Hello lovely readers! Wow, can you believe we’re at the end of January already? This month has gone insanely quick but it’s been a great month for me – bookish and otherwise. I’ve had some amazing book post, planned some really good things which are happening on my blog and in my personal life, have had some lovely days and planned a few holidays! But today I’m sharing all the wonderful books I’ve received throughout January!
Most of the books I’ve received this month I’ve bought myself, however I was sent one review copy from the lovely people at Quercus of The Zig Zag Girl by Elly Griffiths, which was a recommendation from Cressida, who I saw absolutely loved it. I read what it was about and was instantly sold – crime and magic?! Who could resist?! Being a massive fan of both I was so excited to start reading this and it hooked me from page 1.
At the end of 2014, I was lucky enough to win a giveaway hosted by Tripfiction to win The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton and The House of Dolls by David Hewson and these both arrived early this year. I’ve heard amazing things about The Miniaturist so I’m really looking forward to reading that.
I got an Amazon Gift card for Christmas from a friend of mine and whereas usually I save gift cards to go towards presents for other people, I actually decided to spend this one on myself and treated myself to a huge bundle of books that I’ve been after. When buying books from Amazon, I almost always buy them used because they’re so much cheaper and usually in great condition anyway!
At the beginning of the month, I pre-ordered the 10th Anniversary Edition of John Green’s, “Looking for Alaska”. I absolutely adored that book when I read it and this edition was just so beautiful it felt like a crime not to get myself a copy. It arrived and I literally almost cried at how gorgeous it is! It has lots of special content in it to like an introduction by John Green and some deleted scenes which didn’t make it into the final version of the book. Although I’m mostly going to use this book for show, I do plan to read it again sometime.
Saving the best till last, I also become the proud owner of my very first bookcase this month! Horrah! My books lived on some shelves in my room which were literally on their way out. I would have given it 2 months before then fell off the wall and everything came crashing down on my head. So I finally bought myself a bookcase and I am in love with it! Officially the start of my own little library!
To go with my new bookcase, I also printed out a couple of my favourite John Green quotes which have been framed and are going to hang on the wall!
[…] the end of January, I posted my January Book Haul and in that post, I included this […]
I’m going to check out The Miniaturist and The Zig Zag Girl. Just finished reading Before I Fall and If I Stay. I was slightly disappointed in both. They were well-written and the story concepts were good, I just feel that YA can be so much more. I’ve read YA that is clearly targeted for teens and YA that appeals to a wide range of readers–including adults. I think that these are the former. Again, they were good books but they didn’t quite catch me up in the story as some other YA novels have.
I’ve heard loads of great things about The Miniaturist and The Zig Zag Girl I really really enjoyed so I hope you like that one. I completely agree with what you say about YA. I’m currently reading If I Stay and it’s not gripping me as much as I thought it would but I’m not that far in so I won’t write it off just yet!
By My Side and If I Stay are really good books. Enjoy reading! And your bookcase looks great :).
Thank you! I’m reading If I Stay now and I’m not really getting into it as much as I thought I would but it’s still only early days! Really looking forward to By My Side! Love a book with a dog in it! 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing your win with us! Both The Miniaturist and House of Dolls were in our Top Reads for 2014, and both FAB for transporting the reader to Amsterdam. Rather liking the look of the other books you feature. Happy Reading!
Thank you so much for the amazing books – they’re gorgeous copies!
Love, love, LOVE the John Green quotes framed idea, I might have to try that. 🙂
Thanks Becky! I was originally going to buy prints but then I realised how much cheaper it’d be to just print them myself and I’m so happy with how they’ve come out! 🙂
I loved The Miniaturist, even though I usually stick to crime fiction, with a few “literary” titles thrown in. Tbh I only really bought it as it was £1.80 on Kindle at Christmas and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. It definitely gets you under it’s spell, and its another book I didn’t want to end. There was something really magical about it. Of course, I now want a “real” copy as they look gorgeous!
Ooh this just adds to all the amazing things I’ve heard about this book! Tbh, when I won it, I’d never heard of it but then I started seeing reviews everywhere! I’ll definitely get around to this soon 🙂 I agree, the cover is beautiful!
I read the miniaturist, it was good… Just not quite what I was expecting!
Ooh really! In what way? I’ve heard so much about that book recently – looking forward to seeing what it’s all about! 🙂
I guess it was a lot darker than I was expecting, not in a bad way, it just wasn’t quite what I was expecting. It was easy to read though, with very short chapters, so you keep on thinking “I’ll just read one more!” Looking forward to seeing what you think of it.
I LOVE short chapters for that reason – I always find I get through books with short chapters a lot faster! I’m looking forward to reading it now 🙂
That’s a lovely bookshelf, and I love the idea of framing quotes too.
Thank you! And me too – I always thought when I have my own house I’d like to frame quotes and have them scattered around. They also make really cheap wall decorations if you print them yourself 🙂
Love your bookcase and your room in general. So pretty! Will have to look up zig zag girl looks intriguing. The Guernsey literary and potato peel pie society was the best book i read in january.
Thank you! The Zig Zag Girl is amazing, if you do get around to reading it I really hope you like it! 🙂 I’ve never heard of that book – I’ll have to look it up!
Thanks 🙂 will let you know how i get on. Let me know if you read the book i mentioned – would love to hear what you think 🙂
I will do! I’ll have a look for it! 🙂
OMG I didn’t love Looking for Alaska as much as I thought I would, but I LOVE that edition!!! So pretty!
Oh noo! That’s a shame but it’s definitely not for everyone! I’m glad you like that edition though, it is gorgeous and I love the black pages – very different!
So many gorgeous books. I love that cover of Looking For Alaska mine was rather boring in comparison! 😀
Thank you Chrissi! I know, I literally couldn’t stop staring at it and stroking the cover when it arrived haha! I love all John Green covers 🙂