May Wrap Up…

Welcome to my May Wrap Up. I had a great reading month in May, finishing 4 books (1 book off my TBR). I also received 3 ARC this month. I have reviews up or coming up for these books so as usual this is just going to be a brief rundown on each book I read.

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

Six Days In Rome by Francesca Giacco: This was a quick little read that was fun but not very deep. I had hoped for a quick read so I wasn’t disappointed on that front, but I found the pacing of this book odd which frustrated me. It started off well but then it felt like the second half of the book was rushed and at times unfinished. I could see what the author was going for, and sections of this book were really good, but overall it just missed the mark for me.

Global by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin: I don’t usually read Graphic Novels, but this one captured my interest. I am so glad I picked this book up. The story was fantastic and compelling, and the illustrations by Giovanni Rigano were bold and beautiful. The combination of story and illustrations was utterly perfect and made for a truly wonderful reading experience. Now I am excited to see what this creative team comes up with next.

Monsters by Claire Dederer: This book was interesting. I went into this book thinking it was one thing so was a little surprised by what I ended up getting. I could see what Claire Dederer was aiming for with this book but I just wished there was more in-depth looks and analysis of the people featured in this book. While I enjoyed this book and can see it becoming a very popular book with many people it just missed the mark for me.

Honey, Baby, Mine by Laura Dern and Diane Ladd: This book was lovely. I didn’t really know what to expect going into this book but it sounded interesting so I picked it up and I am glad that I did. It was raw and honest was still being filled with love and compassion with some truly fascinating stories being told. I loved that this book showed the ups and downs of a mother-daughter relationship in all its messiness. I also loved all of the photographs that were included. A great read!

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

GEM

Oh, The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss

‘“And will you succeed?
Yes! You will indeed!
(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)”

A modern classic, Oh, the Places You’ll Go! was first published one year before Dr. Seuss’s death at the age of eighty-seven. In a mere fifty-six pages, Dr, Seuss managed to impart a lifetime of wisdom. It is the perfect send-off for children starting out in the maze of life, be they nursery school grads or newly-minted PhDs. Everyone will find it inspired good fun.’

I loved this book.

This is another one of my favourite Dr. Seuss books. I love that it is completely wacky yet still relatable in a way that only Dr. Seuss can create. I also love the fact that this book can be read, loved, and learned from regardless of the age of the reader. I re-read this book a lot and have taken different things from it at different times in my life.

There is something about this book that never fails to make me feel better or inspire me to be or do better. The fact that it shows both the ups and downs of life while still ultimately feeling like a book that is encouraging you to be your best self is something that is hard to find these days.

As with all Dr Seuss books, this book is filled with wonderful moments, and weird rhymes that carry the reader through this whimsical story. It, of course, wouldn’t be a Dr. Seuss book without some brilliantly, bright, bold, and bamboozling illustrations to compliment the story.

I honestly don’t have a bad word to say about this book. I loved it from the very first moment I picked it up and I continue to love it every time I read it. I am already looking forward to my next re-reading.

Oh, The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss is wonderful and wise and will leave you wanting more.

Uni Update 34!

It’s that time again…

Uni Update!

I am happy to say that I got my results back from my first Essay; I passed. I am actually really proud of my results and feedback.

I am currently working on my major essay/case study so it has been non-stop uni work for me over the last few weeks. Hopefully, I will be happy with how it turns out in the end, so far I am pleased with my effort.

I am also very excited that I have finished my coursework for the semester; now I just have to wait for those results and the results of my final essay/case study to see if I passed the unit.

As we are coming to the end of the semester I had to select my units for next semester. After much deliberation I finally made a decision; I just hope it turns out to be a good one.

I don’t really have anything else to add to today’s update. Hopefully, I will have all of my results, and no if I passed by the time my next Uni Update comes along.

That is all from me today. I will catch you all in my next Uni Update.

GEM

The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

‘I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees.
 
Dr. Seuss’s beloved story teaches kids to treat the planet with kindness and stand up and speak up for others. Experience the beauty of the Truffula Trees and the danger of taking our earth for granted in a story that is timely, playful, and hopeful. The book’s final pages teach us that just one small seed, or one small child, can make a difference. 

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.‘

I adore this book.

This is easily one of my favourite Dr. Seuss books. I have loved it since I was a child and I continue to return to it wherever I am feeling down or in a reading slump as it never fails to lift my mood and inspire me.

