PopSugar Reading Challenge 2016

I have decided to add one more challenge for this year. I came across it in this blog Much Ado About Books and thought why not. The list is not so strict and it has some challenging propositions for me like: a political memoir, or a book of poetry, or a self -improvement book. That is actually not quite my cup of tea, but after all it can be an interesting journey.
Some of the criteria are a bit funny: a book with a blue cover, or a book recommended by someone you just met, or a book that's guaranteed to bring joy)) that point I will leave for the last as I have no clue what book I should choose. Most probably I will have to ask for help the reading society))

Frankly speaking it is quite difficult for me to keep up with the challenge as this is the first one for me. So I need to be frank to myself and include the book that I really read this year only. It is so many books from last year I can fit in, but...

Anyway I am officially joining PopSugar Reading Challenge 2016 and will try to update the progress. #popsugarreadingchallenge

June 2016 Wrap up

June turned out to be the worst month for reading. Only one book was read so far. I really do not know what has happened. I listen more now, but still I had an impression that I am reading enough and at the end of the month there is that big oops: one book only!

Read books: 

So the only book read is Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Author: Ransom Riggs
Original title: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Pages: 352 pages
Edition Language: English
Series: Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children #1
Genres: YA, Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery 

What is interesting about that story is that it was not planed as a story, but a picture book featuring random and strange vernacular photographs collected by author Ransom Riggs. He was persuaded however to use the pictures as the base to build up as a story. Ransom Riggs needed more photographs for the novel, so he got to know other collectors and this book appeared as collaboration between storytelling and visual images.

         The main story starts in our time and describes the ordinary 16 year old boy Jacob Portman, who was raised on his grandpa's mystical stories and who grew up and does not believe in peculiar children anymore. Grandpa seems to be disappointed, but does not try to change his grandson's mind. And then grandpa suddenly dies, presumably killed by the pack of dogs, but Jacob is not so sure as he saw a monster from his grandpa's stories.

        After quite intensive psychological therapy, Jacob persuades his farther to go to the small British island where his grandpa was hiding during World War II, to the school of Alma Peregrine. There he gets through the time loop to 1940 to real school full of strange and peculiar children.
       Though it is YA book and maybe even children’s book it was not a dull read. After a description of the next character you are waiting to see the photograph to check if your imagination pictured it so. I find it a grand idea to make a story out of your hobby. The book had quite a successful reception and film adaptation will be released Sep. 2016 with Eva Green and Asa Butterfield a star from "Ender's Game". So we will see what differences there are from the book. 

Movie watched:
Warcraft (2016) I am afraid that was the biggest disappointment this month. So long awaited the movie did not provide any bit of enjoyment. Seems like it is a mixture of "Lord of the Rings" grandiosity and "Game of Thrones" 'everyone dies' attitude. The whole plot just promises that there will be a sequel, but not giving anything to grasp at the moment. I will not even going to review that and give it 6 out of 10 points.

Theater visited:
 none 

Sport events watched: 
1. Staropramen Cool Cesky Pohar Strahov Praha 18.06-19.06
2. UEFA Euro 2016 (France) ongoing from 10.06 football completion (75% matches watched). The biggest surprise and the greatest warriors of the tournament is the team from Iceland. Those have been fighting with every favorite not give up and not showing any laziness. Greatly appreciated by all fans for spirit and striving for the victory.

May 2016 Wrap up

This is the list of my June activities:

Read books:

read: 6 / listen: 0 / pages: 1889

1. Ian Fleming "From Russia, with Love" p. 259
2. Jo Nesbø "The Redbreast" p. 576
3. Ian Fleming "Dr. No" p.336 -  Review
4. Michael Punke "The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge" p.272
5. Ian Fleming "Goldfinger" p. 264
6. Ian Fleming "For Your Eyes Only" p.182 

Movie watched:
1. The Jungle Book (2016) - Review
2. the Huntsman: Winter's war (2016)
3. Captain America: the first Avanger (2011)
4. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
5. X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
6. Drop Dead Diva 3 season (2011)

Theater visited:
1. Hangmen NT LIVE review will follow
2. Before Sunset Ciniherniclub (Před západem slunce) review will follow

Sport events watched:
1. Hockey world championship 2016 (Moscow - St. Peterburg)
2. UEFA Europe League Final 2016
3. UEFA Champions League Final 2016
4. Staropramen Cup Ladvi Prague (Staropramen Cool Český pohár mužů a žen) 28-29 2016

May 2016 Book Haul

  В этом месяце каждый вторник я делала остановку в книжном магазине. У меня всегда было полтора часа времени осмотреться и полистать новинки. Честно говоря, новинки не всегда впечатляют, мне всегда надо время, чтобы захотеть книгу. Это было причиной, что я  из раза в раз уходила с книжками, которые у всех на слуху либо уже признаны классикой. Покупки почетно заняли свое место на полке и ждут своего часа.

    В июне я постараюсь не посещать книжные магазины, так как мои полки уже ломятся от непрочитанных книг, а Киндл напоминает книжное кладбище, за которым никто не ухаживает.

