...in books

TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by the amazing Ginger at GReads!

This week's question is:

Choose Your Next Read: How do you go about choosing what you read next? Do you have a schedule you follow, or do you read whatever makes you happy at the moment?

I am a picky reader! If a book doesn’t suit my mood I will not start it or put it away after a few pages. So I can’t have a list of books to read or a schedule. At the beginning of summer I made a list of books I wanted to read during the summer – about 10 to 12 really good books I was looking forward to reading – and I only read one of them.

I am clearly one of those girls who stare at their bookshelf for a long long time and decide what to read spontaneously. This sometimes lead to funny situations in the middle of the night when I just need to get one specific book down from my shelf (which is as high as my apartment) and then it slips out of my hand and falls to the floor and wakes my dog who comes checking on me if I survived yet another night of bookish craziness.

The most horrible thing that can happen to me is when I am out for a whole day and my commute to university or work takes longer, I have time to read during between classes or at lunch and I finish my book before I’m home again. A good friend of mine always tells me that listening music is as good as reading (okay, he says it’s better than reading but what does he know, right?) but not for me. I hate it when I don’t have anything to read or if a have to buy a book when I’m in a hurry because then it usually is one I end up not liking so much.

To sum up my rambling and answer the question really quickly: I pick whatever suits my mood and appeals to me the moment I finish a book!

My Life...in pictures

Just a quick info for all of you as to why there is nothing much happening here this week: 

This week is a really hectic one at work for me because here in Austria some students who failed school last year (which means in June) get the chance to prove via an exam on Monday or Tuesday that they learned all the things the missed and after they passed this exam they are able to attend school again and don't have to repeat. Which means if you fail 7th grade and pass the exam you can attend 8th grade but if you fail you have to do 7th grade all over again. As I am working as an English tutor, which is one of the two subjects most students fail here (second one is Maths), I work and prepare and correct a lot of papers this week so I will not post regularly but everything should be back to normal on Monday and then I'll be able to write some reviews again.

I just realized that I haven't even posted last week's picture for the Photochallenge - ups, sorry guys!

Here are my  

Clouds

...in books

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and Bookish.

Usually I write a short introduction about how hard it is to come up with ten different ______ (fill in the blank with last weeks TTT questions) but not this week - this week was so easy. 

This week's question is:

Top Ten Bookish Confessions

1. It'll break some hearts but I break spines! Yes, I am one of those horrible people. If I am not breaking the spine of a book I am so happy and really really pround of me. 
2. Taking a book with me everywhere I go is a must but I just toss them in my bag without protection (sometimes they look horrible and it breaks my heart but I never changed the way I treat them). 
3. If I can choose between buying a hardback or a paperback I will always choose the paperback. They are not as heavy as hardbacks, not as bulky, not as expensive and as a girl that always carries a book in her already heavy bag every gramm the book is lighter feels like a ton was lifted from my shoulders.
4. I can't start a book series as physical books and read the later ones on my Kindle (even if it is a series I really don't like that much). They don't have to have matching covers, be the same size or publisher but they should at least be the same format. 
5. I have absolutely no control over my book buying habits. My name is Karin and I am a Bookaholic! I never leave a bookstore without buying at least one book (okay, maybe it happend twice in my life). 
6. I spend way more on books than on clothes, shoes and bags together and I have a lot of bags!
7. I hate lending books to anyone. No one is worth of reading my books. 
8. I buy books I have on my Kindle as "real" books if I really love them. Your special books need to be on your shelves, right?
9. I can't have my mum (btw the only person whom I lend books to) read a book of mine I haven't read - must read them first (imagine roboter voice here). 
10. I haven't organized my shelves at all but I know where each and every book has its home. 

I would love to include my huuuuuge TBR (to-be-read) pile but nobody can compete with Kat's! Go check out her Bookish Confessions at The Aussie Zombie and follow her. She is so amazing, hillarious and super sweet! One of my fav book bloggers out there.

