First paragraphs: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brönte

I've just changed my title of these kinds of posts from 'Book Beginnings' to First Paragraphs. I love sharing my current reads with you - or upcoming books - and I just prefer First Paragraphs to Book Beginnings. Let's get to it!

I knew nothing about Jane Eyre going in to it other than it's a classic by a Brontë and romance. I also realized recently that I made a fool of myself naming Heathcliff as the male character in Jane Eyre - which I now know is wrong.

I love the writing style in Jane Eyre, I love that our narrator, which is Jane Eyre herself, skips over boring bits and says 'dear reader' or 'reader' once in a while! It's definitely quite an experience even though I'm about 130 pages in so far. I also LOVE that Jane is a reader herself.
I definitely sympathize with Jane, she has to live with Mrs. Reed and her 3 kids since her parents are dead - Mrs. Reed doesn't even want her there and only keeps her because of a promise to her late husband. It's getting a bit 'lighter' when she's sent to school and she's a great pupil! I love seeing Jane from different angles and in different settings - both social and geographical.

Jane Eyre begins with 10-year-old Jane and I'm currently reading and learning about 18-year-old Jane. I love that it's a bit of a coming-of-age novel! And it's even better since Jane reflects over her actions and comments on them - in the best way possibly. It's quite a splendid book.

There was no possibility of taking a walk that day. We had been wandering, indeed, in the leafless shrubbery an hour in the morning; but since dinner (Mrs. Reed, when there was no company, dined early) the cold winter wind had brought with it clouds so somre, and a rain so penetrating, that further outdoor exercise was now out of the question. 

Cover Reveal - In Your Dreams by Ginger Scott

In Your Dreams by Ginger Scott

Published by: Ginger Scott, herself

Publication date: March 29, 2016

Genres: New adult, romance

Top Ten Tuesday: Love stories

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely ladies at The Broke and the Bookish. Every Tuesday we create a list inspired by a particular topic! This week is a V-day freebie so I've chosen to talk about love stories! There's also a few quite here and there. 

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

I couldn't make a list of love stories without including Pride and Prejudice! I love Lizzy and Darcy and I really hope more people would give it a go - even though it's a classic. It's a classic for a reason and I just love it! 

“In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”


Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
As you can probably tell from the header I have a good amount of Rowell's books on my list this week. She writes cute contemporary romances and all of her books (or the 4 I've read so far) has practically become instant favorites - except Eleanor & Park, it's a cute story but not as good as her other books. 
A nerdy romance - what's not to love?

“Happily ever after, or even just together ever after, is not cheesy,” Wren said. “It’s the noblest, like, the most courageous thing two people can shoot for.” 


Landline by Rainbow Rowell
Well again, Rowell. Landline is my most recent read by her - which was way back in 2014! And I definitely have a lot of cute and romantic quotes from that book! I absolutely love that this is about a couple who are already married - I love the memories and I love the old love! I definitely think this is a must read - even if you're uncertain about the magical realism part (I know I was)

“I love you more than I hate everything else.” 


The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
I was actually quite hesitant to read The Night Circus, I'd put it on my TBR so many times before and then suddenly it was a book club pick (for tomorrow's book club actually) so I 'had' to read it. To make myself want to read it more I bought myself a copy for my Christmas money and I definitely enjoyed it! 
Even though it's about this game of magic there's also a love story in it - both behind the scenes and in the forefront. I didn't expect to love it as much as I did but I did! I am quite amazed by the love story in the story since it's both prominent and hidden at the same time. It's quite cute actually. 

“I have been surrounded by love letters you two have built each other for years, encased in tents.” 


A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall
I read this back in December 2014 and absolutely loved it! I love how it's a lovestory told from 14 different point of views, including a bench and a squirrel, but not from the 'couple' itself. It's all seen from the outside and that makes it wonderfully different! 

“She is a picture of a girl falling in love. There;s no way they're not getting together now.” 


Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
Fine, the last book by Rowell! Attachments were actually my first read from Rowell! I picked the title from a TBR jar and with a quite hesitant step, I found the book and started reading - I might have finished it on the same day but who knows? I absolutely love this book! It's so cute and even though it has some creepy aspect (come on, he reads her emails. *cough* Joe Goldberg, You *cough*) it's also quite cute! 

