FIVE FRIDAY

5 Books I added to my 'Want to Read' list on Goodreads.com

1. Harvesting the Heart by Jodi Picoult

goodreads.com          Amazon.co.uk

I picked up both of the Jodi Picoult books in this list from my local health organisation that has a book swap table. I love Picoult's writing so there was no question of me leaving these two behind. Harvesting the heart confronts the challenges and fears that new mothers face. Paige is questioning her ability to be a good mother whilst thinking of her own mother and childhood. I think this will be an interesting read. 

2. Picture Perfect by Jodi Picoult

goodreads.com          Amazon.co.uk

Picture Perfect tells the story of a young woman who awakes in a graveyard with no memory of where she is or who she is. She only knows that she is running from something but can't remember what. From what I can gather from reviews, the character is stuck in an abusive marriage that is 'picture perfect' on the outside. I like the depth and reality to Picoult's writing so again, this should be an interesting read. 

3. Princess Academy by Shannon Hale 

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I found this book in either a blog post or article of books that are similar to Harry Potter. I think. I read so much that it could've been from anywhere. However this book sounds brilliant. A school that teaches you how to be and act like a princess. The description sounds like Hogwarts so I am going to keep an eye out for this book. 

4. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

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This book has so many recommendations, I should really put time aside to read it. I'm put off a bit by the description, however what people have told me makes the book sound exciting and adventurous. I hope that I like this one. I want to like it if that makes sense. 

5. Still She Haunts Me by Katie Roiphe

goodreads.com          Amazon.co.uk

This book, I also picked up in a book swap. I feel like this one is an integral part of our literature history. Telling the tale of Charles Dodgson. AKA Lewis Caroll and his relationship with a little girl who inspired him to write his most famous stories such as Alice in Wonderland. I think this is a book that I'll put off for a while and I'll have to wait till I'm 'in the mood' to read it. 

What are you adding to your 'want to read' list? Let me know in the comments below. 

Love Charlie, Xx

Don't Tell Mummy by Toni Maguire and My Thoughts

Don't Tell Mummy by Toni Maguire

First Published: 2007

Publisher: Harper Element

Pages: 343

Rating: 5*

Don't Tell Mummy on goodreads.com

Don't Tell Mummy is available in Paperback for £6.99 and in Kindle Edition for £3.99 on Amazon.co.uk.

You can tell from the Title and front cover of this book that it is either a memoir or a story of childhood abuse. This heart-breaking book is both. It isn't the type of book I normally pick up, but seeing it on a charity table at Tesco for Diabetes, I picked it up faithfully donating my coins into the bucket. I started reading it and I couldn't put it down. I wanted to comfort the little girl in the story and save her from the life she endured. Throughout the whole story I was waiting for her father to be caught and pay his price. 

It is wrong of me to review this book, as it is someone's real life, and a real person suffered at the hands of her parents. It would be cruel and sick to review her life. I am only going to give my opinions on this book that I read recently. The writing in this book is amazing, however, and Maguire used her words effectively to create an environment so real. Her descriptions are so in depth that you feel as though you are sat in the house watching her live her life. My heart sank as every opportunity and ounce of happiness Antoinette received was ripped away from her. 

This book clearly shows the bond children have with their mothers, and despite their wrongdoings, the child will always seek love and compassion, attention and comfort from their mother. I wanted to grab Antoinette's mother and shake her until she finally apologised for being an accomplice to her husband's disgusting and unimaginable crimes against his daughter. I wanted her mother to suffer and shed her denial, and face the reality of what she let happen in her home. I wanted Toni to receive a sliver of closure whilst her mother lay on her death bed. I wished for this child - who I know is now an old lady now. I felt for her and I was disgusted and shocked at the way the authorities, relatives and adults behaved towards a young victim of sexual abuse. 

Even as her mother died, Maguire tended to her every need - sleeping 'on put-me-ups' - whilst her father only visited. Her father and mother created the illusion of a happy family to the outside world. However, Toni's image as a perfect daughter was no illusion and she remained loyal to her mother to the very end, despite the betrayel her mother had enforced on her repeatedly. 

My heart goes out to anyone who had to suffer as Maguire had to. This book made me feel extremely grateful for the childhood I had - I didn't live in fear of my parents and was well-loved and looked after. 

