My top 10 books of 2019! 🎉 I had such a good reading year in 2019. Out of the 60 books that I read, my favourites (not ordered) were: 1. The Pisces by Melissa Broder 2. Melmoth by Sarah Perry 3. We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver (not pictured because I've lent it to a colleague at work) 4. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee 5. High Wages by Dorothy Whipple (at @persephonebooks) 6. The Scapegoat by Daphne du Maurier 7. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett 8. Cujo by Stephen King 9. So Lucky by Dawn O'Porter (gifted to me by @harpercollinsnz) 10. Dolores Claiborne by Stephen King Have you read any of these books, and if so, what did you think of them? And which books were your favourites in 2019? • • #bookstagram #thepillarsoftheearth #kenfollett #solucky #dawnoporter #harpercollinsnz #stephenking #constantreader #doloresclaiborne #cujo #thepisces #pachinko #minjinlee #melmoth #sarahperry #daphnedumaurier #thescapegoat #persephonebooks #highwages #dorothywhipple #weneedtotalkaboutkevin #loh2019reviews
I finished The German House, my last 2019 read, with an hour to spare! I'm pretty chuffed with myself for finishing it in time 😂 . I read 60 books this year, across just over 22,000 pages - which is the most I've ever read in a year! It's been such a good year for reading, and I'm hoping for more of the same in 2020. I'll have a post up tomorrow about my reading resolutions in 2020, but for now - a final book review for 2019! . I really liked The German House. As I said in my previous post, it's post WW2 historical fiction. This time period feels a little bit neglected within fiction, and I'm so glad I picked this up and got to learn a little bit about that period. It's hard to read, because the topic is heavy, but it's so important to reflect on the past and acknowledge what happened. . I highly recommend this to any WW2 fiction fans out there, particularly if you don't know much about the trials in Germany following on from the Holocaust. I gave this one 4 ⭐s. . . #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #nowreading #bookblogger #thegermanhouse #harpercollinsnz #coffee #starbucks #loh2019reviews
I read Our Stop by Laura Jane Williams over the whirlwind couple of days following Christmas, and it was such a nice pick-me-up book to read right after Christmas! • I was super kindly gifted this gorgeous book by @harpercollinsnz. I don't often pick up romance-type novels, but after reading the synopsis of this one, I couldn't resist! It's set in London (my favourite city) and follows two thirty year olds through their daily commute and their separate lives. • There is so much to love in this novel. It's light-hearted, fun and easy to read. There's a bit of serious stuff in there as well, so it doesn't feel TOO ridiculously fictional. • The only issues I had with this one were the coincidences throughout the book. The chance meetings between the two protagonists being a main one, but also the chance not-quite meetings too! These pulled me out of the story enough to roll my eyes, because two strangers in London for sure would not intercept that often in reality, but it's fiction so who really cares? • Overall, such a fun one! Especially recommend it as a summer read. It's a nice one to get lost in on a day off work 😍 I gave it 4 ⭐s. • #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #nowreading #fridasgarden #fridakahlo #ourstop #laurajanewilliams #harpercollinsnz #loh2019reviews
Just like that, my final festive re-read done and dusted! I've read Little Women every Christmas/New Year time for the past 6 years. Every year I love to step back into the lives of Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy 😍 Although, I do only read the first half because I hate Good Wives (it upsets me so much 😬). . As usual, I gave Little Women 5 ⭐s. Who else is excited for the new adaptation in January? 😍 . . . #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #nowreading #bookblogger #coffee #starbucks #littlewomen #louisamayalcott #christmas #festive #christmasmug #loh2019reviews
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! Mine was filled with family, food, festive movies and new books! 🎄 . I was lucky enough to receive Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas from my brother this Christmas, which I read during the course of the day. It was a fun one, if also a little disgusting at times (😂). . It looks like this one is a pretty popular one here on bookstagram, so I won't bother explaining it, other than that it's short stories/anecdotes about a doctor's shifts during the Christmas period and all the strange, funny, grotesque and sad things he saw during those shifts. It also spends some time talking about the NHS and what it's like working in the medical industry. . I ended up enjoying this one, and I gave it 3 ⭐s. Also, look at the cute Christmas pudding tea cozy that I received from @themyscirabookclub for my birthday earlier this month! It's super cute 😍 . . #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #nowreading #bookblogger #twasthenightshiftbeforechristmas #adamkay #loh2019reviews
Merry Christmas everyone! 🎄 . I've finished yet another re-read of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, arguably (or not so arguable really) the best festive read of all time. . As usual, this one gets 5 ⭐s from me and I'll be watching the Disney adaptation tonight. I hope you're all having a great day and have received lots of exciting new reading material from your loved ones! 🎁 . . . #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #nowreading #bookblogger #achristmascarol #charlesdickens #christmas #festive #loh2019reviews
I finished this gorgeous anthology again a few days ago and had as good a time reading it as I always do! . My favourite story within the collection would have to be Kiersten White's 'Welcome to Christmas, CA', but I also LOVE Stephanie Perkins', Ally Carter's, Gayle Forman's, Laini Taylor's, Holly Black's, Myra McEntire's and Matt de la Peña's stories. Overall, it's just such a good collection, with only a couple falling flat for me. . I gave this one 5 ⭐s as usual and I definitely recommend this one to festive readers. It really gets you in to the spirit 🎄 . . . #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #nowreading #bookblogger #mytruelovegavetome #christmas #festive #loh2019reviews
I finished The Toy Makers over the weekend, during #AVeryMerryReadathon2019 and it was such a good one! . Definitely not the light and fluffy read you might think it would be, being set in Europe during the early to mid 1900s, but so enjoyable and so much deeper than I thought it was going to be! . It's set in London, in a toy Emporium that opens at first frost every winter, and closes as the frost melts for another year. It follows the emporium's founder and his two sons who are in competition with each other throughout the book. . I really enjoyed that this book had magical components, but entwined within was reality. There were serious topics like war and death alongside the magic that was the toy making. I think I appreciated the story as a whole more for the fact that it had these darker parts to it. . I gave this book 4 ⭐s and I definitely recommend it if you love both historical fiction and festive books! . . . #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #nowreading #bookblogger #thetoymakers #robertdinsdale #christmas #loh2019reviews
I've had the absolute nicest weekend! I spent it in Whangamata (a lovely beach town in the North Island of New Zealand) with my boyfriend and my mum. . We spent the weekend playing card games and darts, wandering around the town and reading. On Swift Horses was my reading companion for this weekend. . I finished On Swift Horses this afternoon. And while I loved the writing (I definitely feel like writing settings is a strength of this author), I didn't get along that well with the story or the storytelling. The story is quite slow and focuses on gambling mostly, which I just couldn't get invested in (almost a pun? 😝). I also didn't really feel like I knew either of the protagonists, even after 300 pages with them. . While it wasn't for me, I can see that it would work for other people. It's a great one to try particularly if you're interested in gambling, horse-racing and the South/West of the USA. I gave this one 2 ⭐s . What book/s did you read this weekend? . Also - I forgot to mention but how bloody cool is the latte art I got on my coffee the other day!? It's a Pegasus, which is so fitting for my book 🐎 . . #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #nowreading #bookblogger #coffee #starbucks #latteart #onswifthorses #shannonpufahl #harpercollinsnz #4thestatebooks #loh2019reviews
