June Wrap Up…

Welcome to my June Wrap Up. I had an okay reading month in June, finishing 4 books (2 books off my TBR). I also received 4 ARC’s 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 June Wrap Up:

Psyche and Eros by Luna McNamara: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I am not that familiar with Greek mythology but I did recognize names and places. Not having a lot of prior knowledge meant that I wasn’t bothered by any changes that were made to the mythology for this story. I am very glad that I picked this book up and I know I will be reading this book again in the near future.

I Am Lupe by Sela Ahosivi-Atiola: I am so glad that I read this book. The message is wonderful and simple yet incredibly powerful, and the way the characters talk about their individuality is both smart and sweet. Perfectly complementing the story being told are the stunning illustrations by Yani Agustina. This is a beautiful little book that I believe every child and every parent needs to read.

Kait In Waiting by Becky Albertalli: This book has been on my TBR for such a long time so I am very glad to have finally read it. I didn’t really have any expectations before I started this book which turned out to be a benefit as I found this book to be sweet and entertaining. I have read some Becky Albertalli novels before and I always find her works well-written and easy to read and this one is no different.

Friends, Lovers, And The Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry: While this is a very large book it took me a bit to get through it as some parts were hard to read; content-wise, I had to keep taking little breaks when it got too much. I am glad that I decided to read this book as not all of it was difficult to read, some of it was funny and sweet. This book is a must-read for all Friends or Matthew Perry fans.

---

That’s it for my June 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

Half Year Book Tag…

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

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

FAVOURITE STANDALONE BOOK HAULED AND READ SO FAR IN 2023:

Dark Mode by Ashley Kalagian-Blunt

FAVOURITE SERIES THAT YOU STARTED OR CONTINUED TO READ IN 2023:

Mim and the Disastrous Dog Show by Katrina Nannestad

FAVOURITE BOOKISH ITEMS PURCHASED OR RECEIVED THIS YEAR:

Harry Potter Hegwid Shaped Book Light

FAVOURITE DEBUT AUTHOR:

Saving Hamlet by Molly Horton Booth

FAVOURITE UNDER-HYPED BOOK THAT YOU READ THIS YEAR:

Black Summer by Michael Rowland

FAVOURITE BOOK READ THIS YEAR THAT YOU WERE LATE TO THE PARTY ON:

The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

POTENTIAL FAVOURITE THAT YOU HAVEN’T GOT AROUND TO READING YET:

Paper Hearts & Summer Kisses by Carole Matthews

FAVOURITE COVER ON A BOOK RELEASED THIS YEAR:

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

---

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

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss

‘From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere. In this exploration of simple concepts such as colour, numbers, and opposites, Dr. Seuss presents a crazy world of boxing Goxes, singing Yinks, and hump Wumps.’

This book is brilliant.

I can remember loving this book as a child but I don’t have any memories of re-reading it as an adult so I was very excited to drive in and see if it lived up to my memories. I am both grateful and happy to say I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as an adult.

Reading this book as an adult was like taking a trip down memory lane. The nostalgia and if I am being honest, the pure joy that I felt while reading this book put me in a fantastic mood that I hadn’t expected. The magic of Dr. Seuss is on full display in this book and I adored it.

As this book is aimed at younger readers there isn’t a intricate plot to follow or a large cast of characters. Instead, this book is all about wacky rhymes and weird creatures and places that will excite young readers and hopefully spark a love of reading in them.

Even though Dr. Seuss is known and loved for his crazy stories and bizarrely beautiful writing this book as with many of his other works wouldn’t be as magical if it wasn’t for the stunningly weird illustrations that perfectly complement the story being told and add an extra layer to this fabulous little book.

I am so glad that I decided to re-read this book and I am looking forward to reading again many times in the future.

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss is a must-have for all young readers and their families.

Uni Update 35!

It’s that time again…

Uni Update!

I am happy to say that I have officially finished Uni for the semester; I have completed all of my work and I have my results back too.

I got both my Essay 2/Case Study results back; I did better than I had hoped which I am very happy about. I also got my results back for my semester coursework; I am very happy with these results too.

Since all of my results are in I now know my overall mark and have officially ticked the unit of my subject list and I am now one step closer to completing my degree.

Now I am looking forward to a nice little break before I start my next unit. Hopefully, I will enjoy my next study period as much as I have this past one.

That’s it from me today. I will catch you all in my next Uni Update.

GEM

Psyche and Eros by Luna McNamara

‘Born into an era of heroes, a prophecy claims that Psyche – Princess of Mycenae – will defeat a monster feared even by the gods themselves. Rebelling against society’s traditions, she spends her youth mastering blade and bow, preparing to fulfill her destiny.

