ANNOUNCEMENT • Where I have been and why I’m changing things around

Hi Guys,

As you might have noticed, I’ve been a bit AWOL for a while now, and thought I should probably update you all on what I’ve been doing and how I’m hoping to change my blog format around a bit.

BOOK REVIEW • Schmuck the Buck 5/5 ❄️

“Meet Schmuck the Buck, just a regular caribou.
He liked to eat grass and then chew and chew and chew.
Yet he and his kin happened to be the sole
Jewish reindeer living in the North Pole.
Schmuck was bullied and treated the worst way,
Until his brilliant plan saved one Christmas day. 

Schmuck the Buck introduces Larry, a young Jewish reindeer. He overcomes his awkward and sometimes painful youth to save Christmas. His tale of acceptance and inclusion is sure to warm the hearts of anyone who loves Christmas, Hanukkah, or both. A unique modern addition to any holiday library.”

I received a copy of Schmuck the Buck: Santa’s Jewish Reindeer in return for an honest review, with the promise that it would be an easy read of 60 beautifully illustrated pages of satire. After a significant period of procrastination (lets blame that on the weather!), I sat down on a cold morning – in my slippers, in front of the fire, with my cat and a hot coffee – and dug in. However, within minutes, my coffee was all over the floor and I was laughing my head off!

BLOG POST • Life Updates and Cat Pics

Hey guys!

Once again I’ve been on an accidental hiatus from blogging, and I thought I should probably write a post to explain (and apologise!) a little 😳 and to make amends…

BOOK REVIEW • A Spoke in the Wheel – Kathleen Jowitt 4.5/5*

“The first thing I saw was the wheelchair. The first thing she saw was the doper. Ben Goddard is an embarrassment – as a cyclist, as an athlete, as a human being. And he knows it. Now that he’s been exposed by a positive drugs test, his race wins and his work with disabled children mean nothing. He quits professional cycling in a hurry, sticks a pin in a map, and sets out to build a new life in a town where nobody knows who he is or what he’s done. But when the first person he meets turns out to be a cycling fan, he finds out that it’s not going to be quite as easy as that. Besides, Polly’s not just a cycling fan, she’s a former medical student with a chronic illness and strong opinions. Particularly when it comes to Ben Goddard.”

I received this book from the author in return for an honest review, and I was instantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it and the extent to which Jowitt’s writing captivated me. The novel, at its centre, considers the question of ‘starting anew’; Ben Goddard, recently expelled from the cycling community after a drug scandal, begins the novel by running away from his past and, in this way, it is a mature ‘coming-of-age’ story. However, it is also much more than that. The book brilliantly illustrates a number of on-topic and important issues in today’s society, such as disability prejudice and the realities of competitive sport, whilst still managing to be a light-hearted, and often hilarious, page-turner. Despite being completely ignorant to the world of competitive cycling, I found the novel touching, enlightening and a compelling read.

BLOG POST • September Wrap Up

So, guys, although I know I’m a bit late (but better late than never, right?) I’ve decided to do a monthly ‘wrap up’ of the books I’ve read this month!

As you might know, alongside my blogging (and my general day job), I’m currently studying a Masters in English Literature and Creative Writing, so you might notice that the books I read over the course of a month are usually a very eclectic mix (a general mash-up of things I have chosen to read, things I have been sent to review, and University-related novels). However, each month I will try to include why I read each book, what I thought about it (if I haven’t written a full review) and include the next month’s hypothetical TBR list.

I hope you enjoy and have a good reading month!

So, in no particular order, here we go…

BLOG TOUR • One Very Odd Teacher – Robbie Yates 4/5*

Welcome to my stop on the ‘One Very Odd Teacher’ Blog Tour! Thank you to Shalini @ Digital Reads for having me. For more wonderful reviews and tours, please visit her here.

“The humming noise got louder. Adam willed himself to focus. He had to finish his math test.
Suddenly, the noise became unbearable. He glanced up.
Mrs Murphy was inches away, leaning over another kid’s desk. Was the noise coming from her?
***
Every child remembers a teacher who was a little bizarre, prickly or ill-tempered. Some teachers, though, are very odd indeed, and warrant some closer attention…
This quirky chapter book will thrill kids who are adventurous, brave, and a little bit cheeky!”

BOOK REVIEW • Happier Thinking – Lana Grace Riva 4/5*

‘Changing how you think is possible. I wasn’t always so sure that was true until I experienced it myself, but I know now we don’t have to just accept unhappiness. Not always anyway. This book is my collection of tips and suggestions that have helped me achieve happier thinking. It’s sort of a gym for my mind. I’d love to tell you it was easier than the real gym but well… it’s not really. It takes time, effort, and practice but it’s absolutely well worth the rewards.’

I received this book in return for an honest review by the author and, I will admit, that, I began the book feeling very sceptical of its informal tone and structure. However, the book’s introduction excellently explains Riva’s deliberate use of informality: she is not a scientist, nor is she a psychologist, and this is not a typical ‘self-help’ book. Instead, the book is intended to be a series of tips and tried-and-tested solutions to feelings of unhappiness, written from one sufferer to another, as a friend. And as a unique piece of non-fiction, I feel that the book succeeds in its aims.

REVIEW • A Tiny Bit Marvellous – Dawn French 3/5*

Everyone hates the perfect family. So you’ll love the Battles.

Meet Mo Battle, about to turn 50 and mum to two helpless, hormonal teenagers. There’s 17-year-old daughter Dora who blames Mo for, like, EVERYTHING and Peter who believes he’s quite simply as darling and marvellous as his hero Oscar Wilde. Somewhere, keeping quiet, is Dad . . . who’s just, well… Dad. However, Mo is having a crisis. She’s about to do something unusually wild and selfish, which will leave the entire family teetering on the edge of a precipice. Will the family fall? Or will they, when it really matters, be there for each other?

At first I considered this another ‘marvellous’ charity shop find – it was in beautiful condition, a ‘number one bestseller’, and written by an idol of mine, the hilarious Dawn French. What’s not to love, right? The first few pages were, as expected, hilarious. But as I trudged through (yes, trudged), I was more and more disappointed. Unfortunately, the witty prose and the laugh-out-loud narration fails to rescue the novel from its major fault – the boring plot.

BLOG POST • The Sunshine Blogger Award 🌞

Big shout out to the wonderful Eram at The Confuzzled Reader for nominating me and a few others for this award! Thank you for consciously nominating smaller, up-and-coming book bloggers and helping us to all get involved! (Check out her wonderful page here) ❤️

So, what is The Sunshine Blogger Award?

The Sunshine Blogger Award is given to bloggers who are creative, positive, and inspiring.  Once nominated, the blogger is required to write a post in which they:

• Thank the blogger who nominated them and link back to their blog.

• Answer the 11 questions asked by the blogger who nominated them.

• Nominate 11 other blogs and give them 11 new questions to answer.

• Notify your nominees and display the Sunshine Blogger Award in your post.

So let’s get started!

BLOG POST • A – Z Book Survey #TAG

So guys, guess who just hit 50 followers!!! *…small clap from the back*

So I thought I would do another book tag to celebrate 🎉

This one comes from ForTheLuvOfBooks and I thought it would be a great way for you to get to know me, and for me to get to know some of you wonderful book bloggers. To join in, just copy and paste the survey, answer the questions yourself, and tag me so I can read your answers!

Thanks to everyone who has enjoyed my posts so far. Here’s to 50 more! 🥂

Here we go…