Tag: reader

❄️ November Reading Wrapup 📚

Currently recovering from an infection that has floored me and my youngest for the past week or so, and thought I’d share my November reading wrapup.

Good Inside by Dr Becky Kennedy

Good Inside is one of the best parenting books I’ve read, packed full of wisdom and evidence-based research, which reminds parents that we should be more invested in building a positive relationship with our children than policing their behaviour. I didn’t agree with everything in the book but this was accessible, relatable and informative, with specific chapters on the most common parenting problems and a lot of information about child development, self regulation for parents and building a secure attachment with your child.

Keeper of the Night by Kylie Lee Baker

A dark YA fantasy inspired by Japanese folklore about a half English reaper and half Japanese shinigami who fits into neither world trying to accept her unique identity and purpose in life. Although this is an epic quest, the focus is very much about what she’s willing to do and sacrifice in order to fit in. This was dark and gory but really unique, and I’m looking forward to picking up the final part of the duology to find out how the story concludes.

The Girl Who Raced the World by Nat Harrison

I’m not usually a fan of retellings, but this was such a lovely trip down memory lane for me as I adored the cartoon of Around the World in 80 Days as a child. The Girl Who Raced the World follows young orphan Maggie Appleton as she finds herself on a wild adventure with Phileas Fogg and his valet Passepartout as they race around the world to win a bet pursued by Detective Fix who happens to be investigating a bank robbery that occurred the same day Fogg set out on his journey. This was so heartwarming, touching on themes of grief, family and friendship, but really capturing the mystery of the bank robbery and the and urgency of their voyage. I enjoyed this so much that it had me digging out an old copy of the original by Jules Verne to read.

The Bullet that Missed by Richard Osman

The Thursday Murder Club has become something of a comfort series that I dip into when life feels hectic. The characters are what make this cosy mystery series so unique, and I love returning to the aging amateur sleuths at Coopers Chase retirement village and their younger police and criminal friends. The mystery they take it upon themselves to investigate is a great little workout for the old grey matter with money laundering and a murder to solve, but a few clever red herrings.

Juniper’s Christmas by Eoin Colfer

This festive middlegrade adventure is set ten years after Santa Claus mysteriously stops delivering presents to children around the world, and two years after little Juniper Lane’s father passed away. Elves from the North Pole are desperately seeking Santa before his magic runs out forever, a criminal mastermind decides to steal Santa’s magical artifacts in order to turn Christmas into a profiteering racket, a mysterious benefactor is helping the homeless people that live in a London park and Juniper is desperately seeking her mother who goes missing just before Christmas. I’m not sure what I was expecting from this but it touches on so many themes of grief and loss, greed and generosity, love and hope, and was a lovely, moving story to ease into the festive season.

Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams

An absolutely fascinating insight into the working culture of Facebook revealing at first American-centric naivity to global politics and legislation, and then a callous indifference to real world violence and shrewd profit driven focus to the insecurities that Facebook could cause. It was particularly interesting to see the friction between tech and business management during the early years, an insight into the workaholic culture and outrageous expectations from managers with Sarah still sending emails while giving birth, and seriously considering being arrested by a foreign government. It’s not surprising that Zuckerberg tried so hard to prevent this book reaching the public because it paints an unflattering view of both him and Sheryl Sanberg. Yet it also offers insight into how Facebook could’ve been an incredible force for connection and community if Zuckerberg and his colleagues hadn’t prioritised profit and power.

What have you read lately? X

October Reading Wrapup

Halloween, Bonfire night and our youngest’s third birthday means I’m only just finding time to share my October reading wrapup.

Genocide Bad by Sim Kern

I’ve followed Sim Kern, a Jewish anti-zionist writer on Instagram for a while and waited for the audiobook release because I find them such a compelling speaker. This book examines various arguments that Zionist Hasbara uses to justify the apartheid, colonisation and ethnic cleansing of Palestine. This was absolutely fascinating as Sim describes their own experiences of anti-semitism, explores the history of anti-semitism and anti-Jewish hatred in Europe. They also humourously explain why ancient religious texts shouldn’t be used to settle land disputes. More than anything, Genocide Bad reminds the reader not to get drawn into arguments about deference politics, what aboutism or anything else that attempts to distract from the fact that genocide against any group of people is never justified.

