Fantasy Friday - Episode 2 - Fantastical Creatures

FANTASY FRIDAY

Last week, I decided to share my journey into the Fantasy genre, explore it with open arms and see where the adventure takes me. 

To the dictionary apparently. This is what scares me about Fantasy. The assumption is that people know what common fantasy beings are, and newbies are scared to ask stupid questions. Now, my brother is a Warhammer-playing dungeon master of the highest order. So I have heard the terms mage, orc, elf, and dwarf before (in what I assume is a fantasy context) and have played Magic the Gathering with him enough times to have a vague idea of what they are. My other half is a gamer dude with a similar passion for World of Warcraft, I've spent plenty of time watching Asmongold videos on YouTube. I get some of the references, so I'm a step ahead. Or am I?

Listening to both of Travis Baldree's books (Legends & Lattes, and Bookshops & Bonedust), I knew I was out of my depth. References to things were going over my head and my understanding of the fantastical beings was restricting my enjoyment. I went into research mode. I'm amazed I didn't create a spreadsheet. Maybe I still will. Here's what I learned* from those two books alone: 

*Please note, I might be wrong! I probably am! These are my assumptions based on a brief Google search, along with my limited WoW/Warhammer knowledge, and the way things are described in the two books I've actually read. Please don't judge me too harshly, but please do feel free to educate me, I want to learn as much as I can.  

Orc - Pretty much like Shrek but generally scarier, and more muscular. Human shaped, but taller, more broad and, erm, green. 

Succubus - Female, sensual, uses sex or her sexuality to get what she wants (I know some human versions of this!). Has a tail. 

Dwarf - Shorter and stockier than an Orc, still quite humanoid in presentation. 

Ratkin - Does what it says on the tin. Rat features, but stands, walks, and talks. Small (definitely in comparison to an Orc anyway). 

Fae - is a fairy. There are different types of Fae and this is the one I have found the most difficult to figure out. Legends and Lattes in particular only describe Fae in the passing, a Stone Fae, a Water Fae. I don't know if this means they have wings, are mermaids, are human sized, or similar sizes to each other. I imagine light-footed, elegant, sharp features, and clothes that match their element (grey for stone, blue and floating for water). I don't think that all Fae have wings. I read ACOTAR and they didn't seem to fly anywhere. Perhaps some Fae fly, just none I have met yet. 

Necromancer - This one I knew from playing Magic the Gathering. Necromancers raise the dead, speak to the dead, and use their 'raised' armies to cause havoc. In Legends and Lattes, the main villain is a Necromancer, she's beautiful and has a velvety beautiful voice, but when I hear that word, beauty isn't really what comes to mind. 

Griffid - I think this is a small creature with similar characteristics to a dog. However, it has feathers instead of fur. The character in Bookshops and Bonedust certainly acts like my dog anyway! 

Am I right in my observations so far? What books give great insight into the creatures, people, and beings that reside in fantasy worlds?

If, by some stroke of luck, you made it to the end of this and thought "Wow, what a great post, I'd love to read more!" you can FOLLOW MY BLOG by clicking the link and subscribing :) I also post bookish content on Instagram. Happy reading!

Thrifty Thursday - Week 2 - Use Books to Buy Books

Thrifty Thursday - Week 2

Use Books to Buy Books

Last week I shared some top tips on minimising book spending where possible. This week I will be sharing my experience using my own bookshelves to support my habit, save money, and keep my bookshelves under some sort of control. 

I have four types of books at home. The "keepers" are the beautiful books, gifted books, graphic novels, and ones I will read over again. The "TBRs", as you know, are the books still waiting patiently to be read. The third book type I have is the "Studiers", which are the ones related to or linked to my studies in some way, mainly non-fiction, some textbooks, and other books that I can use as reference material when writing essays (there are a lot of true crime in there, which on the surface appears to be slightly concerning, I am studying Criminology after all). My final book type is my "completed" books. These are books I have read, and for the most part, enjoyed, and stowed away. 

These completed books are where the magic happens. A few times a year, or when my completed shelf looks like it may burst from the weight of the tomes, I settle down for some retail therapy. 

There are many ways to vacate these shelves to earn a little money. 

EBay is a good option, especially if the books you're selling are in high demand or of a collectible nature. On the other hand, it is time-consuming to take pictures, note quality issues, list the item, and wait. Add this to the fees, postage costs, and dealing with lost or missing items. The hassle is much bigger than the reward in my view, and I'm too impatient for all that!

Car boot sales are also an option, particularly when having a general clearout and a range of other things to sell. This is very much down to luck though, I've had weeks where nearly all of my books have been snapped up and others when I've had to cart them all back home again!

My go-to option is to use book resale apps and websites. There are three main ones that I use. We Buy Books, Ziffit, and Music Magpie (there may be others available, and I have no affiliation with any of these providers, just a normal consumer!). 

They are all very similar in the way that they operate. Download the App, create an account, and then scan the barcodes of the books you would like to sell to them (some of them also buy DVDs, CDs, and small electrical items like mobile phones, though my experience in utilising the additional services is limited). 

Scan the barcode and receive an indication of whether they want to buy from you, along with a price. I'll be honest, selling directly to the consumer using Ebay or car boot sales will earn you more money, but with additional costs, fees, and hassle. Some books attract tiny monetary amounts (1p in some cases) whereas others will generate a few pounds or more. This is balanced out if you sell multiple books at once. 50p per book on average has been a fairly achievable amount for me. 

