Jonathan is monster hunting… on circus grounds. But, the woman he expects is the perfect villain might actually be something else entirely…
I did read the Fran and Jonathan short stories a little out of whack. Or at least, I read Stingers and Strangers before I read The Flower of Arizona and so there were a few steps in that story that were missed. The Flower of Arizona however filled in those gaps. It was a great way to show how Fran and Jonathan were introduced and how their relationship first began…
One of the things I absolutely adore about Fran is that she has a great passion and love for life. She’s lively and completely irrepressible. Which completely lit up the pages of this short story and drew me in from the very first moment it was fun and seriously cute. A great meet-cute and beginning of a whole new relationship, written with McGuire’s sense of humour and pizzazz.
Love that the beast in this is a Chupacabra. Well… probably not, but it was something akin to a Chupacabra… they seem to be popping up more and more in the stories I read, and I’m really loving them. They’re a little bit weird, definitely unique and I just want one as a pet… partner this with the Aeslin mice… and two of my favourite paranormal creatures seem to be present.
Title: Tomorrow, When the War Began Author: John Marsden Series: Tomorrow #1 Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Australian authors, Dystopia, War Dates read: 6th – 11th August 2020 Pace: Fast Format: Novel Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia Year: 1993 5th sentence, 74th page: We agreed on total silence, and we left Kevin’s old corgi, Flip, chained up at the Mackenzies’.
TOMORROW, WHEN THE WAR BEGAN: The astonishing adventure begins
Ellie and her friends leave home one quiet morning, wave goodbye to their parents, and head up into the hills to camp out for a while; seven teenagers filling in time during school holidays.
The world is about to change forever. Their lives will never be the same again.
Would you fight? Would you give up everything? Would you sacrifice even life itself?
Tomorrow, When the War Began asks the biggest questions you will ever have to answer.
I first read this book when I was about ten years old. My mum probably didn’t quite realise what an intense story she was buying me. But it was certainly a great read, even back then. But, now? As an adult? Wow. I had actually forgotten just how damn good this book actually is! It’s brilliantly written, has a seriously intense storyline, manages to somehow be relatable in unrelatable circumstances, and, the part that I probably like the most… it has a great and strong character development / arc that makes you want to pick up the next book immediately and without reservation.
As with my first reading through of this when I was younger – it makes me incredibly grateful for the life I lead. Especially with the global climate right now. It just makes me more and more grateful for what I have in my own life. It’s definitely charmed living in Australia, and I just can’t imagine my life being torn apart in one moment as it is in this novel. It’s so lovely to read a book that highlights the good things in our lives by showing just how quickly things can go drastically wrong.
As I mentioned in my first paragraph, one of my favourite things about this novel is the way in which Ellie evolves as a person. At the beginning she’s a fairly typical teenager. Worried about boys, her friends and slightly rebelling against her parents. Even the first moments of the war are a little disjointed to her. But, as the story evolves, so does she. Quite drastically, but in a way that is entirely plausible. I love that her self-awareness and understanding of her own motives grows as she becomes a stronger, more independent woman. It means that I can’t wait to see how she further evolves as things get darker and darker…
I love novels that, when you’ve turned that final page, you constantly think about them. Either because of the emotions that they impart, or, as is the case with this book – a question that you ask yourself. In this case, I am constantly wondering what I would have done / would do in this situation. And whether I would even survive (I strongly suspect I wouldn’t… but it’s an interesting thought exercise). Now I have to weigh up the pros and cons of whether or not I want to read the next book just now… and whether my heart can bear the intensity of the storyline…
Title: The Mansion of Imperatives Author: James Grady In: Home Improvement (Charlaine Harris & Toni L.P. Kelner) Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Horror Dates read: 11th August 2020 Pace: Fast Format: Short story Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books Year: 2011 5th sentence, 74th page: We could clean it up.
Five people enter the house. Who will be allowed to leave?
So this is a super dark and powerful and uncomfortable story. It’s kind of awesome. But definitely give you the heebie jeebies as you read it. It’s pretty obvious that it’s going to be like that from the very beginning though. There is no misleading from that first sentence that this is likely to be a fun or light-hearted story. Actually, from the first sentence I kind of just assumed that they would all die…
Although I was expecting a lot of death throughout this story. I still wasn’t expecting the depth of insanity and craziness throughout this story. It was somewhat surprising and a little confronting in some places. A little bit about hidden desires. But also the First Imperative… the Will to Survive.
