It's Monday What are you Reading (37)

Howdy y'all I know that it's been a *vair* long time since I did a Monday post so this is gonna have three weeks of books mentioned (although it's not a terribly large number). Let's rock 'n' roll!

It's Monday What are you Reading? Is a weekly bookish meme where we get together to share what books we've read in the past week, what books we're currently reading and what new books we're planning on reading in the coming week along with any reviews or interesting posts. It's hosted by Sheila @Book Journey

Books read in the past three weeks

Changeless by Gail Carriger (Review coming soon)

The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong (Review Coming Soon)

Prisoner of the Inquisition by Theresa Breslin

Don't Judge a Girl by her Cover by Ally Carter

The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty (Awesome re-read)

Beastly by Alex Flinn (Re-read after watching that god-awful film)

Books Reviewed in the past three weeks

The Lady in the Tower by Marie-Louise Jensen

Pretty Bad Things by C.J. Skuse

Currently Reading

I'm very nearly finished with this whimsically magical read and as I'm going to be part of the Pirate-Themed Blog Tour from May 10-30th you'll be seeing my review ahead of the April books I've yet to catch up on. 

I've sort of been reading this for a while but I read a large chunk yesterday and I should get it finished soon.

I'm not even gonna try and make a decision on what other books I'll read this week because I don't know how much reading I'll actually get done so I may only finish the two books above.

Let me know what You're Reading This Monday

LadyV

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In My Mailbox #47 Back again!

Hello my fine followers! It sure has been a long while since I did an IMM post dontcha think? But never fear I am back again and I bring vlogginess with me :D

In My Mailbox is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Kristi @The Story Siren and inspired by Alea @Pop Culture Junkie

Ze Vlog

Books acquired in the past Two Weeks
Birthmarked by Caragh O'Brien
Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter
Divergent by Veronica Roth (Thanks Jess!)
Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon (Your fault Jess :P)
The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan


I bought the last two books after I filmed the vlog hence the additional picture. Buy One, Get One Half Price offers are just too much temptation to resist :P


Now that I have a job I worry that I'm gonna be tempted to buy loads more books when I really ought to start seriously saving up for the day that I can finally move out of my parent's house. Hopefully I can balance the two well enough to make things work out. Although realistically since I have much less reading time I won't get through my books so quickly so I don't need to keep buying more! But that relies on me being sensible and we *all* know that's bollocks :P

Anywho that's what I got in My Mailbox this week, What's In Yours?
LadyV

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Book Review - Pretty Bad Things

Evening all, I did start this back on Wednesday or something but when I watch TV while on my computer I never get anything bloggish done cos my brain can't concentrate on US crime shows and think up a coherent review at the same time, Grissom, Gibbs & Co. invariably take precedence :P

Title: Pretty Bad Things
Author: C.J. Skuse
Date: 11/4/2011 PM
Source: Borrowed from the Library
Description: Sixteen-year old twins in Candy-Store crime spree. Twins, Paisley and Beau Argent are in the headlines again. Last time, they were the 'wonder twins', when as six-year-olds they were found alive in woods after three days missing following their mother's death -three days spent looking for their dad. Now at sixteen, life's not so wonderful. Out-cast and exploited by their money-grabbing grandmother, they're still clueless about their dad's whereabouts. Until they discover an old letter from him. That's when they decide to hit the road - and make headlines again. Holding up fast-food joints might seem extreme but if they can get on the news, and tell their dad they need him, they might get the dream reunion they thought could happen. (Description taken from Goodreads)


My Review
I took this book out the library after reading the rave review of Rockoholic over on Jess Hearts Books. This is C.J. Skuse's debut novel and boy is it one heck of a joy-ride! Full of sass and sweet-toothed criminality!


Paisley and Beau were all over the news when they were just six years old after their mother killed herself and they went missing in the forest behind their house. Now ten years later Paisley is a somewhat maladjusted teen with a whole lotta "couldn't give a shit" attitude that has invariably led her to be expelled from numerous schools over the years. Her bitch of a Grandmother keeps her as far away from her brother as possible by sending her to the East Coast but after Paisley gets expelled from the posh boarding school she attends in Philadelphia she has to go back West to Skankmother's house in LA.


Now after reading pretty much the first chapter, I wanted Paisley to be my new psycho BFF. She is so dang cool and quick-witted that she can turn almost any situation to her advantage even if that means she has to deck someone or pull a gun on them. Her behaviour is so outrageous that I was literally laughing out loud and totally rooting for the Grandmother's downfall cos dude if that woman ain't a world-class bitch!


