July Reading Challenge: The Beautiful and Damned by F Scott Fitzgerald

Another day, another dollar book, as the old saying goes. Ahem...
It's that time of month again when I flick to the next page of my Waterstones calendar and decide which book I'm going to be reading this month. 
The book God's have been very generious this month, and I will be reading a novel from one of my favourite authors, F. Scott Fitzgerald!
And if I hadn't been treated enough, this month's quote comes from one of my all time favourite books, The Great Gatsby. But, as much as I'd love to reread that classic, I've decided that I will be reading The Beautiful and Damned instead, Fitzgerald's second novel. 

The Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fizgerald

I brought this copy a while ago, and haven't gotten around to reading it yet, so I'm really happy I have an excuse to start this. And just look at the cover, so beautiful.
I'd love to know what you're planning to read this month. It's officially summer, so it's time to shamelessly get those beach reads out!  
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Showcase Sunday #6: The Good Children Roopa Farooki

Showcase Sunday is hosted by the lovely Vicky at Books, Biscuits and Tea. It's a chance for bloggers to show of their weekly book swag and an opportunity to meet other bloggers and talk about all things bookish! 
I've received another book from BookBridgr this week. It was a surprise that it came so quickly as I'd only requested it a couple of nights before. The Good Children is set in 1940s Lahore, Punjab. The book is centred around four siblings who are brought up to be "good children".
Obedience and honour seem to be the two main running themes in this book. The tag line is Leaving home is one thing, going back is another. This book seems perfect for me as I enjoy reading about families, and the conflicts and struggles they sometimes have to face together. 
Thank you again to BookBridgr and Tinder Press for sending me this to review. I can't wait to get stuck in! 
What did everyone else buy, borrow or receive this week? 
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Mom's Reading: The Wolf of Wall Street by Jordan Belfort

The Wolf of Wall Street by Jordan Belfort

It's Mother's Day in the UK, and to celebrate I'm introducing a one-off feature on the blog called Mom's Reading. Currently my mom's reading The Wolf of Wall Street by Jordan Belfort - and won't stop banging on about it!
One thing you should know about my mom is that she loves tales of money and corruption. The Godfather is her favourite film and she would relish a day visiting the stock market. We saw the film together not so long ago, and she completely abandoned the last book she was reading in favour for the wolf. 
If you have somehow missed all of the hype surrounding the film (perhaps you have been living in a cave...), it follows the true story of Jordan Belfort, the self-proclaimed "wolf" of Wall Street. He made thousands of dollars a minute and to quote Tinie Tempah, lived "a very very very wild lifestyle."
"Was all of this legal? Absolutely not!" the film trailer exclaims. But how does the book compare? According to my mom, it's much better than the film. She's really enjoying it and has said that it's hilariously written and gives a great insight into the New York finance district. Apparently, the book is even more outrageous than the film, which is hard to believe.
I haven't read this read yet, but I really enjoyed the film. And after all of the positive praise my mom's given this book, I don't think I'll be disappointed! 

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Reading on the train...

Last week I started my first full time job! It's all very exciting and I'm really enjoying this new chapter of my life. My job is in the city, so until I move out, I'm spending quite a lot of time on trains. And although they are often very cramped during rush hour, I'm enjoying the journeys as I'm seeing it as an opportunity to read! 
It's only recently that I've realised what a wasted opportunity it is to spend twenty minutes on a train on your phone. Carrie Hope Fletcher made an excellent point in one of her recent videos about people becoming too dependant on their phones. I couldn't agree more, we're currently living in an "iPhone generation", and to try and tear myself away from that, I'm making sure that I never board a train without a book!
I'm usually quite a slow reader, as I like to savour every word but since I've made a promise to myself to read on trains, I've managed to almost finish a book in a week and I've not read this book any other time than when I'm on a train.
I've also stuck up a lot more conversations with people. I've had people on a few occasions ask me about what book I'm reading because they're thinking of buying it. That wouldn't have happened if I'd have spent the entire journey on Twitter. 
So, if you're looking for a way of fitting in more reading time, start reading on public transport. It'll surprise you on how quickly you'll manage to finish books! 

