Booktalk #1 : How I treat my books

Booktalk-Books and Me-Talking about Books

Hello and welcome to my new *feature*, where I talk about Books and Me or Me and Books. Let's be honest, this will be me basically rambling about various topics concerning books. So if you don't like my ramblings you can just skip this feature. If you have any suggestions of topics, or any topic-ideas you'd like me to ramble about, please let me know so in the comments or send me an email.

- Please excuse the bad quality of my pictures, I have no idea what is wrong with my camera.

How I treat my Books

Attention, this is not for the faint of heart. There's some serious book-abuse going on here!

How do I treat my books? Well, let's just say I don't treat them very nicely at all. I'm a serious book-abuser, I should go to book-prison for it. I'm really not kidding. Luckily my hardbacks fare a whole lot better than my paperbacks. The first thing I do when I start a new book is that I break the spine. Yes, you heard correctly. Sometimes I break the spine so hard that the book almost falls apart, and pages slipping out from my books is NOT an uncommon occurrence for me!

My poor poor paperbacks

The second book-crime I commit is that I very rarely use bookmarks. So, yeah, I'm guilty of dog-earing (is that even a word?) the pages of my books. If a book is lucky and I can't put it down then it won't have that many dog-ears, if not, well you can imagine how my books look like afterwards..tihiii..

Poor dog-eared book

Book-crime 2.5 - When I don't dog-ear my book-pages then, gasp, I put my books  opened on the floor. Yes, I do. And I do this on the floor beside my bed, so sometimes, gasp, I step on them when I get up in the middle of the night. Poor poor books!

Bad book-owner, bad

Book-crime number 3 - I not only mutilate my books with my own hands, nope, I also torture them with water, sand, filthy hands and beverages. I read my books on the beach, by the pool, in the bathtub (if I could figure out a way to read while I'm showering I would do that to). I eat while I read, fatty things like potato-chips, I drink while I read, things that stain, like coffee.

Unfortunate encounter with water

So, these are my book-crimes (I'm sure I forgot a few)..If you see a book on my shelf with an unbroken spine, no watermarks or other stains, then you can be sure I haven't read it and you should stay away from it because it's NOT a good book.
My books are my friends, I'm a serious re-reader, on a well-read book you can see all the years it has spent with me, every emotion I've gone through, they have aged with me.

So, how do you treat your books? Would you *hate* me if you met me in real-life and saw my bookshelves?

In My Mailbox # 14

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren , find out more about it on her IMM-page.

Hello :D



I've had a really really bad book week. Not only did the books I've been waiting for last week not arrive (I've now reported them as missing with the bookdepository, the first time this has happened!) but the books I've ordered in time didn't arrive either (I guess they'll arrive on Monday though..tststs)...and to make this all worse I got a nasty Eye-infection....AGAIN! so I couldn't read much :( (yes, I feel sorry for myself!)...so...(I wrote about it here)

Lizzy Harrison Loses Control - Pippa Wright (Do you like the cover?)

Wither - Lauren DeStefano ..I've been waiting for ever and ever for this one!!!

Overprotected - Jennifer Laurens. I was really really bored on Monday. My books didn't arrive, I wasn't in the mood for one of my books in the TBR-pile, so when I saw a review of this books ..and it said it was cute ( I'm really sorry I can't remember which blogger reviewed it and called it cute!, (but I can research it if you want to!!!!) , so I bought it on my Kindle right away. It was what I was in the mood for, sooo..... Anyway, I really liked the beginning, I liked the premise, the idea...but somewhere, somehow it fell short! It could have been so much better, it still was a satisfying read, so if you find the synopsis intriguing I'd still recommend that you'd read it though, just don't expect too much.

So, this was it from me this week. If you have any ideas/answers to my questions I posted earlier today feel free to comment here

Happy Reading!!! 

Stuff

Hej y'all

Health issues
Some of you may have wondered what happened with the rest of my *chick-lit-week* posts. I had planned to do another three review-recommendation-thingies but as always, life got in the way. On Tuesday when I looked into the mirror I noticed a small white/grey spot in my iris. It hurt. Badly. I don't really know how to explain it, but that spot wasn't even with the rest of my eye, it stood out a bit. It didn't only hurt but it also tickled a bit and big was the temptation to try to take it away with my fingernail. The rest of the eye was very very red. Anyway, that meant I couldn't wear my contacts, I have no new glasses (the ones I have I see quite blurry with). So, I've been staggering around half-blind for most of this week, seeing almost nothing with my left eye. This means of course almost no reading/writing/posting. What do people do all day when they can't see? No tv, no walking in the sunshine, no reading, no studying, no writing....ghaaaa!
I feel a bit better now, the red is almost gone, the spot has become smaller.



