Book Quote of the Day

“Happiness. Simple as a glass of chocolate or tortuous as the heart. Bitter. Sweet. Alive.”
― Joanne Harris, Chocolat

Book Quote of the Day

“The battle of good and evil reduced to a fat woman standing in front of a chocolate shop, saying, Will I? Won’t I? in pitiful indecision.” 
― Joanne Harris, Chocolat

Alphabet Author and A Book Challenge – H

Alphabet Author and A Book Challenge

Day: 8

Letter: H

Author:  Harris, Joanne

Chosen book: Holy Fools

Read or To Be Read: Read

Thoughts: Woman and young daughter start a new life by hiding in a nunnery to escape their past. A fascinating novel!

Book Quote of the Day

“Happiness. Simple as a glass of chocolate or tortuous as the heart. Bitter. Sweet. Alive.”

- Chocolat, Joanne Harris

Mixing It Up Reading Challenge – The End!

I have finally completed my June challenge, despite thinking i wouldn’t be able to finish in time!

My tasks for June were as follows:

1. Read a brand new book. - Read “Peaches for Monsieur le Curé” by Joanne Harris.
2. Read a classic you’ve never tried before. – Read “Tess of the D’Urberviles” by Thomas Hardy
3. Re-read a book you studied at school/college/university. - Re-read “Z for Zachariah” by Robert C. O’Brien.
4. Read a play. - Re-read “The Changeling” by Thomas Middleton and William Rowley
5. Read a book that you have owned for a while but haven’t started yet. - Read “Delicacy” by David Foenkinos
6. Re-read a favourite book from your younger years. – Re-read “Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Harvest” (A novelization from the hit TV series of the same title)
7. Read a non-fiction title. - Reading “The Queen’s English” by Bernard C. Lamb
8. Read a book that is totally different to the sort you usually read. - Read “New Finnish Grammar” by Diego Marani

I have finished all of the books, except for Task7, the non-fiction title “The Queen’s English” because it is fairly heavy going as a textbook (although the book says it is a “light” textbook, which it really isn’t!), but i will keep reading it inbits at a time because i won’t absorb it otherwise!

It has been an interesting challenge though, as you can’t deny that i’ve covered a wide range of books!

My favourite book was “Z for Zachariah” because it was easy to read, yet it was interesting to re-read it after so many years have passed since i studied it at school!

There isn’t a book i didn’t like, although i found myself getting a little irritated by “Tess of the D’Urbervilles” with Tess being a bit pathetic at times and the ending being a bit rubbish. I thought it was worth reading though, but i’m glad i didn’t have to study it at school/university!

That’s the end of my Mixing It Up Reading Challenge, and i will now have a little break from challenges because i want to just read without worrying about a deadline!

Mixing It Up Reading Challenge Update#5

Here is an update of my latest Challenge, with just under 2 days left to go!

My tasks for June are as follows:

1. Read a brand new book. - Read “Peaches for Monsieur le Curé” by Joanne Harris.
2. Read a classic you’ve never tried before. – Started reading “Tess of the D’Urberviles” by Thomas Hardy
3. Re-read a book you studied at school/college/university. - Re-read “Z for Zachariah” by Robert C. O’Brien.
4. Read a play. - Re-read “The Changeling” by Thomas Middleton and William Rowley
5. Read a book that you have owned for a while but haven’t started yet.
6. Re-read a favourite book from your younger years. – Re-read “Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Harvest” (A novelization from the hit TV series of the same title)
7. Read a non-fiction title. – Started reading “The Queen’s English” by Bernard C. Lamb
8. Read a book that is totally different to the sort you usually read. - Read “New Finnish Grammar” by Diego Marani

Deliberately chose a short book for Task6 as i’m running out of time, but it’s good to read about Buffy’s early days again!

My non-fiction choice has been sitting on my shelf for a while and is really interesting! (Doesn’t count for Task5 as well though, because i’d already started it a while ago!) A bit heavy going though, taking a while to read it!

Decided to re-read “The Changeling” by Thomas Middleton and William Rowley for Task4, which i read during my A Level English and actually quite enjoyed. We went to see it performed at the Barbican in London and it was a great show! It is also fairly easy and quick to read (especially if you’ve read or studied it before like i have!) which is good as i’m running out of days in June to finish this challenge!

Can i finish 3 books by tomorrow night? We’ll see!

Mixing It Up Reading Challenge Update#4

Here is an update of my latest Challenge, 25 days in!

My tasks for June are as follows:

1. Read a brand new book. - Read “Peaches for Monsieur le Curé” by Joanne Harris.
2. Read a classic you’ve never tried before. – Started reading “Tess of the D’Urberviles” by Thomas Hardy
3. Re-read a book you studied at school/college/university. - Re-read “Z for Zachariah” by Robert C. O’Brien.
4. Read a play.
5. Read a book that you have owned for a while but haven’t started yet.
6. Re-read a favourite book from your younger years.
7. Read a non-fiction title.
8. Read a book that is totally different to the sort you usually read. - Read “New Finnish Grammar” by Diego Marani

I managed to finish “New Finnish Grammar” although it took a while! Wasn’t the best book i’ve ever read, but was interesting enough that i wanted to finish it.

Otherwise doing badly, 5 days left of the month and i have to finish “Tess of the D’Urbervilles” and read 4 other books!

Mixing It Up Reading Challenge Update#3

Here is an update of my latest Challenge, 9 days in!

My tasks for June are as follows:

1. Read a brand new book. - Read “Peaches for Monsieur le Curé” by Joanne Harris.
2. Read a classic you’ve never tried before. – Started reading “Tess of the D’Urberviles” by Thomas Hardy
3. Re-read a book you studied at school/college/university. - Re-read “Z for Zachariah” by Robert C. O’Brien.
4. Read a play.
5. Read a book that you have owned for a while but haven’t started yet.
6. Re-read a favourite book from your younger years.
7. Read a non-fiction title.
8. Read a book that is totally different to the sort you usually read. - Started reading “New Finnish Grammar” by Diego Marani

I have a selection of books ready for the other challenges, but i need to finish the three i have on the go at the moment!