Top 5 Wednesday - Terrible Covers

Hi to all you booklovers out there.  I hope you're having a great day.

Today I'm going to do my first Top 5 Wednesday video.  This series was created by the lovely Lainey at GINGERREADSLAINEY and I'll include a link to the Goodreads group if you would also like to participate {here}

This week we are looking at our Top 5 Terrible covers.  To me, a terrible cover is one that is not only unattractive - or dare I say, ugly - but also total inappropriate for the content matter. Sort of like putting a tank on a Harry Potter cover and expecting someone to know it was a children’s fantasy.

So without further ado, here are my top 5 terrible covers...

Fell off the wagon and ordered more books

Hi to all you booklovers.  Just thought that I'd post a quick update as I've just been an idiot and ordered some more books!  It's a sickness, I know, but I just can't seem to help myself when I see all those gorgeous covers.  

Anyway, I just ordered the following books that will hopefully be in the post tomorrow ;-D

Unbreakable by Kami Garcia

Wayfinder by C.E. Murphy

Replica by Jenna Black

The City's Son by Tom Pollock (signed hardcover)

A Cook in Time by Joanne Pence ($1!!), and finally

Vanished in the Night by Eileen Carr (also only $1!!)

I don't feel too bad as I only spent just over $30 ($30.96 to be precise) and I'd spend more than that on just two books at my local bookshop.  Still I really should be saving money for Christmas - and the big discounts at the end of year sales!

Oh, and earlier today the courier knocked on my door with 2 parcels for me.  I'm actually amazed at how quickly Book Depository sent the books this time.  I filmed the unboxing, but have yet to get around to editing it ;-D  Hopefully I'll get something up soon.

Tomorrow I will be posting my next Top 5 Wednesday list, hope to see you then.

Until then,

 

Top 5 Wednesday - Non YA Books

 

Good morning, and welcome to another Top 5 Wednesday!  For your blogging pleasure this week we will be counting down our Top 5 Non YA Books.  Since I mostly own/read non-YA this week will be less stressful than most, but I always enjoy trying to fulfil the Top 5 list each week ;-D

Also, instead of just having my top 5 non-YA books, I went for my Top 5 go-to books.  These are the books that I seem to read, and re-read, the most.

Huge Book Sale Haul, or my quest to find Gone with the Wind

Sorry this is a week late, but I just had to post this.  Last weekend there was a HUGE Book Sale in my local town hall - with the proceeds going to Rotary projects and local drought relief causes - and since I'd found some great books last year of course I was going to show up!  With over 15,000 books to sift through I only had one book in mind that was a must - Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell.  This book is one of the classics that I'd promised myself I should really read.  I didn't get around to it last year, and so far this year I haven't managed to get a copy.  That would all change at the book sale as there are always multiple copies everywhere... or so I thought.

Snuck a peak just before doors opened!

Day 1

Got there early so I could find a good park, and then waited at the front doors with a few other die-hard bibliophiles.  I learned my lesson last year in regards to carrying so many books in carry bags, so this year I made sure that I had a shopping cart that had wheels (one of those pull along jobs) and a bottle of water so I didn't have to leave if I got thirsty.  At 9am the doors opened and we all flooded into the hall in an attempt to find the best books first ;-D

It took me 2 hours of walking around, and my feet were killing me by the end of it, but I did manage to fill up the trolley - as well as a tote bag - with books before heading off to a quiet alcove to sit and sort.   In the end I put back about 14 books.  I really didn't need a History of Dracula, did I? And actually managed to get out of there with some change in my purse.  In all, I picked up 35 books (including a few for mum as I don't need 2 copies of LOTR) which I was so happy with as there was one lady who I had been talking too while waiting to go in, and when I last saw here 2 hours later, she'd only picked up about 8 or 9 titles!

So happy with what I found that I decided to go back the next day, Sunday, to see if I could locate a copy of the elusive Gone with the Wind.  This book, which is usually everywhere, was not to be found!  Can you believe it?  I found multiple hardcover copies of Scarlet, and even a hardcover of Rhett, but no GwtW.  Perhaps I'd have better luck in the morning after they've restocked the tables...

Day 2

After soaking my feet in a hot foot bath the night before, I was ready to once again tackle the book sale.  However, unlike Saturday, when I went up to the town hall just before 9am I found it like a ghost town.  There was one other girl waiting there before me, and four more people arriving just before the doors opened.  For a moment I'd thought that perhaps the second day had been cancelled, but thankfully it wasn't and I got to browse through the tables with hardly any competition.  More people trickled in as the morning went by, but by 10am I had spent the money I had allowed myself for the book sale weekend and it was time to call it a day.

But for all the great books I'd found - or seen other people get to first ;-D - there was still no sighting of that elusive classic, Gone with the Wind.  This must be the first time I can remember where I have not seen a secondhand copy of it floating around a sale, but of course since I actually wanted a copy Murphy's Law wasn't going to let me have my way.   

