November Wrap-Up! Last month I ended up writing and posting my October Wrap-Up really late, so this month I'm going to be prepared. Well, we'll see how that goes... Anyway, here is my November Wrap-Up! Finished Off The first thing read this month was the rest of Grandpa's Great Escape by David Walliams. You may have seen that in my October Wrap-Up I had read the first 100 pages, therefore this month I read the remaining 362 pages. I really enjoyed this book and I have written a review, which I will link at the end. Grandpa's Great Escape by David Walliams - Read 362 pages - 4/5 Read I then read an ARC Sampler (the first three chapters) of Silence Is Goldfish by Annabel Pitcher. I also quite enjoyed this one even though it was just a short sampler. I requested this off of NetGalley thinking that it was the full book (I didn't read the full description), but when I started to read it, I realised that it only included the first three chapters. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed it and will be posting my Mini-Review of it very soon (I have it all typed up just waiting to post it). At some point I would like to buy the finished copy to finish off with the story, so you may see it again in a future Wrap-Up. Silence Is Goldfish (Sampler) by Annabel Pitcher - 22 pages - 3.75/5 Next I read I Funny by James Patterson. If you saw my Charity Shop Book Haul then you will know that I found this extremely cheap (50p for a hardback!), however I didn't know when I would read it. Well, I ended up reading this a lot sooner than I originally thought I would. Anyway, I read this within a couple of hours (really) and I really enjoyed it! I do have a review ready to go up, so when it's up I will leave a link at the end. I Funny by James Patterson - 320 pages - 4/5 Then I read I Even Funnier by James Patterson. This was also at my local charity shop when I bought I Funny, so of course I had to buy it. I've got a problem okay! Anyway, I ended up loving I Funny that much that I just had to jump straight into this one ASAP! I ended up loving this one just as much (maybe even slightly more), so I will definitely be continuing in with the series. I also have a review written for this one, which I will be (hopefully) posting soon! I Even Funnier by James Patterson - 344 pages - 4/5 I then read Sophie Someone by Hayley Long (I received an e-galley copy of this from the publisher via NetGalley). This one was really unique and I totally recommend it! I have a review posted already, which I will link at the end. Sophie Someone by Hayley Long - 256 pages - 4.25/5 Finally I read The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot. Despite how short this was, it did actually take me quiet a while to finish it - I was quiet busy the week which I started it. This was just a really relaxing read for me - it was short, easy to understand and also simple to get into. Overall, I really liked it and I hope to read some of the other books in the series. I will have a review up soon (I've written it, just not posted it)! I wrote a load of reviews at the same time so I have a lot left to post, that's why some really old ones aren't up yet. The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot - 283 Pages - 4.25/5 Started Reading I've started to read The Martian by Andy Weir. I'm about 174 pages in, so I'm practically half-way through and I hope to read more tonight. So far, so good. The Martian by Andy Weir - Read 174 pages Total Total Pages Read - 1761 Anyway, that was my November Wrap-Up! What was your favourite read this month? BYE! Links
October Wrap-Up - http://sprinkleofbooks.weebly.com/blog/october-wrap-up Charity Shop Book Haul - http://sprinkleofbooks.weebly.com/blog/charity-shop-book-haul-2 Reviews Grandpa's Great Escape - http://sprinkleofbooks.weebly.com/blog/spoiler-free-review-grandpas-great-escape-by-david-walliams Silence Is Goldfish - http://sprinkleofbooks.weebly.com/blog/spoiler-free-review-silence-is-goldfish-sampler-by-annabel-pitcher I Funny - http://sprinkleofbooks.weebly.com/blog/spoiler-free-review-i-funny-1-by-james-patterson I Even Funnier - NOT YET POSTED Sophie Someone - http://sprinkleofbooks.weebly.com/blog/spoiler-free-review-sophie-someone-by-hayley-long The Princess Diaries - http://sprinkleofbooks.weebly.com/blog/spoiler-free-review-the-princess-diaries-1-by-meg-cabot Buy The Books Grandpa's Great Escape GR - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25394434-grandpa-s-great-escape?from_search=true&search_version=service BD - http://www.bookdepository.com/Grandpa-s-Great-Escape/9780007494019 Silence Is Goldfish GR - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25250548-silence-is-goldfish?from_search=true&search_version=service BD - http://www.bookdepository.com/Silence-is-Goldfish-Annabel-Pitcher/9781780620008 I Funny GR - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14781201-i-funny?from_search=true&search_version=service BD - http://www.bookdepository.com/I--Funny/9780099567424 I Even Funnier GR - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17612524-i-even-funnier?from_search=true&search_version=service BD - http://www.bookdepository.com/I-Even-Funnier/9780316206976 Sophie Someone GR - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25382680-sophie-someone?from_search=true&search_version=service BD - http://www.bookdepository.com/search?searchTerm=sophie+someone&search=Find+book The Princess Diaries GR - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38980.The_Princess_Diaries?from_search=true&search_version=service BD - http://www.bookdepository.com/The-Princess-Diaries-Meg-Cabot/9780061479939 The Martian GR - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18007564-the-martian?from_search=true&search_version=service BD - http://www.bookdepository.com/The-Martian/9780091956141
0 Comments
Spoiler-Free Review : I Funny (#1) by James Patterson Jamie Grimm is a middle schooler on a mission: he wants to become the world's greatest standup comedian--even if he doesn't have a lot to laugh about these days. He's new in town and stuck living with his aunt, uncle, and their evil son Stevie, a bully who doesn't let Jamie's wheelchair stop him from messing with Jamie as much as possible. But Jamie doesn't let his situation get him down. When his Uncle Frankie mentions a contest called The Planet's Funniest Kid Comic, Jamie knows he has to enter. But are the judges only rewarding him out of pity because of his wheelchair, like Stevie suggests? Will Jamie ever share the secret of his troubled past instead of hiding behind his comedy act? Jamie is disabled and lives his life in a wheelchair. Like the synopsis says Jamie dreams of being a comedian - despite his miserable life and past. The book tells of his journey to become and achieve that dream. Characters Jamie - Jamie was the main character of the book and you get to know him quite well but at the same time not. He's vague about his miserable past until he meets someone he believes he can trust. Stevie - Stevie is the school bully and also an unwanted member of Jamie's family. As you can probably tell Stevie winds Jamie up something rotten and the rest of the family don't see a thing. However, Stevie and his thuggish friends definitely added to the story. Uncle Frankie - Uncle Frankie is Jamie's Uncle and definitely the family member in which Jamie has the most trust. Uncle Frankie is the owner of the local town restaurant, which is also the place where Jamie spends most of his time. Jamie serves the keen customers while telling them both new and old jokes. The relationship which Jamie and Uncle Frankie is the sweetest and made me quite emotional at times. Uncle Frankie was by far one of my most favourite characters. The Smileys (I think that's what Jamie calls them - I can't really remember) - The Smileys (?) are the parents of Stevie, therefore Jamie's Aunt and Uncle. Jamie calls them The Smileys (?) because they never smile, they're always straight faced even when Jamie tell his funniest jokes. They are that hard to make laugh that Jamie makes it a personal challenge to do so. Overall I really enjoyed these characters as they were made to be really funny and I brought a lot to the book. Jamie's Friends (Cool Girl, Gaynor and Pierce) - One of the things that I really loved about the book was the relationship Jamie had with his friends and how supportive they were of his wheelchair. I think that this relationship really made the book and showed that just because a person may be in a wheelchair doesn't mean they aren't normal. Plot Overall, I really enjoyed the plot and I finished the book in just over two hours! This is one of the few books that I've read in just one sitting and really enjoyed. I loved everything about it, the speed, the characters, the whole book itself. It was a great read and I would definitely recommend it. Rate 4/5 I Funny by James Patterson GR - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14781201-i-funny?from_search=true&search_version=service BD - http://www.bookdepository.com/I-Funny-Chris-Grabenstein-James-Patterson-Laur-Park/9780316206921 Spoiler-Free Review : The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot Mia Thermopolis is pretty sure there's nothing worse than