Weekend Wrap-up #5

The Sunday post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. It's a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things you have received.

This week was about job interviews for me and my boyfriend too. Fingers crossed we'll soon be able to start our life together in earnest because we've been waiting for long enough to do that.

I watched The Greatest Showman recently and I CAN'T STOP listening to the soundtrack. I hum the songs all day and dance to them too when no one's watching. I'm totally obsessed with the film, it's pure magic.

This week I posted my Red Tent review at last and my first ever giveaway is live too (please check below). No one has entered it yet, I don't know if it's because of a lack of interest or perhaps I messed something up with the giveaway itself (?) I'm a little worried, haha.

This was altogether a good reading week for me, I finished The Shipbuilder by Salina B. Baker (My review is coming tomorrow) and I'm making good progress with all three books I'm reading at the moment (see the titles in the 'Currently reading' section on the sidebar).

Posts on the blog this week:

Monday: Book Blitz - Death Island by Kelsey Ketch 

Tuesday: Review + Gieveaway - The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

Wednesday: WWW Wednesday #10

Thursday: Red Queen read-along update #1

Friday: Book Beginnings on Friday and the Friday 56 #12

Click on the picture if you'd like participate in my Red Tent giveaway!

 

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that makes it possible to share with other bookworms what books you added to your shelves – physical or virtual – during the week.

I added a new e-arc to my collection this week. I read Stephen King's Salem's Lot earlier this year and since it was a pleasant surprise I thought maybe the time has come for me to take a few tentative steps towards the horror genre and try some other scary books. I sincerely hope I won't be afraid of cats forever after reading Clowders, haha.

Title: Clowders

Author: Vanessa Morgan

Publication Date: March 1st, 2018

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads

Synopsis:

Clervaux, Luxembourg. This secluded, picturesque town in the middle of Europe is home to more cats than people. For years, tourists have flocked to this place – also known as “cat haven” - to meet the cats and buy cat-related souvenirs.

When Aidan, Jess and their five-year-old daughter, Eleonore, move from America to Clervaux, it seems as if they've arrived in paradise. It soon becomes clear, though, that the inhabitants' adoration of their cats is unhealthy. According to a local legend, each time a cat dies, nine human lives are taken as a punishment. To tourists, these tales are supernatural folklore, created to frighten children on cold winter nights. But for the inhabitants of Clervaux, the danger is darkly, horrifyingly real.

Initially, Aidan and Jess regard this as local superstition, but when Jess runs over a cat after a night out in the town, people start dying, one by one, and each time it happens, a clowder of cats can be seen roaming the premises.

Are they falling victim to the collective paranoia infecting the entire town? Or is something horrible waiting for them? Something unspeakably evil.

Aidan and Jess' move to Europe may just have been the worst decision they ever made.

How was your week? Any good news? Any new books? Let me know in a comment below!

Weekend Wrap-up #4

The Sunday post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. It's a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things you have received.

This week I tried to pick up the rhythm of everyday life after an eventful week/weekend. 

I got book mail in which The Line of Beauty arrived (read about it below). It made me super happy because I rarely order books these days (I'm broke, ugh) and it's a good feeling to receive the package when I order one now and then.

This week I watched two films on Netflix. That's progress for me because lately I've mostly watched tv shows (the reason for that is that I'm somehow unable to concentrate on one thing for a long time, I find it easier to watch one episode at a time from a series rather than watching a long movie).

The movies I saw were totally out of my comfort zone, too. They were Maid in Manhattan and Crazy, Stupid Love. Romantic comedies are not my type of films so my sudden, fleeting crave for them surprised me. Anyway, both movies were entertaining and in that way they served their purpose.

By the way, am I the only one who now cannot unsee Voldemort when looking at Ralph Fiennes? It's a tragedy because for the longest time I had a crush on that man. And now... Voldy!!??

 

On the TV show front I'm very close to finish Black Sails. The situation in Nassau is very dire at the moment. I'm sad I have to let go of this show after the end of this season but at the same time I'm hoping for a satisfying ending. 'Cause even surly pirates deserve a happy ending sometimes.

Posts on the blog this week:

Monday: March Wrap-Up, April TBR

Wednesday: Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway - Hiding by Jenny Morton Potts

Thursday: My trip to Oradea in pictures

Friday: Book Beginnings on Friday and the Friday 56 - Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that makes it possible to share with other bookworms what books you added to your shelves – physical or virtual – during the week. 

