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‘The Discomfort of Evening’: A Disturbing but Compelling Read

The international prize winner paints a dark, violent and uncomfortable picture of life in the rural Netherlands.

book review, Booker prize 2020, Books, Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, fiction review, Marieke Lucas Rijneveld, The Discomfort of Evening

Book Review: Knight in Paper Armor

“This is a country of immigrants. Hate it all you want, but immigration is America. I’m America, more than you’ll…

book review, Books, Dystopia, Fantasy, Fiction, Gifted, Nicholas Conley, reading, review

On the Simplicity of Just Being

As an overthinker, it can be easy to get distracted from the present moment. Too often I find myself paralysed…

anxiety, Covid-19, journaling, Lifestyle, mental health, mindfulness, Personal, reflection, Self, UK lockdown

Book Review: The Stone in My Pocket

Mysterious goings-on are filtered through this coming of age novel with unique twists and turns. “Why would I want to…

a-arc, advanced reader copy, book review, Books, Coming of age, Fiction, Magical realism, Medium, reading, review, Supernatural, young adult

A Return to the Status Quo is What America Needs

Please excuse my absence on this blog, I’ve had a busy few weeks. Some of you will be here for…

2020 Election, America, America Decides, Comment and Politics, Democrat, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Opinion, Republican, US politics, USElection2020

Book Review: Togwotee Passage

For deep thinkers, lovers of the great outdoors and readers who value a character-driven story, this is an ideal read.…

Lots of Words and Heavy Rain

From the moment I woke up, until well into the evening, the rain has been constant and unrelenting. But I…

autumn, COVID 19, Mornings, motivation, Personal, Self, UK, work, writing

When Writing Goes Well It’s Great

It seems rather self explanatory, no? I had a dry patch earlier on in the month and I couldn’t for…

childhood, freelance, journal, Medium, motivation, Personal, reading, remote, social media, writing

A Change of Direction

Long time no see! It has been a while since I’ve been posting on this blog regularly, so I thought…

blogging, Books, change, life, Medium, online writing, Personal, reflection, reviews, update, writing, writingcommunity

Sunday Post #6

In this weekly wind up, I recap what I’ve published during the week and share with you what I’m currently…

autumn, Books, Covid-19, job, life, Medium, Personal, reading, update, work, writing

Book Review: Such a Fun Age

Loved this from start to finish – go and get yourself a copy now!

American Fiction, book review, Booker prize 2020, Books, class, Coming of age, Contemporary Fiction, equality, Fiction, Kiley Reid, Race, reading, relationships, review, Such a Fun Age

Sunday Post #5

In this weekly wind up, I recap what I’ve published during the week and share with you what I’m currently…

Book reviews, Books, Currently reading, life, organisation, Personal, reading, Such a Fun Age, Sunday post, weekly update, work, writing, writing schedule

Book Haul #1 ~Ali Smith, Ottessa Moshfegh, Zadie Smith & More

I recently treated myself to some new books, this is what I got!

Ali Smith, book haul, bookblog, Booker prize 2020, Books, Fiction, haul, Kiley Reid, Non-fiction, reading, TBR, to read, Zadie Smith

Sunday Post #4

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted at @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news ~ A post…

Currently reading, freelance, Lifestyle, Personal, Round up, Sunday post, thoughts, writing

Book Review: Salvation Station

Firstly, many thanks to She Writes Press and Book Publicity Services for providing me with a copy of this book,…

book blog, Book reivew, crime, crime fiction, e-ARC, Fiction, fiction review, reading, review

Book Review: Alone Together

91 writers reflect on their experience in this diverse and reflective book, curated during a global pandemic.

Surviving Another Year Around the Sun

I’m never one for making a big deal out of birthdays. The more I have of them, the more I…

Birthdays, blogging, Books, career, Lifestyle, mental health, Personal, reflection, Self Development, self help, Self reflection, virgo, writing

Sunday Post #3 A Hint of Autumn

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted at @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news ~ A post…

Should Book-lovers Be Boycotting Goodreads?

Amazon owner Jeff Bezos made a $24 billion profit during the pandemic. Should booklovers continue to endorse the company through Goodreads?

