Happy Sunday!
I hope everyone is having a good weekend so far.
Here is what I have been up to on the blog this week.
Posts this Week
Currently Reading
Thoroughly enjoying this so far.
So there is my week on the blog.
Happy Reading
I have never taken part in this tag before so I thought it was high time I took part.
So here we go…
Best book you’ve read so far in 2021
I really couldn’t put this book down and absolutely loved every part of it and can’t wait to read the next one in the series. The characters and the setting are just fantastic.
Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2021
I have been loving all of the Six Tudor Queen series but this was fantastic and I could not put it down.
New release you haven’t read yet, but want to
I got this on the day it came out and I have still not read it and I’m annoyed with myself for not reading it yet as I really want to. I should really make this my next read.
Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
Hard to choose just one but here it is.
This is a new author for me but I really like the sound of this book so I have it preordered.
Biggest disappointment
I was so excited to read this after reading such good reviews about it but I found it very disappointing. It just didn’t speak to me and I found it rather flat. Considering the book was called Hamnet it was more about William Shakespeare’s marriage than anything.
Biggest surprise
I saw a review of this and decided to give it a go and I was not disappointed and loved it. I read it in one sitting and it was a huge surprise because I did not expect the storyline or such a psychotic computer with an obsession with recommending playlists.
Favourite new author (debut or new to you)
I absolutely loved this book and found the fact the story was told from Ariadne’s point of view very refreshing. It is always nice to hear an Ancient Greek myth told from a different point of view other than the arrogant male heroes we are so used to.
Newest fictional crush
I don’t usually develop fictional crushes so I have chosen a character who I really liked instead. Kol from These Violent Nights was a wonderful character and one you would love to have as a friend. He is caring, patient, loving and kind beyond measure.
Newest favourite character
Two favourite characters so far this year and that is Detective Maigret who just makes me laugh so much. Maigret builds a case up putting all the little bits of evidence together like a jigsaw until he finds the culprit. He is also a functioning alcoholic who quite often has a cold.
My second favourite character is Amos from The Expanse series. Amos is violent, volatile and completely nuts but he is also fiercely loyal and will support his friends without even blinking an eye even if it means certain death.
Book that made you cry
No book has made me cry so far this year.
Book that made you happy
Hmm… tricky as all books tend to make me happy. The one which has really made me smile and laugh out loud though would be Die Standing. Georgiou is hilarious and quite scary at times and her character along with Sean is just brilliant and a laugh a minute.
The most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received)
The picture of this book really does not do it justice. I love this book because it is the most beautiful colour and my favourite colour. I also love the portrait of Katharine Parr inside the cover.
What books do you need to read by the end of the year?
The last book of The Expanse series comes out this year and I would to read all the series this year and the last book if possible. However, they are very big books and I am only on book 4.
Favourite book to movie adaptation you’ve seen this year?
Sadly I haven’t seen any so far this year. Hopefully this will change soon.
So there is my Mid-Year Book Freak Out post. Please drop me comment if you have also taken part and I will head over for a visit.
Happy Reading
Happy Friday!
I hope everyone has some good plans for the weekend.
My chosen poem for the week is from an old favourite. Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats is probably my all time favourite book of poetry, so I have chosen to share The Naming of Cats.
The Naming of Cats The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter, It isn't just one of your games; You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES. First of all, there's the name that the family use daily, Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James, Such as Victor or Jonathan, George or Bill Bailey - All of them sensible everyday names. There are fancier names if you think they sound sweeter, Some for the gentlemen, some for the dames: Such as plato, Admetus, Electra, Demeter - But all of them sensible everyday names. But I tell you, a cat needs a name that's particular, A name that's peculiar, and more dignified, Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular, Or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride? Of names of this kind, I can give you a quorum, Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo, or Coricopat, Such as Bombalurina, or else Jellylorum - Names that never belong to more than one cat. But above and beyond there's still one name left over, And that is the name that you never will guess; The name that no human research can discover - But THE CAT HIMSELF KNOWS, and will never confess. When you notice a cat in profound meditation, The reason, I tell you, is always the same: His mind is enraged in rapt contemplation Of the moment, of the thought, of the thought of his name: His ineffable effable Effanineffable Deep and inscrutable singular Name. T. S. Eliot
Happy Reading
Hello!
