SLIDER

WELCOME TO BLOGGER'S BOOKSHELF...


where our team of writers love to talk all things books, sharing reviews, features, lists, interviews and more.

Getting lost in a book is escapism at it's finest and it's what everyone who contributes here thrives on.

NEWSLETTER

2015
Showing posts with label 2015. Show all posts
Group Collaboration | #WeNeedMore: Books We Want To Read

Saturday, 28 November 2015

Group Collaboration | #WeNeedMore: Books We Want To Read

Some stories are overdone but others have never seen the light of day. This month partly inspired by the #WeNeedMore hashtag and in honour of NaNoWriMo 2016, we had our bloggers think about the books that seem to be missing from the literary sphere. Here's some of the books we feel we need more of...

 ~  -  ~ 

It would be really interesting to see more 'utopian' stories out there, as predominantly it is dystopian futures where underground revolutions rise up against totalitarian governments. I would love to read more stories that were generally more peaceful and the story following kind of a rom com vibe, but also set in the future. The novelist could envisage what time saving technologies, living arrangements, clothes and landscape the future might hold for us. It would be a chance to be creative and inventive in a positive way. 
- Cat 

 ~  -  ~ 

Characters with disabilities need to be shown as 'getting on with it' rather than inspirational.

 ~  -  ~ 

I'd love to see more graphic novels that deal with real, contemporary issues, such as Katie Green's Lighter Than my Shadow, which is about her struggle with mental illness. Graphic novels are an incredibly powerful medium and it would be great to see this format utilised more.
More generally, I found it very difficult to think of topics that are rarely or are not discussed somewhere. Perhaps though, this is due to a lack of diverse voices. If we don't hear them, how are we to know what their stories are? Food for thought from The Guardian
- Ali 

 ~  -  ~ 

YA is so often very romance heavy, so I'd love to see more contemporary YA books focused on friendships and family relationships - especially supportive family environments.
We also talk a lot about wanting more diverse literature but I'd love to see more fantasy, dystopian and sci-fi novels set in East Asia and the Pacific Islands - basically I want a Hunger Games but with Filipino characters please!
- Ria

 ~  -  ~ 

Some fantastic stories from this month's contributors! 
If you have any literary recommendations to satisfy our blogger's needs leave them in the comments!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Next month it's our final group post of 2015 (can you believe it?!) and of course we want to know what your top 5 favourite reads this year! 
If you'd like to get involved just email bloggersbookshelf@gmail.com or drop us a tweet @blog_bookshelf!
Read more »
No comments
,
Tonight The Streets Are Ours | Leila Sales | Review

Wednesday, 28 October 2015

Tonight The Streets Are Ours | Leila Sales | Review

*image via Goodreads

Like all the stories, the one you are about to read is a love story.
If it wasn't, what would be the point?


Arden Huntley is recklessly loyal. Taking care of people is just was she does, especially when it comes to her family, boyfriend - Chris, or her best friend Lindsay. Being self-sacrificing has been her thing since she was a child. She does it completely out of love. Her loyalty is such a part of her identity she was even immortalised in perfect porcelain doll form, when she had an American Girl Doll named after her.

One day he stumbles upon 'Tonight The Streets Are Ours’, a blog written by a teenage boy called Peter who lives in New York. She soon finds herself fascinated by Peter’s life and his story. His life in Manhattan is so far removed from her own in small-town Maryland. When Peter writes on the blog that he’s been dumped suddenly by his ‘perfect’ girlfriend - Bianca - Arden takes a risk and decides to road trip to the city to see him. In one crazy whirlwind night out, with Lindsay in tow, Arden soon discovers things aren’t as they seem with Peter. And maybe Arden will learn a little bit about herself along the way too.

So what’s my verdict?

I have a lot of feelings about this book. 

First of all the choice of first person perspective was totally apt and necessary for this story to work. We only see Arden, her friends, her family, and even Peter through her eyes. Her story is one of awkward self-discovery, and whilst it can be frustrating it’s so important to remember she’s only 17 years old. Yes, she’s incredibly loyal, but she’s also in some ways, naive, self serving and (as I’ve seen some reviews) incredibly unlikable. But that's the thing, Arden will obviously paint herself in a good light. In her own mind she's always strives do good and to be good, but as it turns out is not the best way to live your life sometimes.

As for the other characters, again, as we’re seeing them through Arden’s eyes they aren’t painted in the most favourable way. Her father is a workaholic, her mother an deserter, her boyfriend is kind but totally goal orientated, and her best friend Lindsay at times is a bit of a freeloader. Peter is portrayed her escape. Through his blogs she sees him as the ultimate good. He too is just trying to do the right thing - something Arden clearly identifies with.
With these characters in place it was hard not to predict that the inevitable tensions buried under the surface explode - sometimes at the worst possible moments. Not only does Arden learn a lot about herself but we also see everyone else growing and developing throughout the story.

All in all what's most interesting about the story is not Arden herself or even her story, but the running themes of perception, self-sacrifice and love in all forms. Sales captures the reality that we can never really know the full story and whilst we want to believe we’re always the good guy in the story, sometimes we’re our own worst enemy too.

Reading Soundtrack:
A Place In This World: Taylor Swift
Fools: Troye Sivan
This City Is Contagious: The Cab
Friday Night: McFLY
Manhattan: Sara Barielles 
The Mixed Tape: Jack’s Manequin 
Daydreaming: Paramore
Just Watch Me: Kate Voegele 

For lovers of…Paper Towns, Nick & Nora’s Infinite Playlist, and Jennifer E. Smith.
Read more »
No comments
, ,
THREE | Happy Birthday Blogger's Bookshelf!

Monday, 26 October 2015

THREE | Happy Birthday Blogger's Bookshelf!

BB3header

Today's post is an extra special one for everyone here at team BB as we're celebrating three years since Ria & Erin launched the blog!

