Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Top 10 Books I've Read This Year (2011)

1. The Hunger Games
This is the obvious one. It has awesome characters, amazing amazing writing, and kept me captivated the entire time.

2. Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince
Each and every HP book is ridiculously good. Enough said! 

3. Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows
Ditto above.

4. Shopaholic & Sister
You can never go wrong with some Sophie Kinsella in your life. The Shopaholic series is one of my favourite series ever, and given that it is contemp chick lit and NOT fantasy, that is really saying something! 

5. Only the Good Spy Young
Ally Carter created this truly amazing world of teenage spies-in-training, and each book in the series is filled with immense action, twisted spy plots, suspense and teen drama. 

6. Shopaholic & Baby
One of my favourite instalments in the Shopaholic series. The way Becky tackles that 9 month period of pregnancy is hilarious! 

7. 13 Little Blue Envelopes
Such a good YA book. Maureen Johnson is funny and quirky and puts all the right things into her characters and her settings and her storylines.

8. Catching Fire
Second instalment of The Hunger Games. Suzanne Collins did not disappoint for Round 2!  

9. Jane Eyre
Brilliantly written, intriguing characters, and a very truthful romance classic. Charlotte Bronte's first  published  novel is SO very good. It's beautifully gothic and every word is emphatic.

10. A Wrinkle in Time 
The children's book I wish I had read way back then. Madeleine L'Engle may well be on my favourite authors list just from my reading this one book of her's. 

Are any of these books on YOUR Top 10 for 2011?

Monday, December 26, 2011

New on my Bookshelf

Just before Christmas I got Dash & Lily's Book of Dares (by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan) from Rebecca @ Reading Wishes through the Aussie Swap




You can see more about the book and its synopsis here
Even though I got it through a swap, it still feels like a Christmas gift, so I'm a happy chappy.
I just saw the other cover for it, which also looks really amazing, so I might do a Fairest of Them All post on it later on. 


Hope you had an excellent Christmas, Happy Boxing Day (if you're Aussie) and have a great New Year! 


xx love,
Arielle

Thursday, December 22, 2011

The Time Will Come #13 *CITY OF BONES*



'The Time Will Come' is a Thursday book meme which began at Books for Company, where we pick a book we've been meaning to read but haven't got around to yet, one that's been sitting on our shelf gathering dust for a while...



City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, Book 1) by Cassandra Clare

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Day 20 of the 30 Day Book Meme: FAVOURITE ROMANCE BOOK



Day 11 – A book you hated



Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

It is probably the obvious choice, but for me there's not even any contest. I had to read P&P in Year 11 English Lit, and the best way to appreciate a work of art and culture is to study it. 

I suppose it also helps that the 2005 film adaptation was spectacular. The scenes were so picturesque that it's now exactly how I envision Regency England. 

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Review: The Undomestic Goddess


Title: The Undomestic Goddess
Author: Sophie Kinsella
CLICK HERE FOR SYNOPSIS
Genre: Chick Lit
First published: July 19, 2005
Format: Paperback, 416 pages
Source: Bought (Borders, AUS)
Other Details: featured in The Time Will Come meme. Click here for that post. 
My Rating: 4.5 stars


The story is about Samantha, a 29 year old lawyer in London, whose life solely revolves around her career. She's on the verge of scoring a partnership with the top law firm in the country, but a little bump in the road sends her life soaring out of control. Suddenly Samantha finds herself outside a huge house somewhere in the countryside - tired, drunk, jobless and with a massive headache. The next day she wakes up realising she's taken a job as a house-cleaner. With no domestic experience whatsoever, Samantha has to figure out how to bluff her way through the cooking, the cleaning, the ironing and all the other household chores she needs to complete on a daily basis. 


Do not be fooled by the storyline you expect - there is almost always something deeper going on beneath the surface narrative of a Sophie Kinsella novel. I was pleasantly surprised by the sheer genius that goes into each of her stories, especially this one. I was laughing and crying, jumping up and down in my chair with bright eyes and a goofy grin on my face while reading The Undomestic Goddess. 

Monday, December 19, 2011

New on my Bookshelf *Sophie Kinsella style*



Can you keep a Secret? and 
Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella!!!! 


So chuffed about finding these books on sale in Big Dub today. I was silently hoping to find Mini Shopaholic there but that'll have to wait for another time, I suppose. 
Sophie Kinsella standalone novels are almost just as good as the Shopaholic series. 


The book I just finished was also by her - if you follow me on twitter you'd have seen me rave on and on about The Undomestic Goddess
Review for that one will be up hopefully tomorrow! 

