Woo Hoo City of Bones Movie

Excitin New for all Fans of Cassandra Clare ... The upcomin movie of 'City of Bones' due to come out at the end of August 2013 .... Should be v v interestin .....

And the lovely cast that they have choosen ....

Lena Headey - Jocelyn Fray

Lily Collins - Clary Fray

Jonathan Rhys Meyers - Valentine Morgenstern

Robert Sheeham - Simon Lewis

Kevin Durand - Emil Pangborn

Jamie Campbell Bower - Jace Wayland

Kevin Zegers - Alec Lightwood

Jared Harris - Hodge Starkweather

Aidan Turner - Luke Garroway

Jemima West - Isabelle Lightwood

Godfrey Gao - Magnus Bane

CCH Pounder - Madame Dorothea

Robert Maillet - Samuel Blackwell 

The Plot

 Clary Fray tumbles into the supernatural world when she visits a club called Pandemonium, and witnesses a murder. Following this tragic event Clary's mother, Jocelyn, is kidnapped by a man called Valentine. She then calls on those who she saw at the club, and asks them to help her. In the search for the Mortal Cup, Clary makes decisions harder than any she has ever made. She falls in love, struggles with her best friend, and becomes the person her mother feared she would become

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson (41/2)

During the summer of 1793, Mattie Cook lives above the family coffee shop with her widowed mother and grandfather. Mattie spends her days avoiding chores and making plans to turn the family business into the finest Philadelphia has ever seen. But then the fever breaks out.

Disease sweeps the streets, destroying everything in its path and turning Mattie's world upside down. At her feverish mother's insistence, Mattie flees the city with her grandfather. But she soon discovers that the sickness is everywhere, and Mattie must learn quickly how to survive in a city turned frantic with disease.

I purchased this book because: It has been on my radar for some time now and finally getting around to reading it :) ...

Opening Lines: I woke to the sound of a mosquito whining in my left ear and my mother screeching in my right. 'Rouse yourself this instant!' Mother snapped open the shutters and heat poured into our bedchamber. The room above our coffeehouse was not large.

Well this is my first read of Laurie Halse Anderson and it will certainly not be my last .... I loved this little book and was quite impressed by how much research the author had done to make this book come alive ....

The book is set in Philadelphia in 1793 when a disease known as 'Yellow Fever' strikes the city and brings it to it's knees. And how through one girls eyes she tries to survive when everyone around her is getting infected ...

I loved the main character of Mattie ... She is a very strong willed girl who is determined not to let this disease change her or her dreams of the future ... But even though she is a strong character she still has a very vulnerable side ... The author Laurie gives us just enough information to let us know the extent of this disease without going overboard .... But you still get the sense of how devastating this disease actually was for the people who stayed in Philadelphia .... I think what makes this book work is that Laurie did alot of research into the breakout of 'Yellow Fever' in 1793 and you really do get caught up in the story and just how far medical science has come on .. Thankfully for us ....

Some of my favourite quotes: ' A Low voice and soft address are the common indications of a well-bred woman.' pg 24

'Mother looked at the old man. He just wanted a quiet afternoon, that much was clear. I saw him wink at her. I didn't know which one made me angrier, but somehow they had both won.' Pg 42

'Those filthy refugees and creatures who live in the crowded hovels by the river, they're always sick with something. But it is a gross injustice that my gala should suffer because the lower class fall ill.' Pg 51

'You're turning into a regular scold, Mattie Cook. You sound like your mother, ordering menfolk around.' Pg 79

'The grave diggers had dug trenches as deeply as they could, then planted layer after layer of fever victims. Some of the dead were decently sewn into their winding sheets, but most were buried in the clothes they died in. ' A field plowed by the devil,' I murrured. 'They're not even using coffins' Pg 120

'I could read, write, and figure numbers faster than most. I was not afraid of hard work. I would set my own course.' Pg 216

This book goes to show that disease and illness doesn't care about social graces or class and as always the rich do have better means to run away from the disease where as the poorer classes are left to cope and mourn for their losses ...

This is a short wee book with big writing so you could get through it quite quickly ... I will definitely be tempted to read more of her works ... This book is suitable of anybody over the age of 12 ...

I rate this book 4 1/2 ****

Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (5)

Adopted by the Alpha of a werewolf pack after a rogue wolf brutally killed her parents right before her eyes, fifteen-year-old Bryn knows only pack life, and the rigid social hierarchy that controls it. That doesn't mean that she's averse to breaking a rule or two.

But when her curiosity gets the better of her and she discovers Chase, a new teen locked in a cage in her guardian's basement, and witnesses him turn into a wolf before her eyes, the horrific memories of her parents' murders return. Bryn becomes obsessed with getting her questions answered, and Chase is the only one who can provide the information she needs.

But in her drive to find the truth, will Bryn push too far beyond the constraints of the pack, forcing her to leave behind her friends, her family, and the identity that she's shaped?

I purchased this book because: I wanted to read about Werewolves instead of Vamps

Opening Lines: Bronwyn Alessia St. Vincent Clare! .. Four names, five words, one pissed-off werewolf. The math this particular equation never came out in my favor.