We're very proud of everything we've achieved so far, including the fact that according to Bloglovin' our number of regular readers has almost doubled over the last twelve months! We're also very grateful to our current team lineup for all of their hard work in keeping Blogger's Bookshelf full of interesting new content, as well as everyone else who has written for us along the way.

Finally, we'd like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to all of our readers, both old and new, for joining us on our book blogging journey! We hope you'll all stick around to celebrate our fourth year with us too.

3rd-bday-giveaway2 3rd-bday-giveaway3 3rd-bday-giveaway1

And to celebrate our 3rd birthday we have a very special giveaway to say thank you to all of our readers! Included in this awesome YA themed literary bundle:

The official YALC 2015 goodie bag, complete with a tote bag, pens, badges, postcards, and bookmarks
~
A handful of preview reads including All Of The above, The Art Of Being Normal and Demon Road
~
An uncorrected proof copy of The Baby by Lisa Drakeford* 
All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below! The giveaway is open to everyone (including you International folk!) for the next two weeks and will end on the 8th November 2015. 



  a Rafflecopter giveaway

*c/o Chicken House 
Read more »
No comments
,
The Unfortunate Decisions of Dahlia Moss | Max Wirestone | Review

Wednesday, 14 October 2015

The Unfortunate Decisions of Dahlia Moss | Max Wirestone | Review

*image via Goodreads, advanced readers copy c/o Netgalley

Dahlia Moss is a hot mess. 
Broke.
Jobless.
And nothing great on the horizon.

So when she's offered a chance to play detective and recover a spear from an online MMORPG called Zoth for a huge wad of money she shrugs her shoulders and thinks 'why not'.ure, whatever, she's not a detective and the guy is a little nuts but it's not like she has anything better to do, other than mooch around her friend Charice's apartment and eat ramen until her next disastrous job interview.

It's all fun and games - literally in this case - until her 'client' shows up dead. The stakes are higher for Dahlia and time is running out.

So what’s my verdict?
If there's one thing I love more than a geeky novel, it's a geeky novel with a sarcastic and cynical protagonist. Sitting on the right side of 'quirky' and opinionated, without the lack of self confidence and self awareness attributed to the manic pixie dream girl trope. Dahlia is no damsel in distress nor is she a warrior woman, she's confident, intelligent but other than that she's pretty normal. Her YOLO - slightly Millennial - attitude is what drives the book where she literally has nothing better to do than investigate a Cyber crime/murder in an MMORPG. Despite this, she's a realist. There's plenty of moments where you can almost feel her side-eyeing a hidden camera with an 'are you actually kidding me' look.

And Dahlia isn’t the only person in the story who feels fresh, there’s also a colourful mix of characters - my favourite is Dahlia's ridiculous roommate Charise, who has a thing for over the top hijinks most of which Dahlia turns a blind eye to because she’s so used to it. The great thing about many of the nerdier side characters is that they don’t just fall into the ‘geek’ character trope. They all feel like fleshed out people - weird as it sounds I’ve definitely come into contact with personality like some of the Zoth gamers she meets during the story.

Plot-wise it's refreshingly fun, and the right amount of geeky and full of pop culture references without being condescending or inaccessible to a non-nerd audience. Yes, there are parts of the story where Dahlia is knee deep into playing Zoth, but that comes secondary to solving the murder mystery and delving a little more into her character development. And for those craving that satisfying ‘detective story end’, this one comes with an amusing twist on the usual cop/criminal showdown.

For lovers of…Scott Pilgrim, Ready Player One and Veronica Mars
Read more »
No comments
,
Hollow Pike | James Dawson | Review

Wednesday, 30 September 2015

Hollow Pike | James Dawson | Review


“It was funny, thought Lis, how everything seemed possible in the middle of the night. The fairy tales had seemed almost laughable at school. They weren't so funny any more.” 

Escaping from bullies and plagued by terrible nightmares in rural Wales, Lis London is attempting to rebuild her life and just get through Secondary school in one piece. Her new home in Hollow Pike may be super creepy but at least this is a fresh start for her...or so she thought.

After aggravating the school's mean girl and befriending a trio of gothic misfits, Lis' life seems to spiral out of control. When a seemingly innocent prank ends up with blood on her hands and the night terrors are just getting worse. Lis soon finds herself living inside a real life folk tale. One with witches, ancient rituals and whispers in the dark woods.

So what’s my verdict?

As always James Dawson has managed to give us a YA novel that weaves in both the creepy, thriller genre with the added reality and generous helping of major teen drama. Hollow Pike was like a brilliant mix of Mean Girls and Charmed - just imagine the Plastics as a Coven and you get the idea.

The situations that Lis gets herself into can be pretty chilling, but it's actually the everyday terrors that are more frightening in the form of the class tormentor, Laura - seriously though what is her problem? She could give Regina George a run for her money at times. The 'weirdos', Kitty, Delilah and Jack are a nice respite and - unsurprisingly - aren't as weird as everyone makes out to be and their friendship with Lis was actually great to read.

I find it incredibly rare to find a novel that incorporates witchcraft without it being overly cheesy on the ancient spells and magical elements. Hollow Pike's supernatural plot lines are much more rooted in traditional paganism that your a-typical witches on a broomstick stereotype and I'd love to see a sequel to this with a bit more development on the paranormal world. Definitely recommend this as a perfect read on the lead up to Halloween at the end of this month!

For lovers of...The Heathers, Charmed, and The Craft

Reading soundtrack:
Dead Girl Walking: Heathers: The Musical
Control: Halsey
Hold Back The River: James Bay
Sisters of the Moon: Fleetwood Mac
Crossfire: Brandon Flowers
Gunshot: Lykki Li

Read more »
No comments
, ,
The Accident Season | Moira Fowley-Doyle | Review

Monday, 14 September 2015

The Accident Season | Moira Fowley-Doyle | Review

*Review copy & cover image c/o Netgalley

the accident season"It's the accident season, the same time every year. Bones break, skin tears, bruises bloom."

