WWW Wednesday: 1st November 2017

November 1, 2017October 31, 2017 Ali@abookishlife18 Comments

The WWW Wednesday meme is currently hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words and is a great way to do a weekly update on what you’ve been reading and what you have planned.

To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading

Copycat I have two books on the go at the moment, the first of which is Copycat by Alex Lake. I won this in a Goodreads giveaway a couple of weeks ago and was in the mood for something different from all of the YA fantasy and sci fi I seem to have been reading lately. I’m not too far through (maybe 100 pages) but I am really enjoying it. It’s about a woman, Sarah, who discovers that someone has set up a Facebook profile in her name and is posting pictures of her and her family. They’re trying to get her attention but why?

It’s definitely one that makes you think about the information you put out there on social media.

Thinking about this the second book I’m reading, Bad Girls with Perfect Faces by Lynn Weingarten has a very similar theme. It’s a YA thriller about a girl Sasha who catfishes her best friends ex girlfriend when she thinks they might be getting back together.

I received this from NetGalley and wasn’t planning on reading it yet but discovered yesterday that it was published that day (I thought it was a January publication). Anyway, I started it immediately and literally haven’t been able to put it down. I’m already about half way through and will probably have it finished either today or tomorrow. There’s something about the author’s writing which really draws you in.

Recently Finished

I’m pretty much back to full reading speed but have to admit I still feel a little bit off. The books I’ve been reading haven’t been gripping me the way they usually do and I don’t think it’s them. Despite this though I have managed to finish three books this week.

Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass, #6)

The first of these was Tower of Dawn by Sarah J Maas which is book six in the Throne of Glass series. The story follows Chaol and Nesryn as they venture to the Southern continent to seek aid so it’s a lot simpler than the previous book. There are quite a few new characters but a couple of the characters from Assassin’s Blade also made an appearance which was sooo good.

I do think it’s longer than it needs to be, it seemed to take forever to read it and there’s a big chunk where not very much happens but it does have some absolutely brilliant moments. I do wish SJM would keep the language consistent though as it really started to get on my nerves. I have nothing against swearing in books but “not giving a sh*t” just doesn’t fit for me.

Cherish Hard (Hard Play, #1)

The second book finished (although technically I finished it before ToD) was Cherish Hard by Nalini Singh. I was in the mood for something light and completely different from all of the fantasy reads I seem to be surrounded with at the moment so when I got approved for this on NetGalley I thought why not.

I’ve only read one other book from this author so this was the first contemporary romance by her that I’ve picked up but I doubt it’ll be my last. I really enjoyed it and think it was just what I was needing. I would have liked a bit more struggle but it’s very sweet and funny so I’m not complaining too much.

The Empress (The Diabolic #2) The third and final book finished this week was The Empress by S.J. Kincaid. I have been desperate to read this ever since I heard The Diabolic was getting a sequel. I actually requested it on NetGalley ages ago but had given up all hope of getting a copy when I was suddenly approved at the end of last week.

I’m not sure I enjoyed it quite as much as The Diabolic but that could have been due to my expectations being higher (and this never ending slump). It is however brilliantly unpredictable, packed full of action and has one of my all time favorite characters Nemesis. She was created in a lab as a bodyguard and killing machine so isn’t always wholly human in her actions. She has very little empathy and next to no conscience. Basically kill first ask questions later. It’s very refreshing to have a main character who isn’t constantly thinking and worrying. In this story though she is starting to become more human and understand just what that means. It’s really good.

Reading Next

My reading next list is pretty much the same as last week’s as yet again I wandered off track. I do really need to pick up Strange Weather and My Side of the Diamond asap though as they’re both due for release. Goodbye Perfect is just one I got from NetGalley and think I might be in the mood for.

Strange Weather Goodbye, Perfect My Side of the Diamond

Have you read any of the books on my list this week? Any others you’d recommend? As always please feel free to leave comments and links below.

Happy Wednesday Everyone!!!

Review: The Empress by S.J. Kincaid

October 31, 2017 Ali@abookishlifeLeave a comment

The Empress by S.J. Kincaid

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I may not have been sure I wanted a sequel to The Diabolic but I’m so glad we got one. It’s completely unpredictable, full of action and a bit of an emotional roller coaster. Nemesis is an absolutely brilliant character and I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

*Spoiler Alert* This is second book in a series so while my review has no spoilers for the book both it and the blurb contain major spoilers for The Diabolic.

THE BLURB

It’s a new day in the Empire. Tyrus has ascended to the throne with Nemesis by his side and now they can find a new way forward—one where they don’t have to hide or scheme or kill. One where creatures like Nemesis will be given worth and recognition, where science and information can be shared with everyone and not just the elite.

But having power isn’t the same thing as keeping it, and change isn’t always welcome. The ruling class, the Grandiloquy, has held control over planets and systems for centuries—and they are plotting to stop this teenage Emperor and Nemesis, who is considered nothing more than a creature and certainly not worthy of being Empress.

