Top Ten Tuesday | It's not you, it's me (but also you)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted at That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week you compile a list of ten books which coincide with that week's theme. You can find everything you need to know about joining in here!

This week's theme is 'Books I Disliked/Hated but Am Really Glad I Read'. I thought this would be a tricky one because usually if I really didn't like a book I wish I hadn't wasted time on it, and most of the time these days I don't! If I'm really not liking something I'll DNF it. I did manage to find ten books that fit this week's theme, though!

Five I had to read for school or university, and therefore needed to finish, while others I didn't hate enough to put down while I was reading them but I definitely wouldn't say I liked them either. Anyway, on with my list!

Hamlet by William Shakespeare: I had to read this in school and then again in university, and it's probably my least favourite of Shakespeare's plays because I had to read it so much and also because I just find it boring. Hamlet's irritating and the whole story feels like it should be on an episode of Jerry Springer, which I suppose could be said for a lot of Shakespeare's plays. It is said to be the most quoted play in the world, though, so I'm at least glad I can say I've read it. I'd much rather see it performed, though.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: UGH I hate this book so much. I had to read it in sixth form and I despised every minute. The only reason I'm glad I've read it is so I can tell people I don't like it when they tell me I should read it.

The Were-Wolf by Clemence Housman: This one I read for my Victorian Gothic course at university and I found it really interesting! It's one of the earliest examples of werewolf literature that sparked the love for monster stories in the 19th century. I enjoyed studying it, but the story itself I didn't like; the titular character is a woman, interesting when so many werewolves in modern fiction are men, but she's also the villain and to be honest I was rooting for her. The protagonist is so boring in comparison.

Regeneration by Pat Barker: I had to read this one while studying the First World War in literature during sixth form. This is another book that I enjoyed studying more than I enjoyed actually reading, when it comes to historical fiction I'm just not all that interested in modern history, but it's stayed with me a decade later so I guess it can't be that bad!

Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie: I read this one for my Popular Victorian Fiction module at university and didn't like it at all, it's so sinister, but I'm glad I know the origins of Peter Pan!

What We Left Behind by Robin Talley: This was Talley's second novel after Lies We Tell Ourselves, which I loved, and sadly I didn't like it very much at all. You can check out my review here if you'd like to know why! That being said I do like that it included a genderqueer protagonist and I'd like to read about more non-binary protagonists, especially characters written by non-binary authors.

Angelfall by Susan Ee: There was so much hype around this one when it came out but I just found it really boring? I also wasn't a fan of the way the protagonist's mother's mental health was portrayed. This book did help me realise I'm just not into angel books, though, so I'm glad I read it.

Among Others by Jo Walton: This is my biggest disappointment on this list, because I put off reading this one for the longest time thinking it was going to become a new favourite when I got to it. I was very wrong. You can read my review here, if you like.

Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire: I love the concept of this book SO MUCH, I just didn't like the plot. Why it had to become a really obvious whodunnit I don't understand, because I think it would have been far more powerful as character study.

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer: I'm not going to sit here and pretend I wasn't swept away by the Twilight craze, because I totally was, but I remember finishing Breaking Dawn and being so disappointed that nobody important had died. What kind of finale was that? I'm glad I followed the series to the end, though, and whatever we think of it now it played a huge part in getting publishers to take YA publishing seriously.

Which books made your list this week?

Top Ten Tuesday | First Impressions

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week you compile a list of ten books which coincide with that week's theme. You can find everything you need to know about joining in here!

This week's theme is 'Ten Books I Loved Less/More Than I Thought I Would', so my list is divided in half with five books I liked more than I thought I would and five I liked less than I thought I would. On with my list!

Books I liked more than I thought I would

Signal to Noise by Silvia Moreno-Garcia: I know! Considering how much I talk about this book, who'd've thought I wasn't always sure it was going to be for me. I don't know what it is, but I'm never drawn to books set during the '80s so I really didn't know what I was going to make of this. What I got was a fantastic coming-of-age story along with totally unique witchcraft - I love it!

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng: I saw Mallory @ The Local Muse mention this and decided to pick it up, but it seems the '80s aren't the only decade I tend to stay away from - to be honest I don't tend to read much fiction set in the 20th century after the 1950s, and I'm not usually a big lover of family sagas because there's always at least one person I don't care about and I get bored, but this debut proved to be the exception. It's written and plotted beautifully and I can't recommend it enough.

