Hello lovelies!

This is meant to be a short and sweet, light-hearted, and slightly exaggerated feature for sharing my deepest and darkest bookish secrets (and for you to share yours, maybe?)

What better topic to start on than a Game of Thrones? I'm just over halfway through the book and... I don't know if I'll ever finish it.

Under no circumstances should you take me too seriously! I definitely don't ;)

I DON'T LIKE GAME OF THRONES

I know, I know! Everyone loves it. It's amazing!

But why? 

I don't get it.

I'll rant in a nice, respectful way for a minute, okay? And then you can try to convince me to give the book another chance. Deal?

Things I like about A Game of Thrones.

Okay. Um. Jon Snow is alright? I like whathisname Lannister? Tyr-something? Tyrannion? Tyrannus? No, that's Tyrannus Basilton Grimm-Pitch, right? HOW AM I MIXING UP Game of Thrones and Carry On?! What is this?!

Anyway. There.

Wait, no! Also, there's dragon eggs, so there will be dragons, yes? That's good.

And direwolves! Them, I like.

And the mother. Who's all WAAHH I'll protect my children! I forget her name but she's nice. I like Dani too. Poor Dani.

SEE?! So many positive things. I tried really hard.

Why I Don't Get It

I'm halfway through and I'm bored! I just can't do it, I can't finish this book! Too many characters, and yeah, they're okay, but I don't care about any of them, and I need to care about the characters, because otherwise, what's the point of you, book?! WHAT IS THE POINT?!

I'm really disappointed in myself because this is fantasy - one of the greats - and I LOVE FANTASY. I just don't understand what's happening.

TV versus books

I swear, everyone I know who's obsessed started by watching the TV programme. Maybe that's why people love it so much? Except it was a big deal before then, too, wasn't it?

BUT I am against watching the TV series first. It goes against all my principles. BOOK FIRST. That's the rule. Except, in this case, I just can't finish the bloody book. 

*ahem*

Oh, I just had a realisation!

I compare Game of Thrones to the Kingkiller Chronicle

This HAS TO BE why I can't read it! Because I've seen Patrick Rothfuss's Name of the Wind recommended to people who like A Game of Thrones. And if you've been around for a while, you will know that I f***ing love that book. I'm so obsessed that I wrote a post about how obsessed I am. But I digress. I read Kingkiller first and it's the most fantastic thing in the world, and then I go to read A Game of Thrones, and it should be as good, right?! But it's not. I think maybe I'm just biased, honestly.

So, to,,, finish this post off on a positive note - I found things I like about Game of Thrones! But I just can't get into it. Oops. That's not positive at all.

This is the most rambling, I-ran-out-of-adjectives level weirdness filled post I have ever written. (Even that sentence didn't make sense.)

 

Do you like Game of Thrones? (I will still love you if you do, I promise.) Please, feel free to convince me that it's amazing and that I should keep reading.

Any bookish confessions of your own? Do you have a book everyone seems to love but you just don't get? Let me know in the comments, or feel free to write a post of your own if you fancy it!

P.S. I love you

P.S. The origin story of this feature: I was going to update you on my writing progress for Camp NaNo, but then I thought, HEY, what would be even sillier, and even more embarrassing for me? So here we are. I'll write about writing when I feel like...writing.

The wonderful NicoleLynn @ PopCrunchBoom!Books nominated me for the Liebster award and I'm so happy and thankful! I was nominated in March and I'm so slow at getting these things done, but... I did it!
If you haven't yet, go take a look at her blog!
The purpose of the Liebster award is to highlight new blogs you follow and love.

Here are the rules:

1. Acknowledge the blog that nominated you and display the award in your blog post.
2. Answer 11 questions from the blog that nominated you.
3. Give 11 random facts about yourself.
4. Nominate 5-11 blogs you think are deserving of the award. The blogs must have less than 200 followers.
5. Let the blogs know that you have nominated them.
6. Give the blogs you nominated 11 questions to answer.

