Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Want to Read by New to Me Authors

 Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

This weeks theme is "Books I Want to Read by New to Me Authors ". 

I took this theme to mean, for me, authors I have not read books by at all. So I have included both more recent titles and some real throw backs that I'm almost scared to admit I have not read - Enjoy! 

1) Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S King 

Blurb: 

Vera’s spent her whole life secretly in love with her best friend, Charlie Kahn. And over the years she’s kept a lot of his secrets. Even after he betrayed her. Even after he ruined everything.
 
So when Charlie dies in dark circumstances, Vera knows a lot more than anyone—the kids at school, his family, even the police. But will she emerge to clear his name? Does she even want to?

5 Emotional Stages Of The Stephanie Meyer Countdown Announcement

Stage 1: Shock / Confusion 

What is this countdown? What is it counting down to? What does this mean...new books? And also, who is even checking Stephanie Meyer's website in the year 2020?? 

Sex in YA Books

So if you follow me on Twitter, you've probably seen my thread looking for books with positive realistic representations of sex in YA books.

Representing any issue in YA books needs to be handled well. You can't breeze over and sugar coat a topic because that is inauthentic and unrealistic. Teenagers and young adults know about sex, they may be having sex. Therefore mis-representing it in books is not "sheltering" them its harming them as they need a realistic view of relationships.

In real life there is no "fade-to-black" movie moment and it really irritates me when a book or movie does that as they don't want to portray the real moment to teenagers or young adults.

Teenagers relationships are just as valid. Therefore I'm glad there are some books which represent sex, love and relationships in a realistic way for teenagers. Representation really matters. 


1) The Classic: Forever by Judy Blume    (REVIEW HERE)

The representation is not only realistic in this book but is probably one of the first books for many people that they read where sex was displayed. 

This novel centres around first relationship between Katherine, the main character, and her boyfriend Michael. As they fall in love for the first time they begin having sex. 
The way the relationship progresses is written so well and the sex scenes are realistic. 

The book shows sex in a realistic light, bleeding when you lose your virginity, it hurting, it sometimes being disappointing and the fact that just because you fall in love doesn't mean it will last forever. 

A must read (although I find the boyfriend Michael to not be great and it is a little dated because its 50+ years old)

5 Books About Pandemics

As the world currently tries its best to deal with the Cov-id 19 breakout, there are a lot of us spending more and more time inside. Whether that be because we are working from home, social distancing or self isolating ourselves as we are feeling sick - we all have to keep ourselves entertained and occupied in this time. 

I've always loved reading YA books about dystopian worlds where there is a virus or disease at the centre of the plot. In these stories, the hero always wins. So will we. 



Partials by Dan Wells (Review)
[Book Depository]                 [Goodreads]

Partials is a really underrated book that I never see anyone else talking about. I read it back in 2013-ish when Dystopian was at the peak of its popularity. 

3 Reasons To Read This Book: 
1) The characters are so vibrant. Kira, the protagonist, is so badass. The whole cast of characters is so entertaining. 
2) The virus is really delved into in the book. So if you're  "science-head" then you will love this. It goes deep into virology and the roots of it. Really interesting
3) The history and background of the origins of the world are so well written. We love a dystopian with a rich thick background *chefs kiss*

5 Ways To Get Free Books!

Yes guys you've read that correctly...probably every book-lovers favourite two words.... FREE. BOOKS. 

So as all book lovers know, being a book collector can be expensive. Think of the books, hardcovers are so pretty but super pricey. Not to mention the price of buying new bookshelves! 

So here is a quick and informative list of five ways you can get your bookish fix without forking out on another loan from the bank .... but seriously though, even though I can't afford lunch I will still somehow pay for the new illustrated Harry Potter edition every time 

Review: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

Publication Date: September 6th 2012
Publisher: Walker Books
Source: Own
Series: The Mortal Instruments #5 
[See reviews of the other books in the series HERE]

[ Goodreads ]            [ Book Depository ]

Blurb: 
What price is too high to pay, even for love? When Jace and Clary meet again, Clary is horrified to discover that the demon Lilith’s magic has bound her beloved Jace together with her evil brother Sebastian, and that Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is out to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. As Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle wheedle and bargain with Seelies, demons, and the merciless Iron Sisters to try to save Jace, Clary plays a dangerous game of her own. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost?

 ** Spoilers ahead for this book and the previous **

I was hesitant getting back into this series as its' been four years or more since I read City of Fallen Angels. But, I was glad to find myself remembering what happened in the previous books quite quickly once I started reading. I did find this reading experience somewhat different than I remember when reading the series when I was younger, but lets explore my thought more! 

So the book picks off from the previous books ending, Jace has been used to resurrect Sebastian and has disappeared. Clary and her friends are desperate to find him and put a stop to Sebastian. 

