LauraLoves Reads 2013

[Devi]

Wow! What awesome gifts.

 

Happy Belated Birthday Laura.

Edited March 14, 2013 by Devi

[lauraloves]

That sounds amazing, Laura .

 

 

Wow! What awesome gifts.

 

Happy Belated Birthday Laura.

 

Thank you they are amazing presents

[lauraloves]

#13 - Dangerous Liaisons - Pierre Choderlos de Laclos

 

 

Started - 4/3/13

Finished - 16/3/13

Format - Kindle e-book

 

Challenges - 1001 Books You Must Read

 

Synopsis - Pierre Choderlos de Laclos produced "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" in an effort to "write a work which departed from the ordinary, which made a noise, and which would remain on this earth after his death." He did just that. First published in 1782 in four volumes, "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" was an immediate success, and has since inspired a large number of literary commentaries, plays, and films. The novel is an epistolary piece, written as letters between members of the French noble class. An egotistical battle for control ensues between the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont, with the promise of sexual gratification to the victor. The primary victims are Cecile, a naïve but pretty young girl, her admirer, the Chavelier Danceny, and Madame de Tourvel, a virtuous (and married) young woman. This scandalous web of sexual desire, intrigue, infidelity, the struggle for power, and the corruption of the French upper class is a masterpiece from one of the most subtle and skillful novelists of the 18th Century.

 

My Thoughts - I read this book as part of the March reading circle. Now with books that were written a fair few years ago i either really love them or I'm not able to get into them. I have to say that this was a book that i really could not get into at all.

 

This is a book that is told through a series of letters and this is a format that i do normally like and can get into very well. However i had a lot of trouble with the language of the book and the characters. I couldnt really understand who was who and how they all knew each other. For some reason i couldnt seem to understand the language and i had a lot of trouble because of this.

 

I did feel quite sorry for one character Cecile who it seemed things never seemed to go right for and it was her letters that i understood the most and looked out for.

 

I did like how the story was told through letters and it was interesting how the story came about through this. Also i read somewhere that there was a fair few different translations of the orginal which was written in French and i am thinking that if i had read a different translation i might have been able to get into the book a bit more.

 

I am glad that i stuck with the book and followed it through as i did get into it a bit more towards the end but i cant say that i thought it was a very enjoyable read in all honesty.

 

Rating - 2/5

[lauraloves]

#14 - Fifty Shades Freed - E. L. James

 

Started - 11/1/13

Finished - 24/3/13

Format - iBook

 

Synopsis -  Ana always knew that loving her Fifty Shades would not be easy, and being together poses challenges neither of them had anticipated. Ana must learn to share Grey's opulent lifestyle without sacrificing her own integrity or independence; and Grey must overcome his compulsion to
control and lay to rest the horrors that still haunt him.

 

Now, finally together, they have love, passion, intimacy, wealth, and a world of infinite possibilities.

 

But just when it seems that they really do have it all, tragedy and fate combine to make Ana's worst nightmares come true ...

 

My Thoughts - I received the Fifty Shades trilogy for Christmas from my lovely boyfriend and although this book has taken me a long time to read i have really enjoyed it. This is one of the first books i have read fully on my iPad and i really got into reading on my iPad.

 

This book is about Christian Grey and Ana Steele. It follows straight on from the first two books in the series and in this book it does seem to jump about a fair bit. I really like books that do this as it gives the book twists and turns and really hooks you in.

 

This for me was a book of two halves. The first half i didnt really enjoy all that much it just seemed to rattle on and didnt really go on about anything but the second half of the book was very very good. I had to re-read a few parts as i couldnt believe what was happening. I also liked the end of the book where the first meeting of Christian and Ana was told through the eyes of Christian not Ana.

 

Now for me the 'adult' part of this book wasnt all that overwhelming to me. Whether or not i have got used to it or something I'm not sure but i definitaly feel that the first book is a lot more 'adult'.

 

I didnt expect the twist towards the end either i could kind of see it happening in the furture but not when it did.

 

Now i have read all three books I've decided that they arent all that bad as people make out. Sure they are not works of literature like Shakespeare or anything like that but they are enjoyable as a womans fiction book.

