Awesome Bookish Birthday

This year is going to be such an awesome bookish birthday for me! Not only am I turning 20 this year which is super scary enough but there are FIVE books from my favourite series all coming out on my birthday (or in one case two days after!) So this birthday will be completly full of books!

My Birthday is the 6th of October and coming out on that day:

Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer

 

Magnus Chase has always been a troubled kid. Since his mother's mysterious death, he's lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, keeping one step ahead of the police and the truant officers. One day, he's tracked down by an uncle he's never met—a man his mother claimed was dangerous. His uncle tells him an impossible secret: Magnus is the son of a Norse god. The Viking myths are true. The gods of Asgard are preparing for war. Trolls, giants and worse monsters are stirring for doomsday. To prevent Ragnarok, Magnus must search the Nine Worlds for a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years. When an attack by fire giants forces him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents, Magnus makes a fatal decision. Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die  

Rick Riordan has always had a habit of releasing books on the 6th of October or near it. I think it is just destiny that he is my favourite author. This book is already pre-ordered by my parents for my birthday as his books are every year.

Harry Potter the Illustrated Edition

 

Prepare to be spellbound by Jim Kay's dazzling depiction of the wizarding world and much loved characters in this full-colour illustrated hardback edition of the nation's favourite children's book – Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Brimming with rich detail and humour that perfectly complements J.K. Rowling's timeless classic, Jim Kay's glorious illustrations will captivate fans and new readers alike.

When a letter arrives for unhappy but ordinary Harry Potter, a decade-old secret is revealed to him that apparently he's the last to know. His parents were wizards, killed by a Dark Lord's curse when Harry was just a baby, and which he somehow survived. Leaving his unsympathetic aunt and uncle for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry stumbles upon a sinister mystery when he finds a three-headed dog guarding a room on the third floor. Then he hears of a missing stone with astonishing powers, which could be valuable, dangerous – or both. An incredible adventure is about to begin!

Harry Potter is my most favourite thing in the universe so having a Harry Potter book released on my birthday is a dream come true! Already Pre-ordered this on Amazon for £15. 

The Favourite

While America Singer's heart was torn between Aspen and Prince Maxon, her friend Marlee knew exactly what she wanted—and paid the price.

Revisit the captivating world of Kiera Cass's #1 New York Times bestselling Selection series in this digital original novella. Told from Marlee's point of view, this all-new 64-page story returns to the fateful Halloween when Marlee and Carter were discovered, and reveals how that night—and Prince Maxon—changed their lives forever.

I have already Pre-ordered this but didn't realise until after that this is also going to be sent to my kindle on my birthday! I can't get enough of this series! 

Happily Ever After

 

-The Prince (with the two bonus chapters), Maxon’s novella
-The Guard, Aspen’s novella
-The Queen, Amberly’s novella
-The Favorite, Marlee’s novella
-Three scenes from Celeste’s POV
-Lucy’s scene (bonus scene from The One)
-The bonus epilogue
-Where are they now?
-A map
-Various illustrations

I only even realised this existed yesterday and guess when the release date is? Yeah you guessed right, 6th October. I probably will not buy this book just yet as I already have the guard, the queen, the prince and soon the favourite on my kindle, but I am planning on buying all the books in paperback soon because the covers are just so amazing and I need to see them in coulour not black and white on a screen. This edition also has a map, bonus scenes and ILLUSTRATIONS!! So I kind of need it in my life.

Coming out on the 8th of October:

Carry On

Rainbow Rowell continues to break boundaries with Carry On, an epic fantasy following the triumphs and heartaches of Simon and Baz from her beloved bestseller Fangirl.

Simon Snow just wants to relax and savor his last year at the Watford School of Magicks, but no one will let him. His girlfriend broke up with him, his best friend is a pest, and his mentor keeps trying to hide him away in the mountains where maybe he’ll be safe. Simon can’t even enjoy the fact that his roommate and longtime nemesis is missing, because he can’t stop worrying about the evil git. Plus there are ghosts. And vampires. And actual evil things trying to shut Simon down. When you’re the most powerful magician the world has ever known, you never get to relax and savor anything.

Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama. It has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story — but far, far more monsters.

Not pre-ordered but I just need this book in my life. I can't get enough of Rainbow and of Fangirl.

Review: Fangirl

Title: Fangirl

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Genres: YA, Teen, Romance, Drama
Release Date: September 10th 2013

Pages: 445
Where Acquired: Waterstones (Yes, somewhere different for once!)
Buy at Amazon Here 
- Best Book Price: £3.85 Kindle Price: £3.66 (as of when posted) 

My Cover: 


Collectors Edition: 


Goodreads Description: 
Cath and Wren are identical twins, and until recently they did absolutely everything together. Now they're off to university and Wren's decided she doesn't want to be one half of a pair any more - she wants to dance, meet boys, go to parties and let loose. It's not so easy for Cath. She's horribly shy and has always buried herself in the fan fiction she writes, where she always knows exactly what to say and can write a romance far more intense than anything she's experienced in real life.

Now Cath has to decide whether she's ready to open her heart to new people and new experiences, and she's realising that there's more to learn about love than she ever thought possible.

