Tuesday 29 January 2013

Poll Results!

Firstly I'd like to apologise for my recent absence - It's been a terribly busy few weeks, but I promise i'll be around a bit more from now on. 

So the second poll results are in! It would appear that most of you reading this blog are big Young Adult lit. fans, which is entirely understandable, many of the best books I have ever read have fallen under that category. Close runners up classic literature and fantasy/sci-fi are also favourite of mine. Another thing I would add in though, under 'Something Else' is graphic novels! Some of those are really excellent and I hope to be reviewing one of my favourite on here quite soon... Anyone want to take a guess at what that might be? 

Keep the book suggestions coming, I'm currently working my way through One Day and The Pillow Book of Cordelia Kenn, so those likely will be the first crossed off the list. 

New review up tomorrow! 

Thursday 17 January 2013

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower - 2/5




I am incredibly surprised at myself for not liking this book. I had heard nothing but good things about this so-called modern Catcher In The Rye (a favourite of mine) and was really looking forward to reading it, despite not knowing much about the actual story. Despite being able to appreciate why it is viewed as a modern classic and a well loved story by some, I just can't seem to enjoy it at all. 

Wednesday 16 January 2013

The Five People You Meet In Heaven - 3.5/5


This is one of those books, and indeed one of those authors, that get hyped up an awful lot. Mitch Albom's first bestseller 'Tuesdays With Morrie' is taught in high school curriculum around the world and is one of the best selling memoirs of all time. This follow-up novel, released six years after 'Tuesdays', was an immediate success and has even been adapted into a TV movie. I personally like it despite the hype, and I'd love to explain exactly why that is.

Tuesday 15 January 2013

First poll results are in!


Hey! Just wanted to say that the first poll results are in and the clear winner is... The Perks of Being A Wallflower!

I'm excited to read this book as I've been meaning to for a while now and I've heard plenty of good things about it. I haven't yet seen the film but hopefully I will be able to after reading the book. I have the ebook copy on my phone and I will be starting it tonight, so fingers crossed, you should expect a review sometime in the next few weeks.

In the meantime though, the blog's poll has changed, with a new pressing question that I am dying to know your answer to - maybe give it a quick glance on your way?

Back to regular reviews tomorrow!

Sunday 13 January 2013

Good Omens: 4/5


Good Omens is the result of two wonderful but fairly different authors coming together to create a fantastic comedy about one of the least comedic topics imaginable - the end of the world. This book combines Terry Pratchett's and Neil Gaiman's unique styles incredibly well, leaving a well written, amusing, occasionally touching and very enjoyable story. 

Friday 11 January 2013

The Book Thief: 5/5


This is the first book I've reviewed on here to be given 5 stars out of 5, and I can honestly say it fully deserves it. This novel manages to be funny, heartbreaking, unconventional, exciting and horribly touching all at the same time, and is firmly in place as one of my all time favourite books.

This review contains some major spoilers with regards to the plot and characters - proceed at your own risk

Thursday 10 January 2013

The Sun Also Rises: 2/5


Now if you aren't already familiar with Mr Hemingway, I will say this - most people tend to either really love his writing style, or really just not get on with it, and I fall into the second camp very firmly. Hemingway seems like an awesome man, his life story is impressively badass and he spent his life hanging out with some of the most incredible authors of the 20th Century. I just cannot get on board with his style of writing, and if you disagree with me on that point, you're probably not going to like the rest of this review very much.

Wednesday 9 January 2013

Ten Thousand Sorrows: 4/5


A confession - my nana has some of the worst taste in books ever. Literally all she reads are things like Angela's Ashes and A Child Called It. I'm not usually a fan of horribly tragic autobiographies, but I read this one of hers a while back and it stuck out in my mind as being different to all the rest. I re-read it quite recently and decided that yes, this was a very good book.

Tuesday 8 January 2013

Lady Chatterley's Lover: 3.5 / 5


Let's start the year off with an old(ish) classic. I was required to read this book as part of a University course on Modernist literature, and I have to say, I did quite enjoy it overall. For those of you unfamiliar with the story, this novel was written by DH Lawrence and published in 1928. It was the subject of a famous trial where it's publishers were accused of obscenity due to the sexual nature and abundancy of profanity contained within the book- they won the court case against them and the book's status as a modern classic was cemented. Like they say, any publicity is good publicity.

Welcome

Hello! Welcome to Living a Literary Life, a blog devoted to all things fictional!

I will mostly be posting reviews of books I have read on this site, hopefully covering a good range of genres and various types of novels. I read a lot of books both modern and classic, so I'm looking forward to exploring more and sharing my opinions with everybody who cares to hear them. Poetry will hopefully get a look in sometimes as well, and if we're feeling cheeky maybe an ebook or two.

I will also be posting reviews of books I am still in the process of reading - these will be mostly for the larger projects so feel free to tackle them alongside me and let me know whether or not you agree with my opinions.

I always love hearing people's opinions and hope that some of you will enjoy sharing your own thoughts on the things I cover as much as I enjoy sharing mine.

Enjoy!

-Natalie