My answers to Nicole's questions:

1. What is your fondest childhood memory of reading?
   Getting the final three books of Darren Shan for Christmas, and basically ignoring everyone for the rest of the day because those books were too awesome!
2. What are your favorite things to do outside of blogging?
   I sing all the time! I love musicals. And I play the guitar.  I've recently gotten back to song-writing - so that's a few things :) 
3. Why did you start blogging and why this blog?
   I've always loved talking books with people but sometimes that's really hard to accomplish IRL. And also, I don't really like being stuck in social situations for long periods of time... So I guess blogging provides a nice balance of social/solitary existence?
4. What place would you most like to read about in a book? (as in setting within a book)
   Ancient Rome? Ancient anything, really. I'm technically an archaeology student, and my department has so many people interested in the Romans, and Romano-British archaeology, so I think reading about those kind of areas and periods of time is pretty interesting.
5. Library, purchase or both?
   Preferably both..? I love love love owning books. It's such a nice feeling. But if a book I want to read is horror/suspense I probably won't want to reread it so I tend to go the library instead.
6. Do you have an instant-buy author?
   David Mitchell. Every word he has ever written is basically magic. Also Patrick Rothfuss. Jenny Lawson - the Bloggess - she's hilarious! Umm. And right now, I think I'd like to add V.E. Schwab to the list as well.
7. What are some of your favorite blogs?
   Alexa Loves Books. She's such a sweetheart and she has good taste in fandoms.
   The Novel Hermit. Cee is awesome and supports all my stupid decisions so naturally her blog is one of my faves.
   Paper Fury! I love all of Cait's discussion posts so much. Also, she loves dragons..
8. Name something on your bucketlist or a goal you have.
   To get a PhD, maybe? I thought I wanted to do one straight after my master's but now I really want a break from all the research. But in a year or two I might reconsider - because Doctor Annika sounds good, right?
9. Have you thought about vlogging as well as blogging?
   I have! Idly. Sadly, I'm slightly frightened of cameras and being caught on film, so probably never going to happen ;)
10. Name a must-have song on your playlist.
    Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy. Also everything from Hamilton.
11. Who’s your biggest inspiration and why?
    Can I say my mum? Because she's just the sweetest, most caring, most wonderful person in the world <3 (Just don't tell her I said that.)

11 random facts about me:

1. I like bad puns but I'm usually too shy to use them in real life.
2. I dig archaeology (see what I did there?)
3. I always have a bottle of wine at home.
4. My godson just turned 9. He's almost as tall as I am!
5. I pretend like I'm really tough, but seriously: I cry at the drop of a hat.
6. My BFF is awesome, so I'm awesome by association.
7. I'm so bad at adulting that I would probably eat chocolate or ice cream for dinner if I didn't live in a flat with other people. [Thank you for judging me, flatmates! You're keeping me healthy(ish)!]
8. I don't like drinking water.
9. I'm pale, abhor sunlight, and don't like having my photo taken = basically a vampire. I promise I don't sparkle.
10. It really bothers me when people are typing on their phones during lectures! Can you not put down your phone for one hour? Seriously. I have a friend who does this and it makes me so mad. Like so mad I want to punch something (someone.)
11. I kind of hide the amount of books I buy from my mum and anyone who might judge. I feel like they would worry ;) [this may be why this blog is called Hiding Books...?]

My nominations go to:

• Katelynn and Kassandra @ Books & Bottles
• Ezrah @ I Heart Romance & YA
• Geraldine @ Corralling Books 
• Lucie @ Tea, Books & Fun
• Kristen @ Metaphors and Moonlight
• Bryce @ novelstosong
• Tanya and Gina @ T & G Book Boutique
• Molly @ Molly's Book Nook

I tried to look up your follower counts, but obviously that's tricky in some cases what with email subscriptions and everything. But you are all awesome so if you fancy it, do the tag!

