Let me start off by thanking all those who voted for my classic read of the month for February. Although to be perfectly honest, I think I’ll need more than February to complete this iconic romance novel.
My classic read of the month is Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell, a book that I have long avoided given the sheer length of it. Yet I have always been intrigued particularly by its context and setting, that of a world rife with the lucrative returns of slavery and a culture of riding, fighting and drinking. I’m sure I will have lots to say about this epic read and honestly I’m excited to get into it!
The End We Start From is the award-winning debut by Megan Hunter published in 2017 by Picador Books. Some time in the future, London is completely submerged by floodwaters forcing the protagonist and her family, including her newborn son, Z, to flee northwards to in search of refuge.
The story-telling is imaginatively distinctive and seems to carry a flavour of poeticism. Hunter creates a story that is uniquely her own with sparse prose, unnamed characters and animal symbolism. I thought this latter use of symbolism was both prolific and thought-provoking. It was as though the reader was being reminded of their insignificance especially in the face of natural disasters which we can never tame nor overcome…
Every month I’ll be reading a classic to add to my collection of reviews. Please help me choose which one I should read next by taking the survey below! And before you go, tell me in the comments: What was the last classic book you read and what did you think? Thank you in anticipation of your votes and Happy Reading! 📚
“There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me.” Pride And Prejudice by Jane Austen
A book of enchanting and whimsical folklore with fabled tales of quick-witted giants, crafty dwarves, life-granting apples and beguiling gods, Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman is a humorous retelling of age old Scandinavian myths.
The story is sequential in nature with each tale progressively building up anticipation for Ragnorok or ‘Doomsday’ at the end. The final chapter offers a powerful ending about cycles and continuity and it is written, unlike the rest of the narrative, in future tense which felt very prophetic and synonymous of the concept of Doomsday as a whole, something distant and apocalyptic.
Read the full review by visiting the Book Reviews page!
Blood Of Elves by Andrej Sapkowski is the second installment in the Witcher series, a fantasy world where Geralt a powerful sorceror protects and fights for the weak against fearsome beasts; monsters, dragons and elves.
Geralt takes on a more paternalistic role in Blood Of Elves being charged with the protection of Princess Ciri of Cintra whose home and city was sacked by the wrath of the Nilfgaardians. Geralt takes Ciri, our strong willed heroine on many adventures where she learns the way of the Witcher.
This novel feels like a coming of age story as it is mostly told from Ciri’s perspective. As Ciri grows, learns to fight and discovers hidden secrets about her abilities, she comes to realize how rife with conflict the world is. She discovers the power of ignorance in breeding hatred and fear. Hatred towards Witchers who are to many unnatural and ungodly. And tensions running high between Elves and Men.
Blood Of Elves is a very distinctive fantasy with a mature edge. It has all the winning attributes of prophecies, epic battles and magic. I’m still loving this series and can’t wait for the next part; Time Of Contempt!
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Hey Bookworms! Thank you for reading this review and please don’t forget to vote for your favourite book of 2018 here! Happy Reading! X
Last year was a year like any other. Full of highs and rife with lows. I experienced my fair share of both in equal measure despite how generic that sounds. Among other things, I’m so glad that I finally started this blog after years of procrastination and self-doubt. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still trying to figure this stuff out as sometimes I really feel so out of my depth. Nevertheless, its thanks to this little blog of mine that I have been able to read 50 books this year which I am extremely thrilled about!
c But those books which stood above the rest and affected me the most are those which I am going to share with you today. Here are my Top 5 books of 2018!
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Silent Companions by Laura Purcell “…This insidiously gothic horror story which I’ve been gushing over on various social media platforms, gripped me from the outset to the ingeniously sinister end.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This Is Going To Hurt by Adam Kay“… This book is without doubt unquestionably funny. Even at times when it shouldn’t be, the occasional tone of cynicism turns an otherwise dire situation into a witty anecdote.”⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini “… the writing style is flawless with imagery that is both scenic and vibrant. I loved reading his descriptions of Herat when Mariam first ventured there.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wonder Valley by Ivy Pochoda “… the writing is atmospheric, placing you in the scene so vividly as though you were running alongside Tony on his morning jog, or walking alongside Sam and Blake in the oppressive heat of the desert.”⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata “… the way it injected an almost unopened newness into the banality of being a store worker through Keiko’s unusual perspective was perfection.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐
These were utterly brilliant books which I greatly enjoyed reading. They lingered on in my thoughts well after I had finished reading them. They opened my eyes in some way and changed my outlook and I can’t wait to read each one of them again. Please click on the titles above to read my reviews! If you’ve read any of these books, please tell me your thoughts about it in the comments 🙂 📚
⬇️ Now I want to hear from you fellow readers!
⬇️ Vote for your fave book of 2018 here!
Thank you so much for your support in 2018 and for your feedback! Have a fantastic 2019 you bibliophiles! And to keep updated with my upcoming reviews, please visit the Book Reviews page 🙂
Dark Days Lonely Nights by author and poet D. R. Nguyen is a collection of free verse poems about unfulfilled dreams. The depressing and gloomy tone renders it both deeply relatable and at times a bit melodramatic.
I started reading these verses on my lunch break from the full-time 9-5 job I currently have; so such poems as I Wonder and Routine really resonated with me and I could empathize with the disillusionment, the sense of frustration and pointlessness that makes the pursuit of dreams seem altogether bleak.
This collection is very short and can easily be read within a day or two. Ironically, the only criticism I have with these poems is that they lacked any substantial poetry. Apart from A Dream Lost which likens dreams to lovers and the book’s clear sense of mood, it lacked the poeticism of imagery and symbolism. .
I personally related with many of these poems as they perfectly captured the occasional feelings of defeatism I sometimes experience, and this held my interest throughout. However, my overall enjoyment was thwarted by the overly pessimistic tone, so I rate Dark Days And Lonely Nights..
