Monday Missions #3

I really need to clean up my bedsheets. 

Okay, so in my first Monday Missions, I said I was going to be reading "Gone" by Michael Grant and read it I did, so here in this mission, we are going to try and tackle the second book in the series, "Hunger" by Michael Grant. As suggested by the title, Sam is facing a new challenge on top of the already pretty large predicaments he faced in the first book where food is running scarce. The Darkness is growing, and animals as well as people are gaining powers. I am struggling to understand how an entire town manages to run out of food in just over two weeks, but it may be explained in the book. After the violence of the first book, I'm not too exited to be reading this but I will march on through in the hopes that I can finish this series at last. 

As well as starting that series, I started a new series I read a couple of books from when I was a young teenager but never picked them up again, until now. The second book of the Georgia Nicoleson series, "It's OK, I'm Wearing Really Big Knickers!" By Louise Renninson, is a book I regretfully never picked up as a child and am glad I get the chance to do so now, where she continues to obsess over her large nose and her fondess for the newly found 'Sex God'. 

The next book is a well loved film of mine starring Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep, and despite not having an interest in the fashion buisness of any kind, I love the story of Andrea and how far she goes to achieve her dreams in the big, open world. "The Devil Wears Prada" by Lauren Weisberger is just one of those novels I didn't know was a novel, and I just thought it was a movie, so I am really looking foward to see how they compare to each other. Amazingly, found this in a charity store for 50p so I won't be hesitating at all to going back there. 

Lastly, but certainly not least, is a book I don't plan to complete but read alongside the books I am reading. "All I Know Now: Wonderings and Reflections on Growing Up Gracefully" by Carrie Hope Fletcher is a guidebook for teenagers (and maybe even young adults) but all presented like a 

play. I have surprisingly never heard of her before Emma Blackery's review on the book in her second channel, BirdyBoots, despite Carrie being the sister of a member in my favourite childhood boyband McFly - although I doubt with all the great work she has done and is doing, she'd want to be remembered as her big brothers' sister and not for what she has actually done. I'm currently reading this book and so far, it's a wonderful read, I can't wait to get futher. 

Thank you for reading this weeks Monday Missions, I'll see you all again for next weeks' but until then, bye! 

May 2015 Book Haul: Xtra - Charity Shops

       

I know, I know, I said in part four I wasn't going to buy more books but I wasn't even intending on going out today - I just didn't want to stay cooped up indoors. I avoided all my favourite bookstores and instead I went to two chairty shops and a bookshop called Victoria Bookshop (I think). 

"Doctor Who: The Feast of the Drowned" by Stephen Cole - hardback, 50p. 

When a naval cruiser sinks in mysterious circumstances in North Sea, all aboard are lost. Rose is saddened to learn that the brother of her friend, Keisha, was among the dead. And yet he appears to them as a ghostly apparition, begging to be saved from the coming feast...the feast of the drowned. 

As the dead crew haunt loved ones all over London, the Doctor and Rose are drawn into a chilling mystery. What sank the ship and why? When the cruiser's wreckage was towed up the thames, what sinister force came with it?

The river's dark waters are hiding an even darker secret, as preparations for the feast near their conclusion... 

I am a huge fan of Doctor Who and, despite my lack of them, quite like science fiction too (I just wish more women were in them without families or marriage). At only 50p, it's the perfect time to try one out, and I believe every book is written by a different author so that's pretty cool too - I am exited to see if I can find new ones in the future. 

"The Twilight Saga: New Moon" by Stephenie Mayer - paperback, movie cover, 50p. 

I knew we were both in mortal danger. 

Still, in that instant, I felt well. Whole. 

I could feel my heart racing in my chest, the blood pulsing hot and fast through my veins again. 

My lungs filled deep with the sweet scent that came off his skin. 

It was like there had never been any hole in my chest. 

I was perfect - not healed, but as if there had never been a wound in the first place. 

Now. When i was fourteen, I loved the movies and the books. I had the DVD's, but now I only have part one of breaking dawn, and I had all the non-movie cover editions too but I thought since everyone else hated them, I didn't want to be different and gave them all away and deeply regret this decision. I was thinking lf rebuying them anyway, but I can live with a cheap movie cover for now (forever grateful Potter books never had movie covers). 

