tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49402238290602879642024-03-05T06:27:26.896+00:00GingerSnapHattieGingersnaphattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935247691981437441noreply@blogger.comBlogger147125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940223829060287964.post-88151452358357826082019-01-13T17:56:00.002+00:002019-01-13T17:56:55.609+00:00Review - Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor<span style="color: #351c75;">Hello everyone!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">The last week has been a little mad on the home front, lots of work and lots of animals! Finding time for reading was proving a little difficult, but I eventually cleared my schedule and finished my first book of 2019. I have been doing a buddy read of Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor with my friend Jonny over <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jonnyslibrary/" target="_blank">@jonnyslibrary</a>. We have both now finished the book and come to terms with our feelings so it’s time for a review.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">It’s been a long while since I did a proper book review so sit back and relax, this could be a long one! I sense a rant coming on :-)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><i>This book follows our main character Madeleine Maxwell as she embarks on a new line of work in the elusive St Mary’s history department. The historians of St Mary’s are no ordinary scholars, they travel back in time to document events as they really happened. The main rule is not to change anything, but of course that is easier said than done. One misadventure leads to another which leads to another which leads to events that could alter the very fabric of the future world!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">2.5 stars</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;">Positives -</span> engaging plot lines, easy to get into, interesting world building</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;">Negatives -</span> very triggering, unbelievable character relationships, very rushed</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">*Spoilers*</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Aaaah this book! I seriously struggled to rate this book, it started as a 4 star then dropped to a 2 and just about redeemed itself to a 2.5 by the end. Where to start?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">The setting was lovely old academic England with all the quirks of mad professors. I loved the first 100 pages when Max is doing her training. It had just the right amount of humour and brutality to really invest me in the story. However, when Max goes back to the Cretaceous period (think dinosaurs) it all went south. Firstly Sussman’s character went from being your typical arrogant man to downright awful in 2 seconds flat. He tries to rape her and then tries to murder her and you later find out he planned to kill her all along! This is a man who worked and laughed with her for 5 years! It all felt a bit jarring, but it’s not the worst. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Disaster strikes when a mission goes wrong and several members, including her lover Chief Farrell are lost in dinoland. </span><span style="color: #351c75;">All of a sudden she’s out of a job and thinks her lover is dead. A few months later she finds herself in pain so off she heads to the clinic and oh wait she’s having a miscarriage. Very rushed right? </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">The miscarriage part of the novel did nothing to advance the story or the characters and the way it was handled was so casual and off-hand that it really disturbed me. This is a subject that should be handled with care and not just thrown in as a random plot twist. If that wasn’t bad enough, when Chief Farrell finds out she was pregnant and lost the baby he instantly accuses her of cheating and trying to pass the baby off as his. Later on he apologises and she shockingly takes him back! No self-respecting woman would tolerate that kind of behaviour. She had just risked life and limb heading back in time to save him, why would she do that if she never loved him and was cheating on him?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">The plot felt jarring and a lot of it felt cobbled together with no real structure. Suddenly characters carry out an action or say things that are completely out of keeping with their behaviour until that point! Personally, I found this book a bit triggering and nearly put it down. I loved the idea of it and I’m hoping subsequent books are better, but for now I’m not sure I’ll continue the series. It's always an alarm bell when the most believable part of a time travel novel is the time travel itself. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Have you read this book? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below if you’ve read any disappointing books lately :-)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">xoxo</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">P.S. Follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Gingersnaphattie.blog/" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Flower design <a href="http://animal-jam-clans.wikia.com/wiki/File:Flower-divider....jpg" target="_blank">credit here</a>! </span>Gingersnaphattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935247691981437441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940223829060287964.post-67995450064994333482019-01-08T21:21:00.000+00:002019-01-08T21:21:08.054+00:00Series I Absolutely Need To Finish This Year<span style="color: #351c75;">Hello everyone! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Who am I? I've been posting so much recently that I bet you're wondering if I've secretly been replaced by an alien. I have been on such a blogging kick so here's hoping it'll carry on all through the year. *Shrugs*. We'll see...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">One of my resolutions for this year is to finish at least 5 series I have already started. I am awful at getting stuck into series and then getting bogged down by other series. It's a vicious spiral. I end up not knowing what to read next and getting overwhelmed by choices. Aaaannnnddd voila, the reading slump! You feeling stressed yet? I sure am! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Fingers crossed if I make a list of 5 series then I'll manage to stick to it and finish that resolution fairly easily :-) </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">The first series I want to finish is the Shades of Magic series by V. E. Schwab. I read the first two books last year and really enjoyed the world building. I liked the characters so much that I even named on our kittens Kell! This series follows Kell and Lila as they fight for survival across the four worlds and the four Londons. Each London is deadly in its own way with Black London being the worst. The second book ended on a huge cliffhanger and I swore I would pick up the third book straight away, but instead it has been sat on my shelf gathering dust for the last 6 months! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">This next one should be fairly easy, *she prays*. Katherine Arden's Bear and the Nightingale blew me away last year and the sequel just took it to a whole new level of brilliant. The third, and final book Winter of the Witch came out yesterday so I raced off to pick up my pre-ordered copy. It is the next book I'm picking up as I am really feeling the wintry Russian vibes!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Finale by Stephanie Garber is a final book on a lot of people's lists this year. Sadly we do have to wait a few months before this final follow-up in the whimsical Caraval series is released. This series features circus like magic, plot-twists, gorgeous love interests and some serious darkness. If that doesn't sell it to you then I don't know what will. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I have been reading Rachel Caine's Great Library series since it first came out, which has made the wait for the final book agonising. This series follows a group of young students as they become ever more entangled in the dark web of the library of Alexandria. For centuries the library has been the highest power in the world, but now it is falling to corruption and fanaticism. Jess and his friends are trying to change that. Sword and Pen comes out later this year and I can guarantee I will be reading it as soon as it comes out! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">If anyone knows the artist for this please give them credit, because it is amazing :-) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">So this one may be a cheat because technically the series isn't really finished as more books are coming, but I have 5 books to catch up on so I'm including it to the challenge. That's right, I'm talking about the Shadowhunters series by Cassandra Clare. I still have The Dark Artifices to read, The Bane Chronicles and Tales From the Shadowhunter academy to catch up! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">What series are you planning on wrapping up this year? Let me know in the comments below :-) </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">xoxo</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">P.S. Follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Gingersnaphattie.blog/" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>Gingersnaphattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935247691981437441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940223829060287964.post-21895991849366892019-01-05T08:47:00.001+00:002019-01-05T08:47:12.266+00:00January 2019 TBR<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">Hello everyone,</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">Happy New Year! I hope you have all recovered from the celebrations and are basking in all the hope of a new year before the dullness of January really starts. I always find January the hardest month of the year, it seems to drag by and just be dreary and cold without all the jolly festive cheer of December. To cheer myself up i’m planning on reading some amazing books this month!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">The first one I need to prioritise is Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor. I’m doing this as a buddy read with my friend Jonny over at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jonnyslibrary/" target="_blank">Jonnyslibrary</a>. We have both had this book sitting on our tbr shelves for a while and as this is the year of the tbr takedown we decided to join forces for this one! This book follows a group of time travelling historians as they try to document history, but instead cataclysmiacally alter events that could threaten the very fabric of time itself. So dramatic! I’m all for time travel and sci-fi so I can’t wait to get lost in this one.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">I’m hoping to carry on my Sebastien de Castell binge by reading Charmcaster, the third book in the Spellslinger series. I adore this series and it sweeps me off my feet every time. The last book had me startling Mr. Gingersnap out of his chair as I laughed raucously for whole pages at a time. The third book features Ferius and Kellen as they follow the Shadowblack epidemic further into hostile territory. When you pick up these books think of them as a cocktail of the Wild Wild West, magic and sarcasm!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">Next on my list is The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare. Magnus is one of my favourite characters of all time. I love his flamboyancy and care-free attitude combined with his deadly seriousness if his loved ones are threatened. I am very excited to read this set of short stories about his life as it will help me understand h</span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">im so much better ready for the imminent release of The Red Scrolls Of Magic later this year.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">My final book of the month is the much anticipated Winter Of The Witch by Katherine Arden. Now if you read my most anticipated released of 2019 post you will know this was right at the top of the list. This is the third, and final book, in this amazing series set in ancient Russia. It has strong feminist elements and features a truly fantastic range of characters. The Russian folk-lore is fascinating and really adds depth to the story. I am super excited to see where this story goes! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">I may add a couple of books to the list as I finish these ones, but for now that's it! What do you plan to read this month? Let me know in the comments below :-) </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">xoxo</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">P.S. Follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Gingersnaphattie.blog/" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>! </span><br />
<br />Gingersnaphattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935247691981437441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940223829060287964.post-53127252634507953842018-12-31T11:59:00.001+00:002018-12-31T12:18:34.622+00:002018 Reading Wrap-Up<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">Hello everyone!</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">It's the last day of 2018 and wow is it a grey day! I was hoping for a sunny, wintry day where I could reflect on all my resolutions for next year, but no we have a cloudy, dull and dark day where it's not even that cold. *Sigh* The UK winter is a bit disappointing so far. I do love a crisp winter! </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">It's the time of year for wrap-ups so today I wanted to do a review of my resolutions and goals for 2018. I always start the year with grand plans, then I inevitably fall short. Let's see how I did :-) </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">2018 Reading Goals: </span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Only achievable challenges </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;">✓</span> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">I only did Mr. GingerSnap's challenge so this was easy! </span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Read 5 big books</span><span style="color: #38761d;"> </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">✓</span><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">Yes! I did so well at this challenge, I read waaaay more than 5 books.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Over 10 Penguin English Library titles </span><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">✗</span><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">Failed utterly at this, I think I read 6...</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Finish Sherlock Holmes </span><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">✗ </span><span style="color: #351c75;">Again, totally failed this one. I read no Sherlock this year.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #351c75;">5 books by new authors </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">✓ </span><span style="color: #351c75;">Yes! Smashed this one.</span></span></li>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Mr. GingerSnap Challenge: </span></span></div>