My top tip for doing this is to use multiple apps at once to get the best offer. I'll scan each book three times, once with each app. The app that offers me the most, wins. I remove items from the basket if the value is less than I want, or if another app offers more. This trick helps to sell as many books as possible, as not all apps take all books, and get the best price for them. 

When I'm happy with the amount offered and have scanned and sorted all of my books, I usually have three piles, one for each app. I then complete the transaction through the app (this usually involves printing some sort of shipping label for self-posting, or arranging courier collection, but is generally free of charge). 

I then box up the books, post them, and wait for them to be checked. Sold books are checked for quality, and to ensure that everything is as it should be. Once that's been done, the funds are released by bank transfer. The process is quick and straightforward, and communications from the above sites are good. 

The next part is the fun part. Using the money I've earned from my completed shelf, I wander off to the nearest charity shop to pick up more for the TBR shelf! If I have something on my Amazon Wishlist, I may use the money towards that, or even use websites selling second-hand books if there's a particular title I'm after. 

I've popped some screenshots below, from the Ziffit App, to give you an idea of how quick and easy it is to set up an order. 

Suppose after a few rotations, a book remains unwanted on these apps (usually if they already have plenty available, or low demand). In that case, I bring them with me on a charity shop visit and make a donation. 

It feels good to be putting my books to some use rather than growing dusty on a shelf. Books are made to be read, and I enjoy the idea that someone else will have the opportunity to read mine. 

Some people prefer to keep their books and display or store them. If I had more space, I would want to do that too (a home library sounds EPIC!).  That's not practical for me as my space is limited, so this keeps a good rotation, nice-looking shelves, a little task for a rainy weekend, and allows me to make space for more without having an obstacle course of books strewn around the house!

Do you have experience with using these apps? Do you have any other ways I can use in my endeavours to be thrifty with my book habits? Please leave a comment and let me know!

If, by some stroke of luck, you made it to the end of this and thought "Wow, what a great post, I'd love to read more!" you can FOLLOW MY BLOG by clicking the link and subscribing :) I also post bookish content on Instagram. Happy reading!

Travel Tuesday - Week 2 - Bucharest, Hungary - Carturesti Carusel

TRAVEL TUESDAY

In this week's installment for Travel Tuesday, I wanted to introduce you to one of the most beautiful bookstores I have ever visited (granted, I only picked up reading again in 2023 so my frame of reference is limited slightly. That being said, once you have a look for yourself, I am sure you will agree with me!). I was giddy with excitement the second I stepped inside, I must have looked 

Right in the heart of Bucharest's Old Town, just a few doors down from a quirky Vampire bar with multiple Dracula-themed, beerish beverages, including a random but delicious chilli and ginger beer, is where you will find Carturesti Carusel. It looks quite unassuming from the outside but like the Tardis, seems never-ending on the inside. 

Clean, white, luxurious interiors with gorgeous mezzanine levels, bookshelves stacked to the rafters, and skylights in the roof give so much light to the store. There are sections for every genre imaginable, from psychology to cooking to bestselling thrillers, and everything in between. I loved that they had a section for English translations from Romanian authors, which I was keen to select from (though they had plenty of English language books from many genres and authors). The geek section, which was quite aptly located in the basement, was great fun and I almost bought a ton of graphic novels, board games, and backpacks. I still don't know how I resisted, and I think about it often!

After significant dilly-dallying, I eventually chose The Fox Was Ever the Hunter - Herta Müller which is a Nobel Prize-winning book that brilliantly, poetically, and hauntingly depicts life in Romania during the final few months of the Ceausescu Regime. It's a daunting read, with descriptions that, at times, are quite laborious and unnecessarily verbose. I felt out of my depth reading it (I should have expected that since it won the Nobel Prize for Literature). I'll link the review here when it's posted. 

Bucharest is a beautiful city, growing in stature and becoming more modern and metropolitan every day. I first visited in 2018 with my son for his 16th birthday, and even in that short time, it's become much more accessible and travel-friendly. I recommend visiting whether you're a book-lover or not. The Transylvania/Dracula tours are exceptional days out, the restaurants are incredible, and the beer is top-notch! The Old Town is beautiful and there are new hotels and places to be popping up everywhere. It's a top destination for me and I'll be back at Carturesti Carusel again, you can count on it!

If, by some stroke of luck, you made it to the end of this and thought "Wow, what a great review, I'd love to read more!" you can FOLLOW MY BLOG by clicking the link and subscribing :) I also post bookish content on Instagram. Happy reading!

BOOK REVIEW - Legends and Lattes - Travis Baldree - Audiobook - 4*

BOOK REVIEW

Legends and Lattes - Travis Baldree

Following on from Fantasy Friday where I committed to leaping into the Fantasy genre with open arms, I started with a book many people suggest is a good introduction. It's classed as a 'Cosy Fantasy' and all I knew about it was that there was a Coffee shop. I chose not to read the blurb and instead to dive right in. Great decision! 

Now, I love coffee and what I really enjoyed about this story was that nobody in the town knew what it was apart from Viv (the main character). This meant that the descriptions were incredibly intense and vivid, really articulating the tastes, flavours, and smells, as though coffee wasn't a known commodity to the reader. Cinnamon Swirls, Chocolate Croissants, Lattes, Iced Lates, and Coffee to-go are brilliantly depicted as new beautiful inventions, mainly through the brilliant baker, Thimble, a fun character, and one of my favourites. I was salivating for half of the story!

My dabbles into the genre so far have been limited, so I was expecting bloodthirsty battles for the first half of the book and was reading too much into it at times. This didn't happen (though given Viv's history, there were inferences to battles of the past) and instead, I was treated to a beautiful story of hope, friendship, and love. 