“I’d know you in the dark,” he said. “From a thousand miles away. There’s nothing you could become that I haven’t already fallen in love with.” 


How to Love by Katie Cotugno
If you're uncertain whether to read this because you've read 99 Days by her, then read this - it's sooo much better! And again, if you're unsure which one to start of those two books - only read How to Love that is my final advice! 
How to Love quickly reserved a spot on my 'best of 2014' list. It's such a deep and emotional book and I just loved it. Even though it's about teen pregnancy and well, bad breakups, it quickly redeems itself and become oh so good! 
Is it ironic that it's on my list even though it says 'not a love story' on the back?

“Kissing him feels familiar but also new, a song they haven’t played on the radio in a really long time.” 


Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë 
Jane Eyre is actually my current read and I'm only 70 pages in. I'm correct in assuming it's a love story, right? It's definitely not indicating anything yet since she's only 10 years old but I remember something about a Heathcliff... Or am I completely wrong? Please don't spoil anything for me! 


Quotes
I have two quotes from The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell and Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

My parents met in a library. After college my mother was a librarian. My father came in to borrow some books, saw my mother, and fell in love. They were married six months later. 

- The Carrie Diaries, Chapter 10

"You love me," she said. "That's enough. We love each other."
"Yes. Yes, that's true." He smiled. "We are a love story."

- Tiger Lily, Chapter 5

Moth Girls by Anne Cassidy

Series: N/A, Standalone

Publication date: January 7, 2016

Publisher: Hot Key Books

Genres: YA, Thriller

Format: Paperback, review copy

Source: The publisher in exchange for an honest review

Pages: 284
Rating: ★★★/5

Goodreads ⎜Amazon ⎜Book Depository

Helplessly drawn like moths to the light, two girls go missing in an evocative and gripping tale . . .

They called them the Moth Girls because they were attracted to the house. They were drawn to it. Or at least that is what is written in the newspapers that Mandy reads on the anniversary of when her two best friends went missing. Five years have passed since Petra and Tina were determined to explore the dilapidated house on Princess Street. But what started off as a dare ended with the two girls vanishing. As Mandy's memories of the disappearance of her two friends are ignited once again, disturbing details will resurface in her mind.

An emotional thriller that explores our deepest, darkest fears. How far would you go to find your two lost friends? 

I love thrillers but I'm somehow always disappointed in YA thrillers. This one didn't stand out from the crowd. I apologize in advance for my review, but Mandy touched some nerves.

It's not like I had high expectations for Moth Girls, I was expecting a good page-turning thriller and what I got wasn't exactly that. I read it in two sittings, but after I'd read 100 pages I put it down and didn't think about it for nearly a week and then I remembered that I should probably go ahead and finish it. Funny thing is that I didn't remember that much about the story when I picked it up again - nothing was memorable.

I'm sitting here trying to write a review and I literally have nothing to say about this book. I am quite indifferent to it so looking for words for a review is like trying to grab the air - quite pointless. I'm going to try anyway since I've finished it and feel like I should do my best!

Mandy, Mandy, Mandy. She's our narrator and the most annoying person I've come across this year. She keeps blaming herself for their disappearance - which she really shouldn't. She keeps blaming herself for not telling anybody they went into the house - which she probably should have done, but done is done. And she keep on living in that time - she tries getting new friends but she gets easily attached and, well, you know how that ends.
After learning more about the girls' friendship I don't know why Mandy even bothered befriending them - or rather tried to. Petra has a bunch of problems at home which result in her being a bitch for a lack of better word. I understand her behaviour against Mandy to a certain degree but seriously? It gets old quickly. Tina tries to be friends with both of them and ultimately choose Petra and we know that didn't go well.
Mandy was never actually a part of their little group but she've grown up believing that she was. I thought the three of them were actually best friends and then she, Mandy, was left behind to pick up the pieces. That is not how it is. She was always on the edge and she chose not to go with them and she blames herself for years afterwards. I want more mature and confident characters in YA, not these delusional ones I keep reading about!