Happy Wednesday! I hope everyone is having a good week so far.
My chosen quote this week is by Steve Jobs. Steve Jobs (1955-2011) was an American business magnate, industrial designer, investor and media proprietor.
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking.”
Steve Jobs
Happy Reading
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!
We are at the half way mark of the week! I have a busy day teaching today which will be a shock to the system.
Anyway here is how my reading has been going this week.
What I am Currently Reading
Not very far in this yet but so far so good.
What I have Recently Finished Reading
I really enjoyed this book. Here is the review.
What I Think I will Read Next
As usual I am never sure what I will read next.
Please drop me a comment with your WWW Wednesday and I will head over for a visit.
Happy Reading
These Violent Nights by Rebecca Crunden
Blurb
Once upon a time, inhabitants of another world tore a hole through the universe and came to Earth. They called themselves Suriias, and rivalled humans in knowledge and skill with one great exception: they had magic.
War followed. Humanity lost. And three hundred years later, humans are on the brink of extinction.
Orphans Thorn and Thistle live in hiding. They are the last of their families, the last of their friends. They scrape by, stealing to survive and living on the streets or hiding in sheds. But even under the brutal regime of the Suriias, there are places where humans can mingle in secret with magical sympathisers, and one night Thistle gets an unexpected offer of marriage from a Suriia with high standing and friends in all the right places. For Thistle, it’s a chance at safety and comfort; for Thorn, it’s a chance to find the ones who killed her parents.
And so the pair move into the capital city of Courtenz. An urban monstrosity of magic and might, false friends and flying cars, drones and death tolls, the new city promises a fresh start – and new love – for both.
But if there’s one thing Thorn knows for certain, it’s that dreams can swiftly turn into nightmares.
Review
Firstly, a massive thank you to Rebecca Crunden for gifting me a copy of her wonderful book These Violent Nights in exchange for an honest review.
This is rather a substantial book and I was a bit worried about the size of the book when I first started reading it because I struggled to get into it to start with. However, thankfully I kept reading because I was soon hooked and was pleased at the size of the book because I did not want to leave the characters and finish the book.
Thistle and Thorn are humans who live in hiding from the Suriias who are magical beings from another world. Thistle and Thorn have a very sad past and this has left both of them scarred both emotionally and physically. When Nithin who is a Suriia proposes to Thistle, Thistle and Thorn move in with Nithin and his best friend Kol. Thistle is overjoyed to be safe and living in wealth and comfort but Thorn only sees it as an access to find the murderer of her parents.
I really felt sorry for Thorn during this book. She is forced to live with the very species she fears and hates and even though Nithin and Kol support humans and are fighting for the humans’ rights Thorn struggles to trust and believe them. At the same time Thorn sees her best friend slowly slip away from her and change. Thorn feels alone and angry with everything and no matter how much Kol tries to help her she still resists. I completely agree with the character Lucien who says that Thorn has never had a chance to breathe.
Thistle annoyed me and made me rather angry at times because she hurt Thorn so much. Yes, Thistle wanted to start living life and enjoy her new found freedom and wealth but she forgot her best friend at times and didn’t see just how much Thorn was suffering.
I loved the concept of this book and I loved how in the end humans and Suriia had to work together and overcome each species’ difficulties. I also loved the different romances that occurred within the book and how they crossed species. This book was brilliant and I will definitely be reading more books by Rebecca Crunden. I give this book 4 out of 5 Dragons.
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Purchase Links
(All purchases made using one of the above affiliate links gives a small percentage of money to myself with no extra cost to yourself. All proceeds go towards the upkeep of this blog. Thank you ever so much, your support is gratefully received.)
