It’s safe to say that I’ve read more in the last 9 weeks than the entirety of last year! So I couldn’t help myself and made a little book order that came the other week, so I thought I’d show you what I picked up!
Read moreA Lil’ Book Haul
Most Anticipated Reads 2019.
I’m hoping to get back into reading this year, and these are all the books I’m most excited about releasing soon!!
Read moreEleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine Review.
“Although it’s good to try new things and to keep an open mind, it’s also extremely important to stay true to who you really are.”
Read moreTop Reads of 2018
I’ll be honest, I didn’t do an awful lot (surprise, surprise) of reading, however the reading I did do I absolutely enjoyed. So I thought I would give a quick roundup about all the ones I really loved in 2018.
Read moreA Court of Thorns and Roses Review
This has been sitting in my drafts since the middle of last year, which makes me a terrible blogger I know! However, I have been raving about this book, and this series honestly, to anyone who will listen. So now I’m going to share my thoughts with you so that you will hopefully go and grab a copy immediately, but will also kickstart me back into writing up reviews.
Read moreMy Graphic Novel Collection
Graphic Novels were never something I saw myself getting into and to be honest I get too excited about new ones to ever continue buying one series! However, I have stumbled across some over the last year or so that I have really enjoyed so I thought I’d show you my little-but-ready-to-expand collection that sit proudly at the top of my bookcase.
Lumberjanes was one of the first Graphic novels I picked up a few years ago. I think I was feeling a little bit rubbish and took my usual pick-me-up trip to Waterstones and decided I wanted something easygoing and fun. Thus Lumberjanes happened. As I often find for me, it was the art style that pulled me in on this particular series. I love looking at all the illustrations but I also genuinely love the story of these girls. It’s a fantastic story of friendship and courage and how you can be brave if only just by believing you are. I have yet to read the third one, but the fact I’ve even picked up the next two in this series, I think is telling enough about how much I enjoyed the first one.
I was very worried about delving into the Marvel and DC graphic novels, because its such a vast and expanding universe that I wasn’t quite sure where to start. I didn’t want to pick something up that I wouldn’t understand because I needed to read 3 other series’ and a TV show to understand. So instead of delving straight in at the deep end, I took a few cautious steps with one’s I knew I could pick up and not be lost. Black Widow was the first one I picked up and I absolutely loved it! The artwork is exactly what I expected from a Marvel Graphic Novel and the back story was amazing, it gave so much depth to a typically pretty 2D character. Don’t get me wrong, I think Black Widow is awesome but I don’t think the films delve into her enough to really allow her to be her own character. I definitely need to get my hands on the rest of this series as well as the Hawkeye one, which I’ve heard is equally as amazing.
Ms Marvel was a christmas present last year, and I’m pretty sure I read it as soon as I opened it. I enjoyed it a lot, but after the hype around it, I was kind of expecting a little bit more. I will pick up the next one and see if that changes my mind, but I’m not in an absolute rush to do that. The Flash 52 is one I debated with and was actually another Christmas present. I know there’s been other Flash Graphic novels and like I said I didn’t want to be in the position where I needed to have read something else to understand the timeline or lore. But this was a very good choice. This is The Flash reimagined, a new story of sorts I think. So I didn’t think I was missing anything while reading this. As much as I enjoyed this, I’m not sure I would rush to pick up the rest of them, purely because I think there are others out there that I might enjoy more.
Saga was the other one I picked up during my first outing into Graphic Novels. And I certainly wasn’t disappointed with it. If you’re looking for a slap you in the face, no frills and no pussy footing around badass graphic novel, this is it. I’ve read it a few times and I’m still not 100% sure about what’s going on, I just know it’s amazing! If you’re looking for something out of your comfort zone, fantasy based and that will typically blow your socks of, get your hands on this. From the story to the artwork to the presentation to the quality of the book itself, I have yet to find something I’ve enjoyed quite as much. I’ve been meaning to pick up the rest of them for the longest time, but I can never seem to find the second one in any of the stores I go into, so I’m still on the hunt for those.
