Review: Matilda - Roald Dahl

"So Matilda's strong young mind continued to grow, nurtured by the voices of all those authors who had sent their books out into the world like ships on the sea. These books gave Matilda a hopeful and comforting message: You are not alone."

Matilda is the world's most famous bookworm, no thanks to her ghastly parents.

Her father thinks she's a little scab. Her mother spends all afternoon playing bingo.

And her headmistress, Miss Trunchbull?

She's the worst of all.

She's a big bully, who thinks all her pupils are rotten and locks them in the dreaded Chokey.

Despite these beastly grownups trying to push her down, Matilda is an extraordinary girl with a magical mind.

And she's had enough.

So all the terrible adults had better watch out, because she's going to teach them a lesson they'll never forget!

Visit Roald Dahl's website for more information

Review:
I was a huge Roald Dahl fan as a child, I think I had nearly all of his books and they were stories I'd read over and over again so it's very hard for me to be objective about them now as an adult. It's funny because on the surface Matilda should have been my favourite of his books - its about a little girl who loves reading and spending time in the library which was totally me as a child and if I'm honest still describes me now LOL - but I think my heart had already been stolen by the BFG and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory so I only read this one a handful of times. It wasn't until the movie released that I really started to appreciate this story and it's impossible to reread this now as an adult without picturing Mara Wilson as Matilda.

There's just something special about all of Roald Dahl's books but Matilda really is one of his most well loved characters and there's a very good reason for that. She's an intelligent child who doesn't fit in at home and whose parents definitely don't appreciate her but she finds a magical place when she discovers the local library and teaches herself to read. Her love of books and reading is something all bookworms will appreciate but I also love her constant search for knowledge and her excitement about getting to attend school for the first time.

The relationship she develops with her teacher Miss Honey is heartwarming and desperately needed after we've seen how badly she is treated by her parents. Then of course there is the terrifying headmistress Mrs Trunchbull who runs her school more like a prison until Matilda dishes out some much deserved punishment of her own.

I loved revisiting this story and I think I appreciated it so much more now that I'm an adult. The movie will always hold a special place in my heart but now the book does too. It's hard to believe that this story is 30 years old this year and I absolutely love the newly updated covers designed by the original illustrator Quentin Blake. His drawings throughout the book add so much to the story and I love the way he's imagined some of the exciting jobs that Matilda could have chosen for the new anniversary editions. I'm very, very tempted to collect the set but I'm not sure my already straining book cases can take the pressure.

Matilda as Chief Executive of the British Library, a World Traveller or an Astrophysicist on the new 30th Anniversary Hardbacks.

And just because I can here's the movie trailer!



Source: Purchased

Other reviews of this book:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle / 30th Anniversary Hardbacks:

The Princess Bride Turns 30!!

Can you believe that the cult classic The Princess Bride turns 30 this year? I grew up watching this movie so it's always been a favourite but I can't believe how long ago it was made! To celebrate Lionsgate are releasing a special edition DVD packed with extra features AND the movie is going to be in cinemas across the UK for one day only on Monday the 23rd of October so make sure you book your tickets now if you haven't already!

In case you don't know what I'm talking about here's the movie trailer:

THE PRINCESS BRIDE

BACK IN CINEMAS FOR ONE DAY ONLY: 23rd October

Plus 30th Anniversary DVD & Blu-ray release

Celebrate 30 years of The Princess Bride

Fall in love all over again as the most beloved fantasy movie returns...

It’s been 30 years since Buttercup and Wesley stole our hearts in one of the most unforgettable and much loved movies THE PRINCESS BRIDE and to celebrate it will be shown in cinemas nationwide for one day only on Monday 23rd October 2017.

The tale of a kindly grandfather reading an extraordinary fairy story to his sick grandson has become a cult classic with fans spread across the world and online.

Directed by Rob Reiner and with an all-star cast including Cary Elwes, Robin Wright Penn, Fred Savage, Billy Crystal, Peter Falk, Mandy Patinkin, Christopher Guest, Mel Smith & Peter Cook, and written by Academy Award® winning screenwriter William Goldman (Butch Cassidy, Misery, Heat), THE PRINCESS BRIDE is a classic fairy tale; full of swashbuckling swordplay, giants, pirates, an evil prince and a beautiful princess... all woven into the love story to end all love stories.

Also available will be the 30th Anniversary Edition DVD & Blu-ray, out on the 23rd October including the original theatrical poster and all new sumptous artwork. This two-disc edition features 82minutes of extras on the DVD and 141minutes on the Blu-ray - including featurettes, cast interviews, audio commentaries, the original comprehensive documentary ‘As You Wish: The Story of The Princess Bride’ plus galleries and trailers.

