chesilbeach Posted December 27, 2012 Posted December 27, 2012 Fantastic organisation skills Laura! I really like how you've only included the books on your TBR from the challenges, and your priority reading list. I found that really helped me reduce my TBR last year, and I ended up reading some of the best books I've ever read. Hopefully you'll have a fabulous reading year in 2013 too. Quote
Kylie Posted December 27, 2012 Posted December 27, 2012 Awesome lists, Laura! I agree with Frankie; I definitely noticed the influence of the forum in your wish lists. We share nearly all of the same lists (all but 2012 World Book Night and New Classics), so I'll be watching your reviews closely during the year. Happy reading! Quote
vodkafan Posted December 27, 2012 Posted December 27, 2012 I must admit I got a bit confused by your different lists Laura but I saw some interesting titles so I will be reading your reviews with interest as usual! Quote
lauraloves Posted January 1, 2013 Author Posted January 1, 2013 Woo Hoo, more great lists Best of luck with the 'Read 4, Buy 1' system, temptation can be far too easy to give in to. Thank you The Read 4, Buy 1 system worked really well last year and i didnt buy too many books so hopefully i can do it again this year I love your lists, you are so organized! I have to say I can see this forum's influence on you just by looking through the posts including your wishlists, they are quite long and I can see a lot of familiar names I'm happy I'm not the only one with a rather long wishlist! What I liked most about your set up is how you are intending to get some of your oldest TBR books read. I think I should consider trying something similar. Have a great reading year 2013! It is indeed this forum that has made my wishlist and TBR grow so much! I do by the end of the year want to get my oldest books read just so i actually read them and they are not on the shelves. Happy reading to you too Love the lists Laura I daren't list my TBR pile for fear i might then actually have to confront the fact I have lots of books and we have NO space. I've also set myself a target of 10 books off the 1001 list in 2013, so I shall follow progress with interest I've listed mine hoping that it might shock me into actually reading some of my books and not buying any more! Hopefully we shall both hit out targets for the year on the challenge I love how you have set a book target for each challenge! Happy reading in 2013! I'm hoping it will encourage me to read a bit more this year! Wishing you a wonderful year of books, Laura. You have a lovely collection of books waiting to be read. And I really like your blog on wordpress - it's very well-presented and a pleasure to visit. Thank you, i cant wait to read them Thank you for the comment about my blog i do need to do a bit of work on it over the next few days! Fantastic organisation skills Laura! I really like how you've only included the books on your TBR from the challenges, and your priority reading list. I found that really helped me reduce my TBR last year, and I ended up reading some of the best books I've ever read. Hopefully you'll have a fabulous reading year in 2013 too. I'm hoping with the challenge lists i can really cut them down this year and end up with a TBR pile like yours Awesome lists, Laura! I agree with Frankie; I definitely noticed the influence of the forum in your wish lists. We share nearly all of the same lists (all but 2012 World Book Night and New Classics), so I'll be watching your reviews closely during the year. Happy reading! Thank you Hopefully we can both make a dent in our challenges this year I must admit I got a bit confused by your different lists Laura but I saw some interesting titles so I will be reading your reviews with interest as usual! hehe i love lists it really focuses me but it does confuse others hehe! I look forward to your reviews too Quote
lauraloves Posted January 1, 2013 Author Posted January 1, 2013 I've been buying lots of books again, mainly down to the 12 days of Kindle but also Christmas gifts and freebies too! The Thirteenth Tale - Diane Setterfield The Tenderness of Wolves - Stef Penny The Case of the Antiquarian's Study - G. W. Colkitto Uglies - Scott Westerfeld A History of 20th Century Britain - Andrew Marr Private Peaceful - Michael Morpurgo Shadow on the Rose - Laura Jane Leigh The Dress - Sophie Nicholls Flying With Cuckoos - Michael Patrick Clark Tales From the Heart - Sophie King Kommandant's Girl - Pam Jenoff Shiverton Hall - Emmerald Fennell The Mammoth Book of Apocalyptic SF - Mike Ashley The Mammoth Book of Haunted House Stories - Peter Haining The School Gates - Nicola May The Arcade: The Vintage Boutique - Kitty Charles Rachel's Holiday - Marian Keyes Fifty Shades of Grey - E. L. James Fifty Shades Darker - E. L. James Fify Shades Freed - E. L. James Confessions of a GP - Dr Benjamin Daniels Underneath by Michael Cargill Quote
