January and February reads

Don't think I've ever read this many good books in a row. January and February just happened to be great reading months, encouraged by reviews from fellow bloggers and friends. I hope March reading is just as good!


There is nothing like a bad book to spoil my reading appetite, and nothing like a good book to keep my obsession going strong.


Harlan Coben - Shelter (I'm a huge Harlan Coben fan and was so excited to hear that he was publishing a YA book. Was just as suspenseful and riveting as his other books, and I loved that the characters intertwined)


Rachel Cohn & David Levithan - Dash and Lily's book of dares (took me a while to get into this one but once I did, I absolutely loved it. Such a cute read). 


John Green - Paper Towns (Read such great reviews of this book and can honestly say that I didn't enjoy it at all. Didn't feel a single thing for either characters.)


Angela Morrison - Sing me to Sleep (I really enjoyed this book. I cried so much at the end. Though I was a little unsure about some of the relationships within the book, it was overall a good read) 


John Boyne - The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas (I have been meaning to read this for so long and finally got it out at the library. I've read a lot of Holocaust books and this one, despite being a YA book, was no less unsettling. I watched the movie right after. Definitely a must read.)


Jeanette Walls - The Glass Castle (I went through stages with this book. Some parts I loved and some parts I hated. Was definitely interesting to read about that lifestyle and get into the psychology behind it. And was very uplifting in the end, in that the author had such a poor and horrific childhood but still made a good future for herself) 


Cat Patrick - Forgotten (Was a very complicated book to write without coming across some loopholes and slips to the plot. I did have some questions unanswered, and felt like the end didn't really related to the rest of the book, but overall it was enjoyable. And a really gorgeous love story.)


Gareth Crocker - Finding Jack (Nothing to say other than I loved this book. It made me smile and made me cry. I read it all in one sitting on an airplane and felt so drained by the end of it. Really incredible story.) 


Sarah Addison Allen - The Girl who Chased the Moon (Usually I don't like when fantasy is mixed with real life, but I absolutely adored the magical element to this book. It was such an enjoyable read.)


John Green - The Fault in our Stars (Was so hesitant to read this after Paper Towns... but John Green is redeemed. I loved this book. The writing was... incredible. His characterization was flawless and he had me crying hysterically for the last 60 pages. Adored this book soooooo much)


Cath Crowley - Graffiti Moon (I was so excited for this book to come out! It wasn't as fantastic as I expected, but I did really enjoy it. I loved the snippets of poetry throughout it, and I loved how it was told from both perspectives.)

Mailbox Monday

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour - Morgan Matson

Graffiti Moon - Cath Crowley

The Fine Art of Truth or Dare - Melissa Jenen

I'm very excited for some March reading (although I've just about finished Graffiti Moon)

Polaroid

I got a polaroid for my birthday. 

(Unfortunately, neither of the photos below were taken from the polaroid.)

But I love it. My mum wants to know why I'm going backwards in technology. Why I want a camera that has such expensive film, that if you take a bad photo, you've just wasted $2. Why don't I want to use my digital camera where I can take as many photos as I want without wasting money?

Because I love the moment the polaroid keeps. 

I love that I only have one chance to capture whatever it is I want to capture. 

I love that I have use it sparingly, because it means that the photos I do take have so much more significance. 

I love that that photo can't be taken 10 times in a row, from slightly different angles. 

I love the anticipation as you wait for the image to emerge from the whiteness. 

I love the way it moulds into my hands. 

I'm just pretty much in love right now. Once I've taken a few more photos, I will share them with you all 

A weeping reader

I've read a lot of sad books. Books that have made me tear up, books that make me call the people I love to tell them how much I  appreciate them. Books that stay with me for months after reading the last pages.


The other night, I was reading Sing me to Sleep by Angela Morrison in bed while my boyfriend was on his computer. Next thing he knew, I had thrown the book down and was balling my eyes out. I was inconsolable for hours. 

THE TRANSFORMATION
Beth has always been "The Beast" - that's what everyone at school calls her because of her awkward height, facial scars, and thick glasses. Beth's only friend is geeky, golden-haired Scott. That is, until she's selected to be her choir's soprano soloist, and receives the makeover that will change her life forever.
THE LOVE AFFAIR
When Beth's choir travels to Switzerland, she meets Derek: pale, brooding, totally dreamy. Derek's untethered passion - for music, and for Beth - leaves her breathless. Because in Derek's eyes? She's not The Beast, she's The Beauty.
THE IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE
When Beth comes home, Scott, her best friend in the world, makes a confession that leaves her completely torn. Should she stand by sweet, steady Scott or follow the dangerous, intense new feelings she has for Derek?
THE HEARTBREAK
The closer Beth gets to Derek, the further away he seems. Then Beth discovers that Derek's been hiding a dark secret from her ...one that could shatter everything.

