Update from the Bibliophile

I know I've been pretty lousy at posting anything recently but I've gotten a new job and it's been busy at work but I am catching up on them all that I am behind on.  However, I'm starting another blog post that I will do every month and am doing my own version of Tynga's Review's Stacking the Shelves where I will post about what I have read and new books I've bought as well as what I'm currently reading and going to read next.  I would do it along with her site but this way, there is some control over what day I can post it on as she normally posts on Saturday every week but it is easier for me to organise on Saturday then post on Sunday once a month.

Geek Alert - June Loot Crate

It's Loot Crate time.  Sometimes I'm unsure about the themes Loot Crate come up with as they don't always appeal but they do inspire me to expand my geek knowledge and I get to learn about different films or games that I have heard about but have never bothered to experience.  Or even companies.

Heather Lynn Rigaud - Fitzwilliam Darcy, Rock Star

I am no stranger to romance novels; I've read different books that fall under the ambiguous genre such as paranormal ones, the Lords of the Underworld series for example, and the more mundane, the first in the Sinners on Tour and numerous chick-lit books, and I'm not particularly prudish when it comes to matters of romance so this modern adaptation of Pride and Prejudice intrigued me where I knew the relationships that I had enjoyed from Austen's classic escalated to a greater degree than the original, something that could be interesting if handled well.

Fitzwilliam Darcy: Rock Star is the modern-day adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice written by Heather Lynn Rigaud.  Most people know the story, having read the book or seen the film and/or TV series; Pride and Prejudice follows the exploits of Elizabeth Bennett and her four sisters as they meet Fitzwilliam Darcy and his friend, Charles Bingley; immediately, Elizabeth and Darcy clash because they find one another to have too much pride and events conspire to keep them apart even though they slowly fall in love with one another.  It's a classic love story which makes many people swoon and has been retold in many ways, Fitzwilliam Darcy: Rock Star is just one more to add to the collection, providing someone else's perspective on the story.

Rating: 8

Recommended To: Romance fans; not for the Austen purists

Favourite Characters: Darcy

Favourite Part: Darcy's lips curled.  "I think I like calling you Elizabeth.  It's something no one else does."
Elizabeth nodded.  "Except my mother, when she's mad."
Darcy lost the battle against his self-control and leaned over and kissed her smiling lips.  "Perhaps you could call me Fitzwilliam, since no one else does," he said conversationally, the tone of his voice was greatly relaxed.
She replied in the same easy tone, "Not even your sister, when she's mad?"
Darcy shook his head.  "No, she hits me when she's mad."
"That's because you're a moron," Georgiana grumbled from ahead of them.
Elizabeth laughed, her buoyant joy warming Darcy as he watched her, completely bewitched. - Page 312

Good Points: Characters adapted well into the story; shows other points of view; music being a connection between Elizabeth and Darcy

Bad Points: Sex scenes become excessive; missed the Bennetts

Diana Gabaldon - Cross Stitch

It may have come to your attention that every so often I get obsessed with something, normally it's comic book-related but sometimes it's book-related.  Recently I became hooked on the TV adaptation of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series for some random reason so I decided to read the book that started it all, for comparison and because I have fallen in love with the characters and their stories.  I bought the book ages ago with the intention to read it before I watched the series but something made me change my mind so I knew that certain events will occur in the book, given that many people have praised the series on its loyalty to the book.  Maybe it was the draw of a large, good looking Scot in a kilt.

Cross Stitch AKA Outlander in the US by Diana Gabaldon is the first book in the Outlander series which focusses on Claire Randall who is on her second honeymoon in Scotland with her husband, Frank, in 1945 following the Second World War.  While wandering the Scottish Highlands, Claire comes across a stone circle and is somehow transported back in time to 1793.  Unsure how she got there and worried for her life, she runs to keep safe but eventually makes it her mission to return to Frank in 1945.

