#SIB2015 gifts from Rach:)

Was great to get 8 books already for the challenge, (plus A Tale of Two Cities as an advent gift), one for me to open each day until my birthday!

#SIB2015 Reading Challenge

So here is a copy of the list we will be aiming towards in 2015, so we can check back in regularly!

Jed's latest book haul

Look forward to reading these to him.

Books I got from UKYA...

A reminder to myself of some of the books on my tbr pile!

So far, of these, I have only read The Illusionists, although I started The Coldest Girl in Coldtown today:)

Want you to read Fearsome Dreamer then The Illusionists (you can borrow mine:) so we can discuss, was really cool being a two part series, and did not go in the direction I thought it would, really interesting, and made me think for ages afterwards, always a good sign! 

The Maze Runner

So, this was a book I got everyone at book club to read, mainly because it is a ya book and the film is out soon, so needed to read it first, obviously! Anyway was a good choice as everyone else already on the second or third in the series, and I will be getting at some point too, is just really addictive!

The main character is a 16year old (he thinks!) boy, and actually nearly all characters are young boys, not sure I've read too many of those so surprised me in a way that was so interesting

All I'll tell you is that the boy wakes up (on page one, no spoilers here!) in a strange place with lots of strange boys, some scary situations, and no memories...

Give it a go:)

Lila 

Oh, it's by James Dashner 

Ps I have so many book reviews to catch up, this is just the latest one I read, to get me started:)

A proud day

Jed got his first library card today and took out his first book :-)

Starting Off Early

A different kind of pace

So, as you know, I have been reading the same books as you for years and from what people tell me it might be a while before I get to read any of our" books at real length. 

As you can see from the photo, these are the books which are currently in the nursery, so these might be more my pace for a while. Some classics in there as you can see which i am very excited to read to the little one as well as some fun ones that i remember from when we were little, like Spot and Dear Zoo.

Question - how young do you think i can start reading Harry Potter to them? 

So to sum up, i might not get to read many books that would warrant an S.I.B post for a while, so I want you to promise you will keep me posted on all the good books you read over the next few months, tell me about them, blog about them etc as i will be vicariously living in the world of books through you, no pressure or anything! :0)

Ooh, ooh, ooh, have you ever tried audio books? Maybe that's something i could look into. I wonder if my kindle supports that...must remember to check!

Rach x

I see your chocolate and raise you books!

So, as you know this year I just couldn't bring myself to give up chocolate for lent, the first time for as long as I can remember!  So, I decided that as I'd been really slack with reading lately that I'd make sure for lent that I read every night...and this was my lent book haul. 

Allegiant

OK, so I didn't read all of this during lent, but i probably read the second half of it. I really enjoyed it and am glad I read it a lot quicker, like I did with Divergent, so was more hooked on it, as I read Insurgent too slowly so I lost that a bit. Found it very moving as I'm sure you can imagine and liked Tris and Four’s characters even more. 

Night of Cake and Puppets

Thought this was really cute, nice to see from Zuzana’s point of view, and like that half way through Mik carried on the treasure hunt, but still with a few little interactions from Karou, which I remember a bit from reading the first book. Plus I nearly always like a spin-off.

Sisters Red

Have already reviewed this one (a-review-of-sisters-red) so won’t do it again, but still think worth a read, very easy to read and nice to read a one off for once.

Autumn Rose

Again, see (autumn-rose) post for review, but will re-read soon I think, as really liked Autumn and Fallon.

Dark Heroine

As you know I read this again after Autumn Rose because I enjoyed that one a lot, and felt like staying in the Dark Heroine world. It’s weird, it was only last year that I read this, just before Leakycon like you, but it felt like I was reading it for the first time again, as I enjoyed it just as much, even knowing the outcome etc…and there were bits I had forgotten because I guess I read it so quickly last time.

Free Four (Although I know it's not in the photo above, i ran out of gadgets to show the books on/take photo with)

Was a bit gutted by this to be honest. There’s a pre-word from Veronica saying how she enjoyed getting into Four’s mind etc, so I was all psyched up for a proper book, but it’s like one chapter long, so took only minutes to read. It’s based on the knife throwing scene in Divergent, so I did enjoy reading it from Four’s point of view, as I always like seeing it from the other point of view, but it was just too short. Hopefully the ones coming out in June/July – the Transfer, the Initiate, The Son and The Traitor will be a bit lengthier! Oohh this makes me think, do you think Midnight Sun will ever be released?

Visible

This is a Ripple novel, it follows on from where Unfurl finished, but whereas the Ripple trilogy are from Sam’s point of view, this one is a one-off and is from her best friend Gywn’s point of view. Very quick and easy to read and carries the story on a little bit more.

The Fault In Our Stars (aka #TFIOS)

I liked this book a lot, very easy/quick to read and the characters are cool. I love some of their conversations and they are incredibly sweet. I do wish though that I had read it before I had the picture in my head of what the actors look like, as I think part of me was stuck with Caleb in my head rather than my own image of Augustus. I thought Isaac was really cool too and some of the conversations with her mum/dad and his mum/dad were very poignant...and yes, of course i cried, more than once!

Fyre

And now on to Fyre, which leads me on to saying only one thing...HURRY UP AND READ SYREN AND THEN DARKE!! As clearly i won't be able to talk to you about Fyre until you do, but also because it's getting silly now!

