Heather James's Blog, page 41
February 6, 2015
Popsugar Reading Challenge
As you'll know if you read the blog regularly, I am obsessed quite fond of Pinterest. A few days ago I stumbled across a pin of this excellent reading challenge created by Popsugar. The link has a lovely graphic for the challenge, but I'm retyping them all here so that I can cross them off throughout the year.
This year I will try to read:
A book with more than 500 pages {Casual Vacancy}
A classic romance {Mansfield Park}
A book that became a movie {Gone Girl}
A book published this year
A book with a number in the title
A book written by someone under 30
A book with nonhuman characters
A funny book
A book by a female author {Gone Girl}
A mystery or thriller
A book with a one-word title [Air would be good for this one!]
A book of short stories
A book set in a different country [I know Gone Girl would fit this, but I'm sure I can be more exotic than the US!]
A nonfiction book
A popular author's first book
A book from an author you love that you haven't read yet {Casual Vacancy}
A book a friend recommended {The Secret History or One Hundred Years of Solitude}
A Pulitzer Prize-winning book
A book based on a true story
A book at the bottom of your tbr list.
A book your mum loves
A book that scares you
A book more than 100 years old {Mansfield Park}
A book based entirely on its cover
A book you were supposed to read in school but didn't [given I always read what I was supposed to in school, I'm not sure what I'll do for this one]
A memoir
A book you can finish in a day
A book with antonyms in the title
A book set somewhere you've always wanted to visit
A book that came out the year you were born
A book with bad reviews
A trilogy
A book from your childhood
A book with a love triangle
A book set in the future
A book set in high school
A book with a colour in the title
A book that made you cry {Tess of the D'Urbervilles
A book with magic {Half Bad}
A graphic novel
A book by an author you've never read before
A book you own but have never read
A book that takes place in your hometown
A book that was originally written in a different language
A book set during Christmas
A book written by an author with your initials
A play
A banned book
A book based on or turned into a TV show {The Originals}
A book you started but never finished {Casual Vacancy}
This year I will try to read:
A book with more than 500 pages {Casual Vacancy}
A classic romance {Mansfield Park}
A book that became a movie {Gone Girl}
A book published this year
A book with a number in the title
A book written by someone under 30
A book with nonhuman characters
A funny book
A book by a female author {Gone Girl}
A mystery or thriller
A book with a one-word title [Air would be good for this one!]
A book of short stories
A book set in a different country [I know Gone Girl would fit this, but I'm sure I can be more exotic than the US!]
A nonfiction book
A popular author's first book
A book from an author you love that you haven't read yet {Casual Vacancy}
A book a friend recommended {The Secret History or One Hundred Years of Solitude}
A Pulitzer Prize-winning book
A book based on a true story
A book at the bottom of your tbr list.
A book your mum loves
A book that scares you
A book more than 100 years old {Mansfield Park}
A book based entirely on its cover
A book you were supposed to read in school but didn't [given I always read what I was supposed to in school, I'm not sure what I'll do for this one]
A memoir
A book you can finish in a day
A book with antonyms in the title
A book set somewhere you've always wanted to visit
A book that came out the year you were born
A book with bad reviews
A trilogy
A book from your childhood
A book with a love triangle
A book set in the future
A book set in high school
A book with a colour in the title
A book that made you cry {Tess of the D'Urbervilles
A book with magic {Half Bad}
A graphic novel
A book by an author you've never read before
A book you own but have never read
A book that takes place in your hometown
A book that was originally written in a different language
A book set during Christmas
A book written by an author with your initials
A play
A banned book
A book based on or turned into a TV show {The Originals}
A book you started but never finished {Casual Vacancy}
February 4, 2015
Bloglovin'
Not sure why I hadn't done this already, but I have just signed up to Bloglovin'. If you have an account, please follow the blog on there as an easy way to keep up-to-date with all my new posts and Air news.
Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Follow my blog with Bloglovin
February 3, 2015
Monthly Recap: January
Posting this a day late, which I am blaming on post-Superbowl tiredness (side note: Go Pats!) Here is the round up of everything I read in January. Which it turns out wasn't very much...
Gone Girl My first book of the year. I loved Gone Girl; it was amazing. There are so many jaw dropping moments and the characterisation is superb. I think the film comes onto Sky movies this week, so I'm looking forward to watching it soon.
Half Bad Half Bad was on my list of series to start this year. It also has a male protagonist, so ticks two challenge boxes. I liked the take on magic that Half Bad had and am interested to see where the concept goes next in Half Wild. The class system was also really intriguing and reminded me a bit of Harry Potter, but that was the only similarity I spotted between the two - Half Bad is a unique idea.
Mansfield Park The first of my classics ticked off and I can now say that I have read all of Jane Austen's novels! I liked Fanny a lot because she was shy and reserved, so reminded me more of myself than most Jane Austen heroines. As with most Austen novels though, I can't help but feel slightly unsatisfied with the romantic conclusions...
Tess of the D'Urbervilles I'm including Tess on the list even though I'm only half way through, so it's actually crossing over into a February read. I'm enjoying it so far even though I'm pretty certain it's not going to have a happy ending.
Gone Girl My first book of the year. I loved Gone Girl; it was amazing. There are so many jaw dropping moments and the characterisation is superb. I think the film comes onto Sky movies this week, so I'm looking forward to watching it soon.
Half Bad Half Bad was on my list of series to start this year. It also has a male protagonist, so ticks two challenge boxes. I liked the take on magic that Half Bad had and am interested to see where the concept goes next in Half Wild. The class system was also really intriguing and reminded me a bit of Harry Potter, but that was the only similarity I spotted between the two - Half Bad is a unique idea.
Mansfield Park The first of my classics ticked off and I can now say that I have read all of Jane Austen's novels! I liked Fanny a lot because she was shy and reserved, so reminded me more of myself than most Jane Austen heroines. As with most Austen novels though, I can't help but feel slightly unsatisfied with the romantic conclusions...
Tess of the D'Urbervilles I'm including Tess on the list even though I'm only half way through, so it's actually crossing over into a February read. I'm enjoying it so far even though I'm pretty certain it's not going to have a happy ending.
January 23, 2015
YA Series I haven't started yet and really should
Five YA series I haven't started yet and would really like to at some point soon:
Newsoul by Jodi Meadows
Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Corpus by Jessica Khoury
The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
Half Bad by Sally Green
Newsoul by Jodi Meadows
Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Corpus by Jessica Khoury
The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
Half Bad by Sally Green
January 22, 2015
Air Front Cover Sneak Peak
Last week I put together most of the front cover for Air. Currently, the only thing missing is the elemental power, which I'm still brainstorming some different ideas for. However, I thought I would share a quick look at what the bottom of the cover (which is finished) will look like, to give you a preview. Fire was red, Water was blue and Air is.... purple!
I'm hoping to post the finished cover (and a release date!) soon. In the meantime, let me know in the comments if you have any good suggestions for the elemental component of the cover.
I'm hoping to post the finished cover (and a release date!) soon. In the meantime, let me know in the comments if you have any good suggestions for the elemental component of the cover.
January 19, 2015
The Male Perspective...
So my 2014 reading round up revealed that my reading has a definite female focus. Not that there is anything wrong with this, I just like to make sure my reading is really varied, so that I don't like to feel like I'm reading only books by female authors, or only books by male ones. YA tends to be dominated by female authors, so I often end up reading a lot more of them. The following are some YA books, either by male authors or just with male protagonists which I'm going to try and read this year.
1) The Scorch Trials
I read the Maze Runner at the end of the year and am really looking forward to checking out it's sequel.
2) The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Has been on my to-read list ever since I saw the film. One of the very few occasions where I've checked out the movie before reading the novel.
3) Paper Towns
This will be my fourth John Green novel. I tried to borrow the library copy but his books are never in stock.