And finally, here are my questions for the nominees:

1. Do you have any nicknames? If you do, where did it come from?
2. What is the best thing about blogging? Is there anything you dislike about it?
3. Name a favourite book from your childhood.
4. What is your favourite genre to read?
5. Do you have any amazing quotes from books you'd like to share?
6. What is the best book that you've read in 2016 so far?
7. Hardback or paperback? Why?
8. Favourite snack to have while reading? (this is obviously the most important question of all)
9. What hobbies do you have apart from blogging?
10. How do you arrange your bookshelf? By title? By colour? By the third letter of the author's first name?
11. If you could live anywhere you wanted, where would it be?

Thanks for wading through all my weirdness! If you're up for it, tell me a random fact about you! Or answer some of the questions from this post in the comments!

What if everything you set yourself up to be was wrong? Frances has always been a study machine with one goal, elite university. Nothing will stand in her way; not friends, not a guilty secret – not even the person she is on the inside. But when Frances meets Aled, the shy genius behind her favourite podcast, she discovers a new freedom. He unlocks the door to Real Frances and for the first time she experiences true friendship, unafraid to be herself. Then the podcast goes viral and the fragile trust between them is broken. Caught between who she was and who she longs to be, Frances’ dreams come crashing down. Suffocating with guilt, she knows that she has to confront her past… She has to confess why Carys disappeared… Meanwhile at uni, Aled is alone, fighting even darker secrets. It’s only by facing up to your fears that you can overcome them. And it’s only by being your true self that you can find happiness. Frances is going to need every bit of courage she has. ✱ Pages: 400 (paperback) ✱ Publication date: 25 February 2016 ✱ Provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review ✱ Amazon UK | Amazon US

I got a copy from the publisher after seeing this one displayed in my local Waterstones - apparently the author goes to my university! Good job, Waterstones Durham, for showing support to local talent!

Basically, Everything is Awesome

I can't really find anything I had a problem with. I loved just about every detail of Radio Silence. Alice Oseman's voice is unique and chatty. The friendships in the story, the relationship between Frances and her mother, the talk about sexuality/sexual orientation, identity, fandoms... It's just all so well done!

Frances and Aled

Amazing, real, and relatable. Both of them. I feel like I was so much like Frances, growing up, but I also feel like I was Aled, too. I might still be a bit like Aled? In any case - these two characters are so wonderful, and you can't help but fall in love with them a little.

Apparently I Can't Actually Review This Book

I'm too emotionally attached! I tried, you guys. I'll give it one more go:

There is something so genuine and effortless about Radio Silence, that I could not stop reading it. Alice Oseman has a knack for writing about being a teenager - dealing with all the issues related to growing up, living with the constant pressure from our peers and parents, and maybe most importantly - from ourselves.

In all honesty - I don't want to give too much away. I'd like for you to go and meet Aled and Francis for yourself and see if you feel the same way I did about them and this story.

A wonderful novel about identity, friendship, and growing up, Radio Silence is a great example of Young Adult fiction done right. It's realistic, emotional and uplifting, and it stays with you even after you've finished reading it.

Do you read a lot of contemporary YA? Have you read this one yet?

If you haven't, I'm once again going to go with 'please go and read this book, and then come back and fangirl with me because just please, okay?'

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme for sharing our news, and plans for the next week, hosted by the wonderful Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

Hello lovelies!
It's spring - and since I'm up in the north of England it still gets rainy. But we've had a few lovely days. The thing is that for some reason it makes me homesick! My little sister has quite a massive baby bump now, so I can't wait to go and visit! Hopefully soon :)
But in other news... This morning, I hit 50k on my Camp NaNoWriMo draft! I'm pretty excited! Time to finish a few more chapters, and then edit away!

Let's get started with all the exciting things going on currently!

Greg's discussion post on time travel - is it possible?

Kristen talks about sci-fi and wonders how much science you prefer to have in yours?

Geraldine and Joan's Conversations meme had a really good start - get ready for the next one!

Check out Kassandra and Katelynn's Bad Romance event! You can take part and read good romance novels too ;)

✦ Random Ramblings: My Characters Are Basically Me on Crack.
(rather self-explanatory, I think?)

