Tag: books

books, fun stuff

PokemonGo Reading Tag 

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Stacey at Pretty Books did this fun tag, combining books with everyone’s current obsession – Pokemon Go! 

The first I read for myself was a Beatrix Potter book of rhymes – I was three. I have no real memory of this, just what my Mum said. My favourite book growing up was Black Beauty by Anna Sewell, which sparked a love of horses. 

Alice in Wonderland – it’s a strange, magical book that I’ll never tire off because there’s so much to unpack. 

Harry Potter fans look away now! 

I can’t bear that series- I have my reasons and if you’d like to discuss them, please email me at ramblingmadsblog@gmail.com 

I don’t know about love but I quite liked The Magicians by Lev Grossman – despite it’s obvious influences and many references to a Narnia-like land. 

Nothing phases me – I have read my way through some enormous books and series’. 

I read Red Hot Chili Peppers’ lead singer Anthony Kiedis’ autobiography Scar Tissue in one sitting, his life was so gripping and the writing hooked me in. 

Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None – gripping. 

Erm, I am rather invested in Claire and Jamie in the Outlander books at the moment, and waiting for the next one. 

From an academic perspective I am quite interested in the un/authorised sequels of classic children’s novels like Peter Pan and The Wind in the Willows. 

The Gentlemen Bastard sequence by Scott Lynch is fabulous and seriously underrated. I thought that it would be just another fantasy series but it’s a cracking read – bring on book 4. 

Although I’ve read them now, the hype around The Raven Boys and its sequels, was pretty heavy. But then I started reading them and was hooked. 

The Discworld series’ collector editions are pretty lovely and I certainly wouldn’t mind having them on my shelves. 

Erm, I don’t know – if someone could suggest an upcoming release they think I’d enjoy – please do. 

Anything Neil Gaiman or Tamora Pierce write – as far as I’m concerned they’re both genuises. 

I waited five years for The Republic of Thieves to finally be published – don’t do it to me again Scott Lynch. 

The final ever book written by Terry Pratchett will be released later this year and that’s pretty exciting and a little sad. 

If you’d like to do this tag, go for it. It was quite fun and gave me an opportunity to think about the books I’ve read over the years. 

books, fun stuff

#IBW2016 @booksaremybag

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Cross posted from the Books Are My Bag site:

IBW2016 TAG

You may have seen bookish people doing the #IBW2016 TAG over the past week or so, either on Twitter. YouTube or on blogs – all discussing books and bookshops – what’s not to like? Will at Vintage Books kindly started the TAG off and we’re so pleased to see so many book lovers get involved.

If you’d like to join in with the TAG, the questions are below:

1. What book(s) are currently in your bag?
2. What’s the last great book you read?
3. What book have you gifted the most?
4. What’s your favourite independent bookshop?
5. What’s been your favourite book recommended by a bookseller (or fellow Booktuber)?
6. What’s your favourite bookshop memory?
7. What do bookshops mean to you? What do you love about them?
8. What are the books that made you? Which books have most affected or influenced you?
9. What book do you recommend readers gift for Father’s Day?
10. What book is currently at the top of your TBR pile?

You can watch some of the videos that have been uploaded so far includingLegend Press, Savidge Reads and Jean at Bookish Thoughts on our playlist here.

If you take part in the TAG, remember to tweet us @booksaremybag or tag#IBW2016 

My answers;

1. What book(s) are currently in your bag? None – but I am reading The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi and The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCuers for Book Club.

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2. What’s the last great book you read?

Elephants can Remember by Agatha Christie, love me some Poirot. She was a total genius.

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3. What book have you gifted the most?
Probably Good Omens by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman, I gave it as a World Book Night book some years ago and still highly recommend it and gift it to this day.

4. What’s your favourite independent bookshop?
Much Ado Books in Alfriston, Sussex. Nowhere near where I live but totally worth the trip and run by truly lovely people – plus they’ll post you books if you’re not local.

5. What’s been your favourite book recommended by a bookseller (or fellow Booktuber)?
I was waiting for my beloved Mr once and drawn into the lure of a bookshop, the lovely bookseller recommended the Ketty Jay series, brilliant if you like your fantasy Steampunk and with wings – also reminded me of the cancelled far too soon Firefly.

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6. What’s your favourite bookshop memory?
When I got so many book tokens for my birthday I staggered to the counter with a stack of books I couldn’t see over and the assistant said “are all these for you?” Oh yes they were!

7. What do bookshops mean to you?
What do you love about them?
I think of them (much like libraries) as sanctuaries.

8. What are the books that made you? Which books have most affected or influenced you? Hello, Cruel World by Kate Bornstein, the work of Tamora Pierce and Terry Pratchett, so many books have changed and developed my thinking.

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9. What book do you recommend readers gift for Father’s Day? My Dad loves crime thrillers and sci fi, so probably David Baldacci’s latest.