Purchased:

Title: The Line of Beauty

Author: Alan Hollinghurst

Synopsis:

It is the summer of 1983, and young Nick Guest, an innocent in matters of politics and money, has moved into an attic room in the Notting Hill home of the Feddens: Gerald, an ambitious new Tory MP, his wealthy wife Rachel, and their children Toby and Catherine. As the boom years of the mid-80s unfold, Nick becomes caught up in the Feddens’ world, while pursuing his own private obsession, with beauty – a prize as compelling to him as power and riches are to his friends. An early affair with a young black council worker gives him his first experience of romance; but it is a later affair, with a beautiful millionaire, that brings into question the larger fantasies of a ruthless decade.

This is a critically acclaimed LGBTQ fiction novel from the year 2004. I have only read one LGBTQ book that was set in the 80s so far, Tell the Wolves I'm Home. I have the feeling the AIDS epidemic that touched the lives of the characters in that book will influence the happenings in The Line of Beauty as well. I'm a bit afraid this book will be a bit heavy on politics, given that the MC goes to live with an MP and his family but at least I'll have the chance to learn more about the Thatcher era. Political history is part of history after all.

How was your week? Please leave a link to your STS and Sunday posts below so I can go and comment on them! Happy reading!

Weekend Wrap-up #3

The Sunday post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. It's a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things you have received.

I was on the move the whole week, it felt really nice to leave my town for a bit after spending months at home. I was called in for a job interview in Budapest so I travelled there in the middle of the week. That also gave me opportunity to spend a whole day there with my boyfriend after the interview. We went to the cinema, watched Black Panther at last and we even had some time left to wander around together. It was a lovely day.

On Friday we came to Oradea, Romania with my family to spend the Easter weekend here and we are having a good time. It's a beautiful city with wonderful buildings (although a lot of them could do with a little renovation). There is an Easter market in the main square, the sun is shining... all in all I count myself lucky to be here right now.

I hope your Easter weekend is going well too!

Posts this week:

• Goodreads Monday – Circe by Madeline Miller
• WWW Wednesday #9
• Boom Blitz + Giveaway – Dragon Raider by Ava Richardson
• Book Beginnings and the Friday 56 #10 – The Shipbuilder by Salina B. Baker 

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that makes it possible to share with other bookworms what books you added to your shelves – physical or virtual – during the week. 

Purchased:

Physical book: 

 

Title: Norse Mythology

Author: Neil Gaiman 

Goodreads

I was so glad to find this book in one of the shop windows in Oradea. I bought the last copy, it was waiting just for me. As you know Neil Gaiman is my favourite contemporary writer, I'm collecting his books. Can't wait to start this. I've always wanted to know more about Norse Mythology.

Ebook:

Title: How to Hang a Witch

Author: Adriana Mather

Source: Amazon

Goodreads

I've featured this book in one of my Goodreads Monday posts before. Since I'm watching NBC's Timeless, and the Salem episode is coming up this Sunday I wanted to start a book that matches the theme. Probably I will start this tomorrow and we'll see how I'll like it.

ARCs:

Title: The Shipbuilder

Author: Salina B. Baker

Source: RABT Book Tours 

Goodreads

Paradise Found will be part of The Shipbuilder's book tour and since these days I'm drawn to sea adventures or books that have something to do with ships and the sea I'm excited about this novel. I have started reading it and my book tour post is coming on April 15.

Title: Winter Eternal (The River that Flows Two Ways #1)

Author: E. Thomas Joseph

Source: Prodigy Gold Books

Goodreads

Prodigy Gold Books asked me to read and review this new title of theirs. At the time of the War of Independence soldiers and occultists alike race to acquire a mysterious artifact that can defeat time. It sounds interesting, I like the setting and the cover too (zombie soldier, hahhh).

How was your week? What are you reading at the moment? Please leave your STS and Sunday post links in a comment below!

Weekend Wrap-up #2

The Sunday post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. It's a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things you have received.

This week went by very fast and relatively uneventful. The snow is melting at last which gives me hope that spring is knocking at our doors. I'd really love to go for more walks but only if it's not freezing cold outside.

My left eye was inflamed yesterday but luckily it got better fast (I dabbed at it with a cotton pad soaked in camomile tea – gosh, I hate the smell of camomile...). Now I'm allowed to strain my eyes again, yay! XD

I've finished one novel and one short story this week one of which I enjoyed, and one that wasn't very much to my liking. Reviews are on the way.