I just finished So Lucky by Dawn O'Porter, which I was gifted by @harpercollinsnz and honestly I had such a fun time the entire time that I was reading it! It's such a good one to binge read! . It was modern and hilarious. It took the most tragic parts of our society (the standard of beauty, the filter that is Instagram, the heroism placed on dads who parent vs mums 'just doing their jobs' who parent) and turns them around so the reader can laugh at it all. There's such a feeling of camaraderie throughout, and I found it to be such a pleasure to read! . I gave this one 4.5 ⭐s and would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves a good contemporary! It's such a good one guys 😍 . . . #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #nowreading #bookblogger #coffee #starbucks #latteart #solucky #dawnoporter #harpercollinsnz #loh2019reviews
Landline by Rainbow Rowell has become one of my comfort re-reads that I come back to most Christmases. This was my 4th read of it, and I loved it as much as I have the last 3 times! . This one is more aimed at adults than the majority of her work is, which I think is why I enjoy it so much. It's slow paced and it focuses on two individuals and one relationship. It's super cozy and sweet. . Obviously, I gave this one 5 ⭐s 😂 and I will probably be reading it again for Christmas in 2020! . . #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #nowreading #bookblogger #coffee #landline #rainbowrowell #christmas #festive #loh2019reviews
I finished One Day in December a day or two ago and it was definitely an enjoyable read. . I was in the mood for a light rom-com book, and that's what you get with this one. While there are sad events, it's written lightly so you won't feel the sad stuff too much. I had a fun time reading it for that reason. . While it was fun, it certainly wasn't deep. The characters didn't feel very fleshed out and the only apparent romantic attachment between the two main characters was their meet-cute (lil 'The Holiday' reference). It seems to be the only reason that the two main characters feel that they should end up together. Which felt a little tenuous to me. I wanted to know why they would be so good together. . I also much preferred Laurie's perspective over Jack's. Jack's felt a little bit forced. I felt like I could sense the author thinking 'how would Jack phrase this?' throughout his chapters. . Overall, I enjoyed it. This isn't my normal genre, but it was such a nice and easy read. I gave this one 3 ⭐s. . . . #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #nowreading #bookblogger #christmas #festive #coffee #loh2019reviews
I finished Lullaby this evening. I can report that it was nothing more but also nothing less than what everyone says. It's a fast-paced, short and very much surface-level 'thriller'. . However, I do use the term 'thriller' lightly because it's not all that thrilling. Fake spoiler (because the book cover does it for you): the nanny did it. Why? That's what you hope to find out in the 200 pages of this book, but sadly you never REALLY do. It's left open to interpretation. . I liked this book enough to read it in two days. I wanted to know Louise's motivation, how her brain worked, what happened to her prior to entering this family's world. But the reader is only given teasers of each and has to interpret that information how they wish. That irritated me. For me, the point of this genre is to slowly uncover the 'who did it' and 'why did they do it'. It left a sour taste in my mouth that neither of these things are really 'uncovered'. . There is definitely potential here. I wanted to know more about Louise's 'melancholia' condition, I wanted to know more about how she manipulated the children, I wanted to know more about her childhood. Overall, I liked it enough to keep picking it up but it didn't satisfy. I gave this one 2.5 ⭐s . . . #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #nowreading #bookblogger #lullaby #theperfectnanny #leïlaslimani #leilaslimani #loh2019reviews
I'm sad to say, especially after my last gushy update, that The Starless Sea really disappointed me 😭 . This book starts off so strong, invoking a beautiful and magical atmosphere that was reminiscent to that of The Night Circus, but it couldn't maintain its high for me. . The book starts off cutting around to different stories, settings and times. I assumed that, while the stories seemed to be irrelevant to each other and the story was a bit confusing, it would all pull itself together in the end. But it didn't. . This story seems to be plotless. It's a beautifully atmospheric ode to book readers, but nothing more than that for me. I didn't understand what each character felt for each other, I didn't understand who was fighting for what cause and why, I didn't understand the significance of the bees, Fate or the Owl King, I didn't understand the story inside of the story and I definitely didn't understand the ending. What was the message and what was the point? . In my opinion, this book was 500 pages of beautiful writing that didn't say anything. . I wanted to love this book. I wanted it to be my favourite book of 2019. I wanted to gush about it to everyone. But I think my recommendation will be to stick to The Night Circus and only read this one if you're a die-hard fan of Erin Morgenstern's writing style. But I guess I can't assume everyone will have the same experience as me because I've seen many a gushing review here on BG. So maybe try it for yourself and see... . I gave this one 3 ⭐s because of the beautifully atmospheric writing, but I'm feeling a bit ragey at the whole book right now due to my disappointment with the second half's inability to nicely tie everything up so I might bump it down to 2 in the future 😔 . . #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #bg #booksandbeans #amreading #nowreading #bookblogger #thestarlesssea #erinmorgenstern #thenightcircus #loh2019reviews
I finished Doctor Sleep last night, about one hour before I went and saw the film adaptation. Talk about cutting it close! 😬 . Overall, I honestly think that I preferred the movie. Which is pretty uncommon for me (and probably most readers). I started off loving the book, but it came to a point where it was just too action-y and I think that component of the story worked better on screen than on paper. . The movie was definitely sadder and more dramatic. *Spoiler ahead* There were so many deaths in the movie that didn't happen in the book! But it suited the nature of 'The Shining' story. Whereas, the book didn't feel like it matched The Shining at all. It was too light-hearted and adventurous. . I didn't hate the book, but I didn't love it either. I gave the book 2 ⭐s. Not the worst sequel to a hyped original book, but definitely not the best either. But the movie was a good time, and I appreciated the throwbacks to the original movie scattered throughout! I definitely recommend the movie over the book on this occasion 😳 . . . #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #nowreading #bookblogger #doctorsleep #theshining #stephenking #constantreader #loh2019reviews
So my goal was to finish this book by the end of October and I managed it with a few hours to spare 🎉 . I don't often read anthologies (aside from my annual Christmas reads 😅), so I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from this and I was a little worried I wouldn't enjoy it. But I ended up having a great time working through the 20 short stories! . As is usually the case with short story collections, I ended up enjoying some more than others. Some favourites were Graveyard Shift, The Mangler, Quitters Inc, I Know What You Need, Children of the Corn, and The Last Rung on the Ladder (although this one wasn't horror at all and it was very sad). . The ones that I enjoyed, I enjoyed a lot. But most of the ones not mentioned didn't really stand out for me or I didn't like them. There were only 2 or 3 that I actively did not like though, and they sped by! So overall, I'd give this collection 4 ⭐s because I had such fun reading it - even if there were a couple that I didn't like. . . . #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #nowreading #bookblogger #stephenking #nightshift #constantreader #loh2019reviews