Nemesis will protect Tyrus at any cost. He is the love of her life, and they are partners in this new beginning. But she cannot protect him by being the killing machine she once was. She will have to prove the humanity that she’s found inside herself to the whole Empire—or she and Tyrus may lose more than just the throne. But if proving her humanity means that she and Tyrus must do inhuman things, is the fight worth the cost of winning it?

MY REVIEW

I was a huge big fan of The Diabolic (it was one of my favourite reads of 2016) but have to admit I thought it was a standalone. I wasn’t too sure what to think when I heard we were getting a sequel. I liked the ending to The Diabolic but I was quite excited at the prospect of finding out what’s next for one of my favorite characters.

The story picks up almost immediately after book one with Tyrus on the throne and Nemesis by his side but while it seems they’ve gotten everything they want they’re in a very precarious position. The other senators are not happy with Tyrus’s radical ideas and aren’t overly keen on the idea of Nemesis becoming Empress. Add to that there’s something uneasy about the relationship between Tyrus and Nemesis. Neither fully trusts the other and they are so very different it’s difficult to see how their relationship can survive.

I kind of wish I’d re read The Diabolic before I picked this up as it took me a little while to get back up to speed on the world, it’s characters, the governance system and just who killed who. This is definitely not a book you can just pick up without reading the previous book and even then there’s a lot to remember. The author does a pretty good job of bringing you up to speed without info dumping though so it wasn’t long before I was fully immersed in this world of political maneuvering, deceit and violence.

Rather than going over old ground however the focus of this story is in moving things forward and questioning all that we seemingly know. She builds on the structure already in place adding so much more depth and detail but also bringing in so much new information on their religion and history. There are a few surprises in store for both the readers and the characters.

With this increasing focus on the religion the author asks some very powerful questions such as what does it actually mean to be human. Can someone who was created in a lab from various bits of DNA really be considered human and do they have a soul? It also raises issues around if and where a line should be drawn on genetic engineering and technological advances and is controlling technology and knowledge a way to control the masses. All things which I find fascinating.

Based on what I’ve said so far you’re probably thinking oh god this sounds so boring but it’s anything but. From almost the very first page you’re straight into action and it never lets up. It’s violent, horrifying and often heartbreaking and it’s completely unpredictable. Every time you think you know where it’s going some huge great spanner gets tossed in.

It’s safe to say there’s a lot of death and destruction, the scale of it is immense and it’s often sudden and shocking. What can you expect I suppose when your main character was grown in a lab with one purpose, protect a certain person at any cost.

I really, really love Nemesis. She’s such a wonderfully unique character. Due to her upbringing she has absolutely no empathy and no conscience. She’s very stab first, ask questions later when it comes to protecting those she loves. There’s no questioning her actions or indecisiveness which is incredibly refreshing.

What I love though is how she’s developing over the course of the series and in this book in particular. She’s becoming more human and learning what that really means. The contrast between her and Tyrus is fascinating to watch. He’s much more of a thinker than a doer so they balance each other out in a lot of ways but also often end up at odds when she wants to act and he doesn’t. I do love them together though. They get a really rough ride in this but the moments when it’s just the two of them are some of my favorites.

The differences between her and some of the other characters are also interesting. She’s considered a monster but she’s actually very naive in a lot of ways and sees the world in very simple terms. Those around her plotting and scheming and committing terrible acts could be considered far more monstrous than she ever is.

The pacing of the story is pretty much spot on and it’s definitely a very readable book. I more or less read the whole thing in a few hours. It’s so unpredictable and so packed full of twists it’s difficult to put down and the conclusion when it came was truly epic. I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. As always all views are my own.

My Ten Top Reads for Halloween

October 31, 2017October 30, 2017 Ali@abookishlife21 Comments

The theme for this weeks Top Ten Tuesday over at The Broke and the Bookish is a Halloween freebie. I have to admit I went into a bit of a panic when I heard this as there are just so many things you can do. I have however realized that I’ve never actually done a post on some of my favorite Halloween reads so, while it’s probably not the most original take on the prompt, that’s what I’ve decided to do.

These are probably favorite recent reads rather than all time faves but I’ve tried to include a good mix and some lesser known books so there’s something for everyone.

