tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38944576120810778922012-03-08T06:05:11.733+11:00Belle's Bookshelf"With a dreamy far-off look, and her nose stuck in a book..."Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.comBlogger3051100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-88185604178620240822012-03-07T07:54:00.009+11:002012-03-07T10:27:46.144+11:00Note-Worthy: Happy Blogoversary To Me!
Today marks one year since my very first blog post. I can't believe it's been that long already! I didn't really know what to expect when I started - I certainly didn't anticipate discovering such an awesome blogging community that's enabled me to make connections with book-loving buddies all over the world. It's been so much fun and although I haven't been able to blog as much as I want to Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-45669034358919213462012-03-05T20:13:00.000+11:002012-03-05T20:13:58.571+11:00Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
There's a passage towards the end of The Night Circus (don't worry, it's not a spoiler) that encapsulates what I love about books:
"There's magic in [storytelling]. It's in the listener, and for each and every ear
it will be different, and it will affect them in ways they can never
predict. From the mundane to the profound. You may tell a tale that
takes up residence in someone's soul, Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-72288796102242208252012-03-05T18:05:00.000+11:002012-03-05T18:05:00.110+11:00Reading Icons: Johnny Depp“People say I make strange choices, but they’re not strange for me. My
sickness is that I’m fascinated by human behavior, by what’s underneath
the surface, by the worlds inside people.” - Johnny Depp
Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-26323131918274936622012-03-04T21:15:00.000+11:002012-03-04T21:15:12.675+11:00March TV Addict Reading Challenge
Leave your 2012 TV Addict Reading Challenge links for March here! If you haven't signed up yet, you can do so here.
Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-76858898110027872042012-03-01T20:53:00.000+11:002012-03-01T20:53:18.851+11:00February in Review
Source
I'm sad to see the end of summer; I feel like we barely experienced it this year (damn you, rain!). February was another slow month on the blog for me - this pesky thing called real life kept getting in the way. On the plus side, I started my writing course a couple of weeks ago, and it's kinda daunting but also totally inspiring. At any given moment, my thoughts swing between "I can Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-84272766344141170482012-02-28T19:53:00.003+11:002012-03-03T15:23:36.707+11:00Review: On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
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Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-43987253813588992592012-02-25T21:53:00.000+11:002012-02-25T22:03:26.101+11:00Review: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
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Don't ask me how I got to my age without having read or Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-12592589951668094132012-02-23T17:48:00.000+11:002012-02-23T17:48:00.068+11:00Bookish Fun: Art by Oona PattersonAlthough I still feel slightly uncomfortable about the idea of cutting up books, when it's for the purpose of creating amazing artwork like that of Oona Patterson, it's probably worth it. My favourite is Ream, which actually tells a story. Check it out in full, plus more of her work, at her website.
"Ream is the story of a little girl made out of paper who lives inside a book. It is told viaBellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-70950923476130694792012-02-21T22:49:00.001+11:002012-02-21T22:49:51.523+11:00Review: The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler
Do you ever read a book that you don't dislike, but you don't really like it, either? It's just kinda "meh". That was what this book was for me. Which is disappointing, coz I was so excited to read it thanks to its brilliant premise - it's set in 1996, and two friends find they can magically log on to Facebook 15 years in the future. Seriously, how cool does that sound? It's such a unique ideaBellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-9398047960732043432012-02-20T19:30:00.000+11:002012-02-20T20:13:58.186+11:00Reading Icons: Joan Crawford"Love is a fire. But whether it is going to warm your hearth or burn down your house, you can never tell.
" - Joan Crawford
Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-86553847326688249752012-02-17T17:42:00.000+11:002012-02-17T17:42:00.086+11:00Top Five: Underrated Classics
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So it's Valentine's Day. Y'know, in case you hadn't noticed from the 367 smug updates in your Facebook newsfeed (what, was that just mine?). Whether you're a lover or a hater, it's a good excuse to talk love stories. These are some of my fave feelgood reads...
Source: Hark! A Vagrant
1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. As if any love story list would be complete without Elizabeth and Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-25542912087746767442012-02-13T18:20:00.000+11:002012-02-13T18:20:00.071+11:00Reading Icons: Cary Grant"Everyone wants to be Cary Grant. Even I want to be Cary Grant." - Cary Grant.
Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-70092686847598486352012-02-09T07:25:00.000+11:002012-02-09T07:25:00.510+11:00Bookish Buys: Love Is In The PageSure, Valentine's Day is a cheesetastic, corporate-created holiday, but it does provide a nice reminder to appreciate those we love. With gifts, if that's what floats your boat. I know bookish gifts like these certainly float mine...
Personalised anniversary/wedding frame from Suzy Shoppe
10 Things I Love About You Notebook from I Love It All
Alphabet Of Our Love scrapbook from I Love ItBellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-21396501722538470152012-02-08T17:38:00.000+11:002012-02-08T17:38:21.510+11:00My Book Boyfriend: Tom MackeeAs soon as she saw I was reading The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta, Jo from Wear the Old Coat predicted that Tom Mackee would be my book boyfriend very, very soon. She also said I'd have to fight her for him. Well, Jo, this one's for you...