The only downside is that you'll probably have people reading over your shoulder... Do you think you'll start reading more on public transport? Let me know!  | follow me | tweet me | email me |

Showcase Sunday #5: Precious Thing by Colette McBeth

Showcase Sunday is hosted by the lovely Vicky at Books, Biscuits and Tea. It's a chance for bloggers to show of their weekly book swag and an opportunity to meet other bloggers and talk about all things bookish! 

I had a lovely surprise waiting for me in the letter box yesterday morning, it was my first book from Bookbridgr! 
If you're a book blogger that hasn't yet signed up to the Bookbridgr network yet, I'd highly recommend it. It gives bloggers the chance to request books to review on their blogs. The site hosts a range of different genres, authors and book tours. 
When I first signed up and noticed Precious Thing, I knew I had to make a request. It's a psychological thriller that has been compared to Gone Girl in some reviews. Colette McBeth explores the theme of jealousy in female friendships and has been quoted that her main source of inspiration came from a friendship she had herself whilst in school. 
I'm really looking forward to reading this! I haven't read many psychological thrillers, but the one's I have I've really enjoyed. I have high hopes for this. 
Let me know what books you've brought, borrowed or received this week! 

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Company Magazine's 50 Books to Read Before You Die

I love that one of my favourite magazines is encouraging readers to shut down their computers, turn off their phones and pick up a book. Company magazine have provided a list on their website of "50 books to read before you die". 
As mentioned in previous posts I am a organisation enthusiast and naturally adore lists! I wanted to see how I stacked up and will check off books I've read and plan to read that are on the list. So let's get started. The key I will use is: 
[ ] = Not read [-] = Own, but not read [X] = Read

Company's 50 Books You Need to Read Before You Die 

Wonder - R.J. Palacio [ ]  The Goldfinch - Donna Tartt [ ]  Me Before You - Jojo Moyes [ ]  Kiss Heaven Goodbye - Tasmina Perry [ ]  Howl and Other Poems - Allen Ginsberg [ ]  The Help - Kathryn Stockett [-]  Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn [X] The Garden of Eden - Ernest Hemmingway [ ]  Animals - Emma Jane Unsworth [ ]  Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Hunter S. Thompson [ ]  The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger [X] Room - Emma Donoghue [ ]  American Psycho - Bret Easton Ellis [ ] 1984- George Orwell [ ]  Twilight - Stephenie Meyer [ ]  The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger [-] The Twelfth Tale - Dianne Setterfield [ ]  The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald [X] The Book Thief - Markus Zusak [-]  NW - Zadie Smith [ ]  The Best of Simple - Langston Hughes [ ]  Lord of the Flies - William Golding [ ]  Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier [ ]  Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austin [X]  To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee [-] The Reluctant Fundamentalist - Mohsin Hamid [ ]  Stasiland - Anna Funder [ ]  Sarah's Key - Tatiana De Tosnay [ ]  Scar Tissue - Anthony Keidis [ ]  Peter Pan - J.M. Barrie [X] How To Be a Woman - Caitlin Moran [X] Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - J.K. Rowling [X] Down and Out in Paris and London - George Orwell [ ]  Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis de Bernières [ ]  The End of Mr Y - Scarlett Thomas [ ]  Rookie Yearbook 1/2 - Tavi Gevinson [ ]  The Return of the Native - Thomas Hardy [ ]  Notes on a Scandal - Zoe Heller [ ]  Lace - Shirley Conran [ ]  High Fidelity - Nick Hornby [X] Half of a Yellow Sun - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie [ ]  Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy [ ]  The Sisters Brothers - Patrick DeWitt [ ]  The Line of Beauty - Alan Hollinghurst [ ] The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini [ ]  The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins [ ]  The Glass Castle - Jeanette Walls [ ]  The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time [X] The Beach - Alex Garland [ ]  Middlesex - Jeffrey Eugenides [ ] 
Results: 9/50
Not bad. I've read almost 20% of this list and have a few on my to-be-read pile. I really enjoy reading through book lists like this as it gives me new ideas about what to read next. 
Let me know how you stack up, I'd love to hear which books you've read that are on this list and what you think about them!  | follow me | tweet me | email me |

