LoveCharlie:Read: goodreads

Showing posts with label goodreads. Show all posts

Friday, 5 February 2016

FIVE FRIDAY

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

1. Harvesting the Heart by Jodi Picoult

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

goodreads.com Amazon.co.uk

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

goodreads.com Amazon.co.uk

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

Monday, 1 February 2016

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

Sunday, 31 January 2016

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

Friday, 29 January 2016

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

goodreads.com Amazon.co.uk

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

goodreads.com Amazon.co.uk

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

goodreads.com Amazon.co.uk

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

Wednesday, 27 January 2016

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

24529123

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

13539044

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

Saturday, 23 January 2016

My Book Scripture

2003 BBC Top 100 Books List

In 2003, the BBC released a list of Britain's best-loved books as part of a good read. Although this list is outdated, I use this list as a guide and I am slowly working my way through them, This is the list I use the most when choosing classics/books I think I should read to gain more of an in-depth knowledge of the foundations of our culture's literature.

This is a long list as I have included images and links to goodreads.com and amazon.co.uk to make it easy for you to read synopsis' and check prices/add to your wishlist/to read list. If you want to see the list as it is on the BBC please click here for the first 50, and here for the last 50. Or check out my page in the right column of my blog for a condensed version.

I am sure many readers use this list as a guide when choosing books. I'll create a page called BBC Top Books so you can see the list without pics and I'll highlight the books that I've read.

Why not print this list and see how many you've read! (Probably more than me)

1. The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien