Sabrina's Stacking Shelves #2

I'll be honest with you, I went on another huge buying binge. I still have a tonne from my previous that I haven't read yet and as it's coming close to half term that I doubt I'll be reading again any time soon! 

I don't know what came over me but there were cheap books here and then bloggers wanted to get rid of their books and so I was just like, "I'LL GIVE THEM HOMES! ADD THEM TO MY FUTURE LIBRARY!! GIVE, I'LL PAY!" - that's not even exaggerating my thoughts. 

I thought I'd change up my display background, just because my TBR shelf is in the crammy little corner so my "display" unit for this month is my stool... 

I buy all my books unless said otherwise...I really need to start saving....

Waterstones, Amazon and Folyes:

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

The Killing Woods by Lucy Christopher

Crash Into You (Pushing the Limits #3) by Katie McGarry - READ

Where You Are (Between the Lines #2) by Tammara Webber - READ

The Works: 
Can I just say £1 per book, I mean, come on? Who wouldn't?!

This picture is darker than the rest..I took loads and they came out the same...I don't quite understand why...? Sorry.

Ruby Red by Linzi Glass

Tithe (Modern Faerie Tales #1)  by Holly Black - READ

Ironside (Modern Faerie Tales #3) by Holly Black

Couldn't find the 2nd one, so annoyed!

My Soul to Save (Soul Screamers #2) by Rachel Vincent

My Soul to Take (Soul Screamers #1) by Rachel Vincent

Sorry for the wrong photo ordering. (Couldn't find the third one either so annoyed!)

Extras (Pretties #4) by Scott Westerfeld - READ 

Read way before blogging days but I only had the trilogy, funny how I also bought them from The Works. But now I've got the complete series!

Lament by Maggie Stiefvater

Bloggers Bloggers Bloggers:

So thank you To Amber (The Mile Long Bookshelf) for these glorious books :D

You Don't Know Me by Sophia Bennett

BZRK by Michael Grant 

Here Without You (Between the Lines #4) by Tammara Webber

And also Kayleigh (K-Books) for just a few more books! ;D

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Starcrossed (Starcrossed #1) by Josephine Angelini 

Dreamless (Starcrossed #2) by Josephine Angelini 

(It's an ARC, hence it being a black spine not coloured like the rest)

Goddess (Starcrossed #3) by Josephine Angelini

And then finally...

So I didn't buy this. I was sent it by the awesome Tammara Webber! Signed and everything, and the Easy bookplates and the bookmark! Eeeep! I can't believe it! It's like my first official blog sent item :D  (not going to apologise for my 13 year old excitement :P) 

Good For You (Between the Lines #3) by Tammara Webber 

So that is my heap of a haul. 

What's everyone else got recently? Done a shop that you shouldn't have like me? xD

A to Z Bookish Survey

Hey everyone!

I found this on Perpetual Page Turner and thought it looked super fun so I thought I'd just go ahead and do it! (I also hoped it'd be a quick post I could do and put up, but I was wrong about that!)

 Haha...anyway, here is my version of the A to Z Bookish Survey!

Author you’ve read the most books from:

Sarah Dessen

Best Sequel Ever:

Point of Retreat (Slammed #2) by Colleen Hoover

Currently Reading:

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Drink of Choice While Reading:

Tea or water

E-reader or Physical Book?

Physical Book

Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated In High School:

Étienne St Clair

Glad You Gave This Book A Chance:

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Hidden Gem Book:

Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park

Important Moment in your Reading Life:

Finding Sarah Dessen

I honestly wanted to not put repeats but this is literally what triggered my crazy reading habit.

Just Finished:

Matched by Ally Condie

Kinds of Books You Won’t Read:

Historical - more the non-fiction type but I generally stay clear of things which involve WW1 and so on

Longest Book You’ve Read:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - 870 pages

...that is pretty poor to be honest...

Major book hangover because of:

Requiem by Lauren Oliver

Number of Bookcases You Own:

Do you want me to count?

Apparently I have 272 books from last September..? I don't know if that includes my teen books but that was the amount I counted last (via my personal Twitter) 

One Book You Have Read Multiple Times:

I'm trying to make this as wide-scoped as possible...trying not to repeat authors/books....but can't so..

Along For The Ride by Sarah Dessen

Preferred Place To Read:

Bedroom

Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:

I don't read a book and am like: "oh that's a awesome quote!" but I do love the one from The Last Song. It's also one on my Facebook profile, just because I thought it was such a clever link to music...and I like my music :)

"Life, he realized, was much like a song.In the beginning there is mystery, in the end there is confirmation, but it's in the middle where all emotion resides to make the whole thing worthwhile." 

