Musing Mondays #2

Musing Monday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB from Should Be Reading.

This weeks muse:

Do you like movies made from books? Which ones do you think have been done well — kept mostly to the plot of the book, etc?

This is a really interesting question. I have a love/hate relationship with movies made from books, mainly because the movies dont always stay true to the book. A classic example of this is Stanley Kubricks The Shining. Although I thought Jack Nicholson did an amazing job I just didn't like the way it had been written or directed, some people may disagree with me on this.

Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter movies and The Green Mile are all examples of book to movie adaptations that I feel did the books justice.

I can't wait to see how The Hunger Games translates into a movie, hopefully it will work.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

Its Monday, What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through A World of  Books.  This meme is a list of the book(s) that we read last week, what book(s) we are currently reading and what book(s) we plan on reading.

Book(s) I Read Last Week

Playing in Traffic by Gail Giles (review) - library book
No Shame, No Fear by Ann Turnbull - library book

Book(s) Currently Reading

Across The Universe by Beth Revis

Synopsis from back cover

Amy has left the life she loves for a world 300 years away.

Trapped in space and frozen in time, Amy is bound for a new planet. But fifty years before she's due to arrive, she is violently woken, the victim of an attempted murder. Now Amy's lost on board and nothing makes sense - she's never felt so alone.

Yet someone is waiting for her. He wants to protect her - and more if she'll let him.

But who can she trust amidst the secrets and lies? A killer is out there - and Amy has nowhere to hide.


Book(s) I Plan To Read Next Week (these are subject to change)

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Synopsis from inside flap

There was a time when love was the most important thing in the world. People would go to the end of the earth to find it. They would tell lies for it. Even kill for it.

Then, at last, they found the cure.

Now, everything is different. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Haloway has always looked forward to the day when she'll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But then, with only ninety-five days left until treatment, Lena does the unthinkable.

Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder

Synopsis from back cover

KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN. DON'T GET NOTICED. OR ELSE.

I'M TRELLA. I'M A SCRUB. A NOBODY.

One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping INSIDE clean for the Uppers. I just do my job and try to avoid the Population Control Police, who dream of recycling scrubs into fertiliser. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? It's not like it's dangerous...

Well, turns out it is. Because I know every corridor, pipe and shortcut I've become the go-to girl to lead a revolution. I know if we find a gateway to OUTSIDE it'll be suicide plain and simple. But guess who likes a challenge?

I SHOULD HAVE SAID NO...

Huge Library Loot 18th June

Here are the books that I got from my local library. I have a total of 13 books. I'm really looking forward to read them all.


Jonas (Beautiful Dead Book 1) by Eden Maguire
Betrayal (Immortal Book 2) by Gillian Shields
Bliss by Lauren Myracle


Delirium by Lauren Olivier
Dreaming Anastacia by Joy Preble
Immortal (Immortal Book 1) by Gillian Shields


Intertwined (Intertwined Book 1) by Gena Showalter
Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin
Montacute House by Lucy Jago


My Name Is Memory by Ann Brashares
Strange Angels (Strange Angels Book 1) by Lili St. Crow
Wildthorn by Jane Eagland


Whisper My Name by Jane Eagland

Waiting on Wednesday #4

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine.  Here are the book that I am most look forward to reading.

Banished by Sophie Littlefield
Pages: 320
Publisher: Ember
Publication Date: 13 Sept 2011
Format: Paperback

Synopsis from amazon.co.uk

There isn't much worth living for in Gypsum, Missouri, or "Trashtown," as the rich kids call the run down neighborhood where sixteen-year-old Hailey Tarbell lives. As far as Hailey knows, she's never going to belong. Not with the kids at school or with her cruel, sickly grandmother, who keeps their household afloat by dealing drugs out of the basement.


But Hailey can't help the feeling that she has some kind of gift, or curse, that makes the other kids shy away from her. Hailey is drawn to those in pain, those who need to be healed. And when her dog Rascal is hit by a car, Hailey's gift is revealed. Not only can she heal, she can bring the suffering back to life. And Hailey will soon find out, this power to heal is just the beginning . . .

