Dewey Readathon Update - Hour 5

So I'm currently on hour five of the Dewey Readthon! Things are going well so far but it's still early. I don't wanna inundate you with posts so I am only updating when I finish a book or have information worthy of a post!

Here are my questions and answers from the Readthon

1)Where are you reading from today?
I'm reading from Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. Iv been reading on my sofa, my bed and even out on the beach (it's not warm!) 

2)Three random facts about me…

• I am addicted to chocolate and will be eating lots of it during the readathon
• I used to do some modelling before I moved to the USA
• Im English!!!

3)How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?
This being my first readthon I have no idea how many books I will be able to read, so I have 5 books in my TBR pile for the readthin. My actual TBR pile is enormous, so I may change what I am reading depending on my mood. I will update you with what I have read and what I am reading
4)Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?

I'd like to read the 5 books in my TBR pile but we will see how things go! I'd also like to make it through the full 24 hours

5)If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?

I'm a newbie! I will try my best though!

Right now I am listening to:

And I have just finished reading:

Dewey 24 Hour Readathon

As many of  you will already know the Dewey 24 Hour Readthon is the the biggest readthon out there. This is the event that started and inspired many other readthons. Well its that time of year again where we settle down somewhere comfortable with an enormous pile of books and an equally large statsh of snacks and get our read on.

The Dewey 24 Hour Readthon starts in my part of the country at 8am EST and runs through until the next morning. With all the mini challenges and bloggers who take part this is set to be a fantastic event. I can't wait to find out what books all my fellow readers will be delving into and whether we can last the full 24 hours.

My Book Pile

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

      Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake

      Always The Wedding Planner Never The Bride by  Sandra D Bricker

Prized by Caragh M O'Brien

Envy by Gregg Olsen

I have lots more books in my to be read pile and I may switch things up as I go along, however these are all books that I would love to get read today.

Are you joining the readthon? Which books are you planning to read?

100 Follower Giveaway

It's time to celebrate! Why? Well we recently reached 100 followers here at Chick Litaholic. We are so happy that so many of you like the blog and so to celebrate this big milestone we have decided to run a giveaway. I have been racking my brain for a while trying to come up with a fantastic prize for you all and I think I may just have it:

 

I am giving away either: 

$25 Amazon Gift Card

OR

$25 Barnes and Noble Gift Card

If you win you will have the choice of which of these prizes you would prefer. I wanted to leave it up to you exactly what books you want. So imagine, you can buy any book that you want! Here are just some of the great books you could choose:

So, how do you enter for this chance to win this awesome prize? Just fill out the form below

Giveaway Ends 21st November




Good luck everyone

Matched by Ally Condie: A Review

Matched by Ally Condie  

When Was It Released?:  30th November 2010
Where Did I Get It From?: The Library
Who Published It?: Dutton Publishing
Number Of Pages: 366 Pages

Matched is one of those books that I have heard so much about. Even before it was released there was a large amount of hype surrounding this title. I was very excited to read Matched after hearing so many great things about it, reading the intriguing storyline and seeing the gorgeous cover.

Cassia has always believed what The Society tells her, what to eat, when to sleep and where to go. When The Society matches her with her best friend Xander, Cassia could not be happier. That is until Ky Markham’s face appears on the screen for a few seconds before turning blank. Cassia is shocked by what she sees and is left second guessing whether The Society have everything right or if perhaps they could have made a mistake.

Matched is a dystopian novel, that focuses around the all important contrast between life within The Society and life outside of it and which really is better. I really enjoy this aspect of dystopian novels and feel that this was worked well into the storyline of Matched and could have even more impact in the next novel in the series, Crossed. It was interesting to see how the characters are drawn into believing The Society is perfect when we, as the reader can clearly see the flaws of the world in which they live. I found the pace of the first two thirds of Matched to be very slow. The scene is being set and we learn about life within The Society, however very little actually seems to happen. I would have liked to see a little more action happen sooner. Within the last 100 pages, the story really picks up, which piqued my interest and really made me wonder exactly what was going on. One of my biggest flaws with Matched was the way in which everyone within The Society was heterosexual, meaning that not a single character was gay. I found this to be unrealistic and would have liked to see this element played out and given more attention throughout the novel.

In terms of characters, I really liked Xander, who is chosen to be Cassia’s match. He seemed to be kind, caring and to have a strong connection with Cassia, as they were best friends before being matched. What could be better than a relationship that results from friendship? Well Ky, is thrown into the mix, resulting in an interesting and different love triangle being created. The reasons behind why the love triangle comes about and transforms the way it does were really intriguing and added layers to what could be a typical love triangle. Even though I enjoyed the love triangle, I did not like the characters of Cassia or Ky. I found that it was very difficult to care about what happened to either of them as I felt no connection with them as characters. I found Cassia to be selfish and a little dull and I did not understand the attraction between her and Ky, which suddenly came about from nowhere. It felt as though Cassia was more obsessed with Ky then romantically attracted to him, which made me feel a little uneasy throughout.

