HFVBT Spotlight for The Vatican Princess - A Novel of Lucrezia Borgia by C.W. Gortner

Publication Date: February 9, 2016
Ballantine Books

The Vatican Princess: A Novel of Lucrezia Borgia by C.W. Gortner

Infamy is no accident. It is a poison in our blood. It is the price of being a Borgia. 

Glamorous and predatory, the Borgias fascinated and terrorized 15th-century Renaissance Italy. Lucrezia Borgia, beloved daughter of the pope, was at the center of the dynasty’s ambitions. Slandered as a heartless seductress who lured men to their doom, was she in fact the villainess of legend, or was she trapped in a familial web, forced to choose between loyalty and survival? 

With the ascension of the Spaniard Rodrigo Borgia as Pope Alexander VI, the new pope’s illegitimate children - his rival sons, Cesare and Juan, and beautiful young daughter Lucrezia - assume an exalted position in the papal court. 

Privileged and adored, Lucrezia yearns to escape her childhood and play a part in her family’s fortunes. But Rome is seductive and dangerous, alliances shift at a moment’s notice as Italy’s ruling dynasties strive to keep rivals at bay. As Lucrezia’s father faces challenges from all sides, he’s obliged to marry her off to a powerful adversary. But when she discovers the brutal truth behind her alliance, Lucrezia is plunged into a perilous gambit that will require all her wits, cunning, and guile. Escaping her marriage offers the chance of happiness with a passionate prince of Naples, yet as scandalous accusations of murder and incest build against her, menacing those she loves, Lucrezia must risk everything to overcome the lethal fate imposed upon her by her Borgia blood. 

Beautifully wrought, rich with fascinating historical detail, The Vatican Princess is the first novel to describe Lucrezia’s coming-of-age in her own voice - a dramatic, vivid tale set in an era of savagery and unparalleled splendor, where enemies and allies can be one and the same, and where loyalty to family can ultimately be a curse.

About the Author
C.W. Gortner holds an MFA in Writing with an emphasis in Renaissance Studies from the New College of California. After an eleven year career in fashion and twelve years in the public health sector, in 2012 he became a full-time writer.

Author C.W. Gortner

In his extensive travels to research his books, he has danced a galliard at Hampton Court, learned about organic gardening at Chenoceaux, and spent a chilly night in a ruined Spanish castle. 

His books have garnered widespread acclaim and international success with over 400,000 copies sold. C.W. now lives in Northern California with his partner and two very spoiled rescue cats. 

For more information visit C.W. Gortner’s website. Sign up for C.W. Gortner’s Newsletter for updates.

Friday Freebie: WIN 1 of 2 ebook copies of The Changing Season by Steven Manchester

Valued at $5.99AUD

* Copies courtesy of the author *

This e-book giveaway will appeal to all dog lovers, so please enter below and win a copy for yourself or a friend.

Blurb

This was supposed to be a simple summer for Billy: one more lazy expanse of time before college began. He'd fill the hours playing with Jimmy - his canine best buddy - going camping and doing all the things he promised Jimmy they'd do before Billy left. But that was before the accident that shook the entire town. It was before the summer job that turned into something so much more than a way to get a pay cheque. And it was before Vicki. 

This summer was destined to be many things to Billy, things he didn't truly understand until now. But it was definitely not going to be simple. 

An enormously touching, richly textured, deeply moving novel of new adulthood, The Changing Season is an experience to savour - with special appeal to dog lovers.

Author Bio

A veteran of the Gulf War and a prison investigator in a Massachusetts penitentiary, Steven Manchester has had several careers, including that of a published author.

He's the author of four #1 bestsellers: Twelve Months, The Rockin' Chair, Pressed Pennies and Gooseberry Island as well as the award-winning novel, Goodnight, Brian. His work has appeared on NBC's Today Show, CBS's The Early Show, CNN's American Morning and BET's Nightly News.

When not spending time with his beautiful wife, Paula and their four children, Steven is busy writing and promoting his work.

Giveaway

This giveaway has now closed.