 

Rating - 4/5

[Athena]

I'm not that interested in reading this series, because of the erotic part of it, I'm uncomfortable reading about such things (I don't know exactly what happens in the book, though). However, I've gotten the first book for free when I bought some other books, so maybe I'll give it a go eventually.

[lauraloves]

I'm not that interested in reading this series, because of the erotic part of it, I'm uncomfortable reading about such things (I don't know exactly what happens in the book, though). However, I've gotten the first book for free when I bought some other books, so maybe I'll give it a go eventually.

 

The first book is quite heavy on the erotic type parts but once i read a few i did stop giggling hehe. The actual storyline around it is good though. I wasnt too sure when i started the books but i really ended up enjoying them!

[lauraloves]

#15 - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J. K. Rowling

 

 

Read in 2013

 

Format - Hardback Book

 

Synopsis - Harry is furious that he has been abandoned at the Dursleys' house for the summer, for he suspects that Voldemort is gathering an army, that he himself could be attacked, and that his so-called friends are keeping him in the dark. Finally being rescued by wizard bodyguards, he
discovers that Dumbledore is regrouping the Order of the Phoenix - a secret society first formed years ago to fight Voldemort. But the Ministry of Magic is against the Order, lies are being spread by the wizards' tabloid, the Daily Prophet, and Harry fears that he may have to take on this epic battle against evil alone.

 

My Thoughts - I have been re-reading my favourite book series on and off for months. These books are solely responsible for my love of reading and are pretty much the only books that i have read over and over and over.

 

In this book Harry is trying to persuade the wizarding world that Voldemort is back but nobody will believe him. Also he has disturbing links with Voldemort, has an evil teacher at Hogwarts, gets suspended from Quiddich and meets Hagrids half brother who just so happens to be a giant.

 

This is my second favourite book in the series and for me its the turning point between Harry being a child and not understanding why Voldemort is trying to kill him and Harry becoming an adult and can understand what he has to do to defeat evil.

 

This is also the first book where death really starts coming to Harry and its kind of a reflection onhow dark the series is going to get.

 

I love love love these books and cant say enough good things about it. Its a must read for anyone, young or old.

 

Rating - 5/5

[chesilbeach]

I only ever "re-read" the HP books by listening to the audio versions now, but who can resist Stephen Fry reading them?!

 

OotP is one of my favourites to listen to, however, the chapter "Hagrid's Tale" bores me no end, and I always skip it now as it's just superfluous to the story as far as I can tell.  Could have been done much more succinctly, I always feel, but maybe it's just because I'm familiar with the story now.  Still a lovely book to listen too - Fry's realisation of Umbridge is a joy!

 

Glad you're enjoying your re-reading of the books though, Laura.

[lauraloves]

I only ever "re-read" the HP books by listening to the audio versions now, but who can resist Stephen Fry reading them?!

 

OotP is one of my favourites to listen to, however, the chapter "Hagrid's Tale" bores me no end, and I always skip it now as it's just superfluous to the story as far as I can tell.  Could have been done much more succinctly, I always feel, but maybe it's just because I'm familiar with the story now.  Still a lovely book to listen too - Fry's realisation of Umbridge is a joy!

 

Glad you're enjoying your re-reading of the books though, Laura.

 

The first time i ever came across a Harry Potter book was when i was in primary school and the teacher stuck on an audio book of Harry Potter read by Stephen Fry and that is what got me into the series. I do love listening to him although i havent heard him read anymore than the first book.

 

I do agree with the part about Hagrid though i enjoyed it the first time but i do tend to skip it now!

[lauraloves]

#16 - Ground Truth - Patrick Bishop

 

 

Started - 16/3/13

Finished - 28/3/13

Format - Paperback Book

 

Synopsis -  Afghanistan, 2008. After their eighteen-month epic tour of Helmand Province, the troops of 3 Para are back. This time, the weight of experience weighs heavily on their shoulders.

In April 2006 the elite 3 Para Battle Group was despatched to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on a tour that has become a legend. All that summer the Paras were subjected to relentless Taliban attacks in one of the most gruelling campaigns fought by British troops in modern times.

 

Two years later the Paras are back in the pounding heat of the Afghanistan front lines. The conflict has changed. The enemy has been forced to adopt new weaponry and tactics. But how much progress are we really making in the war against the insurgents? And is there an end in sight?

