Stacking the Shelves (10th August 2013)

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

For Review:

Duchess in Love by Eloisa James (The Duchess Quartet #1)

Gina was forced into marriage with Camden, the Duke of Girton, at an age when she'd have been better off in a schoolroom than a ballroom. Directly after the ceremony her handsome spouse promptly fled to the continent, leaving the marriage unconsummated and Gina quite indignant. Now she is one of the most well-known ladies in London... living on the edge of scandal - desired by many men, but resisting giving herself to anyone.

Finally, Camden has returned home to discover that his naïve bride has blossomed into the toast of the ton. Which leaves Cam in the most uncomfortable position of discovering that he has the bad manners to be falling in love - with his own wife!

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick

How would you spend your birthday if you knew it was your last?

Eighteen-year-old Leonard Peacock knows exactly what he'll do. He'll say goodbye.

Not to his mum - who he calls Linda because it annoys her - who's moved out and left him to fend for himself. Nor to his former best friend, whose torments have driven him to consider committing the unthinkable. But to his four friends: a Humphrey-Bogart-obsessed neighbour, a teenage violin virtuoso, a pastor's daughter and a teacher.

Most of the time, Leonard believes he's weird and sad but these friends have made him think that maybe he's not. He wants to thank them, and say goodbye.

Kid's Korner Review: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter #1)

Kid's Korner is a new weekly feature here at Once Upon a Series where we will be reviewing children's fiction. Whether you're looking for something to read with your little ones (especially with the school holidays now upon us) or just enjoy this type of fiction yourself, hopefully this feature will help to inspire your reading choices.

Admittedly, my choice for this week is one that most of you will have read already, with me being one of the very few people in the entire world not having read any of these books up until a couple of weeks ago. But if you have read it before... maybe it's time for a little re-read?

Publisher - Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication Date - June 30th 1997
Paperback - 223 pages
Genre - Children's Fantasy

Source - Purchased
Rating - 4 out of 5: I really liked it

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - Harry Potter has never played a sport while flying on a broomstick. He's never worn a cloak of invisibility, befriended a giant, or helped hatch a dragon. All Harry knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley. Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years. But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to a wonderful place he never dreamed existed. There he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic around every corner, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him...if Harry can survive the encounter. Rescued from the outrageous neglect of his aunt and uncle, a young boy with a great destiny proves his worth while attending Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry.

My Thoughts - So, as I said in my introduction, I am one of the very few people left in the world who hasn't read any of the Harry Potter books, or seen any of the movies for that matter! I have been wanting to read them for so long but, if I'm honest, all the hype surrounding the series has made me a little apprehensive. But I didn't need to worry about that at all as it happens.

I really enjoyed this first instalment of the Harry Potter series. I mean, what isn't to love? There's a brave boy who overcomes all obstacles to save the day, a great support network of friends for him, villains that everybody will love to hate, magic, intrigue, and even a baby dragon... that's got to be a winner, surely?

The friendship between Harry, Ron and Hermione really added to the story for me. It was great watching the three of them grow, both as individuals and as a group. Although I know that, much like the other characters, I would have found Hermione rather annoying. But her heart is in the right place, and she pulls through for Harry when he needs her, so I can't fault her too much.

And I loved the mystery element of the plot, even though I did manage to work out for myself who was behind all the trouble being caused, but that didn't spoil the book too much for me. I found myself getting lost in the world that the author created and really felt as though I was there with the characters. And, just for the record, I'd love a pet owl!

Summary - A great start to what is supposed to be an amazing series. And I'm sure that things will continue to get even better as the series continues now that the scene has been so beautifully set in this first novel. I can't wait to see what else is in store for Harry and his friends.

Other books in this series:
1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Waiting On Wednesday: Demonosity by Amanda Ashby

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week Amy has a "can't-wait-to-read" selection for you is:

Demonosity by Amanda Ashby

"An ancient myth + a mean girl + a reluctant warrior = a lively take on good vs. evil.

The Black Rose--a powerful ancient force--has been let loose and has taken up residence in Celeste Gibson, popular girl at Cassidy Carter-Lewis' high school. Thomas Delacroix is the spirit of a fourteenth-century knight who is devoted to protecting the Black Rose, but he needs a contemporary living being to take on the challenge. That's where Cassidy comes in. She's a quirky high school junior who just wants to dress in her vintage clothes, hang out with her best friend, and take care of her father, who is recovering from surgery. She's the last person who would ever volunteer for such a task, but no one actually asked her. Now, like it or not, she finds herself training before dawn and battling demons at parties, the mall, and even at school. But hey, no one ever said high school was going to be easy. . ."

