The Seven Deadly Sins Book Tag

Hey there again bookish friends, hope you’re all well and reading like crazy!

(Image by Bibleinfo.com)

Today on my blog I’m going to be doing the Seven Deadly Sins Book Tag post. I recently read Lashaans’ post over on Bookidote and thought it was awesome, so decided to share my own sinful book secrets.

Have a look at Lashaans’ sins!! 👇🏻 Aren’t we just utterly wicked readers?! 😈

http://bookidote.com/2019/08/12/the-seven-deadly-sins-book-tag/

Ok then, off I go…

What is the most expensive book you own?

Isn’t it absolutely gorgeous? It deserves all the faffing about for the pictures because it’s just so damn photogenic and expensive. I’m also ashamed to say I haven’t properly read it! The pages are very thin and I’m scared about wear and tear. I know. Don’t go there.

And the LEAST expensive?

You’re probably wondering why on earth I’ve pictured Mindhunter with my kitchen bin. Well, I found this book IN THE BIN at work!! Shocking behaviour! Who would do this?! Anyway, me being the Womble I am retrieved it and felt chuffed at my free find, and relieved that I saved this very interesting book from a life of landfill.

What book have you shamelessly devoured many times?

Good god, look at the state of that!! It stinks, it has mould and mildew, it’s 32 years old and I love and adore it.

What attributes do you find most attractive in your characters?

I had to think about this one for a while. But these are the kind of characters I have a tendency to gravitate towards in books:

FEARLESS WOMEN WITH PSYCHOPATHIC TENDENCIES. I just love a girl with a dangerous wickedness. A dry humoured, sarcastic crazy bitch. Am I weird?

Dear Sweetpea, you’ll always be my bestie book buddy. Even though you terrified me.

And while we’re on the subject of women who have lost the plot shall we say, have you seen Killing Eve?

I’m binge watching series 2 this week and I am so rooting for Villanelle. It was on BBC One a little while back and I’m so glad my sister recommended it to me. Its based on the books by Luke Jennings. All great TV comes originally from books it seems.

What books would you most like to receive as a gift?

I’m so sad that my household still doesn’t own a Tolkien boxset. What is wrong with us? Both myself and my man are LOTR fans. Yet we don’t own the books. I just don’t get it.

What book(s) do you bring up when you want to sound like an intellectual reader?

I struggled to answer this one because I don’t try and be something I’m not. However, what I am is a bit on the odd side and I like to surprise people.

I’ve been known to bring into conversation that I’ve read The Satanic Bible and it certainly raises some eyebrows. Satanism is very misunderstood. It really isn’t about draining chicken blood into a dish and dowsing yourself with it. It is in fact quite a liberating lifestyle/religion, for those who choose to follow it.

What book or series have you neglected out of sheer laziness?

I just cannot be arsed to read this at all. I watched 3 seasons of it and then the final season. That’ll do thanks.

What author do you have a love/hate relationship with?

Aww man… Mr King. I just can’t explain this one really. I’ve read 3 or 4 books by this incredible author. He IS incredible, there’s no getting away from it. But I get this daunting feeling when I read his stuff. I WANT to love it all. Read it all. But I get worried I’ll become one of those annoying ‘King is THE KING of horror’ readers, who just keep harping on about him. (Like I do about James Herbert. I know, I know 🙄 He is (was) the Master of Macabre, NOT King.) So I CAN explain it after all! I’m rather afraid I’m going to end up liking King more than Herbert. And do you know what? That just won’t do.

Well, there we have it. In conclusion, I’m such a sinner. What a thoroughly wonderful and enjoyable post that was to compile.

Huge thanks to Lashaan over at Bookidote.com for inspiring me 👍🏻😃

Fancy doing your own 7 Deadly Sins post? Do tag me in it so I can have a read, this has been my favourite blog post of all so far! 😍

Top Ten Tuesday [Twisted and Questionable Edition 18+]

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created over at 👉 The Broke and the Bookish.👈

Go check out their blog when you’ve got a minute, it’s fabulous!

For my Top Ten Tuesday post I’m going to list some of my most twisted and disturbing reads that I have come across over the years. There’s a few different genres here, ranging from horror and erotica, to crime and religion. It’s quite a mixed bag, but please BE WARNED, THESE BOOKS ARE NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART OR THE EASILY OFFENDED!!

(Click on the pics to take you to their Goodreads pages!)

The Dark by James Herbert

My first EVER horror book. I was 13 years old and utterly blown away by this. (As were many of the characters in the book, but in a VERY different way!)

The Satanic Bible by Anton Szandor LaVey 

This book is strangely mesmerising! LaVey’s ideology was the perfect partner back in the day when I’d first discovered Black Sabbath, Slayer and Megadeth! It was THE go-to book for us metal-heads at school circa 1988. Not only is it pretty controversial, we also had it confiscated so many times by the deputy head! Oh Mr Ellis, you were such a spoil sport!

Public Disgrace at the Club by La Marchesa

Ok, this really is a dirty little book. At 39 pages this Kindle smut was outrageous! It was free, I was bored, and I’m not at all embarrassed by my choice of short story. Although I couldn’t read it in public, that would be a disgrace. Obviously. Next….

Sweetpea by C J Skuse

Oh how I love you my Sweetpea, one of my best of 2017. (Sounds like I’m starting an ode….) It’s offensive, sweary, bloody, violent and genius. Read it. That’s an order!

Cold Calling by Haydn Wilks

This is just so wrong on so many levels.  I gave it a 4 star review. Pretty sick stuff!