OH MY GOODNESS .... If twilight was for Vampires .... Then Raised by Wolves is for Werewolves ....

I could not put this book down ..... I Loved every minute of it and now have to wait until next year to read the second part :( .... Darn ......

You will find you will get pulled into Bryn world ..... You will feel the power struggle between Bryn being human and being raised in a very Alpha Male Society ... Loved the character of Callum the Alpha Leader of the Pack and his relationship with Bryn
( And wouldn't mind a spin-off book about him .... Hint Hint to Jennifer !!! ) ... I loved the character of Ali who is one feisty lady and not willing to give up her belief's even if it means risking everything to do it .....

I loved the Chemistry between Chase and Bryn ... When you are reading it you can feel the connection and the energy that the two of them have .... Can Bryn who is forever pushing the boundaries play by the rules of the pack .... Or will she push to far and have to suffer the consequences ....

I loved everything about this book ... It is written really well and if you are anything like me you will not be able to put this book down ... I loved all the characters and felt a connection to each of them ... It has been a wee while that I have come across a new series that all I wanted to do was read and block the whole outside out ....

Some of my favourite quotes ... And there where alot!!!! .... 'Come out, Come out, wherever you are, little one. No sense hiding from the Big Bad Wolf. I'll always find you in the end ... ' pg 5

'If werewolves had been into using 'property of' stickers, I would have been mummified in them' pg 8'She was a typical Ark Valley girl, A little too quiet, a little too sweet, with metaphorical claws lurking just under the surface.' pg 32'Darn tootin', 'If you poke enough angry bears with sticks, someday you're going to get burned, sweetheart.' pg 38

'As I began cutting through the restraints, the sound of inhuman screams echoing in my mind, I tried not to think about the fact that my vow to abstain from stupidity had lasted for all of forty-five seconds.' pg 54

'There are bad people in the world: murderers and psychopaths and telemarketers who won't take no for an answer.' pg 65

'Just you wait, I told her silently. It's all fun and games until they ground you until you're thirty.' pg 67

'I was fast, I was light, and I wasn't afraid of playing dirty.' Pg 116

'They say not to bring a knife to a gunfight.' pg 120

'He wasn't Attila the freaking Werewolf Hun.' pg 125

'Straw met camel's back. Breaking commenced.' pg 131

'I needed a plan. I needed to be strong. So I just kept running, because come hell or high water, a girl couldn't afford to be weak or human at a time like this.' pg 225

'Either way we were outclassed, outnumbered, overwhelmed, and screwed. In that order.' pg 346

Well Werewolves seem to be the new red this summer with so many new werewolves books emerging onto the market .... But I have to say that this book is my Fav so far and the rest of them books out there have alot to live up to ....

Do yourself a favour and rush out and buy this book .... But make sure you have at least 3 to 4 hours of not being disturbed because you are going to need it ....

I rate this book 5 *****



Books in Order of Series
Raised by Wolves
#1 Raised by Wolves
#2 Trial By Fire (Released summer 2011)

Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon (31/2)

At fourteen, Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything about the world around him. Streetwise, tough and savvy, his quick sarcasm is the stuff of legends. . .until the night when his best friends try to kill him. Saved by a mysterious warrior who has more fighting skills than Chuck Norris, Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters: immortal vampire slayers who risk everything to save humanity.

Nick quickly learns that the human world is only a veil for a much larger and more dangerous one: a world where the captain of the football team is a werewolf and the girl he has a crush on goes out at night to stake the undead.

But before he can even learn the rules of this new world, his fellow students are turning into flesh eating zombies. And he’s next on the menu.

As if starting high school isn't hard enough. . .now Nick has to hide his new friends from his mom, his chainsaw from the principal, and keep the zombies and the demon Simi from eating his brains, all without getting grounded or suspended. How in the world is he supposed to do that?

I purchased this book because: Really liked the cover and heard good things about the author

Opening Lines: Free Will .. Some have called it the greatest gift bestowed on humanity. It is our ability to control what happens to us and exactly how it happens. We are masters of our fate and no one can foist their will on us unless we allow it.

What a great opening line ...... I have to say I did enjoy this book which is the 1st in yet another series .... But it is definitely a boys book ... And although I did find myself laughing out loud on a number of occasions ... The banter was definitely a teenage boy with lots of blood and guts and zombies attacking the local high school football team ....

I loved the main character of Nick .... He was brilliant .... And his sense of humour was awesome ... How he looked at things around him and reacted to them was really funny .... Although I did have to keep reminding myself that he was only 14 years of age and not older ....

The side kicks in this book, especially the character of Bubba was brilliant ... And the scary thing is that I actually know a few people like his character ... lol ..... Another character which I loved was Simi she could totally Kick Butts in a really cute but deadly way ...

