Ten Books I'd Pack for a Desert Island

Sorry, I couldn't resisit the gif...

Katherine from I Wish I Lived in a Library gave me the idea to write a post like this at last. 

I don't think any bookworm would find this question easy. I'm also sure this list changes for everyone with time. The choices depend on what period of our lives we are living when the question is asked.

I'd probably choose 5 books I've read and loved and 5 from my to-read list, just to have the excitement of discovery when all hope seems to be lost (I don't even know if I'd be able to survive on a desert island alone, haha...)

The ones I've read already:

The Complete Works  

of William Shakespeare

Is it cheating because this big volume involves all his plays? I hope not, it's one book after all.

I definitely couldn't live without Shakespeare.

I know and love many of his plays, but then again there are quite a few I haven't read yet. I believe I could gain some courage out of his words and in a way this book would help me survive the misadventure I'd find myself in.

To Kill a Mockingbird 

by Harper Lee

If I'd be alone on the island, I could use an imaginable family to comfort me. The Finches would be my first choice without the shadow of a doubt.

The Song of Achilles 

by Madeline Miller

The Greek setting lives so vividly in my memory, I adored the descriptions of places in this beautiful novel. I think this book would help me see the positive aspects of being on a beautiful island.

Frankenstein 

by Mary Shelley

We all need a touch of gothic sometimes. I'm sure I would feel for the Creature even more, being abandoned on a desert island, being completely alone.

Stardust 

by Neil Gaiman

Just to have a fairy tale with me as well. Stardust is my favourite Gaiman book.

Books I haven't read yet:

East of Eden 

by John Steinbeck

As I mentioned before I can't wait to read this novel. I enjoyed Of Mice and Men a lot and I have a thing for family sagas. I also love Steinbeck's writing style it's not dense at all, he is very easy to read.

The Winds of Winter 

by George R.R. Martin

Yes, I know it's not written yet. Maybe it never will be. However, the desert island situation is not real either so I'm allowed to say I'd take this book, right?

Middlemarch 

OR 

The Mill on the Floss

by George Eliot

Ever since I've read Daniel Deronda I want to read more from George Eliot. Her writing is extremely intelligent and she portrays the society of the time expertly.

Keats 

by Andrew Motion

This book is HUGE. On the island I'd have all the time in the world to sit down and read it at last. Keats is my baby, he'll always be...

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

by Betty Smith

I heard wonderful things about this coming of age story. I feel like everyone has read it already and I'm missing out on something. I'd like to read this very soon so, probably I'd take it with me to the island.

That's it, Lovelies, 10 books altogether that I'd be happy to have with me if I were stranded on an island. I hope you enjoyed this post, please share with me what you'd pick in a similar siutiation!

Happy Reading!

Weekend Wrap-up #12

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.

We received amazing news this week: my boyfriend David got a job!! That means me and him can move in together very soon. We are currently looking for a place to rent and once we find something, we are good to start our life together for real this time.

In the past week I finished reading Mrs. Sherlock Holmes by Brad Ricca, see the link to my review below! At the moment I'm reading The Women in the Walls by Amy Lukavics, I'm hoping to finish this atmospheric horror novel by tomorrow. I'm also in the middle of Uneasy Lies the Head by Jane Plaidy, which is the first instalment in her Tudor Saga.

Recent posts on the blog:

Wednesday: TBB Asks: Summer Vacation Edition

Friday: Book Beginnings and the Friday 56 #21 

Saturday: Review – Mrs. Sherlock Holmes by Brad Ricca

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.

Physical Book: 

 Title: The Underground Railroad

Author: Colson Whitehead

Goodreads

This book has won so many awards it's crazy. This is another title that I found because of the tv show Timeless (I've stopped counting how many awesome books it has introduced me to so far). The Underground Railroad is an actual railroad in this story, that runs beneath the ground. Amazing idea! If the execution is good too, this novel will probably blow my mind.

