#UKYADay

HAPPY UKYA DAY!!! Today, a bunch of bloggers (spearheaded by the lovely Lucy from Queen of Contemporary) want to chat about UKYA. So, I am here about to chat about some UKYA books that I think would be ace as a TV show or a movie.

Now, to save myself some grief, I won't mention books who's TV/film rights have been bought or been turned into web series (so nope to Patrick Ness's A Monster Calls or Night School series by CJ Daughtery, to name a few).

First book I think would be ace as a TV drama is Cruel Summer by James Dawson. Now, I think any James Dawson book would be perfect for TV, but at the time of typing this post, I have a soft spot for Cruel Summer. Perfect for those fans of Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer and Harper Island, Cruel Summer takes the slasher genre and puts a twist on it that I think would be perfect for BBC Three or E4 as a mini-series (only 3 or 4 episodes).

Another author I think would make great TV is Tanya Byrne and both her books, Heart Shaped Bruise and Follow Me Down, would make gripping dramas. While Heart Shaped Bruise would rival Revenge, Follow Me Down would make an interesting whodunnit, similar to the style of How To Get Away With Murder, with the story jump forwards and backwards in time until we get the Event and the truth about what happened...

I know, technically, this is a Middle Grade book but am throwing this in here as this has to be turned into a TV series. This would work so perfectly as a family drama. And that is Wild Boy by Rob Lloyd Jones.

Now, let's chat about soem UKYA that would be fab as movies. My first is a trilogy, The Name of the Blade by Zoe Marriott. Merging Japanese mythology with modern day London, with live action acting and subtle CGI (am thinking Studio Ghibli), I think this would make a gripping trilogy of movies.

Pantomime by Laura Lam would, also, make a good movie choice. A high fantasy story set in the world of the circus with a lead character that I don't think we have seen in film before, this could make a gorgeous indie movie in the same style as Mirrormask.

I have a few other UKYA books that I think would make great viewing, regardless of their genre - Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner, Mirror Dreams by Catherine Webb, Daylight Saving by Edward Hogan, Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson - but am curious over what UKYA books you think would make great TV/film/radio/web series? Leave a comment down below or tweet using the hashtag #UKYADay on Twitter and share the love!

GoodRead - The Art of War

When Felicity from Midas PR asked if I was interested in listening to this audiobook, I said yes after listening to the teaser on Audible.co.uk. This is outside my comfort zone - I admit this- but I want to be bolder with my reading/listening choices. Plus, I listened to the sampler of this and went "I want to listen to this.".

This 13 chapter book (which is REALLY short, by the way) talks about the art of warfare. How you win a war. This was written many years ago, but it still has strong themes today (just watch how politicians campaign for your vote at general election). Read by Aidan Gillen, who's character in Game of Thrones (Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish) could have well use this book, it shows you how to win a war or, if you are on the losing side, how to turn it round.

Now, I had to listen to this twice over the course of the Easter Weekend. The first time was because I was trying to get my head round what Sun Tzu was telling us (it didn't help that for a good 20 minutes, I was in a slight food coma). But the second time, I paid attention and made notes. I listened to what was being said and compared it to politics.

And I got it. I saw it happening around me. There's a political story that happened the past few days and I instantly thought "I heard that. I know what they're doing!". And as someone who is trying to understand the 2015 UK General Electons, having this on my iPhone made me see the tricks and go "Oh, ok. That makes me really wonder about your abilities if that is the 'trick' your using."

I admit that this isn't my normal book, so it's a bit of a culture shock. And, at times, I felt a little overwhelmed. There were moments where I felt that there wasn't enough time to understand what was being said. There wasn't any time in the audiobook to take a breath.

While this isn't my typical listening, I am glad I listened to it. I might need to do another relisten before 7th May of this year...

#re3 - Click Clack The Rattlebag

I downloaded this back in 2012 (so I highly doubt you can find it on audible.co.uk) and when I downloaded the app on my phone and connected to my account, I rediscovered this and it was less than 15 minutes so I fancied relistening to it. Just to see how creepy it was.

Ok, let's get these questions started!

WHY DID YOU REREAD THIS BOOK?
I downloaded the Audible app on my phone and it showed me my history for the past few years of purchases and, while I was downloading an audiobook I am going to review in the next few days, I spotted this and went "Oh! You would be cool to relisten to. I remember you were slightly creepy." and downloaded it without a second thought.

