Bookish Babble: April 2017 Round Up

Posted on May 7, 2017 by Sarah "SacaKat" Fairbairn

Books Read: 8

Slice by Steven Herrick. Five Stars. I adored this book. The character of Darcy is wonderful and his friendships with Noah and Audrey are beautiful. [Goodreads]

A Bloody Legacy by Lily Luchesi. Five Stars. A Bloody Legacy is short but intense. A fast paced, sultry and enticing read. [Goodreads] [MyReview]

Rocket Raccoon (Free Comic Book Day Special) by Joe Caramagna. Three Stars. A quick fun read, full of Rocket hijinks. [Goodreads]

Walk the Edge by Katie McGarry. Four Stars. Good girl meets misunderstood bad boy, a well used trope, but the writing was good and I really did enjoy it. [Goodreads]

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor. Five Stars. THAT ENDING! I still haven’t recovered! Fantastical Awesomeness. [Goodreads] [MyReview]

Charmed #2 by Erica Schultz & Maria Sanapo. Three Stars. Still had the TV show feel to it, but was a little lack lustre. [Goodreads]

Another Night in Mullet Town by Steven Herrick. Four Stars. A snapshot of growing up in a small Aussie coastal town. [Goodreads]

Finding Molly: An Adventure in Catsitting by Justine Prado. Four Stars. A story of growing up and discovering one’s groove. [Goodreads] [MyReview]

Books I added to my TBR list this month: 19

Blog Posts: 10

Until next time, enjoy your shelves

Bookish Babble: March 2017 Round Up

Posted on April 4, 2017 by Sarah "SacaKat" Fairbairn

Posts:Read: 8 Rocket Raccoon: Grounded #1 & Rocket Raccoon: Grounded #2. Both are quick and amusing reads that follow Rocket as he gets himself in and out of trouble, tries to find a way to get off Earth, and just ends up getting himself in even more trouble. Goodreads View #1. Goodreads View #2.The Limbo Tree by T.N. Suarez. If I had to sum the book up in one word I would say it was HAUNTING. An unreliable narrator and a reality that continues to twist and change. You think you may have figured out what is going on and then everything twists again and you’re flailing around confused right alongside the main character Sam. Goodreads View. My Review.I’m Australian Too by Mem Fox. This book makes my heart sing. It celebrates Australia’s multiculturalism, promotes racial equality and shines a spotlight on refugees. All this is wrapped up as a fun and colourful sing-song story. It is truly beautiful and a must read for young children. Goodreads View. My Review.Charmed #1 by Erica Schultz & M.L. Sanapo. I enjoyed reading this as it still had the TV show feel to it. I was a little disappointed when I realised it was a reimaging and that it wasn’t a carry-on from the Zenescope comics that were season 9 and 10, carrying on the TV show season 8’s set up storylines.
Never the less I’ve pre-ordered Dynamite’s Charmed #2 and I’ll be giving their whole first story arc a go before I pass final judgement. Goodreads View.The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout. A story about abusive foster homes, social labels and second chances. The pace was a little slow at times and yes, the romance was predictable, but sometimes we need that happily ever after and overall I enjoyed it. Goodreads View.

The Cruelty by Scott Bergstrom. I really enjoyed this book. From bitchy rich girls to deadly crime rings, Gwendolyn goes up against them all. Sounds over the top but I found it to be rather captivating story. Goodreads View. My Review.When Michael Met Mina by Randa Abdel-Fattah. A book with an excellent message! Mina came to Australia by boat, a refugee from Afghanistan, while Michael’s always been on Sydney’s lower north shore. I enjoyed experiencing Michael wise up to his parent’s racists ways and grow into a much more caring and well-rounded young man. Goodreads View.

New additions to my TBR: 13

Bookish Instagram:Until next time, enjoy your shelves

Bookish Babble: February 2017 Round Up

Posted on March 4, 2017 by Sarah "SacaKat" Fairbairn

Many of the blogs I follow do monthly round up posts in varying styles. So I thought I’d give it a go.

Books I Read This Month: 6Charmed: Season 9, Volume 1, Volume 2 & Volume 3 (combined single comic Issues 1-19) by Paul Ruditis, Constance M. Burge, Raven Gregory & Dave Hoover. The girls are back in town! Season 9 of Charmed continues in the pages of this graphic novel from Zenescope. Follow along everyone’s favorite trio of witches as Paige, Phoebe, and Piper continue their adventures from the hit TV series. Goodreads View. 4/5: Zenescope has managed to move the girls to the comic medium quite well. Reading the comics I felt like I was still watching the show. My Review (for Volumes 1 & 2).