Some quotes which I loved ...'He'd much rather have brains than money. Though right now, a rocket launcher might be nice too' Pg 10

'Man, first I'm shot, now I'm going to be a friggin' zombie. At this rate, I'll never live to have my first date or a driver's license. Ah, Gah!' Pg 86

'This little bugger in front of him was destined to alter his future. No wonder he couldn't use his powers against him.' Pg 121

'He honestly didn't know what to say that wouldn't make her twice as mad, which was not his goal right now. The name of the game ... Survival. I value my freedom, but I see severe restrictions ahead.' Pg 202

'If I can't take care of your problems one way ... I'll take care of them anotha' Pg 205

Nick scoffed. 'This ain't the army, boy. It's every man for himself. Fall behind. Get eaten.' Pg 223

'Just when you think nothing get better, it always does. Trust me. My akri says that tragedy and adversity are the stones we sharpen our swords against so that we can fight new battles.' Pg 234

'Girls ain't nothing but trouble. Yeah, but it was the only kind of trouble he wanted to launch himself into headfirst and wallow there until he was pruny from it.' Pg 240

This is not a bad book just I am not an older teenage boy reading it .... It will be interesting to see the other characters develop in the rest of the series ...

This book as abit of everything really romance, zombies, demons, vampires and loads of fight scenes .... Every boys dream .... But I would recommend that the other teen boys would read it as there is violence and grown up themes throughout ...

I rate this novel 3 1/2 ***

Other books in order in the Series:
Chronicles of Nick
#1 Infinity
#2 Invincible ( Released 1st Feb 2011)

The Hollow by Jessica Verday (31/2)

When Abbey’s best friend, Kristen, vanishes at the bridge near Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, everyone else is all too quick to accept that Kristen is dead…and rumors fly that her death was no accident. Abbey has never felt so desperately alone. Then she meets Caspian, the gorgeous and mysterious boy who shows up out of nowhere at Kristen’s funeral, and keeps reappearing in Abbey’s life. Caspian clearly has secrets of his own, but he’s the only person who makes Abbey feel normal again...but also special.


Just when Abbey starts to feel that she might survive all this, she learns a secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her best friend. How could Kristen have kept silent about so much? And could this secret have led to her death? As Abbey struggles to understand Kristen’s betrayal, she uncovers a frightening truth that nearly unravels her—one that will challenge her emerging love for Caspian, as well as her own sanity.

I Purchased this book because: Saw it ages ago being reviewed and loved the storyline ...


Opening Lines: They said she killed herself. Everyone was saying it. What started out as a rumor, quietly whispered among small gatherings of polite people, quickly grew into something that was openly discussed in large gatherings of impolite people. I was so sick of hearing them talk about it.

This is the first installment of a series called 'The Hollow' and it is being described as a spine-tingling paranormal romance set in the legendary town of 'Sleepy Hollow' where you have the ghostly figure of the 'Headless Horseman' was made famous ..... Sounds great and I couldn't wait to dive in ....

Unfortunately for me I thought it was abit slow ... It started out great and then it just plodded along ... It is a little over 500 pages and even though it is a big print it did take me a few days to read it .... Not that I didn't enjoy it just that it did drag for me ... I really wanted the story to really grab me and pull me in which it really didn't do until the last 50 pages of the book ... I understand that this is the first installment and you need to set up the characters but I still prefer the story to have some meat in it so I can really sink my teeth into it ... And is difficult for me to rate this book because I like it but just didn't love it .... And there are so many different questions that have still been left unanswered ...

I loved the way the author used quotes from 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' at the beginning of each chapter and how it fitted perfectly with the story line ... If anything it has make me want to go out and purchased the book that Washington Irving imagined ... That and watching the movie .... Who am I kidding ....To be honest I really don't need a reason to watch Johnny Depp lol .....

There is alot of weird things that are happening in the small town of Sleepy Hollow ... And Abbey is smack in the middle of it all .... I do like her character ... She is gusty which I love and not afraid to search for the truth ...

Some of my favourite quotes: 'Thank you for your help today, Abbey, and try to remember the good memories. They will help the sad ones'. Pg 79


'I profess not to know how women's hearts are wooed and won. To me they have always been matters of riddle and admiration' The legend of Sleepy Hollow pg 92


'I never thought about it that way, Abbey. I always pictured it as Dickens's way of portraying how a single moment can affect our lives so profoundly.' Pg 103


'The kiss suddenly turned harder, and more desperate. I tasted the urgency in it and thought that I would die from the pleasure. Would they lock up the library for the night and find us dead in each other's arms? Perished from pleasure? That thought send delicious goose bumps travelling over my entire body. Pg233


'His notable little wife, too, had enough to do to attend to her housekeeping and manage her poultry, for as she sagely observed, ducks and geese are foolish things, and must be looked after, but girls can take care of themselves'. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow pg 301

I am going to rate this book around 3 1/2 stars mainly because I did love the storyline but it was abit slow for me to get started .... Then sped up in the last 50 pages or so so now you are left waiting for the next installment .... grrrrr ... So really you either really love this book or you don't and so that is why it is great everyone is different and you should pick up a copy and see what you think .... But I am excited to get my hands on the next novel ...

I rate this book 3 1/2 *** ( sigh .... wish I could have rated it better :( ... )

You can check out the lovely Johnny Depp ...