I don't want to give away too much about this book. But I couldn't put it down all weekend. I was just starting to feel a certain way about Derek when the author dropped this huge bomb that changed everything. I admit that I could guess the ending before it happened, but not to the extent that it happens, and the way she wrote just made it all the more shocking.


I have never cried over a book but could hardly breathe at this one. I was so distraught. Made worse by the fact that it is based loosely on a true story and there were photos of the real person in the back of the book.


Which books have you made you shed more than just a few tears?

Mailbox Monday

I was just going to make a post on what I got to read this week when I realised it was Mailbox Monday. How convenient! Hosted by At Home with Books for the Month of January, Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. 
Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

by Annie Barrows, Mary Ann Shaffer

A friend of mine read this book for her book club and apparently it was everyone's favourite book of last year. Definitely sounds intriguing. 

The Sex Diaries

by Bettina Arndt

Can't say this doesn't sound interesting. 

Finding Jack: A Novel

by Gareth Crocker 

I found this at a sale at work (oh the perks of working in a publishing house) and picked it up for $2. SO excited to read it! It combines my love of the military and dogs. Will hopefully get my boyfriend to read this one as well. 

The Girl Who Chased the Moon

by Sarah Addison Allen 

I finally got this book in the mail after lusting for it for ages. I just think it sounds so beautiful. 

The End of Everything

by Megan Abbott

Picked this up from work for $2 as well and thought it sounded cute. Doesn't have the best reviews but definitely worth a shot. 

The Fault in Our Stars

by John Green

I'm not going to lie, I'm a little hesitant about this. I've heard such wonderful things about John Green that I had to buy this, and while I waited for it to arrive, I read another one of his books, which was meant to be amazing. And I didn't like it At all. So while the synopsis of this book sounds really great, I do have my hesitations. My copy did arrive signed though, which is pretty cool. 

Falling for a song

Florence And The Machine - Cosmic Love 

A falling star fell from your heart and landed in my eyes
I screamed aloud, as it tore through them, and now it's left me blind

The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out
You left me in the dark
No dawn, no day, I'm always in this twilight
In the shadow of your heart

And in the dark, I can hear your heartbeat
I tried to find the sound
But then, it stopped, and I was in the darkness,
So darkness I became

The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out
You left me in the dark
No dawn, no day, I'm always in this twilight
In the shadow of your heart

I took the stars from my eyes, and then I made a map
And knew that somehow I could find my way back
Then I heard your heart beating, you were in the darkness too
So I stayed in the darkness with you

The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out
You left me in the dark
No dawn, no day, I'm always in this twilight
In the shadow of your heart

The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out
You left me in the dark
No dawn, no day, I'm always in this twilight
In the shadow of your heart

finding inspiration in the city

My boyfriend's mum is here on holidays from New York - or should I say 'mom' - , and I've been playing tour guide all around Melbourne. Today we woke up early and went for breakfast before the heat settled. We went to Degraves Street in the CBD, which is lane-way full of people, cute cafes and boutique stores. After, we went to the State Library and just ventured around the streets. 


I love Melbourne. I've had this idea of moving to London to find literary inspiration but I haven't appreciated what's right in front of me.

I would love to take a month off work and go every day to a different cafe, in different suburbs, take a few photos and write for a few hours. 

What's happened since NaNo...

To be honest, I have been avoiding my blog.
And not just my blog, but a lot of blogs.


The reason is that I didn't complete NaNoWriMo (this was the first year I was attempting it) and have been pretty upset about it. I was doing really well and made it to 25 000 words. I was waking up early and writing every morning before work, because that was when I wrote best. Then I had some conferences I had to go to for work and lost 5 days of morning writing time. I lost two weekends because I had weddings, family functions and other occasions. And I panicked because I had research to do and no time to do it, and didn't want to write made-up crap.
Another thing I struggled with along the way was that I have never written anything of that length before, and after reading over it now, I realise there is so much room to expand on what I've written.


Coming on to blogger and seeing everyone who finished NaNo just made me really upset and disappointed with myself. So I avoided all blogs and NaNo reminders for a while. It took a lot of comforting from my friends to cheer me up about it.


Despite failing NaNo - failing is such a harsh word... lets say not-completing instead - I am really happy with the words I've done so far and am definitely going to continue with the story this year. And I will definitely attempt NaNo again next year. 