Winner of Missing by Melanie Casey giveaway announced today

Last week's giveaway was a popular one and it seems plenty of you wanted to win your own copy of Missing by Melanie Casey. I loved this Australian crime novel and gave it 5 stars in my review, so was very excited to be able to give away a copy to one lucky person.

The giveaway closed at midnight on Friday 12th February, so congratulations go to:

Kim Stace!

Congratulations Kim, you'll receive an email shortly advising you of your win, and you'll have 7 days to provide me with your postal address. 

Thanks to Pantera Press for the giveaway copy and stay tuned for more giveaways and more great titles this month.

Carpe Librum!

RRP $29.99

Review: The Forgetting Time by Sharon Guskin

* Copy courtesy of Pan Macmillan Australia *

If I could give this book six stars (our of five) I totally would. How's this for a teaser:

Noah is four and wants to go home. The only trouble is he's already home.

The Forgetting Time by Sharon Guskin is the story of Noah and his Mum Janie. Noah has nightmares, begs Janie for his real mother and keeps asking when he can go home. Nobody can tell Janie what's wrong with her son despite visiting a whole host of specialists.

This novel covers themes of identity, death, mental illness, the possibility of re-incarnation and children who may (or may not) remember their previous life as well as an overarching theme of a mother's love for her son.

This topic is right up my alley (having read Children Who Have Lived Before - Reincarnation Today by Trutz Hardo last year), and exploring the themes through this novel was a absolute thrill for me. At times I felt The Forgetting Time was written especially for me!

Sharon Guskin has clearly done her research and I knew I was in expert hands. I can't believe this is her debut novel; wow, what a way to burst onto the scene! Her writing is polished, and I admire her for extending the ending beyond what I was expecting. I got so much more out of The Forgetting Time than I thought possible.

I can't wait to see what she writes next and I have no doubt she'll be my favourite debut author of 2016.

Awesome, amazing, I loved loved loved it!

My rating = *****

Carpe Librum!

Friday Freebie: WIN a copy of Spellbound by Maree Coote

Published in February 2016
RRP $39.95

* Copy courtesy of Melbournestyle Books *

Blurb
What's better than spelling a word correctly? Spelling a picture beautifully!
There are shapes all around us… shapes that look like the letters of the A-B-C. Can you find the letters hidden in these pictures of faces, places, animals and things?
Learn how to create your own Letter Art. A fun and challenging design book for readers, writers and graphic designers of all ages.

Beginners: find the letters hidden in the pictures. Fun and educational, Letter Art helps with letter recognition, spelling, reading, writing and observational skills.

Advanced: the first book of its kind, Spellbound reveals a brand new approach to typographic poetry, where serendipity combines with skill to create a unique letter-image.


Spellbound contains 120 pages of unique typographic illustration known as Letter Art. Enter below to win your very own print copy from Melbournestyle Books.

Giveaway

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Review: I'll Go Home Then; It's Warm and Has Chairs - The Unpublished Emails by David Thorne

I'm a huge fan of David Thorne's caustic humour and writing style and his work always (without fail) makes me laugh out loud. His first book The Internet is a Playground was a 5 star read for me in 2013, and this one, I'll Go Home Then, It's Warm and Has Chairs - The Unpublished Emails is just as funny.

There's plenty of email trails to delve into, photoshopped pictures to enjoy and a treasure trove of stories, anecdotes and letters to laugh about. Again, I couldn't help myself and had to read one of the stories out loud, and keep wanting to use some of his best one liners in conversation.

David Thorne's sense of humour is full of satire and wit, and he captures the office work environment so well it makes me chuckle just thinking about it. His comments about the team building weekend are still making me laugh and his diagrams really bring his scenarios to life in a way you can't possibly imagine until you see his work.

If you've never read any of his stuff before, you can read some it for free on his website, or grab any one of his books. You won't be sorry, instead you'll be laughing and looking for someone to share it with post-haste.

I've already been recommending this one to friends and family, and that says it all really.

My rating = *****

Carpe Librum!

