The clocks turned back which means the best time for reading, the evening, comes around sooner than expected. That's fine by me, but it seems most of us contract this odd thing called 'winter blues'. Still, not to worry. Summer will come around soon enough, as it always does, so you can be happy again. Anyway, there are still more questions to answer and once again some titles cropped up again along with some new faces. Answering these questions has made me realise that I need to purchase more books and fast.
17) The nearest book to you right now?
Assassin's Creed: Black Flag
I've read Black Flag now, and as always, I keep the books I'm currently reading on my 'bedside table'. It's actually an Xbox 360 box, but who says you need furniture cut from the finest woods? Black Flag was great and the game it's based off is now on my list of games to buy when my Xbox One arrives (not long now). Until I read it, I never felt much affinity for pirates. The Pirates of the Caribbean movies were OK, but they didn't do much for me. Great book, anyway.
Assassin's Creed: Black Flag
I've read Black Flag now, and as always, I keep the books I'm currently reading on my 'bedside table'. It's actually an Xbox 360 box, but who says you need furniture cut from the finest woods? Black Flag was great and the game it's based off is now on my list of games to buy when my Xbox One arrives (not long now). Until I read it, I never felt much affinity for pirates. The Pirates of the Caribbean movies were OK, but they didn't do much for me. Great book, anyway.
18) Made me laugh in public?
The Gun Seller
Hugh Laurie is one of my heroes. A gifted actor, musician, comedian and writer. The Gun Seller very much reminded me of 'The Department' sketches in A Bit of Fry and Laurie where Hugh played a Steve McQueen-like agent. The Gun Seller is full of comedy and Thomas Lang constantly finds the funny side of a nasty situation. In fact, the opening is a dark look on how to break someone's arm. There are some dark moments in the book, but humour is always waiting at the end. If you want a Bond-like book that doesn't take itself too seriously, The Gun Seller is for you.
The Gun Seller
Hugh Laurie is one of my heroes. A gifted actor, musician, comedian and writer. The Gun Seller very much reminded me of 'The Department' sketches in A Bit of Fry and Laurie where Hugh played a Steve McQueen-like agent. The Gun Seller is full of comedy and Thomas Lang constantly finds the funny side of a nasty situation. In fact, the opening is a dark look on how to break someone's arm. There are some dark moments in the book, but humour is always waiting at the end. If you want a Bond-like book that doesn't take itself too seriously, The Gun Seller is for you.
19) Made me cry in public?
The Fault in our Stars
No surprises here. Well, this isn't true. I never cried in public while reading it, but I did well up at home. I can't concentrate on books outside, I have to be home. Nonetheless, I defy you to not feel some sadness when reading this book. I couldn't add anything else that you haven't probably heard already, but The Fault in our Stars will leave you spellbound.
The Fault in our Stars
No surprises here. Well, this isn't true. I never cried in public while reading it, but I did well up at home. I can't concentrate on books outside, I have to be home. Nonetheless, I defy you to not feel some sadness when reading this book. I couldn't add anything else that you haven't probably heard already, but The Fault in our Stars will leave you spellbound.
20) Favourite bookworm in literature?
Alaska Young
Few characters in books made me smile more than her. Maybe because she reminds me of Clementine from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Anyway, Alaska is a bookworm, her room is filled with books piled high and Looking for Alaska is stuffed full with bookish quotes. Intelligence is an incredibly attractive quality and above all of her obvious physical attractions, Alaska Young is an intelligent girl who intends to read her entire personal library before she dies. She's got her priorities down.
Alaska Young
Few characters in books made me smile more than her. Maybe because she reminds me of Clementine from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Anyway, Alaska is a bookworm, her room is filled with books piled high and Looking for Alaska is stuffed full with bookish quotes. Intelligence is an incredibly attractive quality and above all of her obvious physical attractions, Alaska Young is an intelligent girl who intends to read her entire personal library before she dies. She's got her priorities down.
21) One where I fell in love with the narrator?
Bright Lights, Big City
Second person narrative is rare, probably because its bloody hard to write, but it's awesome to read books set in the second person. It feels like the book is talking to you and it makes it all the more personal to see the story until the end. I love stories like Bright Lights, Big City and I'm sure we'll get more like it. That being said, I should like The Catcher in the Rye, but Holden Caulfield is an acquired taste.
Bright Lights, Big City
Second person narrative is rare, probably because its bloody hard to write, but it's awesome to read books set in the second person. It feels like the book is talking to you and it makes it all the more personal to see the story until the end. I love stories like Bright Lights, Big City and I'm sure we'll get more like it. That being said, I should like The Catcher in the Rye, but Holden Caulfield is an acquired taste.
22) Makes me want to travel?
Stephen Fry in America
I am a secret American. America has the best food, the best landscape and some of the best music I've heard. I've said before that I want to live there, and as clichéd as it sounds these days, I would like to road trip the distance. There's just so much to America that I want to explore. I want to see the ghost towns in Kansas, Monument Valley in Utah, the Mississippi River, the Grand Canyon, get plastered in an American roadside bar, see landmarks famous in books, snowboarding in Colorado and pretty much anything else I can think of. America is a place I want to explore far more than any other country, and although I am English, I don't feel much love for England, not compared to the States.