Young Adult

Frozen C harlotte by Alex Bell – Remote and isolated location, weird goings on in the middle of the night, mysterious deaths and some very creepy little dolls, what more do you need for a very spooky story that will have you jumping at every strange noise.
The Ghost Files by Apryl Baker – I see dead people. Yeah, thankfully I don’t but Mattie Hathaway does. She’s been doing her damnedest to ignore them but when something happens to a friend she has no choice but to open the lines of communication. I do love a ghost story and this has plenty of shocks and twists.
Monster by C.J. Skuse – Another remote and isolated location (a girl’s boarding school in the middle of nowhere), a group of girls left alone during a blizzard and the legend of the Beast of Bathory, a big cat rumored to roam outside the school. This is a little slow to get going but once the blizzard starts it’s truly gripping and keeps you guessing till the very end.
There’s Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins – There’s someone inside your house and for some reason they feel the need to move around your furniture and then bump you off in a violent and gruesome way. Not exactly the scariest of reads (not scary at all in fact) but it’s an easy read with plenty of diversity and a cutesy romance.

Adult

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman – Not sure why but there was a lot in this that creeped me the hell out. I mistakenly thought it was YA when I started it but it’s really not. Beautifully written and absolutely horrifying at times.
The Girl with all the Gifts by M.R. Carey – This was not at all what I was expecting when I first picked it up. I personally wouldn’t say it’s a particularly scary read but it does have the odd moment where you kinda want to cover your eyes. Absolutely brilliant, as is the film.
The Beast of Barcroft by Bill Schweigart – Something is terrorizing the neighborhood killing the local wildlife, pets and a few of the neighbors. Could it be some mythical beast, or has someone’s dog gone rabid (hint: it’s not the latter)? This is the book that taught me the meaning of cryptozoology and also had me looking into the Beast of West Lothian (totally a real thing just like apparently the Beast of Barcroft was).

Paranormal Romance

Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost – If you’re going to get involved with a vampire might as well make it Dracula, wait woops not supposed to call him that. He might get angry and torch the place. Jeaniene Frost books are definitely my fave guilty pleasure read and Vlad Tepesh is by far my favorite alpha male. Hot, hot, hot and hilariously funny at times.
The Skeletons of Scarborough House by Kitty French – I see dead people, sorry already done that. This time it’s Melody Bittersweet who sees dead people and decides to use her talent by starting the Girl’s Ghostbusting Agency. Unfortunately being the local nut doesn’t leave much potential for love and the only options seem to be scumbag ex and competition and the local reporter determined to prove you a fraud. This is a funny read but also more emotional than you would expect. Also Kitty French is the master at creating chemistry in the most unexpected of places.
Fashionably Dead by Robyn Peterman – Vampyres with a Y this time (is there a difference?). Anyway, girl goes to get hypnotized to stop smoking and winds up a vampyre, it could happen to anyone. I love Robyn Peterman books, they’re very crude but extremely fun reads.

So that’s my top ten Halloween reads. Have you read any of these or have I tempted you to pick them up? What are your favorite Halloween reads?

Feel free to leave comments below and links to your own top ten’s.

Teaser Tuesday: 31st October 2017

October 31, 2017October 29, 2017 Ali@abookishlife2 Comments

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purple Booker. If you want to join in grab your current read, flick to a random page, select two sentences (without spoilers) and share them in a blog post or in the comments of The Purple Booker.

This week my teaser comes from The Empress by S.J. Kincaid which I was very excited to receive from NetGalley and couldn’t resist reading immediately. It’s the follow up to The Diabolic, one of my favorite books last year, and is just about as brilliant. It is a sci fi rather than a horror but I’ve managed to find a teaser that’s perfect for Halloween.

I do need to add a warning that while my teaser is spoiler free the blurb below is not so don’t read it if you haven’t read the Diabolic (and were thinking about it).

My Teaser

And that felt right, and then I realized I was talking to a corpse and this was ridiculous. This was something a crazy person would do. I turned and walked away from the corpse. I had a book now.

~ 77% The Empress by S.J. Kincaid

Blurb

It’s a new day in the Empire. Tyrus has ascended to the throne with Nemesis by his side and now they can find a new way forward—one where they don’t have to hide or scheme or kill. One where creatures like Nemesis will be given worth and recognition, where science and information can be shared with everyone and not just the elite.

But having power isn’t the same thing as keeping it, and change isn’t always welcome. The ruling class, the Grandiloquy, has held control over planets and systems for centuries—and they are plotting to stop this teenage Emperor and Nemesis, who is considered nothing more than a creature and certainly not worthy of being Empress.

Nemesis will protect Tyrus at any cost. He is the love of her life, and they are partners in this new beginning. But she cannot protect him by being the killing machine she once was. She will have to prove the humanity that she’s found inside herself to the whole Empire—or she and Tyrus may lose more than just the throne. But if proving her humanity means that she and Tyrus must do inhuman things, is the fight worth the cost of winning it?

Review: Spandex and the City by Jenny T. Colgan

October 27, 2017 Ali@abookishlife1 Comment

Spandex and the City

Spandex and the City by Jenny T. Colgan

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars for being so hilariously funny, brilliant and a little bit mad.

