My Guilty Pleasure Books

I love the classics. Actually, me and the classics are getting along famously, and if you have been spying on me on Goodreads you would have noticed that my 5 star ratings are generally saved for a good ol’ classic. However, I do enjoy a good chick lit, sickly-sweet romance, or a mainstream thriller every once in a while – truth is, I am not such a massive snob after all. Throughout the years I have found out that mainstream literature can actually be good – it does not have to be the next 1984 in order to be hugely enjoyable. In this context, here are some of my favourite guilty pleasure reads – contemporary titles that might lack Hemingway’s brilliant writing style, or Tolstoy’s lively descriptions, but have some life into them; they are books that are going to make you smile.

The Food of Love Cookery School by Nicky Pellegrino

What a delicious read that one was! Mouth-watering Sicilian pastries, divine pasta covered in fresh ingredients, chocolate on and in everything and anything, and all of that for no extra calories. Nicky Pellegrino is probably among my favourite authors of the chick lit genre. She does not take herself too seriously, writes about what she knows and loves, and her books are winning from it. Granted the writing could be polished, of course it can, but the stories! Oh, I have only read two* of her books but their stories have definitely managed to stay with me – not just because they happen to be situated is sunny Italy, but because their characters seems so real, you can almost hear them breathe.

The Food of Love Cookery School is a delicious book following four extremely different women as they embark on a cooking holiday in Sicily. The chef that is leading the course? A handsome, charming Sicilian man with a dash of mystery attached to his persona. The characters are terribly engaging and the food descriptions are going to make you want to leave your flat and go to Sicily right now. Seriously, why wouldn’t you want to read that book?

*The second book I read of hers was When in Rome.

How to Marry a Marquis by Julia Quinn

I love period drama, okay? And I don’t know if you are aware but Jane Austen has only written that many books, and after you read a bit of Thomas Hardy and Elizabeth Gaskell, you are ready to get your hands on something a bit more cheerful for a change! Enter Julia Quinn.

She is a modern author yet she chooses to write about Regency England. To tell the truth, her books do have some historical inaccuracies, so if this is the thing that makes you really angry – stay away from those books. However, I am one of those people and I do not mind it in this case since Quinn’s books are not really based on true characters or anything; instead they offer a different way to view the time period. Which brings me to…

Thanks God, for the sex scenes! I am sorry but can we stop pretending as if people back in the days were not having sex? I know it wasn’t exactly Austen’s style to describe how Mr Darcy was satisfying Elizabeth (and I do not expect it from her to write about that at all), but it is really nice for a change to read a romantic book set in Regency England, which includes its characters indulging into some intercourse!

Anyway…How to Marry a Marquis follows Elizabeth Hotchkiss as she stumbles upon a book by the same name in her employer's library. Since Elizabeth is rather poor she decides to follow some of the advice in the book in order to marry rich. Then, there is James Sidwell, Marquis of Riverdale, who offers to help Elizabeth find herself a husband…

Apparently How to Marry a Marquis is the second book of Agents of the Crown series but the story works on its own. Another book of Quinn’s I have read is It’s in His Kiss and it’s an alright read although not very memorable. 
 

Eating with the Angels by Sarah-Kate Lynch

FOOD! Enough said.

Well okay, the plot is centred on Connie Farrell, a New York restaurant critic, who is on her way to Venice for the second honeymoon of a lifetime. There's only one problem - Tom, her high school sweetheart and husband of ten years, is not sitting next to her.

The plot is quite predictable, but yet again, the food is what makes it for me, and if you are the same, you are probably going to enjoy Eating with the Angles, too. After all the main character is a restaurant critic, so the food descriptions are even better!

The Art of French Kissing by Kristin Harmel

I have mentioned that one before and I do consider The Artof French Kissing to be one of the better chick lit titles. It is set in Paris because obviously…

A good-looking American girl loses her fiancé, her job and her place in the matter of a couple of days, so she jumps at the opportunity to visit an old friend who lives in Paris. There, she is included in her small PR company, handling a new big French rock star. Parisian sights, French charmers and mindless fun – this one is perfect to take to the beach with you and get lost in its predictable plot while sipping on an iced cold mojito.

The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl by Belle De Jour

Now that is a book I love rereading as it makes me laugh. A lot. Belle has a marvellous sense of humour making her books a real treat. Moreover, she is brutally honest – something I love and have learnt to truly appreciate in an author.