My Thoughts

I'm really intrigued to read this. Can't wait to find out more about Hailey's powers

Deception by Lee Nichols
Series:  Haunting Emma #1
Pages: 336
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication Date: 5 Sept 2011
Format: Paperback

Synopsis from amazon.co.uk

When Emma Vaile's parents leave on a mysterious business trip, it gives her the perfect excuse to be a rebellious teen. But then her best friend stops talking to her, the police crash her party and Emma finds herself in the hands of a new guardian, Bennett Stern, and on a plane to his museum-like mansion in New England. After enrolling at Thatcher Academy, Emma settles in by making friends with the popular crowd. She has memories of Thatcher she can't explain and strange visions are haunting her. Emma doesn't trust anyone any more - except maybe Bennett. But he's about to reveal a ghostly secret to her. One that will explain the visions ...and make Emma fear for her life.

My Thoughts

I know this book has been around for a while now, but the hardcover artwork didn't really interest me, so when I found out that it was being released in paperback with this cover I knew I would have to get it. Can't wait to read it.

Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey
Pages: 352
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication Date: 4 July 2011
Format: Paperback

Synopsis from amazon.co.uk

Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in ghosts, especially since her mother has worked as a fraudulent medium for a decade. Violet has taken part in enough of her mother's tricks to feel more than a little jaded about anyhting supernatural. The ghosts, however, believe in Violet and she's been seeing them everywhere. One ghost in particular needs Violet to use her emerging gift to solve her murder ...and prevent the ghost's twin sister from suffering the same fate.

My Thoughts

This is another book that I am really looking forward to reading. I love the cover artwork, its very dark and mysterious, definitely fits the theme of the book.

So there are the books that I'm looking forward to getting. What are you looking forward to reading?

Teaser Tuesday #6

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! All you have to do is:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser!

Here's my teaser:

The stench of the prison rose up. I think this smell is not only filth - blood and excrement and decay - but is the smell of fear, of generations of people abandoned without hope of release. It never fails to terrify me.
~ page 30. No Shame, No Fear by Ann Turnbull

Review: Playing In Traffic by Gail Giles

Playing In Traffic by Gail Giles
Publication Date: 2006
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 176
Format: Paper back
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult, Psychological Thriller
Rating: 4 out of 5

Synopsis

Skye Colby? She's the multi-pierced Goth girl hanging around the internet cafes; always out at odd hours in stange places. All the boys call her slut puppy; the girls wrinkle their snub noses in distaste. Some people think she's brilliant, others say she's unstable. Skye is all those things, and more...

So why has she singled out Matt for special attention? Clearly, she has a dangerous agenda, but how can Matt resist the mystery and drama Skye trails in her wake? Despite warnings from people at school, Matt is totally mesmerised by Skye - She promises a way out of his dreary existence - but at what price?

My Thoughts

I saw this book quite a few times in my local library and didn't really know what to make of it, so I decided on a whim to give it a go and I am so glad I did. This is the first book I have read by Gail Giles and I have to say I was hooked from the start.

The characters are believable and I was instantly drawn to Matt. I really felt sorry for him. First of all his parents are never around, they are always working, so he's had to raise his sister Katy all by himself. Secondly he knows the secret about Katy, but can't bring himself to tell her and thirdly he's hooked up with Skye, the slutty somewhat mentally troubled Goth girl who only wants to know him when they are alone.

The story starts off a bit slow but it quickly builds to its dramatic climax. There are plenty of twists in the story to keep you hooked.  The only thing that lets this book down is its title, I can't see the connection to the story.

Overall Playing In Traffic is a quick, intense read. I would recommend this book to fans of psychological thrillers. I will definitely be reading more of Gail Giles books.

Review: Megan by Mary Hooper

Megan by Mary Hooper
Series: Megan #1
Publication Date: 1999
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Pages: 186
Format: Paper back
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult,
Rating: 4 out of 5

Synopsis from back cover

Megan is fifteen. One day she finds out in the worst possible way, the worst possible news - she is pregnant.

What will she do?
How will her friends react?
How will her ex-boyfriend react?
How will her mum react?