Moth Girls is a quite mediocre read. I found the characters lacking in almost every way and I wasn't at all interested in the story. It wasn't exactly predictable but it wasn't captivating either. I was a bit disappointed with the ending since I'd feared that it would end the way it did. The only thing I can say without spoiling everything for you is that I found Mandy's, our main character, actions quite childish and she should've told someone!

I believe I've gotten the point across; I'm not happy with this book.

Weekly rewind 2.7.16

I'm going to start doing weekly rewinds instead of 'The Sunday Post'-posts. I like this title a lot better, and yes, it's definitely 'inspired' by Natalie from Natflix&Books. I like doing these weekly summaries even though I forgot about them in December and January.

The first week of February is over and it's gone by way to fast - like any other week or month! It's been quite a busy week but I've also been very productive so I managed to cross a bunch of things of of my to do list and I'm feeling quite accomplished!

On blogging

Well, I managed to write quite an amount of posts this week! I wrote a few in the mornings and, since I have the majority of Thursday off each week, I wrote quite a lot on Thursday. I therefore only have to write this post and then I almost have the posts for next week done!

I was also contacted by quite a few people regarding spotlights, interviews and things along those lines. I've accepted a few of the offers and I'm quite excited about them! I have a post coming, once I've written it of course, about Moozvine; a new book site and also an interview with Odera O'Gunewe - a 16-year-old author and I also have an excerpt of her book coming for you guys! I'm not sure about the dates for these posts yet, since I still have some details to figure out, but they're coming this month!

On reading

READS, FIRST WEEK OF FEBRUARY

I didn't read as much as I wanted to this week but since I wrote so many blog posts I think it evens it out. I managed to finish Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell, I also shared the first paragraph and a couple of thoughts which you can read here. 

I then began Jane Eyre since I received a book for review which basically requires me to read it. I've only read 40 odd pages so far but I'm definitely enjoying it! 

I've already strayed from my reading stack..

On the shelf

THE WAR OF THE WORLDS BY H.G. WELLS, OLD DANISH COPY

I only bought a single book this week and it didn't even cost me a dollar! I love old editions of classics so when I stumbled across this gorgeous copy of The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells I just knew I had to buy it!

I also received 3 books for review, all digital; 

 

JUNE 2016                                            JUNE 2016                                         MARCH 2016

I went on a little spree on edelweiss last night and it resulted in Soft in the Head by Marie-Sabine Roger which is about an 80-year-old lady who loves to read and do so in the park. She begins to read aloud to this younger man and he finds out that she has dementia - he therefore learns to read so he can read to her. Or that's what I can remember..
Life from Elsewhere: Journeys through World Literature which is an anthology of essays. I'm not entirely sure what to expect but I kept going back to it so I knew I had to get it!
I was also approved for Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye - which I can't believe! I know it's quite an anticipated book and I usually don't get approved for those titles!

On discoveries

While searching for printables for my blog planner I stumbled across a DIY Blog Planner on Books: A True Story which is quite obviously a book blog. I've since become very obsessed with said blog and I think Jessica has some great content! 

I also stumbled across Hazel's printables on her blog Stay Bookish on my search for printables. I'm still debating whether I should buy her book blog planner or stick to the one I have since I'm quite pleased with my current one. 

Lastly I discovered that I can make some cute printables myself! I completely failed when I tried last year but this time around they turned out pretty cute! 

On all the rest

On the blog;

• I talked about ways in which I want to improve - in the bookish department in January, for Top Ten Tuesday, and I actually snacked a lot healthier this week! 
• I shared my February reading stack on Wednesday and I'm quite excited about the books I need and want to read during this month. 
• On Friday I shared the first paragraph from Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell and I also talked about my feelings towards this book! 
• Ofcourse I also posted my wrap up for January this week! 

Next week;

• The first thing I have planned next week is a review of Moth Girls by Anne Cassidy - which you can find tomorrow
• I still have yet to figure out what I'm going to talk about on Tuesday for the weekly Top Ten Tuesday but of course you can expect a V-day inspired post! 
• On Wednesday I have a cover reveal of In Your Dreams by Ginger Scott which is a standalone spin-off of her Falling series. And my oh my, that cover is H.O.T. 
• Lastly there's a book beginnings post on Friday - the book is still to be decided! 

