It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

Hello, to my bookish friends!

In the Melbourne airport I was lucky to find this book by Emily Winfield Martin.

I have been wanting to get it for some time, but thought I could only get it online and have been trying to avoid spending online this year. But airport bookshops always have every book your heart desires, and I couldn't miss the chance! This is a child's novel, perhaps for ages 7-11. It is a gorgeous story of a collection of unusual characters that all live at the Oddfellow's Orphanage and there are sweet sepia illustrations on each page. You will find more of Emily Martin's creations at her very famous website, and etsy store, 
The Black Apple. She is amazing, and I adore her illustrations, her fashion style, her collections, 
and now her stories. 

This week, I finished reading Burn Bright by Australian author Marianne de Pierres.

Burn Bright is a speculative fiction book about Retra and her experiences in Ixion, an island of pleasure, where it is always night. This book reminded me a little of Veronica Roth's book Divergent, because Retra comes from a highly suppressed life to a decadent one, although Ixion still has its rules and restrictions. As usual, with young adult books, it took me awhile to get used to the teenagery interactions between the characters, and I'm not sure if the kissing moments were meant to sound that gross, but they did! There are many interesting other-worldly ideas though, which is why I like to read speculative fiction.

I also listened to the audiobook of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

This short story about the infamous Headless Horseman was more like a poem, with its beautiful descriptive language, however, the ghostly part of the story was relayed in about two pages! Read this one if you like descriptions of character and countryside from the late 1700s, not if you want a suspenseful ghost story!
It was an entertaining accompaniment to folding and putting away washing, though, lol!

Against my better judgment (sheesh!) I have been reading Fifty Shades of Grey, mainly so I could find out what everyone is going on about!

Mostly, I feel sorry for the main character, Anastasia - all she wants is a sweet romance with an amazingly good-looking guy, and she has to contend with all his kinky, controlling ways. I've never been into this kind of relationship and it made me feel sad that Anastasia was in tears after her 'sessions' with Christian. I am yet to understand how people gain enjoyment from other people's pain. Or why people think beauty alone is enough of a reason to be with someone. I guess I'll read the rest of the series, but to be honest, it's only because I'm hoping she will reform him.

After reading Sheila from Book Journey's ravings about Gone Girl, that is the next book on my list to read.

It is about a woman who goes missing, and what came before and after that. Told from two different perspectives, the wife and the husband, the story and style of writing got me in from the first page! Although I'm sure it's going to end up being about another couple of nutters, like Fifty Shades, lol!

I 'm  also starting the next Marianne de Pierres book Angel Arias.

Pop over and visit Sheila at Book Journey to find some other great reads:

Have a thrilling week!

xx