The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie
Blurb
An urgent cry for help brings Poirot to France. But he arrives too late to save his client, whose brutally stabbed body now lies face downwards in a shallow grave on a golf course.
But why is the dead man wearing his son’s overcoat? And who was the impassioned love-letter in the pocket for? Before Poirot can answer these questions, the case is turned upside down by the discovery of a second, identically murdered corpse . . .
Review
This is the second full length Poirot novel I have read and I will be honest it kept me on my toes. This book is so full of red herrings I was never sure of who the murderer was until Poirot explained all at the end.
The more I read the Poirot stories the more I realise just how amazing he is and far better than the TV version. Poirot is funny, eccentric, cheeky and quite naughty at times. Hastings is his usual useless and silly self, always jumping to the wrong conclusions and getting into trouble.
In this book Poirot and Hastings rush off to France to help a man who has written begging for Poirot’s help as he believes his life is in danger. However, when they get there they realise that they are too late and instead of protecting someone they have a murder to solve instead.
Poirot has competition in the form of the young French detective Giraud. Giraud believes Poirot is a dinosaur and believes that Poirot will never solve the murder because his methods are old fashioned. Giraud rather amusingly spends most of the time on his hands and knees crawling around for clues and generally not finding them.
There are so many things that do not add up in this murder but Poirot uses his little grey cells to work them out and also finds time to sort out Hastings’ love life. I also loved how Poirot sometimes called himself Papa Poirot to Hastings.
I really enjoyed this book and I loved learning more about Poirot’s character but did find Hastings very annoying at times. Christie is so clever at writing a murder plot with so many different aspects you never see what is really happening until the end. I give this book 4 out of 5 Dragons.
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Purchase Links
Book Depository | Foyles | Waterstones | Wordery
(All purchases made using one of the above affiliate links gives a small percentage of money to myself with no extra cost to yourself. All proceeds go towards the upkeep of this blog. Thank you ever so much, your support is gratefully received.)
About the author
Agatha Christie (1890-1976) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections. She also wrote the world’s longest running play, The Mousetrap. She also wrote 6 novels under the name Mary Westmacott.
Hello!
I hope everyone has had a good weekend. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading for fun this weekend but it will be back on dissertation work from tomorrow.
So here is my week on the blog.
Posts this Week
Currently Reading
Going to start reading this tonight.
Not a busy week on the blog front but hopefully things will improve next week.
Happy Reading
Happy Friday!
I hope everyone is looking forward to the weekend.
This weeks poem is by Laura Mucha. Mucha is an ex-lawyer and award-winning poet, writer and speaker.
The Land of Blue Across the valley, it waits for you, a place they call The Land of Blue. It's far and near, it's strange yet known - and in this land, you'll feel alone, you might feel tears roll down your cheek, you might feel wobbly, weary, weak. I know this won't sound fun to you - it's not - this is The Land of Blue. It's blue - not gold or tangerine, it's dark - not light, not bright or clean. It's blue- and when you leave, you'll see the crackly branches of the tree, the golden skies, the purring cat, the piercing eyes, the feathered het and all the other things that come when you escape from feeling glum. Across the valley, it waits for you, a place they call The Land of Blue and going there will help you know how others feel when they feel low. Laura Mucha
Happy Reading
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.
Happy Wednesday!
I have spent the day finishing another assignment and now it has finally been handed in I intend to spend the next couple of days doing lots of fun reading until I start on the next one. However, I also need to catch up on house work so that might also have to happen.
What I am Currently Reading
I struggled to get into this initially but now I am hooked.
What I have Recently Finished Reading
Really enjoyed both these books. Here is the review for The Late Monsieur Gallet. Review for The Murder on the Links will follow shortly.
What I Think I will Read Next
As usual I am never quite sure what I will read next, it all depends what mood I am in.
So there is my WWW Wednesday please drop me a link with your WWW Wednesday and I will head over for a visit.
Happy Reading
Lady Book Dragon 