April Wrap Up…

Welcome to my April Wrap-Up. I had a good reading month in April, finishing 7 books (1 book off my TBR). I also received ARCs 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 the books I read.

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

Tell Her She’s Dreamin’ by Simone Amelia Jordan: This book was really interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Simone Amelia Jordan’s journey and all of the amazing things she achieved through hard work and passion. I also loved reading about places that I know and love through her eyes at a slightly different time than I experienced these places and events. This book is well worth the read.

Twelfth Night by Timothy Knapman: This modern English retelling of Twelfth Night is part of the Tales From Shakespeare series. I found this book easy to read and I wished it had been around when I was younger as I can easily see this book being a starting place for young readers to discover and fall in love with Shakespeare in a way that is more accessible than trying to jump right into a Shakespeare play.

Easter Re-reads:

As I have read these books before and have reviews for them, I will just include the links to the reviews if you would like to check them out.

The Golden Egg Book by Margaret Wise Brown:

The Golden Egg Book by Margaret Wise Brown

Little Wombat’s Easter Surprise by Charles Fuge:

Little Wombat’s Easter Surprise by Charles Fuge

Easter Hunt In The Hundred-Acre Wood:

Easter Hunt In The Hundred Acre Wood by Amy Freund

The Great Aussie Easter Egg-and-Spoon Race by Sophie Sayle:

The Great Aussie Easter Egg-and-Spoon Race by Sophie Sayle

Aussie Easter Hat Parade by Colin Buchanan:

Aussie Easter Hat Parade by Colin Buchanan

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

Happy Reading…

GEM

Twelfth Night by Timothy Knapman

‘Twins, Viola, and Sebastian become separated after a shipwreck in Illyria and soon confusion and mischief unfolds! Packed with funny mix-ups, mistaken identities, and muddled love, this humorous tale will make you laugh aloud. Combining modern-day English with stunning illustrations, QEB’s Tales from Shakespeare bring the Bard’s popular plays to life. Lively and easy to read, they are sure to capture your imagination!’

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

This is a re-read for me and I actually enjoyed it more the second time around. I think the reason I found my second reading of the book better than the first is that I have recently read the original Twelfth Night so I was able to appreciate how much work went into this book.

This modern English retelling of the Twelfth Night is part of the Tales From Shakespeare series. I found this book easy to read and I wished it had been around when I was younger as I can easily see this book being a starting place for young readers to discover and fall in love with Shakespeare in a way that is more accessible than trying to jump right into a Shakespeare play.

I loved that even though this was a modern English retelling, important and sentimental quotes from the original Shakespeare version of this play were included in this version. By adding these elements you get a direct link to Shakespeare without being overwhelmed by the use of old English.

Adding to the magic of this book are the brilliant and bold illustrations by Yaniv Shimony. The illustrations in this book colour every page perfectly complimenting the story being told while also taking this book to a whole new and unexpected level.

Timothy Knapman has done a fantastic job with this book. The way in which he was able to modernize Shakespeare’s words without losing any of the magic of the original play was utterly stunning. This is one of those books that I will be returning to many times in the future.

Twelfth Night by Timothy Knapman is a must-read for all Shakespeare fans and all readers looking to dip their toes in the world of Shakespeare.

Pointless Facts 47!

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.

Let’s jump in, shall we?

The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the world’s largest coral reef. It is famous for snorkeling and diving.

One in five adults worldwide is unable to read or write.

The world’s oldest fossil fuel which is approximately 3.4 billion years old was discovered in Australia.

People who read fiction books tend to be nicer.

Australia is one of the largest exporters of agricultural goods like wool, wheat, beef, and fruit.

The Holy Bible continues to be the best-selling, and the most-read book in the world.

Australia is rich in minerals and metals as well and is the world’s fourth-largest producer of gold.

Victor Hugo wrote the longest sentence ever printed in the novel Les Miserables.

The Dingo fence in Australia is surprisingly longer than the Great Wall of China.

It takes about 475 hours to write a novel book.

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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 have already come across them.