The plot of this book started off a little slow for me. I think it took a good 50-100 pages for me to get into the plot of the book and feel captivated. The novel focuses around the search for Jace and I found it interesting seeing how his disappearance affects everyone around them and seeing everyone band together in the search for him. I really enjoyed the action aspects of the novel and the suspense around finding the real Jace. 

Dream Crate: YA Feminism Crate

The people over at LootCrate have been collaborating with bloggers to design their own crate based on any theme they would like to see. I was so excited by this idea as I love the idea of LootCrate and have watched so many unboxing videos and blog posts online of different bloggers crates, that designing my own sounded like fun. 


I decided to go with a YA Feminism Crate. Encompassing two things I am passionate about- YA literature and equality. Lets dive into the crate I would create; 


Books;

So the first item in my crate would be books of course! Only Ever Yours by Louise O'Neill and Am I Normal Yet? by Holly Bourne.  But these books are two of my all time favourite books that I've read, written by the most amazing and well spoken women I've had the pleasure of meeting and talking to IRL. 

I'm not going to go into too much detail as to what these books are about (asides from that they are fundamental, in my eyes, YA feminist thought provoking literature) so click on the covers to see my review of the novels! 

Frida Funko Pop!

I would also include a funko pop, which often come with these subscription boxes, of the inspirational and amazing Frida Kahlo. Frida is an inspiration. She defied cultural and societal  norms and gender stereotypes in favour of self expression and being happy in her own skin. Her art was also extremely personal and moving and she aimed for personal success and happiness. A true inspiration. 

The 5 Stages Of A Reading Slump

The two words that send fear into a blogger's heart, that makes them weep while looking at their growing TBR piles.....those two words? Reading Slump. 

It is something most readers and bloggers will experience at some point, I have encountered it many times this year alone, but it is something that you can and will get over.....eventually! 


Here are the 5 common stages of a reading slump: 


Stage 1) DENIAL 

This is the stage where you may be starting a new book but you can't get into it so you pick up another and its the same again. 

What? I'm not in a reading slump....no way 

*tries unsuccessfully to begin fifteen different novels and fails*

Stage 2)  NOLSTALGIA

Hey remember that time you weren't in a reading slump? Yeah, good times. 

At this stage you think about the books you've read previously or that one book you just finished that was so good it has put  you into this reading slump because you. cannot. stop. thinking. about. it! 

Stage 3) OTHER ENTERTAINMENT SOURCES

At this stage you remember all those TV shows you used to watch before you used that time for reading. 

5 Books You Should Read This Summer

Hi everyone, long time no blogging. I have been so busy with college and exams that I did not have much free time to blog or read. Now that I've finished my exams, I'm back with a new blog post on the 5 books I think that you should read this summer!

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart -   (Review)

3 Reasons to read this book;

1) The setting of the novel at Beechwood Island, the family's holiday home is the most vivid and summery setting ever. The book opens up with a family tree and map of the Island which is also perfect as I LOVE books with maps.

2) The plot of the novel is extremely gripping and fast paced. With a semi-unreliable narrator and many twists and turns, this book keeps you guessing. Perfect darker contemporary. 

3) E. Lockhart's writing style is so very beautiful, captivating and poetic. The novel will have the reader entertained throughout. 





Paper Aeroplanes & Goose by Dawn O'Porter -   (Review)


3 Reasons to read this series: 

1) A  coming-of-age story that shows the nitty gritty real side to growing up, making friends, falling in love and family life. An outstanding contemporary.

2) Such unique and realistic characters. The friendship that exists between Flo and Renee is so beautiful and reads as being so real. I definitely felt that these characters were memorable and could identify with them at points.

3) The 90's setting was fun to read about (even though I did have to google what a "shell suit" was the first time I read the novel!).

10 Signs You Are a Book Blogger

1) You have more  #Shelfies on your phone than selfies 

2)  Goodreads comes up before Google on your most frequently visited pages list 

3)  After finishing a particularly amazing book, your first instinct is to tweet/ instagram / blog about it 

2016 Resolutions; Blogging & Reading

2016 is here - YAY!  

I am greeting 2016 with open arms.  I can not wait for some of the amazing novels that are coming out this year ( check out my blog post on my anticipated 2016 releases here) and I can't wait to do some reading, blogging and to make new bookish friends in the coming year. 

2015 was such a great year for me. Although I did not blog as much as I should have, I made new friends, met amazing authors, read great books and went to great events. To see how my 2015 went click here! 

So I decided that this year I would set myself some resolutions / goals. I know that lots of people do this every year and don't stick to them but I thought I would set myself some realistic goals that would push me to work hard and have fun blogging in 2016. 



1)  Set A Goodreads Reading Goal of 1 

Okay so this may sound a little weird but let me explain. 