Thursday, December 15, 2011

The Time Will Come #12: *RUMOURS*



'The Time Will Come' is a Thursday book meme which began at Books for Company, where we pick a book we've been meaning to read but haven't got around to yet, one that's been sitting on our shelf gathering dust for a while...

Friday, December 9, 2011

Day 19: *FAVE FILM ADAPTATION*



Day 01 – The best book you read last year
Day 02 – A book that you’ve read more than 3 times
Day 03 – Your favourite series
Day 04 – Favourite book of your favourite series
Day 05 – A book that makes you happy
Day 06 – A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book An unexpected good read
Day 08 – Most overrated book
Day 09 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favourite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favourite writer
Day 14 – Favourite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you

*Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie*


I've watched a lot of movies over the years, many of them being film adaptations of books, but I haven't always had the chance to read the book that corresponds to the film. 
So I haven't got the best qualifications to give an experienced opinion, I can only really go off what I've seen and read. Which isn't that much. 


Without further ado, here are some really great films that I've seen, that were adapted from books (of which I have also read): 



Jane Eyre (2011)
Jane Eyre (2011)
Alice in Wonderland (2010)
Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009) 
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe (2005)
Pride and Prejudice (2005)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
Sense and Sensibility (1995)

Thursday, December 8, 2011

The Time Will Come #11: *SOULLESS*


'The Time Will Come' is a Thursday book meme which began at Books for Company, where we pick a book we've been meaning to read but haven't got around to yet, one that's been sitting on our shelf gathering dust for a while...

Monday, December 5, 2011

Day 18: A BOOK THAT DISAPPOINTED ME



Day 01 – The best book you read last year
Day 02 – A book that you’ve read more than 3 times
Day 03 – Your favourite series
Day 04 – Favourite book of your favourite series
Day 05 – A book that makes you happy
Day 06 – A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book An unexpected good read
Day 08 – Most overrated book
Day 09 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favourite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favourite writer
Day 14 – Favourite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
*Day 18 – A book that disappointed you*


Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen



The title of the novel so perfectly describes the two main characters, Elinor and Margaret Dashwood. I'm glad I read the book even though it did disappoint me in that it was quite a struggle to finish - the characters didn't really amaze me at all and the plot was pretty good but I'm not sure I'd say it was great. 
I watched the film the other day with my mum and really enjoyed it! I ADORE Jane Austen film/tv adaptations. This movie version had Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Hugh Laurie, and other big names starring in it. It was pretty funny, especially Edward Ferrars (Hugh Grant) - I called him a wombat (because of how he walks, his stature, how he looks, and how he struggles to form sentences and stumbles on his words a lot); my mum and I were laughing hysterically. 


Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Follower of the Month! *NOVEMBER*




November flew by so quickly, I can't believe Christmas is almost here! 
Follower of the Month is a little award I present to a Chimneys and Magic follower, to show my appreciation and to get to know my blog readers a little better! 
Click on the banner or link above for more details and info on how YOU could be nominated for Follower of the Month.


Here are the fun questions I asked November's winner. 


Question-time.
THE NITTY GRITTY
1. What is your name?
Rebecca

2. If you could list one thing you like about Chimneys & Magic, what would it be?
That’s a hard question, but I love  Chimneys & Magic for its originality. It’s so different and unique to other blogs and I love that. It marches to its own beat.

3. What is your favourite book genre (current OR of all time)?
What’s with all the tough questions! Mmm, *minutes tick by*... Well, I’ve read Contemporary the longest and I do love that, but I’ve recently started getting into the Paranormal genre and I’m loving that too, but I also love romance – I’m sucker for a good swoon! I don’t think I could pick, I love all three, but at the moment I’m probably leaning to Paranormal Romance.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

New On My Bookshelf



Happy Saturday, folks! 
Today I vacuumed the whole house, went Xmas tree/food/gift shopping, put up and decorated the Christmas tree, vacuumed some more, took a half hour nap, and cooked some pasta.


Not sure why I just told you that. 
Two new books arrived recently -
Friendship on Fire by Danielle Weiler, and 
Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
(Sorry about the photo above, my walls and carpet look really dull and depressing)

Book Blog Pet Peeves... via The Story Siren

Last month Kristi (The Story Siren, duh!) posted '10 things I dislike about your blog'. I thought I'd jump in and do a little ventilation myself. If you haven't read Kristi's post, go click that link and read it! 
NOTE: I'm going to risk sounding unappealingly pretentious in this post, so I hope you don't hate me after this!
Here are some of my pet peeves when it comes to reading book blogs:


1. NOISY WIDGETS
These score 10/10 on the annoying scale, and the thing that makes it worse is when I can't even find the bloody widget to turn off the sound! Kristi mentions this too, so every blogger should be wary of this. Automatic sound in widgets does not a good blog make. What it does is make me close your page faster than 100 fast things running a race.