29991690 How Not to Fall in Love, Actually by Catherine Bennetto. Life is 10% planning, 10% design and 80% totally winging it… Goodreads View. 4/5: While the story was predictable at times it still gave me the warm fuzzies. The writing was humours, flowed easily and was a joy to read. My Review. 31932619 Supergirl: Being Super, 1 of 4 (Supergirl: Being Super #1) by Mariko Tamaki & Joëlle Jones. Book one of four with a new Supergirl origin. Goodreads View. 3/5: Pretty much all story set up, I just started getting into it and then it was over. 32933014 Saga #42 by Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples. “THE WAR FOR PHANG,” The Epic Conclusion! Hell is war, as Hazel and her family learn the hardest way. Goodreads View. 4/5: A rather dark and sad issue, but I loved it nevertheless.

Books I added to my TBR list this month: 21 Just slightly out of proportion with how many I managed to read, but only just LOL 😛

Bookish Instagram Posts:Blog Posts:I’ve still got to figure out how to get back into my reading groove. I read so much when I was on maternity leave with Riley. I’d read during his feeds and I’d read out loud to him whatever book I was reading at the time until he fell asleep. Pre-Ethan I’d get more reading done in a month, even with working full time, then I have managed all up since he was born. I’ve been so exhausted. All I’ve had the energy to do, when not carry out motherly or wifely duties, is to sit in front of the TV and zone out. Heres hoping next month is better.

Until next time, enjoy your shelves 🙂

Bookish Babble: 2017 Challenges

Posted on December 28, 2016 by Sarah "SacaKat" Fairbairn

I’m only setting myself a total goal of 60 books to be read for my Goodreads challenge in 2017, which will be half of what I’ve read this year, but with baby number two just arrived it is probably as much or more than I’ll be capable of.

The Australian Women Writers Challenge is all about promoting the wonderful works of our female Aussie authors.

I was going to set myself the goal of 12 AWW books for 2017, as that’s only one a month. But early in the year I think I might struggle to get even one book read a month. I really don’t know how I’m going to handle the two kiddlets and I’ll be returning to work earlier with Ethan than I did with Riley (we were renting the first time around, but we’re home ”owners” now and that costs quite a bit more per month – and there’ll be one more month to feed). So I decided to sign up to read 6 and any I read and review over that amount will be a bonus.

I have purchased a fair few #LoveOzYA books this year most of which are by lovely ladies I’ve seen speak, personally met or connected with online. #AWW2017 is an awesome reason to move them higher up my never-ending To Be Read list.

Bookish Babble: 2016 Reading Round Up

Posted on December 12, 2016 by Sarah "SacaKat" Fairbairn

I know what you’re thinking; Woman what are you doing the year ain’t over yet. But come on! I’ve got a baby due and I’m still not ready for its arrival. If I do manage to do any reading from now until after new-years it will be a miracle.

Here is a few of my favourite reads of 2016:Lynette Noni’s The Medoran Chronicles. I am super keen for the April 2017 release of the third book (3rd out of 5) Draekora. This series has it all; a fantastic parallel fantasy world, show downs between good and evil, tested friendships, a strong female lead, great supporting cast and MAGIC! It follows teen Alex as she discovers this parallel world and the strength to be the hero that it needs. Oh yeah and It’s written by an Aussie, #LoveOzYA what more could you want. Goodreads.

Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples’s SAGA. If you haven’t heard of SAGA you must have been living under a rock for the past three years. This epic sci-fi/fantasy (for mature readers) follows new parents Marko and Alana (narrated by Hazel, their daughter) as they dodge those who don’t approve of their inter species family and seek to destroy them. Marko and Alana strive to create a loving family and figure out how parenthood works all while avoiding the battles going on around the universe due to a long running galactic war between their peoples. Goodreads.

Becky Albertalli’s Simon vs. The Homo sapiens Agenda. I finished this book with a smile on my face and a tear in my eye. I actually just sat on the couch and hugged the book. Read it! It’s heartwarming and beautiful and you can’t help but fall in love with Simon as you experience him grow and learn to accept himself. Goodreads.