Review and Giveaway of Missing by Melanie Casey is today's Friday Freebie

RRP $29.99

* Copy courtesy of Pantera Press * 

Missing by Australian author Melanie Casey is the third in the Cass Lehman series based in Adelaide and I've been waiting for it to come out for what seems like a-g-e-s.

I easily slipped straight back into the lives of Cass and Detective Dyson and the novel can easily be read as a standalone for those new to the author. 

The case Dyson was investigating piqued my interest and the dialogue between those on the case (especially Dyson's supervisor Crackers) is often laugh out loud funny. Combine this crime plot with the overarching relationship between Cass and her family (mother and grandmother) and Cass and Dyson, add a dollop of suspense and a pinch of psychic power and you have a ripping read.

Sometimes a crime series can run out of steam or lose it's original shine after a while however this is definitely not the the case here; in fact, I didn't want it to end. The characters in Missing are familiar but not predictable and just to prove it, the ending made me exclaim out loud in surprise. It's not a 'twist' in the way of a psychological thriller, just something I never saw coming and had to go back a few chapters to enjoy again.

My only gripe is that author Melanie Casey indicated in her acknowledgements at the end of Missing that she's saying goodbye to the series for a while in favour of writing something else. All I can say to that is: nnnnnnnooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. I need to know what Cass does next, so my fingers are tightly crossed she comes back to this series in the future.

Missing was released last week and is now available in stores. Or you can enter my giveaway below to WIN a copy.


My rating = *****

Carpe Librum!

Giveaway
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Blog Tour & Review: All That Is Lost Between Us by Sara Foster

Available February 2016

* Copy courtesy of Simon & Schuster *

11 Ways to Read a Book: All That Is Lost Between Us Blog Tour

About the Book
Seventeen-year-old Georgia has a secret – one that is isolating her from everyone she loves. She is desperate to tell her best friend, but Sophia is ignoring her, and she doesn’t know why. And before she can find out, Sophia is left fighting for her life after a hit and run, with Georgia a traumatised witness.

As a school psychologist, Georgia’s mother Anya should be used to dealing with scared adolescents. However, it’s very different when the girl who needs help is your own child. Meanwhile, Georgia’s father is wracked with a guilt he can’t share; and when Zac, Georgia’s younger brother, stumbles on an unlikely truth, the family relationships really begin to unravel.

Georgia’s secret is about to go viral. And yet, it will be the stranger heading for the family home who will leave her running through the countryside into terrible danger. Can the Turner family rise above the lies they have told to betray or protect one another, in order to fight for what matters most of all?

Set against the stark, rugged beauty of England’s Lake District, All That is Lost Between Us is a timeless thriller with a modern twist.

My Review
Australian author Sara Foster has given us a suspenseful and emotive read in All That is Lost Between Us, set in the evocative landscape of the Lake District in England.

The Turners (Georgia, Zac, mother Anya and father Callum) are an average family trying to deal with their own personal problems and issues while doing a somewhat poor job of being united; instead seemingly isolated from each other.

The dialogue between the characters was realistic and very contemporary, and the unique use of mobile phone conversations to progress the story and deliver some of the key plot lines was fresh and entertaining. Told from different character's points of view, the reader gains a deeper understanding of the motives of each family member and how quickly things can go wrong.

There's a hit and run mystery begging to be solved, Georgia's secret begging to be revealed and the reader hoping Callum and Anya will work through their estrangement in time to save their family.

All That is Lost Between Us is a suspenseful tale about family dynamics, love, lies and trust and to celebrate this blog tour, I've created a Pinterest board so feel free to check it out before and after you read the book and let me know what you think. (I had fun putting it together for the blog tour).

My rating = ***1/2

Carpe Librum!

Check out some of the other stops on the blog tour.

Winner of the 2016 Australia Day Book Giveaway Announced

I had a great response to my Australia Day Book Giveaway this year, so thanks to everyone who entered and Shelleyrae from Book'd Out for organising this great bookish event. 

