Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Wasn’t Quite Harmonious, But Held a Tune!

Well this is an odd one to talk about.

As many of you will know, this is the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is the Hunger Games prequel, focusing on (future evil President) Coriolanus Snow’s role in the tenth Hunger Games. As you can imagine, telling the story from the future baddie’s point of view caused a bit of a stir: would we lose his character in a bid for sympathy? Would this attempt to redeem an irredeemable character? I had my own reservations when I heard about it and was consequently less enthused to pick it up. And the verdict? Pretty mixed if I’m honest.

Despite all the pre-publication controversy, there was no need to fear him being turned into a hero. I read him as a straight-up anti-hero. He’s just as unsympathetic as a protagonist as he was an antagonist… which isn’t necessarily a good thing. Mildly sociopathic and manipulative, he’s the same old Snow we know and hate. As much as it was a bold choice to tell the story from Snow’s perspective, I’m not sure it paid off. No matter what hardship he was facing, I found it impossible to relate or root for him (in fact, I just kept thinking he kinda deserved it).

Still there were parts I really did like- especially how it showed the games being developed. When I heard it was about the tenth hunger games, I had my reservations, because I thought that it would just be a rehash of the games Suzanne Collins had already written about. Not so. At this stage of Panem, with the Capital and Districts very much in the shadow of the civil war, the games (and the concepts behind them) are a work in progress. It’s not just interesting to see Snow play his part, it’s fascinating to see the theories that go into it (not sure it makes a whole lot of sense to have your underclass in a constant state of conflict rather than making them think they’re at peace, but I’ll let that slide, cos I don’t think evil masterminds always come up with the best policies for running a country). I did like that the timeline meant it raised moral questions for the organisers- like the fact that this was the children of rebels rather than rebels themselves. I also liked how it hinted, rather than showed, future developments. The subtler nods to the original made it feel more like its own story. The one part I wasn’t super keen on was how only 2/3 of the book were about the games- it just felt a little jarring when that stopped.

That said, even with the issues I had with the structure, the writing was strong. And I also liked the side characters. Though I wasn’t much taken my Coriolanus or the not-very-fleshed-out Tigress, Lucy Gray had an edge to her and I loved the Grandma’am.

All these elements left me satisfied enough with this Hunger Games prequel, so I’ll feed it:

Rating: 3½/5 bananas

 

Have you read Ballads of Songbirds and Snakes? Do you plan to? Let me know in the comments!

My Harshest Unhaul Yet…

Being cooped up indoors for much of this year has made me re-evaluate some things: specifically my book collection. Maybe it’s a bizarro cabin fever, but I’ve been looking for things to unhaul and so decided to prune my books. Let’s jump into what I’ve decided to get rid of:

Recent-ish reads:

City of Ghosts– a bit disappointing for me personally, but a Middle Grade that younger children might enjoy.

Grace and Fury– I was so disappointed with the sequel, I just didn’t want the first one in my collection (no matter how pretty it looks).

Kingdom of Ash– this one’s a bit of a *shocker*, especially cos it’s signed, but I was left underwhelmed by the ending and won’t be rereading the series.

A random assortment of books:

Milkweed– I remember it being fine… but not much else. Besides, it’s a holocaust book, so I won’t read it again.

Danny Abse poetry– not really for me.

The Promise– I liked this, but I won’t reread it.

Sociopath Next Door– another one I actually liked (you can check out my review here) but I don’t need a copy and won’t pick it up in the future.

Old childhood books:

Cherub– I haven’t even put this in the right order, cos I couldn’t remember it and don’t care enough to check. I never owned the first two as well- which would make rereading a problem (not that I plan to). Some of these aren’t so memorable and the ones that are I remember well enough to know I enjoyed them at the time. Now it’s time to let go.

Snakehead– I didn’t ever finish the Alex Rider series and wasn’t a fan of the later ones- so it’s kind of a no brainer.

Apocalypse– this is a shame cos I like Bowler’s other books, but really didn’t like this (and this is the one I had signed which is the only reason I held onto it for this long)

Series of Unfortunate Events– I was never a superfan, didn’t get through the series and outgrew this a long time ago.

Blood Bones and Body Bits– ditto. Not much to say about it.

Deenie– ah I liked Judy Blume back in the day… but also this one makes me feel lowkey queasy.

