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Lucy Powrie

Book Haul

Letterbox Love (1)

Posted on 3 March, 2013
Letterbox Love is a UK based feature where book bloggers showcase the books that they received that week, be they eBooks, paperbacks, hardbacks or any other format. It is hosted by Lynsey from Narratively Speaking.

At the start of the week, I was really worried that I wouldn’t have anything to share this week, but I was so very wrong! Previously I’ve done Stacking the Shelves but I’m going to be concentrating more on UKYA (more on this next week!) now and would like to connect with more UK bloggers.

Library Haul:

I have a massive library haul this week. On visiting my library on Saturday and finally meeting my teen librarian, I got lots of recommendations. Let me just add that my library is awesome.

You Against Me by Jenny Downham- Jenny Downham is an author that I haven’t read yet but I really want to and this was one of the books recommended to me.

Wither by Lauren DeStefano- With the release of Sever, I knew that I would have to start this series soon. I’m really looking forward to reading this as I’ve heard such great things about it.

Changeling by Philippa Gregory- I love historical fiction so much and Philippa Gregory is an author that I’ve been meaning to read for ages. I’ve heard mixed reviews for Changeling so I’m looking forward to making my own judgement.

Entangled by Cat Clarke- I read Undone last week and knew that I had to read her other two books. The cover is gorgeous!

Nobody’s Girl by Sarra Manning- I read Adorkable back in January and loved it and this was also one of the books that I had recommended. It looks so good!

Torn by Cat Clarke- Another Cat Clarke book! I’m so spoiled this week!

Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson- I really enjoyed From What I Remember by Stacy Kramer and Valerie Thomas which was (sort of) a road trip book so I’m looking forward to reading this one. It was recommended to me and it looks like a really cute read.

When I Was Joe by Keren David- I’ve wanted to read something by Keren David for a while and it just so happens that this is the book for a new book club I’m going to attend in a few weeks. The cover is really nice!

Won:

A Shade of Vampire by Bella Forrest- I won this in Jessica’s blogoversary giveaway and have been excitedly waiting its arrival. And it’s signed!

Bought:

Rockoholic by C.J. Skuse- I was lucky enough to go to an event where three authors (Lucy Christopher, C.J. Skuse and Rachel Ward) were talking and so I bought this there. And I got it signed! The cover is so, so pretty. I can’t wait to start it.

Numbers by Rachel Ward- I also bought this at the event and also got it signed. I can’t wait to start it as it looks like an amazing read.

(I’ll be writing a write-up of the event next week and it will be posted on Wednesday).

Those were the books I got this week! What did you get in your letterbox? Link back to your own posts and I’ll check them out.

I’m also looking for new UK book blogs to follow so I’d love it if you could link back to your own blogs and I’ll check them out. Thank you! 

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Interview with Bella from Cheezyfeet Books

Posted on 1 March, 2013

I’m really lucky to have an interview with the amazing Bella from Cheezyfeet Books on the blog today. Bella runs one of my favourite blogs and you should definitely check it out (after you’ve read the interview, of course!). 








1. Greetings from a fellow Nerdfighter! To those people who don’t know you, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your blog?
Hey! Thanks so much for having me! I’m Bella, and my blog is Cheezyfeet Books. I’m 16, I’m from England, and I love reading (obviously!). Like you said, I’m a Nerdfighter, and I’m a little bit obsessed with Benedict Cumberbatch… But just a little bit! xD I started blogging in July 2010 and I love it. My favourite books right now are probably The Diviners by Libba Bray, and The Fault In Our Stars by John Green.

2. When you first started your blog, did you think it would be as successful as it is now?
Never! I mean, I wouldn’t say it was super successful now but I’m proud of it, and I never in a million years thought I would get anyone to read it at all! So whenever I get comments it’s lovely and I try to return them, but I’m not so great at that… I’m trying to comment at least once a day though!

3. How do you balance reading, writing and schoolwork?
Badly! I don’t write, so that makes it easier (I tried once… It was a disaster!). If I’m reading something really good, I’ll read all evening and not do my homework or prep for lessons or anything, but if I’m in a slump I’ll do loads of school stuff and read very little. I’m not one to balance my time very well, whatever I’m doing, so for example I don’t do much flute practise either, and I watch far too much TV when I should be reading/blogging/working/practising/etc!

4. If there was one book that you could choose to write, which book would it be and why?
Ooh. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, maybe… It’s just so clever! To be able to come up with a story that clever and surprising and engaging and gripping would just be super, super awesome. Also, something that could make the readers laugh on one page and then cry on the next – I love it when books make me feel so anything like that would be what I’d aim to write if I did.