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</span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">My partner, Mr. GingerSnap loves to set me a good reading challenge and this year he set me 120 books to read! I actually managed to top this at 121 books so I feel very proud of myself. Especially as my Goodreads goal was only 60 books. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Okay guys, these won't be in order because it was tough enough picking just 5, so bask in that moment and if you want a top 1 - Forget It!! </span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Spellslinger by Sebastien de Castell </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Caraval by Stephanie Garber </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar </span></li>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">2019 Reading Goals:</span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Finish 5 book series I've already started </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Read more Brandon Sanderson </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Read 5 books over 700 pages </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Complete a 60 books Goodreads challenge </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Finally read Emma by Jane Austen </span></li>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Mr. GingerSnap is setting me a devilishly difficult challenge for next year. He has challenged me to clear my 35 book TBR with the only new books purchased being important new releases I want to blog about! Wish me luck guys, I'm going to need it :-) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">How did you get on with your reading goals this year? Got any good resolutions? Let me know your highlights in the comments below :-)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">xoxo</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">P.S. Follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Gingersnaphattie.blog/" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Credit to <a href="http://animal-jam-clans.wikia.com/wiki/File:Flower-divider....jpg" target="_blank">flower divider here</a>! </span></div>
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Gingersnaphattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935247691981437441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940223829060287964.post-62791020896314422282018-12-30T10:44:00.000+00:002018-12-30T10:44:17.694+00:00Worst Books Of 2018<span style="color: #351c75;">Hello everyone! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I hope you are all enjoying a lovely relaxing Sunday surrounded by books, I certainly am. Everyone else is hungover and tired from a party last night and here I am blogging away fresh as a daisy :-) Perks of not drinking right! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">As we head towards the end of the year we all start to get very reflective and decide which books we loved and which ones we didn't enjoy so I thought I'd hop on that bandwagon today. </span><span style="color: #351c75;">2018 has been a pretty good reading year for me so writing this post was really hard! I'm always such a soft touch and end up rating books quite high. Usually if it's a 5 star I loved it, 4 stars I enjoyed it, 3 it was okay, 2 I didn't like it and 1 I hated it! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I didn't actually read any books I didn't like or hate this year as I tend to stick to books I know I'll most likely enjoy, so all my low books this year are 3 star reads :-) </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">My least favourite five are:</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Shadowsong by S. Jae Jones - disappointingly average after a really good first book</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">The Truth and Lies of Ella Black by Emily Barr - a little waffly and far-fetched</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Turtles All the Way Down by John Green - a bit too quirky for me! </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Matilda by Mary Shelley - dark and disturbing, but not as good as anticipated </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">The Surface Breaks by Louise O'Neill - over-hyped so I expected better, so this one may be on me! </span></li>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I was really disappointed by these books as I really wanted to love them! I'm hoping next year the books I'm excited about will live up to the hype :-) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">What books were you disappointed by this year? Let me know in the comments below! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">xoxo</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">P.S. Follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Gingersnaphattie.blog/" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>! </span></div>
Gingersnaphattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935247691981437441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940223829060287964.post-72108299902446823112018-12-26T19:45:00.000+00:002018-12-26T19:45:31.813+00:00Christmas Book Haul <span style="color: #351c75;">Hello everyone! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Merry Christmas to all of those who celebrate and happy holidays! I hope you have all eaten lots of delicious food and are now in a food-coma debating whether one more mince pie will actually kill you. Whenever I reach that food coma stage I like to distract myself with a good book. This year, what with all the different family gatherings, I haven't been able to get stuck into my Christmas books yet! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I'm sure I will be back in the reading swing soon, especially as I only have one last book to finish and then I will have reached my reading goal of 120 books. That's right y'all I'm on the final book :-) *Applause* *Bows* *Gets back to typing*. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuD44u19qdy_kE_hsNGllYoumXt1BDeWSmwXRkCCYEf6ORiFYkg-XaaIX0FYDvgDPMY4wLCAppkpf6orVR0tyg3c_LBJJigfhWj9OimGEsCBHiF2UAIADAv4XT5a1-amjqWq5mRy4qTFI/s1600/48952564_591268924643511_183475878989135872_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="750" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuD44u19qdy_kE_hsNGllYoumXt1BDeWSmwXRkCCYEf6ORiFYkg-XaaIX0FYDvgDPMY4wLCAppkpf6orVR0tyg3c_LBJJigfhWj9OimGEsCBHiF2UAIADAv4XT5a1-amjqWq5mRy4qTFI/s320/48952564_591268924643511_183475878989135872_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">As you have all probably received lots of lovely books for Christmas and I am a nosy parker and like to know what books people have got, I thought I would create a post for the other people like me! So without further ado let's get into my Christmas book haul and let me tell you I am one lucky girl :-) </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">The wonderful Mr. GingerSnap spoiled me with three books this year. He picked up The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams, which shockingly I have never read or watched. This is a funny, deep space chunky novel which I cannot wait to get into!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsTXFB3Zja2uuA_1Lz0eSNUHy7MytzmRvjnroh1XZOF8guz2A2t2YwWm7K7lnXP8lxOqHhaPAsK48SXyS3XBRS9CFx9yhQr0OBmXX2HORCKiI474I87sTw7H9OUeCo6c8-OJoFo-GKBQ/s1600/49085643_337136220209729_6411684319437258752_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="927" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsTXFB3Zja2uuA_1Lz0eSNUHy7MytzmRvjnroh1XZOF8guz2A2t2YwWm7K7lnXP8lxOqHhaPAsK48SXyS3XBRS9CFx9yhQr0OBmXX2HORCKiI474I87sTw7H9OUeCo6c8-OJoFo-GKBQ/s320/49085643_337136220209729_6411684319437258752_n.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">He stumbled on volume 1 of Archie Comics when searching for Neil Gaiman and as I am a huge Riverdale fan he couldn't resist picking it up. I have been known to read the odd graphic novel and will definitely enjoy this classic all american comic. It'll be so fun to compare Archie, Jughead, Veronica and Betty in their original form to their on-screen counterparts. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">The final book is one I almost picked up for myself and am now so glad I didn't! We spotted Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero whilst browsing the fantasy section of our local Waterstones and the blurb sounded so fun. It's an adult, semi-scary spoof of Scooby Doo, which for any 90's kid sounds like a dream come true. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">My lovely sister in law is one of my favourite people to talk books with and she has very similar tastes to me, so she got it spot-on with her gift. Many years ago I read The Mortal Engines series by Philip Reeve as they were released and fell in love with the world he created. The hype around those books has been huge this year as Peter Jackson turned his hand to the first book and created an amazing movie. Seriously guys, read the books and then go see the movie, you will not be disappointed! She very kindly gifted me The Illustrated World Of Mortal Engines, which is a stunning companion book to the series. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">The final book I was gifted is Becoming by Michelle Obama, a book by an amazing woman. My mother in law saw this and knew I would love to read it. Michelle Obama has had an incredible career and always looks so elegant, both in manner and dress. I can't wait to learn more about her life. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">What books did you guys get for Christmas? Let me know in the comments below :-) </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">xoxo</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">P.S. Follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Gingersnaphattie.blog/" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>! </span>Gingersnaphattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935247691981437441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940223829060287964.post-44510044419511005262018-12-23T17:08:00.002+00:002018-12-23T17:08:27.676+00:00Books I Want To Finish In 2018 <span style="color: #351c75;">Hello everyone! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I hope you are all feeling suitably festive in the lead up to Christmas! Mr. Gingersnap and I have been frantically wrapping presents and getting food ready, we feel completely taken by surprise this year. Since when did Christmas get so sneaky? I swear it was August 2 weeks ago :-) </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I finished my Goodreads challenge a while ago, but Mr. Gingersnap set me a different challenge too. He set me 120 books to read this year! Brutal, I know. By some miracle I've read 118 books so far and am currently in the middle of two more. I'd love to prove him wrong and finish this challenge so wish me luck guys! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Finishing two books in the next 7 days doesn't sound too bad, but you have to factor in family Christmas, work on Christmas Eve and after Boxing Day aaaannnd the fact that we still have 3 kittens growing up in our house. Lots of work and so little reading time *sigh*. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">The first book I have left to finish is Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo. This is the sequel to Six Of Crows set in the GrishaVerse. I'm about three quarters of the way through this book and am reading it on audiobook so hopefully I can get some reading done while I'm preparing for Christmas! This book follows the dregs as they continue on their epic heist in Ketterdam. This book features magic, wit, dastardly deeds and heart-in-mouth action! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">The second book I'm still reading is A Torch Against The Night by Sabaa Tahir, the second book in the An Ember In The Ashes series. I am loving this book! I am just under halfway and cannot wait to binge read the rest one evening. Elias is one of my favourite male protagonists across all YA fantasy. This book also features magic :-P, starting to see a theme at all? This book follows Laia and Elias as they flee across the Empire racing the clock to free Laia's brother from the dangerous Martial prison, Kauf. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I have a feeling Mr. Gingersnap is going to set me an even harder challenge next year, he was muttering about my ever growing TBR the other day. Lord help me if he sets me the challenge of reading it all before buying any more books! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Who else has a few books left to finish their challenge? Let me know what your challenges were this year in the comments below :-) </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">xoxo</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">P.S. Follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Gingersnaphattie.blog/" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>! </span>Gingersnaphattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935247691981437441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940223829060287964.post-71681581289003060062018-12-21T19:51:00.000+00:002018-12-21T19:51:38.134+00:00Anticipated Book Releases 2019 <span style="color: #351c75;">Hello everyone, </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I hope you are all well and feeling ready to welcome in the new year! In my opinion one of the most exciting things about a new year is the next round of new book releases. I have been keeping my beady eyes on my favourite author's websites and being a total nerd have compiled a list of my most anticipated released for 2019.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I have no photos of these books as they aren't out yet!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">So have my weekend breakfast book instead :-) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Now this is by no means exhaustive and these are all follow-ups to series I am already reading so take a peek and let me know if you think I have missed any out: </span><br />