I loved reading through your entries with a total of 57 different books mentioned and 77 entries received. Bruce made me laugh with this cheeky entry: I will be reading the Boomerang Books website in anticipation of winning $50 to spend! Thanks for the giveaway :D

Nevertheless, there can be only one winner, so congratulations go to:

Danielle Burns

Congratulations Danielle, you've won a $50 book voucher from Boomerang Books and you'll receive an email shortly advising of your win.

Thanks to Boomerang Books for sponsoring this giveaway and to you for your support. I hope 2016 is full of great books, new discoveries and captivating stories.

Carpe Librum!

Review: Milk Eggs Vodka - Grocery Lists Lost and Found by Bill Keaggy

Milk Eggs Vodka - Grocery Lists Lost and Found by Bill Keaggy is just that, a book containing all kinds of shopping lists that have been found in shopping trolleys, shopping centres and car parks all over the USA.

This collection isn't for everyone, but it does give the reader a unique glimpse into the minds of shoppers. Some of the spelling mistakes made me laugh out loud (burd fude anyone?) but I also enjoyed the categories Keaggy sorted his lists into.

Some of the chapters included:
- Paar-ty!
- Sad Grocery Lists
- Badd Spellrs
- Organized Lists
- Healthy (and Hygienic) Lists

The strange combination of items together on the same list were interesting, although the novelty does wear off by the end.

This is a good book to read while watching TV; or in my case, during the ads while watching the Australian Open.

A book to flick through at the library but not one to buy.

My rating = **

Carpe Librum!

Australia Day Book Giveaway Blog Hop 2016

It's Australia Day soon and I'm participating in the 2015 Australia Day Book Giveaway Blog Hop for the fourth year in a row.

The event is being hosted online by Book'd Out, and there are currently 35 Aussie bloggers, authors, booksellers and publishers offering great Australian themed giveaways and FREE stuff!

Boomerang Books is generously sponsoring my blog hop this year to give you the chance to WIN:

A $50 gift voucher from Boomerang Books.

To Enter: leave a comment in the form below and tell me what you're reading this Australia Day. 

Eligibility: open to those with an Australian postal address only and entries close at midnight, Wednesday 27th January 2016.

Winner: will be chosen by random.org and announced within 5 days and notified of their win via email. The winner will also be announced here on Carpe Librum in a follow up post.

Once you've entered, please click here to find other exciting Aussie giveaways on offer.

Happy Australia Day and Carpe Librum!

Giveaway
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Review: 438 Days - An Extraordinary True Story of Survival at Sea by Jonathan Franklin

* Copy courtesy of Pan Macmillan Australia *

Experienced fisherman Salvador Alvarenga was lost off the coast of Mexico on 17 November 2012, and while many of his colleagues and friends were in disbelief about his disappearance, none could have imagined he would survive 438 days at sea and drift all the way to the Marshall Islands.

438 Days - An Extraordinary True Story of Survival at Sea is a story of extreme survival, at times awe-inspiring and full of hope but also full of desperation, depression and grief.

If you want to know what Salvador eats to survive and how his body copes with severe dehydration and starvation, you'll find it here. You'll also discover how he copes with the isolation, loneliness, the endless hours and emotional strain of his ordeal.

This novel also highlights just how much rubbish is floating in the ocean and how Salvador used everything he could find to aid his survival, creating his own little eco system around his boat.

438 Days covers the mental, physical and emotional toll on Alvarenga's body, including his terrifying rescue and seeing another human being for the first time in more than a year.

Moving and inspiring, author Jonathan Franklin has really delivered on this one.


My rating = ****

Carpe Librum!

Guest Post: What We Remember by Australian author Sally Hepworth

Australian author
Sally Hepworth

Very pleased to have Melbourne author Sally Hepworth on the blog today, as part of her blog tour for the release of The Things We Keep. She's here today to talk about memories.

What We Remember
What if everything that had happened in your life was suddenly wiped out? Literally, through a case of amnesia, or figuratively, if you found out something you valued was a lie?

I’ve thought about this a lot. While watching the news, I’ll see the wife of a politician who couldn’t keep it in his pants, or an ex-cult member escaping a life she was born into and think … how do you go on now? 

Who are we without our fundamental beliefs, beliefs created over a lifetime? 