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn: This is a tricky one in that I didn't realise I had actually really enjoyed it until a couple of weeks after I finished it. When I initially finished I wasn't sure how to feel about it, and I felt little cheated by the ending, but then I couldn't stop thinking about it and the more I think about it the more I realise how cleverly it was plotted.

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: Austen and I have a difficult relationship and a couple of years ago I read Northanger Abbey after avoiding Austen for around five years. I actually quite liked it, and I'm tempted to give her another chance.

The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney: I had a very similar experience with this book as I did with Dark Places. I couldn't stop thinking about it despite not enjoying it as much as I thought I would, and now I think I'd like to re-read it in future so I can fully appreciate it.

Books I liked less than I thought I would

St Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves by Karen Russell: I went into this short story collection full of hope and it just wasn't for me. I liked a lot of the ideas behind some of the stories, but I felt like every single story had a very weak ending that Russell just didn't know how to execute... so she didn't do anything. Not for me, sadly!

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn: Unlike Dark Places, I haven't developed a new respect for Sharp Objects since I finished it and I was so hopeful. I don't really have any interest in reading Gone Girl, but I do think Flynn is a fantastic writer and I was very excited to read her debut; I love stories that explore mother and daughter relationships, especially the creepy ones like Carrie and Black Swan, and I'm all for Southern Gothic, but this story and I didn't get along at all. Dark Places felt clever, Sharp Objects felt gratuitous.

Uprooted by Naomi Novik: I didn't dislike Uprooted, but I didn't love it either and I was hoping I would as my lovely friend Natalie @ A Sea Change thought very highly of it. I just felt kind of 'meh' about the whole thing and that was mainly because of the way it was written; I don't know what it is about Naomi Novik's writing in this book, but it felt like a struggle to get through. The cover is beautiful, though.

Among Others by Jo Walton: So many people love this book and I hated it! I really wish it didn't because it sounds like the perfect book, but I had way too many problems with it to enjoy it.

Summer Days & Summer Nights ed. by Stephanie Perkins: I really enjoyed My True Love Gave to Me, but I ended up DNFing this one. So many of the stories were so bloody depressing until it eventually got to the point where I realised I didn't care anymore. I did enjoy Leigh Bardugo's story, so I'm planning to read Six of Crows this year.

Which books made your list this week?

Review | Among Others by Jo Walton

Among Others

by Jo Walton

My Rating: 

Raised by a half-mad mother who dabbled in magic, Morwenna Phelps found refuge in two worlds. As a child growing up in Wales, she played among the spirits who made their homes in industrial ruins. But her mind found freedom and promise in the science fiction novels that were her closest companions. Then her mother tried to bend the spirits to dark ends, and Mori was forced to confront her in a magical battle that left her crippled--and her twin sister dead.

Fleeing to her father whom she barely knew, Mori was sent to boarding school in England–a place all but devoid of true magic. There, outcast and alone, she tempted fate by doing magic herself, in an attempt to find a circle of like-minded friends. But her magic also drew the attention of her mother, bringing about a reckoning that could no longer be put off…

I've been meaning to read Among Others for years and constantly putting it off, not only because there's just so much to read but also because I was so certain that I'd love it when I got to it, so why rush? Sadly, it hasn't become the new favourite I hoped it would.

Told entirely in diary entries, Among Others follows Welsh girl Mori who's been sent to boarding school in England after a fight with her mother left Mori crippled and her twin sister dead. Mori and her sister grew up speaking to fairies and practicing magic, while trying to prevent the black magic their mother practices, and there's nothing Mori loves more than reading SFF. When she's sent to boarding school, it's her love of reading, and an SFF book club, that gets her through each day.

I came away from this book with one major thought: it just wasn't for me. This was a bit of a surprise; I'd spent so long hearing so many wonderful things about this book (and perhaps that was part of the problem) that I was disappointed, with myself and with the book, when I realised I wasn't enjoying reading it. This has witches and fairies and books, not to mention it's set in the UK, so why wasn't I feeling it?

I suppose my biggest problem with the book was Mori herself. In all honesty her twin sister, whose nickname was also 'Mori' or 'Mor' due to the girls being called Morwenna and Morgana, interested me a lot more than she did, and we don't even see much of her. Something about Mori got under my skin, and not in a good way.