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<ol>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Finale by Stephanie Garber </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Beneath the Twisted Trees by Bradley Beaulieu </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Sword and Pen by Rachel Caine </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Tunnel of Bones by Victoria Schwab</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Queenslayer by Sebastien de Castell</span></li>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I think that's all of them! Whew I have quite a few exciting books to wait for. I am very excited about finishing off Caraval and Winter of the Witch as I have been reading these series for quite some time, but over-all Beneath the Twisted Trees and Queenslayer are my most anticipated releases! I love these high fantasy series. Both Beaulieu and de Castell have fantastic narrative styles that keep you turning the pages long after the lights should have been switched off. If you are a fan of intrigue, sorcery and complex character relations then you should definitely check out these two series. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">What are you guys excited to read next year? Let me know in the comments below :-) </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">xoxo</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">P.S. Follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Gingersnaphattie.blog/" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>! </span>Gingersnaphattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935247691981437441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940223829060287964.post-75814493903708602232018-12-17T19:19:00.000+00:002018-12-17T20:04:28.532+00:00December 2018 Book Haul<span style="color: #351c75;">Hello everyone! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Time for another monthly book haul, yes I know it is just before Christmas, but I'll probably check in with another haul then. Unfortunately I have been unwell for most of this month so far and have been off work recuperating. This has meant that I have had a lot of reading time as with doctors ordering me on strict rest I haven't been allowed to do much else. Anyone who knows me will understand how frustrating this is as I am usually a very active person! However, I have been able to live vicariously through my favourite book protagonists! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I have picked up quite a few books this month so far, which is a tad naughty, but hey ho it's the time of year for indulgence! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">The first book I picked up was Lyra's Oxford by Philip Pullman. This book is a short story taking place after the events of His Dark Materials and follows Lyra on an adventure through Oxford after a mysterious witch's familiar appears in her room. I love this world and have been catching up on the short stories in preparation for reading The Book of Dust next year. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsWUrbh1qX-meiIIAYMBW6QLJOCJGck07N8ceSEjhOGVepqiFVyDH73jU13_PFbtA3kiAfW0fnmBZj2reYdE33sw8JIUBpxfbOQSQMItQkoAkY1mZvXvuEt_uLMXPPhQ4PRn5yZhpRD8/s1600/48364744_208469103364181_960225039502802944_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="750" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsWUrbh1qX-meiIIAYMBW6QLJOCJGck07N8ceSEjhOGVepqiFVyDH73jU13_PFbtA3kiAfW0fnmBZj2reYdE33sw8JIUBpxfbOQSQMItQkoAkY1mZvXvuEt_uLMXPPhQ4PRn5yZhpRD8/s320/48364744_208469103364181_960225039502802944_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">The next two books come as a pair, as I picked up the first and second books in The No1 Ladies Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith. I loved the TV series of these books when I was younger and always wanted to pick up these books. They are a wonderful series following Precious Ramotswe after she sets up her detective agency in Botswana. They are filled with intrigue, laughter and heart warming events. I love how easy to digest these books are and they have a real feel good vibe. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">This year I have fallen in love with Sebastien de Castell's writing style, having dived into Spellslinger after Mr. Gingersnap surprised me with it for my birthday. I have been working my way through his books and picked up the third in the series - Charmcaster. This author is one of the funniest writers I have read for a while and he genuinely makes me laugh out loud. This series follows Kellen, a sub-par spell-caster and his adventures with his squirrel cat companion. They are both sarcastic and deeply flawed characters, but it makes them feel so real! Pick up this series if you love the wild west, magic and rude jokes! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Next I picked up A Torch Against The Night by Sabaa Tahir. I devoured An Ember In The Ashes last week and felt an overwhelming need to continue the series as soon as possible. As usual I am late to the party with these books, but at least I can binge the first 3 books without the agonising wait for the next instalments. These books follow Laia and Elias as they navigate the dangerous world of the Martial Empire and the down-trodden scholar race. This book has magic, brutality, political intrigue and jaw dropping plot twists. If you haven't read these yet, join me in my late reading! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">In honour of me going back to work this week I have downloaded my next audiobook Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo. I always listen to audiobooks on my drive to and from work as I spend about 10-12 hours each week driving and I don't want to waste this precious reading time! Six Of Crows follows the dregs, a group of criminal misfits as they take on an impossible heist. Six Of Crows was a gripping new take on the GrishaVerse and I absolutely loved it, so I cannot wait to dive into the next one. These audiobooks have multiple narrators so each character has a unique voice, I especially enjoy this aspect of the books as it makes the listening experience so much more enjoyable.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">The final book I picked up was Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor. I have never heard of this book and know next to nothing about it. A bookseller in Waterstones recommended it to me as a new sci-fi series to read. She described it as "time travellers who make hilarious mistakes" and as "one for the Doctor Who lovers". That had me sold! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Have you read any of these? What have you picked up this month? Let me know in the comments below :-) </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">xoxo</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">P.S. Follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Gingersnaphattie.blog/" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>! </span>Gingersnaphattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935247691981437441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940223829060287964.post-47723448727138699022018-12-15T19:37:00.000+00:002018-12-17T20:04:45.117+00:00Book Series I Finished In 2018 <span style="color: #351c75;">Hello everyone! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">How are you all? We are rapidly heading towards the end of the year with only 16 days left before we welcome in 2019. We all know what the end of the year means for us readers, all the wrap-ups! So today I will be wrapping up all the series I actually managed to finish this year. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">As many of you will know I am a big series reader, I much prefer them to stand-alone books. In some ways this is great as it means I get to really immerse myself in a new world, but on the flip side it means I am in the middle of a lot of different series and can get quite bogged down and distracted. I decided this year I would try to finish as many series as I could :-) I'll list them in chronological order and talk about my favourites at the end! </span><br />
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<ol>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;"> The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare - 5 Stars </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare - 4.5 Stars </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Wintersong duology by S. Jae. Jones - 3.5 Stars </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">The Illuminae Files by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman - 5 Stars </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan - 4 Stars </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan - 4 Stars </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo - 4.25 Stars </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">The Old Kingdom by Garth Nix - 5 Stars</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">As you can see above I gave the series star ratings overall and hopefully most of you will agree with my ratings! I adored the Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare and actually preferred them to the Mortal Instruments. Infernal Devices puts a whole new spin on the Shadowhunter world, placing our main characters in Victorian London. Clare manages to weave such a narrative spell, balancing plot twists, engaging story and heart-wrenching character relationships! I would recommend these to anyone who loves fantasy. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I listened to the Illuminae Files on audiobook as I had heard they were good and man were they! There was a different narrator for each character and there were all sorts of sound effects, which made the case file format of the story so easy to digest and stay connected to. These books are a triumph of deep space adventure, featuring criminal organisations, deadly viruses, exploding planets and really witty characters. These books are for lovers of Doctor Who! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">It goes without saying that Garth Nix's Old Kingdom series would be a 5 star series. I have been loving these books for years and finally got around to reading the short story collections which accompany the main book series. The series follows a range of characters fighting evil spirits in an almost medieval magic setting. Garth Nix has a fantastic narrative style and can draw in old and young readers with these books. I really hope he continues to write stories set in this world! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">As a parting note, I just want to give a little nod to the adorable Percy Jackson! I really enjoyed diving (see what I did there!) into his world and am quite excited to be including more Rick Riordan series on my lists for 2019. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">What series have you guys wrapped up this year? Let me know your reading plans in the comments below :-)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">xoxo</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">P.S. Follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Gingersnaphattie.blog/" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>! </span></div>
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<br />Gingersnaphattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935247691981437441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940223829060287964.post-23178060079286610622018-08-20T06:43:00.000+01:002018-08-20T06:43:38.463+01:00Mini August Book Haul <span style="color: #351c75;">Hello everyone! </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">It has been a very long time since I last did a book haul, which is such a shame because they are some of my favourite posts to read and write. Now, I was on a more or less successful book ban for quite some time so I ended up trickling books onto my shelves instead of actually going out and buying a whole bunch. Technically I am still on a book ban (my tbr is so beyond out of control that it is threatening to overtake me in height), but I was left unattended in the book shop on Saturday. Big mistake Mr. Gingersnap!! Of course this led to a bit of a splurge, but as far as hauls go this is a modest one :-) </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">The first book I picked up was The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare. I have been excited to read this one for ages as Magnus Bane is one of my all time favourite characters. As a bit of back-ground, for those who live under a rock, The Bane Chronicles is a series of 11 short stories following the warlock, Magnus Bane, throughout various anecdotes of his life. He has been alive for hundreds of years (I forget exactly how long) and so has had a wide range of wacky adventures. Magnus is a key character in Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunters series, following a group of warriors fighting demons to protect both the mundane and Downworld. Sounds pretty cool right? Magnus is one of the most flamboyant, extravagant and witty characters I have read and I can't wait to learn more about his past! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">The second book is actually an exception to the book ban rules. Three authors are exempt from the ban, they are Terry Pratchett, Tolkien and Neil Gaiman. I have been super into Neil Gaiman recently and absolutely love his short fiction so I picked up Smoke And Mirrors. Seriously, this cover is so gorgeous! I love the tree design on most of his books, and I actually found out the other day that if you put them all together they make a picture. Go on, try it! You know you want to! *Pictures readers frantically pulling Gaiman off their shelves*. Anyway, this set of short fiction sounds amazing. Neil's selections are always dark, gothic, sarky and eccentric so are perfect to be read as 1 story each day to add a little colour! This set varies between an old woman finding the Holy Grail under an old coat in a thrift shop, a boy under a bridge arguing with a troll and a stray cat locked in a fierce battle to protect his adoptive family. So excited to get into these! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">The third, and final book, is Hollow City by Ransom Riggs. I know, I know, why haven't I read this series yet? Well, I'm sorry, but I missed all the hype! I am planning to hop onto this bandwagon as soon as possible as I have heard rumour of a fourth book hitting shelves later in the year. Hollow City follows Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children after they have fled their safe haven to hopefully save themselves and others like them. Equipped with their unique powers and as much information as they can gather they must set out on a life or death quest. This book has magic, monsters and of course a cracking romance so it really is a must-read! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">What have you guys been picking up this month? Let me know in the comments below and I will be sure to update y'all soon on what I thought of these books! </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">xoxo</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">P.S. Follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Gingersnaphattie.blog/" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>!</span>Gingersnaphattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935247691981437441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940223829060287964.post-37005351393129876362018-08-16T21:23:00.000+01:002018-08-16T21:23:08.655+01:00Book Shame - Series I Need to Finish <span style="color: #351c75;">Hello everyone, </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">So it may be August, but that has not stopped me from curling up in a blanket with hot chocolate and re-runs of Vampire Diaries while I write this post! I'm still deep in a book ban while I try to reduce my tbr pile from rivalling the Empire State building to maybe Eiffel Tower height. This ban has also served an unexpected purpose, it has revealed just how many book series I still need to finish. </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">Instead of wallowing and hiding my shame in a box at the back of my wardrobe I thought I would share it with you here! That way all you other bookworms can sympathise and feel less lonely in your own shame. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Now this is by no means an exhaustive list, but these are my priorities. </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">1. Shades Of Magic by V. E. Schwab</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">I really can't explain why I haven't finished this series yet, I only have the last book left and it is an amazing series! It follows Kell as he travels between different worlds via their one common feature - London. Black London is rising from the dead and bringing with it a lethal form of dark magic, one that only Kell can fight. </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">I seriously need to finish this series and as soon as I own the last book I will! </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">2. The Gentlemen Bastards by Scott Lynch </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Again, another series I love. This one is high fantasy following Locke Lamora, infamous thief of Camorr as he and his friends get embroiled in the most intricate plot the city has ever seen. Any lovers of Robin Hood will adore this darker version and I am beyond excited to read the next one :-) </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">3. Peter Grant by Ben Aaronovitch </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Okay, so I'm not sure this one even counts as I am currently reading book 2, but this series is too good not to be included. Now I love police stories and I love magic/fantasy so this book series about a division of the metropolitan police that deals with magic is so perfect! Every time I open these books I end up getting so sucked in that I can't put them down! </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">4. Nevernight by Jay Kristoff</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Now this one is a big source of shame... I feel like the world and his wife has read the first 2 instalments of this book and are eagerly awaiting book 3, all except me. I have tried reading Nevernight and just could not get past the first 100 pages. The narrator is just so irritating!! He keeps interrupting at exactly the most annoying moments, which I do get, he's trying to be Lemony Snicket, but he isn't and I just want him to stop and let me get on with the story!</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">I will try to pick this one up again, but I make no promises.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">5. Song Of Shattered Sands by Bradley Beaulieu </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">I pinky swear I will read this one because I am head over heels for this series! I have good reason for not reading it yet too! I am waiting to read it nearer the next book release so I don't have to wait so long. Ceda's fight to assassinate the 12 kings of Sharakhai has me completely spell-bound <3 </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">6. Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Picture me blushing bright red with shame over this one. I feel like this series is an essential part of YA fantasy, but as usual I am late to the party and have only read book 1. I bought and read book 1 years ago, hoping it would be super dark and gothic. To be brutally honest, I was underwhelmed by this and felt it could have been waaaayyy scarier! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">7. Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Guys I have no idea how I completely missed out on these books as a teen, I must have lived under a rock or been so far into the vampire/twilight phase that nothing without fangs penetrated my tunnel vision. Recently I have been playing binge catchup with these books and am now onto book 2 of the Heroes Of Olympus section, so I'm making good progress! I plan to continue onto the Kane books and then Magnus/Apollo so I can be all up to date :-) </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">8. The Old Kingdom by Garth Nix </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">I am so close to being done with this one!! I adore this series and have been dragging it out on purpose as I don't want to run out of story. I really hope Garth writes another book! The last one left for me to read is a set of short stories called Across The Wall and I'm hoping to get to it in the next couple of months :-)</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">What have you guys been reading? Any series you need to finish? Let me know in the comments below :-) </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">xoxo</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">P.S. Follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Gingersnaphattie.blog/" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>! </span>Gingersnaphattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935247691981437441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940223829060287964.post-30521445887918315062018-06-21T17:45:00.000+01:002018-06-21T17:45:02.597+01:00Mid-Year Book Freak Out<span style="color: #351c75;">Hello everyone! </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">We have reached the middle portion of June which means the internet is being flooded with mid-year reading panic. June is the month to re-assess whether you set realistic reading goals for the year or not :-) So I am coming to you today to update y'all on how my reading is coming along. </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">So for those of you who didn't read back in January or who missed my resolutions post, I set myself the following goals. </span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Read at least 10 books from the Penguin English Library list </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Read at least 5 books over 700 pages </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Read at least 5 books by authors I've never read before </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Read all of the Sherlock Holmes books by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle </span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Not too ambitious as you can see! I think the hardest one to complete will probably be the Sherlock Holmes goal, as there are so many of those. I have a big, hardback bind-up of these and it is over 1000 pages of thin, tall paper with teeny tiny writing! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I'm actually doing really well with these goals, and am well on my way to completing three of them. So far I have read: </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">6/10 Penguin English Library books </span></li>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Star rating top to bottom: 3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4</span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #351c75;">2/5 big books (apologies for the lack of actual photos, we're moving house so most books are packed away right now! :-( ) </span></li>
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5 stars </div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">5 stars </span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #351c75;">5/5 new authors </span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">4 stars</span> </div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">3 stars</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">5 stars</span> </div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">5 stars</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">5 stars</span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">I'm 51% through the complete Sherlock Holmes according to GoodReads! </span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="color: #351c75;">Now Goodreads is a whole other story! I set myself the goal of 60 books this year and I am absolutely smashing it with 45 books read so far :-) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I'm hoping to race through loads more Sherlock Holmes when it gets to autumn as these are such autumnal/winter stories to read, I just don't feel like diving into them in the summer. Plus it will count as one of the over 700 page books. To finish off the 700 page challenge I'm planning to read The Woman In White by Wilkie Collins (a PEL!!) and Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens (also a PEL, hell yeah!!). Wish me luck with reading my goals guys! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">How are you guys getting on with your reading goals? Let me know in the comments below :-) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">xoxo</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">P.s. Follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Gingersnaphattie.blog/" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div>
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<br />Gingersnaphattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935247691981437441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940223829060287964.post-84928658704867037072018-05-01T17:58:00.000+01:002018-05-01T17:58:18.251+01:00April Reading Wrap Up <span style="color: #351c75;">Hello everyone! </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">May is here! That means it should be Spring right? So where is the warm weather? Did I sleep through Spring and Summer or something? Well hopefully it'll be warm soon so we can bring on the summer contemporary romance books :-) </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">April was an amazing reading month for me, I read a whole ton of books! If I'm honest I did cheat a little, by reading some short stories and graphic novels, but they were all part of series I needed to catch up on I swear. You might notice I did binge a lot of books by the same authors, I find it much easier to immerse myself in a fantasy world if I read all the books very close together. I like to live and breathe the world and its characters, it helps me connect with the story. </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">My favourite of the month has to be Katherine Arden's The Girl In The Tower, which makes her my favourite author two months running. This book is the much anticipated sequel to The Bear And The Nightingale. It follows Vasya as she journeys across Russia trying to find her place in the world. Along the way she gets embroiled with savage bandits, treacherous politics and daring horse races. This would all be simply exciting, if there wasn't the added element of fear of discovery. Vasya has to masquerade as a man to survive. What will happen when her identity is revealed? And what is the gathering darkness in Moscow? Vasya will have to dig even deeper into her soul if she wants to save her people.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">Now I hear you all shouting "Stop rambling and get on with the ratings", so without further ado here they are: </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
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<ol>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">In The Village Where Brightwine Flows by Bradley Beaulieu - 4 Stars </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">The Doors At Dusk And Dawn by Bradley Beaulieu - 5 Stars </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">The Tattered Prince And The Demon Veiled by Bradley Beaulieu - 4.5 Stars </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">City Of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare - 5 Stars </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Of Sand And Malice Made by Bradley Beaulieu - 5 Stars </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">City Of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare - 5 Stars </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">The Girl In The Tower by Katherine Arden - 5 Stars </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Snotgirl #3 by Bryan Lee O'Malley - 3 Stars </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Snotgirl #4 by Bryan Lee O'Malley - 3 Stars </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Snotgirl #5 by Bryan Lee O'Malley - 3.5 Stars </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Lumberjanes Vol. 1 by Noelle Stevenson - 4 Stars </span><span style="color: #351c75;"> </span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">11 books you guys! How did I even achieve that?! I am beginning to think I might be a little too generous with my ratings or maybe I'm just lucky with the books I choose? Let me know what you think in the comments below, and don't forget to tell me what you read in April :-) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">xoxo</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">P.S. Follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Gingersnaphattie.blog/" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>! </span></div>