Rating: 10

Recommended To: Historical romance fans; though it is dark

Favourite Characters: Jamie - a bundle of contradictions

Favourite Part: 'Are ye mad, man?' [Dougal] hissed at last.  'What if someone's to see ye!'
Jamie cocked a sardonic eyebrow at the older man.  'Why Uncle,' he said.  'Insults?  And on my wedding day too.  You wouldna have me shame my wife now, would ye?  Besides,' he added with a malicious gleam, 'I hardly think it would be legal, did I not marry in my own name.  and you want it legal, now, don't you?' - Page 271

Good Points: Interesting premise; well-developed characters; Claire and Jamie

Bad Points: Very graphic and sexual at points

Geek Alert - June My Geek Box

Spoilers
Always get Doctor Who flashbacks when I see that word.

I know I said I was cancelling My Geek Box but I still get the emails announcing the themes and such and they announced an exclusive Funko! Pop was going to be in the June box so I decided to renew my subscription for one month because I was curious what it would be, especially given the theme.

Maria V. Snyder - Shadow Study

I love Maria V. Snyder's books especially her Study series so I was thrilled when I found out she was continuing it in another trilogy and bought it the moment I could find it.  Unfortunately, I was delayed in reading it because I was busy with other aspects of my life but I have had a chance to sit down and relax.

Shadow Study is the fourth book in Maria V. Snyder's Study series as well as the seventh in the first in the Soulfinders series, a new trilogy on its own, and The Chronicles of Ixia series; The Chronicle of Ixia series is the Study series which focusses on Yelena and her supporting cast and the Glass series which is a spin off from the Study series featuring Opal, a young girl who Yelena meets in the second book of the Study series.  The Study series focusses on Yelena Liana Zaltana, a young woman who becomes the Commander of Ixia's food taster after an offer made to her by the Commander's Chief of Security, Valek, after she murdered her former master a year ago; though she has opportunity to escape, Yelena is forced to stay in the castle under the pretence she is poisoned and has to have an antidote every day.  While working as the food taster, Yelena makes friends with at least two of the Commander's soldiers, Ari and Janco who help train Yelena to defend herself.  It comes to light that Yelena is in possession of some very strong magical powers which she doesn't understand which could threaten both her life (because of herself and because all of those who have powers in Ixia are killed by Valek) and the existence of magic if not learnt to control.  However, Yelena learns how to control her powers just enough so to help save the Commander's life when it is threatened by a magician who is working for one of the Commander's generals, bringing his soul back to his body, simultaneously learning the Commander's secret.  Due to magicians being banned from Ixia, Yelena has to escape to Sitia (and away from Valek who has become incredibly important to Yelena) with the help of a Sitian magician, Irys, so she won't be killed and returns home to a family she doesn't remember.  Once back in Sitia and in the Zaltana compound, Yelena is faced with family she doesn't remember and she receives mixed reactions to her reappearance - elation from her mother and father but hatred from an older brother she can't remember who believes she is an Ixian spy.  Before she can properly get to know her family again, she has to go to the Keep where all magicians are trained to control their power where she is met with fear from the First Magician and some of her fellow students.  Fortunately, she proves that she is not a spy or a danger to magicians everywhere when she stops another magician from sacrificing young girls to gain more power by using the unusual powers that she possesses.  Yelena is told that she is a Soulfinder, a rare type of magician who can help ferry souls on to the next part of their journey, a role she has to learn to accept with the assistance of not only the magicians of the Keep but her brother - Leif, Valek, and someone who says he is her Story Weaver, a guide if you will for her life when she is faced with the challenge of a Fire Warper, a magician trapped on another plain who threatens the existence of magic in the real world.

I have tried to sum up the first three books as much as I could in a condensed version, it was longer before I edited it down, but if you want all of the background, go read them.

Rating: 9

Recommended To: Maria V. Snyder fans; fantasy fans

Favourite Characters: 

Favourite Part: "Oh, my, you gave me such a fright!"  Petal ushered us inside.  "Come in, come in.  What kind of trouble are you two in now?"
"Seems like you have a reputation, dear sister," Leif muttered.
"I believe she was referring to you as well, dear brother." - Page 129

Good Points: Multiple point of views; Yelena and Leif; character development; twists and mystery

Bad Points: Ending seems rushed; really need to read the other books too

Tomorrowland - A World Beyond

Once again, my mum and I went to the cinema to see the latest Disney film for a couple of reasons; one because it looked interesting with the various action sequences shown in the trailer and two because my mum likes George Clooney, always has.