If you love the movie then you might also want to check out the book it was based on:

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

Beautiful, flaxen-haired Buttercup has fallen for Westley, the farm boy, and when he departs to make his fortune, she vows never to love another. So, when she hears that his ship has been captured by the Dread Pirate Roberts (no survivors) her heart is broken. But her charms draw the attention of the relentless Prince Humperdinck who wants a wife and will go to any lengths to have Buttercup. So starts a fairy tale like no other, of fencing, poison, true love, hate, revenge, giants, bad men, good men, snakes, spiders, chases, escapes, lies, truths, passion and miracles, and a damn fine story.

The Princess Bride 30th Anniversary Edition is out on DVD/Blu-ray and the novel published in paperback by Bloomsbury

Movie Review: Beauty and the Beast

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is a live-action re-telling of the studio’s animated classic which refashions the classic characters from the tale as old as time for a contemporary audience, staying true to the original music while updating the score with several new songs. Beauty and the Beast is the fantastic journey of Belle (Emma Watson), a bright, beautiful and independent young woman who is taken prisoner by a beast (Dan Stevens) in his castle. Despite her fears, she befriends the castle’s enchanted staff and learns to look beyond the Beast’s hideous exterior and realize the kind heart and soul of the true Prince within.

Visit the Beauty and the Beast movie website for more information.

New 2017 live action trailer:


Original 1991 animated trailer:


Review:
It's actually been a couple of weeks since I saw the new live action version of Beauty and the Beast so I thought it was about time I talked about it on the blog. I've always been a huge fan of this fairytale, the original animated version is still one of my favourite Disney movies (along with Aladdin, Jungle Book & Lion King to name a few more!) so I was both incredibly excited when I heard they were making a new live action version but also a little nervous that it wouldn't live up to my expectations. I was more hopeful when I found out that Emma Watson had signed up to play Belle though (I can't think of a better actress for the role) and I have to say I think they did an amazing job.

Belle was always my favourite Disney princess, not only does she rescue the Beast and save him from his curse but she's also a fellow bookworm who always has her head stuck in a book so I always found it incredibly easy to relate to her. As a child I dreamed of marrying the Beast just so that he would give me his wonderful library and if I'm honest I'd still marry him now for the exact same reason LOL.

The new movie has captured the atmosphere of the original perfectly, it's added in some more backstory for a lot of the characters and there are some fabulous new songs and characters too. The actors all played their roles brilliantly and the special effects were just stunning. I loved every minute of it and can't wait for it to come out on DVD so I can watch it again. I've been singing the songs to myself ever since I watched it and I came out of the cinema desperate to watch the original version again too. There are a few things I preferred in the original movie but overall I think they did a wonderful job and I'll definitely be watching both movies many times in the future.

Have you seen the new movie? How did you think it compares to the original?

Movie Review: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ begins in 1926 as Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) has just completed a global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures. Arriving in New York for a brief stopover, he might have come and gone without incident were it not for a No-Maj (American for Muggle) named Jacob, a misplaced magical case, and the escape of some of Newt’s fantastic beasts, which could spell trouble for both the wizarding and No-Maj worlds.

Visit the Fantastic Beasts website for more information




Review:
I think pretty much every blogger I know is at least a little obsessed with Harry Potter and has been eagerly waiting for the release of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them since the movie was first announced. I have been desperate to dive back into J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World and if I'm honest I'm actually thrilled that she decided to take us on a journey into a whole new era and introduce us to a completely new set of characters rather than try to extend Harry's journey.

Anyway, I FINALLY managed to go and see the movie yesterday and it was AMAZING. I loved every single minute of it and I'm already planning to go and see it a second time (I can't even remember the last time I went to see a movie at the cinema twice!). I loved taking a step back in time to 1920's New York and thought they'd done a brilliant job of bringing that era to life. The characters are great, the special effects are stunning and I adored the wonderful creatures we are introduced to.

Getting to look inside Newt's suitcase was like visiting Hogwarts again for the first time. Remember seeing Harry run through the wall to reach platform 9 and 3/4? What about your first glimpse of the castle with those moving staircases and the talking portraits? Watching your first Quidditch match? Fantastic Beasts has that same magical feel to it and the sheer scale of the world Rowling has created is epic.

I'm not going to say much more because I don't want to spoil the movie for those few people who haven't seen it yet but I desperately want a niffler and a bowtruckle of my very own. I mean, just look how cute they are:

Have you seen the movie yet? What did you think of it? Are you as excited as I am about this new wizarding world franchise?

Roald Dahl Day: My love for The BFG (Let's talk about the book and the movies!)

Every year I plan to write a blog post to celebrate Roald Dahl Day and every year time runs away with me and I somehow end up missing it. But this year we're celebrating 100 years since his birth so I guess that makes it a perfect time to talk about how much Roald Dahl's books meant to me as a child.

I used to reread all of his books over and over again but The BFG was always my favourite, I just loved everything about it from the friendship that forms between Sophie and the BFG, to the adventures they have together along with all of the crazy new words you discover along the way. Don't you just think that we should use words like scrumdiddlyumptious, gobblefunking and whiffswiddle in every day conversation? Not to mention the fact that I'm still waiting for someone to invent a real life version of frobscottle so I can practise my whizzpopping LOL.