As Long as the Lemon Tree Grows by Zoulfa Katouh

This story follows a Syrian 19 year old pharmacy student Salama, who finds herself treating wounded civilians and soldiers at a hospital in the War-torn city of Homs during the Syrian revolution. As Long As The Lemon Tree Grows doesn’t shy away from describing the cruelty and brutality of Assad’s regime, the death, destruction and trauma caused by the civil war. The story also describes the difficulty deciding whether to stay in their beloved land or attempt the perilous journey to Europe in search of safety all refugees make. Among the rubble and heartache, Salama finds love, and the gentle, chaste romance in this story offers such sweet contrast to the darkness of the setting. Another book that will definitely be in my end of year favourites that I highly recommend.

La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman

I first read His Dark Materials over twenty years ago and remember being captivated by the story and worlds Pullman created, my husband and I started watching the BBC adaption last Christmas and finally finished in October, just in time to start reading this. La Belle Sauvage is a prequel to Northern Lights explaining how Lyra came to be raised at Jordan College in Oxford. It’s a thrilling adventure about a boy called Malcolm and the daring voyage he makes in his canoe during a great flood to prevent baby Lyra from falling into the hands of the Magisterium or the mysterious man with the hyena daemon pursuing them. I loved being back in this setting and can’t wait to read the next part of The Book of Dust trilogy.

A Pinch of Magic by Michelle Harrison

A middlegrade story about three sisters who live under a curse that prevents the from leaving their island, and the three enchanted items they inherit that give them magical abilities. The sisters race against the clock as they attempt to break the curse and correct an old injustice. This was a fun adventure with themes of family, justice and helping others.

A Warlock In Whitby by Robin Jarvis

I read The Whitby Witches (reviewed here) a few years ago, and finally found secondhand copies of the other two parts of the trilogy. The Whitby Witches had some genuinely creepy moments, although this one was less atmospheric it did cover some disturbing topics such as bullying and forced marriage. I enjoyed this as it was full of tension and action and I’m looking forward to finding out how the trilogy concludes in The Whitby Child.

Have a lovely week. X

September Reading Wrapup

As we stepped into Autumn, I found myself seeking out a real mix of genres from magical realism and middlegrade fantasy to contemporary fiction and romance, and I enjoyed them all.

The Beauty of Your Face by Sahar Mustafah

A meandering story that follows Afaf, the middle child of a Palestinian family living in America from her childhood, through adolescence and adulthood. The Beauty of Your Face explores alienation, isolation, assimilation, identity, religion and community. The time line jumps back and forth from Afaf’s formative experiences such as the disappearance of her older sister, adoption of Islam and years of family dysfunction right up to the moment she comes face to face with a racially motivated school shooter.

The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan

I often find myself reaching for chick lit or contemporary romance when my own life is in flux and I’m in need of something comforting to read. The Bookshop on the Corner follows Nina, a librarian who finds herself redundant when her library is closed and takes the opportunity moves North to Scotland to open a travelling bookshop. Much like the Christmas Bookshop stories also by Jenny Colgan, I enjoyed the little community that Nina becomes part of as much as the slow burn romance.

Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell

A thrilling fantasy adventure following Mal, a girl born on an archipelago full of mythical and fantastic creatures, and Christopher, a boy from our world who finds out that his family are guardians of the crossing to the archipelago. All is not well on the archipelago, as the creatures are dying and the land is being poisoned, and the two children decide to investigate with the help of a smuggler and a scholar they meet along the way. I loved all the different creatures in this story, especially some of the more dark and dangerous beasts. Impossible Creatures was a great adventure that had plenty of humour, lots of thrills and a little bit of sorrow too, looking forward to seeing where the second book in the series takes the story.

Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young

I love stories about witches and picked this one up expecting something similar to Practical Magic but it turned out to be more of a twist-filled mystery with a slow burn romance set on a small island. Spells for Forgetting is heavy on mood and atmosphere, and it took a while to get going, but I still enjoyed this story about the inhabitants of a small island community rife with secrets and unsolved mysteries.

