Review: One Seriously Messed-Up Weekend by Tom Clempson

Title: One Seriously Messed-Up Weekend in the Otherwise Un-Messed-Up Life of Jack Samsonite
Author: Tom Clempson
Published: March 2013
Released by: Atom
Source: Gift from the author
Series: Jack Samsonite
Rating: 5 stars

First line: 'We need to do something cool,' I announced.

Last line: There are 3 possible 'last lines'
1) 'I really want to see...'
2) I will NEVER wear pale khaki combats again.
3) Cue music, roll credits, fade to black.
Depends what you class as the end of the book!


Jack Samsonite's Fool-Proof Plan for Being Amazing at Everything

(including getting a life, getting into Film School, and getting into a girl's knickers)

1. Film a mind blowing, awesome so bad it's good short film about zombies superheroes three idiot friends, which must also include great depth and meaning me kissing a girl on the mouth.

2.Write the world's best university application ever! Write quite a good university application. Just write an application that doesn't make me seem like a nob.

3.Don't get expelled trying to complete 1 & 2.

It can't possibly fail... right?

I just want to start by saying although Tom and I are now friends, kind of when he sends me cake, my five star rating for this book and glowing review is not because Tom paid me in cake, I'm actually still waiting for it, It's because I loved the book and I think Tom is a brilliant writer! OSMUW2 featured on my 10 Books That Made Me post because I read it at a time when my spirits needed lifting, I said:

First of all I LOVE TOM CLEMPSON! Don't tell him I said that though!!! Now Tom's very funny, sometimes crude, but funny book has made my list because when I was very ill at the start of the year I wasn't able to do anything including reading but when I could, I picked up Tom's book. He actually sent it to me after drawing pictures of poo & cake all over it! This story, along with Tom's art work almost made me pee myself several times and honestly, it was just what I needed! My illness became very serious at one stage and this book got me through it all! I'm rather sure Tom still doesn't understand how much this book means to me and no matter how good an author you tell him he is he still won't believe it. I'm so very glad Atom sent me his first book and we got chatting on twitter after me reading it. I'm happy I get to call him a friend and I thank him and his writing abilities for getting me through my rubbish illness!

And honestly it still stands! We join Jack two years after book 1 (write quicker Tom) when he is trying to get through his last year of collage, make an awesome short film, get into a top university and find a real girl to kiss. This all might sound easy to the most popular of teens but this Jack Samsonite we are dealing with and things are never easy! Try as he might to do or say the right thing Jack often comes across as stupid or uncaring, which just makes him all the more funny!

If you loved book 1, if you've not read it please do so, you are going to love book 2. Tom has basically took everything we love about his first personal diary book and tripled the humour, and crazy antics to give us an even funnier read and insight into the mind and workings of teenage boys. There were a few nights I couldn't sleep when I was ill and I would be reading this book and laugh so much I would have to put my face into the pillow!! The mushy pea incident in particular almost made me pee myself, I don't even mind admitting it! 

As soon as I finished reading it back in April I thought Jack Samsonite has the potential to be the Adrian Mole for a new generation. I know other bloggers and readers agree and I cannot recommend Tom's book enough! Please read them! You will not be disappointed!

Is it the perfect book for boys, yes! Is it the perfect books for boys who 'don't really read' heck yes! Is it the perfect book for girls, yes, more than you know! To be honest it's the perfect book for anyone who has a sense of humour, who doesn't mind the odd swear word or 200 and for anyone who needs a good laugh!

Tom I beg, please keep writing Jack's story because I feel it could go on forever, just like that Mole kid only better!

 



Stacking the shelves #66

Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tyngs's Reviews and is all about sharing the books you are adding to your  shelves, may they be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical stores or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

We love sharing our books with you each week but more importantly we loving see what you add to your shelves. All links added here will take you to goodreads.

