August Wrap Up…

Welcome to my August Wrap Up. I didn’t have a great reading month in August, finishing 3 books (1 book off my TBR). I also received 2 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 August Wrap Up:

Forgotten Warriors by Sarah Percy: This book was fascinating. I have an interest in military history so this book was right up my alley. I was genuinely surprised by how much I learned while reading this book. The number of women who have been erased from military history was astounding and I am glad that I read this book and now know how much more I have to learn about women in combat.

The World’s Worst Monsters by David Walliams: This book was everything I wanted it to be and so much more. I loved that the monsters were familiar not entirely new creatures and I loved how David Walliams created a new narrative for each of them. On top of David Walliams’ writing were the stunning full-color illustrations by Adam Stower that added an extra layer to this fantastic book.

Robodog by David Walliams: Unfortunately this book missed the mark for me. It had the elements that I have come to love and expect from David Walliams; heart, humour, and a little bit of silliness, but something was missing. The story felt a little rushed and having two different narratives happening simultaneously just made the story feel fractured and hard to follow in places.

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That’s it for my August 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

Star Trek Book Tag…

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

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

THE ORIGINAL SERIES:

PICK A BOOK THAT HAS INFLUENCED YOU OR HAS BEEN INFLUENTIAL IN YOUR CHOICE OF CAREER.

Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

THE NEXT GENERATION:

PICK A BOOK IN THE SAME GENRE AS TOS PUBLISHED BETWEEN 20 AND 100 YEARS LATER.

A Tale of Magic… by Chris Colfer

DEEP SPACE NINE:

PICK A BOOK WITH A STRONG SENSE OF SETTING.

The Last Woman in the World by Inga Simpson

VOYAGER:

PICK A BOOK ABOUT A JOURNEY OR A VOYAGE.

The Last Train by Peter Bradley

ENTERPRISE:

PICK A BOOK PUBLISHED BETWEEN 20 AND 100 YEARS BEFORE YOUR THE ORIGINAL SERIES PICK.

Dracula by Bram Stoker

DISCOVERY:

PICK A BOOK THAT HAS DIVIDED THE FANDOM OR COMMUNITY.

The Heir by Kiera Cass

PICARD:

PICK A BOOK THAT WEARS ITS INFLUENCES ON ITS SLEEVE.

50 Shades Of Grey by E.L. James

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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

And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street by Dr. Seuss

‘Dr. Seuss’s very first book for children!

A plain horse and wagon on Mulberry Street grows into a story that no one can beat! In this tale, Young Marco allows his imagination to run riot as he travels home from school one day. From a mere horse and wagon, young Marco concocts a colorful cast of characters, making Mulberry Street the most interesting location in town.’

This book was fun.

As a fan of Dr. Seuss, I knew I wanted to read the book that started it all but given that it is one of the books that has racist content I have put it off for a long time. Now that I have finally read it I do wish I had read it earlier. The version of this book that I have is one of the updated versions so while it still isn’t great and I can see why people were and are offended I believe; as a white woman, that this updated version is less racist than I had been expecting.

I have re-read many Dr. Seuss books in recent times, and going back to the beginning to read the book that started it all was really fascinating. I loved seeing the difference between this book and some of his later works, while still being amazed that this book; his first children’s book, had all of the magic that Dr. Seuss is known and loved for.

It is easy to see why this book was so loved and how it became the start of a truly stunning literary powerhouse. This book was filled with wacky and weird characters and rhymes, as well as a fun and easy-to-follow storyline. On top of that, every page was filled with bold and brilliant illustrations that elevated the story to a whole new level.

And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street by Dr. Seuss is the book that started it all and shouldn’t be missed.

Pointless Facts 40!

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.

Australia is well-known for its employment opportunities. The country offers the highest pay rate per hour in the world.

In Iraq, booksellers leave books outside at night because “the reader does not steal and the thief does not read.”

Google Maps, the Pacemaker, and Wi-fi technology are some of the famous inventions by Australian inventors.

People who read a lot are more likely to become successful.

Australia is renowned for its world-class public healthcare and education system.

Vladimir Nabokov would compose all his works on index cards which he kept in slim boxes.

Australia has a really slow internet speed; it is behind Thailand in this respect

Dan Brown finds hanging upside down the ultimate cure for writer’s block.

Australia is the oldest, flattest, and driest inhabited continent in the world.

When Victor Hugo was facing a tight schedule for The Hunchback of Notre Dame, he asked his valet to confiscate his clothes so that he wouldn’t leave the house.

