Book Trailer: Confessions of an Angry Girl

One book I'm really excited to read next year is Confessions of an Angry Girl by Louise Rozett, and this week Mira Ink have released the book trailer! What do you think? I love it! Gets me even more excited about the book.

 

 

Confessions of an Angry Girl is out on 4th January 2013. Pre-order at the links below!

 

Amazon

Waterstone's

Book Depository

Goodreads

 

 

 

Review: The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

 

The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

[Goodreads page]

Author: J. R. R. Tolkien. Website
Published: This edition: 12 March 1981 (Unwin)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 285
Amazon: paperback|Kindle
Waterstone's:paperback|e-book
Book Depository: paperback

Source: Own

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
Bilbo Baggins is a reasonably typical hobbit: fond of sleeping, eating, drinking, parties and presents. However, it is his destiny to travel to the dwarflands in the east, to help slay the dragon Smaug. His quest takes him through enchanted forests, spiders' lairs, and under the Misty Mountains, where he comes across the vile Gollum, and tricks him out of his 'Precious' - a ring that makes its bearer invisible, and wields a terrible power of its own.

My Review:
This book has been on my shelf forever. It's my mum's copy and I first attempted to read it as a kid, but just couldn't get into it. Now I'm older and the film is coming out soon, I've been given that kick up the backside to read it! The Hobbit tells the story of Bilbo Baggins who finds himself on an adventure with a group of dwarves, as they set of to reclaim the dwarves' lost treasure from the grasp of a dragon.

The writing style drew me in very quickly. What I loved were the quirky things that made the writing stand out, including the little poems and riddles that Tolkien dotted throughout. They made it feel a bit more special and magical! There's also the unusual habit of addressing the reader through the second person which was really effective. It made me feel even more involved in the story. There's some great humour weaved throughout the book as well which kept me entertained!

I loved Bilbo as a main character. He likes him home comforts; his house, his food and his own routine, and he doesn't seem suited to adventure at all. This makes the journey he goes on throughout the book even more engaging because we get to see his character evolve.

I'm always aiming to read more fantasy, as it's a genre in which I've had trouble finding books I like. The Hobbit definitely won me over. I loved the world it took place in and all the different magical creatures, from dwarves to elves to dragons to wizards. I loved that each of these of these creatures had their own set of personalities and traits which made them interesting to learn about. My attention was held throughout the story and I loved all the descriptions that made me feel really immersed in the settings.

There was a lot of action and drama which made for a tense and exciting read. This being a slightly older book I had a few places where I struggled a bit and had to go back and re-read sections, and there were a few times where I had to really focus to get exactly what was happening. I think waiting til I was older was a good move, though, and I was able to really appreciate this book for what it is. It's why I never rule out going back to that I've struggled with in the past! If you're planning to check out the film then you definitely need to read the book.

Rating: 4*
What to read next: The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tokien
Books like this: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis



Related news: Watch the film trailer for The Hobbit right here! In cinemas on 13th December 2012.

Opinion: Things Book Blogging Has Taught Me

This blog is six months old now (wow!) and I've learnt so much from my blogging experience. When I started this blog I had no idea how it would go and I'm so proud of the little blog I've built up. I've decided to share a few of those things I've learnt in this post - enjoy!

1. Blogging will take over your life. I started this blog as a hobby because I love sharing recommendations with my friends and I was reading so much and then doing nothing will all the feelings I had after finishing books. When I first started out I didn't envision posting daily but blogging, it turns out, is quite addictive! There was a lot of pressure to keep up with other blogs out there as well, but mainly I just couldn't stop. I spend so much time drafting posts, posting reviews, coming up with ideas for opinion posts, designing logos and blog backgrounds, tweeting and then of course there's all that reading! Free time? What free time?

2. Memes are awesome, and a great way to meet new bloggers! I had no idea what memes were before starting my blog, or that they existed in the book blogging world at all. I soon discovered a few weekly events which are now part of my blogging routine. The main ones I take part in are Teaser Tuesdays and Friday Finds hosted over at ShouldBeReading, but I dabble in a few others from time to time! They're good fun and brilliant for discovering new books. So much of my to-read list comes from browsing other book blogs during weekly memes. It's always great visiting other blogs and reading the comments on my own posts on meme days. (And pick the ones which suit you - I've stayed away from Sunday memes for a while because they all revolve around ARCs - see next point!)

3. I can live without ARCs. When I first started blogging is I'd never heard of ARCs (advance reader copies) a so when I realised what they were I went through a sort of rollercoaster of feelings. Confusion - what are they? Jealousy - I want them! Apathy - wait, no. I can live without them. Yes it would be pretty awesome to read the books you're super excited about before they're released, but I've come to the conclusion that I'm not too fussed about getting them. Publishers want a ton of page views/subscribers and a regularly updated, long established blog. Sure that might be my little blog one day but I'm doing this for fun. I have fun reviewing my own books and library books. ARCs sound cool but my to-read list is long enough! So I've got over that jealousy of seeing people reading books I'm eagerly anticipating months before their release and learnt to find peace with the books I read and love.

