October Wrap-up

Happy Halloween! Today I bring you something that isn't really related to Halloween but we'll live. It is time to tell you about all the books I read in October, I probably won't go into too much detail as I'm planning to write up a few reviews of these:

• The Epic Adventures of Lydia Bennet, Rachel Kiley & Kate Rorick- I have been waiting for this for ages, I loved the Lizzie Bennet Diaries (check it out on youtube if you don't know what it is) to bits so any continuation is brilliant. This follows Lydia right after the videos ended and it is a tough read, I got very, very emotional but I loved it! 
• Jane Eyre (play), devised by the company- The National Theatre are doing Jane Eyre at the mo and after seeing it with school I got the script and tore it apart (figuratively of course) I scribbled all over it which is something I love to do sometimes. 
• Persuasion, Jane Austen- I finally got my hands on this and it didn't quite beat Pride and Prejudice but it was flippin' close. I adore the witty mocking of society but also the romance between Anne and Wentworth. Jane Austen was a wonder at writing.

Currently Reading:

• Dracula, Bram Stoker- I thought I should read something gothic this month and so fair I'm really enjoying it.
• Carry On, Rainbow Rowell- I've waited for this book for ages too as Rainbow Rowell is one of my favourite authors and it is good but I'm yet to be entirely grip which makes me extremely sad but there is still plenty of pages for that to change.
• Grimm Tales, Philip Pullman- I adore the simplicity and charm of fairy tales so I am slowly making my way through this collection.

I hardly read anything from my TBR but I read more that last month which is great, I've also been doing a ton for school also!

Speak soon, 

Jade xx

September Wrap-up

Hello! So September flew by and I only got a little reading done but I'm not surprised because school was a bit of a shock to the system!

• The World's Wife, Carol Ann Duffy. This is a collection of poetry based around famous men's wives and their point of views on it. There are women from myths and legends like Penelope and Mrs Sisyphus and then real people like Mrs Darwin and Myra Hindley who is painted as the Devil's wife. It's witty and brilliant! 4.5 stars.
• The Night is Darkening Round Me, Emily Bronte. This is yet again more poetry, I don't know why but in the past month I've really enjoyed read and picking apart poetry whereas in the past it has been my least favourite part of studying english. I love Emily Bronte's poetry; obviously I like some better than others but that is how it works. Pretty much all her poems are occupied with death but the writing was beautiful.
• I wanted to briefly talk of all the books I've started to read at school because both English lit. and Classical Civilisation are full of reading! In english I'm currently studying Mean Time by Carol Ann Duffy and Room With a View by E.M.Forster. Then I am re-reading The Odyssey by Homer and Aeschylus' Agamemnon in Classics. It feels so good to be back in school and pulling these texts apart after 6 months away!
• I'm also currently reading and loving Persuasion by Jane Austen! 

Let me know what you read in September!

Speak soon,

Jade xx

August Wrap-up

Hello! Long time no see! (kinda) I know I said I was going to post everyday but I burnt myself out a little so I just stepped away but I'm back now :) Today I have my August wrap-up because apparently summer has pretty much gone. I read 9 things in August which I am happy with especially since I read practically nothing in the 2nd half of the month.

• North & South, Elizabeth Gaskell. This was a re-read for me and I appreciated it so much more and spotted all these new things. I adore this story and Gaskell's writing. 5 stars.
• Macbeth, Shakespeare. I scribbled all over this when reading it, I've done bits and pieces of this play at school but never read it all the way through, though it can be a little difficult at times I am a big fan of Shakespeare. 4 stars.
• An Anthem For Doomed Youth, Wilfred Owen. This was a little collection of Owen's war poetry, I "enjoy" war poetry (for want of a better phrase) I think it is because of the amount of emotion behind the subject makes it very effective and moving. The only thing is that reading a whole load 1 after the other got a little depressing. 4 stars.
• Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops, Jen Campbell. This was another re-read because I needed a pick me and the things people say in bookshops- though worrying at times- is hilarious. 5 stars.
• Olalla, Robert Louis Stevenson. This is a gothic short story about vampires. I love Robert Louis Stevenson's writing and have an extremely strong urge to read every single thing by him the story was a little... off. 3 stars.
• A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams. I am studying this play at some point in the year which why i read it. It was ok and i picked up on a lot of symbolism and what not so that is good. But I read it in 1 sitting and it was so sad; it just hit like a ton of bricks really. 3 stars.
• Nimona, Noelle Stevenson. This is a graphic novel about a shapeshifter who joins forces with a villian to take on the town's hero. On the surface it is just super fun; underneath that though the characters are actually quite complex and deep. Also the art it gorgeous! 5 stars.
• The Great Winglebury Dual, Charles Dickens. This is an early short story of Dicken's and to be honest it was very odd and just didn't really go anywhere. 2 stars.
• The World's Wife, Carol Ann Duffy. I fancied some poetry the other day and so I was looking at the poetry section in waterstones and saw the collection I am studying this year. And for once I think I might like the poems I'm studying. The poems are based on famous Men's wives and is witty and brilliant. 4 stars.