Tomorrowland - A World Beyond is the 2015 action adventure film by Brad Bird from Disney Studios with stars including George Clooney (Ocean's Eleven, Up in the Air), Hugh Laurie (House, Blackadder), Britt Robertson (The Longest Ride, Under the Dome), Raffey Cassidy (Snow White and the Huntsman, Dark Shadows), Tim McGraw (The Blind Side, Country Strong), Kathryn Hahn (Parks and Recreation, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy), and Keegan-Michael Key (The Lego Movie, Key and Peele).

Rating: 7

Recommended To: Clooney fans; action/adventure fans

Favourite Characters: Frank

Favourite Part: Nate: Why do you love the stars so much? 
Casey: Because I want to go there.
Nate: What if nothing is there?
Casey: What if everything's there?

Good Points: Great concept; visually spectacular; Casey and Frank's relationship

Bad Points: Took a while to get into the story; parts seemed forgotten

Film Addict's May Film Choice

We all go through life with ups and downs and sometimes they are big and sometimes they are small, and this month just seems to be full of both big and small downs.  My grandad was diagnosed with cancer well over 5 years ago but we thought he beat it, the lovely stubborn man that he is but unfortunately, the cancer decided to strike twice and he took a big turn for the worst this year.  He passed away this month and though we knew it was coming, we are all going to miss him so while I've been sat here on my own, thinking about how to deal with this, I decided to dedicate Film Addict's May Film Choice to him.  While I don't know what his favourite film is because he used to watch so many and he was a man of very few words but I know that he liked war films so I have decided to pick one from my extensive film collection and chose Fury.

Fury is the 2014 war film directed by David Ayer who also wrote the screenplay.  Brad Pitt (Ocean's Trilogy, Fight Club) stars along with Shia LaBeouf (Transformers, Constantine), Logan Lerman (Perks of Being a Wallflower, Percy Jackson series), Michael Peña (American Hustle, Shooter), Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead, The Wolf of Wall Street), Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter series, Peter Pan), and Scott Eastwood (Gran Torino, The Longest Ride).

Rating: 6

Recommended To: War film fans

Favourite Characters: Wardaddy

Favourite Part: Wardaddy: [pointing at the tank, Fury] That's home. Do what you're told. And don't get too close to no one.

Good Points: The relationships between the crew of Fury; sense of realism throughout; good old fashion action

Bad Points: Predictable

George R.R. Martin - A Game of Thrones

My mum's great in my opinion because she actually remembered that I wanted the Song of Ice and Fire series, which were the series Game of Thrones was adapted from, and got me it for my birthday along with other random books, she is the person that encouraged me to read as a child after all.  I know I could have watched the Game of Thrones TV series without reading the books but I watch enough TV so I don't need more shows to watch at the moment, but I may just nick my sister's DVDs soon.  Now for the first book in the series.

A Game of Thrones is the first book in George R.R. Martin's epic fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire, which is also the basis of the HBO TV series, Game of Thrones which stars Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Kit Harington, and Sean Bean to name a few.  A Song of Ice and Fire is based in the world of Westeros and Essos with King Robert Baratheon on the throne, having usurped Aerys II Targaryen AKA "The Mad King" many years ago; the series focusses on multiple characters in various settings including the Wall where the Night Watch defend Westeros from those beyond and King's Landing, home of the King and his men and where Westeros is ruled from.  As well as in Westeros, Essos is seen from the point of view of Daenerys Targaryen where she and her brother have been exiled since their father was usurped and killed, but are on a quest to return to their home and reclaim their lost throne.

