Sunday 25 July 2010

In My Mailbox 9

I've been terrible at updating this month! Since starting my new job it's like I've had no time to do anything. Well, I have had time, it just seems like I haven't because there's always so much to do.
I haven't bought many new books lately, which is unusual for me. I've only bought 1 book so far this month, usually I buy at least 10 a month! This week I bought this book from a charity shop, it sounded like a fun summer read.

The Wag's Diary (WAGs Diary, #1)The Wag's Diary by Alison Kervin

Tracie Martin is Luton Town's longest-serving WAG. For 12 years, team captain husband Dean has kept her in acrylic nails, UGG boots and Juicy Couture.
But with the start of the football season looming, there's a new breed of WAGs at LTFC who aren't quite playing by the rules. Standards are slipping and Wagdom is in crisis! To add insult to injury, Tracie's daughter Paskia-Rose is more interested in the offside rule than shopping.
What is a WAG to do?
Tracie decides to end this improper conduct by writing the ultimate guide to life for wannabe WAGs. Overnight, she finds herself propelled into the limelight, achieving the A-list status she has craved for so long. From Old Trafford to Baden-Baden, she's the talk of the town. But will fame and fortune bring Tracie more than she bargains for?
In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren

Wednesday 14 July 2010

Brilliant Book Blogger - Chicklish

Things have been very quiet around here lately, but don't panic, I do have some fantastic things coming soon, including a super secret project!

For today I have an interview with Luisa Plaja an author and book blogger who blogs at Chicklish.


Can you tell us a little bit about you and your blog? I'm Luisa Plaja, an author and book-lover. I founded Chicklish together with some other writers of teen fiction, including Keris Stainton, back in 2006. I run the site with help from Alexandra Fouracres and a fabulous team of reviewers. The reviewers are people of all ages, from 11 upwards, and the thing we have in common is that we all love reading and sharing our thoughts on books.

How would you describe your blog in 3 words? Fun, bright, bookish.

What's your favourite thing about having a book blog? Hearing from lovely authors and publicists, and getting comments and emails from readers. I think we're the longest-running teen book blog in Britain, and we still get comments on some of our earliest posts. I get the impression that people read a book, love it and look it up online to share the love. I'm so glad they find us! It's really one of the reasons I've kept going with the site - nothing beats hearing from enthusiastic readers.

When you're not blogging what are you doing? I'm mostly writing novels aimed at teenagers. :)

Do you prefer finishing a book or starting a new one? Finishing a book. I love satisfying endings.

What are your favourite books at the moment? My taste in books hasn't really changed over the years, though I've had some different phases. My favourite kinds of books are usually light-hearted and look at family relationships, friendships and romance. In general, I prefer books that make me smile and laugh to books that make me sniff and cry. In the end, though, a good book is a good book, whatever the genre!

If you could live in any book, which would it be and why? That's a lovely question! I don't think I can answer it, because my answer will change every time I finish a fabulous book where I've really connected with the characters.

What advice would you give to a brand new book blogger? You could start by reviewing your favourite books, or books you've borrowed from the library, and build from there. You probably shouldn't expect to receive review books right away. Follow other blogs and comment on them - the book-blogging community is wonderful and very supportive!

If you could recommend one blog to us which would it be? There are so many blogs I love that I can't possibly narrow it down! Though maybe I'd suggest The Bookette, who has a fabulous blog and who also links to so many other brilliant British book blogs that her site is a great springboard to hours of book-blog reading. http://www.thebookette.co.uk/

Anything else you'd like to say? Thank you for interviewing me, and happy book blogging!

Thanks Luisa! If you're interested in being one of Literary Enchantment's Brilliant Book Bloggers please fill out this form.

Sunday 4 July 2010

In My Mailbox 8

It's been a fairly quiet week for books this week. I only got one, which I received through a swap.
Dissolution (Matthew Shardlake #1)
Dissolution by C.J. Sansom
The year is 1537, and the country is divided between those faithful to the Catholic Church and those loyal to the king and the newly established Church of England. When a royal commissioner is brutally murdered in a monastery on the south coast of England, Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII's feared vicar general, summons fellow reformer Matthew Shardlake to lead the inquiry. Shardlake and his young protégé uncover evidence of sexual misconduct, embezzlement, and treason, and when two other murders are revealed, they must move quickly to prevent the killer from striking again.
In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren.

Friday 2 July 2010

Monthly Round-up June 2010

For me, this month seemed to go on for ages. I think that's because a lot has happened this month.
Firstly, I completely overhauled the way my blog looked, giving it a brand new name and layout. Then I participated in Bloggiesta for the first time, which was great fun, and I got quite a bit of work done on the blog.
I had a giveaway for My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares, the lucky winner was Kailia Sage.
Finally, I've also introduced a new feature called 'Brilliant Book Bloggers' where I interview other book bloggers.

If you're wondering why the blog has been a bit quiet for the last week or so, it's because I've just started a new job, and I'm still adjusting to my new working hours. It's not just the hours that are affecting my blogging though, yesterday at work I spent the whole day typing, so by the time I got home the last thing I wanted to do was type even more! Anyway, I'm sure once I get used to it all, I'll be back blogging as normal.

Books read in June
Lottery by Patricia Wood
Nothing To Lose by Lee Child
Revelation by C.J. Sansom
Blue Heaven by C.J. Box
Code Name Mr Right by Jacqueline Harvey
Ape and Essence by Aldous Huxley
The Great Indoors by Sabine Durrant
The White Empress by Lyn Andrews
My So-Called Life by Joanna Nadin
Apple Pie by Small Stories
Straight Into Darkness by Faye Kellerman
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Cheerleader by Caroline B. Cooney
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Anne of Green Gables/Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery
Winter's Passage by Julie Kagawa
The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde

Total read: 17

Books reviewed in June
The Cheerleader by Caroline B. Cooney
Quantum Breach by Mark Powell
Maggie: A Girl of the Streets & Other Stories by Stephen Crane
Death in the Stocks by Georgette Heyer
The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares

Total reviewed: 6

My favourite book read this month was tough to pick because I read a lot of fantastic books this month. I think I'll have to pick The White Empress by Lyn Andrews. It was a wonderful story that I really loved.

Books received this month: 8
Books added to wishlist this month: 10

What's coming in July?
As I said earlier, having just started a new job, it might take me a few days to get back in to the habit of posting regularly. But once I do get posting again, there will of course be lots of reviews and you can also look forward to a Brilliant Book Blogger interview with Luisa from Chicklish.