Each year just before Halloween Cara’s family shares the experience of the ‘accident season’ a time where as if cursed they all become more accident-prone, with a history of injuries and even fatalities. But is the accident season real or is something else going on in this family?

The Accident Season is a mysterious tale with an incredibly intriguing and unique premise. In a way the story isn’t really about the so-called ‘accident season’… but the less you know about the plot going into it, the better.

The writing style is fairly heavy on the metaphors, with a haunting and at times chaotic feel to it as Fowley-Doyle manages to create a very eerie atmosphere. There’s also hints of both magic and the paranormal along the way, something I wouldn’t usually gravitate towards but feel worked within the context of the story.

As far as characters go I struggled to feel invested in the majority without getting to know them a little better. One that did stand out to me as an interesting addition was Elsie, a mysterious girl who starts a secrets box at school and frighteningly appears in the background of all of Cara’s photographs.

This tale of an unusual family is both original and haunting. It would be the perfect read to pick up in time for Halloween!
Read more »
No comments
, , ,
Group Collaboration | Book Spine Poetry

Saturday, 12 September 2015

Group Collaboration | Book Spine Poetry

This month we've asked our bloggers to get creative with their books. Inspired by our regular reviewer Anjali's Book Spine Poetry series on her blog, our contributors have created poems based on the spines of their books.

Check out their creations below!



Thanks to all of our bloggers for their fantastic poems and their photos!

Next month we're gearing up for Halloween and want to know which literary characters you would dress up on the spookiest night of the year! If you'd like to get involved just email bloggersbookshelf@gmail.com or drop us a tweet @blog_bookshelf!

Read more »
No comments
,
Vivian versus the Apocalypse | Katie Coyle | Review

Wednesday, 2 September 2015

Vivian versus the Apocalypse | Katie Coyle | Review

*image via GoodReads

The rapture has come and gone, and all that's left of Vivian Apple's parents are two holes in the roof.

Vivian never thought the evangelical Church of America were serious when they said the 'divine and good' will get taken up to heaven. She also never thought she'd be left and abandoned by her converted 'Believer' parents either. But here she is embarking on a road trip across America with her best friend Harp and Peter, a boy who claims to know where the Church may be keeping Believers.
But the world outside is different now. In the wake of Rapture left behind Church goers are more violently evangelical than before and strange new groups of 'orphans' are forming on the foundations of creating a better world.

The Rapture was thought to signal end for many, but the impending Apocolypse is just the beginning for Vivian Apple.

What’s my verdict?
In the myriad of dystopian novels 'Vivian versus...' offers an uncomfortably close depiction of what could happen should the Rapture happen in our current society. Unlike other utopian or dystopian novels there's no futuristic tech or zombie outbreak. The danger is a human race which feels as if they have been abandoned by what they believed would save them, and there's nothing more vulnerable or unpredictable than a human race that feels betrayed.

The scariest thing is that the type of cult-ish behaviour that is typified by the Church of America in the book has happened before and there's some interesting social commentary about organised religion and more specifically Christianity (which is rarely explored in such an open and non-derogatory way).

In regards to our protagonist nothing feels particularly special about Vivian, in a way it's as thought her generic descriptors in the book are there to allow the reader to fill ourselves into her shoes. What would we do if were essentially orphaned at the end of the world? That being said though Vivian's bravery and increasingly hard exterior does come from her situation, it's her drive and personality to find the rational truth that spurs her.

One thing I loved about the book was the contrast between Vivian and Harp, and it was their relationship that soon became my favourite thing in the story. Both girls go through the wringer and they have their share of arguments, but through it all it's their friendship that stands firm.
In contrast Viv and Peter's journey did feel fairly predictable but I did appreciate that their relationship wasn't too forcibly shoved down our throats, as it seems to happen in many YA novels like this. 

If there's one more thing I could've asked from the book it would've been to delve more into the range of belief systems around America post-rapture. We get glimpses in the form of the 'New Orphan', Vivian's grandparents and her old History teacher, but it would've been nice to see more. Overall, I thought Vivian versus the Apocalypse was a great take on the apocalypse genre and I can't wait to read more from Coyle.

Reading soundtrack:
It's The End Of The World As We Know It: R.E.M; Born To Run: Bruce Springsteen; New Americana: Halsey; Are We The Waiting: Green Day; Falling: Haim; Open Arms: Elbow; Seven Wonders: Stevie Nicks; Tyrant: One Republic

For lovers of...How I Live Now, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, and the Delirium series.
Read more »
No comments
,

Monday, 17 August 2015

Black Cairn Point | Claire McFall | Review

 


Black Cairn Point is the story of a camping trip gone wrong. 

Whilst in an isolated area of Scotland a series of events that can only be explained by the supernatural leave just two survivors; Heather and Dougie. The story is recounted through the eyes of Heather who, thanks to that fateful trip which left Dougie in a coma, is left alone with her sanity being questioned by everyone including her own family.

The group of five teens which also includes Emma, Martin and Darren, head out to the middle of nowhere armed with camping gear and alcohol to celebrate Dougie's birthday. Whilst out exploring Martin, Dougie and our narrator Heather come across some ruins which aspiring Archaeology student Dougie identifies as a tomb... or cairn. Inside they find an old brooch and make the mistake of removing it from the cairn, taking it back to their camp. Soon after the teens begin to disappear one by one under mysterious circumstances and Heather starts to believe that they have disturbed a vengeful spirit.

If I'm being completely honest I'm not usually one to opt for books with a supernatural element however the rest of the blurb (including Hot Key's key which says the book contains isolation, suspicion, survival and danger), plus pretty front cover caught my eye whilst browsing the stalls for new reads at YALC. This particular novel sounded so interesting that Ria picked up a copy as well!

The novel switches between present day and Heather looking back, explaining what happened on the trip allowing the reader to slowly piece everything together. Having recently read quite a few other titles within the thriller/mystery sub-genre of YA I was pretty sceptical about Heather due to the unusual circumstances and spent a lot of time questioning whether she was a reliable narrator. I didn't love the other characters either but somehow that didn't manage to take away from my enjoyment of reading their unique story.