I was so sad for Toni at the end of the book that I both want to, yet I am afraid to read her next book, 'When Daddy Comes Home'. However, Maguire illustrated herself so effectively in her memoir that I feel a connection to her as she revealed her secrets and most personal details. Toni Maguire is a strong, independent, lady who anyone should be proud of. What this lady had to endure throughout her life was unspeakable. I wish she could have another life with a family that loved her and cherished her for the clever, intellectual and caring person she obviously grew up to be. 

If you are affected by the themes and topics in this book:- 

Here are a couple of links you can check out...

Childline - 08001111

Samaritans

Love Charlie, Xx

Extras by Scott Westerfeld Book Review

Extras by Scott Westerfeld

First Published: 2007

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Pages: 400

Rating: 4*

Extras on goodreads.com

Extras is available in Paperback for £6.99 or £4.99 on Kindle at Amazon.co.uk

I am so pleased to tell you that Westerfeld has redeemed himself after the disappointing 'Specials'. As with the previous three books in this series, I love the front cover. I think it is the clean cut edges and metallic shimmer highlighting a specific detail. On 'Extras', the pupil of an eye has a shimmery green circuit board which ties in very well with the themes within the story-line.

Extras was a lovely ending to the quartet, and I appreciated the differences between this book and the first three books. Extras is set years after 'Prettytime' was ended and the 'Diego' War. Thankfully, Tally, Shay, Fausto and the Cutters still make an appearance. I have come to the conclusion that Tally's transition into a Special is what triggered my dislike of the penultimate book - Specials. I believe that Westerfeld turned her into a dislike-able character with unfriendly characteristics. I understand that these characteristics are traits of being a 'Special' however it altered my relationship as a reader with the main character. 

In Extras, we have a new main character, 'Aya'. Aya lives in a vastly different world than when Tally was an Ugly. There are practically zero Bubbleheads, fame and reputation are the currency and technology has advanced enormously. I was grateful for the change of setting as it made the series interesting again and there was more to learn.

The final book carried on from the trilogy with themes of conservation, waste, and recycling. There are good messages in this book about our commodified and manufactured culture. I think it is a relevant topic that is emphasised in current media and it fits the context of important issues raised within education.

The ending was abrupt and I admit here that as much as I wanted to finish this series, I wasn't ready for the book to end and was shocked when I reached the last page. Therefore I can wrap up this review saying that I honestly enjoyed the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld despite being disappointed with the third book 'Specials'.

My favourite book was of course, the first one as it set the scene and outlined characters. There is always a lot to learn in the first of a series and as a reader, I felt I was being taken on an adventure - but I also enjoyed the second and last equally. Overall, I would rate the complete series at 3.5*.

I recommend Uglies and the following books!

Love Charlie, Xx

February Picks of the Month

Has January got you feeling Blue? 

For February, I want to recommend books that I think will help you through the cold, rainy season with some positivity and hope. It is still the beginning of the year, and for some of us, the last 31 days haven't gone so well. If you are one of those people this post may be for you. I have three strategies for you to help combat those blue feelings with literature. 

The first book I want to recommend is 'One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

The first strategy is to read about someone who is/has been less fortunate than you, yet they have still found the silver lining. This book is ideal. Ivan Denisovich finds pleasure in small things despite his grim situation and had a lasting effect on me. It is helpful to remember this story when you are having a bad day and reminds you to be grateful for the little things that make your day so much better. This book made it to a Penguin Modern Classic for a reason! There is a message to take from Solzhenitsyn's writing so make sure you savor this one. 

goodreads.com          Amazon.co.uk

This book is available for £7.99 in Paperback or £3.79 in Kindle edition on Amazon.co.uk

The second book I want to recommend is 'The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella.

The reason I recommend this book is because my second strategy is to laugh off the rainy season. This book is hilarious and charming and uplifting. It is everything you need right now! Kinsella's writing is easy to read and this story is sure to make you smile. It also may inspire you to learn something new and to try and challenge yourself. Keep going, you can do it...

goodreads.com          Amazon.co.uk

This book is available on Amazon.co.uk for £7.99 in Paperback or £3.99 on Kindle.

Finally, I want to recommend The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

My final tactic is to escape reality if all else fails and get yourself lost in an adventure. Pick up a series and dig your nose in deep between those pages. The Hunger Games will suck you in and before you know it you will be crying for more. If you haven't read this trilogy before, I am jealous as I would love to read it for the first time again. This one also has the perfect love triangle for Valentines day! <3 Enjoy!

goodreads.com          Amazon.co.uk

This book is available on Amazon.co.uk for £3.85 in Paperback or £3.66. If you have Kindle Unlimited you can read this trilogy for free. If you plan on reading all 3 books, it may be cheaper for you to buy the series together in a collection. 

