MAY READING WRAP UP 2016

In May I read a massive 7 books, including some very long reads. I finally completed the Heroes of Olympus series this month (you can see how I managed to alternate them with everything else I read), and I just want to read books set at Camp Half Blood forever and ever. I am also about 50% through 'Red Rising' by Pierce Brown, and so I'll hopefully finish that in the next couple of days.

Books Read:

1. 'The Son of Neptune'- Rick Riordan
Like the first book, this had a very slow start and it takes about 200 pages before it actually starts to get going, but after that it's just as great as the rest. I was so glad to get Percy back in this one, but I miss being inside his head in the same way that the first series is. Overall, this is my least favourite book of the series, but it was still a fantastic and genius continuation.

2. 'A Gathering of Shadows'- V.E. Schwab
I actually think that the first book could've been a standalone, but I had so many unanswered questions and I loved it so much that I'm really glad it wasn't. (Shall we briefly mention here again that I was a hypocrite; I didn't finish the first book the first time round, but I absolutely loved it the second time round. Let us speak of this no more). V.E. Schwab is so clever with all the different languages and cultures and worlds she has created, big respect to that. I loved, loved, loved seeing more of Rhy in this one, it was a magnificent continuation and I need the next book NOW.

3. 'The Mark of Athena'- Rick Riordan
What I really enjoyed about this book was getting to see more of Annabeth; you learn so much more about her than you ever do from Percy's point of view and it adds a whole new, really interesting layer to her character. I don't have much to say about this one apart from it's Rick Riordan and Percy Jackson so obviously it's fantastic, and they are actual squad goals on the Argo II.

4. 'Winter'- Marissa Meyer
Again with the hypocrite-ness, I said I've never read the Lunar Chronicles and here I am having finished and loved it. Winter was such as interesting character, without giving any spoilers, you never normally read anything like her, and I'd been excited to find out more since the end of Cress. I also really enjoyed how all the characters were slightly different ages, in YA you normally only read about 16 year olds, but this was a nice change. Another thought I had whilst reading this book was the life on Lunar reminds me a lot of the Capitol in the Hunger Games, but I'm not complaining. I would've liked to see a bit more of the history of the worlds and the Lunar royal family, but maybe that should've occurred in an earlier book. This book was a whopping 800+ pages (longest YA book ever?) but it needed and I loved every single one of those pages, which doesn't often happen with books like that. Just when you thought there was going to be a resolution, more and more things kept happening, and it was an incredible end to the series.

5. 'The House of Hades'- Rick Riordan 
Obviously I couldn't just stop reading Percy Jackson after the ending of the Mark of Athena. I read this one to give myself a bit of a break after some really slow parts of Lord of the Rings and, like every other book in this series, I flew through it in only a few short days. Potential unpopular opinion, I'm not a big fan of Frank; he annoys me a bit too much in his point of view chapters, I much prefer him in other peoples' chapters. Once again, incredible, like nothing I've ever read before. If you've never read any Percy Jackson before, what are you doing with your life?

6. 'The Fellowship of the Ring'- J.R.R. Tolkien
I'd been quite in the mood to read this for a long time, and I was quite in the mood for the Council of Elrond. I've watched these films countless times, I've read The Hobbit book (don't get me started on that film series), but I'd never read the Lord of the Rings before. This is an incredibly solid start to one of the most epic fantasies of all time, I'm really surprised by what they'd left out of the film (where was Tom Bombadil, please?), and I was also surprised about how scary it was. I've always loved these characters so much (Fellowship goals) and I'm excited to see what the rest of the books will bring (even though I know what's going to happen, I can never remember what happens in each film).

7. 'The Blood of Olympus'- Rick Riordan
WHAT AN AMAZING END TO THIS SERIES.Damnnnnnn. I can't give anything away because of spoilers but there's so much I loved about this book. This is joint with the first book for my favourite in the series (the fact that the first book is one of my favourites has surprised me a little bit, honestly). It was just so good. These characters are incredible. Rick Riordan is incredible. I desperately NEED to read the Trials of Apollo NOW, but my brother is hogging it and I have other reading commitments to make first. This isn't without sacrifice. I don't know what I would've done if I hadn't had all the books to marathon like this and if I didn't have the Trials of Apollo to read immediately afterwards, it would've been agony.

Rosie
The Rick Riordan addict 

MAY PLAYLIST 2016

It's time once again for a monthly playlist post of old, rediscovered favourites, random music and new obsessions. You're welcome.

'Daddy Lessons'- Beyonce
The new obsession that it's only fair we mention first. This song is from Beyonce's new album and holy crap it is incredible. My dad and I are absolutely obsessed, we're having to pace ourselves with how much we listen to it. I cannot describe how good this song is.

