GoodRead - The Cuckoo's Calling

I think we can all admit that we were all shocked/delighted/flailing out when we read the news that JK Rowling had released a book earlier in the year under the pen-name of Robert Galbraith and read the news in the coming days of how the truth came out (the dangers of Twitter and telling your wife's best friend something that is better kept to yourself!). My other half found out five minutes before I did that Sunday morning and, in a haze of "I KNEW SHE WOULD WRITE UNDER A PEN NAME! I KNEW IT!!!" (well played, JK) and ordering it on Amazon, it was only then that I read the sysnopis and went "You know, this actually sounds like something I would actually read while in my crime reading blitz". 

The Cuckoo's Calling is the first book in the series that follows private investigator Cormoran Strike and his new-temp, Robin Ellacott. Several months earlier, one snowy night, troubled model Lula Landry fell to her death from her Mayfair balcony. The Police (and Media) assume that she committed suicide. However, months later, her brother still has doubts and goes to Strike, begging for his help. 

And Strike agrees. Not just because he needs the money now more than ever, but Lula Landry was the sister of one of his old friends, Charlie, who fell to his death when they were children. But as the former war veteran slowly investigate Lula's life and the world she lived in, he can't help noticing how similar - physically and psychologically - Lula was to him. And as he digs deeper and deeper, things get dark and, before long, Strike has to wonder: did Lula really jump that night, or did something sinister and evil happen to her? 

Now, I finished reading this late on Monday, writing this now on a Tuesday and, once I figured out when am posting, you guys are probably reading this on Wednesday so, for me, this is a fast turn around. So, does it deserve the sudden JK hype? Does this book deserve the high praise from crime authors such as Val McDermid, Mark Billingham and Peter James? 

Now, I am very torn over how I feel on this book. Ask me in a week or two's time, I bet my feelings will change to be more one side than the other. But, at this very moment in time, I am in the middle. 

As you guys know, I am a fan of reading crime novels. I still think Kimberley Derting's The Body Finder series tackles crime in YA brilliantly and I am a fan of Kathy Reichs and Tess Gerristen (I have also read Agatha Christie along with the lovely Stevie from SableCaught under the Twitter hashtag #MurderTheyRead some time back in June [was it June? Can't remember]) so reading a crime novel wasn't new terriorty for me, but reading this made me realise that I haven't read enough books in the crime genre than I first thought...

So, let's talk about what I liked about this book. I liked the mystery and I liked reading how Strike was investigating Lula's death, thinking "Ok, this has to be a murder. But... but am I sure that it is? Am I 100% certain that it was a murder or do I hope it was murder?", and because of I enjoyed the mystery, I didn't see the ending coming and that is a good sign of a good crime novel. You don't see it coming! 

I also really liked Strike's and Robin's relationship. At first, Strike didn't want this temp and was determined to be rid of her by the end of the week, but Robin shows herself to be quiet valuable to Strike's investigation. And Robin likes working for Strike who, we see, is wounded by war and by love. I enjoy how these two character, in a way, compliment each other. 

Now... let's talk about the two things that bother me about this book. Yes I have two, don't hurt me. The first was information. I know this is weird, seeing at this is a crime novel as information is valuable, but there was SO MUCH. We had information about the case, about the people who Strike questioned, about Strike's private life and, at times, I felt a little overwelled by it all. I just wanted the information that I needed to figure out what happened and whodunnit. I want information about Strike's and Robin's personal lives - don't get me wrong, I love reading that - but I wish that, at times, it was more subtle. 

The thing that bothered me the most was pacing. I like my books pacey, where they are twists and turns and gasps. I like things a little fast paced. But with the Cuckoo's Calling, it moved very slowly. At times, not a lot happened. Strike interviewed people, one by one, and it took time. This felt similar to Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express (the book I co-read with Stevie). Part two of Murder on the Orient Express was just Poirot interviewing the suspects and Cuckoo's Calling had that same feel to it. It took its time and, at times, I struggled with it because the book took its time. My other half even said that he saw me struggle with times...

The pacing reminds me of my failed attempts to read Ruth Rendell and PD James. Both authors take their time to explain the case and the characters. So, if you're a fan of either of these authors, you might like Cuckoo's Calling. But if you want something a bit more pacey, you might want to try a few chapters before you buy your copy or borrow a copy from a friend or from your local library. 