4) More Thank This
This will be my third Patrick Ness novel
5) He won Queen of Teen 2014 and my sister heard him at a YA talk in London last year and says he's amazing.
6) The Infinite Sea
I loved the 5th Wave and am excited to find out what comes next.
7) Gone
My students love this book and I picked it up for 99p on a Kindle sale recently, so I will definitely give it a try soon.
There are also four male authors on my Classics TBR list, taking the total up to eleven. It perhaps interesting to note that most of my 'classic' books are by men and most of my YA books are by women. There's probably a full blog post in this, which I will work on once I've thought about it a bit more...
Do you find you read more female authors and about female characters more than male ones? Does it even matter?
1) The Scorch Trials
I read the Maze Runner at the end of the year and am really looking forward to checking out it's sequel.
2) The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Has been on my to-read list ever since I saw the film. One of the very few occasions where I've checked out the movie before reading the novel.
3) Paper Towns
This will be my fourth John Green novel. I tried to borrow the library copy but his books are never in stock.
4) More Thank This
This will be my third Patrick Ness novel
5) He won Queen of Teen 2014 and my sister heard him at a YA talk in London last year and says he's amazing.
6) The Infinite Sea
I loved the 5th Wave and am excited to find out what comes next.
7) Gone
My students love this book and I picked it up for 99p on a Kindle sale recently, so I will definitely give it a try soon.
There are also four male authors on my Classics TBR list, taking the total up to eleven. It perhaps interesting to note that most of my 'classic' books are by men and most of my YA books are by women. There's probably a full blog post in this, which I will work on once I've thought about it a bit more...
Do you find you read more female authors and about female characters more than male ones? Does it even matter?
January 16, 2015
Classics Reading List for 2015
To readdress the YA imbalance, these are the classic novels I really should have read already so will try to get through this year. In general, I haven't done too badly when it comes to classic novels (largely thanks to my English degree) but it's always nice to make sure I've read a few more each year.
1) Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
I have no idea why I haven't already read this. I've read all of her others, just not Mansfield Park for some reason. In 2015 this is going to have to change!
2) 1984 by George Orwell
One of the original dystopian novels.
3) The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
I've already tried to read this twice and gave up on both occasions. I'm hoping that watching the films might help me to get into it.
4) One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
This one was recommended to me on NYE
5) Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
I really enjoyed the Return of the Native, so should try something else by Hardy at some point soon.
I'm going to leave the list at that, since it's two more than last year, although hopefully I'll find time to squeeze a few more in too.
What are your thoughts. Have you read and enjoyed any of these? And are there any classics on your TBR list for this year?
1) Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
I have no idea why I haven't already read this. I've read all of her others, just not Mansfield Park for some reason. In 2015 this is going to have to change!
2) 1984 by George Orwell
One of the original dystopian novels.
3) The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
I've already tried to read this twice and gave up on both occasions. I'm hoping that watching the films might help me to get into it.
4) One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
This one was recommended to me on NYE
5) Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
I really enjoyed the Return of the Native, so should try something else by Hardy at some point soon.
I'm going to leave the list at that, since it's two more than last year, although hopefully I'll find time to squeeze a few more in too.
What are your thoughts. Have you read and enjoyed any of these? And are there any classics on your TBR list for this year?
January 12, 2015
2015 Books I'm most excited about
These are the books I can't wait to be released this year. Top of the list, of course, has to be Air. Unfortunately it is still cover-less. But I'm only about 10 chapters away from having the whole thing edited and ready to go!
This has to be the prettiest book cover I have ever seen! Plus I love the twist on the original plot. It's kind of like having fan fiction written by the original author!
Both will hopefully be worth the delay to The Lunar Chronicles and Throne of Glass
A couple which mostly caught my eye due to their interesting covers, but also have some great synopses.
Plus there are a few without covers/titles yet:
Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare (yes I know I complained in my 2014 roundup post that she should just leave the series alone. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to hypocritically read every new book that comes out...)