GEM

Grey by E.L. James

‘Christian Grey exercises control in all things; his world is neat, disciplined, and utterly empty—until the day that Anastasia Steele falls into his office, in a tangle of shapely limbs and tumbling brown hair. He tries to forget her, but instead is swept up in a storm of emotion he cannot comprehend and cannot resist. Unlike any woman he has known before, shy, unworldly Ana seems to see right through him—past the business prodigy and the penthouse lifestyle to Christian’s cold, wounded heart.  

Will being with Ana dispel the horrors of his childhood that haunt Christian every night? Or will his dark sexual desires, his compulsion to control, and the self-loathing that fills his soul drive this girl away and destroy the fragile hope she offers him?’

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would.

After having read the Fifty Shades series I put this book off for a while believing that it wouldn’t add much to my opinion of the series. After having it on my TBR for far too long I finally picked it up and I am happy to say I am surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.

Having Fifty Shades of Grey retold through Christian eyes actually made me pick up the Fifty Shades series again. I found it really interesting reading about what was going on in Christian’s life at the time and seeing his experiences at the start of his and Ana’s relationship made me like him more as a character.

E.L. James did a good job with this book. While the plot and scenes were the same as in Fifty Shades of Grey the feel of the book was more mature and less cringy. When I read the original series I had issues with Ana as a character, so getting to follow Christian instead made for a better reading experience for me.

Grey by E.L. James is a great addition to the Fifty Shades series.

World’s Worst Book Tag!

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

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

WHAT BOOK OR SERIES WOULD YOU FORCE YOUR ENEMY TO READ?

Death On The Nile by Agatha Christie

WHAT BOOK HAVE YOU TRIED TO READ SEVERAL TIMES BUT HAVEN’T BEEN ABLE TO FINISH?

I have never not finished a book.

WHAT BOOK HAS A CLOSE FRIEND RECOMMENDED THAT YOU ENDED UP LOVING?

Forgotten Warriors by Sarah Percy

WHAT BOOK IN THE LAST YEAR TOOK YOU THE LONGEST TO READ (CUZ YOU’RE LAZY!)?

In Bad Faith by Dassi Erlich

WHAT IS THE FASTEST BOOK YOU’VE READ IN THE LAST 5 YEARS BECAUSE IT WAS SO DAMN GOOD?

The Air Raid Book Club by Annie Lyons

CLEAR YOUR MIND… WHAT ARE THE FIRST THREE BOOKS THAT IMMEDIATELY COME INTO YOUR MIND?

In Bad Faith by Dassi Erlich

Dear Mum by Samuel Johnson

The Wrong Sister by Fiona Palmer

LAST BOOK YOU WILL ADMIT TO SKIMMING? (CHEATER!)

I guess I probably skimmed books in High School but If it’s a book that I pick up on my own I don’t skim.

WHAT AUTHOR, IF THEY SECRETLY DROPPED A BRAND-NEW BOOK TOMORROW, WOULD YOU IMMEDIATELY HAVE TO BUY AND BEGIN TO READ ASAP?!

Fiona Palmer

FAVORITE BOOK/TYPE OF BOOK TO READ BY THE POOL

Romance

WHAT BOOK WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUR BEST FRIEND AND FORCE THEM TO READ BECAUSE IT’S SO GOOD?!

Dark Mode by Ashley Kalagian-Blunt

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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

Tell Her She’s Dreamin’ by Simone Amelia Jordan

‘Growing up on the whitewashed Central Coast in the 1980s and attending an elite school as a scholarship student from the wrong side of the tracks, Lebanese-Cypriot Simone Amelia Jordan felt like an outcast among her peers for years. Her lifeline was hip-hop, then in its golden age. From girlhood, Simone recognised the art form’s pro-Black consciousness, and the rappers’ resonant words inspired her to embrace her own identity and back herself.

From founding Australia’s most successful hip-hop and R&B publication to moving to New York City and interviewing the biggest stars of the time as the editor of the world’s most beloved rap magazine; falling in love and getting her heart broken; grappling with her family ties to culture; and struggling through illness and sexual grooming, Simone’s inspiring story is about defying the odds to reach for your dreams. But it is also about figuring out those dreams can change as you do.’