Beau was adorkable as the more straight-laced twin who was always a tad sceptic about the whole Vegas crime-spree idea but I gotta give props to the guy for being hard-core enough to still go along with it all while maintaining some sense of morality (I worry that Paisley's got lost a *looong* time ago). I also loved how clueless Beau was about his own good looks, oh if I were 5 years younger... :P


C.J. Skuse has created a fantastically bonkers story that has a really good message at the heart of it - Paisley and Beau are so determined to find their father after being estranged from him for so many years (partly through Buddy being in prison but also cos the Skankmother's maid hid his letters to the Twins), that they're willing to do almost anything to reunite with him- in this occasion that means getting onto the news by holding up a series of Candy Stores. Family is so important to Paisley that she would literally kill to keep her father and brother close to her, although obviously she's not gonna shed any tears if she has to off her Grandmother to achieve this.


The writing is crackling with humour and wit and you feel so endeared to Paisley and Beau that you don't bat an eye at how angry and insane Paisley is at times. I ended up reading this at a time when I myself was seriously angry and pissed at the world and its unfairness so I really empathised with the Twins and all the crap they got dealt in life. 


Between this book and C.J's sophomore novel Rockoholic (which I read two days later) I found a way to laugh during a time when I thought I would never want to laugh again and the world seemed so unfair for taking away my grandfather so suddenly. I was able to at least function and keep a sense of perspective while still being whisked away to a different reality where my situation didn't feel so devastating.


So a massive thank you to C.J. Skuse for writing two fabulous books which really helped me to hold onto my sanity during a truly hellish week that I would give anything to have it so it never happened. But as life is shit like that sometimes I've had to accept it and just try to keep moving forward with my good memories to comfort me when I think about that day one month ago.


C.J. you rock. Your book rocks. Your other book rocks (I'll be reviewing it as well soon). And damn I can't wait to read your third book in 2012 cos I'm sure that'll rock too.


My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars




I know this review has veered into slightly personal territory but I'm sure y'all can understand that at the time of reading I was in a severely emotional state and that affected my reading and interpretation of the book so obviously that inter-relation is going to come across in my review. 


LadyV

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Book Review - The Lady in the Tower

So sorry it has taken me this long to get this review done. I started it ages ago and just couldn't get it finished before the end of April. Now I'll actually be able to write April's reviews although being a month behind sucks big-time. Ah well at least I'm not gonna run out of books to review any time soon :P

Title: The Lady in the Tower
Author: Marie-Louise Jensen
Date: 25/3/2011 AM
Source: Gift
Description: "Spring 1540 I am afraid. You are in grave danger. Mother, will you run away with me if I can free you?" The servants call it the Lady Tower: the isolated part of the castle where Eleanor's mother is imprisoned after a terrible accusation. For four years Eleanor's only comfort has been their secret notes to one another. A chance discovery reveals a plot to murder her mother. Now Eleanor must free her before it is too late. But with danger and betrayal at every turn, she can trust no one. Especially not her father. Eleanor must use all her cunning to survive. For she soon realises that it is not just her mother she needs to save ...but also herself. (Description taken from Goodreads)


My Review
I hadn't heard anything about this book when I picked it out of  a massive bag of books that my friend Jess was culling from her library but since I feel that one can never have too many historical fiction books I decided to keep it and one lazy morning last month I devoured the whole thing in one sitting.


It's been a while since I read a historical fiction book set during the Tudor period, I had a Phillipa Gregory phase which fizzled out when I heard that her books were rather more frivolous with factual inaccuracies than other books, not to mention the diabolically bad film adaptation of the Other Boleyn Girl being terribly off-putting of the genre. This book was rather refreshing in that it doesn't focus on King Henry and his shenanigans although he does feature in the story.

Eleanor Hungerford is a young noble whose family lives away from Court, she lives to ride her horse and practice jousting although she'll never be able to actually compete in a tourny. Her father is a rather cold, ruthless man who had his wife locked away for witchcraft just so he could bring in a new woman to take her place, although his plan to have his wife poisoned failed so he can't yet remarry.

I really quite liked Eleanor although she was somewhat naive and overly trusting of her father's new woman which caused a heck of a lot of trouble for her and her mother who she was trying to rescue from her Tower prison. But her determination to free her mother even if it put herself in danger was really admirable and brave especially for a young girl surrounded by men who will not care who they remove to achieve their goals.

