Freaks by Annette Curtis Klause: I’ve read a couple of other books by Klause, in the past, and found them okay, but nothing special, but Carl talked about this one in his round of his favourite books of the last decade, And then there is that fantastic cover! Bad Bloggers point to Carl.

Lost at Sea by Bryan Lee O’Malley: I’ve recently read the first three Scott Pilgrim books and loved them, but it was this review by Nymeth, that first brought this one to my attention. Point to Ana.

The Saddlebag by Bahiyyih Nakhjavani: Picked up this one in my local Oxfam and liked the look of it.

The Latent Powers of Dylan Fontane by April Lurie & The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E Lockhart: Both of these have been well received all over the place but it was Becky’s reviews that caused me to add them to my wishlist. So 2 points to Becky.

• Bad Bloggers: Is hosted by Chris of Stuff as Dreams are Made on.
• Mailbox Monday: Is hosted by Marcia, of The Printed Page.  Head over there if you want to see what everyone else has received in the last week or you want to play along.

Books Bought

Grl2Grl by Julie Anne Peters: It’s totally Amanda’s fault that I’m reading Julie Anne Peters stuff, so the fact that I picked this one up after spotting in my local bookshop this week.

TimeRiders by Alex Scarrow: I’d seen this one, mentioned in passing on a couple of blog posts, but it was this review on The Book Zone (for Boys) that pushed me over the edge, so a point to Mr. H.

Gone by Michael Grant: It was this review by Karin that first convinced me this was a book I needed to read, so a point to her.

The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer: Sequel to Life as we Knew it, should be interesting as I listened to the first one as an audiobook so the experience, will be a little different this time around, a different narrator should ease the change though.

Mouse Guard Winter 1152 by David Petersen: I’ve been after this one ever since, I read the first one in the series, Autumn 1152, and fell in love with Petersen’s gorgeous artwork.

Books Received from Publisher

Mr Monster by Dan Wells: Surprise through the letterbox from the publisher.

Lean on Pete: Received from LibraryThing’s Early Review programme, I very nearly bought this one the other week, only to come home the same day to find I’d be receiving it in the post! I knew when I was looking at it in the shop, I’d seen it somewhere before… *bangs head on desk*

• Bad Bloggers: Is hosted by Chris of Stuff as Dreams are Made on.
• Mailbox Monday: Is hosted by Marcia, of The Printed Page.  Head over there if you want to see what everyone else has received in the last week or you want to play along.

Scott Pilgrim Series: So these would be Chris’ fault! He posted about them last year and when I spotted them in my local bookshop they just had to come home with me! (3 points to Chris!)

I tweeted about these a few days ago trying to make the excuse that as they haven’t come home with me they don’t really count as TBR additions, but lets not kid ourselves, they do really…

• Bad Bloggers: Is hosted by Chris of Stuff as Dreams are Made on.
• Mailbox Monday: Is hosted by Marcia, of The Printed Page.  Head over there if you want to see what everyone else has received in the last week or you want to play along.

So, what’s your best excuse for not counting an acquisition as part of your TBR Pile?

Three books in to the house this week, which slightly takes me back over where my TBR pile was at the start of my book buying ban But then there is still over a month to go so I may get it lower!

• Lex Trent versus The Gods by Alex Bell: I was sent this book by the publisher for review. We’re also trying to get an interview with Alex together as well, which should appear on the blog at some time in Feburary.
• Hector and the Search for Happiness: Was sent to me by the lovely people at Gaelic Books.
• Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde: Bought this one and I can’t wait to start it! I’ve loved everything he’s written in the past. Even better I’m off to hear him talk about it on Thursday, and I’m going to take it along in the hope of getting it signed!

Mailbox Monday: Is hosted by Marcia, of The Printed Page.  Head over there if you want to see what everyone else has received in the last week or you want to play along!

You see, I pre-ordered this a couple of months ago (it’s the paperback edition) and forgot about it. and then the other day I got an email letting me know it had been dispatched!

Should help slake the first thirst whilst I wait for the paperback of Eleventh Grade Burns is released later this year.