This book was interesting.

When I read the synopsis for this book it captured my interest as I had grown up with an older sister who was into the Hip-Hop and R&B seen in Sydney so I wanted to see and try to understand what it was that she loved about it so much.

As a white person growing up not far from where Simone grew up, I was fascinated to read about her experiences and see familiar areas through a different set of eyes. Reading about her experiences and the racism that she encountered was uncomfortable but also eye-opening.

Simone Amelia Jordan has done a great job with this book. It was emotional yet funny, entertaining yet informative, and overall intriguing. Reading about her journey from Australia to NYC and all the amazing things she accomplished along the way was inspiring.

This is a book that I think everyone can learn something from regardless of gender, race, or musical preference.

Tell Her She’s Dreamin’ by Simone Amelia Jordan is well worth the read.

ANZAC Day Facts!

As I am really enjoying compiling Pointless Facts each month, I have decided to put together an ANZAC Day Facts post. I hope you all enjoy these ANZAC Day Facts.

Let’s jump in, shall we?

The letters in the acronym ANZAC refer to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

April 25 was the day the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915.

The Gallipoli Peninsula is in Turkey.

Approximately 8,000 Anzacs died there.

The area of the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey where the ANZACs landed is now known as Anzac Cove.

We often use the phrase ‘Lest We Forget‘ on Anzac Day, but it actually pre-dates the Battle of Gallipoli by 18 years. It comes from a line in an 1897 Rudyard Kipling poem called Recessional.

The aromatic herb rosemary is an important symbol of remembrance for Anzac Day as it grows wild on the Gallipoli peninsula. 

Alec Campbell was the last surviving Anzac.

All Anzacs were volunteers.

Despite not being legally allowed to serve, many Aboriginal Australians lied about their race to enlist. Sadly, their involvement is still rarely recognised even though it is believed that almost one thousand of them (out of an estimated indigenous population of 80,000) served during WW1. 

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

GEM

Paddington’s Finest Hour by Michael Bond

‘Hurrying forward, he held out a welcoming hand. “Sir Percival Rushmoor,” he said. “I’m invigilating.” “I’m sorry to hear that, Sir Percival,” said Paddington. “I hope you feel better very soon.”

Somehow Paddington always finds himself in extraordinary situations, so it is no surprise when he appears in a popular TV cooking show, has a run-in with the police, finds himself on a stage giving one of his hard stares to a hypnotist, and performing some precarious tricks at Mr. Gruber’s birthday party.’

This book was lovely.

While I am sad to have finished my Paddington read-a-thon, I am glad that it ended on a high with this lovely book. While I haven’t disliked any of the Paddington books I have read, this is one there with one of my favourite books of this read-a-thon.

I love that Paddington is always acting with the best intentions when he finds himself in trouble; there is never any malice or selfishness about his actions, which makes him so loveable. I also adore that even when the other characters get mad and frustrated with Paddington they always handle the situations with love and understanding while still addressing the messes he has caused.

Michael Bond had done a great job with this book. The story was sweet yet funny and entertaining. The characters were lovable and understanding, and Paddington is always a joy to adventure with and this book captures that perfectly. All of these elements work together perfectly due to Michael Bond’s writing and pacing.

Adding to the wonderful story being told are the great illustrations by R.W. Alley and Peggy Fortnum. This is one of the few Paddington books that I have read that wasn’t solely illustrated by Peggy Fortnum. I have loved all of Peggy Fortnum’s illustrations and I really loved seeing the combination of Peggy Fortnum and R.W. Alley’s illustrations and how they elevated Michael Bond’s story.

Paddington’s Finest Hour by Michael Bond is the perfect book to end the Paddington series.

Your Future Book Tag!

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

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

Grab 5 Books!

OPEN BOOK 1 TO A RANDOM PAGE. LOOK AT THE FIRST WORD ON THE PAGE. IF IT’S LESS THAN 5 LETTERS, YOU WILL GO TO COLLEGE. IF IT’S MORE THAN 5 LETTERS, YOU WON’T GO TO COLLEGE.

