August TBR

In the month of July, I had a slow reading month. After a long reading slump that I have eventually gotten over, I decided to take the books slowly and savour them. And that I did.

This month I have quite an ambitious TBR. May as well hit the ground running, right?

1.

In the past few months, I have been re-reading fully the Harry Potter series in anticipation for the release of the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I am just about to finish Order of the Phoenix, and so I will be getting to this one really soon.

2.

As above. It’ll be my first time properly re-reading this book, and I can’t wait. It’ll lead on nicely to the third book (play) I intend to read in the month of August.

3.

One of my biggest anticipated reads of the year is Harry Potter and The Cursed Child. I pre-ordered this, but I wanted to finish re-reading the series before I picked it up. I’ve been avoiding spoilers online like the plague, and (so far) it has been working.

4.

A bit of an ambitious one to tackle, I’ve decided it’s time. After hearing the raves about the TV Series and the fact the series will conclude at the end of the eighth series, I’ve decided it’s time to give the books a go. Though their sheer size and fantasy language seems daunting, I’m confident I’ll make it through. Plus, I’m excited to see if I’m more of a book or TV Show fan. Which will it be?

5.

Also an ambitious read, I’ve had this book on my mind since last year. I’ve never quite gotten round to sitting down properly and starting it. Here’s hoping it’ll happen this month.

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Get your copy of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince here.

Get your copy of Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows here.

Get your copy of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child here. (Hurry, while the sale lasts!)

Get your copy of A Game of Thrones Book 1 here.

Get your copy of Outlander Book 1 here.

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Ruler of Books: Book Tag

Envision yourself as the ”Ruler of Books”, and you have the bookish powers to do what you want, such as imposing rules in your bookish kingdom. This tag has been making its rounds on Booktube and the Book Blogging world for a few months now.

The tag was originally created by Ariel Bissett, and you can view that video here.

1. What book would you make everyone read?

Though there are many, the book I’d make everyone read would be Nineteen Eighty-four by George Orwell. Thought provoking and truly interesting, it’d teach a few minds about our world today. 

2. What would you abolish in book construction?

Though I think all books are made as they should be, and I do try to appreciate them as they come, there is one thing that really annoys me. And that’s humongous books (over 600 pages) that come and aren’t floppy; the breaking of the spine is inevitable. Often, this happens to books I love (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix). It does kind of give your book character though, doesn’t it?

3. What author would you commission to write any book?

J.K Rowling is an obvious choice for this one. That woman writes in a way, especially in the Harry Potter series, that makes you feel safe in a blanket of her words. But I’ll go out here and say Rainbow Rowell. Still want more from Fangirl.

4. What book would you demote to the library basement to make room for new books?

Again, I’d feel bad doing that to any book. But for this one I’d have to say The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger. I struggled to finish this book, and probably wouldn’t read it again. Sorry, J.D and Holden. 

5. What cover artist would you commission to make a mural?

Though there are many beautiful book covers out there and many resting on my shelf, one always catches my eye. From the moment I first saw it on-screen to the moment I held it in my hands, it mesmerised me. And that is the jacket cover of An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir. The cover was designed by Emily Osborne.

The Cover, by Emily Osborne

6. What characters face would you put on a coin?

I think Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice. A strong female heroine who will give everyone, including men, some inspiration to go after what they want whenever they have a glance at their coins. 

7. What book would you award the “Ruler of Books” 2016 Prize to?

So far in 2016, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix has been the best book I’ve read this year, as I’m reading it fully for the first time. 

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Why not give this fun tag a go? Let me know if you decide to do it, as I’d like to read your answers. 

Get your copy of Nineteen Eighty-four by George Orwell here. 

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What am I reading in Summer 2016?

The Summer Holidays are upon the UK – for the students, at least. Despite the lack of summer weather, I intend on reading as much as I can. After what felt like months studying for examinations and spending all my spare time focused upon them, I finally feel as though I have time to just read again. That’s why, this year, I haven’t bothered to set a reading goal on Goodreads, or a mental one for that matter. After collating some books, I have a few I want to get to.

First up is The Cone-Gatherers by Robin Jenkins. A relatively short book (approximately 220 pages), it is the story of two brothers, Cone-Gatherers, working their days away up trees in a wealthy estate owned by the wealthy Runcie-Campbell family. Set in Scotland during the Second World War, we follow the two protagonists: Neil, embittered by the social divide, and his hunchback yet admirable brother, Calum.

I have already read most of this book, and have around sixty pages left. So far, I’ve found it to be an excellent piece of Scottish literature. Filled with complex language; vivid symbolism and intriguing allegories, it truly hits home how the social divide that existed then is still present now. it also deals with sacrifice. I intend to do a full review of this book.

Next up is Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin. I picked this up a few months ago and have been eager to get to it since. This book takes place after the Second World War, and things are much different. The Axis won the war. An annual motorbike race takes place across the combined occupied nations of the Axis. The winner of that race gets to meet Hitler, and our protagonist is intent upon killing the Fuhrer. I don’t know about you, but for me that’s an instant hook.

Thirdly is Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell. Having already read a few of George Orwell’s works, such as Nineteen Eighty-four and Animal Farm, I have been eager to get to this one. I found Nineteen Eighty-four and Animal Farm to be thought-provoking and thoroughly intriguing. I have found that Orwell’s works are very much plot based, and the characters to be more universal than anything, though they do have their own individual complexity.

I couldn’t not throw some YA/Contemporary in. In summer, it’s normally the time were readers reach for their contemporary novels, even if you don’t get much summer weather. This book follows sixteen-year-old Simon and he harbours a secret about himself: he’s gay. When an email is sent to the wrong person, Simon faces his secret being exposed. Though I’m not a big contemporary reader, this did grab my attention.

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Though that’s not only what I aim to read this summer, it’s what I’ll be happy with as I’m not the fastest reader in the world. On-top of reading, I intend to catch up on series, practise writing and just recuperate from the academic year.