As horror goes the events of the actual camping trip felt uneasy with a chilling atmosphere but didn't necessarily scare me as I read. The same can't be said for the later chapters detailing Heather's present day life trapped in a psychiatric ward accused of being 'crazy' simply for trying to explain what she saw out in the middle of nowhere. With Dougie still in a coma Heather can do nothing but wait for him to wake up and prove that she is telling the truth, attending appointments with Dr Petersen and sitting alone in her room at the facility.

The ending of the book is definitely one that will divide opinion amongst readers, although I'm happy to say that I really liked the conclusion and found it to be very fitting considering the creepy tone of the novel.

So would I recommend picking up a copy of Black Cairn Point? In short, yes. This quick read is intriguing and perfectly creepy, although I wouldn't suggest taking it with you on any camping trips!

Read more »
No comments
, , , ,
The Night Circus | Erin Morgenstern | Review

Wednesday, 5 August 2015

The Night Circus | Erin Morgenstern | Review

*image via GoodReads

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not...

Two aged magicians set upon a task of pitting their two proteges, Ceilia and Marco, in a magical contest. The backdrop to this battle? The mysterious and fantastical Cirque des Rêves (or the Circus of Dreams) created solely for the purpose of being the stage for which the two will demonstrate and eventually fight for their lives.

What’s my verdict?
The Night Circus is probably one of the most unusual books I've reviewed for Blogger's Bookshelf and is actually quite hard to describe.

The book itself is very slow to start and not a novel you can consume quickly or in one sitting (which I certainly didn't). The plot lacks a bit of ompf and the conclusion felt a bit rushed and though satisfying, would've been resolved much quicker and with more cohesion. In a way, much like the way the Circus is portrayed, the book does often feel like a dream, cutting to and from narratives, timelines and perspectives. Marco and Ceilia's story also feels a little disjointed. Their contest actually doesn't play too much of a role until the very end and their romance is not actually as big of a deal as the blurb likes to make out.

What the book lacks in plot it majorly makes up in gorgeous, wonderful and blissfully indulgent description. A lot of reviews comment that you cannot analytically review The Night Circus and I totally agree. There is no doubt Morgenstern holds incredible command over language. Many passages of the book are so beautiful and so richly detailed without it feeling too heavy and a burden to the reader - as can be the case with flowery fantasy novels. It's not action packed or cinematic in the traditional sense, in a way it was almost like a Wes Anderson film in novel form: quirky, a bit weird, some parts don't make much sense but GOD are the aesthetics amazing.

I have no doubt that this is book will divide readers - you'll either love it or hate it, there seems to be no middle ground here - though if you're a writer I would highly recommend reading this simply to revel in the writing itself. In a way, in hindsight, I'm grateful that I took my time with this. It demands your attention, not for the plot but for the subtle intricacy within the language itself and it's a truly fantastic example of modern magical realism.

Reading soundtrack
Wonderland: Taylor Swift; I'm Waiting Here: David Lynch and Lykki Li; Haunted: Beyonce; I Write Sins Not Tragedies: Panic! At the disco; Once Upon A Dream: Lana Del Rey; Glory & Gore: Lorde; Fire: Pvris

For lovers of...The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Amelie, and the Discworld series.
Read more »
No comments
, ,
Group Collaboration | Fandom Pride

Sunday, 26 July 2015

Group Collaboration | Fandom Pride

Summer is just around the corner and hopefully this means you guys have a little more free time to indulge in. For some of us - well, lets be real here, most of us - this means delving right back into our beloved literary fandoms. 

We know you guys love sounding off about books you love here on Blogger's Bookshelf but this month we got our blogger's talking beyond the books and about the communities surrounding them...
*image via Open Book

While I think I'm part of more TV show fandoms, when it comes to book-based fandoms, I'm most certainly a part of the Harry Potter generation and will be part of the wonderful fandom always. I'm also a big fan of the Shawdowhunter world, created in the Mortal Instruments and the Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare, and will never pass up an opportunity to spend hours scrolling though images, memes, gifs and the general awesomeness that is Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, and The Hobbit.
Of course these are also movies, and while I love them too, the books always win. I used to really like the Twilight series, and had read the first book or two before they became cool. My friend and I used to talk about it a lot (when it came out we were only 15), but I think the hype and the movies definitely pushed me out of that world, and I found myself no longer caring. Funny how that happens sometimes. 
- Anjali 

I'm still waiting for the day that I get thrown into a community in the depths of Tumblr and obsess over it until something more important comes around, which probably won't ever happen. I find it pretty admirable that some people's levels of dedication to their fandoms range from casual browser to complete die hard obsessive. I've also found myself at levels of astonishment at the effort people put into fan-art, and I see it and wish I had the talent to do what these fandoms do.

I may not be part of one, but if you are part of one, rest assured, you can keep up the good work and be applauded and not judged by me. Until you write creepy fanfiction. That gets creepy… 
- Joshua

I grew up in Potter Madness. I was desperate to receive a Hogwarts letter on my eleventh birthday, and truly believed that it was possible. For the release of the final book I remember queueing up outside W H Smith at midnight while I was on holiday in Cornwall, there were so many people there and the queue went back down to the beach, it was a wonderful excited atmosphere. Even though I haven’t read the books for a number of years I will always be a fan, and although I never thought the films did justice to the books I still loved those too, and went to the Harry Potter studio tour as soon as it opened. 
- Cat

I started my 'fandom' journey like many through the Harry Potter books and I haven't really left - I'm definitely a person on the periphery now but I've loved being a part of the online aspects and going to Harry Potter conventions. After that I pretty much went along most of the 'big' fan eras since then. I'll begrudgingly admit to being a Twi-hard back in the day, but I was also super into the Hunger Games (totally the feels after finishing Mockingjay when it came out and all the JLaw casting drama!) and Divergent communities for a while.

