ACityofBooks

October 10, 2018

Top 5 Wednesday| I've Been Expecting You, Reader

Top 5 Wednesday is a weekly blog group that comes together to discuss that week's topic. The idea was first curated by the wonderful Lainey at GingerReadLainey and is now run by Samantha over on ThoughtsonTomes.

If you wish to participate, either on your Blog or Booktube channel then, please, join the group on Goodreads for all the relevant topics.

This week we are looking at Villains. These often are the antagonists of our stories, the physical entity of conflict and what our fear of outcome could be. The best villains are the ones that have strong motivation behind their ideas and desires, that evoke emotions into the reader.

1. Victor Vale and Eli Cardale
Vicious (Villains #1)
V.E. Schwab

Goodreads

I promise this is the last time I mention a Schwab novel in a Top 5 for a few weeks.
Neither one of the protogonists in Schwab's Vicious are predominately good people. Eli is motivated by his belief that his power is a gift from God, to do his work and Victor falls into the bracket of sociopathic tendencies. What this brings is an interesting mix of inner conflict as you realize you are rooting for someone who is still rather "bad".

2. Dolores Umbridge
Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix (Harry Potter #5)
J.K. Rowling

Goodreads

Dolores Umbridge is a worse villain the Voldemort. There I said it. She abuses kids (Harry's detention - I Must Not Tell Lies), but what makes it worse is how people can't justify her actions, but can justify Snape's actions towards his students.

3. The Master
Doctor Who
As portrayed by: Robert Delgado (1971-73); John Simm (2007-9, 2017)

I grew up with John Simms as The Master, so for me he is my version that I love the best. The Master is a little bit mad, insane even, but that's what makes him a dangerous
However, I had to give a little shoutout to Robert Delgado who I have since enjoyed immensely.

4. Regal Farseer
Assassin's Quest (Farseer Trilogy #3)
Robin Hobb

Goodreads

Regal is such a **** isn't he? Like all of Robin Hobb's characters, he is a byproduct of upbringing and a set of beliefs that they become ingrained into his entitled viewpoint.

5. Kilgrave
Jessica Jones
As portrayed by: David Tennant

Kilgrave was the only thing keeping me going through series one of Jessica Jones. And I'm going to leave it at that.

October 08, 2018

REVIEW| The Song of Achilles

The Song of Achilles
Madeline Miller
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Add to Goodreads

My Edition:

UK Publisher: Bloomsbury Modern Classics
UK Release Date: September 21st, 2017

Synopsis:

Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son Achilles. Despite their difference, Achilles befriends the shamed prince, and as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine, their bond blossoms into something deeper - despite the displeasure of Achilles' mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess.

But when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, Achilles must go to war in distant Troy and fulfill his destiny. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus goes with him, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear.

Review

This is one that I had a lot of expectations in, but at the same time, I had no clue what I was getting into with this one.

For those who get daunted by the Iliad and the Odyssey, I'd say that this is a good introduction to some iconic names that get thrown around in classical studies. It was accessible and embellished the story rather vividly.

However, I did find it difficult to finish. I knew the ending, and I feel like you can guess the ending from the beginning anyway. Because of this, I didn't connect to the characters as emotionally that I had hoped to, or maybe I'm just a heartless bitch, I didn't have any strong reaction - like I had thought I would have. For that, I couldn't quite give it the five stars I had thought I was going to give it.

GET YOUR COPY:
| AMAZON UK | WATERSTONES | BDP |

Sunshine Blogger Award 2.0

Didn't you just post this last month?
Yes, dear reader, I did.

The Rules:
1. Thank the person who nominated you in a blog post and link back to their blog.
2. Answer the 11 questions sent by that person who nominated you.
3. Nominate 11 new blogs to recieve the award and write 11 new questions.
4. List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post and/or on your blog.

The lovely Abby from AJ's Pages tagged me, a little while back (but, you know, Uni) - please, go check out her blog! She's absolutely wonderful!

1. Where is your ideal reading place?

In bed. Imagine this: its the middle of winter. You're curled into the corner crook, a quilt and throw wraps you into a burrito style, hot water bottle, pillows propping your neck, the sound of purring cats playing through your headphones, and a big chunky fantasy in your lap.

2. Does your environment affect the way you read, e.g. weather, noise, temperature?

Yes. If its too hot, I can't concentrate on a book at all and would rather watch a TV show instead. I tend to read more if its raining, or during the winter. When I'm at Uni, I will find it hard to find the time to read or if that's the flat really busy, I find it hard to try and read.

3. Where do you get most of your book recommendations?

Twitter? Or browsing the shelves of Waterstones. Or my University lecturers.

4. What are some tips you would like to give other book bloggers?

Be you. Yes, it's cliched and nothing new, but by just being "you", people will gravitate and get to know you through the things you say and how you say them.

5. If you could go back and speak to yourself while you were writing your first blog post, what would you say?

Don't stop.

6. Which books are you most excited to read this year?

This doesn't specify new releases, so I'll list a few books that I'm hoping to get to before the end of the year.

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
Twelve Kings by Bradley Beaulieu
Tarnished City by Vic James
Shadowplay by Laura Lam
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

7. If you could change one thing about the way you read, what would it be?

I used to be a tenacious reader, and could read for hours at a time... until I got into my teens and my mum started relying on me more to help out. Every ten-twenty minutes she would call for me and since then I've never been able to concentrate longer than half an hour at a time.

I would love to be able to get back to that place, where I could read for longer.

8. Do you prefer new releases or backlist books?

I get so stressed out by trying to keep up with upcoming releases and getting swept up by the hype of them, that its just easier to focus on my backlist and the books I know I will like.

9. Where do you acquire most of your books from?

I try to keep the amount of books I am requesting from publishers down to a minimum, and often to tend to buy my books physically from Waterstones. That's just because they had a good loyalty scheme for students (I used to get 10 points to every £1, that I spent), but they've changed it so I might see if there is any local indie stores I can support a little more often.

10. What's important to you that decides whether or not you pick up a book?

This is tricky. I guess if it comes highly reccommended by people who I trust and know that we have very similar reading tastes. I am a bit of a cover snob, I can't help it.

11. If you could invite any five characters to a house party, which would you invite?

I, both, absolutely love and hate this question. I had to restrain from just putting every literary cat I could remember, because, ew, house parties are not my thing.