July Wrap Up…

Welcome to my July Wrap Up. I have had a great reading month, finishing 8 books (4 books off my TBR). I also received 3 ARC’s this month, and I continued my new goal of reading 1 Shakespeare play.

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 July Wrap Up:

Tippy and Jellybean by Sophie Cunningham and Anil Tortop: This book was beautiful. I honestly don’t have a bad word to say about this book. The story was wonderful, the illustrations were beautiful and $1 from each book sale goes to the Bushfire Emergency Wildlife Fund. Buy this book now!

Impact by Matt Doeden: This book was fantastic. Having this story of 9/11 told through individual experiences from people who lived through it is a great way to teach young readers about the events without overwhelming them with to much information. This book is a must have for all middle grade readers.

Day Of Infamy by Steven Otfinoski: This book was great. I really enjoyed hearing individual perspectives of the attack on Pearl Harbor. I was already very familiar with this event but hearing from people that were there on the day and that were from different backgrounds and the experiences they had made for a really wonderful reading experience.

A Brief History of The Third Reich by Martyn Whittock: I really enjoyed this book. I was already familiar with The Third Reich so I didn’t have much trouble understanding this book. I really liked the way it was written and the information that was included. This book would be perfect for a YA reader wanting to learn more about The Third Reich.

Firebird by Elizabeth Wein: I loved this book. I am a big fan of Elizabeth Wein so I am not surprised that I loved this book. It was interesting, well written and utterly entertaining. I loved the setting, the story and the characters. I honestly don’t have a bad word to say about this book.

White Eagles by Elizabeth Wein: This book was wonderful. I read this book in one sitting. I loved Elizabeth Wein’s writing so I devoured this book and was sad to get to the end of it. This was a topic that I have never read about so I really enjoyed getting to read about something that was new to me.

The World’s Worst Parents by David Walliams: This book was awesome. I am a huge fan of David Walliams’ books so I wasn’t surprised by how much I loved this book. I loved the stories in this book; I had some genuine laugh out loud moments whilst reading this book. This is a much read for all middle grade readers.

Waiting For Bojangles: A Novel by Olivier Bourdeaut: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I read the English translation; translated by Regan Kramer, and it was wonderful. The story was moving; equal parts heartwarming and heartbreaking, and the writing was lyrical and emotive. I am so glad that I read this beautiful book.

Shakespeare: I read 1 Shakespeare plays in July. I read the following Shakespeare Play This Month:

Antony and Cleopatra

That’s it for my July 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 August Wrap Up…

Happy Reading…

❤ Gem

Book Reader Problems Tag…

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

So without further ado, lets jump straight in:

You have 20,000 books in your TBR, how in the world do you decide what to read next?

I use a TBR jar when I cant decide now. So I guess a TBR Bucket…

You’re halfway through a book and you’re just not loving it. Do you put it down or are you committed?

If its an ARC I keep reading, if not, I put it down.

The end of the year is coming and you’re behind on your reading challenge, do you try to catch up? And if so, how?

Yes! I will check good read to see which books people have marked as quick reads or I will pick Authors that I know I love so that I will devour their books.

The covers of a series you love do not match, how do you cope?

I don’t. That is one of the things that really gets under my skin. Sometimes I just have to put the books to the back of my shelves so I cant see them.

Everyone and their mother loves a book that you do not. Who do you bond with over your shared feelings?

My blog followers.

You’re reading a book in public and you’re about to start crying. How do you deal?

I usually stop reading and listen to music instead.

The sequel to a book you loved just came out but you’ve forgotten a lot of what happens. Are you going to reread it?

I will go back and read my review or notes on the book instead of a full reread.

You do not want anyone to borrow your books, how do you politely say no when someone asks?

I make up an excuse about need to take Instagram shots or something like that.

You have picked up and put down 5 books in the last month. How do you get over this reading slump?

I go back to an old faithful.

There are so many books coming out that you are dying to read, how many do you end up buying?

As many as mu bank balance allows. I will also request ARC’s for the ones that I can.

After you purchase all of these books that you’re dying to read how long do they sit on your shelves before you get to them?

Depending on ARC’s, but usually not very long. I don’t have a lot of patience when it comes to new books.

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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

Firebird by Elizabeth Wein

‘I am not a traitor. Let me tell you how I became a pilot and why I landed my plane behind enemy lines – and what I did afterwards. And then you can judge for yourselves …

Nastia Nabokova is a daring pilot, the daughter of revolutionaries, and now, as Russia enters the Second World War, she must fight to save the glorious Motherland. But when the battles begin and life itself is at stake, long-held secrets are revealed, and Nastia must question everything she once thought she knew.’