Books in 'The Hollow' Series in order

1) The Hollow
2) The Haunting ( released in Hardback on the 31st August 2010 and Paperback 2 September 2010)
3)

Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris (41/2)

Sookie Stackhouse has finally settled into a relationship with the Viking vampire Eric, and her errant brother Jason seems to have his life in order, too. But all the other people in Sookie’s life – Eric himself, her former lover Bill, her friend and boss Sam – are having family problems. Eric’s maker shows up with Eric’s ‘brother’ in tow, the ailing Bill can only be healed by a blood sibling, and Sam’s brother’s marriage is about to take place... or will it? The furor raised by the coming out of the two-natured has yet to settle; some people are just not ready to sit down to dinner with a man who turns into a dog. And Sookie herself is still recovering from her last ordeal. She’s definitely improving, physically and mentally, but she’s always going to have some dark moments now. The werewolves tell her that there have been strange and ominous passers-by in the Stackhouse woods; now Sookie is about to come face-to-face with one of her more distant relatives...

I purchased this book because: I love the Sookie Stackhouse series so of course I would get the latest one :)


Opening lines: 'I feel bad that I'm leaving you like this,' Amelia said. Her eyes were puffy and red. They'd been that way, off and on, ever since Tray Dawson's funeral.

It is only when you start to read a book that you realize that you really love this series ... I have to admit I miss my adventures with Sookie and the rest of the supernatural beings ....

Things got abit hairy in the last book with the Fay War and so many of the most loved characters either being killed or wounded really badly ...

So it is with a happy heart that I am reading about a few of my favourite characters again ... Eric the hunky vampire, Sam the shapeshaper, Alcide the gorgeous werewolve, Bill the brooding vampire, Pam the fashion kick ass vampire, Claude the devilish handsome Faerie, Jason the brother who you love even though he is misguided ... and of course Sookie who always seems to be in the thick of it ....

Sookie is trying to get back to normal but what is normal in Sookie's world ... lol .... Eric's world is turned upside down when an unexpected visitor makes an appearance ... And to top that off the FBI are now sniffing around ... With more dead bodies turning up .....

You gotta love this series ... Abit sad that now that I have to wait for the next installment .... If your a fan of the series True Blood ... Then this series is a must ......

Favourite quotes: 'There' said Sam. I had to strain to hear him. Someone had put Jace Everett's 'Bad Things' on, and just about everyone in the bar was singing along. Pg 25 Gotta love the plug for the song in the book ... :) And love the song :)


"Thanks for the warning. I'll go to the house now. You're my favourite Breather." Pg 193 Just love Pam .... She has a wicked sense of humor ...

I love, love, love this series ....

I rate this book 41/2 ****

And if you want to read the 1st Chapter of this novel for free click here ....


Well here is Jace singing 'Bad Things' enjoy :)





Books in the Sookie Stackhouse Series:
1) Dead Until Dark
2) Living Dead in Dallas
3) Club Dead
4) Dead to the World
5) Dead as a Doornail
6) Definitely Dead
7) All together Dead
8) From Dead to Worse
9) Dead and Gone
A Touch of Dead ( Collection of short Stories about Sookie)
10) Dead in the Family
11) Dead Letters ( Released 26th May 2011)

Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom (4)

What if our beliefs were not what divided us, but what pulled us together?

In Have a Little Faith, Mitch Albom offers a beautifully written story of a remarkable eight-year journey between two worlds --- two men, two faiths, two communities --- that will inspire readers everywhere.

I purchased this book because: Book Club Read

Opening Lines: In the beginning, there was a question. "Will you do my eulogy?"

I have to say I abit in two minds whether I would enjoy this book or not ... Tuesday's with Morrie is one of my favourite books which I loved ... So naturally I went out and purchased 'The five people you meet in heaven' ... To be really disappointed with it ... But have to say that this book is back to his style of writing ... As 'Tuesdays with Morrie' and this novel are both true stories which involves the writer personally ... Where 'The Five People you meet in Heaven' is fictional and felt it was disjointed and I struggled with it ...

But back to this novel .... It is a lovely idea taken from two completely different worlds .... The chapters are short and interesting ... With great wee stories, tales and sayings throughout the novel which will inspire you ... I think my problem was that I had heard alot of the stories before so they where not something new to me ... But I can see where people will absolutely love this novel and find it inspiring :) ......

Quotes I found interesting: 'Getting old, we can deal with. Being old is the problem' Pg 125


'Lord, regardless of what eternity holds for me, let me give something back to you. I know it don't even no scorecard. But let me make something of my life before I go .... And then Lord, I'm at your mercy' Pg 221


As a non-fiction book it is really good ... And 10 percent of this novel goes to charity, including The hole in the wall Foundation which helps refurnish places of worship for the homeless ... This novel does make you pause for thought as to how would you write your own eulogy! .... And am I making the best of my life and living it to its fullest and do I have a purpose? ... So in conclusion I enjoyed the book but it isn't one of my favourites .......


I rate this book 4 ****

Some words from the author himself .... Enjoy :)

The Poison Diaries by Maryrose Wood & Jane Northumberland (4)

Jessamine Luxson lives with her father, Thomas, an apothecary, in an isolated cottage near Alnwick Castle. Thomas′s pride and obsession is his locked garden full of dangerous plants, which Jessamine is forbidden to enter.