Viv is an orc (I believe an orc is a big, green, fighting ogre) who has recently retired from the mercenary life and wants to start fresh. We follow her as she sets up her dream coffee shop, makes friends, builds her business, and falls in love. She discovers the true meaning of friendship and faces her biggest enemy - her perception of herself. Initially, she feels that her success is due to a magical folk story but soon discovers that she's successful because of who she is. A lovely lesson and message to convey. 

She is a very well-written character with lots of depth and I felt that I knew her well by the end of the book. Tandri, the succubus who doesn't do succubus things (I had to google this one, generally a demon who is notorious for seducing men) is a great addition who also added some great nuance to the story. I was yelling at Viv to KISS HER for the entire second half of the book, as I was invested completely in their journey together. Their picnic was just beautiful, I was grinning from ear to ear at how natural (and awkward) everything was. 

The audiobook that I listened to was narrated by the author, Travis Baldree, and it's clear that he knows his characters inside out, adding personality to each of them in a unique way. 

I was captivated from beginning to end, pulled in, enthralled, and left wanting to explore the stories further. The second book (a prequel to this one), Bookshops and Bonedust, will do just that, exploring Viv's life before the coffee shop. I can't wait to read it! 

If you're looking for a story with Fantasy elements, a cosy story of friendship, and a read that will leave you smiling, READ THIS BOOK! 

Check out my video review:

If, by some stroke of luck, you made it to the end of this post and thought "Wow, what a great review, I'd love to read more!" you can FOLLOW MY BLOG by clicking the link and subscribing :) I also post bookish content on Instagram. Happy reading!

Fantasy Friday - Episode 1 - "I don't read fantasy"

FANTASY FRIDAY

Happy Friday! Happy Reading!

I've never considered myself a fantasy girl, I have always found stories that involve worlds that are like ours but different to be hard to immerse myself in. I focused too much on the lore, getting bogged down in the details. The epitome of fantasy was (and is, for me anyway) Lord of the Rings, where entire worlds and even languages are created within the stories, which I have always found intimidating. Perhaps you feel the same? If so, I may have some news for you so keep reading and see if I can change your mind! 

Speaking with a friend recently, I mentioned that I didn't read much fantasy and explained my reasoning (see above). She asked me whether I had read The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Harry Potter, or Alice in Wonderland. My answer was yes, the entire series for each of those questions. I was surprised when she told me that I do, in fact, already read plenty of fantasy. 

Mind = blown

I did some research. Broken down into its simplest form, fantasy is a genre that contains magic, magical creatures, fairytales, folklore, and much more. The stories can traverse the laws of the real world, creating lore and histories that don't have to fit the narrative or construct that the world presents to us in reality. It's not JUST Lord of the Rings. 

There's Portal Fantasy, where Narnia comes into its own. Stephen King's Fairy Tale, which I read last year on audiobook and LOVED is also considered a Portal Fantasy, as is Alice in Wonderland. 

How about vampires and werewolves? Yup, they're fantasy too. So Twilight can be added to my list!

A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair takes place in a world where the Greek Gods exist in contemporary society. Guess what? Yup, Fantasy! 

When I thought of fantasy, mentally I was leaping straight to High/Epic Fantasy, where Lord of the Rings and Song of Ice and Fire fit comfortably. These are the big worlds of never-ending possibilities, the ones that intimidated me. Intimidate no more, book foes, I'm coming for you and I am no longer afraid!

Am I the only person who hadn't realised how broad fantasy as a genre really was? I'm not sure what genre I thought these other books fell into and when I give it some thought, it's very obvious. My statements about not enjoying fantasy books were sweeping generalisations based on a tiny sample within a huge range of stories and worlds, along with naive assumptions. 

Having discovered that I have (and continue to) enjoyed many fantasy books in my time, I feel that it is high time I begin dipping my toe in the water a little more, exploring the genre with open eyes, and seeing where my preferences really lie. When I started this book blog, I really wanted to use it to expand my horizons, keep myself accountable, and start having even more fun with reading. This reading challenge will do that! 

The aforementioned Scarlett St. Clair book is the first of seven in a series in which the Hades and Persephone story is reimagined with a modern-day twist and a fair bit of spice. I listened to the first book as an audiobook which may not have been the best idea, especially given the spice levels, wandering around Tesco looking for egg noodles- I'm sorry, he did WHAT to her WHAT? - so I'll continue the series probably using digital or physical books instead, to save my red face. 

ACOTAR is also on my list given its popularity. I made my way through the first book, again on audio so will change to digital/physical (yup, for spice reasons, I feel like everyone around me can hear and, well you wouldn't watch video smut in public so it feels like the respectful thing to do!).  

While I may not finish a book a week for obvious reasons, there are some weighty tomes out there, and I would like to share my journey into the genre with more depth. So here we are, alliterating like champs with Fantasy Friday. 

I've started this week with Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree as I have heard that it's quite a gentle introduction into fantasy realms and realities.

Other than needing to Google what a Succubus was (I got the general gist from the book and was pretty much correct), to ensure that I understood, I'm getting on pretty well! I am about a third of the way through and enjoy the premise of a mundane coffee shop run by an Orc. Interested to know what this magic stone she has is all about though. (NOW FINISHED - REVIEW HERE - NO SPOILERS ON THE MAGIC STONE THOUGH)

What are your favourite types of Fantasy? What's your absolute must-recommend book? Help me fill up my TBR :) I'll be back next Friday with more updates and musings!