I read Pumpkin Heads by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks on Monday (a public holiday here in New Zealand) and I had such a fun time with it! . I rarely pick up graphic novels because I'm not really drawn to them (I prefer long and slow-burning novels) but this one was right up my alley - it was written by a favourite of mine AND it's got a seasonal setting! So I HAD to read it, obviously. And I'm so glad I did! It was such a cutesy, feel-good story. I can definitely see a re-read on the cards in the future 😂 . It's set in a big, pumpkin patch autumn-themed park thing. These might be common in the US, but we don't have them here so I'm not sure what they're called 😂 it's set over one work shift, so it's fast-paced and super fun to read. I definitely recommend it if you love Halloween and/or autumn! . Thanks to @themyscirabookclub for lending me the book! . . . . #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #nowreading #bookblogger #pumpkinheads #rainbowrowell #faitherinhicks #loh2019reviews
I finished The Shining last night ... and I really liked it, but I sadly didn't love it enough to give it 5 ⭐s . I think that the reason I couldn't give this a 5 ⭐ rating is because I watched the movie first and it kind of ruined the book for me 😭 the whole way through the book I was expecting the two famous scenes from the movie: the twin girls in their matching blue dresses, and Jack repeatedly typing 'All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy' into his typewriter. But the scenes never appeared 😔 . I did really enjoy this book though. It's creepy and I was SO immersed in the story. I enjoyed the build up - Jack slowly getting symptoms of the Overlook taking over his mind, like chewing the aspirin tablets, repeatedly telling himself that his family will 'get their medicine', how he didn't knowingly decide to destroy the battery for the snowmobile... it was all so gradual and so terrifying to read it all slowly happening over time! I gave this one 4 ⭐s! . . . #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #nowreading #bookblogger #theshining #stephenking #constantreader #loh2019reviews
I've just finished Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell. Sadly, the adventure type style of this book didn't appeal to me, so I didn't enjoy it anywhere near as much as I did the first book. This one literally has a bit of everything - it's fast-paced, plot-driven, the setting is a long road trip, it includes magic, fantasy, some ol' teenage angst, it has loads of adventure and fight scenes, and it also has star-crossed lovers. It's got a bit of all of it! . But that's exactly why it didn't work for me. I'm more of a character-driven girl, it was just too much for me! There was basically no focus on the characters or development of their lives. The whole book spans about a week, so there wasn't much opportunity for the development of the story and its characters that I love to see in a book. But, regardless of my experience with this book, it's a good one. Even though I didn't love it, I wanted to pick it up and keep reading. I was invested enough to rush through it to the end. So at least there's that? I gave this one 2.5 stars ⭐ I'll still be at the book shop on release day for book 3 though, I'm invested in these characters' lives now! . . . #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #nowreading #bookblogger #waywardson #rainbowrowell #carryon #loh2019reviews
I finished N0S4A2 earlier this week. It was my first Joe Hill, and while it wasn't a 5 ⭐ read for me, I did still enjoy reading it. I'm not gonna lie though, it's a deceivingly long book. It's around 700 pages! And I'm not sure that it warranted being that long at all. I remember that around the halfway point the tension started building up, and I was surprised to find that I still had over 300 pages until the end. . With that being said, I wasn't ever bored when I picked it up. It was fast paced and I really enjoyed the Christmas-theme component of the story. The ending was a little bit of a let down, I wanted more from the Charlie Manx side of things - I wanted to know more about how that happened to him and who he was as a person before the inscape took over him. But maybe that's just the Psych major in me coming out 😂 . Overall, a good enough read, but not a great one. I gave it 3 ⭐s. #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #nowreading #bookblogger #N0S4A2 #joehill #horror #halloween #spookyreads #loh2019reviews
I recently finished High Wages by Dorothy Whipple, a neglected classic that has been published by @persephonebooks and I absolutely loved it! . High Wages was such a cute and cozy read, absolutely perfect to read when you want something light. It's set in the 1930s in England and follows a young female protagonist named Jane who works in a clothing store but aspires for more. I gave this one 5 ⭐s and am seriously contemplating doing an online order for more of Whipple's books! . . . #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #nowreading #bookblogger #persephonebooks #highwages #dorothywhipple #neglectedclassics #loh2019reviews
I finished Daughter of the Forest a week or two ago and I really enjoyed it! It's definitely a good one to pick up if you'd like an immersive historical/fantasy type of read that you don't have to focus too much on. It's set in Ireland back in the day and includes a bit of folklore, which I actually ended up enjoying! Personally, this one was exactly what I needed. I wanted something I could disappear in to, without getting too bogged down with having to learn a new world, set of laws and magic systems and a whole cast of intricate characters. It has the immersiveness of a fantasy/historical story but without all of the extras that are difficult to focus on when you're tired or busy. . While I enjoyed this one for what it was, just be warned that it's not hugely fast-paced and it won't change you as a person or anything crazy. But it's a fun read that I would definitely recommend! I look forward to reading the rest of the series in the future for sure! I gave this one 4 ⭐s . . . #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #nowreading #bookblogger #daughteroftheforest #julietmarillier #fantasy #historicalfiction #loh2019reviews
I finished 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World last night on the train to Warnemünde, Germany. While I can understand why people didn't enjoy the second half of this book (especially after it's powerful first half), I really enjoyed the whole book! I loved that this book gives you a thorough look at the back alleys and less-talked-about parts of Istanbul - it focuses on a prostitute called Leila and her friends. All of them have been cast out by their families and by society. They've either accepted their ostracism and live their lives as outcasts, or they pretend to fit in but live alternative lives as their 'true' self. I absolutely loved the messages within this book and how much you get to know the protagonist in the first half. I find it so sad that these types of victims don't get the same publicity when something bad happens to them as the rest of society does, and I loved that this book tried to rectify that. The second half, while unusual, really shows how people such as prostitutes obviously are people like the rest of the world - they have people who love and care about them. Overall, a great read that I gave 3.5 ⭐s . . #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #nowreading #bookblogger #bookstagramreadsthebooker #bookerprize2019 #10minutes38secondsinthisstrangeworld #loh2019reviews
