BookTubeAThon Wrap-Up 2016

July 28, 2016July 28, 2016 ~ Natalie Cotterill ~ Leave a comment

Okay, so I admit now that I didn’t read as many as I’d hoped, but I was busier than I expected to be. I was on holiday so anticipated a lot of reading time but that time was spent doing other things, so I don’t mind too much! I finished three books and 60% of a fourth, which I’m pretty pleased with, if I’m honest. Here are the books I read and the challenges they completed.

Lolita – Vladimir Nabokov

I read this one first in the readathon, which was probably my downfall as it took me five days as I didn’t want to read it when I was tired. It was a fantastic book, but it required a little more dedication than I could give whilst half asleep, as the writing begs for your attention. It’s weird, but it’s good. 4/5 stars.

Challenges it completed: Read a book older than you.

Broken Dolls – Tyrolin Puxty

I read this as an ebook as I was sent it back in January for review. It was pretty good, though I did have some problems with it (a review should come fairly soon, but I’ve been pretty awful with review writing recently so who knows). 3/5 stars.

Challenges it completed: Read a book after sunset, read a book you found through booktube (from watching Benjaminoftomes).

One – Sarah Crossan

This was so good, and a very quick read. I managed to get it in on the sunday to complete another book, even though it brought me to tears. 4.5/5 stars.

Challenges it completed: Read a book with yellow on the cover.

60% of Breakfast of Champions – Kurt Vonnegut

Vonnegut is definitely one of my all-time favourite authors. He’s just such a skilled writer and his work is so satirical and ironic. I highly recommend anything by him (though I’ve only read Slaughterhouse 5 and Breakfast of Champions so far – I finished BOC today on Tuesday). 5/5 stars.

Challenge it went towards: Read a book by your favourite author.

I pretty happy with the amount that I managed to read. I would have loved to have read more, but I’m not too fussed as I’m now back on track with my goodreads goal (finally!). Did you participate? How many did you read?

BookTubeAThon TBR 2016

July 17, 2016 ~ Natalie Cotterill ~ Leave a comment

My internet is still rather appalling, so apologies for the missed posts and screwed up schedule.

So another readathon. I’m pretty pleased with how my last one went, and though this week is fairly busy too, I think I should (hopefully) have even more time to dedicate to books, so I’m going to aim to finish four in total. Here are the books that I have chosen for the challenges (though obviously, knowing me, these may change):

Read a book with yellow on the cover – One by Sarah Crossan

This may look lengthy, yet it is written in verse so I believe that it will be a very quick read. This, I think, may also be used for the second task if it is nearing the end of the readathon, as there are others on this TBR I will definitely be picking up first.

Read a book only after sunset – A Whole Life by Robert Seethaler

This is really short, and the man who sold it to me in Waterstones (who was absolutely lovely and likes George Orwell – which automatically makes me like him) said it made him cry. I look forward to getting to this at some point.

Read a book you discovered through booktube – The Glorious Heresies by Lisa McInerney

Thanks to Jen Campbell’s (and others’) coverage of the Baileys Prize and the nominated books, I discovered this, which was the winner. It looks so good, though unlike something I’d normally read, but I’m looking forward to picking it up nonetheless.

Read a book by one of your favourite authors – Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut

After reading Slaughterhouse 5, recommended to me by a friend’s dad, I fell in love with his writing, and I cannot wait to pick up another by Vonnegut (and gradually work my way through everything he has written). This can also count for the next challenge.

Read a book that is older than you – Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

I’m so desperate to read this, everyone on my university english group chat raves about it, and I read a little snippet of it and fell in love with the writing. This was first published in 1959 and I was born in 1997, so well, it’s older than me.

Read and watch a book-to-movie adaptation – The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Okay, I’m going to be honest and say that I rarely watch movies. The only movie that I’m interested in seeing is Me Before You, and I’ve only just finished reading that. I have, however, picked a book that I know has a movie adaptation, though I know now that I won’t watch it.

Read seven books – Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson

This is on my July TBR and I have yet to pick up one of the three Morgan Matson books that I haven’t yet read. It’s fairly long, but I’m sure I’ll read it very quickly, as I did with Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour.

Are you participating in the BookTubeAThon this year? Which book are you most looking forward to getting to? Personally, I’m most excited for Lolita, but also The Glorious Heresies.

Biannual Bibliothon 2016 Wrap-Up

July 11, 2016 ~ Natalie Cotterill ~ Leave a comment

This was supposed to go up yesterday but I had no internet so today it is.