Ideas?

I really liked writing these review-recommendation-thingies of chick-lit and I would very much like to continue these regularly. Now, of course, I can't call it chick-lit-week anymore. Any ideas what I could call this *feature*?? Any help with names is most welcome :D


Upcoming posts
Something I've been thinking about a lot lately, and actually wanted to start last Tuesday is a new regular instalment where I talk about Me and books, I'm thinking about calling it Booktalk..but maybe that's a bad idea?! The idea is that I talk about different topics concerning books, my first topic is going to be *How I treat my books*...

My second idea is a regular feature, like once a month or so where I ask a question...something like: Which books would you save in a fire?....

The third idea I had this week (after reading a few tweets of fellow book-bloggers)...is writing  some posts with titles like: My favourite contemporary YA, or Paranormal YA and so on. In which I would list my favourites in said *genre*. ..But maybe such posts are unnecessary?


Anyway, let me know what you think.

In My Mailbox # 13

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren , find out more about it on her IMM-page.

So, I've just got a little break from tennis-watching :)...This week I'm proud to say that I've actually posted not one but TWO reviews on my blog..that hasn't happened this year yet..LOL...but I've had kind of a bad reading-week. Nothing felt right :( and THE ONE book I was waiting for all week didn't arrive. It should have been here a week ago. I really love bookdepository but sometimes they're a bit unreliable, well not them, but the mailservice. As of right now, two books are missing :(.

So this is what I've got (bought) this week, as always all the links go to Goodreads:

Steel - Carrie Vaughn. I'm quite excited about this :)

The Demon Trapper's Daughter - Jana Oliver

Heaven Scent - Sasha Wagstaff. This book has the most gorgeous cover I've ever come across! This book already has a special place in my heart. Every year I spent two weeks in the fall in St.Tropez. I've a special connection to that place. And I've been several times to Grasse, the city of perfume :)

Kiss it - Erin Downing. I love the color-combination of that cover! It's a very different, very dry in tone, sarcastic read.

The Importance of Being Emma - Juliet Archer. I can't resist all things Jane Austen.

 Hex Hall - Rachel Hawkins

Demonglass - Rachel Hawkins

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins. I've FINALLY bought this one, for my kindle. I've started it, I like it, but I'm still a bit too chicken to finish it :/

So, that's it from me this week, what did you all get?

Happy Reading

Chick-lit-week #2 'Swept off Her Feet'

Welcome back to another *review-recommendation-thingy* in my chick-lit week.

>>To all my followers who read YA and follow my blog because of its YA-content, don't worry, I'll be back with YA-paranormal/dystopian/contemporary soon!

 The steps of a charmingly complex dance—Scotland’s famous reel—are at the heart of Hester Browne’s enchanting contemporary novel of two very different sisters whose dreams may come true at a romantic Scottish ball. Evie Nicholson is in love . . . with the past. An antiques appraiser in a London shop, Evie spins fanciful attachments to Victorian picture frames, French champagne glasses, satin evening gloves, and tattered teddy bears—regardless of their monetary value.
Alice Nicholson is in love . . . with Fraser Graham, a dashing Scotsman whom Evie secretly desires. As crisply neat and stylish as Evie is cheerfully cluttered, Alice is a professional organizer determined to pull her sister out of her comfort zone—and who presents her with an irresistible offer.
As a favor to friends of Fraser’s family, Evie jumps at the chance to appraise a Scottish castle full of artifacts and heirlooms. What could be more thrilling than roaming the halls of Kettlesheer and uncovering the McAndrews’ family treasures—and dusty secrets?
But crossing paths with moody heir Robert McAndrew has Evie assessing what she wants the most . . . and at an upcoming candlelight gala, a traditional dance will set her heart reeling.

Why did I pick this up?