What I’ve Learned from Writing Book Reviews

I’ve been writing book reviews for close to a year now – this is what I’ve learnt so far.

blogging, book blog, Book reviews, Books, experience, Life lessons, Self Development, writer, writing

Sunday Post #2 Wild adventures

Weekly round up including what I’m currently reading and my favourite articles I have read this week.

book review, Books, Personal, reading, update, Wild Camping, writing

What I read in August ~ 2020

What I Read in August (45/50) ~ Reni Eddo-Lodge, Stephanie Meyer, Donna Tartt and David Stuart MacLean.

book review, Fiction, fiction review, How I Learned to Hate in Ohio, Midnight Sun, monthly wrap up, non fiction review, reading, The Little Friend, Why I No Longer Talk to White People About Race

Book Review: How I learned to hate in Ohio

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a e-ARC copy of this book, I am slowly but surely getting…

America, book review, Coming of age, e-ARC, Fiction, fiction review, Literary Fiction, review, society

Sunday post #1 A busy writing week

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted at @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news ~ A…

Book reviews, Fiction, life, Medium, Personal, reading, Sunday post, update, writing

8 Thoughts From Reading The Little Friend, by Donna Tartt

*Caution* may contain spoilers – A disappointing read from an author I usually love.

8 thoughts, book review, Donna Tartt, Fiction, fiction review, Literary Fiction, Literary fiction review, The Little Friend, The Little Friend review

A fascinating Edition to a Nostalgic Series: Midnight Sun

Very grateful that I got to re-live my teenage years through reading this…

book review, Edward Cullen, Fantasy, Fiction, Midnight Sun, Midnight Sun review, Prequel, Twilight, Twilight #5, Twilight Saga, Vampires, YA, young adult

Book Review: Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race

An essential, alarming and powerful read.

book review, Britain, British racial history, feminism, non fiction, non fiction review, Reni Eddo-Lodge, review, society, Why I No Longer Talk to White People About Race

10 things that make me happy

I’ve had a bit of a down few weeks, so I thought I would share with you a list of…

habits, happiness, happy, isolation, life, Lifestyle, lockdown, mental health, Personal, reading, self care, writing

What I read in July ~ 2020

This is what I read in July! A real mix that features: If I Could Say Goodbye, A Tale of Two Cities, Broadwater and An American Marriage.

book review, Books, Charles Dickens, classic, Contemporary Fiction, e-ARC, Emma Cooper, Fiction, fiction review, Jac Shreeves-Lee, list, monthly wrap up, reading, Tayari Jones

An update & thoughts on the booker prize

Long time no see! It’s been over a week since I published my last blog post and it’s because I’ve…

booker prize, Booker prize 2020, Books, Covid-19, Fiction, jobs, Lifestyle, Personal, reading, retail, thoughts, update

Currently reading ~ 21st July

Just a quick mid-week catch up from me. There won’t be any reviews this week as I don’t think I…

book review, current, current reads, Currently reading, Donna Tartt, Fiction, Non-fiction, Personal, Race, review, reviews, The Little Friend, update

100 Followers: A Reflection on blogging so far

This week I reached a small milestone… In this post I reflect on my journey of starting this blog.

Blog, blogger, blogging, Book reviews, Books, followers, Lifestyle, milestone, Personal, politics, reflection, reviews, WordPress, writer, writing

Book Review: An American Marriage

Why was I so late to the party in reading this? An excellent story that displays the racial injustices that still dominate within American society.

5 star, American society, An American Marriage, Book reivew, Criminal justice, Fiction, fiction review, Race, review, society, Tayari Jones

PMQs ~”getting on, helping companies through it, helping people through it”

Jobs, Huawei, businesses, and the inevitability of a second wave this winter. This is the background to this week’s PMQs.

5G, analysis, Boris Johnson, Britain, China, Covid-19, current affairs, Economics, Keir Starmer, labour, Opinion, PMQs, Prime Ministers Questions, UK Politics

Book Review: A Tale of Two Cities

Dickens may be writing about the past, but his message is certainly one for the present, “I see a beautiful city and a brilliant people rising from this abyss”. Pure brilliance.

A Tale of Two Cities, Book reivew, Charles Dickens, classic, Classic literature, Dickens, Dickens review, Fiction, reading, review, Short, Summary, Synopsis

Book review: Broadwater

“Look, however you dress it up Ricky, so-called regeneration is just a pretty word for social cleansing.” A powerful short story collection set in Broadwater Farm, one of the most deprived and diverse areas of London.

book review, Broadwater, e-ARC, fiction review, Jac Shreeves-Lee, Literary Fiction, london, multicultural, review, Short Stories, Tottenham

The halfway point: reflecting on my best and worst reads

My ONE best read for the year (so far) and my ONE worst read. Enjoy!

book review, Deborah Levy, ducks newburyport, fiction review, half way, Literary Fiction, lucy ellmann, reading, review

Covid-19 has made a government of disgrace the new normal

An unprecedented crisis can often make or break governments, and the evidence in this case is clear: disgrace has become the new normal.