I watched Secret Diary of a Call Girl with Billie Piper years ago and loved it – a funny British series based on Belle’s books that despite being centred on a call girl, does not make you cringe…well not most of the time anyway. Basically, ever since I watched the show I wanted to read the books, and when I finally did it, I instantly knew what all the fuss was about. When I am blue and need something to put me in a good mood? Belle it is.

Angels and Demons by Dan Brown

Guilty pleasure book indeed! Over the years a lot has been said about Dan Brown and his mainstream novels. Everything has been criticized – from his writing style, to his unbelievable stories to his unbelievable characters. This is by no means ground-breaking literature.

Yet, Angels and Demons is a book I absolutely loved reading! Let me tell you a story…

So, I was still at high school – 17 or 18, I am not that sure – and Angels and Demons [the film] was going to be out in a matter of months. Having seen The Da Vinci Code previously (who did not see that one?), I was really looking forward to the new film but wanted to read the book first in a true snobbish bookworm kind of fashion. (Note: the films are not good at all, but I don’t mind a bit of Tom Hanks running around solving mysteries) There I was picking up Angels and Demons, reading it before and after school. What happened next? I read it really fast because it is one of the most addicting books ever – a true page turner, a fast-paced thriller, and a story that needed to be finished and finished fast.

This is what makes Dan Brown’s books so popular that they fly off the shelves the moment they hit them – they are truly addictive, like a very strong cocktail that needs to be finished before the waitress comes around and takes it from your grip (well something like that, you know what I mean). And of course the mystery – always a popular topic, something out there, something you want to read about but you haven’t even began yet.

Finally, as I was reading Angles and Demons I became suspiciously good in Physics. True story.

Well this turned into a very personal and revealing post at the end, didn't it? What are your guilty pleasure reads? Do tell...I cannot judge...anymore.

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Top 7 Tremendous iPad and iPhone Apps for Booklovers

If you have a great passion for both reading and gadgets, then you should use your iPhone or iPad to its fullest ability to read e-books and news. Having a mobile gadget allows you using all the benefits of reading wherever you are: in a train, on a plane, standing in a line for a cup of coffee, or waiting for a client.

Now we give you the list of top 7 tremendous iPhone and iPad apps for all gadgets users who cannot imagine their lives without reading. All the applications are easy to install. They all are completely user-friendly as well.  

  

                 

iBooks

This application allows you reading a totally free sample of a book in Apple’s iBookstore prior to buying it. The iBooks can synchronize all your notes, bookmarks and present page wirelessly among Apple devices. Please keep in mind that it is the only reader tool offering a built-in bookstore on Apple gadgets. According to numerous reviews, the iBooks application is easier to employ than any Kindle application for iPhone.

Kindle

This application allows Amazon Kindle periodicals and books gain access. With this app you can as well share passages and quotes of your favorite books on both Twitter and Facebook in the process of reading. Without leaving the Kindle you can look up unknown words on Wikipedia, Yahoo or Google if you urgently need the right word definition.

Bluefire

The app allows reading PDF and ePub books from considerable part of booksellers. With Bluefire you can transfer your beloved books from the Apple device to your computer and vice versa. One of the prominent advantages of this application is that it allows reading even library books related to Adobe DRM. You can work with this application the way you usually would with swipes and taps. The Bluefire reading tool has numerous controls to adapt your reading experience.

Marvel Comics Reader

In this reading app every panel is displayed by itself. You can zoom in with a double click, while a finger swipe moves on to the following board. The Marvel Comics Reader reveals more various options that will make your reading a real pleasure.

Leatherbound

Among the most remarkable features of this supplication are plot summaries and e-book search. The Leatherbound introduces the ability to distribute information viewed within the application by email. There is another amazing feature with the help of which a reader can find the cheapest place to purchase an electronic book.    

 

Zinio

This app allows checking out a particular magazine issue for absolutely free. You can also subscribe and install it to your smartphone. The Zinio adjusts all pages automatically for either landscape or picture view, and it also knows where you stopped if you leave the application.  

NOOK

The NOOK gives access to various books and periodicals. There is a LendMe feature with the help of which a reader can lend some e-book titles to a friend for two weeks. There is also an integrated Merriam-Webster dictionary. NOOK has an additional feature that may be of the uppermost importance for both students and scholars – the pagination is just the same as in the original book.

Have you used any of these and which one is your favourite?