Anyway, not that I've got that off my chest, lets see what I read in November and December:

Sarah Dessen - Just Listen

Dana Reinhardt - The things a brother knows

Lisa Schroeder - Far from you

Suzanna Collins - The Hunger Games

Nina LaCour - Hold Still

Lee Child - Killing Floor

Carol Lynch Williams - The Chosen One

Laini Taylor - Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Laura Harrington - Alice Bliss

Stephanie Perkins - Lola and the boy next door. 

Now, on to 2012...

The Best of 2011

This has been  great reading year for me. I’ve read a lot of different types of novels and have discovered some real treasures along the way.

The stats

Young Adult Books: 35

Adult Literary Fiction: 8

Crime Writing:  3

Non Fiction: 2

My favourite books of 2011

Gayle Forman – If I Stay

Courtney Summers – Fall for Anything

Lisa Schroeder – The Day Before

David Nicholls – One Day

Veronica Roth – Divergent

Jandy Nelson – The Sky is Everywhere

Anyone read any of these books? Did you love them as much as I did?

Top Ten Tuesday - TBR list

Wow it's amazing how the weeks just loop into the next. It's time for Top Ten Tuesday, with The Broke and the Bookish, looking at my top 10 TBR for summer (yup, definitely not Winter in Australia). 

Brian Farray - With or Without You

Sarah Addison Allen - The Girl who Chased the Moon

Harlan Coben - Shelter

Angela Morrison - Sing me to Sleep

Stephanie Perkins - Lola and the Boy Next Door

Cath Crowley - Graffiti Moon

Laura Harrington - Alice Bliss

Laini Taylor - Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Carol Lynch Williams - The Chosen One

Tess Hilmo - With a name like Love

Reading long books

I’ve always avoided reading long books, and by long books I mean anything more than 400/450 pages. The few I had read when I was younger (besides Harry Potter) seemed to drag on, and because I thought it took too long to reach the climax, I’d lose interest half way through.

I admit that most of the books on my TBR shelf are larger books. And I have been trying to get through them lately. And my latest discovery is that larger books don’t necessarily take longer to read nor do they all drag on. 

One Day, Of Marriageable Age, Afterwards, Seven Types of Ambiguity, Shot in the Heart.

These are all long books that I have read and loved. And that's only naming a few.

With longer books, you spend more time with the characters and get to really know them; you get attached to them. You have longer to spend in a world  you're loving. And if you're loving the book, it doesn't really take that much longer to read than a smaller book, because you just can't put it down. 

I vow to read all the long books on my shelf. 

Anyone else a big-book-phobe?

7 days down, 23 more to go.

It's hard to believe that it's been only been 7 days. A week ago I had nothing and now I have something. Something I'm already feeling proud of. 

At the beginning, I really struggled with thinking large. I'm so used to writing short stories and keeping things minimal, that I found it hard to expand on things. My first few chapters started pretty short, only 1-2 pages (but the entire novel is written in the form of letters so I wasn't too worried about the length of them). And now they are going up to 3.5 pages. I can feel myself exploring everything more, tapping into my characters head and seeing things how he would see them. When I'm ahead on my word count and can afford to spend some time 'leisurely', I want to go back and re read those first few chapters, because I know there were will be heaps of room to expand them. 

It's at 11,000 words today. 

I lost the weekend because I was out in the country (which usually would be a great place to write, but not so much when you're on a romantic weekend away). We drove out two hours into a small town called Daylesford. We had a room with a private spa, we went to a cocktail party, to an antique and farmers market, wine tasting and lunching on the mountains. 

Happy writing everyone

oh uh October

So, October wasn't my best reading month. I read this book that I absolutely loved - The Sky is Everywhere - right at the start of the month, and then I couldn't read anything for a week after because I was so attached to the book. 


Jandy Nelson - The Sky is Everywhere
Sue Saliba - Alaska
Rosamund Lupton - Afterwards
Lauren Strasnick - Nothing Like You

Alaska was beautifully written (and my god what a ridiculously amazing front cover)  but I thought the main character was stupid and I hated the way it ended. 
Same as Nothing Like you. I really enjoyed the book but the ending ruined it for me completely. Yes, the girl got what she deserved. But after being on a long journey with TWO boys involved, I just wanted her to end up with one of them, and she didn't. 


But... The Sky is Everywhere goes into my top books (obviously since I can't stop blogging about how much I love it) and Afterwards was also a fantastic read which I would recommend. 

Only day 2 and there have already been tears.

Day 1 of NaNoWriMo was a lot harder than I thought. 
I had done so much planning and research. I was excited. Nervous. Totally ready to start NaNo. 
But by 2 in the afternoon, 2,100 words later, I had come to the conclusion that the story was told from the wrong perspective and was just all wrong. It was going no where. 