...in books

Showcase Sunday is weekly meme hosted by Vicky at Books, Biscuits & Tea which was inspired by In My Mailbox from Kristie at The Story Siren.

It is a possibility for us to show what amazing books we got during the week. 

 

Okay guys, I was on a serious book buying shopping spree thingy as always when I visit London (oh my, all this amazing English books). I was in heaven! Here are all the books I bought during the last 10 days. 

Attention, LONG list ahead!

Bought before I left for London:

Lost in Austen by Emma Campbell Webster

Ten Minutes to Fall in Love by Julia Llewellyn

Inter Rail by Alessandro Gallenzi

Bought in London:

Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator by Roald Dahl

Personally, I Blame my Fairy Godmother by Claudia Carroll

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

I was Jane Austen’s Best Friend by Cora Harrison

You don’t have to say you love me by Sara Manning

Dreamless by Josephine Angelini

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Dani from Pen to Paper recommended it to me

Welcome to my world by Miranda Dickson

Educating Jack by Jack Sheffield

Timeless by Gail Carriger

The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man by Mark Hodder

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley

All Teachers Wise and Wonderful by Andy Seed

I’m the Vampire that’s Why by Michele Bardsley

Bought after I came back – I know – I’m a real book addict:

Fated by Benedict Jacka

It happened in Venice by Molly Hopkins

Ali McNamara blurrbed it so I had to have it

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

...in pictures

This week's topic is:

Shopping / Einkaufen

Please link you post to mine in time.
Submission period is between the 24th of August and the 1st of September.  
(11:59 pm CET)

I would like to ask you all if you have any ideas for topics for the following months. I am sure that each and every one of us has this one (or more) topic she wants to see transfered into a picture by us all. It would be great if you would leave me a comment and tell me your favorite topic so that I can include them in our Photochallenge!

...in books

TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by the amazing Ginger at GReads!

This week she wants to know:

Back to School Reading: 

Which books would you like to see in today's high school Literature classroom?

Unfortunately here in Austria reading English books in school is something that happens rarely or never. I think I read 4 English books in school during my 8 years of high school. I hope that I can change this mentality when I am finally teaching.

What I would like to read with kids (yes, they all will love to read so I can also read huge books with them):

Die for me by Amy Plum

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare 

 When you reach me by Rebecca Serle 

(teach Romeo and Juliet's story from a different perspective - might be cool)

13 Little Blue Envelops by Maureen Johnson 

(right before the holidays)

...in books

Cover Reveal

 

Timeless is the third book in the Transcend Time Saga by Michelle Madow after Remembrance (read my review here) and Vengeance (read my review here). It will be published on the 20th of November 2012 and I cannot wait to read it. I just love Michelle's writing! I also did an author interview with her in June (you can check it out here) and she is the nicest person ever. So go check out her Blog, her Facebook and Twitter page.

...in books

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and Bookish.

This week's question is:

Top Ten Favorite Books You've Read During The Lifespan Of Your Blog 

My top TEN books I read during the last 16 months...are you kidding me? Only 10? I'll try my best!

Here is are my Top Ten YA Novels I read during the last 16 months

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Rememberance by Michelle Madow

Die For Me by Amy Plum

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

13 Little Blue Envelops by Maureen Johnson

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

City of Bones, City of Ashes and Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

and here are my Top Ten Adult Books I read in the last 16 months:

A Taste For It by Monica McInerney
The Year of the Unexpected by Erica Bauermeister
Friendship Bread by Darien Gee
Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis
Soulless by Gail Carriger
Breakfast at Darcy's by Ali McNamara
Exclusively yours and Undeniably Yours by Shannon Stacey
Remember Me? and I've got your number by Sophie Kinsella

...in books

Author: Ali McNamara

by Dan Martland

Ali is the author of the wonderful novels "From Notting Hill with Love...Actually" (read my review here) and "Breakfast at Darcy's" (read my review here). Her new novel "From Notting Hill to New York...Actually" will be published on November 22nd 2012. 