Kidsmum Posted January 1, 2013 Posted January 1, 2013 OMG Laura that is some amount of lists don't know how you manage to keep up with them all you must be mega organised I see you've bought The Tenderness of Wolves, i'm about halfway through it at the moment & really enjoying it probably would have finished it already if Christmas hadn't got in the way Happy Reading in 2013 Quote
poppyshake Posted January 1, 2013 Posted January 1, 2013 Loving your organised lists, that wishlist is seriously hardcore The very best of luck in 2013 Laura You have some great books on your TBR so that should help you with your 'read 4 buy 1' rule. Rachel's Holiday is my favourite Marion Keyes so far .. hope you enjoy it. Quote
lauraloves Posted January 2, 2013 Author Posted January 2, 2013 (edited) OMG Laura that is some amount of lists don't know how you manage to keep up with them all you must be mega organised I see you've bought The Tenderness of Wolves, i'm about halfway through it at the moment & really enjoying it probably would have finished it already if Christmas hadn't got in the way Happy Reading in 2013 Hehe thank you I think i need that ammount of lists to be organised sometimes! I'm going to start The Tenderness of Wolves next, i think i would have started it earlier if it wasnt for christmas too! Happy Reading in 2013 too Loving your organised lists, that wishlist is seriously hardcore The very best of luck in 2013 Laura You have some great books on your TBR so that should help you with your 'read 4 buy 1' rule. Rachel's Holiday is my favourite Marion Keyes so far .. hope you enjoy it. Thank you Its a massive wishlist hehe! I cant wait to start Rachels Holiday, think it will be one of my next reads! Edited January 2, 2013 by lauraloves Quote
vodkafan Posted January 2, 2013 Posted January 2, 2013 I've been buying lots of books again, mainly down to the 12 days of Kindle but also Christmas gifts and freebies too! The Thirteenth Tale - Diane Setterfield The Tenderness of Wolves - Stef Penny The Case of the Antiquarian's Study - G. W. Colkitto Uglies - Scott Westerfeld A History of 20th Century Britain - Andrew Marr Private Peaceful - Michael Morpurgo Shadow on the Rose - Laura Jane Leigh The Dress - Sophie Nicholls Flying With Cuckoos - Michael Patrick Clark Tales From the Heart - Sophie King Kommandant's Girl - Pam Jenoff Shiverton Hall - Emmerald Fennell The Mammoth Book of Apocalyptic SF - Mike Ashley The Mammoth Book of Haunted House Stories - Peter Haining The School Gates - Nicola May The Arcade: The Vintage Boutique - Kitty Charles Rachel's Holiday - Marian Keyes Fifty Shades of Grey - E. L. James Fifty Shades Darker - E. L. James Fify Shades Freed - E. L. James Confessions of a GP - Dr Benjamin Daniels Underneath by Michael Cargill Er..what about the read 4 buy 1 thing Laura? Oh well it is Christmas we forgive you.. Quote
lauraloves Posted January 4, 2013 Author Posted January 4, 2013 Er..what about the read 4 buy 1 thing Laura? Oh well it is Christmas we forgive you.. Hehe think i better start the read 4 buy 1 thing in a couple of days once the 12 days of kindle is over! I know if i dont buy some of the books ill end up regretting it while they are so cheap! hehe Quote
lauraloves Posted January 7, 2013 Author Posted January 7, 2013 Chocolat - Joanne Harris Started - December 2012 Finished - 7th January 2013 Format - Paperback Book Challenges - Ultimate Teen Book Guide Challenge World Book Night 2012 Longlist Synopsis - When an exotic stranger, Vianne Rocher, arrives in the French village of Lansquenet and opens a chocolate boutique directly opposite the church, Father Reynaud denounces her as a serious moral danger to his flock - especially as it is the beginning of Lent, the traditional season of self-denial. As passions flare and the conflict escalates, the whole community takes sides. Can the solemnity of the Church compare with the sinful pleasure of a chocolate truffle? My Thoughts - I brought this book a couple of years back as its one of those books thats always talked about but id never read. This book is about Vianne Rocher and her daughter who move to a small village in France and set up a chocolate shop there. To start with she is met with some hardness from the locals but ends up really getting on with most of them. There is also Father Reynaud who is the local vicar who it transpires is not all that nice a person and is quite stuck in his ways.. Roux is a traveller, who in the film version of this book is played by Johnny Depp so i think i'll have to have a look out for that now! I really liked this book as it was told from two different perspectives, Vianne and Father Reynaud and they both have different views on the events that have happened. There is more to the story than just two people with different outlooks, for example good against evil, light against dark and magic against the church. I really liked the different themes in the book. I also liked how you found out more about the characters as the book went on. It wasnt set in chronological order and i really liked how the information became more apparent as the book went on. I really enjoyed this book and ive just found out its the first in a trilogy so im going to get the next book to put on my shelf soon. Rating - 4/5 Quote
