13 Halloween Reads!

Hellooooo! It is a week till Halloween so I am here today with 13 halloween reads. They may not be scary but they have a spooky vibe to them I'm not to give much away about these as it may ruin them and some of them I haven't read too :)

• Dracula, Bram Stoker. Introducing Count Dracula!

• The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Washington Irving. The headless horseman.

• The Women in Black, Susan Hill. An old creepy house all alone on the marshes, isolated by the tide.

• The Women in White, Wilkie Collins. Ghost!

• Edgar Allan Poe, many poems and short stories with dark undertones. The word atmospheric comes to mind with him.

• Inferno, Dante. 14th Century journey into hell.

• Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson.

• Unrest, Michele Harrison. Haunted houses, mystery and bodies taken over by spirits. (this 1 creeped me out!)

• Frankenstein, Mary Shelley. Its alive!

• Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs. Time travel and monsters.

• Hollow City, Ransom Riggs. More time travel and monsters. (sequel to the above)

• The Miniaturist, Jessie Burton. Amsterdam, 1686. A dolls house that's seems linked to the  household in mysterious ways.

So why not give 1 or 2 of these a go? Let me know what you think if you do!

Speak soon,

Jade xx

Finding Time to Read.

Hello lovelies! Today I wanted to talk to you about finding time to read. If you look at my August wrap-up and my September wrap-up you will see a pretty big difference in the number of things read; purely down to school starting. Nowadays I find that from 8:30-5:30 or later I don't stop and then I just crash, go on the internet and sleep. If I pick up a book I will enjoy it and be captivated but it is getting myself to pick up a book! It's very frustrating because I love reading and want to read but right now it isn't happening and I had the same problem last year.

I've decided to combat this and if you have any ways that you deal with this I would love to know but some of the things I'm going to try are:

1. Carrying a book with me everywhere- I used to this and I stopped especially for school which means at work when I could read I can't because I don't have a book. (sidenote, I go straight from school to work)
2. Challenging myself to read everyday in October even if it is just 2 pages!
3. Making sure I'm picking books that I really, really want to read, otherwise I won't be motivated.
4. Listening to audiobooks when I'm walking places and doing jobs round the house as this is a really easy way to get through a book!

Hopefully this month I can get back into reading because I miss it plus as an literature student I really should reading a ton!
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

T5W: Favourite things about blogging

Hello! his week's Top 5 Wednesday is Favourite things about blogging. As always be sure to check out the goodreads group for any info you could need :)

1. Reading Blogs. I use this as little breaks between studying and jobs, it keeps me engaged but I love seeing what people are reading and their thoughts on books and other things too. 
2. Sharing Reading. This is the reason I started my blog; I wanted to share my passion for reading with people who loved it as much as me.
3. Readathons. If you have been my reading my blog you have probably seen how many of these I have done! I love them and they are great motivation for me. I think it shows the community at its best. My favourite readathon has to be Bout of Books.
4. Writing. I have always liked writing but I have also struggled with it, I go ages without writing anything or I don't know what to write. This keeps me ticking over.
5. Motivation. This kind of links in with 3 & 4 but this blog motivates me read, write and have something outside of  school that I can work towards. 

Speak soon,
Jade xx

August 2015 Book Haul (part 2)

Hey :) This would be the part 2 of my book haul I promised. I have another 7 books to tell you about today.

• A Room with a View by E.M.Forster. This is another book for school that I need to have read for September.
• The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh. This is based on A Thousand and One Nights where the ruler of the land takes a wife and every time she ends up dead the next morning. The book follows a girl whose friend was one of his victims and she decides to marry him to exact revenge. There have been so many good things said about this book and I can't what to read it!
• Magonia by Maria Dahvana Headley. I believe this is about a girl who has always struggled to breathe because she belongs to another world which is calling her.
• Nimona by Noelle Stevenson. This is a graphic novel that just looks so much fun, I love the art too! The author/artist also did the  cover for Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl.
• Olalla by Robert Louis Stevenson. I read Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde earlier this year and enjoyed so I thought I'd pick up some more of his work. 
• The Great Winglebury Dual by Charles Dickens. I want to read more Dickens but I'm going to start small. 
• Anthem for Doomed Youth by Wilfred Owen. I know a little of Owen's poetry from school and I find it very moving and I'm glad to have a little collection of his for my own collection :)

I'm really looking forward to all of these especially Nimona cause I haven't read many graphic novels. I'd love to know if you've read any of these!

