March Wrap Up…

Welcome to my March Wrap Up. I have had a pretty good reading month, finishing 6 books (6 books off my TBR). I also received 2 ARC’s this month, and I continued my new goal of reading 1 Shakespeare play, as well as The Voyage Of The Beagle and The Origin Of Species by Charles Darwin.

I have reviews up or coming up for these books so as usual this is just going to be a brief run down on each book I read.

Without further ado, let’s get into my March Wrap Up:

The River Home by Hannah Richell: This book was amazing. I was thoroughly enthralled by this story from the very first page. With wonderful characters, stunning writing and a truly moving story, there is nothing not to love about this book. I am so glad that I picked this book up.

Rust by Eliese Collette Goldbach: This was an interesting read. The writing was easy to follow, and the subject matter was something I hadn’t read about before. I enjoyed getting to see an aspect of life that was new to me. This was a solid read that I am glad I picked up.

Truths I Never Told You by Kelly Rimmer: This book was utter perfection. I am a huge fan of Kelly Rimmer so I went into this book with high hopes, and I wasn’t disappointed. This book was equal parts heartwarming and heartbreaking, and I didn’t want it to end. A must read book for everyone in my opinion.

Legendary by Stephanie Garber: This book was awesome. This book has been on my TBR for such a long time. I have been afraid to pick it up in case it didn’t live up to it’s predecessor Caraval. It turns out that I needn’t have worried. I loved this book and now I cant wait to get stuck into the third and final installment of this series.

Finale by Stephanie Garber: This was book was magical. While I am sad to say goodbye to this amazing series, I feel like this book was the perfect conclusion. I loved every second of it, and I feel genuinely satisfied with not just this book but the trilogy as a whole. I so glad I decided to read these books.

The Outsider by Stephen King: I love Stephen King so I was surprised that it took me so long to get into this book. I didn’t really get engrossed in this story until the second half. Once the pace picked up a bit I ended up enjoying it, but I really didn’t love it as much as I had hoped I would.

Shakespeare: I read 1 Shakespeare play in March. I read the following Shakespeare Play This Month:

The Merry Wives Of Windsor

The Origin Of Species by Charles Darwin: I read the following chapters this month:

Chapter 5: Laws of Variation

Chapter 6: Difficulties on Theory

Chapter 7: Instinct

That’s it for my March Wrap Up. I hope you all had a great reading month. Let me know what you guys read this month in the comments section.

Until my April Wrap Up…

Happy Reading…

❤ Gem

The Outsider by Stephen King

‘An unspeakable crime. A confounding investigation. At a time when the King brand has never been stronger, he has delivered one of his most unsettling and compulsively readable stories.

An eleven-year-old boy’s violated corpse is found in a town park. Eyewitnesses and fingerprints point unmistakably to one of Flint City’s most popular citizens. He is Terry Maitland, Little League coach, English teacher, husband, and father of two girls. Detective Ralph Anderson, whose son Maitland once coached, orders a quick and very public arrest. Maitland has an alibi, but Anderson and the district attorney soon add DNA evidence to go with the fingerprints and witnesses. Their case seems ironclad.’

This book grew on me.

As a massive Stephen King fan, I went into this book with high hopes. Unfortunately it took me quite a while to get into the story.

I cant complain about Stephen King’s writing at all. His is the master at creating tension and building suspense. The writing in this book was everything I have come to expect from a Stephen King novel.

The characters in this story were interesting but didn’t really become fully developed until the second half of the story. This late character development made it difficult to care about the characters at the start of the book.

I think my real issue with this book was that it wasn’t creepy enough for me. Don’t get me wrong; it was creepy, and it got a lot creepier towards the end of the story. The darker and weirder the story got, the more I enjoyed it.

I go into a Stephen King novel with certain expectations and while this story eventually delivered on what I wanted, all of the crime and police stuff at the start of the story held no appeal to me. I want freaky, creep, and weird. While I did end up getting all of these things, it just took too get there.

