Hello!
Happy Wednesday everyone. I hope everyone is having a good week so far.
The quote I have chosen today is by Robin Williams who was a wonderful actor and who I adored in some of my favourite childhood films Flubber and Mrs Doubtfire.
Robin Williams (1951-2014)
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and now hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. For more info please check out Jana’s blog.
Hello!
This week’s Top Ten Tuesday had two options so I went for the second where you get to choose a past TTT topic that you haven’t done before and I went with the Longest Books I’ve Ever Read.
Coming Home by Rosamunde Pilcher
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Twenty Years After by Alexander Dumas
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling
The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens
Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens
That is my Ten longest reads. Please drop me a comment if you would like to chat about any of these books and please leave your link if you have taken part in TTT this week.
The Queen’s Rival by Anne O’Brien
About the author
Sunday Times bestselling author Anne O’Brien was born in West Yorkshire. After gaining a BA Honours degree in History at Manchester University and a Master’s in Education at Hull, she lived in East Yorkshire for many years as a teacher of history.
Today she has sold over 250,000 copies of her books in the UK and lives with her husband in an eighteenth-century timber-framed cottage in the depths of the Welsh Marches in Herefordshire. The area provides endless inspiration for her novels about the forgotten women of history.
Blurb
One family united by blood. Torn apart by war…
England, 1459: Cecily Neville, Duchess of York, is embroiled in a plot to topple the weak-minded King Henry VI from the throne. But when the Yorkists are defeated at the Battle of Ludford Bridge, Cecily’s family flee and abandon her to face a marauding Lancastrian army on her own.
Cecily can only watch as her lands are torn apart and divided up by the ruthless Queen Marguerite. From the towers of her prison in Tonbridge Castle, the Duchess begins to spin a web of deceit – one that will eventually lead to treason, to the fall of King Henry VI, and to her eldest son being crowned King Edward IV.
This is a story of heartbreak, ambition and treachery, of one woman’s quest to claim the throne during the violence and tragedy of the Wars of the Roses.
Review
I will be honest when I started to read this book I was a little put off by the story having been written in the form of letters and I found it hard to get into the style of the book to begin with. However, once I got used to the style I really started to enjoy the book and loved seeing a different side to such well known names from history.
Cecily Neville is a strong woman who is not afraid of a fight and does not stand down easily. She is proud and determined to get the very best for her family. I loved Cecily’s strength through this book and even at times she faced alarming things like her husband leaving her and three small children to face an army ransack her home and town she stood firm, she did not hide but made her children watch and learn the dangers of an army. She never gave up even when weighed down in grief and kept strong for her family.
My favourite letters in this book were between Cecily and her two sisters, I must admit they did leave me giggling at times. Sisterly love at its finest with side notes of snide remarks. I also loved the letters from Cecily’s sons to her because you can tell at times they are really fed up of their mother’s interference and constant nagging letters.
I enjoyed this book and found it interesting how O’Brien chose to write the story in the form of letters and documents. It made me wonder if O’Brien was trying to make her book a little different from all the other Historical fiction that is out there. I recommend this book to all Historical fiction fans and I give this book 4 out of 5 Dragons.
Thank you to NetGally and HQ for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.
To preorder this book please follow the links below
Hello!
I wasn’t tagged in this book tag but I have seen it around on people’s blogs recently and really liked the idea of having a go. So here are my reading habits.
Bookmarks or Random Pieces of Paper
This an easy one, definitely bookmarks. I love buying bookmarks so I have loads so I always make sure I make use of them in my books. I will be honest I do tend to stick to a few favourites though.
Stop Reading Randomly or Stop After a Chapter/ Certain Amount of Pages
I like to stop at a chapter but most likely I will stop at a random point especially at night because it is usually where I start to fall asleep. I must admit sometimes I pick the book back up a little confused at where I left off.
Certain Place at Home for Reading?
I read in loads of places! The conservatory when the weather is nice, curled up the sofa with a blanket in lounge when it is cold, at night in bed before sleep. One of my favourite places though is rather a random one which my husband finds very strange, I love leaning over on the AGA and I lean on the simmering plate (lid down obviously) and read. But really I’m happy to read anywhere.
Eat or Drink while Reading?
During the day it is always with a cup of tea. I used to eat breakfast and read but I haven’t done that for a while. At one point I read The Art of War every morning whilst eating breakfast, read into that what you will.
Music or TV while Reading?
I generally always listen to music when I read, I love to have music on for everything and it doesn’t matter what I listen to either. I can also watch TV and read because generally I block it out. During Grand Prix season I get a lot more reading done because I read whilst it is on in the background.