lauraloves Posted January 11, 2013 Author Posted January 11, 2013 #2 Fifty Shades Darker - E. L. James Started - December 2012 Finished 11/01/2013 Format - E-book Synopsis - Romantic, liberating and totally addictive, the Fifty Shades trilogy will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you for ever ... Daunted by the dark secrets of the tormented young entrepreneur Christian Grey, Ana Steele has broken off their relationship to start a new career with a US publishing house. But desire for Grey still dominates her every waking thought, and when he proposes a new arrangement, she cannot resist. Soon she is learning more about the harrowing past of her damaged, driven and demanding Fifty Shades than she ever thought possible. But while Grey wrestles with his inner demons, Ana must make the most important decision of her life. And it's a decision she can only make on her own ... My Thoughts - This is the second book in the 50 Shades of Grey trilogy that i got for Christmas from my fella. I read the first one straight away and fairly enjoyed that one but i actually enjoyed this one a bit more. This book starts straight after the first with Ana and Christian apart due to events at the end of the first book. I did wonder how there was meant to be more books after the first had finished and to be fair it would have worked as a stand alone book. It is fairly obvious what will happen between Ana and Christian due to the fact that there are two more books in the series and how it is written makes it fairly predicable. I did like Christian more in this book than the first, he comes across as a nicer person and in this book we finally find out why he is so strange! I did think that this book had more twists to it than the other, some which were fairly predicable but a couple did shock me with the plot a bit. Of course there is the usual scenes in this book which are fairly frequent but these are to be expected i think in this book. I didnt really see the twist at the end of the book coming though and i want to read the final book just so i know how it ends. This book is ok and i enjoyed it more than i thought i would. Rating - 3/5 Quote
lauraloves Posted January 15, 2013 Author Posted January 15, 2013 #3 The Tenderness of Wolves - Stef Penney Started - 7/1/13 Finished - 13/1/13 Format - Paperback Book Synopsis - 1867, Canada: as winter tightens its grip on the isolated settlement of Dove River, a man is brutally murdered and a 17-year old boy disappears. Tracks leaving the dead man's cabin head north towards the forest and the tundra beyond. In the wake of such violence, people are drawn to the township - journalists, Hudson's Bay Company men, trappers, traders - but do they want to solve the crime or exploit it? One-by-one the assembled searchers set out from Dove River, pursuing the tracks across a desolate landscape home only to wild animals, madmen and fugitives, variously seeking a murderer, a son, two sisters missing for 17 years, a Native American culture, and a fortune in stolen furs before the snows settle and cover the tracks of the past for good. In an astonishingly assured debut Stef Penney deftly weaves adventure, suspense, revelation and humour into a story that is both panoramic historical romance and exhilarating thriller. Now reissued in an attractive new livery, The Tenderness of Wolves is one of the most widely liked and admired novels of the previous decade. My Thoughts - I read this book as part of the January Reading Circle. I really liked the sound of this book especially as it has some Native American Culture in as this does fascinate me however i really did not enjoy this book. This tells the story of Francis a young man who goes missing after a murder happens. People in the town are quick to point the finger at him due to his absence however his mother believes his innocence and sets off on a treck across snow covered wildness in search of her son and in search of the truth. There are many simular characters in this book and i had great difficultly in remembering who was who and what was going on. There are also lots of sub plots that i really found difficult to understand and i also thought that these confused the plot a fair bit. As the synopsis says 'The Tenderness of Wolves is one of the most widely liked and admired novels of the previous decade.' I think there must be something in my reading that doesnt appeal to the most liked books as i really couldnt get into this book which is a shame. Rating - 2/5 Quote
