February Wrap-Up, March TBR

February went by very fast, and here we are in the spring. Well, Europe is mostly under snow at the moment but never mind, just keep sliding on.

February was a very good blogging month for me and I'm proud of myself for devoting a lot of time to Paradise Found in the past few weeks. I'd like to keep it up because I enjoy writing my blog posts and – above all  – reading, so I can write them, haha.

I appreciate your comments and the support that comes with them. Please, let them coming in March too. Stay with me on the way, guys.


Here is a summary of February on Paradise Found:

I've finished four books:

The Desert Spear (Demon Cycle #2) by Peter V. Brett – Review

The Dark Unseen (Unseen Series #0.5) by Andrew C. Jaxson – Review

Pirate's Curse by Leigh Anderson and Rebecca Hamilton – Review

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (The review is on the way)

Other posts on the blog in the month of February:

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson – Review 

Showtime #2 – Black Sails

The Longest Book Tag

Favourite places to read 

Some books I've read, loved, but do not own a physical copy of yet 

If a genie were to grant me three bookish wishes...

Weekly memes:

Goodreads Monday (Feb 12, Feb 19, Feb 26) 

Tell me Something Tuesday (Feb 13)

WWW Wednesday (Feb 21, Feb 28)

Book Beginnings and the Friday 56 (Feb 9, Feb 16, Feb 23)

Stacking the Shelves (Feb 24)

Plans for March: 

Probably I'll be reading the following books (in no particular order): 

Hiding by Jenny Morton Potts

The Shipbuilder by Salina B. Baker (I've just realised this book is currently available for free on the author's website. Click here if you'd like to download it.)

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

Song of Blood & Stone by L. Penelope

For March 16 I have a ticket to watch HamletBatch, an NTLive screening of Hamlet with Benedict Cumberbatch as the Danish prince. I'll make sure to let you guys know how I liked it.

My next review will be of The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini; you can expect it to be up this week.

How was your reading month? Let me know in a comment below!

WWW Wednesday #6

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words. 

WWW stands for three questions:

 

What are you currently reading?

 

Sawbones

by Melissa Lenhardt

Synopsis:

 

Outlander meets post-Civil War unrest in this fast-paced historical debut.

When Dr. Catherine Bennett is wrongfully accused of murder, she knows her fate likely lies with a noose unless she can disappear. Fleeing with a bounty on her head, she escapes with her maid to the uncharted territories of Colorado to build a new life with a new name. Although the story of the murderess in New York is common gossip, Catherine's false identity serves her well as she fills in as a temporary army doctor. But in a land unknown, so large and yet so small, a female doctor can only hide for so long.

 

I'll be honest: I'm having a hard time getting into this one, but I've only read 10%, which is not much. Anything can happen later, I won't give up on it just yet.

 

 

What did you recently finish reading?

 

The Kite Runner

by Khaled Hosseini 

 

 

This book caused me so much pain, and still, I could hardly put it down. 

My review is coming in a few days.

What do you think you'll read next?

Honestly? I don't know yet. I'll give myself a little bit of freedom this time and I'll go for whatever calls out to me when I finish Sawbones :)

I hope you're all having a great reading week, guys!

Please leave a link to your WWW post below, so I can visit your blog later.

Review - We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

Title: We Have Always Lived in the Castle

Author: Shirley Jackson

Synopsis:

Living in the Blackwood family home with only her sister Constance and her Uncle Julian for company, Merricat just wants to preserve their delicate way of life. But ever since Constance was acquitted of murdering the rest of the family, the world isn't leaving the Blackwoods alone. And when Cousin Charles arrives, armed with overtures of friendship and a desperate need to get into the safe, Merricat must do everything in her power to protect the remaining family.

 

My Thoughts:

Shirley Jackson's intriguing short novel about a not-just-slightly disfunctioning family sent chills down my spine. This dark and somewhat eerie tale is not so much about a haunted house as the making of one.