I finished #Frankissstein by Jeanette Winterson earlier tonight, my 4th #BookerPrize2019 longlisted read. . I really enjoyed this one. What a unique and thought-provoking book! It throws into discussion what it means to be a sentient and biological being, the future for homo sapiens, Artificial Intelligence and the role it may play in the not-too-distant future. Overall, it stressed me out (I don't think I've read another book that has reminded me so much of my own mortality) but it also made me think AND it made me laugh. Two major ticks from me! I definitely want to see this one shortlisted for the #BookerPrize. It's so different from anything else I've ever read, and so intelligently written! . While I did love it, it doesn't quite get 5 ⭐s from me because I got a bit confused with the timeline chopping and changing, which brought me out of the book and made me feel disconnected. This one was a solid 4 ⭐ read for me. I do suspect that I would have gotten more out of it if I had of read the classic #Frankenstein first, but oh well - I had a great time regardless! . Highly recommend if this one sounds like your cup of tea - but it definitely won't be for everyone so consider yourself warned! . . #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #nowreading #bookblogger #bookstagramreadsthebooker #loh2019reviews
It took me a couple of weeks to get through but it was well worth the time spent to read The Pillars of the Earth - it's such a good book with excellent story-telling, character development and plot. . This one is a historical fiction set in 12th century England. There is religion, royalty, war, famine, wealth, love, hatred, brutality and intrigue. This book has literally got everything. It's full of ups and downs, characters to love as well as characters to despise. . It can take a little while to become invested in this book. I know that its size can put many off (including me for several years) but I highly recommend you give it a go if it's on your TBR and you've been putting it off! I gave this one 5 ⭐s and will definitely be getting to the 2nd book in the not-too-distant future! Thanks for buddy reading with me @ethicallybookish . . . #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #nowreading #bookblogger #thepillarsoftheearth #kenfollett #historicalfiction #loh2019reviews
I finished Lanny by Max Porter within 2 days and I had so much fun while reading it! I haven't read Grief is the Thing With Feathers, but Max Porter is such a creative writer and I've never read anything quite like Lanny before. At first I wasn't sure about the narrative from Dead Papa Toothwort's 'perspective' but within a few pages I was entirely on board and loving every page. As you all might have seen elsewhere (some reviews I recall are from @but_i_thought_, @cheriebooksreadthisyear and @ns510reads) this book is about a boy named Lanny but is narrated by several different characters - Lanny's family members, minder, and various voices from around the neighbourhood. It's such a fun read, but so hard to review! I gave this one 4.5 ⭐s and urge you all to pick it up if you want a quick and enjoyable (yet still thought-provoking) read! #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #bookaholic #nowreading #bookish #bookishfeatures #booknerd #bookblogger #lanny #maxporter #thebookerprize #bookerprize2019 #thebookerprize2019 #loh2019reviews
I've finished Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb, the second book in the Farseer trilogy, and sadly didn't have a great experience with it as a whole. It held my attention until about 2/3rds of the way through and then it really started to drag on. I feel this book could be about 300 pages less than what it is and it would benefit from the edit. . I also had a major dislike of the love story (if it can be called that) in these books. I just feel as though Molly has 0 personality written for her character, and I didn't feel as though they were a good couple AT ALL. It felt like while they were apart, Fitz spent all his time thinking about Molly, but whenever they were together it was just them fighting about how Fitz doesn't give her enough time and how they can't be together. DULL 😂 (sorry if I'm heartless but I could not be in a relationship like that 😷). The only things I genuinely feel that I know about Molly is the colour of her skirt, that her dad was an alcoholic, and she makes candles. Where is her personality!? . So, yeah. Sadly, I was disappointed by the 2nd instalment. I think the 3rd one will be placed on hold for a few months... I gave this one 2 ⭐s because I did enjoy picking it up for the first half. #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #bookaholic #nowreading #bookish #bookishfeatures #booknerd #bookblogger #coffee #starbucks #royalassassin #farseertrilogy #robinhobb #loh2019reviews
I finished The Scapegoat by Daphne du Maurier on Sunday and I had such a good time reading this one! I was a bit nervous to pick up another du Maurier book, because I'd absolutely LOVED Rebecca last year with a passion, and then had a very disappointing experience reading Frenchman's Creek later on in the year. I was nervous that Rebecca was going to be the only book that I enjoyed from her - but thankfully I was wrong! This one is basically like the movie 'Freaky Friday', only less comedy and more focus on morals. A man and his doppelganger bump into each other and switch lives. I got so invested and absolutely loved learning about the life that the protagonist was thrown into. I gave this one 4.5 ⭐s and I can't wait to pick up more Daphne du Maurier in the near future! #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #bookaholic #nowreading #bookish #bookishfeatures #booknerd #bookblogger #daphnedumaurier #thescapegoat #loh2019reviews
Oh my god. This book. It was insane and it was heavy and it was disturbing and it was conflicting. I have so many feelings 🤯 I know this one won't be for everyone, but it is such a powerful book, and written/approached so well. I really don't have much more to add because my brain is still whirling after just finishing it. Probably not the best time to try and formulate a review but I can't get this book off my mind so I guess you all must suffer my rambley review 😂 Read this book. Especially if you're interested in psychology or specifically getting into the minds of killers/criminals. But be prepared for your heart and your head to hurt. I gave this one 5 ⭐s and it's definitely earned a spot on my favourites list. A disturbing read that I will not pick up again in a hurry because it's too traumatic but I'm so glad I read it and wow, it was amazing #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #bookaholic #nowreading #bookish #bookishfeatures #booknerd #bookblogger #weneedtotalkaboutkevin #lionelshriver #womensprize #orangeprize #loh2019reviews
I finished this one a couple of weeks ago but it did take me a while to figure out how I felt about it and why I didn't love it quite as much as I expected I would Fantasy is among my favourite genres - I love how immersive and escapist it is, I love the complex world building and 'magic' systems and laws. But this one didn't seem to click for me as much as I'd hoped it would I feel like this one didn't do as much building of the world and the characters and the magic system as I was expecting and I found it to be a bit forgettable. I don't think the book was bad, and I will be continuing on with the series and Hobb's other books, but I can't deny that I was underwhelmed by the first book I think the main reason why I had this experience is because I was constantly comparing it to The Name of the Wind. I felt that this one had many similarities in terms of the main character, his troubles and story, and several plot points throughout the book, but that The Name of the Wind just did it better I gave this one 2 ⭐s. But bear with me Hobb fans! I will keep reading and hopefully have a better experience with the next book! I still have hope! #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #bookaholic #nowreading #bookish #bookishfeatures #booknerd #bookblogger #assassinsapprentice #farseer #robinhobb #farseertrilogy #fantasy #loh2019reviews
I've finished Cujo by Stephen King and I loved it! As I've said in previous posts about this one, I picked it up because it's one of his more well-known stories and I wanted to get the references and know the story, but I didn't expect to love it So I was pleasantly surprised that I loved the whole book! I enjoyed reading about the characters, about Cujo, and I loved the suspense throughout the story. . I particularly enjoyed how realistic this one was. I think it made the story scarier, just knowing that it was a possibility and could actually happen. But then, and this was my only gripe with the novel, there were a few references to Cujo being more than a dog, and to him being the 'monster' in the cupboard. Which is ridiculous and also wasn't actually formed into a plot point, there were just a few strange and scattered comments about it. I think those could definitely have been excluded with no negative impact to the story at all. I loved this one much more than I expected to and I gave it 5 ⭐s! #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #bookaholic #nowreading #bookish #bookishfeatures #booknerd #bookblogger #stephenking #constantreader #cujo #loh2019reviews
