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So I've decided to do a series of 'flashback friday' style reviews, where I waffle on about some not so recent books. There is nothing better than rediscovering an old favourite, or maybe you'll see something that you've never thought to pick up. This week, we're kicking it super old school: we're doing Austen.
 So first off I'd like to thank the lovely Brett Michael Orr for tagging me. You have been so welcoming, and I am loving getting involved in the Aussie YA blogging community. Fangirl-ing is way more fun with friends. The Liebster Award is a fun way of welcoming new bloggers to the blogging community. It involves answering some questions about yourself, and then sharing on the love! Brett asked: What book are you reading right now? I'm actually reading a few right now. Uprooted by Naomi Novik, which I am loving! I read an excerpt online and fell in love, ended up rushing out to buy it. I am also reading Fairytale Beginnings by Holly Martin; Fragile Bones by Lorna Schutlz Nicholson; and because I have more time than sense now that I am in the middle of a university break I am aiming to re-read the Harry Potter series. I haven't read it for years, so I think it's about time! Name your top three favourite bands/artists! Delta Goodrem. Taylor Swift. Mumford and Sons. If you could live in any other era in time, when would you choose? I'd love to visit medieval England. Going everywhere on horseback sounds like a pretty fun time. Especially if these guys would be there:  Real knights looked like this, right? I think I'd probably only visit though, because I'm not convinced it would be a whole lot of fun to be a woman in the 6th Century. Running away in gowns would be really cumbersome.
What mythical animal would you like to have as a pet? A massive talking magical lion. Basically, Aslan. Would you rather be too hot, or too cold? Too cold. I hate summer. At least when it is cold you can rug up. There's only so much stripping off you can do before it gets weird. Do you prefer a book/movie with action, or with drama/romance? As the little girl from the Old El Paso ads once said: "Why not both?!" Ugh! That is a hard one! If I had to choose I'd probably go drama/romance. Only because the list of action movies I have watched that are purely action, without a lovey dovey subplot, is much shorter than the one listing all the chick flicks that I have watched an embarrassing amount of times. If your life was being made into a movie, who would you cast to play you? Kat Dennings. After a hard day, what makes you feel better? My sheltie, George. He's pretty much happy 24/7. It's infectious. So when I've had a bit of an awful day I look forward to seeing him, or debriefing with the girls over a cup of tea. If you could travel to any other country, where would you go? Ireland. I went a few years ago, and I want to go back so badly. My mum was born in Ireland so I have a lot of family there that I don't get to see very often. I'd probably move there if I could. What’s one book that you were never able to finish? If I'm not enjoying a book I am reading for leisure I won't force myself to finish it, so there are quite a few I've discarded. The most recent book I didn't finish was Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov. I had to read it for a unit was studying at University, and it was torturous. It is just a bit too abstract for my liking. I managed to get by with only reading small sections, and the only time I ever pick it up off the shelf is when I am cleaning. What’s a book that you’re most excited to read? Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta. I loved Finnikin of the Rock, and can't wait to jump in and read the next book in the series. I love that the central character will be Froi this time round, too. Holy character development, Batman! So, onto the nominations! The rules are as follows:
And the nominees are ... Sophie @ Imaginary Misadventure Diana @ Professional Book Lady Emily @ Loony Literate Mahima @ AllThingsWordy Jessica @ Bookish Serendipity And now for my questions: What is your favourite book of 2015 so far? Do you judge a book by its cover? Your house is burning down. You can only save three books: what would you grab? Ron Weasley, Katniss Everdeen and Fitzwilliam Darcy. Snog, Kill, Marry. Go! What is your favourite genre? If you could play any musical instrument, what would you play? Describe your blog in three words. What is your favourite season? Sweet or savoury? Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character? What made you start blogging? Remember, have fun with it! Be sure to tag me, or send me a link of your answers. I can't wait to read them all! xo Siobhan. We hear it all the time. "Don't judge a book by its cover". Its the age old adage that, for the most part, is one hundred percent true. Except when it isn't. Because let's get real: when it comes to books, I totally judge them by their cover.
The past few months I have [gasp] been reading ebooks instead of purchasing a hardcopy of every title I've read. Which has gotten me thinking: are book covers even still relevant? I think they are. And this is why. When trawling for new galleys to devour, my running internal monologue is usually as follows: "Ew. No. Mills and Boon much? Ew. Too twilightesque. The 90's called: they want their glowing embossed font back. E-ooh. I like. Let me hover over that beautiful specimen and actually read the blurb". I am not going to read the blurb of every single online book available. Just the same as I am not going to pull every single book off the shelf and read the back if I am lost in a bookshop. And I'm probably missing out on some pretty amazing reads. Which is why I am writing this post. Think of this as a PSA to all publishers out there. As a book hoarder, er, collector, I am a hundred times more likely to purchase a hardcopy of a book if I've been initially sucked in by the cover. Heck, I've even bought different editions of books I already own if I like the cover enough. Books are timeless. You buy a book, you make a commitment to each other. It's going to live on a shelf, in your house. Least it can do is not be offensive to look at. With ebooks, just because I don't have a physical copy doesn't mean I am still not judging the cover. I can't help it. It's just how I'm hardwired. A beautiful or eye-catching cover suggests quality. It suggests that the publisher believed it in enough to wrap it in the divine image you hold in your hand. It suggests that what is in those pages within is going to back up what the cover promises. I know, I know. A suggestion isn't a promise, and there are some rotten books with really nice covers. But at least they're nice to look at? Have you ever purchased a book solely on the cover? Does the cover play into your decision when picking a book off the shelf? I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts.
ISBN: 9780857986474
This has got to be the most affecting Young Adult novel I have ever read. It is also the scariest. What makes Risk so truly horrifying is that it is too real. The threat that is explored in this novel is ever present in all of our social media ridden lives. I actually finished it days ago, it has taken me thing long to get my head around exactly what I could say about it. Risk is the first young adult novel by author, Fleur Ferris. Reading the author bio on the publisher's website gave me chills, as it just made so much sense: Ferris used to be a police officer. Risk is beautifully written, and handles this devastating story with sensitivity. Instead of ultra-violent scare tactics, it is what we cannot see that is so unnerving. This is the story of two friends, Sierra and Taylor. Sierra is outgoing, gorgeous and confident; but she is also a bit self-centred. When Sierra rings to let Taylor know that she is spending the night with a guy she met online, Taylor isn't worried: she's furious. Sierra has done this before, but that isn't why Taylor is angry. She is angry because she was talking to him too. When Sierra still hasn't returned home two days later her friends begin to worry. Should they tell an adult? Or wait and hope for the best? In the wake of Sierra's disappearance Taylor must deal with grief, anger, jealousy and guilt. Should she have said something sooner? Is this all her fault? All the characters in this book are so relatable. Their stories are relevant and captivating. They could be people you know, or people you go to school with. You could just as easily be reading about your sister, or your best friend. I was shocked by how much I did not know about online visibility and deception. All young adults would benefit from reading this book. So would their parents, their teachers, and their siblings. This is such an important story, and it needs to be shared. I have a fifteen year old sister, and I will definitely be purchasing this book for her to read upon its release. Thank you to Random House Australia and Netgalley, who provided the ARC in return for an honest review. |
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