Happy February!

Love Charlie, Xx

What I Read in January

What I Read in January

So, I managed to read 6 books in January which is 15% of my 40 book target for the year. goodreads.com tells me this is 3 books ahead of schedule so hopefully I'll be able to change my challenge to 50 books before the end of 2016. 

The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery

The Little Prince on goodreads.com

I started the year with The Little Prince and initially rated it 3*. However after a fortnight I re-rated it as 4*. I did this because the book made a lasting impression on me that surpassed the normal length of thinking about a book after you've read it. I still think about it now after a month. This book is a story I will cherish and pass on to my children (when I have children). It is also great for adults and for those who take themselves too seriously. 

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Uglies on goodreads.com

Once 2016 had started I decided to read a series I got for my 21st birthday in April 2015. I like to wait to read books until I know I'm 'in the mood' and it suddenly occurred to me that it was the right time to read Uglies. Once I started this series I found it hard to put the books down, I recommend this series! Uglies was my favourite book in the series and I rated it 4*. 

Pretties by Scott Westerfeld

Pretties on goodreads.com

Pretties was the second book in the Uglies series and I loved this book too - giving it a 4* rating on goodreads.com. I was stuck to this book and read it relatively quickly. I loved the characters in Westerfeld's writing as they had great depth and development throughout the story line. The adventure was fun too. 

Specials by Scott Westerfeld

Specials on goodreads.com

After reading Pretties, I ended the original trilogy with Specials. I'm not going to lie - I was disappointed with this one. It was an awful, impersonal ending to the trilogy, of which the first two books were amazing. I felt like this book was rushed and clumsy. I rated it 3* because I loved the other two books - however if this was the first in the series I doubt I would have finished the book - never-mind read the entire series in one month. 

Help Me! by Donna M Zadunjsky

Help Me! on goodreads.com

Before I read the final book in the Uglies series, I read 'Help Me!' to review for Netgalley.com. Initially, I didn't like the style of writing but I came to realise it was effective and helped to provide me with an in-depth look at the character's lives and stories they had to tell. I rated this book 3* and I don't think I would read it again - However I would definitely recommend this book to those suffering from self-harm, depression, suicidal thoughts and friends of those struggling. There were messages of hope and recovery in this book that would be helpful for those in the situation. This book isn't one to read otherwise though, and I believe Zadunjsky could have done more with her writing to help those in need. 

Extras by Scott Westerfeld

Extras on goodreads.com

Finally, I ended January reading the last book in the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld. I was hoping for great things in this book and I am happy to conclude that it was better than Specials. The story takes place years after the original series, yet Westerfeld effectively links the two times with the reunion of the Cutters and Tally Youngblood. In this book, we have a new set of heroes and a different world. The City they live in is advanced and their currency is reputation. I enjoyed this book and rated it 4*. (Review coming soon) I was sad to finish this series and the ending was abrupt - I wasn't ready for it. 

Dolphin Song by Lauren St John 

Dolphin Song on goodreads.com

I am concluding January by reading a book that I started months ago and was lent to me by a good friend. Lauren St John writes children's books with inspiring messages in them. She teaches us the value of nature and an appreciation of wildlife that we should never forget. If you love adventure and animals, then these books are definitely for you!  

I hope you all had a wonderful January! Keep reading. 

I will post my February Top Picks tomorrow. Let me know what you read in January in the comments below. I'd love to see what you've been reading. 

Love Charlie, Xx

FIVE FRIDAY

1. The Lunar Chronicles, by Marissa Meyer

Cinder on goodreads.com           Cinder on Amazon.co.uk

These books have been circulating in the book-blogosphere and instagram. I have finally admitted that I want to read them and have added them onto my goodreads.com 'Read List'. They sound like my cup of tea and are hopefully very like all my favourite YA book series such as 'divergent', 'Hunger Games' 'Uglies' etc... I am also interested in this series as they are themed on well known fairy tales - and this is hinted in the covers. The covers are, I feel, quite similar to those of the original Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer and it makes me wonder whether Marissa Meyer's name has always been 'Meyer'. Coincidence or not, I can't wait till I have the money to buy these books. 