Overall, I would say that if you ignore all the hype surrounding this novel, Matched is defiantly worth reading. The premise of this novel is fantastic and with it being part of a series I am interested to see where the next novel, Crossed, will take the story.

Crossed is released on November 1st 2011

Update

I am really sorry that I have not posted on here in the past week. I know I'm awful! I hope you are not missing me too much! Some of you will already know, but for those of you who don't know my laptop is being repaired right now. It is very difficult for me to get online until I have my laptop back, hence why it has been so quiet on here lately!

Just to keep you updated, I am hopeful that my laptop should be fixed and back with me within the next week or so, when I will be able to post as before. In the meantime I am still reading and reviewing, so look out for reviews of a large amount of books in the future. I also have lots of exciting news to post about soon as keep an eye out for the too.

Most exicting of all I have a HUGE giveaway coming up soon, to celebrate my 100 followers on my blog and my twitter (@chick_litaholic). I don't want to give too much away but this one is big and something you do not want to miss out on! Trust me on that!

If anyone needs me urgently, please email me. Otherwise I will be back very soon!

Anna And The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins: Review

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

When Was It Released?:  2nd Decemeber 2010
Where Did I Get It From?: The Library
Who Published It?: Dutton Publishing
   Number Of Pages: 372 Pages 

Anna and The French Kiss is a book that I have heard so much about. Everyone seems to love the novel and I have been recommended this book by so many people I have lost count. Many times when a book has so much hype surrounding it, I find that it is never able to live up to it and I end up disappointed., so, I put this book off until I could not take it anymore! Let me tell you this book did everything but disappoint.

Anna is sent to Paris to attend boarding school, which she is less than thrilled about. She loves her life in her hometown of Atlanta with her best friend and her almost-boyfriend. Anna feels lonely and an outcast in Paris, that is until she meets St Clair, an irresistible guy with a cute English accent. There’s just one problem St Clair is already taken and in a relationship with his long term girlfriend.

I’m unsure where to even begin with how much I love Anna and The French Kiss. This novel had everything I love to read about filling the pages. I picked this up and could not put it down, it literally had to be dragged out of my hand at one point just so I could go to sleep. This is such a beautifully written contemporary YA novel, I was swept away with the pages and Stephanie Perkin’s writing style. I loved the setting of Paris for this novel, it was almost like a character in itself. The description was so well done that at times I felt as though I really was in Paris along with Anna and her friends. I love Paris, so any novel that can transport me there within the pages gets major bonus points from me.

I loved Anna as a character, finding her to be so relatable. She is awkward yet surprisingly likeable at the same time. Many girls will be able to relate to her, and the feelings she has during her time in Paris, because she is just your average girl. She is also very intelligent, which I loved about her, as it shows girls can do well in school and still be interested in boys at the same time. She is hilarious yet far from perfect which makes her seem much more real as a character. I also fell in love with St Clair (Etienne), again for his flaws and imperfections. He is just a normal guy and does not pretend to be anything that he is not. Even though Anna and St Clair, are my favourite characters, all of the characters with in the novel are beautifully written and memorable in their own ways.

There was one thing above all else that I loved about Anna and The French Kiss and that was the romance. I felt as though Stephanie Perkins created the romance between Anna and St Clair perfectly. I truly believed in their feelings for one another and their relationship throughout the novel, without any sense of doubt at all. I was willing the two to get together the whole way through the novel. I just wish they had been able to show their true feelings to each other sooner. I believe that the romance was so good because it was built up and not rushed into, it was built on a friendship and that is what makes me swoon over it so much. I want a relationship like theirs!

I honestly do not think I have loved a novel as much as I love Anna and The French Kiss. I want to read this all over again, right now! It is such a cute, beautiful, feel good novel which will grip hold of you and not let go until long after you have finished the last page. Anna and The French Kiss is like a hot, frothy, comforting hot chocolate that you will want to curl up with and savour for hours. I will definatly be buying a copy for my bookshelf, as well as Stephanie Perkins latest novel Lola and the Boy Next Door, and reccomend that you do too!

Top Ten Books I Wish I Could Read Again For The First Time

I'm participating in Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every Tuesday The Broke and the Bookish post their top ten lists on various topics: Top Ten Tuesday page

Today I am looking at the Top Ten books that I wish I could read again for the very first time:

1. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa - Im actually reading the whole series right now and I absolutly love it! I would read this book again and again. I would love to read it again for the very first time so that I can look at it through fresh eyes. If you have not read this one read it, and if you have, well read it again!

2. Anna and The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins - This book is adorable. I read it recently for the very first time and fell in love with it. Its such a beautiful, cute, well written story and its set in Paris! In case you don't know I love Paris!

3. Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone by J.K Rowling - Do I need to explain this one?! It was the first in the series. I would love to read this without knowing what happens all over again!

4. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte - I loved this book so much. It used to be my favourite classic book. That is until I had to study it in high school and my awful English teacher ruined this book for me! I would love to read this again before the book was spoiled for me, so I would truly enjoy this beautiful story.