Ahem, now about Tom... He's a total blokey slob on the outside, but underneath he's really sweet, sensitive and smart (natch). He turns into an a-hole Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-19962971385145381382012-02-07T04:59:00.000+11:002012-02-07T04:59:00.044+11:00Bookish Fun: Finnick, Annie and The Girl With the Dragon TattooThese have been kicking around for awhile but I think they're still cool enough to post. The first video is from a web series by Mainstay Pro, the peeps who created the Second Quarter Quell fan vid. This time they've tackled the Finnick/Annie back story, and while I wasn't a fan of the first few clips, episodes 4-6 are pretty sweet. I hope there's plenty of Finnick (and Annie) in the actual Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-3817077814988425092012-02-06T17:58:00.000+11:002012-02-06T17:58:00.212+11:00Reading Icons: Charles Dickens"My father had left a small collection of books in a little room
upstairs, to which I had access (for it adjoined my own) and which
nobody else in our house ever troubled. From that blessed little room,
Roderick Random, Peregrine Pickle, Humphrey Clinker, Tom Jones, the
Vicar of Wakefield, Don Quixote, Gil Blas, and Robinson Crusoe, came
out, a glorious host, to keep me company. They kept Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-76490612182572801782012-02-05T11:45:00.000+11:002012-02-05T11:45:08.075+11:00If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won't) by Betty White
Obligatory name-dropping moment: I picked up this book when I met Betty Freaking White in New York. The fiance and I were just doing the tourist thing, wandering around Barnes and Noble on Fifth Avenue one day, when I saw a sign stating she'd be there for a book signing the next day. I can't remember what we'd had planned for that day, but we (I) pretty much canceled those plans immediately. Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-36639437071584945292012-02-03T20:13:00.000+11:002012-02-03T20:13:25.270+11:00February TV Addict Reading Challenge
Leave your 2012 TV Addict Reading Challenge links for February here! If you haven't signed up yet, you can do so here.
Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-81401478123841894552012-02-02T23:01:00.000+11:002012-02-02T23:01:02.199+11:00Sassi Sam Review: The Maid's Tale by Rose Plummer with Tom Quinn
I've long been an admirer of Sassi Sam's girlie, fun website, so when she asked me if I'd like do book reviews for her I jumped at the chance quicker than, um, something that jumps really quickly (Kangaroos? Tigger? I digress...). My first review for Sassi Sam is now up - check it out if, y'know, you want to. It's a review of The Maid's Tale by Rose Plummer and Tom Quinn, which I highly Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-88426255682892877162012-01-31T23:06:00.000+11:002012-01-31T23:06:12.021+11:00January in Review
I google imaged 'January' and this was by far the best image.
Month one of 2012 down! I hope everyone had a good start to the year. It's been a bit slow for me in terms of reading and blogging (although it looks like more, thanks to holiday build-up!), because between finalising wedding plans, trying to get fit, and getting actual work done, I haven't had a helluva lot of time. Which makes me Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-8271886984728538742012-01-31T18:40:00.000+11:002012-01-31T22:31:38.559+11:00Review: The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta
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This book was painful. Like,
I-feel-like-my-heart-is-bleeding Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-60293880429900404952012-01-30T22:03:00.000+11:002012-01-30T22:03:00.096+11:00The Book Was Better: Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon
I was obsessed with the Sailor Moon anime when I was a kid, and totally want to rewatch it after reading the manga. I currently have the whole series downloading, er, on order, and while I eagerly await its arrival, I thought I'd check out the live-action series, Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon.
Now, I like cheesy, cutesy stuff as much as the next adult-in-denial, but even I couldn't get pastBellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-83615870327194652782012-01-30T17:51:00.000+11:002012-01-30T17:51:00.840+11:00Reading Icons: Charlie Chaplin"A day without laughter is a day wasted." - Charlie Chaplin
Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-965041365407621992012-01-29T11:59:00.000+11:002012-01-30T16:45:52.199+11:00Revisit: Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta
So. Here's the thing. Melina Marchetta is one of my all-time favourite authors. She is my idol. But I've only ever read two of her books. I KNOW. But I have an excuse! Kind of. You see, for the majority of my teen years, Looking for Alibrandi was the only Marchetta available. I adored it. Obsessed over it. Reread it at least once a year (and often more frequently). I identified so strongly Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-70354638019519406462012-01-25T05:33:00.000+11:002012-01-25T05:33:00.626+11:00My Book Boyfriend: Oliver
My Book Boyfriend is hosted by Missie at The Unread Reader. For my first book boyfriend of 2012 I'm selecting Oliver from The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith, coz while I didn't go as gaga over the book as most people seemed to, Oliver was:
-Cute (tall, dark hair, nice eyes - and, er, a crooked smile).
-English.
-Sweet and funny.
-Spontaneous and Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-24623851326954947062012-01-24T17:37:00.000+11:002012-01-24T17:37:00.141+11:00Pash, Pick or Pass: The Fuentes Brothers
Pash, Pick or Pass is back! I haven't had much time for blogging so far this year, but I'm hoping to get back into the swing of things from here on out. What better way to celebrate the return of Pash, Pick or Pass than with the Fuentes brothers?!
A refresher: Pash, Pick or Pass is a game where we pick from a random book trio and say who we'd pash (and dash), who we'd pick for a Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-21243422172943584252012-01-23T17:35:00.000+11:002012-01-23T17:35:00.617+11:00Reading Icons: Michelle WilliamsI have a soft spot for Michelle Williams. I wasn't 100 per cent behind her playing Marilyn Monroe to begin with, but after watching the trailer for My Week with Marilyn she grew on me, and this photo kinda cemented my love. Beautiful, and very Marilyn.
Here are a few more photos of Ms Williams reading, just for fun.
Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-25368325154825422352012-01-20T18:34:00.000+11:002012-01-20T18:36:24.625+11:00Review: Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi
I've been wanting to try manga for awhile so it's probably appropriate that my first foray into the genre was with Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, considering that Sailor Moon was my first experience with anime. While it's probably on the younger side for me these days, it was a non-intimidating way to break into manga, and still a lot of fun to read - especially coz it got bonus points for Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-8155529269597377392012-01-16T18:19:00.000+11:002012-01-16T18:19:00.358+11:00Reading Icons: Julie AndrewsCan we just take a moment and talk about how amazeballs Julie Andrews is? Not only is she Mary Poppins and Maria von Trapp and Eliza Doolittle and a bunch of other awesome characters, she's one classy Dame and a great campaigner for literacy. She's even written a heap of children's books with her daughter. So there are lots of photos of her with books, but I like these best...
Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-45456321788992957312012-01-10T00:25:00.008+11:002012-01-10T00:25:00.511+11:00Review: The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan
If I see a book is written in verse, I usually pass it over. I've only read one verse novel in the past - The Monkey's Mask by Dorothy Porter, when I was at uni - and I really didn't enjoy it. I thought it was because it was written in verse, but now I realise I probably shouldn't have blamed my dislike on the style - after all, one bad prose book doesn't put me off them all! Coz after reading Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-13110588557542947462012-01-08T17:34:00.000+11:002012-01-08T17:34:24.648+11:00Review: Legend By Marie Lu
Set in a dystopian future, in a Los Angeles that is at war, plague-ridden and divided, Legend is told from two perspectives: that of Day, a Robin Hood-like fugitive trying to protect those he loves, and June, a Government golden girl bent on avenging her lost brother. They're both strong characters, but while Day is easy to like, June took a while to warm to. It was so obvious the Republic was Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-19993437177634919962012-01-07T10:55:00.000+11:002012-01-07T10:55:15.939+11:00January TV Addict Reading Challenge
Leave your 2012 TV Addict Reading Challenge links for January here! If you haven't signed up yet, you can do so here.
Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-140254101948977612012-01-04T14:46:00.001+11:002012-01-04T14:53:03.660+11:00Review: The Statistical Probability Of Love At First Sight by Jennifer E. SmithI was looking forward to this book for a several reasons:
1. I judge books by their covers. That is one cute cover.
2. I love all-in-one-day stories. They're generally improbable but totally adorable.
3. I'm a sucker for boys with accents.
4. I'd heard a lot of good things about it around the blogosphere.
5. I needed a light, quick, fun read after dragging myself through The Girl Who Played Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-73914627437663536922012-01-03T12:05:00.001+11:002012-01-03T20:46:58.644+11:00Review: The Girl Who Played With Fire By Stieg LarssonWhat a relief to finally finish this book.
I feel like I've been reading it FOREVER. Well, at least a month, anyway. Which is unusual for me. It's partly because I've been so busy, partly because of the size, but I think mostly, for awhile there, I just didn't feel compelled to pick it up at all. Don't get me wrong - the story of Lisbeth Salander accused of murdering three people, and Mikael Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-33119124112180760612011-12-31T20:33:00.001+11:002012-01-07T10:23:46.690+11:002011 In Review
First up: HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone! 2011 has been a bit of a mixed bag for me, although overall it's been more good than bad, thankfully. Highlights include: an amazing trip to America with the fiance, getting properly started on wedding plans (especially getting a gorgeous dress, woo!), a promotion at work and, of course, starting this blog and discovering so many other book-loving, blogging Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-37231903833819370742011-12-31T02:33:00.002+11:002011-12-31T02:33:00.180+11:002011 Challenges Round-upYeah. I failed. But it's OK, coz 2012 is going to be epic, and I'm totally going to complete the bajillion challenges I've signed up for (I'm nothing if not optimistic).
In the meantime, here's how I did (or rather, didn't do) in the 2011 challenges I signed up for:
-Books to Movies, created by Two Bibliomaniacs. I aimed for Oscar Buzz, which was to read eight books and watch the movie Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-48857327212928098652011-12-30T11:40:00.008+11:002011-12-30T11:40:00.064+11:00Faves of 2011 Book Awards: The CoversThe Faves of 2011 Book Awards are hosted by Nomes at Ink Crush.
Day Five: The Covers
TEN favourite covers selected from books you read in 2011
1. The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle. It's such a beautiful illustration and perfectly captures the feel of the book.
2. Spoiled by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan. It's pretty, colourful and fun, and a great representation of the glossy, poppy, Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-33352808046917082492011-12-29T10:33:00.007+11:002011-12-29T10:33:00.274+11:00Faves of 2011 Book Awards: The RandomThe Faves of 2011 Book Awards are hosted by Nomes at Ink Crush. Day Four: The Random
1. Fave first sentenceA Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens was a reread this year, but it's got one of my fave first sentences ever: "Marley was dead, to begin with." Tell me you don't want to keep reading! Bah!
2. Fave book title That'd have to be Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-27278993445002226752011-12-28T12:57:00.000+11:002011-12-28T12:57:00.806+11:00Faves of 2011 Book Awards: The ScenesThe Faves of 2011 Book Awards are hosted by Nomes at Ink Crush.
Day Three: The Scenes
1. Best first chapterThe Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle. Beagle's beautiful, whimsical prose is evident from the very first line, instantly pulling me in and effectively setting the tone for the rest of the novel: "The unicorn lived in a lilac wood, and she lived all alone. She was very old, though she did Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-24285853307461774342011-12-27T13:02:00.000+11:002011-12-27T13:02:00.199+11:00Faves of 2011 Book Awards: The CharactersThe Faves of 2011 Book Awards are hosted by Nomes at Ink Crush.