If, by some stroke of luck, you made it to the end of this post and thought, "Wow, what a great review, I'd love to read more!" you can FOLLOW MY BLOG by clicking the link and subscribing :) I also post bookish content on Instagram. Happy reading!

 

Thrifty Thursday - Week 1 - An Expensive Hobby - TOP TIPS TO SAVE ON READING

THRIFTY THURSDAY - WEEK 1

An Expensive Hobby

If you're following my blog, you're probably a reader too. I don't need to tell you that reading is an expensive hobby. But here I am, doing just that! It is :)

I am always trying to make it less expensive, I experience feelings of guilt when I spend money on myself. Old habits from times of scrimping and saving as a young single mum! My Thrifting Thursday posts will share my top tips, thrift finds, and inventive (hopefully) ways of getting more bang for your buck. Maybe even some crafty crafting if I'm feeling creative  :) 

Many readers place themselves on a book-buying ban to try to save some money and make their way through their (usually lengthy) TBR lists. I'm not quite there yet, though my better half may disagree with that, the poor guy! My Amazon wish list is growing by the day. 

I do, however, try to be sensible with my spending. You see, it's not just physical books that are expensive. It's everything else!

Book box subscriptions

Kindle Unlimited (and the Kindle, case, and accessories)

Audible (and perfect headphones for listening)

The most perfect reading nook lamp

Snuggly blanket

Reading light

Bed pillow for sitting up

Bookends

Plants for the bookshelves

The ideal reading chair

Things to put your books on/in

More things to put your book on/in (I currently have a bookcase in the living room, and multiple giant "book buckets" strewn around). 

The list is never-ending and, if you're like me, changes depending on mood. When I go through digital book phases I'm all about the remote page-turners and the changeable cases to match my mood. Physical books are cute bookmarks, page holders, organising my bookcase 'just so'. Yesterday I spent 45 minutes reading through pages of reviews on "The best over-ear headphones for audiobook listeners", even though my in-ear ones are perfectly fine!

Top Thrifty Tips for Readers

1. USE THE LIBRARY!!!!!

Libraries really are the best way to minimise spending, and make sure that books don't take over your home (not that there's anything wrong with that!). The books are free and it's really easy to make a much smaller list of books you'd like to own - books you will reread or with covers that just HAVE to go in the bookcase. Many libraries sell used copies at great prices, which saves you money and gives valuable funds back to the place that gives joy to so many people and communities. There are also book clubs and groups for the social aspects. They absolutely cover everything. Many libraries also offer online services including digital and audio copies of some books.

2. CHARITY SHOPS AND CAR BOOT SALES

A used book can be so much more fun to read. Pages that aren't pristine, chapters that have been read before. I always try to imagine what the readers before me thought, what their reactions were, and whether they loved or hated the characters in the same way I did. 

Charity shops and car boot sales aren't just for physical books though. They're great for accessorising your book corner/library. At the moment, I'm on the lookout for some bookends that, with a little creativity (read...spray paint!), can become a gothic addition to my new bedroom bookshelf. 

3. SENSIBLE SUBSCRIPTIONS

If you rarely listen to Audiobooks, for example, Audible can be a wasted resource. This is why, when I talk subscriptions, I recommend them only where it will work for you. I listen to 1-2 audiobooks a week so an Audible subscription benefits me in terms of cost. The subscription covers the cost of one full-price audiobook and access to their free-to-listen catalogue. One thing I love about Audible is that the monthly credit carries forward so you don't lose that full-price book if you forget to use it one month. I do have an affiliate link for a free Audible trial if you'd like to give it a go :)

Spotify Premium also offers 15 hours of listening time included in your subscription. Great if you already have Spotify for music or podcasts. I always compare to Audible first, when deciding what to listen to each month, to ensure I get the most value for money. 

Kindle Unlimited is also a good shout if you like to read digitally. Again only worth it if you'll be reading a few books a month but it does include current and popular reads. Sometimes the books also have 'Whisper Sync' which is an audio version to listen along with the book, or in some cases, separately to it, on Audible. One thing to bear in mind with Kindle Unlimited, is that you are effectively borrowing these books, there's a limit to how many you can have at any one time (it's a pretty high limit to be fair!) and to borrow more, you can 'return' books that you've finished. 

4. GET THE FAMILY INVOLVED

My most recent book box subscription from the Teatime Booksop was a birthday gift from my other half last year. 12 months of books, tea, and biscuits, what more could I ask for? Every month I get a new delivery so it really is the gift that keeps on giving! There are boxes for specific genres and types of reader. Mine could be curated but we went with "I'm up for anything" so I've already had many genres and styles, not one dud!

If you want to give a subscription a try, check out my unboxing post for the Teatime Bookshop, where you can get a 10% discount through my link. 

I have a book-related wish list on Amazon too, which gives my family some pretty big hints on what I'd love to see under the tree at Christmas. We also regularly swap or donate books. 

5. HAVE A BUDGET - AND STICK TO IT!

I have a hobby budget, money I put aside every month, to either spend or save. Just like Magic Mike (my better half) sets aside money for games or his craft beer passion. I've been frugal with frivolous book spending recently as I wanted to create a real-life KCs Reading Corner at home, so I have swapped my work-from-home desk for one with bookshelves and will be filling and decorating it in the coming weeks. 

How do you keep your book spending under control? How crafty are you when it comes to making/mending things? Share your stories, I'd love to hear them!

If, by some stroke of luck, you made it to the end of this and thought "Wow, what a great post, I'd love to read more!" you can FOLLOW MY BLOG by clicking the link and subscribing :) I also post bookish content on Instagram. Happy reading!