Rating: 9

Recommended To: Epic fantasy fans

Favourite Characters: Jon; Ned

Favourite Part: There was no place for him in Winterfell, no place in King's Landing either.  Even his own mother had not had a place for him.  The thought of her made him sad.  He wondered who she had been, what she had looked like, why his father had left her.  Because she was a whore or an adulteress, fool.  Something dark and dishonorable, or else why was Lord Eddard too ashamed to speak of her? - Page 433

Good Points: Multiple narrators; the concept behind the throne; full of fascinating characters; engaging story

Bad Points: Multiple narrators

Geek Alert - May Loot Crate

It's the middle of the month again and that means Loot Crate is here, which is always a great surprise, whether I come home from work and it's in my porch or I'm home when it's delivered.  Loot Crate is always good because there is so much imagination that goes into it.

The Age of Adaline

It's been a while since I have purposely been to the cinema to see a romance film, let alone an epic romance which has been compared to the likes of The Notebook, but when I saw the trailer for The Age of Adaline, I felt compelled to see it because I liked the look of the cast as well as the story.

The Age of Adaline is the 2015 epic romance fantasy film from Lee Toland Krieger which focusses on a young woman who no longer ages because of an unusual accident in 1937.  Blake Lively (Gossip Girl, Savages), Michiel Huisman (Orphan Black, Game of Thrones) star in The Age of Adaline along with Harrison Ford (Original Star Wars trilogy, Indiana Jones series), Kathy Baker (Edward Scissorhands, The Town), Amanda Crew (Charlie St. Cloud, The Haunting in Connecticut), and Ellen Burstyn (Interstellar, The Fountain).

Rating: 7

Recommended To: Romance fans

Favourite Characters: Ellis

Favourite Part: Adaline: What are you doing here?
Ellis: I got something for you too.  [Pulls three books out of his bag] Some flowers.
Adaline: Daisy Miller by Henry James.  Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradburn.  White Oleander by Jenny Fitch.  [Laughs] Very clever.

Good Points: Beautifully shot; interesting premise; Harrison Ford

Bad Points: Predictable; hard to connect with Adaline at first

Film Addict's April Film Choice

Continuing on from last month where I decided that I was going to review a relatively new addition to my film collection, the Film Addict's April Film Choice is Chef, a film I really wanted to see that came out in October last year but never got the chance to see.

Chef is Jon Favreau's 2014 comedy-drama film revolving around a chef who quits his job after being pressured by his boss to keep from experimenting with his menu at his restaurant.  Stars includes Jon Favreau himself (Marvel Cinematic Universe, Couples Retreat), Sofía Vergara (Modern Family, Four Brothers), John Leguizamo (Romeo + Juliet, Ice Age), Emjay Anthony (It's Complicated, The Divergent Series: Insurgent), Scarlett Johansson (Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Island), Oliver Platt (Casanova, X-Men: First Class), Bobby Cannavale (Will & Grace, Win Win), Dustin Hoffman (Meet the Fockers, Rain Man), and Robert Downey, Jr. (Marvel Cinematic Universe, Sherlock Holmes).

Rating: 7

Recommended To: Those looking for a happy film

Favourite Characters: Martin - plot might not have worked without him

Favourite Part: Carl: I gotta pick up some equipment for the truck.  You wanna come with me and help me pick out a stove 'til Mom calls back?
Percy: Fine.
Carl: Alright.  Let's go.

Good Points: Great cast; the way social media was incorporated; great feel good film

Bad Points: Made me massively hungry; predictable plot

Avengers: Age of Ultron

I become obsessive when it comes to all things Marvel, whether it is films or comics or even figures, to the point of where I get a little nutty so it is natural to assume that I would go and see the biggest summer blockbuster out this year; in fact, it was necessary and has been commanded from on high.  I have been so excited about this film coming out since last year as I love characters that make up the Avengers alone or together and the actors that play them and I couldn't wait to see their latest escapades.