Your next book “From Notting Hill to New York … actually” will be out this November. How long does it take you to write a book (from the idea to the printed book)?

Difficult to say from the initial idea, as I have them floating around all the time! But from research to completed manuscript about a year.

What inspires you to write?

So many stories to tell, so little time to do it in!

How is your typical day when you are writing?

I don’t have one. I’m a very disorganised writer and don’t have a particular routine, (I sometimes wish I did!) But it seems to get done!

And when you are not writing?

I like to exercise and keep fit; either in the gym, or by cycling, or walking my dogs.

Who is your favourite characters of the books you wrote and why?

Definitely Oscar from From Notting Hill with Love…Actually. He was so popular with readers in the first book, that he plays a much bigger part in the new sequel. He can get away with saying all sorts of things that my other characters wouldn’t be able to!

I have the impression that you treasure contact with your readers and that you are an author who tries to reply to all your readers via Twitter, Facebook, E-Mail, etc. and you have an amazing homepage that is updated almost daily, right? How important is the contact to your readers to you?

Very. Getting feedback from them is one of the best things about what I do. The fact that people take the time to write to me means so much it’s the least I can do to reply, and I try to, to everyone.

Being a writer is a dream job for almost every book addict. What would you be if not a writer?

I’d like to write film scripts, or develop concepts for new TV shows. I have so many ideas floating around in my head, its not thinking of ideas to write about, it’s finding the time to put them all down on paper!

Do you have a favorite author or book?

Enid Blyton. I loved her books as a child!

If you could be part of any book ever written (as long as you want – doesn’t have to be forever) which one would you chose and why?

Toughie! Probably Pride & Prejudice. It would be lovely to dress up in the costumes of the day, speak to each other in that wonderful language, and obviously fall in love with a gorgeous, yet brooding Mr Darcy!

Do you have plans for a new book yet?

Yes, I’m currently working on my fourth novel, due out in November 2013!

Thank you Ali for doing this interview! 

I am looking forward to reading your new novel!

...in books

Showcase Sunday is weekly meme hosted by Vicky at Books, Biscuits & Tea which was inspired by In My Mailbox from Kristie at The Story Siren.

It is a possibility for us to show what amazing books we got during the week.

This week was a slow one for me and I got only one book but what a book!

I'm sure that next week's Showcase Sunday will be quite a large one, 

so swing by again next Sunday!

...in pictures

This week's topic is:

Clouds / Wolken

Please link you post to mine in time.
Submission period is between the 17th and the 25th of August.  
(11:59 pm CET)

I would like to ask you all if you have any ideas for topics for the following months. I am sure that each and every one of us has this one (or more) topic she wants to see transfered into a picture by us all. It would be great if you would leave me a comment and tell me your favorite topic so that I can include them in our Photochallenge!

...in books

TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by the amazing Ginger at GReads!

This week she wants us to

Pimp Your Review: 

Feature a favourite book review you've written in the past that you feel deserve more love! 

 

Review

Die for Me

by Amy Plum

The author:

Amy Plum is the author of the International Bestseller Die for Me, which is an Indie Next List pick, Romance Times top pick, and recipient of a starred review from School Library Journal. Die for Me is the first novel in a YA trilogy set in Paris. The second, Until I Die, was released in May 2012.

After being raised in Birmingham, Alabama, in a rather restrictive environment, Amy Plum escaped to Chicago to an even more restrictive environment at a university that expelled people for dancing. (And where she was called to the dean’s office for “wearing too much black”.) After all of that restrictiveness, she was forced to run far far away, specifically to Paris, France, where she only wore black and danced all she wanted.

After five years in Paris, she ventured to London, where she got an M.A. in Medieval Art History, specializing in Early Sienese Painting (1260-1348) mainly because it promised almost no hope of finding a paying job afterward.

Amy managed to find work in the world of art and antiques in New York. But after almost a decade of high-pressure lifestyle in the Big Apple, she swapped her American city for a French village of 1300 inhabitants.