10. What book is currently at the top of your TBR pile? I just ordered some more Poirot stories so they’ll probably be in there somewhere, along with Half a King by Joe Abercrombie, Half Light (crowdfunded through Unbound – a tribute to Alan Gardner) and many others (it’s more like a mountain than a pile).

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books, reviews

Book Review: The Girl in the Spider’s Web by David Lagercrantz

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The Millennium trilogy was the publishing sensation of the early twenty first century, Steig Larsson’s three novel story featuring antisocial hacker Lisbeth Salander and noble journalist Mikael Blomkvist sold in their millions, translated from the original Swedish, made into films (including a not very good Hollywood remake – seriously, stop it!).

But then Larsson died. With rumours of a projected further seven novels and a legal battle over his drafted fourth book, it looked like that was it for Salander and Blomkvist.

But here we are, legal wrangles over (however you feel about it), and a fourth book. Written by fellow Swedish novelist David Lagercrantz, from Larsson’s notes, The Girl in the Spider’s Web.

Larsson’s books were noticeable not only because they were hefty tomes, but also because of their often extremely violent and graphic content. The planned title for the first book was “Men Who Hate Women”, but The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was easier to sell to a public who might have felt uncomfortable with such a clear misogynistic theme.

Larsson, like his hero Blomkvist, was a journalist who believed in the socialist ideals the Nordic region is famed for, he wrote campaigning political pieces, espoused feminism, fought corporations he saw as exploitative in his writings and his novels, to some extent, are a continuation of his beliefs and ideals.

Lagercrantz, isn’t quite as heavy hitting. Spider’s Web has less explicit violence, fewer political rants, and seems a little gentler on the reader.

That’s not to say it isn’t good, it is. Well written and paced, with a story that suits a world post Edward Snowden and the Panama Papers, a world that knows the governments of most nations are spying on their citizens, a world that has heard about the NSA’s counter intelligence game, a cynical world that knows criminals are more tech savvy than law enforcement and manage to get away with their crimes because of it.

Blomkvist is older, battle weary and close to giving up, it’s been some time since he last saw Salander, and his magazine is in trouble.

When a tech genius calls him in the middle of the night claiming his life is in danger, little does Blomkvist realise he’s about to he thrust into international conspiracy, tech fraud and meet a young boy who sees the world very differently. This case will bring him into contact once again with volatile Salander, who has her own reasons for getting involved.

I really enjoyed this, it was different in tone to the original trilogy, but I don’t think it suffers for it, personally I can do without extreme sexual violence, and I thought this was well executed.  

Have you read Girl in the Spider’s Web? Were you a fan of the original trilogy? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

books

World Book Night 2016

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Happy Birthday William Shakespeare!

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As well as 400 years since the Bard’s birth today is World Book Night – an event now in it’s sixth year, that celebrates reading and a love of books.

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I have been involved in my own small way every year – mostly as a giver of books.

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This year I am giving away copies of Shadow and Bone by Leigh Barduco. The first in the Grisha Trilogy, a fast paced, fabulous slice of fantasy, a world I fell in love with and want to share with others.

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I will be handing out copies to people I meet, strangers and friends. I have handed out poetry in Soho, left comic fantasy on the underground and with the bus driver, I have posted books to people who were working and couldn’t meet me, piled books up in staff rooms, cafes and the English department notice table at uni over the years.

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Keep your eyes open while you’re out and about as a whole army of book loving of volunteers will be handing out books all over the place. There are events going on and online parties – check out the hashtag #wbn2016 for events and readings near you.

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books, lifestyle boxes, reviews

The Bookish Box by Appraising Pages

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The Bookish Box is a monthly subscription box of goodies for book lovers. Posted from the US, it can take a while to get here.

Each box is themed around different genres or styles. January’s is Mystery Reads.

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Inside is a selection of lovingly curated literary gifts.

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A candle whose scent is inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories.

Nancy Drew inspired magnetic bookmark.

Rather lovely bookprint bow, that my Mr has already decided he will use as a bowtie!

A door hanger to keep people away.

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And finally a lovely soft themed T-shirt. This one inspired by Ally Carter’s See How They Run.

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All wrapped in fetching green tissue paper, a gift to yourself.

Prices vary depending on your subscription choices and you pick your shirt size so it’ll fit.

Check out Appraising Pages for past and upcoming boxes.

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books, reviews

The Hog’s Back Mystery – Freeman Wills Croft

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The British Library has released a collection of crime novels from the Golden Age, when writers like Agatha Christie were at their peak. Freeman Wills Croft, who knew Christie, wrote more than 30 novels during this time.

Dr James Earle disappears from his house one Sunday, Inspector French is called in to locate him. Soon other people are disappearing and French is embroiled in a web of romantic entanglements and intrigue.