ARCs:

Title: The Colonel and the Bee

Author: Patrick Canning

Goodreads

Patrick Canning was kind enough to send me a copy of his novel, The Colonel and the Bee. The story is set in Victorian times and it follows an odd pair: an explorer and an acrobat. They go on a journey together in a hot air balloon and all the while they are chasing a criminal who is seeking a precious figurine called The Blue Star Sphinx.

I love books in which the characters go on a great adventure. I'm very curious about this one.

Title: Aaru (The Aaru Cycle Book #1)

Author: David Meredith

Goodreads

Another book that I received straight from its author. It's a dystopian sci-fi novel in which people's mind get uploaded to a computer after they die. It's kind of like a cyber paradise, except there are dark corners in this futuristic Eden. 

I'm sure this novel deals with numerous questions that are extremely relevant in this computerized world we live in...

 

Please leave  link to your weekend post below so I can go and visit your blog. 

Happy Sunday!

Review - Mrs. Sherlock Holmes by Brad Ricca

Title: Mrs. Sherlock Holmes

Author: Brad Ricca

Synopsis:

Mrs. Sherlock Holmes tells the incredible true life story of Mrs. Grace Humiston, the New York lawyer and detective who solved the famous cold case of Ruth Cruger, an 18-year-old girl who disappeared in 1917. Grace was an amazing lawyer and traveling detective during a time when no women were practicing these professions. She focused on solving cases no one else wanted and advocating for innocents. Grace became the first female U.S. District Attorney and made ground-breaking investigations into modern slavery.

One of Grace's greatest accomplishments was solving the Cruger case after following a trail of corruption that lead from New York to Italy. Her work changed how the country viewed the problem of missing girls. But the victory came with a price when she learned all too well what happens when one woman upstages the entire NYPD.

In the literary tradition of In Cold Blood and The Devil in the White City, Brad Ricca's Mrs. Sherlock Holmes is a true crime tale told in spine-tingling fashion. This story is about a woman whose work was so impressive that the papers gave her the nickname of fiction’s greatest sleuth. With important repercussions in the present about kidnapping, the role of the media, and the truth of crime stories, the great mystery of the book – and its haunting twist ending – is how one woman can become so famous only to disappear completely.

My Thoughts:

I first heard about Mary Grace Quackenbos aka Grace Humsiton in the tv show Timeless. Since the episode called Mrs. Sherlock Holmes was one of my favourites in season two, after I joined the Timeless inspired book club (Lucy Preston Literary Society) on Goodreads it was no question that Brad Ricca's Mrs Sherlock Holmes would be my first read within the community.

Grace Humiston was the first female U.S. district attorney. He worked as a lawyer and detective in the beginning of the 20th century. She became famous for finding the body of a young woman – Ruth Cruger – who had disappeared one chilly winter morning in mysterious circumstances. In truth there is so much more to the story of Grace than the Ruth Cruger case. Brad Ricca guides the reader through her most important cases in his book, keeping the reader at the edge of their seat with his captivating narrative.

While I think the detailed recount of Mrs Humiston's career was extremely fascinating, Mr. Ricca also managed to capture Grace's personality on the pages; he depicted the woman behind the detective persona. She came across as a kind-hearted individual, who didn't only care for the thrill of the chase; the people behind each story and their right to be judged justly was just as important to her. She was always determined and confident in her abilities, she was a strong woman through and through.

The New York of her time was vibrant and colourful, and I could imagine being there myself as I read this book. Its people were still learning how to accept the idea of their city being a giant melting pot and tensions were running high sometimes. I enjoyed the chapter where cases involving the 'little people' were described; Grace helped the poor by giving legal advice, sometimes completely for free.

She fought for immigrant rights and she stood against white slavery. She took on many cases that involved missing girls. She was also against death penalty and she saved a couple of innocent people from the electric chair. The Charles Stielow case was perhaps my favourite of those stories. The chapter 'The Giant and the Chair' was by far the best in the book, I couldn't put my kindle down until I got to the end of it. It was so gripping, I found myself caring for the outcome as much as Grace and her associates did.

