Hunger Games Goodies - EXCITED!

I was out shopping in the week with my friend and of course we went into Waterstones Book Shop - I mean, you can't go shopping without going into the book shop, right!
Anyway I was looking around and the first thing that made me squeal was seeing this on the shelves:

A companion book - It looks awesome and I can't wait to get my hands on it. I didn't buy it in the end as I am short of money but it is definitely on my Christmas Wish list.

Anyone read it already? Is it good?

Then I went over to the Teenage Fiction display in the corner and they had a shelf of suggested Christmas Presents, and on that pile was something I just had to have.

A Hunger Games Calender!!!

And it's a special 16 month one - it means it's already started but I don't mind. It was £9.99, but I had some points on my Waterstones Card which meant I could get money off - so in the end I got it for £5.49

I though I would upload some pictures of it for you all to drool over! hehe

This is the front cover.


December 2011 - Katniss, love this one.








January 2012 - The Mockingjay






November 2012 - Rue's Lullaby. :'( but great to have it up.





I'm looking forward to seeing all the pictures every month.
So, who's jealous and rushing out to get one?

If you want to see the rest of the photos go to my Facebook Page, they are all in an album on there. :D

Books For Sale

I have been clearing out my room and having a tidy up as we have an estate agent coming round to look at our house next week.
I have found a pile of books that I either have Duplicates of or just don't have space for.
I am broke at the moment so hoping I can sell a few.
I have a donate button at the side of my blog (top right) If you want one or more of the books email me to check it's still available, then pay for it through the donate button and send me the reciept as proof of purchase as well as a posting address.

I am going to charge a standard fee for shipping:
£2 per Paperback book within UK
£3 per Hardback book within UK

$5 per Paperback book to US
$7 per Hardback book to US

If you buy more than one, I will combine postage costs and give a small discount.

I have no set prices for the books themselves. If you find one you want make me an offer and I'll let you know If I accept it or not.

Here are the books I have up for offer:

- Matched by Ally Condie (paperback)

- Awakened by P.C & Kristin Cast (hardback)

- Treasure Map Of Boys by E. Lockhart (paperback)

- Withering Tights by Louise Rennison (hardback)

- The Resistance by Gemma Malley (hardback)

- The Immortals Series by Alyson Noel book 1-6 (complete) (paperback)
          - Evermore
          - Blue Moon
          - Shadowland
          - Dark Flame
          - Night Star
          - Everlasting

- An Awfully Beastly Business series by The Beastly Boys book 1-5 (hardback)
          - Werewolf Vs Dragon
          - Sea Monsters & Other Delicacies
          - Bang Goes A Troll
          - Jungle Vampire
          - Battle Of The Zombie

They are all either brand new or have only been read once, all in excellent condition.
Please email me (becca9(at)gmail(dot)com) or leave a comment below if you are interested in any of the books or if you have any questions.

Thanks

Book Review - The Donut Diaries

Title: The Donut Diaries
Author: Dermot Milligan & Anthiny McGowan
Series: Donut Diaries (book 1)
Publisher: Corgi Childrens
Release Date: 4 Aug 2011
ISBN-13: 978-0552564373

Synopsis
A British Diary of a Wimpy Kid, featuring Dermot, an overweight eleven-year-old. Hilariously funny and insightful.

Dermot Milligan's got problems. He's overweight and hooked on donuts. He has a pushy, over-achieving mother, and a father who spends all his time hiding in the loo. His sisters, Ruby and Ella (known as Rubella) attack him relentlessly from the opposite directions of Chav and Goth. And now, he's being sent to a nutritionist, Doctor Morlock.

This diary is Doc Morlock's idea. Not only does Dermot have to write down how many donuts he eats, but also - and this is the really rubbish part - he has to talk about HIS FEELINGS! But things are about to get even worse - he's being separated from his friends and sent to St Michael's, a posh school where he just knows he's going to stick out like a sore thumb. A sore thumb with a weight problem . . .

My Review
I run a Children's Book Group at the Library called 'Chatterbooks'. Each year we run a 'Book Of the Year', where 6 shortlisted books are given to the children, they have to read all 6 then vote for their favourite. The one with the most votes becomes the Book Of The Year. This is one of them. I usually read them all so I can talk about them with the kids, so more will appear over the next few weeks.
Dermot is 11 and very overweight, he has an addiction to donuts and eats a mass amount each day. He is sent to a nutritionist, it's either that or fat camp. She tells him to keep a diary of how many donuts he eats and what he gets up to - what triggers his donut cravings.
Personally I didn't love it, but children will absolutely adore it! It's filled with burping, farting, poo jokes, etc, perfect for 8-12 year old boys. As that is the market of this book, the author has done it perfectly. There is a quick humour and easy confidence to Dermot. He is a very likeable character and can tell a good story. Kids will find it easy to read and I think this could take off as well as 'Wimpy Kid' did.

