2016 Reading Goals

We're already nine days into 2016 and Books with Bunny has been a bit neglected lately, truth be told.  Having welcomed the new year on holiday in America, my body's only just getting back to UK time and with a new role in the day job, reading hasn't taken a front seat over the past few weeks.  Add to that the release of four Meet Cute books (published by Harper Impulse) in the run up to Christmas and One Night in Los Angeles (published by Tirgearr) due out January 27th and I've been one busy Bunny!

However, I usually make 'reading resolutions' for the calendar year and 2016 was no different. 

1) Read less. 
That might sound strange, but I'm finding everything blurs into one when I hurtle from one book to another.  Plots, locations, characters - I just can't retain them half the time.  Authors work bloody hard, as I'm finding out.  Their books deserve to be savoured.  I want to savour what I read.

2) Read more paperback books.
I have a ridiculous amount of paperback books on my shelves waiting to be read.  If I don't start reading them, my house will be too full to be able to buy more!  And that'd be a disaster...

3) Reread more books I've enjoyed.
This won't help with making space on my shelves, but there are some books I kept with the sole aim of rereading, whether that's once, twice or regularly.  I used to be a serial rereader, and there's something truly comforting about going back to a book you've loved.  I want that feeling more in 2016.

4) Build my collection of Sweet Valley books.
Late last year I reread a few Sweet Valley books (I'll be reviewing them soon), and they gave me the aforementioned comforting buzz.  I'm trying to collect the whole lot through charity shop and online purchases - unlikely I'll get that completed in 2016, but I'd like to get a shelf full!  They brought me so much pleasure as a teen, and although they are dated compared to current YA, they hold a special place in my heart.  And that leads me on to my last resolution...

5) To read what I enjoy.
Over new year I reflected on how my reading habits have changed since starting this blog.  I get sent a lot of books to review (which is wonderful, and I'm very grateful and honoured that publishers and authors like my reviews enough to want me to write one for their book). 

Generally, I try and only accept books that I know I'll read and enjoy.  But there have been many times where I've been sent books unsolicited that fall outside the genres I'd normally read, and to be polite and openminded I read them.  Sometimes I'll review them, sometimes not.  But my book pile is getting bigger and bigger year on year, and it's currently unmanageable. 

In 2016 I'll be accepting less books for review.  This is to allow me to read the books I already have and am desperate to read (both review copies and bought).

Here's to a happy year of reading for us all in 2016!

Books with Bunny is two today!

I can't believe it's a whole year since I wrote my 'Books with Bunny is one today!' post.  That year went by far too quickly! 

At the risk of repeating that post word for word, thank you so much to everyone who's read my posts, shared them, chatted to me about books on twitter or facebook, sent me books to review, entered the giveaways, guested on Books with Bunny or invited me to guest on their blog- I love this community so much!

As a little birthday treat, I have some rafflecopter giveaways for you all!  Unfortunately, this time some are UK only, but there are a few for you overseas lovelies too (see each giveaway for details).

Best of luck!

A signed paperback copy of Letters to the Lost by Iona Grey (open internationally)

a Rafflecopter giveaway
With thanks to Iona Grey for donating this prize

This gorgeous and unique Pride and Prejudice scene handcrafted by author Ann Troup- with light up lamplight! (UK only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway
With thanks to Ann Troup for donating this prize

A Box of Bookish Booty- including new books, signed goodies and a few surprises! (UK only)

I'm not showing you the actual box or contents- it's a surprise!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Set of 3 cute notepads and a bookmark (open internationally)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Colour Therapy colouring book and bookmark (UK only)

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck everyone!

Afternoon tea with Rebecca Raisin

On Sunday 29th March around thirty book bloggers met in London to celebrate Rebecca Raisin's arrival on British soil!  Despite travelling from Australia just the day before, the author looked relaxed and glamorous, and perhaps most surprisingly, wide awake! 

Rebecca has a huge following here in the UK and as her Gingerbread Café trilogy is being repackaged as a collection it was certainly cause for celebration.  The venue was well selected for a host of bibliophiles- the 5th view bar on the fifth floor of Waterstone's Piccadilly, the largest bookshop in Europe. 

We were treated to a gorgeous selection of what our table described as 'teeny tiny food'-the mini Yorkshire puddings and chocolate brownies were dwarfed by the delicious and generously sized scones.  We also had a glass of Prosecco to accompany it, plus a choice from a variety of different teas and coffees.


The teeny tiny food

I had a brilliant time on my table sat with Tay (Chicks That Read), Rebecca (Brunette Lifestyle), Laura (Little Northern Soul), Lisa (Reading Room with a View) and Trish (Trish B's Blog).  We chatted about anything and everything (although admittedly, mostly books) and had a real laugh.

Rebecca gave a short speech thanking everyone for coming and supporting her work, and it was so, so wonderful to spend time talking to her in person.  She's been a huge inspiration and support to me on my own writing journey and given me invaluable feedback, so being able to give her a real hug rather than a virtual one was lovely!



Me with Rebecca Raisin

I finished off my time in London with a visit to the British Library where I pawed at the glass covering the manuscript of Jane Eyre and dreamed about a CIP catalogue record of my book being available from there one day (I have no idea what that actually means, but I ALWAYS notice that phrase in publication details at the start of books.  Whatever it is, I want it.  It sounds awesome.)

At the British Library

All in all a wonderful day full of bookish fun. Huge thanks to Rebecca and Carina UK for allowing me to be part of it, and to 5th View for being so accommodating.

