The Makers Bookclub

Welcome to the first installment of the Makers' Bookclub! Today is the big reveal of our first picks for January/February! As announced previously, the format I have gone for is 2 books every 2 months. It could be two fictions, or one fiction and one non fiction and the whole point is that you have two whole months to read one of them (or you know, both if you feel like it. The first thing you might notice with those two books is that they are NOT new releases. I don't know about you, but despite my best efforts I always seem to read new books two years late. Sooo many get released all the time and the pressure to keep up is just too much for me. I also find that I am more in the mood for some books in specific seasons and so I figured for some of the picks of this bookclub I would go back to slightly older releases that perhaps just like me you missed out on or you know, have had on your shelves for two years gathering dust ;). Let me know how you feel about that!! (also, hoping that means it's easier to find second hand copies or get it from your library that way!)

Anyway, without further ado, the books I have selected for this new year are:

Uprooted by Naomi Novik and Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

E. Gilbert is obviously super well known for Eat Pray Love (which I personally adore, don't know about you) and in 2016 she came out with Big Magic, which is all about how to live a creative life. As a maker, being creative and finding inspiration are obviously always front of center so I figured this was just a perfect pick for a Maker's bookclub :) I do hope it will inspire you as well and will help you in making 2019 your most creative year!

As for Uprooted, it is a novel I bought as soon as it was released and then somehow put aside for too long. But the topic and general vibe of it is so perfect for the Winter season that I figure the time had come! It is also a perfect example of everything I like in fiction: magic, darkness, fairy tales, strong female characters, woods, wizards and so on. I am always looking for fantastic worlds that will draw me in and make me forget my life for a few hours, and I certainly hope this one will do that for us! (a quick extra note: I realize there is a chance some of you have already read this one so if that's the case feel free to swap it for Novik's new release Spinning Silver, just don't spoil it for me us haha)

Alright that's it! Let me know your thoughts, are you excited, interested, disappointed ??? 

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(french version)

Hello les françaises, j'ai vu que vous étiez quelques une par ici et comme je ne sais pas trop si vous préférez lire en français ou en anglais je me suis assurée pour cette première selection d'avoir des livres disponibles en français :)

Pour commencer l'année, j'ai donc choisie Big Magic de Elizabeth Gilbert, disponible chez nous via Le Livre de poche sous le titre Comme par magie ! J'espère qu'il vous inspirera a faire de 2019 une année placée, entre autre, sous le signe de la créativité!

Coté fiction, j'ai choisi mon genre de predilection, la fantasy, avec Uprooted de Naomi Novik, disponible en France sous le titre Déracinée. Magie, forêt mystérieuse, princes et princesses, contes de fée et sorciers, je vous souhaite de réussir a vous evader quelques heures grâce a ce roman!

Bonne lecture!

2018 reading challenge / an update

Ever since I started using Goodreads a few years back, I have set each year a reading challenge for myself. Last year was 30 books. This year I went with 36 which meant an average of 3 books a month. Doable right?

10 months later, it's October, and so far I have read 23 books in 2018. 

20% of me is like ugh I will never make it to 36 this challenge is a FAIL. The other 80% is honestly quite impressed with 23 considering how much I've worked this year (I was unemployed for 6 months in 2017 so plenty more to read back then). I think if you would randomly stop people in the street and ask them how many books they've read so far this year, 95% of them would say less than 10 (I 100% just invented that statistic but I really don't think most people read than much nowadays).

So I'm happy with my 23. I have like 5 I am currently reading (all different genre, so I don't mind having multiples at once, there's always one that fits my mood this way). Pretty sure I can reach 30, which would be awesome.

Looking back at the 23, I can easily "read" into my year so far. I have been tired and looking for comfort reads hence lots of re read and fantasy. Plus a few self improvement books which is a big 2018 theme for me, trying to figure some things out and take better care of myself. Books really do say a lot about ourselves, don't say? 

What has your reading year so far been like? 