When a traveler brings an orphan to their cottage, he claims the boy has special gifts that Thomas might value. Jessamine is drawn to the strange but intriguing boy, called Weed. Soon their friendship deepens into love. Finally, Weed shares his secret: he can communicate with plants. For him they have distinct personalities-and some are even murderous. From the locked garden the poisonous plants call to Weed, luring him with promises of deadly power.

I purchased this book because: Saw this on a book blog site and loved the cover :)

Opening lines: 15th March ... Gray skies, the rain came and went all morning. A cold wind blew in gust, worsening as the day went on, until the lowest branch of the great chestnut tree in the courtyard splintered down the middle and crashed to the ground. If I had been standing underneath, I would have been crushed.

This is a new wee series of the 1st in a set of three and it is quite an easy read that you will finish in know time ... The concept is really interesting with the idea sparking from the World Famous Poison Gardens at Alnwick Castle in England ( which is the castle that is also famous where they filmed Hogwarts for Harry Potter)

I love my Young Adults reads and this will be added to my list ... I did find it abit young at the start but then the story really developed ... Jessamine's world is quite a solitude life with her only company being her father until a strange young man named 'Weed' turns up ... Jessamine's eyes are suddenly opened up to a beautiful world around her ... But still there is a fascination for the poison garden behind the locked iron gates which her father forbids her to enter .. I suppose with anything if you are told not to go near it your curiosity is peaked ...

I have to say I loved the way the authors wrote about the poisons and how they described nature ... Truly beautiful and pulled you in .... You can see the lure of danger with the poisons by the way she describes them it is very seductive ...

I am excited on how the series will develop ... As they left us with a cliffhanger at the end ...

Some of favourite quotes in the book where: Her fathers description of Belladonna ... " Remember, Jessamin," Father warned, " you will be raising a litter of assassins" Pg 8

"I am easy prey, I think, a motherless lamb, alone in the world. No flock, no friends, no green field I can call home. And the skies are full of ravens." Pg 35

"You see, Jessamine, love is a kind of poison; one of my favourite kinds, in fact. It infects the blood, it takes over the mind, it seizes dominion over the body" Pg 225

So in end ... we have a choice ... we can either use the plants for good or evil ...

I rate this book 4 ****

Check out a short interview with the author .... Enjoy :)

The books in order of series:

1) The Poison Diaries

2)

3)

Unwind by Neal Shusterman (5)

In a society where unwanted teens are salvaged for their body parts, three runaways fight the system that would 'unwind' them.

Connor's parents want to be rid of him because he's a troublemaker. Risa has no parents and is being unwound to cut orphanage costs. Lev's unwinding has been planned since his birth as part of his family's strict religion. Brought together by chance, and kept together through desperation, these three unlikely companions make a harrowing cross-country journey, knowing all the while that their lives are hanging in the balance. If they can survive until their eighteenth birthdays, they can't be harmed. But when every piece of them, from their hands to their hearts, are wanted by a world gone mad, eighteen seems far, far away...Neal Shusterman challenges readers' ideas about life - not just where it begins and where it ends, but what it truly means to be alive.

I purchased this because: I saw it on a book blog ages ago and it has been on my TBR for ages ...

Opening lines: "There are places you can go," Ariana tells him, " and a guy as smart as you has a decent chance of surviving to eighteen."

OH MY GOSH .... I love this book ..... and I think I have fallen in love with a new author ... I have already ordered other books by Neal Shusterman ... And I blame him for my bags under my eyes for making me stay up to the lil hours of the morning reading ....

The cover for this book is brilliant ... I have the first cover with all the body parts connecting ... It is sooo clever ... From the moment I read "The Bill of Life" at the front I knew this book was going to be interesting ... What did I love about this book .... Literally everything .... I loved how each chapter was dedicated to one of the characters .... Brilliant ... It gives you a real sense of how each character felt not just the one character telling the story ...

Basically the book is set in the United States where a war has just ended over the issue of Abortion ... Where a comprise is found on both sides stating that abortion is outlawed, and there is a place for every baby, wanted or not, either at one of the State Homes or on the doorstep of other families, who are legally obligated to take care of each of these "storked" Babies.

That is, until they are thirteen, at this point, any children who are unwanted can be, effectively, retroactively aborted. They're not exactly killed but instead have their body parts live on, thanks to medical advances that enable every single body part, from your hair to your feet to your internal organs. Can and will be donated to others who need them. So from the ages of 13 to 18, millions of children are at risk of undergoing this procedure, of becoming literally "UNWOUND"

So faces the dilemma of three teens ... Who for different reasons find themselves in the awful position of being "unwind" .... I fell in love with each of this three characters and got totally drawn in by their stories ...

How much is a life worth? .... And how far as a human race are we willing to go? .... Neal Shusterman will have you pondering and glued to your seat until you finish this novel ... And to think that parts of this story is based on facts is really scary .... This is a very thought-provoking book and will have you thinking about it for days and weeks to come ... I know my copy of the book as lots of post-it notes throughout .... Definitely one of the top reads for this year for me ... Highly recommend it ....