Doesn't the synopsis sound good? I thought that a while back when I added it to my to-read pile and hoped to win it in a Goodreads Giveaway. I didn't win it but kept it on my to-read pile because why wouldn't I want to read this in the future? I don't know if it's in a series but I imagine it could be... I hope to, someday, get my hands on this basically (hence using it for today's WoW & actually stealing the spotlight from Chrissie!). Would you like to read it? Why/why not? Anyway, also share what you're waiting for if you like...

It's Monday! What are you Reading? (5th August 2013)

This is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey that gives us all a chance to list the books that we read last week and what we hope to read this week.

Books We Read Last Week:
(we also reviewed them all!)


Maddie - Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner review
Amy - Joint-review (with Rita, a guest review- find out more here) of Tethers (Book 1) by Jack Croxall
Chrissie has finished & reviewed The Heist by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg (O'Hare and Fox #1)

Books We're Currently Reading:

Chrissie - Heat of the Storm 
by Elle Kennedy

Amy - The Taming Of Lilah May by Vanessa Curtis

Books Up Next:

 

Chrissie - The Duchess Hunt by Jennifer Jennifer Haymore

Amy (is eager to start & review) - The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud

Which books have you read or reviewed and what's next for you to read, please tell us & let us known if you've read any of these books!
~written by Amy & Chrissie~

Stand-Alone Sunday Review: Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner

Publisher - Hot Key Books
Publication Date - 3rd January 2013
Paperback - 280 pages
Genre - Young Adult Dystopian

Rating - 5 out of 5: It was amazing!


Reviewed by - Maddie

Book Info - When his best friend is suddenly taken away, Standish Treadwell realises that it is up to him, his grandfather and a small band of rebels to confront and defeat the ever present oppressive forces of The Motherland.

Friendship and trust inspire Standish to rise up against an oppressive regime and expose the truth about a planned moon landing in this original and spellbinding book.

My Thoughts - I’ve always thought Sally Gardner wrote differently and I think I have found out why.  She has had dyslexia for most of her life, not a life threatening problem but for a girl who loved stories it made her dreams of becoming an author seem impossible.  Of course, she fought past annoying teachers and patronising type fonts to write award winning children’s books like I, Coriander (can you tell I slightly obsess over her?).

Because of this, her characters like Standish from Maggot Moon look at life differently.  He lives by the rules and propaganda of a slowly imploding government regime called The Motherland.  The Motherland is trying to beat the ‘enemy’ by getting the first man on to the moon before the enemy can, even if they have to fake it.   We aren’t told much about the setting and time span but I’m guessing they are not more technologically advanced than the 1960s.  I have heard some say it is an alternative dystopian history of 1960s England.

Standish is resilient to this regime and so were his parents but after they were eradicated by the motherland, he went to live with his resourceful grandfather.  Standish’s friend Hector and his grandfather are now his only allies against his school bullies and the sinister motherland.

To most of Standish’s world he is useless because of his inability to read but to him and his few like minded friends his dyslexic mind is limitless.  Like Hector says, he’s like ‘a breeze in the park of the imagination’.  His dyslexia lets him write in short, piercing chapters with a fondness for colourful metaphors. 

There are also small illustrations on the margins of some pages showing a fly infestation of a rotting rat, yeah it’s yucky but it’s also intriguing.  I didn’t really fully understand this but friends tell me it reflects the fall of a totalitarian government (it’s more likely they just want to sound clever).

With a bright, inked cover this book looks like it was written for children or younger teenagers.  If I had read this book as a child with its dark themes it might have made me terrified for countless nights, not that I wouldn’t have enjoyed it.  People who complain about kids reading horror stories do not know about my brother’s dedication to the Goosebumps series.  Anyway...

I like how inclusive the cover and the drawings inside are.  A ten year old could be attracted to this book as could a sixteen year old.  Parents will probably hate that (there is some swearing and violence) but this is one of the few books trying to bring political dystopia to the children’s market.  The mysterious plot and unique narration completely sold this book to me.