Are you on Goodreads? Feel free to add me there :)

ILLUMICRATE UNBOXING - Feb 2016

What is Illumicrate you say? Well, quite simple, it is a really cool UK based quarterly subscription box for book lovers! So if you love YA books, and you love mail, there is a strong chance that it will feel a bit like Christmas when your box arrives ;)

Illumicrate was launched last November, and their February box is their second box (the third one will be in May!) Each box contains a newly released YA book as well as bookish goodies from small independent business, usually exclusive to the box!

So I decided to treat myself to the February box to see how I would like it and... spoiler alert, loved it! Here's what was inside:

BOOK: Truthwitch! I was SO happy to see this book inside. I had just started hearing about it on Youtube and was really curious and there it was in my box! Can't wait to start this one! It's got fantasy, witches, girl friendship! Also included was a signed by the author bookplate. I'm not big on autograph really but some people seem to adore them so cool point!

GOODIES:

Bookshelf Pencilcase by Elena Illustration: LOVE THIS!!!

Loveboat Magnetic Bookmark Set: now that I have been introduced to magnetic bookmark, I'm not sure I can go back. so freaking cute!

A Darker Scent of Magic Candle: bookish candle. my dream come true. And this one was inspired by an other YA book that I read a couple months ago and absolutely loved (A Darker Shade of magic).

Book Quote Pencils: I'd rather be reading / a good book has no ending / read write repeat.

+ bookmarks, a tote bag and badges from other recent bookish release. 

If you would like to give it a try, the subscriptions are currently open for the May Box (which I will very much get since May is my birthday month aka treat-o-self month!)

WHAT I READ // JANUARY 2016

Ghost World - Daniel Clowes

I want to read more graphic novels this year and so I decided to start with one I always picked up at my LYS but somehow never bought. Pretty sure I saw a movie adaptation of this 10 or so years ago (with Scarlett Johanson) but can't remember a thing about it. I really liked this story. It's about that weird moment in life when you're not quite a kid anymore but not an adult either. It's about friendship and love and somewhere in between. There was quite a few references I didn't get, either because they were too american or too old for me but still really enjoyed it!

We should all be feminists - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Small but big. This book doesn't solve anything or share any deep insight on the problem of gender inequality and everyday sexism but still feels so important. One of those "need to gift to everyone" book. Her writing style is a good mix of funny and clever so I would be curious to check more of her work!

Fangirl - Rainbow Rowell

This was a reread for me. Mostly because I got Carry On over Christmas and I thought I'd read both at once! Loved it even more than the first one, if that is possible. (you can see my original review of here!)

Why not me? - Mindy Kaling

I wasn't sure I could get as much from this book as I did from Is everyone hanging out without me (her first book). BUT then came the "love" chapter and it might be my new favorite everything. Considering having it printed on my walls Might have said a bit too loudly a bit too often "YES! Exactly!!" And "oh so I'm not the only one doing/thinking that"! Which is pretty much what I expect/want from this kind of memoir. Well done Ms Kaling. Funny and inspiring as hell!

The Wide Window (ASOUE #3) - Lemony Snickett

Probably my favorite in the series so far. There is just something about gloomy dark kid stories I can't resist! Also, there is a TV adaptation from Netflix coming soon so pretty excited about that too!

Favorite quote: "We teach girls to shrink themselves, to make themselves smaller. 

We say to girls: You can have ambition, but not too much."

Top 16 books I want to read in 2016

Currently, there are 100 books or so on my TBR (to be read) shelf on Goodreads (which you can see here). I add to it pretty much everyday, so it can get a bit overwhelming at time (just like the soon to fall over pile of books by my bed!). To help me a little and serve as a rough guide for my reading challenge this year, I decided to pick my favorite 16 in this list and make it a priority to read those first. Some I already own and some I got for Christmas so that's a nice start! Tiny precision: this list only include already published books! I am SO BAD at reading books the year they are published it's almost funny. But I might try and make a little list or top 10 of the books I am most excited to discover this year, we'll see. Ok enough chit chat, here's the list!