I had such a fun time reading Dolores Claiborne last week! It had been SO long since I'd picked up anything by Stephen King, and this was definitely a good one to pick up after a long break from his writing! I definitely wouldn't classify this one as a horror. I wouldn't even call it a thriller or a suspense. I don't really know what it is if I'm honest. But I do know that it was a great story. The character of Dolores is absolutely fascinating and I loved reading about her interactions with Vera - SO funny yet SO disturbing 😂 I rated this one 4 ⭐s, and it's definitely succeeded in making me want to keep on picking up King's books! I've got a few sitting on my shelf ready to go so watch this space! #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #nowreading #bookish #bookishfeatures #booknerd #bookblogger #stephenking #constantreader #doloresclaiborne #fridakahlo #fridasgarden #loh2019reviews
I'll be honest, I was SO excited to pick this one up this winter, but it left me feeling a bit disappointed... The synopsis sounded so brilliant but the world and character building left a bit to be desired The first half was amazing. I loved the initial 'get to know the characters and setting' part, but as soon as the pace started to quicken and things started happening, my interest started to decline My main issue was the perspective breaks. This book would be a lot easier to follow if each perspective had the protagonist's name at the top - but instead you're left to struggle along for a sentence or a paragraph to figure out whose perspective it is you're reading from. It also got too fast paced and seemed to completely forget about the characters and the world in the second half and seemed to entirely rely on plot which I didn't love Overall, it wasn't bad but I didn't absolutely love it so it got 3 ⭐s from me #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #bookaholic #nowreading #bookish #bookishfeatures #booknerd #bookblogger #spinningsilver #naominovic #fantasy #loh2019reviews
I finished Ordinary People by Diana Evans the other day. This one follows a couple living in London and it deals with their relationship and their lives (both as individuals and as a couple). . I enjoyed reading this one, but it's definitely not for everyone. Not much 'happens' in terms of plot and it's very quaint, real life 'drama' between people. It's not written to be a page-turner, it definitely feels more like a character study. . I really enjoy books like this. I enjoyed getting to know each character and their desires, aspirations and thoughts. Each character was flawed and not all-together likeable, but I liked that about the characters because it was realistic. The characters didn't feel like caricatures because they all had elements to like and dislike. . I recommend this one to anyone who likes reading about flawed relationships, character studies and/or people who live in London and like reading about home. I gave this one 3.5 ⭐s. Enjoyable, but not memorable . . #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #bookaholic #nowreading #bookish #bookishfeatures #booknerd #bookblogger #womensprize #womensprizeforfiction #womensprize2019 #ordinarypeople #dianaevans #london #loh2019reviews
I finished Milkman by Anna Burns last night, my penultimate Women's Prize shortlist read and I had a great experience with this one! • I was SO pleasantly surprised to find this one as enjoyable as it was, especially after having a couple of disappointing Women's Prize reads before this one... • For me, the highlight for this one was definitely the writing (the lyrical sentences and the stream of consciousness style) and the 'picture' it painted of the town and its inhabitants. I found it amazing that the author could make me feel invested in a story where none of the characters or places have names, and I have no knowledge of the characters' physical appearances or personalities besides their dialogue and actions. I couldn't tell you the first thing about the protagonist - her name, hair colour, etc are all omitted from the story - but somehow, none of this was important. To me, that shows EXCELLENT writing! I would like to say though, this book is not for people who want a plot-driven novel. A lot does happen, but it's written in a way that doesn't build up to major plot points or make a big deal out of them. It's a meandering novel that definitely has a slower pace. I absolutely loved this about the book, but I know it won't be for everyone! • I gave Milkman 4 ⭐s. Such an enjoyable and different story! • • #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #bookaholic #nowreading #bookish #bookishfeatures #booknerd #bookblogger #coffee #starbucks #womensprize #womensprizeforfiction #womensprize2019 #manbookerprize #manbooker2018 #milkman #loh2019reviews
Oops, I kept forgetting to write a review for this one! I read The Kite Runner earlier this month, after reading and loving A Thousand Splendid Suns many years ago and absolutely loving it My experience with The Kite Runner was a tiny bit disappointing and I think that was because it wasn't the first Hosseini that I'd read. As I read this one, I kept thinking 'there's going to be a great thing that happens followed by an extremely sad thing directly after and I wonder when that's going to happen'. So when this did happen, I wasn't surprised and it impacted me less than it would have if I wasn't expecting it. It was a bit of an eye roll moment for me sadly, rather than a ball my eyes out moment I still found the whole story enjoyable. It was such a strange experience, the love-hate relationship that I had with the protagonist. And I still can't get over how bloody lovely Hassan was 😭 my only issue was that this author definitely has a style of writing that works, but it felt a little bit re-used for me after reading 2 books from him I gave this one 3 ⭐s because it really was a greatly written and emotional read that I really appreciated reading, but sadly it just fell a little bit short of amazing for me personally. It's a favourite for many though, so do pick it up if you're interested in coming of age stories and the history of Afghanistan • • • #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #bookaholic #nowreading #bookish #bookishfeatures #booknerd #bookblogger #thekiterunner #khaledhosseini #loh2019reviews
Sadly, I didn't love this one. I feel it had such potential, and the idea was great, but the execution not so much. I know this one did work for some people, but it wasn't for me. • This one is set both during the Civil War in the USA and in the early 20th century after the abolishment of slavery. It's a heavy topic to read about, but the way this one chops around just didn't have me invested. • I gave this one 1 ⭐. It's not bad, but it didn't work for me. • • #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #bookaholic #nowreading #bookish #bookishfeatures #booknerd #bookblogger #remembered #womensprize #womensprizeforfiction #womensprize2019 #loh2019reviews
I ended up having a great time with Lost Children Archive! I wasn't sure I was going to like it after watching @mercysmusings video where she talked about DNFing this one, but I (thankfully) didn't have the same experience with it • This one is not very plot driven but it follows a wife and husband with their two children (which, by the way, I enjoyed that this was a non-nuclear family with both children being from previous relationships) on their road trip south through the USA. Mainly though, this one is about national borders, immigration and possession of land with a focus on Mexicans and Native Americans • I really enjoyed the pace and perspectives in this novel. I kind of love meandering novels where a lot of the writing is just observation or thought, rather than novels that are entirely plot driven so this worked for me. I also loved that this novel discussed important and very current themes. I do think it could have said and done MORE about these topics but I had a great time reading it. • I will say though, I didn't care at ALL about the contents of the boxes. I basically skipped those pages where it just outlines what is in each box. I don't really understand what the point of these were - possibly so the reader could research if they chose? • Overall, a great read which should have been shortlisted for the @womensprize in my opinion. I gave this one 4 ⭐s. • • • #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #bookaholic #nowreading #bookish #bookishfeatures #booknerd #bookblogger #womensprize #womensprizeforfiction #womensprize2019 #womensprizelonglist #lostchildrenarchive #coffee #starbucks #loh2019reviews