4. Don't let review books dominate your life. I don't receive ARCs from publishers but I accept indie/self-published books from time to time, often directly from the author. I know not everyone does this but for me it's a great way to discover new books and support up and coming authors. Typically I either go months with no review requests and then a whole load come along at once. This means I often get a backlog and take forever to get round to reading them. But my priority will always be the books I choose for myself rather than the ones given to me. I started putting off books I really wanted to read in favour of review books and it put me in a reading slump. Now I mix it up and read what makes me happy! So it may take me a while to get round to reviewing review copies but I'd rather that than end up missing out on reading my own books.

5. Find out how many reviews you can post comfortably and don't push it. When I first started the blog I posted reviews of books I'd read before I started blogging. This meant I had loads of reviews to post and I got to churn them out! After I ran out of those I was posting reviews as soon as I finished reading the books. I tried to post 3 reviews a week but I'd ending up finishing a book and heading straight to a computer which was no fun. Now I just post 2 reviews a week maximum. It may not be as many as other blogs but it means I'm not rushing to finish books and I'm often ahead with reviews and can save them up as drafts. It also gives me time to read non-YA books for a bit of a break and not get behind. (I love YA but sometimes I just need to read and not have to write a review at the end of it!))

6. Prepare drafts! I mentioned this briefly above but it deserves its own paragraph. Having posts prepared in advance is invaluable. Have a basic template for your reviews so you can add in the details easily (my template includes the list of info at the start of the interview and at the end). Have the cover, title, book links and things ready so that when you finish the book all you have to do is add in the review. It's a lifesaver having it all prepared! I also have a few backup posts that are ready to go if I can't think of anything to post.

7. Goodreads is more valuable than ever. I loved Goodreads before I started blogging but I'd be lost without it now. It's how I keep track of books I want to read, books I've read and where I make a lot of my discoveries of new things to read.

8. Posting every day is not essential and holidays are good! I've seen a lot of bloggers saying they're taking a break recently. Every time I see one of those posts I feel a little relieved! It feels like a lot of the time there's pressure to post daily and that can get stressful. I still manage to post daily most of the time because I always have posts drafted so all I have to do is hit publish. This is another reason why I'm not pursuing the ARC line more. Publishers want blogs updated daily and I don't want the pressure of that just to get ARCs. I've had a few occasions where life has got in the way of blogging and honestly it feels great to have a week off sometimes. Plus it means I'm raring to get back into it again once I come back because I've missed it!

9. Never compare yourself to other blogs. Some of my favourite book blogs are those with small follower counts, but it's easy to be intimidated by the big guys! Just remember that everyone is blogging because they share your love of reading. I've found my own comfort zone with my blog and given it its own identity, so I don't feel the need to compare myself to other blogs.

10. The bookish world is even bigger and more amazing that I could ever have guessed. I'd had Twitter for ages but when I started my blog I decided to set up a separate account purely to tweet about books and tweet my blog posts. Through that account I've found Twitter users such as authors, fellow bloggers and general bookish awesome people I never would have found on my personal Twitter account! Since I started my blog I've learnt about book conventions I didn't know existed and found out about the newest, latest YA releases that I wouldn't have heard about for months otherwise as well as discovering new authors and readers. Finding other people who get as excited as I am has been the greatest pleasure!

I'm sure there's so much more I've learnt so in six months I'll probably be doing another of these! Thank you so much to everyone who's stuck by the blog and read and commented <3

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Want From Santa

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's top ten is books you wouldn't mind getting from Santa. As you can imagine, my bookish wishlist for Christmas is HUGE but here are the top ten I've asked for this year.

 

1. What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang

Been wanting to read this for a while! I love the concept of two souls sharing one body.

[Goodreads]

 

2. Reached by Ally Condie

I borrowed the first two books in the trilogy from the library but they don't have the 3rd yet - I need it in my life!

[Goodreads]

 

3. Breathe by Sarah Crossan

Came across this book a while ago and have been waiting and waiting for it to come out. Maybe Santa will bring it!

[Goodreads]

 

4. Obsidian by Jennifer L. Arementrout

Hear a lot of good things about this author series.

[Goodreads]

 

5. How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

Read a free sample of this and loved it, so hopefully if the whole book turns up under my tree it'll live up the opening pages!

[Goodreads]

 

6. The Diviners by Libba Bray

Haven't read anything by this author and this book got a lot of buzz so it seems a good place to start.

[Goodreads]

 

7. Lament by Maggie Stievater

Loved the Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy and now I've finished I need something else to read!

[Goodreads]

 

8. Defiance by C. J. Redwine

Another book I've read a lot about on blogs and want to check out.

[Goodreads]

 

9. The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

I wasn't so keen on The Iron King but I like a bit of vampire action so want to give this series a try.