The Outsider by Stephen King will take you on a journey that is more like a house of horrors than a roller coaster.

Uni Update 5!

It’s time for another Uni Update!

I am a month into the semester and things are going great. I am not loving the subject matter as much as I did last time but I am loving the way it is being presented.

I am two weeks ahead of schedule which makes me very happy. It means I have extra time to focus on my assessments. I have already completed my first assessment; which I aced, and now I have an extra two weeks to work on the second one.

I am really pleased with how it is all going. I understand that the assessments are only going to get more difficult as I go on that’s why I am so happy that I am ahead of schedule so that I have a buffer if I need it.

Hopefully things keep going the way they are and I don’t run into any difficulty later one. For now things are good so I am just going to enjoy that and go about my business.

I guess I will see you all next month for another Uni Update.

~>GEM<~

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

‘The Outsiders is about two weeks in the life of a 14-year-old boy. The novel tells the story of Ponyboy Curtis and his struggles with right and wrong in a society in which he believes that he is an outsider. According to Ponyboy, there are two kinds of people in the world: greasers and socs. A soc (short for “social”) has money, can get away with just about anything, and has an attitude longer than a limousine. A greaser, on the other hand, always lives on the outside and needs to watch his back. Ponyboy is a greaser, and he’s always been proud of it, even willing to rumble against a gang of socs for the sake of his fellow greasers–until one terrible night when his friend Johnny kills a soc. The murder gets under Ponyboy’s skin, causing his bifurcated world to crumble and teaching him that pain feels the same whether a soc or a greaser.’

I adore this book.

I first read this book in High School and it took my breath away. I have since read it many times and it is easily one of my all time favourite books.

Every time I read this book I feel like I am reading it for the very first time. Depending on whats going on in my life at the time, I find a new way to see and relate to this story.

Their is something about the characters in this book. I cant quite explain it, but I feel like I know each and every one of them, or at least someone like them. Their stories, personalities and emotions are real and easy to believe.

The actual story is timeless. Sure some parts have aged since the books original release, the heart of the issue is the same. The hardships and behaviours that the characters go through and display can be applied to towns all around the world.

As for the writing in this book; it is perfect. It is not surprising to me that this book was made into a movie. The writing had a cinematic quality to it, and it drew the reader in from the very first page.

I honestly don’t have a bad word to say about this book.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is a must read book for everyone.

The NKOTB Book Tag…

Welcome one and all to another Wacky Wednesday post. Today I am partaking in The NKOTB Book Tag. I hope you all enjoy this quick little tag.

So without further ado, lets jump straight in:

DIDN’T I (BLOW YOUR MIND)

A book that took you completely by surprise.

That’s Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger.

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

A debut release you loved.

The Paper & Hearts Society by Lucy Powrie.

 

COVER GIRL

A book with a cover you love.

The Little Bookshop Of Promises by Debbie Macomber.

 

HANGIN’ TOUGH

A book with a strong heroine.

Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu.

 

TWISTED

A book with a killer plot twist.

The Sharp Edge of a Snowflake by Sif Sigmarsdóttir.

 

CRASH

A book you wanted to toss against the wall.

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad.

MISS YOU MORE

A book you can’t stop thinking about.

Unfollow by Megan Phelps-Roper.

FIGHTING GRAVITY

A book set in space or in the future.

The Illuminae Files by Amie Kauffman and Jay Kristoff.

SINGLE

A standalone book that you love.

Allegra In Three Parts by Suzanne Daniel.

2 IN THE MORNING

A book that kept you up well past your bedtime.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K Rowling.

 

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION

A book you’d love to see adapted.

The Magic Misfits by Neil Patrick Harris.

 

PUT IT ON MY TAB

A book you pre-ordered.

Kingdom of Scars by Eoin Macken.

PLEASE DON’T GO GIRL

A series you are sad is over.

Harry Potter! I am also sad that The Stalking Jack The Ripper series by Kerri Maniscaco and over as well.