After finishing this story, I had a bit of a mad urge to jump up and go sit out in my backyard. The only thing that quite honestly stopped me was the fact that it was dark, raining and cold. Otherwise, something about this story would most likely have led me to sit outside and just stare at my house and wonder about it for a little while before getting the guts to come back inside…
Title: Bookkeeper, Narrator, Gunslinger Author: Charles Yu In: Dead Man’s Hand (John Joseph Adams) Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Psychics, Weird western, Westerns Dates read: 7th August 2020 Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: Titan Books Year: 2014 5th sentence, 74th page: And that, to my great and everlasting surprise, is where I come into the story.
They’re the narrator and the bookkeeper for their tiny little town. But, when an accidental slip of the tongue leads them into a gunfight… they also become a gunslinger.
I’ve been reading a lot of western short stories lately. Yet, weirdly enough, this felt like the first story which features a gunslinger. I’m not entirely sure how that hasn’t happened before now. But I definitely loved reading about a gunslinger. The fact that he’s a bit of a dweeby guy who is also the town narrator and bookkeeper… it just made me that, that, that much happier…
From the very beginning, there is something slightly different and weird about the narrator’s talent as a gunslinger. And I loved how the truth behind their new-found talent is slowly revealed. This slow trickling of information is seriously brilliant. And it made it all that much more difficult to actually put the book aside…
I love when the title of a story makes total sense once you read that tale. In this case, the title of this short story is completely self-explanatory and wonderful once you’ve read through it all. I loved that each and every role that the lead character filled was pretty much outlined from the very beginning…
Title: Friends Without Benefits Author: Penny Reid Series: Knitting in the City #2 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Chic lit, Contemporary, Contemporary romance Dates read: 16th – 17th August 2020 Pace: Fast Format: Novel Publisher: Caped Publishing Year: 2013 5th sentence, 74th page: Nico frowned and flinched slightly.
There are three things you should know about Elizabeth Finney
1) She suffers from severe sarcastic syndrome, especially when she’s unnerved, 2) No one unnerves her like Nico Manganiello, and 3) She knows how to knit.
Elizabeth Finney is almost always right about everything: the musical merits of boy bands are undervalued by society, “benefits” with human Ken dolls are better without friendship, and the sun has set on her once-in-a-lifetime chance for true love.
But when Elizabeth’s plans for benefits without friendship are disarmed by the irritatingly charismatic and chauvinistic Nico Manganiello – her former nemesis – she finds herself struggling to maintain the electric fence around her heart while avoiding electrocution, or, worse, falling in love.
This was such a beautifully cute novel. I like the idea of people who were in love at a young age re-finding each other as adults. The fact that there is a bit more tragedy and confusion in the past just helped to add to my love of this novel. It was just seriously cute and adorable. And, even though Elizabeth’s wedding is revealed in Neanderthal Marries Human, there were enough surprises throughout that it no longer irritated me.
One such surprise / enjoyment was the scene with the proposal in it. I actually guffawed. A word that I have never applied to myself or my own actions. But here, it is completely suited and works. I actually guffawed and thought that this was a brilliant way to expand on the unconventional relationship that Elizabeth and Nico seem to have. I also like that this less than traditional relationship nicely balances the normal narrative which surrounds love, first love and that forever love which is frequently discussed in this novel.
One of the things I sometimes find difficult in romance series is that there becomes a bit of a same-same voice throughout the series. I very rarely find any which are written in the first person. Yet, Reid is able to do this seamlessly. She manages to find a way in which to write in the first person that is completely different across the novels. Or at least, the first two novels in this series. Janie and Elizabeth might be best friends, but they have completely different personalities. Which shine through brilliantly in this story. It made it all that much more difficult to put the book down…. Luckily I didn’t have all that much I had to do in the way of acting responsibly.
I found the slow unravelling of the past and the intertwining of this narrative with the present a really great narrative technique. Again, it helped to differ this from Janie’s stories even further. It also provided this sense of hope and understanding throughout the story that completely melted my heart and transported me to my happy place.
To finish of this novel, I found Epilogue I was just damned cute and gave a lovely sense of completion to the story. But then, to cap it all off, there was Epilogue II. This made me clutch my chest and give a watery smile. It was just too damn cute.
Title: Neanderthal Marries Human Author: Penny Reid Series: Knitting in the City #1.5 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Chic lit, Contemporary, Contemporary romance Dates read: 6th – 10th August 2020 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Caped Publishing Year: 2014 5th sentence, 74th page: “All I’m saying is that I could find a dozen Quinn Sullivans – handsome millionaire manwhores – but I’ve only encountered one Janie Morris.”