One Book at a Time or Several?
I prefer one book at a time and maybe a dip in book on the side but sometimes I have a couple of books on the go, especially if I am reading a book for my course.
Reading at Home or Everywhere
Everywhere! I read in gaps between work, if I arrive at work early I sit in the car and read, I read whilst waiting for appointments, basically if I have a minute I read. So I always carry a book with me.
Reading Out Loud of Silently?
Silently, I just read in my head because I can read a lot faster than reading it out loud.
Do You Ever Read Ahead or Skip Pages?
Not really, I hate spoiling the ending and can never understand people who read the end first. My mom reads the end of the book first to see whether the book is worth reading in the first place which always baffles me. I also don’t skip pages, when I read a book I like to read it all.
Breaking the Spine or Keeping it Like New?
Like new. I prefer hardbacks to all formats but whatever book I have I like to keep pristine. However, when it is a book I have read many times I don’t mind if the spine eventually gives in because the book is now an old friend. My copy of The Three Musketeers is now in four pieces that is how much I have read it.
Do You Write in Books?
Never! Even when using a book for my studies I put little bits of paper inside or Post It notes instead but I never write in a book. For my English Literature A level my teacher made me write in my copies and I hated it.
So that is a glimpse into my reading habits. I hope you enjoyed it and please drop me a comment if you have also taken part in this book tag as I would love to see other people’s reading habits or if you just want to chat.
Happy Friday!
I hope everyone has some good book plans for the weekend.
My chosen poem this week is by Spike Milligan and I love it because it is nonsense and sometimes we all need a little nonsense in our lives. Oh and it mentions cats!
In the Land of the Bumbley Boo
The People are red white and blue,
They never blow noses,
Or ever wear closes,
What a sensible thing to do!
In the Land of the Bumbley Boo
You can buy Lemon Pie at the Zoo;
They give away Foxes
In little Pink Boxes
And Bottles of Dandylion Stew.
In the Land of the Bumbley Boo
You never see a Gnu,
But thousands of cats
Wearing trousers and hats
Made of Pumpkins and Pelican Clue!
Oh, the Bumbley Boo! the Bumbley Boo!
That’s the place for me and you!
So hurry! Let’s run!
The train leaves at one!
For the Land of the Bumbley Boo!
The wonderful Bumbley Boo-Boo-Boo!
The Wonderful Bumbley BOO!!!
Spike Milligan.
Happy reading!
Hello!
I can’t believe it is Thursday again! The weeks are just flying by. So here is what I have been up to other than reading.
Exercising
This week I have got back into my exercise and I was quite pleased to move from a 2KG kettlebell to a 4KG Kettlebell. I have also discovered a new type of workout which is called Fit Combat that combines combat moves and cardio to music. It is a super workout that I really enjoyed. I also tried my new Tikiboo shorts and love them so will be saving for another pair.
Baking
Yes, I have been baking again! The husband kept asking for another carrot cake so I spent Monday grating carrots and making the cake.
Paint by Numbers
I’m still plodding along with this and I must admit I do get rather annoyed when I discover I’ve missed a number. I finished number 5 yesterday but also discovered I had missed a load of 2’s!
Studying and Ukulele
I’m still busy studying and I have almost finished my FutureLearn course on The Health and Wellbeing in the Ancient World that we were recommended to do before we start year two of our Masters. I’ve also been practising the Ukulele loads and have now decided that I will attempt grade 2 in the Autumn instead of grade 1.
Tv
Will admit I am getting quite obsessed with Buffy the Vampire Slayer at the moment. Bringing back good memories of when I watched it when it first came out.
So that is my week. I hope everyone else has had a good week so far. Drop me a comment if you want to chat.
WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words.
The rules are answer the questions below and share a link to your blog in the comments section of Sam’s blog.
Hello! This post is a little later than expected but here it is. Not much reading done this week I will be honest.
What I am Currently Reading
I am so close to finishing this, I have literally 12% left to read. I am thoroughly enjoying it.
What I have recently finished reading
Loved this book so much! Click on the picture for the review.
What I plan to read next
No big list this week as I have chosen this to read next and I am very excited to start it.
So that is my WWW Wednesday, please drop me a link with your WWW Wednesday and if you have any thoughts on the books I have listed.
Happy Wednesday!
This is another week that seems to be flying by.
This weeks quote is by Roald Dahl (1916-1990) who was a British novelist, short story writer, poet, screenwriter and a wartime fighter pilot.
Roald Dahl
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and now hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. For more info please check out Jana’s blog.
Hello and happy Tuesday!