If you’ve read any of these, I’d love to know your thoughts. X

August Reading Wrapup

A short and belated reading wrapup. August was a really hectic month with a couple of birthday parties, a wedding and my oldest daughter starting primary school, plus a whole lot of work chaos, which really didn’t leave much time or headspace for reading. I DNF’d two books but thoroughly enjoyed the two books I did manage to read/listen to.

Storm Child by Ele Fountain

I picked up Storm Child from the library because it was on the longlist for the Wainwright’s Children’s Fiction prize, and I was genuinely disappointed it didn’t make the shortlist. The story follows Maya, a talented teenage surfer, whose family are struggling financially, when disaster strikes her parents make a life changing decision to start over halfway across the world. This is such a lovely, engaging coming of age story about adapting to change, friendship, learning that sometimes adults don’t have all the answers, and the impact of tourism on people, places and nature.

Small Talk by Richard Pink and Rox Pink

I’ve followed Roxanne and Richard Pink’s humorous and relatable instagram account for a while but both their books have blindsided me with their insight into the shame and sense of failure that living with ADHD causes. Small Talk explores some of the most common negative self beliefs that ADHDers may hold from “I’m lazy/stupid/useless” to addiction and suicidal ideation. I found this book incredibly compassionate, relatable and helpful as both someone living with ADHD and as the partner of another ADHDer.

Have a lovely week. X

July Reading Wrapup

July was a hectic month with a lovely family holiday, work stress, car breakdowns and a funeral all sapping my time and attention, but it turned out to be a great month for reading.

Perfect Victims by Mohammed El-Kurd

Perfect Victims explores the idea that some lives are more valuable than others and that Palestinians must always prove their innocence when they are killed before anyone is willing to condemn the killing or killer. Even when Palestinians try to advocate for their rights, the entire legal system is rigged against them, and the Western media are biased when they automatically accept the Israeli press and government as more impartial and credible than Palestinian journalists, doctors, academics or civilians. This is a searing critique of western hypocrisy and racism, but a necessary one.

A Sky Beyond the Storm by Sabaa Tahir

I left it slightly too long between reading the third book (reviewed here) and the final part of the Ember in the Ashes quartet, but I was soon immersed back into this fantastical story of djinn, and a brave band of rebels lead by Laia, Elias and Helene standing up to a ruthless, authoritarian empire ruled by Elias’ mother, Keris, and the King of the Djinn determined to seek vengeance on the humans who imprisoned his kind. A Sky Beyond the Storm really tugged at the heart strings as the characters experience grief and loss in their desperate fight for freedom and this was a brilliant conclusion to the series.

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

This was actually recommended by friends who had seen the film, and it was my holiday read. This is the story of a robot called Roz who finds herself shipwrecked on an island and learns to survive by watching the animals that also live on the island. This is such a sweet, poignant and sometimes tense read with so many themes that I love to read about like friendship, found families and community. The Wild Robot is the first book in a trilogy and I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

Turtle Moon by Hannah Gold

I’d enjoyed The Last Bear (reviewed here) and planned to read the sequel next until I saw Turtle Moon is on the longlist for the Wainwright’s Children’s Prize, which is my favourite literary award. Turtle Moon follows a little girl called Silver who’s parents are struggling with secondary infertility and decide to take their family to Costa Rica for a break. Silver gets involved with the local turtle sanctuary and this is such a wonderful adventure about turtles (and other animals like Speedy the baby sloth ❤️), poaching, conservation and family that I think I loved even more than The Last Bear.

ADHD Girls to Women by Lotta Borg Skogland

An absolutely fascinating book packed full of information about the gender bias in medicine, diagnostics, education and socialisation that means so many females are misdiagnosed or diagnosed with ADHD much later in life than males. This explores how adhd symptoms show up differently in females but also how our hormonal fluctuations can impact adhd throughout the life course from puberty to periods, pregnancy and menopause. I have often felt my ADHD is more of a disability than a superpower, and I have rarely felt so seen and less alone in my struggles and challenges than I did while reading this book.

Ghostlines by Katya Balen

Another longlist nominee for the Wainwright’s Children’s Fiction Prize. I read and loved October, October (reviewed here) by Katya Balen a while ago, and this felt like a spiritual sequel. Ghostlines is the gripping story of Tilda who lives on Ayrie Island, and parts of it reminded of childhood adventures with the Famous Five or Swallows and Amazons but threaded with the mystery of Tilda’s missing brother, a new friend and a secret island to explore. I just couldn’t put down this thrilling story of family, islands, ghosts, storms, friendship, cats, dogs and puffins.