I picked up Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi both because it was longlisted for the Women's Prize and also as April's prompt for the #unreadshelfproject2019 - the book you acquired most recently. • This book had me a little lost at the start, when the author is developing the story and the world and informing the reader about the different 'spirits' which manifest inside Ada. I wasn't sure that I was going to like it for this reason, there was no tangible plot that I could follow and there weren't really any characters besides Ada and the possession that was taking place inside her (I'm not too sure what else to call it). • But this one really ended up surprising me and I really enjoyed it! Once Ada moves to the United States, the story finds a plot for me to follow and I begin to understand the spirits inside of Ada - I can tell who is who and am beginning to comprehend the wants of each of them. This book was so compelling and absolutely fascinating! I also really loved the fact that it was semi-autobiographical! • I think this one is especially fascinating for Western readers to pick up because of the different theories/ideas around these spirits. In Westernised countries, readers (like myself) are definitely inclined to medicalise what is going on with Ada - many times I found myself thinking "oh so the spirits are mental illness that has been personified" or "ahh she has a personality disorder and she's named her other 'selves'". I found it interesting that I was constantly translating this novel so that it made sense in my own world. • Overall, such a great read once I got over that initial 80ish page hurdle! I ended up absolutely loving it and it has stayed on my mind ever since! I gave this one 4 ⭐s • • • #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #bookaholic #nowreading #bookish #bookishfeatures #booknerd #bookblogger #womensprize #womensprizeforfiction #womensprize2019 #womensprizelonglist #freshwater #akwaekeemezi #loh2019reviews
Almost two weeks later and I've FINALLY finished Swan Song! • This one was the one I was most excited to get to off the @womensprize longlist this year. The premise is just so interesting. It's based on the life of Truman Capote (author of Breakfast at Tiffany's and In Cold Blood) and the women in his life, so a lot of it is non-fiction. • I had no idea about the scandals in his life prior to reading Swan Song, so this was such a cool experience - learning about Capote and Googling each of the interviews he did, the women referred to as his 'Swans' and just his life in general. It made for such an engrossing and immersive time and I absolutely loved it! • At some points, the timeline did confuse me. It cuts back and forward throughout Capote's life and to different settings. In the beginning I would get the women mixed up because they're all tall, beautiful, rich socialites - but a quick read of each of their Wiki pages sorted this out for me (plus the photos included in the end pages). • Overall, such a good read. It requires a bit of investment, but well worth it by the time you get to the end! It's definitely inspired me to pick up Capote's books so I can see what his writing is like! I gave this one 4 ⭐s! • • • #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #bookaholic #nowreading #bookish #bookishfeatures #booknerd #bookblogger #womensprize #womensprizeforfiction #womensprize2019 #womensprizelonglist #swansong #trumancapote #loh2019reviews
I finished Bottled Goods by Sophie van Llewyn on Saturday, and it's taken me this long to consider what it was that didn't quite work for me in this cute little flash fiction story • I was so excited to pick this one up! Firstly, because it's published by a smaller publisher than most of the other longlisted books (both this year and previous years). Secondly, because flash fiction is a new concept for me and I was intrigued to see it in action. And thirdly, because the setting sounded like something I'd absolutely love. I love European settings that deal with war, conflict, politics, etc. So a story set in Communist Romania should have worked for me! • Sadly, it didn't. But it wasn't the flash fiction or the setting that I didn't love. It was mainly the language and the element of WEIRDNESS (also known as magical realism) that enters about three quarters into the story • The language was so simple, I felt like I was reading a Spark Notes summary of each chapter that had been simplified and all possible emotion had been sifted out. I couldn't feel invested in the story because it was so factual and non-emotive • The magical realism plot point was a real struggle for me. I like my magic and fantasy, but I like it when there is a system with rules that I can understand. This plot point didn't have this and I really struggled with the story from the point when this idea was introduced • I gave this one 2 ⭐s. I'd love to discuss with those of you who loved this one, and those of you who didn't! I love hearing differing opinions about the same book! • • #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklover #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #nowreading #womensprize #womensprizeforfiction #womensprize2019 #womensprizelonglist #bottledgoods #starbucks #loh2019reviews
I finished The Silence of the Girls last night and I'm still trying to figure out what happened to make me dislike it so much... • I started off quite enjoying this one. I'm not familiar with The Iliad, but I was excited to learn more about the story from a feminist point of view. However, that's not what this was. • Throughout the story I felt like I was just reading a recount of The Iliad, rather than a retelling from a female perspective. The story focuses so much on Achilles and what he's up to that the premise of this story being about unsilencing women feels like clickbait. • I also really didn't get on with the style of the dialogue. The language has been modernised and Westernised - presumably to make the story more accessible for readers, but it felt so disjointed and out of place. • Overall, I didn't enjoy this one at all. The last 150 pages dragged on to the point where I would skip a page to get through it faster then I'd feel guilty for not giving it a chance and I'd go back and read the page I'd skipped only to find out I hadn't really missed anything. • Personally, I feel like Circe is a much stronger novel than this one. I gave this one 1 ⭐ • • • #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #bookaholic #nowreading #bookblogger #thesilenceofthegirls #theiliad #womensprize #womensprizeforfiction #womensprize2019 #womensprizelonglist #coffee #loh2019reviews
I'm participating in the #8intwo readathon this weekend and first up was Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss. I was halfway through this one when the readathon started and I've now finished it. • I enjoyed Ghost Wall. The family dynamic, themes and worldviews in this novella were haunting and horrifying, but I'm glad I read it because it was a very important and timely read. • The racism and nationalism in particular stood out for me, after the recent shooting at the mosques in Christchurch. It's highly disturbing to read about people who feel they have earned their place in a country more than others, but it's so important to talk about this subject and make the world aware that these kinds of views are not okay. • Considering the size of this novella, it deals with a LOT! Gender roles and stereotyping, nationalism, racism, domestic violence and misogyny - just to name a few. It's an important read even if it's not particularly an enjoyable one. I gave it 4 ⭐s. • Please also see @imamandanelson's review, because she phrased her review so cleverly and was completely spot on 👏🏼 • • #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #bookaholic #nowreading #bookish #bookishfeatures #booknerd #bookblogger #ghostwall #sarahmoss #womensprize #womensprizeforfiction #womensprize2019 #womensprizelonglist #loh2019reviews
