May 2016 Wrap-Up!

May 2016 has been an interesting month – I’m putting the finishing touches to the last assignment in my 16-year academic career, my thesis in Biophysics. I didn’t think I’d be able to get through many books or blog posts, but it appears instead I’ve broken records. Huh.

Blog Posts

I hope you’ve all been enjoying the YALC Reading List books as much as I’ve been enjoying writing them – they’re a great way of figuring out what books I want to read and get signed before the big weekend in July. I’m so excited to see the timetable tomorrow (1 June) at 9am!

YALC Reading List: Part 3!

YALC Reading List: Part 4!

YALC Reading List Part 5!

YALC Reading List Part SIX!

I’ve also been helping with the UKYA BookBlogger Awards. Here are all the posts from the awards, including the announcement of the winners earlier this week.

2016 UKYA Book Blogger Award Nominations!

UKYA Book Blogger Awards Longlist!

WINNERS of the UKYA Book Blogger Awards!

I also wrote about the boxsets I am so excited to buy, featuring the lovely new boxsets from Leigh Bardugo:

I want ALL of the boxsets!

Books Read

Here I would insert a nice photo of the books I’ve read, but I’m too lazy this month. Next month however…

The Inventory: Iron Fist by Andy Briggs – review and my stop on the blog tour here.

Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin – review here.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare

I read this after doing the play at school many years ago, and in preparation for the BBC adaptation (which I’m not entirely sure I’m going to watch – any opinions would be welcome)

The Crown and the Arrow by Renee Ahdieh

This is a *really* short story bridging the gap between the two books in The Wrath and the Dawn duology.

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

OMG. This book. Just go and read this book. 4.77 rating on Goodreads. (I’m planning on publishing my reviews for ACOTAR and ACOMAF over a weekend sometime soon.)

My Favourite Manson Girl by Alison Umminger – review here

The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout – review here

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

I read this in anticipation for the movie – hoping to do a book/film comparison this month!

The Girls by Emma Cline – review here

So that’s NINE books, in a month I wasn’t really meant to be reading…

I’m hoping June will be just as productive!

What have you read this month? Have you read any of the books on my list? What did you think?

Annalise xxx

My Most Anticipated Movies – Apr-June 2016

I first intended this to be a series of book adaptations – but it turns out there aren’t too many coming out this year (all hail the rise of the video game adaptation).

Since I started university, (3.5 years ago – yelp!) I’ve taken up going to the cinema. This is mostly because there is only a Tesco in my university town and I amass clubcard points like nobody’s business – and get half-price/free cinema tickets in return.

Let’s get started, shall we?

April 2016

April is rarely a good month for cinema releases (I should know – my birthday is in April and there is NEVER anything I want to see).

Captain America: Civil War

Political interference in the Avengers’ activities causes a rift between former allies Captain America and Iron Man.

Now, I haven’t seen the other Captain America movies (but they are on Netflix and I have that so, no excuse) but I have seen the Avengers, and this seems to be a bridge between Age of Ultron and Infinity War. I’m not so sure on the tone of this movie – but it does feature some of my favourite Marvel characters (Black Widow and Scarlet Witch) and introduces Spiderman to the Avengers.

Released: 29 April 2016

May 2016

Alice Through The Looking Glass

Alice returns to the whimsical world of Wonderland and travels back in time to save the Mad Hatter.  

 Now, if you had asked me after the first Alice movie, I would have said this sequel wasn’t needed, at all. But after seeing the trailer in 3D IMAX before Star Wars, I started to get excited for this one – it has a great cast (Sacha Baron Cohen, Helena Bonham-Carter, Johnny Depp, etc.) and it’s very visually exciting. I’d like to see this one in 3D (it really did just grab me!)

Released: 27 May 2016

June 2016

Me Before You

A girl in a small town forms an unlikely bond with a recently-paralyzed man she’s taking care of.  

Cheesy (potentially devastating) romance, featuring some amazing British actors (Emilia Clarke, Sam Claflin, Jenna Coleman…) based on the best-selling book by Jojo Moyes (recently added to my TBR, might I add?). The screenplay was also written by the author (usually a good sign1!) I’m hoping to have finished the book before seeing this so I don’t cry in public… too much.

Released: 3 June 2016 (UK)

Warcraft

An epic fantasy/adventure based on the popular video game series.  

You can’t deny that the Warcraft world is amazing, visually beautiful and jam-packed full of lore and back-story. I’m not too sure on the plot of this movie – but hopefully if it is a success, this can be the start of a franchise with deep and rich stories and characters. (I’d personally like to see the Draenei and the Blood Elves, and a plot involving the Lich King). Hopefully this film will entice viewers into appreciating the beauty of the Warcraft franchise.

Released: 3 June 2016 (UK)

So there are my picks for cinema releases up til June – I’m sure many more will catch my eye in the meantime. What are your thoughts on my choices – are there any films you think will be smash hits that don’t feature?

Tweet me at @annalisebooks or comment below!

Annalise x