The Signature of all things - Elizabeth Gilbert

Uprooted -Naomi Novice

The Witches - Stacy Schiff

The Book of speculation - Erika Swyler

Reasons to stay alive - Matt Haig

Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov

Glory O Brien's History of the future -  A S King

The Name of the wind - Patrick Rothfuss

Challenger Deep - Neal Shusterman

Carry On - Rainbow Rowell

The Heart Goes Last - Margaret Atwood

The Ocean at the end of the lane - Neil Gaiman

A Little Life - Hanya Yanagihara

The Raven Boys  - Maggie Stiefvater

The First fifteen lived of Harry August - Claire North

Illuminae - Amie Kaufman

2015 FAVORITE BOOKS!

I have somehow managed to finish 35 books this year! I say finish and not read because some clearly didn't make the final cut. I believe there are too many stories to be read to waste my time struggling through books I simply don't enjoy enough. Yes I am thinking about you Little Women! You were either too boring or I am simply too old for you.  Let's leave it at that! But that's okay, because there are books that I LOVED so freaking much this year, and those are the ones I'd rather talk about. So here it is, my top 5 books I read in 2015!

5. THE MAGICIAN'S LAND - Lev Grossman

This was such a perfect ending to The Magician trilogy. The character's growth was amazing and probably my favorite part of the writing. Who knew Quentin would ever become a character I would love, yet Lev Grossman made it happen. I very much believe this is the PERFECT story for the adult who still believes in magic. My copies are right next to my Harry Potter series, and that should say something right ;)

4. FAHRENHEIT 451 - Ray Bradbury

I feel like I read A LOT of dystopia this year, and this is one of the best. It is so small and simple and yet says so much so powerfully. If that makes sense. I wish people would talk more about this book and less about 1984 because it gives you so much more. Also, you can never go wrong with books about books!

3.TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS - Cheryl Strayed

Cheryl Strayed deserves to be on all of my yearly top 5 I feel like (last year #1 book for me was Wild <3). She's just such an amazing and inspiring woman. Her style is quite raw and honest, so not for everyone but very much made for me. Tiny beautiful things is the written version of her radio show Dear Sugar and though obviously some of the topics talked about I didn't care much for some other just plain hit me in the heart and I still find myself thinking about them over and over. Her words make me feel brave, and that is all there is. 

2. THE NIGHT CIRCUS - Erin Morgenstern

This book is everything a story should be. It's got great characters, a world you would swear exist for real, magic, adventure, emotions. It's awesome and everyone should read it because you will love it!

1. THE HANDMAID'S TALE - Margaret Atwood

This book is just so damn important. Reading it should be right there with "drink plenty of water" and "go get some air when you feel like nothing's working anymore". I feel like my new life mission is to tell people to READ THIS BOOK!


I've got hundreds of books already on my TBR for 2016 so pretty excited to start reading new amazing books tomorrow!! What books are you all most excited about?

PS: did you take part in the 26 books in 2015 challenge? You can see all the books I read here :)

OCTOBER READ ALONG

Hello!

Let's talk about books today :)

There are two in particular that I am very excited to read in October: The Dirty Life by Kristin Kimball and Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel! (I talked a bit about them both in my book haul video which you can see here)

To make things a bit more fun, I decided to organize on my Ravelry group a little READ ALONG! It's super simple, you pick one of both books (they are different enough that everyone should hopefully feel drawn towards at least one!) , and then find a few minutes here and there to read during the month of October. Personally, I almost always read before turning the lights off at night, mostly so that the last thing I do in the day isn't stare at a screen ;) If you need to commute to go to work, reading a bit might also be an option then (although I'll admit, I've been known to miss my subway stop because I was that into the story I was reading!). None of the books are too new, so it should be pretty easy to find them in your local used or new bookstore or your library!

If you'd rather join on Instagram, I've set up the hashtags #TheDirtyLifeRA and #StationElevenRA over there ;)

Hope you like the idea! And that you'll like the book <3

You may say I'm a reader

But pretty sure I'm not the only one!