"Every Second Counts" by Sophie McKenzie, Book 2, Victoria Bookshop, £5. 

Outlawed teenagers Charlie and Nat are on the run, falsely accused of terrorism and kidnapping. With few people they can trust, they are desperete to bring down their accusers and return to their former lives. But time is running out. 

Charlie has a plan that might just save them - but it will only work if she goes it alone. 

Could being together be more dangerous then being apart? 

Before I went a little crazy and deleted so many posts, I wrote a review for the first book and said now eager I was to get the second because the covers matched so beautifully I couldn't not have it and boom, found it! I have been unable to buy anything online due to having no card so it was a book I was eager to get and am glad I didn't buy it on Amazon when I could as I got it cheaper today!

Lastly, but hopefully not least: 

"The Devil Wears Prada" by Louise Weisberger - movie cover, paperback, 50p.  

High fashion, low cunning - and the boss from hell. 

When Andrea first sets foot in the plush Manhatten offices of Runway she knows nothing. She's never heard of the world's most fashionable magazine, or it's feared and fawned-over editor, Miranda Priestly. 

Soon she knows way too much.

She knows it's a sacking offence to wear less then a three-inch heel to work - but there's always a fresh pair of Manolos in the accessories cupboard. 

She knows that eight stone is fat. That you can charge anything - cars, manicures, clothes - to the Runway account, but you must never leave your desk, or let Miranda's coffee get cold. That at 3am, when your boyfriends dumping you because you're always working and your best friend's just been arrested, if Miranda phones with her latest unreasonable demand, you jump. 

Most of all, Andrea knows that Miranda is a monster boss who makes Cruella de Vil look like a fluffy bunny. But this is her big break, and it's all going to be worth it in the end. 

Isn't it? 

This was one of my favourite movies as a kid, and I still love it today (despite not being interested in fashion), and even though I was interested in the book, I had no plans to actually go out and buy it. Till today, that is. I'm so eager to read it, in fact, it might be next weeks Monday Mission. 

I don't see the point in doing one for Harry Potter because everyone knows what it's about and if you don't, you should, but it's a hardback first edition copy and on the inside, the two books after it aren't even there because they haven't been published yet, how cool is that?!? I also bought "All I Know Now" by Carrie Hope Fletcher, but I'm going to be talking about that in the book discussion/review when I finish it in a lot more detail and...to be honest, couldn't be bothered taking the photo and writing about it here, in my wrap up and the the review, haha.

Thank you so, so much for reading as always. I do hope you habe enjoyed this lengthly series of book hauls and I'll see you next time, bye! 

 

Book Review: "Over You" by Lucy Dimond.

                                     

Ever wondered how your friends see you now?

Josie, Nell and Lisa go back a long way - they were flatmates, soulmates and best mates back in their twenties when life was one long party. 

Five years later things are different. Josie is married with kids, in deepest surburbia, free-spirit Nell has travelled the world, and Lisa is on the path to career-glory (and the salary Premiership). A reunion weekend in London seems a great idea to Josie...until she discovers something which threatens to blow her marriage apart. 

Punlished in 2008 by Pan Books.

I have never heard of Lucy Diamond before this book but as small background, she's married with three kids and writes children's books under her real name (Sue something). 

This book was incredibly predictable. You could tell what was going to happen way before you even hit that point. I can bet you probably guessed what this book was about just from the back cover and almost exactly what was going to happen. Did that make this book any less enjoyable? Certainly not. It was fast paced,  the writing style was just delightful and it had that some rather dark themes that were presented in a moving, but not deep, way. 

The character devlopment was not the greatest, I have to say. At first, it was hard to distinguish two people from each other - even as the book ended, although they all had their own personality, they all seemed to talk like each other, and there was no difference. Granted, modern day and middle aged mothers all seem to have a certain way of conversation and from the perspective of an eighteen year old, childless female I could not tell any originality. 

As for recommendation, I gave it a four out of five and would lend it to anyone who loves romance/comedy and light hearted, easy to read novels. 

May 2015 Book Haul: Part Four.

Finally, you say! We have reached the last post of my May Haul (and if you see a post following this one called the same thing but instead of having a part, it says Xtra, you know my buying books for this week has failed, but this is meant to be the last part!) 