But she is soon caught up in powers beyond her control, when the jealous Aphrodite sends the God of Desire, Eros, to deliver a fatal love curse. The last thing Eros wants is to become involved in the chaos of the mortal world, but when he is pricked by the very arrow intended for Psyche, he is doomed to love a woman who will be torn from him the moment their eyes meet.

Thrown together by fate, headstrong Psyche and world-weary Eros will face challenges greater than they could have ever imagined. And as the Trojan War begins and the whole of the heavens try to keep them apart, will they find their way back to each other before it’s too late?’

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

As someone with a limited knowledge of Greek mythology, I was a little worried that some of the elements of this book would be lost on me, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. I recognized almost all of the characters and places featured in this book, and since my previous knowledge was limited I didn’t notice any changes to the mythology in this wonderful retelling.

I loved that this was a more feminist-based retelling; Psyche was smart and strong and independent which made me want her to succeed in her journeys and trials. I also loved how she endeared herself to so many of the characters with her heart and humour.

Eros was a character that grew and developed a lot throughout this story. In the beginning, I didn’t really have any opinion of him but as the story progressed and he became a more three-dimensional character I felling started to care for his character and understand him and his choices more.

Luna McNamara has done a fantastic job with this book. The story was wonderful; the twists and turns made for an enthralling read, the characters felt relatable in a way that I can’t really explain given that we are talking about Gods and Titans. As for the writing; it was superb. The lyrical quality of Luna McNamara’s writing captivated me from the very first page and carried me to the very last.

Psyche and Eros by Luna McNamara is a fantastic retelling that is not to be missed.

Mardi Gras Book Tag…

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

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

DESIGNATED DRIVER

WHAT RE-READ BOOK IS RELIABLE TO GET YOU OUT OF A READING SLUMP?

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

THE DRUNK BEST FRIEND

WHICH CHARACTER(S) WOULD YOU LIKE TO GRAB A DRINK WITH OR SIMPLY HANGOUT WITH FOR A NIGHT ON THE TOWN?

Wendell Bambleby – Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

FAT TUESDAY

WHICH BOOK ON YOUR TBR CAN YOU NOT WAIT TO DEVOUR?

Smoky the Brave by Damien Lewis

LENT

WHICH GENRE WOULD YOU GIVE UP READING FOR 40 DAYS?

Sci-Fi

MASQUERADE MASKS

WHICH BOOK DO YOU MASK THAT YOU HAVE READ? (EX: A BOOK YOU’RE EMBARRASSED ABOUT, A BOOK OR AUTHOR YOU’RE EMBARRASSED BY HAVING NOT READ YET, A GUILTY PLEASURE BOOK, SOMETHING YOU HIDE BEHIND, ETC.)

I don’t really hide any of my reading habits. I am never embarrassed by a book I have read nor do I ever pretend to have read something I haven’t.

THE ANNUAL MARDI GRAS PARTY/PARADE

WHAT CLASSIC COULD YOU READ TIME AND TIME AGAIN?

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

NEW ORLEANS

IN WHICH FICTIONAL PLACE WOULD YOU LIKE TO PARTY?

Hogwarts!

JAZZ MUSIC

WHAT BOOK JUST MAKES YOU WANT TO DANCE? (COULD BE WHEN YOU RECEIVED IT OR AS YOU READ IT)

The Book of Wondrous Possibilities by Deborah Abela

THE COLORS OF MARDI GRAS

PURPLE REPRESENTS JUSTICE: 

WHICH CHARACTER DO YOU FEEL GOT JUSTICE AT THE END OF THE BOOK OR SERIES?

Dark Mode by Ashley Kalagian-Blunt

GREEN REPRESENTS FAITH: 

WHICH CHARACTER WOULD YOU PUT YOUR COMPLETE FAITH IN NO MATTER THE SITUATION?

Mr. Cohen – Mim and the Anxious Artist by Katrina Nannestad

GOLD REPRESENTS POWER: 

WHICH BOOK GAVE YOU A VERY POWERFUL EMOTION AFTER READING IT?

Destination Buchenwald by Colin Burgess

SHOW YOUR TATAS, GET THOSE BEADS!!!

WHICH CHARACTER WOULD YOU THROW BEADS TO?

Fin – The Wrong Sister by Fiona Palmer

---

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

Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? by Dr Seuss

‘Oh, the wonderful things Mr. Brown can do!

In this “Book of Wonderful Noises,” Mr. Brown struts his stuff, as he imitates everything from popping corks to horse feet (“pop pop pop pop” and “klopp klopp klopp,” respectively) while inviting everyone to join him in the fun.

Young readers who are still learning their sounds and letters will get a wacky workout as they follow along with the very serious-looking, squinty-eyed Mr. Brown. Whether it’s eggs frying in a pan or a hippo chewing gum, the skillful Mr. Brown just keeps topping himself, with a “sizzle sizzle” or a “grum grum grum.” “Mr. Brown is so smart he can even do this: he can even make a noise like a goldfish kiss!… pip!”‘

This book is fantastic.