Posts this week:

• Goodreads Monday: Death or Ice-Cream?
• Tell Me Something Tuesday: Books I can't wait to share with my kids
• Words, words, words: NTLive Hamlet with Benedict Cumberbatch Review
• Book Beginnings and the Friday 56 - Hiding by Jenny Morton Potts
• Review – Oops, Caught by Alli Reshi

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that makes it possible to share with other bookworms what books you added to your shelves – physical or virtual – during the week.

I have only one new ARC to show you this week:

Title: Oops, Caught (Expanding Horizon #1)

Author: Alli Reshi

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads

Synopsis:

Mark Noland can’t figure out how he got into such a fix. How does an ex-mercenary (okay, an almost-reformed mercenary) get himself caught, stuck in a holding cell, on a hostile alien planet? Held captive by strange bug-like creatures who’d just as soon eat him as look at him. How can a simple mission go so awry? To make matters worse, Noland’s not alone. His fellow prisoner, a certain high-ranking, elite Stella officer holds him responsible for their failed plan. Yeah, it was supposed to be a quick in and quick out sort of mission. But no… Officer Gavnson just can’t let it go.

It’s not so easy trying to plan an escape when Noland keeps getting distracted by how his mission partner so very nicely fills out his uniform. And he suspects Gavnson is hiding something, too. As tensions run high, secrets are revealed that will change the both of them. There’s nothing like gunfights and running for your life to make that special bond.

It's a very short lgbtq sci-fi novella. My review will be up soon. 

I also have something else to share with you: a book-related DVD I've purchased recently:

I've seen this Onegin film adaptation ages ago and loved it a lot. It was around the time when in high school I had an Onegin phase and couldn't shut up about Pushkin's novel. Now that I'm gonna meet Toby Stephens in the summer at London Film and Comic Con, I've decided to revisit some of his older projects and this film is among them (he plays Lensky in it). Can't wait to discover if I'll still rate this movie as high as I would have done 10 years ago.

How was your week? What books did you add to your library? 

Leave your links down below, please!

Have a nice weekend!!

Weekend Wrap-up #1

The Sunday post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. It's a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things you have received.

This weekend is a long one in Hungary because March 15 (Thursday this year) is a national holiday and everyone got Friday off as well. My cousin came to visit so we had a family get-together where we indulged in board games and home-made doughnuts.

The weather is a bit gloomy, I wouldn't mind to see the sun a bit more but I'm sure we'll get there.

Yesterday I went to the cinema to watch an NTLive screening of Hamlet with Benedict Cumberbatch in the lead. I'm so glad I could catch a screening because I've been planning to watch it for so long. I enjoyed it immensely, I'll write a post with more details about it in a few days. I'm very eager to share my highlights with you, it was a truly awesome experience.

Now onto the books. 

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that makes it possible to share with other bookworms what books you added to your shelves – physical or virtual – during the week.

I acquired two new ebooks this week.

Purchased:

Title: The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum

Author: Kirsten Weiss

Source: Amazon

Goodreads 

Synopsis:

When Maddie Kosloski’s career flatlines, she retreats to her wine-country hometown for solace and cheap rent. Railroaded into managing the local paranormal museum, she’s certain the rumors of its haunting are greatly exaggerated. But a new ghost may be on the loose. A fresh corpse in the museum embroils Maddie in murders past and present.

With her high school bully as one of the officers in charge, Maddie doubts justice will be served. When one of her best friends is arrested, she’s certain it won’t be.

Maddie grapples with ghost hunters, obsessed taxidermists, and the sexy motorcyclist next door as outside forces threaten. And as she juggles spectral shenanigans with the hunt for a killer, she discovers there truly is no place like home.

ARC 

Title: The Stolen Girl (The Veil and the Crown #1)

Author: Zia Wesley

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads

Synopsis:

The legend of Aimée Dubucq de Rivery, has survived on three continents for more than two hundred years. The Stolen Girl tells the first part of her extraordinary story, her adolescence on the Caribbean island of Martinique, and her voyage to Paris where her hopes of finding a husband are shattered. Resigned to live as an old maid at the ripe age of eighteen, she decides to become a nun and sets sail to visit her relatives on Martinique one last time. On the journey, she meets and falls in love with a dashing young Scotsman. But fate had other plans for Aimée, ones that were foretold by an African Obeah woman when she was fourteen years old.

My review of Ain't He Precious (Sex and Sweet Tea #1) by Juliette Poe will be up tomorrow and then boom, another week is over. Seriously, time is flying, guys.

How was your reading week? What are you reading at the moment? 

Please leave your links below!

Have a nice weekend!