Read Bake Stitch

Oh goodness, it seems as though I have been neglecting this site for a while.

Since I last posted Christmas and New Year have come and gone, as well as another semester at University.

I did complete my Reading Challenge for 2013, which saw me read 51 books in a year. Must admit it's way more than I expected to read, so I was pretty chuffed with myself.

This year I have chosen my goal the same as last year, 50 books. Although I would like to read more, really push my limits.

Also, I want to read more classics. Maybe one a month? See how that goes as I do normally find it hard to get through them at a decent pace. 

I'm currently reading Tuesdays with Morrie, and thoroughly enjoying it. I finished The Five People you Meet in Heaven last night, and just had to read more of Mitch Albom's work.

Will probably write some reviews on these books in due course.

How many books did you read in 2013? What about this year, any book/resolutions?

Would love some suggestions.

Happy Reading and Happy New Year!!!

I recently, well when I mean recently I really mean in the last month, finished Rainbow Rowell's first two novels Attachment and Eleanor & Park.

These books have created a rather big stir in the BookTube community as well as bloggers alike, so of course I just had to read them.

Attachments

Beth and Jennifer are best friends working their local newspaper. Although in different departments they constantly communicate through their internal work email, however this is against the rules.
It is a very well known fact that everyone's emails are screened, they don't know who does it, but they do know that people are given warnings and reminded that certain language and conversations are not appropriate usage of work emails. This does not deter the two girls, and they go ahead like nothing is wrong. 
Lionel is the screener. He hates his job, he is under-challenged and even though the pay is good, his life is beginning to get him down. That is until Beth and Jennifer's conversation is flagged up on his computer screen. He can't help but smile when he reads about their daily life, and he becomes attached, almost obsessed with learning all about their interesting lives.

Lionel creeped me out, I guess it was his secrecy, but his behaviour was beginning to become obsessive and rather stalker-y. If this was in real life and I had a friend that behaved like Lionel I would be seriously worried about Beth/Jennifer's safety!
It was an easy and interesting read, but nothing I would rave about. The characters are relatable and the use of Email as a way of communicating story was a nice change to first person narrative.

Star Rating: 3/5


Eleanor & Park

Set over one year Eleanor & Park tells the story of Eleanor, a new girl at school who just doesn't fit in and doesn't want to, and Park who may not be a total jock but gets by just fine by keeping quiet and a low profile. A modern day Romeo and Juliet, or so they would have you think, their love isn't an easy one. Eleanor's family life is disruptive and unhappy, while Park's is practically idyllic. It portrays a realistic painting of first young love and the difficulties of teenage life.

This book has been given such rave reviews online that I was so excited to pick it up.
I must admit, I was rather disappointed.
Eleanor was annoying as hell, and tried to push everyone and everything away. She was afraid to show emotion and just frustrated me so much. I guess that was what RR was going for, but it was not a good way of making Eleanor readable or likeable.

It was very realistic, and sometimes sweet, but the characters, particularly Eleanor, were selfish and egoistic. Not a very enjoyable read if you don't like that sort of thing.

Star Rating: A very small 3/5

Have you read either of these books? What did you think?
I'm very weary to read Rainbow Rowell's latest book Fangirl, as I was just not impressed with her previous, but I expect I will give it a go.

Happy Reading.

I was lucky to be sent this book by the publisher after I saw Gemma's tweet asking for people who would be interested in reviewing it.
As it was my first encounter with the New Adult genre I was excited to get started and to see what I thought about this controversial type of books.

There seems to be a love/hate relationship about NA. I presume those who read YA might not be interested in the type of topics that would be involved with New Adult, and vice versa.

Based in Manhattan Brooklyn Girls tells the story of a group of friends, who having just graduated from college (university!) have to deal with the new and scary adult world. It's not as easy as they thought it would be. The first book focuses on Pia, and the next book will focus on another member of the book.  

Brooklyn Girls is realistic in one sense, and quite fictional in the other. Although I can relate to the feelings and emotions of Pia and her friends, all of the crazy and scary things that happen to her seem to vanish in the blink of an eye, everything seems to go right in the end. Which is not always the case in real life.

It's an enjoyable and quick read, although not normally the type of book I would normally pick up. I would recommend it as a great beach/summer read.

It's on sale from Thursday 4th July (UK)

Happy Reading!

Emma

Your favourite series.

This is a hard one, as i've never read a complete series where I have enjoyed all the books in it.

Although I haven't completed it yet, I am LOVING the Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson. The books are exciting, packed full of suspense and an altogether thrilling read.

A book you've read more than three times.

As embarrassed as I am to admit it, Twilight is the only book I have read more than 3 times. 

I was 15 and impressionable, I couldn't get enough of Edward and Bella's relationship.

Unfortunately now I have so many books I want to read, it's difficult to find the time to re-read beloved books. TFIOS is one of those books I will keep going back to I think, it's too good for words.