And ones I’m unsure about:

Nemesis series– this is the one I’m on the fence about. Like the Cherub series, it’s incomplete. But unlike the Cherub series, I really loved it. That said, I’m not going to read it again- so not sure I should hold onto it…

Which is why I’ve decided to put this one to the vote? What do you think I should do with the series? And what do you think of my unhaul? Let me know in the comments!

My 2020 Book Blogger Awards Nominations!

Hi all! As you all know, I can’t resist the chance to share some blogger love… which is why I’m jumping on the Book Blogger Award bandwaggon! Last year I missed out on joining in cos I didn’t see the posts in time, but luckily I saw that this was hosted by by Marie @Drizzle and Hurricane Books & May @Forever and Everly, so I’m going to rectify it that for the 2020 Awards! (and I can say that I did at least one thing better in 2020 than 2019 😉 )

Before I get into my nominations, I will add that I kept my list quite small, as I was (trying) to keep within the rule that 1/3 of nominations have to be smaller book bloggers (otherwise none of them will count). *Hopefully* I’ve not made any mistakes and have pulled that off. Without further ado, here’s my nominations…

BEST OF THEIR AGE

• Best Adult Book Blogger (20+)– Beware of the Reader
• Best Adult Book Blogger (20+)– Zezee @Zezee with Books
• Best Adult Book Blogger (20+)– Eustea @ Eustea Reads

I feel like I should point out that I don’t know the ages of a lot of bloggers (and I think a lot of the younger people I followed have aged out of their teens), so I’m only nominating adult book bloggers…. which tbh just gave me a chance to spotlight (a few) favourites. 

You won’t get anyone more enthusiastic than Beware of the Reader- but reader you’d better BEWARE cos once you start reading her posts, you won’t be able to stop!

Zezee is easily one of my favourite people on the blogosphere- she has really incisive reviews, deep discussions, inspiring recommendations and all around *amazing* content!

Eustea recommends all different types of books- and serves it up with plenty of (literal) tea!

BEST GENRE BLOGGERS

• Young Adult– Roberta @Offbeat YA

While Roberta has some popular books in the mix, which I like hearing about, what I love about Roberta’s reviews is how unique her selections are and how she chooses so many underhyped books!

• New Adult / General Adult– Lydia @22 is still young adult

I read a lot of reviews for general adult, but Lydia’s stand out to me for just how thorough they are!

• Romance– Deanna @A Novel Glimpse

I feel like I got into reading romance books exclusively because of Deanna!! She is the QUEEN of romance!

• Science Fiction / Fantasy– Crystal @Lost in Storyland
• Science Fiction / Fantasy– Bookstooge
• Science Fiction / Fantasy– Way Too Fantasy

I just want to read everything that Crystal suggests- she makes such excellent recommendations 🙂

Likewise, Bookstooge was an easy nomination to make- a huge number of his in-depth reviews are for sci fi and fantasy- which he often reviews with wonderful wit. I have had so many recommendations from him over the years- my favourite of which has been for Patricia McKillip.

And the clue is in the name with Way Too Fantasy- you are going to get WAY TOO MANY fantasy recs from her, you won’t know what to do (except read them all, obviously)

• Literary Fiction / Classics / Poetry– Holly @Nutfree Nerd
• Literary Fiction / Classics / Poetry– Briana & Krysta @Pages Unbound

I mean, it’d just be completely remiss not to mention these two book blogs! I cannot get enough of their classics posts!

Holly always inspires me with her monthly recs and original content!

And Pages Unbound is full of excellent discussions and amazing analyses of classics.

• Mystery / Thriller– Meggy @Chocolat’n’Waffles
• Mystery / Thriller– Nina @Cozy Pages

Like with romance, I wasn’t a big thriller reader (and didn’t even touch mysteries) before blogging… now I don’t know what I’d do without them in my literary diet! Meggy is almost exclusively to blame for starting this addiction 😉 (seriously though, if you need a keep-you-up-at-night thriller, you seriously cannot go wrong with one of her recs)

And on the cosier end of the spectrum, I have to nominate and HIGHLY RECOMMEND you check out Nina’s blog! She constantly finds fun and quirky mysteries to read and promote!