The Blackwood family hasn't been whole for a while. Most of its members are dead, simply because they liked sugar on their berries. The ones who live – Constance, Merricat and Uncle Julian – do so in the constant shadow of that unfortunate evening when everything ended... and began.

Being poisoned by arsenic is not a painless way to go they say, but being the talk of the village is not a painless way to live, either. Although the sisters and their uncle are outcasts, they are also the biggest sensation in the village they're trying to stay away from. 

Their dark and scandalous past baffles yet at the same time excites the people. They are local legends of the spooky variation; even children singsong the Blackwoods' sin in the ear of poor Merricat twice a week when she has to do her run in the village to make sure she and her sister won't go hungry up in the house.

Like it wouldn't be enough, one day Charles, their cousin arrives to rekindle old family bonds. He is pushy about matters like their returning into society, and his eagerness to wheedle himself into Constance's confidence unnerves Merricat. He talks too much about the money the sisters keep shut away in a box upstairs. In the end Merricat decides to turn to drastic measures to make Charles disappear from their lives.

The dialogues in the book are brilliant. The information about the fatal dinner comes to the reader in small drops through broken conversations and sentences cut in half. It really is like a jigsaw puzzle that you place together with the turning of the pages.

Shirley Jackson creates a very peculiar atmosphere while describing the three remaining members of the Blackwood family in their isolation. I as reader felt the setting claustrophobic at times, especially towards the end. The deliberate attempt of Ms Jackson to put you in the shoes of the girls works out very well.

I also have to mention the black humour that is sprinkled all over the pages of this quaint story. We Have Always Lived in the Castle is darkly entertaining in its morbidity. The kind of comical quality it represents may not be for everyone, but if you enjoy dark jokes I would definitely give this book a try.

While it only takes a few hours to read the novel, it will stay with you much longer than that. I can only recommend picking it up if the synopsis or what I've just told you about it appeals to you.

Goodreads | Amazon

Goodreads Monday #7

 Goodreads Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren @ Lauren’s Page Turners. To participate, choose a random book from your TBR and show it off! Don’t forget to link back to Lauren’s Page Turners and link up to the inlinkz so others can see what you picked!

The following book is intended to be my first ever Christopher Isherwood experience. Now, you have to know that Christopher and his kind – Isherwood's autobiography – has been sitting on my shelf for ages, however I promised myself I'd read a novel by him before diving into that. 

A Single Man is an LGBTQ modern classic about a middle-aged man who is grieving for the love of his life. I expect it to be very emotional but all in all I feel it conveys a positive message to the reader.

I've come across this book many times in second hand bookshops, yet never purchased it, because I always find it with the ugly green Penguin Vintage Classic cover (click here to see). I usually love the cover of these vintage classics; not this time. One day when I'll buy it, I'll buy it with the cover you can see below.

A Single Man

by Christopher Isherwood

Synopsis:

When A Single Man was originally published, it shocked many by its frank, sympathetic, and moving portrayal of a gay man in midlife. George, the protagonist, is adjusting to life on his own after the sudden death of his partner, determined to persist in the routines of his daily life. An Englishman and a professor living in suburban Southern California, he is an outsider in every way, and his internal reflections and interactions with others reveal a man who loves being alive despite everyday injustices and loneliness. Wry, suddenly manic, constantly funny, surprisingly sad, this novel catches the texture of life itself.

What gem do you have on your Goodreads TBR? Please leave a link to your Goodreads Monday post below if you have one, if not, just say hi :)

Showtime #2 - Black Sails

In Showtime I feature TV shows that I'm currently watching, in the hope that I will find fellow fans among you or that I can turn you into a fan, so I'll have someone to talk to about my favourite shows, haha.

This is my second Showtime post, read the first about NBC's Timeless here.

Today the show I'd like to bring your attention to is:

 

Creators: Robert Levine, Jonathan E. Steinberg

Stars: Jessica Parker Kennedy, Toby Stephens, Hannah New ...