'Daddy Lessons'- Dixie Chicks (cover)
My family and I saw the Dixie Chicks at the start of May (which was in itself incredible as they're my favourite band ever and this is the first time they've toured the UK properly in 10 years). They covered Beyonce's 'Daddy Lessons' (that's how we first heard it) and it was mind-blowingly incredible. It sounds like they could've written it themselves and I would go as far as to say that it may have been even better than the original.

'So Hard'- Dixie Chicks
Are you even surprised that the Dixie Chicks are featuring heavily in this post?

'Tonight the Heartache's on Me'- Dixie Chicks
THIS ONE IS SO GOOD.

'Make You Feel Better'- Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Possibly one of the best but most underrated RHCP song of all time.

'This Ain't a Love Song'- Scouting for Girls
Scouting for Girls haven't been featured on a playlist post for a while but I still love them (especially in the summer) and I always will.

'Ole Black 'n' Blue Eyes'- The Fratellis
I don't think I've ever mentioned by love for The Fratellis on here, but my family massively overplayed it a few years ago and it's hard for us to listen to it too often now. I've been relistening to it and it is just as great as ever. (Don't overplay your favourite album, kids.)

Rosie

BOOK DEBATE #4: GIVING UP ON SERIES

We haven't had a book debate for a while, but I wanted to discuss giving up on series and also mention a couple of series that I don't think I'm going to be carrying on with.

Spoiler alert: I'm all for giving up on series.

And let me explain why. What's the point of putting yourself through something that you don't like? The saying is true that there are too many books and not enough time, so why read something you're not enjoying when there's something else out there that you're going to love? For me personally, the rest of the series could be good, but if I don't enjoy the first book then I'm not going to carry on. That's a lot of pressure to put onto a first book. At the moment, I'm finding myself in a mentality where I could enjoy a book, but just not enough that I can be bothered to carry on with the series (looking at you 'Red Queen' and 'The Kiss of Deception'). I'm also finding myself a little bit tired of reading series all the time (I write this as I read series upon series upon series), but I now feel that I need some more standalones in my life.

I can understand why people would continue with series, it may get better in the second book, or even the third, but then again, why risk it? I can also understand the feeling of 'maybe I should carry on, maybe I shouldn't just quit and stick it out'. In 2015, I read more first books of series that I'm not going to continue with than I've ever read before in my life, and I feel that maybe I should carry on with at least one of them, just so that I haven't given up on masses of series in one year. 

That being said, I'm coming round to the idea that life is just too short to read things you're not excited about, and so I thought I'd make a list of some of the series I don't think I'm going to carry on with. You should never had to justify why you don't want to read something, but for me these were all books that I was really excited for and was really let down by.

1. The 'Outlander' series by Diana Gabaldon
2. The 'Fire & Floor' series/trilogy/duoloy (who knows) by Victoria Scott
3. 'The Remnant Chronicles' by Mary E. Pearson (maybe I'll pick up the next book, but at the moment it's looking like a no)
4. The 'Red Queen' trilogy/series by Victoria Aveyard (again, maybe I'll continue but most likely not)
5. The 'Magonia' duology by Maria Dahvana Headley (those covers though, ooooommmmmgggg)

TOP 5 WEDNESDAY | SUMMER READS

Anyone who watches booktube will be aware of 'top 5 wednesday', a thing that occurs every Wednesday where you're given a topic and you have to talk about 5 books related to that topic. If that makes any sense. I don't normally do top 5 Wednesday (I always forget), but I really liked today's topic and I wanted to have my say. 

Just a quick little to note to say where I've been. I realise that I've been neglecting my blog since the end of April, but I've got two massive college deadlines tomorrow and next week and so I've been spending all my time working towards them. I have my last two deadlines in early June but after that I am free, free, free.

So here's my first ever contribution to 'top 5 wednesday', my interpretation of 'summer reads', the 5 books I am planning to read this summer. 

1. 'The Hidden Oracle'- Rick Riordan

This book is on the way and I am so excited! I have to finish the Heroes of Olympus series first, which I should be able to do by the end of this month, and then it is all go with this one. I'm saving it for holiday because it's going to be quite a big hardback, so I can bring it on the plane with me. (Along those lines, I might also finally read Magnus Chase).

2. 'Shadow and Bone'- Leigh Bardugo

I've wanted to read this series for so long and it's currently 99p on Kindle so I've finally downloaded it. I'm saving this for holiday as it's just easier to bring Kindle books with you to save space when packing. 

3. 'Shades of Doon'- Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon

I have this on Kindle for summer for the same reasons as Shadow and Bone. I secretly love the Doon series, it's my guilty pleasure, and this is just a nice, fluffy read for the summer. 