Day Two: The Characters
1. Favourite female main characterI'm going to cheat and say the collective cast of Beauty Queens by Libba Bray. They share the spotlight as main characters, and are all so awesome in completely different ways. I loved Tiara for her ditzy wisdom, Taylor for her kick-arse cray cray, Adina for her snarky smartsBellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-21770627997114074502011-12-26T12:27:00.003+11:002011-12-26T12:27:00.473+11:00Faves of 2011 Book Awards: The BooksThe Faves of 2011 Book Awards are hosted by Nomes at Ink Crush.
Day One: The Books
1. Favourite book read in 2011It's so hard to pick just one book that is my ultimate favourite from the year, but after giving it some thought I'm going to have to go with Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. More than any other book this year, it's the one I've thought about, raved about, wanted to Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-13425921453133813772011-12-25T10:46:00.000+11:002011-12-25T10:58:13.243+11:00MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
"I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round -- apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that -- as a good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-60743740333103118592011-12-22T18:26:00.001+11:002011-12-22T18:26:00.405+11:00Bookish Buys: So This Is ChristmasWho's ready for Christmas? I'm so not. I don't know if it's because I've been so busy, but I've got more than a touch of the pre-ghost Scrooge to me this year. Usually I'm really into Christmas, but this time 'round I haven't finished getting presents - I haven't even put up my tree! Oh well, I thought I'd virtually decorate the blog by searching out some bookish Christmas buys instead...
Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-28361287371670296472011-12-21T18:34:00.001+11:002011-12-21T18:34:00.442+11:00My Book Boyfriend: Cricket Bell
My Book Boyfriend is hosted by Missie at The Unread Reader. While I mentioned in my review of Stephanie Perkins' Lola and the Boy Next Door that Cricket Bell was more friend than boyfriend material for me, he's still adorable enough that I had to feature him in MBB anyway. He's tall, with piercing blue eyes and crazy hair, and cares a lot about the way he looks; not in a conceited way, though -Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-54045461837579809012011-12-20T07:10:00.014+11:002011-12-31T20:06:48.640+11:00My 2012 Reading ChallengesCoz I'm not busy enough (*cough*), and I did SO well with the reading challenges I signed up for this year (*cough*cough*), I've decided to not only create my own reading challenge (sign up for the TV Addict challenge here!), but also join a bunch of others. In my defence, I started late with the challenges I attempted this year, so I've got more of a chance of completing them this time 'round. Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-21289867344839457132011-12-19T04:39:00.003+11:002011-12-19T04:39:00.115+11:00Mag Monday: Gosling and GatsbyI'm itching to get my hands on Entertainment Weekly's 2011 Entertainers of the Year issue. Ryan Gosling, Bridesmaids and Judy Blume, oh my! It looks like so much fun.
This is a tad old, but I just had to post about it: last week's Who featured a spread with the first stills from Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby. It looks ah-mazing. Carey Mulligan is PERFECT as Daisy (adore her accessories - Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-87702305639033220832011-12-16T17:54:00.004+11:002011-12-16T18:07:38.322+11:00Review: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
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I’ve been putting off writing this review for so long.
I think it’Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-77627554888755385172011-12-15T22:23:00.002+11:002011-12-15T22:33:29.999+11:00Bookish Buys: Penguin ClassicsPenguin has been releasing such amazing editions of their classics lately. The Popular Penguins are fun, but these designs are on a whole 'nother level...
-The Clothbound Classics, designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith, are just stunning. I have The Hound of The Baskervilles, but I adore the rest of the collection, too. These are some of my faves:
-There's also a range of Clothbound Children'sBellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-72414936439090452952011-12-14T21:56:00.000+11:002011-12-14T21:56:09.085+11:00My Book Boyfriend: Adrian Ivashkov
My Book Boyfriend is hosted by Missie at The Unread Reader.While Dimitri remains my favourite book boyfriend from The Vampire Academy series, I gotta give Adrian some love too. He's rich, flirtatious, handsome, a tiny bit unstable, but genuinely good and generous. He reminds me a lot of Chuck Bass from Gossip Girl, so naturally I pictured him as Ed Westwick.
Swoon-Worthy Quotes
"Look, Rose.Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-33712226388811583082011-12-13T22:36:00.000+11:002011-12-13T22:36:02.683+11:00Note-worthy: Makeover!
So. You may have noticed the blog looks a bit different. I felt like freshening things up and I think I kind of love it. But it's hard to be objective, so please, all feedback is welcome and encouraged! Tell me if you like it, and especially tell me if you hate it!
Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-75524984227863487322011-12-12T20:15:00.000+11:002011-12-12T20:15:50.405+11:00Mag Monday: Triple ThreatI've come across three beautiful women on three gorgeous magazine covers this week. First up, W has created another stunning cover, this time featuring the ever-elegant Carey Mulligan.
Nylon, meanwhile, chose Dianna Agron to represent their '60s issue, making her look a little bit like Twiggy and a lot like perfect.
Finally, Kat Dennings fronts Bust looking more beautiful than ever. Love!
Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-13433237789047130512011-12-10T12:23:00.000+11:002011-12-10T12:23:43.201+11:00Reading Icons: James FrancoI love James Franco. I think he was great in Freaks and Geeks. Fabulous in Milk. I even liked him in Tristan and Isolde. As for his whole performance art/Days of Our Lives/author/student/professor/director/every other profession under the sun thing, well, it was amusing at first, but I have to say it's getting a bit ridiculous now. And his writing... I don't know that it was ever good. AdmittedlyBellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-85491062000441568982011-12-07T21:31:00.000+11:002011-12-07T21:31:38.237+11:00My Book Boyfriend: Finnick Odair
My Book Boyfriend is hosted by the lovely Missie at The Unread Reader. I've featured both Peeta and Gale from Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games trilogy in the past, but Finnick is actually one of my favourite characters from the series. I love his sense of humour and cocky bravado - especially because, deep down, he's actually really sensitive, caring and good. His tragic devotion to Annie, theBellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-15057344777104125802011-12-06T05:33:00.010+11:002011-12-06T05:33:00.143+11:00Challenge Alert: The 2012 TV Addict Reading Challenge
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I watch a lot of TV. The fiancé and I are big fans of box Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-87206533455240823552011-12-05T18:05:00.000+11:002011-12-05T18:05:04.727+11:00November in Review
Image via We Heart It
I've put off writing this post because I'm kind of in denial that November is over already. The year has gone terrifyingly fast for me. I'm normally really excited for Christmas, and always put the tree up on December 1. But this year I'm just So. Not. Ready. I think time has gone even faster for me lately because I've been crazy-busy. With six months to go 'til my Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-67921653953449731842011-12-01T17:59:00.002+11:002011-12-01T17:59:00.325+11:00Bookish Buys: Let Us Eat CakeThere was a lot of cake talk on Twitter last night, as I'm trying to find someone to make a copy of my gran's wedding cake, and the lovely Stephanie from Read in a Single Sitting and Little Wed Hen kindly helped me out by putting the call out to her followers. All the cake talk got me thinking about the bookish cakes I've seen floating around the interwebz, and I thought they'd make the perfect Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-2073637779296488552011-11-30T22:55:00.000+11:002011-11-30T22:55:35.153+11:00My Book Boyfriend: Daniel Grey
My Book Boyfriend is hosted by the lovely Missie at The Unread Reader. Daniel Grey, from Ann Brashares' My Name Is Memory, is kind of intense, but you can't really blame the guy when he has more than a thousand years worth of memories rattling around in his head. The strongest of those memories are those that involve the girl he loves. The boy is devoted all right, seeking her out time and Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-6092864561113536072011-11-28T17:45:00.000+11:002011-11-28T17:45:26.188+11:00Mag Monday: Take a Weird BreakI'm doing something a bit different for Mag Monday this week. I'm giving my love to a blog. But it's a blog about a magazine - and not just any magazine. It's Take a Break, which, as far as I can tell, is like the UK version of That's Life or Take 5... only 500 times the crazy. Take a Weird Break, meanwhile, is an amazeballs blog that catalogues all the crazy. And it's pure, rock-solid, shiny, Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-90890602735646995592011-11-26T18:38:00.000+11:002011-11-26T18:38:19.877+11:00Reading Icons: Betty Draper FrancisPoor Betty. There's not much she can control in her life, except her looks, her kids... and her reading habits. And boy, does she control them. My favourite Betty quote was when she told her son, who was complaining about being bored:
"Go bang your head against the wall. Only boring people are bored."
Classic. I hope she doesn't get cut from the Mad Men, as has been rumoured, because I love herBellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-43755951131553927992011-11-25T22:57:00.000+11:002011-11-25T22:57:02.170+11:00Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg LarssonI feel like I'm the last person in the world to have read this book.
I put it off for a long time because (I'm embarrassed to admit) of the size. I love big books, don't get me wrong, but I love new books more, and tend to prefer to speed through three shorter ones in the time it takes to get through one massive tome. You might say I'm a tad impatient. But the other week, when I was trying to Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-5312536616365995702011-11-23T18:45:00.001+11:002011-11-23T20:08:59.495+11:00My Book Boyfriend: Roger Sullivan
My Book Boyfriend is hosted by the lovely Missie at The Unread Reader. This week I'm a bit obsessed with Roger from Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson, coz:
He's super hot: "The guy coming toward me was shockingly good-looking. He had broad shoulders, light brown hair, dark eyes, and he was already smiling at me." I pictured him as Zac Efron.
He's confident and friendly, never liesBellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-55238193174504082882011-11-21T17:52:00.001+11:002011-11-30T10:00:55.732+11:00Mag Monday: Some GIF EquationsChloe Moretz + Teen Vogue =
Dakota + Elle + W =
Michael Fassbender + GQ =
Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-84994869521202064182011-11-19T20:17:00.004+11:002011-11-21T10:16:02.755+11:00On My Wishlist
On My Wishlist, hosted by Book Chick City, is a weekly meme that keeps track of the books we want! Here's what I'm currently coveting...
Summary: Heiress of one empire and prisoner of another, it is up to the daughter of Cleopatra to save her brothers and reclaim what is rightfully hers...
To Isis worshippers, Princess Selene and her twin brother Helios embody the divine celestial Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-51002250701551325172011-11-18T04:17:00.002+11:002011-11-18T04:17:00.430+11:00Review: Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan MatsonThere are some books that are so lovely, they actually make you do a happy sigh and smile as you close them. This is one of them.
