Big Bookish Plans for 2012

With 2012 peeking around the corner I figured  I'd share exactly what will be happening on Nylon Admiral in the coming year. For the most part it'll be same as what you're used to. I'll be reading and reviewing but I'll also be taking part in a couple of challenges. I've tried to keep my challenge list down because I don't want to feel forced to read anything, but I think the three challenges I've picked will be able to be spread out enough to keep me happy. Along with these three I'll probably join a few read-a-longs and book club-ish type things but none of those have yet been set in stone. Also, I've created a new tab 2012 Challenges and you can check out my progress on there!

2012 Goodreads Challenge.
Aim: 50 books.

*I set myself the goal of 75 books in 2011, but I've decided to lower it to keep the pressure to read off of me. By the end of 2011 when I had to read a final two books in order to succeed with the challenge I felt pushed into reading something shorter just so I could meet the quota I'd decided on. With only 50 books on the table I'll be able to spend more time with the bigger chunkier books that take more time to get through and I'll also be able to balance it a little better with school.

The League of Extraordinary Gentleman Challenge.
Hosted by: Booking In Heels.
Aim: To read the 10 books that the characters from The League of Extraordinary Gentleman are based on. This also includes the original graphic novel by Alan Moore.

*I'm really looking forward to this one. Most of the books on this list are classic texts I've been meaning to read for AGES, so it's nice to have a little motivation to finally get through them. I'm also a huge fan of Alan Moore, so any excuse to read another of his graphic novels is a damn fine one!

Sci-fi challenge. 
Hosted by: Curiosity Killed The Bookworm
Aim: One Sci-fi book per month (at least).

*I love science fiction so I'd be reading some each month anyway, but I like the idea of a monthly book to read and review that others will also be reading an discussing. I'll probably stick to the monthly choice Ellie makes, but if any other sci-fi titles grab my attention I'll add them to the list also. FYI book one for the challenge is Zoo City by Lauren Beukes.

Top 10 Tuesday: Best of '11

Top 10 Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we're particularly of lists here at The Broke and The Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top 10 lists.

I haven't read too many books this year that were only published this year, but there certainly were books that I read that rocketed straight up to my 'favourite books of all time' list. Some are from recent-ish, while others are from a completely different era. Not all are my top rated reads from this year (although they're all 4+ out of 5) but all are awesome and should be read by all of you!

1. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
So. Damn. Emotional. An amazing book that really sits with you for quite awhile afterwards. It's a beautifully written story with characters that leap off the page with life. My favourite read for the year, and one that'll remain there for awhile I imagine.
read my review here.

2. A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin

I devoured this series this year! I watched the first episode of the television adaptation and was so awe-struck that I dropped everything and got my hands on the first book. I was basically a hermit until I finished these books, they're some of the best fantasy I've ever read. Huge. Amazing. Addictive.
Begin reading my reviews for this series here

.3. Pet Sematary by Stephen King

An amazing mix of supernatural and real horror. I had chills from the earliest pages and it continued to escalate until the very last page. Loved it, can't wait to find the time to re-read it!
read my review here.

4. Crooked Little Vein by Warren Ellis
Crazy good. Warren Ellis is my spirit animal, he's such an intensely good writer. This was my first foray into his fiction (he's usually a comic writer) and he definitely held his own. Not for the faint hearted.
read my review here.

5. Freakangels by Warren Ellis (graphic novel)
My Favourite graphic novel series of the year. The writing and story was captivating, but it was the art that really drew me in with this series. Paul Duffield is incredible, he proves that a picture truly is worth 1000 words.
read my review here.

6. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick
Short and straight to the point, this book was huge is scope. It tackles some intense themes and concepts, but it does so with such finesse that anyone can read, enjoy and appreciate the story that discusses them. Plus it was the inspiration for one of the greatest films ever, Bladerunner.
read my review here.

7. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
A really fun book that tackles the rather weighty subjects of religion and the end of the world. The blending of Gaiman and Pratchett was one cooked up in heaven, we're not worthy of such awesomeness to be honest.
read my review here.

8. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Of the books I've read this year, this is second only to Never let me go. In one word, this book is EPIC. It's intense and funny and creative and mind-boggling and Neil Gaiman deserves all the awards in all the worlds. So. freaking. good.
read my review here.

9. The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty
The book that the hit film was based on. An interesting blend of psychology and religion, that, I'm not afraid to admit, had me so scared at times that I had to switch over to cheery TV to calm myself down.
read my review here.

10. The Goon by Eric Powell (graphic novel)
A really short but really incredible comic. Hugely funny, and not at all serious, anyone who doesn't have some kind of stick up their butt should read and bask in the bizarre hilarity of this book.
read my (mini) review here.

honourable mentions: Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh (re-read), Cell by Stephen King, The Doctor is Sick by Anthony Burgess and The Vagabond King by James Conway.

(belated) Monday Links

After the several tonnes of food that I ate on Christmas day I decided to have a fairly laid back boxing day, reading, watching TV and spending the evening with friends. So here are the links I would have posted yesterday if I'd been organised!

*From the New York Times, 'A literary history of word processing'. 

*From Belle's Bookshelf, a collection of the various editions that Penguin has been releasing that would be the perfect way to spend any Christmas dollars or giftcards you received!

*From Facebook, an account everyone should follow. George Takei (from the original series of Star Trek) is freaking hilarious! He often posts comical pictures, but it's his pun-tastic captions that really make me giggle.

*From Random House, a bunch of the latest ebooks in their collection, perfectly timed in case you received an e-reader for Christmas. 

*From Guy Laramee, a series of book sculptures that will blow your freaking mind!

*From Rome, some well-deserving books are given a hospital stay. 

Christmas goodies

Happy Boxing day all! I thought I'd share a quick little post about the bookish items I received this Christmas! Along with the much loved (and in some cases much needed) presents my friends and family gifted me this year, I did fairly well in the bookish area of gifts! From Tom's grandpa I got the 'book' bookends you see in the picture* (Now all I need to do is clear some space on my shelves so I can actually use them!), from Santa (read: Tom's way of spending more than the acceptable amount of money on me) I received Murakami's HUGE 1Q84 and from my Broke and the Bookish Secret Santa (Shelleyrae at Book'd Out) I now have Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin and The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Murakami waiting patiently on my bookshelf. I also have three or four of the books for the 2012 League of Extraordinary Gentleman challenge awaiting me back home in Cairns, which unfortunately didn't arrive from the uncles in time for my mum to bring them down to Brisbane. All in all, a most acceptable haul of bookish items...hopefully I can get to them all, post haste!

Enough about me. How was everyone's Christmas?



*Sorry about the picture quality. I was feeling lazy so I just used my webcam which isn't a particularly good camera it seems!

Happy 25th of December!

Merry Christmas!

Drunk History Christmas with Ryan Gosling, Jim Carrey and Eva Mendes from Ryan Gosling      

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Fanart Friday: Neil Gaiman Mixed Bag

Neil Gaiman is all kinds of awesome. I mean, other than his wonderful book and comics (I mean... American Gods and Sandman..'Nuff said), he's completely involved with his fanbase. He writes funny and interesting tweets, answers questions on his tumblr and posts countless photos of his dog and beautiful wife Amanda Palmer on his blog. I'm not sure you could name a more present author around at the moment. For these reasons, and the fact that his writing is some of my favourite around I thought I'd dedicate a Fanart Friday post to the greatest messy haired author that I fangirl over all the time! Be sure to click through the links and check out more work by these talented arty guys 'n gals.

Good Omens by Noxcape

Amanda Palmer and Neil Gaiman by heartofglitter

Neil Himself by Lerms