Guest post written by Alison James

Freelance writer and freelancehouse.co.uk contributor

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The Perfect TV Programme According to Your Reading Taste

Groucho Marx once said that he found television very educating. For “every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.” Well said, Groucho Marx, well said!

However, even literature fanatics sometimes find escape in tv, and I am no exception. After all it is truth universally acknowledged that for every reality show of questionable quality, there is a great tv drama, that is going to enrich your mind as opposite to burning your brain. Furthermore, in my binge-watching experience, I have found that there are a few tv programmes that actually respond to some of my literature preferences. So, here I have come up with a list of some quality entertainment that fellow book readers could easily enjoy. With other words, for (almost) every literature taste there is a corresponding tv show.

*By the way, this is obviously not the type of list that goes “if you enjoyed reading A Song of Ice and Fire, you should watch Game of Thrones” – if you haven’t figured something that obvious out, I cannot help you. But keep reading, there might still be a recommendation for you.

If you like reading: Agatha Christie

You are into: crime novels dressed up in period clothing

You should watch: Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries

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Obviously I wholeheartedly belong to this category. I am famously familiar with Agatha Christie’s novels and they are my definite go-to read, no matter my mood, come snow and rain, I will be next to the fireplace and reading Christie. Which is why, when I stumbled upon Miss Fisher, I knew this was my tv-match-made-in-heaven. Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries is an Australian series set in the 1920s, following the many adventures of private detective Phryne Fisher. Not only do you get a new murder mystery in every episode, but also all the best of the twenties – Miss Fisher’s stylish bob, the perfection that was the jazz age’s fashion, and quite a lot of flirting, too.

Basically, it looks like what Miss Marple would have been up to in her younger days – solving crimes, sipping on cocktails, and shamelessly flirting with a man or two per episode (ok, maybe Miss Marple was never this outgoing). Honestly, I cannot recommend this programme enough – even though it is a crime series, it does not take itself too seriously and there is plenty of humour in it. If you missed some sexual appeal in Poirot’s cases, there is plenty of it in Miss Fisher. At least check it out for Detective John Robinson – he is one yummy Aussie (did I just type that?), and thank me latter for introducing you to this charming man.

P.S. Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries is available on Netflix US.

If you like reading: The Stranger by Albert Camus, Meditations in an Emergency by Frank O' Hara, and/or The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

You are into: existentialism, Albert Camus, stylish cocktails with a dash of philosophy

You should watch: Mad Men

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Now well into its seventh and final season, Mad Men is one of the best tv programmes to grace the screens in recent years, largely responsible for the Golden Age of television. How did it achieve that? Great story-telling, brilliant directing, and original characters. To top it off, it has one of the most charismatic leading men and antiheroes – Don Draper.

Set in the 1960s, this stylish drama follows an ad agency based on Madison Avenue. Don Draper is the head of the creative department – sexy, charming, and utterly brilliant in his job, he sells his ideas with an ease to anyone – from serious businessmen to less-than-serious, flirty women. All in all, Mad Men is full of colourful characters and their endless stories never bore. Plus, you get some of the best acting on tv – led by Jon Hamm at his absolute best.

Now, apart from the amazing fashion that you get to witness (and that is definitely going to inspire your weekly wear – office inspiration to the max!), by watching Mad Men you are quite probably going to get your philosophical fix as well. Don Draper is the one character that truly believes in the existential ideas, but by watching the show as a whole, you might be able to find even more than this. This is one of those dramas that are built on a lot of layers – everything is in the details.

What does Don Draper read?  From Meditations in an Emergency to Dante’s Inferno – you might get out of Mad Men with a whole new reading list.

If you like reading: F. Scott Fitzgerald and/or Edith Wharton

You are into: a bit of American charm and a European setting, dapper men and classy women

You should watch: Mr Selfridge

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So, you have already finished watching Downton Abbey and you need your 20s fix? Mr Selfridge is the perfect programme for you if you are into this time period.

Shopping, scandal, great fashion – what is not to love? If you are based in the UK, you would already know about this famous department store, but wherever you are, you possibly are not familiar with the full story behind its opening?

When rich American Harry Gordon Selfridge arrived in London at the beginning of the twentieth century he had a dream – to change the shopping world the way Europeans knew it. And naturally, in 1909 he opened Selfridges – England’s first modern department store. Starting this kind of business was not easy, but this drama is not just about the business part of life. Mr Selfridge himself had quite a few stories up his sleeve – a notorious womanizer and a passionate gambler, it is his persona that is in the heart of the programme.