5. Confessions Of A Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella - When this novel first came out I loved it. I loved the movie too. It is such a fun, entertaining, light story that you can delve into and is guaranteed to put a great big smile on your face. One of my favourite chick lit novels.

6. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks -  I have cried over both the novel and the movie more times than I can even remember. Almost everyone knows and loves this story, which never fails to move me each time. I would love to re-read this novel so that I could be blown away once again. Any story is always best the first time around.

7. The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger - This is such a moving, emotional, beautiful story. I loved it the very first time I read it and still love it now. I was deeply moved by this novel, which doesn't happen very often with me.

8. Skipping A Beat by Sarah Pekannen - This book moved me to tears when I read it the first time. It is rare for a book to bring out such strong emotions in me. I love Sarah Pekannen's writing style and the way in which she develops her characters so that you fall in love with them. I would love to read this for the first time again so I could be just as moved as I was the first time

9. The Fellowship Of The Ring by J.R.R Tolkien - This is the first book in the Lord Of The Rings trilogy, which I really enjoyed. I have to admit that I love all the books, and the movie versions too. I would love to be able to re-read the first book without knowing what happens afterwards. This book is truly magical and sweeps you away on a journey into a fantasy land you do not want to come out of.

10. Alice In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll - This book is one of my all time favourites. It is so magical, you want to jump down the rabbit hole with Alice. Everyone she meets is so entertaining and unique. I cannot begin to express how much I love this book. Alice In Wonderland takes me back to when I was a child and I start to feel like a kid again!

What books do you wish you could read again for the very first time?

Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan: A Review

Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan

When Was It Released?:  13th September 2011
Where Did I Get It From?: The Publishers
Who Published It?:  St Martins Press
Number Of Pages:   307 Pages

I have to admit I do enjoy a little science fiction every once in a while. Now don’t get me wrong I’m not addicted to Star Trek or anything (although I have seen the movie) but space intrigues me. When I heard about Glow I was instantly excited about the book. The cover for a start is gorgeous, and I cannot wait to purchase a hardcover finished copy so that it can sit in all it’s glory on my book shelf. There had been a large amount of hype around the release of Glow, therefore I was excited to form my own opinion and find out if I would love this novel.

Waverley and Kieran live on the spaceship Empyrean, which is headed to New Earth, and have done even since they were born. They are the oldest children living aboard the ship, instantly drawn together, their biggest concern is whether or not to marry each other. They have never seen anyone who does not live on the Empyrean, that is until it’s sister ship, the New Horizon pulls alongside. What the crew on the Empyrean don’t know is that on their mission to New Earth the New Horizon encountered problems and have been left unable to conceive and carry on the generations. They are in desperate need of young girls who can conceive. Girls like the ones on the Empyrean. The unsuspecting families onboard the Empyrean have no idea just how desperate the crew on the New Horizon are, or that they are planning to attack their sister ship!

Glow is split into five main sections, each alternating narration between the two main characters, Waverley and Kieran. I really enjoyed being able to read the storyline from both viewpoints finding that it added extra depth and intrigue into the plot. I found that from the very first section I was hooked and from there on I found it very difficult to put this book down. The pace of Glow is fast, with the attack happening almost instantly and the drama never-ending from there on out. I was swept away with the pages of this novel, gripped, wondering exactly what would happen next. There were a few times where I could anticipate where the story was headed and other times I was blown away and left guessing. I also enjoyed how I never really knew which ship was the ‘good’ ship and which was ‘bad’ as there were so many elements uncovered about both throughout the novel. I found this kept the storyline interesting and could mean that the plot could head in any direction. Many of the families on board each ship were confused by the intentions of their respective captains and I have to admit I did not know who to believe or trust within this novel. I was kept on my toes trying to guess which ship would hold safety and which would be the overall threat.

Waverley and Kieran, the two main characters, were very enjoyable to read about. I found Waverley to be the most likeable of the two, as she is more emotional and we see her true feelings throughout. She must remain strong, throughout the ordeals she faces, and I felt for her the entire way through the novel. I also liked Kieran as well finding him to be honourable and willing to try hard to make things work, no matter how desperate the situation  may seem. I do have to admit that I did not like him as much towards the end of the novel, however he makes for great reading. I also enjoyed the relationship between Waverley and Kieran, who appeared to have true feelings for each other. They are thrown together very young and almost expected to get married but still their relationship appears very grounded.

My only issues with Glow were firstly the religious aspect involved. I found it a little hard to comprehend religion and space hand in hand. I also did not like how prominent the use of religion was within the novel. My other issue was with the ending, while I do not want to give too much away I felt that things took a shift that I did not like. Glow is set to be part of a series, therefore the ending may have been done as so in order to keep the reader intrigued.

Overall, I loved Glow! I was hooked throughout the novel, and did not want to put it down. If you enjoy science fiction in any way at all, however small, I would recommend this book to you. I cannot wait to read the next instalment in the series from Amy Kathleen Ryan and wish that I did not have to wait another year for the next one to be released.