BOOK REVIEW - Playing for Freedom: The Journey of a Young Afghan Girl - Zarifa Adiba - Audiobook - 4*

BOOK REVIEW

Playing for Freedom - Zarifa Adiba

Wow. Just, wow!

This book was an accidental listen, which I had downloaded to my Kindle to read but was also included and automatically added to my Audible library. The audiobook is around 7 hours and I listen at 1.7x speed so when I had to do a little travelling for one of my volunteer roles, this fitted perfectly to my Monday. It's non-fiction, which can sometimes be a little hit or miss for me, but the premise seemed interesting and I was intrigued to learn more about the challenges of being a woman in a culture where the perceptions and expectations are very different from my own.

The audiobook is narrated by Zarifa, the author, which adds a sense of authenticity to the memoir. She's telling her story in her own words, and the impact is significant and poignant.

Zarifa takes us on her journey as a girl, growing into a woman, in Afghanistan. She is torn between her family's (and culture's) expectations and her passion for music and education. It's a beautifully written exploration of feminism, drive, and a need to go against the grain to achieve. Zarifa describes her inner turmoil and conflicts as she navigates an increasingly patriarchal society, trying to respect the traditions and values of her culture (and family, possibly an even bigger challenge at times) while forging her own path toward success. Her integrity, moral compass, and sense of what's right shine through every decision, every experience, every chapter. I found myself completely drawn to her, rooting for her, crying for her, cheering for her. 

I learned so much about Afghanistan's recent history and culture, separate from the journalistic, often sensationalist news reports. I found it intriguing and a mesmerising depiction of the struggle to find identity within a culture that appears to suppress it (particularly with women and girls) at every opportunity. While the subject can appear on the surface to be one of challenge and adversity, Zarifa finds hope, love, and inspiration throughout her life and shares that with her readers beautifully, never afraid of the negative but equally keen to share the positive. 

Zarifa's journey is captivating and I found myself going down the rabbit hole, finding the articles and videos that she refers to, delving further, and exploring in more depth, her story. Her TED talk is linked below, it's well worth a watch but really only scratches the surface. 

Memoirs can sometimes be quite dry but this was not the case here. The pacing was slow but purposeful, and before I knew it, the book was over. An important read for all, especially young women who may sometimes feel that the world is against them. This is a book that I will recommend time and time again to anyone looking for an inspirational memoir.

If, by some stroke of luck, you made it to the end of this post and thought "Wow, what a great review, I'd love to read more!" you can FOLLOW MY BLOG by clicking the link and subscribing :) I also post bookish content on Instagram. Happy reading!

Travel Tuesday - Week 1 - Vienna, Austria - Shakespeare & Company Booksellers

TRAVEL TUESDAY

Time for the first installment of Travel Tuesday! 

What a way to start, with beautiful Vienna. I visited the city in April 2024 as part of a jaunt around some European gems. Vienna is the capital city of Austria and sits on the river Danube. Vienna is famous for its ties to the arts, especially music, with Mozart and Brahms being just a snippet from a long list of famous resident composers and musicians. 

Our visit consisted of copious Weiner Schnitzel and visits to microbreweries, sampling the local beers, in addition to fuelling my literary obsession. I made it my mission to visit some unique and unusual bookstores while traveling, and boy does Shakespeare & Company tick all of my boxes. I also visited the Austrian National Library, which was incredible and will be the subject of a future installment of Travel Tuesday.

It's in a really accessible part of the old town of Vienna and gives old-style English pub vibes (with the hanging Shakespeare placard outside). After a brief celebratory jump up and down, clapping, I couldn't wait to go inside!

This bookstore specialises in English language books and what I loved about it was the absolute lack of order in the books. They're in stacks, on bookshelves, in boxes, wherever you look there are more books. This is great if, like me, you pick books based on cover art/title, read a bit of the blurb, and then buy if it takes your fancy. If you want a specific author or title, their staff are very knowledgeable and helpful. 

There are little rooms to wander through and get lost in the stacks and although quite small, the store is packed to the ceiling with volume after volume. I spent a good half hour simply running my fingers across spines (not as creepy as it sounds!) and made my way to the only section of the store that had signage - English translations of Austrian books. 

To give myself some boundaries while travelling, I limited myself to one book buy per city (a good decision, that I regularly cursed myself for!). I also wanted to find authors from that country rather than picking up books I could easily find closer to home. My choice of book from Shakespeare&Co. was A Game of Chess and Other Stories - Stefan Zweig which now has pride of place on my bookshelf. I loved this book and all of the stories, happily rating it 5*. I'll do a full review and post a link here when it's available. 

This is one of my favourite bookstores, no razzle-dazzle, just a good, old-fashioned hotch-potch of books. Having organised chaos allows readers to discover books they didn't know they needed and the vibe was relaxed and peaceful. No sales tactics, just readers quietly perusing and the familiar muted hum of bookish conversation. 

Shakespeare and Company has a website with maps and public transport information to help you find your way there. 

If, by some stroke of luck, you made it to the end of this and thought "Wow what a great post, I'd love to read more!" you can FOLLOW MY BLOG by clicking the link and subscribing :) I also post bookish content on Instagram. Happy reading!

BOOK REVIEW - The Inheritance Games - Jennifer Lynn Barnes - Audiobook - 4*

 

BOOK REVIEW

The Inheritance Games - Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Another audiobook for the commute. I'd been seeing this series on multiple book lists and challenges for a while so it's been on my virtual TBR list for quite some time. I enjoy a decent Young Adult (YA) story, particularly mysteries so this ticked that box. I read the blurb this time (congratulatory pat on the back for me!) so I knew the basics of the plot and was hooked from chapter one. 

