Dive into my journey as an experienced bibliophile and explore the world through the lens of a novice book blogger.
I’m not entirely sure what really inspired me to start this blog, but I was reading The Toymakers by Robert Dinsdale with some friends and I wanted to be able to really formulate my thoughts and reflections. This was our third (??) time of reading the book and we were talking about how we get something different each time we read it. Depending on our own place in life, experiences during that year and picking up on the minutiae and specificity which we’d not picked up on before.
This prompted me to consider how I could reflect on what I’m reading and how books influence us, help us escape from our reality, and the intense craftwork of writing. How some books are perfection. The Starless Sea, The Toymakers…Empire of the Vampire and I wanted a place to reflect.
So, here we are. My blog for my chronic book polygamy, my dogs and my entirely healthy relationship with coffee. Sometimes together, sometimes 2 of 3, and at times when the dogs co-operate a nice blend of all 3.
Currently reading: Pandora, Watermoon and The Bone Season.
Latest Blog Posts
Starve Acre
By Andrew Michael Hurley
I am really not sure what I just read.
To conclude, briefly, because I don’t have the words – it was unsettling, disturbing and very very eerie.
AMH really transported you to the house, the woods and the feelings tearing them apart. But, not only from each other, but also tearing themselves apart too.
When I finished I made my dear friend pick her copy up and read it immediately because I NEEDED to discuss this piece, discuss and share the disturbing…
My first AMH and I have yet to decide whether I ‘enjoyed’ it or not. I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it, but I can’t say I did. There was something strangely compelling me to keep reading and finish it. I’m not one for Stephen King paranormal weird shit, I have DNFd many a King book because it’s just not for me. However, I don’t know if this book had some kind of curse…wouldn’t surprise me, because it’s absolutely one I would DNF but I couldn’t. Something in the power of the book compelled me.
A very odd experience for me all round really!
The Christmas Wish
By Lindsey Kelk
December 2024, I read (re-read for me) this one in about 3 days with my super bestie Katie, whom I met through the lovely corner of the interwebs that is Bookstagram. I adore, and will read everything and anything that Kelk writes, I became OBSESSED when I read her first one, I Heart New York and I’ve read everything she’s written since!
I had the privilege of meeting her at the Clothes Show in Birmingham at least a decade ago. #fangirling
Anyway, I digress.
This one, based on a groundhog day arc, is superb. You might think somewhat repetitive, yes, you can’t really do a groundhog day without repetition can you? Kelk executes this with the right amount of relevant repetition, balanced with changes, twists and absolute hilarity. As ever, Kelk had us both laughing out loud, which is no mean feat!
Next up, Happy Place by Emily Henry.