Top Ten Books I Really Want to Read, but I Don't Have and Neither Does the Library

Weekly event hosted @ The Broke and the Bookish

These are some of the books I really want to read for one reason or another, that the library doesn't have and I haven't got around to buying yet.

In no particular order.

Bout of Books 11 Read-a-Thon Progress for Sunday 24th and Wrap-Up

Number of Books Read to Date

FIVE

Books Read on Sunday

NONE

Blogs Visited

NONE

Challenge Completed

NONE

I was out of the house and busy all day Sunday, so I didn't get time to read or go online and participate.

WRAP-UP

I enjoyed doing this readathon and although I sucked at the last few days, I still had fun. I have learnt that if I do another readathon to not have such big goals and that I need to spread my reading instead of trying to do too much all at once.

So, did I meet any of my goals?

*Goal one was to read:

 

I read Fool's Assassin, The Witch of Salt & Storm, The 100 and Day 21. Three out of five plus one extra.

*Goal two was to read at least one school book, but I didn't.

*Goal three was to read Savage Drift my Emmy Laybourne, I didn't read that either.

*Goal four was to finish listening to Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson. Almost, I have 10 chapters left

*Goal five was to read Serenity Leaves on the Wind...

... and that I did read.

*Goal six was to visit five participating blogs a day. I managed a paltry 3 days out of seven visiting only 15 blogs.

*Goal seven was to take part in at least 3 challenges. This one I did do, I did the Book Scavenger Hunt, Create a Sentence and Spell it out challenges.

*And goal eight was to participate in one twitter chat. I participated for about the first 30 minutes but I HAD to stop and eat, and by the time I had finished the chat was over.

I didn't do too great and so, I think that next time I will make 5 books my goal and to only visitt other blogs on days I am already on my computer and not have to get online just to visit blogs.

How did you do?

Review: Girl Walks into a Blind Date

Title: A Girl Walks into a Blind Date

Series: A Girl Walks In... #3

Author: Helena S. Paige

Published by: Sphere on 4th August

Genre: Erotica

Format: eARC
Source: Publisher

Check it out on Goodreads

*I received a copy of this book free from the publisher via Netgalley for review consideration, this in no way affects my opinion of the book.*

Netgalley Synopsis: *A CHOOSE YOUR OWN DESTINY NOVEL*

You know that internet dating is a tricky game to play, but you've done your homework and you've narrowed down your list to three international men of mystery. All that's left to do now is meet them . . . 

* Will you head to New York City to meet the hunky and heroic fireman you've been talking to?
* Or is your number one choice an adventure in Amsterdam with a Bohemian sculptor?
* There's also the impossibly handsome Italian count who sends you poetic praise from his palazzo in Venice and who makes your insides melt. 

Whichever way you decide to go, each twist and turn will lead to an unforgettable encounter. Can you choose the ultimate sensual experience? Remember: if your first choice doesn't hit the spot, then start over and try something (and someone) new. The power is entirely yours in this fully interactive, choose your own destiny novel.

My Thoughts: I requested this book because it reminded me of the Choose Your Own Adventure books that I loved as a kid. Even though this book is not at all child friendly, it is still fun.

It is, of course, written in second person because the reader is the protaganist. I found this to be incredibly easy to read and I fell into the story (stories) with ease.

I am certain that the author has been to the cities featured in the book because of the detail, take Venice for example, I felt like I was there as it is described so intricately. This detail makes this book a bit more than a 'let's just get to the sex' kind of book. Speaking of the sex, that is well done and it does what you want the sex in this kind of novel to do without being like a cheap, unscripted porno film.

All the secondary characters are fun, from the leechy old man to the smokin' hot fireman. They are all well written, seem very real and play of the reader's character very well.

Overall, the was a very enjoyable, quick and steamy read and I recommend it to anyone who likes erotica that has real characters that have real sex.

Bout of Books 11 Read-a-Thon Progress for Saturday 23rd

Number of Books Read to Date

FIVE

Books Read on Saturday

I finished Witch of Salt & Storm and listened to 4 chapters of Warbreaker 

Blogs Visited

None, because I suck!