My Review: 
This is going to be the most honest and personal review I have ever written on the Reading Rose. That is because I found that I related to Cath like I have never related to a character in a book ever before. 

It could be partly down to the fact that Rowell has written Cath in such a way that makes it seem that she can just leap off the page mostly because Cath is so realistic. 

It could also be down to the fact that the book is so true to life, an unusual style for me to encounter as even in the most seemingly down to earth teen, Ya, romance novels etc you still can't always believe that what your reading could actually happen, Fangirl was a completely different case, it was believable. Very believable.

I think I related to Cath mostly though because of her personality and experiences. I saw myself in Cath on so many levels it just made this books so much more enjoyable for me, giving me hope that I could find a life and love like hers and Levi's too. 

The first thing I could relate to was her University experience. I too have just finished my first year and I could relate to the ups and downs that, that first year can bring. I wasn't as brave as Cath to move out completely but I understood her fear at making friends and her fear of the social life of university, I am much the same. I would rather be at home typing on my computer than out getting drunk and partying like Wren. Rainbow captured the essence of university life perfectly, the fear of going to a new place and leaving your childhood behind, The first attempts at finals which can make you feel as if you are drowning. But she especially captured the way everyone always grows up after being at University, whether you live on campus or not.


I need to thank Rainbow Rowell for one thing in particular that is very personal to me. She described my social anxiety that I have been fighting for about three years exactly how I experience it. To see Cath going through it as well and slowly coming out of her shell just gives me hope for the future and made the book even more realistic for me than I could ever have imagined when I picked it up. I never imagined to go through such an emotional journey when I first read the synopsis and decided to buy this book. Regan is the perfect friend for anyone with social anxiety and it lead me to wish I had a Friend like that as well. Regan was understanding and never pushed Cath to do anything she didn't want to do, but when Cath did want to try something new Regan was there to guide her through without leaving her side. Levi is also the perfect boyfriend and I fell in love with him instantly, as I am guessing, do most readers. He is gentle and never pressures Cath to do anything before she is ready. That is another thing that lead me to see myself in Cath; The smallest touches meant the world to her and she valued the small things rather than just jumping into bed with Levi as Wren did with her boyfriends. It made me feel happier that i wasn't the only one to feel like this, even if Cath is a fictional character, Rowell must have gotten that idea or experience from somewhere. 

Reading about Cath and Wren's relationship even struck a nerve in my heart. Although my brother and I are not twins, we are incredibly close. When we argue it does feel like I am missing a part of me and like Wren, he is sociable and popular but always doesn't mind coming home to enjoy watching a movie or hanging out with our family. For me it is like I can relate to nearly every detail in this book, and that is one of the reasons this book will most probably stay in my heart forever.

The biggest thing I related to though is being a Fangirl! Hurrah! A book for us 'nerds' who love to immerse ourselves in a world of fiction whether that be TV, Movies or books, it is all amazing! I mean my personal twitter username is even @Fangirl_of_lots. Finally a book that points out that us fandom obsessed human beings are not mad, or boring but are instead (in Cath's case anyway) Awesome, intelligent and we can enjoy some form of a social life! It also helps that Rowell seems to be such a fangirl herself *High Five to the Fangirls Out there*

I enjoyed reading Cath's Writing and the snippets from the Simon Snow books and fanfiction. I am a lover of fanfiction myself and can't wait to actually read Carry On Simon because it actually exists! It did remind me a little of Harry Potter, and as that is one of my favourite things in the word, I loved it. I wish I could write as well as Rainbow but it has only been recently that I have been inspired to try and write my own stuff, so we shall see how that goes. Cath has amazing talent and dedication though so I will aim to be like her if I ever do manage to finish writing a whole book instead of the odd chapter.

Ultimately, I never expected to relate to a character this much and love a book so much for the emotional journey it took me through. The book was real. I never expected how realistic and relatable it was going to be when I picked it from the shelf based on reviews from other bloggers who's opinions I value. It is an absolutely incredible book and I can't describe how much I respect and love Rowell for creating something that I could see myself experiencing in real life if I was lucky.

Quotes (Sorry for all the Quotes, there are so many fantastic one liners, inspiration sentences and amusing strings of words in this book):

“In new situations, all the trickiest rules are the ones nobody bothers to explain to you. (And the ones you can't Google.)”

“Happily ever after, or even just together ever after, is not cheesy,” Wren said. “It’s the noblest, like, the most courageous thing two people can shoot for.” 

“To really be a nerd, she'd decided, you had to prefer fictional worlds to the real one.”

“But you're so helpless sometimes. It's like watching a kitten with its head trapped in a Kleenex box.”

“Sometimes writing is running downhill, your fingers jerking behind you on the keyboard the way your legs do when they can’t quite keep up with gravity.”

“It's okay if you're crazy," he said softly. "You don't even know-" "I don't have to know," he said. "I'm rooting for you.”

 “I don’t just kiss people. Kisses aren’t... just with me.”

“Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow"

“There are other people on the Internet. It's awesome. You get all the benefits of 'other people' without the body odor and the eye contact.”

Rating: 

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-The Reading Rose