The narrator for this audiobook was, I have to say, brilliant. She gave each character a slightly different accent, tone, and personality through her voice, making dialogue easy to digest and helping the story flow smoothly from one part to the next. This made a massive difference for me, I felt like I was listening to different people. Sometimes the narration can detract from the immersion (thankfully not often, these people are incredible at what they do).

We follow high school student, Avery, who inherits a massive fortune from an elderly philanthropist, Tobias Hawthorne, whom she's never met or heard of, while his family is disinherited. The terms of the inheritance involve Avery and the Hawthorne family living together in the mansion for one year. Through this time, Avery builds relationships with the family (more specifically the four grandsons of Tobias) and they start to follow the trail of breadcrumbs that Tobias has left. 

With plots and riddles galore, I was immediately intrigued by the story of the heiress (though I did initially think that the narrator was saying Ares with an unusual pronunciation the first few times she was given this nickname, one slight downfall of listening rather than reading. Luckily I did realise eventually! Heiress is definitely more in line with the story!). She lives with her half-sister (an alt girl after my own heart!) who has her own story of a manipulative and violent partner/ex-partner, adding an extra layer to the main plot (and an additional potential villain of the piece!). 

Avery develops a crush on most of the grandsons at some point and struggles with teen angst related to that throughout. I knew she'd probably end up hooking up with one of them, every second thought she had was about their muscles, eyes, voice, you get the drift. It was not the main focus though which I liked as I'm not massively into romance. I suspect that this will develop a little as the series continues. 

Truly had no idea who the "bad guy" was, I got the clues as Avery did and I really enjoyed the intentional lack of blatant foreshadowing which kept me guessing until the exact moment that I was meant to find out! 

This was a great start to the series, leaving me with just enough of a thread into the next books, without feeling that it wasn't finished. It stands firmly in one of my favourite reads of the year. While it didn't leave me feeling emotionally wrecked like some others, that doesn't take away from how well it drew me into the story and the characters. I can't wait to read the next one!

If you're looking for a new series to get your teeth into and enjoy the likes of Harry Potter (for the mystery, problem-solving, and family secrets, not the witches and wizards!), this is for you. 

If, by some stroke of luck, you made it to the end of this post and thought "Wow, what a great review, I'd love to read more!" you can FOLLOW MY BLOG by clicking the link and subscribing :) I also post bookish content on Instagram. Happy reading!

BOOK REVIEW - Notes on a Murder - B.P. Walter - Physical Book - 4*

BOOK REVIEW

Notes on a Murder - B.P. Walter

Another blind pick from my TBR bucket and a book received from Teatime Bookshop (see my review and unboxing of the Teatime Bookshop here, where you can also get 10% off your purchase!) in one of my monthly subscription boxes. I've seen some people wrap and number their physical TBR before picking a number and reading the correlating, wrapped book. Seems like a creative way of doing it, I might look out for some gothic wrapping paper and spend a day wrapping and numbering. A literal bucket of books is unsightly, to say the least!

Anyway, I digress. The blurb for this book was interesting without giving anything away and I adored the cover art, a fountain pen leaking ink (the ink giving the appearance of blood). It made me think of literary, verbose, and captivating writing so I was hopeful when I dove in. 

The prologue had me wide-eyed and intrigued. The dual timelines had me questioning everything and everyone. The finale had me slack-jawed, how did I not see that coming? I always see the twists coming! 

I'll start by saying, that this is not a traditional thriller. The writing style is literary (as I had hoped) and is more focussed on the feelings and journey of our main character, Oliver, as he experiences a summer of manipulation, romance, murder, and tension. There's no verbose gore or overtly detailed depictions of crime scenes/events and this works really well with the style and tone of the book. It's an undercurrent rather than an outright wave and I really enjoyed just being able to interpret these things for myself. The underlying thread of tension and mystery is woven through every page, I was looking for clues that weren't there and missing the ones that were right in front of me. 

It's challenging to give a synopsis without significant spoilers, so I will remain purposefully vague. Oliver meets a man in Santorini and embarks on a holiday romance with a difference. Is he capable of murder? The story is told from a then/now perspective with a gap of 20 years between the two timelines. The first-person perspective took a little getting used to, and gave me similar vibes to the stalker character in "You" (I was minding my own business and then, I saw YOU. YOU were everything to me). It's rare for me to read (or even find) a first-person perspective book, another nod towards a more unique way of writing which also adds to the mystery - we don't know what ANYONE is thinking apart from the main character. It leaves so much open to interpretation, in a great, anticipatory, way. 

I would have loved for the book to have explored the "missing years" in more detail, as this really interested me.  It may have answered some of the questions I was left with. How did it change Oliver? How did his addiction present itself? What filled that time for him? What happened to his Dad? That being said, I feel that these questions were intentionally left unanswered to leave that lingering feeling of unease that the story ignited.  

Definitely a 4* read for me, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and finished it in less than 24 hours. It's nice to have found something that kept me on my toes and had me wanting more. B.P. Walter has been added to my list of authors I will be reading more books from!

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BOOK REVIEW - The Serial Killer's Wife - Alice Hunter - Physical Book - 3*

BOOK REVIEW

The Serial Killer's Wife - Alice Hunter

Well, what can I say? When you read a book within 24 hours, there's a clear indication that it's kept your attention and drawn you in!

