Random Ramblings (2) My Self Imposed Restraining Order on Books

So June is coming up and June will be a very busy time for me. Fun times but busy times that are going to need MONEY. June is always a busy month for me because I have a lot of family birthdays at that time but this year even more so with it being the blogs 1st blogoversary and me attending the Manchester Blogger Meet Up. On top of that I’m trying to save for a new laptop with my computer going bust so as you can see there are a billion reasons why I need more money and so have enforced upon myself a book buying ban. However I am sadly not a normal person. I’m addicted to buying books and so instead of going cold turkey I have a set of rules to insure that I save money but do not go insane which would prevent me from enjoying and taking part in the numerous fun activities I have planned for June. So here are my rules, I wanted to type them up and post them on the blog so it’s all official and so you guys can hopefully support me. Rules 1.) I am allowed to buy a grand total of 4 books per month. For some people this might seem easy but for somebody who can easily buy 4 books each week this is like eating scraps of ham when I’m used to steak with all the trimmings. 2.) HOWEVER I am only allowed to buy books that I REALLY want/need e.g. next book in a series I love, new release from a favourite author. 3.) Books can only be bought if they are on a special offer. Which can be anything from cheap books on Amazon to 3 for 2 offers. Not allowed to buy books for the full price. 4.) Kindle books cheaper than £2 are allowed and don’t count. Swaps on Read it Swap it are allowed and do not count towards 4 book total. 5.) Avoid IMM’s and new releases posts like the plague because they are evil temptress posts that will be the death of you! How strict is that!? Ok not super strict but it’s enough for me to still buy the books that I desperately want and save some money. I think it’s about time I started behaving like a responsible adult and took more care with my money and spending especially when I already have so many books to read. I seriously have about 3 years worth to get through. I think 4 books a month is a reasonable amount especially with all the books I get for review and the books on my to be read pile. I don’t know how long this bans going to go on for. In some ways I think it would be a good thing to limit myself from now on as I’ve already noticed how much more I appreciate the books I do buy and how much extra cash I have so I guess it’s something I’m going to go along with for as long as possible. The small print is that these rules go out of the window if I’m going to a blogger event, author signing or whatever because honestly? How can someone *not* buy books at an event like that? So I’m going to allow myself more leeway then but still try not to go crazy. If fellow bloggers practically force books on to me though then I cannot be responsible for my actions ;-) So far I’ve actually strangely been enjoying saving my money and buying less books but I’m just starting out and I know there will be hard times ahead so if any of you have any advice or tips please let me know in the comments.

Review for A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness from an original idea by Siobhan Dowd