A few years ago, my friend’s father had what their family now calls an ‘episode.’ His assistant found him wandering around the office, disoriented and agitated. When his family arrived and tried speaking to him, he asked them: “What day is it?”
“Tuesday, dad,” they told him.
“Tuesday,” he repeated, frowning deeply. “Did I play golf this morning?”
“Yes.” 
A coy smile. “How’d I play?”

It was funny, the first time. But over the next twelve hours they had the same conversation a hundred times. Verbatim. Same deep frown, same coy smile. 

My friend’s father’s ‘episode’ was Global Transient Amnesia. Thankfully, the transient part meant that by the next day, he was back to normal.

The interesting part for me was that for twenty-four hours, his short-term memory was less than a minute long. Yet, every time he asked the same series of questions. The exact same series. It spoke to me about memory and its role in who we are. It led me to wonder if maybe, memory isn’t as important as we think.

The Things We Keep
by Sally Hepworth
published January 2016

In my novel, The Things We Keep, three women find they can’t trust their memories. For Anna, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease at age 38, it is learning that all of her memories are being sucked out faster than she can create them. For Eve, once happily married, it’s coming to terms with the fact that her husband wasn’t the person she thought he was. For Clementine, Eve’s daughter, it is trying to grieve for her ‘hero’ father while dealing with the realization that he wasn’t a hero at all. 

Each woman is faced with a reality she didn’t expect. And with nothing but unreliable memories to lean on, Anna, Eve and Clementine are going to find out who they are and what they stand for.

What about you? If you lost your memory, do you think you would you be the same? And what conversation would you be having over and over?

Sally Hepworth

Review: Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh

Allie Brosh is a successful blogger with more than half a million followers and her reflective self-deprecating humour is endearing and very funny.

I read her book Hyperbole and a Half over a couple of sittings and really admire her honesty in addressing topics like depression and responsibility in relatable stories and observations. I also respect her ability to take a long - and sometimes difficult - look at herself and her character/nature in ways few of us ever do.

Her drawings are comical and hilarious but don't be fooled by their apparent simplicity. I read on the FAQ page of her blog that she often re-draws a scene or a character's face up to 10 times before she's 100% happy with it.

I chuckled, I laughed and enjoyed the stories and observations in Hyperbole and Half and will be following her work from now on.

If you haven't come across Allie's work before, you can read some of her work for FREE on her blog. My favourites are her stories about the simple dog and the helper dog.

My rating = *****

Carpe Librum!

Review: Beside Myself by Ann Morgan

* Copy courtesy of NetGalley *

I'm a sucker for a book about twins, and my expectations for an enjoyable read were blown completely out of the water by Ann Morgan in Beside Myself.

Twin sisters Helen (bossy) and Ellie (submissive) play a game one afternoon to swap identities, but Ellie won't change back. What happens next is an ever growing divide between sisters and fascinating process of character development and decline.

Beside Myself is a suspenseful read and an interesting look at identity and mental illness. I couldn't help but wonder what I would have done in Helen's situation.

Beside Myself by Ann Morgan is my favourite book of 2016 so far, although I'm not sure if it can stay at the top for the entire year, let's see.

Download a FREE excerpt from the Better Reading website and see for yourself.

My rating = *****

Carpe Librum!

Sign-up for 2016 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

The Historical Fiction Reading Challenge hosted by Passages to the Past is one of my favourite reading challenges of the year and I'm pleased to be participating again in 2016.

Last year I read 19 books for the challenge, so I've nominated to complete the Medieval level and aim to read and review 15 books; 25 is just too many for me.

Challenge levels:
20th century Reader  - 2 books
Victorian Reader        - 5 books
Renaissance Reader - 10 books
Medieval                   - 15 books
Ancient History          - 25 books
Prehistoric                 - 50+ books

All book lovers are invited to join in and you don't need a blog to participate. Just leave your comments about each book in the monthly wrap-up over at Passages to the Past.

Any sub-genre of historical fiction is accepted (Historical Romance, Historical Mystery, Historical Fantasy, Young Adult, etc.) and there's plenty to discover so feel free to join in.