Rach x

Autumn Rose

So, as expected I loved this book!

So easy to read, it goes as quickly as The Dark Heroine did and I want to read the next one already.

We were obviously introduced to Autumn and Fallon in the first book, when I found them intriguing, so was nice to get into their stories in more detail.

There's a nice tie in with the ending of the first book, which you apparently can't remember :0) so you might need a bit of a recap first!

I feel like we would like Autumn if we met her, you know. Plus who doesn't want to be able to fly, come on you know you do!

The characters are cool, Edmund reminds me in a small way of Emmett, although I'm not really sure why.

Anyway, hurry up and read it! I'm about to start The Dark Heroine again x

Alphabet Game

Naming game, let's take it turns to name books.
Either taking it in turn with the alphabet or as many with each letter as we can...we can keep editing the post.
What do you think?
You can decide how you want to start.

Brain teaser

Which book contains mistaken identity, a shiny rock, rats and boats?

Go!

A review of Fearsome Dreamer by Laure Eve

So I'm sure you'll like this. Has cool and interesting characters, is set in a fantasy world quite different from others we've read but still very recognisable features/similarities or everyday life at the same time, and is written from alternate characters' points of view, which we always like!

Plus is cool reading a book by someone we've met, heard talk about the writing process, and who has signed the book:) 

I'm looking forward to book 2 already! Need to go tweet Laure Eve and see when that will be out!

Was a lovely reading weekend away with you, looking forward of seeing you in a couple of weeks again, when we can make sure we have time free to do more of the same:)

Lila x

Reading on the beach today, a little cold but a nice backdrop nonetheless:)

A recommendation and a nice surprise

One book I might like to recommend to you is the above,  although technically it's two books in one. 

As an aside, as I just got it out the photos above fell out, I must have put them in there after you gave them to me at Leakycon :0) So that was a lovely surprise!

I have to say I am not that up with my French revolution history, so found this not only a good story that I got into but also interesting to read all the historically facts that have been woven into the fabric of the story. 

The two main characters Sido and Yann are likeable and i wanted to keep reading to see how their lives panned out etc.

It has elements of magic, love, loss and intrigue, so why not give it a go hey!

Rach x

A review of Sisters Red

Just a quick review. 

As I've said before the premise of this in my opinion is "If red riding hood became a hunter". The book is written with alternating chapters from each sister's point of view, which we always like don't we?! 

I enjoyed reading it and liked that it was a one off as we are always reading trilogies these days aren't we, so it was a nice change. I haven't read as many werewolf books as you have maybe, but i felt like this was a slightly different take on them than i'm used to. 

Anyway, definitely worth a read (especially as i gave you a copy) :0) and i want to see if you thought something early on like i did!

Rach x

All you need is books, coffee and sleep apparently

So today has been pretty chilled out, nice wander around Snape...you did buy bookmarks, so that has to count towards our reading part of the weekend right? Then coffee and books in Costa. You'd think after 3 coffees you might be wide awake, but as I write this you are fast asleep!

Rach x

Reading and writing weekend off to a good start:)

Preparation is key!

So, here is my stash for our Reading/Writing weekend. Couldn't decide on which book, so figured why not pack a few, plus my kindle (just for good measure you understand) plus various notebooks for writing in. Lastly, are the storycubes, thought we could try them out for inspiration! Plus loving the apt bag I've put them all in.

Rach x

Books so far in 2014

So I thought I could start by posting the books I have read so far this year, shamefully few though! I can perhaps blame my temporary NCIS addiction.  Anyway some of these were books for my book club, and others ones I had been meaning to read for ages.  I really loved Insurgent and Allegiant, as I had expected I would from having read Divergent.  I think that as we have now read so many ya, dystopian etc novels, although I enjoy them all, looking back there are definitely some which stand out more, and this trilogy is one of them.
All the other books I read this year were good too, although not necessarily things I would recommend for you. Deathless is a retelling of a Russian folk tale and unlike anything else I have read.   Life after Life was a really interesting concept and made me reflect quite a bit on what it would have been like living through one, let alone two world wars (mum also really liked that one).
The Secret History was intriguing but, as we discussed at book club, none of the characters were very likeable which changes the experience somewhat.  Did inspire me to want to read more of Donna Tartt's books though and currently reading The Goldfinch.  Kathy Reichs enjoyable as always, find reading those books, where quite similar to each other in some ways, very relaxing as no effort required and can read really quickly; like the ones set in Canada most:)
Overall though, Insurgent and Allegiant (especially Allegiant) were the ones which impacted me most; I'm sure we will discuss this more when you visit and we go see Divergent at the cinema:)

Had another idea btw: the main reason I finally read Pride and Prejudice last year (and I am very glad I did!) was on your recommendation. Maybe we can each suggest a favourite book of ours that the the other hasn't read?

Looking forward to our reading weekend away together:)

Lila x

Oh we do love to be beside the seaside

4 more sleeps until our reading/writing weekend away and I know that we both can't wait!

What books shall we take,  that is the question!

Am very excited about us posting to this blog with books we want to read, ones we have enjoyed. Maybe putting up book hauls showing what we've read each month etc?! Although yours will ALWAYS be longer than mine, so I look forward to seeing yours!

Rach x