BOTM #4

My first book of the month of 2012 so here goes. This is the list of books that I have read this month:

• Fracture by Megan Miranda
• Switched by Amanda Hocking
• Tempest by Julie Cross
• Blood Feud by Alyxandra Harvey
• Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon
• New Girl by Paige Harbison
• The Life of Lee by Lee Evans
• Halflings by Heather Burch

And the book of the month is...

With this month I have read mostly good books and was very hard but I did narrow it down to two as they where the only ones that I had given 5 stars to which was this book and Carrier of the Mark. In the end I went with Fracture as there was always something going on and it was more original. This isn't the kind of book I usually read but I loved reading it so I am glad I gave it a try it has made me think that I don't have to stick to the same genre all the time. I just wish there was a series as I already miss the characters so am glad I got a book version as now I can re-read it which I definitely do. Checkout my review here.

Book Review: The Life of Lee

The Life of Lee by Lee Evans

Format: Hardback
Publisher: Michael Joseph
Published: 29th September 2011
Pages: 385
Main Characters: Autobiography
Date Started: 18th January 2012
Date Finished: 22nd January 2012
Ratings Given: ****

Goodreads:
Lee Evans is one of the best-loved comedians in the country; a Hollywood star able to sell out arenas in the blink of eye.


But he was not always such a roaring success.

The Life of Lee is an utterly hilarious and very moving autobiography charting his ups and downs on the way to the top. Lee takes us on a darkly humorous journey through his childhood spent running wild on a Bristol housing estate and his unconventional school days, when he was publicly derided as 'a failure' by a sadistic teacher.

In this brilliantly entertaining and engaging tale, he also guides us through a grim teenage period of numerous dead-end jobs. When he was cleaning toilets and plucking turkeys, he could never have imagined that one day he would be playing to thousands of adoring fans at the O2 Arena.

The book also reveals how as a boy Lee got his first taste of showbiz, living out of a suitcase and accompanying his entertainer father around the smoky, rowdy, unforgiving working-men's club and theatre circuit.

Desperately struggling to be accepted, this quiet young loner always saw himself as an outsider. But he finally met the love of his life and accidentally discovered the one place where he felt at home: the stage.

The Life of Lee is a story that is like its subject: compelling, touching, charming and, above all, fantastically funny.

I don't read many autobiographies as they don't usually make me want to continue reading them but this one was different...

Lee Evans is one of the most well know British comedians and definitely my favourite.

When Christmas was coming up I asked for this as I love Lee Evans and I just had to find out how he came to where he is today but what I wasn't expecting the dark times that he had which there was plenty of them.

Lee's life didn't even start off brilliant as he was born with a hole in his heart and couldn't run around for long as he would pass out and if you have seen Lee perform you know that he can't stand still for five seconds so I definitely wasn't expecting to hear that.

He has been in fights a plenty, had a stick in his eye, bullied by adults children and even teachers, and that's just the first few chapters I won't tell you everything that has happened to him but put it this way it wasn't pretty!

It wasn't all dark as he would make light of the situations and made me laugh out loud which is hard for me to get that kind of connection with a book. I also was awwing out loud and even being grossed out (yes the stick in the eyes gets explained which made me feel ill) I definitely got into this book.

There was times when I did get confused as some of the chapters are going back and forward in time so I had to pay very close attention so I didn't get lost.

Overall a great book and now I just need to watch his latest DVD and I for one can't wait but I won't be seeing him in the same light as I have even more respect for someone I idolised in the first place.

It's Monday What Are You Reading? #12

It's Monday What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey in which we plan our reading week!







                                    Just Finished

                   Blood Feud by Alyxandra Harvey

This was a great and quick read but I did prefer the first in this particular series.

Currently Reading

New Girl by Paige Harbison

I have been reading this book for over a week now but I don't mind as it's a really good book I just don't get to read on my laptop as much as I would like too.

Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

I am really enjoying this book which I was surprised about as I have heard a lot of bad things but so far I am really into it and I can't wait to read more.

Reading Next

Life of Lee by Lee Evans

This will be my first autobiography in a long while as I don't usually like them but I really want to like this one as Lee Evans (British comedian) is one of my favourite comedians out there and I just love him so fingers crossed :)

Halflings by Heather Burch

I am looking forward to reading this one!

What are you reading this week?

In My Mailbox #11

Hey Everyone Happy New Year :) I can't believe this is my first post of 2012 so here goes nothing...

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that is hosted by The Story Siren. This is where we show what we have either bought or was given throughout the week gone by.









So I haven't done this for a couple of weeks so here is the books I received over the Christmas period:

Tempest by Julie Cross

I received this a couple of days before Christmas. This is a review book that I wasn't expecting as it was a while since I had asked for it so I just though they had run out. I am really looking forward to reading it, I hope it's as good as it sounds. A huge thanks goes out to St. Martin's Press for sending it to me :)

Christmas Presents

The Life of Lee by Lee Evans

                                     Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon

                                       Destined by P.C. and Kristin Cast

Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

                                                     Divergent by Veronica Roth

This book I actually got myself with some of my Christmas money. I just had to have this as I have wanted it for ages and it has had brilliant reviews. I am really looking forward to reading it.

Swaps

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

This book was a swap book from Misty over at UK Swap Shop on Goodreads. I have only recently wanted to read this book everyone just kept saying how good it is that I just have to find out what the fuss is about.

What was in your mailbox this week?

Follow Friday #6

Follow Friday is a weekly event hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. This is a great way to discover new blogs and make new friends! This weeks featured are Books & Barks and .Lauren's Book Bag.






Q: Letter to Santa: Tell Santa what books you want for Christmas!


A: Well the main book I have asked Santa for is Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare, and I can't wait to read it. I already know Santa got me the Lee Evans autobiography which I hope I enjoy better than the other autobiographies that I have read. I also asked for Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon as I have been after it for so long. There is such a long list of books that I wanted for Christmas I didn't really know which books to ask for but I finally settled on these as I don't want to break the Sledge!