Through The Woods

Title: Through The Woods
Author: Emily Carroll
Type: Paperback
Read: 25th September 2016
Rating: 4/5
Published: 7th May 2015 by Faber & Faber

'It came from the woods. Most strange things do.'

Five mysterious, spine-tingling stories follow journeys into (and out of?) the eerie abyss.

These chilling tales spring from the macabre imagination of acclaimed and award-winning comic creator Emily Carroll. Come take a walk in the woods and see what awaits you there...

I've always wanted to read a graphic novel. I thought i should branch out to different genres in the book world. I brought this book last year and figured the pictures were so disturbing it was definalty a book to read around aumtum/winter time.

It's a collection of short dark, twisted stories. I'm actually not sure how best to read a graphic novel, do you look at the pictures and make up your own assumptions or go with the little writing there and interpret it another way. I was a bit stuck and kind of flew through it. I'm not sure if much even went into my mind. It just reminded me of a comic book.

However i must say the pictures are wonderful, even if they are scary. They're gruesome, twisted, dark and can if read at the right time of year, mess with your mind. I usually have an overactive imagination,so i was expecting nightmares after this.

I'm actually tempted to find out more about the author, to see what other books are out there.

Go Get it From: Amazon UK | Book Depository | Waterstones | Wordery
Follow @emilyterrible

The BFG

Title: The BFG
Author: Roald Dahl
Type: Paperback
Read: 23rd - 24th September 2016
Rating: 5/5
Published: 16th June 2016 by Puffin (originally released 1982)

On a dark, silvery moonlit night, Sophie is snatched from her bed by a giant. Luckily it is the Big Friendly Giant, the BFG, who only eats snozzcumbers and glugs frobscottle.

But there are other giants in Giant Country: fifty foot brutes who gallop far and wide every night to find human beans to eat. Sophie decides she must stop them once and for all. And the BFG is going to help her!

I love Roald Dahl and have enjoyed his stories for many years. The BFG reminds me of my childhood and the fun of reading stories of magic. This is the film tie in addition and has some lovely drawings throughout.

The story of Sophie and the BFG, eventually saving the world from the evil human eating giants, is fun, its imaginative. As an adult you can see some references, that probably would be questioned if printed in todays age, but still, overall its a story both adults and children will enjoy.

Everyone needs a little bit of magic.

PS. I read this in a day, then accidently got the book caught up in washing and sadly it never survied a washing cycle...

Go Get it From: Amazon UK | Book Depository | Waterstones | Wordery 

 

Frozen: Book of the Film

Title: Frozen Book of the Film
Author: Sarah Nathan
Type: Paperback
Read: 24th September 2016
Rating: 4/5
Published: 2013 by Parragon Books

FROZEN is the story of Anna, who sets off on an epic journey to save her kingdom....

Teaming up with an adventurer named Kristoff, Anna searches for her sister, Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom in an eternal winter. Discover the story of the film inside!

This is a short book adaption of the film. It reads pretty much like the film with a few extra tweaks throughout. The story does have some lines from the songs sung and its hard to read them without singing them.

If you enjoyed the film, this book is pretty much a must have for the collection. It also has some lovely stills from the film midway. A cute short story.

Go Get it From: Amazon UK | Book Depository | Wordery

Every Fifteen Minutes

Title: Every Fifteen Minutes
Author: Lisa Scottoline
Type: Paperback
Read: 15th September - 22nd September 2016
Rating: 3/5
Published: 19th November 2015 by Headline

Psychologist Dr Eric Parrish is unwittingly under threat.
Recently separated from his wife, Eric is learning to become a single parent to his seven-year-old daughter, and life is far from straightforward.

Now Eric has a new patient who could be a severe danger to others. And he must make a decision that will leave deadly consequences in its wake. The clock is ticking, and someone is hell bent on destroying Eric's practice, his family, his life.
But how can you defend yourself against an enemy you don't know?
And can you ever win a game you don't even know you are playing?

Requested from bookbridgr ages ago, it seemed like the ultimate thriller.

I really wanted to enjoy the book but i felt very let down. The last few chapters, were the fun parts, the ones that got you interested, everything else before that, seemed to drag on.

At times I got slightly confused and I also felt that Dr Eric really had a load of bad luck all at once. Like, pretty unbelievable bad luck. It seemed a little extreme. Then bits at the end totally confused me, that I don't think, i ever thought for a minute that the story would go that way.

I'm sure if the added extra details were taken out, this book would be fantastic. But its too much for what happens.

Go Get it From: Amazon UK | Book Depository | Waterstones | Wordery
Follow @LisaScottoline

First Comes Love

Title: First Comes Love
Author: Emily Giffin
Type: Paperback (ARC)
Read: 7th September - 14th September
Rating: 4/5
Published: 22nd September 2016 by Hodder

What happens when love, marriage and children don't come in the expected order? Fifteen years after the tragic death of their older brother splintered Josie and Meredith's already fragile relationship, the two sisters are following very different paths.