My Rating
In terms of my enjoyment of this book I would give it 3/10 but rating it in regards of it's intended audience, then it works perfectly and so would give it 9/10. Add this to Christmas lists if you have a child between 8-12, especially boys. 
I'm quite looking forward to giving this to my book group. 

FF (42) & TGIF (25)

Follow Friday

Follow Friday is an opportunity to discover and follow other book related blogs! Want to join? Check it out at Parajunkee.

This week's question feature is from Skyink.net

Q: Today’s Question is something new, an activity. We want to see what you look like! Take a pic with you and your current read! Too shy? Boo! Just post a fun pic you want to share.

My Answer: I look awful today! And the book I'm reading is for my Children's Book Group at work, not my first choice of book. Fine, I'll stop putting it off, here I am:

TGIF!

This meme is hosted by GReads!

This Friday's Question:

 

Gateway Books: Which particular books opened you up to a new genre? 

My Answer: I read quite a few Dystopian books but the one that made me go 'wow I love this Genre' was 'Divergent' by Veronica Roth and of course 'The Hunger Games'.

I got into the whole Paranormal/ vampire books by reading the 'House of Night' series by P.C & Kristin Cast.

There is probably others I could mention but can't think of right now. 

 

Happy Hopping, have a great weekend everyone!!! 

Book Review - Last Breath

Title: Last Breath
Author: Rachel Caine
Series: Morganville Vampires (book 11)
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Release Date: 28 Oct 2011
ISBN-13: 978-0749008147

Synopsis
Claire Danvers is concerned when three vampires vanish from Morganville without a trace. The last person seen with them is someone new to town - a mysterious individual named Magnus. Claire is convinced creepy Magnus isn't human ...but is he a vampire, or something else entirely? Claire's hunt for answers leads her to solving another mystery that's long been puzzling her: why do vampires live so far out in a sunny desert when they're sensitive to sunlight? The answer has nothing to do with sunlight, but with water - and an ancient enemy who has finally found a way to invade the vampires' landlocked community. Vampires aren't the top predator on earth. There's something worse that preys on them ...something much worse. Which means if Claire, and Morganville, want to live, they will have to fight on to the last breath ...
ALSO INCLUDES A BRAND NEW AND EXCLUSIVE MORGANVILLE SHORT STORY 

My Review
I am supposed to be on a book buying ban, I have so many books to be read, and I'm short of money, but I saw this had been released and I just had to buy it - come on it's Rachel Caine. RACHEL CAINE people, she is an absolute LEGEND. 
I love Rachel Caine's style of writing, her books capture you immediately, plus she's a really nice person in real life. Hope she comes back to the UK so I can meet her again.
This book is number 11 in the series and it just keeps getting better. Some series' that go on this long start to feel tired or boring, but these just get more exciting and I can't wait for more. I can never get too much Caine.
Vampires are disappearing and something sinister is lurking in the shadows. Claire is sure she has seen someone or something lurking in the shadows. She has to figure out what is happening before it's too late and the entire town goes down.
Opening these books is like being welcomed home or greeted by friends. I instantly feel like I am in their world and ready to share their story, part of their lives.
I love how Claire continues to grow as a character - you get more and more of her each time and it's like watching her grow up.
Eve is still sassy and funny and like a big sister, but on eyou don't mess with as she could kick your a**.
I like Shane more and more and you see another side of him in this book. 
Myrnin is still my favourite, don't know why but something about him makes me smile and I want more of him on the page.
The plot in this book is exciting, like grip the pages, chew your nails, squeal in shock exciting. It's 477 pages long and I read it in less than 24 hours. I just couldn't stop!
I highly recommend you read this series, it is incredible. Definitely one of my favourites. 

My Rating
I would give this book 10/10, absolutely fantastic.  

Know Me Better 3rd November

"Know Me Better" is a new weekly meme hosted by I Am A Reader Not A Writer. Each week five questions are asked as a way for your readers to get to know you better. Want to play along? It's easy! Just click the link above to take you over to the host's page. From there, copy and paste the meme image into your blog along with the meme code. Link back to the host and you're done.

Here's this weeks questions:

What's your favorite season/weather?
My favourite season is Spring, when it's just getting warm but their is still a light breeze, their are flowers everywhere and everyone just seems happier and lighter.

PC or Mac?
Mac all the way, have been for years and would never go back. Can use both - we have PC's at work but they are a pain in the a**

Favorite music?
I have a wide taste in music, I like pop, country, musicals, light rock, anything really except for Opera and Metallica. I like something you can sing along to, dance to. or sit and chill to.

Facebook or Twitter?
I have both but I find Twitter confusing so I prefer Facebook

What TV show/movie/book do you watch/read that you'd be embarrassed to admit?
I still like to watch Children's TV shows like 'Tracy Beaker' and 'Victorious', I know I'm too old for it really but I can chill to it and it reminds me of my childhood.

That's it for this week. Head over to "I Am A Reader, Not A Writer" to sign up. :D