WHAT WAS YOUR HONEST OPINION OF THIS #RE3 THE FIRST TIME YOU READ IT?
I think I really liked it. It was very short and yet, slightly creepy and gothic. I loved Neil Gaiman's voice as he was reading the story.

WHAT IS YOUR HONEST OPINION OF THIS #RE3 READ NOW?
It's creepy. I think it's because I remembered within a few minutes where the story was going and I don't know whether it's more scary listening to it at 8 o'clock at night in a house on your own, knowing what's going to happen or in the same situation but when you don't know what's going to happen next...

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SAY?
I believe this story is in an anthology but, I discovered a live recording on youTube (as I don't think you can get it now via Audible) so I will link you to it now.

BECAUSE OF THIS BOOK/AUDIOBOOK, WILL YOU BE READING/REREADING ANY OTHER BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR?
I have since my first listen of this have read Neil Gaiman and am very intrigued over reading more. Not sure where to start. I was thinking Good Omens, but might reread Coraline...

His Dark Materials Readalong - Once Upon A Time In The North

As part of the His Dark Materials Readalong, here I am, talking about the last book in this readalong. A book I haven't read before (shocking, I know!). Once Upon A Time In The North is a weird creature. I think I never read it before now because I had read Lyra's Oxford and I think I went away from that going "was that all? Really? That was it?". So, I bought then gave away my copy of Once Upon A Time In The North when the book came out and now, several years later, I went internet hunting for a copy (thank you secondhand!).

Once Upon A Time In The North is a prequel where two characters meet for the first time, around thirty-five years prior to the events of the His Dark Materials trilogy. The Texan balloonist, Lee Scoresby, and the armoured bear, Iorek Byrnison.

When the young Lee Scoresby and his daemon, Hester, land their balloon in a small Arctic town, they find themselves flying straight into a political brawl. The political factions want control of the town and its oil, and the resident bears are treated with contempt and like second-class citizens. It doesn't take long before Lee and Iorek meet and their friendship begins. But with political tensions also at fever pitch, it wouldn't take long before blood will be spilt.

Ok, I admit it, it took me a good 20 or so pages before I found my stride with this story. It's very different from Lyra's Oxford - the book is longer than Lyra's Oxford (almost double) and the type is smaller, so we got more story. But because it has been so long since I read Scoresby (he wasn't exactly a character I remember really well, if I can be truthful with you all), I felt like I had to get to know him again. Which was nice. I feel ready to meet him again when I feel brave enough to try and reread the trilogy again (stupid reading slump).

But once I got into the story, it went into a western-type read and, for this book, I was excited for the change. It fit Lee's character a lot more and I was pleased over how it worked. Setting a western in the Arctic just fitted for some reason.

The illustrations/engravings by John Lawrence fitted the story very neatly and, unless I am mistaken, he also did the illustrations for Lyra's Oxford. I really liked these so I might write a seperate blogpost to show them off.

If I can be honest, the only thing that bothered me was, at times, one of the characters felt out of place. I can't put my finger on why I feel like this.

But I liked this a lot more than Lyra's Oxford. And if you're a fan of the series, this is a must. 

His Dark Materials Readalong - The Collectors

I forgot to tweet and blog that I was relistening to this yesterday. I got myself in a bit of a state with my computer and today, after my other half attacked it and made it workable again, did I realise and am now writing this quick blog post up!

If you read my review on when I listened to this the first time (review is here, by the way), I wasn't that thrilled by it so when all of us taking part of the #HDMReadalong decided to include this, I thought it might be interesting to go back and see if it was better the second time round! 

The Collectors is set within the world of His Dark Materials and, at the same time, not. And because of this, it's hard to figure out whether I like this or not. 

On one hand, I can't help but think Philip Pullman wrote this and then, halfway through, decided to include the elements of this. But, at the same time, the elements he used with hinted at and wasn't in your face, something I really liked on this second listen. 

I think the problem is that when this audiobook (and now, eNovella) was released, it was heavily hinted that this would give a look at Mrs Coulter's life and it doesn't do. It hints at a character very similar to her (and it could be her), but it is never confirmed. It's hinted at. 