 IMDb

Yes, I'm heavily into pirates now, I won't deny it. I'm having a phase it seems.

Black Sails is on Netflix at the moment and I've been planning to watch it for some time. After my little brother lured me into watching The Pirates of the Caribbean with him for the umpteenth time the other week (just when I happened to be reading Pirate's Curse) I realised there was no reason to break the pattern, so I went with the flow and clicked on the first episode of Black Sails on Netflix. I couldn't stop after that.

The show is basically a Treasure Island prequel. I confess I didn't read the book as a child or as a teenager but of course there is no need to know it in order to understand the happenings in Black Sails (its story preceeds Treasure Island's plot after all).

I finished the first season the other day and proceeded with the second immediately. There are four seasons altogether, there won't be more unfortunately.

In season one Captain Flint and his crew are trying to track a Spanish treasure galleon that – once defeated – could make all of them very rich. When they finally get hold of the shipping schedule that could lead them to the galleon and the money, it turns out a page is missing. They have to find the thief in order to be able to continue with their quest.

John Silver, young mischief-maker, who took the page off the original thief knows he's in trouble but if he has some skill at all, it is his aptitude for survival. He commits every detail on the page to memory and burns the piece of paper, thus he becomes indispensable for the pirates. The question is: can he convince Captain Flint it's worth to keep him alive after they've found the ship they're looking for?

Flint has problems of his own. He is not very popular among his crew at the moment, not to mention he has to solve a lot of problems related to the preparations for the treasure hunt. Nassau, the port that many pirates frequent to do business is a place presently overheated with politics and rivalry. Luckily, Eleanor Guthrie – the woman in charge of all business transactions on the island – is on his side.

Pirates are a savage lot, especially if they're after a great prize. After having seen season one, I say it's no wonder people often compare this show to Game of Thrones.

Why do I enjoy the show?

It's not solely set at sea

I often get bored with nautical stories in which the characters never see land. There are a limited number of tropes that can be used related to the ship and the sea (like illness, woman on board, sea battle, mutiny etc.). I've seen all of them, that's why I prefer if there is some action on land as well. I like the balance regarding this matter in Balck Sails. 

The costumes are gorgeous

The beauty is in the details; the accessories breathe life into the costumes. After all, what is a badass pirate without an earring? I'm madly in love with the coats too, and the men's V-necked long shirts, aww.

Captain Flint

 

He is grumpy all the time and he is the worse captain I've ever come across, I swear. No, really, he sucks at captaincy, big time :) Despite this fact he has to cling to his position to reach his goal and his journey is an interesting one. 

(By the way, did you know that Toby Stephens is the son of Dame Maggie Smith?? I've found this out only a short time ago and it was a great surprise. How did I not know this before?)

Cool women characters

Eleanor, Max and Anne Bonny are strong, fierce and beautiful women that fight for a meaningful place in a world of men. Respect.

These two

 

I usually roll with laughter whenever Jack is on screen. And then there's Anne. She is so raw and unapologetic, she doesn't give a damn. She always does what she wants. Way to go, girl!

The opening title sequence

The music, the aesthetics... I can't get enough of it!

Have you watched Black Sails? Or are you planning to? Don't be shy, drop me a few lines if you have any thoughts about this show :)

Stacking the Shelves #7

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. 

Hello Lovelies! Weekend is finally upon us and my library has grown again during the weekdays.

I purchased two ebooks this week, one of my requests got accepted on NetGalley, I recieved a blog tour e-ARC and I also downloaded a new Eighth Doctor audio adventure. I don't have a reason to complain, none whatsoever.

Without further ado, behold this week's newcomers:

Purchased: 

Title: Blackmail, Sex and Lies

Author: Kathryn McMaster 

Source: Amazon

Goodreads

Blackmail, Sex and Lies is a Victorian murder mystery that is based on true events. 