As a Hungarian girl I felt really proud that Grace's right-hand man was also Hungarian. Grace and Julius J. Kron were partners for life when it came to fighting crime. If anyone, Kron was her Watson. It was great to get glimpses at how they operated, they were a dynamic duo. After a while they must have been able to read each other's thoughts, they worked so much together.

Brad Ricca's writing is quality. It flows really well and somehow he's able to make you forget that a lot of information is being dumped on you along the way; I was able to absorb all the info and enjoy the stories while I learned about the work of an fascinating historical figure.

I cannot recommend Mrs Sherlock Holmes highly enough. If you like reading about women pioneers as much as I do, this book will be a treat for you.

Goodreads | Amazon

Book Beginnings and the Friday 56 #21

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 the spotlight is on:

Uneasy Lies the Head

 (Tudor Saga #1)

 by Jean Plaidy

Synopsis:

In the aftermath of the bloody Wars of the Roses, Henry Tudor has seized the English crown, finally uniting the warring Houses of York and Lancaster through his marriage to Elizabeth of York. But whilst Henry VII rules wisely and justly, he is haunted by Elizabeth's missing brothers; the infamous two Princes, their fate in the Tower forever a shrouded secret. Then tragedy strikes at the heart of Henry's family, and it is against his own son that the widowed king must fight for a bride and his throne...

 Book Beginning:

 There was great consternation in the Palace of Winchester on that misty September day in the year 1486, for the Queen – who was not due to give birth to her child for another month – had started her pains.

Premature children more often died than not in those times, the Queen and everyone around must have been pretty worried during this birth.

 The Friday 56:

Elizabeth felt reckless now, which was rare with her. But she believed Henry Tudor was no fighter and there were many in the country who resented him; they had accepted him because they wanted an end to the war, but no one could say that his claim to the throne was very strong.

Let me know what you're reading on this fine Friday.

Happy Reading!

TBB Asks: Summer Vacation Edition

 

The Blended Blog's Q&A for July features a lovely summer topic. 

Since I'll go on vacation this month with my boyfriend I couldn't find a better time to answer a few questions about my holiday habits.

 Will you go on a summer vacation this year?

Yes, I'm going to London with my boyfriend at the end of July. I'll show him my favourite places in the city, we'll visit the London Dungeon and we will attend the London Film & Comic Con as well.

Do nothing but relax or a pack it all in vacation?

If I go somewhere new, I like to make the most of my time; visit all the local sights, eat all kinds of delicious foods, be active, be on the move. I'm definitely the 'pack it all in' type of person.

(Don't get me wrong, I also enjoy a nice lazy day at the beach occasionally.)

  

What month do you like to vacation?

I usually pick a summer month. I haven't gone on vacation many times in the past few years, but before that we always went during summer with my family. September and May are also good choices as vacation months if one wants to avoid the crowds on the beaches or in the more popular cities. I went to Rome last September with my mom and lil brother. The weather was still warm but there weren't as many tourists as in summer. It was a very pleasant trip.

Cruise: Yes or No?

I've never been on a cruise, but yes, I'd like to try that form of vacation one day.

Favourite vacation tradition

I don't really have vacation traditions... I guess I don't go on enough holidays to establish a tradition, haha. (No, it's not funny, it's sad now that I think about it...)

 

Most memorable vacation?

Probably Croatia, the first time I travelled abroad when I was 13. I had the biggest crush on a waiter in a restaurant on the island of Brač.

Pack light or Pack it all?

Pack it all! Even with a fully packed suitcase I'm always afraid I'll leave something home...

Hotel, Condo or House?

I usually go for hostels, hotels or motels. I'm a person who opts for a modest accommodation and spends more on food and gifts (I don't spend much time inside anyway, why pay heaps of money for a room I only sleep in?)