being a five-foot-nine, flat-chested freshman, who also happens to be flunking Algebra. Is she ever in for a surprise. First Mom announces that she's dating Mia's Algebra teacher. Then Dad has to go and reveal that he is the crown prince of Genovia. And guess who still doesn't have a date for the Cultural Diversity Dance? I went to my local charity shop and found this there for only 50p and I had recently heard so many good things about this series from watching April's (Aprilius Maximus on Youtube) videos. If you haven't already then please check out her videos as she's really great and entertaining though she will also make you want to buy every book she hauls. Every booktuber does that though, right? Anyway, I had wanted to start this series for quite a while so when I saw the first book there for that price I just had to buy it. Mia is unpopular at school, her only friends are her best friend Lilly and Lilly's brother, Michael, and a few other people. She gets picked on by the popular girl, Lana Weinberger and is in love with the popular boy, Josh Richter, who is also Lana's boyfriend. At the moment she sounds like a typical girl, but did I mention the things she hates about herself. She is the tallest in her class, has clown feet and has a chest as flat as a table.
The she finds out that she's the Princess of Genovia or should I say Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldi, Crown Princess of Genovia. Of course the only thing she can do is freak out! Her father, the ruler of Genovia has flown over especially to talk to her and he then arranges for Mia's grandmother, Clarisse Marie Grimaldi Renaldo to teach Mia 'Princess Lessons'. These are hell for Mia as her grandmother is brutal and fierce. She learns how to eat properly, greet guests and how to avoid interviews/paparazzi. She has to handle this on top of her extra algebra lessons (she's flunking) with her mum's new boyfriend, Mr Gianini. Then somehow the newspaper finds out that Mia is the Princess of Genovia. Everyone at school knows and all of sudden Mia is popular, but not how she wanted. She's lost her best friend Lilly and now has caught the attention of her arch enemy Lana Weinberger. Lana continues to make friends with her, but Mia is having none of it. All she wants is everything to go back to normal, when she wasn't a princess and she had nothing to do but help Lilly with her TV show. Her life has blown up and she has no idea how to fix it. Did I mention she also has a bodyguard following her every move? Well, she does. The rest I'm going to keep a secret so as not to spoil you! ;) Let me just tell you that a lot of stuff happens, some good and some bad... Characters I found all the characters to be likeable and really fun and Mia was a good role model - though she did make a few bad decisions, but doesn't everyone? I loved all the drama each character created and overall I think there was a good range/mixture of characters. Plot The storyline was great and was constantly entertained even if some parts were easy to suspect. I will definitely be picking up the rest of the series (maybe from the library or if I can find them at my nearby charity shop) as I really want to find out what is in store for Mia and her friends/family. Rate 4.25/5 BYE! The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot GR - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38980.The_Princess_Diaries?from_search=true&search_version=service BD - http://www.bookdepository.com/The-Princess-Diaries-Meg-Cabot/9780061479939 Spoiler-Free Review : Grandpa's Great Escape by David Walliams Grandpa lives in a Maximum Security Twighlight Zone, and his Grandson attempts to set him free. Jack’s Grandpa… wears his slippers to the supermarket serves up tinned tongue for dinner and often doesn’t remember Jack’s name But he can still take to the skies in a speeding Spitfire and save the day… An exquisite portrait of the bond between a small boy and his beloved Grandpa – this book takes readers on an incredible journey with Spitfires over London and Great Escapes through the city in a high octane adventure full of comedy and heart. I totally forgot this was even coming out till I saw it in Tesco and of course I had to buy it! I've read every single David Walliams book (apart from the picture books) and I didn't want to ruin that streak now, so I needed it. Anyway, let's get into the review! Cover I normally don't really talk about a books' cover, but this one I loved so much that I just had to mention it. I've included a few photos, which you can expect to see on my bookstagram throughout the week. First off I just want