I also really liked Stanton who was the young Lord who was arranged to be married to Eleanor. For a large portion of the book she disliked him immensely as she didn't know who to trust with all of her father's plotting and scheming. I thought she was rather hard on him considering all he did for her and he was so sweet sometimes! I'm glad Eleanor came to her senses eventually :P

The story itself was really interesting as it's based off of true events (although I can't say as to which parts are historical or fictional). I really loved all the jousting mentioned as I'm wierdly nerdy and love all the knightly stuff - Eleanor's own tilting escapades were really enjoyable to read about and I got such a fab Shero vibe as it reminded me of Kel from Protector of the Small who spent loads of time working on her tilting.

One thing that amused me was when the story moved to Bath, I won't say exactly how we end up there as it's spoilerish but I will say that I got a distinct Jane Austen vibe a la Persuasion during that part of the book. I know this is set during the Tudors and not the 19th Century Regency but it really felt like an Austen book with  the romance storylines taking centre stage in Bath of all places. If anyone else who has read this book got this vibe please tell me so I don't feel quite so nutty.

Overall it was a thoroughly enjoyable read which has put me back into a historical fiction mood as I really want to get stuck into the mounds of Elizabeth Chadwick books I have hoarded away. The characters were all really interesting and the book flowed nicely. The mix of political intrigue and romance was balanced really well and it was generally an all-around good book.

My Rating: 4 out 5 Stars


At last I have done all the reviews I wanted to write for my March books, if anyone wants to know my thoughts on a book that I haven't reviewed then do take a look at the 2011 Reading List and leave me a comment about it.
LadyV

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April Round-off

With being away from home this weekend I almost completely forgot that April was ending, even more strange was how I kept forgetting that May comes after April - for some reason I thought it was gonna be June instead :S.

April has been the hardest month, quite possibly of my life, with the death of my grandfather coming out of the blue back on the 7th. The two weeks that followed was the most bewildering time for my family as we tried to sort out all the bureaucratic bullshit that people just don't think about when you think of losing someone - you almost don't have time to grieve properly when you're running about making sure that all the accounts that were once in his name are now in my grandmother's and that anything that can't be transferred is cancelled.

When we had the funeral we finally had the chance to really reflect on how much Grandad meant to us, and although we would miss him terribly that we were thoroughly blessed to have had him in our lives. Despite the sombre occasion it was a beautiful day and it was wonderful to see how many people turned out to celebrate his life - my grandfather was a very popular man and it was wholly apparent in the number of sympathy cards that my Grandma received from people who had known him through Church or Choir.

I think that the day of the funeral marked the turning point of fortunes for this year as it was on that morning that I got a call offering me a job to start the very next day. In the midst of such a sorrowful event came a ray of hope that things might now get better and although I've yet to work a full five-day week with all the bank holidays and Royal Wedding shiz going on, I feel that in the last two weeks of April I have been in far better state of mind than I have been in months. I finally have a job and I'm really enjoying it although it does mean that I have neglected my blog for a while but I'm hoping that once I'm settled into a routine and gotten used the early mornings and long days that I can still keep up somewhat with my reading and reviews.

Now that I have rambled on considerably I shall get to the point of this post - rounding-off this month's reading and what few other things I've posted.

Books Read in April
51. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare (1/4/2011 PM) Re-read
52. Mostly Good Girls by Leila Sales (3/4/2011 PM)
53. City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare (9/4/2011 AM)
54. Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt (10/4/2011 AM)
55. Alanna: the First Adventure by Tamora Pierce (10/4/2011 PM) Re-read
56. In the Hand of the Goddess by Tamora Pierce (11/4/2011 AM) Re-read
57. Pretty Bad Things by C.J. Skuse (11/4/2011 PM)
58. Rockoholic by C.J. Skuse (13/4/2011 PM)
59. A Storm of Swords: Steel and Snow by George R.R. Martin (15/4/2011 PM)
60. Wood Angel by Erin Bow (17/4/2011 PM)
61. Changeless by Gail Carriger (18/4/2011 PM)
62. The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong (20/4/2011 AM)
63. Prisoner of the Inquisition by Theresa Breslin (23/4/2011 PM)
64. Don't Judge a Girl by her Cover by Ally Carter (24/4/2011 PM)
65. The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller (27/4/2011 PM)
66. Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty (28/4/2011 AM) Re-read


Alas I have not reviewed *any* of those books yet which I know is appalling but I will try my best to review the ones that aren't re-reads in the coming weeks.