         1. В первую очередь я рада, что наконец-то приобрела книги Хэлен Филдинг про приключения Бриджит Джонс. Да. Я до сих пор не причитала "Дневники", хотя фильм, снятый по книги я отношу к своим самым любимым. Для меня фильм наполнен весельем и надеждой, он наполнен искрящейся сексуальностью и острым одиночеством. Я купила 2 первые книги: "Дневник Бриджит Джонс" и "Бриджит Джонс: Грани разумного"
       В первой книге мы знакомимся с главной героиней, одиночкой за 30, которая ведет дневник. Бриджет постоянно пытается похудеть, ограничить потребление алкоголя и сигарет. Главная ее цель построить конструктивные отношения со зрелым мужчиной. Бриджит закручивает роман с начальником, который заканчивается его предательством. В тоже время ее отношения с Марком Дарси, знакомым детства, претерпевают изменения от острой неприязни до симпатии и возможно любви.
       Вторая книга о том, что найти любовь еще на значит жить долго и счастливо. Это большой труд – строить отношения, и они постоянно находятся под угрозой, либо сомнений самой Бриджит, либо под натиском давней знакомой Ребеки. В конце концов, Марк и Бриджет расходятся, и она уезжает в Таиланд, залечивать разбитое сердце. В Таиланде Бриджет задерживают за контрабанду наркотиков, и Марк, несмотря ни на что, спешит на выручку. 
     
        This month I was visiting a book store every Tuesday. I always had 1.5 hour to look around and glance at the new covers. Honestly the new books do not always impress me, I need some time to start wanting a book, it is never “a first sight love”. Thus every time I left with a book which is already wildly known or even is acknowledged as classic. New books are proudly located on the shelves and waiting to be read.

       In June I will try to avoid book stores as my shelves are already breaking under unread books and Kindle reminds me untended book cemetery.

         1.Firstly I am terrible glad to be the owner of Helen Fielding’ books about Bridget Jones. Yes. I still have not read “Diaries”, though the movie is considered to be one of my favorites. I find the movie full of fun and hope, sexuality and at the same time loneliness. I have bought 2 books : “Bridget Jones's Diary” and “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason”

         In the first book we get to know with a main character a lonely, slightly over 30 diary writer Bridget. She is constantly trying to lose weight and reduce her over-indulgence in alcohol and cigarettes. Her main target is to build constructive relationship with mature man. Bridget starts a affair at work with the boss, which ended by his treachery. At the same time her relationship with Mark Darcy friend from childhood changes a lot from open resentment to sympathy and maybe even love.
           The second book is about the idea that finding love does not mean living happy ever after. To build relationship is a great effort and it is always under threat from Bridget’s lack of confidence or from  Marc’s colleague Rebecca charges . At the end Marc and Bridget split and Bridget flies to Thailand to heal broken heart. There she is arrested for drug trafficking and Marc is rushing to save her no matter what.

        2. Следующая книга "Источник" от знаменитой американской писательницы русского происхождения Айн Рэнд . Эта книга, наряду с романом «Атлант расправил плечи» 1957 года, входит в число самых известных произведений американской литературы. Это особо примечательно для меня, так как я никогда не слышала об этой писательнице, хотя в университете был отдельный курс американской литературы. Самый крупным произведением Айн Рэнд конечно считается "Атлант расправил плечи", но я решила начать знакомство с этой книги. Теперь она ждет своего часа на полке.

        2. Next  book is "The Fountainhead" from famous Russian-born American novelist and philosopher Ayn Rand. This work is together with "Atlas Shrugged" (1957) are the best-known novels in American literature. This is most interesting for me, as I've never heard about this author, though we had quite thorough course in American literature. The most famous work of Ayn Rand is by all means is "Atlas Shrugged", but I decided to start from "The Fountainhead". Now it is waiting for its time on the book shelf.

       3. Дальше я купила 2 книги на русском и 2 книги на английском языках:

Фрэнсис Скотт Фицджеральд «Загадочная история Бенджамина Баттона» (1921). Эту историю знают наверное все, благодаря экранизации и звездному составу Брэд Питт - Кейт Бланшетт. Эксперты, однако, утверждают, что фильм и книга не имеют практически ничего общего, кроме имен и аспектов процесса старения.
Дэниел Киз «Таинственная история Билли Миллигана» (1981). Не имею понятия о чем будет книга, но автора я знаю, он написал одну из моих самых любимых книг «Цветы для Элджернона», поэтому ожидаю чего-то интересного.
Джон Гоуди "Пелхэм Час Двадцать Три" (1973). Что я могу сказать... мне просто очень нравится Дензел Вашингтон. Поэтому прочитать книжку, по которой снят неплохой фильм не считаю плохой идеей.
Стивен Джеррард «Джеррард: Моя история» (2015). Это вторая автобиографическая книга о жизни и футбольной карьере Стивена Джеррарда.

        3. Next I bought 2 books in Russian and 2 books in English:
F. Scott Fitzgerald "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (1921). This story should probably be known to everyone thanks to the 2008 film adaptation with Brad Pitt - Cate Blanchett star cast.
It is told though that the book and film has nothing in common except names and most aspects of the aging process.
Daniel Keyes "The Minds of Billy Milligan" (1981). I have no idea what this book is about but I know the author. He wrote one of my favorite books "Flowers for Algernon", so I have high expectations.
Morton Freedgood (pen name John Godey) "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three" (1973). What can I say...? I just like Denzel Washington very much. So reading a book which was adapted to quite a good film I do not find as bad idea.
Steven Gerrard "My Story" (2015). Gerrard's second volume of autobiography 

 4. И последнюю книгу я получила от племянника на чешском языке:
Джоан Роулинг «Сказки барда Бидля» (2008)
J. K. Rowling "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" (J. K. Rowlingová "Bajky barda Beedleho")