December wings its way around next month so that means Christmas is near, as is my birthday. 23, underrated number, that. What with Christmas shopping on the way as well and no doubt I'll probably receive some books as gifts, I decided these five books to the left will be the last ones I'll buy for the rest of the year. Don't hold me to that, I'm not that committed. The list of books I want to get later on is about this big... I'm holding my arms really far apart! Not only that, I realised there is a massive hole in my bookcase, a void that needs filling with apocalyptic twists. So, guess what kind of books I'm going to be looking at in the future?
Last Night in Waterstones
Wandering around bookshops in winter sunsets is one of the smallest, yet awesomest things I like doing. Much to my annoyance, it only happens at winter, but anyway, Waterstones and WHSmiths is where it's at. I partly knew what I was after when I went in last week, but I still searched and stumbled upon that perfect serendipitous moment that bookshops do best. In Waterstones, I picked up The Humans by Matt Haig, a novel I've heard nothing but great things about and it sounds like a story unlike any other. I'm dying to read it, but I'm kind of on a John Green binge right now and after that there's a ton of books to reread. Maybe I'll wimp out and get a-readin' The Humans before I explode with anticipation. With The Humans, I also purchased Metro 2033 by Dmitry Glukhovsky which built the groundwork for the two video games, Metro 2033 and Metro: Last Light. Apocalyptic fiction is one of my favourite things to read and I don't own enough of (more on that later), so when I saw it I was like, 'dammit, buy it!' so I did. I played the first game, and although I enjoyed my time with it, I couldn't finish it because the controls were overly complicated. The world, though was fascinating and it sounds terrifying, tense and full of claustrophobic suspense. No idea if this book contains the stories of both games, but the book does have a sequel and an entire universe shared by several authors. That's the kind of dedication I love, one story branching out into multiple tales based on one common theme. Good job, guys.
At Smiths, I purchased the only John Green book I've never read before, Let it Snow. Two authors collaborated with him to create three sides to a single story from what I understand, and everybody so far has said it's brilliant. This I'm saving for the final days up until Christmas just to help add to the experience. I'm not going to read it in the middle of summer, what do I look like? Sticking with YA themes, I stumbled upon two books from Holly Bourne, a writer I've been meaning to read about for a while. Her books, Soulmates and The Manifesto on How to Be Interesting caught my eyes when I read her author bio in Writing Magazine and her stories sounded perfect. Not to mention their beautiful covers and Manifesto has red page edges! It looks awesome! I even sneaked a glance at the first few pages and found myself reading more than I should have before I snapped it shut, shelved it and focused on my current reading. When it's time, I'll absorb it. As book hauls go, it wasn't the biggest and it's not even the end of the month, but I'm not buying any more books this month. Christmas and birthday do away with the purchasing since I always get books, and besides, it's not like I haven't got enough to read.
At Smiths, I purchased the only John Green book I've never read before, Let it Snow. Two authors collaborated with him to create three sides to a single story from what I understand, and everybody so far has said it's brilliant. This I'm saving for the final days up until Christmas just to help add to the experience. I'm not going to read it in the middle of summer, what do I look like? Sticking with YA themes, I stumbled upon two books from Holly Bourne, a writer I've been meaning to read about for a while. Her books, Soulmates and The Manifesto on How to Be Interesting caught my eyes when I read her author bio in Writing Magazine and her stories sounded perfect. Not to mention their beautiful covers and Manifesto has red page edges! It looks awesome! I even sneaked a glance at the first few pages and found myself reading more than I should have before I snapped it shut, shelved it and focused on my current reading. When it's time, I'll absorb it. As book hauls go, it wasn't the biggest and it's not even the end of the month, but I'm not buying any more books this month. Christmas and birthday do away with the purchasing since I always get books, and besides, it's not like I haven't got enough to read.
Apocalypse Now, Please
Who doesn't love a good apocalypse? Apart from the characters who suffer and die in those worlds, but for us they're awesome. I haven't read many, but I've played more than enough in virtual worlds to know that they are absolutely amazing when done convincingly. I still maintain that The Road is the best apocalyptic story I've experienced, but I want to read more. Books such as I Am Legend and The Day of the Trifids are both on my TBR list, but I'd also like to find lesser known end of days tales. Which means searching the endless virtual shelves online and the real ones in bookstores. There is a giant hole in my bookcase, and that hole needs to be filled with more heartbreaking stories set in worlds where hope is a myth and all is lost. I'm a happy person, really.
Wandering around bookshops is a little thing I love, like all readers, but since I often have a pile of to-be-reads and constant books to reread, I don't get to purchase as many new books as I'd like. That's why Christmas and birthday in the same month come in to play, and yes, I'll most likely receive loads of books, and wrap up loads for my friends and family too. When that time comes around, I'll be sure to post up what books I got and whatnot. Until then.
Songs of the Week:
Wandering around bookshops is a little thing I love, like all readers, but since I often have a pile of to-be-reads and constant books to reread, I don't get to purchase as many new books as I'd like. That's why Christmas and birthday in the same month come in to play, and yes, I'll most likely receive loads of books, and wrap up loads for my friends and family too. When that time comes around, I'll be sure to post up what books I got and whatnot. Until then.
Songs of the Week:
- 'Enchanted' by Taylor Swift
- 'Speak Now' by Taylor Swift
- 'Mine' by Taylor Swift
- 'Haunted' by Taylor Swift
- 'Long Live' by Taylor Swift
- 'Sparks Fly' by Taylor Swift
- 'The One Thing Needful' by Anaal Nathrakh
- 'Unleash' by Anaal Nathrakh
- 'The Joystream' by Anaal Nathrakh
- 'Idol' by Anaal Nathrakh
- 'A Firm Foundation of Unyielding Despair' by Anaal Nathrakh
- 'Sub Specie Aeterni (Of Maggots and Humanity)' by Anaal Nathrakh