What I'm Reading - 30th November 2010

I have reached the 36 book mark and now I have 4 to finish before I have reached my goal of 40 books. While I may not have been able to stretch myself to 50 I will be overly proud of myself for making it this far, especially since I started in June this year.

So to end the year, I'm taking it easy [hopefully not to easy] and finishing my year reading through my current bedside collection and If I manage to finish those and start a new book It will be a short one.

The Books I am reading at the moment:

1. Kiss Me Deady
2.To Give a Heart Wings
3.A Child Against all Odds
4.The Modern Writer's workshop

I don't plan on starting any more books though, because I have a large growing collection of various magazines [Scrapbooking, Womens, Good Reading, Writing] on my bedside table as well that I want to catch up on before the new year and a massive stack of Practical Parenting and Mother and Baby Magazines waiting to be read in my study. [I am insanely behind, but I love Magazines almost as much as I love books.]

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner – Stephenie Meyer – An Eclipse Novella - Book Review

When I picked up The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner it was to sate my curiosity. I hoped it wouldn't read like Breaking Dawn and I wasn't disappointed. The novel was short, but still took me a few days personally to get into it and to read it, but once I had time to read it flowed wonderfully and I didn't want to put it down. Especially near the end.

Knowing what was going to happen to Bree, the main character didn't change my thoughts or knowledge of how the book was going to read. I also loved that there were no chapters, which made reading more easy and entertaining because I didn't feel the need to stop and analyse after every chapter.

I enjoyed reading in another characters perspective about the events that unfold before the battle scene in Eclipse. In parts I didn't even feel like I was reading a series, as it stood on its own as a thought provoking read and gave extra insight into the world behind the vampire world. I think it was more interesting than Eclipse in the way that it isn't revolving around the good guys and even though some of the characters are good at heart it I really felt more hooked into the world of evil than I did for Eclipse.

Each character had their own personality and merit and while I felt disgusted and uninterested in some characters, it wasn't because of the writing, but I wanted to know more about Bree and Diego and how there relationship would blossom or whither. I would also love to know how Fred fared after leaving the coven and setting of on his own journey, because I think it would make an intriguing read.

I'd recommend this to people who enjoy the twilight Saga and for those who don't, because regardless it still stands on its own as a different book in my opinion. It has a world of its own and I don't think it should be dumped in the haters pile because it is a Stephenie Meyer book. I would urge lovers of vampires to read it and then cast your opinions on this book as a novella.

****. 5 Four and a half stars

Radiance- Alyson Noel - Book Review

Radiance held high hopes for me. With its stunning cover and provoking plot I was eager to begin reading it and to loose myself in the fascination I love with the spirit world. Sadly this book not only fell short of a good plot, but I could barely make myself finish it, eager to complete it and put it aside.

Being my first Alyson Noel book I pray that her writing style is nothing compared to what it is in Radiance. I wouldn't go as far to say as I hate it, but I dislike the redundancy of words used to make her point and the repetition of ideas that seemed to solely revolve around the main character and her childish behaviour.

I will admit the only thing that kept me reading was the concept of sole catchers and the idea that spirits have a place in a heaven or 'here' as the novel explains. One of my favourite parts about the novel was that everyone had their own destiny beyond death and it reminded me much of the faith of many physics I know and their beliefs and faith about the world beyond death. However the sub-plots weren't enough for me to enjoy this book thoroughly.

Riley, our main character frustrated me to no lengths. I couldn't find a moment when I actually felt for her and my emotions towards her death and dullness made me want to tear out the pages and demand a character worth my time and feelings. She was stuck up, judgemental and juvenile. As for the minor characters, they evoked much the same response.

The crisis and resolution was to easy. There was barely any struggle and I was unsatisfied with the results. It begs me to ask the question of who would I recommend it to. Surely no one older than twelve would be interested in the lightness of this book and while I feel rather negative towards it I think it would be better suited towards a younger age range rather than young adults.

** Two Stars

P.S I would like to mention I did a little research after I wrote this review and it is a series for middle-graders. However my feelings and opinions still stand regardless. But for someone wanting to try out this novel for younger readers I would actually recommend it. Also it is a spin-off from her immortal-series.

The Nanny Diaries- Nicola Kraus & Emma Mclaughlin- Book Review

The Nanny Diaries is a brilliant novel following the life of Nan the Nanny and her life living and raising Grayer, a four year old son to the X's. Think rich snobbery, middle aged drama and high fashion couture and you have some pretty strange and intense parenting. This novel isn't only about the hardships, but about survival and where the boundaries between raising a child and career are pushed to the edge with discrimination, betrayal, and lack of respect for human rights and lives. There are some heart-warming and cute scenes in this book that helped the dramatic situations flow and the realistic nature of this book was what won me over.

I liked all the characters in this book, despite having murderous feelings towards the X's. I adored Grayer, the child of the novel and I thought he really made the book what it is and confirmed my aspirations to work with children. Nan, the main female character had some great traits, however towards the end of the book she started to loose herself and her respect and that annoyed me. However her need to survival and her love for Grayer overcome her traits.

There was only really two parts of this novel that I didn't care for. First being the quotes, that to me I didn't understand not having read any classic literature and two, H.H the main love interest in Nan's life. While I do take into consideration he was a side character, his overall personality was dull and lifeless and maybe with a little more interaction and depth he could have won my heart over.