Friday, December 2, 2011

My Swap List (The Aussie Swap)

The Aussie Swap is a Goodreads group that was formed so that us Australian book-lovers would be able to show each other our bookshelves - the books we own and can swap & the books that are on our wishlist. 
Basically you can get your hands on some of the books you've been pining for, whilst sharing your own books as well. I suck at explaining things, so click the link for more info. 


My 'Aussie Swap List' is posted up on my 'to-swap' Goodreads bookshelf and also on Chimneys & Magic (click here for that page, or find the link on the top of the sidebar). 
Currently I have almost a dozen titles on my Swap List, so if you live in Australia and want to get your hands on any of the books from that list (which is updated when new ones arrive and old ones leave), then chuck me an email or contact me via Goodreads
In order for it to work though, you need to swap something that I want! So link me to your swap list or if you don't have one, browse my wishlist to see what type of books I'd like to swap with. 


If you're an Aussie book-lover, you should join the group! Everyone is super warm and friendly and you might find something precious in the process. 



Thursday, December 1, 2011

The Time Will Come #10: **The Persimmon Tree**



'The Time Will Come' is a Thursday book meme which began at Books for Company, where we pick a book we've been meaning to read but haven't got around to yet, one that's been sitting on our shelf gathering dust for a while...

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

New on my bookshelf



**The Musician's Daughter**
by Susanne Dunlap

This beauty came the mail yesterday! 
I'm excited for it because not only is it historical fiction, but the whole musical element is in there too. And mystery. It should be fun. 
It would be so awesome to be living in the time period/s of the greatest Classical composers of all time! 
The Musician's daughter is a YA historical mystery set in 18th Century Vienna. It's going to be interesting to see how the author characterises Franz Joseph Haydn. 


And that is what's new on my bookshelf. 

Monday, November 28, 2011

Day 17: *FAVOURITE QUOTE*




Day 01 – The best book you read last year
Day 02 – A book that you’ve read more than 3 times
Day 03 – Your favourite series
Day 04 – Favourite book of your favourite series
Day 05 – A book that makes you happy
Day 06 – A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book An unexpected good read
Day 08 – Most overrated book
Day 09 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favourite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favourite writer
Day 14 – Favourite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character

*Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)*


I've been putting this one off for quite some time, thinking that I'll have to somehow get out all my favourite books and compile all my favourite quotes. I just realised that that isn't possible! It would take about 12479587376 years for me to do that. So why even bother trying? Instead I'm going to just show you a few of my favourite quotes - ones that stopped me in my tracks and had me writing them down. Or ones that just made me laugh hysterically.
Seeing as you know my favourite writers and my favourite books it won't be hard to guess that my other favourite quotes stem from those.

My Summer Reading Pile...s

A couple nights ago I decided to get out all the books from my shelves that are on my TBR list and sort them out into a pile in reading order. 
I've accumulated them over the past two years and there are in total 30 in that pile (or piles). 
These are not all the books I own that I haven't read - I have more, but the ones in the video below are just my current reading pile. hehe.



Take a squiz at the one minute video above, and let me know which book you think should be bumped up to the very top of the list! 
Or let me know in the comments what books are on your holiday reading pile?

HAPPY MONDAY!!

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Check out my 'Getting to Know You' interview!



The awesome Rebecca from Reading Wishes featured me on yesterday's 'Getting to Know You' interview! 
Here is a snippet: 



What was the last book you read, that made you feel like shouting from the rooftops, ‘cause it was that good!?
Game of Thrones by George RR Martin! I’m actually only one eighth of the way through the novel, but I already know it is that good. Every single thing about this story is fascinating and ingenious and alluring and captivating. 

Fave Literal Book Crush...
I would have to go with Mr Darcy, for sure. The whole Jane-Austen-style Regency period is so alluring to me - the lifestyle, the social culture, even the fashion culture... I’m definitely an escapist sort of gal like that.


Thanks so much to Rebecca for letting me participate. I had a blast answering the questions. 
CLICK HERE to read the full interview! 


xA

The Time Will Come #9: *THREE WISHES*



'The Time Will Come' is a Thursday book meme which began at Books for Company, where we pick a book we've been meaning to read but haven't got around to yet, one that's been sitting on 
our shelf gathering dust for a while...