There are three things you should know about Quinn Sullivan
1) He is madly in love with Janie Morris, 2) He’s not above playing dirty to get what (or who) he wants, 3) He doesn’t know how to knit.
After just five months of dating Janie, Quinn – former Wendell and unapologetic autocrat – is ready to propose marriage. He’s more than ready. If it were up to Quinn, he would efficiently propose, marry, and beget Janie with child all in the same day.
But Janie, tosses a wrench in his efficacious endeavors and challenges him to prove his devotion by going through the matrimonial motions, no matter how minute and mundane.
Will Quinn last until the wedding day? Or will he yield to his tyrant impulses?
Most of the romance series that I read have the main story about a couple and then that tends to be it. Sometimes there is a bit of a follow up with a novella or short story. Or even a mention of the couple (and maybe their wedding) in a following novel in the series. But this is the first time I’ve read a full-length novel follow up to a couple getting together. And I really loved it. Plus, even though most of the time I don’t necessarily need this… I think that in the case of Janie and Quinn, it is somewhat necessary… there were just many unanswered questions and moments at the conclusion of Neanderthal Seeks Human.
One of the biggest discomforts I had on completing Neanderthal Seeks Human was the state of both Janie and Quinn’s families. Some of the issues were explained, although not necessarily the roots of these issues. But nothing at all was resolved. And, although, like all, good, realistic stories, not everything is in a neat little bow at the conclusion of this story… a lot more was resolved. And even those parts that weren’t were either accepted or moving towards being resolved. It just gave a more satisfactory ending to the story. At least for me, someone who likes things to be tied up a little neater and tidier.
I love that Quinn doesn’t think that he’s a good guy throughout this whole series (thus far). It’s nice to have a dominant male lead who doesn’t actually think that they are good… a nice difference that I immediately lapped up. I began to understand a little throughout Neanderthal Seeks Human. But it wasn’t until this novel that I started to really, truly understand the ways in which Quinn finds himself guilty. How he thinks he is truly evil. Yet, it is Janie’s unwavering faith in him that not only makes him seem like a good guy, but also helps him to become a better one. I loved that this relationship was all about both characters finding the best versions of themselves through their love for one another.
There were so many positive emotions that I felt throughout this story. But one negative was the way that Janie’s family and her final understanding of the way they felt about her. It kind of broke my heart. Yes, she’s a little off-kilter and some of the distance with her father is kind of understood. But when you find out a little bit more. And she finally accepts some of the ways in which things stand… my heart just about shattered. It was just impossible to fathom and understand. Impossible not to want to shed a tear or two (it was a damn close thing, but then Reid managed to lighten the moment with a little humour).
Whilst I loved this novel and the way it completely rounded out Janie and Quinn’s story. I definitely have some mixed feelings about the reveal of Elizabeth’s happy ending / story that was in it. Nico’s first appearance was good. But the last appearance… I got to find out the beginning and the end of their story. With none of the middle something that I certainly didn’t enjoy all that much….
Title: Neanderthal Seeks Human Author: Penny Reid Series: Knitting in the City #1 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Chic lit, Contemporary, Contemporary romance Dates read: 6th August 2020 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Caped Publishing Year: 2013 5th sentence, 74th page: I immediately noted that Cypher Systems was located in the Fairbanks Building, the same building as my previous job.
There are three things you should know about Janie Morris
1) She is incapable of engaging in conversation without volunteering TMTI (Too Much Trivial Information), especially when she is unnerved, 2) No one unnerves her more than Quinn Sullivan, and 3) She doesn’t know how to knit.
After losing her boyfriend, apartment, and job in the same day, Janie Morris can’t help wondering what new torment fate has in store.
To her utter mortification, Quinn Sullivan – aka Sir McHotpants – witnesses it all then keeps turning up like a pair of shoes you lust after but can’t afford. The last thing she expects is for Quinn to make her an offer she can’t refuse.
Honestly, the way that this story was told and the narration / voice of Janie… it was like jumping inside my own brain. Alright, I’m less knowledgeable about so many things than she is… but the tangents, the feeling overwhelmed with emotion, just the whole way she approaches life…. It was all just way, way, way too familiar. And wonderful.