Have a lovely week! X

June Reading Wrapup

Life has been really hectic lately, and I’ve really appreciated escaping into stories at the end of long, busy days.

The City of Stolen Magic by Nazneen Ahmed Pathak

This is the story of a young girl, Chompa, who has powerful magic that she struggles to control. When Chompa’s mum is abducted by British colonizers, she must undertake a daring adventure to rescue her. I loved this historical fantasy adventure with fascinating contrasts between the locations in India and London. This also has some really interesting but age appropriate insights into racism, colonisation and exploitation, and I really enjoyed some of the ideas explored in this story, like great power comes at a price and rebels attempting to democratize magic. Really looking forward to seeing where the next installment takes brave Chompa and her loyal friends.

The Morrigan by Kim Curran

When I was about seven, my primary teacher read The Hounds of the Morrigan by Pat O’Shea to our class, it was my introduction to celtic mythology and fantasy, and I’ve been fascinated by both ever since. I found this in the library and couldn’t resist returning to find out more about the shapeshifting goddess of war. This retelling of Irish mythology starts with the arrival of the Tuatha De to Ireland and runs right through to the defeat of the warrior Cuchulain. I was gripped by this howling tale of female rage and revenge, love and loss, and it’s easily one of the most gripping books I’ve read this year.

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

This series of essays by a botanist who also happens to be of indigenous descent has been on my radar for a while and it did not disappoint. There were parts of this book that were just so refreshing and comforting to read, like the ideas around gifts, reciprocity and symbiotic relationships in nature, and about the relationship between Earth and humans. Braiding Sweetgrass is quite a long book but such an interesting mix of topics like botany, nature, history, colonisation, indigenous culture, environmental issues and parenthood that I really enjoyed listening to over a couple of months.

Wildlands by Brogen Murphy

Set in 2050, this is about two children, Astrid and Indie, who accidentally fall out of a train running between Manchester and Glasgow and into a section of Britain that has been depopulated of humans and rewilded with beavers, bison, wolves, bears and lynx. The map at the start made me laugh out loud because the area that becomes the wildlands in the story is where I was born and grew up in the South West of Scotland. Wildlands is a tense and thrilling survival adventure as the sisters try to make their way out of the Wildlands to safety and considers whether humans can truly ever live in harmony with nature.

The Passengers on the Hankyu Line by Hiro Arikawa

A short slice of life novel by the writer of The Travelling Cat Chronicles (reviewed here) about the chance encounters of passengers travelling on the Hankyu Line train. The story follows how these seemingly random interactions end up changing the course of the characters’ lives from fledgling romances to break ups and new beginnings. This was such a sweet and gentle story that was so easy and pleasant to dip into at the end of a busy day.

Halfway through the year and halfway towards my target as I’ve read (and listened to) 25/50.

Have a lovely week! X

April and May Reading wrapup

I was in a reading slump through April and May so combining my monthly wrapups.

The Burning God by R. F. Kuang

I finally plucked up the nerve to read the final part of The Poppy War trilogy, and returned to this brilliant fantasy inspired by modern Chinese history. I normally avoid grimdark fantasy and this trilogy really captures the horror of war, colonialism and dehumanisation, but the protagonist, Rin is utterly fascinating, she’s ruthless, determined, pragmatic and ambitious, and I just had to know how it ended. The ending itself was foreshadowed from the first book and repeatedly through the final book, and yet I still wasn’t prepared for it, and it hit me like a sledgehammer. The Poppy War trilogy is easily one of the darkest but gripping and original fantasy trilogies I’ve ever read.

The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates

The Message is a really compelling book about the duty of writers and journalists to inspire, inform and educate readers about white supremacy, colonialism and systems of oppression in the age of censorship, misinformation and propaganda. The book has attracted some criticism and controversy as Ta-Nehisi Coates uses his visits to Israel and occupied Palestine to demonstrate how a victim can become an oppressor, and described what he saw as apartheid and colonialism. He could arguably have used the conflicts in Sudan or the exploitation of people and resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo as examples, but he uses Israel and Palestine instead because he accepted the narrative that Israel was given to the Jewish people as reparations for the Holocaust without ever questioning it or using critical thinking, and he uses The Message to repudiate his own article ‘The Case for Reparations’ originally published in the Atlantic. I thoroughly enjoyed The Message, but I wanted more.