After signing with HarperCollins for the Die for Me series, Amy left her job as an English professor at Tours University to write full-time. She now splits her time between her centuries-old farmhouse in the countryside and Paris’s 11th arrondissement.

She is a huge fan of Edward Gorey and Maira Kalman (and collects both of their books/art), as well as David Sedaris, Amadeo Modigliani, and Ira Glass.

source: Amy’shomepage

(slightly adapted)

such a gorgeous cover

First sentence:

The first time I had seen the Statue in the fountain, I had no idea what Vincent was.

Summary:

When Kate Mercier’s parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life—and memories—behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate’s guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he’s a revenant—an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

source: Amy’s homepage

My opinion:

Die for me is a wonderful (love) story taking place in contemporary Paris – the City of Love. Kate’s parents died in a terrible car crash back in New York and she and her sister Georgia moved to Paris to live with their grandparents. Kate cannot enjoy her life after her parents’ death and just leaves the house after her grandmother asks her to do so. So she wanders to a café and reads there instead of at home in her bedroom. This is where she meets Vincent and because he lives in the neighbourhood they see each other more often by coincidence. Coincidence? Well maybe not, as we later learn.

This story is incredible because it introduces the reader to a new paranormal species – the revenants. They saved someone else from death and died instead. After three days they woke up again and are back on earth to save people from dying. The only way to kill them is to burn them.

This paranormal group of revenants can live just like us “normals” and most of the time they do but sometimes they need to save someone from death and disappear for three days.

The story of Kate and Vincent is an authentic one and throughout the book I was able to follow Kate’s decisions and I always thought that I would have done the same thing. She is a shy girl with an interest in books (does this have a familiar ring?) and arts and a broken heart after her parents’ horrible accident. Only after she meets Vincent Kate is able to laugh and enjoy herself again in the company of him and his kindred.

I would recommend Die for Me to everyone; especially to those who love reading paranormal novels. It is a wonderful and quick read with lots of twists and heartbreaking scenes and it will leave you wanting more.

Fortunately the second book in this trilogy Until I Die came out yesterday (May 8^th).

Die for Me is available at Amazon for $10,42/ EUR 9,20/ £4,47 and for your Kindle too. You can also buy it at Book Depo for $10,93/ EUR 8,30/ £6,75.

For more information visit Amy’s Homepage, follow her on Twitter and check her out on Facebook.

Here are some more links:

Vincent's Point of View 

Outtakes 

Die for Me Playlists 

...in pictures

This week's topic was 

Lines

These are the rails of the tram that I take to work on a daily basis. I had to wait for the train to arrive when I realised that I was starring at straight lines all the time. Got my camera and took this picture.

...in books

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and Bookish.

In honor of Jamie’s wedding on the 17^th this week’s list will show my

Top Ten Book Romances That You Think Would Make It In The Real World  

Anna from AnnaReads (visit her blog, it is one of the best) took a very realistic approach to this topic and ruled out any non-contemporary and non-classic romances, which I think, is a really good adjustment for this Top Ten Tuesday. If I also rule out first love than it is a really though decision but I will try to manage.

Maura and Dominic

A Taste for it by Monica McInerney

Stephanie and Joe

Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich

I think they would be the perfect real life on and off couple

Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Lee and Joe

A Chocoholic Mystery series by JoAnna Carl

Gretchen and Hinzel

Gretchen Sackmeier by Christine Nöstlinger

Those two have gone through so much that I wouldn’t count it as their first love but as a real adult steady relationship

By the way; 5 couples - top 10 - does that count?

...in pictures

This week's topic is:

Lines / Linien

Please link you post to mine in time.
Submission period is between the 10th and the 18th of August.

(11:59 pm CET)

I would like to ask you all if you have any ideas for topics for the following months. I am sure that each and every one of us has this one (or more) topic she wants to see transfered into a picture by us all. It would be great if you would leave me a comment and tell me your favorite topic so that I can include them in our Photochallenge!