This weeks musing asks...Do you listen to audiobooks? If not, why not? and if so, what has been one of your favourites, so far? I don't actually listen to audiobooks because I know that I won't be able to concentrate on the story if I listen to it. When I'm reading a book, I have to concentrate on the physical pages and words, and actually absorb the story. I just know that if I listen to an audiobook, my mind will wander and I won't absorb that story as well, which means I'll having to listen to that same chapters over and over again, and I just don't have the patience for that! What about you? Do you listen to audiobooks?
I had every intention of doing the last of these posts on their actual days, but uni decided to attack me with tests and work, and it just didn't happen - I have been working hard indeed!
...Xylophone I actually played the xylophone in Year 7 and 8 at school - good times indeed. I would say that if you want to learn an instrument but are not the musically inclined type, the xylophone is a good instrument to try.
The Necromancer (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel #4) by Michael Scott Release Date: 26th April 2011
Publisher: Random House Format: eBook Pages: 416 Rating: 4.5/5.0
This book was read as part of the 2012 OTS Challenge
Summary from Amazon:
"San Francisco: After fleeing to Ojai, then Paris, and escaping to London, Josh and Sophie Newman are finally home. And after everything they've seen and learned in the past week, they're both more confused than ever about their future. Neither of them has mastered the magics they'll need to protect themselves from the Dark Elders, they've lost Scatty, and they're still being pursued by Dr. John Dee. Most disturbing of all, however, is that now they must ask themselves, can they trust Nicholas Flamel? Can they trust anyone? Alcatraz: Dr. Dee underestimated Perenelle Flamel's power. Alcatraz could not hold her, Nereus was no match for her, and she was able to align herself with the most unlikely of allies. But she wasn't the only one being held on the island. Behind the prison's bars and protective sigils were a menagerie of monsters-an army for Dee to use in the final battle. And now Machiavelli has come to Alcatraz to loose those monsters on San Francisco. Perenelle might be powerful, but each day she weakens, and even with Nicholas back at her side, a battle of this size could be too much for her. Nicholas and Perenelle must fight to protect the city, but the effort will probably kill them both. London: Having been unable to regain the two final pages of the Codex, Dee has failed his Elder and is now an outlaw-and the new prey of all the creatures formerly sent to hunt down Flamel.
But Dee has a plan. With the Codex and the creatures on Alcatraz, he can control the world. All he needs is the help of the Archons. But for his plan to work, he must raise the Mother of the Gods from the dead. For that, he'll have to train a necromancer. And the twins of legend will make the perfect pupils. . ."
Review: Its been about a week since I finished reading this book, so this review will probably end up being really short, and besides, I'm finding it hard to find new things to say about this series! Each book is pretty similar to its predecessors, with basically the same pros and cons in each book. Just check out my review for The Sorceress here. The one thing I will say is that some good plot points occurred in this book - finally, the difference of opinion between the Sophie and Josh is played up a little more, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and will continue to enjoy reading about in the coming books. A fitting fourth instalment in the series.
I'm sorry I'm starting to get lazy with this - I just looked towards my bookshelf for inspiration for this one, and my eyes landed on Vixen by Jillian Larkin. It's a book I read recently, and really enjoyed. You can check out my review here.
...AlbuQuerque (sorry, I couldn't think of anything for Q...) This is one of my favourite Weird Al Yankovic songs - makes me laugh every time!
...Louise Rennison Louise Rennsion is the author of the extremely popular Confessions of Georgia Nicholson series. It was a couple of years ago when I read the books, but they remain to this day to be one of my favourite series, and are the only books that have made me laugh out loud - definitely worth the read!
...The Big Screen These days, a lot of books get made into movies. What are peoples thoughts on this? I don't mind if movies get translated onto the big screen, but there is always the risk that the book won't be translated well, or maybe it just won't work. What about you? Do you have any favourite books that were translated onto the big screen? Did the film turn out well, or not?
...Trouble I've been thinking recently about how odd it can be that when you're reading a book, and you're drawn to the character's that you shouldn't be drawn to - the bad guys. I'm not the only one, am I?
...The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer I just finished reading this book yesterday, and oh my, it was amazing! Seriously, if you haven't read it, you need to!
I finished readingThe Necromancerby Michael Scott last week (review pending) and I posted my review for Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi some time last week
I'm not entirely sure what my next read will be at the moment. If my Dymocks gift card arrives in the mail soon, it will probably be Fractureby Megan Miranda orTempest
by Julie Cross
I am completely in love with the TV show Pretty Little Liars. It is just. so. good! But I haven't read any of the books that the TV show is based on. Am I missing out? Do I need to read the first PLL book asap?
I don't usually pay much attention to book trailers, but I do follow a couple of publishing houses on Youtube, and I'll watch the occasional trailer or two. Here are a couple that popped up in my feed yesterday:
I'm currently working my way through The Alchemyst series by Michael Scott, and I'm really, really enjoying these books. So far I've read 4 of them, and I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on book #5, The Warlock. I've been hearing some negative stuff about book #5, but I dunno...have you read The Warlock by Michael Scott? If so, what did you think?