Carpe Librum!

Sign-up for Aussie Author Challenge 2016

Today I'm signing up for the Aussie Author Challenge 2016 run by Booklover Book Reviews, after discovering one of my favourite books of 2015 (The Messenger by Markus Zusak) on the challenge last year.

If you want to join me and read more books by Aussie authors you can take part in the challenge via Facebook, GoodReads or Google+ (you don't need a website or a book blog to participate).


I'm committing to the Kangaroo level again.

Kangaroo
- Read and review 12 titles written by Australian authors;
- At least 4 female and 4 male authors;
- At least 4 new authors (to me);
- At least 3 genres.

I'm looking forward to supporting and discovering new Aussie authors again this year, who's with me?

#aussieauthor

Carpe Librum!

Sign-up for 2016 Australian Women Writers Challenge

I'm signing up for the Australian Women Writers Challenge again this year, which encourages avid readers and book bloggers, male and female, living in or outside Australia, to read and review books by Australian women throughout the year.

The challenge runs from 1 January – 31 December 2016 and I've committed to the Franklin level again this year. I'll be aiming to read 10 books by female Australian authors and review at least 6 of them.

You don't have to be a blogger to participate so click here to join in or find out more about the challenge. 

You can also follow @auswomenwriters on Twitter and use the tag #AWW2016 to follow along.

Carpe Librum!

Review: Anti-Stress Dot-to-Dot - Beautiful, Calming Pictures to Complete Yourself by Emily Wallis

*Copy courtesy of Pan Macmillan Australia* 

With the ever present adult colouring in craze still in full swing with no sign of abating, I thought I'd try my hand at an adult dot-to-dot book, and Emily Wallis' Anti-Stress Dot-to-Dot was just the ticket.

I was genuinely surprised to discover just how calming this exercise is, and believe it or not, the first dot-to-dot took me three sittings to complete! 

Creating this majestic tree (pictured below) line by line was a relaxing and peaceful way to pass the time at the end of a busy day. It also forced me into 100% mindfulness, because all I could think of was the next numbered dot I needed to draw my way towards.

The designs are printed single-sided on high quality paper, meaning your pen won't bleed through the paper and every page contains its own artwork. It looks like pages can be removed if you wish, however I love this book too much to rip out any pages. A little old fashioned I know.

Do yourself (or a loved one) a favour, and get yourself a copy of Anti-Stress Dot-to-Dot by Emily Wallis; it's so much fun and perfect for adults of all ages.

My rating = *****

Carpe Librum!

My first dot-to-dot in decades
from Anti-Stress Dot-to-Dot by Emily Wallis

Completed Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2015

My favourite genre is historical fiction, so it wasn't hard to complete the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge for 2015 hosted by Passages to the Past and read a minimum of 15 historical fiction novels.

Here's what I read (in order):

1.  The William Shakespeare Detective Agency: The School of Night | Colin Falconer
2.  The Girl in the Photograph | Kate Riordan
3.  The Fairytale Keeper | Andrea Cefalo
4.  Wild Wood | Posie Graeme-Evans
5.  The Witch of Napoli | Michael Schmicker
6.  Ajax Penumbra 1969 | Robin Sloan
7.  The Room Beyond | Stephanie Elmas
8.  The Embroiderer | Kathryn Gauci
9.  The Book of Speculation | Erika Swyler
10. The Anchoress | Robyn Cadwallader
11. Signora da Vinci | Robin Maxwell
12. The Beast's Garden | Kate Forsyth
13. The Taming of the Queen | Philippa Gregory
14. The Chosen Queen | Joanna Courtney
15. Sweet Wattle Creek | Kaye Dobbie
16. The Lake House | Kate Morton
17. The Olmec Obituary | L.J.M Owen
18. The Bookman's Tale | Charlie Lovett
19. The Countess' Captive | Andrea Cefalo

I'll definitely be participating in this challenge again in 2016, so stay tuned for my sign up post if you want to join me.

Carpe Librum!