So a pretty good reading month all in all even if I actually managed to read quite a few sad books. What did you read this month?

Speak soon,

Jade xx

July 2015 Wrap-up

Hello lovelies! I hope you are having a great summer. Today I'm going to share with you everything that I read during July. I read 12 things last month which is crazy but it is a mix of novels, poetry and audiobooks. Enjoy!

• Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw. This I read because it was on the drama reading list for English and because it was book 2 in Classic Alice (check it out!). It is basically My Fair Lady (which I watch after reading this) but with massive, massive gaps in the plot but apart from that and the extremely long stage directions I liked and it was really interesting to re-watch that part of Classic Alice and spot links :) (3 stars)
• The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot. This is about 14yr old (or around that) who suddenly finds out she is a Princess and chaos ensues I listened to this on audiobook and just found it really fun, even though sometimes it was a little cringey but that is what you're like at that age. (3 stars)
• Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.This was kind of a re-read as I read bits of it here and there but I never read it in 1 go and didn't know everything that happened. I love Shakespeare but... Romeo and Juliet is just a little ridiculous. (3 stars)
• The Gracekeepers by Kirsty Logan. This is hands down the best books I've read this year, it is beautiful! The world is flooded and it mainly follows North- a girl who dances with her bear in a circus- and a Gracekeeper Callanish. Here's my review if you want to know more! (5 stars)
• Seeing Stars by Simon Armitage. 2 stars I read some poetry today as part of my summer work for English but it isn't really my thing. I enjoyed some of them but mainly I found them odd and many didn't really have an ending they just stopped. (2 stars)
• Rapture by Carol Ann Duffy. I enjoyed most of these- some I had actually studied before- and in general I do like Carol Ann Duffy which is good because I know I will be looking at her work in class next year. (3stars)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K.Rowling. I don't think I need to say much about this really but I listened to this on audiobook and adored it even more than the other times I've read it, it is just so fun and brilliant and magical!  (5 stars)
• Selected Poems by Sylvia Plath. After reading this I believe Plath's work is one of those I can only enjoy if I discuss and pick it apart, but I could appreciate the writing while reading it. (2 stars)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K.Rowling. Same again- Harry Potter is wonderful and I will never not love it. (5 stars)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K.Rowling. If you haven't twigged yet I'm re-reading/ listening to this series and I can't get enough of it :) (5 stars)
• What She Left by T.R.Richmond. This one was a pleasant surprise as I though I wouldn't enjoy this. It is about Alice Salmon who drowned, a Professor is piecing together her life through articles, social media and her friends and family; slowly but surely the jigsaw comes together and you get to the truth. If you want to know my thoughts on it here is my review that I posted earlier this week. (4 stars)
• A Slip under the Microscope by H.G.Wells. This is my first H.G.Wells that I have read and overall I quite liked it. The Door in the Wall was a bit odd and dull but I prefered A Slip under the Microscope much more, the only thing is just as I was really getting pulled  in it ended. (3 stars)

I also read a chunk (over half) of A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett and North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell so I am super happy with the amount I read this month; it felt so good to be reading again!

Speak soon,

Jade xx 

TBR Takedown 2.0 wrap-up

Hello :) The TBR Takedown happened last week and I had loads of plans to read a ton of different books but I wasn't in the mood. So instead I focused on reading what I wanted instead of the number of books. Having said that throughout I finished 2 books and read half of another 1.

On Saturday I finished What She Left by T.R.Richmond and I was pleasantly surprised. I've done a review so check that out if you want to know more.

Then on Thursday or maybe Wednesday (I can't quite remember) I finished A Slip under the Microscope by H.G.Wells which is a short story about a science student, I was starting to get into it and then it ended.

During the rest of the week I decided to pick up North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell which is over 500pgs so not exactly what you would typically read for a readathon but I've been wanting to give this a re-read for so long now I just decided to go with and I'm really glad I did because it is so good!

How did you do?
Speak soon,
Jade xx

24in48 Wrap-up

Last weekend was the 24in48 readathon where over a 48 hour period you try and read a total of 24 hours. I read for around 12.5 hours which I'm happy with. I finished 2 books:

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K.Rowling (audiobook)
• Sylvia Plath Selected Poems
• I also read A Door in the Wall by H.G. Wells and started A Slip under the Microscope. 
• I Started Chamber of Secrets also.