Bungle's Shelves

Well what a week Bungle has had! Our poor B is (hopefully) lying on a sofa with a good book as she recovers from a car accident. Cut a long story short I believe she's on a soft foods diet as her head took a bit of a pounding.  On the plus side this does mean she gets to suck on copious amounts of chocolate.  Use this to your advantage I say! Even with all that going on she still managed to acquire new reading material! B got  Just a Little Series by Tracie Puckett, a free e-book from iBooks.  This read has four stories in one - a fab deal by anyone's standards! 

Sally's Shelves

I've gotten hold of two amazing books this week!  The first is Hover by Melissa West.  This is the second in the Taking series and I love the way Melissa writes.  I'm going to have to pop back to re-read Gravity which is the first instalment before I tuck in though.  The second book I acquired...well...I got my hands on a copy of The Transfer, an e-short by Veronica Roth which is part of the Divergent series.  The Transfer tells us everything we need to know about Four's choosing ceremony and let's face it, any time spent with Four is time well spent... Om nom nom!

So that's it from us this week - What have you been reading?

  

Stacking The Shelves #65

 

 

Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tyngs's Reviews and is all about sharing the books you are adding to your  shelves, may they be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical stores or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

We love sharing our books with you each week but more importantly we loving see what you add to your shelves. All links added here will take you to goodreads.

 

Bungle's Shelves

This week I was really good and I didn't buy any books BUT I still got 6 fabulous books in the post from publishers and an awesome fellow blogger/friend! Michelle from Much Loved Books sent me some brilliant books this week which were Storm Glass, Sea Glass & Spy Glass by Maria V. Snyder and also Knife Edge By Malorie Blackman. THANK YOU Michelle, you are more than a little bit awesome! Also this week I was sent a proof of World After by Susan Ee which is sooooooooo beautiful looking just as Angelfall was, thank you Hodder!! Honestly, I can't stop looking at it! And last but not least I was sent a proof Dandelion Clocks by Rebecca Westcott from Puffin, thank you! (sorry couldn't get a link for this one) Both Cathy Cassidy and Jacqueline Wilson loved this one, enough said I think! Now over to Sal....

 

 

Sally's Shelves

This week I bought The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater, I also got copies of Hidden by Sophie Jordan which is the last instalment in the Firelight trilogy, and The Bitter Kingdom, the last of the Fire and Thorns series by Rae Carson. I have a soft spot for this series as Girl of Fire and Thorns as it was then called, was the first book that I reviewed on this blog.  And I do love me some Hector too! Can't wait to see how this one finishes!  Over to you Gen....

 

  

 

Gen's Shelves

This week I, like Bungle, got a copy of Sea Glass by Maria V. Snyder, I already have it as an ebook but wanted a physical copy of the book! I also got a copy of Crown of Midnight by Sarah J Mass and a copy of The Silmarillion. I've read The Hobbit & Lord of the Rings and really liked them so thought I would give this one a try.

 

  

 

 

So that was our week in books, not bad eh? We are now off to settle down with a cuppa and to be nosey at what the rest of you got this week! Happy reading everyone :)

 



 

 

All Quiet on the Blogger Front

Dear All,

Yes, we are starting this post like a letter. We just wanted to let you all know why things are quiet here at Midnight Reads. Although Bungle is back to reading she is working crazy hours and as you know she was rather sick at the start of the year and although she is recovering it seems to be taking its time! Just when there's a good day a bad day will strike :(
Sally is sooooooooooooooo crazy busy at work!! Honestly if we listed how manic her weeks really are we don't think you'd understand half of the crazy stuff the woman has to do! She travels all over the country & world for work and more often than not works 6 day weeks.
Gen works at the same place ad Sal and has a young family to contend with, which as far as we're concerned is enough said!

So that's why we're a little quiet this year readers. Posts are on the way but sometimes real life gets in the way of the things we love to do for pleasure. Thank you for sticking with us in out quiet period and for the support you give!



Stacking The Shelves #64 & Books Are My Bag

 

 

 

Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tyngs's Reviews and is all about sharing the books you are adding to your  shelves, may they be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical stores or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

We love sharing our books with you each week but more importantly we loving see what you add to your shelves. All links added here will take you to goodreads.