BEST OF BOOK BLOGGING

• Best Book Reviews– Holly @Nutfree Nerd
• Best Book Reviews– Lindsay @Slow to the Party

I had to give Holly a second nomination, because she writes such beautiful reviews, addressed to the book itself. It’s incredibly unique and each review is a work of art.

I really admire Lindsay’s reviewing style as well, but for very different reasons! She always writes in such a refreshingly honest way.

• Best Book Recommendations– Witty and Sarcastic Book Club
• Best Book Recommendations– Kat @Life and Other Disasters

Witty and Sarcastic has wonderful taste- and I won’t shut up about how her review of Ten Thousand Doors of January got me to pick it up and it’s my favourite of 2020 so far!

KAT READS SUCH GOOD BOOKS! I’ve had so many recommendations from her and she’s always spot on about brilliant books. We do have similar tastes… but at this point, I reckon Kat’s fashioned my tastes into her own 😉 (and I regret nothing 😉 )

• Best Discussion Posts– Briana & Krysta @Pages Unbound
• Best Discussion Posts– Nicole @Sorry I Am Booked

I don’t think I’ve read a single discussion on Briana and Krysta’s blog that wasn’t thought provoking! Plus, aside from talking about classics (which you know I’m here for) they also talk quite a bit about libraries, amazon, education… basically a whole load of topics that most people in the book community don’t really talk about!

Similarly, Nicole’s thoughts and discussions are really worth checking out, because I don’t know anyone else who covers the same things she does: particularly how reading impacts your dating life, book lover struggles under quarantine and whether to DNF ARCs.

• Best Blog Aesthetic– Tiffany @Read by Tiffany
• Best Blog Aesthetic– Kay @Hammock of books

I just love both of these clean and pretty designs!

MISCELLANEOUS

• Most Helpful (someone who posts thoughtful blogging guides/advice) – Marie @Drizzle and Hurricane Books
• Most Helpful (someone who posts thoughtful blogging guides/advice) – Xandra @Starry Sky Books

If you’ve been around the blogosphere, then you know that Marie is the place to go for advice on blogging! She has so many *fantastic* posts on the topic- you’ll be sure to find some helpful advice!

Xandra is newer- but it’s because of that she has such valuable insight! I love her “What No One Told Me About the Book Community“. She’s making a significant splash in the blogosphere and her blogging advice is brilliant! I find her takes so refreshing and welcome!

• Most Supportive (someone who always shares others’ posts in wrap-ups/has kind comments/boosts other bloggers with initiatives, etc.) – Sophii @A Book A Thought

Sophii is legit amazing at collating wonderful posts from around the community and sharing them. (Aside from her great content in general) I’ve personally discovered so many amazing posts from her!

• Most Engaged in the Community– Flora @Flora’s Finds

I’ve mentioned this before, but I *particularly* love how Flora combines the memes Book Blogger Hop and Friday Finds- connecting readers to books and bloggers at the same time- genius!

• Most Creative (creative/original posts)- Katie @Never Not Reading
• Most Creative (creative/original posts)- Linda @Pages and Papers

Katie is awesome and definitely beats to her own drum with her creative content!

Linda has such original ideas, particularly promoting Shakespeare and classics!

• Best Social Media Influencer– Witty and Sarcastic Book Blog

If you’re on twitter, then you’ll know what I’m talking about. Every week, without fail Witty and Sarcastic Book Club is tweeting out support for book bloggers and it’s amazing!

• Friendliest Member of the Community– Macey @Brine and Books
• Friendliest Member of the Community– Meeghan @Meeghan Reads
• Friendliest Member of the Community– Rainn @the Withering

Macey’s newer to the blogging scene and super friendly!

I also really love chatting to Meeghan! She’s always on it in the comments!

And Rainn is just a burst of energy and a delight to talk to!

MOST IMPORTANTLY

• Best Overall Book Blogger [two winners!] – Briana & Krysta @Pages Unbound

Did I mention that I love Pages Unbound? Cos I seriously LOVE their blog. I am addicted to their exceptionally clever content- and for good reason! Not only are they  well-versed in classics, but they are also Tolkien buffs. Not only do they have exceptional discussions on familiar topics, they also have great lists of books I might not otherwise have heard of. And not only are they always making top quality posts, they are also amazing to chat to. Suffice to say, they are ALL AROUND THE BEST BLOGGERS!