"The Twins" by Saskia Sarginson. 

Isolte and Viola are twins. 

Inseparable as chirldren, they've grown into very different adults: Isolte, a successful features writer for a fashion magazine; and Viola, desperetly unhappy and struggling with a lifelong eating disorder. 

What happened all those years ago to set the twins on such different paths to adulthood? As both women start to unravel the esculating tragedies of a half-remembered summer, terrifying secrets from the past come rushing back - and threaten to overwhelm their adult lives...

What first caught my eye with this book was the beautiful cover and how it feels different (kinda a rough and tough texture, weird for a paperback) but the eating disorder really sealed the deal for me. I have always had an interest in eating disorders and first started research on the topic when I was thirteen and I feel like not enough women and men are educated on the subject so I want to be one of the people who do, even though I have never had one. 

"The kite runner" by Khaled Hosseini. 

Afghanistan, 1975: twelve-year-old Amir is desperete to win the local kite-fighting tournament and his loyal friend Hassan promises to help him. But neither of the boys can foresee what will happen to Hussan that afternoon, an event that is to shatter their lives. After the Russians invade and the family is forced to flee to America, Amir realises that one day he must return to Afghanistan under Taliban rule to find the one thing the world cannot grant him: redemption. 

This is a book that has been on my Amazon book wishlist for quite some time, so I'm glad I found it in a discount bookstore. I've heard mixed reviews on this book but, especially with all the racism in the news lately, I thought I would educate myself on the world around me. This might not be based on actual events in the world or the past, but it might give me an idea on what is happening in places I can't see. 

"Talon" by Julie Kagawi. 

'There are a dozen soldiers hiding in that maze. All hunting you. All looking to kill you'

To the ouside world, Ember Hill is an ordinary girl, but Ember has a deadly secret. A dragon hiding in human form, she is destined to fight the shadowy Order of St.George, a powerful society of dragonslayers. 

St.George soldier Garret is determined to kill Ember and her kind. Until her bravery makes him question all he has been taught about dragons. 

Now a war is coming and Garret and Ember must choose their sides -fight to save their bond or fulfil their fate and destory one another. 

This was very much an impulse by, but the cover and the general human-but-actually-a-dragon plotline had me reeled in. I've heard some mixed reviews about this book, but in general I'm quite exited to read it - a shame this is not a standalone, because it will take me a while to get the second if it's good enough for me to want to continue the saga. 

"Hollow Earth by John and Carole.E.Barrowman (yes, John as in actor who was in Doctor Who and yes, Carole as in his wife I think)

Twins Matt and Emily Calder have imaginations so powerful that they can make art come to life. Their powers are sought by villians intent on accessing the terrors of Hollow Earth - a place where all the devils, demons and monsters have imagined lie trapped for eternity. If Hollow Earth is breached, the world will be plunged into chaos. If Hollow Earth is breached, the twins are as good as dead. 

Possibly surprising to some, but I did not pick this up because of John Barrowman and my love for Doctor Who - at the time, I was rushed, and even though the name triggered a memory in my mind somewhere, I couldn't remember what it was. I just have an interest in the power of imagination (and art, hence Dorian Gray), so picked it up on impulse, the same time I got Talon and Over You. When I get round to reading it, you'll know in my Monday Missions/wrap ups so I can write a review, because I too am curious about Barrowman's writing style. 

"City of Heavenly Fire" by Cassandra Claire. 

Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. When one of the greatest betrayals the Nephilim have ever known is revealed, Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon and Alec must flee - even if their journey takes them deep into the demon realms...love will be sacrificed and lives lost. 

The first three books I actually quite liked, even if I much preferred Simon over Jace as I have no attraction towards the bad boy type, but as the series went on I found I wanted to read less and less of the story. I didn't even finish the second to last book, but picked the last book up anyway as I wanted to give it another shot and re-read it again. I felt like there wasn't enough mystery or suspence to want me to keep reading, and plus, it was on sale anyway. 

We have reached the end! Thank you SO MUCH for reading, especially if you got this far, and don't hesitate to let me know what you thought about it or the books I picked up. Sorry for any spelling errors, I have been so tired lately and if you click on the tabs above, you'll find a link to my second blog where I am doing a picture a day challenge for a year, so if you'd like to join or be a bit nosy, please go visit it! Thank you again, peace out!  

