2015/09/27

Book Haul: September Part I

September will soon be over and autumn is in full swing. I think September is probably my favorite month of the year; it's just cold enough to wear scarves but not so cold you need to wear really heavy coats. You get to drink hot chocolate, and rainy Sundays are the best.

Since it was my also birthday this month, I got loads of new exciting books, some as presents, some I got myself.















What books did you get this month?
ALL LINKS ARE AFFILIATE

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2015/09/26

Book Review:
The Shock of The Fall by Nathan Filer

Title: The Shock of The Fall
Author: Nathan Filer
Published: 2014
Language: English
Pages: 314
Rating: 4/5


Summary:
This is the story of one man's descent into mental illness, after losing his brother in his childhood.


Review:
I'd heard such great things about this book for so long that I finally just had to read it, and I was not disappointed. It's one of those stories that feel realistic and offer some fascinating insight into the topic it deals with.

This is a raw and honest portrayal of mental illness and the way it spirals out of control sometimes. I thought it was portrayed beautifully, but most importantly, I thought the characters were portrayed beautifully. Both those suffering from a disease and those around. Like you got to know the person, not just the illness.

I love how the story throws you for a loop at times and you don't know what's true and what's not.

If you haven't read this book yet, I'd definitely recommend picking it up. Even though it's fiction, I think everyone can learn something from this book. Also, if you like the movie A Beautiful Mind, you'll like this. It has some of the same vibe, only this is young adult.


You can get this book at The Book Depository*
You can read more about it on Goodreads
*AFFILIATE LINK
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2015/09/25

2015/09/24

Season Recommendations: Autumn

Autumn is my very favorite season, and I thought it's time to recommend some books appropriate for this wonderful season. These are books I feel have something beautiful, but perhaps a bit dark about them.

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton


This is a magical realism story about a girl who was born with wings. It has something beautiful and gloomy about it, and the writing is gorgeous and lyrical. I especially enjoy the elements of madness in this book.

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel


An apocalyptic story about a traveling troupe, religious fanatics and how almost the entire world died in the course of three weeks. This spans between past and present and is wonderfully constructed.

Far From The Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy


Will I ever shut up about this book? Probably not!

This is the story of Bathsheba Everdene, a proud and independent women whose life is complicated by three different men. A wonderful story that depicts several fascinating characters in a rural community.

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton


A historical fiction novel set in 1686's Amsterdam. Nella Oortman has married a man she does not know and has been sent to live with him. For a wedding present, she is presented with a miniature house of the house she lives in, and this miniature starts to freakishly depict her own life.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky


This is a magnificent book about a young, introverted boy coming of age and navigating through dating, family drama, friendship and love. This is a must read for everyone.


Happy reading!

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2015/09/23

Book Review:
The Chimes by Anna Smaill

Title: The Chimes
Author: Anna Smaill
Published: 2015
Language: English
Pages: 304
Rating: 3/5


Summary:
In a dystopian London, the written word has been forbidden and the people cannot form new memories, having them erased using music.

But when Simon comes to London, he realises he has a gift that could change everything...


Review:
This was a really interesting book and felt like a breath of fresh air. It's fast-paced, the writing is great and it has a lot of original elements. I will definitely keep Smaill on my radar, to see what she will come up with next.

It took me a while to get into this book, as I found it a bit confusing in the beginning. The characters are quite fascinating and they felt realistic. I also like how as the story progresses, you peel off another layer to find what's underneath.

The best part about this book is the world it is set in, though I thought perhaps it should have been explained even better. There's just so much unused potential, almost annoyingly so. I wished this had another hundred pages or even more, just to fully reveal everything. I especially wished the end had been longer, as it felt a little rushed to me.

I would definitely recommend this book to people who enjoy dystopian fiction.


You can get this book at The Book Depository*
You can read more about it on Goodreads
*AFFILIATE LINK
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2015/09/22

Top 5: Series I Want To Read V

Aaaaaanother list filled with series I am planning to get around to... at some point.

Enola Holmes Mysteries by Nancy Springer


This is middle grade, historical fiction mystery, where the main character is Sherlock Holmes' sister. I'm always a wee bit scared of stuff like this, but also intrigued...

David Hunter by Simon Beckett


This is a mystery series and is about a doctor who finds himself in the middle of a murder case, even though he's moved so far away to get away from his macabre past.

Cazalet Chronicles by Elizabeth Jane Howard


Another historical fiction, set in 1937 and follow a bunch of fascinating characters. I've been told this is one of those hidden gems, so I really want to read this. 

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood


I recently bought all the books in this trilogy, because I want to try some Atwood. This is a dystopian, science fiction and that's all I know!

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh


Basically, I've been seeing everyone raving about this. It's fantasy young adult, and is about a king who marries every day and when morning comes, the wife is dead. Sounds pretty gruesome and really fascinating.


Let me know if you've read any of these and what you thought!
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