Christmas Presents Guide 2017!

Helloooo there! Here we are in the Christmas season once again yippee! Merry Christmas to ye all! I've got a big old list of TEN books to suggest to you for lovely presents for all your lovely friends and family! There's stuff for explorers, garden lovers, a v interesting graphic novel, hard hitting YA, something sciencey, something feminismy, some weird short stories, a dystopian novella, and a whole novel in verse! Without further a do, here are my suggestions for books to give as presents this festive season:

Rolling Blackouts by Sarah Glidden

I found Sarah Glidden's first graphic memoir How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less so compelling and thoughtful and reflective and Rolling Blackouts does not disappoint. It's in a similar style, but with Glidden taking more of an observer's view to the rest of her group, which comprises of two journalist friends and an ex Marine as they travel through Turkey, Syria and Iraq in 2010, pre Arab Spring. I really love Sarah Glidden's artwork. She has such a soft touch- subtle, with really beautiful watercolour washes, and great characters. Super interesting, great storytelling, beautiful artwork.

The Mother of All Questions by Rebecca Solnit

After the popularity of Men Explain Things to Me, which I enjoyed as some lunchtime reading this year, The Mother of All Questions is Rebecca Solnit's new collection of essays on feminism. I have a really nice yellow Haymarket Books edition, but there's a lovely shiny hardback edition which would be perrrrrrrfect as a present or your fave feminist thinker.

Moonrise by Sarah Crossan

Sarah Crossan's wonderful book One was one of my favourites of last year, and Moonrise is also wonderful! Written entirely in verse, it tells the story of a family attempting to deal with their oldest sibling being on death row after being falsely accused of murder.  It really is wonderful and emotional and nuanced and powerful and complicated and quiet and contemplative and juuust great. 

Life in the Garden by Penelope Lively

I listened to a lovely interview with Penelope Lively on Women's Hour and I thought her new book Life in the Garden sounded like a perfect present for a garden lover! It is part memoir and part a look a gardens in literature. I'm giving a copy to one of my garden-loving grannies but I may have to give it a sneaky read first!

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

The Hate U Give is a powerful novel by Angie Thomas. An unapologetic look at race based violence in the United States, centred around the aftermath of a police shooting of an unarmed black teenager. Starr is the central character- a teenage girl who navigates the worlds of her hood neighbourhood home and her private school education. After her childhood friend Khalil is shot by a police officer while Starr is in the passenger seat, she has to work out how to find strength to speak out, be a strong witness, and figure out a way to be brave in the face of tragedy. It's amazing and important and has been topping the NYT bestseller list for about a million weeks. If you haven't read it yet then really what are you waiting for.

The Doll's Alphabet by Camilla Grudova

For the short story lover in your life, The Doll's Alphabet by Camilla Grudova could be an excellent present choice. Perfect for fans of Angela Carter, these stories are creepy and interlinked through themes and imagery of sewing machines, strange cities, pregnancy, and dolls. It's a beautiful blue Fitzcarraldo Edition and was just as strange and creepy as I hoped it would be when I read it earlier this year. 

The End We Start From by Megan Hunter

A beautiful hardback novella, The End We Start From is the first book by Megan Hunter. It is set in an apocalyptic England and is sparsely written but somehow with such a vivid sense of place and emotion, dealing with motherhood and family. It's a very intense read, but perfect for a reading in a oner over the holidays. 

Superpowerless by Chris Priestley

I'm just realising how heavy the topics of these books all are... this one is about David who is not handling his grief over the death of his father particularly well. He hides in his inherited comic books, believing he is a superhero himself, with one task. He's also navigating the social circles of high school and relationships with girls, and doing a fair bit of spying on the neighbours out his bedroom window through a telescope. The author's illustrations are featured throughout the book too. This one might be good for a teen type person!

Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo Rovelli

Now for a bit of science! Carlo Rovelli, Italian theoretical physicist, takes you through various monumental physics based moments from this century and the last. It's about black holes and stuff? Gravity? Space and stuff? Basically it's a huge best seller in Italy, and he's got a another one out too, Reality Is Not What It Seems: The Journey to Quantum Gravity, in a lovely spotty hardback. I got this one for a sciencey person in my life! 