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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

Dr. Seuss’ ABC by Dr. Seuss

‘From Aunt Annie’s alligator to the colourful Zizzer-Zazzer-Zuzz, Dr. Seuss’s delightful book introduces early learners to the letters of the alphabet through an amazing array of crazy creatures.

Big B, little b, what begins with B?
Baby, barber, bubbles, and a bumblebee!
Children can have lots of fun that is funny learning about big and little letters.

Letters come alive on the page, as Dr. Seuss fills the alphabet with his classic colorful characters, from dreaming David Donald Doo to itchy Ichabod to the quick Queen of Quincy, and of course the Zizzer-Zazzer-Zuzz. Starting with the most basic building blocks of language, Dr. Seuss makes reading FUN!’

This book really is fun.

I love Dr. Seuss and I have loved re-reading them recently even though I am nowhere near the target audience for this book. Because I am not a child who is learning to read the lack of story in this book made for a quick and not very deep reading experience.

In saying that the whole premise of this book is to teach children about letters and reading there wasn’t really a story to follow just wacky sentences for children to hear and sound out so that they can learn about letters and how they come together to make words.

As with all Dr. Seuss books, the way he uses, manipulates, and creates language is truly amazing. I adored seeing how he fit words and sounds together in new ways in order to create rhyming sentences. I truly believe that I will never get used to Dr. Seuss’ ability to do this regardless of how many of his books I read.

Adding to the strange and beautiful writing in this book are the bold and brilliant illustrations that bring the world, characters, and places to life. I can easily see young readers have their minds blown by the fantastic illustrations in this little book.

Dr. Seuss’ ABC by Dr. Seuss is a must-have for all young readers and their families.

BuzzFeed Unsolved Book Tag…

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

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

SHANIAC

A BOOK YOU DON’T THINK IS DESERVING OF ITS HYPE

Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma by Claire Dederer

BOOGARA

A BOOK THAT CHILLED YOU TO THE CORE

Dark Mode by Ashley Kalagian-Blunt

SHITFISH

A BOOK YOU’RE NOT SURE WHERE YOU STAND ON

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry

HEY THERE DEMONS, IT’S ME, YA BOI

A BOOK THAT KEPT YOU UP AT NIGHT

Dark Mode by Ashley Kalagian-Blunt

(WHEEZE)

A BOOK THAT MADE YOU LAUGH OUT LOUD

Honey, Baby, Mine by Laura Dern and Diane Ladd

MOTHMAN

A HYPED FAVE

The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer

HOLY WATER

A BOOK YOU’D PROTECT WITH YOUR LIFE

The Air Raid Book Club by Annie Lyons

DEMONS

A BOOK YOU’RE TOO SCARED TO READ

Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

BUT FOR NOW, THIS MYSTERY WILL REMAIN…UNSOLVED

A BOOK YOU NEEDED MORE FROM / DIDN’T WANT TO END

The Wrong Sister by Fiona Palmer

BUZZFEED UNSOLVED POSTMORTEM

A BOOK YOU STILL HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

HOT DAGA

A TRASHY FAVE

The Little Bookshop Of Promises by Debbie Macomber

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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

There’s A Wocket In My Pocket! by Dr. Seuss

“Did you ever have the feeling there’s a WASKET in your BASKET?”

‘There’s a Wocket in My Pocket!’ is filled with bizarre creatures and rhymes such as the “nupboard in the cupboard”, “ghairs beneath the stairs”, and the “bofa on the sofa”!

Welcome to Dr. Seuss’s book of ridiculous rhymes, and get ready for a wild whirl of words! Keep an eye out for the Zink in the sink and the Bofa on the sofa, and don’t forget to say goodnight to the Zillow on your pillow! Everyday objects become the homes for colorful creatures that kids won’t be able to get enough of.

In this silly classic, a young boy goes exploring in his house and finds an array of fun characters! Are you certain there’s a Jertain in the curtain? Or have you ever had a feeling there’s a Geeling on the ceiling? From the pesky Nooth Grush on a toothbrush to a sleepy Zelf up on the shelf, There’s a Wocket in My Pocket will have young readers eager to explore their homes and the wonders of rhyming and wordplay.

I loved this book.

I am a massive fan of Dr. Seuss and have loved re-reading his works recently. Picking this book up was a treat for me as it was a first-time read; in fact, I can’t ever remember even hearing about this book.