OMG that was hard to do! I’m sorry I couldn’t include as many bloggers as I would have liked! But the most important thing is- please check out this amazing list of bloggers! They all deserve so much love!

Bloggers who deserve more attention #6

Hello all! And today’s an exciting day, cos I’m picking up my series of Bloggers Who Deserve More Attention and talking about some TOPNOTCH people from around the blogosphere! Let’s just jump right into it!

Flora’s Musings– not only does Flora have some fab reviews on all different genres, but I adore how she combines the meme Book Blogger Hop with her Friday Finds. It’s just such a great way to do this feature, cos it gives me a chance to find more books and more blogs to follow!

Thoughts of a Reader– Sarah has both excellent recommendations and cool list ideas. Recently, I especially loved her idea of going through her highest rated books and seeing how they compared to her own ratings. Plus, she also joins tons of readathons, so you can follow along with those too!

Metalphantasmreads– Amanda’s riveting reviews often introduce me to books I hadn’t heard of before. Plus, her fresh takes on popular books always get me to look at books I enjoyed from a fresh perspective!

Meeghan Reads– Meeghan is such a delight to talk to, cos she’s so friendly! Plus, really enjoy her lists, fun content and cute aesthetic!

Linda @Pages and Papers– I love Linda’s ideas- they’re so unique- especially her recent social distancing tips from Robinson Crusoe (genius!!!). On top of that, her discussions are brilliant- especially recommend her posts: why you should read sci fi and why the humanities matter.

Bookertalk– Karen’s discussions on blogging, writing and reading are always thought-provoking and worthwhile. I enjoy her interesting thoughts on less well-known books- particularly how she frequently reviews Welsh books. I could go on forever recommending her posts- she has a huge collection!- but (…for now…) I’ll just point you in the direction of 5 things I wish I knew about blogging.

Katie @Never not reading– Katie is one of my favourite people on the blogosphere!! This isn’t the first time I’m mentioning her posts and it certainly won’t be the last! She always comes up with clever original content and lists. Right now, I’m very much looking forward to the outcome for her Harry Potter Superlatives post!!

Camillea Reads– Camillea has such thoughtful posts, I get really wrapped up in them. And I also appreciate how thorough and well-thought out her reviews are! Plus, her aesthetics and photos are really pretty!

This is one for the books– if you’re looking for fair, balanced and well-developed reviews (which of course you are), I highly recommend checking out Katherine @This is One for the Books! She reviews from a variety of genres, including historical, literary fiction and classics.

The Geeky Jock– Em’s blog is a fantastic place to go if you’re looking for excellent reviews and entertaining takes on memes (especially her contributions to Top Ten Tuesday). Also, I loved her fun take on Marie Kondo’s “30 books” rule recently- it was great to see what books she’d choose! (love her good taste! 😉)

The Crooked Pen– straight up, this is amazing content. Rachael’s posts on writing and books are amazingly thought-provoking. Lately, I loved her posts on Why Canon Matters, How Not to Suck at Reviewing, Diary of a Pantser Turned Plotter– and more!! Each one is written with clarity and refreshing honesty. In addition, she also has some intriguing reviews!

Bloggers Who Deserve More Attention #1

Bloggers Who Deserve More Attention #2

Bloggers Who Deserve More Attention #3

Bloggers Who Deserve More Attention #4

Bloggers Who Deserve More Attention #5

Of course, there are loads more bloggers who deserve *all the attention*- so who do you think I should be looking out for? And do you know any of these bloggers? Will you be checking them out? Let me know in the comments!

Does My Taste Follow the Crowd? Discussing My Top Ten Highest Rated Books I’ve Read (And Beyond) – Inspired by Thoughts of a Reader

Over on the *terrific* Thoughts of a Reader, I saw this brilliant post comparing her highest rated on Goodreads with her own ratings. It immediately got me thinking about whether my own taste lined up with the highest rated books I’d read. After my discussion on the Goodreads Choice Awards, I figured it could be a fun “does my taste follow the crowd 2.0”. Of course, what I soon discovered was that a lot of the same popular authors/series came up repeatedly, which skewed the results a little and is why I didn’t exactly stop at ten. Let’s get to it:

A Court of Mist and Fury– 4.65- I personally gave it 4/5, so I get it, but I also think this comes down to some very loyal fans (Maas *dominates* this list).

