Monday, September 26, 2011

Birthday present suggestions please!



It's my birthday today, so I thought I'd ask you guys for suggestions on a really good book that I could buy to treat myself!!
I love books that are all about suspense and mystery, where I have to think and try (and invariably fail) to figure out how its going to end!!
A current favourite is the Stieg Larsson trilogy, but I'm thinking of maybe reading the Hunger Games next or the Game of Thrones books.
All ideas welcome!!!

Sunday, September 25, 2011

A picture tells a thousand words...

I came across this pic on the Your Shot website and I think it sums up us readers thoughts perfectly.
It's the one by Juan Rubiano  - Picture 7 on page 4.
Fabulous!

Monday, September 12, 2011

Harry Potter in the bathtub!

I am very particular about my books. I know people that love their books to looked dog-eared and therefore read while others would die if they even so much as slightly cracked the spine (how do they manage that by the way??). I am happy to bend the spine. But it ends there. I hate curled pages, fraying edges, no, I like my books to look neat and tidy. Well loved and well preserved. So how did Harry end up in the bath you ask?
My 2nd cousin (who is half my age!) was of course reading Harry Potter at the same time as I was. Wasn't everyone?! One of the new books had come out and she'd failed to get her copy so her mother asked me would I mind lending her it. Thankfully before I had time to respond she said, no, I remember what you're like with books, don't worry, I'll get her a copy. Cue, major sigh of relief from me.
And two nights later she was reading Harry Potter in the bathtub when she dropped the book. Yep! Into the tub! 
My Harry Potter book remains as it should. Her's is twice the size with mega wrinkly pages. Having said that, she hasn't done it again since!

Tuesday, September 06, 2011

Fabulous Post!

My friend Crystal of Cheyne Reactions pointed out this post to me and I have to say it is totally awesome! You can view the original post here. I imagine all Harry Potter fans will read this and nod their heads in agreement and wish that they'd had the ability to put these thoughts into words!


1997 - 2011

Harry Potter taught me that some things are worth dying for.
Ron Weasley taught me that believing in yourself is a hundred times more powerful than luck.
Hermione Granger taught me that an education is a girl’s best asset, even if it doesn’t make you many friends.
Severus Snape taught me to never, ever, ever judge someone.
Rubeus Hagrid taught me that anything can be cute with the right perspective.
Ginny Weasley taught me that bold is beautiful.
Lily Potter taught me that a mother’s love is the strongest force on earth.
Remus Lupin taught me that fear is the only thing I should be afraid of.
Dolores Umbridge taught me that education with a political agenda is a terrible, terrible thing.
Sirius Black taught me that the ones we love never truly leave us.
Albus Dumbledore taught me that good people are not always good.
Draco Malfoy taught me that bad people are not always bad.
Neville Longbottom taught me that courage is standing up for what’s right, even when you’re scared out of your mind.
Luna Lovegood taught me that weird is wonderful.
Dobby taught me that freedom is a gift.
Lucius Malfoy taught me that no amount of money, pomp, or circumstance will buy you true friends.
Fred & George Weasley taught me that sometimes all you need is a good laugh.
The Dursleys taught me that a world without imagination is a dull and dreary place.
Arthur Weasley taught me that an good sense of curiosity and a bit of obsession can be healthy.
Fleur Delacour taught me that true love is not based on appearance.
Molly Weasley taught me that a happy family is not measured in gold.
Bellatrix Lestrange taught me that hatred and prejudice rot your mind and can turn even the most beautiful person into a monster.
Kreacher taught me that if you want to get to know a man, look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.
Cho Chang taught me that rebound relationships almost never work.
Nymphadora Tonks taught me to love myself, no matter what I look like.
Percy Weasley taught me that, in the end, no career is worth sacrificing your family.
Sybill Trelawney taught me that you cannot change the past, only the future.
Lavender Brown taught me that physical relationships only last for so long.
Peter Pettigrew taught me that rats do not make good friends.
Nicholas Flamel taught me that to the well-prepared mind, death is but the next great adventure.
Minerva McGonagall taught me that a good cause is worth fighting for at any age.
Hedwig taught me that the love we have for our pets is very real.
Lord Voldemort taught me that a life without love is barely living.
J. K. Rowling taught me that the stories we love will always be with us.
Until the very end.

Saturday, September 03, 2011

Shelf Candy Saturday

I've just been introduced to the fabulous idea of Shelf Candy Saturday by Five Alarm Book Reviews and basically the idea is to show a favourite book cover or simply one that caught your eye and to write about it! Simple but genius!


So here is my Shelf Candy Saturday book cover: The BFG by Roald Dahl. 


When I was a kid, I adored the drawings of illustrator Quentin Blake in Roald Dahl's books. They were like nothing I'd seen before, all spiky lines and exaggerated angles. For me, Roald and Quentin became synonymous with one another, you couldn't have the story in your head without Quentin Blake's images popping up too and when you saw the images, you immediately thought of Roald Dahl and his amazing stories. A partnership made in heaven, surely!

Thursday, September 01, 2011

Poll Results - Who is the best children's author of all time?

The results are in!!
When asked who is the best children's author of all time, you ranked the options as follows:
  1. Roald Dahl
  2. CS Lewis
  3. JK Rowling
  4. Enid Blyton
I was very pleased to see Roald Dahl win as he got my vote, I was surprised JK Rowling was number three though. Seems the classics have still got it!
Hope you'll vote in the current poll!