I really enjoyed this book, I’m a big fan of Christie and other writers of the period, like Raymond Chandler, so I was really pleased when a kind friend sent me this book.

Sometimes I can guess whodunnit, but I prefer it, when like this one, I can’t guess at all how it will unravel.

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books, life

Go Set a a Watchman

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Now, unless you live in a cave, you will have seen that sequel to the marvellous To Kill a Mockingbird has just been published. Originally written before TKAM, Go Set a Watchman sees Scout as an adult returning to her home town and her heroic father Atticus Finch.

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Harper Lee apparently didn’t want this story published but is now elderly and frail and no one seems to be able to definitively state whether she’s agreed to it now. Her sister used to be her lawyer and handle all the press and publishers, but a new lawyer has recently been appointed and is causing quite a stir in the book world.

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Every child at some point reads Lee’s only previously published novel, and I’m sure I can’t be the only one to have caught the film, featuring Gregory Peck’s defining performance as Atticus, on a wet Saturday afternoon. It has had a huge impact, and is beloved all over the world.

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Between the spoilers, leaked pages, rumours, gossip and hype, it’s hard to know whether or not to read it. I’ve ordered a copy but am still apprehensive. If the author refused to publish for so long, should we be reading it? If the rumours about Atticus are true, will that noble man in Mockingbird be destroyed?

It’s a conundrum and one I fear will have no easy resolution. Some of my friends have already read it, and the feedback has been mixed. My friend Jack said I really should read it, even if only for academic purposes. But part of me, the part that loves TKAM and doesn’t want to spoil it, is really resistant.

Have any of you read it? What did you think?

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books, reviews

You’re Never Weird on the Internet…Almost – book review

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Actress, writer, gamer, producer, singer, cosplayer, violinist, comedienne, queen of geek culture – all of these things apply to Felicia Day, whose memoir of growing up online is funny, awkward and full of references for lovers of the Geek & Sundry YouTube channel she set up a few years ago.

She’s guested in Supernatural, Dollhouse, A Town Called Eureka, starred in Doctor Horrible’s Singalong Blog, The Guild and now hosts her own online shows on the channel she built (The Flog and Co-optitude with her brother Ryon deserve a mention).

Her geek points are boosted by a foreword by Joss Whedon and a quote from George R.R. Martin on the back cover.

From her home schooled childhood to her music scholarship to college at 16, her early Hollywood career in adverts, to playing video games, writing her own scripts and beyond, You’re Never Weird… is a wonderful celebration of forging your own path and marching to the beat of your very own, totally unique, rhythm.

I first saw Felicia in an episode of Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse, years ago, but if I’m honest I didn’t really pay her much mind. It was only when I stumbled across the utterly hilarious web series The Guild on YouTube a few years ago that I saw what a talented person she is.

If you’re not sure who she is or what you’ve seen her in, Google is your friend. There is so much content on Geek & Sundry that you’re bound to find something you like (Tabletop is a particular favourite of mine, or watch The Guild).

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books, life

Boarding School Stories

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I went to state school, church school at that, but remain as obsessed with boarding school stories now as I was at 13 when I desperately wanted to be sent away to school as I was so unhappy where I was.

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Malory Towers, the Chalet School, St Clare’s, these schools were what I dreamed of. Now I know that life is not all midnight feasts and hockey matches (or hiding from Nazis in the Alps).

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But the magic of boarding school stories continues, and I am loving Robin Stevens’ Wells & Wong Mystery series, there are three books so far, inspired by Agatha Christie’s fantastic stories (I adore Monsieur Poirot).

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These are aimed at the Young Adult market but since I dont believe there should be a cut off point for reading great books, I don’t care. The brightly coloured spines are smiling at me from the bookcase.

Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are thirteen year old boarding school girls. Daisy from a posh English family and Hazel the daughter of a successful Hong Kong businessman. They are the founding members of the Detective Society, the Holmes and Watson of the bun break and prep set.

The books are funny, clever, well written,  I haven’t yet guessed the identities of who dunnit? which is always a plus in a murder mystery.

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Perhaps the best boarding school ever - St Trinian's created by Ronald Searle

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books, reviews

Book Review – Saving Grace by Jane Green

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Grace seems to have a charmed life, married to a successful writer, a beautiful daughter, a career of her own, a wonderful house, good looks and great friends.

Her husband’s assistant has left, and she hires a replacement, slowly Grace’s perfect life begins to unravel.

Can she find her happiness again?

I really liked this book, Grace is a Brit in America, much like the author, and has a wry take on Americans.

The book covers a lot more complexities than the cover suggests, which is something that often happens with fiction written by women.

Grace’s story encompasses mental illness, cuckoos in the nest, love, trust, friendship, going home and the quest for real happiness.

I don’t want to give too much away, because I want people to read it, but it’s a really good read, just ignore the girlie, simplified cover and enjoy.

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