Boy Everywhere by A. M. Dasu

This is a middlegrade story that follows 13 year old Sami who is forced to flee his home in Damascus when the Syrian civil war reached the city. Boy Everywhere describes his family’s desperate journey from Syria to England as they attempt to find safety and start a new life. This was an extremely tense and sad story in places, but also one that reminds the reader to be kind to others because it’s so easy to judge people without knowing what they’ve been through. Boy Everywhere doesn’t shy away from describing the bombings and horrors the family fled, the risks of the journey from crossing the mediterranean sea to being squashed into a van with other refugees and asylum seekers, the dehumanisation and bureaucracy at the detention centre, and the prejudice that migrants face when they finally reach the UK. This was such a poignant, gripping and hopeful story.

How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo Mbue

Set in a fictional African village, this tells the story of the villagers whose land, water and children are poisoned by a nearby oil refinery. Frustrated by the broken promises of clean up and financial compensation from the American oil company and the indifference of their corrupt government and violent dictator, the story follows what happens when the villagers finally start fighting back. This story covers some heavy topics such as slavery, colonialism and environmental destruction, but also balanced by family, community, education and survival.

Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler

Parable of the Sower was one of my favourite reads last year, and I didn’t want to wait too long before picking up the sequel to find out how the Earth Seed duology ends. Set in the very near future where climate breakdown has caused societal collapse across America, this book feels eerily prescient in places as Octavia E. Butler predicts the rise of militant Christian evangelicals and a President who promises to “Make America Great Again”. Meanwhile the protagonist, Lauren Olamina, is still trying to build her own religion ‘Earth Seed’ and secure the future of humanity by colonising space, but this is very much dystopian fiction rather than science fiction. This story does have some pretty dark moments and I would definitely check the content warnings before reading, but I really appreciated themes of education, community and resilience that also run through this story.  

January reading wrapup

My reading year is off to a good start as I read six books in January, which were a mix of current interests and easy, escapist reads.

The Girl Who Speaks Bear by Sophie Anderson

An enchanting story of family curses, the power of stories, found families and self-acceptance. Yanka, bigger and stronger, than other people in the village, struggles to fit in and wonders about her identity, she runs away to find out who she really is, chasing the fairy tales she heard through her childhood. This is a wonderful tale of identity, found family, friendship, self-acceptance and the difference between fitting in and belonging.

Mornings with My Cat Mii by Mayumi Inaba

The first of two books I picked for #januaryinjapan on bookstagram, I was a bit apprehensive about reading this memoir of life with a beloved cat so soon after losing my own beloved cat, but it was a gentle book that actually reminded me of all the cats I’ve loved and cared for through my life. It particularly captutes the unique routines we fall into with our pets, the responsibility that pet ownership involves and the heartache of caring for aging pets.

The Electricity of Every Living Thing by Katherine May

Part walking journal and part neurodiversity memoir, the descriptions of walking the South Coast were wasted on me, but this was such an interesting and relatable autobiography of a woman who didn’t learn that she was autistic until her 40s and reviewing the impact it has had on her education, career, friendships, marriage and motherhood. This had a lot that I could also relate to, having only been diagnosed as an ADHDer last year at the age of 40, especially the mental health issues and misdiagnosis, social difficulties and masking in order to fit in, sensory overwhelm and the reasons for seeking late diagnosis. A very personal but relatable and affirming read.

The Dagger and the Flame by Catherine Doyle

Given that I enjoy fantasy with a strong romantic subplot, I’ve been underwhelmed by the romantasy subgenre. The Dagger and the Flame is an enemies to lovers story following Seraphine of the Thieves guild who is seeking vengeance for her mother’s murder, and Ransom, a member of the assassins guild assigned to eliminate her. I much preferred Seraphine’s personal quest and there’s some thrilling action scenes, but the romance between the leads left me cold, though the ending sets itself up perfectly for a sequel.