As with all Dr. Seuss books the wonderful story is told in a lyrical rhyming manner that captivates the reader and carries them on this wonderful and whimsical journey.

I love that the story in this book is something that everyone can relate to; more now than ever, and that it is based on a kind of reality. This is something that really stuck out to me when I first came across this brilliant story when I was a child.

Even if the story is based in reality that doesn’t mean that this isn’t a weird and magic Dr. Seuss story. The characters, places, flora, and fauna are all touched by Dr. Seuss’s unique magic.

Adding to the fantastic story are the bold brilliant and bamboozling illustrations that take this book to a whole new level while capturing the imagination and attention of its readers.

I honestly don’t have a bad word to say about this book. I enjoy it every time I read it and I cannot wait to re-read it again many times in the future.

The Lorax by Dr. Seuss is a book that is needed now more than ever.

Mango Book Tag…

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

So without further ado, let’s jump straight in:

RAW MANGO

YOUR MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASE

Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend

BANGANAPALLI

LONGEST BOOK ON YOUR TBR

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

ALPHONSO

A HYPED BOOK YOU LOVED

Dark Mode by Ashley Kalagian Blunt

TOTAPURI

A BOOK WITH A GREEN OR YELLOW COVER

Little Wombat’s Easter Surprise by Charles Fuge

NEELAM

A RAINY DAY BOOK RECOMMENDATION

Still Life with Bones by Alexa Hagerty

MANGO PICKLE

A BOOK THAT MAKES YOU FEEL NOSTALGIC

Time of My Life by Myf Warhurst

MANGO KULFI

A FEEL-GOOD BOOK RECOMMENDATION

Dear Lover by Samuel Johnson

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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

Monsters by Claire Dederer

‘What do we do with the art of monstrous men? Can we love the work of Roman Polanski and Michael Jackson, Hemingway, and Picasso? Should we love it? Does genius deserve special dispensation? What makes women artists monstrous? And what should we do with beauty, and with our unruly feelings about it?

Claire Dederer explores these questions and our relationships with the artists whose behaviour disrupts our ability to understand the work on its own terms. She interrogates her own responses and behaviour, and she pushes the fan, and the reader, to do the same. Morally wise, deeply considered, and sharply written, Monsters gets to the heart of one of our most pressing conversations.’

This book was interesting.

I’m not sure what I thought this book was going to be, but what I got was something I wasn’t expecting. I guess I hadn’t expected to be reading someone else’s history and how it relates to the people featured in this book, so I was a little disappointed that these elements were mostly missing from this book.

I guess I thought this book was going to go into detail about the crimes committed by these monsters and how the public reacted to them. From canceled movies or internet and social media backlash to their crimes. Instead, I found myself a little bored as I was unable to relate; by age, location, and life experiences, to Claire Dederer and her feelings and opinions on these issues and or role as fans moving forward.

The way Claire Dederer wrote this book kind of feels like a journal. We hear her thoughts, and conversations, and feel her emotions; both good and bad, radiating off the pages. This writing style really worked for this book as the topic is an emotional and confusing one.

While this book didn’t knock it out of the park for me, I can easily see what Claire Dederer was aiming for; and in many ways achieved, with this book, so it isn’t hard for me to believe that this is going to be a very popular book amongst many readers around the globe.

Monsters by Claire Dederer will leave you with a lot to think about.

Pointless Facts 37!

As I am really enjoying compiling Pointless Facts, I am going to stick with my plan of posting a new list every month; at least until it stops being fun for me. So I hope you all enjoy this month’s installment of Pointless Facts.

Like bats and whales, Humans are also capable of echolocation.

The word library comes from Latin liber – the inner bark of trees – and was first used in written form in the 14th century.

Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world.

Ferrets were once used to protect grain stores from rodents.

Morioka Shoten Ginza, a unique bookstore in Tokyo, offers only one book every week and organizes events to discuss it every evening.

The largest cattle station in the world lies in Australia and amazingly it is bigger than Israel.

Gorillas, monkeys, and other primates make a new nest to sleep in every night.

James Patterson, the author of Alex Cross and Women’s Murder Club series, was the first-ever writer to exceed one million sales in ebooks.

Australia is home to more than 10% of the world’s flora and fauna

Chickens don’t just eat seeds; they like to eat insects, mice, and lizards.

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I hope you all enjoyed today’s pointless facts. Let me know in the comments if these pointless facts were new to you or if you had already come across them.