Will Kostakis! Far out I love this fella’s writing. The Sidekicks & The First Third are two brilliant stand alone #LoveOzYA masterpieces. Both touch on family, friendship, sexually and growing up Aussie style – Ok, ok, Greek/Australian style when it comes to The First Third, but both are set in Sydney. Goodreads.

The Mother in me fell in love with Simon (Simon vs. The Homo sapiens Agenda) Bill (The First Third) and Thommo (The Sidekicks) I wanted hug them and make them feel better. Harley, bloody Harley (The Sidekicks) Harley is the boy I loved, the one that no matter how old I grow a part of me will always fall for. There of course were other wonderful characters in these books, but I am trying to keep this post brief LOL)

Christopher Currie’s Clancy of the Undertow. I saw so much of my teenage self in Clancy. Clancy is a beautiful, truly connectable character. The story touches on family, friendship and sexually, as you get to experience Clancy grow and discover who she is meant to be. It is a powerful and heartwarming read. Beautiful #LoveOzYA all the way! Goodreads.

Jessica Shirvington’s Disruption duology. This duology is brilliant. I read both books back to back in a few days. We get blackmail, bad guy bullshit and sassy bitch brilliance in 833 pages of utterly enthralling action. Lead character Maggie is a strong young woman that is not to be messed with and who you can’t help but fall for. #LoveOzYA Goodreads.

Ambelin Kwaymullina’s The Tribe series. I’ve still to read the last book in this series, I purchased it earlier in the year, but i’m too scared! I don’t want it to be over. This is a dystopian like no other I’ve read; for one thing it’s better then most other books I’ve read labeled dystopian. The series is fresh and exciting with strong leading female characters, a focus on friendship, connecting with the natural world around us, doing what you believe is right and protecting the ones you love. #LoveOzYA Goodreads.

Katherine Hurley’s Griever’s Mark series. I’m not sure exactly what it is about the first two books in this series that captivated me so. I’m still to read the third, fear of endings and all. But from the moment I finished reading the first book I haven’t been able to get the two main characters Astarti and Logan out of my head. So that’s got to count for something. I also really loved the earth magic that Hurley created. Goodreads.

Bellow are some of books I had hoped to fit in before bub was born, but haven’t managed to and thus will be top of my to-read list next year!

I really should hurry up and read Georgie Spider and Unbound, as there are way too many fictional characters with unfinished story lines running around in my head at the moment.

The Goodreads Book Tag

Posted on October 30, 2016 by Sarah "SacaKat" Fairbairn

I came across this version of The Goodreads Book Tag over on The Reader Dragon and I thought I’d give it ago since it’s been quite a while since I did a book tag.

1. What was the last book you marked as ‘read’?Immortal Writers by Jill Bowers. I finished reading this Friday night and I still haven’t gotten my head around what i’m going to write in a review 😦 Why does it feel like it’s my fault when I don’t “Click” with a book. I had such high hopes for this one.

2. What book are you currently reading?Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. I figured it was about time I got into another Rowell romp 🙂 and I am thoroughly enjoying it so far.

3. What was the last book you marked as ‘to-read’?The newly released Riven (The Hero Rebellion #2) by Belinda Crawford. I read the first book Hero back in July and loved it. #LoveOzYA

4. What do you plan to read next? My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton & Jodi Meadows.

5. Do you use the star rating system?

6. Are you doing a 2016 reading challenge?7. Do you have a wishlist?

At the moment not really, not other than adding books to my Goodreads To Read shelf. I want to spend the next 12 months reading the books I already own. Ha until that next super hyped LoveOzYA release comes along that is.

8. What book do you plan to buy next?

See above = “next super hyped LoveOzYA release”. Nar but seriously, whatever pretty little thing catches my eye when I next enter any shop that sells books or I mysteriously end up on Booktopia.com.au or Amazon.com.au. I have no self control when it comes to books. Collecting them has become an addiction in the last few years. I am trying to curb this though, as I’ve already got plenty of books to read. At least it’s better than the smoking habit I had in my late teens to early twenties. Luckily my parents did raise me to be responsible so I’ve never let my son/dogs/husband go unfed/unclothed etc. I’m finding the library is a good substitute when I need a fix – yep that’s what i’ll keep telling myself.

9. Who are your favourite authors?

That’s a hard one, so i’ll try to limit myself to five.

J.K. Rowling, because I will re-read the seven original Harry Potter books every now and then until the day I die.