"The monster showed up just after midnight. As they do. But it isn’t the monster Conor's been expecting. He's been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he's had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming... The monster in his back garden, though, this monster is something different. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor. It wants the truth." Having just turned the final pages of this book I am feeling emotionally exhausted as if I have took one long, brutal journey and in some respects I have. Firstly let me talk about what you will see first upon picking up this book. A Monster Calls is beautifully presented, Walker have done a fine job putting together this wonderful book making it so that it looks really special, definitely something you want to keep and treasure. I’m guessing that secondly after reading the blurb you would skim through the pages noting the haunting and poetic illustrations by Jim Kay. Starting at the beginning you will notice the author’s incredibly beautiful and respectful note on how this book came to be in your hands right now. A Monster Calls was never originally Patrick Ness’s idea: Instead the idea for this book was sparked by the much acclaimed author for young adults Siobhan Dowd. Fans of Siobhan will know that due to her untimely death she was unable to complete this story, in stepping Patrick Ness writing A Monster Calls with one thing in mind: To write a story that Siobhan would enjoy. If the fact that this book is written by two award winning authors, has the most stunning illustrations, and sounds so lyrical and special from the blurb alone doesn’t make you want to read this book then I don’t know what will. You must be a very tough person to please so allow me with this review to elaborate on what makes this book so spectacular. There really are no words that can fully express how much I hope you read this book. How much I hope that parents and children will share it and bookclubs will read and discuss it because this is a book that needs to be read, that demands and screams to be noticed and talked about. This is a book that’s truthful, and harrowing and so incredibly frightening. Yes frightening, because I think I can safely say that as human beings this book discusses the biggest and scariest truth of our world. That one day each and every one of us is going to lose someone we love. It’s something we’ve all experienced to some extent so far in our life whether that’s from the death of a beloved pet or the greater extent of losing a parent. This book deals with the most frightening thing of all and however much we want to silence it and believe that we our invincible like it or not this is our story. Patrick Ness honestly portrays the thoughts and feeling of a young boy whose mother is being treated for cancer. Although Connor’s mother has cancer this isn’t technically a story about that horrendous disease. This isn’t a book about cancer, or illness or death. Ultimately it’s a book about grief. It’s a book about a young boy having to face the unfair reality that he is shortly going to have to say goodbye to the person he loves most in the world. Before reading A Monster Calls I had never read anything written by Patrick Ness or Siobhan Dowd despite hearing phenomenal praise for them. Patrick’s honest and creative way of storytelling along with Siobhan’s brilliant imagination makes me definitely interested in checking out their separate work. This book is like nothing else out there at the moment and in its short 215 pages packs one of the biggest punches a book has dealt me in a long time. A Monster Calls isn’t the kind of book that you gobble up in one action packed frenzy but is the kind of novel you take your time over absorbing the beautiful and haunting language and images. It’s the kind of book that is packed with lessons and life changing quotes that will make you stop and think for a moment before continuing reading. It’s a book that despite being short will stay with you for weeks, the lessons it brings to the table eternal. Needless to say I cried whilst reading this book. I defy anyone not to. I got angry and I lived along with Connor. To say that I recommend this book or even give it 5 stars is an understatement. It somehow seems unfair to it because this book deserves so much more than that. It deserves to be picked up and read and loved and cherished and talked about amongst friends and family. It deserves more praise than I alone can give it. If you have this book sitting on your shelf don’t put it off, read it next. If you have it on your wishlist buy it now above all other books. I sincerely promise that the tears, the tissues and your time will be worth it. My Rating 5/5 stars ***** Synopsis taken from goodreads Thanks go to Walker for sending me this book to review

Review for The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

"Sixteen-year-old Maya is just an ordinary teen in an ordinary town. Sure, she doesn't know much about her background - the only thing she really has to cling to is an odd paw-print birthmark on her hip - but she never really put much thought into who her parents were or how she ended up with her adopted parents in this tiny medical-research community on Vancouver Island. Until now. Strange things have been happening in this claustrophobic town - from the mountain lions that have been approaching Maya to her best friend's hidden talent for "feeling" out people and situations, to the sexy new bad boy who makes Maya feel . . . . different. Combine that with a few unexplained deaths and a mystery involving Maya's biological parents and it's easy to suspect that this town might have more than its share of skeletons in its closet." I loved Kelley Armstrong’s first series for Young Adults The Darkest Powers trilogy and was so excited to read her latest book The Gathering the first book in the new Darkness Rising series a companion to The Darkest Powers. As a companion series I was expecting some answers that I didn’t get with The Reckoning and it to have some scenes with Chloe and company. Instead this book is really quite separate and easily read on its own. The only common theme at the moment seems to be that both series are set in the same “world” so to speak. After I got use to the different setting I really started to enjoy the story. I absolutely love Kelley Armstrong’s writing and how seamlessly it all flows together. She is definitely one of those authors where you plan to sit down for a few chapters and before you know it hours have flown by because you’re so engrossed in what’s going on. Kelley certainly possesses that talent of really captivating her audience. I loved the characters in this book maybe even more so than The Darkest Powers cast. Maya is a very different heroine compared to Chloe. She’s confident, self assured and funny. She’s kind of bad ass and adventurous and is definitely the type of girl I can see becoming one of my book bffs. This book to me felt like a cocktail of Shiver, The Body Finder and The Summoning which I have to say is a recipe for awesome! If you enjoyed any of the above books you’re bound to love The Gathering. I was desperate to know more about the town of Salmon Creek and its strange small town goings on from the beginning. The mystery, suspenseful plot and awesome characters to boot made for a fantastic read. The only thing that let this book down for me was the lack of answers at the end. I was so curious to know more and although Kelley gives us enough to keep us interested I wasn’t completely satisfied. I’m so curious to know what happens next and how Maya’s story fits in with Chloe’s. Although you do get some hints throughout the book nothing is confirmed and I so desperately want to know more, kudos to Kelley coz you can bet I’ll be devouring the next book as soon as possible! Overall Mrs Armstrong again has written a fantastic book setting herself up for another potentially awesome series. Kelley sure knows how to write and is a born storyteller. If you haven’t discovered one of her truly captivating books yet you really should and The Gathering is as good a place to start as any. My Rating 4/5 stars **** Synopsis taken from goodreads