Every year I set a Goodreads goal of how many books I hope to read that year, and although some years I fail and some I succeed, every year I feel under pressure to read a certain number of books. I don't think I should feel under any pressure to read books and shouldn't force myself through books just to reach a numbered goal. 

I think that if I give up on this numbered challenge and set my goal to 1 book, every book after that will be a victory and I will not feel under any pressure. I know some of you reading this may not agree with me, and that is perfectly fine. I would love to hear any thoughts you have in the comments!

Movie Review: Mockingjay Part 2

So you may or may not know, that The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is one of my favourite book series of all time. It is also the first dystopian series I read.

I also am a big fan of the film adaptations and feel they have been done well. Usually I'm so hesitant about book to movie adaptations because I think all book lovers have felt the pain of having their favourite book turned into an awful movie.

In terms of Mockingjay Part 2, I left the cinema thinking of just how well the movie portrayed the book and stayed so true to the book. I absolutely loved the movie and I think if I had to rank the film series from least favourite to favourite, it would read;

1. The Hunger Games
2. Mockingjay Part 1
3. Catching Fire
4. Mockingjay Part 2

So lets talk a little about what I felt about the movie. 

First off, let me apologise if this review reads as being a little disjointed. I just have too many feels about this movie to organise my thoughts! 

Okay so one of the scenes I really enjoyed because it was so action packed was when the "star squad" aka squad 451 went to the Capital. The scene when they were in that courtyard and the pods went off....oh my god so intense. I loved how they portrayed the pods in the movie.

  I also loved the relationship between Finnick and Peeta in this film, the constant checking he was fine and talking to him and reassuring him. Honestly Finnick is the best kind of person. I also was somewhat sad the film did not fully show the friendship that grows between Johanna and Katniss.

Dept Con 1 | Event chat & Haul

Dept Con 1 was something myself and my friend Cooleen (Youtube Channel) had been looking forward to since it was announced back in August. 

Dept Con is a book convention organised and ran by the Easons and Department 51 (the YA side of Easons) staff  and head children's and YA book buyer Dave O' Callaghan. The convention took place over two days in Smock Alley Theatre. 

The convention featured 26 speakers and authors along with signings, a YA breakfast and plenty of other fun things!

The authors featured at the event included: 

Books I got signed: 

 Over the course of the Con, I mostly tweeted my reaction to all the bookish awesome-ness (@Shannonbookworm) 


Day One: 

On the first day of the event, the con kicked off at 3pm and ended at 10pm.

Panels on the first day included discussions on "The World of YA & How it is Perceived & Represented by Hollywood" which Jenny Downham, Sally Green & Patrick Ness discussed YA adaptations and Patrick Ness' upcoming A Monster Calls adaptation (Review) . 

The next panel was on the topic of "LGBT* in YA Panel" held by James Dawson, Cat Clarke, Deirdre Sullivan and David Maybury . This was one of my favourite panels of the day as I felt that all the topics raised such as representation of LGBT main characters in YA and discussion on whether "Gay YA" was a trend in YA lit (the answer was an obvious no). 


The "Future of YA & Its Audience (Adult readers vs Teens) panel was hosted by Holly Bourne, Sheena Wilkinson and Julia Bell which talked about the new stat released that 55% of YA book buyers are aged between 30 - 44, and whether an author should write with their reader in mind or focus on the story. 

The final panel of day two was a great panel which featured Holly Smale and Louise O'Neill (Review) on the topic of "Death to the patriarchy!" and feminism in YA. I loved this panel and the discussions on abusive relationships being shown as the norm in YA and the representation of women in YA. Such a great panel and a wonderful way to end the first day. 

YA Tropes I'm Sick of Reading

Hello readers!

So I'm back today with a post that I feel a lot of you may relate to.

So being a blogger and having a love of books means that I get to read a lot of books and, even better, talk about them with other people who love books!

Although I love reading, I can't help but notice a that there are few tropes that are repeated through out YA literature often. Sometimes, although a novel contains one or two of these tropes, it can still be enjoyable as the author may be taking a different spin on it.

 Unfortunately, and too often, novels that contain a lot of these tropes can put me off reading them as I find these recycled themes boring and sometimes frustrating.

Reading these tropes can sometimes leave me feeling like this:

So here is a few of my most loathed YA literature tropes: 

1)  The Love Triangle

The love triangle is an extremely common trope in YA fiction. This trope can sometimes be executed well but most of the time it goes something along the lines of  "Protagonist (usually female) has been described as incredibly plain looking then falls for super hot boy who all of a sudden lusts after her while her male best friend from her childhood has suddenly declared he is in love with her" or something similar. 

I honestly find this so incredibly boring and feel it is so unrealistic. How can the protagonist be so indecisive about who she loves? Why are the protagonists in the center of this love triangle always described as plain? Why is always women in the center of a love triangle and not a man? Why does every story need romance?