Rick Riordan, because Percy Jackson, Leo Valdez and Magnus Chase are f’íng adorable and I can’t wait for my son to meet them (Harry and the Hogwarts gang as well).

Lucy Maud Montgomery, because Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe were my world as a child and they still are today.

C.S. Lewis, because I still want to find a wardrobe to take me to Narnia and if my husband had let me our son Riley’s name would have been Edmund!

Brian K. Vaughan, because SAGA. Seriously the comic book series SAGA is brilliant. I love this mans brain and the world he has created with artist Fiona Staples.

I foresee that if Lynette Noni’s Medoran Chronicles series keeps up the standard of the early books that it will end up like Harry and be on my periodical re-read list. #LoveOzYA

10. Do you have any favourite quotes? Would you like to share a few?

“Albert knew that one could never be sure about magic, but a lack of certainty is not a good reason to do nothing.” Howard L. Anderson, Albert of Adelaide

“In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” Jane Austen, Pride And Prejudice

“Dumbledore watched her fly away, and as her silvery glow faded he turned back to Snape, and his eyes were full of tears.

“After all this time?”

“Always,” said Snape.”

J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

11. Have you joined any groups?

Yep, even though I have been rather inactive in them over the past year, oops.

Australian YA Bloggers & Readers, Aussie Book Bloggers, Aussie Book Club and Book Club (Young Adult Edition).

12. How many shelves do you have on Goodreads?

Eight. The standard Read, Currently Reading and Want to Read as well as my own adds; owned-ebook-to-read, owned-treebook-to-read, review-copy-to-read, series-in-progress, and want-to-re-read.

I nominate anyone who wants to give this tag a go.

Until next time 🙂 Enjoy your shelves :-).

Bookish Babble: Y16.W14

Posted on August 4, 2016 by Sarah "SacaKat" Fairbairn

Aussie Author Quote Edition:

I haven’t read Stormdancer yet so I am not sure of the context, so the fact that I used an image of people kissing as the background maybe a lil bit off, BUT when I read this quote I thought in a romantic context “Yep, been there and done that!”

This is true, but It doesn’t always feel that way.

Yes, yes you do! Run with me people.

Well yes, as long as you haven’t read the synopsis or any reviews :-P.

This next one is a snippet from The First Third by Will Kostakis. Now i’m not sure how it will translate if your never read the book but I loved this bit. So imagine for me a 17 year old Australian born grandson with his Greek born grandmother >>

“Sti zoei mas, ehome tria… komatia.” Greek for, “In our lives, we have three… pieces.” She must have been in an imparting-wisdom kind of mood. It was obviously important, because she switched to English, not trusting my Greek.

“In first part,” She said, “your family embarrass you. Then-pff-they die.” I couldn’t tell whether she was trying to teach me something or make me feel bad for laughing at her.

She focused hard, like she was having difficulty summoning the correct phrasing. “In number two, you feel agape, you find love, you make baby, you want to have family like before.” I thought of Papou. I thought of Mum.

Yiayia snatched up a polka-dotted piece of fabric and slowly started to stretch it. The elasticity disappointed her. She dropped it back into the heap and rested her hand on the edge of the bin. “Then, one day, you old. You try to give, and your family,” Yiayia shrugged, “they embarrassed. And then-pff-you die.”

It was the circle of Greek life. “You see, one day,” she added.

Life is made up of three parts: in the first third, you’re embarrassed by your family; in the second, you make a family of your own; and in the end, you just embarrass the family you’ve made.

It’s funny because it true and it’s heartbreaking because it is true. I’m in my second third now! I’ve always been blessed with a big, loving and yes sometimes embarrassing family. The older I get the more I long for how connected my family was when I was younger. All my cousins and myself included are off making our own families now. I hope I can give my boys the connections I had and the love I felt in my first third.

Until next time, enjoy your shelves (and your families).

Bookish Babble: Bookish Book Lover Tag

Posted on July 13, 2016 by Sarah "SacaKat" Fairbairn

I came across the Bookish Book Lover Tag on Stephanie’s Book Reviews and thought it looked fun, thanks Stephanie 🙂 From what I can work out it was originally created by Shantelle @ A Writer’s Heart, so thank you Shantelle, and OOPS if I got that wrong.

The Rules: Use the Banner, Answer the Questions, Use Lots of Book Covers, Tag Your Bookish Friends.1) What Book Are You Currently Reading?The Iron Witch (The Iron Witch #1) by Karen Mahoney.

