Title: The Penelopiad
AUTHOR: Margaret AtwoodWHY I GOT IT: I love the cover! It is beautiful. I LOVE the handwritten-esque font and the little stars and funny dandelioney flowery majiggy (so eloquent) at the bottom there. Pure book loveliness. I also got it because it is a myth retelling of the Odyssey but from Penelope's (Odysseus's wife) point of view which sounds really awesome! According to Homer's original epic poems, Odysseus was away for 20 years so I would be interested to see how the supposedly faithful Penelope conducted herself in that time!
Title: The Princess Bride AUTHOR: William Goldman
WHY I GOT IT: Again, I was a sucker for a pretty face- the cover is gorgeous! I enjoy black and white. The story looks fantastic as well- a spoof fairytale!? How would not want to read that. The female character is also called Buttercup and I love flower names! FUTURE CHILDREN BEWARE I MAY NAME YOU DAFFODIL.
Title: Eat Him if You Like AUTHOR: Jean Teule
WHY I GOT IT: Once again, PRETTY! Look at those sexy, sexy pitchforks. I always enjoy a good bit of innovative lettering, which this has in abundance. The story really interests me: it is based on an absolutely horrifying moment in history which happened in France during the Franco-Prussian war. In a 'Lord of the Flies' type moment a frenzied pitchfork-laden mob descended on an innocent man and...well the title speaks for itself! It's also only 100 pages so should be a quick read!
Title: Everything is Illuminated AUTHOR: Jonathan Safran Foer
WHY I GOT IT: This one was less about the cover, more about the fact that I am now a Jonathan Safran Foer fangirl after reading 'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close'. Call me sappy but it made everything ache; especially my throat and heart. So yeah, I had to get this STRAIGHT AWAY. I know it involves the Holocaust and a journey to the Ukraine but apart from that I have no idea. All I know is that it will be like bathing in a sea of sentences.
Young Adult Fiction
Title: Cinder AUTHOR: Marissa Meyer
WHY I GOT IT: A lot of people are reading this at the moment and I was considering buying one from Amazon...but then I went into a bookshop and there it was, right there on the shelf, being all coquettishly shodden in scarlet shoes and I just said 'I MUST HAVE YOU'. So, I bought it. It is a re-telling of Cinderella. Cinderella is a cyborg. That is all I need say, goodnight.
Title: Starcrossed AUTHOR: Josephine Angelini
WHY I GOT IT: Again, it called to me. It said, 'Look, a love story with Gods and lightning and potential smitings... you should buy me and I will fulfill all of your smiting needs'. So I got it and now I don't know when I will have time to read it. Sigh. I must've been in a romantic mode because something this centred on love isn't something I'd buy new. Still, I've seen good reviews so maybe the whole 'Destiny brought them together' thing will be OK? :-S
Title: Matched AUTHOR: Ally Condie
WHY I GOT IT: So, yeah. I am a little behind the times. A lot behind them. So far behind the times I can't even see the times...the times are a dot to me. Everyone has read this and so I have decided I am also going to because I like to do everything that everyone else does ever. It is a dystopian love story (good thing) and has a girl in a dress on the cover (bad thing). I'm glad I've got it though as I can see myself reading it on public transport.
Title: Fallen AUTHOR: Lauren Kate
WHY I GOT IT: THE TIMES ARE A DOT TO ME. Again, is there anyone who has not read this? Unlike most people I don't like the cover though. Angsty women/girls in black dresses in forests are not my bag baby. The book inside though just might be. I read the first page earlier and...yeah...I could do this. I am trying to read the popular young adult books so I think this one is a requirement...I am hoping I won't regret not picking up that Twilight copy in Tesco's...oh the potential regret.
Well, that wraps up my book haul, let me know in the comments which books you have hauled out of the...shelf sea this month!