It still has the strong feeling of Susan Hill's The Man In The Picture. It is a nice short story and a nice-ish addition to the His Dark Materials world. Might not be an "essential" read for fans, but it will take a few rereads/relistens before I warmed to it, but am glad I relistened to it! 

Anyone Seen the New Harry Potter Cover?

As you guys know, Bloomsbury and other publishers round the world are publishing the first illustrated version of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone later this year. Now, I had a bit of a mixed reaction over some of the illustrations I have seen but you have to admit, the cover is beautiful! 

His Dark Materials Readalong - Lyra's Oxford

As part of the #HDMReadalong, I reread Lyra's Oxford by Philip Pullman. It was an odd experience to reread something I haven't read in a very long time. And with my memory, I knew bits but not all of it.

The book is a collection of things. One short story, a map of Lyra's Oxford, a postcard and leaflet of a cruise ship.

I remember getting very excited when this first came out and devoured it very quickly. This time round, I tried to take it slow. I read it within 3 days.

The story - Lyra and the Birds - was different from what I remember. First of all, it was MUCH SHORTER than I remembered. And when you read it and compare it to the rest of the His Dark Materials trilogy, it doesn't seem to fit. It takes after the events of the series, but Lyra doesn't feel like she's aged and it seems odd to me for some reason.

There are hints to the mysterious Book of Dust that Philip Pullman has been working on for YEARS (pages 46 and 47), and I get the feeling this was meant to be a tease for Book of Dust that would becoming out in a year's time, but Book of Dust took longer to write so, when we get news on this getting published, it might be a good idea to reread this.

The postcard written Dr Mary Malone to one of her nun friend, Angela Gorman, gave tiny details about her, but it was the postcard she picked which was interesting. It showed four locations, which have huge importance to the series as a whole.

The leaflet of a cruise ship is the only thing I don't understand. If someone could tell me it's importance, that would be great as I haven't the foggest.

While this was a lovely book and a nice reread, I'm unsure over how I feel about it. It feels like it's hinting to something that hasn't happened yet. Plus, I feel like it's a tiny bit of a con. When this first came out, it was £9.99 and all it had was a short story of 40-odd pages and some titbits, which seems like a ripoff to the fans of this series. But you can get it secondhand now for not that much so that's ok.

All in all, I'm not sure if this is a worthy addition to the series. Maybe reading Once Upon A Time In The North will change my opinion...

Pick My Next Read

Normally, I don't normally post my videos for Bookish Brits up here but I thought, with this video, I'll make an expectation.

In this video, I ask for the Bookish Brits subscribors to pick my next read. And now, I am throwing it out there to you guys as well!



As you can see from the video, I have 12 books - TWELVE!!! - books to choose from and barring two or three books that I am going to read in the coming weeks, NO MATTER WHAT, I know you guys have excellent taste in books. So, am showing you the video and hoping you guys pick a good book to read.

Plus, if this is a success, I will do it again (I know I do this via Twitter sometimes, but doing it via YouTube or blog would be fun as well!)

Ok, boring stuff now, you have till 6pm this Friday to vote as am going to record the winner on Saturday so I can upload it on Sunday. You can comment here or on the YouTube page and you can pick more than one book in your comments, but I will be going for the book with the most votes so don't hold it against me if I choose the wrong book.

Oh, the list! It is (in case you are too lazy to watch the video) is this:

PERCY JACKSON AND THE LIGHTENING THIEF by Rick Riordan

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES by Sarah J MaasTHE BONE SEASON by Samantha ShannonCITY OF FALLEN ANGELS by Cassandra ClareGRASSHOPPER JUNGLE by Andrew SmithTHIS BOOK IS GAY by James DawsonTHE SCORPIO RACES by Maggie StiefvaterTHE MINIATURIST by Jessie BurtonFANGIRL by Rainbow RowellA GAME OF THRONES by George RR MartinI'LL GIVE YOU THE SUN by Jandy Nelson


And that's it! Was going to write a blog post about my reading slump using gifs of Gloria from Modern Family (my latest DVD obsession!), but it's a tad late now so might save it for the weekend. But I shall leave you with this gif...

Thank you for reading/watching/voting and everything else!