This week’s Top Ten Tuesday is an interesting one for me because as most of you know I’m not great with planning my reading as I am a mood reader. This in mind I have chosen ten books that I really want to read soon and hopefully I will get round to reading them over the summer.
The Lantern Men by Elly Griffiths
The King’s Curse by Philippa Gregory
The King’s Sister by Anne O’Brien
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott
Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey
The 100 by Kass Morgan
Anne Boleyn: A King’s Obsession by Alison Weir
Jane Seymour: The Haunted Queen by Alison Weir
Anna of Kleve: The Princess in the Portrait by Alison Weir
Drop me a comment with your Top Ten Tuesday link or if you have any thoughts on the books I have listed.
Hello!
I have more books that I am excited about and I have preordered them because I am that excited. Most of them appear to be coming out in October, so October could be a very expensive month!
So here is what I have recently preordered…
Piranesi’s house is no ordinary building: its rooms are infinite, its corridors endless, its walls are lined with thousands upon thousands of statues, each one different from all the others. Within the labyrinth of halls an ocean is imprisoned; waves thunder up staircases, rooms are flooded in an instant. But Piranesi is not afraid; he understands the tides as he understands the pattern of the labyrinth itself. He lives to explore the house.
There is one other person in the house-a man called The Other, who visits Piranesi twice a week and asks for help with research into A Great and Secret Knowledge. But as Piranesi explores, evidence emerges of another person, and a terrible truth begins to unravel, revealing a world beyond the one Piranesi has always known.
I love the sound of this book and Susanna Clarke is an excellent writer so I’m really looking forward to this book.
Created and edited by Adam Kay (author of multi-million best seller ‘This is Going to Hurt’), ‘DEAR NHS’ features household names telling their personal stories of the health service. Contributors include Joanna Lumley, Naomie Harris, Kate Tempest, Lee Child, Tanni Grey Thomson, Bill Bryson, Trevor McDonald, Jack Whitehall, Michael Palin, Stanley Tucci and many, many more.
I love Adam Kay and find his books very emotional so I am looking forward to reading this book and will make sure I have a box of tissues ready just in case.
The story of Troy speaks to all of us – the kidnapping of Helen, a queen celebrated for her beauty, sees the Greeks launch a thousand ships against that great city, to which they will lay siege for ten whole and very bloody years.
It is Zeus, the king of the gods, who triggers war when he asks the Trojan prince Paris to judge the fairest goddess of them all. Aphrodite bribes Paris with the heart of Helen, wife of King Menelaus of the Greeks, and naturally, nature takes its course.
It is a terrible, brutal war with casualties on all sides. The Greeks cannot defeat the Trojans – since Achilles, the Greek’s boldest warrior, is consumed with jealousy over an ally’s choice of lover, the Trojan slave Briseis, and will not fight . . .
The stage is set for the oldest and greatest story ever told, where monstrous passions meet the highest ideals and the lowest cunning.
In Troy you will find heroism and hatred, love and loss, revenge and regret, desire and despair. It is these human passions, written bloodily in the sands of a distant shore, that still speak to us today.
I love this ancient story so it will be interesting to see what Stephen Fry’s take of this legendary story is.
In 1987, when Hilary Mantel was first published in the London Review of Books, she wrote to the editor, Karl Miller, ‘I have no critical training whatsoever, so I am forced to be more brisk and breezy than scholarly.’ This collection of twenty reviews, essays and pieces of memoir from the next three decades, tells the story of what happened next.
Her subjects range far and wide: Robespierre and Danton, the Hite report, Saudi Arabia where she lived for four years in the 1980s, the Bulger case, John Osborne, the Virgin Mary as well as the pop icon Madonna, a brilliant examination of Helen Duncan, Britain’s last witch. There are essays about Jane Boleyn, Charles Brandon, Christopher Marlowe and Margaret Pole, which display the astonishing insight into the Tudor mind we are familiar with from the bestselling Wolf Hall Trilogy. Her famous lecture, ‘Royal Bodies’, which caused a media frenzy, explores the place of royal women in society and our imagination. Here too are some of her LRB diaries, including her first meeting with her stepfather and a confrontation with a circus strongman.
Constantly illuminating, always penetrating and often very funny, interleaved with letters and other ephemera gathered from the archive, Mantel Pieces is an irresistible selection from one of our greatest living writers.
Very excited to learn more about such a talented writer.
So there is my list of recently preordered books. I am really looking forward to when they arrive at my front door, but I must be patient.
Please drop me a comment if you want to chat about these upcoming books or any books that you are also excited about.
Happy reading.
Lady Book Dragon 