This was such a great, happy, funny and quirky contemporary romance. Not only do I look forward to finding out about how Quinn and Janie’s relationships expand in Neanderthal Marries Human, but I also can’t wait to get to know the other women in this knitting circle just that much better. Particularly when the first woman is Janie… she’s fun, she’s quirky and she just doesn’t quite know when to stop talking. Things that I am just all too familiar with.
I bought this because a blogger I really enjoy had said that Reid’sWinston Brothers series was really good. And, after finishing this, I can’t believe that it’s taken me so damn long to get this book on my shelves. There is just this beautiful lightness and enjoyment in this story. Don’t get me wrong, there are moments of oh no and heart break throughout this story. But not enough to get my heart racing. Just enough to make you have to turn the next page.
As much as I absolutely adored this contemporary romance story. I also completely loved the knitting aspect too. I don’t get the pleasure of reading many stories which feature this craft. And, although I’m like Janie and can’t seem to get myself to knit… I do crochet. And I would love to have a group of girlfriends like this that I can just have a knitting / crochet circle with. It also lent itself to some very funny moments at the end of the story. Moments that I shared with my knitting-mother and had her almost crying with laughter.
Title: The Big Sky Author: A.B. Guthrie In: The Mammoth Book of Westerns (Jon E. Lewis) Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one) My Bookshelves:Westerns Dates read: 6th August 2020 Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: Robinson Year: 1947 5th sentence, 74th page: “That was for beaver.”
This extract from a bigger Western story feels just like being dropped into daily life on the frontier.
This short story just felt like being dropped straight into a scene from daily life. It’s not necessarily an enthralling, impossible to forget short story. But it was one that left you feeling really contented and comfortable. That left you thinking about all the trials and tribulations of daily life. In a way that most stories don’t tend to do.
That being dropped into the middle of daily life feeling kind of makes sense when you think about the fact that this short story is an excerpt from part of a bigger novel. Actually, the comfort and simplicity of this made me kind of want to add this book to my shelves… even if I wasn’t totally enthralled. It’s nice to have something that is just comfortable on your shelves sometimes…
Many of the stories that I’ve been reading lately have left me feeling somewhat uncomfortable, unsure and a little bit thought-dwelling. This is not one such story. It just left me feeling weirdly content and complete. I couldn’t tell you what truly happened in this story. But I can tell you that I enjoyed my time in this world. It felt something like sitting in a friend’s living room over a nice, big cup of tea….
Duration: 1st September – 30th September 2020 Number of books: 3 Hosted by: Bookworm Bitches
September 2020: Out of the Norm Duration: 9/1/2020-9/30/2020
There are 3 tasks, you only need to read three books to finish this challenge. Or pick one task and read 3 books for that one task.
September- spontaneity 1. Use a random number generator or close your eyes and pick a random book from your TBR. 2. Read a friend recommendation (reach out to fellow group members if needed!) 3. Pull up a map and blindly point to a place. Read a book set in that place or has the character/author from that place. (Can be country, continent, etc.)
Rules ~Books must be read during the selected time period. ~Post the date you finished the book. ~All books read for challenges can be used for more than one challenge. ~Books can be either Fiction or Non Fiction. Your choice. ~At the end of the challenge, it will be closed for commenting and moved to the archives folder ~Use the add book/author tool to tag your book within your challenge.
September 2020 SPELL Challenge-Beekeeping in a Honeycomb Timeframe: 9/1/20 to 9/30/20
To go along with Suzanne’s scavenger challenge this month, choose one or more of these words to spell out in September. You may use the first letter of the first word in the book’s title (excluding A, An and The) OR the author’s first or last initial.(middle names or initials can NOT be used)
CHALLENGE RULES: ♦ Please sign up by posting at least a partial list of the challenge requirements. This gives us a post to link you to, which you can use to update your books as the challenge progresses.
♦ Unless otherwise noted, books must be at least 150 pages long. (See the link here for rules regarding graphic novels.) Books may only be used for one task in this challenge, but cross-challenge posting is encouraged 🙂 Re-reads are allowed, as long as you read the entire book and not simply skim through it.
♦ For each book you read, please post a link to the title, and indicate the author and the date you finished reading it. * If you don’t know how to post a link to the book title, cover or author, see the instructions here: Add a link to the book title, book cover and/or author
♦ When you complete the challenge, please post your entire list as a new message to make it easier for everyone to see what you’ve read 🙂 If you don’t repost your list, your name will not be added to the list of those who have completed the challenge.
Earth and Skye 