5 reasons you should read Him & Me by Jack and Michael Whitehall

Anyone that knows me will be well aware of my love for stand up comedy. I first started becoming interested in how language could be used to make people laugh when I was fifteen years old and I first discovered Nevermind the Buzzcocks. Since then, I've always been on the hunt for new comedians! 
Jack Whitehall is definitely one of my favourites and I'm excited to tell you that I will be seeing him live this week! My mom brought me tickets as a graduation present (thanks, Mom!!)
This book is written by both Jack and his dad, Michael. They've done various different projects together before including a talk show called Backchat, which I loved! The comedy comes from how different they are to each other. Michael is very conservative, sarcastic and can be quite grumpy whereas Jack is full of energy, is known to be quite camp and likes a dirty joke or two! You can see how these different dynamics can create the most hilarious results. 
I'm not usually one to read autobiographies as my heart truly lies with fiction, however, I'm really enjoying this book. It's laugh-out-loud funny and I hope that I'm able to finish it before I see the twice-crowned king of comedy himself on Friday! Here are just some of the reasons why you should read it too: 1) There are lots of family photographs 


These photos adorn the opening two pages, the back and are also scattered throughout the book. Whilst you read about antidotes from Jack's childhood, you're greeted which beautiful accompanying pictures such as Jack as a baby, at school with Robert Pattinson and dressed up Peter Pan and Captain Hook on two separate occasions! There are also some pretty hilarious photos of Michael too, including one of him competing in a fathers race at Jack's sports day whilst donning a formal business suit. 

2) The chapters are in sections 

I'm a bit of a neat freak, and the fact that all of the chapters are split up into little sections pleases me a lot more than it should. (I have a colour-coded diary and my DVDs are in alphabetical order...) The sections are in relation to different parts of Jack's life, and it's so sweet to hear about the all the different experiences from the perspective of both father and son. 

3) They correct each other

Each chapter is either written by Jack or Michael, but that doesn't mean that the other doesn't get their say! Throughout the book passages are corrected, commented on and generally there is a lot of back chatting, much like how you would interrupt someone during a spoken conversation. This aspect of the book makes you feel like you're reading a personal diary rather than an autobiography. 

4) Jack illustrates the book

























For moments that don't have a photograph to accompany it, there are funny drawings penned by Jack himself. Throughout the book you learn of Jack's love of art, and it's great to see him using his talents to make the funny situations discussed about in the book come to life.

5) It's heartwarming
The running theme in this book is that, despite their many many differences, Jack and Michael adore each other. Their father and son bond is an unbreakable one and something that shines through on the page. They bicker throughout the book, but you know it's tongue in cheek. For anyone who has a strong relationship with their parents, it's something that is easily relatable and they've captured the emotions perfectly. 
I'm really enjoying this book, and has definitely made me rethink my reading habits. Perhaps I should read a few more autobiographies. Although, I think I'd be hard pushed to find one similar to this as it feels so personal and reads like a diary. Fingers crossed that I finish it before the Jack Whitehall gig on Friday! 
So, how about you, do you read many autobiographies? What do you like about them?

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How They Met and Other Stories by David Levithan Review

 In the UK, February is the month of Valentine's Day and LGTB History Month, so what better way to celebrate both than to read a romantic LGTB book?! Although, I must admit, I didn't realise that most of the stories in this book had a running theme of sexuality and identity until I started reading it. But it was a happy coincidence. It also made me realise that I hadn't read many books with gay characters as protagonists, so that was something I really enjoyed.
This book is a book full of mini love stories. As the title suggests, the main theme is about how the different couples meet. Each story was completely different to the last, offering up different genders, sexualities and ethnicities. I've never read David Levithan's books before, but heard a lot of great things, and I must admit, he writes each character with authenticity. Despite what the cover would have you to believe, not every story is a happy romantic one. Some were about heartbreak, loss and unrequited love, but these stories were just as interesting to read as the happy ones.
One of my favourite stories is about a young couple that meet on an aeroplane. They're sitting next to each other and are reading the same book! I've always fantasied about making a friend that way. One of the main criticisms I have with this book, however, is that some stories seemed underdeveloped in comparisons to others. But after reading the prologue, I realised that some of these stories date back to when David was in secondary school. He used to write love stories for his friends as Valentine's day presents, and these are the stories that are featured in the book. It is obvious to see how his writing style has developed and improved over time.
Overall, this book is a very enjoyable read. I really liked all of the different characters and perspectives David offered up. However, some stories seemed underdeveloped, and sometimes it was hard to imagine characters fully until half way into the story as their gender was not addressed straight away. A very lovely read none-the-less, and if you're looking for a sweet collection of YA stories, then I'd recommend this one. 
Favourite Quotes:
"We'd said we'd keep in touch. But touch is not something you can do from a distance. Touch is not something you can keep as soon as it's gone, it's gone.  We should have said we'd keep in words, because they are all we can string between us - words on a telephone line, words appearing on a screen."
"The minute I knew I was in love was the minute when there was no question about it."
"You have to believe there are kisses and laughs and risks worth taking." 