The Book of Disappearance by Ibtisam Azem

A short but thought provoking novel about what would happen in Israel if all the Palestinians disappeared without a trace overnight. Written in dual perspective of an Israeli Arab and a liberal zionist, it really delves into the contradictions of Israeli society such as a secular nation that claims divine right to the land, racism and colonialism, the awkward juxtaposition of old Jaffa and new Tel Aviv, and the atmosphere of fear, distrust and misunderstanding that exists between the two nations inhabiting the same land.

The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki

This was a short, sweet and surreal story about a cafe run by talking cats that help customers identify parts of their life they want to change with astrology. The Full Moon Coffee Shop was a bit of a mixed bag because I felt it went into unnecessary detail about the character’s astrological birth charts at certain points, but I enjoyed seeing the characters grow in self-understanding and self-compassion, and starting to pursue their hopes and dreams.

Have a lovely week. X

June reading wrapup

Blogging has fallen by the wayside once again, and only finding time to share my June reviews midway through July.

Talking As Fast As I Can by Lauren Graham

Listened to this on Audiobook, and it really felt like catching up with an old friend who occasionally gives really good advice about dieting, dating, technology and social media. What really comes across is that she is every bit as much of a Gilmore Girls fan as the fans themselves. This is a whistle stop tour of Lauren’s life, more thematic than chronological it reminded me of Carrie Fisher’s trilogy of short autobiographies. Short on scandals and gossip but full of wry commentary and self-deprecating humour, this is a thoroughly enjoyable autobiography.

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin

This had a slow start, introducing all the characters and intrigue, but the second half was absolutely gripping. A Magic Steeped In Poison follows a girl called Ning whose mother was a shennong, a kind of tea mage, but both her mother and sister were poisoned by someone who has been contaminating tea around the Empire. Her mum succumbs to the poison but Ning travels to the capital city to compete in the competition to become the new royal shennong and ask the princess to heal her sister. Along the way she meets a mysterious but handsome exile, and finds herself embroiled in imperial politics. This definitely suffers from some pacing issues and the magic is a bit of a muddle but I’m keen to find out how it all works out in the concluding part.

A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll

Every so often I read a book I love so much I want to press it into the hands of every reader I know, and I could tell right from the first page that this would be one of those books because every word of this hits home. I’ve always been drawn to stories about underdogs challenging injustice and this story follows an 11 year old autistic girl, Addie, as she learns about women from her own little scottish village who were tried and executed as witches. Recognising that the witches were most probably women who didn’t fit in and feeling kinship with them, Addie starts a campaign for a village memorial. Like so many children’s books, this has some pretty big themes like disability, friendship and bullying, shame and self acceptance, but is a wonderful story and definitely one of my favourites of the year.

Dirty Laundry by Roxanne Emery and Richard Pink

Over the years, I’ve overcome a lot of insecurities and so this (audio)book really surprised me because I expected a lighthearted but candid book about ADHD similar to the Instagram content they share, instead it ended up highlighting how often I’ve blamed myself for being lazy and useless because of symptoms I now know are part of ADHD. There were so many parts I could relate to from my sudden all consuming interests and hobbies, directional dyslexia, losing possessions, time blindness and struggles with housekeeping and personal hygiene. There are lots of useful tips to help make life easier but at times I wondered how Rox would cope without her organised and infinitely patient husband Rich, but the general relationship advice of being honest and treating each other with kindness and understanding is solid.

The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope

This is a paranormal mystery-heist loosely inspired by the real story of a black woman called Clara Johnson who shot and killed a white policeman but was acquitted. In this story, Clara has paranormal abilities to communicate with spirits, and is one of several humans who have made deals with deities known as Enigmas who can bestow charms on people for a price. The Monsters We Defy is a really intriguing paranormal mystery as Clara finds herself trying to rescue people who have gone missing and free herself from the deal she made with an Enigma. I really enjoyed the richly described setting in Washington DC during the 1920s, the exploration of race and class during that era, the tense and spooky atmosphere, and slow burn romance.

