October Wrap Up…

Welcome to my October Wrap Up. I had a great reading month, finishing 7 books (4 books off my TBR). I also received 3 ARC’s this month, and I continued my new goal of reading 1 Shakespeare play and 10 Shakespeare Sonnets, as well as 5 Brother’s Grimm fairy-tales, and 3 ‘books’ from Les Miserable by Victor Hugo. I hope to keep this up every month for the rest of the year. I guess we will see if that actually happens.

I have reviews up or coming up for these books so as usual this is just going to be a brief run down on each book I read.

Without further ado, let’s get into my October Wrap Up…

Treasury Of Bedtime Stories by Enid Blyton: This book was magical. I have been makin my way through Enid Blyton’s classic books this year, so I was over the moon to get my hands on this book. This amazing book is filled with wonderful stories and beautiful illustrations. I don’t have a bad word to say about this book.

The Find-Outers: The Mystery Of The Burnt Cottage by Enid Blyton: This book was wonderful. I think this may have been my first experience with the Find-Outers. I don’t remember reading about the as a child. I really enjoyed this book and now that I have found the Find-Outers I look forward to reading about more of their adventures.

Broken Things by Lauren Oliver: This book was fantastic. I wasnt sure about it going into it, but after a few chapters I was hooked. I loved the emotional pull this story had, the mess that was left behind and how people try to move on after a tragedy. The characters and their interactions with each other really grounded this book and made me excited to find out more.

Wundersmith: The Calling Of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend: I honestly don’t have the words to describe how much I loved this book. It was absolutely Wunderful. This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and it didn’t disappoint. I am totally in love with this series. I want more.

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green. You have to read this book. I honestly didn’t know what to expect going into this book. It turns out I should have expected awesomeness. This book had an amazing plot, fantastic characters and wonderful writing. I am so glad I read it an I cant wait to share it with my friends and family.

Millionaire Mountain Climber by Laura Boon: I loved this book. It had a great plot, awesome characters and a breathtaking setting. It really is everything you want in a romance novel; sweet, sexy and fun. I didn’t just read this book I devoured it. I am so excited to read the next book in the Romancing The Alps series.

The Other Sister by Elle Croft: This book took me by surprise. It took a few chapter for me to get into it but once I did I was hooked. I don’t love books that are told from multiple points of view but I got use to it in this book and by the end I wasnt really bothered by it. This book was creepy, intriguing and will stay with my for a long time.

Shakespeare: I read 1 Shakespeare play and 12 Sonnets in October. I read the following Shakespeare Works This Month:

King Henry The Sixth Part 1

Sonnets 91-102

Les Miserable: For those who don’t know this novel, it is broken up into character sections with each character section containing ‘books’. Within each of these books are chapters. These ‘books’ come in various sizes, it is just the luck of the draw really. I hope to read 3 ‘books’ each month. I have read the following ‘books’ this month:

The Idyll In The Rue Plumet And The Epic Of The Rue Saint-Denis:

– Book 12: Corinth

– Book 13: Marius Enters The Darkness

– Book 14: The Greatest Of Despair

Brother’s Grimm: I am happy to say that I not only completed my goals of reading 5 Brother Grimm Fairy Tales in October, I doubled it. I read the following Tales this month:

Mother Holle

The True Sweetheart

The Three Little Birds

The Three Snake-Leaves

The White Snake

The Three Spinners

Rumpelstiltskin

The Queen Bee

The Three Feathers

The Hut In The Forest

That’s it for my October Wrap Up. I hope you all had a great reading month. Let me know what you guys read this month in the comments section.

Until my November Wrap Up…

Happy Reading…

❤ Gem

Wundersmith: The Calling Of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend

‘Wunder is gathering in Nevermoor …

Morrigan Crow may have defeated her deadly curse, passed the dangerous trials and joined the mystical Wundrous Society, but her journey into Nevermoor and all its secrets has only just begun. And she is fast learning that not all magic is used for good.

Morrigan Crow has escaped her deadly fate and found a new home in the fantastical city of Nevermoor. She has also discovered that she has a strange and magical ability. But will her unique talent be a blessing or another curse?

Now that Morrigan and her best friend Hawthorne are proud scholars in the elite Wundrous Society, she is sure that she’s found a place to belong at last, but life is far from perfect. Can Morrigan prove that she deserves to be in the Society – or will an unexpected new enemy ruin her new life?’

The second book in the Nevermoor series.

This Book was absolutly Wunderful.

I was so excited to get my hands on this book and let me tell you it was well worth the wait. I honestly didn’t think Jessica Townsend would be able to match the magical, wonderful and mind-blowing Nevermoor. I was very wrong. Not only did this book live up to its predecessor, it surpassed it.