Speak soon,

Jade xx

September TBR

Hello lovelies! Today I'm going to share my September TBR. I am going back to school this month for the 1st time since March but I am determined to keep reading because I need to make sure I relax a little.

• A Room with a View by E.M.Forster. This is one of my school texts that I need to read before I go back. 
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Another English lit. text, I've read this before but I want to refresh a little before studying it. 
• Magonia by Maria Dahvana Headley. I'm already half way through this and enjoying it; it is about a girl who has always been ill and then finds out she is from another world in the sky.  
• The Elder Edda translated by Andy Orchard. I've started this also, it's a collection literature from the Vikings and I'm finding it very interesting so far especially as I'm seeing quite a few parallels to my classics a-level. 
• 1984 by George Orwell (re-read). I feel like reading this again basically, not particular reason.
• A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I've had this one the go for months and I really need to just finish it, but I absolutely adore it!
• Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs. This is coming out a the end of the month and is the 3rd book in Miss Peregrine's- I'm so excited!
• The Night is Darkening Round Me, Emily Bronte. This is some of her poetry and I want to read Wuthering Heights soon, I thought this would be a nice intro to her work.

I have a ton of books right now that I desperately want to read and I want to make sure I'm reading widely for school so hopefully I will read all these!

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

T5W: Favourite Required Reading

Hello! This week’s top 5 Wednesday is all about required reading that you have to do for school and I haven’t actually done that much in my time but I can still make my list. I find a lot of the time that reading “for school” can take the fun out of things but at the same time it can open your eyes to book you may not have found otherwise.

1. Edgar Allan Poe. 2 years ago in year 10 I believe I was asked to read  some Poe and though it was a little difficult to get into, I loved it, I don’t if I would have read any of his work if it wasn’t for that group.
2. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. I am reading this this summer for the 2nd time as I will be studying it later this year. I can’t wait and school has given me the perfect excuse to re-read 1 of my favourite books!
3. When I was little I had to reading to me parents and log in a diary for school but it got to the point where I just wanted to read by myself and when they finally said that I could do that I was stupidly happy, I’ve never much liked reading aloud.
4. 1 of the best things is when you have already read the book you are asked to read because you can either leave it because you know it or give it a quick re-read. This happened with Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing last year, I’d already read it twice so I didn’t need to worry.
5. Finally I want to talk about reading lists. I prefer to be given a big long list of things to choose from rather than a set list of a few because it means you can tailor the books to your own taste.

What are your views on required reading? Top 5 Wednesday was created by Lainey and if you want to join or find everyone else’s lists go to the goodreads group!
Speak soon,
Jade xx

T5W: Favourite Maps

Hello lovelies! It is Wednesday so I’m doing another top 5 Wednesday :) This was GingerReadsLainey’s idea and if you want to know more about it or join yourself go to the goodreads group. Today’s theme is favourite maps and we all know that when there is a map in the front of a book it’s going to be a good one!

1. The Gracekeepers by Kirsty Logan- The map in this one is more decorative but it still shows some of the places in the novel. It so pretty I couldn’t not include in my list. 
2. Winnie the Pooh by A.A.Milne- I remember pouring over the map of the 100 acre wood when I was little, Winnie the Pooh is so charming!
3. Inkworld trilogy by Cornelia Funke- In each book of this trilogy the map is of a slightly different place to match the story and I find having some sense of the direction and distance the characters are travelling make it even more immersive.
4. The Lost Island of Tamarind by Nadia Aguiar- The same again, being able to where all the characters are makes it much more real.
5. Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas- This map is great as the world of this series is pretty big and complex so a map is super helpful. 

