October Wrap Up…

Welcome to my October Wrap Up. I have had a great reading month, finishing 20 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 October Wrap Up:

Oscar The Hungry Unicorn Eats Christmas by Lou Carter and Nikki Dyson: I loved this book. I have previously read Oscar The Hungry Unicorn so I was excited to read this book. It was bright and beautiful and it has really put me in a Christmassy mood.

Is It Halloween Yet? by Susannah Chambers and Tamsin Ainslie: This book was wonderful. I haven’t read a lot of Halloween books as it isn’t a massive deal in Australia, so I really enjoyed this book. A must have for all young readers and their families.

Amazing Ant, Cuddliest Cockatoo, Energetic Emu, Friendliest Fairy Penguin, Grumpiest Gecko, Laziest Lizard, Organised Octopus, Racing Rainbow Fish, Silliest Sheep, Unique Ulysses Butterfly and Xylophone-Playing Xiphias by Susannah McFarlane and Lachlan Creagh: I love this series so much. I am slowly collecting all of the books. I love the stories and the illustrations, and I adore how Australian these books are. I haven’t got a bad word to say about this series. I love how the stories focus on different letters of the alphabet yet don’t compromise the story just to reinforce the chosen letter. I also love the messages that these books have and how they ask questions of the reader and include them in the story. Most of all I love seeing all of the different Australian Animals and activities featured in these amazing little books. The ‘Little Mates’ collection is a must have for all young readers.

Hollowpox: The Hunt For Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend: This book was Wunderful! I have been waiting to get my hands on this book since I finished Wundersmith, and it didn’t disappoint. I loved every single page and now I am counting down until I can get my hands on the next book in this amazing series.

Home Stretch by Graham Norton: This book was beautiful. I laughed, I cried and I finished the book completely satisfied. I loved the characters, the writing was amazing and the story was equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming. A must read book.

The Christmas Show by Rebecca Patterson: I have never been in or even seen a Christmas Play so this book was a joy to read for me. I loved the story and the illustrations were amazing. This is the perfect book to get your hands on in the lead up to Christmas.

Christmas Is Golden by Diane Muldrow: This book was everything I had hoped it would be and more. This story was bursting with Christmas spirit and the illustrations were taken from pervious Little Golden Book Christmas books, so they felt like a warm hug. A must have for readers of all ages.

A Little Book About Me And My Mom by Jedda Robaard: This book is absolutely adorable. I already have A Little Book About Me And My Dad so I was very excited to get my hands on this one. This is a must have book for all young readers.

The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed: This book really made me think. The story was equal parts heartwarming and heartbreaking, the characters were real and flawed and the writing was emotional and raw. This book will stay with you long after the final page. Another must read book for everyone.

Prisoner Of Night And Fog by Anne Blankman: This book was amazing. It had everything I could have wanted and more. A fascinating and compelling story, real and relatable characters, and raw, emotive wringing. I am so gad that I finally read this book.

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

King Henry The Fifth

That’s it for my October 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 November Wrap Up…

Happy Reading…

❤ Gem

Prisoner Of Night And Fog by Anne Blankman

‘In 1930s Munich, danger lurks behind dark corners, and secrets are buried deep within the city. But Gretchen Müller, who grew up in the National Socialist Party under the wing of her “uncle” Dolf, has been shielded from that side of society ever since her father traded his life for Dolf’s, and Gretchen is his favorite, his pet.

Uncle Dolf is none other than Adolf Hitler. And Gretchen follows his every command.

Until she meets a fearless and handsome young Jewish reporter named Daniel Cohen. Gretchen should despise Daniel, yet she can’t stop herself from listening to his story: that her father, the adored Nazi martyr, was actually murdered by an unknown comrade. She also can’t help the fierce attraction brewing between them, despite everything she’s been taught to believe about Jews.

As Gretchen investigates the very people she’s always considered friends, she must decide where her loyalties lie. Will she choose the safety of her former life as a Nazi darling, or will she dare to dig up the truth—even if it could get her and Daniel killed?’

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

As a pretty big fan of historical fiction I was surprised that this book passed me by when it was released. Once I finally heard about it I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. I am happy to say it not only lived up to e expectations; it well and truly surpassed them.

Anne Blankman did a fantastic job with this book. The story was unique and interesting, the characters we real, and relatable, and the writing was suspenseful and utterly compelling.

I have read many historical fiction books over the years and this book is up there with the best of them. I loved this new perspective on a time that I have read so much about. If you haven’t read this book and are a fan of historical fiction you need to your hands on this about immediately.

I honestly don’t have a bad word to say about this book. I am so glad that I found this book and I cannot wait to get my hands on its sequel Conspiracy Of Blood And Smoke.