The BFG is just the ultimate adventure story, I loved the idea of dreams being real things that you could capture and I desperately wanted to visit the land of dreams so I could find my own. I wanted a giant friend who could run so fast with me hiding in their pocket that it felt like I was flying and I even wanted to have breakfast with the Queen. Roald Dahl's stories always have a darker side to them and the giants terrified me but you get to see justice served in the end which was incredibly satisfying.

I still have my original copy of this book from 1985 and it's one of my most treasured and reread books. The illustrations by Quentin Blake compliment the story perfectly and make it something to be treasured.

My brother was never much of a reader (I'm pretty convinced he must be a changeling because surely we can't be related! LOL) but he absolutely adored the animated version of The BFG and would make us watch it over and over again. I think I've probably seen this adaptation of the story even more times than I've read the book and I have to say it's pretty perfect. It completely captures the feel of the story with it's laugh out loud humour but also the more heartwarming moments between Sophie and the BFG as well as the fearsome man eating giants to add tension. I love the music too and can remember singing along with my brother when he we were kids.

This animation may have been created in 1989 but it's still utterly brilliant and when we watched it with my 12 year old nephew a few months ago he loved it just as much as we did.

Being such a huge fan of the story I had incredibly high hopes for the new Disney version directed by Steven Spielberg. We made a family outing of it a few weeks ago and I think my Dad, brother and I were probably even more excited than my nephew was. There is no denying that the visual effects in the new movie are stunning, the land of dreams in particular was spectacular and the giants looked impressive.

The opening scene where Sophie first sees the BFG and the way he manages to sneak down the streets and avoid being spotted by anyone else was very cleverly done. The young actress who played Sophie did a brilliant job and there was one moment in particular that made me laugh so hard I had tears rolling down my face. I wasn't the only one either and pretty much the entire audience was laughing hysterically.

Unfortunately even though there were things I loved about the movie it didn't manage to live up to expectations and we all agreed that the animated version that is nearly 30 years old was better. The new movie stays pretty faithful to the book but it managed to be boring in spite of that, there were actually times when I was just wishing it was over so we could leave the cinema and no matter how good the graphics were or how humourous those few stand out moments were it just didn't make up for the poor pacing.

The new movie may have been a slight disappointment but that hasn't decreased my love of The BFG. I have so many happy childhood memories wrapped up in reading Roald Dahl stories and it's easy to see why they're still so popular today.

Digitally remastered trailer for the original animated movie made in 1989:



Trailer for the 2016 Disney & Steven Spielberg movie:



What is your favourite Roald Dahl book? Are you a fan of The BFG? I'd love to know what you thought of the movies, if you've seen them both which was your favourite?

Movie Trailer: A Monster Calls - Patrick Ness

I have to confess that Patrick Ness' novel A Monster Calls (which was based on an idea by the late Siobhan Dowd) has been on my to read pile for a few years now, it's one of those books that I've heard amazing things about but because I know it's going to break my heart I keep putting off reading it.

Unless you've been living under a rock you'll already know that the book is currently being turned into a movie and when I was at Walker's blogger party a few weeks ago they showed us the trailer and it looks like it's going to be fantastic. I really NEED to read this book so I can watch the movie when it comes out!

Just check out this trailer & tell me you don't feel the same:



Doesn't it look fantastic? The movie is out in America on the 21st of October but according to IDMb we're going to have to wait until January 2017 to see it on screens in the UK. I'm kind of gutted that they're making us wait so long for it but I'll have absolutely no excuse for not reading the book before it releases!

Just in case you're like me and haven't actually read the book yet I thought I'd include the blurb below for you. I have the illustrated version (which has some absolutely stunning artwork from Jim Kay, the same man who is in the process of creating the illustrated editions of the Harry Potter series).

The monster showed up just after midnight. As they do. But it isn't the monster Conor's been expecting. He's been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he's had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming... The monster in his back garden, though, this monster is something different. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor. It wants the truth.

Costa Award winner Patrick Ness spins a tale from the final idea of much-loved Carnegie Medal winner Siobhan Dowd, whose premature death from cancer prevented her from writing it herself. Darkly mischievous and painfully funny, A Monster Calls is an extraordinarily moving novel of coming to terms with loss from two of our finest writers for young adults.

Visit Patrick Ness' website for more information

Have you read A Monster Calls? If so I'd love to know what you thought of it! Are you as excited about the movie as I am?

Movie Review - The Choice - Based on a Novel by Nicholas Sparks (+ UK Giveaway for 3 copies of the DVD!)

Out on Digital HD 27th June and on DVD 4th July

Based on the book by Nicholas Sparks

Based on the book by Nicholas Sparks, the author who brought us the much-loved classic romance The Notebook, comes THE CHOICE - A story about an irresistible attraction that transforms the lives of an unlikely couple, out to own on DVD and Digital HD this summer.

Travis Shaw (Benjamin Walker) is a young veterinarian committed only to meaningless flings that suit his carefree, solitary lifestyle. Convinced he doesn’t need a relationship, he prefers to flirt with exes and enjoy being a bit of a ladies man.