Book Beginnings; Nineteen Eighty-Four

This week I want to share the beginning of Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell with you guys as I mentioned on Wednesday. I finished reading it late Wednesday evening but since I have a lot of thoughts about the book, I want to share it with you anyways.

Nineteen Eighty-Four is a classic, it's also a dystopia about a society where the past is always rewritten, thoughts aren't yours and you're always being watched.

This is the first paragraph;

It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. Winston Smith, his chin nuzzled into his breast in an effort to escape the vile wind, slipped through the glass doors of Victory Mansions, though not quickly enough to prevent a swirl of gritty dust from entering along with him. 

I quite like this beginning even though it's not as beautiful or poetic as other beginnings. The atmosphere in this particular paragraph is basically the atmosphere for the rest of the book. It's quite subdued and that fits the story well. I'm not sure I would choose to read this book based on the first paragraph alone - which I sometimes do if I'm unsure whether to read a book or not - but I'm glad I did.

I've been quite interested in this particular book without even knowing much about it. All I know going in to it was; Big Brother is always watching. I honestly didn't know much else and I liked going in blind because I'm usually surprised that way. I was also surprised this time, but for other reasons. I am not entirely sure what I expected from Nineteen Eighty-Four but when it suddenly turned to 'love' I was quite disappointed. It picked up in the end though but I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would.


Have you ever read Nineteen Eighty-Four? If you haven't, is it on your TBR?

My February reading stack

February reading stack

I've finally put together my TBR for February, or rather the stack from which I choose books to read. I'm not that good with TBR's but somehow I stuck to the one I made for January so I'm going to make an official one this time.
My stack this month consists of 8 physical books and 1 title from Netgalley.

The first book (in the picture) is The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster which consists of City of Glass,  Ghosts and The Locked Room. I originally bought this for a class last year but since I chose not to continue I never got around to it. I'm quite intrigued by it and since it's a whole trilogy fitted in a regular sized book I feel like I can manage! Also, I know there's a writer in the first book, that's about it.

Since I started Nineteen Eighty-Four a few days ago I hope to finish it this month, which should be quite doable since I've read 234 pages out of 342. I'ts okay so far and I hope to talk more about it on Friday where I'll share the first paragraph and my thoughts with you guys!

I can't remember if I told you guys about my recent obsession with Sherlock Holmes in my wrap up for January but I've recently come across the TV series with Benedict Cumberbatch and I'm in love! That is why I need to read The Complete Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - or rather, that is the goal. I definitely want to read a couple of stories from this collection and finish it by the end of the year.

Then I have a Danish book I've received for review called Hvor intet bryder vinden by Christina Leonora Skov. As far as I can tell it has an And Then There Were None-feel to it - which is why I wanted to read it. 4 people travel to an Island and things start to happen.

Apparently our bookclub has chosen to read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Narnia, #2) by C.S. Lewis - and we're actually meeting on my 19th birthday; March 2nd! I therefore want to read 3-4 of the books in the Narnia Chronicles - especially since it's on my 20 before 20 list and since my birthday is next month I don't have that much time.

As I mentioned in my Reading Challenges and Goals for 2016 post I need to read more of my own books! And my boyfriend chose 12 books from my shelves - one for each month - that I have to read. White Queen by Gwyneth Jones is the book for February and all I now is that it's a science fiction book.

Omega Beginnings Miniseries by Lizzy Ford is the next one on my list. It's a collection of all the short stories in the Omega Beginnings Miniseries - of course. I believe there's 7 or 8 stories in the series! Lizzy Ford kindly sent this to me for review and I can't wait to read it!

Lastly but not least, on my physical TBR, we have Jeg er her stadig (= I'm Still Here) by Clélie Avit. I received this one for review back in December and I need to get my review pile down! It's a beautiful cover and I hope the story is just as beautiful.

I also want to finish Hidden Bodies (You, #2) by Caroline Kepnes which is going to be released on February 23rd. I hope to have a review for you guys on the release date - but I'm definitely enjoying it!

Lastly I have to continue my yearlong reads which is 365 stories by James Robertson and The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. I'm a bit behind with those books but since I don't have to read them all the way through yet I should be able to catch up.
I was also thinking of sharing my favorite story, maybe stories, from 365 stories - would that be something you'd like?

What's on your reading stack or TBR for this month?