This is me right now... (aka ignorance is bliss - until the first test roles around)...

 

...completely ignoring the fact that Semester Two commenced today and therefore my Zomg-I-don't-do-numbers! accounting paper.  Instead I'm spending the evening buried in my book which, in case you are wondering is my re-read of Room by Emma Donoghue. I'd like to state for the record that so far at 34% in, my fear of it not living up to the amazingness of the first time is COMPLETELY unfounded.

God I love this book!

Re-reading...the dilemma

I recently got to take a super quick trip to our beautiful capital city Wellington with my Mum to see a truly exquisite performance of the world's longest running musical, The Phantom of the Opera. It was goosebump-giving good and afterwards Mum and I kept looking at each other, sighing and dreamily saying "So good, so good!" What a terrifically talented local cast! ---->

It's made me dig out my very battered, very loved copy of Phantom by Susan Kay and add it to my TBR pile. Kay's novel is based on the original Gaston Leroux story but with a twist: it's a biography of the title character, Erik. It's kinda hard to find these days but if you can hunt out a copy, I highly recommend you read it. Even though he's the bad guy and madly obsessed with Christine, you'll give a little bit of your heart to the Angel of Music.

Also added to my TBR pile as my newly established book club's first pick is Room by Emma Donoghue. I was almost drooling with anticipation over this book in what felt like a huge lead in time of publicity prior to publication day. And then I read it...and it surpassed my every expectation - read my superlative laden review here. It's become my go-to novel whenever someone asks me that dreaded question "What's your all time favourite book?" (as if there is just one!).

But much in all as I adored Room, I have never re-read it - or Phantom either for that matter. I'm both looking forward to and dreading going back to them: what if, on second readings, they don't live up to the utter fantabulousness I remember? What if I spoil those happy bookiesh memories (like going back to the house you grew up in and seeing it renovated and redecorated)?

Are you a re-reader? Have you ever regretted reading again a beloved novel? Or were any as good as the first time round?

Reading in any language = love

   PUKA         For those who speak Maori

Happy Maori Language Week!

 

 

*This!*

 

Patrick Rothfuss speaks my language.

Rory as Anastasia?!

Gilmore Girls' Rory is fans' number one pick to play naive, virginal (well to start with) Anastasia in the film adaptation of EL James' "mummy-porn" Fifty Shades of Grey novels.

Actress Alexis Bledel who played bibliophile Rory for seven years topped the survey results from UK online sex toy company www.lovehoney.co.uk with Vampire Diaries Ian Somerhalder the top choice to play Christian Grey.

Oh internet, say it ain't so!

(In case you're wondering, no I haven't read the Fifty Shades series myself. I tried. I got 20 pages into book one and could actually feel my brain cells committing suicide - always a sign it's time to stop). 

True strength...(I don't have it)

^ This is me right now. With just 18 days til my exam and waaaaaay behind (revision? I'm still slogging through the course material!) it feels like there are invisable magnets embedded in my TBR pile and I'm constantly being pulled towards reading for pleasure, not for learning.  And I know if I give in to temptation, I most definitely won't be able to stop at one measly chapter!

Bridget's Back! And for the record, I'm kinda Team Cleaver *shamefaced*

It seems my book life is all about anticipation atm: Mortal Fire next week and in October....BRIDGET JONES baby!!!!!

Today her publishers Random House have revealed the title to the third instalment - Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy.

Bridget was my gateway drug into five solid years of reading nothing but chick lit.  I remember vividly buying her first book: I'd struck up a friendship with a lovely sales girl at Whitcoulls in my beloved home town of Palmy who shared the same taste in books as me and made great recommendations.   If she worked on commission she would have made an absolute fortune off me.  Anyway, this sweet girl (who's name I've forgotten) told me I absolutely had to read this hilarious little novel which I duly did and duly fell a little bit in love with Bridget - so much so that I even forgave author Helen Fielding's somewhat unrealistic plot twists in book two, The Edge of Reason. Because Bridget was every girl's hero and I so wanted to be like her, heartbreak and all (but minus the ciggies because, honestly ewww).

I also very vividly recall the fate of my first copies of the Bridget Jones books - stolen by a swindling flatmate, along with my first Black Caps shirt and four weeks rent and bills money.  Still trying to let that go....

Plus, as if revealing the title today wasn't enough, her publishers have revealed a tantilising little morsel from the book iteself:

11.27 p.m. Just presss d SEND. Iss fineisn't it?

You see, this is the trouble with the modern world. If it was the days of letter-writing, I would never even have started to find his address, a pen, a piece of paper, an envelope, a stamp, and gone outside at 11.30p.m. to find a postbox. A text is gone at the brush of a fingertip, like a nuclear bomb or exocet missile.

Will Bridget be as awesome 14 years down the track? (The exert above to me says YES!) Will I, who hasn't read more than the very occasional chick lit in the last seven years, still love her? Will she still be tossing up between Cleaver and Darcy? Who exactly is the boy the title says she's mad about?

Eeeeeeeee. So. Much. Excitement!