May 2015 Book Haul: Part Three.

Not to worry, there is only one more after this and then no more haul posts! Although I am kinda enjoying this...

Anyway! 

"Mr Mercedes" by Stephen King. 

'Who is going to be the fish in this relationship and who is going to be the fishermen?'

BILL HODGES retired cop, tormented by 'the Mercedes massacre', a case he never solved. 

BRADY HARTSFEILD perpetrator of that notorious crime, and preparing to kill again.

Now each is closing in on the other in a mega-stakes race agaisnt time. 

I wanted to buy this anyway because I have a small collection of Stephen King books and, although I am sensitive to violence and King is the wrong person to read, I do plan on getting round to them eventually. I saw it on sale in my local supermarket and couldn't pass it up (even though I found it cheaper somewhere else so that was a bummer, but I got paid today...I'll try to be resistant, but they have great deals over there!). 

"Hatchet" by Gary Paulson (this weeks Monday Missions) 

Thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is on his way to visit his father when the single-engine plane in which he is flying crashes. Suddenly, Brian finds himself alone in the Canadian wilderness with nothing but a tattered windbreaker and the hatchet his mother gave him as a present - and the dreadful secret that has been tearing him apart since his parents' divorce. But now Brian has no time for anger, self pity or despair -it will take all his know how and determination, and more courage then he knew he possessed to survive. 

This one was actually bought for me by Austin (thank you, dear) so I don't feel as guilty about buying it, and again it was mentioned in my Monday Missions in more detail but I basically wanted to read it after a series based from it and am very exited to finally get round to reading it later on in the week. 

"Alice in Zombieland" by Gena Showalter. 

I wish I could go back and do a thousand things differently. 

I'd tell my sister no. 

I'd never beg my mother to talk to my dad. 

I'd zip my lips and swallow those hateful words. 

Or, barring all that, i'd hug my sister, my mum and dad one last time. 

I'd tell them I love them...

One last time.

When I get around to reading it, I'll tell you more information on the others so if you don't mind I won't right now as I don't want any spoilers for the first book. I'm not a huge fan of YA dystopian, but I am of Alice in Wonderland so (even though I have been told they have little relation, despite the title) I really wanted to read it and was ecstatic when I saw it on sale for the whole series. I have a feeling this book is over hyped so I won't go in with too many hopes, especially seeing as it's zombies and in my opinion, zombies are much better done on screen then in books. 

(part four up shortly) 

May 2015 Book Haul: Part Two.

Welcome back and thank you for continuing to read this rather lengthly book haul! My first monthly book haul ever, not even just on this blog, I add! I won't keep rambling, I have a lot to get through so let's Glen GoGo: 

"Over you" by Lucy Diamond (review in progress). 

Ever wondered how your friends see you now...? 

Josie, Nell and Lisa go back a long way - they were flatmates, soulmates and best mates back in their twenties when life was long party. 

Five years later things are different. Josie is married with kids, in deepest surburbia, free-spirited Nell has travelled the world, and Lisa is on the path to career glory (and the salary Premiership). A reunion weekend in London seems a great idea to Josie...until she discovers something which threatens to blow her happy marriage apart. 

Again, I don't want to give too much away but it was such a lovely, laidback and well written book that before I had even finished it, I went out and picked up another book by Lucy Diamond: 

"Sweet Temptation" by Lucy Diamond. 

Maddie's getting it from all sides. 

Her bitchy boss at the radio station humiliates her live on air, her glamour-puss mum keeps dropping hints that she should lose weight (like signing her up for the gym) and her kids are embarrassed to be seen with her after the disastrous mums' race at their sports day. Something's got to change...

Maddie reluctantly joins the local weight-watching group where she finds two unlikely allies:

Jess, who is desperete to fit into a size ten wedding dress for her Big Day, and Lauren, who despite running a dating agency, has signed off romance for ever. Or so she thinks...

As they all count their calories, new friendships develop, and secrets are shared - but can they resist temptation? 