to mention the colour of the book as I really love it. It's a really pretty sky blue colour, which is one of my favourite colours. Secondly, the illustrations both inside and outside the book are really great, Tony Ross did an excellent job with the illustrations and the finished book is definitely my favourite design of all of David Walliams' books. Characters Jack - Jack is a 12 year old boy, who doesn't really have that great a relationship with either of his parents. The person he gets on best with is his Grandpa, who is an ex-army pilot. Just like his Grandpa, Jack is obsessed with different plane models and admires his Grandpa for flying a spitfire back in the war. Jacks' favourite days are the ones which he gets to spend with his grandpa, in which he tells Jack stories from when he was in the air. When the family find that Grandpa has increasingly bad dementia, Jack is most affected especially when his parents talk about putting Jacks' beloved grandfather in a home. He does his upmost best to help his Grandpa and plays along with his dementia. Overall, I really enjoyed the character of Jack. I found him to be funny, but also at some times really grown up for his age, attempting to understand his grandfather's condition etc. I really loved his relationship with his grandfather. Grandpa - Like I mentioned before, Grandpa was a pilot (and a Squadron Leader) in WWII and due to his condition he mostly lives in those days and continues to think he's still flying. Up, Up and Away is what Grandpa used to say every time before he took off into the air and this helps Jack to locate his grandfather when he goes missing in the middle of the night. Using the condition Dementia in a book can be quite a touchy subject, especially for those people, who have experienced family members with it. However, I think Walliams didn't do too bad a job. He didn't make it to funny and make it sound like a joke, but he also didn't make it sound more serious than it needs to be. He had the perfect mixture, to suit both children and adult readers. I really loved the character of Grandpa and by far he was my favourite character. Dad (Barry) - Barry is Jacks' dad and also an accountant. As the book mainly features Jack and his Grandpa, you don't get to know Barry that well. From what I gathered, Barry is what most people would refer to as weak, he isn't prepared to share what he thinks of situations and he sort of just hides in the footsteps of Barbara. However, we do get to experience some emotion during one of Grandpa's late night escapes, when Barry is found crying in his car. Despite the fact he wasn't a main character, Barry did affect the story in different ways and he was necessary for the journey of the book. Mum (Barbara) - Just like Barry, you don't necessarily learn a lot about Barbara's character, apart from that she stinks of cheese all of the time. Don't worry, she works at a cheese counter at the local supermarket! Though her and Jack don't have the best relationship, she does care about him in a way a mother normally does. This really came through when Jack went "out" in the middle of the night and hadn't came back. Overall, I think her character was definitely necessary for the plot as she carried a lot of humour centred around her throughout the book about her cheesy smells. "Nurse" Rose, Daisy and Blossom - These characters were just a typical Walliams' character and I felt that they played a reasonable part in shaping the story. They were some of my favourite characters from the book. Raj - Well Raj is just Raj isn't he. .Plot It was quite obvious that the book followed a well thought-out plot. Just liked every Walliams' book, it carried the humour and jokes throughout the story, which I think helped remind the reader that the book isn't meant to be serious. It consisted of the same Walliams' weirdness (especially with the characters), however I did find there to be quite a few surprises. Though I did guess a lot of them (that might of been down to the books' age range), I really loved the book. Rate 4/5 I really would recommend this book to anyone looking for just a fun, chatty read. Have you read this? What were your thoughts? BYE! Grandpa's Great Escape by David Walliams
GR - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25394434-grandpa-s-great-escape?from_search=true&search_version=service BD - http://www.bookdepository.com/Grandpa-s-Great-Escape/9780007494019 |
AuthorHello and welcome to Books With Beth! I'm Beth and on this blog I share a mix of all my bookish thoughts through reviews, book tours and hauls. Have fun! Categories
All
Archives
August 2019
|