Book Love

I've been waiting a while for this to appear in my local bookshop and yesterday I got my sticky little hands on it.  I can't wait to take Rob to bed and find out just what he's been up to....

Fantasy

I got a present today - Surfer Boy went off to a friend's 40th and came home with a massive box of books for me.  I now have over 50 Fantasty titles to work my way through!  My fairy god-father is downsizing and knowing we share authors in common, packed up his stash and has gifted it to me. 

There is volume after volume of David Eddings, Stephen Donaldson, Robin Hobb, Terry Pratchett...... In fact I think I now own the entire David Eddings and Leigh Eddings back catalogue.  I'm a bit beside myself and don't know where to begin. 
Surfer Boy was less amused with every book I pulled out - even I don't know where I'm going to put them all.

I now have another pile of books that I have doubled up on so if you see anything you want let me know.  I'm off to start reading....

Literary Gem

'I realise I've been betrayed by the two vices that fiction promised I'd adore.  Sal Paradise held up bottles of booze like a housewife in a detergent commercial.  Holden Caulfield reached for his cigarettes like an act of faith.  Even Huckleberry Finn tapped on his pipe with relief and satisfaction.  I can't trust anything.  If sex turns out to be this bad, I'm never reading again.  At this rate it will probably burn my dick and I'll end up with lesions.'

Charlie Bucktin
after trying booze and cigarettes for the first time.

(Jasper Jones - Craig Silvey)

Water for Elephants

I finally got around to reading Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen and I am so glad that I did.  It was a delightful book choc full of the sounds and smells of a depression-era circus, and the drama and emotion of life and love.

The story follows Jacob, a veterinary student who abandons his studies after his parents are killed and joins a traveling circus as their vet.  His life becomes more complicated when he becomes involved in the marriage of August, the animal trainer and Marlena, a performer.

I wasn't sure if I should read the book as the movie will be released soon but I'm glad that I did - I made sure I pictured the lead actors in the roles so as not to be disappointed in the movie.  It worked a treat and I am now doubly interested in seeing it come to life on screen.

Marlena - Reece Witherspoon

Jacob - Robert Pattinson

August - Christoph Waltz

Rosie the Elephant

If you haven't already picked it up, I suggest you do - or at least take yourself to see it at the movies.  Hopefully you'll love it as much as I did.

My Project

Surfer Boy and I are extremely lucky because both sets of our parents have holiday homes in the same coastal town.  Not only do we get to spend our winter weekends there whenever we like but my parents vacate the house for the entire month of January so that we can re-locate there for the summer holidays.

The only fly in the ointment is the lack of space for the whole family to be there together.  It was perfect when we were growing up but now that my brother and I have families we tend to use the house separately which is a shame.  Every summer we throw around ideas - if we pull out a wall here/ add a room there/ etc but this summer I have had an epiphany!!

If you regularly read this blog you will know that I have a hankering for a caravan and have even been scouring eBay on the sly for my dream van.  We have nowhere at home to put it but I suddenly realised I can kill to birds with one stone and get on for the beach house!  Woo Hooo!  A perfect excuse for my dream project and solves some space issues into the bargain.  Win Win.

The next task is convincing my parents that it is a good idea because it is, after all, their house.  The ace up my sleeve is that it won't cost them anything so with a bit of luck they will be happy to let me annex a couple of metres of yard.
I'm posting these pics here so my Dad can get an idea of what I would like to do.  As the interior of the house is red I have thrown in some red vans to really sweeten the deal.... is it working Dad???

My lovely friend Kris gave me this book for Christmas which has now become my bible and the lynch pin for my caravan campaign. 

Wish me luck.

Shop Love - well bar actually

The Wellesbourne in Los Angeles has me all in a dither.  I want to slide into one of those booths with my well worn copy of .... well anything really..  and wile away the hours reading, drinking tea and hopefully being served by a 'Jess Mariano'. 

Surprisingly there seems to be a trend in LA at the moment for 'Literary Bars' and I'm hoping the trend finds it's way to Melbourne very soon!  If crass, brash LA can do it then what on earth is to stop cultured, thoughtful Melbourne from doing it even better?

It's a Book Tree

There are so many creative people out there doing amazing things with ordinary objects - Christmas is a perfect time to get creative.  I love what these people have done with books to create their Christmas trees.

The Rosie Black Chronicles

by Australian author - Lara Morgan

Five hundred years into the future, the world is a different place. The Melt has sunk most of the coastal cities and Newperth is divided into the haves, the “Centrals”; the have-nots, the “Bankers”; and the fringe dwellers, the “Ferals”.

Rosie Black is a Banker. When Rosie finds an unusual box, she has no idea of the grave consequences of her discovery. A mysterious organisation wants it – and will kill to get it.

Forced to rely on two strangers, Rosie is on the run. But who can she trust? Pip, the too attractive Feral, or the secretive man he calls boss?

From Earth to Mars, Rosie must learn the secrets of the box – before it’s too late.

Next Up On the Reading List....

I've got that thrilling feeling when I know I have books that I'm really dying to delve in to.
I'll tell you more about them soon....

Just Beautiful - and kind of hilarious

This lovely, lovely book made me smile, cry and laugh out loud - Lennie and her nutty family are just delightful. 

Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey. But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her own life—and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two. Toby was Bailey's boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie's own. Joe is the new boy in town, a transplant from Paris whose nearly magical grin is matched only by his musical talent. For Lennie, they're the sun and the moon; one boy takes her out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it. But just like their celestial counterparts, they can't collide without the whole wide world exploding.
via - theskyiseverywhere.com

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

The cover is hideous - but the book is AMAZING.  I can not recommend it enough so if you like young adult fiction, or even if you don't, give it a go.