I am going to college

OPEN BOOK 1 TO A RANDOM PAGE. THE FIRST NAME YOU SEE. THINK OF THAT PERSON’S JOB, THAT WILL BE YOUR JOB. NOTE: IS THAT PERSON STILL IN SCHOOL? YOU WILL BE A TEACHER. YOU DON’T KNOW THAT PERSON’S JOB? YOU WILL BE UNEMPLOYED.

I am going to be a Doctor

OPEN BOOK 2 TO A RANDOM PAGE. THE FIRST NAME YOU SEE WILL BE THE PERSON YOU WILL MARRY.

Hugo

OPEN BOOK 2 TO A RANDOM PAGE. THE FIRST NAME YOU SEE WILL BE YOUR BEST FRIEND.

Hannah

OPEN BOOK 3 TO A RANDOM PAGE. LOOK AT THE SECOND WORD ON THE PAGE. COUNT HOW MANY LETTERS THAT WORD HAS, REMOVE 2 LETTERS. THAT’S HOW MANY CHILDREN YOU WILL HAVE.

2

BOOK 3. HOW MANY CHILDREN DID YOU HAVE? OPEN THE BOOK AS MANY TIMES TO SEE WHO YOUR CHILDREN WILL BE. IF YOU HAVE NO CHILDREN, OPEN THE BOOK ONCE. THE FIRST NAME YOU WILL SEE, WILL BE SOMETHING OF YOUR CHOICE. A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES: NEIGHBOR, FATHER IN LAW, ETC.

Catherina and Christian

BOOK 4. WHERE DOES THIS BOOK TAKE PLACE? THIS WILL BE THE PLACE YOU WILL LIVE.

Sydney Australia

OPEN BOOK 4 TO A RANDOM PLACE, THE FIRST NAME YOU SEE, DOES THIS PERSON HAVE A CAR, BIKE, ETC.? THAT WILL BE YOUR TRANSPORTATION IN LIFE. NOTE: TELEPORTING, BROOM, ETC., IS ALLOWED. IF YOUR CHARACTER HAS NO MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION THAT YOU KNOW OF, YOU WILL USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

Car – Holden Barina

BOOK 5. DOES THIS BOOK HAVE ANY ANIMALS IN IT? PICK YOUR FAVORITE ANIMAL, THAT WILL BE YOUR PET. NO ANIMALS IN THE BOOK? YOU WILL HAVE NO PET.

Dog

OPEN BOOK 5 TO A RANDOM PAGE. THE FIRST NAME YOU SEE WILL BE YOUR ENEMY.

Emily

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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

Love From Paddington by Michael Bond

‘Dear Aunt Lucy,
I expect this will come as a great surprise to you, but not only have I arrived in England, but I have an address! I’m staying at number 32 Windsor Gardens and it isn’t at all like the Home for Retired Bears…

This delightfully engaging series of letters from Paddington to his Aunt Lucy in Peru follows his new experiences in London while showcasing his uniquely charming and hilarious take on the world. From stowing away on a ship to working as a barber, there is certainly never a dull moment!’

I adored this book.

I am almost at the end of my Paddington read-a-thon with only one book to go and it seems that I am going to be finishing strong as this book has by far been my favourite Paddington book. I loved every second of my reading experience with this book and I am not even mad that it took me so long to get to it, as it was well worth the wait.

Having this book told from Paddington’s point of view through letters to his Aunt Lucy in Peru was a brilliant idea that I hadn’t expected but thoroughly enjoyed. Getting to relive some of Paddington’s most famous and infamous moments through his eyes was really sweet yet still really fun.

Adding to the fun were the fantastic illustrations by Peggy Fortnum. I have come to love Peggy Fortnum’s illustrations over the course of this read-a-thon so I was excited to see them and how they complimented this story in this particular book.

Michael Bond has done a truly wonderful job with this book. It was heartfelt and warm, funny and wacky, and ultimately entertaining. This is one of the Paddington books that I know for sure I am going to re-read many times in the future.

Love From Paddington by Michael Bond is a must-have for all young readers and all readers who are young at heart.