20 February 2011

In My Mailbox # 10

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

I didn't think I was going to post an IMM this week, mainly because I thought that I wouldn't have any new books this week, as I'm away from home, but also because I'm still undecided about the future of this blog. But you are many out there who don't want me to shut this blog down, and of course I really would miss blogging about books. I'll be thinking about this a bit longer, if I'll continue it'll be with some changes. Mostly I want it be a bit more personal, I've been struggling trying to make my blog similar to others, follow their 'model'. But that's not who I am, so, I'd adopt a more personal style which I'm aware doesn't suit everybody.

Back to books. I'm currently staying in Switzerland and I convinced my parents to take me to Zürich as I wanted to go the The Bookshop. As it was my birthday-wish (I'm going to be 26 in ten days, Eeeeek! :S) they were kind to do so. As I was about to go into the bookshop my dad said, 'wait, you have to take a picture for your blog'. I hadn't even thought about that..haha.







The Orell Füssli English Bookshop had a great selection of English books, something I'm really not used to as I live in a non-English-speaking country. Though they didn't have all the books I wanted, as they were published too recently. Anyway, it was hard to decide which books to buy, it was quite expensive, and I have a limit on my baggage (20kg), so I settled on these five :). So, this is what I bought, a mix of genres and sub-genres...
Withering Tights - Louise Rennison
Rosebush - Michele Jaffe
Hush, Hush - Becca Fitzpatrick
Lament - Maggie Stievfater

So, this is My Mailbox this, what did you all get?
Happy Reading!

12 February 2011

In My Mailbox # 9

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

Well, another week with two IMM's back to back...It's been a slow book-week mostly due to the fact that I haven't ordered or bought any books for a while, as I'm going to be out of the country for a few weeks. The books that arrived were a few late-comers from my previous order.

Anyway,  I'll probably won't do an IMM for a while (as I'm going to be away). And I'll take that 'forced' hiatus as a chance to seriously consider If I'm going to continue blogging or if I'm going to shut my blog down. This due to various reasons, one of them is the serious lack of time I've experienced recently, but also some serious self-doubt. Anyway, I have two more reviews scheduled, and maybe I'll be back in a few weeks...who knows.


Moonlight (Dark Guardian #1) - Rachel Hawthorne

 Will Work For Prom Dress - Aimee Ferris - This just looked so cute, I couldn't resist :)


So, what did you all get? 
Happy Reading!

05 February 2011

In My Mailbox # 8

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

Another busy week for me, but I did get a few short reviews done, so that's better than nothing, right?

Anyway, I didn't buy as many books this week as before, as I'm going to be out of the country soon and I don't want books to arrive with no one to claim them at the post-office.


Delirium - Lauren Oliver - The removable cover-jacket and the cover of the hardback beneath it

Shadowfever - Karen Marie Moning - This is just so gorgeous! I can't wait to read it, I'm currently reading #3 (Faefever) in the series. AMAZING! AWESOME! Again, removable *see-through* cover and the cover of the book underneath it! Awesome :D

The Iron Witch - Karen Mahoney - Beautiful Cover.

That's it for me this week, can't wait to see what you all got!

Happy Reading!!

01 February 2011

January Favourites (Monthly favs #1)

Hi Everybody

I'm sooo behind with reviewing books that I thought I'd post a few short *recommendations* of my January favourites. I've been way busy with my Masters Thesis and catching up on stuff I missed during the month I had to stay home, half-blind due to a nasty eye-infection, and reading way to much that reviewing and keeping my blog alive came second or eehm, third. Anyway, here are my January favourites, according to Goodreads I've read 20 books and I've started but haven't finished another 2, so choosing my favorites wasn't easy. There's no reason behind my picks, all aren't 5 stars, it's a mix of contemporary YA and paranormal/fantasy and chick-lit. I've chosen them because of how they made me feel, still make me feel.


Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Wow, what a wonderful book. I was hooked from page 1 and wanted it to go on and on, I was so sad when it ended.
What I loved about it: The topic/issue - I've never experienced a loss close to me. Matson handled it perfectly, I could feel the sorrow and most of all the guilt. But it isn't a sad book, there's so much hope there  too. The Road-Trip - I love Road-Trips. I've never actually been on a real one, but I've spent my childhood travelling all through Europe with my family - trailering. Amy and Roger visit some interesting places, they all play a crucial part in the psychological/intellectual journey. It's not only a journey across the US but also a journey as a person. It feels real and believable.
The Romance - Of course :D, so sweet!
And how cute aren't all the pictures and receipts and other small tidbits that make the book feel so real?!

And One Last Thing by Molly Harper

I wouldn't call this one chick-lit, I'd call it chuckle-lit. Oh so hilariously funny this book is. Lacey is such a strong character. She takes the humiliation and hurt and turns it into something good, something productive. I like the fact that she didn't play the victim. That she was strong. It was lovely to read about her journey back to her true self, her empowerment, and the tools she used to get there, to be who she is, to find out what she wants. Harper is a wonderful writer, the words melt on the page, and it made me chuckle, no, laugh so many times, I finished it with a big smile on my face!




The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

There actually isn't much I can say about this book. If you haven't read/started this trilogy about The Iron Fey yet, just do. They are wonderful books, superbly written. So much raw emotion. I've cried so many tears while reading this book. I've a hard time to describe how these books make me feel. The last time I've felt like this while reading a book I was a teenager, reading a trilogy written by my favourite author Federica deCesco, the books were about a girl called Samira who fell in love with a Tuareg, nomadic people from the Sahara/Algeria. Anyway, The Iron Queen wraps you up like a cocoon, making you feel all warm inside, tingling. Perfect!






Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts by Lucy Dillon

This is another *chick-lit*. A real cozy read, perfect for a winter evening. Dillon has a wonderful writing style, the words just flow and before you know it you've reached the last page, craving more. I'm really not a dog person, really, I'm not. I'm so scared of dogs. But this story actually made me fall in love with dogs, crying for them. They are the real stars of this book. Normally I don't like the 3rd person POV, and normally I don't like reading books with multiple main-characters. But Dillon pulls it off really well. I was long into the story before I noticed that it actually wasn't 1st POV! and I had no problem with keeping up with the three main female characters. It's a warming and charming tale of loss and new-found happiness and dealing with life.





Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Unearthly has the most stunningly beautiful cover I've ever seen! Really, it's so shiny, a mere picture doesn't do it justice, at all!

Unearthly really surprised me. I'm new to the YA-genre, and I'm even newer to the paranormal side of YA. I've tried to catch up during these past few months and came to the conclusion that I don't like books featuring Angels. I was sooo wrong. Thanks to the raving reviews and the beautiful cover I picked it up, and I haven't regretted that decision for even one second yet. Wow! I have no idea how many times I can say perfect and loved it in my reviews, but I have to say it yet again. It wasn't the paranormal stuff and the whole mythology of the story that drew me in the most (even though it's so well executed!) but the realness. Even though Clara is an Angel-blood and not all human the story felt real, it felt tangible.
I'm totally Team Tucker!

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Oh, my goodness, January really was a month of awesome for me. Especially because I found this little gem at my local bookstore! This really isn't my normal kind of read. I usually avoid everything that has with murder and serial-killers to do. But I truly enjoyed this book. I can't wait for the second book in the series and I'm truly grateful that I don't have to wait an eternity for it.
Best thing about it? The chemistry between Violet and Jay!