✦ The Get to Know Me Tag!
(if you need something really random in your life. Also - feel free to do the tag, it's a pretty fun one!)

✦ SHTUM by Jem Lester
Touching piece of contemporary fiction - talks about autism and dysfunctional families.

✦ Dawn at Emberwilde by Sarah E. Ladd
A cute historical romance.

✦ Mini Reviews of Recent Reads!
I talked about a few books I've read recently, and about a few future releases!

 

Actually sticking to my book buying ban! I only got two review copies - these have already been published but I'm really excited to read them!

✦ Review of  Radio Silence by Alice Oseman

✦ I'm starting a new feature that I'm calling Bookish Confessions, so that should be fun, hopefully ;)

How was your week? Does it feel like spring where you are? Also - tell me what you're reading at the moment?

I'm reading summer publications right now, so I thought I'd share these little reviews of books I've read lately that I haven't really mentioned on the blog yet. I've added a publication date for the ones that haven't been published yet!

These are kind of a mixed bag - some I loved, others were a bit 'meh' for me - but you might really enjoy them :)

Published Before April 2016   Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig This book is about the author's struggle with depression, and most people seem to have loved it. I couldn't really connect with it though - I feel really bad about it! The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer Epistolary novel set after WWII. This one is just wonderful and happy (mostly). the letters are so much fun to read and I loved every moment of it. Entwined by Heather Dixon Fairytale retelling of the Grimms' Twelve Dancing Princesses. Azalea and her sisters aren't allowed to dance after their mother's death, and so they set out to find a solution to their problem by making a deal with the mysterious Keeper. I'd heard really nice things about this one, and it's cute and all - but it left me a bit bored?    The Magicians by Lev Grossman Fantasy with magical realism. Quentin does magic. But I know some readers don't like Quentin so they don't like the book and that makes me sad. I love this one, and I'd definitely recommend it! Gateway to Fourline by Pam Brondos Fantasy. Natalie Barns is sent on a mission through a gateway into the kingdom of Fourline, where, in order to survive, she will have to pretend to be a magic-wielding Warrior Sister. I found this one quite binge-worthy! Set for Publication later in 2016    You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour and David Levithan Contemporary YA with LGBT themes, but this one takes a look at teens' lives after they've come out: everyone's okay with these kids' sexual orientation, it's just a part of who they are, and the emphasis is on how they deal with first loves and friendships. [publication date: 7 June 2016] Spells of Blood and Kin by Claire Humphrey I think I'd call this urban fantasy, maybe? There's magic that's based on Russian folklore, vampire-like creatures called the 'kin.' I wanted something a bit more from this, but it was pretty intriguing. [publication date: 14 June 2016] The Progeny by Tosca Lee Exciting thriller with a modern day setting, but revolving around the Hungarian blood countess, Elisabeth Bathory, and more importantly her descendants who possess some unique abilities. [publication date: 24 May 2016]

Have you read any of these before? Are any of them on your TBR? Definitely tell me if you've read the Magicians, because I feel like it doesn't get enough love!

We're halfway through Camp NaNoWriMo!

Also, and this is pretty much as important: ARE YOU BINGE-WATCHING KIMMY SCHMIDT TODAY? YES/YES?

I wrote about my story last week - if you're curious, you can read about it here. You don't need the background to understand this post though :)

Okay, but really. I wasn't going to write about writing this week, but then I felt that the 15th day of Camp should be celebrated. (I'm at 40k now! yay!) So here. Have a look at my characters who admittedly inherit their craziness from me. They have no father to blame. *shrugs*

I really recognise myself in my characters sometimes. Snippets = proof.

So the plan was to write a nice, emotional (possibly romantic) reunion. This happened instead - maybe because I wasn't drinking:

   "You’ve been drinking!" I pushed at his chest, appalled. "I thought you were worried about me!" Here I was, almost crying at letting him down, and he’d been drinking all night?

    "I was! You disappeared! What was I supposed to do?"

   

"Not get drunk!"

Watch it, Annika. Your alcoholism is showing...