Another Christmas gift that had been patiently waiting it's turn for 5 months, this book was picked for me from my "reading bucket" by my other half. 

As thrillers go, it's pretty good, with dual timelines and perspectives bringing things together nicely towards the end. There were enough twists in the tale to keep you guessing, some more obvious than others (I did yell "I KNEW IT!" towards the very end as one of my suspicions from early on was finally confirmed, much to the dog's surprise!). Clues peppered throughout to allow suspicion to seep in, allowing a little downtime between the reveals and a nice fast pace to keep the pages turning. 

Sparse character development, with focus firmly on the twisting, turning, rollercoaster plot, and I found I didn't connect brilliantly with any of the characters. The main character is morally gray and a little sickly sweet, which made connecting with her a challenge. Side characters were similar, quite flat and some of the decisions and behaviours were questionable at best. I sincerely felt some Stepford Wives, Mean Girls vibes throughout the story and started to suspect towards the end that they were flat on purpose, this is how they were being viewed by our main character. 

There were some intricacies and visuals that I really loved, that showed the author's attention to detail and thoughtfulness throughout. Small details, like having to duck on the way down the stairs, were remembered and consistent. This is something that I really notice when they're missing as they help keep me immersed.

The plot really is what it says on the tin. It starts with the questioning and arrest of our main character's husband, Tom, and follows her (Beth) as she tries to navigate the whirlwind that follows. 

I love books like this, that are easy to read and digest, that delve straight into the meat and this one delivered. It's not ground-breaking, but it's a solid, enjoyable read. No meandering through meaningless details, right for the jugular so to speak. 

This is an incredibly popular book and I can see why. I've also recently discovered that there are three more books by the same author which follow a similar trope. My TBR is now three books longer!

Check out my video here:

Have you read this, or any of the other Alice Hunter serial killer novels? Let me know what you thought :)

If, by some stroke of luck, you made it to the end of this post and thought "Wow, what a great review, I'd love to read more!" you can FOLLOW MY BLOG by clicking the link and subscribing :) I also post bookish content on Instagram. Happy reading!

BOOK REVIEW - Nowhere to Hide - Max Luther - Physical Book - 3*

BOOK REVIEW

Nowhere to Hide - Max Luther

If you want to read fast-paced, nonstop, adrenaline-surging action, I suggest you pick up this book. Before the first couple of chapters have ended, there is a shootout, poolroom brawl, rooftop fight, and an explosion. That's really the premise. Keep you hooked on action. The result is a speedy, entertaining read that I thoroughly enjoyed, especially as a palette cleanser following the more intense and emotional read of The Interpreter from Java which I finished at the end of last week. 

I was given this book as a Christmas gift, so it's been waiting patiently on my shelf to have its moment to shine for a few months. 

Our protagonist, Alex, is an ex-copper turned private bodyguard. Sarah needs a bodyguard, after a stint in witness protection turns into an attempt on her life. Julie is the one who hires Alex, on behalf of her employer, the National Crime Agency (who appear to be fairly rubbish at their job!). We follow the twists and turns, through car chases, helicopter chases, foot chases...lots of chasing and escaping. Julie investigates the bad guys, finds out who to trust, and tries to come out on top. By the end, our hero sails off into the sunset to prepare for book two. 

I was pleasantly surprised that there was no random falling in love between Alex and one of the women he was dealing with. How people find the time to knock boots while being sought out by the ultimate bad guys always baffles me so this was a refreshing take. People can, in fact, work with people of the opposite (or same) gender and not fall in love with every one of them, who'd have thought such a concept could exist in a book :) There's plenty of time for that as the series progresses but I am glad that Alex isn't a James Bond character who falls in love with the lady of the moment every single time!

There was a decent attempt to add some personality and build the characters, but the focus was very much on action, a delve into the deep recesses of the human psyche this is not - though that's exactly what I feel was intended. The book is the first of a series so I suspect that Alex's character, in particular, will be given more depth and backstory as the series progresses. There's enough there to work out that he's a decent guy who's had a rough ride, he's lost his wife so seeing that story be padded out and resolved would be interesting. 

Overall I found it an engaging read that pulled me in from the start. A nice, fast-paced, read that keeps the pages turning. Worth adding to the list! 

If, by some stroke of luck, you made it to the end of this post and thought "Wow, what a great review, I'd love to read more!" you can FOLLOW MY BLOG by clicking the link and subscribing :) I also post bookish content on Instagram. Happy reading!

BOOK REVIEW - The Interpreter from Java - Alfred Birney - Physical Book - 4*

BOOK REVIEW

The Interpreter from Java - Alfred Birney

I received this book in one of my book subscription boxes a few months ago, Teatime Bookshop (click here to read my recent unboxing post and to receive 10% off your order, or scroll to the end for your exclusive code). Was I the only person in the world that didn't know where Java was? Possibly. I did a quick 30-second search to find that it is one of the Indonesian islands, of which Jakarta is the capital. Curiosity satisfied, I opened up and began reading.

Firstly, I have to say that I really loved the style of writing, which I have since found out is known as 'autofiction', or 'faction' which treads the line between novel and autobiography. It's taken from the author's own experiences and the stories that his father shared with him towards the end of his life. It is cleverly written using the author as a muse for the main character, someone on the hunt for the truth about his father, his life, and the ways that the experiences and demons of his father impacted his own family. 