Firstly, I thought Mori and her sister were about twelve years old until about a third of the way through the novel when it's revealed Mori's fifteen. She still sounded closer to twelve to me. Yes, she thinks about boys and sex - and one thing I will commend Jo Walton for is writing a young girl who masturbates, because too many people think masturbation is something only boys do - but she sounded very juvenile to me, which is especially confusing considering how much she reads. I'd expect her to sound more like Hermione Granger or Lisa Simpson than Sara Crewe.

On the subject of boys, Mori has some strange encounters in this book that are brought up and never mentioned again, and she seems completely undisturbed by either of them. Her estranged father is the one who sends her to school after she flees from her mother, and one night, before she starts attending school, he gets drunk and climbs into bed with her. Thankfully Mori pushes him off, but she's not even remotely upset or confused about what has happened - in fact her reaction is more along the lines of her not really being in the mood. That's your father! Not only are you under the age of consent and unfortunately in the care of someone who's clearly incapable of looking after you properly, but you're literally related to the guy. How can it not bother her that her father tried to sleep with her? She later has an encounter with a boy closer to her own age at a party whom she almost sleeps with, but doesn't because he's only turned on when he feels like he's assaulting her. Mori's reaction isn't to warn any of her friends, it's just to shrug the encounter off as a bit weird and move on, completely fine.

Now fair enough the girl's been through a lot; perhaps, after losing her twin sister, nothing else seems quite as bad, and perhaps, because she is only fifteen, she doesn't really understand the volume of those situations, but this is her diary. The entire book is told through such a personal medium and yet I always felt held at a distance.

'Luckily' Mori's relationship with boys become less worrying as the novel develops, and that's where I had another big problem. Mori starts dating Wim (yes, that's really his name), a guy a couple of years older than herself she meets at her book club, and while I'm all for positive teenage relationships in fiction - I especially loved that Mori went to the GP to seek contraceptive advice just in case she and Wim decided, together, to become sexually active - I think it's a real shame her relationship with Wim is the only real friendship she makes. Also Wim basically dates her because she's 'not like other girls', and Mori loves that.

She speaks to a few girls at school, but for the most part dislikes all of them, and she gets on well with the school librarian and another girl at the book club, whom she sees less and less after she becomes romantically involved with Wim. There's a surprising lack of positive girl friendships in this book. Considering this is a book that features witchcraft, an area of folklore that is pretty much entirely feminine, and a main character who goes to an all girls' boarding school, it's a real shame that the most prominent relationship is between Mori and her boyfriend. Even her twin sister is mentioned a lot less than I would have expected. To me it felt as though as far as Mori was concerned, the whole world revolved around Mori.

As for her mother? Her mother is such a 'bad witch' stereotype that I honestly don't understand how Mori was ever afraid of her. I've seen scarier characters on cereal boxes. This is a shame because Mori's mother is such an enigma for the majority of the novel, there is this sense of fear built up around her, but when we actually meet her it's hard to believe anyone could find her threatening. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Walton's magic system and I loved the way she describes the fairies, but the final 'battle' between Mori and her mother was so unbelievably underwhelming. I'm pretty sure I scoffed really loudly on the train while reading it, and received a few weird looks because I'd chosen to sit in the quiet carriage. Oops.

I can understand the allure of reading a book about a person who loves to read books, this one was just tiresome. I love books - I wouldn't have a book blog if I didn't - but I also have other interests. Mori doesn't. Each and every day she does nothing but read SFF, and in doing so her diary becomes more like a reading journal in parts, and all the name-dropping of titles and authors gets really old, really fast. I love slow, coming of age stories, but this was samey and dull: we get it, Mori, you like SFF. You're still not better than the rest of us!

I couldn't help wondering if perhaps Walton had made Mori a bookworm in the hopes of making her more likable, as her creator surely she must know that Mori's pretty insufferable, and the sad thing about it is that I would have found Mori fascinating if we weren't meant to like her, if she was the twin who wasn't supposed to live. Instead we have this... horrible, bratty little girl (I know she's been through a lot, but I'm sorry she's still awful) trying to convince us she's SFF's greatest new heroine. Just no.

So as you can tell I really wasn't a fan of this and I'm so disappointed. If nothing else I'm glad I finally crossed it off my TBR, and if it's a book you've been thinking of checking out I recommend it purely and simply because I'm in the minority here; this book is loved by many. If, however, you think you have fairly similar tastes to me I'd stay away from it, it'll just make you mad.

