In My Mailbox (Aug 14, 2011)

I've got a good stack of new books so I'm participating in In My Mailbox hosted by The Story Siren.

I went on a book shopping spree recently as I've been given book vouchers from kind-hearted souls. :) Here's what I bought and received from a giveaway (the books are in no particular order):

1. Speeches That Changed the World by Emma Beare
2. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
3. Postcards from No Man's Land by Aidan Chambers
4. Paper Towns by John Green
5. Looking for Alaska by John Green
6. The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman
7. The Cardturner by Louis Sachar
8. Life: An Exploded Diagram by Mal Peet
9. A Brief History of the Future by Stephen Clarke
10. The Help by Katheryn Stockett
11. The Bookseller of Kabul by Åsne Seierstad
12. The Writing Circle by Corinne Demas
13. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

I also bought Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella on my own.

A few days ago, I received two ARCs which I won at Lori's blog, Pure Imagination! Thanks, Lori!

1. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
2. Luminous by Dawn Metcalf

Whew! It's gonna take me awhile to finish all these books. 

Book Review: Beauty and the Beast

Do read this version of Beauty and the Beast that was written and translated into English way back in the 18th century. Be warned, there are no enchanted teapots or saucers or candlesticks in this story. Just Beauty, her father who is a merchant, Beauty's three brothers and two sisters and not forgetting the Beast. The book has around 20++ pages but I read the story on my Kindle. :) You can get the Kindle version for free from Amazon.

Check out my review on my book review blog!

ETA: I just watched the Disney cartoon. Really, really adore the library! Haha!

30-Day Book Meme

I have decided to participate in the 30-Day Book Meme. Its origins are unknown. I got to know about this meme when I stumbled upon Chimneys and Magic who is also doing the meme right now. It's for 30 days but I won't be posting every day to answer all the 30 questions in the meme though I'll try to be as regular as possible! :)

Day 01 - The best book you read last year

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (my review)

Some say that the main character, Holden Caulfield, is spoilt and repetitive, which is what he's like in the book. But it's just all the 'phoni-ness' of it that intrigued me and made me think that yes, that's how the world is right now.

This novel somehow left a huge impact on me after I finished the last page and I couldn't stop thinking about the story for days after.

----------
Day 02 – A book that you’ve read more than 3 times
Day 03 – Your favourite series
Day 04 – Favourite book of your favourite series
Day 05 – A book that makes you happy
Day 06 – A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 – Most overrated book
Day 09 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favourite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favourite writer
Day 14 – Favourite book of your favorite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

I was excited to read these books

This week's question from Booking Through Thursday:

What’s the last book you were really EXCITED to read?
And, were you excited about it in advance? Or did the excitement bloom while you were reading it?
Are there any books you’re excited about right NOW?

My answer:

I get excited to want to read different books from time to time. For example, I was really looking forward to reading Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl and The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. I've yet to get a copy of The Graveyard Book though and I have Beautiful Creatures but I have yet to read it.

Yup, I had been excited about them in advance. BC because of its beautiful cover and Graveyard because of rave reviews by bloggers.

Right now, I can't wait to read Lost Voices by Sarah Porter because it's a mermaid story. :) I've also just bought Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella. It's the last book in the Shopaholic series and I can't wait to read it.

The book in which love is a disease

I finished reading Delirium by Lauren Oliver two nights ago. I wished it was a stand-alone book but no, there will be two more books after it - Pandemonium and Requiem. The premise is good, what with love being identified as a disease. I couldn't wait to get started when I read the synopsis.

The book could have been better though. :/ Click here to check out my review.

Friday Finds (July 8, 2011)

Friday Finds hosted by Should Be Reading

Did you come across any good books this week? Here's what I found:






1. The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad2. The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman3. Life: An Exploded Diagram by Mal Peet4. The Writing Circle by Corinne Demas
Let me know what new books you just got to know about.