Meanwhile Gabby Holland (Teresa Palmer), a beautiful and ambitious medical student, is preparing to settle down with her committed long-term boyfriend (Tom Welling). When fate intervenes, and Gabby and Travis find themselves living next door to one another, nothing could have prepared them for the powerful chemistry that will turn their lives upside down. As they are forced to acknowledge their developing bond, the seemingly mismatched couple must face up to the choices that will change everything…

THE CHOICE Disc Information: 

Certificate: 12
DVD RRP: £19.99
Extra Features: Deleted scenes / Cinematic choices: Making The Choice / Nicholas Sparks with… / Choosing Home: Nicholas Sparks and North Carolina / Molly & Moby: Choice Dogs / Natalia Safran’s “Daylight” Music Video / Audio Commentary with Director Ross Katz and Actor Benjamin Walker

The Choice Trailer:



Review:

The Choice is classic Nicholas Sparks so if you're already a fan of his books and movies you're sure to love this one just just as much. While many people will say his movies are formulaic you can't deny their appeal. This has all the elements you need for in a romantic drama and gets bonus points for the super cute puppies in a basket! While the lead might not be who I would have initially picked, by the end of the movie he had definitely won me over. The Notebook may still be my favourite Sparks movie but this one is certainly worth a watch.

Giveaway:

The Choice is out to download from 27th June and on DVD from 4th July. To celebrate the release I have three copies of the DVD to giveaway to some of my UK followers thanks to Lions Gate Home Entertainment.

Giveaway terms & conditions:

• This giveaway is open to UK residents only.
• The giveaway closes on the 8th of July at 23:59 GMT
• You can enter using the Rafflecopter form below and the winners will be chosen at random via Rafflecopter and contacted soon after the giveaway ends for their contact information.
• You will have 48 hours to respond to my email or new winners will be chosen.
• The prize will be sent directly from my contact at Lions Gate Home Entertainment so by entering the giveaway you are giving me permission to share your contact details if you win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book & Movie Review: The Martian - Andy Weir

I'm stranded on Mars.

I have no way to communicate with Earth.

I'm in a Habitat designed to last 31 days.

If the Oxygenator breaks down, I'll suffocate. If the Water Reclaimer breaks down, I'll die of thirst. If the Habitat breaches, I'll just kind of explode.

If none of these things happen, I'll eventually run out of food and starve to death.

So Yeah. I'm screwed.

Visit Andy Weir's blog for more information

Review:
Mark Watney is part of a six man mission to Mars, the plan is to spend thirty days on the planet carrying out various experiments but just six days into the mission a major storm changes their plans and they have to evacuate. Unfortunately Mark has an accident as they're leaving and the others, presuming he's dead, are forced to leave him behind. Now Mark is trapped, completely alone on a planet over 50 million miles from home with no way to contact Earth. He's in a habitat that's only designed for short term use and he only has enough supplies to last a year (and that's if he rations them!). That might not be so bad if the next mission from Earth wasn't four years away but as things stand he's completely screwed.

What follows is a bit like Robinson Crusoe on Mars only Mark's chances of survival are much, much lower, in fact he's facing pretty impossible odds whichever way you choose to look at things. The good news is that Mark is well trained, he's a mechanical engineer and a botanist which might just save his life. If Mark can figure out a way to grow crops on a planet with no soil he might be able to make enough food to stay alive long enough for a rescue mission to reach him. Of course it's not quite as simple as that and there are lots of other issues to deal with but food has got to be one of the top priorities.

The Martian is one of my favourite books of 2015, I wanted to read it after seeing trailers for the movie but I had no idea how much I'd end up loving it. Mark's story captured me from the very first page and I absolutely devoured it. The main part of the book is told in the form of Mark's daily mission logs but as we get further along and people on Earth realise he survived the initial accident we start to see what's happening at the NASA base and how they are doing their best to rescue him. It's funny because The Martian is quite a science heavy story which isn't usually the kind of thing that appeals to me but the science is told in such a straightforward and personable manner that I didn't find it at all overwhelming. In fact I was just fascinated by Mark's thought processes and the various tasks and goals he set himself in order to survive.

Mark's a great narrator, he's in this horrendous situation with very little chance of actually surviving but he still manages to keep his sense of humour and I was surprised how many times I laughed while reading this book. Nothing quite goes to plan for him though, every time he solves one problem and thinks he has things figured out something will happen that throws everything back up in the air again. Mars is an incredibly hostile environment and I think the planet is trying to tell him something - humans just aren't meant to survive out there.

Considering I picked this book up on a whim to read before the movie came out I'm still surprised by how much I loved it but it's a story I'd recommend to everyone. There was just something about it that completely caught my attention and I loved every minute of it. While I'm on the subject of the movie I thought they did an excellent job with the adaptation. Obviously it doesn't follow the story 100% but movies never do, it included all of the major plot points though and more importantly it captured the feel of the book. The special effects are phenomenal and I loved Matt Damon's portrayal of Mark. Both the book and the movie are well worth checking out, personally I'd recommend reading the book first but I think that pretty much goes without saying!