2) What’s The Last Book You Finished?

Hero by Belinda Crawford Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi #LoveOzYA

3) Favorite Book You Read This Year?

So far it’d have to say The Sidekicks by Will Kostakis Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi #LoveOzYA or Chains of Water and Stone by Katherine Hurley.

4) What Genre Have You Read Most This Year? Graphic Novels /Comic Books.

5) What Genre Have You Read Least This Year? Contemporary.

6) What Genre Do You Want To Read More Of? Contemporary YA. I always say I’m mainly a Sci-fi /fantasy reader, but the contemporary YA I’ve read this year has really impressed me and I’ve enjoyed them much more than I expected I would.

7) How Many Books Have You Read This Year, And What’s Your Goal? I’ve read 65 and am aiming for 125 or hopefully more!

8) What’s The Last Book You Bought? It was a four book haul; Three Jane Austen classics in pretty paperbacks and Black by Fleur Ferris Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi #LoveOzYA (is my Aussie Aussie chant getting annoying yet).

9) What Book Are You Saving Up To Buy Next? Whatever tickles my fancy when I see it on a shelf or read a review of it.

10) How Many Books Did You Check Out Last Library Visit?

Two; The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney and Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli.

11) What’s A Book You Can’t Wait To Read? I’m always hanging out for the next installment of SAGA by Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples.

12) What’s A Series You’d Recommend to Everyone? 13552764

I feel funny recommending books to strangers, because how the hell would I know what they like, friends and family are a different matter. BUT I have been raving about The Tribe Series by Ambelin Kwaymullina to anyone who will listen lately and I haven’t even read the third book yet. I’m dragging out reading the last book as I don’t want the story to be over!
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Here we go again! Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi #LoveOzYA 18872201

13) Who’s An Author You’re Hoping Writes More? I’d love to read new YA series or standalone from Ambelin Kwaymullina (see above), J.K. Rowling (and/or I’d totally be happy with anything further in her wizarding world – I pre-ordered Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), Stephenie Meyer (shut them haters up girl!) and Alisa Jeruconoka (I loved her Unparallel Worlds back in 2012 by a sequel hasn’t surfaced yet).

14) A Few Books Your Heart Adores? Albert of Adelaide by Howard L. Anderson, Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and All the Harry Potter’s 😛 – I could keep going!!!!
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15) What Series’s Coming Conclusion Makes You Sad? The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy a Trilogy in Five parts by Douglas Adams, it’s conclusion plain upsetting. I just wanted Arthur Dent to live happily ever after with Fenchurch. Why Mr Adams, you murder, why!!!!

16) What Books Are On Your Wish-List? All of them! All of them I tell you. I want them all MWAHAHAHAHAHA!

TAGGED: Anyone who wants to have a go :-).

Bookish Babble: Y16.W13

Posted on June 12, 2016 by Sarah "SacaKat" Fairbairn

Batman and Robin are camping in the desert, they’ve set up their tent and are asleep. Some hours later, Batman wakes his faithful friend.

“Robin, look up at the sky and tell me what you see.”

Robin replies, ” I see millions of stars.”

“What does that tell you?” asks Batman.

Robin ponders for a minute. “Astronomically speaking, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn is in Leo. Chronologically, it appears to be approximately a quarter past three. Theologically, it’s evident the Lord is all-powerful and we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, it seems we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. What does it tell you, Batman?”

“Robin, you idiot, someone has stolen our tent.”

source: http://www.jokes4us.com/peoplejokes/comicbookjokes/batmanjokes.html

I see both!!! I love these kind of things.

Gotta love Deadpool!

I can be your hero, baby. I can kiss away the pain. I will stand by you forever. How did Enrique Iglesias end up in my head? But seriously this is one of my favorite quotes.

Until Next Time 🙂 Enjoy Your Shelves 🙂

Bookish Babble: Y16.W12

Posted on May 28, 2016 by Sarah "SacaKat" Fairbairn

I’ve been trying to do a Neverland / Peter Pan themed Bookish Babble for weeks now! But when you type in Neverland most of the crap that comes up is Michael Jackson related. So I turned to looking for quotes I liked by the original Peter Pan author. I found four I really liked, so here they are made all pretty, followed by the only two memes I found online worthy of making it into this post. God I love the WordSwag app :-P.

Sir James Matthew Barrie (9 May 1860 – 19 June 1937) was a Scottish novelist and playwright, best remembered today as the creator of Peter Pan.