Heartstopper 2– 4.66- I gave it 4/5- and I definitely understand why this has a high rating. It promises cute and fun and romantic- and it delivers!

March book 3– 4.64- again, my rating was 4/5 bananas (this is becoming a trend). I found this whole series pretty moving and, given the subject matter, think the rating is deserved.

Crooked Kingdom– 4.60- I gave it *all the bananas*- it’s safe to say, I’m fully on board with this one.

Kingdom of Ash– 4.60- hmm I have more reservations about this one. I gave it 3 ½bananas 3.5- I was pretty satisfied at the time, but I feel less so over time. Unfortunately, this was the kind of finale that made me fall out of love with the series a little bit.

Clockwork Princess– 4.58- my rating was 3/5, so I guess I’ve got to be one of the few people on the planet who didn’t love the resolution to the love triangle. That said, this is still my favourite of Clare’s series and I get the hype.

Wise Man’s Fear– 4.57- oof I’m not feeling this one, I only gave it 2/5 bananas. This sequel just didn’t work for me at all. *Fingers crossed* for the finale though.

Queen of Shadows– 4.57- I liked this one (my rating was 5/5) though it wasn’t my fave (funnily enough, for all the Maas books on here, that one didn’t make the cut).

Half Blood Prince -4.57 -my rating was 5/5 bananas- which kinda surprises me cos I had some issues (actually it surprises me even more that, by this reckoning, this is seemingly the most popular Harry Potter book? The next highest rated is Goblet of Fire and tbh I get that more… which I guess is just my own bias showing).

Heartstopper 1– 4.57- as with the second one, I gave it 4/5 bananas 😊

And because there were so many repeats, I decided to do some honorary mentions for high rated books where I get the hype:

Becoming– 4.55- I gave it 4 and completely get the hype (especially for the audiobook). It was very insightful, though I wanted more from it in some areas (but I get why there were gaps).

Maus– 4.55- totally worth the hype OMG- one of the best memoirs of all time!

House of Hades– 4.55- this might be my favourite Rick Riordan books!

Storm of Swords– 4.54 definitely the best Game of Thrones book- so I get it!

Skyward– 4.54- Sanderson is another popular author on GR and I *totally* get it! All the bananas!! And beyond!

In Order to Live– 4.48- another brilliant memoir!

Winter of the Witch– 4.51- this is one of the most satisfying series enders I’ve ever read! Safe to say, if you liked Bear and the Nightingale, you’ll likely love this.

To conclude, I’d have to say my taste doesn’t deviate much from the crowd. Sure, I may not always rate something as high and perhaps would’ve loved to see more favourites make it on here, but I rarely seem to disagree entirely.

So, if you’ve read these books, do you agree with the high ratings? Do you find your taste generally follows the crowd? Or are you a total rebel? Maybe you don’t even use Goodreads… 😉 Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Queen of Nothing Was Close to Everything You Could Want in a Finale

*Spoiler free*

At least, in my opinion. I’ve seen a lot of people who felt pretty different to me. But, while I can understand (and even agree with) some of the complaints, for me those were only minor quibbles and didn’t ruin my enjoyment of this finale. My biggest disappointment here is that I don’t have more to say about it.

Especially cos it was so fast paced it was hard to take notes! Now, I will admit that at times, I felt like there wasn’t enough room for the plot to develop as much as it could have. This was particularly noticeable for me with a spoiler *significant death* that I won’t talk about in depth. I’ve heard it said that too much in this book happened off screen- and this is a good example of that- cos for a little bit I thought it was gonna be a fake-out death. But nope, it didn’t take long (cos nothing in this book took long) to realise that was definitely the direction the story was taking. Which was good (I often hate fake deaths) it’s just a bit of a symptom of this book that the events kinda whizzed by.

Another little issue I had with the pacing was that there could have been a bit more time spent enjoying these characters together- after all, this is the last we’ll be seeing of them. I would have enjoyed a bit more banter in the romance department- as it had in previous instalments- though I did enjoy the sweeter touch it had here. And I personally didn’t think a certain someone deserved a sort-of-redemption arc- it felt somewhat unearned (again, being vague to avoid spoilers). I rarely say this, however, I feel this could’ve benefited from being a tad longer.