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before--and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

SHIVER

Whenever I enter The Younger Sun my eye is drawn to this book and this morning I arrived for breakfast next door and realised I had left my book at home - disaster.  The advantage being I could almost justify buying another book - and gee am I glad I did.  Loving it already.  Here's a taste...

 SHIVER by Maggie Stiefvater.

For Grace, one yellow-eyed wolf is a chilling presence in the woods behind her house. During winter, Sam lives in the frozen woods and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, he lives a few precious months as a human. Soon, Grace and Sam find themselves risking everything to remain together.

And the best part is there is a sequel!

If Only For The Cover

This book has been brought to my attention by one who clearly knows my reading taste.  It's about break ups and learning to love yourself and.... ROLLER DERBY!  Fantastic.  I hope it lives up to it's potential although I think I'll be happy to have that cover in my bookshelf regardless.

Rory's Reading List

One of the main reasons that Gilmore Girls became my 'favourite show of all time' was the fact that literature and the love of reading played such a big part in the show. As a teen I was always teased for having my nose in a book (thanks Alex) and it was great to see a character like Rory also get off on reading.

Last year I decided to follow Rory's reading list and read some of the books she had read that I hadn't already. I started with Kafka's Metamorphosis and Proust's Swann's Way. Heavy but satisfying.

It turns out that I am not the only one with this idea. There is a website dedicated to Rory's reading list and a fan has now started a Twitter which documents her journey through the list.

Next up for me is Melville's Moby Dick - Season 1, episode 1! Wish me luck.

TOP BOOKS

Borders have surveyed their customer base and put out their list of the 100 Favourite Books Of All Time! Here's the Top 10 - what do you think?

1.Pride And Prejudice
by Jane Austen

2. To Kill A Mockingbird
by Harper Lee

3. Lord Of The Rings
by J. R. R. Tolkien

4.My Sister's Keeper
by Jodi Picoult

5. Twilight Saga Collection
by Stephenie Meyer

6. Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone
by J. K. Rowling

7. Time Traveler's Wife
by Audrey Niffenegger

8. Book Thief
by Markus Zusak

9. Nineteen Eighty Four
by George Orwell

10. Magician
by Raymond E. Feist

In The Mood For A Top 10 List - actually 15..

My Top 10 (15) Favourite Women In Literature.
(In no particular order although Anne will always be at the top!)

1. Anne Shirley - The Green Gables Series by L M Montgomery
2. Norah Linton - The Billabong Series by Mary Grant Bruce
3. Lettice Knollys - My Enemy The Queen - Victoria Holt
4. Judith Taverner - Regency Buck - Georgette Heyer
5. Darrell Rivers - Malory Towers - Enid Blyton
6. Heidi - Heidi - Johanna Spyri
7. Jo March - Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
8. Thursday Next - The Eyre Affair - Jasper Fforde
9. Gidget - Gidget - Frederick Kohner
10. Elspeth Gordie - Obernewtyn Chronicles - Isobelle Carmody
11. Claire Randall - Cross Stitch - Diana Gabaldon
12. Scarlett O'Hara - Gone With The Wind - Margret Mitchell
13. Bella Swan - Twilight Series - Stephanie Meyer
14. Elizabeth Bennett - Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austin
15. Philadelphia Gordon - All The Rivers Run - Nancy Cato

A Plethora of Great Fiction

I'm having such wonderful luck with the Young Adult Fiction I've been reading lately.

After 'Beatle Meets Destiny' a couple of friends lent me some that they had just read and we all had a big swap fest. They have all been very different but all fantastic. The first one Krissa lent me was 'Raw Blue' by Kirsty Egar, a story of a girl living on the N.S.W. coast and using her love of surfing to help her deal with the events of her past. The next book from Eliza was a book I had been looking forward to reading - 'Love Aubrey' by Suzanne LaFleur.

Something heartbreaking has happened. Eleven year old Aubrey is on her own. She's determined to hide away and take care of herself, because facing the truth is too much bear. But with the love of her Grandmother, and the letters she writes, can Aubrey begin to see thateven though she's lost everything - all is not lost?

It was a beautiful story and had me crying at inappropriate times - must remember not to read weepies at the cafe!

The book I have just finished is 'If I Stay' by Gayle Forman and I absolutely loved it. I now want to go and buy it so I will always have it in my bookshelf. That is the worst thing about sharing books, I can never bear to give them back if they are as good as this one.

.

In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen-year- old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck...
A sophisticated, layered, and heartachingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make—and the ultimate choice Mia commands.

BOOKGROUP - FINGERSMITH

It's book group tonight and we are reading the novel 'FINGERSMITH' by Sarah Waters. A few years ago we read her first book - 'Tipping The Velvet' and it was fabulous, so when I saw this in the bookshop earlier this year I had to buy it. I'm yet to find out what the other girls think but those I have spoken to throughout the month have been loving it.

I'm facilitating the discussion tonight and in my research I came across this trailer for the BBC production of 'Fingersmith'. For those of you who aren't readers, I've heard this production is fantastic, as is their 'Tipping the Velvet' production.

Wish me luck and I'll let you know what they think.

Spoiler Alert!

Oh My God!!!!

Jacob has just imprinted!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It Just Won't fit, No Matter How Hard I Push.

It's that time again where I sit staring at my bookshelves trying to work out where on earth I can fit the books I've just bought. Books are starting to stack up on each other and my slightly anal soul can't handle it. A solution must be found.
I started looking back through some of my files and found these inspiring book ideas...




This one I particularly love just for it's creativity and problem solving. In this apartment they have built the bookshelves into the stairway. To give you a clearer idea there is another view following.

Here they have solved the problem by putting their books in the ceiling joists - genius.

I think this might be the solution to my problem - I'll just hang all the extras from the ceiling. Surfer Boy will just love it!!