Nowadays I'd probably identify myself first and foremost as Nerdfighter, which in all honesty is a community that stretches far past John Green's books. Over the years a lot of my books I read are less 'series' based so I find myself just being a lukewarm fan of most things. I'm still waiting for the day I get suckered into my next huge fandom phenomenon! 
- Ria

What about you guys? 
Which book fandoms have you stuck with till the very end? 
Are there any you've dropped from your lives? 
Or are you still searching for that one book that will take hold of your life beyond the novel?
Leave your comments below! 

Next month we wanna get an idea of where you read and your reading routines. If you fancy getting featured in the post just email bloggersbookshelf@gmail.com or drop us a tweet @blog_bookshelf!

Read more »
1 comment
,
Never Be Younger: A YA Anthology | Various Authors | Review

Wednesday, 22 July 2015

Never Be Younger: A YA Anthology | Various Authors | Review

*image via Goodreads

Shakespeare's classic plays are given a modern twist in this new YA Anthology.

There's high school drama and space explorers, dreamy love stories and darker tales of magic and witchcraft. The book brings together all the best bits of the timeless Bard's work, including revised versions of A Midsummer Nights Dream, Macbeth and Romeo & Juliet, providing a unique collection of short stories for the Millennial generation.

What’s my verdict?

The easiest way to review this one will probably be to take each story individually - they're all very different and penned by an array of authors.

Star Cross Lovers: The first story eases you into the anthology with a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet. The two star crossed lovers are literally living in among the stars in this Utopian space adventure, which I could totally picture turning into a fully fledged series.

The Scarf: A revenge based story based on Othello (without the death and stuff - this is a theme with these adaptations). I really enjoyed the high school politics of this one, as it focused more on the relationship dynamics and characters than a super complicated plot.

A Day of Errors: Total teen comedy fodder very much in the same vein as a lot of Shakespeare's modern adaptations have been done (think She's The Man/10 Things I Hate About You). This short story - inspired by A Comedy of Errors - is the type that'll give you so much second hand embarrassment for everyone involved. It's super fun and probably the quickest story to read in the Anthology.

Any Way the Wind Blows: I would say this one was probably the most confusing and the least similar that I know of to it's original text. Inspired by the dark tragedy of Macbeth, the macabre tone of the original play is still there in the themes of this one.

To Undreamed Shores: The most dreamy out of all of them. Romantic and fairytale-esque, this story was a nice change of pace from many of the others. From what I know of The Winter's Tale, this adaptation is probably the most similar to the original.

A Witches Life: My brain immediately flew to American Horror Story: Coven reading this one (and you'll have no problem picturing Talia and Evan in the lead roles). I liked the paranormal element of warring witches and warlocks (based on ??), but felt the short story format didn't suit the plot line of this one and I finished it feeling a bit rushed.

Mark the Music: Merchant of Venice is one of my favourite Shakespeare plays so this was a really interesting one for me to read. I did enjoy the complete modernisation of Belmont into a EDM club, and it totally reminded just how gross and the original text was. In terms of style, this one felt a bit 'fan-fic-y' for my liking.

A Gargoyle's Prom Nightmare: Based of A Midsummer Night's Dream, this is pretty close to the original but I didn't enjoy it as much. The magical elements and tom foolery of love spells and cases of mistaken identity were all still present, but it kind of mad it more confusing.

Overall, Never Be Younger was really fun to read and perfect if you have a short attention span for long YA novels/series. The great thing about this anthology is that you don't necessarily need to know the original text. Each story stands alone as a unique piece, but if you have read any of the plays it's cool to try and find the similarities. The short story format at times can feel a bit stop/start and some resolutions come about far quicker than I'd like them to - but this is totally expected considering the need for short page counts. 

My own personal favourites - if you could tell from the mini reviews - were the stories based of Romeo & Juliet, Othello and The Winter's Tale. These ones in particular were great standalone stories, as well as cool tributes to the Bard's work.

For lovers of...Baz Lurhman's Romeo & Juliet; She's The Man; and 10 Things I Hate About You.

Disclaimer: Review copy c/o Netgalley
Read more »
No comments
, ,
Everything, Everything | Nicola Yoon | Review

Wednesday, 8 July 2015

Everything, Everything | Nicola Yoon | Review

*image via Goodreads

Maddy has spent her entire life in a literal bubble. Allergic to the outside world, she's housebound due to Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) and subject to the most clinical of conditions, with only her mother and Nurse, Rosa, for company. She doesn't know anything else outside of this life and she doesn't really mind - that's what books, TV and Skype are for right? Plus it's the only one she's lived for the past seventeen years, surely she's not missing out on much?

One day, a moving van rumbles into her street, depositing a new family across the road and a boy named Olly into Maddy's life. What happens over the course of the next few weeks will challenge and change everything she's ever known about herself, the world and love itself.

What’s my verdict?
How do you revamp the girl falling for the boy next door YA trope? Everything, Everything manages to do that and more. The whole premise of the book is super interesting and it's fascinating seeing the world through Maddy's eyes - she's a bit like Rapunzel, but is completely content in her 'tower' until Olly comes along. Personally I though the plot itself was very cliche - and very Insta-love-y, which may put some readers off - but juxtaposed next to the characters the story feels fresh.

The romantic tension between Maddy and Olly within the first few chapters of the book is so damn palpable. There's almost an innocence about their relationship at first, because of Maddy's condition, that you don't often see in YA - don't worry though you do get the full flush of young hormonal love too, and honestly it's pretty electric when it happens.

In terms of other characters, I adore Rosa - she feels more like a mother than Maddy's own mum and she's utterly endearing. Others are less memorable, but the dynamic between Maddy and her actual mother is definitely worth a mention and I love reading the change in the power play between the two as the book goes on. I also just need to give a shout out for diverse representation - Maddy is half Japanese, and half African-american - but the plot is nowhere near centered around her race. In fact the only mention is when Maddy is describing herself and all the times Olly tells her she's beautiful - Awwww!