Random Acts of Kindness: April Thankyous!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Random Acts of Kindness it’s a feature hosted by Book Soulmates where every month bloggers link up their wishlists in the hope that a generous blogger will grant one of their book wishes! This can be by giving away one of your own books, or buying and sending a new copy! RAK is a selfless act and nobody expects something in return other than a nice gesture in a post at the end of the month saying thank you. In April I received 4 books from my wishlist so let me show you what I got!

Zombies vs. Unicorns by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier This one was sent to me from Lisa at Baffled Books, it’s been on my wishlist for such a long time and I was absolutely thrilled to receive this one as a surprise, THANK YOU! One Seriously Messed-Up Week: in the Otherwise Mundane and Uneventful Life of Jack Samsonite by Tom Clempson I received a £5 Amazon gift card to pre-order this one from the lovely Birgit of The Book Garden, it sounds right up my street and I can’t wait for it to be released THANK YOU! Girl on the Run by Jane Costello This one was a lovely surprise from my good friend Ellie at Musings of a Bookshop Girl who recently discovered RAK through one of my IMM posts. I’d been eyeing this one since it came out and was so happy when this arrived as a total surprise in the mail! THANK YOU! Life of Pi by Yann Martel My last RAK is a book I’ve wanted forever just because it’s one of those books that you HAVE to read because of the amount of praise it’s received this was sent to me from Lainy at So many books, so little time. THANK YOU!

Huge HUGE thank yous to all the lovely generous people who sent me books last month! If you want to learn more about Random Acts of Kindness you can find out all the details and how to take part here. For anyone taking part this month here’s my wishlist :-)

Top books I’m wishing for

Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt Bitter End by Jennifer Brown Beauty Queens by Libba Bray But I Love Him by Amanda Grace Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn

Dead Beautiful Tour Stop: Soulmates with Yvonne Woon

Hi guys today I’m coming to you with a post from Yvonne about the concept of soulmates in Dead Beautiful. Now we’ve all heard couples in fiction desciribed as soulmates but in Dead Beautiful it really is quite literal! The romance and soul aspect of Dead Beautiful really comes together beautifully and was one of my favourite things about the book. So without futher ado let me introduce and welcome the author herself to talk a little bit about why her soulmates concept is a little different from most! "The simplest way I’ve seen soul mates described are in movies. It usually happens like this: a woman wakes up in the middle of the night, craving a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but realizes she doesn’t have any peanut butter. She goes to the grocery store, to the preserves aisle, where she bumps into a man. As they part, she realizes he’s holding a jar of strawberry jelly. She smiles. He smiles. Regardless of what happens after that, we know they’re meant for each other. Even thought it doesn’t always happen this cleanly in literature, I think this encapsulates the essence of all soul mates. Both people are searching for something, and when they meet, they eventually realize that they complete each other. This is true of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice, of Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre, of Jenny & Oliver in Love Story, of Bella and Edward in Twilight... Renée and Dante are just a more literal representation of the soul mate, as they not only complete each other emotionally, but physically. And like the characters that have come before them, they spend much of their time together trying to overcome obstacles—obstacles that force them to consider whether or not soul mates actually exist, and how they can be sure if the person they love is the right one." Thanks for stopping by the blog today Yvonne! I personally LOVED Dead Beautiful and to learn more on my thoughts you can check out my review here. The tour will next be stopping with Bookbabblers tomorrow where they will be doing a giveaway of the book itself! Exciting stuff right? So for your chance to win be sure to check that out!

Dead Beautiful is published in the UK by Usborne on May 1st. www.deadbeautiful.co.uk / www.twitter.com/DeadBeautifulUK