 

 

 

Choke by Chuck Palahniuk

Deranged isn’t the right word, but it’s the first word that comes to mind.

See also : Barmy
See also : Genius

The Book of Paul by Richard Long

I have never read ANYTHING like this and I don’t think I ever will again. This is possibly the most intelligently grotesque horror story I’ve been lucky enough to get my hands on. I can’t unsee some of the scenes, absolutely not for the squeamish. A five star book.

In the Miso Soup by Ryu Murakami

Poignant, candid, and so brutal. This one was my first ever book written by a Japanese author. It certainly opened my eyes! I’d love to visit Tokyo, and thankfully, reading this hasn’t put me off!

 

 

Wind Up Toy by David Owain Hughes

A quote from my Goodreads review says enough about this one really;

“I need to clean my thoughts with an electric sander and brush my tongue with Colgate mixed with hydrochloric acid. Although I do rather like this bad taste.” 

I gave it 4.5 stars! I guess I’m a bit twisted and questionable sometimes! 😂

 

Captive in the Dark by C J Roberts

A very dark erotica with a very disturbing subject. I was testing some reading boundaries with this one. Although it had abuse, kidnapping and sexual violence as it’s main subject, it was incredibly well written, but I don’t think I’d want to read anything like this again.

 

 

Well, there we have it! My Top Ten Tuesday with a twist and leaving you with questions perhaps! (This girl reads some weird shit, I know!) When it comes to books, I like to test those bookworm boundaries, after all, wouldn’t it be boring if we all just read Harry Potter and fluffy romance. (I’ve not read HP or fluff, just for the record.)

Thanks so much for stopping by, and tell me, IN CONFIDENCE what your twisted reads are in the comments below. I won’t tell a soul. Promise. 😉

Sweetpea by C J Skuse (a 2017 top read)

Sweetpea by C.J. Skuse

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“I don’t want to talk any more about today. I just want to overeat and shit myself and die. Or shit myself after I die. Apparently that happens. And when you give birth too. Ugh. What a world.”

Although her childhood was haunted by a famous crime, Rhinannon’s life is normal now that her celebrity has dwindled. By day, her job as an editorial assistant is demeaning and unsatisfying. By evening she dutifully listens to her friend’s plans for marriage and babies whilst secretly making a list.

A kill list.

From the man on the Lidl checkout who always mishandles her apples and squashes her sliced loaf, to the driver who cuts her up on her way to work. And then there’s the people who really deserve to die.

This story had me roaring with laughter like the mad woman I am. It is 100% my kind of humour, for which I am 100% not sorry for. It’s certainly NOT your average humour, and it could very well offend and disturb a lot of people. But not me, I loved it!

So, in order to try and lead a relatively normal life, Rhiannon, creates The Act. This is basically her way of fitting in with her colleagues and her group of friends. (aka ‘The PICSO’s’. You’ll have to read it to find out what that stands for. It’s absolute class, and everyone has a PICSO or ten in their lives!) They have no idea that she is a psychopath with uncontrollable murderous tendencies.

The story is told in diary format, which I love because it’s so easy to follow. What I loved about it most of all though was the humour. It was dark, deeply disturbing and very un-pc. Worryingly, I heard my own thoughts countless times throughout!

“Got on the scales first thing – still not lost the Christmas poundage. Googled ‘West Country Liposuction’. Can’t afford it. Had an eclair.” (Yes! Cake IS the answer!)

Had I have read this in a public place, I’d of got very strange looks because I was laughing and snorting and nodding my head in agreement all the way through. Rhiannon, you’re a gem, albeit a murderous one!!

Without giving too much away, here’s a couple of tasters of her many Kill Lists which cropped up throughout the story;

1. People who walk in groups along the pavement so no one else can get past, like they’re fucking in Reservoir Dogs. (Why do people do this?!)

2. Middle-class people who believe it’s their God-given right to bring their babies into restaurants and allow them to squawk all through a meal. (Ugh, don’t get me started on this one!)

3. Interrupters. (Yep, totally agree!)

I know it’s a pretty harsh attitude to have, but I’m certain loads of people think these things, the older I’ve got, the less tolerant I’ve become, so these felt very relatable for me! Not to the extent that I want to kill anybody though, I’d like to point out!! Rhiannon, you’re my kind of girl. But I value my life far too much to be your friend!

C J Skuse has created incredibly believable characters with such depth and imagination that every single one of them stood out for one reason or another. Sweetpea was an absolute joy to read. However, it certainly won’t be for everyone because there’s violence, profanity and stuff that is quite simply, very, very wrong. But, for me, entertainment-wise, it was very, very right. I just hope the author will be writing another instalment, because, damn it, that ended on a cliff-hanger! I need to know what happens to Rhiannon next!

This gets a well-earned 5 stars from me, mainly because I can’t stop thinking about it and I end up chuckling to myself!

Oh, and here’s what would be on my Kill List, just for the record;

1. Boasters.

2. Upstairs neighbours who think it’s a grand idea to have laminate floors with insufficient underlay and 3 tap-dancing kids.

3. People who lick the wooden stick of an ice lolly.

4. The previous tenant of MY flat, who insists on getting ‘payday loans’ under MY address with no intention of paying it back. YOU DO NOT LIVE HERE ANY MORE. THEY WILL FIND YOU. AND KILL YOU. Or maybe just insist you pay it back in manageable instalments of £1.21 a month.

I’d like to thank the author, C J Skuse, and the publisher, HQ (UK), for the opportunity to read this via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The pleasure was all mine!

View all my reviews