Wundersmith was one of my most anticipated sequel of the year. I was so excited to dive back into the strange and beautiful world of Nevermoor and catch up with my long-lost sister Morrigan Crow. Reading this book felt like I was returning home.

Jessica Townsend has created a truly magical world that is both intriguing and entertaining. With mystery around every corner and truly relatable characters to journey with, I can’t find fault with this book.

I loved getting to see the characters develop and grow in this book. Watching old friendships strengthen and new friendships flourish was a really beautiful thing to see.

I honestly don’t have a bad word to say about this book. I cant wait to see where Jessica Townsend takes this series. I will be waiting with bated breath to get my hands on the third book.

Wundersmith: The Calling Of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend is the perfect addition to the Nevermoor series and a must read for everyone.

Anti Social Media!

Anti Social Media…

Social Media!

You have heard about it, you’re probably even on one or more social media platforms; Facebook, tumblr, twitter, instagram, snapchat, ect.

Now let me ask you this…

Why?

Why are you on social media?

Does it enhance you life?

Are you more productive because of social media?

Are you a better person?

The chances are you answered no to these questions. The real reason your on social media is FOMO (fear of missing out). Now this may not be the reason you joined social media but it is likely the reason you are still on it.

We stay connected to social media to see what our so-called ‘friends’ are doing. To spy on our ex’s. To fool ourselves into thinking we are involved in some sort of community. When the reality is we don’t want to be the only person not connected.

We would rather waste our time with ‘friends’, comparing our fake social media lives, seeking fake validation, doing all of our socializing in isolation.

There are now over 3 Billion social media users in the world, that’s roughly 40% of the world’s population. 3 Billion people doing the exact same thing. And for what?

We have all heard about the various dangers of social media; lack of privacy, scams, catfishing, hackers, ect. But the real danger of social media is that it is turning us into isolated, bitter, time wasters who seek fake external validation, who feel like they are supporting a movement because they shared a link, or think that they aren’t becoming anti social because they have thousands of ‘friends’.

We have all heard talk about the robot uprising, what no-one has realized is it has already happened.

Social Media has turned us into robots and we are collectively destroying humanity one ‘like’ at a time.

~>GEM<~

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green

‘If you came across AN ABSOLUTELY REMARKABLE THING at 3 a.m. in New York City . . . Would you keep walking? Or do the one thing that would change your life forever? 

The Carls just appeared. Coming home from work at three a.m., twenty-three-year-old April May stumbles across a giant sculpture. Delighted by its appearance and craftsmanship – like a ten-foot-tall Transformer wearing a suit of samurai armour – April and her friend Andy make a video with it, which Andy uploads to YouTube. The next day April wakes up to a viral video and a new life. News quickly spreads that there are Carls in dozens of cities around the world – everywhere from Beijing to Buenos Aires – and April, as their first documentarian, finds herself at the centre of an intense international media spotlight.

Now April has to deal with the pressure on her relationships, her identity and her safety that this new position brings, all while being on the front lines of the quest to find out not just what the Carls are, but what they want from us.’

You have to read this book.

I honestly didn’t know what to expect before going into this book. I am so glad I decided to read it, it was absolutely remarkable. See what I did there? This amazing book follows a young woman and her friends as they becoming part of something bigger and weirder than they could have imagined.

I loved the way Hank Green incorporated themes that are really relevant in todays culture; social media, internet fame and radical beliefs. These current topics helped to ground this story and made the fear and rhetoric that emanated from this book palpable.

Hank Green did a fantastic job with this book. His writing has a cinematic quality that really brought to life the characters and their feelings. His characters were so relatable and human. It was easy to relate to these characters and follow their journeys, at times forgetting that you weren’t actually living this story with them.

I am really glad that I picked this book up and I cant wait to not only read it again but share it with my family and friends.

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green is a must read for everyone.

Halloween Reads…

Welcome one and all to another Wacky Wednesday.

Given that next Wednesday is Halloween I have decided that today is the perfect day to go through my Halloween read. I love a good scary read and I absolutely loved all the books on this list. If you are looking for a book to read this Halloween, then this is the list for you.

Without further ado, lets jump into my Halloween Reads:

Dracula by Bram Stoker: This book is a classic for a reason. I have read many vampire books over the years and none come even close to this masterpiece. I can’t vividly remember the first time I read this book, I was a jumbled messy of excitement, anticipation and fear. Any book that can give me goosebumps is a winner in my opinion.

IT by Stephen King: This is one of my all time scariest reads. Stephen King is the master of horror and IT is by far his most frightening book. This book gave me chills whilst reading it, it was freaking, dark and terrifying. If you’re looking for a truly dark read this Halloween then look no further.