4. 'A Court of Thorns and Roses'- Sarah J. Maas

I was undecided about reading this series, I go through fazes of really wanting to read it and not wanting to read it at all. With all the hype surrounding the second book, I'm in a mood where I really, really want to read it, and hopefully that is going to happen soon.

5. 'Sense and Sensibility'- Jane Austen

Every summer I read a Jane Austen book and this is going to be the summer of Sense and Sensibility. 

Rosie

Remember me?

APRIL READING WRAP UP 2016

April was a really good reading month for me, I read a total of 7 books and I'm now 48% of the way through my 50 book reading challenge. I am also currently 400 pages through 'The Son of Neptune' by Rick Riordan, which I am aiming to finish in the next couple of days; I have a lot of big books to read in May.

April was destined to be the most important month of the year book-wise, because The Raven King finally came out. I'd been anticipating this book since August and I'd gotten myself so worked up about it that I was truly scared to read it. It did not disappoint. It was everything I wanted and needed and everything I didn't know I wanted and needed. I feel physical pain that it's over, and when I think of the last line I can't tell if I want to cry or throw up. Beyond incredible. Thank you, Maggie Stiefvater. Plus, I got it four days before the release date so I managed to finish it before it officially came out, which has got me feeling slightly smug.

Books Read:

1. 'V for Vendetta'- Alan Moore and David Lloyd
I read 'Watchmen', a graphic novel by Alan Moore, back in January which I really enjoyed, but, if it's possible, this one was even better. I absolutely loved every second of this graphic novel, it's such an intense and terrifying story, and the complete mystery of all of it keeps you hooked. My one issue with it was the fact that it's not very colourful and a lot of the authority figures looked very similar, so I was often quite confused about who was who, but I'm starting to think that that may have been somewhat intentional. It's such a clever and fantastic dystopian story, I can see why it often makes lists of 'books you must read before you die'.

2. 'Georgy Girl'- Margaret Forster
I hate to say it, especially since my mum got my this book and I always trust her recommendations, but I was really disappointed with this. I got such Bridget Jones vibes from the premise, but it was no where near as fun as I thought it was going to be. I've never read a book where I've absolutely hated every single character, though I do get the feeling that you're not supposed to like them, and overall I just didn't enjoy this book as much as I hoped and thought I would.

3. 'Scarlett-' Marissa Meyer
This book had the reputation of many second-books-in-series in that, though it's good, it's the worst book of the series. Though it wasn't my favourite out of the series, it wasn't nearly as slow as I'd heard it was, and the ending was so crazy and so good. I preferred the bits with Cinder in, I love her as a character and I found her bits slightly more interesting, but Scarlett is an awesome female character in her own right.

4. 'Cress'- Marissa Meyer
I was so glad I had this book to read straight after Scarlett, after Cinder all I wanted was to read the next one straight away, and I'd been more prepared this time. What I'm really enjoying about this series is how it takes place over quite a short period of time, and so the books are more or less following straight on from each other. This book was really interesting as you never get Rapunzel retellings, but I'm really enjoying the sci-fi take on classic stories and I really like Cress as a character. I'd heard really good things about this book, and they are actual squad goals living on the Rampion together. Great, great, great book, the next book is going to be amazing (800 pages of amazing, I may add).

5. 'Moranifesto'- Caitlin Moran
Everyone should know by now that Caitlin Moran is one of my favourite writers, I will literally read anything she publishes, and I can't believe I didn't know this book was coming out until recently. As predicted, this book was absolutely fantastic, Caitlin Moran is often a very controversial writer, but I love every single thing she says and I am nuts about her. Once again, as it happens every time I read a non-fiction book, I really want to read more non-fiction.

6. 'The Lost Hero'- Rick Riordan
It feels so good to be back in the world of Percy Jackson and Camp Half Blood. This is the spin-off series to the Percy Jackson series, which I read all of last year and absolutely loved; this is one of the only book series my brother is passionate about, and he's been on at me to read The Lost Hero for months now. As with all of Rick Riordan's writing, it did not disappoint. Rick Riordan is a genius when it comes to Greek mythology (which Percy Jackson has made me obsessed with), though I was slightly disappointed that mythology didn't feature as heavily as it did in the first series, though it's obviously still a major plot point. I missed Percy in this book, I didn't feel as connected to the other characters as I do to him, but it was a fantastic start to the series and I'm really excited to see where it goes.

