Book Haul: August 2014

The past month or so has been a great one for books, and also great for my bank account because I refrained from going too crazy like I could have when I decided to go on a book buying spree. Last month, YALC happened and I got a bunch of books signed, so I included them as well because I wanted to show off the fact that Patrick Ness thinks I’m special.

Last month I discovered the All About History magazine, and have since become obsessed. A lot of you probably know that I’m a huge history nerd, and this magazine isn’t helping with my obsession. In July, there were features on pirates and WWI and the Wall Street crash, and this month there are bits on Hannibal, Queen Victoria, Ned Kelly, and music! I also discovered a magazine called History Revealed, which isn’t as great as All About History but it’s still pretty interesting.

YALC

 

I already owned this book, so I took it with me to the Patrick Ness signing. Because the queues at YALC were insanely long, Tatum and I decided to split up and so she queued for Patrick Ness while I queued for Rainbow Rowell. So no, I didn’t get to meet him, but he did call me special anyway so… yeah.

 

Darren Shan has been a favourite author of mine since I was eleven years old, and I have been wanting to meet him for ages to tell him how The Saga of Darren Shan means a lot to me, and it also broke me into a million pieces. I was a bit starstruck when I met him, and also really fucking annoyed because some moron shoved in front of me in the queue. I was so angry, and ready to kick said moron in the balls because I had been queuing for HOURS. But nevertheless, I met Darren and it was amazing.

  

This was an impulse buy because I liked the look of the cover, and everyone else was buying books and I wanted in on that. I went to Amy’s signing while Tatum went to meet her idol, Frances Hardinge, and Amy was lovely.

 

AND I GOT A SPECIAL EDITION OF FANGIRL! Tatum talked me into it, because I had originally only taken Judith’s copy of Eleanor & Park to get signed, but then we saw this and were like we will die without it.

For Review

The Sandman by Lars Kepler

This was an unsolicited review copy, but it definitely intrigues me. From what I can tell, it’s a thriller about a serial killer who abducted two children. I think I would really enjoy it, so I’m going to try to pick it up soon. It is the fourth book in a series though, so even if it can be read first, I would rather check out the other three before starting this one.

Fiendish by Brenna Yovanoff

I don’t have the best record with Yovanoff’s books, but I do want to read this one because the US cover is amazing.

Belzhar by Meg Wolitzer

I haaaate this cover and it makes me not want to read the book, but at the same time the synopsis has me intrigued because it’s about a girl whose boyfriend dies. I’m cryptic.

Dangerous Boys by Abigail Haas

This is another unsolicited copy by an author whose other work I have never read.  Tatum loves Haas’ books, so I’ll be reading them soon.

Bought

Shadow Bound by Rachel Vincent

I had already read this one, but I only owned the ebook, so I bought this when I was on a buying spree. I love this series!

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

I found this in a charity shop in brand new condition for 50p. Enough said.

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

I LOVE ME SOME TIME TRAVEL

Mystic City by Theo Lawrence

Again, I had already read this one but I had to get myself a physical copy because I want to reread/recap it before I read the sequel!

Anna and the French Kiss & Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

I was going to join in with the #IslaIsComing readalong, but these didn’t arrive in time and then life got in the way. But now I have two pretty matching editions for my collection! I have a hardcover of Lola that I need to give away to someone at some point.

Alpha & Omega by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez

I can’t believe this series is over already *weeps*