Stephen Fry in America
I am a secret American. America has the best food, the best landscape and some of the best music I've heard. I've said before that I want to live there, and as clichéd as it sounds these days, I would like to road trip the distance. There's just so much to America that I want to explore. I want to see the ghost towns in Kansas, Monument Valley in Utah, the Mississippi River, the Grand Canyon, get plastered in an American roadside bar, see landmarks famous in books, snowboarding in Colorado and pretty much anything else I can think of. America is a place I want to explore far more than any other country, and although I am English, I don't feel much love for England, not compared to the States.
23) Best book on diversity?
I cannot for the life of me think of one. If there is an obvious one I've missed, you have permission to call me Megan and braid my hair.
I cannot for the life of me think of one. If there is an obvious one I've missed, you have permission to call me Megan and braid my hair.
24) A hidden gem?
Halo: The Flood
I wasn't expecting to be scared or blown away by this. Yes, Halo: Combat Evolved is a masterpiece of a game, but my mate told me that The Flood was exactly the same as the game. So, why read it? Well, I read the first book and this one follows so it would be folly to skip ahead. And I'm glad I didn't, because my god this was one of the best books I've read this year. The Halo universe comes alive in the games, but on the pages it evolves into something beautiful. Characters you may have heard about in the game like Foehammer and Jenkins get larger roles, the Covenant get plenty of page-space as well and it nails the desperation both Marines and Covenant experience when crash landing on the mysterious Halo construct. And that's all before the Flood outbreak. Think of the Flood as space zombies- and they cannot be killed, like heads of a hydra, you kill one and another two replace it. In the game, you have to blow up the Pillar of Autumn cruiser to destroy the Halo world and it's bloody hard, scary, and you end the mission sweaty-palmed and thankful its over. In the book, every little detail is included in that final mission and not just the last bit either. Every level you encounter in the game is lovingly re-made in the book and even missions that feel like grinds such as the infamous and dreaded Library mission make you want to skip ahead of the chapter. Not because its boring, but because its atmosphere is downright suffocating. And to top it off, next month the Halo: Master Chief Collection comes out for Xbox One so I get to play through them all over again. For science-fiction fans, please read this.
With one more batch of questions for next week it'll be the end of the #bookadayuk challenge. Have you enjoyed answering the questions? I hope so. Even though I love reading anyway, it's always nice to have something remind you why you love reading to begin with. There are so many stories out there waiting for you, and so many more waiting to be hatched for you to read. It's hard to sum up why I love some books, and this challenge is making me come to terms with why I do love some books. Bright Lights, Big City for example. It's something we've seen before, guy alone in New York, but it's still amazing. But, we don't need to justify why we love some books. So don't ever feel like you need to if someone challenges you. Or accept their challenge and school the hell out of them.
Songs of the Week:
Halo: The Flood
I wasn't expecting to be scared or blown away by this. Yes, Halo: Combat Evolved is a masterpiece of a game, but my mate told me that The Flood was exactly the same as the game. So, why read it? Well, I read the first book and this one follows so it would be folly to skip ahead. And I'm glad I didn't, because my god this was one of the best books I've read this year. The Halo universe comes alive in the games, but on the pages it evolves into something beautiful. Characters you may have heard about in the game like Foehammer and Jenkins get larger roles, the Covenant get plenty of page-space as well and it nails the desperation both Marines and Covenant experience when crash landing on the mysterious Halo construct. And that's all before the Flood outbreak. Think of the Flood as space zombies- and they cannot be killed, like heads of a hydra, you kill one and another two replace it. In the game, you have to blow up the Pillar of Autumn cruiser to destroy the Halo world and it's bloody hard, scary, and you end the mission sweaty-palmed and thankful its over. In the book, every little detail is included in that final mission and not just the last bit either. Every level you encounter in the game is lovingly re-made in the book and even missions that feel like grinds such as the infamous and dreaded Library mission make you want to skip ahead of the chapter. Not because its boring, but because its atmosphere is downright suffocating. And to top it off, next month the Halo: Master Chief Collection comes out for Xbox One so I get to play through them all over again. For science-fiction fans, please read this.
With one more batch of questions for next week it'll be the end of the #bookadayuk challenge. Have you enjoyed answering the questions? I hope so. Even though I love reading anyway, it's always nice to have something remind you why you love reading to begin with. There are so many stories out there waiting for you, and so many more waiting to be hatched for you to read. It's hard to sum up why I love some books, and this challenge is making me come to terms with why I do love some books. Bright Lights, Big City for example. It's something we've seen before, guy alone in New York, but it's still amazing. But, we don't need to justify why we love some books. So don't ever feel like you need to if someone challenges you. Or accept their challenge and school the hell out of them.
Songs of the Week:
- 'Try ' by The XX
- 'Swept Away' by The XX
- 'Fiction' by The XX
- 'Chained' by The XX
- 'Acheronta Movebimus' by Anaal Nathrakh
- 'Unleash' by Anaal Nathrakh
- 'The One Thing Needful' by Anaal Nathrakh
- 'A Firm Foundation of Unyielding Despair' by Anaal Nathrakh
- 'Desideratum' by Anaal Nathrakh
- 'The Joystream' by Anaal Nathrakh
- 'To Spite the Face' by Anaal Nathrakh