Yesterday I introduced a new series of videos on my Youtube channel, this time all about books!

I first thought I could simply add a reading section to my knitting podcast, but I quite like the 45 min average length that I have going so I figured I would record completely independent videos, still hosted on the same knitting channel. Knitting and reading are two of my favorite things so it makes sense I guess! 

Anyway, for this first video, I have a book haul for you! I'm basically going through the books (hard copies + Kindle) that I got in the last month. Hope you will enjoy it, and maybe be inspired to go to your local bookstore and grab a copy for yourself! 

I will record a second video at the end of the month that will be a review of the books I have read in September (5 so far, hoping for 8!). 

Let me know what you think! 

xx

ps: of course I had to find a Beatles pun for the name! ;)

BOOK REPORT - SUMMER 2015

THE NIGHT CIRCUS - Erin Morgenstern

Oh boy that book! I've actually had it in my room for like 2 years but suddenly decided now was the time. The cover of the book is full of superlatives and other -ing words which I wasn't super convinced about at first. And yes, it took me a little while to get into it. But once I did, the circus had me. Magical story, in the very purest sense of the word magic. Really great books have a way of coming to life as you read them, and for a second there, I could swear that I really was in the circus, going through the Ice Garden and the Wishing tree. The writing is absolutely beautiful, everything incredibly detailed and the perfect mix of realistic and magic. You don't need to love fantasy to read it, you just need to love stories. And who doesn't? Go read it! Plus, I will very soon tell you a little more about it as it has inspired me to knit, as any good rêveur would ;)




Fave quote: "The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not" (this is the first line of the book. go read the rest ;))

THE ROSIE EFFECT - Graeme Simsion

Urgh. I DID NOT like this book. Which is very weird because i loved Book 1 (report here). For the first time in my life, I got stressed out by a book. But also frustrated, angry and pretty bored. The first book was very sweet and funny but I don't know if it's the theme of that one (pregnancy mostly) or what, but I did not enjoy it at all. Also, vegetarian pregnant women who suddenly realize that meat is the best food in the world and give me a cow right now ARE NOT A THING! So let me eat my Tempeh please! Frustrating I told you. Anyone read it?

THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS - John Connolly

Actually read that book like 3 years ago but somehow couldn't remember anything about it so I decided to give it a go again. I'd say it's not a bad story, but I had such a hard time getting attached to the characters that I found myself not caring very much. I like the whole concept of stories coming to life and the power of imagination, but it wasn't as magical as I think it could have been. It's some sort of a failed attempt at creating a Narnia type story but with Grimm brothers fairy tales. Honestly, I've read it a month ago and already forgot most of it. One thing I really loved though: the last line of the book (see below) ;)

Fave quotes:

"And, in the darkness, David closed his eyes as all that was lost was found again."

“Stories wanted to be read, David's mother would whisper. They needed it. It was the reason they forced themselves from their world into ours. They wanted us to give them life.”


A WIZARD OF EARTHSEA - Ursula K Le Guin

I love fantasy. And this year, I really wanted to go back to the stories that inspired the most recent fantasy novels such as Harry Potter. Looking on the Internet, I heard about 2: The Riftwar series by Feist and The Earthsea Cycle by Ursula K Le Guin. Got this last one, and read Book 1. I found it was really good, yet way too short for my taste (below 200 pages). Good thing there's like 4 or 5 other books. My favorite part was the writing, which was just so beautiful and detailed. I kept thinking, we don't write books like that anymore (I'm secretly 65 you all)! I'm a sucker for long, wordy paragraphs and rich description, especially in fantasy where there's a whole world that needs to come to life through the words. Second favorite thing was how it made me think of all the more recent fantasy novels and making the connection in terms of inspiration. She was one of the first authors to develop the idea of a school of magic for instance. All that to say, I very much think that anyone who loves fantasy should dive into the magical world of Earthsea! Will start Book 2 very soon!