GEM

Global by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin

‘Yuki lives in an increasingly deserted Inuit township in Nova Scotia. One day she sets out into the wilderness of the Arctic tundra planning to photograph a rare grolar bear (a terrifying grizzly-polar crossbreed created by climate change) – if she can prove it’s a grolar, she can protect it from being shot. With only her faithful dog for company and adrift on a fragment of melting glacier, she finds herself being stalked across the changing wilderness by a starving grolar bear, with only her wits and her harpoon to keep her alive.

Sami lives in a fishing village on the Bay of Bengal. But because of the ever-rising ocean level, each day is a struggle to survive. One night, Sami sets out to return to his old, submerged family home, alone. He takes a deep breath and dives beneath the moonlit waters, hoping to find his past.

But a cyclone is coming …’

This book was fantastic.

I don’t usually read Graphic Novels but this one sounded really interesting so I picked it up and I am very glad that I did. The entire premise of this book was perfect and the way the stories connected was brilliant.

This book is a timely reminder of the dangers climate change brings. The way this novel combined two different stories together and had them connect in unexpected ways was really beautiful to read.

Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin had done a fabulous job with this book. It was compelling and factual while also telling a story of family, community, and love.

A graphic novel only works if the illustrations and story work together and luckily this one did. The stunning Illustrations by Giovanni Rigano gave life and emotion to the story being told and elevate this novel to a level that I hadn’t expected.

This is one of those books that I will return to many times in the future.

Global by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin, illustrated by Giovanni Rigano is a must-read for everyone.

The Great British Bake Off Book Tag…

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

So without further ado, let’s jump straight in:

AMATEUR BAKER

A BOOK THAT IS SELF-PUBLISHED

The Purple Pimpernel by Anthony Thorogood

SOGGY BOTTOM

A BOOK THAT HAD A GREAT START BUT A DISAPPOINTING ENDING

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

#BINGATE

A BOOK YOU GOT FRUSTRATED WITH AND HAD TO DNF

I actually don’t DNF books!

JUNIOR BAKE OFF

A CHILDREN’S BOOK

The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

A HOLLYWOOD HANDSHAKE

A BOOK THAT IMPRESSED YOU

The Book of Wondrous Possibilities by Deborah Abela

SIGNATURE CHALLENGE

A BOOK THAT YOU WOULD RECOMMEND TO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY

Black Summer by Michael Rowland

TECHNICAL CHALLENGE

BOOK THAT YOU READ WITHOUT KNOWING MUCH BEFOREHAND

Dark Mode by Ashley Kalagian Blunt

SHOWSTOPPER CHALLENGE

A BOOK/SERIES THAT IS YOUR ALL-TIME FAVORITE

The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

THE FINALISTS

A FAVORITE TRILOGY

The Illuminae Files by Amie Kauffman and Jay Kristoff

AN EXTRA SLICE

A FAVORITE COMPANION BOOK

The Tale Of Beedle The Bard by J.K. Rowling

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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

The Shining by Stephen King

‘Jack Torrance’s new job at the Overlook Hotel is the perfect chance for a fresh start. As the off-season caretaker at the atmospheric old hotel, he’ll have plenty of time to spend reconnecting with his family and working on his writing. But as the harsh winter weather sets in, the idyllic location feels ever more remote…and more sinister. And the only one to notice the strange and terrible forces gathering around the Overlook is Danny Torrance, a uniquely gifted five-year-old.’

This book is creepy.

I am a massive Stephen King fan, and this book is easily one of my favourites. It’s everything you hope for from a Stephen King novel and so much more. Every time I read this book I find something new to love about it.

As will most Stephen King novels, this book is freaking yet fabulous. The setting is eerie and puts you on edge before anything too creepy has actually occurred. So once the action starts ramping up you are primed to be pulled into this truly terrifying story.

On top of the spooky story are a host of characters; some relatable others truly horrific. The way in which these characters appear in the story and how they change as we learn more about them and this situation as a whole is really intriguing to read.

Stephen King has done a fantastic job with this book. The plot was chilling and fascinating, the characters were flawed and human which made them compelling to learn about and follow as the story unfolded. As for the writing; as expected it was utterly stunning; emotional, frightening, and perfectly paced.

This is one of those books that I like to re-read every now and then, and I am happy to say it never disappoints.

The Shining by Stephen King with haunt your dreams long after you finish reading it.