I haven't previously read anything by Hester Browne, even though I've actually bought one of her books while on holiday on Gran Canaria. I had every intention of reading that one, but when I was at the beach, opening the book I realised it was the third book in her Little Lady Agency series What the Lady Wants (now called the Little Lady Agency and the Prince). Anyway, I didn't want to read the third book without reading the other two, so I put it away and somehow never got around to buy these first two books. Anyway, when Swept Off her Feet started popping up on various blogs I recognized the authors name - Hester Browne, and thought, why not :).

My thoughts about the cover: The cover looks actually better in the picture than in reality. The colors are much paler than the image shows. I'm not a fan of shoes and no fan of the color-combination of that read with the pale blue. And isn't the woman sitting in a very awkward position? I like the yellow dress though (even though I have no idea what it has to do with a ball in a castle in the winter...) and the Scottish tartan pattern on the shoes is a nice touch!

My thoughts about the book, why I liked it:

I didn't like this book at first, as my Goodreads-updates clearly show.

 "What I don't like in books ( or movies) ( or IRL) are scenes that are hilarious/funny bordering on embarrassing. I think in this book they're meant to be funny but I cringe all the time. They are not too embarrassing yet, so I read on... ( like the story/plot though - just not the naivety/dumbness/stupidity of the MC)" - is what I wrote down while reading. I don't know why I can't read or watch embarrassing scenes and my threshold is pretty low. So I think other readers will just find these scenes funny, lightening up the plot and will laugh out loud while reading. 

I pushed on though, because I really liked the premise. I like the heroine's quirkiness, her inner monologues and daydreams and her clumsiness. Evie and her sister Alice where referred to Big Bird and King Kong (p.20) by their teachers and fellow pupils, the image that creates in my mind is just ridiculous, haha. 

It took a while for me to feel the connection between the lead-guy and Evie. Evie was so caught up in her crush on her sister's fiancé that it took a while to feel the chemistry. 

But as they say, opposites attract. As soon as I felt the chemistry I just had to read more and more and I couldn't stop. I loved the fact that it is written from first person POV, loved to be left in the dark about what he was feeling. The development of the romance between the two of them felt real, it went under my skin. 

And did I mention that it is set in a castle(ish), in Scotland? Swooon :)

My verdict: This is a new take on an old fairytale, with lots of interesting details and tidbits of *old things*, the female lead is different and adorable, the premise interesting, the romance oh so sweet. After a somewhat rocky start I couldn't put this book down. *swoon*

Chick-lit-week #1 'The Girls Guide to Homemaking'

Hello everybody,

You've probably all noted that I've been quite AWOL here this year. I haven't even posted a single review. I'm a bad bad girl *ashamed*. Well, I'll try to be better in the future.

I've started out this blog as a way for me to keep up with my reading, organize it, remember the books I've read and give ideas to others, what books to buy, where to find ideas of new books and so on. Let's face it, I was really lost back then (2.5 years ago), and I still am most of the time. I still have no idea what I'm doing, haha. Anyway, when I started this blog I was mostly if not only reading chick-lit. This has changed during the past 8 months, now I'm leaning more and more towards YA, contemporary and paranormal, fantasy and thus I read less and less chick-lit. Sometimes though I like to go back to my *roots* and read a pink, girly and flowery book again :). 

So, this week my focus will be on the few chick-lit books I've read during the past months, I probably won't write any long and thoughtful (when have I ever done that?) reviews, only some short recommendations and random ramblings about feelings and emotions (blaargh) because I'm all about those..haha

The Girl's Guide to Homemaking by Amy Bratley

'What makes you happy? What do you want from life?' I ran through a list of things that I supposed would make me sound cool. And then I told the truth. 'A home,' I said. 'A home with some people in it I love.' On a mission to have the perfect home, with tweeting bluebirds and a white picket fence, Juliet hits a major stumbling block - reality. On the first night with her boyfriend in their new flat, Juliet discovers that Simon has been sleeping with her best friend. After growing up in a dysfunctional family with secrets that haunt her, there's no way she is prepared to build her nest on a broken branch. Heartbroken and seeking an escape from her troubles, Juliet retreats into the comforting world of her grandmother's 1950s homemaking manuals, discovering tips like 'put a ribbon in your hair to brighten your husband's day' and though Juliet knows that won't get her anywhere, she discovers that craft and homemaking are back in style. Taking control of her life, Juliet is determined to get her home with a heart. But who will win hers?