If you enjoyed getting lost in the roaring jazz world of Fitzgerald, chances are, you are going to love watching Mr Selfridge, too!

If you like reading: The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli, The Art of War by Sun Tzu, Notes from the Underground by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, and/or The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

You are into: political thrillers, antiheroes, clever dialogue and struggle for power

You should watch: House of Cards

Source: Netflix

An intelligent programme with brilliant dialogue and some of the best cast around? Here, Netflix wins big as House Of Cards is the quality tv drama that you never knew you wanted, but it turns out is exactly what you needed. Of course, that is if you are into politics, the complex world of international relations and the ambition for power that moves us forward.

Frank Underwood is the star of the game, marvellously played by Kevin Spacey. An ambitious American politician who would not be stopped before he gets to the top of the system, Frank is deviously intelligent, ruthless and sharp. What makes House of Cards utterly enjoyable (apart from the great plot and acting), is the storytelling – in a now signature tool of the programme, Kevin Spacey looks directly at the camera, telling us exactly what he is thinking/what his true intentions are, while he is usually saying something diametrically opposite to the people in the room. Double-faced much? You have no idea.

If political thrillers are your forte, and you love reading about brilliant antiheroes who fascinate you with their endless ambition – House of Cards is your one true love.  

So, what do you think: do you agree with those choices? Let me know, and I am happy to keep making those kind of lists in the future! x  

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5 Film Adaptations to See in 2015

As someone who adores both cinema and literature, I do get pretty excited when the two of them collide in the form of a nice, little book-to-film adaptation. 

Unlike some geeks who cringe at the very thought that their favourite book may get destroyed by a poor script and a terrible acting from some up-and-coming movie star (let’s be honest here: this could get very annoying very quickly), I am quite looking forward to those kind of films. Of course with the regular exception….Case in point: The Catcher in the Rye… Salinger did not want it adapted for the big screen during his lifetime, and why should we? That is a pretty easy book to mess up and I do not want to see that. Having said that, I am willing to change my mind if I see some ground-breaking, Oscar-worthy performance in it.

Anyway, in most cases the book is still waay better than the film. Naturally. I do not think I need to explain the whys and hows to this, it is just common knowledge – although there are a few exceptions. Today, I decided to talk about the film adaptations I am most excited for because 2015 looks like a pretty big year for this genre. Some old classics that have already graced the screens a few times before are revisited, as well as some never before filmed stories. So, here are the five book to film adaptations, coming out in 2015, that both me and you, should give a watch!

1.     Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy

Starting off with a classic, Far from the Madding Crowd has been adapted for both the big and small screen a few times before. However, this new version already looks quite good for a few reasons. Firstly, it is directed by Thomas Vinterberg who also did The Hunt with Mads Mikkelsen – a very good Danish drama that I highly recommend. Secondly, it stars the lovely Carey Mulligan as Bathsheba Everdene. Seriously, this film has no excuse to fail (it premieres on the 1^st of May in the UK FYI).

For those of you unfamiliar with the story it revolves around Bathsheba Everdene, who attracts three very different suitors: Gabriel Oak (Matthias Schoenaerts), a sheep farmer; Frank Troy (Tom Sturridge), a handsome and reckless Sergeant; and William Boldwood (Michael Sheen), a prosperous and mature bachelor. A vivid story about passion and courtship, it has Hardy’s signature in-depth descriptions of English rural life and unapologetic study of sexual relationships. Hopefully all of that would be translated to the screen, too, here is the trailer for Far from the Madding Crowd.

2.     Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky

A book that has been on my to-read list for quite some time and I will really try to get my hands on it before I see the movie. Beginning in Paris on the eve of the Nazi occupation in 1940, Suite Française tells the remarkable story of men and women thrown together in circumstances beyond their control. What really makes this book a must in my eyes is the tragic story surrounding its author: Irène Némirovsky herself was a successful writer of Jewish origin. So, in 1942 she was arrested and deported to Auschwitz, where she died. As a result, Suite Française remained hidden and unknown for 64 years.

Right after I read the book, I will be amongst the first to watch the film too. Starring Michelle Wiliams, Margot Robbie, Kristin Scott Thomas and Sam Riley, Suite Française is already getting some serious critical approval. Here is the trailer.