I don’t have much to on the map other than I like it when they are there!
Speak soon,
Jade xx

August 2015 Book Haul (part 1)

Hello lovelies! I have another book haul for you, I'm only showing you half of the books today and then in a couple of weeks I'll post part 2 because if I did all of them today it would be way too long. I've recently got a job so you can where that money is going! (in all seriousness I am saving most of it)

• Extraordinary Means by Robyn Schneider. I found this in whsmiths and it sounded good and it has a very pretty cover so I picked it up because I have no restraint. This is about a boy who goes to a boarding school for sick kids where he is expecting to be miserable but that is not the case once he meets is classmates. 
• It's About Love by Steven Camden. I read Tape by Steven in June and flew through it so when I saw his new book it was an auto-buy. I feel like this is going to be a very honest and real love story.
• To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han. I have wanted to read this for a while and what with all the hype surrounding the sequel at the time I caved when I saw it in asda. This book is about a girl who writes  very honest letters to her crushes and puts them in a hatbox instead of sending them to dispel the crush. One day these letters get sent out.
• The Isle of the Lost by Melissa De La Cruz. This is the prequel to Disney channel's new original movie Descendants about the kids of the villains and though I'm not sure on the film I am looking forward to the book.
• A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. I picked this up because I am studying it in September and I have no idea what it about.

So those are some of the books I have brought recently. Have you read any? If so I would love to know what you thought.
Speak soon,
Jade xx

The Minimalist Book Tag

 Hello I thought I'd do another tag that I’ve seen floating around the internet recently which is the Minimalist Book tag which was created by Shannon Rose Reads. It is created with the idea of a minimalist lifestyle and there are 11 questions so I’m going to answer them now :)

1.Your all-time favourite book:  A Secret Countess by Eva Ibbotson. I’ve read this book so many times now and it is always the book I go to if I need to calm down. It is such a wonderful story.

2.A modern classic: The only “modern classic” I can think of is The Great Gatsby which I did enjoy studying last year, it is 1 of those books that as you pull it apart you fall in love with it even more.

3.A non-fiction book: Horrible Histories (Churchill) I hardly ever read non-fiction as I don’t really enjoy it that much but I do remember reading this again and again years ago when I got it out from the library.

4.A classic: North & South by Elizabeth Gaskell. I adore this book and there is so much too it, the romance, the social commentary, character development. There is a lot to sink your teeth into!

5.A graphic-novel: Again I haven’t read many of these but I recently The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage which followed the 2 Victorian inventors/mathematicians somewhat faithfully and it is such a fun read.

6.A book by an author you could not live without: Hands down this is Rainbow Rowell but choosing which of her books is harder… I think Landline is my favourite of them all.

7.A Series you couldn’t live without: I am going to have to go with Harry Potter for this no matter how predictable it is. I feel like every time I read it I come away noticing something new and it leaves me so happy.

8.A book you feel no house/home is complete without: Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen. This to me is such a brilliant book that so many- including me- love and I know I would hate to be without a copy!

9.A book with a pretty cover you could not live without: The Gracekeepers by Kirsty Logan. Obviously the story is the most important and this 1 is a corker but the cover is absolutely stunning and is also really suits the book.

10.A book on your TBR/wishlist you have not read yet: I’m very much looking forward to reading Villette by Charlotte Bronte, I really like Jane Eyre and I desperately want to read her other works. Plus I have a super pretty penguin English library of it.

11.BONUS CATEGORY: A YA book: Cinder by Marissa Meyer. I love all the Lunar Chronicles but the 1st is my favourite I was enchanted from the start.

And that is all the questions, they certainly got me thinking, do any of you have the same books as me?
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

What She Left, T.R.Richmond: review

Gone doesn't mean forgotten.
When Alice Salmon died last year, the ripples were felt in the news, on the internet, and in the hearts of those who knew her best.
But the person who knows her most intimately isn't family or a friend. Dr Jeremy Cook is an academic whose life has become about piecing together Alice's existence in all its flawed and truthful reality.
For Cooke, faithfully recreating Alice's life - through her diaries, emails and anything using her voice - is all-consuming. He does not know how deep his search will take him, or the shocking nature of what he will uncover...