This Week in Books | 11/05/16

This week I'm joining in with Lipsy @ Lipsyy Lost & Found to talk about the books I've been reading recently!

NOW: Right now I'm in the middle of Jo Walton's Among Others, which I've heard nothing but good things about and have been meaning to read for years. I'm enjoying it, but it's not quite what I expected - the main character was revealed to be older than I'd been reading her when I was already about a quarter of the way through the book so that was a bit jarring. I'm looking forward to seeing how the story progresses, though!

THEN: I decided to re-read The Goblin Emperor, which might very well be my favourite book. Period. I read it for the first time last year and adored it, and re-reading it reminded me how much I love it. If you haven't read this book yet I can't recommend it enough.

NEXT: The Ocean at the End of the Lane, like Among Others, is one of the books on my #BookBuddyAthon TBR. Neil Gaiman's one of my favourite authors but I still haven't read this, so I'm looking forward to finally sinking my teeth into it.

What are you reading?

#BookBuddyAthon TBR

The #BookBuddyAthon is a read-a-thon created on YouTube by Samantha @ Cold Tea and Crumbs and Elena @ Elena Reads Books. The official read-a-thon is running all this week, from the 7th-13th May. My lovely friend Natalie @ A Sea Change agreed to be my buddy - go and check out her blog if you haven't already, because it's wonderful - and we've decided to extend our read-a-thon to last throughout the month, purely because we'd like to read all of the books we'll be reading and there's no way we can do it all in 5 days; I work full time and Natalie's in the midst of a full time PhD, so we're both busy bees!

The #BookBuddyAthon challenges are:

1. Read a book with your buddy.
2. Read a book with your buddy's favourite colour on the cover.
3. Read a book that begins with your buddy's first initial.
4. Pick three books you want to read, and read the one your buddy picks for you.
5. Read a book you want to read.

Read a book with your buddy:

Natalie suggested we read Kirsty Logan's A Portable Shelter as we both own it and both have yet to read it, and I whole-heartedly agreed! It sounds like a lovely collection of stories, and because it's a collection I can dip in and out of it throughout the month which is ideal.

Read a book with your buddy's favourite colour on the cover:

Like me, Natalie's favourite colour has a tendency to waver, but for this challenge she chose the colour blue so I decided to go with The Strange & Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender, which I've been meaning to get to for a while now. It's a beautiful book, so I hope I enjoy the inside as much as the outside!

Read a book that begins with your buddy's first initial:

For an 'N' book I decided to go with The Night Watch, which is the last of Sarah Waters' published novels I have yet to read. It's the one book I hear the most mixed reviews from, which is why I haven't gotten to it yet, but Waters is one of my favourite authors and I'd really like to get to it soon.

Pick three books you want to read, and read the one your buddy picks for you:

I picked The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly, and The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. As Natalie is also a big Gaiman fan, like myself, she picked The Ocean at the End of the Lane which I'm very excited to read; Gaiman is another favourite author of mine.

Read a book you want to read:

I've been meaning to read Jo Walton's Among Others for years. I've yet to hear a bad thing about it, and considering it won the Hugo and Nebula Awards when it was published it must be pretty darn special. I think that's why I haven't got to it yet, because I've been worried I won't like it as much as I'm hoping I will - there's only one way to find out, though!

Are you taking part in the #BookBuddyAthon? What are you hoping to read this month?

Top Ten Tuesday | My Spring TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week you compile a list of ten books which coincide with that week's theme. You can find everything you need to know about joining in here!

Today I'm going to talk about the books on my Spring TBR! As always, I don't tend to like TBRs much, but I do like creating seasonal TBRs.

The Rose by Jennifer Potter: This non-fiction book is all about what roses mean throughout history and around the world. It's a really heavy book, published on very thick paper for all the pictures, but it looks fascinating and I'm looking forward to reading it. Spring seems like the best time to read a book about flowers!

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen: Even more gardens! I love witches, so the more the merrier for me!

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett: Speaking of gardens, I'd quite like to read The Secret Garden this Spring - it's one of my favourite classics, and it's such a heart-warming tale.

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh: I picked up a second hand copy of The Language of Flowers in one of my local charity shops years ago, and still haven't read it despite it having brilliant ratings on Goodreads. Continuing with the flowery theme, I think this will make a great spring read.

