Summer Reading Book Haul

Summer is one of those times that I'm a little guilty of buying a ton of books and not actually reading them, despite what I promise myself. So far I have managed to restrain myself to four books (which is a huge achievement considering I have a to-read list as long as my arm.)

The Marriage Game by Alison Weir: 

the newest of my purchases, bought at Waterstones. I'm looking forward to reading this as a long time fan of Weir and a bit of an Elizabethean history buff.

A Storm of Swords: Blood and Gold by George R R Martin: 

I'm planning on reading this as soon as I finish the first ASOS book (which I've very nearly finished!). I bought this from an independent book shop in Edinburgh when I was visiting.

A Feast for Crows by George R R Martin: 

purchased at the same time as ASOS, might be some time before I read this one but I will get round to it eventually!

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantell: 

I didn't actually buy this book as it was given to me by a relative who thought I would enjoy it. And after some research of the plot and finding out that they're making a BBC drama based on it I think this one is going to be pushed up near the top of my to read list.

Upcoming Book to Movie Adaptations

2014 seems to be the year of book to movie adaptations, we've already seen the likes of 'The Fault in our Stars', 'Divergent' and 'Vampire Academy'. Some were great, some not so much and some sitting somewhere in the middle. So what's coming up next? 

The Giver

Release Date: August 15th 2014

Director: Phillip Noyce

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Brenton Thwaites, Meryl Streep

Admittedly I've never read this book before, although it was published in 1993 by Lois Lowry (which has given me my whole lifetime to read it). From some brief research I have been made aware that there has been some changes made, namely the main character; Jonas' age (rather like other adaptations such as Percy Jackson, though I don't like to think about that movie too much). But as I don't have any emotional connection to the book things like this don't bother me. The trailer does entice me into seeing the film and perhaps reading the book, in fact it does look like a fairly well made film but I think for this one I will be seeing the film before I read the book.

If I Stay

Release Date: August 22nd 2014

Director: R.J Cutler

Starring: Chloe Grace Moretz, Mireille Enos, Joshua Leonard

If I Stay was one of those rare contemporary, young adult books that didn't feel cheesy or clichéd. I loved the way it was structured to pull us in deeper and deeper as it went on. I don't share the same positive sentiment for the film. From the trailer is does not seem like they will be following the structure of the book (riddled with time jumps and flashbacks) perhaps this would not work so well on film, but I feel like the story will lose all of its magic if it is not done that way. The tone of the trailer does not seem to match the book, and quite honestly I'm not a massive fan of Chloe Grace Moretz. I'll probably watch this but I'm not looking forward to it with any great expectations. 

The Maze Runner

Release Date: September 19th 2014

Director: Wes Ball

Starring: Dylan O'Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Will Poulter

This is one adaptation that I am very excited and anxious to see. Like most of my ventures into young adult fiction I read this because I heard of the film being made with Dylan O'Brien as the main character (I'm a massive fan of his). And pretty soon I had read the whole trilogy and was hooked completely. Like all adaptations of my favourites I've learnt not to get my hopes up too high, so I'm holding off singing the film's praises until I've seen it. But the one thing that does make me confident that this was made with good intentions is the director's passion and commitment to the film, which is evident in interviews.

Gone Girl

Release Date: October 3rd 2014

Director: David Fincher

Starring: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris

I've come close to buying this book several times but never felt utterly compelled to. It has great reviews and several people have told me to read it. In fact I wasn't actually aware there was going to be a film adaptation until quite recently. The trailer is a little odd for me, perhaps intentionally, it doesn't give away too much of the story but maybe not in the best way for me. I'm sure a lot of people will be excited about this, and maybe if it gets great reviews and high praise I'll consider seeing it in the cinema. But as of now I don't have any intentions, though maybe giving the book a try is in order.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

Release Date: November 21st 2014

Director: Francis Lawrence

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth

This is one film that I am allowing myself to get excited about. After the considerable improvement for The Hunger Games to Catching Fire I'm not particularly worried about this being a flop. Actually I am hoping it does make changes from the book (which is my least favourite in the series by a long way) to speed things and make it more exciting. I don't have a massive attachment to the series, it's not my favourite YA dystopian, but the second film did rekindle my love for a lot of the characters. Touch wood this film does not disappoint. 

Review: The Boleyn Reckoning by Laura Andersen

About The Book:

Title: The Boleyn Reckoning
Author: Laura Andersen
Series: The Boleyn Trilogy
Genre: Historical Fiction, Alternate History, Young Adult, Adult
Age Range: 14+
Publication Date: 15th July 2014 (kindle only) 16th Juuly 2015 (paperback)
Pages: 417 pages
Publisher: Ebury Digital

Summary:

The third and final book of Laura Andersen's alternate history trilogy; The Boleyn Trilogy, it follows the king that never was William Tudor - also know an Henry IX -  his sister; the well known Elizabeth Tudor, and his closest friends; Dominic Courtenay and Genevieve 'Minuette' Wyatt. As tensions rise and the web of lies & secrets grows; their story approaches a dangerous cross roads. 

Rating: 

Review:

History just like life is full of 'what ifs'. In fact you can hardly avoid them. The 'what if' that is explored in this trilogy alone was enough to get me interested in the series. I read the first two books earlier this year, they were good (enough to keep me coming back) but this one really blew the others out of the water.

It's not perfect, not by any means, but then again; what book is? For me, the best part has got to be Dominic, one of the main four characters. He's the only one that throughout the whole series has remained my favourite. Elizabeth (as in Elizabeth Tudor, the only main character that is not an original creation) only really comes into her own in this book, William (the son of Henry Tudor and Anne Boleyn) starts to fall from grace in my mind as the series goes on and Minuette (another fictitious character), while she can be endearing and easy to sympathise with, at times was annoying and perhaps 'too perfect'. But it was these four characters (along with some supporting characters) and the dynamics between them that really make this book so special.

Without giving too much away I can honestly say that if you've read the other two books before then prepare for things to change. The events in this book and how everything unfolded were so different from what I predicted (and not in a bad way). Andersen pushed her characters to their absolute limit, unveiling sides to them that we hadn't seen before and perhaps they were not even aware they possessed. She brilliantly ties up all lose ends and then some. It was one of those books where my heart was racing in anticipation, I was crossing my fingers in vain hope that everything would work out and at some points crying so much I couldn't see my kindle. 

For any history lover (who does not mind when people take liberties), or fan of the first two books, this will not disappoint. 

Buy the Book:

• Amazon
• Barnes & Noble
• Random House