September Wrap-Up

September was a bit of a disappointment as I didn't make it through my TBR due to moving house, but here goes.

Wizard's First Rule - Terry Goodkind
Crescendo - Becca Fitzpatrick
Jack's Outpost - Elizabeth Braun
Assassin Study - Maria V Snyder

With the exception of Snyder's short story, the reviews are up so please do go and see what I thought about them.

I'm working on an interview with Elizabeth Braun to talk a little about Jack's Outpost and herself so keep an eye out for that - hopefully coming in October!
Hopefully October is a little bit more successful. Let me know in the comments what books you read during September :)

Review // Jack's Outpost - Elizabeth Braun

Published - 15th February 2012
Published By - Lulu
Format - Paperback
Goodreads Synopsis - Travel to Mars - on a one-way ticket? "I would go, but where would I find tonic water on Mars?" was Jack's initial response. Logistics resolved, his life in the Outpost on Mars centers around tending his vegetable garden and playing simulated golf on the state of the art entertainment system. This tranquil scientific assignment changes when budget cuts create new alliances and foreign space agencies start sending their own Martian explorers.

Buy it here - Buy Jack's Outpost (Amazon)

I was approached by Elizabeth Braun a while ago and she asked if I would be interested in reading and reviewing Jack's Outpost. I had a quick scan of Amazon and read the information available and was intrigued by the concept of the novel. It was unlike anything i'd previously read and of course, i'm always looking for new reading material! 

I started reading the book without any idea of what was going to happen. As I said previously, I hadn't read anything like this or even close to it's genre before. However, after the first hour reading, I was drawn it. Jack's Outpost has a lovely charm to it. The concept of a one way mission to Mars was wonderful. I am certainly no expert on space, or any planet other than the one we live on, but I immediately wanted to know more. 

Jack's Outpost wasn't just a novel in which I could sit and enjoy a light fluffy story. I learned things. I found myself thinking about Jack and what his life must have been like, so alone, and so far from home. There wasn't a lot of action; the book being made up of mostly dialogue, but this worked because of the circumstance of the novel. I didn't find myself getting bored despite the repetitive lifestyles. 

I particularly liked the 'stories' and 'jokes' that Jack told. They seemed more like real life events than just a character's life. I can't quite put my finger on what it is about Jack's Outpost that I liked, only that I DID like it. I read the book over 24 hours and it was just wonderful in a special kind of way. The book didn't just end at the last word for me either. I found myself looking up one-way missions to Mars and other related things. Jack's Outpost is a lovely, different kind of read and if you're at all interested in things like this then I highly recommend you pick it up!

- Here's a fairly recent article I found regarding one-way missions to Mars that might interest you, The Hundred Year Starship

September TBR

This month i've picked another 4 books that I hope to get through and reduce the piles that are rapidly growing in every corner. September's TBR pile consists of -

Wizard's First Rule (Sword of Truth #1) - Terry Goodkind
Crescendo (Hush, Hush #2) - Becca Fitzpatrick
The Sign of Four - Arthur Conan Doyle
Jack's Outpost - Elizabeth Braun

September is a busy month for me, but I have every intention of reading all of them, and more. I think I can manage it! Although my shelves aren't getting any lighter, they are consisting of more 'read' then 'to-read' books lately so it must be almost time for buying new ones, right? Right?!

Let me know what you're reading during September!

Book Haul

I haven't done one of these in so long so the list is pretty big and i'm sure that i've forgotten something.
So here are the books that I acquired in the past few weeks.

1. Uglies - Scott Westerfeld
2. Pretties - Scott Westerfeld
3. The Master of Whitehall - Rick H Veal
4. Jack's Outpost - Elizabeth Braun
5. Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
6. A Witch in Love - Ruth Warburton
7. Between The Lines - Jodi Picoult (Review already up!)

As well as those, I also have some books on loan from friends.

8. All of the Weather Warden books by Rachel Caine
9. First 3 books of Percy Jackson &  the Olympians by Rick Riordan

I have no idea when i'll actually get round to reading all of those and for the moment, i'm reinforcing the book buying ban again!
I'm currently half way through The Master of Whitehall so expect that review up as soon as possible :)


Have you read any of these? What are your thoughts?

Happy Reading :)