The Kingdom Across the Sea by Zohra Nabi

A thrilling and gripping children’s fantasy about a recently orphaned young girl, Yara, who finds herself travelling from Bournemouth into a magical kingdom across the sea on a journey of self discovery. Trying to follow the last letter of her mother’s instructions, Yara tracks down a sorceress and finds herself against alchemists plotting to destroy all sorcerers who have been forced into hiding. This is such an exciting and heartwarming story of bravery, determination, identity, friendship and found family.

The Goodbye Cat by Hiro Arikawa

I loved The Travelling Cat Chronicles (reviewed here) a few years ago and picked this up recently while looking after my own beloved cat Mara after we discovered an ulcer on her eye. Both of these books really capture the eccentricities and personalities of the animals that we take on as pets, but also the sense of companionship, sense of purpose and well-being that pet ownership provides. The Goodbye Cat is seven short stories about different cats and the people who love and care for them with some new characters and others recurring from The Travelling Cat Chronicles.

Halfway through the year and I’m slightly ahead of my reading goal. What have you been reading lately? X

April Reading Wrapup

Oops, blogging has fallen by the wayside lately as other parts of life have taken up most of my time and attention, but finding a moment to share reviews of the books I read last month.

Go Gently by Bonnie Wright

I don’t usually pay much attention to celebrities but was intrigued to learn that actress Bonnie Wright best known for playing Ginny Weasley in the Harry Potter films is a passionate environmentalist. Go Gently is a comprehensive and practical guide to living a more sustainable life that covers everything from bamboo toilet paper to ethical banking and getting involved in activism or protests. I really enjoyed listening to the audio book but got frustrated by repeated references to the accompanying pdf, and ended up buying a copy of the book. This is a great contrast to the climate doomism in the news and a very hopeful book, Bonnie Wright doesn’t expect everyone to do everything she suggests but if everyone does something then we can all make a difference.

Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens

I loved Enid Blyton’s Mallory Towers series as a child, and this feels like such a modern and refreshing twist on the boarding school genre as two young students investigate the mysterious death of one of their teachers. Set in the 1930s, this is a cleverly plotted mystery with plenty of suspects, clues and the odd red herring to keep the reader guessing, but also explores themes such as racism, same sex relationships and children born out of wedlock in a historical context. This was lots of fun, thrilling in parts and I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

The New Age of Empire by Kehinde Andrews

A fascinating but grim history of the colonisation of Australia, the America’s, India, Africa and the genocides that European exploration and expansion involved. This really packs in huge amount of information from the inherently racist ideology of the Enlightenment and the history of the slave trade, slavery and the industrial revolution to the rise of neoliberalism, and provides context for present day conflicts such as Israel-Palestine, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is the kind of book that changed how I view the world giving me a greater awareness of the whitewashing of colonial and imperial history, and the exploitation of people and resources still going on today.

Unmasked by Ellie Middleton

A really accessible and inclusive guide to autism and ADHD by a young woman who was diagnosed with both in her early 20s. Ellie Middleton is clearly a passionate advocate for the neurodiverse community calling for kindness, patience and reasonable adjustments to help them navigate education, work and relationships. Unmasked is a really informative book with chapters providing clear explanations of the symptoms and behaviours of ASD and ADHD as well as debunking some persistent stereotypes that have lead to misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis (especially in women), as well as lots of insight into the lived experience.

Crookhaven: The Forgotten Maze by J. J. Arcanjo

I loved the first book in the series (reviewed here) and expected another fun heist during pickpocket Gabriel Avery’s second year at Crookhaven but this turned out to be such a heartwarming story about friendship and found family. Crookhaven offers such an original and fun twist on the boarding school genre of children’s fiction, but with high stakes as the students find themselves caught up in the schemes of the illusive and ruthless criminal gang, The Nameless, and I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

Vulture Capitalism by Grace Berkeley

I’ve become increasingly convinced that governments represent corporate interests not ordinary people’s, and Vulture Capitalism is packed with facts, figures and economic theory that confirmed my suspicions. It’s a bit dry in places but provides a thorough critique of Capitalism, debunking the myths of free markets and competition that neoliberals still use to justify privatisation and deregulation, even as smaller companies are swallowed up by huge multinational corporations and the same multinationals are bailed out by governments so they never experience the consequences of their high risk investments and lending. The last two chapters detailing how ordinary people have organised and won against corporations at local and national levels are particularly inspiring.

What have you been reading lately? X