The best book you read this year.

I'm going to guess this means "this year so far..." so that's what I'm going to go with.

This book was heartwarming, romantic, frustrating at points but just beautiful. The movie with Leonardo DiCaprio perfectly captures the magical world F. Scott Fitzgerald's created, and I cannot wait to read/watch it again some point soon. 

Has anyone else started/completed this?

Think I might give it a go. It may not be day by day, but eventually I will get it done.

I have read my fair share of YA Dystopian novels, most of which contain a female protagonist running from a suppressive regime. Fighting for the little guy, doing what's right.

This book was a surprising relief from what I had learned to expect from this type of novel. 

Centered around Todd Hewitt (yes, that's right...a boy!), The Knife of Never Letting Go pulls the reader into a world where all the women have died, Todd is the youngest member of society, and all the men can hear each other's "Noise". Basically everything they think, want to say, have said/seen in the past is constantly on show for the rest to hear.

When Todd goes out into the swamp in search of apples he stumbles across something that he never thought he would ever find: silence. His world will never be the same again. 

Ben and Cillian, the only parent like figures he has ever known, force him to flee town and go on the run. For what reason, Todd does not know. 

Todd has to grow up quickly, even though according to his culture, he doesn't become a man for another 2 weeks. He struggles with his morals, loyalty and conscious battling things he thought he would never have to. 

This book is exciting, fast paced and somewhat un-put-down-able. With tinges of romance and some gory action scenes The Knife of Never Letting Go is suitable for everyone.

My favourite thing was his relationship between Todd and his dog Manchee.

Did I mention that because of the Noise everyone can hear what animals are saying too? 

Yeh, dogs can talk!

If that's not an incentive to read this book, I don't know what is.

Has anyone else read the other two books in this series?

I am really looking forward to starting them. I was definitely left on a cliff, hanging. 

This book is perfect if you love Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice in particular. 

Unfortunately I wouldn't be classed as a fan of either.

I still enjoyed this book thoroughly, however.

Having read Pride and Prejudice as well as seeing the movie, it was a great transition and it was as if Jane herself had written a sequel. 

Every time someone asked what I was reading, and saw the author, exclaimed that they had heard of P.D. James. Must admit, I had not. 

I was promptly told that some of her work had been made into TV shows, which explained why people recognised the name.

It leads on from the marriage of Elizabeth and Darcy (Spoiler if you haven't read P&P) as well as her sisters, and centres around a gruesome murder that occurs on the Darcy's land. Suspicions are high, confusion is in abundance and the story goes somewhere you never thought it would. It keeps you guessing and thinking right until the end.

Death Comes to Pemberley successfully continues the world famous story of Pride and Prejudice and the relationships between the characters are 100% accurate.

Actually, we see different sides to the beloved characters and it makes you think about P&P in a different light. What we we thought about certain people after reading Pride and Prejudice may not be how you feel once you read Death Comes to Pemberley.

After reading this I am not sure if I would read any more of P.D. James' work, crime fiction is not really my cup of tea. I cannot fault her talent, and this book was highly entertaining, but give me some romance/comedy any day.

This is totally relatable. Books are more life enriching than clothes...and food. Well, you need to eat to survive. If not, then you will die, and won't be able to read anymore. That would suck. 

Just a few lovely photos I have come across today.

So, I'm sure you all know about this series, but probably by their individual names.

1. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

2. The Girl Who Played With Fire

3. The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest

I have read the first two, and hope to start the third soon. 

However I would like to express my opinions on the first two and then extend the review to the third when I have read it.

I don't normally read crime fiction, to be honest it doesn't interest me at all, but my goodness I am glad I picked up these books.

The first book explores the main characters Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist just enough for you to be intrigued and you are definitely satisfied by the end of the book. The second book then goes further into their lives, particularly the mysterious Salander who's character and unpredictable behaviour makes her such a great character to read.

It's great to read a female character that isn't basing her actions on the chance that the male protagonist will fall in love with her.

Salander is who she is and will do whatever it takes to do what is right. She does not take any crap from anybody. If you pardon my French.

There are some graphic moments in these books which made my stomach go all funny. I can't even watch Casualty let alone read about some horrifying crime. It didn't put me off though. I haven't seen the movie (either the Swedish or American versions!) and I don't think i will be any time soon. If I can't read the graphic scenes, how will I be watching them?? 

Also, in the first book, I must not have been reading carefully enough, because I totally flew past the plot twist and had to re-read a few pages when I realised what I had done. Silly. Maybe this enhanced my surprise. I don't know.

I am looking forward to seeing where the characters go in the final book. I am sure there are plenty more twists and turn to come. 

So this is my first post on BookLikes. I love the layout and the user friendly interface. 

It's a great way for people who love books to find like minded friends.

So, Hello! 

Welcome. I look forward to speaking to you all.

Emma