When I picked this up I wasn't expecting to like it, I thought it was going to be this scary thriller and I didn't like the idea of that. But I won this book and I felt like I should give it a go then if I didn't like it I would give it to a friend who would enjoy it; and she is welcome to borrow but I want to  hold onto it because I was pleasantly surprised by this book! 

The main thing about this novel is how it was formated. I guess you would call it epistolary but it is a mix of letters, emails, tweets, texts, diary entries etc. and it is up to the reader really to piece most of it together. It was just such a unique way of telling a story and it made it fun in a way. Another thing is that there is a tumblr and even a playlist linked to the book, I spent an entire morning scrolling through it and if you do read it I highly recommend taking a look at Professor Cooke's tumblr. 

The plot was good and I even said on a goodreads update that I thought I knew where the story was going and I got it completely wrong, so it keeps you guessing! It had just the right balance of intrigue and new information  throughout which in my opinion is very hard to get. The only thing was that the majority of the book is Cooke's letters to a friend and I really didn't like Cooke but I get the impression that we aren't meant to... He walks on very thin ice with the ethical side of things at least.

I don't read mystery/thriller that much despite loving many crime dramas but this has made me want to pick up some more :)
Speak soon,
Jade xx

The Selection, Kiera Cass: review

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.
But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realises that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

When I picked this up around a year ago a big reason was the cover I’m not gonna lie. I’d heard very mixed things about this book and the rest or the trilogy/series and though I thought I may enjoying I was wary that I might have some issues and yeah it wasn't the best book in the world and I had some irks- like when a certain character reappeared that I really didn't think was necessary- but I nearly always do and I also had some surprises thrown in there too.

One of those surprises was the world, it was a typical dystopian world but it was more complex than I expected. There was a fair amount of political stuff happening and I’m hoping that this was only the setup of something that could grow over the next books.

I feel like the biggest element of this book is the characters, America is the main character and she is in general a likable character, yes a little irritating but I feel like her views are consistent with how and where she grew up. I am thoroughly in love with Prince Maxon he is an adorable gentlemen! Something else I wasn’t expecting was the amount we got to know the other contestants, for some reason I had not expected that and it gave you an opportunity to an insight into the other castes in the society.

The plot wasn’t a big part of this book but that is normal for a first book, it spends most of its time world building and that was done well. In general this was just a really quick, fun read that was super addictive! I am looking forward to read the second book when I get my hands on it even though I’m expecting to hate America a little bit! Have you read this? What were your thoughts?

Speak soon,

Jade xx   

T5W: Favourite Character Tropes

Hello lovely readers! I have another Top 5 Wednesday for you today and the topic is character tropes. A character trope is a dominant trait or plot line that you may see frequently (I think).  Quite a few of mine are romance based also cause I'm a sappy so-and-so!

1. The First however is not a romantic 1. Strong, independent, badass female characters. It is just really nice when all the girls in a story aren't weak and have to be saved.
2. The whole hate turning to into love. Like Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy, I just love it and it makes my heart sing a little (or alot).
3. Character development. I know this is very open and vague but I adore character development! When a flawed character grows and tries to learn and comes out the other end still flawed obviously but not as flawed as they were. Like Margaret Hale and John Thornton in North and South they both go through and grow so much and its wonderful to see!
4.  Flawed characters. Perfect characters are unrealistic and boring flaws make them complex and human and relatable.
5. My last one is a favourite though I know it doesn't always work and you do need the opposite sometimes; but a happy ending for characters, who doesn't love a happy ending!

