Book 9 of 20: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Image from Amazon.

My plan, and it was a wonderful plan, was seeing as I was enjoying movies, I'd wait to read the books. Then, a friend I truly love, dropped the "I'm amazed you haven't read these yet" line, and that was it, that little gnat buzzing around my mind. I got home and started reading.

I got through this book in a day, as I couldn't put it down.

You know when you are really into a book, as you can see a 'movie' play in your head. I had the movie playing and I was enjoying the ride.

I am so happy I've read this and I urge you all to do the same.

Book 6 of 20: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon

Image taken from ebooks.bigw

I remember when this book came out in 2003, how every magazine I picked up had this book in it, and then I kept hearing people around me talk about it wherever I went. Fast forward to 2012, and whilst having coffee with my Auntie, this book came up in conversation, as she'd just finished reading it and couldn't praise it enough, she decided to buy it for me, as I hadn't read it yet. Once more, it became another book that was left sitting on my shelf.
And now to January 2014, whilst sat in the cinema, waiting for the stream of Coriolanus, live from the Donmar Theatre, to start I saw a trailer for the play of Curious Incident that would be coming in May as an encore playing of the show to be streamed in cinemas, and it caught my interest, and we decided that we'd go see it. So I resolved that I'd read the book before we watch the play.

Last night I finished reading it and I loved it. I think that I may have put off reading it for so long because of all of the hype that surrounds this book, and honestly, this book lives up to it.

It's a mystery novel, that is so innocently naive and quite humorous because of that, there's the added bonus that you may learn something from it like I did. It's a wonderful look into Christopher's mind, who has learning difficulties but it's never really revealed as which one it is.

I urge you all to read this, and I'm now really looking forward to seeing the play.

Book 4 of 20: The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin

The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin with an Introduction by Chuck Palahniuk

Image from www.theworks.co.uk

You know what? I rather enjoy the Nicole Kidman movie, I never realised it was based on a book, so now I get to see the root material and how the film compares.

The film is a comedy, whereas I've been told this is more sci-fi.

My edition of Stepford Wives has an introduction by Chuck Palahniuk, which gives a very interesting overview of the story and how it relates to us now, in this era, though it is pretty full of spoilers, so if you're going in with no idea of the story, I'd skip it if I were you and read it afterwards. In itself, the introduction is an interesting essay on the state of the current media, and is a rather eye opening piece of text.

Now I've finished reading it all I can say is how fantastic it is. How utterly amazing, thought provoking, suspenseful, scary and completely modern and relevant to today, despite first being published in 1972, that's 42 years ago.

I'm going to be honest here, I read it in one sitting. It's not a long book, and that's what appealed to me, but it's brilliant. I just had to keep reading it.

This is way scarier than the 2004 film. I may have to compare the two at some point. The ending to the film is so different to the book.

Read it.

Book 3 of 20: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Coraline and Stardust are two of my favourite films, I watch them over and over, but I realised that I hadn't read them, or any of Neil Gaiman's books and it was about time I did. So I popped down to my local bookstore and found a small selection of his books on a shelf.

One in particular stood out to me, and that one is the reason for this post. So let's jump into The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman and Illustrated by Dave McKean.

Image taken from Wikipedia

Straight from the off I was enchanted by the story, a little boy who grows up in a grave yard, and taught by ghosts is one of the most amazing sounding things I've ever heard. This is one of those wonderfully dark children's stories, that adults seem to really love. 

It's innocent enough for children, but with darker themes and adult can appreciate.

The story spans years of Bod's, short for Nobody Owens, life in the graveyard, discovering it's magic, adventures he has there and ultimately the reason that he's there.

I was so engrossed in this book that I stayed up until 3am reading it before I noticed the time. This is a book that is certainly worth your time.

And, if we're very lucky, Disney will soon be releasing a film adaptation of it.

Introductions

I, like many people, buy books with good intentions to read them, but never seem to make time to do so, I make a vow here, to the books on my shelves, to read them.

I am making a goal, that in 2014, I will read at least 20 books. 20 books that are new to me, re-reads will not be included in the score, but will get a mention if I read them.

The plan is not to stick to one genre, as that could get boring. The books I'll be reading are probably not going to be the newest releases, but that's part of the adventure of books, isn't it? You can find a new favourite anywhere.

I'm currently three quarters of the way through book 1/20, so you'll be hearing from me soon.

Until then,

Laura
xo