SMILE - Is This the 12th Doctor?

Sorry! Couldn't resist! My thanks to Soulless Kisser tumblr!

UNDONE Cover Reveal!

As you guys know, I LOVE Cat Clarke! LOVE HER! So, when I was asked to Quercus earlier this year for a tiny reveal over Undone, OF COURSE I WENT! We were show a draft of the cover but told not to tell anyone about it as it still needed to be finalised.

But this morning, the bloggers who went were sent an email with the FINAL cover and told to share with the world. So, ladies and gentlemen, here is the cover for Cat's new novel, Undone!

Isn't it great?! Very different from Cat's previous covers but just as stunning. So different and there's always something new about it every time I look at it. And here, thanks to my lovely friend Laura (aka Sisterspooky who posted this moments ago) is a quick summary!

Jem Halliday is in love with her gay best friend.

Not exactly ideal, but she's learning to live with it.
Then the unspeakable happens.
Kai is outed online...and he kills himself.

Jem knows nothing she can say or do will bring him back.
But she wants to know who was responsible.
And she wants to take them down...

A searing story of love, revenge and betrayal
from a bestselling author,
UNDONE will take your breath away. 

Oh my God! This is going to be GREAT! From the little bit Cat read to us at the event (which was barely anything, in my honest opinion. I wanted more, damnit!), this will be her most powerful and her most heartbreaking book to date. And I can not wait! 

My thanks to Alice at Quercus for the cover and Laura for the summary! And Cat for writing this book! 

Beautiful Creatures Teaser Trailer!

Yes, I know I haven't read the Beautiful Creatures series, but I am SUPER EXCITED about the movie. I just love the idea of it. And, earlier today/yesterday, the teaser trailer was released!



OH MY GOD! Doesn't it look GREAT?! Sorry friends and family members of mine. We are going to watch this when it comes out! And I look like I have to attack my local bookshop/Amazon for the series (unless Puffin UK would like to treat me... ONLY JOKING, PUFFIN! Will happily buy this myself!). Sorry in advance to my poor bank account/credit card.

Also, it was revealed the poster!

I LOVE how the words Beautiful Creatures is in the same style as used on the US and UK covers!

So, reactions? Do you love the trailer? Or not? Or did you squeal when you heard Florence and the Machine? LEAVE COMMENTS AND LET ME KNOW! 

(Oh, before I sign off, I want to thank Braiden from Book Prode for showing me the trailer & poster and Jeffrey West, Girls in the Stacks and Cass Jay Tucker for hyperventilation with me. And of course, Cass for her reaction video (Jeffrey will do one tomorrow, I hope!). I love Cass's reaction. "OH! THAT'S FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE!" I love her!)

GoodRead - The Art of Marvel's The Avengers

As you guys probably guess from my previous review of Harry Potter: Page to Screen, I'm a bit of a movie geek and I love the artwork that inspire a movie to be made. And after the beast that was Harry Potter: Page to Screen, I wanted another movie book that showed me the artwork. I was thinking of a Pixar movie (I would LOVE The Art of Finding Nemo or The Art of Up...), but after chatting to the lovely Jenny from Wondrous Reads via Twitter about the Avengers Assemble movie (as the movie was called in the UK, even though we called it Avengers) and that there was a book showing off some of the art linked to the movie. As soon as she tweeted me that, I knew that I had to get my hands on this book.

With the book giving the briefest of plots to the movie (Nick Fury at S.H.I.E.L.D decides to gather Earth's greatest superheroes - Iron Man, Captain America, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Black Widow and Hawkeye - to defeat Loki), it's mostly the artwork that sells this and having some of the people involved in the artwork, including the director, Joss Wheldon (who has signed a deal with Marvel Studios to stay with them for a few more years to create a TV show entitled S.H.I.E.L.D for the american network, ABC [You can be damned sure that this will be showed in the UK!], and he will write and direct the second Avengers movie).

Now, the art is brilliant. It's always interesting to see how the ideas of the artists designs went onto the big screen and where the ideas came from, and with this begin so closely related to Marvel Comics, the inspiration to be loyal to Marvel's roots and yet making the designs fit in the modern world...

There were one or two sections that I wish were shorter (the Helicarrier section was over 20 pages and talking about the return of the Incredible Hulk was, while interesting, took a good ten pages), but if you are a movie buff or a huge fan of The Avengers movie (or maybe you're a fan of Joss Wheldon), this is perfect for you!

Oh, here is a trailer and a deleted alternate opening... enjoy!

GoodRead - No, It's Us Too!

As you guys are probably aware if you have followed this blog for a good year, I love Miranda Hart. Just love her. So, when I heard that Hodder was publishing Miranda's first book, Is It Just Me?, I got very excited (and I have preordered it for my Kindle)! So, when Hodder revealed that they & Miranda were going to ask the general public for their embarrassing stories to go into a free eBook, via the power of Twitter (@NoItsUsToo) & Tumblr (http://miranda-isitjustme.tumblr.com/).

This little free eBook was then filled of the best embarrassing stories from the general public with Miranda writing some comments at the start and end of the collection (and a little taster of Is It Just Me?).

I read this in two sittings and I was snorting with laughter, then cringing away from my Kindle then snorting with laughter again within a space of a few clicks. It instantly made me feel happier. Laughter is the best medicine and all... (and sad to say, I have done one or two of the tweets mentions).

