Book Blogger Hop

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jen at Crazy-For-Books.

This week's question is:

What are you most looking forward to this fall/autumn season?

Autumn is my favourite season, whichever hemisphere I'm in, although the Northern Hemisphere does do the seasons better. I love that beautiful rusty, orange of the leaves and the crunch of them under foot on the pavements.

But this autumn I'm also looking forward to an abundance of travel. The suitcase hasn't been used since the beginning of the year so first up is a weekend in Vegas, followed by a trip to London, a week in Jordan, a move to Vancouver then a trip home to New Zealand - all before Christmas!

And all that time in airports and on aeroplanes means lots of reading time - top of the list is The Wild Rose by Jennifer Donnelly.

Book Blogger Hop

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jen at Crazy-For-Books.

This week's question is:

“What’s the LONGEST book you’ve ever read?” 

(Note: I’m putting one caveat on this question. You aren’t allowed to say the Bible, Torah, Qur’an, or other religious/spiritual text.) 

Lord of the Rings - I read all three books as one so that's getting up to 1,000 pages! Although that was a while ago. Songs of Daylight, by Paullina Simons was also a challenge to get through, but the most recent 'longest' book I've read was The Fourth Estate, by Jeffrey Archer - a healthy 742 pages in length. 

Depending how how I'm getting on with my goal of 111 books in 2011 if I've got enough time towards the end of the year I may try getting through War & Peace! If not, it'll be The Very Hungry Caterpillar!

Find out more about Book Blogger Hop 

Book Blogger Hop: when reading became a passion

Hosted by Jen at CrazyforBooks, this week’s question comes from Elena who blogs at Books and Reviews! 

“When did you realize reading was your passion and a truly important part of your life?”

I've grown up around books so reading has always been a big part of my life. Shelves in the lounge, in our bedrooms, in the rumpus rooms and at the bach (that's a beach house by the way) have always been overloaded by books. Couple that with the fact that both parents are academics, even if I'd wanted to escape the world of books there is no way I could have done.

I hope I've passed my passion for books and reading onto others as well. As a nanny, I'd always turn up each week with a bag of library books - it was the best way to bribe children to eat their broccoli! "Have another mouthful and only then will I turn the page!" 

However, my book gathering passion really only began about four years ago when I moved to the UK. All of I sudden I realised how cheap books could be and when I could get 3 best sellers for £1 in my local thrift shop!!

My love of books is certainly right up there with my love of shoes and chocolate - and that's saying something!

Friday BookBloggerHop

BookBloggerHop is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy for Books!

How many books are currently in your To-Be-Read (TBR) Pile?

I think the question really needs to be, how many TBR piles do you have?! I have multiple piles dotted around the place, with at least 8-10 books in each, and they never seem to diminish!!! Then there's the pile of library books I try and get through but seem to take back unread! And if you count my bookshelf as a TBR pile, well Iet's just say, I've lost count - of books... and piles!

Book Blogger Hop: book-to-movie adaptations

Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted by Jennifer at Crazy for Books  This week's question comes from Britta who blogs at I Like These Books:

"What book-to-movie adaptations have you most liked? Which have you disliked?"


This question has just made me realise how few books I've read and how many movies I've watched! Terrible!! I'll just have to go about changing that. In the meantime though, the book-to-movie adaptation that I have most liked (and feel I can actually comment on), would be:
Snow Falling on Cedars, by David Guterson
It was an absolutely beautiful book and an absolutely beautiful film. I thought they did the adaptation very well, although I was glad that I'd read the book first, just to get more out of the film - but then I think that's the key to a good adaptation!


Meanwhile, the book-to-movie adaptations that I've disliked... where do I begin?! 
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas - terrible!
Q&A - the question and answers didn't add up, and they changed the relationship between the characters entirely!
And speaking of changing things entirely... My Sister's Keeper!!!!
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Blomkvist was meant to have sex appeal!


But, rather than ending this little hop on a negative note, my list of movies that I have loved and that I am yet to read the book version of is nice and healthy too:
PS: I Love You (and what's more I've heard the book is better!)
Chocolate (great film... and the book is sitting on my shelf)
The Devil Wears Prada (love it!)
And yes.... Jane Austen's collection. I have to get around to reading these!