Paper Girls is the newest one in my collection, and I’ll be honest with you, it didn’t blow me away. I think based on all the other’s I’d delved into, I just really expected something that wasn’t delivered. I’m going to pick up the second one, purely because the end of the first one pulled a twist out of the bag that was semi-interesting and I really liked the art style, so I’ve decided to give the next one to see if the story picks up. But currently, I would worry yourselves about racing to the stores to grab this.
I wont lie, The Wicked and The Divine is one I picked up one birthday because of all the hype I’d heard about it and I think I’ve only read the first few pages. I think it’s going to be quite lore and story heavy which I’m really interested to delve into but I just haven’t found the time or brain power to do so yet. I did see another one in the collection on my last visit to Waterstone and I did pick it up and flick through, and from the few bits I saw, I definitely need to get my head into this so I can get the rest.
The League of Extraordinary Gentleman had been one on my list for as long as I can remember. Not because it was a graphic novel, but because of the fact I actually really like the movie. However, compared to the other graphic novels I’d bought this was a little more pricey and I wasn’t sure whether it would be worth it. If you liked the movie, it definitely is, I would recommend picking this up asap. I’m not the biggest fan of the artwork, I’m definitely more of a cartoon style reader I think. However, story wise this is fab and I love picking it up randomly and just chipping away at it, and every time I do, I get this real urge to watch the film.
It’s seems I’ve unintentionally left my favourite till last. Nimona was one that I heard A LOT about before it came out and I was actually a little unsure about it. But it’s easily my favourite of every graphic novel featured here. The story, the artwork, everything is just so perfect. I’m sad that there isn’t more because honestly it had me laughing and mentally cheering my possibly favourite duo the whole way through. It reminds me very much of Rainbow Rowell, both in story and artwork. I know that I’ve gushed about a few of the others on this list, but if you’re an avid book lover who is looking to branch into Graphic Novels, this I the one for you. I think it’s the one that most reads like a book and is the closest in terms of feeling like a novel. If nothing, the artwork is adorable.
Are there any Graphic Novels on this list that you also love? Are there any you love that you think I need to get my hands on? Let me know down below!
My Bedside TBR Pile.
My plan for the summer was to try and read more. Which didn’t really happen so then I decided I’d just try and get back into that mindset where reading doesn’t feel like a chore. So I’ve decided to have a TBR pile on my bedside table. My thinking is that, because the only real time I would have to read will be the end of the day, having them right next to my bed might mean I pick one up as I crawl into bed.
The first on the pile is Sarah J. Mass’ A Court of Frost and Starlight. I’m actually really excited to pick this one up. A companion novel to one of my favourite book series of the year so far, A Court of Thorns and Roses, I’m very excited to delve back into a world full of characters that I adore. I’ve been putting this off since it arrived on my doorstep a few months ago purely because I don’t want the series to end and I know that after I’ve turned the last page in this book, that it’ll be over.
Second in the pile is Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepherd. Now I had a bit of a love/hate relationship with the TV show. I’d watch binge-watch a season in the space of two days but then wouldn’t watch another one for months. The only seasons I think I watched as soon as it came out was the last two. That being said, I’ve always been interested in reading the books, despite having been spoiled and knowing how they end. (Don’t worry I won’t spoil it for you here!) I saw the whole collection for £12 in a charity shop a couple weeks ago and I couldn’t resist because I have no self-control.
The next is a book I know I’m bound to read within no time. The Princess Saves Herself In This One. I’m trying to make a really conscious effort to start reading, as well as writing, more poetry this summer. After having been such a huge part of my life while I was at Uni, I’ve missed being away from it for as long as I have. I’m hoping that starting to read some poetry will get me back in the mood to write, as that’s one of my favourite things to do. I even used to publish my poetry on here but I haven’t done that in years, maybe I should start again? Anyway, I’m hoping that having a book full of poetry by my bed will mean that I am more inclined to pick it up and chip away at it a bit more often.