Overall, call me a romantic but Everything, Everything made my heartache in the best way possible. But as much as I got the warm and fuzzies reading about this unique against-all-odds young love story, there slightly more serious tones were also really great to see as they added a bit of depth to the story.

Reading soundtrack
Other Side Of The World: KT Tunstall; Just Keep Breathing: We The Kings; Ordinary Day: Vanessa Carlton; First Day Of My Life: Bright Eyes; Gravity Happens: Kate Voegele; Time Bomb: All Time Low

For lovers of...The Fault In Our Stars, All The Bright Places, and A Walk To Remember.

Disclaimer: Review copy c/o Netgalley
Read more »
No comments
, ,
The Book of Phoenix | Nnedi Okorafor | Review

Monday, 29 June 2015

The Book of Phoenix | Nnedi Okorafor | Review

*Image courtesy of Ann Arbor District Library
Summary:
This book is a prequel to Okorafor’s Who Fears Death. It covers the story of a woman named Phoenix who, though she looks 40, is actually only a few years old. She and the few friends she has were created or enhanced by science and kept in Tower 7 to be experimented on. When Phoenix discovers she has abilities that mimic her namesake, her thoughts focus on escape and freedom.
Review:
I love this book. It answered all the questions I had about the history of the world created in Who Fears Death. It answers my questions about who wrote The Great Book, how the world became one giant desert, and how the Okeke people became subservient to the Nuru, even if some of the answers come indirectly.


The Book of Phoenix is a moving story. There is so much loss in Phoenix’s life. But also so much rebirth. This book feels like it is designed to awaken the fires of your soul and move you to action. I’m not sure what that action is, but I definitely feel determined to do it. Okorafor has a talent for writing strong, female characters and it is impossible for me to not be affected, even inspired, by their strength.


The most tragic part of this story comes in the final chapters and reflects the nature of stories based on oral histories and translations: they’re always changed or adapted to reflect the nature and beliefs of the storyteller. I cannot say much more on this topic as it would be labelled “spoilers”, but I feel it is a lesson that we must all take to heart; that stories, no matter how grandly told, no matter how believable, sometimes only hold a grain of truth.

I am happy to recommend this book. There are some “experiments” described that are disturbing to think about, but nothing too graphic. You do not have to have read Who Fears Death first, though I would still recommend it. I really have no reason to give this book less than 5 out of 5. Okorafor is an author whose writings stick with you hours after you’re done reading them.
Read more »
No comments
, , ,
Ms. Marvel (Volumes 1 & 2: No Normal & Generation Why) | G. Willow Wilson, Jacob Wyatt | Review

Wednesday, 24 June 2015

Ms. Marvel (Volumes 1 & 2: No Normal & Generation Why) | G. Willow Wilson, Jacob Wyatt | Review

mcm-haul-ms-marvel
“A hero is just somebody who tries to do the right thing even when it's hard. 
There are more of us than you think.” 

Kamala Khan is just your run of the mill ordinary Muslim girl living in Jersey City, until she’s bestowed some seriously awesome and out of this world superpowers. Suddenly she’s filling in the latex boots of Captain Marvel herself and saving her city from creepy super villains, all whilst trying to get through high school in one piece and avoiding getting grounded until she’s 30 by her overprotective parents.

Volumes 1 and 2 of Ms. Marvel encompasses the first 11 issues of Kamala's story, as she figures out how to be a superhero (with a little help from some mutant and inhuman companions) and launches herself on the hunt to figure just who elusive Inventor is (and what on Earth does he want with the kids of Jersey City?).

So what's my verdict?

I’ve decided superhero origin stories are my kryptonite and Kamala Khan's is fantastic. As a relative newbie to the Marvel Comic Universe, Ms. Marvel series is a fantastic starting point to delve into the comic-lore. As the wise old saying goes ‘with great power, comes great responsibility’, and even before Ms. Marvel was even printed Kamala Khan had a lot riding on her young shoulders as the MCU’s first Muslim superhero. She needn't have worried though, her story totally lives up to the hype.

Kamala herself is a truly modern protagonist for the 21st Century. She’s a total fangirl (many of the issues have her wearing a trusty Captain America hoodie and she writes Avengers fanfiction), she also has to deal with her non-super responsibilities with her family, religion and school life too. All this whilst keeping her Ms. Marvel identity secret and physically and mentally managing her new found powers.

Personally as great as the action sequences are, seeing Kamala at home, school and with friends reminds you of what she's fighting to protect. There's some great character growth already and it's the smaller moments between the hyped up battles I really enjoyed. It's not all serious life lessons and beating up bad guys though, Kamala herself is a pretty hilarious character - again I think this comes from her inner fangirl - and there's some particularly great scenes in Volume 2 when she meets one of her own personal heroes. All in all, Ms. Marvel is a wonderfully fresh and lively addition the Marvel-lore, and she's only just getting started.


Reading soundtrack:
Titanium: David Guetta ft Sia; I'm Supergirl: Krystal Harris; New Perspective: Panic! At the disco; All Star: Smash Mouth; Shake The Ground: Cherri Bomb; Superheroes: The Script; Let The Flames Begin: Paramore; Centuries: Fall Out Boy


For lovers of...The Avengers, The Amazing Spiderman and Heroes (TV series)
Read more »
1 comment
,
The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow | Katherine Woodfine | Review

Wednesday, 10 June 2015

The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow | Katherine Woodfine | Review

image via Goodreads

Sinclair's Department Store would like to welcome you through it's gilt doors and into a world of extravagance and commercial wonder. And it's within these pristine, prestigious and polished walls, our four unlikely heroes cross paths.

There’s Sophie, a quiet orphan girl working in the millinery department who always trying her best to do the right thing; Billy, a slightly hapless but well meaning apprentice Porter who fancies himself to be the next super sleuthing detective; Lilian Rose, a wonderfully glamorous chorus girl and model at Sinclair's with a heart of gold and no nonsense attitude; and Joe, a grubby street urchin who’s just trying to keep his head down and out of trouble from the more violent East End gangs.

