allmyprettybooks-new

Penguin have released a new YA series with beautifully designed covers titled "The Originals". This series is "a celebration of the first and the best in the Young Adult genre, with writing that still feels as fresh, illuminating and sometimes even shocking as it did when it was first published". The Originals includes tales of love, war, rebels, survival and stories to make you think. Penguin have even created a reading guide , and some great printables to accompany the series: The Originals Reading Diary Here's a complete list of the titles currently available: The Wave by Morton Rhue Based on a nightmarish true episode in a Californian high school, when a teacher wanted to demonstrate the dangers of propoganda and group-think.  Z for Zachariah  by Robert C. O'Brian A powerful post-apocalyptic novel in which nuclear war has devastated America. The Pearl  by John Steinbeck A haunting and timeless tale of the dangers of unexpected wealth. The Red Pony  by

I've just finished reading my hardback copy of Eleanor, and it's fantastic! Please, please give this wondrous novel a try, you won't be disappointed! <img src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Hlh_84dUn04/0.jpg" style="display: none; />

A beautiful quote from Jason Gurley's Eleanor , which perfectly encompasses the feeling of his novel. Photo credit: Diana Robinson , via Flickr.

I've been watching out for this book for a while,  and it's finally been released! The cover artwork is gorgeous, as seen in this animated short. Of course, I already have a copy... Look forward to reading my review soon!

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by Jack Thorne, John Tiffany, J.K. Rowling Reviewed by Amanda Kennedy on August 7th, 2016 But I don’t need a Ron and Hermione. I’ve — I’ve got a friend, Scorpius, and I know you don’t like him but he’s all I need. I enjoy the Harry Potter franchise very much. I've read most (admittedly, not all) of the books; I've watched the films several times, and cannot wait to see the cinematic release of Fantastic Beasts. But I'm not a die-hard devotee. Much as I may have enjoyed the midnight release of the eighth Harry Potter book, I would have been tucked up in bed when that happened... I was curious, though, to see what all the fuss was about, and moderately surprised when I spied several copies on the shelves at Morrissons (especially as Waterstones had completely sold out). So I bought a copy, took it home... And lost myself in it's pages for the remainder of the day. The first thing I should tell you is that The Cursed Child was abso

Animal Farm by George Orwell Reviewed by Amanda Kennedy on August 7th, 2016 Animal Farm is a book I'm sure I must have read while still at school, but aside from the general concept I was unable to remember the plot. Being one of those books I feel I ought to have read - particularly in the current political climate - I decided to download a digital edition to discover what I've been missing out on all these years. All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others. This infamous quote summarises Animal Farm perfectly. Written as an allegory of the Soviet revolution, the story follows the animals of Manor Farm who revolt against the farmer and form their own community.At first, their community is a peaceful one, wherein the animals work together to ensure their prosperity and happiness. However, it is not long before the more intelligent creatures begin to manipulate others for their own intent. Rules are rewritten and forgotten, and history is glossed o

Haruki Murakami's sequel (or prequel?) to Kafka's Metamorphosis  is available to read for free on The New Yorker website. This strange and surreal short story provides the tale of a beetle who finds himself transformed into a human man. Gregor Samsa discovers the human affliction of love when a hunchbacked young woman comes to repair the lock on the door of the man whose body he inhabits. Read online now at the New Yorker website .

Mile 81 by Stephen King Reviewed by Amanda Kennedy on August 5th, 2016 Following my recent review of The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon , I decided to dip my toe into more of King's recent works and discovered Mile 81, a short story offered by Amazon as a "Kindle Single". Time is for me, temporarily sparse. I have so many commitments sucking up my time that I figured it would be best to stick with something short and sweet for a while, and this brief story seemed to fit the bill exactly. So far as I'm aware, Mile 81 is only available for digital download (though of course, I'd love to own a hard copy, even in paperback form). The story revolves around a boarded up rest stop on a highway in Maine, where a young buy named Pete Simmons takes refuge when his older brother abandons him to play with friends. Having discovered - all too young - the effects of vodka on an immature body, he falls asleep inside an abandoned building, while a mud-covered truck with no visi

August's "Books of the Month" from Waterstones includes: Olive Kitterige by Elizabeth Strout Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall Cogheart by Peter Bunzl The Good Liar by Nicholas Searle Cider with Rosie by Laurie Lee . I'm particularly smitten by Cogheart, I can't wait to see what it looks like! Find out more by visiting the Waterstones blog .