Lastly, we have the first The Wicked and The Divine collection. I thought that I would throw in a graphic novel just in case I don’t feel like delving into something that takes too much concentration or a lot of brain power, I can still pick this up and have a flick through. Chances are this will be finished in one sitting but that’s no bad thing. I think it will be a nice way to ease back into reading!
Have you got a TBR pile? What are you planning to read? Have you read any of the books on my list? What did you think? Let me know in the comments!
Turtles All The Way Down Review
Okay, so this is a super late review. As in I started and finished this book during the first week of February. I know, I know, I’m a terrible person. Anyway, in February I was doing some temping work that required a bit of travel to get there. I was on the bus for half an hour there and back, which makes a very bored Taylor for an hour a day. So I decided I would take a book to keep myself company. Bear in mind that until this point, I hadn’t read and finished a book for probably a year. Mostly because I’m lazy but also down to the fact that my brain sometimes can’t process and store a large amount of information due to brain fog. So the fact that I finished this within a couple of days was a complete surprise.
I’ve read almost all of John Green’s other books, and I really liked them. When I was like 16. Now that’s not to say the writing isn’t good, because it is. But I found that they are more relatable to kids that age, which is fine. Like I say the other books aren’t bad, but I wouldn’t be in a rush to re-read them any time soon. This purchase was due to a moment of weakness in Sainsbury’s when I saw that it was less than a tenner. And because I have all of his other books, I just had to, okay? I hadn’t really heard a lot about this book at the time that I bought it, but I think that was more down to the fact I’ve not really kept up with new releases, at least not as much I used to, more than there having not been any hype around it.
Previous to reading the book, I did watch the video of John reading the first chapter, and I’d be lying if I said that it didn’t interest me. Because it did. Aza interested me. So I was more than happy to spend my time traveling to work with my nose in this book.
And I really liked it. I related hard to some bits in this book. The concept of the Thought Spirals hit me like a tonne of bricks. Because that was how my brain worked sometimes. I found remnants of myself in Aza throughout the book and I think this is one of the main reasons I liked it so much. Often with books in the genre, I find that there are some long, slow bits which really put me off. As soon as I’ve lost interest I put the book down and typically never pick it back up. But everything that was written in this book had a point. There was a reason behind everything written, no slow bits. But perhaps that could be partly due to the fact that it isn’t a very on-the-edge, thrilling read? That being said, I almost think I preferred the languid, breezy pace it had rather than the dynamic, frantic pace it could have had. There was so much franticness going on in Aza’s head, you don’t need that in every chapter too.
Something I think John Green always knocks out the park is his ability to capture being a teenager. He does this so well within Aza’s thought patterns as well as the speech used. I’m a little ashamed to say that when I was 16 I also used the word ‘like’ at the start of every sentence. (I still do sometimes!) While Aza is for sure not your typical teenager, there’s some beauty in that. John shows the world that for some, it really isn’t all about parties and drinking. It’s about forging genuine connections with people. About discovering the kind of person you are, or the kind you want to be. Something else John does well is the fact he keeps us guessing throughout. Obviously no spoilers, but even when things seem to have concluded and been put to bed, we’re still left thinking, what’s going to happen? It keeps us thinking about what’s next, but not in a ‘I need to read this every second of the day because I can’t put it down’ but in more of an ‘I’m really interested in these characters and I want to see more about how they act when they’re put into different situations’.
I’ll admit that I was less interested in the mystery once we started to delve into Aza’s relationship with Davis, but I think that’s the point. I don’t think the mystery itself is the thing that keeps you engaged and turning the page. It’s just there, it’s a thing that happens that strangely brings these people together. It doesn’t really matter. What matters is what these people do about it or as a result of it.
What did I love most? I loved how predominantly about Aza the whole book is. Yes, there’s a murder and a mystery, but this is a story about Aza, everything else is more like background noise. Even in the moment’s where Aza is with all her friends, we see her tuning out and spiraling in her thoughts and for me, those were the moments where the writing really shone. It was written so brilliantly and so on point for many people, myself included. It was definitely one of those books that I got sad about when I started to realize how few pages were left. It had that kind of comfort about it that I didn’t want to end.