Challenge Completed

The Spell it Out challenge
hosted by Kimberly Faye Reads

I spelled out my name with the first letter of each of these books:

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman                 

American Psycho by Brett Easton Ellis

Trash by Andy Mulligan                          

American Gods by Neil Gaiman           

Let it Snow by John Green et al           

Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino            

Empire of thte Sun by J.G. Ballard       

I think maybe I burnt myself out at the beginning of this readathon and now I am completely out of steam. But you know what? Five books in one week is not bad at all.

Weekly Wrap-Up (24/08/14)

The Sunday Post hosted @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. 

It's Monday! hosted @ Book Journey

THIS PAST WEEK ON MY BLOG:

Review: The Book of Life

What Fall TV Shows Are You Looking Forward Too?

Review: The Young World

Feature and Follow #9

Review Re-Post and Giveaway: Red Rising by Pierce Brown

Plus, updates for Bout of Books Readathon - Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6 

WHAT I READ THIS PAST WEEK:

Even though not a whole lot happened, I really loved Fool's Asssassin and The Witch of Salt & Storm was OK but beautifully written.

These books really suprised me, I really enjoyed them and I can't wait for the next book.

Reading this was like watching another episode of Firefly, so really good.

WHAT I AM READING NOW:

As I write this, I haven't actually started Trial by Fire but it is all set to go on my Kindle :-)

ADDITIONS TO MY TBR:
Stacking the Shevles hosted @ Tynga's Reviews
Showcase Sunday hosted @ Books, Biscuits and Tea




WHAT I BOUGHT:
Kindle:

I am taking a whole module on Shakespeare at uni this year, so I figured I should do some brushing up on the bard and this book seems fun.

FOR REVIEW:
From Edelweiss

From Netgalley

I don't really know what any of these books are about, but I am still looking forward to reading them.

UPCOMING WEEK ON MY BLOG:

Review: A Girl Walks into a Blinddate
Bout of Books 11 Progress for Sunday 24th
Top Ten Books I Really Want to Own
Bout of Books 11 Wrap-Up
Review: The Queen of the Tearling
Feature and Follow #10
Review: Virgin

WHAT I PLAN TO READ NEXT:

I really, really need to make a start on my university reading list, so I have a plan. I am going to read one school book, then a book I want read, then a school book etc.etc. What book I am going to read first I don't know yet, but I hope it's not terrible.

IN REAL LIFE:

As I participated in the Bout of Books Readathon this past week, I mostly spent my time reading. Mostly, towards the end of the week I slacked in the reading department and just watched lots of TV and Youtube videos. But I still got five books read which is not too shabby.

Red Rising by Pierce Brown Review Re-Post and Giveaway

In honour of the Red Rising Bank Holiday Read-along and because this book is freaking amazing and the more people that know about it the better, I have decided to re-post my review and host a giveaway. 

If you want to join in the read-along but don't have a copy of the book, then head on over to Netgalley, as it is currently available to everyone (with an account). Or you may be able to request it from Bookbridgr.

To find out more about the read-along, head on over to Hodderscape.

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Title: Red Rising

Series: Red Rising #1

Author: Pierce Brown

Published by: Del Rey (Randon House) on January 28th 2014

Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy

Format: Hardcover

Source: Public Library

Buy it from Amazon or Book Depository

Check it out on Goodreads

Goodreads Synopsis: The war begins...

Darrow is a Helldiver, one of a thousand men and women who live in the vast caves beneath the surface of Mars. Generations of Helldivers have spent their lives toiling to mine the precious elements that will allow the planet to be terraformed. Just knowing that one day people will be able to walk the surface of the planet is enough to justify their sacrifice. The Earth is dying, and Darrow and his people are the only hope humanity has left.

Until the day Darrow learns that it is all a lie. Mars is habitable - and indeed has been inhabited for generations by a class of people calling themselves the Golds. The Golds regard Darrow and his fellows as slave labour, to be exploited and worked to death without a second thought.

With the help of a mysterious group of rebels, Darrow disguises himself as a Gold and infiltrates their command school, intent on taking down his oppressors from the inside.

But the command school is a battlefield. And Darrow isn't the only student with an agenda...