...Nerimon
I'm sorry it it appears that I keep bringing everything back to Youtube, but honestly, who doesn't love Youtube??? Nerimon, aka Alex Day, is one of the many Youtubers that I follow. He's also a musician! Check out my favourite song of his, Forever Yours, below:
This book was read as part of the 2012 OTS Challenge
Summary from Amazon:
"You can't touch me," I whisper.
I'm lying, is what I don't tell him.
He can touch me, is what I'll never tell him.
But things happen when people touch me.
Strange things.
Bad things.
No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal, but The Reestablishment has plans for her. Plans to use her as a weapon.
But Juliette has plans of her own.
After a lifetime without freedom, she's finally discovering a strength to fight back for the very first time—and to find a future with the one boy she thought she'd lost forever.
Review: I've actually found this review really hard to write, which is why it's taken me a week to post this (sorry about that :/). The problem I have is that I don't know what to say besides the following: This. book. was. AMAZING. I loved everything about this book - the plot, the setting, the characters, the writing style - almost everything about this book was brilliant. There were only a couple of little cons in this book. 1. There is a pretty intensive love story in this book, with some sexual content (only kissing). But hey, this part didn't really bother me that much. 2. What did bother me though, was the fact that Juliette's feelings for Adam seemed a bit convenient, what with him being that only person she has met in her life whom she can actually touch. But honestly, these are minor, minor points that you hardly notice whilst reading the book. Overall, this is a definite must read. If you're not convinced, check out the book trailer below:
I don't know about you, but I love Glee. I watch the show every week, I have 3 of the CD's, and I saw the 3D movie at the cinemas. And one of my favourite performances has to be the original song 'Loser Like Me'
I know I posted some funny videos the other day, but honestly, who doesn't enjoy watching funny videos? Here's a couple more to entertain you for the day
This weeks musing asks... What do you think are the top 5 books every woman should read?
This is a hard and interesting question to answer. BUT, I have come up with 5 books that I think women should read. 1. Any Marian Keyes novel. I actually love this woman. There probably isn't anything spectacular about her novels, but I can't seem to stop reading them - every new novel released, I just have to have! Some of my favourites by her include Rachel's Holiday, Sushi for Beginners, Last Chance Saloon and This Charming Man.
2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I loved this book so much when I read it last year - this is one of those books that everybody has to read 3. Juliet by Anne Fortier. Again, I loved this book when I read it last year. What I think I enjoyed the most about it was that is surprised me - it was completely different, and infinitely better, than I thought it would be.
4. The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. This has to be the best romance novel I have ever read - it's just so good on so many levels! 5. Any of the Harry Potter novels. I've only read one Harry Potter novel (The Deathly Hallows) but I have to say, it is one of the best books I have ever read. J.K.Rowling really immerses you in the Harry Potter world - the attention to detail was amazing.
I don't know about you, but I love finding new words that sound interesting. Surely I'm not the only one with favourite words, right? Some of my favourite words include:
Plethora: 1. a superabundance; an excess. 2. an excess of blood in the circulatory system or in one organ or area
Zee: 1. the letter Z. I just love this word because it's easy to use when playing Scrabble or Words with Friends, which I am currently addicted too :D Cornucopia(thank you The Hunger Games):1. a goat's horn overflowing with fruit, flowers, and grain, signifying prosperity. 2. the horn of the goat that suckled Zeus, which broke off and became filled with fruit. In folklore, it became full of whatever its owner desired. 3. a cone-shaped ornament or receptacle. 4. an overflowing store; an abundance
Hamartia (thank you English class): 1. a fatal flaw
Since it's Sunday here in Australia I thought I would provide you with the tools for procrastination...because I always end up procrastinating on a Sunday and trolling Youtube. Enjoy :)
P.S. There are some expletives in the videos, and the last two are a bit crude...watch at your own risk
I was thinking about this the other day, and I've discovered that I don't really read that many fantasy books. Or, at least, I don't classify them as fantasy. I don't know, would you classify the likes of Under the Never Sky and Cinder as fantasy?
Do you read a lot of fantasy books? If so, do you think I'm missing out? Have any recommendations?
It's almost the Easter long weekend here in Australia, so to everybody who celebrates Easter....Happy Easter! Hope you get all the chocolate you could possibly want
Am I the only one who still hasn't read this book. It's been sitting on my bookshelf for a little while now, but I still haven't got around to it because I've been busy what with uni and all, and reading other books for challenges.
Have you read the book? If so, do I need to push it to the top of my TBR pile?
by Michael Scott last week (review pending) and I posted my 
by Tahereh Mafi some time last week
by Megan Miranda or 
by Julie Cross
by Michelle Hodkin