Wild Guide Scotland by Kimberley Grant, Richard Gaston, David Cooper

Why not give the gift of some adventure inspiration this Christmas! Wild Guide Scotland is the perfect travel guide for the best and most wild places hidden in the nooks and crannies of Scotland. Wild camping, wild swimming, wildlife! It is a beautiful book full of excellent and well research information on how to make the most out of your time in Scotland. The photographs are pretty spectacular too. 

Ho Ho Ho and have Merry Christmas ok byyyeeeeeee xoxoxox

Books I read in October!: The Invisible Child, Undercover Princess, Girls Will Be Girls, Bonfire, Northern Lights, Turtles All the Way Down, The Subtle Knife

Helloo helloo hellooooo! Wow this is late! Sorry! Ummmmm- Here's the books I read in October! It was mostly His Dark Materials but I squeezed in a few more too! I started off with The Invisible Child, a little two story collection by Tove Jansson from Oxfam and the Moomin company to raise money for women and girls, which is nice! I lovvvve Tove Jansson and the Moomins so I was very keen to get this wee book. I'd read both of the short stories before, but they were well worth a reread! I read Undercover Princess by Connie Glynn, which was fun and princessy but felt pretty unfinished to me, I wrote a review here if you're interested! I listened to Girls Will Be Girls by Emer O'Toole, which was excellent and informative and covers the societal structure of gender identity and feminism and stuff. I got a review copy of Krysten Ritter's first novel Bonfire, which is a thriller set in a small rural American town with a murder mystery and I thought it was pretty good! I reviewed Bonfire herrrrre! I also read the new John Green book Turtles All the Way Down and I raced it through it. I think it's his best one yet. And of course I was doing my reread of His Dark Materials, so I listened to Northern Lights on audiobook, which is an excellent way to do it as it is read by Philip Pullman himself with a whole cast of voice actors. I was so happy to be back in Lyra's Oxford and to discover how much I could or couldn't remember from the series as I was probably about 10 when I last read them. I also got through The Subtle Knife on kindle, which I loved reading too. It has such a different pace to Nothern Lights, and most of the action takes place over the course of a few weeks. I got on to The Amber Spyglass in November and then could finally read The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage too! I might read them all again AGAIN as they are just such wonderful books. 

The Invisible Child

Undercover Princess

Girls Will Be Girls

Bonfire

Turtles All The Way Down

His Dark Materials

Review!: Bonfire by Krysten Ritter

Bonfire is the first novel by Krysten Ritter, star of such excellent television shows as The B in Apartment 33 and of course Jessica Jones. This story takes place in the small town of our protagonist Abby Williams' childhood, where a 10 year old mystery disappearance has plagued the minds of every Barrens, Indiana townsperson. Back in town for the first time in 10 years as a grown up lawyer person investigating the potential water pollution of the local massive plastics firm, Abby digs up both the town's and her own past. 

While Abby investigates Optimal Plastics' layers of lies and cover ups, she also finds herself unearthing secrets about the decades old scandalous disappearance of popular girl Kaycee Mitchell, striking up romances with former classmates, navigating the complicated relationship with her ageing father, and attempting not to turn to drink as the impact of her childhood weighs down on her all the while trying to keep herself together in front of her colleagues.

Ritter thanks Lauren Oliver in her acknowledgments, and as a fan of Oliver's writing I could really see her influence on this thriller. I love Lauren Oliver's books so this was definitely a good thing. Bonfire is dark, a little depressing, enthralling and gripping. I entirely pictured Abby as Krysten Ritter/Jessica Jones- maybe there could be a new series in this? Badass environmental lawyer with gay black colleague uncovering corporate scandals and solving murders? I'm on board! 

This gripping thriller is perfect to keep you curled up where it's safe and warm indoors this autumn/winter. I'm looking forward to seeing what Krysten Ritter writes next!

I received a copy of Bonfire from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, which this is!