― Nicholas Sparks, The Last Song

Reading Regret:

Thoughtless by S.C Stephens

Series You Started And Need To Finish(all books are out in series):

Modern Fairie Tales by Holly Black

(Tithe [read], Valiant and Ironside)

Three of your All-Time Favorite Books:

These are from the top of my head...I can't decide!!

HOW CAN YOU ASK THIS?!

1. The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen.

2. The One That I Want by Jennifer Echols

3. Easy by Tammara Webber

My go at creating a Divergent
edit/quote!:P I have, like, five
quote captions I've done
stored up on my USB...

Unapologetic Fangirl For:

D-I-V-E-R-G-E-N-T!

Worst Bookish Habit:

Leaving my bookmarks all over the house. 

**Playing cards make really good bookmarks!**

X Marks The Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:

The Kill Order by James Dashner - a book that I have in the American cover, which I got from my friend for my birthday!

(I started from the top of my YA shelves, since at the very top of my shelves I have my kid books)

Your latest book purchase:

I feel like it should say "books" not "book" because who just buys one book at a time?!?

Haha, I think I will say Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini (but it was also bought with a tonne of other books I shouldn't of bought!)

ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late):

I am very strict with how long I stay up reading because, unlike many of my friends, I can't function without sleep and I become a real grumpy poo. But anyway, Requiem by Lauren Oliver kept me up - worst thing is, I had a maths exam the next day!

Thank You Blogging!

Before I started blogging, I was a quiet reader. I pretty much kept myself to myself. My friends weren't really aware that I was such a heavy reader.  I didn't talk about reading an awful lot and during my time in high school because leisurely reading was the "strangest hobby ever" (according to everyone in my year) and it also meant you didn't have a life, which I also found out when I expressed my liking for crafting in my English class (it was an presentation assessment, bleeehh!). I only had three friend who read for entertainment but we all had very different reading tastes. But I think in secondary school reading YA books seemed much more acceptable than now that I'm in college. 

I guess my friends now know how much I read now. They know how much money I spend on my book hauls. They also know that I attended tonnes of book events last year, since most of them were after college and I would be lugging a massive bag around college full of books!

But from secondary school to college there's a bit of a difference.

When I hit college, everyone expects you to be an adult. Doing adult things, organizing time and then reading what adults read. Something complex and educational, bettering your internal dictionary. I can't say I disagree with that but then leisurely reading is supposed to be fun, right? So if I picked up a book with several words in one sentence that I didn't understand, where is the fun in that?

I don't care so much who knows about my reading habits. Ok, so I don't go round broadcasting it to every person I see, but I talk about books without feeling so ashamed. Basically everyone in the English department know me as a very heavy young adult reader, especially since I handed in my proposal (I also spent my second year English Language coursework focusing on YA dystopian and romance. It was so much fun!). I have never been able to get into classics, not being able to get through the few pages of heavy description, and there are only a small bunch of adult books that I read.

And where did this change of hiding my reading habits change? The turth is it has actually come from blogging!

I have come to the idea that some people will always disagree with what I want to do in the end, be a UKYA author. People will always look down on authors who write YA but the blogging community has really opened my eyes. As well as being able to project my voice into the internet void, I have been able to read other posts done by various bloggers who aren't ashamed of what they read or write.

(And yeah, I kinda use my blog as a bit of a diary entry. It's pretty awesome because I can ramble and you'll read it anyway ;P haha..)

When I was in the process of writing my personal statement my tutor commented how I said 'amazing' so much. He said it didn't sound like I really meant it and that I should take the 'George Orwell way of writing.' I missed out on studying Animal Farm, so had no clue what he was on about. But apparently, simple is the way I should of written. No exaggeration of emotion. I was a bit of a stubborn student and didn't do anything he said and instead gave it to my English teacher to read over, and thank god I did because I have got the turn out that I couldn't be happier about!

So why did you read that massive chunk of a post? It was a very long way of saying thank you, which is all I seem to be doing most of the time. Thanks to those who've been super kind to me, those who've followed me every and anywhere and those, who don't know it, but post their normal posts for people to read and give me a little boost of determination of what I want to do in the future! 

So hopefully this blog will be around for a while!
Should be a fun ride! (Just put in that cliché there!!)

Thank you!