That's not to say it's all fairy floss, sunshine and unicorns. Quite the opposite - Amy and Roger's Epic Detour tackles some pretty serious issues - like heartbreak, death and grief - but it does so in such a tender, realistic way that it's not morbid or depressing Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-15040333185434109032011-11-17T17:42:00.003+11:002011-11-17T17:42:00.836+11:00Bookish Buys: Twilight EditionAs you might expect with the massive Twi fandom, there is a ridonkulous amount of merch out there. Unfortunately, most of it is really daggy/creepy/weird/hilariously lame. But I sifted through all the crapola to find the most unfugly items I could...
Edward necklace by Pretty Little Charms
Twilight pencils by Bouncing Ball Creation
Twilight ornaments by In From The Rains
Team Jacob Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-16138985927031988312011-11-16T23:05:00.002+11:002011-11-16T23:18:56.317+11:00The Movie Was Better: Breaking Dawn Part 1
So. I just got back from watching Breaking Dawn Part 1. As I've mentioned a few times this week, I haven't been that excited about watching it - I especially haven't felt the anxious excitement that I experienced with the first film (and, to a lesser extent, the second and third). Part of this I think is because it's been so long between movies, and my interest has naturally subsided. Another Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-1150338164154802682011-11-16T17:45:00.004+11:002011-11-16T17:45:00.524+11:00My Book Boyfriend: Edward Cullen
My Book Boyfriend, hosted by the lovely Missie at The Unread Reader, is a weekly meme that allows book bloggers to showcase our fictional crushes (and drool over each other's). I've avoided featuring Edward Cullen for a long time because it seemed like such an obvious choice, and now the time has come when I'd planned to feature him in honour of the release of Breaking Dawn... and I have to Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-44193922060639109712011-11-15T22:13:00.006+11:002011-11-15T22:13:00.521+11:00Bookish Fun: The Hunger Games and Snow White
You've probably seen The Hunger Games trailer a million times by now. I know I have (well, at least 11 times, anyway). How freaking awesome does it look?! Here's what I love about it:
Jennifer Mother Loving Lawrence as Katniss Mother Effing Everdeen. Amazeballs. Perfect in every way. The moment when she volunteers... that is Katniss!
Liam Hemsworth as Gale. He doesn't have to do much other than Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-88388061756173908272011-11-15T17:35:00.004+11:002011-11-15T17:52:43.094+11:00Pash, Pick or Pass: TwiGuysTime to play Pash, Pick or Pass - a game where we pick from a random book trio and say who we'd pash (and dash), who we'd pick for a relationship and who we'd pass on all together.
The Contenders
It's perhaps the most famous love triangle of all (or at least of the past ten years)... yep, I'm talking Twilight. I've been sitting on this one for awhile in anticipation of the release Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-40676422173278858862011-11-14T18:00:00.004+11:002011-11-21T13:01:54.041+11:00Manip Madness: Breaking DawnYour regularly scheduled Mag Monday post is interrupted today because a) Nothing in magazines this week particularly caught my fancy, and b) Breaking Dawn Part 1 is released on Thursday, and I thought I should kick off Monday with something Twilight-related to generate some excitement (coz I gotta be honest, I'm weirdly not feeling any). I was going to feature my favourite Twilight magazine Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-89162716858139811042011-11-11T19:03:00.003+11:002011-11-11T19:08:37.988+11:00Top 5: Characters I Love To HateFor TGIF this week, Ginger at GReads asks: "Love-hate relationships: Which characters do you love to hate?"
1. Voldemort from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling: Voldemort is one sexy villain. Not literally, of course. He's pretty scary-ugly, in that case. But he's got charm, charisma, intelligence and power that are totally attractive. Shame he's crazy.
2. Soames Forsyte from The Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-21013603282849581292011-11-10T17:39:00.004+11:002011-11-10T17:39:00.608+11:00Bookish Fun: Cubee CraftI love these pop culture paper figures from Cubee Craft. They're pretty easy to assemble, so even an unco person like me can do it. I made Fezzik from The Princess Bride awhile ago, and he sat on my desk for a long time, until we moved offices and he got crushed in the process (the downside of being made of paper). I need a replacement, I just have to pick which one...
The Princess Bride crew...Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-9035744795115775182011-11-09T21:00:00.000+11:002011-11-09T21:00:16.852+11:00My Book Boyfriend: Luis Fuentes
My Book Boyfriend, hosted by the lovely Missie at The Unread Reader, is a weekly meme that allows book bloggers to showcase our fictional crushes (and drool over each other's). This week I'm rounding out the Fuentes trifecta with Luis, who follows his brothers Alex and Carlos in Simone Elkeles' Perfect Chemistry series. Luis is the youngest, most sensitive and innocent Fuentes brother, but Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-25873136755230446762011-11-08T06:15:00.000+11:002011-11-08T06:15:00.179+11:00Pash, Pick or Pass: V.C. Andrews, a.k.a. The Best of the WorstTime to play Pash, Pick or Pass - a game where we pick from a random book trio and say who we'd pash (and dash), who we'd pick for a relationship and who we'd pass on all together.
The Contenders
This week, for a bit of craziness fun, I'm going back to my tween reading years and revisiting some of V.C. Andrews' heroes (I use the term loosely). For pictures, I'm using the actors I Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-5843344649849372262011-11-07T17:57:00.000+11:002011-11-07T17:57:01.254+11:00Mag Monday: Much ExcitementI let out a little squee when I saw these shots of The Hunger Games cast on Vanity Fair's website last week. If you haven't checked it out already, the group shot is especially worth a click through - its boring beigeness is jazzed up with profiles of each star that appear as you roll your mouse over them. Fun! I'm still not convinced by Josh Hutcherson as Peeta (is it just me or is he way too Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-26913104710160444762011-11-05T21:23:00.000+11:002011-11-05T21:23:00.646+11:00Reading Icons: Paul Newman"Every time I get a script it's a matter of trying to know what I could do with it. I see colors, imagery. It has to have a smell. It's like falling in love. You can't give a reason why." - Paul Newman
Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-1469582917616440192011-11-04T23:32:00.000+11:002011-11-04T23:32:58.688+11:00Top 5: Gateway Books (Plus Follow Friday)This week for TGIF, Ginger asks "Gateway books: Which particular books opened you up to a new genre?" Here are my top five...
