Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish. This week was a freebie, so I picked the top ten classics I want to read at some point. 

1. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

It's a long one, but there's something about the historical Russian setting that appeals to me. I watched the movie, and it was quite interesting, so I'm looking forward to one day seeing how the book compares.

2. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo





Another lengthy classic, but I am a fan of European historical settings and I hope I can one day get through this one.

3. The Beautiful and the Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald won me over with The Great Gatsby, and I can't wait to read more of his modern classics. If anyone has recommendations on more of his works which they've liked, let me know!

4. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

I actually own a copy of this but am yet to read it...

5. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

I find the French Revolution fascinating and did an assignment on it recently, so this novel intrigues me.

6. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Another quaint classic sitting on my shelf waiting to be read *stares guiltily at bookshelf*

7. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

I enjoyed Pride and Prejudice and Northanger Abbey, so I do want to read more of Austen's work...turns out that yes, I own a few of hers waiting on my shelf too.

8. Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote

It's nice to have a more lighthearted and quick classic read to shake things up.

9. The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells

After reading similar modern novels like Dr. Franklin's Island (which really creeped me out at the time), and The Madman's Daughter, it'd be interesting to go back to the original. 

10. Middlemarch by George Eliot

I just discovered this recently, and since it's been praised by the like of Virginia Woolf, I suppose it must be good.

What classics have you read and loved, or want to read at some point?

Review: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
Released: 1st January 2015
Published by: Allen and Unwin
Genre: YA Contemporary
Source: Publisher/Netgalley
Pages: 353
My Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Goodreads | Bookworld | Book Depository

Frankie Landau-Banks at age 14: Debate Club. Her father's 'bunny rabbit'. A mildly geeky girl attending a highly competitive boarding school. Frankie Landau-Banks at age 15: A knockout figure. A sharp tongue. A chip on her shoulder. And a gorgeous new senior boyfriend: the supremely goofy, word-obsessed Matthew Livingston.

Frankie Landau-Banks: No longer the kind of girl to take 'no' for an answer. Especially when 'no' means she's excluded from her boyfriend's all-male secret society. Not when her ex-boyfriend shows up in the strangest of places. Not when she knows she's smarter than any of them. When she knows Matthew's lying to her. And when there are so many, many pranks to be done.

Frankie Landau-Banks at age 16: Possibly a criminal mastermind. This is the story of how she got that way.

Thank you to Allen and Unwin for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

In some ways, we can see Frankie Landau-Banks as a neglected positive. A buried word. A word inside another word that's getting all the attention. A mind inside a body that's getting all the attention.

This E. Lockhart novel is certainly different to her best-selling mystery We Were Liars, though I could still see her distinct style coming through on every page. Although The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks is a book that didn't blow me away completely, it was still an interesting take on the evolution of a teenage girl within the intricate social milieu of an elite boarding school. 

She was not only worried about losing her boyfriend's affection. She was worried about losing her status with his friends. 

Frankie's desire to be noticed and ultimate quest for appraisal was something that did come across as her being 'needy' at first, though I did come to realise that it is in some cases an accurate representation of how teenage girls may feel. The storyline chronicles her relationship with Matthew, who is older and 'cooler', with a clique of friends that Frankie longs to be part of. I could sense a hint of satire in Frankie's way of thinking, and her sharp wit and logical thinking soon dispels any notions of her being a lovesick-boy-crazed teenager. 

Frankie's mind is a word overlooked, but when uncovered - through invention, imagination, or recollection - it wields a power that is comical, surprising, and memorable.

Exploring the inner-workings of the social hierarchy was interesting to a point, though there were a few tangents at the beginning that slowed down the plot in places. I expected the storyline to be a little bit more edgy (if that explains it) in places with perhaps a darker undertone, but it did stagnate on the lighter end of the spectrum. Even so, throughout Frankie's escapades and detective-work to look into how the 'Basset-Hounds' really operated, I was kept engaged and wanted to know what would happen next.

It was a fundamental element of her character. Life as it was presently occurring was not acceptable to her. Were she to mellow out - would she not become obedient? Would she not stay on the path that stretched ahead of her, nicely bricked?
She did not get much out of therapy.

What people will either love or hate about this book is E. Lockhart's writing style. There's something inadvertently gripping about it, as it seems to be speaking to you personally. It's not exactly conversational, but the references to the reader in various places does definitely draw you in. I love the sophistication in the areas where Frankie is devising her next plan, and by the finish it felt satisfying to know how everybody had ended up.

It is better to be alone, she figures, than to be with someone who can't see who you are. It is better to lead than to follow. It is better to speak up than stay silent. It is better to open doors than to shut them on people.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Featuring a sassy heroine and a dash of feminism, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks is a novel that E. Lockhart fans should definitely check out. If you want a glimpse into the students of a preppy private school rebelling against the system with a sardonic twist, then this is for you.

Genie's Weekly News (18)

Hi everyone and welcome to my weekly blog feature to recap the week with bookish news and what to expect coming up! So without further ado...

*Reading Right Now*




I've seen a variety of mixed reviews about this hotly-anticipated release, but I'm going in with an open mind and hoping for the best.