My Thoughts

Megan, the first book in the Megan trilogy, tells the story of 15 year old Megan Warrell. Megan has just found out that she is pregnant and has no idea what she should do. Megan has confided in her best friend Claire, but isn't sure if she should her ex-boyfriend, Luke, and her mother. Although Megan does tell Luke, it's the reaction from her mother that hurts her the most.

I don't want to give too much away, but this is a must read for every teenage girl. Although I am far from being a teenage girl, I am a parent of a teenage girl and I have often wondered how I would react in this situation, hopefully better that Megan's mother did.

This is a quick read that grips the reader from the very beginning. Mary Hooper has created characters that, at times, I felt really sorry for.

Musing Mondays #1

Musing Monday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB from Should Be Reading.

This weeks muse:

What was the last thing that you stayed up half the night reading because it was so good you couldn't put it down?

This is an interesting question. There are two books that spring to mind that I can say that I couldn't put down and found myself staying up ALL night to finish. They are The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and In The Arms of Stone Angels by Jordan Dane. Both of these books were awesome and I found it really difficult to put them down once I started them.

Its Monday, What Are You Reading?

Its Monday, What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through A World of  Books.  This meme is a list of the book(s) that we read last week, what book(s) we are currently reading and what book(s) we plan on reading.

Book(s) I Read Last Week

White Lies by Cathy Hopkins (review) - Library Book
Dead(ish) by Naomi Kramer (review) - eBook
Megan by Mary Hooper - Library Book

Book(s) Currently Reading

Playing In Traffic by Gail Giles

Synopsis from back cover

Skye Colby? She's the multi-pierced Goth girl hanging around the internet cafes; always out at odd hours in stange places. All the boys call her slut puppy; the girls wrinkle their snub noses in distaste. Some people think she's brilliant, others say she's unstable. Skye is all those things, and more...

So why has she singled out Matt for special attention? Clearly, she has a dangerous agenda, but how can Matt resist the mystery and drama Skye trails in her wake? Despite warnings from people at school, Matt is totally mesmerised by Skye - She promises a way out of his dreary existence - but at what price?

Book(s) I Plan To Read Next Week ( these are subject to change)

Wicked Dead: Lurker by Stefan Petrucha & Thomas Pendleton

Synopsis from back cover

Seventeen-year-old Mandy has everything: popular friends; a hot boyfriend; plans for college, travel, the future. But after classmate Nicki is gruesomely murdered, Mandy is shaken to her core. Soon she's jumping at shadows and having nightmares of Nicki's killer - the Witchman. Mandy tells herself she's just imagining things - but nothing in her imagination prepares her for the terror that's about to attack.

Flesh & Blood by Nick Gifford

Synopsis from back cover

It all starts when Matt goes to his grandmother's funeral. And what he finds out about his family is truly terrifying.

Has he inherited the dark family secret? Is it in his blood - and is it a gift or a curse?

BTT: Own or Borrow

This weeks Booking Through Thursday question is:

All things being equal (money, space, etc), would you rather own copies of the books you read? Or borrow them?

I do both. I borrow a book from the library to see if I like it, especially if its a new author that I'm trying, and if I have enjoyed the book I will then buy two copies - one for my kindle app and a physical book as well.  I mainly do this because I don't want to take my books out with me, plus I do a lot of reading at night so having the book on my kindle means I save money on my electricity bill. Not really a good thing as I spend the savings I make on more books. Doing this I have amassed over 300 books both on my kindle app and on my bookshelves.

eBook Review: Dead(ish) by Naomi Kramer

Dead(ish) by Naomi Kramer
Series: Dead(ish) #1
Format: Kindle eBook
Size: 55 kb
Rating: 3 out of 5

Synopsis from amazon.co.uk

Linda's had a bad day. First her boyfriend killed her. Then she woke up, still on this boring plane of existence, and with an odd obsession about her missing body. Mike won't tell her what he did with her body, and she can't find the stupid thing herself. There's only one thing she can do - torment the bastard until he coughs up the information.