Just in case I haven't convinced you here's the movie trailer to really catch your interest.



Source: Purchased

Other reviews of this book:
Hot Listens
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Movie Trailer: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Okay so I'm sure everyone has already seen this by now but I HAD to share the first trailer for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. I'm already desperate to see this movie and it's not out for nearly a year - the wait is going to be unbearable!!



The movie is going to be epic & I can't wait! Just have a look at the photo gallery on the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them movie website & I'm sure you'll agree :o)

I have to admit that I've not actually read the book yet though. Sacrilege really considering what a huge Harry Potter fan I am but I've not read any of the Hogwarts Library books yet, I did treat myself to the box set for Christmas though so I'm definitely going to be reading them ready for the movie release!

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Book To Movie Adaptations I Still Need To Watch

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week has a different theme & you can find all the details about how to join in HERE.

Today's topic is Ten Book To Movie Adaptations I Still Need To Watch and when I sat down to think about it I was surprised just how many movies I still need to get around to. Unfortunately in most cases I still need to read the books too which is why I've been putting them off LOL.

1. The Book Thief

I first read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak about seven years ago and I absolutely loved it, it's a incredibly emotional story and one I've actually been meaning to reread for a long time now. As soon as I first saw the trailer I wanted to watch the movie, in fact it was one I had planned to see at the cinema but for some reason I never quite got around to it.

2. The Fault in Our Stars

I'm ashamed to admit that I've never read a John Green book (and yes I do know that is a terrible thing for a book blogger to admit!) but I've heard amazing things about both The fault in Our Stars and Paper Towns. To be honest I put off watching both movies because I've not read the books but I know that they're the kind of thing I need to be in the right mood for so I'll keep holding off until the right moment.

3. How to Train Your Dragon

I've not read the books in this series either but I love dragons and having seen a few episodes of the cartoon with my friend's son I know I'm going to enjoy the movies.

4. Twilight Breaking Dawn Part 2

I'll always have a soft spot for the Twilight books, they may not be the best books ever written and looking back now there are a lot of things that disturb me about the relationship between Bella and Edward but the books got me reading again and for that I'll always be grateful. I don't love the movies but I've watched the other 3 so I feel like I need to see it through to the end!

5. The Host

I'm sure it won't be a surprise when I say that I haven't read The Host yet (even though it's been on my to read pile since 2010!) but I've heard great things about both the book and the movie so I really do need to get around to it.

6. Vampire Academy

I absolutely LOVE Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series so I was really excited when I found out they were making a movie. Okay so I know the movie was a flop and I've not heard great things about it but it's still one I want to watch one day.

7. Warm Bodies

I had mixed feelings about Warm Bodies, I loved the main character and I enjoyed reading his story but the whole zombie / human romance aspect just made me cringe. I wasn't interested in the movie at first but my friend told me it was fantastic so I promised her I'd give it a try.

8. The Notebook

Another embarrassing fact about me - I have never read a Nicholas Sparks book! I can practically hear you all gasping in shock but it's true. I've heard great things about The Notebook though, both the book and the movie so again it's one I really feel like I should watch at some point.

9. Beautiful Creatures

This is another series I've been wanting to read for a long time but haven't quite got to yet. I refuse to watch the movie until I've read the first book though.

10 (& 11). The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

I absolutely loved the Chronicles of Narnia growing up, I reread all the books again and again and even have my Dad's copies from when he was at school tucked away in a box somewhere. So, I'm not quite sure why I never got around to watching the movies when they were released but I really must get to them one day.

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As a bonus I thought I'd include a couple of movies that haven't been released yet but that I'm REALLY excited about:

Victor Frankenstein - December 2015

Pride Prejudice & Zombies - February 2016

These both look AMAZING and I definitely need to try and watch them at the cinema :o)

So what do you think? If you've seen any of these I'd love to know what you thought of them (please keep it spoiler free though!). Did some of them make your list? What other movies would you recommend?

News: Cover Reveals, Signing Details, Movie Trailers & More

I absolutely loved Sarah J Maas's debut novel Throne of Glass (read my review here) and have been looking forward to getting my hands on the sequel Crown of Midnight ever since I finished the last page! Unfortunately we still have a little while to wait (the UK release date is the 15th of August) but the cover has now been revealed so I wanted to share it with you:

In case you haven't already seen it here is the blurb for Crown of Midnight:

Eighteen-year-old Celaena Sardothien is bold, daring and beautiful – the perfect seductress and the greatest assassin her world has ever known. But though she won the King’s contest and became his champion, Celaena has been granted neither her liberty nor the freedom to follow her heart. The slavery of the suffocating salt mines of Endovier that scarred her past is nothing compared to a life bound to her darkest enemy, a king whose rule is so dark and evil it is near impossible to defy. Celaena faces a choice that is tearing her heart to pieces: kill in cold blood for a man she hates, or risk sentencing those she loves to death. Celaena must decide what she will fight for: survival, love or the future of a kingdom. Because an assassin cannot have it all . . . And trying to may just destroy her.