Books Reviewed in April
Tortall and Other Lands by Tamora Pierce
Where She Went by Gayle Forman
Temeraire by Naomi Novik
Lament by Maggie Steifvater


Other Posts of Interest in April
Braaaaains, Rock Salt and other bizarre ways to cope - My slightly off-kilter post about odd methods of coping with grief and other difficult situations. 


Fav Book of the Month

So soon after my Grandad's death I at first wondered if reading this would really be a good idea as on the very first page it's mentioned that Jody's grandfather has just died. Thankfully this book was so full of light and laughter that it lifted my mood right out of the gloom. C.J. Skuse you're officially one of my new favourite people. Thank you so much for writing such an awesome book.
Honourable mention goes to Wood Angel by Erin Bow which was a beautiful and heart-breaking read.
Oh and if you didn't know both of these books were published by Chicken House which in my opinion is one of the most awesome UK children's publishers (no I am not being coerced to say this, I just really love the books they publish), y'all should really check out their books :D


What to expect in May
As you may remember way back at the start of April I got a super-amazing package full of goodies from the lovely Sasha Soren for my participation in the Random Magic blog tour which will be kicking off in a couple of weeks. For this tour I will be reviewing Sasha's book Random Magic (in both written and vlog form) and I'll be doing a reading from the book to fit the tour theme of Pirates. There's also going to be other fab and funky piratically themed posts to entertain y'all and who knows what else? I don't currently have a schedule of who else is going to be posting what and when but as soon as I know I'll post about it so anyone who is interested can have a nosy round all the different posts going up over the tour.


So that's been April and I'm sorry this post is so long. Here's to May being a better month for everyone.
LadyV

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Look! Still Sort-of Here!

Hey folks just thought I'd best put in an appearance before someone sent out a search party. I know I have been extremely lax with my posting of late but since I started my new job last week I have been so tired when I get home that I'm basically passing out straight after dinner.

Eventually I should be able to get a routine sorted so I can manage both work and my blog but at the moment that remains to be seen so y'all are getting short shrift and I'm sorry about that.

Coming up in May I do have some stuff going on for the Random Magic Blog Tour which I'm rather excited to be taking part in (pirate theme, hello? Awesome much?) so even if I totally flake on getting normal reviews and posts up I will be doing my damnedest to get my tour obligations met on time.

Although this weekend is a long weekend what with all the Royal Wedding hullabaloo going on (me personally, couldn't care less as I got bored stiff of all the media coverage months ago) I'm still gonna be MIA from the blogosphere because my sister and I are hitting the road for a mini-holiday away from the rentals. We're heading over to Warwick and the general area to hit up the Castle (cos we're super cool like that) and whatever else we feel like doing.

So please continue to be wonderfully patient and some sort of normal service may resume in due course although I think with my 9-5 working days my reading is gonna be substantially lessened (even with me taking a book to read in my car during my lunch break :P).

Love y'all to bits
LadyV

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It's Monday What are you Reading (36)

Morning folk, my how the weeks are mashing together! Already half of April has gone and I'm utterly baffled as to where it went. This week is gonna be kinda tough so bear with me if posting drops off sharply, I am gonna try and get a review or two up but don't be surprised if it doesn't happen quite how I plan.

It's Monday What are you Reading? Is a weekly bookish meme where we get together to share what books we've read in the past week, what books we're currently reading and what new books we're planning on reading in the coming week along with any reviews or interesting posts. It's hosted by Sheila @Book Journey

Books I read this past week

In the Hand of the Goddess by Tamora Pierce (Re-read)

Pretty Bad Things by C.J. Skuse (Review coming soon)

Rockoholic by C.J. Skuse (Review Coming Soon)

A Storm of Swords: Steel and Snow by George R.R. Martin (Another great read)

Wood Angel by Erin Bow (Review Coming Soon)

Books Reviewed in the Past Week

Lament by Maggie Stiefvater - Review

Books I'm Currently Reading

I loved the first book in this steampunky paranormal series and I'm enjoying this second book so far.

Books I plan on Reading this Week

No really I will try to get this read this week cos I'm sure Jess will be wondering if I'm ever gonna return it :P

The rest of this week's reading will be pot luck so hopefully there'll be some good reads coming up.

What are you Reading this Monday?

LadyV

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