Some books you can read and forget about after a few months, but there are others that stay with you for a long time afterwards. There are also those books that will always stick with you, no matter what, and have affected your life in some way. Here are a few of mine:
Jessie Hearts NYC by Keris Stainton
I love books for a wide range of reasons, but one of the main ones is because they’re always there when I need them most. When I was 12, a few months before I started my blog, my granddad died and it was something that affected me hugely, us being so close and me being so young. During the months after, I turned to books to help me through and one of these books was Jessie Hearts NYC. For this reason, it’s a book I’ve recommended a lot and Keris’s books, like Jessie Hearts NYC and Emma Hearts LA, are a great place to start for readers who are starting to read YA.
Obsessed With… is a new feature where I discuss something (usually a book series) that I can’t stop obsessing over and the story behind it.
Today I’m going to be talking about the book series I am most obsessed with. If you know me well enough, you can probably guess what it is! I’ve done various posts on the Stonewylde series before but I want to go into a bit more detail this time and really talk about my personal experiences and what they mean to me, because they mean an awful lot.
Above is my Stonewylde shelf – yes, an entire dedicated shelf! I was incredibly pleased when I managed to fit them all perfectly in to the section they’re in. I first read the series when I was around 11. My mum had seen them at the library while I was browsing and thought it sounded good so handed them to me. They sat on my pile whilst I read a few other books, and then I started reading Magus of Stonewylde. It’s safe to say that my life changed forever when I started reading, and that’s not an exaggeration. I can remember being away on a school trip and being sad because I didn’t have enough time to read the second book (yes, I read the first three in quick succession!). I can also remember staying up late to finish the third book and being hooked right from the start. Continue Reading
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every week, a new topic is chosen and people are allowed to make their own lists.
Despite really liking this week’s theme, I really struggled to find books to feature. There are so many ways to interpret the word ‘unique’ so the books I’ve chosen to feature are for many different reasons.
I don’t think I’ll ever read such a unique and original book as Every Day. Its concept is phenomenal and I can’t think of a better person to write it as David Levithan.
More Than This by Patrick Ness is also a book with a breath-taking concept. I wish I could read it again for the first time because I can remember the feeling when I first read it, and how blown away I was by it.
I can’t write this list without talking about Harry Potter, can I? It screams ‘unique.’ The world, the way it is written, the dedication of the fandom. Will there ever really be a book quite like it again? I doubt it.
This Star Won’t Go Out (I write this wearing my TSWGO t-shirt) is totally unique, not just because it’s non-fiction, but because of how it affected me. It’s such an emotional book and that’s what makes it so special. It’s real life and honest.
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart has to be unique because THAT. ENDING. I’m still reeling, over a week after reading it. I don’t think I can risk saying any more, but, yes, I haven’t read a book quite like it before!
I love Vivian Versus the Apocalypse by Katie Coyle because it seems very straight-forward but so much happens. I can’t wait for the sequel!
The Library of Unrequited Love is a very small book, less than 100 pages, but so much is discussed within so few pages. It’s also translated from French, and set in France, which I think adds to its originality.
I think The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer trilogy (or the two books is it so far) win the prize for the biggest change from a first book to its sequel. I can’t wait for the final book because I know there’s going to be a lot going on.
Dreaming of Amelia is written in the form of exam papers, which I thought was such a great idea. All of Jaclyn Moriarty’s books are written in a quirky style – as letters, emails etc. – and I think this is my favourite of hers.
Magus of Stonewylde by Kit Berry is unique because of its setting. There will never be another Stonewylde for me. If I could live in any fictional world, I would live there; it is the place I imagine when I close my eyes, and the place I dream of when I sleep at night.
I’m a sucker for gorgeous books, I really am. There’s obviously not a problem with this; I do tend to judge books by their covers before I read them, but sometimes something overcomes me and I need to buy more and more copies of books. One is never enough!
If you’ve watched any of my YouTube videos, or seen pictures of my bookcase, you may have noticed some of the multiple copies on my shelves. A question I’m frequently asked is: ‘Why do you have three copies of The Fault in Our Stars?’ That is a very good question indeed. My answer? I have no idea! I just can’t help myself. My first copy was the one I originally read, and I then found another copy in a charity shop for a very good price. I just couldn’t resist! And my final copy was my Grandma’s, which she no longer needed after reading it. I have a best copy, one to lend out, and one I shall be doing something with, which I will tell you all about in a future post.
Recently I also picked up two more of John Green’s books, which I have already read and loved. In my defence, they have been re-jacketed and the new editions are so beautiful and hug-worthy.
The Paper Towns on the left is the older edition, the right the latest. The differences between the two are striking, but I love them both. The earlier version incorporates the idea of the ‘paper towns’ on the maps, whereas I like the paper elements of the latest cover. Both really capture a core part of the book.
The older version of Looking for Alaska is on the left, the latest on the right. I prefer the latest because of it’s simplicity but also because it stands out so well. It’s also very shiny. I do really like the older version, but there’s just something about it that stops me from loving it unconditionally.