3.     Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

Ah, Madame Bovary! Another classic that is going to be adapted yet again for the big screen. This can go wrong in many ways, but for now we can just dreamily long for the future moment when we are going to be able to see its new film adaptation (it premiered on the London Film Festival last October, but will be released worldwide in 2015).

Starring Mia Wasikowska as the scandalous Madame, the films also stars Ezra Miller, Paul Giamatti, Rhys Ifans, Logan-Marshall Green, and Downton Abbey’s Laura Carmichael. As for the story, Madame Bovary centres on a young woman who marries a small-town doctor, Charles Bovary. However, she soon becomes bored with her married life and looks for new excitements outside of it. Here is your saucy trailer.

4.     Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith

Another book I have not read yet, but I am really looking forward to the film. Because Tom Hardy.

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Directed by Daniel Espinosa, Child 44 is about secret police agent Leo Demidov (Tom Hardy), who loses status, power and home when he refuses to denounce his own wife, Raisa (Noomi Rapace), as a traitor. Exiled from Moscow to a grim provincial outpost, Leo and Raisa join forces with General Mikhail Nesterov (Gary Oldman) to track down a serial killer who preys on young boys.

Apart from having a great cast, the film is based on English writer Tom Rob Smith’s debut novel that has already been translated into 17 languages, and received quite a lot of praise in the literature world. Read the book + watch the film and you’ve got yourself a winner. Trailer is right here.

5.    The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

One of the greatest books ever written coming to the cinema near you? Obviously, the only natural reaction to that is to simply get super excited.

Set to be released some time in 2015, Le Petit Prince is an animated movie based on the beloved classic story about a little boy who travels the universe. If you have never read it, please do yourself a favour and read it now. It is so much more than a children’s book – touching on a range of profound philosophical topics, this is a book that never gets old as with each read you find new meanings to it. Not to mention, deeply touching and a truly emotional rollercoaster, Le Petit Prince is a true masterpiece.

As for the film, it borrows some quite talented voices, including those of Marion Cotillard, Jeff Bridges, Rachel McAdams, James Franco, Benicio Del Toro and Paul Giamatti. Must-see? Yes. Trailer? Yes.

P.S Sorry, for my lack of posts lately. Having started a new job is catching up with me, but I am starting to get the hang of it and hopefully will keep this blog up and going :)

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10 Books for Every Valentine's Scenario

No matter if you are single or taken, engaged or emotionally unavailable, if you have a boyfriend or a cat, if you are in a serious (although quite unsustainable) relationship with a fictional character…Whatever your situation is, here are ten books that are going to get you through Valentine’s Day. Love it or loathe it, it is just one day of the year, and it is another excuse to spoil yourself or your loved ones with chocolates, sweets and presents. Here are ten books that are going to be perfect for your situation, whatever it is.

1.     If you are in love: Pride and Prejudice

Romantic books and especially period pieces make a perfect read if you are already happily and blissfully in love. Anything by Jane Austen might usually feel too optimistic (and to some people that means not realistic enough), but it is Valentine’s Day and you are in a happy relationship, so reading about other happy people being in love should be the ultimate romantic experience. I would go for a book that has your favourite romantic hero in it, as a girl with a major crush on Mr Darcy, I definitely recommend Pride and Prejudice (however, if we go out of the Austen domain, I would choose Mr Thornton, naturally).

2.     If you are single: The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl by Belle De Jour

Being single on Valentine’s should not be something to bring you down. This is a day for love in general. So, get out of your moody behaviour, stop making fun of the couples in love you see on your news feed, don’t start binge watching some soap that’s going to make you cry, and pick up one of Belle De Jour’s books instead. The original one, The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl, is the best one – Belle is funny, refreshingly honest and quite informative even. Not only is her book going to take your thoughts away from Valentine’s, but it is also going to entertain you so much, you will forget why you were moody at the first place.

3.     You have just gone through a divorce? The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

A divorce, or a nasty break-up, is never great, but it is even worse if you are presented with your first Valentine’s as a newly divorcee. Staying in with a book and a glass of wine might be more enjoyable than you thought, especially if you do it with The Paris Wife. The story about Hemingway’s first marriage is told from the perspective of his first wife, Hadley. Beautifully written and mesmerizing, this is a story about love that was not to be. However, a disastrous first marriage, does not mean that Hadley’s life did not get better after Earnest.   