Some of my favourite quotes ( And there where loads :) ) ...."First rule of motherhood, dearie: Men are screwups. Learn it now and you'll be a whole lot happier" Pg 63

"You can be anyone you want to be now" Pg 90

"Unwinds didn't go out with a bang - they didn't even go out with a whimper. They went out with the silence of a candle flame pinched between two fingers" Pg 95

"How could it, when Unwinds aren't really dead?" pg 124

"Of course, if more people had been organ donors, unwinding never would have happened ... but people like to keep what's theirs, even after they're dead. It didn't take long for ethics to be crushed by greed. Unwinding became big business, and people let it happen" Pg 224

"It's amazing that something as simple as a kiss can overpower The worst of worries" Pg 234

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity: and I'm not sure about the universe" Albert Einstein Pg 315

I rate this book 5 ***** - And if I could rate it more I would :)

Mr Darcy ... * Swoon *

Ok I just couldn't post a review of Austenland without putting this lil video up .....

So girls enjoy :) .........

Strange Angels by Lili St Crow (4)

Dad? Zombie.
Mum? Long gone.

Me? Well, that's the scary part.

Dru Anderson has been 'strange' for as long as she can remember, travelling from town to town with her father to hunt the things that go bump in the night. It's a weird life, but a good one – until it all explodes in a broken-down town when a hungry zombie busts through her kitchen door. Alone, terrified, and trapped, Dru's going to need every inch of her wit and training to stay alive. Chances of survival? Slim to none.

If she can't last until sun up, it's game over...

The first installment of a new series ........... And I loved it ........ This is Lili St. Crow's first stab at the Young Adult Market and it is great !!! ......... If you love your fantasy this book has it all ... Vampires, Were's and a host of other creatures .......... Throw a couple of hunky guys in the mix and you have your romance as well :) ........

The character of Dru is sassy and funny at the same time .... And even though she has been brought up knowning about the 'other world' around us ....... She is still unprepared for what is going to happen ....... Who can she trust? ..........

It is great that there are so many books out there at the moment with girl heriones .... And Dru is definately one of them ...... The next book 'Betrayals' comes out in November so not much of a wait thankfully ........

The only down side to the book is there is abit of swearing in it ....... Otherwise I would have rated it higher ........ So if you are looking to take a bite out of some fantasy ........ This book is for you !!!

I rate this book 4 ****

Here's the Book Trailer ... Enjoy :)

Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice (41/2)

In A Darkened Room A Young Man Sits Telling The Macabre And Eerie Story Of His Life - The Story Of A Vampire, Gifted With Eternal Life, Cursed With An Exquisite Craving For Human Blood. Anne Rice's Compulsively Readable Novel Is Arguably The Most Celebrated Work Of Vampire Fiction Since Bram Stoker's Dracula Was Published In 1897. As The Washington Post Said On Its First Publication, It Is A 'thrilling, Strikingly Original Work Of The Imagination ...sometimes Horrible, Sometimes Beautiful, Always Unforgettable'.

The first book in the Series The Vampire Chronicles ..... And really this is where all the Vampire books really stem from apart from Bram Stoker's Dracula. Hard to imagine that this was written in 1976 .. I would have been 4 years of age !!! ...... It is a brilliant book to read and one of those that is one the 1001 books you should read before you die ... And quite rightly so it was a real pleasure to read :) ........

The basically narrated by Louis who got turned by Lestat a vampire .... It will be interesting to read the other books as they are about Lestat to see if my feelings change over the course of the next two books ... We read of the struggle that Louis has that even though he is turned into a vampire he still feels human emotion which is unheard of by any other vampire ...

This book is a must read if you are a Vampire Lover just because if we didn't have this novel we wouldn't have such a wide range of Fantasy Authors today .........

I rate this book 4 1/2 ****

The rest of the series goes like this ... The Vampire Lestat (1985); The Queen of the Damned (1988)

As you know this book got made into a movie which I just loved .... And it was not to bad with sticking to the book ...... But as ever the book is better :) ..... But you have a brilliant cast in Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Christian Slater and Kirsten Dunst who plays the young girl brilliantly ...... Here's the trailer .... Enjoy

The Forest of Hands & Teeth by Carrie Ryan (5)

In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary's truths are failing her. She's learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets and the Guardians and their power and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future - between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

This is the first book of the RIP challenge that I am doing ...... And I loved it :) ........ It was an easy read and I couldn't put it down .......... Dishes and Kids where left to my poor husband to sort out while I was totally engrossed in the book ........ Like a another reviewer said "putting the book down is not an option."

It is a young adult read and yes it does have Zombies in it ......... I heard that they have decided to make this into a movie which will be brill ...... Reading it did remind me abit of 'The Village' but a totally different concept ..... I will definitely be going out and buying more books by Carrie ...

Ok getting back to the book .... It is about a girl called Mary who lives in a village surrounded by the Unconsecrated ........ She dreams for escaping and hopes that there are other people like her beyond the Forest of Hands & Teeth .... Her whole world changes when her Mother is turned ...... And her only option is to stay with the Sisterhood who claim they are the ones who protect the village ....