The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert: And to complete this gardening theme I've got going on, the heroine of The Signature of All Things is a botanist in the 19th century. I love reading historical fiction novels about women in science, particularly when they're set during the 18th and 19th centuries, and I've yet to read any of Gilbert's fiction.

The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim: April's in the title, so what better time to read this modern classic? This book is about four ladies who decide to spend April in Italy and have some time to themselves for a change. I started reading it last April but, for whatever reason, I put it down and didn't pick it back up so I'd like to give it another shot. I'm actually going to Florence in two days, so I might take it on holiday with me!

The Sparrow Sisters by Ellen Herrick: This is one of the novels the lovely Mikayla @ Mikayla's Bookshelf got me for Christmas! It's another book that seems to heavily feature flowers, herbs and plants, so it should be another great read for Spring.

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton: Yup, even more gardens. Are you sensing a theme? Apparently this book features an old book of dark fairy tales, a secret garden, an aristocratic family and a mystery. Sounds like everything I like to read, then!

Faery Tale: One Woman's Search for Enchantment in a Modern World by Signe Pike: This is another piece of non-fiction, and one that sounds lovely. Signe Pike decided to leave her job and go in search for people who still believe in faeries. I really want to read it.

Among Others by Jo Walton: Speaking of faeries, I believe they feature in Jo Walton's most famous novel. I'm pretty sure Among Others was on my spring TBR last year too but I still haven't gotten to it, I really need to though because I think I'm going to love it.

Which books made your list this week?

Top Ten Tuesday | Books to Read if you like Jane Austen

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week you compile a list of ten books which coincide with that week's theme. You can find everything you need to know about joining in here!

This week's theme is 'Ten Books To Read If You Like This Super Popular Book/Author'.

I'm not a big fan of Jane Austen, but there's no denying that one of the reasons Austen's work is so popular is because it's still relevant today. There's a reason her novels have been adapted into more modern variations such as Bridget Jones's Diary and Clueless; if you gave the settings and some of her characters a few tweaks, then all of her stories could easily be 21st century romantic comedies.

For fans of Pride and Prejudice:

Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton: Imagine if Jane Austen had written a book in which every single character was a dragon...

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell: North and South is another classic, later than Pride and Prejudice, with another central couple who at first dislike each other, and then grow to love one another. Also Richard Armitage is in the BBC miniseries and looks very dapper in his top hat.

For fans of Sense and Sensibility:

Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal: To me, Shades of Milk and Honey is what would happen if someone added a little magic to Sense and Sensibility. Anne is older and plainer than her beautiful sister, but she's very talented in the magic department. Add to that a Darcy-esque love interest and you have the perfect book for any Austen fan.

Girls in Love by Jacqueline Wilson: This is an ideal book for younger readers, from around age 12 and up, by one of my favourite childhood authors. I've often seen Sense and Sensibility recommended as a great classic to read for anyone going through boy (or girl!) trouble, and Girls in Love is a good read for that, too.

For fans of Emma:

Kat, Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgis: This is a middle grade novel set during the Regency period, with a little bit of magic thrown in. With a child protagonist at the centre, it's a fresh look at a period of history that's so often written about in cheesy historical romances. Kat has two older sisters and likes to concern herself with who the two of them are going to marry - she's an Emma in miniature!

For fans of Mansfield Park:

Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë: I've talked about Anne Brontë before and how much I love her. She wrote two novels during her lifetime: Agnes Grey and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall outsold Wuthering Heights upon its publication and was incredibly successful, but after she passed away Charlotte Brontë decided not to republish it, and Anne has been the lesser known of the three sisters ever since. Not cool, Charlotte, not cool. Many critics have said that, had she lived longer, Anne Brontë could be as well known to us now as Jane Austen is. While Charlotte and Emily seemed to enjoy writing about the Gothic - though not all of Charlotte's work is like Jane Eyre - Anne was much more interested in society, and particularly in how society treated women. Agnes Grey is a short, subtle and beautiful little novel about the titular character who becomes a governess to support her destitute family, and the struggles she faces. It would be a disservice to both sisters to try and compare Agnes Grey to Jane Eyre because they're entirely different, and both excellent. I particularly love Agnes' relationship with her student, Rosalie, who enjoys making men fall in love with her just so she can reject them. Seriously, give it a read.