I could have read more but toward the end of Sunday I was feeling a bit off and didn't feel like reading so I didn't force it.  But I enjoyed most of the books I read (I'm not a massive fan of poetry I'll be honest) and read a total of 410 pages :)

Did you take part? If so how did you do?
Speak soon,
Jade xx

June Wrap-up

Hello lovelies! Today I'm bring you my June wrap-up (which means we are halfway through year!) I read a total of 6 books this month and started quite a few too which I am very happy with :)

• Pride & Prejudice, Jane Austen. This was my 3rd/4th time reading this and I seem to adore it more with each read! 5 stars.
• Tape, Steven Camden. This book follows a girl in 2013 and a boy in 1993 who are linked by cassette tapes and so much more. Both are going through a tough time and the way this two storylines link is simply beautiful. 4 stars.
•  Lord Arthur Saville's Crime, Oscar Wilde. This is another 1 of Penguins' little black classics and it is about Arthur who has his palm read and it told he will kill someone. He reaction isn't quite what you would expect. I liked this but I just found so odd. 2.5 stars.
• The Guest Cat, Takashi Hiraide. This is a very short, very poetic story about a couple living in a guest house on an estate and there is a cat that makes itself at there. This was very well written but I found it so tedious and  boring! I wasn't my cup of tea unfortunately. 1 star.
• Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde (inc. The Bottle Imp) Robert Louis Stevenson. This "Shilling Shocker" as it was coined back when it was published was very interesting and I enjoyed it quite a bit. The Bottle Imp which is in the back of my edition was my favourite, I thought I had predicted how it was going to end but I was presently surprised. 3 stars.
• Assassin's Blade, Sarah J Maas. This is a collection of short stories that serve as a prequel to Throne of Glass which I love. However I didn't find this as enjoyable or gripping as Throne of Glass. For starters yes, they are short stories but it is more like a novel split into part sand missing bit, there is an overarching storyline. Also I found the mission a little uncomfortable and knowing what came at the end found it very difficult to read. Having said that I like knowing more about the world now. I would recommend this to fans of the series but don't start with this 1. 3 stars.

So a bit of a mixed bag this month, I also started reading a number of others:

• The Gracekeepers, Kirsty Logan
• A Little Princess, Frances Hodgson Burnett
• Princess Diaries, Meg Cabot
• Pygmalion, George Bernard Shaw

What was your favourite read in June?

Speak soon,

Jade xx

#Rainbowthon Wrap-up

Hello lovely readers! Today I am wrapping-up the #Rainbowthon which took place last week and was hosted by the Carpe Librum girls. The aim was to read a rainbow and I very nearly got there, I read every colour apart from red, I read a total of 862 pages and finished 4 books:

• The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide. I gave this 2 stars, I could tell it was well written but I found it boring, an entire chapter on a skimmer is not really my cup of tea. This was my green book.
• Tape by Steven Camden. I gave this 4 stars, it follows a girl in 2013 and a boy in 1993 who are connected by a cassette tape. I love the way these stories were woven together. This was my yellow spine.
• Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. This was my blue and orange spine and I gave it 3 stars. I enjoyed it and found it very gripping at points, it also has a short story- The Bottle Imp- at the back which I loved.
• Finally I finished The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J Maas. This is the prequel to the Throne of Glass series and I did enjoy it but nowhere near as much as the 1st book. Also I knew what was coming a the end of this so I did find it difficult to get through. 3 stars. Assassin's Blade was my purple book.

I'm really proud of how much I read even if I didn't stick to my TBR entirely ;) What did you reaad during this last week?

Speak soon, 

Jade xx

December Wrap-up!

Happy New Year!!

I'm still busy wrapping up last year (that's weird to say since it was only yesterday) so today I bring you my December Wrap-up and in a way what I will be reading in January. I finished 2 books this month. 1 for school, 1 not for school.

• Antigone by Sophocles this is a tragedy that I read for Classics. It was okay, much easier to understand than Agamemnon at least ;) 2 Stars. 
• The Miniaturist, Jessie Burton. This is an easy 5 starts I loved loved loved it! I hadn't read a historical in ages so it was nice to read 1 again. I think main reason why I loved it so much is because I never knew what was coming next.

Now I don't know why but I'm in one of those moods where I don't know what to read and so I've dug myself a bit of a hole and I have 4 books on the go! I'm hoping to finish these off this month :)

• Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame.
• Shadow Kiss Richelle Mead
• My True Gave To Me, edited by Stephanie Perkins
• Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins

Anyway I hope you enjoy the rest of the holiday and get some reading done!

Happy New Year!

Jade xx