**sighs and shrugs**  

Now I must remember to order copy online.

Results

So in the 3hrs or so that I combed the sale, I bought a total of 48 books and spent $54.  I found 5 books for my mum, and discovered replacement copies for 5 books I currently own.

My poor feet had had it by the end of the second day, so after another hot foot bath I kept them elevated as much as possible.  {PS, I hate having plantar facititis >:-|  Inflamed tendon under your feet really hurt!}

Now I have so many more books in my TBR pile, but it was worth it.  I had a fun weekend and got a lot of bang for my buck, so to speak ;-D.  Can't wait until next years sale!

Until next time,

Top 5 Wednesday - Author Blurbs on Books

Hi, and welcome once again to another Top 5 Wednesday.  This week our challenge was to find the top five author blurbs that are found on book covers.  Of all the topics I've participated in so far, this was by far the hardest for me to complete.  Why, you ask?  Well, it is because I have over 1000 books on my bookshelves where I live, and at least another 400 packed up in boxes at my family home.  That's a lot of books to look through! But I persevered, and after a few days of raiding my bookshelves at random, I found my Top 5 Author Blurbs on Books.  

So without further ado, here they are...

 

The Iron Wrym Affair - Lilith Saintcrow

YA, Steampunk

Although the book isn't quite as great as I'd hoped, the quote on the back is rather good...

 

  

and is very much reflective of the steampunk style.  This is the first book in the series.

 Etiquette & Espionage - Gail Carriger

YA, Steampunk

This is an awesome start to a fabulous series, and the quote by Marie Lu sums up what this book is all about - and hopefully where the series is heading.  High praise indeed to be compared to Harry Potter, but I couldn't have said it any better than Lu.

Top 5 Wednesday - Series you don't want to finish

Hi, and welcome to another Top 5 Wednesday.  I'm posting this from my phone so, alas, there are no pictures accompanying this post - sorry;-D (but when I get back onto my computer I will pretty this up;-D) {update - I prettied it up this morning!}

Today I'll be listing the top 5 series that I won't be finishing.  This was a tricky one as I do have a lot of series that I've either outgrown, or have just lost interest in - but there are also a couple of trilogies that I have also quit after the first book left me feeling underwhelmed.  I have included one trilogy in this list as it was a definite no in terms of ever completing the trilogy.

in no particular order...

Okay, coming in at #5 is the House of Night series by mother and daughter team P.C. and Kristin Cast.  I really enjoyed the first book, and books 2 and 3 were okay, but I felt that this series dragged on for way too long and each book was too short.  The idea behind it was sound, and very interesting, but in its current form I just found it too young for me.

4th on my list is the Griffin Mage trilogy by Rachel Neumeier.  It sounded great, but I found the main characters hard to sympathize with and not very attractive (personality wise), and I liked the secondary characters even less.  Although a fantasy, I just found this tedious.

At #3 is the The Walker Papers series by C.E. Murphy.  A great urban fantasy series, I have the first 3 or 4 books but this series has evolved and I wasn't sure what direction it was heading in so I cut my losses - plus there are only so many books I can buy ;-P

In at #2 is a series that I have been reading for at least 10 years, but have given up on as each book is following the same pattern as the one before it.  It is a series that should have ended with the conclusion of the first vampire 'masterminds' unmasking and subsequent demise, but like the undead it keeps on going with the premise that this wasn't the master at all, there is another pull in the strings.  I've bought about 15 books, but quit a few years ago, yet there are at least 6 more books in the series.  Which series am I talking about?  It is the Dark, or Carpathian series by Christine Feehan.  Too long, and way too predictable.

So that brings me to my #1 series that I won't be finishing and that honour goes to ...drumroll please... The Elemental Assassin series by Jennifer Estep.  It should be right up my alley as its an adult urban fantasy, but it just didn't do anything for me.  Strangely though, I did like the first book, so go figure? Perhaps I was ready for a change, or maybe I just wasn't in the right frame of mind?  Who knows.

So, ladies and gentlemen, these are the series that I won't be continuing.  I hope you enjoyed reading this as I had fun sorting through my bookshelves trying to find them.   If you want further information on the Top 5 Wednesday - started by the wonderful gingerreadslainey - then head on over to Goodreads {here} and join the fun!

Until next time,

 

Top 5 Wednesday - Fictional Schools

Welcome to another Top 5 Wednesday.  This week we have to list our Top 5 Fictional Schools, and let me tell you this was hard!  I'm not a huge collector of YA, so I had to hunt through piles of books to find any references to schools that I would consider list-worthy (or at least intersting).  It took me about an hour, but I finally managed to put together a list, so without further ado, I give you my Top 5 Fictional Schools...