Frankly, I've never heard of Madeleine Smith before, but people has apparently believed her to a be a murderess since 1857. All we know is that a love triangle got resolved with a murder in that year and it probably came naturally to people to blame a girl who had the indecency to show interest in a working class fellow... But I'm jumping ahead, making guesses. I'll read this book to get to know the story and Kathryn McMaster's opinion on who dun it.

Title: The Asylum for Wayward Victorian Girls

Author: Emilie Autumn

Source: Amazon

Goodreads

I say I purchased it, but that's not entirely true. The Asylum for Wayward Victorian Girls was free on Amazon a couple of days ago so if you check, there is a chance you can still download it, and it won't cost you a penny.

Two girls, both shut away in an asylum share a special bond through time in this book. I'm curious how the author connected the two worlds!

Title: The Natural History of Fear

Writer: Jim Mortimore

Source: Big Finish Productions

Goodreads

I decided to continue listening to the main range Eighth Doctor Audio Adventures. If some of you don't know yet, I'm a Whovian and Eight is one of my favourite Doctors. I actually met Paul McGann at one point, so yeah, I'm a fan.

I quit listening to these a while back, but I'm in the mood again, which means you can expect to see a few audio adventure reviews later on the blog.

ARCs:

Title: Song of Blood & Stone (Earthsinger Chronicles #1)

Author: L. Penelope

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads

I've read excerpts from Song of Blood & Stone and I know it's beautifully written. The protagonist, Jasminda, falls in love with an enemy spy and together they try to stop the war that threatens to tear their world apart. There is also magical singing involved according to the synopsis. I can't wait to see how Jasminda and Jack work together towards their mutual goal.

Title: Hiding

Author: Jenny Morton Potts 

Source: b00k r3vi3w Tours

Goodreads

I'm excited to be part of this tour because I haven't read a psychological thriller in a while.

Hiding tells the story of two families whose story is somehow intertwined. It has an intriguing premise and its cover is breathtaking. It's partly set in Scotland. Need I say more? I've only read the synopsis and I'm already hooked... The tour is scheduled between April 2-6, so you can expect a review from me around that time period.

What books did you put your hands on this week?  Let me know in a comment below!

Happy reading!

Book Beginnings on Friday and the Friday 56 #5

Book Beginnings on Friday and The Friday 56 are weekly memes hosted by Rose City Reader and Freda's Voice.

Rules: 

Book Beginnings: Share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. 

The Friday 56: Grab a book, turn to page 56 or 56% in you eReader. Find any sentence (not spoilery) and reflect on it if you want.

This week I'm reading:

The Kite Runner

by Khaled Hosseini 

Synopsis:

Amir is the son of a wealthy Kabul merchant, a member of the ruling caste of Pashtuns. Hassan, his servant and constant companion, is a Hazara, a despised and impoverished caste. Their uncommon bond is torn by Amir's choice to abandon his friend amidst the increasing ethnic, religious, and political tensions of the dying years of the Afghan monarchy, wrenching them far apart. But so strong is the bond between the two boys that Amir journeys back to a distant world, to try to right past wrongs against the only true friend he ever had.

The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant, The Kite Runner is a beautifully crafted novel set in a country that is in the process of being destroyed. It is about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption; and an exploration of the power of fathers over sons—their love, their sacrifices, their lies.

A sweeping story of family, love, and friendship told against the devastating backdrop of the history of Afghanistan over the last thirty years, The Kite Runner is an unusual and powerful novel that has become a beloved, one-of-a-kind classic.

Book Beginning:

I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975.

It is a foreboding beginning and it instantly creates an atmosphere, I like it a lot!

The Friday 56:

My legs ached and my neck was stiff. But with each defeated kite, hope grew in my heart, like snow collecting on a wall, one flake at a time. 

Such beautiful wording, isn't it? Mr Hosseini is a talented writer, indeed.

I'm curious about what you're reading at the moment, so please leave a link to your Friday post below! Happy reading!