A problem I had when I got my new bookcase was if I would be able to fit all of my Stonewylde series into one ‘pod.’ Luckily, they all fit perfectly! This is the series I have the most copies of: in total I have –
3 copies of Magus of Stonewylde
2 copies of Moondance of Stonewylde
2 copies of Solstice at Stonewylde
2 copies of Shadows at Stonewylde
2 copies of Shaman of Stonewylde
The books are my favourite series and have a very special place in my heart. The first three books were originally self-published so have different covers and the content is a little different. I borrowed the first three from the library originally and then bought them when they were published by Orion afterwards, and then I found the first self-published book by chance and was gifted the second and third. The fourth book was originally published in hardback and I also bought it when it came out in paperback, and I have a best of the fifth, and another copy just because it’s my favourite. I’ve met the author, Kit Berry, twice now and so quite a few of my copies are signed, and I must re-read them all soon!
Finally we have the victims to my obsession… Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell!
I originally read an e-ARC in spring 2013 and it immediately became one of my favourite books, and then ordered the US hardback in November because I just couldn’t say no to myself. The US hardback is amazing, and I think I slightly prefer it to the UK paperback, although the paperback contains graphics from Noelle Stevenson, or Gingerhaze, who is behind the cover, and an interview with Rainbow Rowell and bonus Simon Snow content. The paperback is decoration, whereas I know I’ll definitely be re-reading from the hardback, or my e-ARC where I have colour coded everything.
Do you collect multiple copies of books? Let me know your collection below! If you don’t, why not?
The A to Z Book Survey was created by Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner. I love her blog so much (seriously, she’s one of my blogging idols) and she does the End of Year Book Survey every year which is such a good idea. I’ve seen this going round the blogosphere for a few days now and I thought I’d give it a go myself because it’s such fun.
Author you’ve read the most books from:
According to Goodreads, I’ve read the most books by Cassandra Clare (7), but I know that according to my bookshelf it is Meg Cabot. I’ll read anything written by both.
Best Sequel Ever:
I’m going to choose Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi for this one because I couldn’t put it down. I love her books so much and this one exceeded Shatter Me by miles.
Currently Reading:
At the time of writing this (yesterday), I was reading The Infinite Moment of Us by Lauren Myracle, which I’m finding very difficult to get into. 🙁
Drink of Choice While Reading:
I only drink water so that’s going to have to be my answer. Although when I’m reading I usually forget to drink anything.
E–reader or Physical Book?
I’ll always love physical books, and nothing will beat them for me, but I am trying to read more e-books because they’re so much cheaper and it’s much easier to buy novels that aren’t so freely available here in the UK. This saves me having to buy a hardcover for a book I might not enjoy.
Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated In High School:
Levi from Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell! My ultimate book boyfriend. *swoon*
Glad You Gave This Book A Chance:
Wings by Aprilynne Pike, because I was very close to DNF-ing it.
Hidden Gem Book:
The Avery Shaw Experiment by Kelly Oram. I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did!
Important Moment in your Reading Life:
Starting my blog. I wouldn’t be the reader I am today without it, because blogging made me read more and look to other genres that weren’t familiar to me.
Just Finished:
Faking It by Cora Carmack which I LOVED. I love her books so much now!
Kinds of Books You Won’t Read:
I don’t like reading vampire novels, but I will tolerate them. I do avoid time travel novels now because I just have a lot of problems with them.
Longest Book You’ve Read:
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
Major book hangover because of:
Shaman of Stonewylde by Kit Berry. It’s the last book in my favourite series
Number of Bookcases You Own:
I have two shelves that run the length of my wall, one that runs half and a big bookcase. And I still don’t have enough room…
One Book You Have Read Multiple Times:
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. Whenever I’m in a reading slump, I’ll pick it up and it always helps me get out of it.
Preferred Place To Read:
I can read just about anywhere, but I love reading in my chair which normally has things heaped up the sides and fall on me pretty regularly. I’d take a picture but it’s so messy the sight would probably horrify you.
Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:
“‘After all this time?’
‘Always,’ said Snape.”
It gets me every time!
Reading Regret:
This is a really hard one for me to answer because there’s nothing that I wish I had done differently. I’m still really young so I can’t say I wish I had done things years ago and I read so much anyway that I can usually fit in anything that I want to read. I’m going to leave this one blank for now.
Series You Started And Need To Finish(all books are out in series):
The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa. I only have one more book to go!
Three of your All-Time Favorite Books:
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Magus of Stonewylde by Kit Berry
Unapologetic Fangirl For:
Anything Rainbow Rowell, which is pretty ironic seeing as though one of her books is called Fangirl.
Very Excited For This Release More Than All The Others:
Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi! Words cannot explain how excited I am. 😀
Worst Bookish Habit:
I do buy a lot of books that end up sitting on my pile for months and months. My TBR pile takes up two shelves.
X Marks The Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:
Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
Your latest book purchase:
Faking It by Cora Carmack for my Kindle.
ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late):
Losing It by Cora Carmack! I stayed up all night reading it!
Have you done this survey? Link me to your own posts if so!
(sorry for the lack of pictures. My post wouldn’t format them properly. :))