Review! The Undercover Princess by Connie Glynn

Undercover Princess is the first book by Connie Glynn, noodlerella on youtube, and the first part in The Rosewood Chronicles series. Our main character is the rather cutely named Lottie Pumpkin who earns herself a scholarship/bursary place at Rosewood Hall, a very prestigious private boarding school for heirs and royalty. Lottie has worked very hard to fulfil her mother's dying wish that she go to Rosewood Hall, so she leaves behind her quiet life in Cornwall with her slightly evil, possibly just antagonistic, step mum and best boy-pal, to attend the fancy school.

Lottie is also very into princesses, pink, and tiaras and much to her surprise ends up sharing a dorm room with an actual princess, the mysterious Ellie Wolf, Crown Princess of Maradova. Ellie has not yet been presented publicly as the heir to the throne, so she is attempting to keep her royalty undercover. As gossip spreads about there being a princess at school, Lottie ends up pretending to be the undercover princess, to help her new pal out, and to indulge a little in her fairytale princess dream.

I was really intrigued by the concept of an undercover princess, and as a fan of The Princess Diaries I was right up for the modern-European-princess-at-high-school set up (hello Princess of Maradova/Princess of Genovia.) And as a lover of She's The Man I was all for some undercover at boarding school action. There is a fun gang of friends from day 1 at Rosewood, with various geniuses, heirs to fortunes, snobby posh girls and flamboyant boys. We are introduced to the history of the school, the various teachers, classmates and their bodyguards, various secret passages. There is a lot to enjoy in this book and I found myself wanting to get to bed to read more every night. 

Howwwwwwwweverrrrrr, there was a certain first-drafty feeling to the whole thing. There were various typos and rogue line breaks in my review copy- which is fine, it's an unedited proof- but I rarely see so many in a bound review copy. I felt like certain details weren't given time to be explored or were presented and then forgotten about. We only spend a couple of pages at Lottie's home, so those step mum and best friend dynamics aren't super solidly set up. Lottie climbs through some kind of secret tunnel in an art cupboard and overhears a conversation. I reckon she could've overheard a conversation without a secret tunnel, or let's use that secret tunnel a whole lot more, also why is there a secret tunnel in the art cupboard? Let's talk about that secret tunnel! Lottie also walks through a river and goes underwater to find another secret tunnel with Ellie? They get all wet?? Nobody, including the teachers, knows who the secret princess is, but all the teachers know that Lottie is there on a bursary, so presumably they've figured she isn't the princess after all? Lottie gets her phone back at the Christmas holidays (there's a no-phones-during-term-time rule) but has no signal in her room, and then at the end of the school year talks about finally getting her phone back and making a call in her room. I mean that is pernickety but it bothered me! What was all that code breaking about eh? Was it just about the founder? I thought Binal was letting them know that she knew about the princess thing? No? Also the headmaster taking a back seat and letting his female colleagues be the voice of the school?? Give them the headmaster job then surely?? 

Overall, I actually thought it was a great idea, but I just wish it had felt a little less rushed. Maybe a little bit of restructuring and attention to detail could've ironed out some of the obvious issues. I thought the pacing was pretty good, we raced through the school year so we got a fair bit of development of Lottie's new friendships. I thought the world building of the school and all its intricacies was cool, although I lost sense of this as the book progressed. And naming the role of royal stand in 'Portman' just HAS to be because of Natalie Portman's role as Padme/Princess Amidala in Star Wars riiiiight? I thought that was clever! I'm hoping the next books in this series get more of a polish, and that Connie Glynn gets a bit more practiced at a flowing plot and attention to detail. In fact it made me think about the attention to detail, or lack thereof, in my own novel first draft, so it was a learning experience really!

Undercover Princess is a great concept, but felt like a bit of a first draft to me.

I received a review copy of Undercover Princess from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, which this is!