 Hecate Hall

This is the setting for the interesting YA book (and series) Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins.  I remember reading it and thinking that this school was not the best place to be, yet I would love to wander around and take a peek ;-D

Unseen University

Nunc id vides, nunc ne vides.  Now you seem me, now you don't.  

With a school motto like that, how could you resist?  From the Discworld series created by Terry Pratchett, Unseen University is a weird crazy place to be.  I haven't read any of these books in years, but I have a recollection that this would be a cool place to visit.  Must find and re-read soon ;-D

Guild Academy

The Guild Academy features in the Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh.  It is not just a school for children, it is also the place where Vampire Hunters learn their skills, and come back and teach.  I'd love to sit in on an advanced class with Elena - and perhaps getting a peak at the Archangel Raphael.

Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality

This is the school that features in this YA Steampunk series by Gail Carriger.  I came to this series because I loved her Parasol Protectorate books so much that I couldn't resist revisiting the world she created.  In this seemingly innocent bording  school, the girls are taught how to become master spies... steampunk spies ;-D  Awesome!  Miss Carriger is an amazingly talented author who creates some of the best toys... did I mention that there are dirigibles? ... and werewolves?  Sign me up now!

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Seriously, could the number 1 choice be anything but Hogwarts?!  Yes, I'm sure nearly everyone has this listed as their #1 so I'm not really breaking the mold here.  Hogwarts is awesome.  End of story ;-D

So those were my Top 5 Fictional Schools.  There are probably a few that I just can't think of as most of my YA books are still in the family home, but I hope you've enjoyed this post anyway.  If you want to leave a link to your Top 5 post in the comment section down below I'd love to see what your favourite fictional schools were.  

If you want further information on the Top 5 Wednesday - started by the wonderful gingerreadslainey - then head on over to Goodreads {here} and join the fun!

Until next time,

 

All booked out

 

After yesterday's massive read-a-thon I am all booked out.  I still can't believe that I managed to read all four of these books, but I did.  I started off with the first two books in the Gemma Doyle series by Libba Bray (done by lunch), and then went off on a different tangent with Kelley Armstrong's new book Sea of Shadows - mixed feelings about this one - and then finally I spent late yesterday afternoon/evening reading The Diviners by Libba Bray - hmmm, I'm sensing a theme here ;-D - and really enjoyed it.  Unfortunately there is no book 2 in the series as yet so I can't continue on with Evie's story.

Today I'm just going to watch a dvd and flake out.  My eyes are still a bit strained, but it was worth it (all 4 books were due back to the library soon).  Will try to have the reviews up asap.  Must remember not to try this again for a while ;-D

Until next time,

Top 5 Wednesday - Top Spines

It's amazing to see that with all the effort put into cover art these days, that more often than not the spines are forgotten.  When this topic was picked as this weeks Top 5, I went to my bookshelves to find my favourite covers, thinking that their spines would be great too.  Wrong!  Then it became the mad dash to ransack my shelves so I could find 5 very beautiful - or interesting - spines.  It was tough, but I give you my Top Spines (in no particular order) ;-D

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

I love the simple colours, the Bodleian Library picture is awesome, and the seal and smoke all add that air of mystery that surrounds the story.  It is very representative of the first book in the trilogy.

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

While not on my all-time-favourites list, the spine of the book is very self explanatory.  You have fantasy and dragons.  Enough said.  Love the aged red with the golden eye at the top just staring at you.  Even the dragon down the bottom is gorgeous.

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon

Just bought this book yesterday so while I haven't read it yet, the spine is as gorgeous as the cover.  Love the blue, gold and red colour scheme that includes those touches of white in the font.  Not sure if it is in line with the story, but definitely looks great on my shelves.

The Lily Bard Mysteries Omnibus by Charlaine Harris

What can I say about this spine?  I love cover art that runs from front to back cover.  This is one of the few hardcovers that I own that does that.  I love the blue tones, and the fact that the dumbbell and feather duster are the symbols that represent Lily Bard.  Thankfully having all five stories bound in one large omnibus has allowed for the cover designer to do the series justice.  Love it!

The Hobbit (Anniversary Edition) by J.R.R. Tolkien

My favourite would have to be The Hobbit.  While not the most colourful, the wrap-around cover makes the most stylized of artwork.  In regards to the spine, I love the simple colour scheme, and the gold embossing used for both the publishers logo, and Tolkien's stylized mark.  From the forrest path to the entrance to the Lonely Mt, this spine shows you the journey that must be taken.  

 

So those are the Top 5 Spines I have in my collection to date.  I hope you've enjoyed this post, and if you leave a link to your Top 5 post in the comment section down below I'd love to see what your favourite spines were.  If you want further information on Top 5 Wednesday - started by the wonderful gingerreadslainey - then head on over to Goodreads {here}.

Until next time,