The Stand by Stephen King: Another amazing book by Stephen King. This book is less scary and more freaking, this doesn’t make it less terrifying, in fact it makes it more terrifying. This is one of my all time favourite books. I honestly don’t have a bad word to say about this book. If you want a book that will freak you out and leave you buzzing, this is the book for you.

Stalking Jack The Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco: I loved this book. Audrey Rose was such a fantastic character to journey with. I love Jack The Ripper stories, I havent read any fictional stories only historical, but this book was so good at times I forgot it was fiction. I honestly can’t speak highly enough of this book. If you want an intriguing, creepy yet not to scary book to read this Halloween, this is the book for you.

Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco: This book was absolutely amazing. I was so excited to read this book after finishing Stalking Jack The Ripper, so I definitely had high hope heading into it. Thankfully it not only lived up to but exceeded my expectations. This book is the perfect amount of spooky and entertaining, a perfect read this Halloween.

Well that’s it from me. I hope you guys enjoyed this post. As usual if you have read any of these books or you have any recommendations for me, hit me up in the comments section.

Until next time…

Happy Reading…

❤ Gem

Sleep Affirmations by Jennifer Williamson

‘One out of three adults have trouble getting to sleep each night—chances are you’ve spent some nights either tossing and turning, or waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to get back to sleep.

This book helps you get into the best mindset for sleep, allowing you to enjoy deeper, more restful sleep through the power of 200 short affirmations, easily accessible in a flip-through format. These soothing messages will encourage you to leave the stressors of the day behind—and get ready to embrace the possibilities of tomorrow.’

This book was wonderful.

I loved this book. I read it from start to finish. I am now looking forward to reading it again one affirmation per night.

I found this book really relaxing. I was able to envision the messages that this book was giving me and I found myself feeling really content.

I loved the layout of this book. It was easy to read and the instructions at the beginning were easy to follow. I also loved the addition of illustrations and colour that accompanied every affirmation. It made this book an insightful and eye-catching reading experience.

I have read quite a few books with affirmations or spiritual guidance over the last few years and this is by far my favourite. I loved the way this book made me feel.

I honestly don’t have a bad word to say about this book. I have already purchased multiple copies to gift to my friends and family.

Sleep Affirmations by Jennifer Williamson is the perfect book for every bedside table.

Ahoy, Me Hearties!

Ahoy, Me Hearties!

Are you a Pirate?

I don’t mean do you sail the seven seas and have a peg leg.

Do you illegally download?

I’m sorry to say that I am guilty of being a pirate.

I get that by pirating Films and TV Shows, we are not only hurting the artists we are damaging the entire industry.

A recent study suggests that the cost of piracy to the film industry is $500 million a year. That’s $500 million worth of content that isn’t being produced. This means less TV Shows and Films, fewer jobs for artists and the crews that work on these projects; the sound engineers, editors, wardrobe staff. All of these people are victims of our piracy.

We use to believe that downloading illegally was a victimless crime. The only victims being big corporations. That type of thinking is no longer the norm. By now we all know what piracy does to the media industry.

Yet millions of people are illegally downloading and threatening the media industries. So maybe the media industry should be asking why.

Why do people illegally download?

I know from my own experience and from my friends and family that piracy isn’t about money. Not from a consumer’s point of view. It’s about wanting content ASAP. We live in a world we are all connected thanks to the internet. As an Australian I absolutely hate having to avoid the internet for fear of having my favourite show spoiled by a review from the US.

A lot of effort has been made to close the gap with many overseas shows in Australia now showing the same day as the US. In my opinion this is a fantastic tool to stop piracy. If you have the option to watch your favourite show on your TV, knowing that quality is going to be good, you aren’t going to download it. I know I wouldn’t.

Media piracy is a huge problem, and it isn’t going away anytime soon.

So just maybe it is time to start thinking of better ways to get content to consumers.

Here’s a little background on me. As well as my love for books I absolutely love Movies and TV. Yet I havent been to the cinema in roughly a decade. I can’t. I suffer from mental illness and I am house bound. This makes it impossible for me to have access to the latest blockbusters. I either have to wait for the DVD release or for it to come to Television. By the time that happens I pretty much know exactly what happened in the movies thanks to spoilers.

Now I know for a fact that im not the only movie lover who is unable to go to the cinema, there are plenty of us. If we want to see a movie when it is still in the cinema, the only option is downloading a shitty quality of it and watching it on the computer. Becoming Pirates.

Now I actually have a radical solution to this. Give consumers access to movies from their homes. I would be more than happy, as im sure many people would be, to sign up to a Film Studio’s website, set up an account and pay $20 of whatever the going rate is at the cinema’s these days to watch a new release.