One not-really-a-spoiler point is that I was a little surprised by the ending. Mainly because it felt like it ended too quickly. Don’t get me wrong it was written well, and I actually really liked the ending itself. But with less than 100 pages left, I still had so many questions left. Will Davis’ dad come back? Does Aza control her anxiety? Does she fall out with Daisy? Will she stay with Davis? What will happen to Noah? Did I have too many questions because of how much I loved the characters? Probably. Was I a little disappointed when it felt like the ending fell a little too flat and open-ended? Definitely. Like I say, I liked the reminiscent tone and the foreboding. I guess if you squint a little, everything is tied up, albeit a little messily. I did think it was a good choice to not openly say what happens to Aza and that we’re left to wonder and make up our own minds. I think in a lot of ways this allows the character to stay with us even after the last page has turned.
If you’re a fan of John Green’s stuff or YA books in general, this is definitely a book you should feast your eyes on. However, if you’re looking for a book that keeps you on edge and keeps you guessing, this might be a tad disappointing. But I can say that having finished the book over 3 months ago, it’s one I’m still fond of and would happily read again.
Have you read Turtles All The Way Down? Are you a fan of John Green? Let me know in the comments so we can nerd out about books for a while!
Reading Goals For 2018.
Every year I tell myself that I want to read more, and every year I fail. I’ve always used excuses like ‘Oh, I have too much uni work’ or ‘I’m too busy having an actual social life’ or my favourite ‘I’ve spent all week reading a (what I found) dull book for an assignment, and my brain just cannot make sense of words right now’. However, this year is the year I read more books. Maybe. At least I’m going to try and make it the year I read more. I thought maybe the problem was that I’ve been being too broad, telling myself to read more books is almost like setting myself up for disaster. Too much choice, too much freedom and my brain just decides not to deal. So I’ve set a few goals instead because I feel like that will help make things run a lot smoother.
Read more classic books
I’m sorry okay, but sometimes I just can’t deal with the classics. They’re long and sometimes I find them boring, yet I still find the compulsion to buy them for my bookcase. (My argument is that they’re usually Penguin Classics editions and look nice on my shelf because the spines all sort of match.) So I’m going to try and read at least a few this year. I’m going to try and start with some of Fitzgerald’s because The Great Gatsby is one of my favourite books ever, so I thought that would probably ease me in, but I’m going to throw in some Orwell and Kerouac in there too. If you have any classic novels or even plays, I love a good play, that you think I should pick up then let me know in the comments down below.
Keep more up to date with new releases
I used to be so in the know of upcoming releases and new authors, but the last few years I’ve been a little out of touch. But when I did take an interest I got me so excited to pick up that book and read it. So I’m going to try and stay a little more in the loop and not just pick up a book because it looks pretty, but because I’ve actually heard about it and it sounds amazing.
Try to read at least one book a month
I thought I’d set the bar low because that way anything else is a lovely bonus. Plus theres not too much pressure for me to finish a book quickly and rush through it. Giving myself a month, still allows me to find my feet a little, decide if I’m enjoying it enough to finish and really take it in.
Read more non-fiction
I used to love buying non-fiction books, and I have loads of them on my shelf. Books about film-making, hieroglyphics, the moon landings just to name a few. So this is more of a broad goal, if I find the time to pick one up, great but I’m not going to say I want to read a certain amount because I very much doubt it will happen. I’m just going to see where my curiosity takes me and go from there.
Do not buy a new book until you finish reading one
I bulk buy books. I’ll go into a charity shop and without fail come out with at least five. I can’t help it, it’s like I can’t just buy one because it might get lonely and then if I find more than one I always have a really hard time trying to choose between them. My justification comes in the form of me telling myself that at 99p a book, having five is not going to break the bank. I feel like this is a great compromise, it’s not a buying ban (which we all know I’d be terrible at) but if I know there’s a new book I know is coming out that I’m dying to get, it’ll hopefully give me the motivation to pick up something I already have and finish it, in order to get the new one. I’m not sure how well or how long this ones going to last but we’ll see!