 

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Well that’s it for me. I hope you guys enjoyed this tag. As usual, hit me up with your answers in the comment section.

Until next time…

Happy Reading…

❤ Gem

Finale by Stephanie Garber

‘A love worth fighting for. A dream worth dying for. An ending worth waiting for.

It’s been two months since the Fates were freed from a deck of cards, two months since Legend claimed the throne for his own, and two months since Tella discovered the boy she fell in love with doesn’t really exist.

With lives, empires, and hearts hanging in the balance, Tella must decide if she’s going to trust Legend or a former enemy. After uncovering a secret that upends her life, Scarlett will need to do the impossible. And Legend has a choice to make that will forever change and define him.

Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun. There are no spectators this time—only those who will win, and those who will lose everything.

Welcome, welcome to Finale. All games must come to an end…’

This book was magical.

I was so excited to jump into this book. I devoured it and now I am a little sad that I read it so quickly. I loved this trilogy and I am sad to be saying goodbye to it.

Finale was everything I had hoped it would be and more.

I loved the fact that this book was told from both sister’s points of view. In Caraval we saw Scarlett’s journey, in Legendary it was Donatella’s turn, so it felt right that Finale followed both of the girls as they journeyed to their true endings.

The crazy journey that the characters went on in this book made for a truly exhilarating reading experience. I didn’t know what to expect every time I turned to a new page, and I found myself holding my breath many times whilst reading this book.

Stephanie Garber has done a fantastic job with this book and the series as a whole. I enjoyed every second of it and I feel completely and utterly satisfied by the was she ended this fantastic trilogy.

Finale by Stephanie Garber is the perfect conclusion to an utterly magical series.

Coronavirus Chaos!

The World has gone mad!

I went to the shops this week and things were crazy. I go grocery shopping weekly, and last week the only things missing from the shelves were toilet paper, tissues, wipes and hand sanitizer.

This week; the shelves were bare all over the place. There was no meat, pasta, eggs, butter, rice and that’s just to name a few. I was completely overwhelmed by how quickly things changed; it was pretty frightening to see.

I feel lucky that I both work and study from home, so any restrictions around travel and work haven’t and most likely wont effect me.

Other members of my family haven’t and wont be so lucky.

One of my sisters is already been told that they are to work from home. She isn’t concerned as long as she has work. My Dad has been prepped to potentially work from home in the coming days or weeks, so it is just a waiting game for him.

At least in these circumstances; they will be earning an income, so that’s a great outcome.

Things may not be as great for another of my sisters. If her company shuts down, they will all be out of work for the foreseeable future. As for her partner; his has already been told that if his company closes they will be required to take their annual leave days while the company is closed and then sick leave if they run out of annual leave days.

With so much uncertainty surrounding jobs, security, and wondering if we are going to put in lock down, is it any wonder that people are afraid.

Even though I can understand people fears, I think we all need to remember that we are all facing these uncertain times together. So we all need to try and be kind and look out for each other.

We showed our Australian spirit this Summer during the Bush Fire crisis, now it is time for us to find that Aussie spirit once again.

Let’s show that World why Australian’s are known for their Mate Ship.

~>Gem<~

Legendary by Stephanie Garber

‘A heart to protect. A debt to repay. A game to win.

After being swept up in the magical world of Caraval, Donatella Dragna has finally escaped her father and saved her sister, Scarlett, from a disastrous arranged marriage. The girls should be celebrating, but Tella isn’t yet free. She made a desperate bargain with a mysterious criminal, and what Tella owes him no one has ever been able to deliver: Caraval Master Legend’s true name.

The only chance of uncovering Legend’s identity is to win Caraval, so Tella throws herself into the legendary competition once more—and into the path of the murderous heir to the throne, a doomed love story, and a web of secrets…including her sister’s. Caraval has always demanded bravery, cunning, and sacrifice, but now the game is asking for more. If Tella can’t fulfill her bargain and deliver Legend’s name, she’ll lose everything she cares about—maybe even her life. But if she wins, Legend and Caraval will be destroyed forever…

Welcome, welcome to Caraval . . . the games have only just begun.’

