September Book Haul

This blog is not just a book blog (although most posts are about books) and I've never done a Book Haul blog post until now. Most of the books I've been reading for my reading challenge have been books I already own or library books. Over the last month or so I've treated myself to purchasing 4 books :)

There's a book turned movie theme...

High-rise by J.G. Ballard

This has been made into a movie starring Tom Hiddleston and Sienna Miller. It is screening at London Film Festival on 9th October.

Book Synopsis

Within the concealing walls of an elegant forty-storey tower block, the affluent tenants are hell-bent on an orgy of destruction. Cocktail parties degenerate into marauding attacks on ‘enemy’ floors and the once-luxurious amenities become an arena for riots and technological mayhem.

In this visionary tale of urban disillusionment from the renowned author of ‘Crash’ and ‘Cocaine Nights’, society slips into a violent reverse as the isolated inhabitants of the high-rise, driven by primal urges, create a dystopian world ruled by the laws of the jungle.

AmazonUK  AmazonUS 

Remainder by Tom McCarthy

This has been made into a movie starring Tom Sturridge. It is premiering at London Film Festival on 10th October.

Book Synopsis

Traumatised by an accident which involves something falling from the sky and leaves him eight and a half million pounds richer but hopelessly estranged from the world around him, Remainder's hero spends his time and money obsessively reconstructing and re-enacting vaguely remembered scenes and situations from his past: a large building with piano music in the distance, the familiar smells and sounds of liver frying and spluttering, lethargic cats lounging on roofs until they tumble off them...But when this fails to quench his thirst for authenticity, he starts reconstructing more and more violent events, as his repetition addiction spirals out of control.

A darkly comic meditation on memory, identify and history, Remainder is a parable for modern times.

AmazonUK  AmazonUS 

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

From the same author as Gone Girl, this has also been made into a film starring Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult and Chloe Grace Moretz.

Book Synopsis

Libby Day was just seven years old when her evidence put her fifteen-year-old brother behind bars.

Since then, she has been drifting. But when she is contacted by a group who are convinced of Ben's innocence, Libby starts to ask questions she never dared to before. Was the voice she heard her borther's? Ben was a misfit in their small town, but was he capable of murder? Are there secrets to uncover at the family farm or is Libby deluding herself because she wants her brother back?

She begins to realise that everyone in her family had something to hide that day... especially Ben. Now, twenty-four years later, the truth is going to be even harder to find.

Who did massacre the Day family?

AmazonUK  AmazonUS

Four by Veronica Roth

This is a collection of short stories about Tobias/Four from the Divergent books/films.

Book Synopsis

Two years before Beatrice Prior makes her choice, the sixteen-year-old son of Abnegation's faction leader does the same. Tobias's transfer to Dauntless is his chance to begin again. Newly renamed 'Four' he discovers that initiation is only the beginning...

Four must claim his place in the Dauntless hierarchy. And his decisions will affect future initiates as well as uncover secrets that could threaten his own future - and the future of the entire faction system.

Two years later, Four is poised to act but the course is still unclear. The first new initiate who jumps into the net might change all that. With her, the way to righting their world might become clear. With her, it might become possible to be Tobias once again.

AmazonUK  AmazonUS

~~~

Have you read any of these books? Are you looking forward to the film versions? 

Word Scribbler Reading Challenge - Week 4 - Tom Hiddleston week!

Week 4 of my 52 book reading challenge (1 book per week for a year) is Tom Hiddleston week! Ok, not exactly, it's a book with a colour in the title week but this weeks book is read by Tom :D I'm not even reading a book myself this week, I'm listening to an audiobook. I get to sit and relax as Tom reads to me for hours and hours. Bliss. 

The audiobook narrated by Tom Hiddleston is The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner. Scroll down for more info. Thank you to the awesome @cullenbutler for bringing this to my attention!

Who is (re)reading Fifty Shades of Grey by E L James just in time to watch the film version (out on 13th Feb)?? If you are please join in this weeks collective readathon. Yes, it's a book with a colour in the title!

If you're joining in this week please leave a comment below this blog post with what you're reading and/or tweet your chosen book using #WSreadingchallenge and tag me @word_scribbler too. Share and discuss what you're reading and maybe discover a new book to read :)

1. A book with 'Winter' in the title.  I READ Winter Wonderland by Belinda Jones. REVIEW
2. A book set on or by the sea/ocean.  I READ The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen. REVIEW UP SOON!
3. A book with a red cover.  I READ Waking the Witch by Kelley Armstrong . REVIEW UP SOON!
4. A book with a colour in the title. THIS WEEK I'm listening to the audiobook of The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner (read by Tom Hiddleston!)
5. A book with 'Love' in the title.
6. A book that has been made into a movie or tv show.
7. A book recommended by a friend.
8. A book set in a place you want to visit.
9. A classic.
10. A book set in a city.
11. A book with an orange cover.
12. A book with 'Spring' in the title.
13. A memoir.
14. A book written by a UK author.
15. A collection of short stories.
16. A book with food in the title.
17. A book set in your favourite place.
18. A book your mum loves.
19. A book with a yellow cover.
20. A trilogy.
21. A book with 'Summer' in the title.
22. A book with a music industry theme/musician character.
23. A book that was originally written in a different language.
24. A book everyone has read but you.
25. A book where the main character has your dream job.
26. A book with a green cover,
27. A book set in France.
28. A book with a film industry theme/character.
29. A book set in your hometown.
30. A book by one of your favourite authors.
31. A book set in Italy.
32. A book with a blue cover.
33. A book set in London.
34. A book about a road trip/journey.
35. A book with a one-word title.
36. A book set in the countryside.
37. A book with 'Autumn' in the title.
38. A book with a purple cover.
39. A book set in New York.
40. A book with a number in the title.
41. A book with an animal on the cover.
42. A 'banned book'.
43. A book that was published the year you were born.
44. A book set in Los Angeles.
45. A book with a black and white cover.
46. A book with 'Chocolate' in the title.
47. A book published this year.
48. A book set at Christmas time.
49. A book by an author with the same first name as you.
50. A book with snow on the cover.
51. A book you learned about because of this challenge.
52. Reread your favourite book.

My chosen book for week 4 is - The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner

 

This is a Young Adult Novel.

Book blurb:

The story of a remarkable boy called Yann Margoza; Tetu the dwarf, his friend and mentor; Sido, unloved daughter of a foolish Marquis; and Count Kalliovski, Grand Master of a secret society, who has half the aristocracy in thrall to him, and wants Yann dead. Yann is spirited away to London but three years later, when Paris is gripped by the bloody horrors of the Revolution, he returns, charged with two missions: to find out Kalliovski's darkest deeds and to save Sido from the guillotine. With a tangle of secrets, a thread of magic and a touch of humour, the follies of the aristocracy and the sufferings of ordinary people are unfolded as their lives move relentlessly towards the tragic and horrific days of the Terror. THE RED NECKLACE is not only a tremendous adventure story but a vibrant and passionate picture of Paris in turmoil and of a large cast of memorable characters.

What are you reading for week 4 ? A book with a colour in the title.