As for me? Well, I do want the sequel, but I might not be rushing to buy it on the book's release day and, when I do buy it, I want to read it at a leisurely pace. 

SMILE - Peasant!

I'm sorry! I saw this and knew I had to share with you. Follow me on Pinterest if you want more of the silly!

Cover Reveal of SECRET

Oh, hello! Today is the day where Brigid Kemmerer can reveal the cover for the fourth book in the Elemental series. And I am one of the few who is very honored to show you the new cover. And as someone who is getting into the series, the reveal is quite exciting for me. So, here is the cover and a summary for Secret. TA-DAH!

Nowhere is safe. Not even home…

Nick Merrick is stretched to the breaking point.

Keep his grades sky-high or he’ll never escape his hometown.

Keep his brother’s business going or the Merricks will be out on the street.

Keep the secret of where he’s going in the evenings from his own twin—or he’ll lose his family.

Keep his mind off the hot, self-assured dancer who’s supposed to be his “girlfriend’s” partner.

Of course there’s also the homicidal freak Quinn has taken to hanging around, and the Elemental Guide counting the hours until he can try again to kill the Merrick brothers. There’s a storm coming. From all sides. And then some.

Nick Merrick, can you keep it together?

So... what do you guys this? I am VERY intriguied over the cover as it is so different from the others in the series (this includes the Novellas). For a start, we have Quinn on the cover and no signs of the Merrick brothers or Hunter. The background is different from the others (we have an actual scene, rather than smokey mist). And, unlike the other covers, the title isn't written in white but in yellow. Are these clues? 

Let the fandom rip the cover apart for clues and over the fact Brigid has revealed that Secret is her most steamiest book to date. BRING IT ON!!! 

This book will be released in January next year. For more information, please go to Brigid's website at http://www.brigidkemmerer.com/. 

But what is your reactions to the cover? Do you like it? Do you hate it? And will you demand that I get my rear in gear and read Storm and Spark? 

#re3 - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

HELLO! And welcome to my first EVER re3 blogpost. And today, I will be attack that beast of a book aka Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling. While this isn't a review (why review a book I have reread and loved?), I am going to talk about things in the book that I like, dislike, made me want to throw the book across the room and made me want to wail a heart-wrenching scream.

So, let's start with some questions you probably want to know.

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO REREAD HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX?
My other half. This, out of the series, is his favourite. And this is one of my least favourite. At the time my other half suggested this, I was wondering if I should reread all seven Harry Potter books in one year and he just said I should just read this. So... a year and a half later, I actually got round to doing it!

WHAT WAS YOUR HONEST OPINION WHEN YOU FIRST READ THIS BOOK?
When I first read this back in 2003, I... well... I honestly didn't like this. "NOTHING HAPPENED!" I cried to friends and family once I read it. "AND... AND... AND...!" [insert the wails of frustration and "She can't have KILLED that character off!" here]

WHAT IS YOUR HONEST OPINION NOW THAT YOU HAVE REREAD THIS BOOK?
I am shocked to say that, yes, it has. I do love the series! I want to make that clear, but this book wasn't one of my fave. But now, as I read this more as a political thriller rather than a action-packed wizard duel, I really enjoyed this. There was subtle things that I missed at the age of 18 (that's right, HUSH you mouth!), like the tension between the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts, teachers vs students, the truth vs lies... It was much more a grown-up novel in the series compared to the previous four.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SAY?
I DISLIKE THE GRAWP SUBPLOT! I DISLIKE it so much! And with the way Hagrid "helps" Grawp, while I didn't noticed the first time round, I read it now and it suddenly made me feel... uncomfortable. And I forgot about "WEASLEY IS OUR KING" (and that made me what to skip pages when I remembered it!) And I now realise how much I HATE Umbridge (I think ALL Harry Potter fans HATE her), and there are now several chapters I love/hate because of the emotional impact they give...

BECAUSE OF THIS BOOK, WILL YOU REREAD ANY OTHER BOOK WITHIN THE SERIES?
Yes. As I said in my previous re3 post, I am planning to reread the third book in the series, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. But I have been wondering about reread Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire...

re3

Why, hello dear readers!

Today, I am going to tell you about a new thing I am going to do on the blog and, hopefully, this one will stick (unlike the fail that was my Adaptation idea [which, come on, nearly every YA book we love has been picked up for a TV show/movie so that was dead in the water before it even begun]).

Today, I welcome you to: re3!

