Book Blog Hop 15

It’s that Friday feeling! Well, this week, after a hectic week at work, I’m wanting to use a strong phrase than ‘Thank God it’s Friday’. But let’s keep this strictly PG, shall we?

The question this week is: When you read a book that you just can’t get into, do you stick it out and keep reading or move to your next title?

Post blogging, I would have just given up, but since blogging I feel obliged to finish books in order to share a full and reasoned opinion. I don’t easily give up on books, but there have been a few in recent history. Divine by Blood by P.C. Cast is the most recent book I didn’t finish. And I barely scraped through the previous two in the series. Just thought they were dire… The book before that I didn’t finish was Atonement (Shocked Gasp from the blog world) I know… I just couldn’t get into it.

I have several books that I’ve started reading but haven’t finished yet – this is much more common than me giving up completely on a book. They get shoved aside when something more exciting comes in, either because they aren’t the most gripping, or they are very long, or simply because the new acquisition is shinier. But I do always get round to them in the end. Usually…

So, what do you do about those books you just don’t want to finish? Oh, and while you’re here you can…

Check out the Giveaway I’m hosting!

Book Blog Hop 13

I am always too tired to post this on Fridays now. Full time work is exhausting after a three month break XD.

This week we are honouring our favourite bloggers. I’m a huge fan of All Things Urban Fantasy. I particularly love the Cover Art Coverage feature – so nice to see all those lovely book covers (and of course, the reviews are fab too!)

And now for a contest…

Down the Rabbit Hole is having a 100 followers giveaway. Some great books on offer for both American and International followers, so go check it out!

Book Blog Hop 11

The question this week is: Do you judge a book by its cover? Answer: Yes and no. Okay, so I am as drawn by sparkly beautiful book covers as the next person, but having a terrible, or just plain boring, cover won’t necessarily put me off a book. I tend to judge books by their blurbs, and a first page or two, but I will be less likely to pick up an ugly book. My pet hate though is when you read a book and find that the cover model totally doesn’t match the character. Why do they do that?

In other news…

Writing From the Tub is hosting a giveaway of Trash by Andy Mulligan. Sounds like an amazing book so go check it out!

Do you judge books by their covers?

Book Blog Hop 10

The question on this week’s hop is do you use a rating system for your reviews? Yes! I just keep it simple, out of five, with half marks for those books that aren’t quite at the next level, but don’t deserve to go a full star down. I’ve not had to give a rating lower than 3/5 yet, but this is the general rule of thumb for the ratings:

5/5 – absolutely brilliant

4/5 – pretty great

3/5 – average, or could have been fab but had significant flaws

2/5 – flawed but readable

1/5 – tosh

So, do you guys use a rating system? I’ve seen some pretty creative ones out there on the blogosphere

Book Blog Hop 5

It’s that time again…

Last week were were asked what book we couldn’t wait to get our hands on. I said Shiver. This week we are being asked what we are currently reading… same answer! I finally got my copies of Shiver and Linger yesterday and I’m really enjoying Shiver so far. Totally as good as all the hype! What are you reading right now?

Book Blog Hop 4

It’s Friday and time for the hop!

This week we are being asked what book(s) we can’t wait to get our hands on. For me it’s Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (because I am a bit behind the times) I’ve seen so many rave reviews I’ll be buying my copy as soon as I am paid! What books can’t you wait for?

Book Blog Hop 3

It’s that time again….

This week on the Hop we are being asked to talk about our favourite authors. Mine would have to be Kristin Cashore and Philip Pullman. Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy was the first book I really, really fell in love with. I had enjoyed reading before, but Pullman made me want to write. I wanted to live in Lyra’s world, I wanted to have grand adventures. I also wanted the imagination to come up with a tale so epic. For something a bit more recent: Kristin Cashore. I know she’s only written two books so far, but I devoured both of them, and eagerly anticipate the next. She has a perfect blend of action, politics and romance in her stories to make them deep and interesting, but romantic at the same time. Who are your favourites?