BTW, Hyperbole and a Half is win
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. My gran gave me a copy of this book when I was little, because I was so obsessed with the musical Oliver! Obviously it went way over my head, but it was the first classic I remember attempting to read.Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-76362245687837524232011-11-03T17:49:00.001+11:002011-11-03T17:57:38.921+11:00Bookish Buys: Everything Old Is New AgainI love seeing the creative things people do with old books. But I feel like some of these need to come with the disclaimer; "No books were harmed during the making of this product".
Little Women Sketch Book from Sleepy Mouse Design
Decorative Birdhouse from Domestic Papers
Flower Garland from Dragonflies
Custom Letters from Little White Dog
Paper Flower from Book Craft
PrideBellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-7308732731115259652011-11-02T23:08:00.000+11:002011-11-02T23:08:56.352+11:00Review: My Name Is Memory By Ann Brashares
"I have fallen in love, and she is the one who endures. I killed her once and died for her many times and I still have nothing to show for it. I always search for her; I always remember her. I carry the hope that someday she will remember me."
OK, how is that for powerful?! Seeing that quote on the cover, together with the fact that it was written by Ann Brashares, author of the Sisterhood of Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-11129596223001744902011-11-02T18:14:00.001+11:002011-11-02T18:17:21.867+11:00My Book Boyfriend: Carlos Fuentes
My Book Boyfriend, hosted by the lovely Missie at The Unread Reader, is a weekly meme that allows book bloggers to showcase our fictional crushes (and drool over each other's). After giving a lot of love to Alex Fuentes a few weeks ago, I'm now devoting my attention to his younger brother, Carlos (don't worry, Alex is still MINE too). Carlos is one of the main characters in Simone Elkeles' Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-71459208724268213652011-11-01T17:44:00.000+11:002011-11-01T17:44:42.785+11:00Pash, Pick or Pass: The Men of Little WomenTime to play Pash, Pick or Pass - a game where we pick from a random book trio and say who we'd pash (and dash), who we'd pick for a relationship and who we'd pass on all together.
The Contenders
From Louisa May Alcott's Little Women...
Jo's husband, Professor Bhaer
Amy's husband, Laurie
Meg's husband, John Brooke
My Choices
Pash: Prof Bhaer. I always got the impression he was Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-82119471515470627452011-10-31T18:33:00.003+11:002011-10-31T18:33:00.729+11:00October in ReviewOctober 31. It marks Halloween for Americans, but for us Aussies? It's the last day we have to do our tax. Fun times. I know what I'd rather be doing right now... Anyhoo, October 31 also means another month is over! While it makes me incredibly anxious to see the year slipping away so quickly, I'm happy to report I had a pretty awesome reading month.
Source
I read and reviewed...
Beauty QueensBellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-44187313472537072502011-10-31T08:17:00.005+11:002011-10-31T08:17:00.052+11:00Mag Monday: Oh Haaaaay, Harry Shum JrHoly abs, Batman! I'm loving Harry Shum Jr showing off for GQ. The boy's got mooooves.
Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-81536459855993758052011-10-30T22:04:00.004+11:002011-10-31T12:17:17.836+11:00Review: Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles
Chain Reaction is the final installment in Simone Elkeles' Perfect Chemistry series. After following the exploits of his two older brothers, this book focuses on Luis, who we first met in Perfect Chemistry when he was 11. At first I didn't think I'd be that interested in Luis because, well, he was a kid like, five minutes ago, and that is so not hot. But he's all grown up in Chain Reaction and, Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-88860899059774186562011-10-29T18:40:00.000+11:002011-10-29T18:40:46.322+11:00On My Wishlist: A Helluva Lot!
On My Wishlist, hosted by Book Chick City, is a weekly meme that keeps track of the books we want! I'm currently on a self-imposed book buying ban, so my wishlist is growing at a faster rate than ever...
Summary: Helen is a disembodied spirit who "attaches" herself to humans in order to possess their bodies. Unable to remember the circumstances of her death, and with no idea why she's inBellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-865485101730911222011-10-29T11:50:00.001+11:002011-10-29T11:50:00.092+11:00Reading Icons: Rory Gilmore"Rory never even shoplifted. Not a candy bar, not a lipstick. She forgot to return a library book once. And she was so guilty about it that she grounded herself. I mean, can you imagine? She's just sitting there in her bedroom yelling at me, 'Now no one else got to read The Iliad this week because of me!'" - Lorelai Gilmore
Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-89517931867863992422011-10-28T22:33:00.008+11:002011-10-28T22:39:36.042+11:00Top 5: Books I Feel I Should ReadSome books are so hyped-up, even if I have zero interest in the plot, I feel like I should give them a go to see what everyone else is on about. This sometimes works in my favour and the book lives up to the hype (as in the cases of Anna and The French Kiss, If I Stay and The Hunger Games), while other times I still don't get the fuss (like with City of Bones, The Secret History and The Da Vinci Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-15514075897235709902011-10-28T17:33:00.000+11:002011-10-28T16:21:42.103+11:00Review: Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles
I have never been so excited to get a book. After finishing Perfect Chemistry, the first in Simone Elkeles' series, I cursed myself for not having ordered the whole thing, and immediately went online to remedy my mistake. Then I waited. And waited. Everyone in my office was on book watch. Each day a book didn't come (or the wrong one did) was a disappointment. Then, when Rules of Attraction Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-24011620001980050552011-10-27T20:19:00.001+11:002011-10-27T20:24:53.275+11:00Bookish Buys: Costume FunMan, I wish we celebrated Halloween in Australia. It seems like so much fun. Just look at these costume ideas!