Boris Johnson, Britain, British politics, Comment, Comment and Politics, Covid-19, current affairs, Leadership, Opinion, Political analysis, politics

Book review: If I Could Say Goodbye

A refreshing and realistic portrayal of grief, told through a husband and wife.

book review, Contemporary Fiction, Death, e-ARC, Emma Cooper, Fiction, fiction review, grief, If I Could Say Goodbye, mental health, Modern fiction, Pre-order, reading, relationships, review

How Lockdown changed my reading habits

Are you leaving lockdown wishing you had read more? The experience of lockdown across the world lead to a kind…

BLM, diversity, e-ARC, Kindle, Lifestyle, lockdown, reading habits, Reading thoughts, TBR

PMQs ~ “The Prime Minister should welcome challenge that could save lives”

Reviewing the week in British politics. This weeks PMQs saw the return of Johnson refusing to co-operate by avoiding difficult questions. Just days before the grand reopening, it is worrying that the PM cannot even give the public an ounce of clarity.

Boris Johnson, British politics, Covid-19, current affairs, England, Keir Starmer, labour, PMQs, Political analysis, politics, politics review, UK Politics

What I read in June (2020)

What I read in June. Featuring: The Truants, My Sister, The Serial Killer, The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, All Men Want to Know, The Shelf, and Half a World Away.

book review, Contemporary Fiction, crime fiction, Currently reading, Fiction, fiction review, June reading, Literary Fiction, monthly wrap up, reading, review

Book review: The Sacrifice

The Sacrifice is a collection of three short stories, each exploring the extent of human perseverance and the struggle to stay afloat.

book review, Books, e-book, Fiction, fiction review, human suffering, Indrajit Garai, Literary Fiction, relationships, review, Short Stories, Short story collection, The Sacrifice

Isolation day 95: heatwave, ‘independence’ day and insomnia

Just a quick update from me, nearly 100 days on since lockdown began.

Insomnia, isolation, Isolation Diaries, life, Lifestyle, lockdown, mental health, Personal, Self isolation, Sleep, UK lockdown, UK Politics, weekly update, writers block, writing

Book Review: The Truants

Something rather dark lurks beneath this seemingly picturesque portrayal of student life, which is discovered as the book progresses. Eerie and full of suspense. (4/5)

Bloomsbury publishing, book review, Coming of age, crime, crime fiction, e-ARC, Kate Weinberg, Literary Fiction, Literary fiction review, mystery, mystery fiction, Net Galley, student life, The Truants, University

Notes from an insomniac

I’m writing this in the hope that it may enlighten some people and shed light on the struggle. But also, because I need to do something to fill the spare hours! I hope that it may be insightful or comforting to people in some way.

anxiety, health, Insomnia, Lifestyle, Personal, reflection, Sleep, Sleep health, sleep problems

Currently reading ~ June 18, 2020

Just a mid month update from me (well actually more than midway through…) thought I would do a quick post…

book review, Books, Charles Dickens, classic, Currently reading, Fiction, June, June TBR, review, Short Stories, Tale of Two Cities, The Sacrifice

PMQs ~ poverty, schools, and the “wibble wobble” opposition

Summary and analysis of this week’s PMQ’s and political developments in the UK.

analysis, Boris Johnson, British politics, Comment and Politics, Conservative, Keir Starmer, labour, Political analysis, politics, Prime Minister, UK Politics

The “classic” debate: to read or not to read?

Classic literature has been the talk of the town since lockdown began, as people turn to those dense, un-read books…

100 books you must read, Book lists, Charles Dickens, Classic literature, Classics, George Orwell, Ian McEwan, modern classic, Personal, Reading thoughts

Book Review: My Sister, the Serial Killer

Being dark and comical, this novel is never shy of originality. However, I left feeling disappointed by the lack of depth across all aspects. It may be weird and wonderful in many ways – but lacked in execution.

book review, crime fiction, dark humour, Fiction, fiction review, Lagos, murder, My Sister the Serial Killer, Nigeria, novel, novella, Oyinkan Braithwaite, review, reviewer, satire, thriller

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