Review: A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Writings by Charles Dickens

Christmas time is the perfect time to read A Christmas Carol and Penguin's clothbound edition of A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Writings is a joy to behold on the shelf and in the hand.

My admiration for the writing of Charles Dickens began after reading Oliver Twist, I was interested to see if this classic would live up to my expectations. I'm pleased to report that it did.

It's hard to believe that an author's work from more than 160 years ago can still warm the heart and tantalise the mind, yet here it is. Dickens has the most incredible ability to describe his characters in the most entertaining fashion that I wanted to read sections aloud just to share the brilliance of his writing.

The following quote was my favourite though and appeared on page 87:

"If you should happen, by any unlikely chance, to know a man more blest in a laugh than Scrooge's nephew, all I can say is, I should like to know him too. Introduce him to me, and I shall cultivate his acquaintance." 

I'm not quite sure what it is about the quote, but perhaps I'm drawn by the idea of cultivating one's acquaintance and how magical it seems. How 'of the times'.

I thoroughly recommend A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Writings to readers of all ages to be enjoyed in November/December, although it can - in truth - be enjoyed at any time of year.

My rating = ****

Carpe Librum!

For more about Dickens, read my 5 star review of Oliver Twist, or my 3 star review of Great Expectations.

Completed 2015 Mount TBR Reading Challenge

Almost a year ago I signed up to the 2015 Mount TBR Reading Challenge (hosted by My Reader's Block) and committed to read 12 books owned prior to 1 January 2014. 

I successfully completed the challenge and here's what I read (in order):

1.  Wild Wood | Posie Graeme-Evans

2.  Ajax Penumbra 1969 | Robin Sloan

3.  The Shining | Stephen King

4.  The Room Beyond | Stephanie Elmas

5.  Naomi's Room | Jonathan Aycliffe

6.  The Museum of Literary Souls | John Connolly

7.  The Picture of Dorian Gray | Oscar Wilde

8.  Looking for Alibrandi | Melina Marchetta

9.  The Pearl | John Steinbeck

10. Stoner | John Williams

11. Signora da Vinci | Robin Maxwell

12. Frankenstein: Prodigal Son | Dean Koontz

It's always rewarding to read a book you've been looking forward to for ages, and of these, I've wanted to read Signora da Vinci by Robin Maxwell for 4 years! 

Carpe Librum!

2015 Reading Stats and Wrap Up

Happy New Year fellow booklovers!! In 2015 I read a total of 66 books and thought it'd be interesting to compile some reading stats, so here goes.

Male vs Female Authors
Until I crunched the numbers, I had no idea whether or not I'd read more male or female authors.

Turns out that 56% of the books I read this year were by female authors and 44% by male authors.

Given that I choose to read a book based on whether I think I'll like it or not, (not the author's name or sex), I'm happy with this split.


Longest book
The longest book I read in 2015 was The Lake House by Kate Morton, at 592 pages long. I enjoyed it and gave it 4 stars in my review. I'm looking forward to reading more chunksters in 2016.

Print vs e-book
I'm reading increasingly more e-books these days - particularly when reviewing books from NetGalley - however it was pleasing to see that  print books still dominate my reading choices.

Giveaways
My Friday Freebie series was very successful in 2015, but you might be surprised to hear I gave away 23 books valued at over $420 throughout the year. Phew! 

(If you were one of the lucky winners, let me know if you enjoyed your prize in the comments below).

Source
Sometimes it feels like I'm always reading review books, so I thought I'd see just how many I buy myself and borrow from the library etc.

It turns out that 41% of what I read was specifically for review (e.g. provided by publishers or authors in exchange for a review) and a respectable 32% were purchased myself or bought for me as a gift. 

Furthermore, I borrowed 22% of the books I read this year from the library; not bad either.

2016
I've decided to decrease the number of reading challenges this year (down to a manageable 3 instead of 5) and will crunch these stats again at the end of another reading year to see what's changed.

Until then, stay tuned for some great giveaways in 2016 and interesting reviews. I'm also hoping to break through the 1 million hits milestone, so cross your fingers for me.

Carpe Librum!