All that said, I inhaled this book. The upside of that breakneck pace was that I couldn’t stop reading it. There were so many twists and turns in this tale- and as much tricksy fae drama as you could ask for! Plus, I really liked how the cliffhanger from the previous book was resolved.

Nit-picking aside, I have to echo what a lot of reviewers have said before me: this was a very satisfying conclusion to the series. We got a fair queen and a fair ending for the fair folk! And really, you can’t ask for more than that.

Rating: 4/5 bananas

 

So, have you read this series? Do you plan to? What do you think of it? Let me know in the comments!

Best Books of the Last Decade

Hello all! I wanna say something really funky about blogging in a new decade… but let’s be real, it’s gonna be much the same as before, mostly gushing about all the great books out there! And what better way to continue that tradition than with a post about all the best books in the last decade? (at least according to me 😉). I’ve seen a few people do this- so sorry if I don’t remember all the amazing posts out there on the topic- but I was particularly inspired by Kristin Kraves incredible post– so definitely check that out!

Because I didn’t want to overload the post, I tried to keep to just one book per author (I only broke that rule once, but who can blame me when Laini Taylor exists 😉). I’ve not included series that started before the decade either. And also, I feel like I have to point out I haven’t read *all the books* (as much as I’d love for that to be the case 😉), so this is far from an exhaustive list! Here are some of the ground-breaking, game-changing, mind-blowing books from the last decade:

2011

Daughter of Smoke and Bone– a forever favourite ever since I read it. Laini Taylor gives lyrical writing a whole new meaning.

A Monster Calls– this graphic novel made me so emotional! I never realised how powerful a graphic novel could be until I read it!

2012

Righteous Mind– such a thought-provoking book and- dare I say it- one of the most important non-fiction books of the decade.

Wonder– a great Middle Grade with a sweet message!

2013

Vicious– this was my introduction to Schwab and it couldn’t have made a bigger impact!

Ocean at the End of the Lane– Neil Gaiman delivers on nostalgia and fantasy in this beautiful book.

2014

Red Rising– what a bloodydamn brilliant book this turned out to be! The way I’d describe this series is basically Romans in space and if that sounds good to you, you simply have to read it!

Shadow of What was Lost– an underrated fantasy book that is the epitomes the best of the genre to me.

Through the Woods– this creepilicious book takes fairy tale retellings to a whole other level!

2015

Carry On– a Harry Potter parody with so much heart- this never fails to bring a smile to my face 🙂

In Order to Live– I read this just last year and it made a huge impact. An important memoir that gives insight into life inside North Korea- and what it means to escape it.

Illuminae– I had to include this because it is such a gamechanger. It took me a while to get used to the unusual format- but that ended up being one of the greatest assets to the story! Plus, it’s thanks to books like this that I fell so deeply in love with sci fi.

2016

Radio Silence– a book that has ended up meaning so much to so many people from different walks of life- and that is an impossibly impressive achievement!

My Lady Jane– this laugh-out-loud alternative history was not what I was expecting- it was better!

Homegoing– weaving individual, intergenerational stories into one seamless narrative is no easy feat- yet Gyasi effortlessly accomplished this with her masterpiece.

2017

Red Sister– another incredible fantasy- this one stands out to me because it doesn’t just have cool world building- it has real heart!

Bear and the Nightingale– inspired by Russian mythology, this exquisite historical fantasy won my heart with every beautiful word.

Strange the Dreamer– okay , I know I said I wasn’t going to put authors on here twice… but Laini Taylor deserves it! And this duology deserves its place on here just as much- its rich world building, lovable characters and dramatic plot all make this a wonderful reading experience.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine– Eleanor Oliphant was not the contemporary romance I was expecting- it was so much more! Quirky and emotive and with hidden depths, it easily is one of the standout books of the decade.

Blackwing– mind-blowing, atmospheric and different- for that alone I would have loved this series. Yet, what makes it special is the complex characters at its heart.

2018

Circe– beautifully written and poignantly thought out, this retelling of the Odyssey is magnificent in that it not only perfectly interprets the original, it also elevates the story to new heights. I doubt we’ll see another retelling like this- unless of course Miller writes another 😉

Sadie– my absolute favourite read last year, Sadie is a gut wrenching and powerful book. I particularly recommend it on audiobook!