I've been a little quiet on here for the last week because I've been taking so long to get through Tess of the D'urbervilles, but I finally finished it today! • I have a very love/hate relationship with classics... I get bored while I read them because the pace of them is so much slower than more contemporary books, but then when I finish them, I can really start to see the value in them. • I found parts of this one astounding - Hardy's social commentary on women, masculinity and gender is so ahead of his time! But on the other hand, while I read it, I wasn't enjoying myself... Overall, a good one, but it'll have to just get 3 ⭐s from me because I didn't have a good time reading it. • • • #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #bookaholic #nowreading #bookish #bookishfeatures #booknerd #bookblogger #tessofthedurbervilles #thomashardy #classic #literature #loh2019reviews
I finished Normal People by Sally Rooney this evening, my 5th Women's Prize longlisted book. I knew, going into this one, that it's hugely popular here on bookstagram, but I still expected to love it. If there's a type of book that I'm pretty much destined to love, it's a book about a flawed relationship and really getting into the characters' heads. • This book is just that. I loved following the lives and minds of Connell and Marianne. It was sad but I really enjoyed reading about the journey they went through both together and apart. It was relatable at times and completely mind-boggling at other times. • With that being said, there was still something about this book that just didn't click with me exactly. I loved reading it when I had it in front of me, but when I put it down after finishing it, it was already kind of leaving me. It didn't feel as though it left a lasting impression on me, which I feel a little disappointed about. I can't put my finger on what it was, but it has meant that I only gave this book 4 ⭐s, rather than 5. • Even so, a great book and I think the buzz here on insta is well founded! • • • #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #bookaholic #nowreading #bookish #bookishfeatures #booknerd #bookblogger #womensprizelonglist #womensprize #womensprizeforfiction #womensprize2019 #normalpeople #sallyrooney #loh2019reviews
I just this moment finished this heartbreaking story and I've already lost track of how many times I cried. In the end it just kind of merged into one extended stream of tears honestly 😂 • An American Marriage was such a good read. I love books that make me feel things so I was bound to love this one. It's about a newly married couple where the husband is wrongfully convicted of a crime and is sentenced to 12 years in prison. Once he gets out, the story follows him and her as they rediscover themselves and their marriage. • I gave this one 5 ⭐s and I highly recommend you pick it up if you enjoy reading books that make you sad (if you don't then don't pick this one up)! • • • #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #bookaholic #nowreading #bookish #bookishfeatures #booknerd #bookblogger #anamericanmarriage #womensprize #womensprizeforfiction #womensprize2019 #womensprizelonglist #loh2019reviews
I've just finished The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker and I've got to admit, it didn't end up on the same route that I thought it would. • I imagined this one to be focused on 'the dreamers', like the title suggests, but the story is more about the societal side of things. How will the government manage an outbreak of a new virus? How do people cope with the fear that they might fall ill next? What role will the large pharmaceutical companies play? How long will the illness last and how does it travel? • It was definitely an interesting read, just not at all what I expected! This one gets 3 🌟s from me. • If you've read this one, what did you think? I'm always keen to discuss! • • • #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #bookaholic #nowreading #bookish #bookishfeatures #booknerd #bookblogger #thedreamers #bookreview #lush #bath #loh2019reviews
I finished Trainwreck yesterday and to be honest, I did end up having a few conflicting feelings about it. I loved this one for the most part. The examples of real celebrities was truly well done and I appreciated being able to picture the people in my head to accompany the narrative of a 'trainwreck'. It also brings to light a sad reality that people need to be aware of. However, I really feel like this could do with a further edit. I felt there to be too much personal opinion from the author, and strangely placed throughout the book. She would jump in randomly and disrupt the flow of the book by stating her opinion about Lana del Rey's singing voice, Charlotte Bronte's 'neediness', and Sylvia Plath's 'meanness' as some examples. It also reads more like a blog post, or a biography, rather than a studied feminist text. There wasn't much in the way of theories and research (besides celeb magazines I assume). The conclusion, to me, seemed to contradict the whole book up until that point, by stating that nobody is a powerful, strong feminist. I get what she's trying to say but it felt like such a weak conclusion to come to - and not very empowering. Overall, I liked it but I had a few issues with it so i gave it 3 🌟s. This review is a little ranty but if you want to know more about what I liked in this book, see my previous 2 posts about it because they're much more gushy! • #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #bookaholic #nowreading #bookish #bookishfeatures #booknerd #bookblogger #trainwreck #feminism #bookreview #loh2019reviews
I finished The Hate U Give yesterday and then went and saw the movie straightaway, which was such a great experience! • The book was outstanding. The movie was arguably even better. It's so topical and such an important story, regardless of your race, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic background, etc. • As many of you know, this one deals with the horrific topics of police brutality and racism. It's horrifying that this story isn't a dystopian, a fantasy, even a historical fiction - it's real NOW. And that disgusts me. But it's so important to acknowledge these facts and to be aware that this really happens because how else will the world change? • I highly, highly recommend you all read this and/or watch the movie if you haven't already! • In case it isn't obvious, I gave this one 5 🌟s, although it's so hard to rate books like this... It's a book that I'm so, so glad I've read, but I'll probably never read it again because it is such a heavy read. • • • #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #bookaholic #nowreading #bookish #bookishfeatures #booknerd #bookblogger #thehateugive #thug #angiethomas #loh2019reviews
I finished Pachinko by Min Jin Lee this morning and I loved it. I was expecting to be disappointed by this book, which made it such a nice surprise when it turned out to be a 5 🌟 read, as well as a new favourite book! This one taught me so much about a period of history I was completely ignorant about, which I appreciate so much! It was also SO immersive! I laughed, I cried, I smiled, I got angry... I had so many feelings while reading this book, and I felt so connected to the story 🤯 I have heard mixed reviews about this one, but if this book appeals to you at all I cannot recommend it highly enough so do yourself a favour and pick it up! It also doesn't hurt that the cover is gorgeous, but read it for the content too 😜 Now I need to know more about Min Jin Lee's other book, Free Food for Millionaires... have any of you read that one and was it good?? • • • #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #bookaholic #nowreading #bookish #bookishfeatures #booknerd #bookblogger #pachinko #minjinlee #nyt #bestseller #modernclassic #korea #japan #loh2019reviews