I loved this book.

I am a big fan of Elizabeth Wein so I was excited to get my hands on this book. I went into it with high expectations that it not only met but well and truly surpassed.

I love ready Historical Fiction especially Historical Fiction set during the Second World War, so this story was right up my alley. In saying that, I have never read anything about Russian pilots during World War 2, let alone female Pilots, so that may for an exciting reading experience.

As this book is aimed at YA readers it was a quick and easy read for me. It was easy to follow as it wasn’t weighed down with too many facts. Even though this is a Historical Fiction, it is a personal story with real and relatable emotions that radiate off the pages.

Elizabeth Wein has done a fantastic job with this book. The story was truly interesting and moving, the characters were solid and entertaining, and as always the writing was absolutely superb.

I honestly don’t have a bad word to say about this book. I know for a fact that I will be rereading this one many times in the future.

Firebird by Elizabeth Wein is a wonderful book that is not to be missed.

Uni Update 9!

It’s that time again.

Uni Update!

I am really enjoying Uni this Trimester. I have already completed two assessments and I am about 80% done on my third assessment. I am not having any trouble with the work load or any of the readings. And I am really enjoying engaging with other students and lecturer’s.

The only thing I am not happy about is that I had to purchase a textbook mid-way through the course. We had been using this textbook since the course started; the chapters were being provided online, then for some reason that stopped. Based on the reaction of the other students; no one had bee expecting them to stop and so there was a bit of a scramble to get a textbook.

Luckily I was able to find the book I needed online through Booktopia and it arrived three days after I ordered it. So I didn’t fall behind while I waited for delivery.

The textbook annoyance is the only thing that I am not happy with so far this Trimester. Hopefully things will keep going the way they have been and I will be able to enjoy the rest of the unit.

I guess we will see how everything is progressing in my next Uni Update.

~>GEM<~

A Brief History of The Third Reich by Martyn Whittock.

‘The abuse of power, genocide, the destruction of total war, unimaginable cruelty and the suffering of millions were all central features of Hitler’s Nazi regime. Yet the Nazis were also highly successful in manipulating images and information: they mobilized and engaged vast numbers of people, caught the imagination of the young and appeared remarkably modern to many contemporary observers.

Was the Third Reich a throwback to a mythical past or a brutally modern and technologically advanced state? Was Hitler a strong dictator who achieved his clear goals, or was his chaotic style of government symptomatic of a weak dictator, unable to control the complex and contradictory forces that he had unleashed? Was the Third Reich ruled by terror, or largely supported by a compliant German population? Was the genocide against the Jews a peculiarly German phenomenon, or a uniquely German expression of a terrible wider trend?’

I really enjoyed this book.

I had high expectations for this book and it not only lived up to them, it surpassed them. I was already familar with The Third Reich before going into this book and that made it easier for me when it came to some of the names and places.

While this book is only a brief history, it is full of information. I was surprised by the amount of information in this book and by the fact that a lot of it was new to me.

Martyn Whittock has done a fantastic job with this book. It was easy to read, well written and even though it was factual it had a real human and emotional feel to it that I wasn’t expecting.

This book would be perfect for YA readers who are interested in learning about The Third Reich. There is definitely something for everyone in this book regardless of your knowledge of this point in history.

A Brief History of The Third Reich by Martyn Whittock is well worth the read.

Inside Out Book Tag…

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

So without further ado, lets jump straight in:

Joy: Which book brings you the most joy?

The Little Bookshop Of Promises by Debbie Macomber

Disgust: Which book grossed you out the most?

Zealot: A book about cults by Jo Thornely

Fear: The book that scared you more than anything.

The Price Of Paradise: How the Suicide Bomber Shaped the Modern Age by Iain Overton

Sadness: Which book made you cry the hardest?

Unfollow: A Journey from Hatred to Hope by Megan Phelps-Roper

Anger: Which book pissed you off?

Nobody’s Victim: Fighting Psychos, Stalkers, Pervs, and Trolls by Carrie Goldberg

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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

Day Of Infamy by Steven Otfinoski

‘The quiet Sunday morning was shattered as Japanese warplanes screamed toward the US Navy’s Pacific Fleet without warning. The attack sent shock-waves around the globe, pushing the US to enter World War II.