[Goodreads]

 

10. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

I've heard only good things about this book. Not sure if it's my type of thing but it has to be worth a try!

[Goodreads]

Weekly Book Round Up! 27th November - 3rd December

Weekly Book Round Up!

27th November - 3rd December

My last update was on a Monday so I think I might stick with that! Break the mould a little ;) it's been another quiet week but I had to write hard for the last week of NaNoWriMo. You can see how I got on along with all my other bookish news from the week below!

Currently reading: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl and I'm also listening to Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins on audio book.

Books reviewed: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer - both audio book reviews!

Library books: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins - another awesome e-library find! I'm re-reading the series via audio book which I'm really enjoying. This was my favourite book first time I read the trilogy!

And an update on NaNoWriMo: I won! Hurrah :D My final word count was 50,076 so I just made it. I'm really happy and pleased because this year was a struggle!

November's Book of the Month!

December is upon us and as people start to look forward to Christmas (eek!) I'm looking back over November's reviews to decide my book of the month. This is where I choose my favourite book from those I've read or reviewed (not necessarily released) in the past month and shower it with a bit more praise. So without further ado, my book of the month for November is...

My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent!

I was nervous and excited to start this series because I'd wanted to read it for ages and was worried it wouldn't live up to the hype. It totally did though! And more. Telling the story of Kaylee who has the power to sense when people are about to die, we see her explore her powers with a little help of the suspiciously helpful Nash. I loved this book so much! It had everything; a fab concept, great characters and a tense plot. I'd highly recommend you check it out! Read my full review right here.

Runners up:
Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
I'd Tell You I Love You but then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter

Audio Review: Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

[Goodreads page]

Author: Eoin Colfer Website|Twitter
Narrator: Nathaniel Parker IMDB
Published: 15 July 2002 (BBC)
Format: Audio download
Running time: 6 hours approx.
Amazon: Audio CD|Alternative Narrator
Waterstone's: Audio CD|Alternative Narrator

Source: Borrowed from e-library

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is a millionaire, a genius—and, above all, a criminal mastermind. But even Artemis doesn't know what he's taken on when he kidnaps a fairy, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit. These aren't the fairies of bedtime stories—they're dangerous! Full of unexpected twists and turns, Artemis Fowl is a riveting, magical adventure.

Audio review:
I first read this book as a kid and I have only fond memories of this and the other books I read from the series, but I was a little rusty on the book after so long! When I saw my library had the e-book available to download I just had to check it out. Artemis Fowl is a gifted twelve-year-old, highly intelligent and willing to use that intelligence to get what he wants, which in this case is knowledge of the fairy universe.

I was instantly won over by the narration of this story. Nathaniel Parker has a fantastic voice and I was totally drawn in to the story. What impressed me most was the wide range of accents. We have Artemis and his assistant Butler who are Irish, as well as British, American and even Chinese accents which all sounded flawless! This book has a great sense of humour about it and that sarcasm really came through in the narration. Each character's attitude came across perfectly. There wasn't anything I could find fault with in the narration!

Listening to the story really made me feel like I was immersed in the wonderfully imaginative world this book takes place in. We have the human world, from Ireland to China, as well as the deep underground layers of the Earth where the fairy race resides. Each place felt vivid and exciting.

Upon writing this review I saw that another narrator has done the abridged version of this book. This unabridged version seems slightly harder to track down but I'd highly recommend it!

Audio rating: 5/5

Plot Review:
I've recapped the plot above so I'll jump straight in to what I thought of it! What I really enjoyed was the way the story flits between Artemis' point of view and other characters, mainly Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon unit. Both characters had really great voices and it was great seeing both sides of the story, from the good side and the bad side! It made the drama even more exciting.

The world the book takes place in really draws you in There's something for everyone and it makes fantasy fun. Colfer has created this fantastic way of giving each race of creature different personality traits etc. that shakes it up and makes it feel really unique. I loved all the magic, fairies, centaurs and gnomes contrasting nicely against the human world Artemis himself inhabits.

The humour is one of the strong points of the book. I was laughing throughout and the sarcasm was fantastic. Artemis himself is so intelligent that he comes out with some brilliant snippets, but Holly Short was definitely my favourite character. Her observations on the world were witty as well as getting across information about the story really well.

The only thing that let the book down for me was the pacing. It felt like I was waiting a while for the climax and although I enjoyed what was happening, I was getting impatient for the end! A lot of the action takes place in the same place towards the end of the book and I felt it got a bit stuck. I did really enjoy the ending though and I'll definitely be looking to do a re-read of the rest of the series and read for the first time the books I haven't got round to yet. It's tickled my taste buds for sure!

I loved this book as a kid and I loved it as an adult. A great read for all ages!

Plot rating: 4/5
What to listen to next: Artemis Fowl and the Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer
Books like this: Harry Potter and the Philospher's Stone by J. K. Rowling