5. Do you have any advice to give to future book bloggers?
Do it because you love it! I can’t stress it enough – it’s a whole lot of effort so if you’re considering becoming a blogger, I encourage you to do so, definitely, but just be prepared for it to take up a whole lot of your time! It’s so worth it though 😀

6. Who are your favourite fictional love interests?
How many do you want to me to name? I have many 😛 Um. My top five: Etienne St. Clair, Adrian Ivashkov, Dimitri Belikov, Four and Augustus Waters.

UKYA

REVIEW: Geek Girl by Holly Smale

Posted on 28 February, 2013
Summary from Goodreads:

Harriet Manners knows a lot of things. 


She knows that a cat has 32 muscles in each ear, a “jiffy” lasts 1/100th of a second, and the average person laughs 15 times per day. 
What she isn’t quite so sure about is why nobody at school seems to like her very much. So when she’s spotted by a top model agent, Harriet grabs the chance to reinvent herself. 
Even if it means stealing her Best Friend’s dream, incurring the wrath of her arch enemy Alexa, and repeatedly humiliating herself in front of the impossibly handsome supermodel Nick. Even if it means lying to the people she loves.
As Harriet veers from one couture disaster to the next with the help of her overly enthusiastic father and her uber-geeky stalker, Toby, she begins to realise that the world of fashion doesn’t seem to like her any more than the real world did. 

And as her old life starts to fall apart, the question is: will Harriet be able to transform herself before she ruins everything?

I read Geek Girl back in November and really enjoyed it. Being my first ever review book, I was really excited about starting it.
Harriet Manners is a geek. There’s no other way to put it. When Harriet is spotted by a modelling agency, her life promises to change in many different ways. But will Harriet embrace the changes or go running back to her normal life?
I must first of all mention the gorgeous cover. I love how geeky it is but also incorporates a cool air that will have anyone running towards it. I have the proof copy but will be buying the finished version as soon as possible. The designers really have created a masterpiece here. I can’t wait to finally spot it in shops; I’m sure it will catch everyone’s eyes!
The cover may be amazing but it’s nothing compared to the writing. Holly Smale has been able to write a realistic and humorous from the point of view of funny and completely adorable Harriet. The inclusion of the lists was something I liked and I also liked the facts dropped in at regular intervals. This was actually a very educational and informative read.
Harriet was a character that I just wanted to hug. The novel is written from her point of view which really made it so many times better. Harriet’s character was instantly recognisable because we all have a smart side to us; Harriet’s was just more pronounced. There were a lot of occasions when I felt sorry for her, particularly the scenes including Alexa and her awful attitude. Would it be okay to jump into the world and just slap her? Okay, maybe not…
Even in his snotty form, I loved Toby. Who wouldn’t want a stalker like him?! Toby and Harriet were so alike, yet she didn’t like him very much, which led to it being very funny. 
Metamorphosis plays a big part in this novel and we see Harriet transform from a normal caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly. Smale has created a world that people can read about where they can be themselves and not be afraid of being unique. Harriet is an inspirational character and one that I think people will look up to.

I must now add that Holly Smale is a genius. To be able to think up and write a novel like this is amazing and I am really looking forward to reading more of her novels. She is also such a funny and generally nice person so it’s easy to see why this novel is as good as it is.

I’m really looking forward to reading more about these characters and already we are beginning to see where future novels may lead. I must now add: is it normal to want to jump into a literary world and want to hug all of the characters?!

RATING: 4.5/5
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February Recap + March Goals

Posted on 27 February, 2013
I’ve decided to put these two posts together this month because I’ve been scheduling my posts and cannot fit them both in separately. 
It seems ages since the start of February and I’ve read so many great books during the month which makes it really hard to choose a favourite. 
This month I started going to my local Waterstones’ book club which I really enjoyed. I’ll definitely be going to the next one and it’s such a good chance to get some good book recommendations.

My follower goal for February was 160 and I am so pleased to have passed this. At the time of writing this post, I am on 173, which feels so weird. Thank you to everyone who has followed this month and also for everyone else who has continued to support me.

This month I read 12 books and am really pleased with that number because this month is a little shorter than last. I’ve decided not to choose one single favourite because I would be sat thinking about it until the end of March.

My top three are:

1. The Selection by Kiera Cass
2. Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
3. Undone by Cat Clarke

The Selection was my second book of the month and I fell in love with it straight away. I really can’t wait until the second book comes out and will be thrusting this book into the hands of everyone I see.

I read Under the Never Sky a week or two ago and found my reading experience very similar to the one I had when reading The Selection. Both novels are amazing and such good dystopians.

I’m in the process of writing my review of Undone at the moment and am really not sure where I’ll go with it. The book was so emotional and really took me on a roller coaster journey and I’m hoping to read more of Cat Clarke’s books in March.

