Day 15 January Book Photo Challenge: Favorite Antagonist

Once again, I have cheated a little with this one and picked a group of antagonists. Namely zombies!
Zombie stuff (books, TV shows, movies) are my guilty pleasure and whats more (and I haven't watched warm bodies yet so I don't know how successful it was) they cant be romanticised like vampires and werewolves.

They are humans reduced to the most basic instinct, eating things. That it. And I love it! The cheesier the better as far as I'm concerned.

Just as a proving point of how bad it can get and me still love it, I have actually read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and loved it and then thought it would be a good idea to purchase and read Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters. I got about a chapter in, it was terrible, terrible writing, terrible premise, terrible shoehorning in of the extra plot, which no doubt  Pride and Prejudice and Zombie had also, but without zombies, there was not the suspension of belief that I would have otherwise.

And who can blame me being taken in with opening line gems like:

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.

It is just brilliant. I can't get enough of it.

 

Day 14 January Book Photo Challenge: Book OTP

I picked Threshold by Sara Douglas as my OTP (one true pairing) because Boaz and Tirzah were so bound to each other that in subsequent books (The Darkglass Mountain series) set many generations later, their offspring end up together.
Brilliant book, brilliant series, amazing author.

Day 13 January Book Photo Challenge: Page Saver (ie Bookmark)

This is my favorite book mark because my great grandmother (Little Nana) made it. I don't know when but I have had it for as long as I can remember. It is made of pressed flowers (everlasts I think) between two pieces of plastic bound together. It has recently been through a traumatic event when I first got Colin, our dog, when he got hold of it and chewed the top off. Luckily he did not damage the flowers and I was able to mend the top.

Day 12 Book Photo Challenge: Library or Book Store

I live in a relatively new suburb and consequently we don't yet have a library (and bookstores are pretty thin on the ground these days.)
I have, however, been following the progress of the building of the library that should open in April. Above is the drawing of what it should look like. I have been following this progress since we moved here 18 months ago and just 3 days ago my mum rang me to inform me that we were getting a library. Thank you mum.
Luckily I do work at a high school where a I am allowed to take out a large stack of books to last me over the summer holiday. Otherwise I would die....because I have so few books in my house hahahahaha.

Day 11 Book Photo Challenge: Book Shelf

I have published photos of my library before but this section of the shelf was hidden behind my reading chair. This is the main part of the shelf that I see when I'm sitting in my chair and reading. They make me feel comfortable.

Day 10 Book Photo Challenge: Favorite Genre

My favorite genre to read is Fantasy with a little bit of Science fiction (they mostly get lumped together anyway.)

These photos that you are seeing are the ones I refresh on my phone periodically to use when I am out at bookstores because I forget which books I have. The reason for this is that I buy a lot (and I mean a colossal amount) of second hand books and at the prices I pay  (between $10 for a box to like 50 cents a books) I wont hesitated getting the 2nd, 5th, whatever book in a series and then looking out for the rest of them. 

Before I initiated this system I picked up books 1, 2, 4 and 5 of David Eddings' The Belgariad at a book said whilst in a small country town for a wedding (I can find a book sale anywhere) for like 50 cents each, with the intention of picking up the up the 3rd volume somewhere down the track. I accidentally brought the 3rd book of The Tamuli series. 

Now I use the photos on my phone.  

Day 9 Book Photo Challenge: A Quote To Live By

Quote source Marcus Tullius Cicero (mostly) and I really do try and live by this quote as the vast majority of the rooms in my house have an ever increasing number of books in them. Also, a little proud of this because I painted and lettered this this morning. Think I might frame it and put it up in the library.

Day 8 Book Photo Challenge: Reading in Bed

Everyone does it, what more can I say.

Day 7 Book Photo Challenge: This Book Inspired Me

We all know by now that this is my favorite book but now it has inspired my do something I haven't done in quite a while. Draw. I'm not that good and I am surrounded by people that are but drawing these quotes from the book have allowed me to enjoy my drawing again.

Day 6 Book Photo Challenge: Emotional Rollercoaster

None who have read it can go past Harry Potter for an emotional rollercoster. If read in the early years of your life, this one and especially the opening chapter title will live with you forever. Enough said.

My other pick is an author that I don't think gets nearly enough credit for the amazing work that she did. I read Threshold by Sara Douglas in high school and was devastated that it was a stand alone book. Then, a decade after its publication, I found the The Serpent Bride that was a continuation of the original book as the Darkglass Mountain Trilogy and made a noise in the bookstore only another book addict would understand. I cannot recommend her books enough. 

Day 5 Book Photo Challenge: Favorite Non-Human Character

Couldn't split this one. These are Marvin; the paranoid android from Douglas Adams' Hitch Hiker's series and The Luggage from Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels.

Luggage was made from sapient pearwood and is featured in (amongst others) the very first Discworld book The Colour of Magic (1983) and I have always wanted one. Most of the time he is mildly annoying but some times he saves lives. (see luggage is a he as they find a female luggage in Interesting Times and they have children.) 

Marvin on the other hand, I have always loved because I felt a kindred spirit with him. Not so much the "brain the size of a planet" thing but the "life, don't talk to me about life" thing really spoke to me as a teenager. Where as others had grunge and rock stars, I had Marvin. And now he's on my car keys wherever I go.

Day 4. Book Photo Challenge: First Book I Ever Loved

This is more of a representation of the first books I loved to get off the shelf as a child and look through. I have a couple of different series of Faeries and Elves and Dragons and things (my favorites are by Brian Froud).