Were any of mine on your list? I'd love to discuss :)

Speak soon,

Jade xx

The Gracekeepers, Kirsty Logan: review

As a Gracekeeper, Callanish administers shoreside burials, laying the dead to their final resting place deep in the depths of the ocean. Alone on her island, she has exiled herself to a life of tending watery graves as penance for a long-ago mistake that still haunts her. Meanwhile, North works as a circus performer with the Excalibur, a floating troupe of acrobats, clowns, dancers, and trainers who sail from one archipelago to the next, entertaining in exchange for sustenance.
In a world divided between those inhabiting the mainland ("landlockers") and those who float on the sea ("damplings"), loneliness has become a way of life for North and Callanish, until a sudden storm offshore brings change to both their lives--offering them a new understanding of the world they live in and the consequences of the past, while restoring hope in an unexpected future.
Inspired in part by Scottish myths and fairytales, The Gracekeepers tells a modern story of an irreparably changed world: one that harbors the same isolation and sadness, but also joys and marvels of our own age. 

The Gracekeepers by Kirsty Logan is by far the best book I’ve read this year, I had very high expectations of this book and it surpassed them easily! Normally when I plan a review I write what I liked and what I didn’t like; while the good pretty much always outweigh the bad for me- it is very I do not like a book- when it came to planning this one I genuinely couldn’t think of any bad points, therefore I’m just going to tell you good points!

First off I have to talk about the writing, it was so beautiful and eloquent but not one of those books that is overly descriptive or poetic if you know what I mean. I found myself being drawn into the writing and it paints such a vivid picture in your head.

Something that really stood out to me was the world, the book isn’t that long yet I feel like I have a very good and wide understanding of the world and the divides in it. The world itself is very unique and interesting, all the customs and the differences between Damplings and Landlockers, selfishness, greed and prejudice was rife and though this world is flooded and is quite different to our world there are parallels which are interesting to think about.

The characters. The main two people this book follows is North and Callanish both who have secrets and in a way are trapped. However each chapter changes perspective and sometimes go to other characters such as the rest of the performers in the circus that North works in and having these every now and again allowed you to understand all characters on some level meaning even minor characters you saw at least a glimpse of their complexity which made the novel so rich.

The last thing I want to mention is something I don’t really notice or think about outside school and that is the pacing of the novel. It is quite slow, which sounds like a bad thing but it suited the novel so well and it meant it was very relaxing to read and created such a contrast when things came to a head. It isn’t something I think of and I would automatic say that a fast pace is the best but this novel taught me that it depends on the story as I enjoyed the calmness of this.

Obviously I gave this 5 stars and would recommend it to any who is even the tiniest bit interested. It is now one of my favourite books and for a pretty short novel it is so full and rich! Also just look at that cover that is reason enough alone to pick it up. ;)

Speak soon,

Jade xx

Booktubeathon TBR

The Booktubeathon is back! WOO! You know I love readathons and I know this is a book blog but who cares. First of all here are all the links to the booktubeathon: Youtube, Twitter & Instagram. It takes place from the 3rd-9th August and there are 7 challenges that I will try to complete but I'm not going to go mad about it :)

Challenges & my TBR:
1. Read a book with blue on the cover. This will either be Goblet of Fire or Order of the Phoenix by J.K.Rowling. It depends on when I get them form the library and which one I am on :)
2. Read a book by an author who shares the same first letter of your last name. Literally the only "H" I have is Thomas Hardy's Far From the Madding Crowd. So even though I wouldn't normally read a big classic in a readathon it may be doable.
3. Read someone else's favourite book. My friend Jenny has been wanting me to read If I Stay by Gayle Forman for a while now and since its pretty short I thought I'd give it a go.
4. Read the last book you acquired. The last book I brought that I have yet to read is The Isle of the Lost by Melissa De La Cruz.
5. Finish a book without letting go of it.- A Slip under the Microscope by H.G.Wells this is super tiny and I can finish it in 1 sitting so it is perfect.
6. Read a book you really want to read. - I am going to wait and just pick what I'm in the mood for at the time.
7. Read seven books. - This one I'm not to sure or bothered about but we'll see.

Let me know if you are taking part and what your plans are!
Speak soon,
Jade xx

Week of Wisdom wrap up

Hello! So another readathon has come to a close and I read but once I got to Tuesday I realise I wasn't really in the mood but I enjoyed what I did read and I'm in the mood now so hopefully the TBR Takedown will be more "successful".