My Review: As soon as I heard about this book I knew I had to have it, but it is so damn expensive and I am a poor student. Then praise be, my library got it and I was the first person to check it out in all its shiny and new sexiness.

I first heard about this book from an Adventures of a Book Junkie post where she recapped an interview at a Red Rising book signing. I enjoyed Pierce’s answers, especially where he says he likes Neil Gaiman and Joss Whedon, two of my favourite people. Then I may have fallen in love with him a little bit and I may or may not have cyber stalked him but I definitely did go and find out more about the book.

The book follows Darrow, he and his people are miners on Mars, mining for the element that will make the red planet liveable, so when life on planet Earth is no longer sustainable, humanity can survive on Mars – or so they think. In truth, Mars has been liveable for many years and Darrow’s people have been lied to. Mars has a caste system and each caste is colour coded, with Golds at the top and Reds at the bottom. Darrow is a Red. After his young wife is killed by a Gold and the truth has been revealed to him, he joins a resistance group. After some physical alteration, training and lessons, Darrow is given a new identity as a Gold. With this new identity he is entered into a school that sorts the wheat from the chaff, a survival of the fittest battle school and those who survive will be the future leaders of Mars and her colonies. Darrow’s goal is to win and make his way to the top of Gold society, so he can bring it down.

It is dark, it is brutal, it is at times heart-breaking and it is definitely not YA. I BLOODYDAMN LOVE THIS BOOK and I am itching to read the next one, Golden Son. I don’t even know if I can do the book justice with this review, I don’t think I have the words to describe how great it is. Also this book has so much going on that I don’t want to give anything away that will spoil it, but I will do my best.

Darrow is a great, well developed character who goes through so much growth, from a simple miner to a leader of men. Darrow is not perfect, he is very human and he makes mistakes but he learns from his mistakes to become a better person and thats one of the things that I love about him.

Darrow isn’t the only wonderful character in the book, there are many, but that’s all I will say about the characters because they and their interactions with each other are so complex it’s hard to talk about them without being spoilery.

I love the world that Pierce has created and I feel that how humanity got to where they are is plausible. There is still a lot to learn about the world, its history and political system, but I am sure all that will be developed in the other two books.

The story starts out quite slow but its not too long before it picks up and gets to the really good stuff. So, if you start this book and wonder if you have the same book every one has been raving about because not a lot is happening, keep going. Trust me it is worth it.

I could go on and on about this book but I won't, because then this post will be too long and you dont want to read that. What you do want to read is Red Rising - what are you still doing here? Go my lovelies and get your hands on this book. Happy reading.

ALL THE BLOODY DAMN STARS

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I received an extra copy of the book from the publisher, so I figured I would give it away by hosting my very first giveaway. Yay! As it is a physical copy and shipping prices are ridiculous, I am afraid the giveaway is open to UK entrants only. Sorry :-(

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bout of Books 11 Read-a-Thon Progress for Friday 22nd

Number of Books Read to Date

Four

Books Read on Friday

I read from 28% to 59% of Witch and Salt & Storm

Blogs Visited

None, I didn't get on my laptop.

Challenge Completed

None today

I am finding that I starting to lose steam as I actually had to force myself to read today :-(

Bout of Books 11 Read-a-Thon Progress for Thursday 21st

Number of Books Read to Date

Four

Books Read on Thursday

 I read  28% of Witch of Salt & Storm and listened to 3 chapters of Warbreaker

Blogs Visited

Story Notions
She Got Books on Her Mind
Flood of Books, etc.
Kittens on Bookshelves
Book Fluke

Challenge Completed

None today.

I didn't do too well today, as I just had to take a break from reading. Buts it's all good, I am doing OK. Bring on the rest of the week.

Feature and Follow #9

The Feature & Follow is hosted @  Parajunkee’s View and Alison Can Read. 

What Book or Book Series do you think would make a better TV show than it would a movie?

The Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness

I will be happy to see this series adapted in either form, but I just think that it would be better fleshed out in the long form of a TV show. And of course, the death of a certain friend won't happen for many episodes, whereas in a film it would come too soon :-(

I also appreciate GFC, Google +,  Twitter and Goodreads follows.