By doing this, the studios would still be making money, the consumer’s would get to see the Movies they want to see in good quality and good conscience, and there would be far less piracy.

With so many Streaming sites offering this to consumers now, why can’t Hollywood studio’s get behind it.

Instead of releasing stats about piracy and threatening people who illegally download with fines or prison time. Maybe you should ask what you can do to help the problem.

Ask yourself why piracy is still a problem?

What do the consumers want?

Are we providing enough service to the consumers?

Maybe in someone took the time to ask these questions we could move with the times AND become more inclusive.

I’m not trying to justify piracy and I definitely don’t have all the answer but I do have some pretty valid questions that maybe someone should be asking.

~>GEM<~

Broken Things by Lauren Oliver

‘It’s been five years since Summer Marks was brutally murdered in the woods.

Everyone thinks Mia and Brynn killed their best friend. That driven by their obsession with a novel called The Way into Lovelorn the three girls had imagined themselves into the magical world where their fantasies became twisted, even deadly.

The only thing is: they didn’t do it.

On the anniversary of Summer’s death, a seemingly insignificant discovery resurrects the mystery and pulls Mia and Brynn back together once again. But as the lines begin to blur between past and present and fiction and reality, the girls must confront what really happened in the woods all those years ago—no matter how monstrous.’

This book was awesome.

I wasnt know what to expect going into this book, but I ended up loving it. I was worried when I say that it was written from dual perspectives which I usually don’t like, but it really worked with this story.

This book was definitely a slow build. Even though it was slower at the beginning I never once felt bored whilst reading this book. I like the way the plot was slowing revealed after we learn about the characters.

I loved the characters in this book. They were so different from each other yet they were perfect for each other. The different personalities helped to carry the story and each of their personal strengths had an important role to play as the story unfolded. One of the things I loved about these characters was that they were relatable and they continued to change and grow as the story went on.

Lauren Oliver did a fantastic job with the writing in this book. It was really emotive and kept you on the edge of your seat. I loved the way she developed the relationships between the characters with witty and relatable dialog.

The plot of this book was awesome. I love the way it played out all of the unanswered questions and memories that needed deciphering made for a really interesting read. Unfortunately for me I read a lot of mysteries and watch a lot of crime shows, so I wasnt surprised who the killer was.

I know a lot of readers will be surprised when all of the pieces fitted together, I was interested see how it all came together and I knew who had done it. That just shows me how well it was written. I usually lose interest in stories like this once I know the ending but that didn’t happen with this book.

If you are looking for a good mystery with a truly emotional connection, this is the book for you.

Broken Things by Lauren Oliver is a fantastic book that will captivate you and take you on an emotional journey.

The Aesthetically Pleasing Book Tag

Welcome one and all to another Wacky Wednesday post. Today I am partaking in the Aesthetically Pleasing Book Tag. With so many beautiful book covers out there, this wasnt an easy list to come up with. I hope you all like the books I have picked.

So without further ado, lets jump straight in:

Best colour combo on a book?

Queens Of Geek by Jen Wilde.

Best typography/font on a book cover?

Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu.

Best simple cover?

There’s Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins.

Best end pages?

The Land Of Stories: An Author’s Odyssey by Chris Colfer.

Best map?

The Language Of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo.

Best naked hardback?

The Complete Works Of The Brother’s Grimm.

Best back cover?

The Girl With The Lost Smile by Miranda Hart.

Best chapter headers?

Alice In Zombieland by Gena Showalter.

Best illustrations?

Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban: Illustrated Edition by J.K. Rowling.

Best spine?

Caraval by Stephanie Garber.

Favourite cover on your selves?

Nevermore by Jessica Townsend.

Well that’s it from me. I hope you guys enjoyed this tag. As usual hit me up with your answers in the comment section.

Until next time…

Happy Reading…

❤ Gem

 

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

‘Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.’

This book was absolutely amazing.

I have had this book on my TBR for so long. With the movie coming out I decided to finally pick it up. Given all of the hype that surrounded it when I came out I put of reading it because I didn’t believe it could live up to the hype. Wow was I wrong. It not only lived up to the hype but surpassed it.

I could not put this book down. It was equal parts heartwarming and heartbreaking. I loved getting to see an insight into a world that I don’t really know anything about. Getting to read about characters that live behind the headlines and the hashtags made for a really captivating read.

Angie Thomas did a fantastic job with this book., The writing was amazing, the plot was fantastic and the characters were three-dimensional and relatable. I can’t find a fault with this book. I am so glad I finally picked it up. This book will stay with me for a long time.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas is an absolute must read for everybody.