Picture this. You walk in your front door, shivering as you escape into the warmth of home, you make a hot chocolate , light a few candles and sit down surrounded by pillows and blankets and delve into a good book. To me, this is literally bliss and pretty much my definition of a perfect winter evening.
Everyone seems to love a good summer read, but for the literary enthusiasts such as myself, books aren’t just for Summer, they’re for all year round. So here are the books I’m delving into this year.
- Moranthology by Caitlin Moran
“In MORANTHOLOGY Caitlin ‘gets quite chatty’ about many subjects, including cultural, social and political issues which are usually left to hot-shot wonks and not a woman who sometimes keeps a falafel in her handbag. These other subjects include…
Ghostbusters, Being Poor, Caravans, Obama, Wales, Paul McCartney, Sherlock, David Cameron Looking Like Ham, Amy Winehouse, Big Hair, Nutter-letters, Failed Nicknames, Squirrels’ Testicles, Sexy Tax, Binge-drinking, Chivalry, Rihanna’s Cardigan, Hot People and Transsexuals.”
I have recently started this book and it is absolutely hilarious. I honestly recommend it to any one who likes a good laugh from a book. I also really love the mix of commentary and articles in this book.
- The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
“”I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, then all at once.”
Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.
Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning author John Green’s most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.”
I haven’t actually started this book yet, but its the next one in my reading list. Already have it sitting out waiting to be read and I can’t wait to read it. John Green is a genius!
- The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins
“Set in a dark vision of the near future, a terrifying reality TV show is taking place. Twelve boys and twelve girls are forced to appear in a live event called The Hunger Games. There is only one rule: kill or be killed. When sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her younger sister’s place in the games, she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature.”
Unless you’ve been living under a rock you know about the Hunger Games. I’m a huge fan of the films and can not wait to dive into the books!
- Tomorrow When the War Began by John Marsden
“When their country is invaded and their families are taken, eight high school teenagers band together to fight. Seventeen-year-old Ellie Linton wants one final adventure with her friends before the school holidays are over. Packed in Ellie’s parents’ land rover they drive to the famously isolated rock pool Eden dubbed ‘Hell’ by the locals. Returning to their home town of Wirrawee, the seven teenagers realize that something is seriously wrong. Power to the houses has been cut, pets and livestock have been left dead or dying, and most alarmingly of all, everyone’s family has vanished. When the hostile armed forces discover that the teenagers are lying low in the vicinity, Ellie and her friends must band together to escape, outwit and strike back against the mysterious enemy that has seized control of their town and imprisoned their friends and loved ones…”
I actually stumbled across the film adaptation of this book first and loved it, then I found out it was a book series and got very excited. The first book is amazing and I think its a really interesting story and its written so well. I thoroughly recommend the Tomorrow series.
- Severed Heads, Broken Hearts by Robyn Schneider
“Golden boy Ezra Faulkner believes everyone has a tragedy waiting for them – a single encounter after which everything that really matters will happen. His own tragedy waited until he had everything to lose – in one night, a reckless driver shatters Ezra’s knee, his athletic career, and his perfect life. No longer part of the popular crowd, Ezra finds himself at the table of misfits, where he encounters Cassidy Thorpe. Intelligent, effortless and wonderfully weird, she is unlike anyone Ezra’s ever met before. Together they discover flash mobs, buried treasure, secret movie screenings and a poodle with a questionable history. But as Ezra dives into new friendships and new love, he is forced to ask: if you’ve managed to survive disaster, what happens when it strikes again? Robyn Schneider’s Severed Heads, Broken Hearts is a lyrical, witty and heart-wrenching novel about how difficult it is to play the part that people expect, and how new beginnings can stem from abrupt and tragic endings.”
At first this book seemed like the classic teenage aimed books that I stumble across and ignore, however there is something about this that is different. It’s got more of a mature theme running through it and I’m really interested to see how a male lead will pan out as I’m usually reading books with female main characters.
- Let it Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle
“An ill-timed storm on Christmas Eve buries the residents of Gracetown under multiple feet of snow and causes quite a bit of chaos. One brave soul ventures out into the storm from her stranded train and sets off a chain of events that will change quite a few lives. Over the next three days one girl takes a risky shortcut with an adorable stranger, three friends set out to win a race to the Waffle House (and the hash brown spoils), and the fate of a teacup pig falls into the hands of a lovesick barista.
A trio of today’s bestselling authors – John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle – brings all the magic of holidays to life in three hilarious and charming interconnected tales of love, romance, and kisses that will steal your breath away.”
What is going to get you in the Christmas spirit more than this?! I am a huge fan of both John Green and Maureen Johnson but have not read any of Lauren Myracle’s work as of yet. But clearly being paired with two of my favourite authors bodes well?
- Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher
“Fifteen-year-old Zoe has a secret – a dark and terrible secret that she can’t confess to anyone she knows. But then one day she hears of a criminal, Stuart Harris, locked up on death row in Texas. Like Zoe, Stuart is no stranger to secrets. Or lies. Or murder.
Full of heartache yet humour, Zoe tells her story in the only way she can – in letters to the man in prison in America. Armed with a pen, Zoe takes a deep breath, eats a jam sandwich, and begins her tale of love and betrayal.”
The idea of this book really makes me laugh, only a 15 year old girl would think that a death row inmate has nothing better to do than listen to a teenagers confessions! I just really want to know how this is going to pan out!
NOTE: All descriptions are quoted from Amazon UK as these are the dexcriptions written by the publishers, and I doubt I’m going to do a better job of selling it than they are!
Brunette Ambition 