just read

Since I've been on university holidays, I've gotten my teeth stuck back into reading for pleasure again. I set myself a GoodReads challenge at the beginning of November to read 15 books by the end of 2011. I only managed to chew through 9 in the two month period, but I was still really happy with myself when I considered the crazy hours I had at work over that time. This year I've set myself a challenge to read 30 books. 1 down, 29 to go! Here are a selection of the books I read in my first challenge.

-Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee

-The Second Wife by Elizabeth Buchan
-Cocktails for Three by Sophie Kinsella as Madeleine Wickham
-The First Stone by Helen Garner
-The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom
-Perfume by Patrick Suskind
-Sexing The Cherry by Jeanette Winterson

Top pick from this bunch goes to Patrick Suskind, Perfume was so well written and gripped me by the stomach (nostrils?) and never let me go. Has also got me hooked on scents of all kinds, have been stopping quite often just to sniff and sigh. The First Stone was also marvellous, was a wonderful example of strong non-fiction. A very scandalous subject matter too, which I'll delve into in my GoodReads review. Most disappointing of the bunch would definitely be The Second Wife, which I thought was crap, to be honest. Cliche storyline, characters not appealing or hateable enough for it to be worth it, and dragged on in a whiny fashion. I will note here that I do like chick lit, I find it relaxing, but I wish I hadn't wasted my time reading this particular novel.

Have you read any of these?
Come on over to GoodReads and set yourself a challenge- you can see my profile and track how I'm doing here, and also in my blog sidebar to the left <<
Do leave a comment and let me know what you're reading, or what novels I should download on my new Kindle.
Happy Reading!

Books I Love

I will admit that I spend far more time reading beauty blogs than books nowadays, but if I get hooked by a book I'm lost till it's done. I recently hauled some that will hopefully make it to this list in the future, but for now I will share some books I enjoyed.

The Book Thief- Markus Zuzak

This book moved me beyond belief, and I have urged everyone I've come into contact with to dive into it. The holocaust is such a strong topic, but this is about the beauty of human relationships, and the holocaust is just the setting which I love.

Madame Bovary-Gustave Flaubert

This novel, this author in fact, showed me the beauty that exists in life. I doubt I will ever find anything that I connect with so well as his writing, and he has influenced every facet of my life upon first reading (blog name, for example!) Such a beautiful book, and even if you aren't into 'classics' it has all the features of a trashy chick lit romance (cheating wife, whispering neighbours) but is written well.

Mini Shopaholic-Sophie Kinsella

The most recent addition to Kinsella's stellar Shopaholic series, this centres around Becky Bloomwood's new life as a shopping-obsessed Mumma.

Almost French- Sarah Turnbull

Riveting read about a woman who moved to France and shares with us the struggles that she faces, as well as the beauty of the city. My heart yearns to be back in Paris when I read this (I reread it often)

If anyone has read these, let me know what you thought of them. Or if you have any recommendations for me, throw them in the comment section!

All images taken from The Book Depository, where I purchase most of my reading material.