Some time before that I'd been trying to write a seduction - this one... Yes, okay. I was sipping some wine.

    Theod really wasn't too bad, I'd decided. He could be kind and helpful. The way he disapproved of everything I did was surprisingly adorable. I shifted in my seat, took a sip of tea, and stared at Theod, considering him. His cheekbones were marvellous.

    He stared back at me over his own cup, his face turning serious. He set his tea down on the table next to his chair, and clasped his hand like he was preparing for a lecture. "Nenna. You remember when I asked you not to seduce my apprentice? I'm now asking you not to seduce your teacher."

    "I'm not! I didn't even say anything." I had been planning to, yes, but if he was going to be this way... "You’re too old for me. And believe me – if I was seducing you, you wouldn't be saying no."

    "Too old?" He frowned, crossing his arms.

   "Are you now complaining that I'm not trying to seduce you? You should really consider what you say quite carefully. You do not want to make me cross before I've actually had the chance to seduce you."

    He shook his head. "No seductions, Nenna. That's a new house rule. And since it's my house, just, stop wearing clothing like that." He gestured toward me rather haphazardly, while getting out of his seat and leaving the room rather suddenly.

    I tugged at the hem of my night dress. It was on the shorter side, but I hadn't really thought of that. "I was about to go to bed," I called after him innocently. At least now I knew he found my clothes distracting.

So, to sum up. What do I write? Characters who are borderline alcoholics, and also are fated to fail at seductions. Does that also sound a lot like me?

Wednesday Writing Prompt

This is a new feature on Trisha Jenn's blog! You should head over and free all that creative energy that's locked up inside your head!

She'll post a prompt every two weeks. You can read her first response here.

This week's writing prompt was:

I didn’t know what was happening at the time.

We’d left the camp site just before they found us. Karella had told me what she could in the few short minutes we had. She had seen someone coming our way and she didn’t even speak to her daughter - a tiny thing, nine years old - before pushing her into my arms, walking us out of the clearing that had become home. 

As we passed by the others I heard whispers, whispers of harbouring fugitives, how it was a danger to us all. Karella sank down on her knees as we reached the cover of the trees. Pulling the girl in her arms, she said “Be careful.” 

Over the girl’s shoulder she spoke to me, her voice quiet, pretending there was no threat for the sake of her daughter. “Head west, you’ll reach the nearest village. I’ll find you tomorrow. Look for Theod if…” The words ‘I don’t’ were heavy in the air.
“She won’t come to any harm,” I said, but I was thinking that I should stay. They might need my help. But I’d been tasked with someone’s life. 

Nodding, Karella pushed at the girls shoulders, and smiled at her, touching her cheek. “My brave girl.” She rose to her feet, and I took the girl’s hand and started leading her away. She didn’t say a word, just kept glancing back at her mother, who waved back every time. 

We walked carefully through the roots and the prickly vegetation for hours, only stopping long enough to drink when we came across water, or for me to make sure we were headed in the right direction. I knew she was getting tired. She tugged at my hand as we continued our way. “When can we go back?” 

Hesitating, I turned to look back in the direction we’d come from. 

I saw a pillar of smoke.

Other ridiculous things this past week or two:

• I've started talking to myself. Yes, sometimes out loud. Yesterday, the running dialogue in my brain sounded something like this:
  "Seriously? Annika, shut up."
  "You shut up, Annika! Your ideas suck."
  We agreed to disagree.
• I think of a brilliant idea, then write it down in one word. e.g. "INTRIGUE." Then I come back and wonder what the hell I meant by that. This happened three times in the past week. The ideas are still brilliant, but unfortunately... they're stuck somewhere in the ether.
• I haven't done any pilates in the past two weeks. My yoga mat still exists for one purpose, and one purpose only. Writing and wine-drinking. Sorry not sorry.
• I started killing characters this week. I looked through my tweets and they're all about killing people. I should be banned. Someone take twitter away from me.
• Words I had trouble with this week: eight. indecicive indesicive indecisive. should. forty.
• Also I talk to my laptop, but that's fairly normal, right? Tell me you do this too!
• I was just about to write the line "He's my son," when I thought of this:

And basically couldn't include it because I only heard it in Regina's voice in my head.