I finished Less by Andrew Sean Greer yesterday morning and sadly, I didn't find it that outstanding. It was just meh. . I saw its potential in the beginning, and throughout the whole story I did find it mildly amusing and a little satirical, but that's as far as it went. It didn't have any life changing revelations, anything I haven't seen before, or any brilliant messages to take home. And I thought I kind of understood the message of the book, until I got to the end and was like 'huh, so that's it? What was the point?'. . I hate when I have this kind of experience with an award winning book... like, what did I miss!? Because honestly, while I was reading it, I felt like it only won the Pulitzer Prize because it incorporates the Pulitzer Prize into its story and mentions the prize like 5 times. But then again, it might be amazing and it just went over my head 🤯. . So yeah. Not a winner for me. I gave this one 2.5 🌟s, which I rounded up on goodreads to 3 because I'm nice, but I might knock it down after this review because I really didn't get anything out of this book, sadly. • • • #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #bookaholic #nowreading #bookish #bookishfeatures #booknerd #bookblogger #coffee #starbucks #less #lessthebook #pulitzer #pulitzerprize #loh2019reviews
This book... I loved it and it was a blur. It's only been a day since I finished it but already many of the smaller plot points have faded in my mind. However, there was a lot to love in this one too! I loved journeying with Frodo and the absolutely heroic Samwise. I loved reading about the friendship of Legalos and Gimli, the unexpected but perfect duo. I loved that Smeagol got his redemption in destroying the ring, although he didn't seek to destroy it. I loved that Aragorn and Arwen got their happy ending. I love that Merry (my personal favourite of the two, it must be said) and Pippin really developed as characters and got to become heroes back home. I loved that we got to see Bilbo one last time. I will say though, I was a little disappointed to find that many of the important character's storylines are hidden in the depths of the appendix. The story of Aragorn and Arwen in particular deserved it's own spot in the books. I also feel as though this story would have benefitted from an epilogue, rather than detailing each character's journey after the war within the appendix. Overall, I loved this one, even if some of the scenes (battles in particular) were a little forgettable for me. I gave this one 4 🌟s. I honestly would have given the whole series 5 🌟s if they just had a little more focus around the characters, their backstories and their relationships! But sadly, I never got to feel like I knew any of the characters enough for my liking, so I'll have to stick with my 4 🌟 rating. • #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #bookaholic #nowreading #bookish #bookishfeatures #booknerd #bookblogger #lordoftherings #lotr #jrrtolkien #hobbiton #theshire #thereturnoftheking #middleearth #loh2019reviews
This was my last read of January, and I had such a great time reading it! It's really sparked my love of historical fiction again, so I plan to pick up another historical fiction book soon as I have a few sitting on my shelves unread! • This one is set around the Yugoslav wars in the 90s, and it taught me so much about those conflicts! It all happened around when I was born, and I never learnt about it in school so this was all very new to me and I appreciated the education. • I particularly enjoyed the structure of this one. It builds up the story and you're fully invested, then it cuts forward so you're asking yourself what's happened to get the character here, then it jumps back into the missing time in between to explain. I thought it made the book so much harder to put down than if the structure was just linear! • Definitely recommend this one if you're a fan of historical fiction! It's something a bit different from the copious amounts of WWII historical fiction, that's for sure! I gave this one 4 🌟s • • • #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #bookaholic #nowreading #bookish #bookishfeatures #booknerd #bookblogger #girlatwar #historicalfiction #croatia #yugoslavia #loh2019reviews
I finished this one first thing yesterday morning and I really enjoyed the continuation of the series. . I didn't think this one was as strong as The Fellowship of the Ring, in fact it all kind of felt like a travel montage... but I really enjoyed the part with the Ents, and when we follow Sam and Frodo on their journey (after waiting half the novel to catch up with them). . While I still feel like these books are lacking character depth, I'm still absolutely loving the experience of reading them - which is made even better by the fact that I'm buddy reading them with @fantasiasandfables so I have someone to discuss with! I gave this one 4 🌟s and I'll be picking up The Return of the King in early February, if not sooner! • • • #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #bookaholic #nowreading #bookish #bookishfeatures #booknerd #bookblogger #coffee #starbucks #lordoftherings #lotr #jrrtolkien #thetwotowers #loh2019reviews
This one was an experience. I read it the quickest I've read a book in ages and really struggled to put it down... in part due to the large font and small chapters, but also in part due to it being a real page turner! 🔪 My favourite thing about this novel was the relationship between the sisters. It was crazy to read about the bond they shared and the lengths that Korede will go to to look after her little sister. I enjoyed the satirical humour so much, but I really wish it went a bit deeper. This novel felt like it was very surface level, and there was so much more it could have done, particularly with Ayoola's beauty and how each man she murdered only saw her on the surface, but never cared to look any deeper. Overall, I enjoyed this one a whole lot. It's the perfect book to read when you've got a couple of hours to yourself and you just want to become immersed in a book! As I said, I wanted more from it but I can't fault it on being crazy addictive and impossible to put down so this one got 4 🌟s from me. Have you read this one? What did you think of it? • • • #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #bookaholic #nowreading #bookish #bookishfeatures #booknerd #bookblogger #coffee #starbucks #mysistertheserialkiller #currentlyreading #bookreview #2019reads #loh2019reviews
All finished with this one 🧝♂️ • I had such a good time with the first half of The Fellowship of the Ring. I absolutely loved the first 100 pages when they're in The Shire and the scene setting is taking place, and the start of the journey to Rivendell. I had such a good time getting to know Frodo, Gandalf, Strider/Aragorn and Sam in particular! 🧙♂️ • However, it started to lose a bit of its spark for me after they departed the mines. It just felt like a bit of a montage of them travelling, with minimal character development, conversation or much to really focus on 👨🌾 • I'm still really looking forward to picking up The Two Towers, even if this one lost its magic for me toward the end! It still gets 4 🌟s from me! • • • #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #bookaholic #nowreading #bookish #bookishfeatures #booknerd #bookblogger #coffee #currentlyreading #thefellowshipofthering #lotr #jrrtolkien #hobbiton #theshire #lordoftherings #loh2019reviews
8 days into the new year and I've just finished my second book! I'm on a roll 📚 • I had been so excited to get to My Year of Rest and Relaxation ever since it was released because I really enjoyed Eileen when I read that a couple of years ago. This one is similar in that it follows an unlikable female protagonist with mental health issues and a sad upbringing. • I enjoyed this one. I probably preferred Eileen because it felt like it had more depth and more of a storyline to follow, but I definitely still had a good time reading this. This one really makes you think about what it is that makes us happy, and it makes you appreciate real happiness, as opposed to the satisfaction we feel by wearing fashionable clothes, feeling skinny, etc. • Definitely well worth the read but don't bother with it if you're looking for a plot driven story. This one is definitely more of a character study 💊 • I gave this one 3.5 🌟s • • #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #igreader #bookworm #booklion #booklover #bookaddict #bibliophile #reader #reading #currentlyreading #booksandbeans #amreading #bookaholic #nowreading #bookish #bookishfeatures #booknerd #bookblogger #coffee #starbucks #myyearofrestandrelaxation #ottessamoshfegh #loh2019reviews