Mailbox Monday: Is hosted by Marcia, of The Printed Page.  Head over there if you want to see what everyone else has received in the last week or you want to play along.

As someone couldn’t sing the praise of this one any louder if she tried I just knew I had to have it!! and so a Bad Bloggers point goes to Amanda!

• Bad Bloggers: Is hosted by Chris of Stuff as Dreams are Made on.
• Mailbox Monday: Is hosted by Marcia, of The Printed Page.  Head over there if you want to see what everyone else has received in the last week or you want to play along.

What with a birthday as well, I obviously acquired more than two books over the festive period, so here they are:

Chronicle of a Death Fortold by Gabriel García Márquez: Eva’s fault this one I’ve wanted to read some Márquez, but to be honest I’ve always been a little intimidated by it! So when Eva mentioned this novella during the last read-a-thon, I just had to mooch a copy. (Which I did before my book-acquisition ban started it just arrived over Christmas so no falling-off-the-wagon here!)

Graceling by Kirstin Cashmore: A Christmas present this one (well bought with a Christmas book voucher anyway!) I think I’m one of the last people to get this one, but it was Becky who first brought it to my attention so a Bad Blogger’s point for her!

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Burbery: Offered by the publisher for review. But I’m sure as for many, this one was brought to my attention by Dewey. So a point for  the much missed Dewey.

Ah… and this is where the naughtiness begins, technically I’ve not read enough from my TBR pile to receive these, but in my defence I have read enough non-qualifying books to count for one of them, so we’ll just mark that as one over and not’ mention it again, eh?

The Bird Room by Chris Killen: Received via the LibraryThing Early Reviewer Program. To be honest I requested it without much thought of actually receiving it, so this one was a bit of a surprise. Looks fun though!

Paper Towns by John Green: Do I need an excuse?

• Bad Bloggers: Is hosted by Chris of Stuff as Dreams are Made on.
• Mailbox Monday: Is hosted by Marcia, of The Printed Page.  Head over there if you want to see what everyone else has received in the last week or you want to play along.

Not only that, but she got it signed too!

And Secret Santa is Back!

Nymeth, along with her team of helpers is once again hosting the Book Blogger Holiday Swap!

The holiday swap is a way for book bloggers to connect and celebrate the holiday spirit by sharing gifts. It’s done secret Santa style; all of the participants are randomly assigned a blogger to send a gift to, and these assignments are kept secret until the gift has been delivered. So no one knows who their gift is coming from!

You can join in the fun by filling in the Google Form on the event’s introduction post. You have until the 12th of November to do so. You’ll then be randomly assigned another blogger, whose Secret Santa you’ll be!

Bad Blogger’s point to Nymeth then! This one spent a long time hanging around the featured shelves and tables at my local book store last year, and I was always tempted but never ended up buying a copy. Considering I didn’t particularly enjoy the only McEwan I’ve read (On Chesil Beech) I do seem to be getting quite the collection of McEwan’s books! (I now have this one, Enduring Love & Saturday to read)

My nephew commented he’d read this one, when he spotted by copy of Saturday. My nephew. Who. Does. Not. Read.

It was only 99p what was I to do?

• Bad Bloggers: Is hosted by Chris of Stuff as Dreams are Made on.
• Mailbox Monday: Is hosted by Marcia, of The Printed Page.  Head over there if you want to see what everyone else has received in the last week or you want to play along.

Can you give yourself bad bloggers points?

Always a popular book during the RIP challenges, I couldn’t not grab a copy when it cropped up on Bookmooch. But who’s to blame, well it took a bit of digging, but I do believe that would be Eva!

Selected because it won the Printz award, and I’m doing the Printz Challenge.

Who else is to blame but Shaun Tan’s number one fan, Chris! Well that and it was on display at my local Waterstones and I had loyalty points burning a hole in my card!

For an upcoming blog tour (4th Nov) Quite looking forward to this one!

• Bad Bloggers: Is hosted by Chris of Stuff as Dreams are Made on.
• Mailbox Monday: Is hosted by Marcia, of The Printed Page.  Head over there if you want to see what everyone else has received in the last week or you want to play along.