THE BLURB

LOCAL GIRL SWEPT OFF HER FEET

Mild-mannered publicist Holly Phillips is unlucky in love. She’s embarrassed beyond belief when the handsome stranger she meets in a bar turns out to be ‘Ultimate Man’ – a superpowered hero whose rescue attempt finds her hoisted over his shoulder and flashing her knickers in the newspaper the next day.

But when Holly’s fifteen minutes of fame make her a target for something villainous, she only has one place to turn – and finds the man behind the mask holds a lot more charm than his crime-fighting alter-ego.

Can Holly find love, or is superdating just as complicated as the regular kind?

MY REVIEW

This book is out of this world…

Or should that be “involved in some kind of industrial accident that gave it super powers”??

I really, really loved this book. I am a big fan of Jenny Colgan but I’m an even bigger fan of Jenny T Colgan. This book has the usual mix of fun, humour and romance but with the added bonus of Ultimate Man. Yep we’re in super hero territory.

Have you ever wished you could be involved with a super hero or have you, like main character Holly, realized that actually being romantically linked to a man who wears a purple costume and is on a mission to use his superpowers to save the world is a little bit rubbish. Saving the world is admittedly more important than going on a date but being ditched is no fun, the costume is kinda naff (does everything really need to be purple) and let’s face it you’re going to end up as the damsel in distress. On the other hand though, if you’re single in the city with not many options you could probably do worse.

I absolutely loved how Colgan poked fun at the whole superhero world (in the most affectionate of ways) and how completely unimpressed Holly was by Ultimate Man. It had me giggling away on more than one occasion but is oh so true. Holly was a brilliant character and very relatable. She’s a little bit ditzy and seems to spend an awful lot of time embarrassing herself but she knows what she wants and despite having no powers she’s willing to get stuck in.

The romance is pretty sweet and funny as you would expect but there are also a few unexpected complications and bit of a love triangle which makes it a little bit unpredictable. It’s by no means certain how it’s all going to end. The whole superhero vs his nemesis storyline is fun and I loved how Colgan managed to sneak in a little dig at our current obsession with technology. If I had one minor niggle (and it is very minor) it’s that I thought some of the action scenes could use some work. It may just be me but I found it a little confusing trying to figure out what was going on.

Overall though I absolutely loved it. It may not be for you if you’re looking for Colgan’s usual cosy food related romances but if you don’t mind something a little bit different and a lot funny I’d definitely recommend.

I received a copy of this from the publisher via NetGalley. This has in no way influenced my review and if it helps I also bought a physical copy.

WWW Wednesday: 25th October 2017

October 25, 2017October 24, 2017 Ali@abookishlife19 Comments

The WWW Wednesday meme is currently hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words and is a great way to do a weekly update on what you’ve been reading and what you have planned.

To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading

Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass, #6) I’m still working my way through Tower of Dawn by Sarah J Maas but making reasonable progress. I have a physical copy so I haven’t been carrying it with me when I go out which is limiting my reading time. As I’m writing this I’m about 500 pages in.

So far it’s been really good but not quite great. The story is told from the point of view of just three characters so it’s a much simpler story that the previous book in the Throne of Glass series. At the moment there are a couple of different storylines and I have to admit I’m finding one a lot more interesting than the other.

Recently Finished

Why Not Me?

Another slow reading week (I’ve been watching a lot of TV) so only one book finished, Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling. I absolutely love the Mindy Project so when I spotted this on Overdrive I couldn’t resist giving it a try. It’s really a collection of essays on a variety of different topics including friendship, body image, an average Mindy day and meeting the President. There’s a lot to relate to and they are all told with a lot of humor. One story in particular had me laughing aloud on the train which resulted in some strange looks from my fellow passengers.

Reading Next

I’ve been going a little bit nuts on NetGalley (there are sooo many good books starting to pop up) and have been doing a lot of book shopping so my TBR pile is starting to get out of control again (if it ever was in control). I’m going to try and step up my reading a bit but given my current mood I think it’s probably going to be the easier books on my list I pick up. Probably one or more of the following.

My Side of the Diamond Goodbye, Perfect Strange Weather Cherish Hard (Hard Play, #1)

Have you read any of the books on my list this week? Any others you’d recommend? As always please feel free to leave comments and links below.

Happy Wednesday Everyone!!!

Rubber Ducks, Frogs, Elephants and Elegant Hedgehogs – Ten Books with Rather Unique Titles

October 24, 2017October 23, 2017 Ali@abookishlife36 Comments

The theme for this weeks Top Ten Tuesday over at The Broke and the Bookish is ten books with unique titles. This topic is absolutely perfect for me as I absolutely love weird and quirky books and that starts with the title. I have been known to buy books purely based on a bizarre title or cover. It’s a shockingly bad way to pick books but it has led to some brilliant discoveries. Anyway, these are some of the most unusual titles I’ve come across, some I’ve read, others are on my TBR.

