Guilty!

I am the worst at sticking to my own resolutions. I went to get my hair done last weekend (I went fake brunette with a few blonde highlights after being mostly fake blonde for a good few years, so it’s quite startling when I look in the mirror) and thinking, ‘hmm my bank balance looks quite healthy’ I wandered into a bookshop. Yes I broke my buying ban within, what, five days?

It’s because I don’t like rules you see, even rules put on me by myself. I have to rebel (oh yes big rebellion, buying things) afterwards I usually have an easier time keeping to the rules (this does not work with dieting – eating a chocolate cake does not make me more likely to eat healthily from then on). So, this is absolutely the last indulgence now for a couple of months and honestly I think the urge to buy has been exorcised for a bit now. So, what did I get?

Well first off you can see the special desk tidy that came from Evie Wyld when I won Simon's contest. And there's the frog and frog book bag my friend brought over from Canada as a belated Christmas present (all proceeds go to a Canadian frog charity). Then there's the books:

‘The Taste of Sorrow’ – Jude Morgan: Loved ‘Indiscretion’, but was annoyed by the continually switching narratives of ‘Passion’. I did not like Caroline Lamb and resented having to spend time with her, but that is really my issue not the book’s problem. dovegreyreader is quoted on the back saying this is the best Bronte book yet and I love me some tragic romantic, writer groups, so I let it be the beginning of a three for two bundle.

‘Paper Towns’ – John Green: Everybody raves about this book of teenage infatuation and adventure. I was head over heels for ‘Looking for Alaska’ and I’m looking forward to this, because it sounds like this is where the themes for ‘Looking for Alaska’ grew from.

'Shiver’ – Maggie Steifvater: I read Maggie’s blog all the time and I just couldn’t handle not having this book anymore. It’s a werewolf story and I’ve seen polar reactions to it, but I like to make up my own mind.

‘Owl Killers’ – Karen Maitland: ‘Company of Liars’ was a great historical creep fest and I expect more of the same from ‘Owl Killers’. Owl masters target people whose crops flourish, because we all know well grown wheat = witches nearby.

‘Changeling: Dark Moon’ – Steve Feasey: I was a bit iffy about the start of this series, but I hate to leave a series after just one episode and there’s a huge cliff hanger to be followed up. If the author changes the way he incorporates the main female character I know I’ll really enjoy this one, because it’s all action. We shall see.

‘The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ’ – Philip Pullman: The reaction to this book from the Anglican community has confused me a little (not the response from the head of the Anglican church, he seems pretty grounded (except for that whole apologising for slavery on a t-shirt thing)). When I commented on litlove’s review I said that it seemed like Anglican’s believed this book showed that Pullman’s true target was really Catholic systems of religion and that his approach to God was softened, but she said it’s hard to see how anyone could make the assumption that he’s advocating one system of religion over the other. I have my own theory about the book’s central religious message, but I need to read the book to check out if it fits. Plus this is the new Pullman! I love him and even ‘Lyra’s Oxford’ can’t stop that.

‘The Wisdom of Whores’ - Elizabeth Pisani: I keep forgetting to start my three month stint with the ‘Social Justice Challenge'. I’ve been wanting to read this book for a long time, but me and non-fiction just never seem to meet up. I might be a bit behind on the months, but better late than never.

Since I obviously need more time to work through all my books I decided to sign up for the 48 hour read-a-thon. I packed quite a lot in over Bank Holiday weekend and didn’t read at all, so I think I’ll glory in 48 hours of nothing to do but read this weekend (in between writing this post and putting it up things have come up, but hopefully still some reading to be done). I am actually doing something a bit indulgent and taking the afternoon off on the Friday so I can get started. I had one of those useless half days lying around. What are they for but going home early on a Friday?

I know I don’t read really fast, so I don’t expect to read into the double digits but my tentative plan is to finish ‘False Colors’, read ‘A Wish After Midnight’ (wrapping up the ‘Once Upon a Time Challenge’), start ‘The Devil’s Music’ and hopefully read at least five of Anna Karenina’s short chapters. I want to tie how many chapters in with making a donation ot a reading charity, but haven’t quite worked out the specifics yet. Wish me luck and you might see cumulative post pop up this weekend so I can track my hours. Is anyone else lazing around reading this weekend?