lauraloves Posted January 22, 2013 Author Posted January 22, 2013 #4 - Replay - Keira Lea Started - 13/1/13 Finished - 19/1/13 Format - Kindle e-book Synopsis - Kelsee Lewis has a new school, a prima donna best friend, and one week to write a hit play. Throw in a self-obsessed mom and an absent executive dad, and it’s no wonder she has panic attacks—complete with time-warp special effects. When Kelsee meets comic book maven Quinn, she realizes the attacks give her the ability to rewind time. Replaying life seems like the best way to erase mistakes. But will second chances leave Kelsee flailing in the orchestra pit alone? My Thoughts - I downloaded this book from Amazon last year as it was free for a day and i really like young adult books with a bit of time travel thrown in. This book is about Kelsee who attends a school and is involved in a writing programme. Along with the stresses of writing a play for the end of school production she has to deal with her parents divorce and new partners. She starts to have what she thinks are panic attacks but they soon turn out to be more strange and that she can stop time with this. I did like this book but i felt that the element of the stopping time and rewinding could have been explored a bit better. There was a good bit about changing events will have a knock on effect on future events. I did think this book was written well for teenage girls and that they would enjoy this but for an adult i didnt enjoy it overally. Rating - 3/5 Quote
lauraloves Posted January 28, 2013 Author Posted January 28, 2013 #5 The Borrowers - Mary Norton Started - 19/1/13 Finished - 23/1/13 Format - Paperback Book Challenges - 1001 Childrens Books You Must Read Synopsis - A race of tiny people who live beneath the floor of a proper human kitchen make friends with a young boy, and begin to learn about the world above their heads, from which they have borrowed the furniture and tools. My Thoughts - I brought this book back in 2010 along with the rest of the series of books. I read this book back when i was a child and really enjoyed it so i was hoping that this time round it would be as good. The Borrowers is a family of little people who live under the kitchen in a house. Theres Pod, the Dad of the family that goes out borrowing, Homily the mother and Arrietty their daughter who wants nothing more than to see more of the outside world, much to the horror of her mother. They have lived under the floorboards for a number of years and its not until Arrietty meets 'The Boy' that things start to go wrong and they have to think about leaving the house that they have only ever known. I really enjoyed the story of this book espcially how they used bits and bobs for there house, like blotting paper for carpets. I did think that at times it was a little dated as nowadays they wouldnt be borrowing blotting paper and pins, it would be technology but its still a good story. The book left on a bit a of a cliffhanger and I'm so pleased that i already have the other books in the series. Rating - 4/5 Quote
Athena Posted January 28, 2013 Posted January 28, 2013 I haven't read this book but I've seen the Studio Ghibli film that's based on the book. I don't know how much is true to the book and how much it isn't, but I liked the film. Sounds like I might have to get hold of the book now! Quote
lauraloves Posted January 29, 2013 Author Posted January 29, 2013 I haven't read this book but I've seen the Studio Ghibli film that's based on the book. I don't know how much is true to the book and how much it isn't, but I liked the film. Sounds like I might have to get hold of the book now! I've seen the film too and it's not as similar to the book as some but still has similar parts Quote
lauraloves Posted January 30, 2013 Author Posted January 30, 2013 #6 - The Borrowers Afield by Mary Norton Started - 23/1/13 Finished - 30/1/13 Format - Paperback Book Synopsis - As it turned out, the end of the Borrowers wasn't the end of Pod, Homily and Arrietty. They escaped to the fields but it was a long and dangerous journey, up the Azalea Bank, through the privet hedge and across the orchard, and they were hiding from humans and being attacked by insects. My Thoughts - I brought this book back in 2010 as part of the whole series of Borrowers as i had read the first book but never read any further than that. In this book Arrietty and her family have had to leave the comfort of the house that they have only ever known and have gone to try and find the only other borrowers that they know of. They have to walk across fields and encounter lots of new things to them like insects. They have to deal with being homeless and having to almost start again. Its in this book that they meet Spiller another borrower that i have heard of because of the movie. I did enjoy this book but i have to say not as much as the first one. It is still very good and keeps its magical appeal that the book holds for children and there is still that thought in the back of your mind do they really exist in my house when things go missing. This book would be very good for children and it continues they story. it ended on a cliffhanger and i cant wait to read more in the series to find out what happens. Rating - 3/5 Quote