• ALSO I had a ridiculous dream! I was in a haunted house, and I could hear voices, and like, a ghostly apparition showed up on the telly and it was watching me. And there I was, trying to pack all my books into a too-small bag. I couldn't leave the house without all the books. They were actual books I own and haven't read yet! It was horrible.

Are you writing? Tell me about it! I'd love to hear about your weird quirks too ;) Or share your NaNo experience so I can celebrate with you!

(ALSO have you had bookish nightmares?!)

Powerful, darkly funny and heart-breaking, Shtum is a story about fathers and sons, autism, and dysfunctional relationships. Ben Jewell has hit breaking point. His ten-year-old son Jonah has severe autism and Ben and his wife, Emma, are struggling to cope. When Ben and Emma fake a separation - a strategic decision to further Jonah's case in an upcoming tribunal - Ben and Jonah move in with Georg, Ben's elderly father. In a small house in North London, three generations of men - one who can't talk; two who won't - are thrown together. ✱ Pages: 368 (paperback) ✱ Publication date: 7 April 2016 (Orion) ✱ Provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review ✱ Amazon UK | Amazon US ✱ Book Depository

Seeing the cover was part of my decision to pick this up. Then I thought about the title, read the synopsis, and figured this might be a really emotionally honest story. And I like that - even though it kind of makes me cry, usually.

Important Themes

There's probably something here for every reader to identify or at least empathise with: autism, alcoholism, dysfunctional families, trying to do what's best for our children. Topics like cancer and WWII are brought up too. Difficult topics, but approached with an honesty in story-telling that I found simultaneously refreshing and upsetting.

It's not a surprise that SHTUM gets a bit heavy. It's emotional. It takes an honest look at things, and that can be emotionally exhausting for the reader. But with the darkness come some brighter moments too, and those make life worthwhile, right?

Story-Telling

In SHTUM it falls on Ben to make some difficult decisions, and to find a way to make Jonah's life better. This is what drives the story. But of course Ben's opinion isn't the only one that's taken into account. There are also social services and other official bodies that have a say, which makes life pretty tricky for this family. 

Because of this, interspersed between chapters are letters, a court procession, and at one point flashbacks. It's an interesting way of telling the story. We don't often get to see the characters' immediate reaction to a letter from the social services, for example, but we do always see its effects in the long run. I thought the addition of letters sent to Ben, Emma, and Georg was a good move. It kind of amps up the tension a bit - just seeing a letter from the social services in the pages of a book makes me nervous, apparently!

The Characters

I found the protagonist, Ben, difficult to understand sometimes, but knowing he was at least trying his best for Jonah was his redeeming quality. Ben's wife Emma was difficult to understand too, because we mainly see what Ben sees - or decides to see. It's interesting how one conversation later on in the story can thoroughly change your perception of a character.

Ten-year-old Jonah is obviously a character very central to the story. He gets upset if he doesn't get what he wants, or if his daily ritual changes - but he doesn't speak: he can't communicate. On the other hand, the smallest things can make him happy - and his joy is wonderful, unburdened by all the worries the rest of us carry around.

Probably my favourite character was Ben's elderly father, Georg. Georg, who had grown up, lost his family to WWII, and moved to England. Georg, who refused to tell Ben about his past, not wanting to burden his child with it. Georg, who starts telling his story to his Grandson, Jonah. Really, just the way he keeps chatting to Jonah, and how proud he is of his grandson is just wonderful.

Not the easiest book to read because of the very emotive themes, but a solid work of literary fiction. A lot of feels, you guys. A lot of feels.

Difficult topics in literature - are they your bag or not? Which book makes you cry the most? (I'd probably say All the Bright Places. That book reduced me to a human-shaped puddle of misery, laying on the floor, staring at the ceiling. You know.)