In March I am hoping to reach 190 followers. I’m really not sure if I’ll be able to reach it but I really hope so.  I think if I keep continuing what I’m doing now then it might be possible and really the follower count doesn’t matter, as long as my current followers continue to support me as they already do.

I’m hoping to read:

1. Torn by Cat Clarke
2. Entangled by Cat Clarke
3. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
4. The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

In March, as well as my current book club, I’ll also be going to another at my local library and I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve never been so sociable! In March we’re reading Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas and When I was Joe by Keren David.

What did you achieve in February? What are you hoping to do in March? Let me know in the comments! 

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DISCUSSION: The Healing Power of Books

Posted on 26 February, 2013
I wasn’t planning on writing this post today. I had something completely different written down on my schedule but really felt like this was something that I wanted to post soon. 
Today, I’m going to be talking about how books can help people and my personal experiences with books. This is something completely new to me and I’m going to be honest. It’s quite a personal subject but I feel like it’s the right time to write about it.
This is something that I’ve wanted to write for a while. It ties in a little bit with the ‘sick lit’ article which I feel strongly about and I really hope this doesn’t sound like I’m blabbering on.

I believe that books can heal. Since losing my grandfather a year ago, I haven’t exactly been fine. In the months after his passing, I can remember drowning myself in a pile of books. I read day after day, not stopping at all. When I picked up that one book, I could forget all about what had happened and live in this book world, for however short a time. 
Because books are written about a range of different subjects, there will most certainly be one that you will be able to relate to. When I read The Fault in Our Stars back in December, I knew that this was my book. The way in which it deals with grief is completely unique and has helped me come to terms with my own bereavement. 
I also loved Undone by Cat Clarke. This was a novel that made me so emotional because it felt like parts of the book were written about me. The way Clarke describes Jem, the main character, feeling is a complete reflection of my own experiences and thoughts and it was a bit of a relief to know that someone actually got me. 
I’m not someone to just start jabbering on about my feelings so it isn’t easy for me to write this post. People are hurting and novels can change the way they think and help them deal with their own problems. By reading a book they can sift through their feelings and feel comfortable. Without reading I know I would be lost and through blogging I have met some wonderful people who have helped me, even if they don’t yet realise it. 
This is why I really don’t understand the term ‘sick lit’. think that people should be open to read about whatever they like. If we wrap teens up in cotton wool then once they open their eyes to real life then they’ll get a really big shock. We don’t live in a utopian society so I wish people would just admit that, actually, us humans have a lot of issues. We can’t hide suicide and self harm and death and all of the other things that ‘sick lit’ is supposed to be. I’d rather be aware of those things than it be hidden away from me. 
I know that last paragraph was a little deep and realise why some people may think I’m completely wrong but it is my personal opinion and it’s what I believe. 
Personally, if I wasn’t happy with a book I would put it down, and have done in the past. 
What are your views on this subject? Have books helped you in any way?
UKYA

REVIEW: Stolen: A Letter to my Captor by Lucy Christopher

Posted on 25 February, 2013
Summary from Goodreads: 

It happened like this. I was stolen from an airport. Taken from everything I knew, everything I was used to. Taken to sand and heat, dirt and danger. And he expected me to love him.

This is my story.

A letter from nowhere.

Sixteen year old Gemma is kidnapped from Bangkok airport and taken to the Australian Outback. This wild and desolate landscape becomes almost a character in the book, so vividly is it described. Ty, her captor, is no stereotype. He is young, fit and completely gorgeous. This new life in the wilderness has been years in the planning. He loves only her, wants only her. Under the hot glare of the Australian sun, cut off from the world outside, can the force of his love make Gemma love him back?

The story takes the form of a letter, written by Gemma to Ty, reflecting on those strange and disturbing months in the outback. Months when the lines between love and obsession, and love and dependency, blur until they don’t exist – almost.