4.     You are feeling lonely and a little bit lost, basically you begin to believe you will be forever alone: Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote

The star of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, the charming Holly Golightly embraces her freedom as the independent woman she truly is. Forget about the film for a second and reach for the book as the plot is quite different to what you have seen on the screen. The movie is a masterpiece in its own terms, but if you are feeling rather lonely, the novel is your better option. Holly is a heart-breaker, a perplexer, a traveller, a tease, an inspiration. Because Holly Golightly does what she wants.

5.     If you just got engaged: Lunch in Paris by Elizabeth Bard

If you are happily engaged, there is one book I would definitely recommend and that is Elizabeth Bard’s Lunch in Paris. A delicious love story about American girl (Bard) who falls in love with a gorgeous Frenchman (Gwendal), moves in with him in Paris – “a heavy mix of blood sausages, pains aux chocolats and irregular verbs.” You not only get to read a real, and very romantic, love story, but you also get a few recipes along the way (there are three at the end of each chapter), making this one of the best recipe books, too!

6.     You just had your heart broken: Starter for Ten by David Nicholls

 A broken heart does not need dramatic tear-jerkers that are going to have you stuffing your face with Ben & Jerry’s and drowning your sorrow in cheap red wine. Say no to that cliché now, please, for your own good. Instead, pick up something funny and interesting enough to keep your mind away from that nasty heart-breaker. Enter Starter for Ten – a well-written book, full of humour that is bound to at least bring a smile to your face. Situated in 1985, the story is about Brian who has just started his first term at university and is looking forward to fulfilling one of his biggest dreams – appearing on quiz show University Challenge. Do yourself a favour and opt for this one – it will make you laugh and that is all you need right now.

7.     You hate men: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas

It could happen to anyone – you are just at this phase in your life when you, quite frankly, hate men. No judging here, each to their own. You probably cannot be bothered with Valentine’s anyway, so why don’t you spend it at home with a novel as humongous as The Count of Monte Cristo? You get bonus points for choosing a classic here. As you might already know, it is about Edmond Dantès, who is wrongly imprisoned for a crime he has not committed. Determined to escape and to bring the three men who plotted against him to destruction, Edmond is the ultimate romantic hero. Now, in this one, you get to see a lot of men getting what they deserved for all the wrongdoings in their life – you, being the ultimate man-hater, should love it. Who knows, you might even completely disagree with the Count’s ways, and hate him as a bonus, too?!  

8.     You suffer from unrequited love: The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

Another classic on this list, The Age of Innocence is not about unrequited love, though I do recommend reading it if you are in this situation. The beautiful, blooming love between Newland Archer and Countess Ellen Olenska is deemed impossible from the beginning as Newland is set to marry her cousin May. On the border between surrendering to their passions and keeping their duties, these two are living in the unforgiving society of Old New York, where scandal is the biggest crime. It is a great novel that is going to take your mind off the object of your affections. However, it will also show you, that even if two people are in love with each other, that does not mean that everything will be cream and peaches.

9.     Happily married: Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

You do not need an excuse to read this book but being happily married, you might enjoy it even more. “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” A tragic love story, a brilliant novel, a spot on study of human nature, Anna Karenina has everything you will ever need to know about life. Anna Karenina is life. You will not be able to put it down or to let it go, its characters are going to haunt you as you slowly grow attached to them. Ultimately, you are going to care about each and every one of them. Why to read it now? Because why not.

10.  Playing the field, no strings attached: Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence

There is certainly nothing wrong with playing the field, especially not in this day and age. However, you might not be in the mood for dating on Valentine’s Day of all days, so staying in with a book as hot and scandalous as Lady Chatterley’s Lover should be able to compensate for your staying in. What’s the big deal with the novel famous for scandalizing people with its explicit sex scenes and daring language? Read it and find out for yourself. 

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10 Upcoming Books to Get Excited For

As my to-read shelf on Goodreads is slowly getting bigger and bigger, so does my list of things to do. As a result, I have less time to read and more time to add books to my reading list. Oh well…

So, I thought I would round up 10 of the books that are coming up in 2015 and that excite me the most. Without further ado, here they are, in no particular order…

1.     The Accidental Empress by AllisonPataki 

First off, any book that is about Sisi, the Austro-Hungarian Empress, has my attention. Seriously, if you haven’t heard of her you really should. There are of course plenty of films, tv series, even a cartoon series, dedicated to the Empress, but reading a book about her is always a bit more informative. Anyway, reading the synopsis for The Accidental Empress already got me excited for this historical fiction:

“Fifteen-year-old Elisabeth, “Sisi,” Duchess of Bavaria, travels to the Habsburg Court with her older sister, who is betrothed to the young emperor. But shortly after her arrival at court, Sisi finds herself in an unexpected dilemma: she has inadvertently fallen for and won the heart of her sister’s groom. Franz Joseph reneges on his earlier proposal and declares his intention to marry Sisi instead.