If you love fantasy books and of course Zombie books you are going to eat this up ( excuse the pun )

I rate this book 5*****

Here is short trailer put together for the book ...



I am excited as the companion/sequel to The Forest of Hands & Teeth is coming out in the Spring 1010 in USA ......

Time Travellers Wife Trailer ......... As promised

OK girls here is the trailer for the movie ......... And I have to say judging by the clips I might just like the movie ........ Even though I hated the book ............. Any way judge for yourself .......

The Boy in the Striped Pyjama's by John Doyle (4)

The cautionary tale is about two boys, one the son of a commandant in Hitler’s army and the other a Jew, who come face-to-face at a barbed wire fence that separates, and eventually intertwines their lives.

Set during the Holocaust, Bruno is only nine-years-old when his father, a commandant in Hitler’s army, is transferred from Berlin to Auschwitz. The house at “Out-With,” as Bruno calls it, is small, dark, and strange. He spends long days gazing out the window of his new bedroom, where he notices people dressed in striped pajamas and rows of barracks surrounded by a barbed wire fence. Bored and lonely, and not really understanding the circumstance of his new existence, Bruno sets out to explore the area and discovers Shmuel, a very thin Jewish boy who lives on the other side of the fence. An unlikely friendship develops between the two boys, but when Bruno learns that his mother plans to take her children back to Berlin, he makes a last effort to explore the forbidden territory where the boy in the striped pajamas lives.

This is a book club book that we all decided to read ...... And I thought it was a good read ... It is definitely a Young Adult book as it is told from a nine years old perspective ....

It is a very easy read ....... And you could easily finish it in one sitting as it is also large print .... I loved the concept of the story being told from a child's view .... Very clever ... The way that he calls the place "Out-With" and also the name he calls the leader "Fury".

It did make me reflect on how Innocent Bruno is ......... And how much responsibility that we have as parents to teach our children correct principles because what we say and teach them is how they view the world ......

There is just enough of sadness in the book to reflect the awful circumstances that surround the two boys ....... My only complaint with the book is that if the reader doesn't have a knowledge of what happened in these camps you cannot really grasp what is occurring in the story .... I think this may be one of the rare occasions that a visual movie would capture the story better ...... And probably in my case cry the whole way through the movie ........

I enjoyed the book and like I said before it would be good for a young reader .... But you would have to have a good discussion about the book and the context to make sure that they understood what was happening ... But felt that The Book Thief was more sensitive to the victims of the Holocaust and War times ...... As it gives a more graphic and realistic description of what actually happens at war times ....

I rate this book 4****

This is the Books to Movie part of the review ........ And didn't I tell you that I would cry :( .......... But only at the very end :( ......... I enjoyed the movie but I have to say like so many times the book is far better ........ I was waiting and waiting for the little quirky sayings of 'Out-With' and 'Fury' but they never happened !!! ........ I felt the movie lost abit of its charm and innocent because of that ...... But I felt the movie was good and the acting excellent by the boys :) .... Well worth watching ........ But Please read the book !!!!

The Road Trailer ........... Hope it is as good as the book :)

Well I am excited to see this movie ........ I loved the book and of course it has Viggo in so it has to be good RIGHT !!!!!!!!!

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris (4)

Sookie Stackhouse is just a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. Until the vampire of her dreams walks into her life-and one of her coworkers checks out....

Maybe having a vampire for a boyfriend isn't such a bright idea.

A fun, fast, funny, and wonderfully intriguing blend of vampire and mystery that's hard to put down, and should not be missed.

Ok these books have been out a while and number 9 was just released this May ... They brought out a different cover which I prefer to the original covers ... ( You all know what a book snob I am when it comes to covers .... The original cover where very cartoonie and I would have just passed them over ) Last year they made this book into a TV series and it got quite the following so much so that they are making a second series based on the 2nd book ... Dead in Dallas ...

The book is an enjoyable read but be warned there are a couple of sex scenes in the book ... And it is classed as an Adult read .... But the story line and characters I just loved ... There are Vampires, Shape shifters and some other species in the book which makes for a good story line and an endless supply for future books ...

The character of Sookie is great she is not your ordinary human she can read minds ... Bill the Vampire is great who is very charming and old fashioned ... And there is mystery to solve as who is killing all the women in the town ..... Is it the Vampires ???

I rate this book 4 ****

Now how does the book compare to the TV Series .... I have to say I loved the characters and the story line to the series but it is definitely an Adult View .... There is alot of sex scenes and I mean alot and some are quite graphic ... So this series is not for everyone .... If there was no sex scenes in the series then it would actually be perfect ... I was abit curious whether the books would be the same way but I am pleased to say they do not .... The second series is going to be aired at the end of June 2009 .... The series is good .... Great characters ... Great Music ... And great story line ... But again very graphic and alot of swearing which is a shame ...

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (5)

As an orphan, Jane's childhood is not an easy one but her independence and strength of character keep her going through the miseries inflicted by cruel relatives and a brutal school. However, her biggest challenge is yet to come. Taking a job as a governess in a house full of secrets, for a passionate man she grows more and more attracted to, ultimately forces Jane to call on all her resources in order to hold on to her beliefs.

