Top Ten Tuesday {Auto-Buy Authors}

This feature is hosted at The Broke and the Bookish

There are actually quite a few authors that I've had on my auto-buy list forever and they never fail to impress each and every time. A few of the authors have newly joined this list recently so I'm excited to see whether their awesomeness will still be present in their other books in the future.

1. Richelle Mead - I can't think of a single book that I've read by Richelle Mead that has disappointed me. Every time I read something written by her, it always manages to be epic and love-able on so many levels. Basically, most her books are pretty kickass!

2. Hannah Harrington - This author is a much more recent addition to the list. I've read the books that she has published so far, Speechless and Saving June, and both of them touched me deeply and carried a beautiful message. I'd love to read anything else written by Hannah Harrington and I'm expecting great things.

3. Laurie Halse Anderson - I'm making my judgement based on Speak and Catalyst by the author. There is something incredibly beautiful and engaging about Anderson's writing, it comes through strong and original, it hooks me from the beginning till the end.

4. John Green - I think John Green usually writes something that is thoughtful and deep. I loved reading everything written by him so far and they have always been such great reads.

5. Cat Patrick - I have to say that Cat Patrick manages to pull quite a few heart strings whenever I read a book by her. They always become something very very special at the end, it then leaves me thinking about it even weeks after. I am looking forward to her new releases that are coming out soon. I'll probably run to the store to buy.

6. Lauren Oliver - Every book I've read written by Lauren Oliver so far has been ever so beautiful and captivating. I think Oliver's writing just flows well and her characters are probably some of my favourites.

7. Kody Keplinger - I just think all of Kody Keplinger books are such awesome reads, they are just something that you can read in one sitting, they can make you smile and always highlight real life issues. They usually have this feeling of empowerment throughout.

8. Cynthia Hand - I've only read the Unearthly series but they've been amazing to so many extents so I'm definitely going to be reading anything else Cynthia Hand writes.

9. Ally Carter - Her books are fun and fast reads that are truly enjoyable. They are always so worth the read.

10. Sarah Dessen - This author manages to give me cute, fun, awesome, relate-able and fab books most of the time.

Are any of these authors on your auto-buy list?

Which authors are on yours?

Review: Gone by Michael Grant

Title: Gone
Author: Michael Grant
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: June 24th, 2008
Page Count: 558
Buy The Book: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Rating: 3/5

Synopsis

In the blink of an eye. Everyone disappears. GONE.

Except for the young. Teens. Middle schoolers. Toddlers. But not one single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what's happened.

Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents--unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers--that grow stronger by the day.

It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your birthday, you disappear just like everyone else...

Favourite Quotes

“We didn't make this world we're just the poor fools who are living in it.” 

Few Wild Words Quickie

Fast paced and exciting but not really the type of book I would usually read.

My Thoughts

I'd be crazy to say I didn't like this book at all because I actually did like it. It was fast paced which I usually prefer in a book and the idea was definitely intriguing. But there was a few things about this book that caused constant nagging at the back of my mind.

There were moments in the book where I couldn't put it down and there were other parts that left me skimming pages.

GONE is the type of book that has a lot of likeable aspects with just as many dislikeable parts. Just like there were some characters that I felt strongly for in the book while some annoyed me beyond belief (there were a few points where I wished upon them death).

I loved the concept/idea of the book. It was original and there was so much room to explore it. Michael Grant doesn't disappoint in that particular section. He manages to blend together reality and other-worldly ideas but also adds in characters who some readers can relate to. It presents the challenges faced by the young ones today especially with bullies, eating disorders and the need to belong.

However, some down points for me was that I felt like it dragged on and sometimes I just didn't want to read about a character over and over again. The other part that disappointed me was the ending. Throughout the book I was gearing up for an epic end, I was expecting sparks, trauma and plot twists.

For me, that didn't happen.

Overall, I think GONE is actually a pretty good book and I know that this book will probably be someone else's treasure and everlasting favourite. A mix of a few disappointments and the fact it wasn't much to my taste may have contributed to the reasons why I didn't love it. But, I'm sure there are many who will love it!

I'm not sure whether to continue the series but if I get a chance I might check it out.

Links

Goodreads

{Book Cover} US vs. UK: Requiem by Lauren Oliver

Requiem by Lauren Oliver is one of those books that I've been waiting to read for a very long time. When I say very I mean 'I nearly died a few times waiting for the release date'. The downside right now is that it is still not out in the UK.

Personally, I'm not a fan of the Delirium covers with the face on it. So you can guess which one I liked when comparing the US and UK cover.



US COVER



UK COVER

Yes, I like the UK cover better. I guess for me it captures the actual feel of the book. The colours highlight everything the book will represent to many people. Overall, I love it more than the US cover.

 

I also wanted to add that I'm always having 'OMG' moments everytime I remember that Lena will have to choose between Alex and Julian, then I think about all the amazing things that are bound to happen in Requiem and I get all crazy hyped.

 

Which cover do you prefer?

Are there any particular parts in Requiem that you're looking forward to most?

 

Short Review: Double Crossed by Ally Carter

Title: Double Crossed
Author: Ally Carter
Publisher: Disney Book Group
Publication Date: January 22nd, 2013
Page Count: 60
Buy The Book: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Rating: 4.5/5


Synopsis

Macey McHenry—Glamorous society girl or spy-in-training?

W.W. Hale V—Heir to an American dynasty or master thief?

There are two sides to every coin. Whether these two can work together is a tossup.