Why did I pick this up?
I've seen this book mentioned on various book-blogs and chick-lit sites, but it didn't really *jump* at me, yelling buy me, buy me!!! I've dismissed it with a single glance, never to look back. Why did I do that? Well, firstly I don't like the cover, it's a bit old-fashioned (though cute!) but screamed 'old-lady' at me and secondly the title, what's up with that? I have to quote myself here (one of my earliest posts from 2009):
And I don't particular care for books with titles such as "A Singles Guide to...",. 


Well, that should say it all, but it doesn't. Homemaking - urrghh, not my thing, at all. Nope, I was never ever going pick up this book. And not because I judged the book by its cover, but because I wasn't the target-group for this book, simple as that.

But how did I end up with this book anyway, and reading it, and LOVING it? A few weeks back I had the privilege to be able to visit THE Bookshop in Zürich, The Orell Füssli English Bookshop. So when I was browsing their shelves I realised with horror that I've already had read every single book that looked interesting! So after a while, with that sinking feeling in my stomach that I had come all the way there for nothing, I started to randomly pick up books, read the blurb and put them pack. Then I saw The Girl's Guide to Homemaking, I recognized it and thought, well, it can't hurt, so I picked it up, read the blurb and bought it! (I later also found some books upstairs in the YA-section).

My thoughts about the book, why I liked it:

This from my Goodreads-account: 'Page 171, Yay - I finally have some spare time to read! I'm in LOVE with this book!!!!!'.  So, yeah, this book really surprised me. I was hooked from the first page, I wanted to know how Juliet would rise herself up again and start anew after hearing her boyfriend call out her best friends name in the first night at their new home. The home that was everything to Juliet.
What I most liked about this book is the contrast. The contrast of the inside from the outside. What's written in those pages doesn't match the cover or title. Amy Bratley managed to constantly surprise me, throwing curve-balls at me. I love the contrast of  Juliets 'homemaking' to how Juliet speaks and acts. I cried, I laughed, I couldn't put it down!

In My Mailbox # 12

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren , find out more about it on her IMM-page.

So, I wasn't sure if I was going to post an IMM this week, mainly because of lack of time. I've had a really bad week (not a bad book-week though) and I'm not really feeling all that great. But I was staying up late watching tennis, seeing my fave lose (made me sad), too much energy in my body now to sleep..so I decided to write this post.

I've finally gotten around to buy the Wicked Lovely - series, Yay me..can't wait to read them!

Wicked Lovely - Melissa Marr

Ink Exchange - Melissa Marr

Fragile Eternity - Melissa Marr

Radiant Shadows - Melissa Marr

Darkest Mercy - Melissa Marr

How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf - Molly Harper.

After falling in love with Molly Harpers writing while reading And One Last Thing... (I've written about it here), I just had to get this one. I've read it in one sitting, it's hilariously funny :D

Stitches and Scars - Elizabeth A. Vincent. My first book bought and read on my Kindle. Loved the reading-experience, didn't like the book, at all :(

I Love the 80s - Megan Crane. Feels like I've been waiting for ever and ever for this one. Will be reading this one ASAP!

Swept Off Her Feet - Hester Browne. Liked this one, a nice fluffy read, featuring a ball in a Scottish Castle.

Everybody Jam - Ali Lewis

The Scarlet Kimono - Christina Courtenay. Gorgeous Cover!!

So, that's it from me this week, what did you all get?

Happy Reading!

In My Mailbox # 11

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren , find out more about it on her IMM-page.


So I'm back again.

My self-imposed book-buying-ban is officially over and I got a little crazy when I was ordering books, so there were a lot of books waiting here for me when I got home from the airport...awesome :)

Not only is my book-buying-ban over, but this week was also my birthday, I'm 26 now, feeling a bit old to read so much YA..haha :), anyway, I got a Kindle for my birthday, which is awesome as there is no more space for my books in my room!

 I also got a kindle leather case, pink of course, but it hasn't arrived yet...

So, these are the books I've bought during the last two weeks:

Faking It - Lotte Daley (This sounds like a nice 'fluffy' read)

The Ballroom Class - Lucy Dillon (After loving Lucy's newer books I just had to get this one too)

Seven Exes Are Eight Too Many - Heather Wardell (Like the title, NOT the cover!)

City of Bones - Cassandra Clare (Finally I'm going to read these!)

City of Ashes - Cassandra Clare (And how gorgeous are the covers!!)