*Previous Posts*

• Top Ten Tuesday: 2014 Releases I Missed
• ARC Review: Red Queen by VIctoria Aveyard  
• Birthday Giveaway  

*Recommendation of the Week*

This lived up to the hype for me, I hope it does for you too!

*From The Interwebs*

• Amanda @ Beautiful Bookish Butterflies talked about how blogs can change over time
• Kara @ Diary of a Teen Writer shared her stand on ghost-writing
• Emily @ The Loony Teen Writer announced her new blog!
• Zoe @ Stories on Stage discussed rating and not finishing
• Alise @ Readers in Wonderland discussed what's in a name?

*Haul*

Thank you to Five Mile Press, Bloomsbury Australia and Allen and Unwin for these review copies! 

*Other News*

Thank you to everyone who sent me lovely birthday wishes yesterday! As I mentioned above, I do have a birthday giveaway on for my Aussie followers which you can enter via the rafflecopter on that post (click the image to go to that), and gain some extra entries through twitter if you so wish.

RT + Follow for extra entries into my bday giveaway! Winner gets 1 book from the stack (AU) http://t.co/ucN6B4bdYD pic.twitter.com/aHQGmOM2XZ

— Eugenia (@Genie_inabook) January 17, 2015

How has your week been?

Birthday Giveaway

Hi everyone! It's my birthday today, but to mix things up a bit I thought it'd be nice to do a giveaway for you. Although Genie In A Book is still relatively new, thank you so much for supporting it and helping it grow since last year. Every meaningful comment and new booklover I meet makes blogging all the more enjoyable.

So, to celebrate I'm giving my Aussie followers a chance to win one book of their choice from the stack:

Choices

The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu

Why We Took The Car by Wolfgang Herrndorf

Life In Outer Space by Melissa Kiel

Breakdown by Sarah Mussi

All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

Dissonance by Erica O'Rourke

Shiver The Whole Night Through by Darragh McManus

As Stars Fall by Christie Nieman

The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet by Kate Rorick and Bernie Su

Bird by Crystal Chan

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ARC Review: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
Released: 10th February 2015
Series: Red Queen Trilogy #1
Published by: Orion
Genre: YA Dystopian
Source: Publisher/Netgalley
Pages: 320
My Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Goodreads | Bookworld | Book Depository

The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change. Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of those she hates the most.

She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control. But power is a dangerous game.

And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

Book cover source 

Thank you to Hachette Australia for sending me a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

I've seen Red Queen being compared to 'The Hunger Games' and 'The Selection' - but let me tell you. in my personal experience it is so much more unique than either of them. Sure, it may contain a few of what have become the 'typical' YA tropes of the rich versus the poor and a rebellion on the rise, but the overall plotline, worldbuilding and characters that Victoria Aveyard has created in her debut make this novel stand out from the rest. In my opinion, the hype surrounding this release is warranted. To all you readers who are tired of the same old dystopian formula, I would recommend giving this book a try as it definitely has the means to impress.

The concept of power and how those who possess it use their influence for their own gain is a constant theme in dystopias, but made even more prominent and comprehensively explored in Red Queen. Mare Barrow, a once typical 'Red', where her blood, like her peers, determines her rank - would never think that she could be part of the 'Silver' society. The are the elite, in the upper echelons of the society Aveyard has formed, where power comes to those worthy of possessing it - as they are the ones with powers of their own. I love how this book not only takes us into the world of a repressed people where the social divide is greater than ever, but also one where there are some supernatural/fantasy elements as well. 

The Silvers are the ones who have their own special abilities, from being able to control the elements, to manipulating objects around them. The turn of events where Mare discovers that she is an anomaly with her own specialty was an expected, yet still fascinating one. Through her perspective, taking a glimpse into the royal family who rule the city exemplified the extent of the thorough worldbuilding which was definitely a plus. Each description is rich in detail without being overwhelming, and I could picture each scene with clarity in my mind, providing a holistic reading experience. 

Anyone can betray anyone.

The different relationships in the storyline are certainly complex, and though the budding crush that Mare develops on one of the princes is obvious to the rest of us, it is something foreign to her as she had never had the opportunity to think in that way. While there were certainly snippets of a 'romance' (though not in the full extent of the word), it was refreshing to see that it did not take away from the rest of the plot. Cal and Maven had their own ties with Mare, but there isn't a love triangle *cue sigh of relief*. What really stood out to me was the sinister undercurrent of how the leaders of this world exploited their wealth and influence to squander the chances of rebellion, at whatever the cost. There were some shocking betrayals and times of emotional turmoil and shock. You don't find THAT in every dystopian novel, which makes Red Queen even more refreshing. Basically, watch out girls - don't fall for what may seem like 'the knight in shining armour' - despite all the charm.

Another big plus in my books when it comes to novels like this in general, is the action. Aveyard wasn't afraid to include some pretty epic fight scenes at the end which were truly intense. The rest of the storyline was relatively light, but there were always wheels turning as the masterminds plotted their next move. In all, this is a book that has the perfect balance of character development, intrigue and action to keep you hooked.

FINAL THOUGHTS

2015 is already shaping up to be a fantastic one for YA, and Red Queen is continuing on with that trend. Victoria Aveyard has made herself an author to watch after this fantastic debut, and now all that's left is to wait for book two!