Love or loathe Celaena, she will slice open your heart with her dagger and leave you bleeding long after the last page of the highly anticipated sequel in what is undeniably THE hottest new fantasy series.

What do you think of the cover? I LOVE it and I'm now even more excited to get my hands on the book! This goes so well with the UK cover of Throne of Glass (see left) but I think I love the bright reds even more than I liked the blues of the previous cover.

Here is a bit more information about the series in case you've not started reading it yet (links take you to my reviews)

Throne of Glass Series:
The Assassin and the Pirate Lord (Novella)
The Assassin and the Desert (Novella)
The Assassin and the Underworld (Novella)
The Assassin and the Empire (Novella)
Throne of Glass
Crown of Midnight (August 2013)

Visit Sarah J Maas' website for more information

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Fans of Michael Grant will be pleased to know he is visiting the UK next week and will be making a number of public appearances. Unfortunately I won't be able to attend any of the events myself but I've included the details below in case anyone is interested:

Wednesday 24th April - Waterstones Piccadilly
6.30pm
In conversation with journalist Lucy Mangan

Saturday 27th April - signing at Muswell Hill bookshop
4pm- 5pm
72 Fortis Green Rd London, Greater London N10 3HN

Monday 29th April - Waterstones Plymouth (65-69 George Street, PL1 1RJ)
6.30 – 7.30pm
Talk

Thursday 2nd May - Eason O’Connell, Dublin
6pm
Talk and Q & A

Friday 3rd May - Eason Dundrum, Dublin
4pm
public signing

You can find out more about Michael Grant's books on his website

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I've been reading a lot of contemporary romance books recently but I have to admit that I have been absolutely devouring the huge range of New Adult books that are currently being published (read my NA reviews here). I know there is a lot of confusion over what makes a story New Adult rather than Young Adult or Adult so I thought I'd point you in the direction of this USA Today article which I think explains things really well. You can have a read through some of my NA reviews for some recommendations but my favourites include Hopeless by Colleen Hoover, Losing It by Cora Carmack, The Secrets of Ella and Micha by Jessica Sorensen and Easy by Tammara Webber.

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Have you seen the latest trailer for the City of Bones movie? OMG it looks so good & I'm just dying to see it when it comes out!! For once they're releasing a film of a book that I've already read so I don't have any catching up to do (I still haven't managed to read or watch The Host or Beautiful Creatures so I'm falling really far behind LOL!).

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I can't write a news post without including the first teaser trailer for the Catching Fire movie! I loved the Hunger Games film so can't wait for this to hit the big screens (although I really should make sure I read the book before then LOL). I'm sure most of you have already seen this but just in case you haven't here it is:

 

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Last but by no means least did you see the fantastic video posted on the USA Today website revealing the title for the third and final book in Veronica Roth's Divergent series? I'm a huge fan of this series (Hooray for Team Candor UK) so I can't wait to get my hands on the last book! What do you think of the title Allegiant? According to Dictionary.com this is the definition of allegiant:

We already know that Tris is extremely loyal to her friends and the people she cares about but what do you think the title means for the end of the series? Do you think it gives us any clues about what is going to happen next? How do you think the title fits with the rest of the series (Divergent & Insurgent)? I'm a little disappointed that the new title doesn't end in ENT but when you actually say Allegiant out loud I think it fits and if you say all three titles one after the other it flows quite nicely.

Book Review & Movie Comparison: The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien

This is the story of how a Baggins had an adventure, and found himself doing and saying things altogether unexpected . . .

Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely travelling further than the pantry of his hobbit-hole in Bag End. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard, Gandalf, and a company of thirteen dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day, to whisk him away on a journey 'there and back again'. They have a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon . . .

The prelude to The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit has sold many millions of copies since its publication in 1937, establishing itself as one of the most beloved and influential books of the twentieth century.

The Middle-Earth Universe:
The Hobbit
The Fellowship of the Ring
The Two Towers
The Return of the King
The Silmarillion

Visit J.R.R. Tolkien's website for more information

Review:
I've lost count of the number of times I've read The Hobbit over the years, it was the book that started my love of all things fantasy and it was always a go to book that I could read again and again as I was growing up. It must have been at least 5 years since I last read it though so I wanted to pick it up again before going to see the movie. It doesn't matter how many times I pick it up I still love it as much as the first and it always surprises me how many little details I forget between readings.

I know that most people have already read the story but if you're one of the few who haven't then I'd highly recommend it. It's a great story for adults but I also think it makes fantastic bed time reading with children because it's such a fun adventure story. There is a reason it's considered a classic! The last thing Bilbo Baggins is looking for is an adventure, he is quite happy living in his hobbit hole enjoying plenty of food and good company when he wants it (which is not too often thank you very much). When Gandalf arrives with a party of thirteen dwarves Bilbo is convinced they have come to the wrong person for help but the more he learns about their quest to re-claim their lands from the dragon who stole them the more curious he becomes and in the end he can't resist joining them.