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Quick Update: New Feature *Follower of the Month!*



On the 19th of November I tweeted about starting this new feature. (I am terribly excited about it!! Wheehehehee) I'm going to pick & award a "Follower Of The Month", every month for November onwards! 

I had a sudden wave of inspiration in the shower (...where else?) and decided to give back some love to you, and kinda of show my intense appreciation by doing this feature. 

'Follower of the Month' will be based on feedback from my blog comments as well as Twitter (re-tweets, mentions, DMs, any sort of interaction). 
It's not so much to do with quantity, but rather quality.
Those who are eligible for the award are primarily Chimneys & Magic followers; being a Twitter follower is just an optional extra (my twitter is personal, not only bookish, so I understand if you don't want to follow). 

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Review: *A WRINKLE IN TIME* by Madeleine L'Engle

Title: A Wrinkle in Time (Time, #1)
Author: Madeleine L'Engle
CLICK HERE FOR SYNOPSIS
Genre: Middle Grade Science Fiction/Fantasy
First published: November 30, 1961
Format: Paperback, 245 pages
Source: Bought (Target, US)
Other Details: featured in The Time Will Come meme. Click here for that post. 
My Rating: 4.5 stars





My thoughts:

This is what we, as book-lovers, thirst for. 
That magical, wondrous moment where faith conquers fear and peril reaps a happy ending.
The words we soak up from the page and into our minds and more importantly our hearts - those are what transform a story into something magical, something even great minds struggle to fathom, something better... something heavenly. 

Monday, November 21, 2011

*The Hunger Games Movie* That Might Have Been! (Original Screenplay excerpts)

OK, so I just woke up about half an hour ago from my pre-dinner nap (I'm not that fond of the 'granny' nap term; everyone likes to sleep, right?) and found this video in my Youtube sub box! 
It's by Whitney Milam, the Youtuber I mentioned in my previous post. 
It's got some interesting information about the film we're all desperately waiting to see next March! 


Click play...



What did you think? 
I'm so glad they got Suzanne Collins in to co-write the final screenplay, I think the movie adaptation would have turned out to be a bit of a disappointment if they stuck with the original! 
Gale sneaking around Capitol? NO THANK YOU.

What's HOT on my *Wishlist*! [ top 7 ]




I finished my last exam a couple of hours ago... YAY! 
No more stress for me! Apart from the stress I'll get from my mum nagging me about getting a job. 


I thought it apt timing to show you the books I'm craving for this Christmas - these are the Top 7 (I tried making it a Top 5 but failed) books I should have read already but somehow still haven't! 
These seven books soar high above my wishlist in terms of the crave scale.


Ready?
HERE WE GO! 

Thursday, November 17, 2011

The Time Will Come #8: *The Undomestic Goddess*



'The Time Will Come' is a Thursday book meme which began at Books for Company, where we pick a book we've been meaning to read but haven't got around to yet, one that's been sitting on 
our shelf gathering dust for a while...

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Sneak Peek: *I've Got Your Number* by Sophie Kinsella



Random House just tweeted this sneak peek video, and I'm so excited!!!
If you're not already aware, Sophie Kinsella is one of my all time favourite authors - she has a talent for mixing in great storylines with heartwarming characters and binding them with some brilliantly hilarious writing.
I can't say much more; this video speaks for itself, and I have an English exam this arvo to cram for!!!
EEEEP!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

I Have a Belly Full of Peppermint Tea (an update)

I just drank a massive mug of peppermint tea and my head feels a little woozy right now. It's throbbing a bit too and I sort of feel like passing out. 
If I pass out on you, apologies in advance.


Anyway, how have you been doing?? I've been better. This week was the pre-exam study week.
Over the next 2 weeks I have several exams - all of which I'm not ready for yet - so I might be quite AWOL during the upcoming fortnight. 
I'll give you some scheduled 'The Time Will Come' posts because I love doing those; they are really fun to write. But reviews will be pretty much at 0 as will everything else. -sad face-
But don't worry, I haven't got a job yet, so I'll be back straight after the 21st! 


Let me know what posts you'd like to see from me in the comments - 
e.g. visual inspiration (photos from the interwebzz), bookshelf tour... I need more ideas! 
I'll have reviews up for Jane Eyre and A Wrinkle In Time shortly after exams too. 
I might do a review for the Epic of Gilgamesh as well - would anyone be interested in that? Two of my units had readings for the Gilgamesh myth so I got a version out of the library to study. It was ... interesting.


I think I might sip a glass of water and pass out on my bed now. My head is screaming at me right now! 
Oh Lordy. 


Wish me luck for my exammys! 


Much love & happy reading,


Arielle.