I managed to finish three books and most of fourth during the Biannual Bibliothon, which I’m really pleased with as I have been fairly busy this week. I did have to change around my TBR slightly as I never finished the book I was reading and wanted to finish it. Here are the books that I read and the challenges I completed:

A book you’ve been putting off picking up – Stork Mountain by Miroslav Penkov

This book was absolutely fantastic and there is a review to come (I just need to write it first). I’d been putting this off as I stated it just before exams but the plot is extremely intricate and I just couldn’t cope with all of the information and revision! It’s set in Bulgaria too, which was so interesting as I knew nothing about the place. 4.5/5 stars.

Free choice – Moonstone by Sjón

This again, was really good. I did find it a little confusing at times, especially the ending, but overall I enjoyed it. It was really short and fascinating as it is set in Iceland in 1918, so something completely different from anything else I’ve read. 4/5 stars.

By an author you’ve never read – Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

This received the lowest rating of them all, yet I still enjoyed it. Whilst I was reading it I found parts to be quite slow, yet it has left me thinking about it and looking forward to reading the next instalment, which obviously shows that I enjoyed it. 3.5 stars.

Favourite mythical creature – A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Oh wow. Now I see what the hype is about, and Sarah J. Maas writes such wonderful characters. I can’t wait to get to the sequel and the Throne of Glass series to delve into her worlds again. 4 / 5 stars.

Different format – The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Okay, so I only listened to two chapters of this (I’m struggling to get through it, so I figured I’d try listening) but I thought I’d include it anyway. I’m enjoying it a bit more now I’m listening to it, and even better, I found an audiobook app that is free and with all the classics on (which are what I prefer to listen to).

So that’s my Biannual Bibliothon wrap up! I’m pretty pleased with the amount that I managed to read. If you took part, how many did you manage?

A Trip to Shakespeare’s Birthplace

July 7, 2016 ~ Natalie Cotterill ~ 2 Comments

Over the past couple of years I have begun to fall in love with Shakespeare’s work. Now, as I have grown a little older and mature and I’ve been studying English Literature at a much higher level (A level), I seem to understand the message and wit in his plays and enjoy them so much more.

I live around a 45 minute drive from Stratford-Upon-Avon, which I know is lucky, and it wasn’t my first time visiting (in fact I’ve visited many times before as I absolutely adore it). Just last April I was there with my Dad to watch the Royal Shakespeare Company’s performance of Hamlet, which was incredible.

Now that I’ve finished my A levels, we decided to take a trip to Stratford again to have a look around his birthplace (and of course, visit the book shop) before it gets too busy in the summer holidays. It was lovely, and though it was small and didn’t take long to go around, it was really interesting. My ticket also covered entrance to his daughter’s house (you can’t buy a ticket to just his birthplace) so we had a look around there too, and it was a lot grander but still interesting.

It’s somewhere I’ve wanted to go for a while now, having become such a lover of Shakespeare. The bookshop is amazing; there are so many editions of his plays to choose from and I bought way too many, which I’ll show in a moment. I also bought an amazing mug with Shakespeare’s insults on (I do believe that the world would be a much better place if everyone used Elizabethan insults instead). I thought I’d post a mini-haul on here, and share with you which books I got. They had some special editions which were absolutely gorgeous, and then I bought three of the Royal Shakespeare Company editions too.

The Penguin Special Birthplace editions:

The Tempest (blue), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (green), Romeo and Juliet (pink) and The Sonnets and A lover’s Complaint (patterned).

Royal Shakespeare Company editions:

King Lear, Hamlet (which is my all-time favourite play) and Othello.

If you’re ever near the area, I’d definitely recommend stopping by and having a look, as it was fascinating to see where Shakespeare grew up and lived before he became famous. Stratford-Upon-Avon is such a gorgeous place as well, it’s absolutely worth a visit.

July TBR 2016

July 3, 2016 ~ Natalie Cotterill ~ 2 Comments

I’m hoping, now that I have a lot more free time, that I will be able to read 10 books (if not more – at a push) this month. However, as I’m such a mood reader I will only list 5 that I definitely want to get to as if I list 10 I can guarantee my mind will change!

Since You’ve Been Gone – Morgan Matson

If I’m honest, I want to read all three of hers that I haven’t read, but this is the one I’ve had the longest and therefore my desire to read it has grown the most!

Lolita – Vladimir Nabokov

I never used to want to read this but apparently it’s nothing like I thought, so I really want to find out for myself.