1 Attack of the Unsinkable Rubber Ducks by Chris Brookmyre

Do you believe in ghosts? Do we really live on in some conscious form after we die, and is that form capable of communicating with the world of the living?…Aye, right.

That was Jack Parlabane’s stance on the matter, anyway. But this was before he found himself in the more compromising position of being not only dead himself, but worse: dead with an exclusive still to file.

From his position on high, Parlabane relates the events leading up to his demise, largely concerning the efforts of charismatic psychic Gabriel Lafayette to reconcile the scientific with the spiritual by submitting to controlled laboratory tests. Parlabane is brought in as an observer, due to his capacities as both a sceptic and an expert on deception, but he soon finds his certainties crumbling and his assumptions turned upside down as he encounters phenomena for which he can deduce no rational explanation. Perhaps, in a world in which he can find himself elected rector of an esteemed Scottish university, anything truly is possible.

One thing he knows for certain, however: Death is not the end – it’s the ultimate undercover assignment.

I could have filled the whole top ten with books by Chris Brookmyre (I haven’t, in case you’re worried) as all of his earlier books had very unusual titles. This is book five in the Jack Parlabane series and is probably the last one before the titles became kinda boring (Black Widow, Want You Gone). I miss his older books but I get the feeling the odd titles were putting people off, particularly outwith the UK.

2 A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares by Krystal Sutherland

From the author of Our Chemical Hearts comes the hilarious, reality-bending tale of two outsiders facing their greatest fears about life and love one debilitating phobia at a time.

Ever since Esther Solar’s grandfather was cursed by Death, everyone in her family has been doomed to suffer one great fear in their lifetime. Esther’s father is agoraphobic and hasn’t left the basement in six years, her twin brother can t be in the dark without a light on, and her mother is terrified of bad luck.

The Solars are consumed by their fears and, according to the legend of the curse, destined to die from them.

Esther doesn’t know what her great fear is yet (nor does she want to), a feat achieved by avoiding pretty much everything. Elevators, small spaces, and crowds are all off-limits. So are haircuts, spiders, dolls, mirrors and three dozen other phobias she keeps a record of in her semi-definitive list of worst nightmares.

Then Esther is pickpocketed by Jonah Smallwood, an old elementary school classmate. Along with her phone, money and a fruit roll-up she d been saving, Jonah also steals her list of fears. Despite the theft, Esther and Jonah become friends, and he sets a challenge for them: in an effort to break the curse that has crippled her family, they will meet every Sunday of senior year to work their way through the list, facing one terrifying fear at a time, including one that Esther hadn’t counted on: love.

This is one of the books I picked based on the cover (there’s a lobster, a lobster!!!) and a title that’s a little different. As it turns out the whole book is a little bit different but absolutely brilliant. It’s all about dealing with anxiety and other issues. The way it’s written is a bit quirky but it’s actually one of the most realistic portrayals I’ve come across. There’s definitely a lot to relate to.

3 The War of Don Emmanuel’s Nether Parts by Louis de Bernieres

Louis de Bernières’s sardonic pen has concocted a spicy olla podrida of a novel, set in a fictitious Latin American country, with all the tragedy, ribaldry, and humor Bernières can muster from a debauched military, a clueless oligarchy, and an unconventional band of guerrillas. There’s a plague of laughing, a flood of magical cats, and a torture-happy colonel. The cities, villages, politics, and discourse are an inspired amalgam of Latin Americana, but the comedy, horror, adventure, and vibrant individuals are pure de Bernières.

This masterpiece, the first of a trilogy, is followed by Señor Vivo and the Coca Lord, and The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman.

It’s been a long time since I read this, I went on a de Bernieres spree after reading Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, but from memory it was an enjoyable read. Like all of his books there were some long waffly bits that I’m pretty sure I skimmed over but other parts I loved. My favorite book in the trilogy is however Senor Vivo and the Coca Lord. It has a much more interesting story.

4 The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressell

The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists tells the story of a group of working men who are joined one day by Owen, a journeyman-prophet with a vision of a just society. Owen’s spirited attacks on the greed and dishonesty of the capitalist system rouse his fellow men from their political quietism. The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists is both a masterpiece of wit and political passion and one of the most authentic novels of English working class life ever written

I’m supposed to be reading this right now for my real life book club but so far I haven’t made it past the prelude. I suspect the title is the most interesting thing about this book as that blurb really doesn’t appeal. I was having a very funny chat on Friday with another member of the club who’s made it to 20% and absolutely hates it. It’s written the way the working class apparently spoke so the spelling is interesting to say the least. H’s seem to be dropped from words they should be in and added to words beginning with a vowel.