Mad-Eye Moody (in possibly the scariest interpretation of a Harry Potter costume ever)
Sookie Stackhouse Merlotte's Tee
Dread Pirate Roberts Mask
Austen Character Regency Dress (*siiiiiiiigh*)
Queen of Hearts Costume
Robin Hood Pet Costume (Hee!)
Complete Jacob Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-90470181316509005352011-10-26T23:27:00.000+11:002011-10-26T23:27:19.708+11:00My Book Boyfriend: Julian Ascher
My Book Boyfriend, hosted by Missie at The Unread Reader, is my favourite meme ever, allowing book bloggers to showcase our fictional crushes (and drool over each other's). This week I tried to think of the scariest book boyfriend I could, in honour of Halloween. The problem is, scary books don't generally lend themselves to book boyfriends. The closest I've come to a creepy (but still hot) Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-47613793344964960222011-10-25T23:03:00.000+11:002011-10-25T23:03:11.782+11:00Bookish (Movie) Fun: Young Adult, Snow White and Paradise LostI posted a little while ago about how I was cautiously excited about Diablo Cody's upcoming flick Young Adult, because it sounded like an interesting comedy about a YA author, plus it had an awesome poster. Well, the trailer has been released, and I have to say I'm no longer excited at all. I think I'll give this one a miss. It doesn't even look craptastic - it just looks crap.
One movie Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-60835875874363621442011-10-25T08:33:00.004+11:002011-10-25T08:33:00.087+11:00Pash, Pick or Pass: Halloween EditionTime to play Pash, Pick or Pass - a game where we pick from a random book trio and say who we'd pash (and dash), who we'd pick for a relationship and who we'd pass on all together.
The Contenders
In honour of Halloween, we're playing with some of the most famous literary monsters ever. And my, what a pretty bunch they are.
Count Dracula from Bram Stoker's Dracula
Frankenstein's MonsterBellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-24120249515889303102011-10-24T17:40:00.000+11:002011-10-24T17:40:00.076+11:00Mag Monday: Miss Piggy Is In Style + Vintage CosmoUS In Style have done a fashion shoot with Miss Mother Effing Piggy. LOVE! You can watch an interview with her over at their FB page, in which she discusses her style, crushes and Lady Gaga's infamous faux frog outfit. Love, love, love!
In other fun mag news, a colleague emailed me this link today of the evolution of Cosmo covers. It's pretty hilarious to see how things have changed overBellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-20770920465085925642011-10-23T22:37:00.000+11:002011-10-23T22:37:03.281+11:00Review: Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children By Ransom RiggsEvery now and then, you come across a book that makes you think, "This is what books are made for. This is why I read." This was one of those books for me.
Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children follows the story of Jacob, a boy who grew up idolising his grandfather and the magical, mystical people who populated the stories of his childhood. When he's 15, a horrific event sends Jacob in Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-62361176422320213172011-10-22T14:19:00.000+11:002011-10-22T14:19:47.358+11:00Reading Icons: James Stewart"I'd like people to remember me as someone who was good at his job and seemed to mean what he said." - James Stewart
Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-23039553637003698952011-10-21T18:10:00.004+11:002011-10-21T18:13:26.730+11:00TGIF: 5 Book Blogs That Make Me SmileIt's Friiiiiday!
Which means it's TGIF at GReads, time to recap the week and answer a question posed by Ginger. This week, she asks: "Book Blogs That Make You Smile: Pick 5 book blogs you visit often & think others should, too." Like most book bloggers, I spend a lot of time reading other book blogs and there are a lot that I really enjoy. But here are five of my faves:
1. ...In The Attic. Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-53770877178674822682011-10-20T17:50:00.006+11:002011-10-20T17:50:00.085+11:00Bookish Buys: Jewellery For Book Nerds
Librarian Necklace from The Reliquary Shop
Recycled Book Earrings from The Lit Botanica
Silver Book Locket from The Enchanted Locket
Book Nerd Necklace from Bookish Charm
Wooden Book Necklace from Bookish Charm
Twilight Earrings from Roundabout
Call of the Wild Earrings from Designs by Annette
A Remarkable Book Pendant from The Little Chickadee
Laser Engraved Wooden Book Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894457612081077892.post-43923911852531175212011-10-19T08:52:00.001+11:002011-10-20T10:31:48.098+11:00My Book Boyfriend: Alejandro "Alex" Fuentes
My Book Boyfriend, hosted by Missie at The Unread Reader, is my favourite meme ever, allowing book bloggers to showcase our fictional crushes (and drool over each other's). I've seen my pick this week (from Simone Elkeles' Perfect Chemistry) pop up in My Book Boyfriend a few times in the past, so I'd just like to preface this post by saying:
Yep, y'all can back off Alex Fuentes coz I'm Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02191122506568430650noreply@blogger.com17