Winter by Marissa Meyer
The Rose Society by Marie Lu
Throne of Glass book 4 by Sarah J Maas
So it would appear that all of these are by female authors with female protagonists. Not the greatest of starts to my year of balanced reading, but all far too good to resist!
Which books are you most looking forward to in 2015?
This has to be the prettiest book cover I have ever seen! Plus I love the twist on the original plot. It's kind of like having fan fiction written by the original author!
Both will hopefully be worth the delay to The Lunar Chronicles and Throne of Glass
A couple which mostly caught my eye due to their interesting covers, but also have some great synopses.
Plus there are a few without covers/titles yet:
Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare (yes I know I complained in my 2014 roundup post that she should just leave the series alone. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to hypocritically read every new book that comes out...)
Winter by Marissa Meyer
The Rose Society by Marie Lu
Throne of Glass book 4 by Sarah J Maas
So it would appear that all of these are by female authors with female protagonists. Not the greatest of starts to my year of balanced reading, but all far too good to resist!
Which books are you most looking forward to in 2015?
January 9, 2015
Reading in 2014: the stats
So I thought it would be really interesting to take a more general look at what I read in 2014. I like to think of myself as quite a varied reader, but I wondered if my reading list backed that statement up...
Total new books read in 2014: 41
Of those 30 could be classed as YA or Middle Grade
11 were 'adult' books
Only 1 was non fiction
2 were plays (both by Shakespeare - I took an online course this autumn)
17 could be classed as fantasy
12 were contemporary/realistic
3 are considered to be 'classics'
3 were self published.
15 were by male authors, so 26 were by female ones.
10 had a main protagonist who was male
24 had a main protagonist who was female (although quite a few of these, such as Heir of Fire, followed male characters' perspectives as well)
I also reread 7 novels (the Harry Potter series) and 6 Shakespeare plays.
Looking at this, I definitely read more books about female characters and written by female authors. I might challenge myself to see if I can aim for a more even split this year. It would be interesting to see how doing so effects my reading list. 2014's list is also YA heavy, although I was actually surprised by how many adult books made it on there. I definitely need to read more classics this year, to balance out all of the new authors I'm checking out. There's no excuse really, given I can download most for free onto my Kindle.
Overall it's not too bad, although I'm going to get to work on some reading lists now for an even more balanced 2015! How does it compare to your reading list? I would love to know.
Total new books read in 2014: 41
Of those 30 could be classed as YA or Middle Grade
11 were 'adult' books
Only 1 was non fiction
2 were plays (both by Shakespeare - I took an online course this autumn)
17 could be classed as fantasy
12 were contemporary/realistic
3 are considered to be 'classics'
3 were self published.
15 were by male authors, so 26 were by female ones.
10 had a main protagonist who was male
24 had a main protagonist who was female (although quite a few of these, such as Heir of Fire, followed male characters' perspectives as well)
I also reread 7 novels (the Harry Potter series) and 6 Shakespeare plays.
Looking at this, I definitely read more books about female characters and written by female authors. I might challenge myself to see if I can aim for a more even split this year. It would be interesting to see how doing so effects my reading list. 2014's list is also YA heavy, although I was actually surprised by how many adult books made it on there. I definitely need to read more classics this year, to balance out all of the new authors I'm checking out. There's no excuse really, given I can download most for free onto my Kindle.
Overall it's not too bad, although I'm going to get to work on some reading lists now for an even more balanced 2015! How does it compare to your reading list? I would love to know.
January 7, 2015
Fire on Wattpad
Fire has almost 150,000 reads on Wattpad! I am amazed at how many people have now read the book and are hopefully hooked on the series. I have received so many nice comments, which have been a great confidence boost while I finish up on Air.
If you haven't checked out Fire, COMPLETELY FREE, on Wattpad, then do so now:
click here to read for free
If you haven't checked out Fire, COMPLETELY FREE, on Wattpad, then do so now:
click here to read for free