5 The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

Renée is the concierge of a grand Parisian apartment building, home to members of the great and the good. Over the years she has maintained her carefully constructed persona as someone reliable but totally uncultivated, in keeping, she feels, with society’s expectations of what a concierge should be. But beneath this facade lies the real Renée passionate about culture and the arts, and more knowledgeable in many ways than her employers with their outwardly successful but emotionally void lives.
Down in her lodge, apart from weekly visits by her one friend Manuela, Renée lives resigned to her lonely lot with only her cat for company. Meanwhile, several floors up, twelve-year-old Paloma Josse is determined to avoid the pampered and vacuous future laid out for her, and decides to end her life on her thirteenth birthday. But unknown to them both, the sudden death of one of their privileged neighbours will dramatically alter their lives forever.

Another real life book club book and another book I was not a fan of. It was funny watching the library assistant’s face when I asked if I could reserve a copy of this (I think she asked me the title three times) but that was pretty much all I liked about it. Far too heavy on philosophy and too light on action for me. Plus the whole 12 year old planning her suicide storyline really annoyed me.

6 Oz the Schnoz and the Elephant Rebellion by Nick Pirog

Oz Wimbly is fat, slow, has a huge nose and is an easy target for the bullies of his school. One day Oz gets a letter, he has been drafted into the ‘Elephant Rebellion.’ Oz is whisked off to Fort Loxo, located in a galaxy far from ours, and learns he is an elephant that has been hidden on Earth. Oz, along with a fledgling cast of other kid elephants, tries to survive ten weeks of Basic Training. But Oz soon finds out the grueling hours of PT, the obstacle courses, the krams, the Top Trunk tournament, and the thousands of push-ups are preparing them for battle. Ten of them will be chosen for the most dangerous mission ever attempted by the Rebellion. To retrieve the Firestones. And possibly win back their planet. And it might all just be up to Oz.

I love Nick Pirog, his books are always full of humor and have that something a little bit out there about them. They shouldn’t work but somehow they do. I have to confess this is the only book of his I haven’t read but it’s definitely on my TBR.

7 Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Eleanor Oliphant has learned how to survive – but not how to live

Eleanor Oliphant leads a simple life. She wears the same clothes to work every day, eats the same meal deal for lunch every day and buys the same two bottles of vodka to drink every weekend.

Eleanor Oliphant is happy. Nothing is missing from her carefully timetabled life. Except, sometimes, everything.

One simple act of kindness is about to shatter the walls Eleanor has built around herself. Now she must learn how to navigate the world that everyone else seems to take for granted – while searching for the courage to face the dark corners she’s avoided all her life.

Change can be good. Change can be bad. But surely any change is better than… fine?

From elephants to an Oliphant. I love this book sooo much I had to put it on the list. The title is maybe not that unique at the moment, there seem to be a lot of people who are fine or not OK but her name is pretty unique so I’m sneaking it in.

8 A Girl’s Guide to Kissing Frogs by Victoria Clayton

A girl may have to kiss some frogs before she finds her Prince Charming, but Marigold has found herself a real toad. On her way to becoming a prima ballerina, she is bent over backwards – literally – working her way to the top. But a painful fall sends her limping back home, where an old friend is ready to sweep her off her feet.

OK yeah there are quite a few Girl’s Guides around at the moment but are they about kissing frogs? This is another one I’m sneaking onto the list because I love it so much. It is pretty much just a romance and not a lot happens but there are some very eccentric characters, some ballet dancing, a whole gothic castle type bit and a lot of commentary on class, manners and education.

9 The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzie Lee

Henry “Monty” Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven’t been able to curb any of his roguish passions—not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men.

But as Monty embarks on his Grand Tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.

Still it isn’t in Monty’s nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt that spans across Europe, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.

I suppose if girls are getting guides it’s only fair that gentlemen get one too 🙂 I haven’t read this yet but I really, really want to it’s just sooo expensive and I have lots of books I haven’t read so can’t justify buying it. Unless y’all tell me it’s brilliant and a masterpiece and then I’ll have to buy it.

10 The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

Todd Hewitt is the only boy in a town of men. Ever since the settlers were infected with the Noise germ, Todd can hear everything the men think, and they hear everything he thinks. Todd is just a month away from becoming a man, but in the midst of the cacophony, he knows that the town is hiding something from him — something so awful Todd is forced to flee with only his dog, whose simple, loyal voice he hears too. With hostile men from the town in pursuit, the two stumble upon a strange and eerily silent creature: a girl. Who is she? Why wasn’t she killed by the germ like all the females on New World? Propelled by Todd’s gritty narration, readers are in for a white-knuckle journey in which a boy on the cusp of manhood must unlearn everything he knows in order to figure out who he truly is.

Another book I absolutely love and adore ~~and would marry and have its babies if I could~~. I have however only read it once as it’s far too much of an emotional rollercoaster to read again.

So that’s my top ten books with unique titles. Have you read any of these or have I tempted you to pick them up? What’s the most unique title you’ve come across?

Feel free to leave comments below and links to your own top ten’s.