Move over Mr Darcy here comes Mr Rochester ......

This is one of my favourite books and movies of all time .... I don't know how many times I watched Jane Eyre when I was growing up and Mr Rochester was always Timothy Dalton until the new version came out in 2006 ....

This novel is truly a classic ... And a novel which you can read with great ease and amusement ... Jane is such a wonderful character .... Even as a young child she knew her own mind even under such awful surroundings .....

I would truly call this novel a love story .... It is full of passion .... And it amazes me that it was written so long ago but yet is still so fresh .... I couldn't help but continually turn the pages to see what happens next ....

I feel this book has everything that you would require in a story ... Romance ( which sometimes you can feel the attraction between Jane and Edward was electric ) .... There was suspense and mystery ( What exactly was in attic? ) ... There was Ghosts and stately Mansions ( With beautiful gardens and women dressed in wonderful apparel ) ... There where the characters you loved to hate ( The wicked Aunt and Mr Brocklehurst ) .... The character who is the heroine ( Jane .... Plain she was not ) and no story would be complete without a brooding, Ruggedly Handsome Landing Man in Mr Rochester ....

I have so many favourite parts in this novel but here is but a few ....

"He rose and came towards me, and I saw his face all kindled, and his full falcon-eye flashing, and tenderness and passion in every lineament. I quailed momentarily - then I rallied." pg 329
(Swoon .... Swoon ... Swoon )

"My little friend!" said he, "I wish I were in a quiet island with only you; and trouble, and danger, and hideous recollections removed from me" ...... Can I help you, sir? - I'd give my life to serve you." .... "Jane, if aid is wanted, I'd seek it at your hands; I promise you that." Pg 244

"If one shook hands, for instance; but no - that would not content me either. So you'll do no more than to say Farewell, Jane?" ...... pg 271

"God pardon me!" he subjoined ere long, "and man meddle not with me: I have her, and will hold her" Pg 308

I cannot tell you how much I really love this book ... If you have not read it yet please do yourself a favour and go and get a copy !!! ..... You will not be disappointed ... You can really see how it is a Classic and remain one for many years to come ...

I rate this book 5*****

Ok we are doing this book as a book club and are going to settle down to watch the series .... So here is a wee teaser .... If you haven't seen this series it is well worth the watch :)

Graceling by Kristin Cashore (41/2)

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight--she's a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king's thug.

When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po's friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace--or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, debut author Kristin Cashore creates a mesmerizing world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will consume you, hold you captive, and leave you wanting more.

Love, Love Love the cover .... I am going through a teen stage at the moment it seems .... As a majority of books I have picked up are all from this range .... Not that I am complaining because I am not I am loving the books ...

It is great to see a strong female character ... And Katsa is definitely that .... I completed this book in a couple of days .... I loved it ... The chemistry between Katsa and Po is electric to say the least ... And it is interesting to see the character of Katsa discover who she really is ... And to realise that even though you are capable of doing everything yourself it is good to let other people in to help ... And that it is not considered a weakness ...

For a first novel the book is very well done and flows beautifully and you do get carried away into her world ... There are loads of adventures and of course the romance ..... I would have rated this book 5 stars if it wasn't for the fact that the end of the book left me abit deflated ... I know I am probably being petty but the whole book was quite fast paced until you get to the last couple of pages .... Is Kristin going to do a follow up book? .... It would be a shame not to do another book as the characters are wonderful ...

In saying that if you love fantasy, adventure and a touch of romance then you will love this book ...

I rate this book 41/2 ****

I would say this would make a brilliant movie so here is a wee clip to wet your appetite - done by a fan !!!

3 Willows by Ann Brashares (31/2)

Seeds
Polly has an idea that she can't stop thinking about, one that involves changing a few things about herself. She's setting her sights on a more glamorous life, but it's going to take all of her focus. At least that way she won't have to watch her friends moving so far ahead.
Roots
Jo is spending the summer at her family's beach house, working as a bus girl and bonding with the older, cooler girls she'll see at high school come September. She didn't count on a brief fling with a cute boy changing her entire summer. Or feeling embarrassed by her middle school friends. And she didn't count on her family at all. . .
Leaves
Ama is not an outdoorsy girl. She wanted to be at an academic camp, doing research in an air-conditioned library, earning A's. Instead her summer scholarship lands her on a wilderness trip full of flirting teenagers, blisters, impossible hiking trails, and a sad lack of hair products.
It is a new summer. And a new sisterhood. Come grow with them.

This is from the author of The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants which I really liked ... So this is a new book with new characters ....

Well this is definitely a wee book that my 11 year old daughter would love .... A book about 3 young teenage girls and how their friendships grow !!!

I loved the little factual quotes about the Willow Tree it was very interesting ... It is a sweet book and an easy read .... And I am sure alot of young girls will identify with the girls ... My favourite girl in the novel would have to be Ama ... She is funny, smart and willing to give anything a try !!! I cannot really say anymore just that it is a nice wee read !!!

I rate this book 31/2 ***