Avengers: Age of Ultron is the 2015 superhero film by Joss Whedon, a sequel to all of the recent Phase Two films of Marvel Cinematic Universe as well as 2012's The Avengers also directed by Whedon who wrote the script too.  Whedon has brought back the original Avengers cast; Robert Downey Jr. (Sherlock Holmes), Chris Hemsworth (Rush), Mark Ruffalo (Begin Again), Chris Evans (Snowpiercer), Scarlett Johansson (Lucy), Jeremy Renner (The Bourne Legacy), Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother), Paul Bettany (A Knight's Tale), Stellan Skarsgård (Good Will Hunting), and Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction).  As well as the original Avengers cast, Whedon chose to bring more of the Marvel Cinematic Universe cast in such as Don Cheadle (Ocean's trilogy), Anthony Mackie (The Hurt Locker), Hayley Atwell (Cinderella), and Idris Elba (Luther) to fill in minor roles in Avengers: Age of Ultron while bringing in new cast members Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kick-Ass), Elizabeth Olsen (Godzilla), and James Spader (Lincoln),to take on the more major roles, the latter of which taking over the antagonistic role this time around.

Rating: 10

Recommended To: Marvel Cinematic Universe fans; superhero fans; action fans

Favourite Characters: Steve; Vision; Hawkeye; Quicksilver

Favourite Part: Thor: IS THAT THE BEST YOU CAN DO?
Ultron: [Laughs and summons more drones with his arms outstretched]  THIS is the best I can do. This is what I've been waiting for. All of you against all of me!
[Battle ensues]
Steve: You had to ask...

Good Points: Great sequel to previous Marvel Cinematic Universe films; action and comedy perfectly intertwined; ambiguous ending was great; best outing of the characters yet

Bad Points: Very busy at points

Geek Alert - April Loot Crate

After this month, there will only be one Geek Alert every month because I have decided to cancel the My Geek Box subscription because I'm not enjoying it as much as I am Loot Crate but I have liked most of the items I got with My Geek Box and they have a great gift shop so I might pop back every so often.

Geek Alert - April My Geek Box

It's the middle of the month and that means My Geek Box has arrived; I was so excited about this month's box because I had a strong feeling that there was going to be something Avengers related because of the new film coming out in a week.

Cinderella

Disney films were a big part of my childhood and I drove my parents mad with them, playing them repeatedly which I'm surprised didn't break them eventually given that I was born in the VHS era.  It's still the same 23 years down the line, my fascination with all things Disney hasn't subsided, it may have intensified, as I continue to go and see them at the cinema and watch them at home.  This time, my mum and I went to see the latest Disney film out at the cinema, Cinderella, as we both enjoy the Disney Classic and the characters in it.

Cinderella is the 2015 romantic fantasy directed by Kenneth Branagh based on the fairy tale of the same name and borrows elements from the 1950 animated Disney Classic of the same name.  Lily James (Downton Abbey, Wrath of the Titans) and Richard Madden (Game of Thrones, Hope Springs) star as the romantic leads with other members of the cast including Cate Blanchett (Lord of the Rings series, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Stellan Skarsgård (Marvel Cinematic Universe, Good Will Hunting), Holliday Grainger (The Borgias, Jane Eyre), Sophie McShera (Downton Abbey, Highway to Dhampus), Derek Jacobi (Underworld Evolution, The King's Speech), Nonso Anozie (Dracula, The Grey), Ben Chaplin (Dorian Gray, Dates), Hayley Atwell (Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Duchess), and Helena Bonham Carter (Harry Potter series, The King's Speech).

Rating: 10

Recommended To: Cinderella fans; Disney fans

Favourite Characters: The Prince/Kit

Favourite Part: King: You must not marry for advantage.  You must marry for love.  Find that girl.  Find her, the one they're all talking about.  The forgetful one who loses her shoes.
Prince/Kit: [at the same time] Loses her shoes. [laughs and smiles]
King: [laughs and smiles at the Prince/Kit] Be cheerful, boy.
Prince/Kit: Thank you, father.
King: Thank you, Kit.  I love you, son.
Prince/Kit: I love you father.

Good Points: Cast were fantastic; production design; the way magic was involved; wonderful adaptation

Bad Points: Very twee

Alex Scarrow - The Infinity Cage

It comes across really anal but all of the books I have yet to read in the order I intend to read them in on my bookshelves and I have 14 bookmarks that I put in the first 14 books; this is how I decide which book to read next.  However, sometimes I buy a book I feel compelled to read straight away and I call it a 'photograph' book because I always end up using a photograph of my dad, sister, and myself from when I was a kid as a bookmark inside the book because the first time I went out of order, it was the only thing I had to hand.  This time, I'm reviewing a 'photograph' book.