 

In this searing account of 3 Para’s return, bestselling author Patrick Bishop combines gripping, first-person accounts of front-line action with an unflinching look at the hard realities of our involvement in Afghanistan. Writing from a position of exclusive access alongside the Paras, he reveals the ‘ground truth’ of the mission our soldiers have been given. It’s a sombre picture. But shining out from it are stories of courage, comradeship and humour, as well as a gripping account of an
epic humanitarian operation through Taliban-infested country to deliver a vitally needed turbine to the Kajaki Dam.

 

My Thoughts - I have read a couple of this authors books before, Fighter Boys and 3 Para and really enjoyed them so when i saw this book i thought i would give it a go. This book follows on from 3 Para which i loved so i was hoping this book was as good.

 

It tells the story of 3 Para Battle Group who are deployed to Afghanistan during the war. Although most of the heavy fighting is over with they still have a duty to flush out the Taliban and protect the people of Afghanistan while fighting against the newest weapons against them, IEDs.

 

I thought the writing of this book was really good. Although the war in Afghanistan is sometimes in the news mostly when a young serviceman or woman is killed you dont tend to think about the fighting going on on a day to day basis. I have had friends who are in the RAF and Army go out there and they say of the horrors that are out there and it always upsets me to think of all the people that are loosing there lives out there. In this book people are unfortunatly killed and as this is a true account its sometimes hard to realise that these are real people and the young people that were killed were under the age of 25-30.

 

There are lots of technical aspects to this book like the weapons systems and the living conditions and to people that are interested in this sort of thing i think they would find it enjoyable.

 

I did enjoy this book and although it made me cry i think that it is a very good book that brings home the harsh reality of war.

 

Rating - 3.5/5

[lauraloves]

#17 - What is it About Yorkies? - Dr Harry Jay

 

 

Started - 28/3/13

Finished - 30/3/13

Format - Kindle e-book

 

Synopsis - Dog Training Yorkies - What Is It About Yorkies is about how to potty train a yorkie and training your yorkie puppy. The dog training methods are not different than others but there are some unique dog training tips regarding Yorkies you need to know. So this book offers you the complete Yorkie information. For those of you that follow my writing, my subject matter is usually of a more serious nature. Every once in a while I like to write about a subject that isn’t so serious and my dog is one such subject. But I must add, I usually end of writing about some behavioral science traits that are applicable to the subject matter (I can’t help it; it’s a living.). My dog is a Yorkie and his name is Gage. He weighs all of about 7-pounds and he thinks he is a guard dog. For his size, he literally is not afraid of anything (I live in Southern Utah and watched Gage charge a full grown 14-point stag deer that had to weight about 800 lbs.). He makes me laugh (and cry sometimes) and he has more idiosyncrasies than a manic person or as I like to say, “He has issues!”...

 

My Thoughts - I downloaded this book last year when it was free for a day on the kindle. I have a little yorkshire terrier cross bred dog who at best could be described as challenging but i love him all the same.

 

This book is very short only 33 pages according to Amazon so it is quite hard to write some thoughts down on it. It is basically a man writing down his thoughts on his dog that he loves very much.

 

I enjoyed this book very much as i could relate to it and i did wish it could be longer so i could enjoy more of his thoughts about his dog.

 

Rating - 3/5

[Athena]

@ Harry Potter

I've been thinking about buying them on Kindle, however Amazon says the transaction would go through a different site and I'm not sure how it works. I've read them all (most of them in Dutch) and would like to own them all in English. Alternatively I could buy paperbacks I suppose XD. I like the series, although I prefer some books over others (but maybe that's normal). It would be great to reread them all sometime.

[lauraloves]

@ Harry Potter

I've been thinking about buying them on Kindle, however Amazon says the transaction would go through a different site and I'm not sure how it works. I've read them all (most of them in Dutch) and would like to own them all in English. Alternatively I could buy paperbacks I suppose XD. I like the series, although I prefer some books over others (but maybe that's normal). It would be great to reread them all sometime.

 

I think and I'm not 100% positive on this that the books are downloaded from Rowlings site Pottermore as this was the only way she would allow digital copies of them.

 

I do have favourites though and my least favourite of them all i do struggle to get through at times.

[Athena]

Thanks, yes that's the site. It should be safe, then .