 

Bungle's Shelves

So this week I was very good & I didn't buy any books which I can tell you was very hard! You all know I work in a book shop and I've been doing extra hours so I've been surrounded buy books almost every day for the last few weeks now. I'm being good!!!! BUT I did get sent some books for review :) This week I got a copy of Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor for the lovely folks at Hodderesque - these fab guys send books to Waterstones staff - as you can probably guess the Waterstones staff love this :) I was also sent a copy of Because It Is My Blood by Gabrielle Zevin which I wasn't expecting so it was a lovely surprise :) I also got a new free ebook this week which was Saving Wishes by G.J. Walker-Smith. Not a bad week I think!

 

Yesterday, Saturday 14th, was all about 'Books Are My Bag' and here's why:

 

BOOKS ARE MY BAG is a nationwide campaign to celebrate bookshops. This collaboration between publishers, bookshops and authors and is the biggest ever promotion of bookshops. For many people bookshops conjure fond images of book readings, in-store cafes and delight at the discovery of a new author. In fact, 56% of all book buying decisions are made by consumers in a bookshop and high street bookshops (both chains and independents) still account for almost 40% of books bought by consumers. Yet, many high street bookshops are under threat.

                   

BOOKS ARE MY BAG aims to halt this process by celebrating the nation’s love of bookshops, calling on book lovers to show their support by visiting and purchasing a book from their favourite bookshop on Saturday 14th September.

Taken for the Books Are My Bag website http://www.booksaremybag.com/Default.aspx

It was a fab day at my shop, we had a brilliant time and even gave away bags full of books via a twitter giveaway. Customers had to come in store and say 'I'm Harry Potter and Books Are My Bag!' It was so much fun! We pled that you support your bookshops as none of us want to close!!

 

 

 

So that's it from us! We off to see what you got this week!

 

 

 

Stacking The Shelves #63

 Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tyngs's Reviews and is all about sharing the books you are adding to your  shelves, may they be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical stores or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

We love sharing our books with you each week but more importantly we loving see what you add to your shelves. All links added here will take you to goodreads.

 

Bungle's Shelf

The other ladies have been good this week and have no books to share with us! Probably a good thing as I know they have lots of books to be getting on with! I also have many unread books, still behind after being ill, but I still have some fab new ones to share with you :) So on to the books then!

 

I was shelving at the bookshop and pulled out Goth Girl & the Ghost of a Mouse by Chris Riddell and knew right away I was going to buy it because it's soooooooo beautiful!!!! I was sent a free paperback edition of Race the Wind by Lauren St John through work via Orion, as well as a copy of Maggie Stiefvater's The Dream Thieves for review from Scholastic. I was sent a proof copy of When the Guns Fall Silent by James Riordan and also this week I was sent an ebook of For Your Heart by A.L. Davroe which was a book I signed up for while at Authors After Dark. Love the look of all of them :)

 

 

 

 

 

So that's it from me this week, some fabulous books to be getting on with, I think you'll agree!? I will be at the bookshop for most of the day but looking forward to seeing your new books when I'm home.

Happy reading everyone :)

 

 

 

Waiting on Wednesday #2

 

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

 

Title: Daylighters

Author: Rachel Caine

Published: November 5th

By: Allison & Busby

 

While Morganville, Texas, is often a troubled town, Claire Danvers and her friends are looking forward to coming home. But the Morganville they return to isn’t the one they know; it’s become a different place—a deadly one…

Something drastic has happened in Morganville while Claire and her friends were away. The town looks cleaner and happier than they’ve ever seen it before, but when their incoming group is arrested and separated—vampires from humans—they realize that the changes definitely aren’t for the better.

It seems that an organization called the Daylight Foundation has offered the population of Morganville something they’ve never had: hope of a vampire-free future. And while it sounds like salvation—even for the vampires themselves—the truth is far more sinister and deadly.

Now, Claire, Shane and Eve need to find a way to break their friends out of Daylighter custody, before the vampires of Morganville meet their untimely end.