I will admit that I had never even heard of this book until I picked it up, it definitely wasn’t a Dr. Seuss book that I had read or been read when I was a child. Since I knew nothing about this book I was very excited to dive in and see what it was all about. Thankfully, it not only lived up to my pretty high expectations, it well and truly surpassed them.

I loved that this book was all about noise. Since all of Dr. Seuss’s books are about teaching young children to read and enjoy it, having a book that focuses on noise and sounding out weird and wacky words and phrases made for a really wonderful reading experience. Given how much I loved this book. I can only imagine how much joy this book gives to young readers.

Even though this book was filled with Dr. Seuss’s unique brand of magic, there were also a lot of words, sounds, and sentences that are relatable to readers which helps the book grow and flow as it unfolds. And it wouldn’t be a Dr. Seuss book if the pages weren’t overflowing with brilliant illustrations that perfectly complement and enhance the story being told.

Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? by Dr. Seuss is a must-have for all young readers and their families.

Pointless Facts 38!

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.

Mice actually do not like cheese. They prefer sweets, fruit, seeds, and grains.

Apples, plums, and raspberries come from the same plant family as roses.

The longest novel ever written is À la recherche du temps perdu by Marcel Proust, first published in 1912. It has an estimated 1,267,069 words.

Australia is a member of the United Nations, the G20, the Commonwealth of Nations, the ANZUS, the OECD, and the WTO.

The first ebook in the world is The Declaration of Independence, released in 1971.

75% of biodiversity species are undiscovered in Australia.

Stephen King’s Riding the Bullet was the world’s first mass-market ebook, available to download for just $2.50.

There are 200 different types of cultures in Australia.

Former American President Theodore Roosevelt read at least one book per day.

70% of Australians are proactive in sports.

---

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

I Can Read With My Eyes Shut by Dr. Seuss

‘“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you’ll go”.

The Cat in the Hat shows his protégé, Young Cat, that while reading with one’s eyes closed can be amazing, it can be a strain. When one reads with their eyes open, they will be able to learn a large number of wonderful things, some of which are shown through illustrations.’

This book is awesome.

I don’t know why but this is my favourite Cat In The Hat-related books. It may be that Cat is more mellow in this book, or maybe it’s the introduction of Young Cat, or maybe it is just because I love reading. Whatever the reason is, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

As a massive fan of reading, I adore anything that encourages young people to read and to find enjoyment from reading and this book does both in a fun and strange way. Given that this is a Dr. Seuss book I wouldn’t have expected anything less than weird and wonderful; and thankfully that is exactly what this book is.

One of the things that make Dr. Seuss’s books so special is the perfect combination of wacky writing and story with brilliantly bold illustrations. The way in which these elements work together and create a truly wonderful reading experience is what keeps me returning to Dr. Seuss’s books.

I love read reading this book and it is one of the first Dr. Seuss books I give or recommend to all young readers in my life. If you haven’t read this book, or you haven’t read it in a while, you should definitely consider picking it up and giving yourself a nice little reading treat.

I Can Read With My Eyes Shut by Dr. Seuss is a must-have for all young readers and their families.

Evil Cat Book Tag…

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

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

KNOCKING SHIT OFF OF HIGH PLACES

A BOOK WITH A CLIFFHANGER

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

HOWLING AT 3 A.M.

A BOOK YOU DIDN’T SLEEP TO FINISH

Destination Buchenwald by Colin Burgess

HIDING BEFORE A VET VISIT

A BOOK WITH A SELF-DESTRUCTIVE CHARACTER

The Wrong Sister by Fiona Palmer

THE TURD DANGLING FROM THEIR BEHIND

A BOOK OR SEQUEL THAT WAS A BIT, ER, TURD

Talking With Psychopaths and Savages: Beyond Evil by Christopher Berry-Dee

PUKING ON THE CARPET

A BOOK WITH A BETRAYAL

Dark Mode by Ashley Kalagian-Blunt

DRAGGING IN LIVE ANIMALS

A BOOK WITH SHOCKING VIOLENCE

Still Life with Bones by Alexa Hagerty

LOOKING YOU IN THE EYE BEFORE MISBEHAVING

A BOOK WITH A CHARACTER DESPERATE FOR ATTENTION

The Bay by Allie Reynolds

SHREDDING THINGS

A BOOK WITH A DESTRUCTIVE CHARACTER

Of Curses and Kisses by Sandhya Menon

HAS NEVER BEEN FED, NEVER

A SERIES YOU CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF

Travelling Bookshop Series by Katrina Nannestad

BE SO CUTE YOU FORGIVE THEM ANYWAY

A BOOK WITH A WICKED MAIN CHARACTER YOU LIKE

The Grandest Bookshop in the World by Amelia Mellor

---

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