When the one of a kind Clockwork Sparrow is stolen from Sinclair's famed exhibition - alongside a number of other priceless jewels - their world is turned upside down as the four race to chase down infamous London gang members, crack the code and save the day before time runs out!

So what's my verdict?

If you’re a fan of super fun whodunit novels this book is definitely for you. ‘Clockwork sparrow’ throws you pretty much headfirst into the lavishly extravagant world of Sinclair's department store in the days before, during and after it's grand opening, in a Victorian-era London . The basic plot is a classic crime case of a high profile burglary mixed with the looming threat of an ‘East End’ baddie and serious lashing of the underdogs saving the day.

The underdogs in question are our four protagonists and between them with their insider intelligence of the store, personal experiences and street smarts, when working together Sophie, Billy, Lil and Joe, make quite a team - like the 1800s equivalent of the Scooby Gang. I personally found myself getting quite attached to Sophie and Lil’s characters and loved their sisterly friendship throughout the book. The boys are also wonderful characters, the two of them quite young and a little naive but their bravery towards the end of the book is really endearing.

Aside from our main four leads, there’s a whole host of supporting characters from the both ‘upstairs and downstairs’ at Sinclair's, from ‘Captain’ Sinclair himself down to the stable hands, shop girls and even the prestigious visitors to the department store.

There’s also one very important character involved in the plot…Sinclair's itself. Woodfine's writing is fantastically descriptive creating a rich world of Victorian London, without it feeling like a heavy historical novel. It’s especially great to see Sinclair's describe through Sophie’s eyes. She clearly adores Sinclair's and her descriptions of the store filled me with the same feeling of wonder I have when browsing Selfridges or Harrods in London.

If I were to have one complaint about ‘Clockwork Sparrow’ it would be that I was craving a little more back story about Lil and Billy (as Sophie is our main heroine we learn a lot about her throughout the novel) - though I have noticed this may be the first in a series which should give us the opportunity to get to know the characters a bit more! The plot - though a classic one - is pretty predictable, I the guessed ‘whodunit’ about halfway through the book (or maybe I’m just a FANTASTIC detective myself). I can’t really moan though, the book, like I said is super fun and definitely a great weekend or holiday read.

Reading soundtrack
High Society: Betty Who; I'm Shakin': Jack White; The Lucky One: Taylor Swift; New Born: Muse; Sing Sing Sing: Benny Goodman; She's A Genius: Jet;  A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got): Fergie + Q-Tip + Goonrock; 

For lovers of...Mr Selfridge, Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie

*review copy c/o NetGalley
Read more »
No comments
, , ,
A Little In Love | Susan Fletcher | Review

Wednesday, 27 May 2015

A Little In Love | Susan Fletcher | Review

*image via GoodReads

Young Eponine was raised to be a thief. Her mother and father were crooks, and expect her to live up to their malicious and untrustworthy reputation. Eponine knows stealing from is bad, but her family are poor and the pretty trinkets she pinches bring her mother such joy. It’s a dog eat dog world after all. One day another young girl enters her Eponine’s life. She has golden hair and despite the rags her mother places her in she is so so beautiful. Cosette is her name and she is the only person who has ever shown Eponine kindness - even though at times she doesn’t deserve it. 

Sixteen years later and Eponine is no longer a young girl. Her family may have relocated to Paris but they haven’t stopped their criminal ways. She consistently seeks a better life. Her world is full of darkness but she tries to find happiness and goodness in the small things. One her many ‘lights' in a young boy called Marius. Charming, wonderfully handsome and heartbreakingly kind. The only problem with loving him is that he's in love with another girl. A girl with golden hair and who is beautiful inside and out. Cosette.

So what’s my verdict?

I’m gonna be completely honest with you guys here, I totally only picked this up because I’m a huge fan of Les Miserables musical and Eponine is totally my homegirl - and one of my favourite musical theatre characters of all time. 

If, like me, you’re also a fan of Les Mis or the original novel by Victor Hugo, you probably think you know Eponine Thernadier’s story back to front. And yes, the storyline for this novel is familiar and the timelines certainly do match up on many occasions - her ending is also unfortunately still canon *cries*. 

What Fletcher has done with A Little In Love, however, is take that canon story and expand it. As the love-lorn third wheel to the Marius/Cosette love story, Eponine for me is generally one of the more relatable characters from Les Mis. But by delving in her past and backstory, Fletcher presents Eponine as more than just the girl who pined after a boy. Strong-willed, brave and always striving to do good, Fletcher's Eponine deals with the struggle of with being as heartless as her family and her want to become a better version of herself. 

Though we do see a good portion of the story dedicated to her love of Marius (who is just as charmingly clueless of his effect on our ‘Ponine), equal credence is given to Eponine’s fervent quest and determination to be a good force in the world. 

Obviously Eponine is our leading lady in this instance, but there is some nice insight into the Thernadier’s world. Subplots surrounding Eponine’s relationship with her mother are also really interesting, and I do love Eponine’s ongoing contrast to Cosette’s life - something I always found irritating in the musical, but loved how it played out in this novel.

I’m being biased but I personally really enjoyed the book, though other readers will notice that A Little In Love in definitely geared towards a younger audience. However, it’s important to remember before criticising Eponine’s vernacular that she is very much a girl experiencing young love in all forms. She’s a little naive but learns every step of the way, and knowing her ending only makes her story even more heartbreakingly tragic.

Reading Soundtrack:
Songbird: Fleetwood Mac; La Vie En Rose: Edith Piaf; Dreaming With A Broken Heart: John Mayer; Samson: Regina Specktor; Beside You: 5 Seconds of Summer; My Love: Sia; Lights: Jake Nauta; Last Night On Earth: Green Day; Clean: Taylor Swift 

For lovers of...Les Miserables (the musical, film and the Victor Hugo novel), Moulin Rouge, and Never Let Me Go. 
Read more »
No comments
, ,

Saturday, 23 May 2015

Group Collaboration | Sight vs Sound: Audiobooks Discussion

may-audiobooks

Welcome to May's group post! We're taking on a bit of a debate this month and delving into the topic of Audiobooks.