I declared failure, teared up in disappointment and curled up in bed all sad. Luckily for me, I have the sweetest, most supportive boyfriend, who told me that he wouldn't let me give up. He brainstormed ideas with me until 1 in the morning (I was thinking a YA with an awesome love story, and he was thinking Navy Seals and government invasion). Finally we found an awesome idea that I was really excited about. (ok, so it's a combination of love and military ... but for all those who have read my blog, you should all know that I have a weird obsession with the army). And since my boyfriend is such an army and history addict, he's pretty much done all the research for me already! 


I woke up super early and got to work at 7am so that I could sit in the coffee shop downstairs and write before work started at 8:30. I got 1,500 words done and am REALLY happy with my new story. It was telling itself. Honestly, I hardly had to do any work, just move my fingers. It was the greatest feeling ever and I've been smiling all day since. 


I'm going to write a bit more before bed but will wake up early again and have a repeat of yesterday. I just write better in the morning for some reason. 


Anyway, here are some hints on my new story. 
An excerpt will follow shortly. 

Not necessarily in that order. 

Top Ten Tuesday - Books I had strong emotions over

So I have decided to participate in the Broke and the Bookish Top Ten Tuesday. I started reading some of the entries people had posted and have a good list jotted down of books I'd like to read now. Hopefully my list could inspire some people with some reads. 

1. The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson -  Lyrical. Beautiful. Heartbreaking. Fall-in-love-with-main-guy. Seriously, this author knocks everything on the head; writing, characters and plot.
2. One day by David Nicholls - I have to admit I cried my eyes out in the movie. But you definitely got a better sense of the relationship in the book. I think it was a combination of both that really made me love One Day. 
3. Dreamland by Sarah Dessen - I'm not going to lie, I definitely had a lot to relate to this book. Just made it all the more raw and emotional for me. There were some inaccuracies I found, but overall a really good psychological exploration into abusive relationships. It's absolutely heart breaking what damage love and manipulation can do. 
4. If I stay by Gayle Forman - Ok, if you're not crying at some point in this book, you've got to be crazy. What an emotional journey. I was just as lost and confused as the main character. 
5. Afterwards by Rosamund Lupton - I finished the book and had to curl up in my boyfriends arms for comfort hugs. A long book on a harrowing journey. I knew the ending was coming, but it hurt like hell to read. A definite must read. 
6. Stolen by Lucy Christopher - I absolutely love love love this book and thought the author ended it really well. I couldn't stop thinking about the characters after, questioning the ending, and questioning how the psychological issues that were affecting the main character, were affecting me too while reading. 
7. Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers - The girl was just so broken. I didn't cry but it was a hard read. I definitely had to go and give my dad a big hug afterwards. 
8. Sisterhood Everlasting by Anne Brashares - ok after following the girls through four books, I was definitely attached to the characters. Was not prepared for what happened in this book. Especially the twist at the end. I loved it and hated it. And have decided to pretend I never read it. It's too sad to be true (well, as true as fiction can be). 
9. The Book Thief by Markus Zusac - War. Family. Prisoners. Death. Books. OBVIOUSLY emotional. 
10. What it Used to be Like by Maryann Burk Carver - Raymond Carvers life told by his first wife. I finished to book while at work and had to take an extra half an hour lunch break because I couldn't stop crying when I reached the end. 

NaNoWriMo Day 1

So I'm about to start writing! Pretty lucky that November 1st fell on a public holiday in Melbourne. I don't have to work today and want to get in with at least 5,000 words. Then after today I want to write around 2,000 a day. Wish me luck! 


I'm so anxious!! 
Usually I write short stories, and edit as I go. This will be a huge learning experience. 


Anyway, I don't have a title for my story yet. 
It's about:
  A Girl called Holly whose training in competitive Martial Arts
     A Boy called Jae who turns up in her classes
         And his secrets of a previous life.
Who is this new kid? Why does he have to be so handsome? And why can't he even tell Holly his full name?




Anyone else doing NaNo? 
          

the.best.book.ever

I am about to make a very radical statement.

I discovered my favourite book of all time. (ok, well, it's in the top three)

The book that makes me want to quit writing because I know I can’t write like that.

The book I couldn’t put down, but never wanted to read because I wanted it to last forever.

The book that wouldn’t let me read another book for a week after because it was still resonating.

The book where I started marking my favourite lines, but realised there were way too many of them to ever keep track of.

The book I wanted to reread IMMEDIATELY after finishing it.

The book I WISH I wrote myself.

The book I love so much, that I don’t want anyone else to read because I want it to just be mine. But at the same time, I want everyone to read it because it’s. just. so. fabulous.

Honestly, I have no critique of this book. It hit all the right spots. 

Has anyone read a book like this??

Goodreads says about The Sky is Everywhere:

"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."