City of Glass - Cassandra Clare

Angelfire - Courtney Allison Moulton (Sounds interesting)

Dark Mirror - M.J.Putney (Ooh, like the sound of this one)

The False Princess - Eilis O'Neal

Babe in Boyland - Jody Gehrman (hope it's as hilarious as the movie She's the Man :P)

Sean Griswold's Head - Lindsey Leavitt (Love the title and the Cover)

Pathfinder - Orson Scott Card (I fell in love with this cover/book when I was in The Bookstore in Zurich, but it's a really big hardback so I couldn't buy it - too heavy)

Desires of the Dead - Kimberly Derting ( I've been waiting like crazy for this one!)

Insatiable - Meg Cabot (I've been wanting to read this since it came out, but never got around to buying it)

A Discovery of Witches - Deborah Harkness ( Sounds amazing!)

I just realized that I forgot a few :S well, will be posting them next week. 

 So, now I have to decide which one to read first, decisions, decisions :) . So, what did you all get this week?

Happy Reading!

February Favourites (Monthly favs #2)

Fabulous February? Well, February has been kind of a slow month for me, I'm not quite sure why.
I've struggled quite a bit this months. There's been a lot on my mind. As always I've been busy with my research for my Masters-thesis, I've been in Switzerland for the past two weeks and I've been debating with myself whether to continue this blog or not (due to time-issues and low self-esteem).

According to Goodreads I've read 13 books during these four week. So here are my favourite books I've read during February 2011:

The Fever-series by Karen Marie Moning

In the beginning of February I started to read the Fever-series by Karen Marie Moning. Once started I couldn't stop. I'm so glad that I had all five books at hand and didn't have to wait a year or so in between. These books are intense. They mess with your head, play punchball with your heart, shatter it to pieces and patch it together in a new different way. I've changed, at least inside. I was a mess while reading these. I just wanted to stay home all day and night and read. Nothing could keep me away, I forgot to eat and didn't sleep.
I rushed through these series, constantly hoping to find a save place in the pages, so I could stop and take a break. But it's not possible to rest, you are always on the run, always being challenged, the game is constantly changing. There's no time to take a deep breath, no way to stop until it ends. For me the books are no stand-alone books, they have to be read all at once :), there's no conclusion (for now) until the last page of the last book.
Check it out if I haven't already read this series, if you're after something totally different, something that catches you and never ever releases you again. I've caught the fever and there's no cure!

    ______________________________________________

After having read the Fever-series I had some difficulties starting new books, firstly I had to start living again (after having put it on hold while reading) and secondly all the books just felt 'meehhh', bland, boring after these books. So it took a while until I found a good book again. Something totally different from the Fever-series, something totally different from all the books I've read lately.

                                                                           

 

Please Don't Stop the Music by Jane Lovering

How much can you hide? Jemima Hutton is determined to build a successful new life and keep her past a dark secret. Trouble is, her jewellery business looks set to fail - until enigmatic Ben Davies offers to stock her handmade belt buckles in his guitar shop and things start looking up, on all fronts. But Ben has secrets too. When Jemima finds out he used to be the front man of hugely successful Indie rock band Willow Down, she wants to know more. Why did he desert the band on their US tour? Why is he now a semi-recluse? And the curiosity is mutual - which means that her own secret is no longer safe ...

I was looking for some fluffy chick-lit. Something easy to read, something feel-good, something different from my dreary research, something with no vampires, angels, were-wolves and other paranormal creatures. Something that's not dark, troubled and emo. Well, I can say that Please Don't Stop the Music hasn't any paranormal creatures inside its pages. Fluffy, cheerful and feel-good? Well, I was sobbing through half of it. When I reached the last word I first had to dry my tears before I could do anything else. I don't know why this book affected me so much, why it sent me on an emotional roller-coaster. But it did. Somehow it resonated deeply within me, it twisted my heart. I loved this book. The writing is wonderful. It's funny and hilarious but also sad, there's a story behind it. But oh the writing, it did something with me. Its excellent, the words affected me.



So, these are my February Favourites.
I'll be back on Sunday with an other In My Mailbox ( I'll be going back to Sweden soon and hopefully there will be some new books waiting there for me). Next week I hope to be back with some minor changes, full of energy and new stuff to write about (one can always hope). (If you have a wish or some suggestions please let me know - through email or comments). 
In other news, I've purchased a kindle a few days ago (as a birthday-present to myself) so I'll be able to read even more in the future, yay :)
Happy March! Happy Reading!