Stolen: A Letter to My Captor is a thrilling read and one that I greatly enjoyed.
In an airport one day in August, Gemma is kidnapped. Held captive in the middle of nowhere, she has two options: survive until she can find a way to escape or give up and face an endless life of torture.
Stolen deals with such a controversial topic so I really did wonder about how it would be dealt with. There were so many ways in which this could have been written and I think it was just right.
Being written in second person, something that is completely new to me, I was strangely pleased to find that I really enjoyed it. It worked so well and I can’t imagine it being written in any other way. I think a lot of novels could take a leaf out of this novels book and I’d like to read something similar in the future. 
Gemma, the protagonist, is hard to put into words. She was just herself and it was easy to put yourself into her shoes. Because of the way it was written, it seemed as if she was a lot closer than some protagonists that I’ve read about. I did feel sorry for her because being held captive in a foreign country would be a very traumatic experience.
Even though Ty is supposed to be the bad guy, I actually really liked him. Christopher has taken all of peoples assumptions and flipped them on the head to create a sad and captivating tale. It was easy to tell that something was wrong with Ty. After all, who takes a girl against her will and flees to the Australian Outback? Behind the facade he was actually incredibly sweet and caring and a character that I really liked. 
Lucy Christopher has managed to write a believable setting that immediately interested me. I wanted to know more and was very impressed by the writing’s descriptive nature.
One of the things that I really loved about this book was that I could feel it. It was so easy to put yourself into Gemma’s shoes and this was a tell tale sign that I really liked it.
This was an emotional (yes, I was close to tears at a number of times) and profound read that I loved immensely. I’m looking forward to reading more by the author.
RATING: 5/5

**Looking back over this review, I realise how rubbish it is. I’m so sorry!**
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Embracing My Inner Geek (3)

Posted on 24 February, 2013

I really wasn’t sure what to post this week because coming up with ideas for this feature is really hard. I think it’s about time I introduced myself properly because some people don’t follow me on Twitter and that’s where I do most of my talking. So, assuming you don’t already know me, I’m sure that by the end of this post you’ll be very familiar with my general awesomeness (I’m being narcissistic here!).
My name is Lucy and I am thirteen years old. It seems that I have loved reading since I first appeared on this  earth. I can remember reading picture books when I was tiny by the dozen and loving them to bits. I’ve always had a tiny (okay, massive) obsession with visiting the library.
Compared to most bloggers, I am really young, and sometimes it does annoy me. I think that because of my age I’m not taken as seriously as some of the older bloggers but it doesn’t bother me that much. I’d like to think that I’m quite mature for my age, but I think some people would beg to differ.
At my school, reading is considered nerdy. So it’s safe to say that I’m not one of the most popular people, but I’m comfortable in my own body and am happy about the way I live. I’m really shy but am hoping to correct this little problem soon. I have quite a big group of friends who I love to pieces and try to talk books to at any given opportunity. They think I’m obsessed…(I am!).

Aside from blogging and reading, I love to write. By looking in my documents I can see various attempts over the years to write and this makes me so happy. Whenever I receive a mark back in my English class I’m always so happy because I try really hard to write in a way that I know will be easy and enjoyable to read.

I also love netball and hockey, which are really the only sports I do. I can be very competitive and have been known to be a little aggressive with a hockey stick.

I have a lot of pets. I breed guinea pigs so in the spring and summer can sometimes be overrun with the things. The picture above is of some of our permanent ladies with my rabbit, Tulip, being her usual crazy self.  I often laugh when she runs around the garden like a mad thing.

I’m not really sure what else to write. I’m quite a boring person! Reading, writing and blogging are my main hobbies and, apart from homework, I don’t do much else. I go horse riding once a week which I really like. I’ve always loved horses so it’s really special being around such lovely creatures.

My favourite novels are the Stonewylde series by Kit Berry and The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. I’m also really keen on Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi and The Selection by Kiera Cass.

My favourite genres are contemporary, historical, anything with romance in, and I’m really enjoying dystopia at the moment.

I’d love to hear stuff about you in the comments and will be replying to all comments this week (if I can remember!).
Don’t forget to wear your geekery like a badge!

Lucy ♥

Book Haul

Stacking the Shelves (12)

Posted on 23 February, 2013
Guidelines:
Create your own Stacking The Shelves post. You can use my official graphic or your own, but please link back toTynga’s Reviews so more people can join the fun!

You can set your post any way you want, simple book list, covers, pictures, vlog, sky is the limit!

I am posting Stacking The Shelves on Saturdays, but feel free to post yours any day that fits you.

Visit Tynga’s Reviews on Saturday and add your link so others can visit you!

Visit other participants link to find out what they added to their shelves!

I don’t have a massive haul this week but the books I got are so amazing that it makes up for that small fact.
Book Shop Haul:


Undone by Cat Clarke- I’ve wanted to read this book ever since I first heard about it and tried to get it last week but couldn’t find it anywhere. I was luckier this week and finally managed to grab myself a copy. 
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor- My book club is reading this in March and I’m really glad that I finally get the opportunity to read it.
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas- I’ve had my eye on this for a while and this is also the April book for my book club so I’m looking forward to reading this.
Paper Towns by John Green- I just had to buy this to finish off my John Green collection. I can’t wait to read it!
What books did you receive this week? Don’t forget to link back and I’ll return the favour! I’ll also be following any blogs that follow me back! 🙂