Hardworking, reserved Meredith thought she'd done it all the right way round - married the perfect man, had the perfect daughter - but now she's wondering if she got the love part wrong.
Impulsive and spirited Josie has been single for years. She wants a child so much that she's preparing to head straight for the baby carriage all on her own.

As the anniversary of their tragedy looms and secrets from the past surface, Josie and Meredith must come to terms with their own choices. Perhaps they'll find that they need each other more than they know.. 

I recieved a copy of this book from bookbridgr. I requested it because i thought the cover was cute. I did read some reviews on this book prior to going in and it was a mixed bag. But I actually really enjoyed this story.

Told from two sisters view points, the chapters are alternating between the two girls, Meredith and Josie. They annoy each other, Meredith seems to think she's had the rough end of the deal with life and believes Josie gets away with everything. Never having to learn her lesson or deal with the consequences. We learn how the effect of their brother Daniels death had on them, how each were holding on to their own secrets about that fateful night.

My favourite character was Josie, i did love her no care attitude and her get go. SHe wasn't afraid of doing things her own way or on her own. Meredith, did annoy me, with her constant moaning and belittling of people. But thats siblings for you.

I can see why people didn't enjoy the book, but i honestly thought it was really good. Perhaps i can relate to both characters slightly and therefore could understand situations with them.

Go Get it From: Amazon UK | Book Depository | Waterstones | Wordery
Follow @emilygiffin

How to Fall in Love

Title: How to Fall in Love
Author: Cecelia Ahern
Type: Hardback
Read: 1st September - 6th September 2016
Rating: 3/5
Published: 24th October 2013 by Harper Collins Publishers Ltd

She has just two weeks. Two weeks to teach him how to fall in love – with his own life. Adam Basil and Christine Rose are thrown together late one night, when Christine is crossing the Halfpenny Bridge in Dublin. Adam is there, poised, threatening to jump. Adam is desperate – but Christine makes a crazy deal with him. His 35th birthday is looming and she bets him she can show him that life is worth living before then.

Despite her determination, Christine knows what a dangerous promise she’s made. Against the ticking of the clock, the two of them embark on wild escapades, grand romantic gestures and some unlikely late-night outings. Slowly, Christine thinks Adam is starting to fall back in love with his life.

But has she done enough to change his mind for good? And is that all that’s starting to happen?

Cecelia Ahern, is without a doubt one of my all time favourite authors. I couldn't remember if I ever read this book so picked it off the shelf. I'm sad to say, this book was a so-so for me. Which for this author, is a first. I'm actually gutted because I usually love everything Cecelia writes.

I'm not sure what it was about the book really. Parts kept niggling at me and I could enjoy it. Part of me thinks it was to do with the topic; suicide. However whilst I have no issues in books writing about such thing, I do think that the idea of someone possibly saving another person from attempting to kill themselves in under two weeks, is a little unrealistic.

Christine, is our main character who witnesses a man shoot himself, then a day or two later manages to prevent Adam, from killing himself on a bridge. Christine makes a promise to Adam that she will teach him how to love life again. Now this is a complete stranger, promising another what inevitably is the impossible. Especially when said person, is also going through the breakup for her own marriage.

I just don't know. There were parts in the story that I did enjoy but then there were parts, where Christine was falling in love with Adam, that I sometimes wanted to her slow down.

Like i said, I adore all books written by Cecelia, I just wasn't a huge fan of this one.

Go Get it From: Amazon UK | Book Depository | Waterstones | Wordery
Follow @Cecelia_Ahern

 

An Autumn Crush

Title: An Autumn Crush
Author: Milly Johnson
Type: Paperback
Read: 26th August - 31st August 2016
Rating: 4/5
Published: 1st September 2011 by Simon & Schuster

Four friends, two crushes, and a secret that will turn everything upside-down. 'An Autumn Crush' is the new novel from the best-selling author of 'A Summer Fling'.

See i love soppy cliche type books. This is probably one thats very predictable but extremely enjoyable at the same time. I don't think i've read anything by this author before, but I won three books and wanted something light to read after kinda going through a slump, and we're also heading into Autumn, so this book fitted.

I did think the book started off a little slow and originally found Juliet a bit of a pain always having digs at Steve. But as the book went on, i learned to love her. My favourite character was Guy, who was Juliets brother. He was just sweet and a goof at that. He's ways of trying to impress Juliets flatmate Floz were adorable and distasterly.

I liked how this book progressed and the friends and family all looked out for each other. You could see they all genuinly cared about the others feelings etc.

Overall a really good read, i've another two books by this author that i'm eagarly looking forward to reading.

Go Get it From: Amazon UK | Book Depository | Waterstones | Wordery
Follow @millyjohnson