I enjoyed the writing style of these two women, apart from the first few pages which were hard to get into. The format the novel is in opted for time to break, even when I wanted to keep reading all night and the letters, schedules and other notes broken up over the course of the book were a nice way to delve deeper into the story and the lives of each character.

I would recommend this book for anyone who likes children and chick literature. Although I dislike lumping it into one genre. I believe this book is more aimed at women.

***** 5 stars.

WWW - Wednesday's – November 10

• What are you currently reading?

I'm currently reading two books. Kiss Me Deadly anthology Edited by Trisha Telep and The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus. I am nearing 100 pages with each book and am thoroughly enjoying each. I would like to be reading a lot more than I am, but my life is very hectic at the moment with moving.

• What did you recently finish reading?

I finished reading Revelations by Melissa De La Cruz. It is the 3^rd book in the Blue Bloods Series. While it wasn't my favourite of the series I still enjoyed it and you can find a review on my blog.

• What do you think you’ll read next?

The Van Allen Legacy by Melissa De La Crus or maybe one of my many growing collections of chick-lit books. If not I will probably start reading the third novel in the Vampire Academy series – Shadow Kiss.

Monday Musings- November 8th

What are your responses to this report? Does it match with what you’ve observed? With your own buying habits? When was the last time you bought a book? What did you buy and why?

Response to this link:
http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/trendspotting-readers-spending-on-books/

To be honest, I have been reading about the trends of books for some time and while I am not surprised on the hardback front I was surprised to see that even though people are buying ebooks/readers so many more people still love the hand copies of books [Paperbacks etc.]

I find it humorous somewhat, since I have recently brought myself an ebook and downloaded some non-fiction and fiction novels for it, yet even since buying it I still go down to my local bookshop and have purchased at least ten books.

The last book/s I brought were The Devouring my Simon Holt and Shopaholic Abroad by Sophia Kinsella [Really want to start reading her books] and at least 5 more books this week previous to today.

Why?

Because when I see a good book and it sounds good I buy it and I favour hand copies to electronic. There is something about A.) Book collecting-hoarding and B.) The feel of a book in my hands that an electronic device can and never will take away from me. Although I believe most of my book buying comes down to habit and fear that in a decade the price of books will be exorbitant and I won't have finished collecting the series I've started or the books I want to read.

Response to meme hosted by : http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/

Revelations Melissa De La Cruz # 3 - Blue Bloods - Book Review

Revelations is the third book in the Blue Bloods Series, one I have been anticipating to read since the moment I finished Masquerade [easily my favourite so far] While I have loved reading these books, Revelations fell a little flat for me.

I was expecting something on the larger scale of story progression. The story did evolve, but to me it felt more like in an in between book where unanswered questions were answered. There were many twists in the plot, ones I never saw coming which is probably why I continued to read regardless and make up my mind about the novel during the end.

Being honest, the beginning didn't draw me in like I was yearning for it to and although it was a quicker read, at 264 pages, in some parts the novel was strange in its pacing. However, I loved the tit-bits of repository informations scattered between chapters to break up the intensity that continues to enthral me with this series.

I love the way Melissa has incorporated heaven and hell, Angels and Demons into the mixture of what began as an elite vampire socialite series. I am looking forward to journeying forward into the world she has created and seeing where she takes the story, especially after Revelations.

In some parts of the novel I felt the characters shifting from their personalities, but they seemed to slip into them and redeem my frustration towards the end. I was rather distant from a lot of the main characters in this story and was more interested in the minor characters and their part in the overall plot of the story.

I've realised after reading Revelations that I am not a Jack Force fan and while Mimi can be a handful I actually enjoyed her part in this book more so than I imagined, as she usually makes me want to reach into the pages and slap her till her nose falls off.

I don't really care for the relationship between Schuyler and Jack. I understand and respect it, but I am more interested in the relationship between Oliver and Schuyler which is in jeopardy and am keen to see how that progresses in the future novels.

The ending scenes were reminiscent of Supernatural and the battle between light and dark – Lucifer and the Archangels. Unexpected turns in the story gave me that jolt that I must continue to read the series as soon as possible. I hope this time starting the next book won't be so slow reading.

For readers of the Blue Blood Series, I welcome you all to share your opinions on the first three books. While I did not enjoy this book as much as I hoped I would I still am going to read the next two books: The Van Allen Legacy and Misguided Angels as well as Keys to the Repository.

***.5 Stars

LGBT

In trying to cater for all types of readers I am going to start a monthly meme where I tell you some great LGBT books for adults andyoung adults. It is to me, important that there is variety and never judgment.

This Months Finds:

Biting the Apple - Lucy Jane Bledsoe
Drama Queers - Anthony Politio
A Question of Manhood - Robin Reardon
Sugarless - James Magruder
Gay Divorcee - Paul Burston
Magic and the Pagan - Mycheal Black

Monday Musing - November 1st

Do you have any special reading that you do as it gets closer to Christmas? If so, tell us about it! And, if not, tell us why not!

No. I have never really read 'themed' books at a special time of year. You could say I read books I get on those occasions around the time of year, but never the theme for say Halloween or Christmas. I have considered it.

I think this question could also be asked - “ Do you read seasonal themed books. Like dark, intense books during winter and lighter books during spring or summer?” My answer to that would be much the same. I just read.

Meme Courtesy of Shouldbereading : http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com