Fave quote:

"For a word to be spoken, there must be silence. Before, and after."

"In that moment Ged understood the singing of the bird, and the language of the water falling in the basin of the fountain, and the shape of the clouds, and the beginning and end of the wind that stirred the leaves; it seemed to him that he himself was a word spoken by the sunlight."

THE GOLDFINCH - Donna Tartt

Joining the bandwagon two years later, as usual. Not at all what I had expected. Did not liked it all that much honestly. I didn't expect to spend that much time on his childhood (50% of the book) and expected more art/painting related content. Instead I got kids who do drugs and violence and a whole lot of darkness. I didn't relate or felt very much for any of the characters which is never a very good sign for me. Not sure what everyone loved about that book, would love to hear your opinion if you've read it!


Fave quote: "None of us ever find enough kindness in the world, do we?"

BOOK REPORT. SPRING 2015

A HANDMAID'S TALE - Margaret Atwood

How have I not read this book before? Amazing. I found myself still thinking about it days after finishing it. I've only talked about it with women but I would be very curious to know how men reacted to it (know any?). Brilliant writing, story, terrifying in the sense where you can almost picture it happening and then realize it is actually happening in some part of the world. I think all I want to say is: YOU NEED TO READ THAT BOOK.

Fave quote: "We thought we had such problems. How were we to know we were happy?"
"Maybe it's just something to keep the Wives busy, to give them a sense of purpose. But I envy the Commander's Wife her knitting. It's good to have small goals that can be easily attained."
"Every month there is a moon, gigantic, round, heavy, an omen. It transits, pauses, continues on and passes out of sight, and I see despair coming towards me like famine. To feel that empty, again, again. I listen to my heart, wave upon wave, salty and red, continuing on and on, marking time."



WE WERE LIARS - E. Lockhart
One of these books you just can't put down because you NEED to know. I'm always torn about these stories because yes it's a great page turner but I'm also so focused on figuring out what happened and how it ends that it feels like I don't quite enjoy the overall story as much as I should. I don't want to say anything about the story because it's a book you need to pick and start reading without knowing anything beforehand. Kind of like Gone Girl only "lighter" and with younger characters. Only thing I didn't like is the writing style. I struggle a lot with short sentences because I'm so used to french literature and it's never ending paragraphs and sentences. But it's perfect for this type of story I guess. Anyway, recommend it!

Fave quote: "The Universe is seeming really huge right now," he told me. "I need something to hold on to."



FANGIRL - Rainbow Rowell
My second book by the author after Eleanor & Park. Quite similar in many aspect. It feels like the author likes to go with very "normal" characters mixed in with more serious issues like mental illness or domestic violence. The book is kind of divided in two: there is the main story about Cath going to college and trying to fit in. But she is also a fanfic writer and the book has a lot of passages of that story Cath is writing about Simon Snow (which is also basically a Harry Potter fanfic). There is even a book coming out based on Simon Snow, which apparently everyone is excited about. Except me I guess. I found myself kind of ignoring these passages because I was so much more interested in the "real" story. I felt like I could relate quite a lot to Cath being a massive introvert and all but I'm not sure people who are not like that enjoyed it as much (would love to know what you all think). Basically enjoyed the main story but nothing super special about that book.

Fave quote: "You're not the ugly one." Levi grinned. "You're just the Clark Kent." Cath started checking her e-mail. "Hey Cath," Levi said, kicking his chair. She could hear the teasing in his voice. "Will you warn me when you take off your glasses?"
"And sometimes you held somebody's hand just to prove that you were still alive, and that another human being was there to testify to that fact."