Bilbo is the least likely of heroes, he doesn't consider himself particularly brave or smart and he has practically no experience of travelling or fighting, but when it comes down to it the dwarves wouldn't have got very far without him. I always enjoy seeing Bilbo reach is full potential, he goes on a journey of personal discovery and proves to everyone just what a strong character he is. The story isn't as dark or scary as the Lord of the Rings books are and is suitable for a younger audience but it is still quite scary in places and the scenes with Gollum are particularly creepy. I love the riddle contest between Bilbo and Gollum but have to admit that I'd be hopeless at figuring out the answers myself if I was in Bilbo's place! The Hobbit is such an enjoyable story and a great introduction to the Lord of the Rings books, I really think I'm going to have to re-read those this year too!

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:







I mentioned that my main reason for re-reading the book was because I wanted to go and see The Hobbit movie. My Dad, brother and I are all huge fans of the Lord of the Rings films and going to see them was always a family outing so we wanted to carry on that tradition with The Hobbit. As much as I love the LoTRs movies they had to leave out quite a lot of events because of the pure scale of the world building in the books - there was no way to fit it all into a 3 hour film even if they wanted to - so I was really pleased when I found out that they were splitting the The Hobbit into 3 separate films. The only downside to that is that we are going to have to wait so long to see all of them but if the first instalment is anything to go by then the rest will be worth the wait.

I didn't quite manage to finish re-reading the book before we saw the film but I was well over halfway through so I had made it further in the story than the movie does. I have to say I was impressed with how well they kept to the storyline. Yes there were a couple of differences, the main one being Thorin's attitude to Bilbo which I did feel a little disappointed with, but over all they stuck quite closely to the plot and I could see the reason for the changes that they had made. Anyone who has watched the LoTRs films will already be familiar with Bilbo, Gandalf and of course Gollum but I really enjoyed getting to know the younger Bilbo on screen. I also really liked the way they had tied the two sets of films together by starting the story with the older version of Bilbo writing about his adventures and by including both Elrond and Galadriel.

I absolutely loved all the dwarves too, I had a little trouble keeping the names straight in my head as I was watching but I think that will come with time and my favourites were without a doubt Bofur & Kili (yes I do have a bit of a thing for Irish accents!). I'm already really looking forward to watching the next two films and will definitely be watching this one again when it comes out on DVD.

Upcoming Book to Movie Adaptations I can't wait to watch!

Since I've stumbled across quite a few movie trailers recently I thought it might be nice to share them here & find out which ones you're all looking forward to watching.

The Hobbit - December 2012

I have to say the one I'm most excited about is The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, I've read the book several times over the years (in fact I must re-read it soon before the film comes out!) and have always been a massive fan of this and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I love the LotR films so I have very high hopes that The Hobbit will be just as good if not better and watching the following trailers has only increased my excitement!

Warm Bodies - February 2013

I have to admit I'm not so sure about Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion, the fact that there is a romance between a human girl and the zombie who ate her boyfriend made me feel more than a little squeamish when I read the book (you can read my review here). However in spite of not being keen on the romance I did find that there was something incredibly compelling about the book, it was very well written and really made you think about the things that are important and what it is that makes us human. From the trailer it looks like the film stays very true to the book (although you can never be 100% sure of that until you've see the whole thing) and I am very curious about it. I don't think I'll be booking advance tickets for as soon as this one comes out but if the reviews are good then I might just give it a chance.

Beautiful Creatures - February 2013

I already posted the trailer for Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl but I couldn't really post about films I'm excited about without mentioning it again. Now the Beautiful Creatures series is one I've been wanting to read for ages but for some reason have never got around to. It looks like I'm going to have to hurry up and read at least the first book though because I don't want to miss the movie! Don't forget I currently have a UK giveaway for all 4 books in the Beautiful Creatures series that you can enter here (giveaway closes on the 5th of December)

The Host - March 2013

The Host by Stephenie Meyer is another one of those books that I bought years ago but have never got around to reading. I'm not even sure why because I've heard really good things about it & I read the Twilight series multiple times before I started blogging (don't judge, I know the series isn't perfect and not everyone loves it but it got me back into reading again after a long break so it'll always have a special place in my heart!). Anyway, I think the film looks awesome so it's another book I need to hurry up and read!

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones - August 2013

It may not be out until August but I'm already incredibly excited about City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, I love the books (read my review of City of Bones here) and think the film will be fantastic! I have a feeling that with so many fans of the series out there this is going to be one of the must see summer smash hits.



There really are some awesome book to movie adaptations coming out next year aren't there! Of course I'm also really looking forward to Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, I couldn't find a trailer for that one yet though but I'll be sure to post it on the blog when I come across it. Are there any other films coming out that I've forgotten about? Which of these are you most excited about?