frankie Posted January 31, 2013 Posted January 31, 2013 #5 The Borrowers - Mary Norton Great review, Laura, thanks! What a pretty cover on the book, too, it definitely caught my eye. I've never heard of the book, at least it doesn't ring any bells for me. But it sounds like a good read, and I've been meaning to look more into the classic English children's/YA novels so I think this would do well for that. I'll have to see if they have any copies at the library! Let's keep reading them books and making a dent in the Mount TBR! Quote
lauraloves Posted January 31, 2013 Author Posted January 31, 2013 Great review, Laura, thanks! What a pretty cover on the book, too, it definitely caught my eye. I've never heard of the book, at least it doesn't ring any bells for me. But it sounds like a good read, and I've been meaning to look more into the classic English children's/YA novels so I think this would do well for that. I'll have to see if they have any copies at the library! Let's keep reading them books and making a dent in the Mount TBR! I really like the covers of the series I do keep looking at them! They are very good stories and quite quick to read too! If you do get a copy I think you'll enjoy it hehe We can reduce our TBRs Quote
lauraloves Posted February 3, 2013 Author Posted February 3, 2013 #7 - The Woman in Black - Susan Hill Started - 30/1/13 Finished - 1/2/13 Format - Kindle e-book Challenges - Ultimate Teen Book Guide Challenge Synopsis - Arthur Kipps, a junior solicitor, is summoned to attend the funeral Mrs Alice Drablow, the sole inhabitant of Eel Marsh House, unaware of the tragic secrets which lie hidden behind the shuttered windows. The house stands at the end of a causeway, wreathed in fog and mystery, but it is not until he glimpses a wasted young woman, dressed all in black, at the funeral, that a creeping sense of unease begins to take hold, a feeling deepened by the reluctance of the locals to talk of the woman in black - and her terrible purpose. My Thoughts - I read this book as part of the February Reading Circle and its a book that ive always wanted to read and having got the chance to i was very excited to read it. This book is about Arthur Kipps a young man who is a junior solicitor and as part of his job role he has to attend the funeral of an eldery client and sort through her house to get her affairs in order. While attending the funeral he sees a mysterious woman in black and having mentioned this to various people in the town they react quite badly. Its not revealed until the end of the book why this is the case, but i did find this part of the book the most upsetting, that is the part with the children. While trying to sort out all the paperwork Arthur decides that it would be better for him to stay overnight in the house to get things sorted quicker, this is when the creepy things start to happen. I did really enjoy this book however i didnt find it at all creepy or scary which did surprise me. I dont like scary movies and have stayed away from the genre as i thought that it might scare me but having read this book i think i will read more. I also liked how the book started off in the present and events happened in the past which proved that nothing bad happened to the narrator. This book is good, quite short but i liked it all the same. Rating - 4/5 Quote
frankie Posted February 3, 2013 Posted February 3, 2013 I'm happy you enjoyed the book, a great review Laura! Although like you I'm surprised you didn't find it creepy, because I did find it so, and I don't think I'm usually that easily creeped out. Have you read anything else by Susan Hill, do you think you'll be looking into her other novels? Quote
lauraloves Posted February 4, 2013 Author Posted February 4, 2013 I'm happy you enjoyed the book, a great review Laura! Although like you I'm surprised you didn't find it creepy, because I did find it so, and I don't think I'm usually that easily creeped out. Have you read anything else by Susan Hill, do you think you'll be looking into her other novels? Thank you I'm surprised that I didn't find it creepy too as I normally do find that sort of thing scary I have Howard's End is on the Landing on my TBR and I want to read others too Quote
bree Posted February 5, 2013 Posted February 5, 2013 Laura, I loved your review of the two The Borrowers books And lovely covers too! (I remember seeing the title in the 100 Children Books list should try and look for them) Quote
lauraloves Posted February 9, 2013 Author Posted February 9, 2013 Laura, I loved your review of the two The Borrowers books And lovely covers too! (I remember seeing the title in the 100 Children Books list should try and look for them) Thank you I've just finished another one hehe! I love the covers definitely make the books even better Quote
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