THE ROSIE PROJECT - Graeme Simsion
Unlike We Were Liars where all I cared about was reaching the end, this one was all about the journey. It takes very little time to know how its going to end but it's so not what the book is about. The story is lovely and fun to read and it's just like going on a road trip with no destination, you simply enjoy the ride. Very quick, summer style type of book that I very much liked. Will definitely read Book 2 (the Rosie Effect).
PS: if you love Sheldon Cooper you will love the book ;)

Fave quote: "I asked you here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."
"But I’m not good at understanding what other people want.’
‘Tell me something I don’t know,’ said Rosie for no obvious reason.
I quickly searched my mind for an interesting fact.
‘Ahhh…The testicles of drone bees and wasp spiders explode during sex.”"

PS: I Updated my 26 books in 2015 challenge. How are you all doing so far?

I LOVE BOOKS // WINTER 2014

ALL SOULS TRILOGY - Deborah Harkness

A Discovery of witches - Shadow of Night - The Book of life

26 BOOKS in 2015: a book by an author you've never read

Witches and vampires. Forbidden love and Family. History and science. Books and knights. Past and present. Basically a fantasy version of Outlander. What's not to love?? Devoured the trilogy in a fortnight . I read a lot of fantasy (most of it considered to be either Young Adult literature or BitLit) but this one is neither. Definitely for adult but not full of violence and sex like most vampire/witch novel tends to be lately (like the Anita Blake series and so on). It's smart and moving, Diana and Matthew (the two main characters) and both super smart and magical and strong yet very human and "normal". It's kind of cheesy sometimes (maybe? i don't mind so you would have to ask someone else) but half the story is about history (the author is a historian, bonus points!), evolution, science which I got TOTALLY hooked on. I mean you know you love a book when you start reading at 10pm and suddenly it's 4am and you wonder if you should sleep or move straight to Book 2. Magic.

Favorite quote: "It begins with absence and desire. It begins with blood and fear. It begins with a discovery of witches."  

"No fangs either. And one last thing: I do not, nor have I ever, sparkled"

ARISTOTLE AND DANTE DISCOVERS THE SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE - Benjamin Alire Saenz

26 BOOKS in 2015: a book set in the summer

Might have picked this book just because of the title (seriously, it's an awesome title), then started reading with absolutely no idea what it was about. so consider me very pleasantly surprised! A very sweet, smart and moving read. I'm not used to young male narrator (which I had never realized before I read this book!) but the themes can I think speak to absolutely everyone: friendship, love, family, accepting who you are. The only thing I'm not sure I liked or not is how I spent the entire book figuring things out before the character. Maybe it's a girl thing? Anyway, a lovely story <3

Favorite quote: "All on my own. I was in love with that phrase. I wasn't very good at asking for help." 
"Take off your shoes, Ari. Live a little." 
"Good, I said. I've always wanted to be weird in a good way."  

A WALK IN THE WOODS - Bill Bryson

26 BOOKS in 2015: a book based on a true story

When I said I was going to read this book, it seemed like everyone had an opinion. "That guy is a jerk" "it's kind of inappropriate" "he has way too big an opinion of himself" "he's obnoxious". I quickly found out that it was kind of true, but sarcasm being my favorite language I was actually quite into his dark humor. The thing no one told me though was that past the first third of the book, it becomes SO boring! You go from a cool tale of hiking the AT to 3 lines of "we're walking" followed by 3 pages of completely random facts. It's like reading Harry Potter and suddenly the author starts talking about owls' crap for a chapter. Just not what you want to read right! All that to say, liked his style enough that I might check out some of his others books but wold not recommend this particular one!

Favorite quote: "All over America today people would be dragging themselves to work, stuck in traffic jam […] I was going for a walk in the woods. I was more than ready for this." 
"Plan B was that we would kill Mary Ellen and take her Pop Tarts."

ELEANOR & PARK - Rainbow Rowell
26 BOOKS in 2015: a book your friends love

Another oh my this book is so freaking adorable. Could not put it down. And I read mostly at night so let's just say that I went to bed very late this week ;) This must be the sweetest love story ever. The kind with the butterflies everywhere and where holding holds is the most magical thing ever. It's pure and precious and beautifully written. Highly recommend it. Obvisouly I want to read all of Rainbow Rowell's books now, Fangirl is for sure next on my list! 