A Little Life – Hanya Yanagihara

Need I explain? Just look at the awards it’s been nominated for and the good reviews it’s had (though I realise there are a fair few negative ones as well, I want to find out for myself).

Moonstone – Sjón

I only received this recently but it’s super short and set in Iceland, which is one of my favourite places, and the story looks so intriguing.

Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children – Ransom Riggs

There is a very good chance that I will binge the whole trilogy in probably three days, but there is an equally good chance that I will read the first one and put the rest off.

Summer Biannual Bibliothon TBR 2016

June 30, 2016June 25, 2016 ~ Natalie Cotterill ~ 5 Comments

It’s that time of year again, where all of the readathons happen in a short space of time! I have only just found the challenges and dates for this readathon, which just goes to show how I’ve been living under a rock these past few weeks (considering I knew I wanted to participate this year and had been keeping an eye out (or so I thought) for the dates). I have tweaked one of the challenges slightly, but other than that, here is my TBR. If you want to find out more then click here.

Read The Group Book – The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson.

I want to read this anyway, though if I’m honest I would prefer to save this for my holiday later in the summer as Morgan Matson’s books are perfect for hot sunny days. This will be possibly the last one I pick up therefore, if I even get through them all (which I doubt).

Free Choice / Wild Card Book – Moonstone by Sjón

I desperately want to read this and it’s super short. I only received it for review a few days ago but it looks so interesting, I can’t wait to pick it up.

Read a Book Off of the Host’s List of Recommendations

Okay, this is the one I’m changing slightly as I don’t own any of the books on the list and I don’t really want to buy any more at the moment unless I can get them for a good price on kindle. However the one I would most like to read (More Happy Than Not) is not available for kindle (at least I can’t find it listed on amazon) and so instead I plan on reading Every Exquisite Thing by Matthew Quick, as there is a Matthew Quick novel on the list!

Read a Book With Your Favorite Mythical Creature – A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

When I was deciding which book for this challenge I realised two things: one, I don’t have a particular favourite mythical creature and two, I have very few books that I know to include them. However, this fits the title as (I believe) it is about fairies and I really want to get around to reading it very soon. (This can also be used for the challenge about reading an author you haven’t read before).

Read a Book You’ve Been Putting Off Picking Up – Soundless by Richelle Mead

I really wanted to read this when I first got it, however since then I’ve heard more and more negative reviews and have been putting it off. I would like to find out for myself what it is like though, so I do plan to eventually get around to picking it up.

Read a Book from an Author You’ve Never Read Before – Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

This can also count for one I’ve been putting off, though I’m not sure why. It looks fabulous and unique and I definitely plan to get to the whole trilogy this summer.

Read a Book in a Different Format than You Usually Read – Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

I’ve heard so many amazing things about this graphic novel and I still haven’t picked it up yet, despite having it for a fairly long time. It looks like something I’ll enjoy so I hope that I get around to reading this.

I don’t know how many books I’ll get to during the readathon (between 3rd-9th July) but I’m hoping for three as I have a lot of things to get sorted and there are 2,250 pages in total. Are you participating in this readathon? I’d love to know your TBR if you are!

Take It As a Compliment – Maria Stoian

June 28, 2016June 24, 2016 ~ Natalie Cotterill ~ Leave a comment

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Genre: Graphic novel, Nonfiction

Publication Date: 21st November 2015

Format: eARC from Jessica Kingsley Publishers via Netgalley

“I was fifteen.”

“I never saw him again.”

“They chanted after me, ‘Oscar the Grouch, Oscar the Grouch.”

Bringing together the voices of males and females of all ages, the stories in this collective graphic memoir reflect real life experiences of sexual abuse, violence and harassment.

Each experience is brought to life by Maria Stoian’s exceptional artwork. Her unique and varied styles powerfully reflect the tone and mood of the different stories and in just a few pages express the complex emotions felt by victims of sexual abuse.

Covering acts such as sexual violence, public sexual harassment, domestic abuse and child abuse, this is a reminder for survivors that they are not alone and a call for all of us to take action. The stories clearly show that assault of any type is not an honour bestowed on anyone. It is not a compliment.

(From goodreads.com)

Normally I try to write a certain number of words for my reviews, but I don’t think I’ll make my usual target for the simple reason that this book left me speechless and speaks volumes for itself.

Maria Stoian’s art clearly marks each new story and portrays horrific events so well that this book was just fantastic. The illustrations are wonderful; the careful choice of style and colour to match each individual account made this book unique, as I find that it is rare to find a graphic novel where the styles differ throughout. Her images perfectly encapsulate what is going on in the stories that are being told – true accounts – and capture emotion, making me feel a whole array of different feelings whilst I was reading it.