Teaser Tuesday: 24th October 2017

October 24, 2017October 21, 2017 Ali@abookishlife1 Comment

This week my teaser comes from Tower of Dawn by Sarah J Maas which I have been working my way through over the last week or so. Technically not a horror but there have been more than a few seriously creepy moments.

I should add a quick warning that this is book 6 in the series so while there are no spoilers in my teaser the synopsis below is full of them.

My Teaser

She had never once feared for her safety, not from the moment she had set foot within these walls, but Yrene found herself going still as she stared into that gloom to her right. Then slowly over her shoulder.

~ Pg 127 Tower of Dawn by Sarah J Maas

Blurb

In the next installment of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series, follow Chaol on his sweeping journey to a distant empire.

Chaol Westfall has always defined himself by his unwavering loyalty, his strength, and his position as the Captain of the Guard. But all of that has changed since the glass castle shattered, since his men were slaughtered, since the King of Adarlan spared him from a killing blow, but left his body broken.

His only shot at recovery lies with the legendary healers of the Torre Cesme in Antica—the stronghold of the southern continent’s mighty empire. And with war looming over Dorian and Aelin back home, their survival might lie with Chaol and Nesryn convincing its rulers to ally with them.

But what they discover in Antica will change them both—and be more vital to saving Erilea than they could have imagined.

The Dazzling Heights by Katherine McGee

October 22, 2017 Ali@abookishlife1 Comment

The Dazzling Heights by Katharine McGee

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a book I feel like I’ve been waiting forever for. I thought The Thousandth Floor was fantastic but with that cliffhanger at the end I really needed this, the second book, as soon as possible and it really doesn’t disappoint.

All of the things I loved about the first book are there but now that a lot of the world building is out of the way the focus is much more on the characters and story. There’s yet another fantastic hook at the start to keep you reading and more twists and turns than a twisty turny thing. The highlight for me though was definitely the development of the characters and their relationships. Now the wait is on for book three.

I should add a warning here that as this is the second book in the series there are spoilers from here on in for book one so if you haven’t read it go do that or have a read at my review.

The Blurb

All that glitters is not gold.

New York City, 2118. Manhattan is home to a thousand-story supertower, a breathtaking marvel that touches the sky. But amid high-tech luxury and futuristic glamour, five teenagers are keeping dangerous secrets…

Leda is haunted by memories of what happened on the worst night of her life. She’ll do anything to make sure the truth stays hidden—even if it means trusting her enemy.

Watt just wants to put everything behind him…until Leda forces him to start hacking again. Will he do what it takes to be free of her for good?

When Rylin wins a scholarship to an upper-floor school, her life transforms overnight. But being there also means seeing the boy whose heart she broke, and who broke hers in return.

Avery is tormented by her love for the one person in the world she can never have. She’s desperate to be with him…no matter the cost.

And then there’s Calliope, the mysterious, bohemian beauty who arrives in New York determined to cause a stir. And she knows exactly where to begin.

But unbeknownst to them all, someone is watching their every move, someone with revenge in mind. After all, in a world of such dazzling heights, just one wrong step can mean a devastating fall.

My Review

Yet again this book kicks off with a killer hook, there’s a body in the water. Did they drown or just happen to end up there? Was it an accident, was it deliberate or was it murder? Most important of all, who is it? With a beginning like that it’s very difficult to walk away from this story and, even though the author did exactly the same in the first book, I found myself unable to put it down until I got answers.

Unfortunately it’s a long and frustrating wait as the story jumps back in time to a few months earlier picking up shortly after the shocking events at the end of the previous book which have left everyone (me included) reeling.

The narrative follows a similar style to book one with the chapters rotating through the points of view of each of the main characters all of whom are dealing with things in their own unique way. Some are grieving, others wracked with guilt and some are out for revenge or trying to cover everything up. It’s like one of those TV drama’s about the rich and famous (think Revenge or Gossip Girl) but set 100 years from now.

I thought I would struggle to get back into this series and the world but it actually came pretty easily. It all felt very familiar. All of the same characters are there and it felt like coming back to people I knew, or at least thought I did as the author does a wonderful job of developing them. I found my opinions of them shifting and changing throughout the story.

Similarly, the relationships between them that began in the first book continue to evolve and change and I found my view of them starting to shift a little bit too. There was also a new and surprising relationship which I have to say I fully support but there was one in particular I really wanted to work and so far that hasn’t happened, oh well, maybe in book three.

As well as the familiar the author also adds a couple of new characters to shake things up a bit, the main one being Calliope Brown. I have to admit though that while I can understand why she was added she wasn’t my favorite and her whole storyline kind of bugged me. The mother and daughter con artists thing seems to have been lifted directly from the movie Heartbreakers (one of my fave films btw). There’s one scene in particular in the hotel lobby that seemed to have been almost lifted word for word. I probably would have been ok with a con artist type story but it just didn’t have any originality.