Favorite quote: "The agreed about everything important and argued about everything else." 
"You can be Han Solo" he said kissing her throat. "And I'll be Boba Fett. I'll cross the sky for you."
"He tried to remember how this happened - how she went from someone he'd never met to the only one that mattered."



PS: I've updated my 26 BOOKS IN 2015 page. How are you doing on the challenge?

26 BOOKS IN 2015

"She reads book as one would breathe air, to fill up and live."

Annie Dillard

I love books. 

My oldest memories are of afternoons spent in the public library picking book to bring home. Every week. Then changing library because I somehow had gone through most of the books in the other one. Then finally being old enough to move on to the adult section of the library, which sort of was the best day ever for little me. Then I grew up and there was movies and TV shows and going out and magazines and so on. I still read though. The magic is still there. It just takes more work sometimes. 

In 2015 I want to make more time for books and stories. And isn't a challenge the best way to do it? The one on Erin's blog (Bringing Up Burns) is just the best. 26 prompts. 26 books. I'm in. 

26 BOOKS IN 2015 PROMPTS: LET'S READ...

a book you own but haven’t read

a book that was made into a movie
: Matilda

a book you pick solely because of the cover: The Book of lost things


a book your friend loves
: Eleanor & Park

a book published this year :  A Darker shade of magic


a book by an author you’ve never read before: All Souls trilogy

a book by an author you love : Tiny Beautiful things

a book at the bottom of your “to-read” pile
: The Goldfinch

a book with a color in the title 

a book set somewhere you’ve always wanted to visit: Etta and Otto and Russell and James


a book you started but never finished


a book with a lion. a witch. or a wardrobe
: Stardust

a book with a female heroine: The Handmaid's Tale 

a book set in the summer
: We Were Liars

a book of poems


a book you learned about because of this challenge: The Rosie Project 

a book that will make you smarter
: The Dirty Life

a book with a blue cover
: Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

a book you were supposed to read in school. but didn’t: 1984


a book “everyone” but you has read: Fangirl


a book with a great first line: The Night Circus 

a book with pictures: The Bad Beginning


a book from the library


a book you loved ... read it again!!
 Le mec de la tombe d'à côté

a book that is more than 10 years old: A Wizard of Earthsea

a book based on a true story: A walk in the woods

So, who's in?

Note: I will still be doing my seasonal book reviews here on the blog, but will frequently update this page with links to the books as I read them. Check out the link on my sidebar for quick access :) 

I LOVE BOOKS // FALL 2014

Here's a few words about what I have been reading this past Fall. I'm always looking for some good stories so feel free to share your current favorites in the comments :)

OUTLANDER - Diana Gabaldon 

Outlander is, in just two words, historical fiction. But I could also talk about it in 2000 words and that wouldn't even cover it. I loved it. Seriously, seriously loved it. Proof is, there are 8 books so far (she's working on the ninth!! yay!) and I read them all in two months like the crazy person that I am. I don't think I've felt like that for a book series since Harry Potter and the Lord of the Ring. So yes, amazing. The writing is brilliant and smart (also, not for children by the way) and the books cover everything a good novel should be about: love, adventure, action, history, fantasy, family, bravery, passion, Scotland, and so much more. I got completely lost in the epic story of Claire and James (aka JAMMF), and I just can't wait for book 9. 

Fave quote: "Don't be afraid. There's the two of us now."

(and a zillion other. basically every other line. read those book you guys!)

NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL - Lena Dunham

So, i did not like that book. I felt very very very uncomfortable reading Lena's words. Also, I think she got the title wrong. It should have been TMI: Too Much Information. I should also say that I love her show (Girls) and what Lena stands for as a public figure. I just didn't learn or take anything from the book. It didn't inspire me, it didn't make me feel like a strong, beautiful woman who can do it all. I just felt uncomfortable. And slightly worried about her mental health. If you are looking for a similar book I would highly recommend Mindy Kaling's book: Is everyone hanging out without me? It's AWESOME, funny, inspiring, everything Lena's book ended up not being for me.