This book was magical.

I have had this book on my TBR for so long. I have been afraid to pick it up in case it didn’t live up to its predecessor. It turns out I needn’t have worried about that as this book was truly wonderful.

I really enjoyed that this book followed Tella instead of Scarlett. Getting to see the way Tella saw the world and Caraval with all its magic and illusion made for a really interesting reading experience.

Stephanie Garber did a fantastic job with this book. The world building alone is truly fabulous, but the way in which she grew the characters and the journey that she took the reader on was captivating and utterly thrilling.

I am so glad that I finally had the courage to pick up this book, and now I cannot wait to dive into the final installment in this fantastic series.

Legendary by Stephanie Garber is the perfect addition to the Caraval series.

The St Patrick’s Day Book Tag

Welcome one and all to another Wacky Wednesday post. Today I am partaking in The St Patrick’s Day Book Tag. I hope you all enjoy this quick little tag.

So without further ado, lets jump straight in:

 

End of the Rainbow: What book did you have a hard time tracking down a copy of?

Legendary by Stephanie Garber. I had trouble finding a copy with the original cover to match Caraval.

Pot of gold: When you found that book, was it worth the quest?

Kind of. The cover matches but the book is more compact than Caraval and Finale so they don’t look great next to each other on my shelf.

Celebrating a rich heritage: Name a book that contains a well-developed culture.

The Harry Potter series by J.K Rowling of course. I would also say The Southern Vampire series by Charlaine Harris.

Shamrock Shakes: what’s your favorite food to snack on while reading.

Cheese and Onion Chips with French Onion Dip.

Four leaf clover: Name a book you thought would be ‘just another generic book’, but turned out to be something great.

Irish whiskey: What’s your favorite tradition of St. Patty’s Day?

I actually don’t have any St Patrick Day traditions. As a kid we use to do stuff at school which I loved. We would wear green, have a parade, have a cake stall where everything was green, and make St Patrick’s day themed art and decorations. I guess I miss that.

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Well that’s it for me. I hope you guys enjoyed this tag. As usual, hit me up with your answers in the comment section.

Until next time…

Happy Reading…

❤ Gem

Truths I Never Told You by Kelly Rimmer

‘1959: Grace is a young mother with four children under four. All she ever wanted was to have a family of her own, but there are thoughts Grace cannot share with anyone in the months after childbirth. Instead she pours her deepest fears into the pages of a notebook, hiding them where she knows husband Patrick will never look. When Grace falls pregnant again, she turns to her sister, Maryanne, for help.

1996: When Beth‘s father, Patrick, is diagnosed with dementia, she and her siblings make the heart-wrenching decision to put him into care. As Beth is clearing the family home, she discovers a series of notes. Patrick’s children grew up believing their mother died in a car accident, but these notes suggest something much darker may be true.’

This book was utter perfection.

I am a huge fan of Kelly Rimmer so I went into this book with high expectations, and let me tell you it did not disappoint. This book captured my attention from the very first page, and I was completely engrossed in the story until the very last page.

This unforgettable story takes the reader on a roller coaster ride of emotions. I laughed and I cried, I felt each characters pain and confusion, and ultimately I felt completely satisfied by this wonderful story.

I easily fell in love with the utterly human characters in this book. There wasn’t a character that I couldn’t relate to or understand their feelings about any given situation. I felt like I was apart of these characters lives, and I just wanted to help them and be there for them as the story unfolded.

Kelly Rimmer has a truly magical way with words, and that gift is on full display in this book. The lyrical and emotive style of her writing left me breathless and full of suspense. I became so enamored by her writing that I had to remind myself I wasn’t actually living the story she was telling.

I honestly don’t have a bad word to say about this book. I am so glad that I read this book and I am excited to see what Kelly Rimmer brings out next.

Truths I Never Told You by Kelly Rimmer is an enthralling read that you wont want to put down.