Prisoner Of Night And Fog by Anne Blankman is not to be missed.

Halloween Creatures Book Tag…

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

So without further ado, lets jump straight in:

Werewolf

The perfect book to read at night

Capturing The Devil by Kerri Maniscalco

Frankenstein

A book that truly shocked you

Faggots by Larry Kramer

The Devil 

A dark or evil character

Storm Hisray – Storm and Grace by Kathryn Heyman

Grim Reaper

A character that never should have died

Remus Lupin – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K Rowling

Zombie

A book that made you hungry for more

18 Tiny Deaths by Bruce Goldfarb

 

Gargoyle

A character that you would protect at all cost

Darryl Curtis – The Outsiders by S.E Hinton

Vampire 

A book that sucked the life out of you

The Dream Walker by Victoria Carless

Ghost

A book that still haunts you

Where Is Daniel? by Bruce and Denise Morcombe

Demon

A book that really scared you

The Stand by Stephen King

Skeleton

A character you have a bone to pick with

Princess Eadlyn  – The Heir and The Crown by Kiera Cass

Mummy

A book you would preserve throughout time

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Creepy Doll 

A cover too scary to look at

Captive: The Story of the Cleveland Abductions by Allan Hall

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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

A Little Book About Me And My Mom by Jedda Robaard

‘What better way for a child to celebrate a beloved parent than with a book of personal thoughts, memories, photos, and drawings? Inside, children can fill it with facts about their mother – where she was born, her favorite color, what she loved to do when she was little–along with notes about the fun things they do together as a family. There are places for photos, spots for drawing, and lots of space for kids to express all the reasons they love their mom so much. A built-in pouch at the back of the book can be used to store photos, notes, and other mom-related mementos. The book also comes with a gift card that children can use to write a special message for their mother.’

This book is adorable.

I had previously gotten my hands on A Little Book About Me And My Dad so I was very excited to get my hands on this book, and let me tell you it was everything I had hoped it would be and so much more.

This lovely little book is a scrapbook of sorts that can be given as a gift already filled in by a child or it can be a join project for mother and child to work on with each other.

I love that this book is interactive. I can remember making scrapbooks as a child and the joy that it brought me, so I can only imagine the joy this wonderful book with bring to many children.

Jedda Robaard has done a fantastic job with this book. This heartwarming little book makes me wish had a child to share it with. I can easily see this beautiful book become a treasured keepsake in many households.

A Little Book about Me and My Mom by Jedda Robaard is a must have for all young children and their mothers.

Uni Update 12!

Its that time again…

Uni Update!

I have now completed two off my assessments; having just submitted my 1500 word Critical Analysis report, and I have made a start on my final assessment for this year.

I am not sure when I will get the results back for the assessment I just submitted, so I am going to try and put it out of my mind and focus on completing each weeks course work and working on my final assessment.

While I am liking this trimesters subject; I am not loving it. I will also freely admit I had to really put aside time and take a lot of notes in order to understand and hopefully do well with my Critical Analysis report.

I am guessing that my final assessment is going to need even more concertation then my last one. So far I am in the planning and research stage so I am not having very much trouble.

I am just going to take each week as it comes and do my best. I am however going to make sure I block out some extra time for study over the next few weeks. If I don’t end up need it so be it, but I really don’t want to feel overwhelmed because I haven’t planned well enough.

Well I think that about covers what has been happening on the Uni front this month. Hopefully I will have my results from my Critical Analysis back by my next Uni Update.

Until Next Time…

~>GEM<~

The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed

‘Ashley Bennett and her friends are living the charmed life. It’s the end of senior year. Everything changes one afternoon in April, when four LAPD officers are acquitted after beating a black man named Rodney King half to death. Suddenly, Ashley’s not just one of the girls. She’s one of the black kids.

As violent protests engulf LA and the city burns, Ashley tries to continue on as if life were normal. With her world splintering around her, Ashley, along with the rest of LA, is left to question who is the us? And who is the them?’

This book was thought provoking.

I knew that this book was about issues of race and class while following a wealthy African American teenager during the 1992 Rodney King Riots but what I didn’t expect was how much this story would resonate in today society even though it is set almost thirty years ago.

It was quite jarring reading about riot and burning buildings given that we have recently seen so much of it on the news lately with the riots and looting that happened in America recently.

I found this book really interesting as an Anglo-Saxon Australia; seeing all of the different things that Ashley thinks about and how she moves through the world was really eye-opening experience.

Christina Hammonds Reed did a fantastic job with this book. The writing in this book is amazing. The descriptions were extraordinary and the emotions radiated off the pages. I also loved what she did with the characters. They we flawed and unsure of themselves which made them human and relatable.