2, Everything I Never Told You, by Celeste Ng

goodreads.com          Amazon.co.uk

Everything I never told you is a sensitive family portrait with themes of secrets, love, family and longing. A family are torn apart when their daughter is found dead in a lake. It gives us a powerful insight into the relationships between parents and their children and how they will forever struggle to understand each other. I am hoping that this is a gripping novel that gives us an in-depth picture of the complex relationships that hold families together.

3. Illusions? Maybe, by Glenn Riley

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This book was recommended to me by a friend who asked me to read and review it on my blog. I already had this one on my kindle as a colleague wrote it and I wanted to support them in their journey to becoming a writer. However I had never prioritized this semi-autobiographical novel until now. When I do read and review this book I promise to be completely honest and truthful. I don't know whether this book will be 'my cup of tea' but I am going to try it anyway... hopefully soon. 

4. Change of Heart, by Jodi Picoult

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I love Jodi Picoult's books. They always leave you with a moral decision to make and each decision will always have consequences. I have found that a lot of Picoult's novels have a similar story line and structure which I felt at one point made them a little boring after reading Picoult novel after Picoult novel. However, I haven't read one of her books for at least a year and I miss her writing. I added this one as the story line sounds incredible... The character's daughter needs a new heart but the only available match is that of a murderer. I mean, WOW. Really would like to get this book, maybe to read in the summer holiday. 

5. The Golem and the Djinni, by Helene Wecker

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I was attracted to the cover of this book as it is very pretty and mystifying. I saw it at a local health organisation where you can take books to swap. I traded in The Hunchback of Notre-Dame for this one. When I picked it up and the first thing I saw was 'If you love The Night Circus then you'll love this' that was it, I had to have it! It is quite a big book and I hope that doesn't make me leave it to the bottom of the reading list. I am really excited to read this - but how do you pronounce 'Djinni'?
Tell me in the comments if you know!

Let me know what you've added to your lists recently.

Love Charlie, Xx

5 Books that are on My Wishlist Right Now

5 Books on my Wishlist

I think as an avid reader, it isn't unusual to have an endless wishlist of books. I don't know how I'll ever get through all the books I want to read - but there's no need to stress about that. I add books to a wishlist so when I have some extra money or visit a library, I know what I'm looking for.

Sorry for all the 'it sounds like' and 'I think this' I can only predict as I cannot know while I haven't read these books. 

 These are my five most recent additions to my wishlist;-

This is Where it Ends

goodreads.com          amazon.co.uk

This book is top of my wish list and I think it is going to be unlike anything I have read before. I have a feeling it is going to be a bit like  a John Green novel with more fear and drama. I think this is going to be an insight into the terrorist and shooting crimes that are unfortunately quite common. I like to read YA novels, and I think this one in particular is going to be gripping and hard to put down. 

Girl Through Glass 

goodreads.com          amazon.co.uk

I am a perfectionist, and I have a tendency to push myself to achieve more than I should aim for. That's why I want to read this book. I also did ballet for many years through my childhood and teenage years. This book follows a young girls journey throughout her ballet education, and her strong desire to be perfect. If I saw this book in a shop I would buy it straight away despite it being more expensive than online. That is because I would read it as soon as I had it in my hands. I really really really want to read this book...

Carry On

goodreads.com          amazon.co.uk

Carry on is the follow on book to 'Fangirl' by Rainbow Rowell. I would happily borrow this book from the Library as I haven't actually read Fangirl yet. I have read that this book breaks boundaries. 'Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama'. I haven't yet read a any of Rowell's novels yet, but I have 'Eleanor and Park' on my Kindle. I should make a point of reading it sooner rather than later.

The Silver Linings Playbook


goodreads.com          amazon.co.uk

Did I mention I love Jennifer Lawrence? I love Jennifer Lawrence! And I love the movie that was based on this book. As with practically every film, the book is better... and that is my reason behind wanting to read this book - not only this, however, the story is based on mental illness and recovery. I think this book will be every bit as good and even better than the film.

Dumplin

goodreads.com          amazon.co.uk

This book sounds hilarious! I can't wait for this title to be released. I am actually fed up of waiting to read this book. I feel like it is going to be an uplifting, feel-good book, with themes of body image, friendships, love and confidence.


So this is my current wishlist. Let me know yours!

Love Charlie, Xx