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison: Obviously The Goblin Emperor and Mansfield Park are very different novels, but, as I said when I did the Jane Austen Book Tag, both of them have a rags to riches storyline at their heart. More importantly, both of these books feature protagonists who feel like outcasts, and who feel like outcasts in the very place they should feel at home. Both protagonists grow and find their own feet, but they don't sacrifice their naturally kind natures to do it.

For fans of Northanger Abbey:

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell: Here we have two Caths, both of whom are far more interested in fictional characters than what's going on in the world around them. This is the ideal contemporary read for a Northanger Abbey fan!

For fans of Persuasion:

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund: This is a sci-fi retelling of Persuasion. Basically, it's Jane Austen in spaaaaaace!

The King's General by Daphne du Maurier: This is one of du Maurier's lesser known novels. Set during the English Civil War, it tells the story of Honor Harris who is wooed by the proud and reckless Richard Grenville. The two of them part ways after an accident leaves eighteen year old Honor crippled, but reunite years later after Richard has risen up in Charles I's army. This is an ideal read for people who like stories about lovers getting second chances, like Persuasion.

Which books made your list?

Bout of Books 13!

Bout of Books 13 is on its way, which is great because I've been in the mood for a readathon!

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 11th and runs through Sunday, May 17th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 13 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

I have a tentative TBR. I'm rubbish at sticking to TBRs, but I always like to make them - just in case! I know I won't read all of these, but if I could get through one or two of them I'll be a happy bunny, and if I don't I'm sure I'll enjoy whatever else it is I read.

Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner: This is a relatively new find - I saw Lesley @ Words of a Reader talking about this book on her channel and I was immediately intrigued. Ever since I started reading Daphne du Maurier and Shirley Jackson I've been getting into modern classics more and more, especially modern classics written by women, and this one sounds right up my alley!

Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton: I own three of Jo Walton's books now - Tooth and Claw, Among Others and My Real Children - and I've heard such great things about her writing that it's about time I read something of hers. This sounds bizarre but brilliant, and I'd like to cross it off my TBR soon!

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters: I really want to finish this. I haven't picked it up for a couple of weeks, not because I wasn't enjoying it but simply because it surprised me so much I've needed time to recuperate. I think I'm ready to return to it now!

Where She Went by Gayle Forman: I always like to toss a short, contemporary read into my TBRs whenever I take part in a readathon - sometimes they can be just what I need to stop me from falling into a slump. I really enjoyed If I Stay, so it's about time I read this one.

Persuasion by Jane Austen: There's a teeny tiny chance I might use this readathon to give Austen another try. Maybe.

Are you taking part in Bout of Books? What are you planning to read?

Speculative Fiction for Austen Fans!

So you're an Austen lover, but you're in the mood for some speculative fiction and you're not sure what to read. What can you read that will satisfy both of these literary needs? Well, I'll tell you!

Below are a list of recommendations, all of which fall into the speculative fiction category and all of which are set during the Georgian/Regency eras.

If you like Pride and Prejudice, read Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton

Pride and Prejudice, like the majority of Austen's work, is classed as a Comedy of Manners. Tooth and Claw, on the other hand, is a Fantasy of Manners; it's very much a parody of the regency style stories, with one particular twist - the entire cast of characters are dragons! After the death of the family's patriarch, five siblings - two brothers and three sisters - fight for their inheritence, fall in love and become involved with the abolition movement. This is a family trying to find their way in the world, even if they have to fight tooth and claw...

If you like Northanger Abbey, read A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab

This may seem like a peculiar recommendation as there aren't all that many similarities between these two stories, but they're not entirely dissimiliar either. What links these two are heroines who yearn for adventure, particularly adventure of the supernatural kind! While young Catherine Morland loses herself in the thrills of Gothic fiction, young thief Lila longs to be a pirate captain and see the world.

If you like Sense and Sensibility, read Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal

These two are perhaps the most similar books on this list. Sense and Sensibility tells the story of sisters Elinor and Marianne, while Shades of Milk and Honey tells the story of sisters Jane and Melody. Both sets of sisters - including an older, serious sister and a younger, more beautiful sister - must compete with the women around them to find suitable matches. The only real difference is Jane and Melody have the benefit of magic.