Several reasons I love these. They have dust covers so i loved taking them off and seeing the embossed lettering and illustration underneath. I was always so excited when the pictures underneath the dust cover were completely different from the cover itself. Secondly, when flicking through these books for the photo challenge I realised  this was the reason I still attempt to draw. I copied so many of the drawing in these books, with hope of one day being as good as Brian Froud 

Day 3 Book Photo Challenge: Childhood Favorite

 This is one of those books that I have no idea of its origins in my home but has just always been there. It is so old its falling apart but I still love opening it up every so often and looking at the picture of the little mermaid getting her hair done sitting on an elephant's skull. The elephant's skull always intrigued me, how did an elephant's skull come to be in the ocean, let alone why it was adopted as a seat to have one's hair done. The drawing is exquisite and it reminds me of my child hood.

Day 2 Book Photo Challenge: New Year, Newest Book

Whilst getting my Christmas gifts together I could not resist this little gem at my favorite book store. I read Howl's Moving Castle a while ago and hadn't seen this anywhere since, but knowing I wasn't going to be getting any books for Christmas, (which I didn't) I decided to bay myself a book for the occasion.

Day 1 January Book Photo Challenge: Reading Goal for the Year

This year I am going to stretch myself and go for 70 books read. Last year I read 58 books and my initial goal was 40 (officially on goodreads but I thought I would get to 50 anyway.)

I will be trying to do a couple of things with my reading this year.

1. I will try to read at least 1/3 to a 1/2 of my own books because if i keep reading library books my partner might just notice and my book budget might get restricted.

2. I am going to try to read some more classic science fiction (suggestions are welcome)

3. I am going to try to read a Doctor Who book a month because i have a lot o them and haven read them, old and new and this would also take care of number 1.

4. I am going to try and read at least 6 Terry Pratchett’s Discworld books because i used to love them when I was younger and haven’t read any in years, (also my library got all of them in last year so i know i can read them in order.)

5. I’m taking part in the 2014 genre challenge as well, to get some different genres under my belt too.

6. Finally, i am going to endeavour to review every book i read…

Could be a challenge with a full time job but tis the season to make unrealistic resolutions and try to live up to them.
Wish me luck.

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Day 31 Book Photo Challenge: Last Book in A Series

Day 31 Book Photo Challenge: Last Book in A Series.

Found I have a lot of these.

Read some, some on the read list for this year.

Day 29 Book Photo Challenge: My Bookshelf

I took this as a good opportunity to up date the photo I have of my library. I have other large book shelves around the house but this is the main area where I read. There was at some time in the past some sort of order to the books but that has been left by the wayside.

When we moved in the shelves were already attached to the wall which meant that our original plan of making this room into a pool room couldn’t happen. Its called the library because that is what button on the air conditioning calls it. And I couldn’t have been more delighted.   

Day 28 Book Photo Challenge: Makes Me Incredibly Giddy

I have picked Comics for this thing that makes me giddy. I assume the intention of the challenge was to pick a specific book that makes you giddy or even an author but comics (buying, browsing, looking at old and new ones, reading and the prospect of any of these things.) is one of the few activities that I do, that I genuinely can not help my self clapping my hands, jiggling my feet and having my voice go up an octave like one of my students talking about some god awful boy band member. 

Just recently I discovered a comic book store near our new house and I think my partner was afraid I was going to send us bankrupt. I have been known to do all of those excitable things described above and say "I'm off to the comic book store" at the end of a work day and have people either look at me oddly or think that I am joking. Just to put it in context, I'm nearly 30 and female. But quiet frankly, I get my love of comics from my mum who still goes to comic stores even if she gets looked at as if she has taken a wrong turn on the way to the grocery store.

So in conclusion, comic books make me giddy and people shouldn't judge others on the stereotypes in their head.

*please note, I call them comics and I am sorry if you like calling them graphic novels. I love them whatever they are called.

Day 27 Book Photo Challenge: Has Been On My TBR List Forever

These two have been on my to be read list for years. I got around to reading a lot of my science fiction list last year (Day of the Triffids, Brave New World, We and War of the Worlds) but these got left of for this year. I plan on reading them in this holiday but like any good book addict my to read list is longer than I can ever imagine and is subject to change at my slightest whim. 

But I will get their eventually.... at some stage.....I guess.... maybe. 

Day 26 Book Photo Challenge: Most Relatable Character/Book

My most relatable character is Rincewind from the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett. This might sound a little strange because he is a wizard in a world where magic is a real, everyday event, (except for him) but hear me out. Rincewind is the outcast weirdo in a world of weirdos that just wants a nice calm life and to do well in what he has chosen to do well in. What happens to him, however is he meets weird people that want to go on adventures, gets adopted by a murderous chest that follows him wherever (and I mean wherever) he goes and gets possessed by a magic spell that is so dangerous that all other magic spells are afraid of and refuse to be in the same brain with.
I feel complete empathy for Rincewind. As a teenager I had friends that would drag me out of the house when all I wanted to do was stay home and read. I have only recently stopped feeling like someone would work out that I wasn't supposed to be wherever it was at any one time, University, job ect even though I had earned my place. And I often had people following me around that were good to hold things but not much else. (Horrible, yes I know but truthful.)
That and I am incredibly uncoordinated but manage to scrap through in the end.
My Most relatable character: Rincewind of Discworld fame.

Image from http://www.au.lspace.org/art/fan-art/groups.html by Catskind