One of the best things about this book was its rawness. It didn’t sugar coat anything and it pulled the reader in to what was an exciting, emotional and at times erratic reading experience.

This is one of those rare books that make you uncomfortable which forces you to think deeply about what you are reading. These are the books that you remember most. The Black Kids will definitely stay with you long after the final page.

The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed is a book that should be read by all.

Unlucky 13 Book Tag…

Welcome one and all to another Wacky Wednesday post. Today I am partaking in the Unlucky 13 Book Tag. I hope you all enjoy this quick little tag.

So without further ado, lets jump straight in:

A book with a number in the title. 

18 Tiny Deaths by Bruce Goldfarb

A book with psychic(s).

Doctor Sleep by Stephen King

A book with witches.

The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz by L. Frank Baum

A tragic book.

The Little Girl on the Ice Floe by Adelaïde Bon

A ‘dark’ book.

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

A book you can’t live without, like a lucky charm.

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett or The Outsiders by S.E Hinton

Book with a black or blue cover.

This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp 

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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

Home Stretch by Graham Norton

‘Shame and longing can flow through generations, but the secrets of the heart will not be buried for ever.

It is 1987 and a small Irish community is preparing for a wedding. The day before the ceremony a group of young friends, including bride and groom, drive out to the beach. There is an accident. Three survive, but three are killed.

The live of the families are shattered and the rifts between them are felt throughout the small town. Connor is one of the survivors. But staying among the angry and the mourning is almost as hard as living with the shame of having been the driver. He leaves the only place he knows for another life, taking his secrets with him. Travelling first to Liverpool, then London, he makes a home – of sorts – for himself in New York. The city provides shelter and possibility for the displaced, somewhere Connor can forget his past and forge a new life.

But the secrets, the unspoken longings and regrets that have come to haunt those left behind will not be silenced. And before long, Connor will have to confront his past.’

I adored this book.

I didn’t know what to expect going into this book, so I was overwhelmed by how emotional this book made me. I laughed, I cried and I completed the book completely satisfied.

This wonderful book was equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming, and emotional pull of this story was so strong it pulled me into the story from the very first chapter.

Graham Norton did a fantastic job with this book. The story was utterly compelling, the writing was breathtaking and the characters were flawed and completely relatable.

This is definitely a book that will stay with you after the final page. I honestly don’t have a bad word to say about this book.

Home Stretch by Graham Norton is a powerful novel that takes the reader on a journey that they wont want to end.

What’s In My Bag!

The Question today is what is in my bag? So let’s not waste time; comes and see what’s in my bag…

My Purse

Book and Book Sleeve. My current read is Home Stretch by Graham Norton.

Hand Sanitizers

Device Cords, USB Thumb Drive and Batteries

Face Masks

Pocket Planner, Card Book and Business Cards

Reusable Shopping Bag

Lip Gloss

Sick Bag, Brown Paper Bag, and Lip Care Products

Hair Elastics and Body Mist

Baby Wipes, Tissues and A Rain Coat Poncho

Feminine Hygiene Products

Note Pads

Pens

Lighters

Well that’s it from me today. I had fun doing this post and it also forced me to clean and organise my bag so that was a bonus.

I hope you all enjoy this quick little post today.

Until next time.

Happy Reading…

~>GEM<~

Come And Ride With Us! by Annie Kubler and Caroline Formby

‘Children love surprises. They love lifting flaps. This series rewards their curiosity with interesting discoveries about their world. The subject matter is based closely on children’s interests: play, food, travel and home, and invites us to make friends with children from far away places.

The way people live is different in many parts of the world. This series of colourful flap books, created with and for OXFAM, depict everyday situations and help us to discover what makes us different and what binds us together. This book shows the different transport people use.’

This book was lovely.

This book is part of a four book series and is the second I have had the pleasure of reading. So I knew what to expect going into this book. I made sure to look for all little bits of information and not to miss any of the lifting flaps.

I think this book will easily be a fast favourite with young readers and their families. It isn’t over flowing with information, but there is more than enough to entertain and inform.

The illustrations work perfectly with the story being told and really capture everything that is going on in each individual scene.

I loved the lifting flaps in this book. They added something extra to the story and were able to show different options for how various forms of transportation are used. This gave an option for a second explanation on how and why things are the way they are in different countries around the world.

I honestly don’t have a bad word to say about this book. As an adult i really enjoyed it, so i can only imagine the joy and knowledge it will bring to young readers everywhere.

Come And Ride With Us! by Annie Kubler and Caroline Formby is  must have for all young readers.