This usually wouldn't be my thing and if it wasn't written by Lucy Diamond, I wouldn't have picked it up as I believe being healthy is more important then your weight, and you are beautiful no matter what size you are anyway. Usually, in dieting, people are a lot more concerned over how much weight they are losing rather then what's going inside their body which I believe is the wrong way to do it, and you may know already but I have no intrest in having my own family ever in my life, but in the last book I read from her, Nell was a person who didn't want a family either so it wasn't always "women want kids!!!" In her book. I'm still pretty exited to read this. 

"You Had Me At Hello" by Mhari McFarlane. 

Rachel and Ben. Ben and Rachel. 

It was them agaisnt the world. Until it all fell apart. 

It's been a decade since they last spoke, but when Rachel bumps into Ben one rainy day, the years melt away. 

They'd been partners in crime and the best of friends. But it's clear that life has moved on. Ben is married. Rachel is not. 

Yet in that split second, Rachel feels the old friendship return. And along with it, the broken heart she's never been able to mend. 

I briefly talked about this in my second Monday Missions, but I felt like I really wanted to read it after the first book I had read from her, "it's not me it's you", even though this one is actually her first book just because I thought they were interesting and entertaining, although not the most amazing. I believe I wrote a full review on that if you want to know more on the previous book I have read from her. 

Thank you for reading, part three will be up shortly. 

Monday Missions #2

So really, I should be reading the next book in the "Gone" series called "Hunger" but that book is quite heavy on the brain and emotions (more on that when I eventually upload the review) so I've decided to wait this week until starting it. Instead, we are going to go with much lighter alternatives and I think I'm going to aim for three books this week. Even though I have been reading as slow as a snail lately, and it's 9pm as I write this and I haven't read a book all day, I think two is a good option as the other two I could just breeze through. Anyway, without more rambling, my picks for this week:

"You Had Me At Hello" by Mhari McFarlane. 

Rachel and Ben. Ben and Rachel. 

It was them agaisnt the world. Until it fell apart. 

It's been a decade since they last spoke, but when Rachel bumps into Ben one rainy day, the years melt away. 

They'd been partners in crime and the best of friends. 

But it's clear that life has moved on. Ben is married. Rachel is not. 

Yet in that split second, Rachel feels the old friendship return. 

And along with it, the broken heart she's never been able to mend. 

As I didn't know but was said in the first page, this book is McFarlane's first book, however I had read "It's not me, it's you" beforehand and enjoyed it so much, I would not mind giving her another go (although buying another book by her was a mistake, I had seen it around and had a catchy cover so I picked it up without really reading it and noticed oh, it's her!). She had some flaws in her second book, but I am still quite interested in what other stories she can produce. 

"Angus, thongs, and full-frontal snogging" by Louise Renninson. 

There are so many things very wrong with my life. 

The boy I like hates me and prefers a wet weed with sticky out ears. 

My so-called 'pet', Angus, just spat at me. 

I have a three-year-old sister who may have peed somewhere in my room. 

I went to a party dressed as a stuffed olive. 

Another romance book, yes. For someone who doesn't really like romance, I am starting to realize I actually do, but the romance in YA dystopian novels (to me) is somewhat forced and uncomfortable, therefore making me believe I didn't like romance. It also took the spotlight of the action in the books and makes them a whole lot less enjoyable. However, when you read a book that's soley about romance, I found them interesting and very much enjoyable. So, I guess it depends what type of romance, really. I know these books are full of teenage angst but I found them funny as a kid so I hope to find them just as funny now. 

"Hatchet" by Gary Paulson. 

Thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is on his way to visit his father when the single-engine plane in which he is flying crashes. Suddenly, Brian finds himself alone in the Canadian wilderness with nothing but a tattered windbreaker and the hatchet his mother gave to him as a present - and the dreadful secret that has been tearing him apart since his parents' divorce. But now Brian has no time for self-pity, anger or despair - it will take all his know-how and determination, and more courage he knew he possessed, to survive. 

According to Austin, a lot of American students might already be strongly familar with this book, but I had not heard about it until my favourite gaming YouTuber Stacyplays had featured the book in one of her MC series, and usually I don't buy the books she mentions but this one had be interested. It's a very short read so I doubt it will take me long to get through, and I am very exited to do so. 

That's all I have for this weeks Monday Missions! Remember to check out my picture a day challenge on my second blog, link is in the tabs above, and look out for a monthly book haul and wrap up coming this week as we see the end of the month, thank you so much for reading and I'll see you all soon, bye!