If you like Persuasion, read Temeraire by Naomi Novik

In contrast, these two are probably the most dissimilar books on this list, but in some ways I see these two as two sides of a similar story. Persuasion tells the story of Anne Elliot, a 27 year old spinster who, nine years before, was persuaded to break off her engagement to Captain Wentworth due to his uncertain circumstances. Wentworth went to fight in the Napoleonic Wars and has returned from war wealthy and very eligible, and Anne must struggle with the feelings she still has for him. Temeraire, on the other hand, tells the story of Will Laurence who must fight in the Napoleonic Wars. With dragons. If you're a fan of Persuasion, perhaps you could read Temeraire and pretend Wentworth is off riding a dragon of his own somewhere.

If you like Emma, read Kat, Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgis

Emma is one of Austen's most beloved heroines who takes matchmaking into her own hands to become the regency Cupid. Kat, the heroine of Stephanie Burgis's middlegrade series, is equally as hands-on. When she discovers she has inherited her late mother's magical gifts, Kat takes it upon herself to help her older sisters win their true loves and rescue her family from the sinister Sir Neville.

If you like Mansfield Park, read The Winter Witch by Paula Brackston

In contrast to what is possibly the most fun of Austen's novels, Mansfield Park is quiet, subtle and more serious. The heroine of Mansfield Park, Fanny Price, is sent to live with her mother's sisters at their lavish estate after her own large family - Fanny is one of nine children - falls into destitution. Only one of her cousins, Edmund, makes any effort to make her welcome, making her feel, for the most part, like an outsider in her own home. The Winter Witch, on the other hand, is set in early 19th century Wales. Morgana, a gypsy's daughter, hasn't spoken since she witnessed the murder of her father, and as such she is something of an outsider in her small Welsh town. Concerned for her safety amongst her superstitious neighbours, Morgana's mother marries her off to Cai Jenkins, a widower from the far hills. Initially heartbroken at being torn from her mother, Morgana slowly falls in love with the wild land surrounding her new husband's farm.

Happy reading!

Top Ten Tuesday | Spring TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week you compile a list of ten books which coincide with that week's theme. You can find everything you need to know about joining in here!

This week's theme is 'Top Ten Books On My Spring TBR'. I've mentioned on my blog before that I don't tend to give myself TBRs; I tried giving myself monthly TBRs last year but they just ended up bumming me out because I don't like turning reading into a competition with myself. I just want it to be something I enjoy!

Even so, I have enjoyed doing seasonal TBRs for Top Ten Tuesday, because I just select a bunch of books I'd like to get through that feel right for that season. Will I read all of these? Who knows!

I've split my list; there are five books which have been/are being released in 2015, and five that haven't.

Where She Went by Gayle Forman: I read If I Stay last year and really enjoyed it, so it's about time I read Where She Went!

Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan: Spring time always puts me in the mood for contemporary. I fell in love with Jenny Colgan last year when I discovered her Rosie Hopkins books, and I've heard nothing but great things about this book. Plus it's set in Cornwall, and I have a bit of a weakness for books set in Cornwall.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell: That's right. I haven't read this. I'm very wary of hype, so when I'm continuously being told a book is awesome, particularly if the book is in a genre I don't know all that well like contemporary, I'm less likely to pick it up. But there are friends of mine I have very similar tastes to who've enjoyed it, so I'm hoping I'll like it, too!

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater: Also still haven't read this, and I need to. Not only because I've heard great things about it, but also because I live in Wales, where Owain Glyndŵr is still a very famous figure!

Among Others by Jo Walton: Yet another book I've heard nothing but great things about.

Rat Queens, Vol.2: The Far Reaching Tentacles of N'rygoth by Kurtis J. Wiebe and Roc Upchurch: I fell in love with this series when I read the first volume, so naturally I preordered a copy of the second volume. It's due to be released in May and I can't wait to read it!

Ms. Marvel, Vol.2: Generation Why by G. Willow Wilson, Adrian Alphona and Jacob Wyatt: Another graphic novel series I started earlier this year and want to continue. Volume 2 is due to be released at the end of this month!

Rolling in the Deep by Mira Grant: I love Mira Grant's Newsflesh trilogy and am therefore willing to buy anything she releases. I've preordered my copy, due to be released in April, and I can't wait to see Mira/Seanan's take on merpeople!

The Sin Eater's Daughter by Melinda Salisbury: A 2015 debut I've heard nothing but praise for. I got my hands on a copy a few weeks ago, so I need to get around to reading it!

The Hourglass Factory by Lucy Ribchester: Another 2015 debut. It has a gorgeous cover, as well as being historical fiction featuring suffragettes. I'm hoping I'm going to love this one!

Which books made your list?