Book Review: Cruel Summer by James Dawson

Title: Cruel Summer
Author: James Dawson
Published: 1st August 2013 (Indigo)
Pages:324


Summary: 
A year after Janey’s suicide, her friends reunite at a remote Spanish villa, desperate to put the past behind them. However, an unwelcome guest arrives claiming to have evidence that Jane was murdered. When she is found floating in the pool, it becomes clear one of them is a killer. Only one thing is for certain, surviving this holiday is going to be murder…

A compelling and psychological thriller - with a dash of romance. [Via Goodreads]

My Thoughts
It's hard when the first book I read by Dawson was 5 stars, but the only reason for the 4 stars is because I didn't get the full surprise I wanted at the end (I saw what Dawson was doing and actually got my guesses right!!) 

Nevertheless, this book contained every obvious horror movie convention: the killer on the loose...scary silhouette, a dark cellar and, of course, deaths. With the twist of the horror format, this book twisted my guts even more than Hollow Pike because of these "horror conventions" that are build to be suspenseful and shocking. Every sentence screamed: "YOU ARE ALL SCREWED! SOMETHING BAD WILL HAPPEN!" - literally....and it got me every time..

'But he didn't check everywhere.' Katie's voice was full of apprehension. 'Nobody looked in the cellar...' 

Dun dun DUNNNN!!!

I really loved Ryan. He was the key person who brought up the questions and pushed forward, equally loving his narration! (Well I loved the whole structure of the book). Like I said in my Hollow Pike review, I could imagine it on TV. Then I read this book, BAM, the layout is as if I'm watching a TV show! Nice nice, I like it...bonus points there! ;-) But it was more because of Ryan's way of thinking about life and I thought it was a really interesting way on looking at life (but then not really agreeing).

Even with the situation of the book, I liked how there was a merge of other themes that came with an individual. I think I am speaking more about Gregg. 

The highlights were when we got to read about two characters having a private conversation, which seemed to happen a lot in this book (Oooo, so many secrets!!!). These scenes are where we get to suss out our suspects as well as get our flash backs on the events surrounding Janey. 

Definitely a book to read.

Your mind won't be put to rest until the end...literally! 


** When I was telling my friend about Hollow Pike and Cruel Summer, she asked: "Did James Dawson just have a horrible time with teens and want to murder them all?" - I laughed. But a good question, don't you think? ;P

Will People Always Look Down on YA readers?

This is something I thought about whilst writing one of my other posts. It's something that is true. But maybe there's a bit of hope since the announcement of the YALC that will be held at the London Film and Comic Convention!

In secondary school, you are taught to look at the classics. Me, I looked at Frankenstein, The Crucible and To Kill A Mockingbird. They were books that are something that we should aspire to write like. They are the "finer" ways of writing. Ok, it sounds like I'm on a rant about classics. I'm not. To be honest I really wish I could get through them, but I can't. I don't know if it's that I choose all the wrong books or if it's just me with no reading stamina, but I have tried many a times and nothing seems to work.

When I was writing my personal statement for UCAS, at my college, you are supposed to give your personal statement to your tutor to check over. My tutor is a maths teacher and I wanted to give mine to an English teacher because the subject I wanted to study has something to do with English. My english teacher told me to write about some novels that I've read, which I replied to saying: "Should I write about books for the target audience I want to write for? Or classics?" He then went on and asked me what classic books I've read. I said: "I'm not really a classic reader and have only read two." (Ok, so I have read more than two but I was on the spot, I panicked!)

And then, this is where I was made to feel like a 'stupid' person, there was a teacher who sat behind his desk in the office and she laughed. Properly laughed. A 'I-can't-believe-she's-only-read-two-classic-books-and-she's-going-to-study-creative-writing' laugh. 

I came home and cried. I couldn't believe it. 

(*Huff* ...rant over..)

It was then when I kinda realizes that YA won't be classed as an acceptable piece of literature. My dad told me that I needed a thicker skin because otherwise how would I write my own novels without getting down. I believe that so much. I think it gave me a heads up on what I will face in the future. I mean, I know tonnes of authors (as in the authors who's books I've read) who don't care. It's not about if there are superiors who think that they are writing rubbish (well maybe it is important to drill into their heads that nothing is wrong with YA fiction!). But they write to please the young adult audience and not anyone else! That's what counts, not those who judge them for writing "proper" books!

Having said this, we need to bow down to Malorie Blackman *gets on hands and knees and worships* for the organising the Young Adult Literature Convention in the London! I am so excited for this. I've always wanted to go to the LFCC but have never got round to it but now with the YALC rolling in, it is a perfect opportunity to go ahead and get tickets. I've always been very envious about for America for constantly having events where herds of authors gather but now it's our time!!