Through powerful narrative storytelling, follow the tales of people who experienced the tragedy firsthand.’

This book was great.

I was already pretty familiar with the attack on Pearl Harbor so I was excited to see what this book had to offer. While I may have already known the facts I hadn’t read too many personal experiences from the day. Getting to hear different perspectives from people from didn’t backgrounds was a really interesting way to read about the day.

I really liked the facts that some of the people who we read about weren’t from the military. Having a mix of voices really added an extra layer to this book.

Steven Otfinoski has done a fantastic job with this book. It is factual, informative and personal without being overwhelming for its target audience. I also loved the addition of photographs, timeline, further reading, bibliography and questions that this book contained.

As this book is aimed at a younger audience there isn’t a large amount of facts on hand. This book is just a introduction to this historic event. I honesty believe that this book would be the perfect teaching tool to help introduce young readers to the attack on Pearl Harbor.

I honestly don’t have a bad word to say about this book. Even though it is aimed at younger readers, this book was a truly great; albeit, quick read. If you don’t have a young reader in your life that is no excuse to miss out on this wonderful little book.

Day Of Infamy by Steven Otfinoski is a must have for all middle grade readers and well worth a read for everyone.

10 Albums In 10 Days!

I recently completed the 10 albums in 10 days challenge on social media, so I have decided to post the result here. I will being doing all 10 days is one post.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the challenge it is a pretty simple one; you post 10 albums in 10 days that have influenced your musical taste. Just cover art, no explanation, no review and in no particular order.

So now that we all know whats going on let’s jump in.

Day 1 of 10.

Day 2 of 10.

Day 3 of 10.

Day 4 of 10.

Day 5 of 10.

Day 6 of 10.

Day 7 of 10.

Day 8 of 10.

Day 9 of 10.

Day 10 of 10.

Well that’s it for my 10 Albums In 10 Days challenge. Let me know if any of these albums influenced your music taste, and if not what albums did.

Until next time…

Happy Reading…

~>GEM<~

Impact by Matt Doeden

‘Four airplanes crashed; thousands of people died; and millions more wept. The impact of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, sent shock waves around the world. Through powerful narrative storytelling, follow the tales of people who experienced the tragedy firsthand. Perfect for Common Core studies of narrative nonfiction and exploring multiple accounts of an event.’

This book was fantastic.

I really enjoyed this book. As it is aimed at young readers it was a quick and easy read.

I think the way in which this book tells the story of 9/11 from personal stories from different people and their experiences of the day is a great way to introduce the history of 9/11 to young readers without overwhelming them with too many facts.

This book was informative and emotional as well as giving a personal voice to such a massive and tragic event. It all contained photographs, a timeline of the day as well as sources for further reading.

Matt Doeden did a wonderful job with this book. The writing was perfect and made it easy to read and feel what was going on as the day unfolded. The layout of this book was great and made it easy to follow the events of the day while still remaining emotional connected to the stories being told.

This events of 9/11 are a important part of world history and this book is a great way to introduce young readers to this historical event. With so many heartbreaking scenes having occurred on that tragic day; this book offers a glimpse into history without any graphic details or images.

I honestly don’t have a bad world to say about this book. I think everyone should read this book regardless of age but if you do have a young reader in your life then this is a must have book.

Impact by Matt Doeden is a must have for all middle grade readers.

The F.R.I.E.N.D.S Book Tag…

Welcome one and all to another Wacky Wednesday post. Today I am partaking in The F.R.I.E.N.D.S Book Tag. I hope you all enjoy this quick little tag.

So without further ado, lets jump straight in:

Ross: Seems harmless, but problematic – Name a book you had problems with

Haven’t They Grown by Sophie Hannah

Monica: neat and tidy – Name a book/series that ends satisfyingly

The Illumniae Files by Amie Kuafman and Jay Kristoff

Chandler: funny and relatable – Name a firm fave

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Phoebe: reliable and friendly – An author you always rely on

Fiona Plamer

Rachel: she grows on you over time – Name a book/series that’s grown on you over time

The Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead

Joey: looks good on the outside – A book whose cover is better than its contents

Trails in the Dust by Joy Dettman

Gunther: always there, always ignored – A book you’ve had on your TBR forever

Between the Blade and the Heart by Amanda Hocking

Carol and Susan: keeping it diverse – An LGBT+ book you love/hate/wanna read

Mama’s Boy: A Story from Our Americas by Dustin Lance Black

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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