMES Started: 06/04/5 Finished: 12/04/15 Rated: 5/5 Comments: Wow! How lucky have I been to read to amazing books in a row? This one has blown the socks off everything else I have read for a long time. It's such an emotional and thought provoking story which really resonated with me. Without a doubt, this book is being added to my favourites list and if anyone is debating reading it, you absolutely must. Don't overlook it, like I did for ages. You'll be missing out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollaig Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 Oooh hope you enjoy that one, it's a great read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athena Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 I hope you enjoy The Book Thief . I'm glad you liked re-reading Gone Girl. I've had it on my book shelf for a couple of years now but I still haven't read it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilywhite Posted April 8, 2015 Author Share Posted April 8, 2015 Gone Girl was amazing Athena! I didn't expect to enjoy it half as much as I did so it was a nice surprise I've heard so many good things about The Book Thief so I'm looking forward to making a proper start on it this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athena Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 Gone Girl was amazing Athena! I didn't expect to enjoy it half as much as I did so it was a nice surprise I've heard so many good things about The Book Thief so I'm looking forward to making a proper start on it this weekend. That's great to hear ! I've heard mainly positive praise of it so that's very promising. I hope you enjoy The Book Thief . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilywhite Posted May 2, 2015 Author Share Posted May 2, 2015 Caitlin Moran How To Build A Girl What do you do in your teenage years when you realize what your parents taught you wasn't enough? You must go out and find books and poetry and pop songs and bad heroes—and build yourself.It's 1990. Johanna Morrigan, fourteen, has shamed herself so badly on local TV that she decides that there's no point in being Johanna anymore and reinvents herself as Dolly Wilde—fast-talking, hard-drinking gothic hero and full-time Lady Sex Adventurer. She will save her poverty-stricken Bohemian family by becoming a writer—like Jo in Little Women, or the Brontës—but without the dying-young bit.By sixteen, she's smoking cigarettes, getting drunk, and working for a music paper. She's writing pornographic letters to rock stars, having all the kinds of sex with all the kinds of men, and eviscerating bands in reviews of 600 words or less.But what happens when Johanna realizes she's built Dolly with a fatal flaw? Is a box full of records, a wall full of posters, and a head full of paperbacks enough to build a girl after all?Imagine The Bell Jar—written by Rizzo from Grease. How to Build a Girl is a funny, poignant, and heartbreakingly evocative story of self-discovery and invention, as only Caitlin Moran could tell it. Started: 20/04/15 Finished: 02/05/15 Rated: 4/5 Comments: Having read How to Build a Woman, I already knew that Caitlin Moran speaks volumes to me. She makes sense. She sees the world in a similar way and has all the same questions. This book, whilst being wholly fictional, still tackles the age old discussions around class and gender in the UK. I love her candid style where nothing is off limits. She even managed to use the "C" word, without it being out of place and offensive. She tells the story of a young girl from a council estate, with a family existing entirely off government benefits and dreams. She decides that this is not the life she is destined for and begins to build herself a new life. Whilst her story is crazy, and unbelievable and nonsensical, running in the background are pivotal threads. The threat of benefits being taken away and the effect this would have on her family; leaving school at sixteen to get work and bring vital money in for her family; entering a workplace entirely dominated by men and dealing with the social implications of being a female who enjoys sex. In typical Moran style, I spent a lot of time trying to stifle my laughter throughout and in other places, found myself nodding and agreeing with the social commentary running throughout. Very clever and very entertaining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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