Paige Toon Book Signing- Waterstone's, Manchester 8/2/2014

 



It isn't every day you get to meet a bestselling author (well, admittedly, I do it reasonably regularly, but you know what I mean) and meeting the lovely Paige Toon at Waterstone's in Manchester's Arndale Centre today was an absolute pleasure.  Paige happily signed copies of her novels, including her YA debut The Accidental Life of Jessie Jefferson and made time to talk to her readers and pose for photos.  It was also lovely that she remembered the Books with Bunny blog and that she had taken part in a Q and A with us last year (you can read it here).



Me and my boy meet 'Page Two'

My excitable six year old was also delighted to meet Paige, he was slightly obsessed with her name being 'Paige Toon' which he noted is exceptionally close to 'Page Two'...  That boy and his imagination...I wonder where he gets it from ?!  He also says she was very pretty and that he liked that he got to sit in her chair (whilst we were waiting he decided to sit in the author hotseat-warming it up for Princess Paige!), and she was incredibly patient with his attempts to foist pens, post its and protractors onto her!

 

Another lovely aspect of going to book signings is being surrounded by likeminded people, people who have the same passion for reading, appreciation for the hard work involved in writing a novel and who still value the importance of a 'real' book.  After all, you can't get an ebook signed, and if you could it wouldn't have that same physical presence.  Today I finally met my twitter friend @EmmaLouAuthor who is a fellow book blogger and who is also trying to get her own writing published.  We seem to be incredibly similar so it was really lovely to meet in person and be able to give each other a real hug rather than a cyber hug!   I also got to meet Gemma who was a sweetheart as well, the time waiting for Paige flew by as we were jabbering away about Lego, Harry Potter, One Direction and of course, books. 

 

It was a wonderful day spent with genuinely nice people, well worth an early start for.  I also had the opportunity to start The Accidental Life of Jessie Jefferson on the train home, and I have a feeling it could be Paige's best book yet.  I was immersed in Jessie's world, completely and utterly.  The gamble to expand and write for the YA audience has definitely paid off in my eyes!









Guesting and blogsitting!

My lovely friend Emma from the Emma Is Writing blog is fortunate enough to be in New York at the moment, and between now and the 12th November you will be able to find some of my reviews on her blog as well as here.  I'm calling it blogsitting....

So far my review of De-Ann Black's The Fairytale Tea Dress Shop has been posted here and today my review of Kat French's Undertaking Love has gone live- you can read the review of that one here.

I also wrote a short piece for the gorgeous Jenny in Neverland about the impact of first lines which was published last week, you can see that here.

There will be lots more on my blog when I catch up after my own holiday-I have some cracking books to review coming up soon!

Guesting on Laura's Little Book Blog

Today I am the guest blogger on Laura's Little Book Blog.  Laura is one of the most influential bloggers to me, she is so encouraging and always happy to help out anyone looking for articles and reviews.

So I was more than willing to return the favour by taking part in Laura's spooky reading reviews for Hallowe'en.  You can see my review of Doll Bones by Holly Black here.

Thanks Laura, for all your support and friendship and also for allowing me to invade your beautiful blog! x

My Top 10 Books (Guesting on Erin's Choice)

When I was asked to write something for Erin's blog I was thrilled, it is always a delight to be allowed to be part of someone's blog as I know how protective I am over mine!  When Erin told me that she was wanting my top 10 books though I thought 'oh heck' and had to decide which of my darlings to kill.

My top 10 is available to view now on her website, here.

Am I a blogger or a frustrated author?

I am studying for an Open University degree and today is officially the first day of my new module.  My degree is in Humanities, and this new module is a creative writing course. 

I've been thinking a lot about writing and blogging since signing up for the course.  Are bloggers really all frustrated authors, desperate for our writing to be viewed by the masses? Is this why we dedicate ourselves to our blogs, sharing our thoughts, feelings and viewpoints with people on the other side of the world to ourselves, people we will never meet?

When I first started Books with Bunny I did it purely to record my reading habits. Every book I read was recorded anyway on book forums and I'd often write reviews of the books I'd especially enjoyed, so it made sense to start a blog and keep everything in one place.  Occasionally I will write a small piece relating to blogging or reading in a more general sense, but my blog still remains a dedicated book blog rather than covering wider themes and other aspects of my life in detail. 

So am I writing in the hope of being published?  I know lots of bloggers who are also writing their own novels, but I don't necessarily aspire to that.  I blog to voice my opinions.  I also strongly feel that what we bloggers say isn't any less valuable just because it's not in a book- there are plenty of books out there that aren't my cup of tea and equally, many bloggers that make me laugh, cry and feel.  My vision was to blog about books to promote the novels and authors that I enjoy.  I would absolutely love to be able to take this further and have my book reviews reaching a wider audience, and this is why I also post my reviews to goodreads and Amazon.  I'm also fortunate enough to have been asked to review for other websites and blogs, most notably Making Them Readers and Mojomums.  However, I can't deny that my ultimate dream would be to have a regular review slot in a magazine or newspaper, and I would love to have my name in a by-line.  Maybe I'm a frustrated reviewer.  Although I do review, so maybe I'm just frustrated?

So do I really want to be an author?  Probably not.  I have explored creative writing on and off since school, predominantly poetry, although will admit to also attempting a novel a couple of times before becoming completely overwhelmed by the process.  Blogging is an extension of journaling and diary keeping, admittedly in a public domain, but still a different world to creative writing.  Yes, it is a case of juggling words, seeing where they best fit to convey the meanings you are aiming to impress, but that is not the same as actually writing a piece of fiction from scratch. 

I admit it, I'm scared about this course.  And I'm overthinking.  Never a good sign.

I'm going back to reading...