This season's list feels kind of short (even though I actually read 9 books) so I thought I could share my Top 10 all time favorite books for fun. Would love to hear about yours!

Harry Potter and the philosopher's stone

Alice's adventures in Wonderland

The Lord of the Rings

Pride & Prejudice

The adventure of Sherlock Holmes

Around the world in 80 days

Wild

Matilda

The Mists of Avalon

Outlander 

Next on my list: Yes Please by Amy Poehler, Anne of Green Gables, Are you there God it's me Margaret (how awesome is that title??) oh and I am currently listening to Wuthering Heights, audiobook style! 

I Love Books // Summer 2014

Here's a little bit about what I have been reading this Summer. I'm always looking for some good books so feel free to share your favorites in the comments :)



THINGS A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME - Biz Stone

Biz Stone is the co-founder of Twitter (get the book title now? ^^), also worked on Blogger when it was first launched (!!) and likes to call himself a creative genius, which is not far from the truth I think. He's also really good at writing, so the book is a pleasure to read and almost feels like a novel. A very smart and funny novel. I don't think you need a Twitter account to enjoy the book. We're humans in a world that evolves around technology and that's what he talks about. He is also seriously inspiring and has a very positive attitude very different than like Zuckerberg (i'm strongly considering deleting my Facebook, but that's not the point). The book is brilliant, read it!

Fave quote: "You are writing the story of your life. Edit it as you go. (...) What's worth saying?"

THE GOLDEN COMPASS TRILOGY - Philip Pullman

After Harry Potter, this is probably my favorite book series from my childhood, so I decided to read them again this Summer. It's a kids story, told by a kid, but so well written and rich in its style and subjects that I could still be 70 and want to read it. It's moving and funny and smart and magical, everything I love.

Fave quote: “We feel cold, but we don't mind it, because we will not come to harm. And if we wrapped up against the cold, we wouldn't feel other things, like the bright tingle of the stars, or the music of the aurora, or best of all the silky feeling of moonlight on our skin. It's worth being cold for that.” 

THE MAGICIANS - Lev Grossman

I read that book 4 years ago I think and I only really remember the first part. I know why now. It's a BIG book, divided in several equally BIG parts and I strongly feel that it actually should have been divided in two separate books. I'm probably sure I would take a lot more pleasure reading the second part, which is REALLY different from the first one. My second issue is with the main character, which I don't have a lot of empathy for, and the writer doesn't make much effort in making us care for him I found. The result is that I didn't cry when someone died or something sad happened.  But maybe that's just me! However, the book is really really well written, and much more adult than HP (they get compared a lot), and the story is like a book inside a book which is awesome. I've just discovered there are two more books in the series and I think i'm going to give them a try!

Fave quote: "It's like he's opening the covers of a book, but a book that did what book always promised to do and never actually quite did: get you out, really out,  of where you were and into somewhere better."

LOVE, ROSIE - Cecelia Ahern

So I actually discovered the book after watching the trailer for the movie based on it. Started to read it the next day. It's about Rosie and Alex who have been best friend since the age of 5, and we follow their life till age 50. It's also about love, and how life sometimes gets in the way. In an epistolary format. Well, more like a 21st century version, emails, chats… Which is actually perfect for the story! It's really (really) sweet, and funny and I loved reading it. Until the last few chapters. I'm not super into the way it ends and what I think is the moral of the story. But i'm still very excited for the movie to come out!!

Fave quote: “You deserve someone who loves you with every single beat of his heart, someone who thinks about you constantly, someone who spends every minute of every day just wondering what you’re doing, where you are, who you’re with, and if you’re OK. You need someone who can help you reach your dreams and protect you from your fears. You need someone who will treat you with respect, love every part of you, especially your flaws. You should be with someone who could make you happy, really happy, dancing on air happy.” 

PS: If you are following me on Instagram, I use the hashtag #LeaLovesBooks to document my readings!