This is such an important book though, and I urge everyone to pick it up. The stories that it shares cover a massively important issue in today’s society and highlight the fact that we need to listen instead of judge, and do something to help. That these stories are true makes it so much more emotional to read as the reminder that it is the truth constantly nags at you and it really hits home.

There is no plot to comment on, just heartbreaking true stories that made me hate the world around me but also brought me a little closer to comprehending what many people go through. This graphic novel left me speechless, and though it’s not long, it packs a powerful punch and can make you feel all kinds of emotions. It’s one of those books that I think everyone should read, as its message is so important and is vividly portrayed throughout this graphic novel. It’s so difficult to put my feelings about this book into words other than ‘everyone should read it’, and I can’t explain why, except for the fact that this has the potential to help so many people.

Rating: 5 / 5.

Finally Getting My Act Together

June 26, 2016June 24, 2016 ~ Natalie Cotterill ~ Leave a comment

So I would feel awkward if I just suddenly got back to how I want my blog to be with regular posts etc without writing something to a) apologise for my long, long absence and b) explain where I’ve been and what I’ve got planned.

So… Sorry about my long absence, it should not happen again because I never have exams again. Never has an apology felt so good.

As you can probably guess, I have been doing exams. Nine and a half hours of sitting in silence (except for one of them where a bunch of year sixes were allowed to run riot right outside the door to the exam room, whilst screaming at each other) and I am now free. I have my leavers’ assembly and meal this Thursday, though if I’m brutally honest I’m not bothered about going at all. It’s just something I feel I have to go to. And I need to give my textbooks back.

But yes, come September I will be starting university *cheers*. I have been lucky enough to get an unconditional offer for my dream course so I will definitely be starting at UEA, which makes me extremely excited, as I’ve already met a load of people on my course, and they’re all so so lovely. I will be studying English Literature with Creative Writing (no surprise there) and my course (here’s the exciting bit) is assessed just by coursework. Meaning I won’t disappear for three months. Maybe two weeks if I’m disorganised and don’t schedule any posts (because this is me we’re talking about, and I have the organisational skills of a loaf of bread).

I will, at some point, be starting my youtube channel again, though I think I want to get back to normal with my blog first as I don’t want to bite off more than I can chew as I’d like some reading time too – I need to catch up with my goodreads goal (though I’m only four books behind, which I’m pretty pleased about). Or I may start initially with a video every two weeks. I’m not entirely sure yet (see my previous comment about my organisational skills).

So yes, I think that’s all for now. I do plan (hopefully) on sharing some more of my creative work on here, be it responses to prompts in some of my creative writing books (which I can finally use), or something I’ve written off the top of my head. I also may branch out from books from time to time, though I’m unsure. I’ve made some big changes in my life recently that I’d love to share with you as I’ve been surprised by how easy they have been to make. Obviously come September I will talk about uni, I mean, I talk about it constantly now.

April TBR 2016

April 3, 2016 ~ Natalie Cotterill ~ Leave a comment

Honestly, I have no idea how many books I will get to this month as it will be full steam ahead with revision for the last exams I will ever do. (That still hasn’t fully registered with me yet). The same goes for blog posts, so I do apologise if there are more long periods with no posts. After June I can get back to normal, I promise.

Anyway, assuming I can read four, these are the four I hope to get to this month (though I’d love to read more if possible).

Slaughterhouse 5 – Kurt Vonnegut

I’ve read almost half of it within the past couple of days and I am honestly loving it. It’s much easier to read than I expected and I can tell already this is going to be one of my favourites of the year.

Illuminae – Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

I’m about 100 pages into this and it’s really good so far, though I’m finding it requires more concentration than reading a standard novel. I haven’t fallen in love with this yet as I know many did, but it’s definitely enjoyable and I look forward to reading more.

The Picture of Dorian Gray – Oscar Wilde

The chances of me finishing this are slim, I’m going to be honest. I’m not as invested in it at the moment and the chapters are so long I find it’s not the book I go to pick up if I want to read a chapter. The writing and the story are wonderful though, so I don’t really know why I’m not invested in it.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer – Mark Twain

This is wonderful and probably will be finished very soon, as the character of Tom is adorable (I’m about four chapters in) and I can tell the story is going be great and undoubtably entertaining.

Natsbythesea

Books, dogs, and a new life by the sea.