The story itself, is wonderfully addictive just like in the Thousandth Floor. The pacing is absolutely spot on and the mysterious death in the beginning really draws you in. The author keeps you guessing and throws in so many twists and red herrings that you don’t have a hope in hell of figuring it out until the very end. It’s frustrating but absolutely brilliant. I found myself on the edge of my seat on more than one occasion only to be screaming in frustration the next when I realized I wasn’t finding out what happened yet.

The futuristic setting and sci fi elements do add an interesting aspect to the story but as most of the world building took place in the first book there is definitely a lot more focus on the characters and story this time around. Similar to my biggest gripe with The Thousandth Floor though, I do still think the author goes a little bit too far in terms of the tech and gadgets. Just because it’s set in the future doesn’t mean everything has to be super high tech and gimmicky. When they started with edible lights in the icing of a cake I was ready to throw my kindle at the wall. No one messes with cake. I kind of feel, just let icing be icing or a blanket be a blanket. Not everything has to be different. Anyway, as you can probably tell the cake made me very angry but, I’m over it.

Overall, despite my cake related issues, this is definitely a book and a series that I’d recommend. It’s a completely addictive read with more than a few twists and surprises.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC. As always all view are my own.

Saturday Night at the Movies: 5 Great British Horror Films

October 21, 2017 Ali@abookishlife9 Comments

I know, book blog but Halloween is fast approaching and I am a BIG fan of horror movies so I couldn’t resist doing a post on some of my favorites. This, the first of two posts (I couldn’t limit myself to one), is all about British horror films.

I’m very possibly biased but I truly think that Britain has produced some of the best ever horror films. They do tend to be a little low budget but they definitely make up for it with good story lines and brilliant dialogue. There are a lot of great films but I think these are my favorites.

5. Dog Soldiers (2002)

What’s it about – A group of soldiers versus a pack of werewolves in the Scottish wilderness.

Why I love it – There don’t seem to be many werewolf movies so that’s a big plus and this one while being pretty low budget is really well made. There are a few twists that I didn’t expect, great acting, a decent script and I really liked the military aspects. The werewolves themselves are kind of funny looking, it is low budget after all, but still very watchable.

Fear Factor – It has it’s moments but it’s difficult to take the werewolves seriously when they are so comical looking.

4. The Descent

What’s it about – A group of friends decide to go and explore some caves, but they’re not the only ones down there.

Why I love it – It’s dark, it’s claustrophobic, the things in the cave are properly scary and it’s very, very violent. The best thing though is that it’s really a survival story and it is brilliant to watch how each of them react to the situation, firstly when they realize they’re stuck in the caves and then when they realize they’re not alone. Some are all about the team work and others mean to survive by any means possible.

Fear Factor – Pretty high although that could be just me as I’m a little bit claustrophobic and you would never catch me down in those caves in the first place. There’s a lot of shocks, sudden violence and will definitely have you watching from between your fingers.

3. 28 Days Later (2002)

What’s it about – Zombies!!!! Kind of like the Walking Dead, bloke wakes up in hospital in London to discover most of the population has been infected with a virus.

Why I love it – Zombies!!!! I love a zombie film, they are the absolute best movie monster because they have literally no feelings, no conscience and no sense of self preservation. Also the scene where he initially wakes and is literally the only person on the streets of London is stunning.

Fear Factor – There are quite a few shocks and scares but it’s probably more gory than terrifying.

2. Severence (2006)

What’s it about – A group of sales executives on a corporate retreat in Eastern Europe somehow end up at the wrong cabin, the very wrong cabin.

Why I love it – There is a lot of bad language, nudity, sexual references, drug use and over the top violence but it’s hilarious. The humor is definitely dark but it just makes me giggle. Danny Dyer is fantastic in the lead but the other characters are also perfectly cast. There are quite a few who remind me of aspects of my co workers and I love all of the little resentments between them.

Fear Factor – Yeah, there are a few bits that will make you jump and it’s a little bit creepy in places but this is much more about the humor and the violence.

1. Shaun of the Dead (2004)

What’s it about – A man decides to turn his moribund life around by winning back his ex-girlfriend, reconciling his relationship with his mother, and dealing with an entire community that has returned from the dead to eat the living.

Why I love it – Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Do I need to say anything else? OK, I love the humor and just how long it takes the pair of them to realize the world is being taken over by zombies. It definitely makes a very valid point about how we kind of sleepwalk through life not paying attention to the things going on around us. Although I would hope I would notice the end of the world. I also love just how crap their plan is. I’m fairly positive that should there ever be a zombie apocalypse I will probably be the first to go.

Fear Factor – It describes itself as a RomZomCom so pretty low. There is the odd creepy moment and quite a bit of blood and gore but it’s more funny than scary.

So that’s my five favorite British horror movies. Have you watched any of them? What did you think? Are there any you think should be included in this list or that you would recommend?