Tell Me Something Tuesday #2

'Tell Me Something Tuesday' is a weekly discussion post at Rainy Day Ramblings.

 

Today's question is:

 

Are you more inclined/less inclined to read books that are compared to other popular books/authors? 

I'd say more often than not I fall for this kind of luring strategy. I think if a book is compared to another already popular one it kinda gives you an idea as to what you can expect going into the fresh title. However, comparisons can be misleading, not to mention they can create unnecessarily high expectations, which can ruin the book for you.

When a book is compared to another one I always go into it cautiously, with moderate expectations and I try not to look for similarities/differences with the other book while reading. The comparison is there to give the reader a vague idea of what they're getting into but it cannot always be taken for granted.

 

Most of the time if the new novel is not a sad shadow of the one it gets compared to and is original in some aspects, I end up being happy with it. 

How would you answer this week's question?

 

Tell Me Something Tuesday #2 Books I can't wait to share

 

'Tell Me Something Tuesday' is a weekly discussion post at Rainy Day Ramblings.

The question of the week is:

What books are you excited to share with your kids or younger readers in your life? 

I don't have kids yet, but I'm lucky enough to have a brother who was born when I was 18. Basically I'm like a second mum to him, I've been there since the moment he was born. 

He has only recently started to become interested in reading but to this day he rather reads together with someone than alone. I sit down with him quite often to read a few pages of a book out loud, then he takes over and we take turns like this until we read our fill. We have so much fun with this method!

He is ten, so he's reached the 'ripe' age when he can be intorduced to middle grade books. So far we have read the first three instalments in the Harry Potter series and we have started the first book in the Percy Jackson series a couple of weeks ago. I'm new to the Percy Jackson stories, the plot fascinates me as much as it does him. 

Books I can't wait to share with my kids one day:

Winnie The Pooh 
by A. A. Milne

I remember reading many adventures featuring Winnie the Pooh, sitting in a comfy chair in my grandmother's flat but of course the original was the best. That was around the time when I got my first library card and I think the first books I borrowed from the library included Winnie the Pooh tales. I would like to intorduce this sweet bear to my kids one day and vice versa.

Mary Poppins

by P. L. Travers

The one and only. I read the sequel too, devoured both books and liked to pretend I can fly with an umbrella in my hand. I'd like to believe that if I'll have a daughter she'll be as in love with this story as I was once.

The Princess Diaries

by Meg Cabot

This is such a funny and witty series... I remember I wished for a cat like Mia's when I was knee-deep in these books. That cute creature on the cover is so precious.

In Desert and Wilderness

by Henryk Sienkiewicz

This is a lesser known children's classic that is set in Africa. I will probably not give it to my children until they are a bit older (10-12 perhaps) because I remember I started to read it twice – first I couldn't get into it, I needed to mature a bit. Later I LOVED it though. It's about a pair of children who get lost in Africa; they get abducted, then they escape and try to find their way home. They make friends with animals and African children during their journey.

What would be your picks? Leave a comment and let me know!

Tell Me Something Tuesday #1

'Tell Me Something Tuesday' is a weekly discussion post at Rainy Day Ramblings.

Today's topic is Romance Recommendations, as Valentine's Day is quickly approaching.

I'd be happy to read all the books below for the first time again without knowing anything about them in advance. They are all perfect Valentine's Day reads, since they all include awesome love stories. Feel the love!

Outlander

by Diana Gabaldon

I wouldn't be true to myself if I didn't start with Outlander. I've read the first four instalments from the series, but the first will forever remain my favourite. Claire and Jamie is a solid pair, I like how much they learned from one another as their relationship matured throughout the books, but their initial awkwardness and curiosity for each other was so cute, it had the deepest impression on me back when I had the pleasure to start the series.

Me Before You

by JoJo Moyes

You should try to live life to the fullest each day, because who can tell what will prevent you to do so tomorrow?

There is a reason why this book became a bestseller, but be warned: it is a tear-jerker too!

The Lady and the Highlander 

by Lecia Cornwall

A clever Snow White retelling featuring a scot as the main male character (I might have a thing for scots?)

I really liked how the story was written, how the writer used the original fairy tale to create somthing imaginative and new.

Read my full review of The Lady and the Highlander here.

But between reading and sharing kisses, don't forget what Valentine's Day is really about:

Do you have Valentine's Day recommendations too? Let me know in a comment below what you think are the perfect reads for the Day of Love!