My Thoughts

I came across this eBook a while ago and was instantly drawn to the title and the cover artwork.  It was originally free on the kindle store, so thought why not have a look. I have to say that I really enjoyed it.  Dead(ish), book 1 in the Dead(ish) series, tells the story of Linda.  Linda has recently been killed by her boyfriend Mike, after he finds her in a compromising situation, if you know what I mean, with the gay neighbours, Lazarus and Geordie.  Mike then finds out that Linda has decided to get her revenge on him by haunting him. I don't want to give too much away about the plot but some of the things that Linda does to Mike are hilarious, such as when Mike wakes up to find that Linda has dyed his hair green and made his skin orange.  Why is Linda haunting Mike? Well apart from the fact that Mike killed her, all Linda wants to know is what happened to her body - you'll have to read the eBook to find out.

I would just like to point that this is definitely a book for older children and adults as there is a lot of swearing.  Overall Dead(ish) is an interesting read that won't take long to read, only took me 15 minutes.

Review: White Lies by Cathy Hopkins

White Lies by Cathy Hopkins
Series: Truth, Dare, Kiss, Promise #1
Publication Date: 25 April 2008
Publisher: Piccadilly Press
Pages: 157
Format: Paper back
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult, Chick Lit
Rating: 3 out of 5

Synopsis from back cover

Cat's always been the perfect girl next girl. Thoughtful friend. Supportive girlfriend. Surrogate mother to her three younger siblings, a great help to her dad since her mum died. But now Cat's facing some major dilemmas.

A game of Truth, Dare, Kiss or Promise lands her in hot water when she's asked a truth she can't reveal. On top of this she doesn't want to hurt her boyfriend by telling him the truth, but she knows it's over between them.

Is it right to tell lies to protect people or keep the peace? Can the truth be too hurtful?

My Thoughts

I'd seen this book quite a few times in my local library so decided to take the plunge and give it a go. I will say that I enjoyed it, but I wasn't thrilled by it. I'm not sure if its the subject matter or the genre that I didn't get on with.

White Lies is the first chick lit book I have read and unfortunately it might be the last. Although I found the characters believable I just didn't find the story that interesting, again I think this has to do with the genre. As I said at the beginning of this review I did enjoy it.

At 157 pages White Lies is a very quick read that would appeal to fans of the Chick Lit genre. Overall White Lies is an enjoyable read.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

Its Monday, What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through A World of  Books.  This meme is a list of the book(s) that we read last week, what book(s) we are currently reading and what book(s) we plan on reading.

Book(s) I Read Last Week

Blind Traveler Down A Dark River by Robert P Bennett (review) - eARC
In The Arms of Stone Angels by Jordan Dane (review) - eARC

Book(s) Currently Reading

White Lies by Cathy Hopkins - Library Book

Synopsis from back cover

Cat's always been the perfect girl next girl. Thoughtful friend. Supportive girlfriend. Surrogate mother to her three younger siblings, a great help to her dad since her mum died. But now Cat's facing some major dilemmas.

A game of Truth, Dare, Kiss or Promise lands her in hot water when she's asked a truth she can't reveal. On top of this she doesn't want to hurt her boyfriend by telling him the truth, but she knows it's over between them.

Is it right to tell lies to protect people or keep the peace? Can the truth be too hurtful?

Hereafter by Tara Hudson - requested from publisher via NetGalley

Synopsis from amazon.co.uk

Can there truly be love after death?

Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life – or her actual death – she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.

Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit is doing everything in his power to destroy their new-found happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world… forever.


Book(s) I Plan To Read Next Week

Aftertime by Sophie Littlefield - requested from publisher via NetGalley

Synopsis from goodreads.com

Someone once said that all apocalypses are experienced locally. In the case of Cass Dollar, the nightmare occurred with the violent abduction of two-year-old Ruthie, which she vividly remembers. Only later is young Cass assaulted also by the vague, twisting memories of a much wider conflagration that she herself only narrowly survived. A government experiment had turned the entire California landscape into the hunting grounds of zombie Beaters, but Cass can only think of the helpless toddler she is missing. 