Favourite things to eat on vacation.

I always aim to try at least one local speciality. Other than that I usually eat food I know I won't be disappointed in: gyros, hamburgers, sandwiches and the likes.

Warm or Cold Destinations?

It depends on my mood. I've visited more cold destinations than warm ones so far. However, in the future I'm planning to visit more countries in the south (Greece, Spain etc...). I just need to make sure to take a lot of sunscreen with me because my skin is very delicate unfortunately, and I'm in general not very tolerant when it comes to extreme heat.

 

Are you going on vacation this year? Where? Tell me all about your plans!

Book Beginnings and the Firday 56 #20

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's snippets are from:

The Women in the Walls

by Amy Lukavics

Synopsis:

Something isn't right in this house. 

Lucy Acosta's mother died when she was three. Growing up in a Victorian mansion in the middle of the woods with her cold, distant father, she and her best friend and cousin, Margaret, know the ancient hallways inside out. Or so they think . . .

When her beloved Aunt Penelope disappears while walking in the surrounding woods, Lucy finds herself devastated and alone. Margaret, meanwhile, has been spending a LOT of time in the attic. She claims she can hear her mother's voice whispering from the walls.

Shut out by her father, Lucy watches helplessly as her cousin's sanity slowly and completely unravels. And then she begins hearing voices herself . . . 

Book Beginning:

Walter the cook killed himself in his little bedroom downstairs, just a few hours after saying good-night.

A stylish way to start a haunted house story...

The Friday 56:

Nobody's in the kitchen, which is a relief. I sigh and load the dishes into the dishwasher, and as I'm leaving, I can hear the sound of someone crying. Not again, I think. This is not happening again.

GhOsTs

I don't think I'll read this book at night.

What are you reading right now? Are you enjoying it?
 

June Wrap-Up, July TBR

As most of you know by now in the end of May I landed a job after a couple of months of search for a suitable one. June has been a challenging month for me, in the sense that I had to learn many new procedures, absorb a lot of information. But here I am, fully functioning, doing my tasks with more and more confidence at my new workplace, which is great. 

Since I acquired a full time job I've lost some of my reading time, and it shows. I could only finish 3 books instead of my usual 4 in June. I guess it's not that bad, considering that I had a lot on my plate recently. I'll do my best to catch up with my reading in July.

My heart broke hearing the Timeless cancellation news. Losing this show is like losing friends for me. I'm hoping against all hope that the creators will at least consider bringing it back as a book/comic book series, I'd read the hell out of Timeless novels if the existed. They say we might still get a movie but I'm not very positive we will. I will never watch an NBC show ever again, that is for sure.

In the end of July me and my boyfriend will travel to London to attend the London Film & Comic Con. I'm very excited, I've been there once in 2016 and it was a pretty special experience. I'll be happy to share it with my beau this time.

Here is a summary of June on Paradise Found:

I've finished three books:

Bring Me Their Hearts by Sara Wolf – Review

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee – My review is coming soon!

Hold Your Own by Kate Tempest – My review is coming soon!

Other posts on the blog in the month of June:

Review – Clowders by Vanessa Morgan

Review – Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

Reading Habits Tag

Weekly Memes:

WWW Wednesday (Jun 13)

Book Beginnings and the Friday 56 (Jun 1, Jun 15, Jun 29) 

Weekend Wrap-up (Jun 17, Jun 24)

Plans for July

I'd like to read the following books in July (in no particular order): 

Mrs Sherlock Holmes by Brad Ricca 

I've already started this book and it is extremely good! I'm planning to finish it this month.

The Women in the Walls by Amy Lukavics

Winter Eternal (The River That Flows Two Ways #1) by E. Thomas Joseph

Uneasy Lies the Head (Tudor Saga #1) by Jean Plaidy

How was your June? Which was your favourite book this month?