Thrust onto the throne of Europe’s most treacherous imperial court, Sisi upsets political and familial loyalties in her quest to win, and keep, the love of her emperor, her people, and of the world.”

2.     The Dream Lover: A novel of George Sand by Elizabeth Berg 

What I love equally as much as reading books, is reading books dedicated to the lives of novelists. After all, who wouldn’t want to know a bit more about the saucy/dramatic/tragic/funny lives of the people who have created hundreds of pages, to make us feel all those things? A novel about the ever so scandalous George Sand? Yes, please.

“George Sand was a 19th century French novelist known not only for her novels but even more for her scandalous behavior. After leaving her estranged husband, Sand moved to Paris where she wrote, wore men’s clothing, smoked cigars, and had love affairs with famous men and an actress named Marie. In an era of incredible artistic talent, Sand was the most famous female writer of her time. Her lovers and friends included Frederic Chopin, Gustave Flaubert, Franz Liszt, Eugene Delacroix, Victor Hugo, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and more. In a major departure, Elizabeth Berg has created a gorgeous novel about the life of George Sand, written in luminous prose, with exquisite insight into the heart and mind of a woman who was considered the most passionate and gifted genius of her time.”

3.     Vanessa and Her Sister by Priya Parmer

Yet another piece of historical fiction and yet another book dedicated to a popular writer. What can you do… This one though quickly grabbed my attention as it is the story of Virginia Wolf told by her sister, Vanessa. Plus, some insight into the Bloomsbury Group. Cannot. Wait. To. Read.

“London, 1905: The city is alight with change, and the Stephen siblings are at the forefront. Vanessa, Virginia, Thoby, and Adrian are leaving behind their childhood home and taking a house in the leafy heart of avant-garde Bloomsbury. There they bring together a glittering circle of bright, outrageous artistic friends who will grow into legend and come to be known as the Bloomsbury Group. And at the center of this charmed circle are the devoted, gifted sisters: Vanessa, the painter, and Virginia, the writer.

 Each member of the group will go on to earn fame and success, but so far Vanessa Bell has never sold a painting. Virginia Woolf’s book review has just been turned down by The Times. Lytton Strachey has not published anything. E. M. Forster has finished his first novel but does not like the title. Leonard Woolf is still a civil servant in Ceylon, and John Maynard Keynes is looking for a job. Together, this sparkling coterie of artists and intellectuals throw away convention and embrace the wild freedom of being young, single bohemians in London.”

4.     The Little Paris Bookshop: A Novel by Nina George

Did you read the title of this book? Did you read the title of this blog? Ok, I am just going to drop the synopsis here:

“Monsieur Perdu calls himself a literary apothecary. From his floating bookstore in a barge on the Seine, he prescribes novels for the hardships of life. Using his intuitive feel for the exact book a reader needs, Perdu mends broken hearts and souls. The only person he can't seem to heal through literature is himself; he's still haunted by heartbreak after his great love disappeared. She left him with only a letter, which he has never opened.

   After Perdu is finally tempted to read the letter, he hauls anchor and departs on a mission to the south of France, hoping to make peace with his loss and discover the end of the story. Joined by a bestselling but blocked author and a lovelorn Italian chef, Perdu travels down the river, dispensing his wisdom and his books, showing that the literary world can take the human soul on a journey to heal itself.”

5.     Mademoiselle Chanel by C. W. Gortner

I know I must be getting a bit repetitive with all those historic novels but I just love a bit of nostalgia (and a bit of French charm), so bear with me. Coco Chanel is just one of those enigmatic women that you always want to learn more about. Idolised, loved by many, questioned by even more, and always raising someone’s eyebrows, she is the epitome of style.

“Born into rural poverty, Gabrielle Chanel and her siblings are sent to orphanage after their mother’s death. The sisters nurture Gabrielle’s exceptional sewing skills, a talent that will propel the willful young woman into a life far removed from the drudgery of her childhood.

 Transforming herself into Coco—a seamstress and sometime torch singer—the petite brunette burns with ambition, an incandescence that draws a wealthy gentleman who will become the love of her life. She immerses herself in his world of money and luxury, discovering a freedom that sparks her creativity. But it is only when her lover takes her to Paris that Coco discovers her destiny.”