Cover Reveal: New Beautiful Creatures movie tie-in cover + UK Giveaway to win all 4 books in the series! #beautifulcreatures

On 13th February 2013 the internationally best-selling novel Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl becomes a major Alcon Entertainment and Warner Bros blockbuster, directed by Oscar nominated Richard LaGravenese (P.S I Love You) and featuring an all star cast including Emma Thompson, Jeremy Irons, Viola Davies and hot young Hollywood talent Alice Englert, Alden Ehrenreich and Emmy Rossum.

To celebrate Penguin will be republishing Beautiful Creatures on the 3rd of January with a fabulous new cover to tie in with the movie. Today I'm very excited to be taking part in the global cover reveal so without further ado check out the fantastic new cover:

So what do you think? Stunning isn't it and it really captures the feel of the film! In case you haven't already seen the official movie trailer I thought it would be nice to include it here for you. I know this is a film I can't wait to go and see as soon as it's released!!



Giveaway Details:

Thanks to the lovely folks at Penguin I have a fabulous giveaway for my UK blog readers.

• One lucky winner will win paperback copies of all four books in the Beautiful Creatures series by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl - Beautiful Creatures, Beautiful Darkness, Beautiful Chaos and Beautiful Redemption!
• The winner's prize will be sent out directly by my contact at Penguin so the winner must give me permission to pass their address on.
• To enter please use the rafflecopter below to confirm that you are a UK resident, there are optional extra entries for following or tweeting about the giveaway but these are not required to enter.
• Duplicate and invalid entries will be deleted and the winner will be chosen at random from all remaining entries.
• The giveaway will close at 12:01am EST on the 5th of December 2012 and the winner will be contacted soon afterwards. You will have 48 hours to reply to me with your address or a new winner will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists - Gideon Defoe

It is 1837, and for the luxuriantly bearded Pirate Captain and his rag-tag pirate crew, life on the high seas has become a little dull.  With nothing to do but twiddle their hooks and lounge aimlessly on tropical beaches, the Captain decides it's time they had an adventure.

A surprisingly successful boat raid leads them to the young Charles Darwin, in desperate need of their help.  And so the pirates set forth for London in a bid to save the scientist from the evil machinations of a diabolical Bishop.  There they encounter grisly murder, vanishing ladies, the Elephant Man - and have an exciting trip to the zoo.

The Pirates Series:
Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists
Pirates! In an Adventure with Moby Dick
Pirates! In an Adventure with Communists
Pirates! In an Adventure with Napoleon
Pirates! In an Adventure with the Romantics (September 2012)

Visit Gideon Defoe's website for more information.  You can find out more about the Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists movie here.

Review:
I don't really know where to start writing a review for Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists. When I was sent a review copy I have to admit that the cover didn't really catch my attention, in fact I doubt I'd have picked it up if I hadn't realised that the book is the inspiration for the new Aardman animation.  As soon as I saw the movie trailer I knew that I had to read the book and I'm really glad that I did.

What other book are you going to find that includes pirates, Charles Darwin, the elephant man, a man-panzee and a dodgy Bishop?  The Pirate Captain and his loyal crew are getting a bit bored of sitting around enjoying their spoils and are looking for a new adventure.  They get a little more than they bargained for when they raid a boat full of scientists and end up agreeing to help Charles Darwin.  In an adventure that takes them from the Galapagos Islands to the heart of London they must try to foil the plans of the devious Bishop and if they're lucky figure out who is behind the spate of murders before one of their own becomes the latest victim.

Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists is a completely crazy but laugh out loud funny read.  You'll have no hope of figuring out where the plot will take you next as it wanders off in completely unexpected directions.  Amusing, fun and light hearted this book doesn't take itself seriously and at under 200 pages can easily be read in a couple of hours.  I'm looking forward to my next adventure with the Pirate Captain and his crew!

In case you haven't already seen it here is the trailer for the Pirates! In an adventure with Scientists animation which hits cinemas in the UK on the 23rd of March.  I know it's one I want to go and see!



Source: Received from Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Hunger Games Movie Teaser Trailers

Most of my blogging friends have been raving about Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games series for as long as I can remember. In fact some of them (I think Lynsey from Narratively Speaking and Caroline from Portrait of a Woman were the main instigators!) insisted I bought the whole trilogy back in 2010 but for some reason I never got around to reading it.  I think I was probably a bit nervous because everyone had raved about it so much - I didn't want to be the only one who didn't like it! 

Well, it's only a month until the Hunger Games film releases and I've been dying to see it ever since I first saw the trailer so I thought I really should get around to reading at least the first book.  I finished it last week & guess what - it lived up to the hype!  I'll be posting my review later today but in the meantime I wanted to share the movie trailer here (it gives me a good excuse to watch it again lol). 



Make sure you keep an eye on the Hunger Games Facebook page for all the latest information.  There will also be updates on both the Scholastic Twitter page and the UK Hunger Games Twitter page.

So who else is dying to see this film?  I'm sure I'm not the only one!