Though the hotter topic of e-books vs paperbacks rages on, there's another digital competitor for our beloved books. The humble Audiobook has been around since the early 20th Century, but with the uptake in the use of services like Audible and thousands of books available to listen to on Amazon and iTunes it's now easier than ever to access them.

We thought we'd get our bloggers to share their thoughts on Audiobooks, whether or not they listen to them and why?


may-audiobooks-alexandra may-audiobooks-ria may-audiobooks-joshua may-audiobooks-cat may-audiobooks-anjali


*header image and playlist logos via Pixabay

Let us know your thoughts on Audiobooks too in the comments below! 

Our June group post is all about creating musical playlists for your favourite books! If you'd like more information about getting involved email us at bloggersbookshelf@gmail.com or tweet @blog_bookshelf
Read more »
No comments
,
The Ables | Jeremy Scott | Rachel

Monday, 18 May 2015

The Ables | Jeremy Scott | Rachel


*Image and review copy c/o Netgalley

Synopsis:

It turns out, superheroes are real. They’re just really good at keeping their society a secret. It’s actually superhero policy to not tell kids born into superhero families about their powers until they begin to manifest around puberty. Our main character, Phillip, finds out he is a telekinetic. He can move any object with his mind. The problem? He’s blind. As a result, he can only move objects he is familiar with. When he starts as his new high school, he is in a class with other disabled superhero kids. Together they learn to use their abilities to their fullest.

Review:
I first found out about this book by watching Jeremy Scott’s channel, CinemaSins. I thought it would be interesting to read a book by a guy who critiques movies for their obvious plot fails and stereotypes. I’ll admit, it did affect my reading for the first several chapters because I couldn’t stop reading it in Scott’s voice. There were even a few sounds “sins” in his book. But after the first few chapters I really got into the reading and I started hearing Phillip’s voice and forgetting about plot stereotypes.

This was a rather intense read. I completed this book significantly faster than I had anticipated. Scott does a wonderful job of keeping his characters relatable and realistic, in spite of having superpowers. We follow a group of 12-13 year-old boys that act like 12-13 year-old boys. They like to eat pizza and play video games. Most importantly, they don’t respond well to being told what to do.

The Ables is a fast-paced, energetic read. It even made me emotional at times. I did see both big-plot-twist-reveals well before they happened, but there was enough else going on that I still enjoyed reading. The characters are well worth investing in. Really the only person you never feel sorry for is the main villain. Everyone else makes you feel how they feel and can really tug at your heartstrings.


I highly recommend this book for just about all readers. There is a lot of fun, action and adventure, but also a lot of heartache and loss. I happily give this book 4.5 out of 5!
Read more »
No comments
, , , , , ,
Boo | Neil Smith | Review

Wednesday, 13 May 2015

Boo | Neil Smith | Review

*review copy c/o Netgalley & Cornerstone, image via Goodreads

Oliver Dalrymple’s arrival into heaven is not quite what he expected. After seemingly passing away from a heart defect, Oliver - better known as Boo when he was alive on Earth - begins his second life in the Town, a purgatory-esque world filled with other 13 year olds who never grew up. Though an odd concept at first, Boo expects to live out the rest of his afterlife in perfect harmony alongside his fellow ‘Townies’ - before re-passing and entering heaven.

But when a former classmate, Johnny Henzel, arrives in Town, Boo soon discovers he may not have died as innocently as he thought. Johnny proclaims he and Boo were both murdered at school and their mysterious shooter (who they nickname Gunboy) has also ended up in heaven. Boo soon finds himself alongside Johnny, tracking down Gunboy. The question is what will happen when they find out the truth behind their deaths?

So what’s my verdict?

From the premise of the story it’d be really easy to assume Boo to fall into the quirky paranormal YA category, but the book is so much more than that. What I expected to be a simple case of a murder mystery - albeit being solved by the deceased - ended up twisting into a wonderfully truly enthralling journey into the afterlife. The book itself addresses many themes such as the idea of purgatory (embodied in the novel as Town), redemption/reconciliation, the concept of fate and God.

The deep subject matter could leave the book feeling incredibly dense - and there is certainly a Lord of the Flies vibe coming off the last few chapters, but it’s the age of the characters that keeps this story on the lighter side and more innocent. Boo is a really sincere narrator and his honest approach to telling his story leaves you often forgetting he is only 13 years old. The same applies to the rest of the characters too but none more so than Johnny Henzel. Whilst Boo could be considered the awkward and clear headed right brain, Johnny is his emotionally charged opposite. The contrast between the two boys is seriously one of the more interesting pieces character development you see in the book. The other characters are also seriously diverse. Though illness stops in the Town we see there is a key secondary character with achondroplasia (dwarfism) and one with a stunted form of vitiligo - both of whom are certainly not defined or constrained by their disabilities.

Not only does Boo tackle some in depth topics concerning death and the afterlife but it’s also offers sensitive look at mental illness and depression - a rare thing seen in books with characters this age. The wounds Boo, Johnny and the other characters in the book may be physical but it’s their emotional journeys that make this novel so worth the read. Ultimately, Boo is a story of the healing power of friendship and time, but mostly the importance of letting go and moving forward.

Reading Soundtrack: 
Metal Heart: Cat Power; King & Lionheart: Of Monsters & Men; Sometimes I Still Feel The Bruise: The Mountain Goats; All These Things I've Done: The Killers; Bones: Charlotte Martin; Blackbird: The Beatles; Candles: Daughter

For lovers of...The Lovely Bones, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and What Dreams May Come.
Read more »
No comments
,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
© Blogger's Bookshelf • Theme by Maira G.