[Review] The Diviners (#1) by Libba Bray

Australian cover

The Diviners

(#1, The Diviners)
The Diviners | Untitled
 
Author: Libba Bray

Publication (dd/mm/yyyy): 29/10/2012

Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Pages: 578

Source: For review

Violence | Sexual Content | Profanity

My Rating:

Posi-tute-ly charming!

My thoughts

Note: This review is over 1000 words and for that I have highlighted the important bits. I suppose I had a lot to say. I have never written so much for a review before!

I just couldn't get enough of The Diviners! Despite the intimidating page count, I jumped right in and there was never a dull moment. There's a whole world to explore in this book—every scene, every page breathes with life. Libba Bray really doesn't skimp on the details, but rather than damping down the story, the extra paragraphs of description brought so much more to it. I felt like I was there. While I was reading this book it was difficult to differentiate between the world that Bray had created, and my own. I was lost in the bright lights of NYC and I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to get away from it all.

[Giveaway] Gratitude Giveaway Blog Hop

Click on the banner to go to the host. ;)

This giveaway has ended. Check here (*link soon) to see who won!

Thanks all you super awesome readers! I know I haven't been too active this year, and I completely missed my blogoversary (which also means a giveaway for that blogoversary) so I thought I'd participate in this blog hop this time around. I'm on exam period right now, but expect to see me come back around late-Nov/early-Dec. I can't wait to be done with this uni year! :D

The details:

• 2 winners will receive a book of their choice!
• International via either Fishpond or The Book Depository.
• Giveaway runs from 15/11-25/11. Winners will be announced soon afterward.

All you have to do is fill in the form below. I'll contact the winners to ask their top 3 book choices (I'll pick one to send!), and to provide their mailing address within 48 hours.

a Rafflecopter giveaway




PS. If the form is not working, you can send me a tweet (@cc9309) instead. [I'll then just manually insert an entry for you]

Good luck!

Waiting on Wednesday (44): On Life

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Personal note
Alright, one clinical placement block down. Now I've got exams and then one more placement for 2 weeks afterwards. I'll be writing about it all on my Tumblr. I'll be sure to link it forward here on the blog for those who are curious...

The Whole Stupid Way We Are ~ N. Griffin
February 5th 2013 ~ Atheneum Books

The pitch

"What happens when everything you’ve got to give isn’t enough to save someone you love?"

Goodreads

Why am I waiting on this?

That cover is so very pretty, I must have it! Also, the synopsis just appeals to me, speaking as a lover of heartfelt, thought-provoking and melancholy contemporary YA. Definitely add this to your lists! I'm surprised I've only got one friend on Goodreads who has added this one.

So there you go. What books are you anticipating?

Thanks for visiting!

Comment with your picks and share the excitement!

[Review] The One Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson

The One Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared

Author: Jonas Jonasson

Publication (dd/mm/yyyy): 26/09/2012

Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Pages: 400

Source: For review

Violence | Sexual Content | Profanity

My Rating:

Unforgettable!

My thoughts

I was initially drawn to this book because of the interesting title. I mean, how badass does it sound? There may not be wizards, dragons, vampires or any noticable magic in The One Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared (for convenience I will call 100YOM for the entirety of this review) BUT this book is so quirky and fun and so completely compelling that it's hard not to read on well into the night.

My Books in Colour (7): Too many books!

MBiC is a fortnightly post book haul feature, and is inspired by Kristi (The Story Siren) and Alea (Pop Culture Junkie). I love looking at book covers, and especially their colours, and that is where my idea came from.

~~~~~

20th of October 2012 ~ Notes

I couldn't help myself and I regret nothing. This is one of the few times I've ever actually purchased more books than I acquired by other means, but it was worth it.

From Monday I'm off to a psychiatric hospital for my mental health nursing placement. I'm freaking scared. Someone who'd already been to this place was given a sensor belt that would sound an alarm if you were lying down (i.e., that someone was attacking you). Well, it should be an interesting two weeks anyway.

...Onto the books!

Note: All release dates are in the format (dd/mm/yyyy), click on images to zoom in, all book links go to Goodreads.

* = Up for swap

For Review

Thanks to...

Allen & Unwin, Bloomsbury, Random House
(Lara, Sonia and Dorothy, respectively <3)

1. Breathe (#1) - Sarah Crossan - 11/10/2012 - unsolicited?
2. The Diviners (#1) - Libba Bray - 01/11/2012 - accepted
3. Shine Light (#3) - Marianne de Pierres - 01/11/2012 - unsolicited

I can't confirm whether what is inside those beautiful covers are equal for 1 and 3, but I'm reading 2 (The Diviners) right now and it's simultaneously just so amazingly creepy and enchanting... this is a BEAST of a book, which is why it's taking more than a week to finish off. I still have to get Burn Bright (book #1 of 3) and I'm hoping to tackle the trilogy in the summer holidays.

Bought

1. Annexed by Sharon Dogar
   
2. The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens
3. Slide by Jill Hathaway
4. Pan's Whisper by Sue Lawson
5. Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday
6. Unravelling by Elizabeth Norris

(2) was acquired through Basement Books [BB]; all others were through All Books 4 Less [AB4L]. For all 8 books, I think it was around $43 total. Not bad... not bad at all. I can't even pick out one that I want to read above the rest! Help me choose. ;) It's great when they show up in the remainder store for $2-5!

I also got two adult books, which are shown in the overall photo, but not in the montage just above. Atonement ($5 - AB4L) and The Language of Flowers ($2 - BB), both I've been wanting to read for AYYYY-HAGES (read that like Norbert from The Angry Beavers).

Won

• Slated (#1) by Teri Terry

Thanks to the crazy Saz & Hachette! This book--this book! Has been so well received. I love the spine of this one and the concept of Slated... I just want to know more right now!

Q: What is your favourite bookshop?

I think this has been growing for years, but I'm definitely an online shopper. I rarely ever go to the shops, though I absolutely LOVE spending as much time as I possibly can just browsing through the shelves. I just love doing my research before I take the plunge and buy something. The one major drawback is those FREE SHIPPING* (when you buy $$ or more) hooks.

Anyway, I'm going to have to say my ultimate favourite bookshop is Better World Books. They have great prices (rarely, even better than The Book Depo), they have free shipping AND they work for a greater cause. I can't say I've bought too many books from the shop, but I'm always impressed by their speedy delivery and quality packaging.

Happy reading everybody! Comment below.

Share with me what books you got! :)