This is one of Dr. Seuss’s books that has a slight narrative which I enjoyed immensely. I loved getting to follow along and laugh at the weird situations and wacky characters. All of this was heightened by the illustrations as I got to see the wonderful characters come to life as I read the story.

Dr. Seuss constantly amazes me with the way he uses language. The funny rhyming and strange yet beautiful scenes he creates always leave me awestruck and this book was no different. This will definitely be a Dr. Seuss book that I return to many times in the future.

There’s A Wocket In My Pocket! by Dr. Seuss is a must-have for all young readers and their families.

Uni Update 37!

It’s that time again…

Uni Update!

I am happy to say that I have had a pretty great month at Uni. I went into this past month with high hopes and thankfully everything has been really good.

I have had no trouble keeping up with the coursework or weekly readings, and I have been having a great time during discussions with my other students.

I have even started to plan my first Assessment. I wanted to get a head start on it so that I can keep things running smoothly when it gets closer to me having to complete it.

Overall, I have nothing bad to say about how things have been going on the uni front and I a hoping to have similar feelings when I check back in with you all next month.

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

GEM

Robodog by David Walliams

‘Welcome to the city of Bedlam. Enter if you dare!

Bedlam is one of the most dangerous places on Earth – home to a host of wicked villains. Nothing and nobody is safe from these evil criminals. The city needs its own superhero to defeat the supervillains. But who?

Robodog!

He’s the newest recruit at the Police Dog School and is supercharged for adventure. But can he stop the most feared duo in Bedlam, and their evil plans to ruin the city . . .?’

This book was fun.

As a massive fan of David Walliams, I was excited to get my hands on this book. I had high hopes for this one but unfortunately, it didn’t quite meet my expectations. I have a few ideas on why this book didn’t work for me but it genuinely surprised me that I didn’t love this book.

This book has everything I was expecting from a David Walliams novel. The story was funny, interesting, and had a great message. The writing was fast-paced, easy to follow, and a little bit naughty, and the characters were weird and wacky. All of these elements are perfect for Middle-Grade readers and entertaining for us older readers as well.

As for the Illustrations in this book, Adam Stower has done a fabulous job on that front. They were chaotic and crazy which perfectly complimented the narrative. I loved seeing elements of the story highlighted by the illustrations, especially the wacky characters. Given how much enjoyment I got from the illustrations I can only imagine how much young readers are going to love them.

I think my issues with this book started during the second half of the story. The pacing picked up but instead of feeling intense and dramatic it felt rushed, which is something I’m not used to in a David Walliams novel. On top of that, during the second half of this book the narrative split into two and we were jumping back and forth between two storylines and two sets of characters which felt disconnected and at times really annoying.

Since I am not the target audience for this book, I don’t think my issues with it will affect young readers as there are so many crazy elements to this story for them to love. I can easily see this book becoming a fast favourite with young readers, I am just sad that I didn’t love it as much as I had hoped I would.

Robodog by David Walliams is a funny, fast-paced book perfect for Middle-Grade readers.

Basket Of Apples Book Tag…

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

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

GRANNY SMITH

AN OVERBEARINGLY SWEET WORK OR CHARACTER

Adelaide’s Secret World by Elise Hurst

RED DELICIOUS

A BOOK THAT WOULD BE PERFECT IF IT WAS ONLY JUDGED BY ITS COVER

The Bookshop at the Back of Beyond by Amy Sparkes

FUJI

A WORK ABOUT OR FEATURING A MOUNTAIN

Global by Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin, and Giovanni Rigano

GOLDEN YELLOW

A BOOK WITH YELLOW ON THE COVER

Old Pig by Margaret Wild

MCINTOSH

A WRITER THAT HAS INFLUENCED OR WOULD INFLUENCE YOUR WRITING

Fiona Palmer

HONEYCRISP

A BOOK YOU HAVE READ THAT IS IN GREAT DEMAND

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry

BALDWIN

A WRITER YOU FEEL NEEDS MORE RECOGNITION

Kelly Rimmer

EMPIRE

A WORK ABOUT OR SET IN NEW YORK

Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian

GALA

A WORK THAT FITS UNDER MANY GENRES

The Library of the Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith

AMBROSIA

A LONG WORK THAT WAS EASY TO FOLLOW

Psyche and Eros by Luna McNamara

JAZZ

A WORK WRITTEN IN OR AFTER 2010 THAT DEMONSTRATES FRESHNESS AND ORIGINALITY

Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

MUTSU

A BIG BOOK THAT YOU INDULGED

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

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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