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Gingersnaphattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935247691981437441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940223829060287964.post-21623513881178247282018-04-30T18:08:00.001+01:002018-04-30T18:08:41.129+01:00Beauty and the Beast Book Tag <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">Hello everyone! </span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">Recently I've been loving watching Booktube Tag Videos, they look like so much fun and there are so many that you would never run out! Watching all those tags put me in the mood to do one on here too, so me being me I did loads of research to find one that would put me in the mood for Spring :-) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">The tag I've chosen is the Beauty and the Beast tag, feel free to join in on any questions that take your fancy! </span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">1. “Oh what a guy, Gaston!” A villain you can’t help but love-</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">Julian from The Forbidden Game by L. J. Smith, he tries so hard to be evil, but his good side always wins out. Yes he pushes all the characters into a horrible, gruelling game where they face cruel trials, but you can tell he actually wants them to win. He can't fight his better nature. </span></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">2. “Here’s where she meets Prince Charming” Your OTP- </span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">Ooh this is a hard one! There are so many great couples out there. Obviously, like the rest of the world I want Cassandra Clare's Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood to be together forever. However, my heart beats for Henry and Clare in Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traveller's Wife. They captured my heart from the first page and I don't think I'll ever read characters like them again. </span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">3. “I want so much more than this provincial life” A character destined for greater things. –</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">This one has to be Percy Jackson from Rick Riordan's amazing books! You just know he is going to be great, aside from the whole demi-god thing I mean. He's a solid guy, he loves his friends, he loves his Mam and all he wants is to be good at something. Even if he wasn't the son of Poseidon, he would still have a cracking destiny. </span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">4. “Be our guest!” A book that made you hungry.- </span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">Haha this is such a weird question! Hmm, I think this has to be J.K. Rowlings The Prisoner Of Azkaban. Honeydukes sounds like a dream, their chocolate would be the best on earth :-) </span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">5. “Beauty and the Beast” Opposites attract. </span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">Definitely Baz and Simon from Carry On by Rainbow Rowell. I know Baz is supposed to be the villain, but in a lot of ways he is the light and Simon is actually the dark. Simon has a lot of unresolved issues and makes a fair few selfish decisions. Meanwhile Baz sacrifices his own desires to protect people and hides his nature, defying his family's wishes. They are perfect opposites, but they match.<br /></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">6. “But there’s something in him that I simply didn’t see” A character who is more than they appear- </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">Draco Malfoy from the Harry Potter series is so much more than a spoilt rich kid. Just think about the parents he had, I can't imagine he had any support growing up. He would have been under so much pressure to make his father proud of him, something Lucius could show off like his flashy house and wand holder. I doubt Draco ever got praise or affection, just corrections and contempt. Maybe if Harry had been more understanding in sixth year and reached out a hand he would have had a chance. </span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">7. “I was innocent and certain, now I’m wiser but unsure” A book that changed you in some way- </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">Can I say The Time Traveller's Wife again? That book teaches me something new every time I read it. The first time I read it I simply enjoyed it, the second time it broke me and remade me anew. Reading it from an adult perspective, instead of a teenager, made me really understand Clare and her need for a child. </span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">8. “Kill the Beast!” A book you picked up because of hype. – </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">This one has to be All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. Man I wish I hadn't picked up this book, Finch irritated the life out of me, but then the ending! He leaves her a suicide trail to follow, wtf! Nope, this book was not for me. There is no romance in suicide, it is sad and someone should have helped him. I wish the author had focussed more on that. </span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">9. “I’ll never shake away the pain” A book or moment that always makes you cry- </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">Okay I cry really easily, so this one is a tricky one. I guess the wedding scene in Secret Countess by Eva Ibbotson, it is such a joyful and triumphant moment. The beauty and emotion is in the small details and it gets me every time! </span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">10. “How does a moment last forever” A book that you’ve loved since you were little.- </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Easy, The Kin by Peter Dickinson :-) This was the first big book I read on my own and I loved every second of it. I have read and re-read this book many times over the years. This tale of a group of kids in the early days of speech never fails to inspire me. Their resilience and ingenuity is so real and I find myself rooting for them at every new chapter! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">So now that I have waffled on for far too long, I'd like to tag the following amazing bloggers: </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><a href="https://peanutbutterandbooks.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Peanutbutter & Books </a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><a href="https://ardentlyalice.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Ardently Alice</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><a href="https://bookburningdragons.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Pendragons </a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><a href="http://psilovethatbook.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">P.S. I Love That Book!</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><a href="https://emmareadstoomuch.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Emma Reads</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I hope you enjoyed reading this post as much as I enjoyed writing it :-) Feel free to answer the questions in the comments below and let me know your favourite reads! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">xoxo</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">P.S. Follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Gingersnaphattie.blog/" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>! </span></div>
Gingersnaphattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935247691981437441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940223829060287964.post-87864166224242914032018-04-03T10:08:00.001+01:002018-04-03T10:08:46.382+01:00March Reading Wrap Up <span style="color: #351c75;">Hello everyone! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I think, *crosses fingers*, that Spring is finally here in the UK to stay. We didn't get any of the snow forecast for the bank holiday weekend and it's finally starting to get sunny! I love Spring and summer, and not just for the warmth, flowers and outdoor activities, but because I find that I am much more productive in the lighter months. I read more and tend to do more re-organising, which is especially good this year as Mr. GingerSnap and I have some exciting changes coming up, but I'll talk about those at a later date :-) </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Staying true to my usual habit of wanting to read more in Spring, I read 10 books in the month of March. Now for some of you that sounds like quite a reasonable number, but I work very long hours so for me that is a huge number! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">If I go into detail on all the books I read then you will be here forever... So I'm just going to give you my star ratings and talk about my two favourite books of the month: </span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #351c75;">The Bear And The Nightingale by Katherine Arden - 5 Stars</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">The Wicked Cometh by Laura Carlin - 3 Stars</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Call The Midwife by Jennifer worth - 4.5 Stars</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Blood Upon The Sand by Bradley Beaulieu - 5 Stars</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Caraval by Stephanie Garber - 5 Stars </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Lady Susan by Jane Austen - 4 Stars</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">The Old Nurse's Story by Elizabeth Gaskell - 5 Stars</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Daphnis And Chloe by Longus - 4.5 Stars</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Happily by Chauncey Rogers - 4 Stars ( <a href="http://gingersnaphattie.blogspot.co.uk/2018/03/happily-by-chauncey-rogers-review.html" target="_blank">full review here</a>! )</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare - 5 Stars</span></li>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">My two favourites were Clockwork Princess and The Bear And The Nightingale. Clockwork Princess is the final book in The Infernal Devices trilogy and oh my lord did I cry at the end! I probably cried solidly for the last 150 pages, it was so heart wrenching and beautifully written. Cassandra Clare crafts such stunning prose that it really gets under your skin. In this book Tessa is getting ready for her wedding to her dying fiance Jem, but they might not make it that far. The army of automatons is on the move and they want Tessa at all costs! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Look at this spine!! <3 </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">The Bear And The Nightingale was arguably one of the biggest debut fantasy releases of last year. As a big fan of Russian literature I was super excited to get into this one. It is strongly interwoven with Russian fairytales and mythology, creating an ethereal and spellbinding world. It follows Vasya as she grows from a child to an adult woman in the countryside. After her mother died giving birth to her, he father remarries a very pious woman. Her stepmother gradually beats out all the old superstitions of the village and imposes her own strict religion. Nobody realises how dangerous this really is, only Vasya can see the decline of the local spirits protecting the house. As their spirits fail, an old evil creeps into the village and only Vasya can do anything about it. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">If that intro for The Bear And The Nightingale doesn't tickle your fancy, nothing will! For the next month I am going to continue Wild Reading and just pick up whatever I fancy reading next :-) At the moment I am reading City Of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare and Matilda by Mary Shelley. What did you enjoy reading last month and do you have any books you want to get to next month? Let me know in the comments below :-) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">xoxo</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">P.S. Follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Gingersnaphattie.blog/" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>! </span></div>
Gingersnaphattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935247691981437441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940223829060287964.post-57927718187186546192018-04-01T17:03:00.000+01:002018-04-01T17:03:26.574+01:00Sequels I Can't Wait To Read<span style="color: #351c75;">Hello everyone! </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span><span style="color: #351c75;">How are you all doing? Enjoying Spring so far? I certainly am looking forward to some sunshine :-) Today I thought I'd tell you all about the sequels I am most excited about! As many of you know, I am thoroughly addicted to series as they allow so much more character development and let me stay immersed in a particular world that much longer! So here they are in all their glory:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">1. The Girl In The Tower by Katherine Arden</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">This is the much anticipated sequel to The Bear And The Nightingale. This story follows Vasya after she flees her village branded as a witch. She rejects the two choices for women, convent or marriage, and instead dresses as a man and seeks freedom. All I know about this one is that it delves deeper into the old magic coursing through Vasya's veins as she figures out who and what she is. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">2. Legendary by Stephanie Garber</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">This is the follow up to Caraval, which took the world by storm over a year ago. Caraval is an enchanting book and thoroughly stole my soul! The end of Caraval leaves us with Scarlett and Tella free from their father's grip and enmeshed in the world of Master Legend, the leader of Caraval. This series is spellbinding, filled with magic and danger. Legendary follows Tella as she embarks on a dangerous quest to revel Legend's true name, but if she does it will mean the magic of Caraval dies forever... Excited much? Hell yes I am!! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">3. Veil Of Spears by Bradley Beaulieu </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: medium;">Words cannot describe how excited I am for this one! This is the third book in Bradley Beaulieu's series following Ceda as she tries to assassinate as many of the twelve kings of Sharakhai as possible. The last book, Blood Upon The Sand, left us with a major cliff hanger and I can't wait to see where Ceda will go next! Will her and Emre find each other? Will she survive? Will anything be salvageable from the ashes of a city burned by a war? We'll see :-) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">4. Smoke And Iron by Rachel Caine</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I have been waiting for a year for this book to come out! The Great Library series is one of my favourite YA fantasy series of all time and this is going to be the fourth instalment. In the world of The Great Library all the knowledge in the world is controlled by library branches. However, some people want to fight against this. The smugglers do this covertly, as the name implies, but the Burners want to set the world on fire and rebuild it differently. They are radical and dangerous, but they might just be in the right... </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">5. City Of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Okay this is an old book, hardly news, but I still haven't finished this series. To be perfectly honest, I have been putting it off because I don't want it to end :-( That being said I am in a massive Shadowhunters phase at the moment and really want to read the rest and catch up before Queen Of Air And Darkness comes out :-) The Mortal Instruments series is such an amazing series, all the characters really suck you in and make you wish you were a part of their world. This series follows Clary and her friends as they battle demons and the shadow world to protect not just themselves but all the humans blind to the evil that stalks the world! Very dramatic right? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">So that's it, the top 5 sequels I can't wait to read! The real list is as long as my arm, so I thought I'd just give you the shortlist :-) What sequels are you excited for? Let me know in the comments below :-) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">P.S. Follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Gingersnaphattie.blog/" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>! </span></div>
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Gingersnaphattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935247691981437441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940223829060287964.post-546878702746062312018-03-29T11:04:00.001+01:002018-03-29T11:18:34.326+01:00Happily by Chauncey Rogers - Review <span style="color: #351c75;">Hello everyone, </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">It's once again time for a book review :-) I was lucky enough to be sent an ARC (advance reader copy) of Chauncey Rogers' newest novel Happily. Chauncey Rogers is an American author and this will be his third published novel. I was really excited to get my teeth into this one as I love fairytale retellings. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">No bonus points for guessing which fairytale inspire this one :-P</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Happily follows Laure, a sassy street urchin, as she tries to gather enough money to escape a country she has grown to hate. She lies, she steals and has very few morals left, but then an opportunity presents itself. The King has decreed that the young woman who fits the ridiculously large glass slipper can marry the Prince and have access to the crown's money. Sounds like a dream come true for Laure! Teeming up with her new friend Luc, all she needs is a tiny glass slipper, one huge foot and enough time to reach the shoe. Sounds like a piece of cake right? Well fairytales are never that easy! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Rating: 4 Stars </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Positives: witty characters, funny plot twists and fairytale logic </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">For lover of: Amy Alward's The Potion Diaries, Lewis Carroll's Alice In Wonderland</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I found this story very engaging and easy to read, I read it across 2 days and was actually a bit sad when it ended. The narrative was very fast paced and clever. It featured every essential fairytale element: star crossed lovers, kingdoms at war, bandits and near misses. I particularly enjoyed the fairytale logic, switching from plot twist to plot twist at a ridiculous rate! It was great! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">The characters are well developed and full, there was definitely no rushing in writing them. There were no insignificant or filler roles, giving the story much more depth. I loved Laure's sassiness in contrast to Luc's open heart and generosity. This book was lighthearted and funny, making it the perfect spring read!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I would recommend this book to any fairytale lover or YA fantasy fan! It publishes on April 3rd so check it out! Let me know in the comments below if you have any retelling recommendations :-) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">xoxo</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">P.S. Follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Gingersnaphattie.blog/" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>! </span></div>
Gingersnaphattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935247691981437441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940223829060287964.post-23024439523316531582018-03-15T11:46:00.000+00:002018-03-15T11:46:06.725+00:00The Mermaid And Mrs Hancock - Review <span style="color: #351c75;">Hello everyone! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I'm back again with a book review, today let's talk about Imogen Hermes Gowar's debut novel The Mermaid And Mrs Hancock. This book has been massively hyped so I was equal parts nervous and excited to read it :-) </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">The story follows the lives of Mr. Hancock and Angelica Neal as their stories intertwine. Jonah Hancock is an ordinary merchant until his Captain rushes to him in the middle of the night telling tales of mermaids and fortune. He has sold Jonah's ship and exchanged it for a mermaid. This mermaid is a far cry from the beautiful sirens of legend, it is ugly and deformed, yet captivates the senses. This mermaid fascinates the people of London, catching the eye of high society. Among them is the most infamous brothel mistress. She throws Mr. Hancock a party, with Angelica Neal, celebrated courtesan, as the sparkling jewel of the ball. Mr. Hancock becomes more fascinated with her than all the mermaids in the world, promising to acquire one for her very own...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">The narrative of this story is stunning, the way it switches between the two protagonists is clever and spell-binding. I struggled to put this book down and found myself thinking about it all the time that I wasn't reading it. It's clear that Imogen did a lot of research into the mermaid phenomenon that swept through Victorian society. There are clear influences from the Fiji mermaid story, which if anything made this story more original. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Jonah Hancock is silly and pompous, but relatable in his desire to impress the woman he cares for. The more you read about him the more you see he is sweet and kind, the sort of man you should choose over the attractive, but devious younger men of society. Angelica, though experienced in the art of love and sex, is naive and juvenile in her decisions, making all the wrong ones. She ignores her better sense and you begin to get frustrated with her at times. However, you grow to see she has a core of steel and can overcome situations which make others tremble. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">There is so much depth to this book. I completely understand the hype around it and have since found myself recommending it to people left, right and centre. Not only is the inside decadent and beautiful, but the cover matches it! Just look at the cover design and those endpapers! I applaud not only the writer, but the publisher and illustrator too. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I cannot recommend this book highly enough and it was a no-brainer 5 star read. I would say this is one for lovers of fairy tales, the Brontes and Philippa Gregory! Who else has read this? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below :-) </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">xoxo</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">P.S. Follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Gingersnaphattie.blog/" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>! </span>Gingersnaphattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935247691981437441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940223829060287964.post-89948443512909827982018-03-06T15:27:00.001+00:002018-03-06T15:27:18.926+00:00March Madness - Wild Reading <span style="color: #351c75;">Hello everyone! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">How are you all doing and, most importantly, what have you been reading? As my regular readers will know, I set myself quite a few hefty books to read in February and, predictably, it pushed me into a slump. Now we are talking a big slump, not just a reading slump, but a Blog, Twitter and Instagram slump! Mr. Gingersnap always gets quite anxious when I stop reading, he knows how important it is to keep me happy :-) </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">He then had the brightest idea ever and suggested that for March Madness I should do a reading safari that we will call Wild Reading! This involves picking books off my shelf at random and reading whatever I feel like reading whenever I feel like it. So far this is working out excellently and I am onto my fourth book of the month already! Which is already more than I achieved last month. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">In the end, I only read half my TBR last month: </span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #351c75;">The Mermaid And Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar - 5 Stars</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Thief Of Time by Terry Pratchett - 5 Stars </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Two On A Tower by Thomas Hardy - 5 Stars</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Turtles All The Way Down by John Green - 3 Stars </span></li>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I won't yet tell you what I have been reading this month, if I do then who will even read my wrap up at the end of the month?!? However, I am open to suggestions, that is the joy of Wild Reading :-) Let's make this a thing and tell me what your impulse reads have been in the comments below! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">P.S. Follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Gingersnaphattie.blog/" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>! </span></div>
Gingersnaphattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935247691981437441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940223829060287964.post-49216891537867726822018-02-15T12:57:00.001+00:002018-02-15T12:57:12.973+00:00Zoella Book Club 2017 <span style="color: #351c75;">Hello everyone! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I'm back again with some more book reviews. This time I wanted to talk to you about the Zoella and Friends Book Club 2017 with WHSmith. I have always been a big fan of Zoella and I have loved her previous two book clubs, so it will come as no surprise that I was very excited about this one. As soon as it was announced I hopped online and ordered the box set. Then I had to wait 2 months for my exams to be over before I could binge read them all! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Yes I know, I read them at the end of August and it is now February, but I thought that this collection of books would be a perfect way for you all to get a scent of summer in your reading. That way you can escape from all this horrible weather we're having in the UK. Let me tell you a little about each book.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Letters To The Lost by Brigid Kemmerer </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">This story runs in parallel lines between Juliet Young and Declan Murphy as they fall in love through letters and messages all the while not knowing who the other person is. Juliet is the perfect dutiful student, prim and preppy, but destroyed on the inside by the recent death of her mother. Declan is your typical bad kid, he has a bad reputation and a bad attitude to match. Their worlds collide when Declan finds a letter Juliet has written to her mother in the graveyard where he does his community service. This book is heart-wrenching and hard to read, but will take you right back to that person who everyone disapproved of, but turned out to be the best thing for you at the time. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I was so excited to see this book on the list and it definitely lived up to my expectations. It is loosely based on the Waco scandal in America and I remember reading about that happening so was very intrigued. The story tells the life of Moonbeam both before and after the fire that started her life. She grew up in a religious cult in the American desert ruled by the disgusting and ruthless Father John. Moonbeam knows the world she lives in is wrong so she starts a fire to break out and change it all for the better. This is a gripping 5 star read through and through! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Girlhood by Cat Clarke </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Sadly this one was a little bit of a let down, I wanted it to be a much darker thriller than it actually was. It follows Harper trying to escape her past and the loss of her sister by throwing herself into her new school life, but then a new girl arrives and her story is scarily similar to Harper's. After her arrival Harper's world starts to fall apart, leaving Kirsty as her only connection to her old life. The ending was much fluffier than I wanted it to be, but it is a good example of how forgiveness and understanding can go a long way in improving a situation. Definitely still worth a read if you like light thrillers. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngNY1tGwyj_YcE7uLduPaW2R6t8pscGGrg7htjv5QYdTdSY1l-kZ03TlqiGoeWEBnvYldPmEoeCm8W646bLtr4LSiR2g3luqVoUW8GICqXbNe_hSMvqSCuWrKmwBA-4dgGtxIkhpiRbg/s1600/IMG_2094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="806" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngNY1tGwyj_YcE7uLduPaW2R6t8pscGGrg7htjv5QYdTdSY1l-kZ03TlqiGoeWEBnvYldPmEoeCm8W646bLtr4LSiR2g3luqVoUW8GICqXbNe_hSMvqSCuWrKmwBA-4dgGtxIkhpiRbg/s320/IMG_2094.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I was a bit dubious about this one as I had read quite a few mixed reviews and I don't think it was really the right book for me. It has great representation and deals with loss and LGBTQ+ relationships very well, but I found it difficult to connect with Griffin as a character. Griffin needs to come to terms with the sudden death of his ex-boyfriend Theo and rebuild his life and friendships on new ground. He turns to Theo's new boyfriend and for answers and comfort, but it doesn't turn out quite how he was expecting. It is a well written story of life after death and new starts, worth a read if you are a fan of David Levithan. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChitqe-iNuNxmSYPe3N0pR8VUXy-hH0qAZrMjxK1K5KMGzv7NWSWLcKClhtE6r5ahhJCEPQpVblh8nop9Lka7M1cjEdkPZJcZebPyUS0jHZz_qRPkb8Ia9zW8v9_ljdk1vVCut8b8Fp0/s1600/IMG_2092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="923" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChitqe-iNuNxmSYPe3N0pR8VUXy-hH0qAZrMjxK1K5KMGzv7NWSWLcKClhtE6r5ahhJCEPQpVblh8nop9Lka7M1cjEdkPZJcZebPyUS0jHZz_qRPkb8Ia9zW8v9_ljdk1vVCut8b8Fp0/s320/IMG_2092.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Aaaaah this book! Every woman and girl on the planet should read this book at the age of 12-16 and take home its very important message. Women are not disposable, we are not the weaker sex and we can stand on equal footing with men. Feminism is not about pushing men down to let us women rise, it is about finding a place to stand next to them as equals and working together. This book is everything I wanted The Power to be. Vivian Carter is the woman we should all be. She is fed up with being downtrodden by her male teachers, subject to chauvinistic remarks that go un-reprimanded. She creates a feminist zine and takes her school, her town and the world by storm! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">This book ripped my heart out, shredded it like confetti and threw the bits to the wind. Jack's family have taken in 14 year old Joseph as a foster child. Joseph has come straight out of juvenile detention after a very troubled back-ground lands him in serious trouble. Joseph isn't what Jack expected, Joseph is sensitive, kind and completely heart-broken. As he opens up to Jack, he tells him how he fell in love and how that love resulted in a little girl called Jupiter. Joseph has never even seen her, but his longing for his daughter is so strong that he enlists the help of sensible Jack in his quest to find her. Read this book, it will break you, but it is worth it. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">The Start Of Me And You by Emery Lord</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXLltGuLdqsvjIrvEd0ivtK4vfudVeikMVdRn3fVLM-KsugnYA_VONX0pI70WI31rmoC0VW7ufEmjCfCV3ptzH6P8-2uPf24danZQlL-kP1uHm0XXrnxgn7rGc9yW6BEmL8P05jA_iCU/s1600/IMG_2095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="930" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXLltGuLdqsvjIrvEd0ivtK4vfudVeikMVdRn3fVLM-KsugnYA_VONX0pI70WI31rmoC0VW7ufEmjCfCV3ptzH6P8-2uPf24danZQlL-kP1uHm0XXrnxgn7rGc9yW6BEmL8P05jA_iCU/s320/IMG_2095.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">This story is super cute and quite fluffy, probably the only fluffy book in this selection. My Mam is actually afraid of water so I enjoyed how the author dealt with the protagonist Paige's new found phobia. This phobia sprung to life after her boyfriend drowned. Now Paige is not only dealing with a very real fear, but with the new label of "dead guy's girlfriend". What Paige struggles with most isn't the loss of her boyfriend, but the loss of their potential. They weren't together very long and now their chance of a future has gone. This inspires Paige to make a list of goals in the hope that it will bring her back to life. This brings her into Max's world. Max is everything a nerd love interest should be, he is geeky, kind and really funny. I fell in love with him on the first page he featured. Read this book if you want to feel uplifted by new chances and teenage friendships! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">The One Memory Of Flora Banks by Emily Barr</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">My Mam reckons this book will be a classic one day. Flora has short term retrograde amnesia, meaning she loses her memory several times throughout the day and has to have lists and post-its at the ready to remind herself who she is. Then one night she kisses Drake at a party and remembers it. She goes on a quest to find Drake, but he has moved to The North Pole. Defying everything anyone expects Flora follows him there, all the while trying to remember how she got there! This story is gripping, funny and very difficult to not get attached to. Flora's struggle is inspiring and I wish more people would read this book. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Wow, that's it! All 8 books from the selection. As you can see they cover a really wide array of topics and genres within the YA heading. There is definitely something in there for everyone and if you ever thought Zoella's book club would be full of fluffy insubstantial romances I hope I have changed your mind! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Have you read any of these? What were your thoughts on them? Let me know in the comments below :-) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">xoxo</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">P.S. Follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Gingersnaphattie.blog/" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>! </span></div>
Gingersnaphattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935247691981437441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940223829060287964.post-19206521017976760492018-02-04T19:16:00.001+00:002018-02-04T19:16:21.844+00:00February TBR<span style="color: #351c75;">Hello everyone! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">How are you all doing today? Have you got any interesting plans for the weekend? I am working this weekend, so I'll just be doing some reading and hanging out with Mr. GingerSnap in the evenings. Fingers crossed he will have finished the bookcase he is building for our house. If my February TBR goes to plan there will be quite a few additions!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQmQ7g7R4Vk27egusjLUASjjw7R4Um2g2hgv9EESgxNdpO5hHjyInKHlQ0MEaSUTDXELDcwk_ZVV6Vn_iKltVAsA1lfs7drFZe7v1wUEjZFbKjQAzPa4jPKTsZwzoGDVFXtu29BCx-vk/s1600/IMG_2034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="750" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQmQ7g7R4Vk27egusjLUASjjw7R4Um2g2hgv9EESgxNdpO5hHjyInKHlQ0MEaSUTDXELDcwk_ZVV6Vn_iKltVAsA1lfs7drFZe7v1wUEjZFbKjQAzPa4jPKTsZwzoGDVFXtu29BCx-vk/s320/IMG_2034.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Some may say I am being ambitious with what I want to read in Feb, but I like a challenge :-) </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">1. Dubliners by James Joyce </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3YvcLR5NQp4JZR6K2hWv9VFHa2Ae2gdH8Pg0sC9lOh0sibHqzV5lUh75tj5qCnSa4sOMI_dMHz2xjEctAeDR5vcNYYx1SVzF7iAicPswcrtSDuB8eqO7oKzFQZvDlvYFl9bDFF7GR0U/s1600/IMG_2033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="750" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3YvcLR5NQp4JZR6K2hWv9VFHa2Ae2gdH8Pg0sC9lOh0sibHqzV5lUh75tj5qCnSa4sOMI_dMHz2xjEctAeDR5vcNYYx1SVzF7iAicPswcrtSDuB8eqO7oKzFQZvDlvYFl9bDFF7GR0U/s320/IMG_2033.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I don't know too much about this one beyond it following 15 Irish people and their every day lives in Dublin. I believe it shows different aspects of middle class Irish life. I'm quite excited to read this one because my Mam hated it and we have very different tastes in books. Generally if she disliked it, I will probably love it. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">2. Two On A Tower by Thomas Hardy </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzgiozh4OOqpj5WbA7t3iu4gpwB8UmuK3Z0E3KVb6ViJKiRpCAGNfozeZqlDdsBFmncYfRXmFZ6xydJhEY388KrGKMbIlxpx26G9a8D3zn-W_jPniUQF9j05z5ZvbyUERnIKqt2oNVR4/s1600/IMG_2032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="932" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzgiozh4OOqpj5WbA7t3iu4gpwB8UmuK3Z0E3KVb6ViJKiRpCAGNfozeZqlDdsBFmncYfRXmFZ6xydJhEY388KrGKMbIlxpx26G9a8D3zn-W_jPniUQF9j05z5ZvbyUERnIKqt2oNVR4/s320/IMG_2032.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I'm so excited about this one as Thomas Hardy is one of my favourite authors. This story follows two star crossed lovers as the try to navigate their feelings and avoid the minefield that is social class. The astronomy aspect of this novel also appeals to my inner scientist and I can't wait to get my teeth into this classic! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">3. The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_CpqX3z57hWpezrCI1U4AVMOrq20FGqUcRuBw-hugvcwPNP17H4CZxgGWRIJO50oI4VxvCF490WGCt5p7ZZay_AILXLKhadZKi2ILOPXfWCkjoc9z3VX2KeBalffAy5gj63x8z-4UxQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-02-04+at+19.06.45.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_CpqX3z57hWpezrCI1U4AVMOrq20FGqUcRuBw-hugvcwPNP17H4CZxgGWRIJO50oI4VxvCF490WGCt5p7ZZay_AILXLKhadZKi2ILOPXfWCkjoc9z3VX2KeBalffAy5gj63x8z-4UxQ/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-02-04+at+19.06.45.png" width="204" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I have been trying like crazy to avoid spoilers in the massive hype around this book. By the looks of things it is set to become a modern classic, taking the world by storm, but to be honest they had me at the word "mermaid". </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">4. Nevernight by Jay Kristoff </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I'm a little late to the party on this book, so when I heard that the author was working on book 3 I decided it was time to tackle the first two. This one is quite a gruesome high fantasy novel. It tells the story of Mia Corvere, trained assassin and ruthless killer. She is determined to avenge her father's death, but first she must survive the rigorous training of the mysterious Red Church. I'm so excited to get to this one as it has been ages since I read anything like it. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">5. Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpwnKdBaTa4HHvYEYkArPNRIMaJ5lPQy5umPUrMyFkfx4yHKeZBKKm6QbDheZYDGWaRDvTpTjR0Hxe4Vii6l_RnPfHHOIFZ9-IzVYr5_zjDFuiZPkK63qLCRhQuZjHwS2S0ARrH6uiJg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-02-04+at+19.06.13.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="305" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpwnKdBaTa4HHvYEYkArPNRIMaJ5lPQy5umPUrMyFkfx4yHKeZBKKm6QbDheZYDGWaRDvTpTjR0Hxe4Vii6l_RnPfHHOIFZ9-IzVYr5_zjDFuiZPkK63qLCRhQuZjHwS2S0ARrH6uiJg/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-02-04+at+19.06.13.png" width="206" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I have been eking out this trilogy for as long as possible because of how much I love these characters. I never want to leave them behind, but it is time. My curiosity over how the story ends has won out over my dismay at finishing the story arc. This one follows the end of Tessa, Will and Jem's fight against the destructive Magister's automatons. The automatons are set to destroy the Shadowhunter world, the world they fight so hard to protect. I have a feeling this will break my heart, but I am feeling ready for it! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Finally... 6. Thief Of Time by Terry Pratchett</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">This one is a bit of a cheat as I am already 1/4 of the way through this, but I'll count it nonetheless. Mr. GingerSnap has been building up my collection of Discworld Collector's Library editions as they come out and he bought the next four for Christmas. I have to wait for next year for the next 4 so I'll be dragging these ones out across the year to try to avoid too many withdrawals. Thief Of Time is the final book in the Death story arc and follows Time's son as he creates a clock which threatens to destroy time itself. So far I am loving this and can't wait to see what wonderful twists of plot this brings. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">What are you guys reading? Do you think this is over-ambitious? Let me know in the comments below :-) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">xoxo</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">P.S. Follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Gingersnaphattie.blog/" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>! </span></div>
Gingersnaphattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935247691981437441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940223829060287964.post-45928515679470165502018-02-01T07:41:00.000+00:002018-02-01T07:41:02.671+00:00January Favourites and Reading Wrap-up<span style="color: #351c75;">Hello everyone, </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Dreary January is over and it is time to move onto the most romantic month of the year - February. For the next few days the internet will be over-flowing with people's thoughts for January and I thought I would join the throng by sharing the books I read this month and all the things I have been loving :-) </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I did read 2 more books, but they were on my Kindle</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">In terms of books, I read 7 books last month. Quite a tidy number if I do say so myself! Here are some brief thoughts and star ratings:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">1. </span><span style="color: #351c75;">Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton - thought provoking, but a bit depressing! 4 Stars</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">2. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen - stunning, soothing and funny! 5 Stars</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">3. The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells - gruesome and chilling, an ideal winter read. 5 Stars </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">4. The Truth And Lies Of Ella Black by Emily Barr - fast paced, but a little bit disappointing! 3 Stars</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">5. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare - as always her urban fantasy setting is incredibly vivid and her relatable characters made me cry like a baby! 5 Stars </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">6. Silas Marner by George Eliot - slow to get into, but a lovely tale of family love and the simpler things in life. 5 Stars </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">7. The Man Who Was Thursday by G. K. Chesterton - loved it at first as I thought it was going to be a thrilling spy novel, but then it turned biblical and it all turned out to have been a dream. Bit of a weird let down! 3 Stars </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Now it's time to talk you through my favourites! Are you ready? There are quite a few. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Mr. GingerSnap and I have been re-watching Game Of Thrones ready for season 8 coming out next year. It's so strange watching it and now knowing what is coming. We noticed so many plot twists which when we first watched we thought "wtf, that's a bit odd", but now it makes so much more sense!! Seriously guys, go back and re-watch. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I always get a little bit sad in January, it's probably a mixture of the cold wet weather and not having the festive period to look forward to. This year we decided to brighten up January by doing lots of interesting things out and about. To that end we had a load of friends down for the New Year's weekend, which was so lovely and cosy! We went to Stafford to see Tower Players put on Mort by Terry Pratchett in the theatre. They were absolutely fantastic and if they ever perform near you, please go and see them. Then to end January in the best way, we drove off to London last night with another friend to see Hollywood Undead live in Koko London. Last night was phenomenal and I would go and see them every night of the week if possible! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I have also been loving being cosy and watching comfort shows this month, which includes My Name Is Earl and Friends :-) To make it even cosier Mr. GingerSnap has been making me a great many hot chocolates! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">So that's me for the last month! I'm currently reading Thief Of Time by Terry Pratchett and am hoping to finish that soon and move on to some very exciting new releases. Keep your eyes peeled for my February TBR! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">What have you guys been reading/loving this month? Let me know in the comments below :-) </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">xoxo</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">P.S. Follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Gingersnaphattie.blog/" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>! </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>Gingersnaphattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935247691981437441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940223829060287964.post-45200273463483723532018-01-28T19:55:00.001+00:002018-01-31T16:15:20.687+00:00Top 5 YA Fantasy Series<span style="color: #351c75;">Hello everyone! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">This post is probably going to show my age, so let's kick things off with me saying that as a 24 year old woman I can sadly no longer class myself as a young adult. However, being a fully fledged adult does not mean I don't still enjoy reading YA as a genre. If you are old, like me, when you were a teen YA didn't really exist and all those books came under teen fiction. YA sprang to life when I had already passed into adulthood, so forgive me if some of these books blur into other age groups. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Long intro aside, I am here today to give you a brief over-view of my top 5 YA fantasy series :-) They are in no particular order!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">1. The Great Library by Rachel Caine</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">These books are for those of you who love books about libraries. They follow Jess as he integrates the Great Library of Alexandria on the orders of his book smuggler father. He was born into the brutal world of smuggling illegal books around the world, with no mercy shown to those who are caught by the library. Overtime the library has seized control of the world, rationing books and knowledge to only those deemed worthy. This provides and ideal environment for anarchy to grow. The anarchists like to burn: books, libraries, cities. They value human life above books. Now Jess is stuck somewhere between the two. His love of books makes him want to protect them, but his even fiercer love of his friends is tearing him in two. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">2. Abhorsen by Garth Nix</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Sabriel is missing, I lent her to a friend :-)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">The Abhorsen series has been going on for years, I read the first three books when I was still a teen! The book starts with Sabriel, the daughter of the Abhorsen crossing the wall into the Old Kingdom to find take up her heritage. As the Abhorsen-in-waiting she has to learn how to use the 7 bells to banish creatures returning from the rivers of death. This might sound a bit gruesome to some of my more squeamish readers, but I promise you these books are gripping. The next few books bring more main characters into play, creating a complex landscape of inter-woven stories. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;">3. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke</span> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I love these books so much, Dustfinger was the first male character I ever truly fell in love with. This story follows Meggie and her father Mo as they run from the criminal Capricorn. Capricorn is no normal villain, he is the villain of a storybook, plucked out of his own story by Mo's silver tongue. Meggie has inherited Mo's gift, but she also has a gift of her own. Her written words can alter the story she is reading, but this comes with a price when she reads herself into a story she has rapidly lost control of. This series blurs the lines between the real and the written in the most fantastic ways :-) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">4. Tales Of The Otori by Lian Hearn </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Again, some books are missing! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">The Tales Of The Otori are loosely set in medieval Japan with elements of magic. Takeo was born in a remote village, worshiping a forbidden god. When his village and family are massacred he discovers he has mysterious skills, skills some may call magic. These skills mark him as a member of the Tribe, but his skills surpass even their levels of normal. He is the most powerful Tribe member for many generations, transforming him into a hunted man. Add to this his heritage as an Otori and a forbidden romance with the most beautiful woman in the empire and you have one hell of a good story! This book is for lovers of Game Of Thrones and The White Queen. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">5. The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">This series being on the list will not surprise anyone. Cassandra Clare is well known as the queen of YA fiction after her Mortal Instruments series shook the world. Don't get me wrong, I love that series, but this one struck me more. Tessa is such an interesting character fighting between her feelings for two different men and her own strong morals. For those of you unfamiliar with the story, it follows Tessa, a young american woman arriving in London to meet her brother. Her brother never shows and she is kidnapped by the terrible Dark Sisters who torture her into revealing her ability to change into any person she chooses as long as she has access to a personal item of theirs. If this wasn't enough, she is drawn into the world of the Shadow Hunters, sworn to fight demons invading our realm. Among these are Jem and Will, two men as different as night and day, but both quickly staking claims on her heart. She must join their ranks to fight not only demons, but The Magister's harsh destructive automatons which threaten to over-run the world. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I hope this hasn't rambled on too much for all of you! Please let me know your favourite YA fantasy series in the comments below :-) I'm always looking for new recommendations! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">xoxo</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">P.S. Follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Gingersnaphattie.blog/" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>!</span></div>
Gingersnaphattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935247691981437441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940223829060287964.post-89008620235722363242018-01-18T14:55:00.000+00:002018-01-18T14:55:18.445+00:00A Beginners Guide To H. G. Wells <span style="color: #351c75;">Hello everyone! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Today I'm here to talk about the grandfather of classic science fiction - H. G. Wells! This author has long been a favourite of mine, ever since I discovered The War Of The Worlds. Which I'm sure many of you will know from the excellent movie. The problem with this movie is that it can overshadow the books a little so I'm going to give you a beginners guide to reading this amazing author's work. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Let's start with the most accessible of his novels: The War Of The Worlds and The Time Machine. Both of these novels are fast paced and thrilling. The War Of The Worlds details an alien invasion of planet earth, bringing with it the near destruction of human kind. The Time Machine tells the story of the nuttiest of all professors creating a time machine taking him thousands of years into the future. What he finds there is at first glance utopia, but with a little digging he learns that all paradises come with a dark price. When I read these novels I completely forgot they were written in the 1800's, the language is fluid and easy to read. These are the best place to start for H. G. Wells, once you've read these there is no going back and you'll be begging for more stories! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">The Invisible Man is almost as fast paced as the above, but it is a little slower to get into which could be off-putting as your first read. Once you are used to H. G. Wells' writing style you'll fly through this one. It follows Griffin, a mad scientist who has perfected a formula for making creatures invisible. This sounds amazing in theory, but it leaves Griffin desperate and friendless, slowly descending into murderous madness. He will stop at nothing to find the cure. I love the flow of this narrative, it jumps backwards and forwards in time as Griffin's tale becomes clearer, leaving you desperate for more after each page. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">The next two books aren't really hard to get into, but they do fall on the weirder end of the H. G. Wells scale. The Island Of Doctor Moreau is all about the horrors of vivisection and the ultimate mad scientist. Doctor Moreau lives on a deserted island with only his "creations" for company, creations is a kind word really. They are more like monsters, blended from the corpses of men and animals. This is a cautionary tale of what can happen when you try too hard to control nature.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Penguin's Little Black Classics collection is pure genius and they did not miss their mark with their choice of three short stories. The Sea Raiders tells of man-eating sea creatures raiding a seaside resort, which sounds comical, but when you read it it's terrifying! The Magic Shop and The Land Ironclads are two of his strangest stories and are not for the fans of realism. These two would not be out of place in Wonderland! The Magic Shop walks that fine line between tricks to delight children and sinister illusions made to frighten and horrify adults. The Land Ironclads tells a story of destruction on the battlefield at the hands of unstoppable mechanical fiends. Both these stories are bizarre and twisted, more for those who appreciate surreal literature. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">H. G. Wells is the perfect author to read if you love Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, he perfectly captures all the dangers of scientific advancement whilst weaving tales of terror and suspense. His novels are timeless and I wish more people were still reading these! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Have I inspired you to read any of these or have you already read them? Let me know in the comments below :-) </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">xoxo</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">P.S. Follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Gingersnaphattie.blog/" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>! </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>Gingersnaphattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935247691981437441noreply@blogger.com0