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Free Kindle e-book with Galaxy chocolate!

As some of you may already be aware Galaxy chocolate have teamed up with Amazon, and are offering a free Kindle e-book with every chocolate bar brought. When I first heard of this campaign I couldn't contain my excitement, books AND chocolate?! What could be better?! 

What I didn't prepare myself for was how hard these bars actually are to find! I eventually found some yesterday in my local WHSmiths after about two weeks of searching. So if you see any of these on your travels I'd suggest grabbing as many as you can! 

Once you actually manage to find some, there's a little code that can be found inside the wrapper that can be swapped for one of ten books including Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn (which I've been wanting to read since finishing Gone Girl) and I Heart New York by Lindsey Kelk. Full list of books can be found here.

It's an amazing offer and I wanted to blog about it so all of my fellow book bloggers and book lovers were aware of it. Yesterday I ended up buying four bars, so for just over £3, I've got four books and four chocolate bars. Too bad I have to eat all of the chocolate to get the book code... Damn... Unlucky me!

I'd recommend that as soon as you find one of these special bars, you snap them up quickly. Happy hunting! 

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Showcase Sunday #1

I'm so happy to be writing my first Showcase Sunday post. SS is a weekly event hosted by Vicky at Books, Biscuits and Tea. It's a chance for bloggers to showcase what books we've accumulated over the week. It is also a great opportunity to meet other like-minded bloggers and have a good nose through the books they've received too! I must admit, I'm a very nosey person, and love to get inspiration on what books to read next from other bloggers. 

I've always loved Vicky's blog, and since my blog has been live, she's been nothing but friendly and welcoming to me. I've always loved the Showcase Sunday posts, but never felt like I had enough books to show on a weekly basis. But boy, do I this week! 

1) Amity & Sorrow by Peggy Riley 

2) The Time Travelers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger 

3) The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer

All of these books were given to me for different reasons, and I found it funny that they all seemed to have been given to me at the same time. (The little neat freak living inside of me also really enjoys the fact that all of these books are colour coordinated! What a lovely coincidence.) 

As explained in my previous post, The Shock of the Fall was given to me by my boyfriend for Valentine's and International Book Giving Day. And after looking up some other Showcase Sunday posts, it seems that a lot of us have been given TSotF this week so it'll be really interesting to see everybody's differing opinions on this book once we've all read it. 

What I got in the post:

I was lucky enough to be sent Amity & Sorrow through speaking to the lovely author Peggy Riley on Twitter. Thank you again Peggy for this book, I seriously cannot wait to read it! It's about two teenage girls who have been rescued from a cult their father ran. It sounds like it's going to be a pulse raising thriller. The types of books you can't put down because you have to know what happens. 

And I anonymously received The Time Travelers Wife as I had taken part in LeeLeeLoves Blind Date with a Book. The idea was simple, we were each given a name and an address, and we all had to anonymously send out a book for our chosen "date" to receive on Valentine's day. And I was lucky enough to receive mine on the love day itself. 

I have been meaning to read this book for a while, as I was somewhat disappointed with the film, but heard that the book was miles better. I was also so touched to have an attached note from my anonymous book valentine! (On a CAT post-it note! CATS! I feel like this person already knows me!)

I've stuck the post-it note on the inside of the book cover now to prevent it from getting lost or folded. I think it's so lovely that my blind date attached a little note about why this book was chosen for me, and I want to keep it with the book for as long as I can.

Participating in the book blind date was such a nice experience. It's lovely to know that someone you've never met would go through the effort of buying and sending a book to you. It's also a great way to read books that you might not have chosen yourself. I would definitely get involved with another book blind date or book swap again, I absolutely loved it!

I'd love to know what books you've received this week. Drop off your Showcase Sunday links or just tell me what books you've brought, borrowed or been gifted this week! 
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