If you want something fast, free and having you snorting with laughter, this is perfect! And because this was such a short review, have some youTube videos... You're welcome.

GoodRead - The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit

I really wish I can turn round to you and say I bought this for my nephew (who I spoil rotten). I REALLY wish I could say that I bought this for him. But he's too young to read Beatrix Potter so this was for me!

You guys must read my blog and dread what book I'm going to read next...!

I always thought I was a Beatrix Potter fan. I loved Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny, Jemima Puddle-Duck, Tom Kitten. I always thought that Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and Mr Jeremy Fisher would make the perfect couple (I have no idea why!). And my favourite tale by Beatrix Potter is The Tailor of Gloucester. So, when I heard that Emma Thompson was writing a "further tale", I decided to do some research... and discovered that I haven't read even half of the Beatrix Potter collection. I never even heard of Mr Tod, before Emma Thompson mentioned him in an interview!

So, The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit. Peter Rabbit is in low spirits. He sneaks into Mr McGregor's garden to discover a picnic basket. Hiding inside for a sleep, he wakes up to discover that he's in Scotland and is face to face with a giant black bunny, Finlay McBurney...

Now, this must be a daunting challenge for both Emma Thompson and the illustrator, Eleanor Taylor. To write and draw a new story and, at the same time, capture the spirit and essence of Beatrix Potter. And, dare I say it, I think they both do it while, at the same time, being themselves.

I know some of you have told me that the story, in your opinion, has a slight politic edge, but I didn't see it. It must have been blindsighted by the illustrations, which are so pretty. I will put some below.

But I really like this. I think this will fit the Beatrix Potter stories really well and with Emma Thompson being asked to write a further two tales (thanks theBookseller.com for the heads-up), I'm sure young fans of the book will love this and the further tails... sorry, tales.

(Oh, how I love this close up! So cute!)

PS - I just went on the official Peter Rabbit website and they are giving away a copy of The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit. Closing date is 31st October 2012 so if you want to enter, go here!

SMILE - To Celebrate The Avengers Coming Out on DVD in the UK...

My thanks to the random Ellen GIFs tumblr. 

GoodRead - Maggot Moon

I've moved the review that was meant to be up today to next week as I finished reading this last week and KNEW that I needed to talk about it AT ONCE! But because I am a stupid human that likes some order in my blog (hard to believe, I know!), it's up today.

So, Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner. In an alternative universe, in 1950's, the space race is on and the Motherland is desperate to be the first on the moon. At all costs.

So when his friend Hector vanishes, Standish Treadwell is determined to discover the truth, and so realise that he, his Grandfather and a small band of rebels must stop the Motherland... but how will the moon landing stop them? And can one dyslexic boy make all the difference?

I got my copy of this from when I went the Hot Key Books launch party and, very briefly, chatted to Sally. I met her once before at the Indigo Launch Party when she chatted about her previous novel, Double Shadow (a book I still haven't read). Both times, I have been utterly charmed by this woman and mentally swore I would read her books. I failed. Badly. Sorry Sally! So, when I was about to read another of Hot Key's books (The World Between Us by Lydia Syson), I had Twitter scream at me, "NononoNO! You have to read Maggot Moon! Trust us on this! You need to read this book!". Fine, I thought, and I read Maggot Moon, instead.

I read this over three days. I forced myself to read this over three days as, if I hadn't, I would have read it in one sitting and sobbed my heart out when I finished this book. This book is wonderful! Wonderful and gripping and heart breaking and completely thought-provoking!

I mean that last part about Maggot Moon being thought-provoking. I finished the book around 4:10pm (strange how I remember the time) and I spent the rest of the day just thinking about it and mourning it. I MOURNED FINISHING A BOOK! That rarely happens with me and only a few books have done that. Also, as a book blogger, you can't really do that. You're meant to (or in my case) finish a book, think about it for an hour or two, or start another book. But with Maggot Moon, I spent the rest of the day just thinking it over and going "What happens?" and "what if?". There's a youTube video at the bottom of this post which kinda explains what I went through when finishing this book (I'm still very much in denial over the last chapter...)

Ok, before I go completely gushy over this book, I suppose I better give you some negatives over this book. First, the cover. A lame excuse, I know, but I HATE IT SO MUCH! I don't know why I hate it, but I do, even though I get why the cover's the way it is (it's inspired on 1950s posters). It just doesn't feel like the cover this book deserves, you know? Also, some of you guys won't like the swearing in this book, nor the violence used in this book. There are two scenes of violence that jump to mind, but I feel these are important to show the horror that is the Motherland, but I know some of you will disagree.

Another fault you guys might have is the fact that Standish is dyslexic. Not a big deal, but I know some of you guys are grammar freaks so seeing grammar misused, words the wrong way round, some spelling mistakes [not many, by the way], etc (if this is you, how on EARTH can you stand my blog?) will upset you. But, if you read it like I did, where you imagine Standish sitting next to you and him having a conversation with you, you'll be fine.

I am ashamed that I haven't read Sally Gardner sooner. But am so glad that Maggot Moon was my first and I can not wait to read more of her works! And, Maggot Moon... I don't know how to rave about this book so I won't. Just go. Go get a copy and read it. Please.




Oh, by the way, am still in the stages of "The Aftershock" over this book and, to make me smile a lot more, Hot Key Books actually blogged this video and my tweets of "I need counselling". So, the publisher has shown my grief and heartbreak to the world... You have been warned...