The Infinity Cage is the ninth and final book in the TimeRiders series by Alex Scarrow; the series focuses on three young people - Liam O'Connor, Maddy Carter, and Sal Vikram.  The background behind this series is that the three main characters were meant to die in different periods of time; Liam, a young Irishman, should have gone down on the Titanic in 1912; Maddy, a young woman from Brooklyn, who should have died on a plane which was going down during a terrorist attack in 2010, and Sal, the youngest of them all, a young girl from Mumbai, who should have died when a skyscraper collapsed due to fire in 2026.  They are recruited by an older gentleman called Foster who gives them a second chance and live, to work for a secret agency that supposedly helps prevent time travel destroying history.  They go on many adventures throughout the books, traveling through time to ensure that they fulfil their objective of keeping history on track until they start to question what they are doing and who they are and are then in turn targeted by the people they are supposed to work for.  Because of this, they go into hiding and then travel to the Victorian age to set up shop there under their own agenda, helping if the world if they need to but making sure no one picks up on where they are.  Over the time they have spent working as time travellers, they have begun to realise that there is a price for going through time as they all begin to age rapidly, Liam more so than the others because of his more frequent trips travelling through time.  Sal has now died due to entering what the time travellers call chaos space, leaving Liam and Maddy alone with their support units, Bob and Becks, as well as Rashim, another time traveller they picked up during one of their adventures so they are taking their mission to the man that created their team as well as going to discover what the meaning behind their existence really is.

Rating: 9

Recommended To: Science fiction lovers

Favourite Characters: Liam

Favourite Part: 'Good,' Liam said, nodding.  'How long will that take?'
>.!..
'What's that supposed to mean, computer-Bob?'
[...]
>How long is a piece of string?
[...]
Liam rolled his eyes.  'Oh aye, I get it...My stupid question deserves an equally question back?  The pair of you fellas are just such a hoot.'  He sighed.  'So, I guess it's going to take however long it takes.  Right?' - Page 311-12

Good Points: Dual narratives; simultaneous time travel experiences; open ending; character development

Bad Points: Massive time skips

Film Addict's March Film Choice

For this month and next I have decided to choose relatively new additions to my vast film collection that I have bought on a whim recently or because I like the actor and I missed it when the film was released in the cinema if they are recent.  For the Film Addict's March Film Choice, I have chosen Begin Again.

Begin Again is the 2013 musical comedy-drama directed by John Carney, starring Keira Knightley (Pirates of the Caribbean series, Pride & Prejudice) and Mark Ruffalo (Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Kids are Alright) in the lead roles.  Supporting stars include Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit, Ender's Game), Adam Levine (leader singer of Maroon 5, American Horror Story), James Corden (Into the Woods, One Chance), Yasiin Bey (The Italian Job, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy), CeeLo Green (musician), and Catherine Keener (Captain Phillips, Into the Wild).

Rating: 9

Recommended To: Ruffalo and Knightley fans

Favourite Characters: Steve - fantastic secondary character shone amongst the cast

Favourite Part: Greta: [...] No, I love your songs.  I'm...I'm...I'm being fucking horrendous right now which is exactly why I need to, um, I need to go home.
Steve: It's exactly why you need to come with.  [Slams Greta's laptop closed] Come on, I insist.
Greta: I really...
Steve: [Interrupts] Pick that up and come with me.  You're coming.  I'm not leaving you here.
Greta: Okay.
Steve: Come back, I'll find your fucking head in the oven.  Come on.

Good Points: How Dan and Greta were introduced; the music; the way New York was captured; funny; the closeness of the leads

Bad Points: Musical montages were a bit much after a while

Geek Alert - March Loot Crate

It's Loot Crate time once again and it's another bit of geeky stuff for me this month while I decide on whether to continue My Geek Box, my other geek subscription.

Geek Alert - March My Geek Box

It's the middle of the month again and that means that My Geek Box has arrived; this month, I struggled to find a suitable header for this post but I liked this one because blowing out candles on a cake means birthday to me.