6.     The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah  

Second World War. France. At this point I might just give up and leave you with the synopsis. There is no hope for me. I should have graduated in French and Francophone studies instead…At this rate, I might just be awarded the degree anyway.

“In the quiet village of Carriveau, Vianne Mauriac says goodbye to her husband, Antoine, as he heads for the Front. She doesn’t believe that the Nazis will invade France...but invade they do, in droves of marching soldiers, in caravans of trucks and tanks, in planes that fill the skies and drop bombs upon the innocent. When France is overrun, Vianne is forced to take an enemy into her house, and suddenly her every move is watched; her life and her child’s life is at constant risk. Without food or money or hope, as danger escalates around her, she must make one terrible choice after another.

Vianne’s sister, Isabelle, is a rebellious eighteen-year-old girl, searching for purpose with all the reckless passion of youth. While thousands of Parisians march into the unknown terrors of war, she meets the compelling and mysterious Gäetan, a partisan who believes the French can fight the Nazis from within France, and she falls in love as only the young can...completely. When he betrays her, Isabelle races headlong into danger and joins the Resistance, never looking back or giving a thought to the real--and deadly--consequences.”

7.     The Mapmaker’s Children by Sarah McCoy 

This one I find interesting as it is one of those books that connect its characters through time, entwining past and present. The story sounds compelling, so let’s hope it was executed perfectly.

“When Sarah Brown, daughter of abolitionist John Brown, realizes that her artistic talents may be able to help save the lives of slaves fleeing north, she becomes one of the Underground Railroad’s leading mapmakers, taking her cues from the slave code quilts and hiding her maps within her paintings. She boldly embraces this calling after being told the shocking news that she can’t bear children, but as the country steers toward bloody civil war, Sarah faces difficult sacrifices that could put all she loves in peril.

Eden, a modern woman desperate to conceive a child with her husband, moves to an old house in the suburbs and discovers a porcelain head hidden in the root cellar—the remains of an Underground Railroad doll with an extraordinary past of secret messages, danger and deliverance.”

8.     Funny Girl by Nick Hornby 

Now, this is a bit more different to the previous titles (is that a sound of relief I hear?). Still set in the past but offering a refreshing concept, Funny Girl is a book I cannot wait to pick up from my local bookstore.

“Set in 1960's London, Funny Girl is a lively account of the adventures of the intrepid young Sophie Straw as she navigates her transformation from provincial ingénue to television starlet amid a constellation of delightful characters. Insightful and humorous, Nick Hornby's latest does what he does best: endears us to a cast of characters who are funny if flawed, and forces us to examine ourselves in the process.”

9.     The Unloved: A novel by Deborah Levy 

A group of tourists celebrating the holidays in a French chateau? Yes and yes.

“A group of hedonistic tourists--from Algeria, England, Poland, Germany, Italy, France, and America--gathers to celebrate the holidays in a remote French chateau. Then a woman is brutally murdered, and the sad, eerie child Tatiana declares she knows who did it. The subsequent inquiry into the death, however, proves to be more of an investigation into the nature of identity, love, insatiable rage, and sadistic desire. The Unloved offers a bold and revealing look at some of the events that shaped European and African history, and the perils of a future founded on concealed truth.”

10.  Hausfrau: A Novel by AlexanderEssbaum 

A good wife that gets her life complicated due to a number of secret affairs. Need I say more.

“Anna Benz, an American in her late thirties, lives with her Swiss husband, Bruno—a banker—and their three young children in a postcard-perfect suburb of Zürich. Though she leads a comfortable, well-appointed life, Anna is falling apart inside. Adrift and increasingly unable to connect with the emotionally unavailable Bruno or even with her own thoughts and feelings, Anna tries to rouse herself with new experiences: German language classes, Jungian analysis, and a series of sexual affairs she enters with an ease that surprises even her.

But Anna can’t easily extract herself from these affairs. When she wants to end them, she finds it’s difficult. Tensions escalate, and her lies start to spin out of control. Having crossed a moral threshold, Anna will discover where a woman goes when there is no going back.”

What books are you looking forward to? Do give me recommendations for some more modern novels by any means...would be most welcome and truly needed. In the meantime, will be stuffing my face with macarons, crisp baguettes and smelly cheese. Ta! 

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