7. 'The Raven King'- Maggie Stiefvater 
Where do I even start with this one? I've briefly talked about my feelings earlier in the post, but there is no way for me to properly put them into words. I feel slightly dead inside that the series is over. I don't know what to do now, I've gone on an obsessive rampage and my Raven Cycle mug is currently in the post. As I've said, this was such a perfect end to one of my all-time favourite series. Everything was wrapped up so perfectly, and it was so wonderful and heart breaking and I have all the feels in the world. I'm so glad that this book is so perfect, though I don't know how I can live my life knowing that Henrietta and Aglionby and Blue and her boys are over. I honestly can't handle it; my heart hurts.

Rosie
Weeping tears over the Raven Cycle and my beloved boys

AN ODE TO GILBERT BLYTHE

On this day last year, I heard about the death of Jonathan Crombie on the 15th April 2015. On this day last year, my heart broke. Jonathan Crombie is best know for his role as Gilbert Blythe in the 1985 TV movie version of 'Anne of Green Gables', which is undoubtedly the best version of 'Anne of Green Gables' there is. It is no secret that 'Anne of Green Gables' is my favourite book of all time, and it's unsurprising that the 1985 version is my favourite movie of all time, and in honour of that I wanted to write a post about it.

Gilbert Blythe, oh Gilbert Blythe, the not-so-secret love of my life, the dream of millions of girls everywhere. Oh Gilbert Blythe, I shipped you and Anne long before I even knew what shipping was. The ultimate OTP. 'Anne of Green Gables', the book and the movie, were such a huge part of my childhood and still are such a huge part of my life. I must have been around 7 years old when I first read 'Anne of Green Gables', that's 12 years ago now, and I've read it countless times since. I think that this is the reason that Jonathan Crombie's tragically early death affected me so much; he's not just Gilbert, he's not just Megan Follow's Gilbert, he's MY Gilbert; and I truly felt my heart break when he died. Your favourite book is not just something you love, it's something that is actually part of you, and this death hurt me more than even David Bowie's or Alan Rickman's earlier this year.

And so I wanted to talk about Gilbert. The dream of all women. You don't just want to find your soul mate, you want to find your very own Gilbert Blythe. (Who'll maybe whisk you away to Prince Edward Island and live with you on that small piece of heaven off the coast of Canada). To paraphrase Elizabeth Barrett Browning, how do I love thee, Gilbert Blythe, let me count the ways.

'Anne of Green Gables' the story, the characters, the cast, the setting (Prince Edward Island is my dream) make my heart physically hurt. I can't eloquently put into words how much I love it. It feels like coming home. But we're here to talk about Gilbert, not the series as a whole, or we'll be here all night. Gilbert was never not solid and wonderful and good. He let Anne be herself and he loved her for it. Gilbert is honestly the rock you want in your own life, there is nothing wrong with him, he has no flaws, even though I spend most of the time screaming at him and Anne to realise their love for each other and screaming some more when they finally do. For me, at least, Gilbert Blythe symbolises a lot of things that are right in the world.

But bringing it back to Jonathan Crombie, the reason I'm here writing this. His significance is more than just playing Gilbert Blythe, he brought Gilbert to life. He gave him a true, lasting identity, from when we first see him pulling Anne's plaits, to the heartbreaking scene when we think he might die (that gets us every single time), to that heart-stopping, swoon-worthy scene on the bridge, where we all cry because we love them, we cry because it's finally happened, we cry over that damn beautiful speech, but we also cry a little bit out of jealousy because Anne has him and we don't and because he doesn't exist. Jonathan Crombie was, is and always will be Gilbert Blythe, and his impact over my life will be lasting.

I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.

Rosie

THE BOOKS ON MY KINDLE

I thought I'd make a nice list (in the form of a pretty pointless blog post) for you all of all the books on my Kindle app (I have the app for my iPad) and the couple of books that I've downloaded on my mum's Kindle. I really like lists and I really like books. At the time of buying, all these Kindle books were very cheap, I've never spent more that £3 on a Kindle book before and I have a very unhealthy habit of buying them when they're super cheap (plus you can get a lot of the classics for free).

Books in bold are ones I haven't read yet

Throne of Glass
The Assassin's Blade
A Darker Shade of Magic
Between Shades of Grey
Fangirl
Anna and the French Kiss
Lola and the Boy Next Door
Isla and the Happily Ever After
Code Name Verity
Modern Romance
Red Rising
The Fey Man
The Anne of Green Gables Complete Collection (only 99p for 10 books) - I've read 3 of them
Doon
Destined for Doon
Shades of Doon
The Bronze Horseman
The Maze Runner Files
Absolute Beginners
Great Expectations
The Picture of Dorian Grey
Agnes Grey
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

Rosie
(The pointless blog post writer)
(And newly 19 year old - it was my birthday yesterday, wooooo)