Some of the authors who have been announced so far:
•    Malorie Blackman
•    James Dawson
•    Matt Haig
•    Derek Landy
•    Sophie McKenzie
•    Patrick Ness
•    Natasha Ngan
•    Darren Shan
•    Ruth Warburton

I feel that it is more acceptable in the US than anywhere else. They have their huge conventions, BEA, and most of the well know YA authors are American. Their bookshop displays are huge (or so I've seen via my Twitter timeline) but then when I go to Waterstones for a newly released book, all I get is a small stack on a table with a tonne of other books. No fancy sign saying they're just in stock or anything....But hey-ho, I want to see where this convention will take people opinions. Should be an awesome weekend!

What does everyone else think? Do you think that people look down on YA books? 

And who's going to the YALC??? (I'm thinking of buying the weekend ticket but haven't confirmed! Is it worth it?? Who's going? What days? Tell me people!!)

Book Review: Hollow Pike by James Dawson

Title: Hollow Pike
Author: James Dawson
Published: 2nd February 2012 (Orion Children's Books)
Pages: 416

She thought she’d be safe in the country, but you can’t escape your own nightmares, and Lis London dreams repeatedly that someone is trying to kill her. Lis thinks she’s being paranoid - after all who would want to murder her? She doesn’t believe in the local legends of witchcraft. She doesn’t believe that anything bad will really happen to her. You never do, do you? Not until you’re alone in the woods, after dark - and a twig snaps... Hollow Pike - where witchcraft never sleeps. [Via Goodreads]

My Thoughts:
I've had this book on my TBR shelf for a while, I bought it back in October (I think),  but was never really in the mood to read it. I'm currently in the "fairies, magic and witches" sort of mood, so what book fits one of those categories? Hollow Pike.

Wow. Just wow.

I've never held my breath so much throughout a book. Descriptions where written so well without it feeling too overwhelming and I felt like I was watching a TV series *cough cough* Yeah, I can imagine this being a TV series, every little scene in this book. (Not a movie because I feel that it can end on so many cliff-hangers at the end of each episode...and it's worth more than an hour long film! :P )

I was gripped to the book as soon as I started. I cannot think of a fault at all. The pace was perfect and I don't know how Dawson was able to keep it so suspenseful, making me frantically reading on until revealing the answers on the last pages. 

A creepy and eerie factor that I loved were from those figures were stalking Lis. But then the idea of paranoia also slips in and thinking back, yes, it does seem to run really closely to The Crucible (which I also had to study in GCSE like Lis - I hated it). This was almost like a modern day twist of the novel and it was perfect. 

"From the tangled bushes at the end of the garden, a figure watched the house intently. Pale fingers pulled leaves aside, seeking a better view of the building." 

WHO? WHEN? WHY? HOW?

Even with the gritty storyline, I think that the draw was the characters. I, strangely, really wanted to be friends with Lis as soon as I started reading about her. She seemed so down to earth and although initially siding with Laura, she did everything that I would of done in the end. I never once got annoyed at any of the characters for keeping secrets from the police, which I think is really difficult to do because there's always that thin line between annoying and being tolerable. 

HIGH RECOMMEND! 

If you don't follow through by reading it, I really do think you're missing out on some really good UKYA!

Happy Valentine's Day!

It's that time of year again. 

Happy Valentine's day everyone!

So far, my day hasn't been the most loving of days. I woke feeling ill, had to work on some of my media coursework for my 3rd draft and was rained on on my way home.

However your spending this day, I hope that you have an awesome time. Partying? Evening meal? Movie date? Staying in? A bit of 'me-time'?

For me, I am staying home (I know, living the wild life). I thought today would be a great day to reread some of my favourite YA romance novels. Only some because I don't think I'd be able to read all of my favourite books by the end of today! 

So, I call this my dinner date....

For starters: 

A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn   

Girl at Sea by Maureen Johnson

Gotta start with the lighter options before going into those tougher books ;P

For the main course: 

Easy by Tammara Webber 

Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park

And then finally, dessert: 

What Happens Next by Colleen Clayton

(Before you ask 'wait, where's Sarah Dessen?' I only recently reread her books so I don't think I need to read them again just yet! Haha..)

Yay! So that's my plan for the rest of the day!

What's everyone else up to? Got any special plans? :D 

The Book Blogger TMI Tag

So I was tagged by the lovely Orli from Blame My Bookshelf. As well as giving me this tag, she has given me the task of tagging others who HAVEN'T done this tag...oh no...

But before that, here are the questions and my answers...