[lauraloves]

Thanks, yes that's the site. It should be safe, then .

 

no problem

[pontalba]

lauraloves wrote: Now i have read all three books I've decided that they arent all that bad as people make out. Sure they are not works of literature like Shakespeare or anything like that but they are enjoyable as a womans fiction book.

 

Absolutely agree.

[lauraloves]

Absolutely agree.

 

Glad to find another with the same opinion My mum has literally almost has some sort of meltdown when she saw what i was reading. I have to say i really did like them i know they wont be for everyone but I'm so pleased that i gave them a go

[lauraloves]

#18 - Wolf Hall - Hillary Mantel

 

 

Started - 30/3/13

Finished - 19/4/13

Format - Hardback Book

 

Challenges - World Book Night 2012 Longlist

 

Synopsis -  'Lock Cromwell in a deep dungeon in the morning,' says Thomas More, 'and when you come back that night he'll be sitting on a plush cushion eating larks' tongues, and all the gaolers will owe him money.' England, the 1520s. Henry VIII is on the throne, but has no heir. Cardinal Wolsey is his chief advisor, charged with securing the divorce the pope refuses to grant. Into this atmosphere of distrust and need comes Thomas Cromwell, first as Wolsey's clerk, and later his successor.

 

Cromwell is a wholly original man: the son of a brutal blacksmith, a political genius, a briber, a charmer, a bully, a man with a delicate and deadly expertise in manipulating people and events. Ruthless in pursuit of his own interests, he is as ambitious in his wider politics as he is for himself. His reforming agenda is carried out in the grip of a self-interested parliament and a king who fluctuates between romantic passions and murderous rages.

 

My Thoughts - This book was picked for the April reading circle choice and its also a book that I have wanted to read for quite a while.

 

This book tells the story of Thomas Cromwell and his relationship to King Henry VIII, his divorce from Katherine and his next marriage to Anne. Now when i first picked this book up i was a little put off by its size. My copy was around 650 pages and hardback so at first sight it was quite a book to read.

 

I did have a problem remembering who was who as there is a lot of characters in the book and i did have to keep on refering back to the list of characters at the front of the book.

 

However i did enjoy the story of the book and got really into it. I thought it was a good representation of the time period explaining the plague and how many people died during that time. I also thought that Anne was represented quite harshly and made out to be quite nasty and I'm not too sure if she was actually like that.

 

I would like to read the second book in the series at some point. I'm not going to rush out and buy it but its a book i would like to read some day.

 

Rating - 3/5

[vodkafan]

Hi Laura! Nothing you are reading at the moment jumps out at me but I always like to check your reading list in case as you have steered me to a book or two in the past..happy reading!

[lauraloves]

Hi Laura! Nothing you are reading at the moment jumps out at me but I always like to check your reading list in case as you have steered me to a book or two in the past..happy reading!

 

Thank you I've not been reading as much as I have been before just at the moment but hopefully soon I'll be able to read a bit more in the coming months! Hopefully some of those books will jump out at you

[lauraloves]

#19 - Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte

 

 

Started - 19/4/13

Finished - 25/4/13

Format - Kindle e-book

 

Challenges - Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge

                       BBC Top 200 Books

                       1001 Books You Must Read

                       Ultimate Teen Book Guide Challenge

                       501 Must Read Books

                       World Book Night 2012 Challenge

 

Synopsis - Wuthering Heights is a wild, passionate story of the intense and almost demonic love between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, a foundling adopted by Catherine's father. After Mr Earnshaw's death, Heathcliff is bullied and humiliated by Catherine's brother Hindley and wrongly believing that his love for Catherine is not reciprocated, leaves Wuthering Heights, only to return years later as a wealthy and polished man. He proceeds to exact a terrible revenge for his former miseries.

The action of the story is chaotic and unremittingly violent, but the accomplished handling of a complex structure, the evocative descriptions of the lonely moorland setting and the poetic grandeur of vision combine to make this unique novel a masterpiece of English literature.

 

My Thoughts - I downloaded this book when I first got my Kindle as there are a lot of classics out there that I havent read and as it was free i didnt really have a lot to loose. I seem to have a rather love/hate relationship with the classics i either really love them and get sucked into them or i hate them and cant get into the story or understand them. Happily this was a book that I absolutely loved and got really into the story.