Hazel Wood– there’s something very special about this book. A gothic fairy tale, it draws you in to a story within a story and takes you places you could never dream.

Seven and a Half Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle– ever since I read this groundhog day murder mystery, I’ve been mulling it over. I didn’t think it was perfect- but it sure as hell stands out!

2019

Daisy Jones and the Six– this was also especially awesome in audiobook form- this book boasts one of the most realistic casts of characters I’ve ever read. And I adored the rock ‘n roll setting.

Wolf in the Whale– a very unusual fantasy that draws on the little known history of Vikings landing in Inuit land- I can safely say I’ve never read anything else like it.

So, what did you think of these? And do you have any books from the last decade you’d like to add? Let me know in the comments!

Just *Some* of the Incredible Books I Read in 2019…

Before we get to my top ten, I always like to do a little teaser to share some of the other amazing books I read this year. All of these are TOP BANANA- so they deserve some love and attention! Here are just a few of my reading highlights from the year…

Aurora Rising and Cruel Prince were excellent series openers. Soul of the Sword got me excited to read more! Holy Sister and Crowfall were both excellent ways to wrap up a series. Daisy Jones has been playing on my mind ever since I listened to it on audiobook. I got tried Laini Taylor’s delectable Night of Cake and Puppets. Woman in Black was *freaky*. Evelyn Hardcastle was one of the most unique books I’ve ever read! Woke made me laugh out loud! And I fell in love with Cait @Paper Fury’s books this year as well. And, of course, Secret History has been making reminisce ever since I read it.

And that’s all for now! Feel free to get excited about the top ten, because they rock!!

Happy Hanukkah!

Are you ready for sweater weather? Tag!

Hello all! Brr it’s getting cold out- which means it’s time for me to cosy up with a tag 😉 Thank you so much to the lovely Journey into Books for tagging me to do this one!

Hot Chocolate – What is your comfort book?

Carry On– it just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!

Pumpkin Carving – What is your favourite creative outlet?

Writing. I’ve always loved telling stories, though I don’t really do short stories or poetry anymore, so it’s novels all the way!

Falling Leaves – Changes that appear bad but you secretly love?

Gosh this is a hard question! I guess you could say I’m a walking contradiction here, because I’ve never been a fan of change, and yet I love fresh starts. While it makes me super antsy, I do like the feeling of trying something new.

Pumpkin Spiced Latte – Something you love that other people judge

This is a hard one to narrow down, cos I’m 99.9% eccentric, so there’s a lot… The one I get called on the most for is *lowers voice to a whisper* I occasionally like listening to random religious music even though I’m not religious. After the fire Notre Dame I could not stop listening to French hymns for instance… (this is my jam 😉 ) My friends (a lot of whom are religious) think I’m barmy. Moving swiftly on…

Bonfire Night – what makes you explode with joy?

*BOOKS*

Fright Night – Favourite scary book or movie

I don’t realllly do scary. Especially not scary movies!!! So (and don’t laugh) it’s Hocus Pocus.

Halloween candy – Favourite thing to eat

Oh dear, you bring up food and I’m just gonna be like…

*I like everything*

Can’t ever go wrong with chocolate though!

Scarves – Your autumn ‘must have’ accessory

Gloves- cos I’ve got bad circulation in my hands (I know, you were expecting a rock n’ roll answer, but I think we’ve established, I’m not that cool 😉)

Fire – A book or film that burns your soul

Just one?!!?! That is the hardest question!! I’m going with Persuasion– because that romance is *emotional*- but also feel really set upon with that question!

Toffee apples – a book or film that seems to one thing but really has a different inside

I’m going to go with a more positive answer- I had the feeling that Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine was going to be this romantic contemporary… but it turned out to be so much more than that!

And that’s all for now- I tag: Witty and Sarcastic, Zezee with Books, Mim Inkling, the Captain’s Quarters, the Book Prescription, Kiwi Katastrophes, Embuhlee Liest and Sara @the Bibliophagist

Really wanna know what books make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside? And what’s your oddest quirk? Let me know in the comments! (and we can feel like oddbods together 😉 )