How old are you?

18

What book are you reading?

Heart-Shaped Bruise by Tanya Byrne

What are you wearing?

Blue Jeans, grey top, grey hi-top converse (which are fluffy inside) and a cream wool scarf.

Is that ok?

I'm not sure why you'd want to know..

OTP?

 Fourtris

It's the first fandom that I've been submerged in. Before, no other book or anything has ever been so consuming (well, I was a huge fan of the Jonas Brothers when I was younger...they've split soo..)

But anyway. Divergent.
 Literally. My life. 


Or Lake and Will from Slammed <3

Blogger or Wordpress?

This is tricky. Yes, my blog is on Blogger but the Divergent fansite that I help with is on Wordpress and I do like the format there - It wasn't so hard for me to figure out.

 So...Wordpress...just wins by a tiny tiny bit..

 Going outside being active or staying in and reading a book?

I really love love love hiking and I'd love to go caving and things like that but because of where I live, staying in and reading a book is the only option.

What is the last book you read?

Cruel Summer by James Dawson - It was so good!!

What is the book you're going to read next?

I haven't decided that yet! I pick and choose when it's time rather than have a set list of books I need to read.

eBooks - yes or no?

Yes (If novellas count..?)

Where do you prefer to read?

Bedroom!

Or in the summer, I like my conservatory.

Who is the last person you tweeted?

By the time I write someone down to the time I type this, it'll change, but...

The last person was @DivergentsUK via my personal twitter account!

Who's blog did you look at last?

Daisy Chain Book reviews - I just read Arianne's review on Salvage by Keren David.

 Who is your favourite blogger?

I really love Jamie's which I only recently discovered.

The Perpetual Page Turner

It has loads of fun tags and booky related posts that I think are really awesome.

Outside of books, I'm really into DIY stuff so:

A Pair & A Spare is pretty awesome

And also..

High on DIY

 Who is your favourite booktuber?

Priscilla on Readbles - I adore her videos (and also her accent...yeah, I just had to say that..)

What do you do when someone tells you reading is boring?

I don't really care. Depends who they are, I normally just comment that they're not reading the right books. But other than that I let them be.

Who is the last author you spoke to?

Spoke to in person: Veronica Roth

Via email: James Dawson

 Who is the last person you texted?

My friend, Beth.

 Who is your all-time favourite book character?

Seriously? You're making me choose?

 UKYA or USYA?

I am a really heavy USYA reader but that was because I was never really aware of many UKYA authors! I'm trying to even out the playing field now though! At the moment then, it's USYA.

What is your preferred drink whilst reading?

Tea or peppermint tea or Chinese herbal tea stuff or water

...not all that exciting...

 If you hated reading, what would you be doing instead?

I think I would probably be a film watcher. That or maybe a gamer. Or maybe one of those crime tv show junkies.

 Three things I wish I had more time to do.

How many bookshelves/bookcases do you have?

I have one bookcase (that doesn't live in my room)

One bookshelf and then a tiny mini bookshelf (that live in my room)

Confused? Yeah...sorry...

If you had the choice to meet all of your favourite book bloggers or all of your favourite authors, which would you pick? You can only pick one.

Is it bad if I say authors?

 I feel really bad, but literally all my favourite authors are American and NEVER come on tour in the UK!

Insta-love- yes or no?

It depends on the book. Sometimes I can deal with it, sometimes it's all round wrong!!

 Favourite author?

Sarah Dessen

What is the number-one book on your wishlist?

At the moment, Panic by Lauren Oliver.

Do you prefer books with female or male protagonists?

I don't really mind to be honest.

I think that reading about a female protagonist who's in a dystopian world and badass feels a little more empowering and cool.

 But then I love reading YA romance novels with the perspective of both the female and males. The guys are always really cute...

Which is your favourite book-to-film adaption?

Can I say Divergent even if it hasn't come out yet? Is that cheating?

Ok, The Hunger Games and Catching Fire is pretty awesome.

What is the last song you listened to?

Can I just say Hunter Hayes...one of his songs, they're currently on shuffle as I type this.

Which do you enjoy reading more - negative reviews or positive reviews?

I enjoy both.

I really like the really really negative ones of books that I enjoyed because it also gets me thinking!

Who are you going to tag?

Ok, so here's the part that I suck at!

I tag..

Kata (I can tag booktubers right? Oh well, I just did!)

Jayd from Books, Food & Other Things

Kelsey from Verbosity Book Reviews

and

Midnight Page Turners

Please say I haven't tagged anyone who's already answered these questions 



I will cry...