Ok, let me bore you with how re3 was created before I explain what it means. A year and a half ago, I was chatting to my other half, saying I wanted to reread a Harry Potter novel. He asked if I would read Order of the Phoenix as that's his fave book in the series (I know. NO ONE LIKES BOOK 5!). I agreed, after a lot of "Are you Sirius?" gags thrown at him. But once I agreed, I looked forward to it. I got excited. I can plan to start reading it on JK Rowling & Harry's birthdays. I can see if I can read all 7 Potter books. Or maybe read a few and write blogs posts on the fandom's theory of mirroring (which I might tackle one day).

A year and a half past and... you guessed it. I hadn't read it. My To Read pile never allowed me time to slip this beast of a book (766 pages, BTW) in. And the more I thought about it, the more I realised this, as a book blogger, I have never had the time to reread books that I love or would want to reread as... well... my To Read pile would get angry and would scare me (and probably react like this):

So the more I thought about, the more I realised that I wanted to reread books I love, but I wanted to share these books with you guys. So, after a quick thing, this is what I have come up with.

re3 stands for: reREAD, reFRESH, reLOVE.

And it won't be a typical review. re3 won't happen every week/month. It will happen every now and then. No pressure. Also, there will be questions I have to answer (which will be on the re3 page - tabs is at the top). And I can be quite spoilery about it so... That makes writing them easier for me.

But what, I hear you cry, will be my re3 reads? Honestly, I have no idea. I have a few in my head that I want to reread (and that list is quite long and some books are still unplanned but I know the series they belong into [Twilight Saga, The Old Kingdom/Abhorsen, His Dark Materials, etc), but the two I am positive I am going to reread are Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, both by JK Rowling.

The others will depend on my mood, but I do have a list for and, hopefully, I can get you guys involved with my Facebook page & maybe on my Twitter with polls and hashtags on what I should read next so keep your eyes peeled there.

And that's it. I just wanted to write this so you know what's going and hopefully, you guys will to your bookshelves and pick up THAT book you've been wanting to reread for AGES.

All Our Yesterdays Trailer!

Book blogger, make-up fiend and all round wonderful human being Casey from Dark Readers was asked by Bloomsbury (the UK publisher) to make a book trailer for the upcoming release All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill.

And here it is!



DOESN'T IT LOOK COOL?! I know Casey has been banging on about reading this book but this looks awesome! Can't wait to get my hands on a copy!

Movie News!

Because of Comic-Con, books-turned-into-movies have filled Twitter. So, here I am, trying to pick some things I think you guys NEED to know.

First, Divergent. While we have no news on the movie as of yet, author Veronica Roth has revealed that Allegiant will be told from Tris's and Four's points of view. The fandom exploded over this reaction! And with 4 eNovellas bring released over the next few months told from Four's point of view, looks like the fandom will get its dose of its sexy hunk.

Next, Vampire Academy: Blood Sisters. The movie has wrapped recently and the logo has been revealed as thus:

Simple, yet looks good. Maybe... this is a sign that we might get an annoucement of Frostbite being turned into a movie soon (too soon! But I know you fans want this movie to be a success!)

Maze Runner. I am bit late to the party on this one, I'm afraid. And I hope to try and read the book before the movie comes out. But, as I'm not sure what's right and not on this, here is the movie's logo.

TRAILERS! Well... two to be exact. The first is Ender's Game, a movie which seems to have split audience's because of the author's views of gay marriage (though I believe he had very little/no input into making the movie to my knowledge). I'm not entirely if I would feel morally comfortable watching the movie because of this (maybe I'll rent the DVD), but I know some of you guys are fans of the series so, here is the movie trailer! 

AND CATCHING FIRE! The fandom seems to have exploded over this and taking apart the trailer for clues of where these scenes are taken from... Yes, we have a trailer and yes, WE SEE FINNICK!!!

And oh, before I go, to all you Avengers fans, it has been revealed that Maria Hill (aka Cobie Smulder) is featured in the first episode of Agents of SHIELD (No news on which UK TV channel will be airing this) but with her commitments to the final series of How I Met Your Mother, she will appear very rarely. But if ABC renew the show for a second season, you never know... And, Joss Wheldon has revealed the title for the second Avengers movie, and it is:

SMILE - This Is Who I Am

Wise words, indeed. 

My thanks to ****Yes, Once Upon A Time tumblr.