Do you have any book goals/resolutions this year? Or maybe you’ve got a TBR pile you’re hoping to get through this year? Let me know down in the comments, or leave links to your posts, and I’ll be sure to check them out. Oh and don’t forget to leave any ‘classic’ recommendations down there too!
Books I've Brought Recently.
I’ve been really good, promise, before this little haul I hadn’t even set sights on a book for months. Well I might have set my sights on some books but I didn’t buy anything, promise! But then, the last week I just couldn’t help myself and I felt the need to have new books in my hand again, so I went off to my local trusty Oxfam and got my pennies out.
Turtles All The Way Down – John Green
Now, this one I didn’t find in the charity shop, but it was on offer in the shop I work at so I just couldn’t resist it. I’ve been a fan of John Green for ages, but I did have the slight worry that maybe I’d moved on from his sort of writing. But I decided to grab it anyway because if nothing else, it’ll look nice on my bookshelf. From what I can gather, it’s about a girl, called Aza, whose obsessed with bacteria and the transmission of disease. Her friend Daisy has a plan that involves a missing billionaire and the reward money for his return. It sounds fairly interesting and I did listen to John Green read out his first chapter, you can too here, and I have to say I was quite hooked. This will probably be something I pick up over Christmas, as it only ever seems to take me a few days to get through his books.
Now the rest of these I did get from the charity shop, all in great condition and coming to just under £6, which was a huge bargain.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower – Stephen Chbosky
This is a book and a film I have never seen, but am forever hearing good things about. I know I’m a little bit late to the bandwagon but I’m glad I’ve finally got my hands on it and with the cover I wanted too. For anyone who has been living under the same rock I have, this is about a boy who is finally experiencing life with things such as his fist kiss and so on. I’m excited to read this, if only just because the film has been such a big hit.
A Handful of Dust – Evelyn Waugh
I’ve been trying to buy more classics so that I have to read them because they’re there and I really liked the cover of this one. In fact I like the covers of most of the Penguin Classics and I’d have them all happily if I could. From what I gather, this takes place after the first world war but before the second, and follows Brenda Last as she embarks in an affair with a shallow socialite when she becomes bored with her marriage. This seems like it’s going to follow very similar themes to other books I’ve read set around the same time, but I’ve always enjoyed them so I look forward to picking this up!
The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a Fuck – Sarah Knight
I’m pretty sure that everyone knows of this book, it’s one that’s been floating around the blogosphere for months and I’m happy I’ve finally got my hands on it. It’s actually the first of this little pile that I’ve picked up, and with that, the first book I’ve picked up in a while. I’ve only read the first few chapters, but I’ve loved what I’ve read so far. Sarah has a way of writing that makes you feel like she’s just talking to you and you just find yourself nodding along and agreeing with everything she says. This probably wont be one that I read all in one sitting but I look forward to finishing it.
Elmet – Fiona Mozley
I’m not going to lie, I got this purely because of the cover. I’m a sucker for a crisp white cover, what can I say, it’s a problem. I know nothing about this book except that it was a finalist in the 2017 Man Booker Prize and I quite like the idea of going into it blind.
Black Water – Louise Doughty
This is another one that I brought purely for the cover, honestly, I have a problem. And again I have no idea what this is about, I glanced very briefly at the synopsis on Amazon because I didn’t want to know too much. But from what I can gather, there’s a man and a woman, an affair, the chance at redemption and maybe something about the cold war and civil rights. It’s enough to get it on the list of books I definitely need to read in 2018 anyway,
A Murder is Announced – Agatha Christie
Okay, so truth time, I’ve never read a book by Agatha Christie. I know, tragic. The closest I’ve ever come to her work is when there was a Doctor Who episode that featured her, does that even count? I didn’t think so. So when I saw this cute little pocket-sized edition, I needed to have it. I’ve no idea what it’s about of if there’s like an order or anything, but I think the best way for me to get started is to just jump in, which is what I’m planning to do with this one. If you have any Christie recommendations, I’d love to hear them, so please do leave a comment!