Misfit by Jon Skovron - requested from publisher via NetGalley

Synopsis from goodreads.com

Jael Thompson has never really fit in. She’s changed schools too many times to count. The only family she’s ever known is her father, a bitter ex-priest who never lets her date and insists she attend the strictest Catholic school in Seattle. And her mother—well, she was a five thousand year old demon. That doesn’t exactly help.

But on her sixteenth birthday, her father gives her a present that brings about some unexpected changes. Some of the changes, like strange and wonderful powers and the cute skater boy with a knack for science, are awesome. But others, like the homicidal demon seeking revenge on her family? Not so much. 

Review: In The Arms Of Stone Angels by Jordan Dane

In The Arms Of Stone Angels by Jordan Dane
Publication Date: 22 March 2011
Publisher: Harlequinn Teen
Pages: 313
Format: eBook
Source: Harlequinn Teen via NetGalley
Genre: Murder Mystery, Young Adult
Rating: 5 out 5

Synopsis:

Two years ago, Brenna did the unthinkable. She witnessed the aftermath of a murder and accused her only true friend--the first boy she ever loved--of being a killer.

Now sixteen, Brenna returns to Oklahoma only to discover that Isaac "White Bird" Henry isn't in juvie. The half-breed outcast is in a mental hospital, frozen in time, locked in his mind at the worst moment of his life. And when Brenna touches him, she's pulled into his hellish vision quest, seeing terrifying demons and illusions she doesn't understand.

Feeling isolated and alone, she's up against the whole town, targeted by bullying former classmates, a bigoted small town sheriff, and a tribe who refuses to help one of their own. But when Brenna realizes she's as trapped by the past as White Bird is, this time she won't turn her back on him. She's the only one who can free them both.

Even if she has to expose her secret--a "gift" she's kept hidden her whole life.

My Thoughts:

I have had this book sitting in my To Be Reviewed pile for quite some time, and I have to say I wish I'd read it sooner.  This book was amazing.  I was completely hooked from the first page.

What I liked about this book was the fact the we got the murder mystery element straight away. There was no beating about the bush, their we are standing at the side of Brenna witnessing White Bird standing over the body of a young girl.

Did he do it or didn't he? Jordan Dane keeps the reader guessing all the way through this book.  There are plenty of red herrings in this book to keep you guessing. I don't have a favourite character in this book, as they all compliment each other. There were times in this book when I found myself wanting to scream out loud, thats how engrossed I was in the story.

Jordan Dane has created a book that is joy to read. I highly recommend this book. If you haven't read it, you really need to.  If this review has convinced you, then take a look at the book trailer.

Book Trailer:

20 Followers

I would just like to say a big thank you to all my followers.  When I started this blog back in November 2010 I never thought I would make it to 5 followers. But despite all the hiccups I've had with this blog you have stuck by me and I am truly grateful.

I know that 20 followers is a small amount, compared to some blogs that have over 1000 followers, but I couldn't be happier. With my renewed enthusiasm in reading - yes you did read that right, I went off reading for a while, I know that we can make this blog a success.

I'm sorry if this is long winded but I am totally shocked to have this many followers. I am currently looking into doing a book give away when I reach 30 followers.

Thank you once again for all your support.

~ Paul

Waiting on Wednesday #3: Forgotten

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine.  Here is the book that I am look forward to reading.

Title: Forgotten
Author: Cat Patrick
Publication Date: 6 June 2011
Publisher: Egmont Books Ltd
ISBN: 9781405253611
Pages: 288
Format: Paperback

Synopsis

Here's the thing about me: I can see the future in flashes, like memories. But my past is a blank. I remember what I'll wear tomorrow, and an argument that won't happen until this afternoon. But I don't know what I ate for dinner last night. I get by with the help of notes, my mom and my best friend Jamie, and the system works ...Until now. Everything's falling apart. Jamie's going of the rails. My mom is lying to me. And I can't see the boy I adore in my future. But today, I love him. And I never want to forget how much...

My Thoughts

I read the excerpt of this book on Lovereading.co.uk, and I loved it. What do I love about it? I love the fact that the main character London can't remember her past, but can see into the future. The excerpt gripped me straight away and I wish it had been longer. To read the excerpt yourself click here.

This is also Cat Patrick's debut novel.