I felt hatred, sorrow, shame, and conflict. Sometimes all at once. I'll admit, that colonialism is not something I know much about. I have yet to delve into the history of our world in any great depth. In fact, I find historical reading quite intimidating, apart from the occasional historical fiction (some of which could have worked equally well as contemporary fiction, the past simply being the background setting of the story), so my knowledge in this area is sparse and my viewpoint naive. This book was a wonderful way to gain a much deeper understanding of a topic that I find overwhelming. The glossary at the end was a nice touch too and I used it more than once.

The timeline jumped around and I sometimes struggled to recognise whose viewpoint I was in, having to track back slightly to get my bearings once more. This affected my immersion in the story a few times but as I got more accustomed to the writing style, this happened much less often. 

The book follows Alan, our main character and son of the Interpreter from Java, as he reads his father's journals, interviews his mother, researches his family history, and shares his own experiences growing up. It's such an interesting concept and a unique way of writing. In parts he is directing his writing at his father, in others, he's exchanging emails with his brother, or reading his father's journals leaving the reader feeling that they are a fly on the wall of a family in constant conflict. 

The depictions are brutal and intense, while also evoking emotion. The writing was thought-provoking and descriptive, painting a picture of the brutality of both war and childhood. I enjoyed every minute of this book and will continue to recommend it for years to come. There are trigger warnings of the type you would expect when reading a book depicting war and childhood trauma but the violence is certainly not the main focus of the book - the characters and their inner turmoil are. 

In short, READ THIS BOOK!!

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Finding Time to Read - Top Tips - How to Read More Books

TOP TIPS

How to Read More Books

On the 1st January 2023, my resolution was to read more. My goal was one book a week which seemed achievable on paper, thirty pages a day would probably do it. Easy...right?!

It was easy. For the first couple of days, while I was off work and we were still in the post-Christmas and New Year funk at least. Then reality hit. The dog needed walks, the floors needed sweeping, the dishes needed to be done, and attendance at work was mandatory (who'd have thought it!). It was a struggle to keep up with my thirty pages a day. Failed at the first hurdle. 

When I found the time to read, I was immersed, relaxed, finally had something to discuss, and quickly realised that reading was my self-care. Perseverance was key. Trial and error occurred, to find what worked for me. It got easier to slide a book into my routine, and despite starting college full-time in August last year, adding another twenty-five hours of things to do and places to be to my week, I gobbled up seventy-nine books in 2023. 

Here are my top tips for finding time to read:

FIND THE GAPS IN YOUR DAILY ROUTINE

I felt like I didn't have time to read, that my days were full but I discovered a mass of "gaps" in my routine. Early morning coffee in bed, 30 minutes usually taken up by Facebook scrolling or random YouTube videos were replaced with a book (still some scrolling, old habits die hard!). The half-hour before my shift started, or before class started at college. Half-time during the football (and sometimes during the actual football if nothing was happening, which turns out to be quite often!).

You can gain a couple of hours a week without sacrificing something else (or feeling like you are) by using the natural gaps in your day-to-day life. 

MAKE IT KNOWN

Letting my family in on it was such a simple thing, I told them I was really enjoying reading again, that reading was giving me some self-care time and they quickly got on board. My partner was delighted to disappear to his Xbox if I was in the zone (he practically skipped away and actively encouraged me to read more, I wonder why?!). My adult son would ask me about my latest book and we even read some books together. 

You'll be surprised how much extra time you find when your people are active in your journey. 

AUDIOBOOKS, AUDIOBOOKS, MORE AUDIOBOOKS

I'll admit, I struggled with audiobooks initially and sometimes still do. I would zone out and focus on something else before realising I had missed a key point (wait, why is everyone sad, what's happened? Who's Bob and when did he get here?). It's a skill for sure and took a little trial and error. I can't listen to audiobooks when cooking from a recipe or trying to crochet. Commuting to work, mopping the floors, and walking the dog is another kettle of fish entirely. 

Good audiobooks draw you in, engage you, and can often enhance the story. They say tone is everything and when the narrator nails it, you're pulled into the world. I cannot recommend audiobooks enough especially when busy lives get in the way of reading. Word of warning - if you're listening while cleaning, you may end up laying on the bathroom floor, scrubbing brush in hand, ugly crying to Kristin Hannah's The Women like I did. Hit me right in the feels. 

If you haven't tried audiobooks before, Audible has a free trial including one full-price book (two if you're a Prime member) and unlimited access to their "Plus" catalogue. Another option is your local library, which may offer loans of some books on audio, though there may be a wait for some popular books to become available. 

BUILD TIME INTO YOUR SCHEDULE

I'm a meticulous planner, I can't help it. I am a terrible procrastinator, nothing would get done if I didn't schedule it into my day. The easiest way to find reading time without feeling guilty was to plan. I have a "self-care" colour in my Google calendar and I schedule 3x30 minute slots each wee. I shuffle these around based on what else is happening in my diary. Some weeks it gets thrown between getting home from work and prepping tea. Before heading out on date night. In between doing the ironing and putting the clothes away. When it's booked into my calendar, it's an appointment, there's nothing in the way. Some weeks, yes, lots is going on and I manage all 3 sessions. Other weeks are miraculously appointment free and I can extend the odd session to an hour instead. 

This one may not work for everyone, but if you're a planner, like me, dedicating time to your schedule could be a simple and effective solution to help you achieve your reading goals. 

Will any of these tips work for you? How do you find time to read? Share your tips and thoughts in the comments, I'm always keen to find other things that help me squeeze out some more pages. 

If, by some stroke of luck, you made it to the end of this and thought, "Wow, what a great post, I'd love to read more!" you can FOLLOW MY BLOG by clicking the link and subscribing :) I also post bookish content on Instagram. Happy reading!