On Monday I finished Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K.Rowling, I think it was like the last quarter of it. Then for the rest of the week I listened to Prisoner of Azkaban which I finished Friday and read What She Left by T.R.Richmond which I finished Saturday. The total page count was 780pgs which I'm happy with. My favourite of the week would be Prisoner of Azkaban I am really enjoying marathoning that series right now!

What did you read this week?
Speak soon,
Jade xx

The Time and Place book tag

Hello! This tag was created by the lovely Jen Campbell & it's based around how our books tend to have a time & place attached to them from when you brought/read them. You pick 10 of these said books to talk about. Her original video is here so make sure to watch that. Go make a cuppa cause this will be a long 1!

1. North & South, Elizabeth Gaskell. The memory attached to this is where I bought it. A few years ago I went on holiday with the girlies to Bude, Cornwall and we found a lovely little independent bookshop in the town (I can't remember the name) and I got North & South and was so excited to see it there!
2. A Little Princess, Frances Hodgson Burnett. I read this when I was 11 very close after my Dad died and I vividly remember going through all the emotions with this book and it having a massive impact not only on my grieve but just my outlook on life and how to live it. Sara Crewe has always been an inspiration to me since then.
3. Landline, Rainbow Rowell. This is both buying and reading. I got this the day I met Rainbow at 1 of her signings in Birmingham and that in itself was such a great day! I started reading it the next day knowing I was going to America in like 2 days or something and didn't finish it in time. Now I wasn't going to take a signed book with me so left it but I couldn't wait or get into another book so I ended up buying an ebook of it and I can remember finishing it by the pool in Florida trying hold all my emotion and fangirling in as I finished it. 
4. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs. The memory attached to this is that while reading it I went on a school trip to Birmingham Symphony Hall for "Poetry Live" which was to help with our GCSE English lit. I was helpful, a little boring too but I can remember reading on the couch and sneaking bits here and there. I also creeped my friends out with all the photos in it ;)
5. Throne of Glass, Sarah J Maas. This is going back to my America trip last year again. Like I said I couldn't get that into any books, except this 1, I started it right before we landed and was sitting in the Airport waiting for my Auntie and Uncle to get a car and freaking out at how awesome every little detail was in this book! I was loving it! 
6. Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins. I remember reading this during school lunch and break and my friends watching me very closely (many had read it already) waiting for me to cry, they're so nice aren't they! It just reminds me of when I was still in secondary school and all of the things we got up to in our lunches :)
7. The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet, Bernie Su & Kate Rorick. This was the 1st book I remember reading after my GCSEs and in Wales where we stayed in this cute little cottage on a farm. It was such a special book for as the webseries and Pride and Prejudice meant so much to me. And I remember many times when my friend Beth and I would lie on our beds reading (she read it after me). 
8. Much Ado About Nothing, William Shakespeare. I have read this around 3 or 4 times now. 1st in year 8 then 11 and last year I studied it, I adore this play but the main reason it is on this list is because I went to see it at the RSC last twice and then at the cinema when they broadcasted it. It brought something I loved completely alive and I was captivated! Love's Labour's Won is the best show I have ever seen and Much Ado is my favourite Shakespeare! 
9. Eleanor & Park, Rainbow Rowell. This was my last book of 2013 and I remember staying at family and being glued to it! It was painful to put it down and I think I read in 1 or 2 days. But I vividly remember finishing this book in bed- at like 3am when everyone in the house was asleep- and wanting to scream, throw the book across the room and run into my Mum's room to rave/rant about it. I couldn't handle the ending! But all the same I loved it, even though I have never had such a strong erge to throw a book!
10. The Secret Countess, Eva Ibbotson. This last 1 is a little different. Secret Countess is 1 of less than an handful of books that I have read over and over again! I love it! If I am sad or need comforting I go to this book. When I got panicky at school I would go to the library and read passages to calm me down. It is my safety blanket, I know it back to front, it makes me giggle and feel all warm and happy. I don't know why it just does.