 

This book tells the story of Catherine and Heathcliff who have grown up together and social class is really the main factor in the reason that there relationship doesnt get going. They both end up marrying other people and Heathcliff ends up vowing revenge on Catherines new husband.

 

At the start of the book you see how the story ends up and as its told through the eyes of someone else the story is revealed all the way through the book. I did enjoy the story told in this way and it added to the mystery of the book and how the characters ended up in the way that they did.

 

I found this book very east to get into and i really understood the language too. Another good point for me was there is not an extensive list of characters which made this book a lot easier to read.

 

I do wish i had read this in the middle of the winter though as i think it would have added to the atmosphere of the book.

 

This book is very good and it had also made me make my mind up to try more classics as this was a book that i very much enjoyed.

 

Rating - 4.5/5

                      

[~Andrea~]

Ah lush - Wuthering Heights is great. Glad you enjoyed it.

[lauraloves]

Ah lush - Wuthering Heights is great. Glad you enjoyed it.

 

 

Thank you, its now on my list of favourite classic books

[lauraloves]

#20 - His Dark Lady - Victoria Lamb

 

 

Started - 25/4/13

Finished - 12/5/13

Format - Hardback Book

 

Synopsis - London, 1583.

 

When young, aspiring playwright William Shakespeare encounters Lucy Morgan, one of Queen Elizabeth I's ladies-in-waiting, the two fall passionately in love. He declares Lucy the inspiration for his work, but what secret is Will hiding from his muse?

 

Meanwhile, Lucy has her own secret - and one that could destroy her world if exposed. No longer the chaste maid so valued by the Virgin Queen, she also bore witness to the clandestine wedding of Lettice Knollys and Robert Dudley, a match forbidden by the monarch.

 

England is in peril.Queen Elizabeth's health is deteriorating, her throne under siege from Catholic plotters and threats of war with Spain. Faced with deciding the fate of her long-term prisoner, Mary, Queen of Scots, she needs a trusted circle of advisors around her now more than ever. But who can she turn to when those closest to her have proved disloyal?

 

My Thoughts - I got sent this book by the publishers as I read the first book in the series - The Queens Secret last year and really enjoyed the story. The book carries on from the first book, a bit of time has past since the end of the book and the start of this one but all the familuar characters are in it. Queen Elizabeth I, her sister Mary, all her court, Master Goodluck and of course Lucy Morgan who the story centralises on.

 

Will Shakespeare is very much a bit part to this book and I'm not overally sure if I liked the part that he played. I dont want to ruin it for others what he does but I'm not sure if I like it or not! However it was really good to read some fiction on his home life and that of his family like his daughter and his twins.

 

The love triangle from the previous book continues however it does kind of reach a head in this book. It did make me feel sorry for Queen Elizabeth I with how everyone was laughing at her but it was a good point to the book.

 

It did shock me with what happened to Mary I didnt really expect it in this book. This book tells the story of what life was like during that time, the plague, how horrible living conditions were and how many people did not live for very long.

 

The writing of this book is as beautiful as the first and it was really easy to get into the style.  I really enjoyed this book and i'm very hopeful that there is going to be more books in this series because i will definitaly be reading a brilliant book highly recommended by me.

 

Rating - 4/5

Edited May 14, 2013 by lauraloves

[frankie]

Thank you everyone We are looking at building a house together and he has already said he will build me a library Definitaly one to keep hold of

 

I think I completely  missed your Birthday, I'm sorry! A very happy, very belated happy Birthday wishes!

 

Now, where did you snatch this BF of yours. Is there a catalogue I could look into?

 

 

#15 - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J. K. Rowling

 

 

 

My Thoughts - I have been re-reading my favourite book series on and off for months. These books are solely responsible for my love of reading and are pretty much the only books that i have read over and over and over.

 

I love it that this series is responsible for your love of books and reading! They are such a special series. And I love it how you can re-read them time and a time again and you don't get tired of them. The writing's great, the story's great, and the characters are superb!

 

I only ever "re-read" the HP books by listening to the audio versions now, but who can resist Stephen Fry reading them?!

 

Answer to your question: No one.

 

Edit: I almost forgot!    How has your TBR reducing days been? Any progress?

Edited May 15, 2013 by frankie