Born into privilege, Macey and Hale are experts at mingling with the upper class. But even if they’ve never raised an eyebrow at the glitz, neither teenager has ever felt at home with the glamour.

When Macey and Hale meet at a society gala, the party takes a dangerous turn. Suddenly they’re at the center of a hostage situation, and it’s up to them to stop the thugs from becoming hostile. Will Macey’s spy skills and Hale’s con-man ways be enough to outsmart a ruthless gang? Or will they have to seek out the ultimate inside girl to help?


Favourite Quotes

“What are they after?” Kat asked.
“Hard to say,” Hale said; again, he eyed the room.
“Who is that?” Macey asked.
“The reason I wasn’t flirting with you,” Hale told her.”
  
Few Wild Words Quickie

This is just as awesome as any Ally Carter book!


My Thoughts

A crossover between Gallagher Girls and Heist Society. It was bound to be epic.

It sure was, it was short but still epic.

Ally Carter always manages to keep me turning page after page with her fast paced writing. There was not a point in DOUBLE CROSSED where I was willingly to stop reading or a point where I had gotten bored.

The world of spies and thieves was merged together perfectly, it didn't feel like two different book series. Everything just fell into place. The character interactions felt right and it made me smile to see how well everyone in the book came together.

The storyline was simple but still exciting, it allowed the two worlds to work together and highlighted what they both were best at. I savoured every chapter!

I would definitely love to read many more crossovers from Ally Carter, it was very much a fun read.

If you're a fan of either of the series in this crossover you should definitely get yourself a copy!

Review: Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson

Title: Edenbrooke
Author: Julianne Donaldson
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Publication Date: March 27th, 2012
Page Count: 264
Buy The Book: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Rating: 5/5

Synopsis

Marianne Daventry will do anything to escape the boredom of Bath and the amorous attentions of an unwanted suitor. So when an invitation arrives from her twin sister, Cecily, to join her at a sprawling country estate, she jumps at the chance. Thinking she’ll be able to relax and enjoy her beloved English countryside while her sister snags the handsome heir of Edenbrooke, Marianne finds that even the best laid plans can go awry.

From a terrifying run-in with a highwayman to a seemingly harmless flirtation, Marianne finds herself embroiled in an unexpected adventure filled with enough romance and intrigue to keep her mind racing. Will she be able to rein in her traitorous heart, or will a mysterious stranger sweep her off her feet? Fate had something other than a relaxing summer in mind when it sent Marianne to Edenbrooke.

Favourite Quotes

“I did not want Philip—that handsome, incorrigible, charming tease who stole hearts he had no intention of keeping.” 

“If I leaned toward him, something would happen. I was sure of it. But if I leaned away, nothing would happen. So I stayed perfectly still, balanced between something and nothing, not knowing which way I wanted to fall.” 

Few Wild Words Quickie

Beautiful and made me smile goofily.
 
My Thoughts

I'm still in the process of swooning over this book.

Edenbrooke was a beautiful and heart warming read. I can only describe the book as being BEAUTIFUL in so many ways.

“My heart swelled until I felt as if it might take over my entire being. I had landed in heaven. This was heaven.”

Everything about Edenbrooke was heaven. You are bound to fall in love with the many characters in the book, they all have their own distinct personality that made you either love them or resent them. Either way the author knew how to evoke emotions from the reader by hurling you into the emotional rollercoaster of the characters.

Coming onto Marianne Daventry and Philip Wyndham...

There was something so precious and heart pulling about their relationship. There were many moments where I was smiling goofily at the smallest developments in their relationships. They both were special in the sense that you could really see them grow togther throughout the book.

By the end of the book I was in need of tissues to wipe away stray tears of happiness.

The author was able to pull me straight into the Regency Era and highlight the beauty of the setting. The storyline kept me hooked throughout, the small plot twists here and there and arising tension had me thinking about the book all throughout the night.

(This included thoughts about Philip Wyndham)

I can very surely say that I would willingly to read any other books Julianne Donaldson writes!

Links

Julianne Donaldson's Blog

Book To Film Adaptations {Early 2013}

I'm sorry I haven't been able to update my blog as often as I would have liked, I just escaped the torment of exams and studying so I'll try to be a better blogger! *fingers and toes crossed*

There are so many book to film adaptations hitting the big screen this year especially from the Young Adult section. This might be a few people's nightmares or it could be someones dream come true. Personally, I like watching how the book is interpreted on screen and especially the actor's portrayal of the characters.

BUT... 

If they butcher the storyline and have a cast who has less acting skills than the number zero there will definitely be a lot of face palms on my behalf and I will try to wipe the film from my memory. FOREVER. Then I can carry on loving the BOOK and pretend there was not any actual film.

However, I still get excited to watch a book being turned into a film. Some recent book to film adaptations that are being released very recently or have already been released include:

1. Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

I actually haven't read the book yet which I'm a bit ashamed of. I'm not a massive fan of books about zombies but the trailer looked really awesome so I'm planning to pick it up.

 

2. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

I'm actually really excited to see how this film turns out. I had mixed feelings about the book, I would say for quite some part of it the pace was really slow for me but I loved the ending. It was a love/dislike kind of relationship. I'm expecting some great things from the film.

 

3. The Host by Stephenie Meyer

Well all I can say is that I am crazy excited for this film and I will have the chance to admire Max Irons face throughout the film!

What film are looking forward to?
What kind of relationship do you have with book to film adaptations?

Leave me a comment below!