Autumnal Reads! Bonfire, The End We Start From, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, His Dark Materials, The Bear and the Nightingale, Comet in Moominland

Hello and Happy Autumn to you! I come to you from the damp depths of October, barrelling fast down its flood waters into the chilly chasm of November's dark embrace. It's been raining a lot, but when the rain stops for a minute you can look around and see the many pretty orange and red and brown leaves all falling from the trees into crunchy/mushy piles. The squirrels are busy squirrelling away nuts and the crows all seem to be up to something... so it's about time we all retreated indoors where the hot chocolate is only 2 mins in the microwave away, the heating is on, the fluffy socks have been dug out from the back of the drawer and a fine stack of Autumnal Reads awaits! 

I may be a little delirious from the v bad cold I currently have, but I'm not letting that hamper my efforts to recommend some cosy reading choices. And with the clocks going back you might as well use your extra hour in bed to enjoy some cosy reading time! 

Bonfire  is the first novel by Krysten Ritter, star of such excellent television shows as The B in Apartment 33 and Jessica Jones. This story takes place in the small town of our protagonist Abby Williams' childhood, where a 10 year old mystery disappearance has plagued the minds of every townsperson. Back as a grown up and a lawyer investigating the potential water pollution of the local massive plastics firm, Abby digs up both the town's and her own past. This gripping thriller is perfect to keep you curled up where it's safe and warm indoors. 

The End We Start From is the first book by Megan Hunter. Indulge those dooms day thoughts with this apocalyptic novella, sparsely written but somehow with such a vivid sense of place and emotion. It's a fairly intense read, but perfect for reading in one sitting while avoiding the howling winds of autumn.

His Dark Materials is the wonderful series by Phillip Pullman. Shroud yourself in the comfort and magnificence of this wonderful world, or should I say multiple worlds. Yes I should. I've been rereading the series in preparation for the return of Lyra's Oxford in the new The Book of Dust series. I've got my copy of part  one, La Belle Sauvage, now but thank the actual lord I decided to reread the others as I had entirely forgotten almost everything. To be fair to myself The Amber Spyglass did get published when I was 10, and I have a signed first edition of it, so odds are that was when I last read it! I really recommend making this series part of your autumnal reading line up.

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden is probably more wintery than autumnal given that it is set in winter in the Russian wilderness. There's plenty of exploration in the forest, horse whispering, rubbish step mothers, and most importantly magic and folk tales. Maybe save this one for the autumn to winter transitional period. Best served under blanket with mug of hot chocolate.

Comet in Moomimland is a wonderful moomin adventure story by Tove Jansson. With a comet headed for Moominvalley, much adventure and excitement ensues. I have a lovely new Sort Of Books collectors edition which has the original 1950s/60s cover designs. There are a few new editions which you can gaze at admiringly in between reading! I'm hoping to get my mitts on all of them.













We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson is a very creepy novella about sisters living in the big house outside of a small town. Their whole family was poisoned to death over dinner several years ago, and the sisters have continued living in the family house, hiding from the gossip and hostility of the people in town. It is so strange and creepy and brilliant and includes a 10/10 cat character. Read this one in candle light with cat on lap or curled up nearby. 

Books I read in September! Now I Rise, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, Hunger, The Doll's Alphabet, Men Explain Things to Me, Letters to Klara

Helllloooooo! I read a lot of vvvvvv good books in September. Forreal all of them were really good and tip top as far as I'm concerned. The bar was set high at the beginning of the month with Now I Rise by Kiersten White, the sequel to And I Darken. I loved part one so was anticipating enjoying part two v much which I did! It was great being back in the Ottoman/Byzantine empires with Lada and Radu and Mehmed. It was fast paced, but v long, so after that I read We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson, which I think is classed as a novella. It was strange and creepy and had 10/10 cat best friend action. I used my audible credit this month on Hunger by Roxane Gay and oh wow was it intense and draining but so worth reading/listening to. 

Next I was in the mood for more creepiness and some short stories so I picked The Doll's Alphabet by Camilla Grudova off my to-be-read pile. It's a beautiful blue Fitzcarraldo Edition and was just as strange and creepy as I hoped. My lunchtime reading for the month was Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit. I tend to read a non-fiction book over lunch breaks as I'm more likely to take it in during the day, so I decided to finnnnnnally read this. I have a really nice blue Haymarket Books edition, and I enjoyed the contents too! I rounded off the month with this year's new Tove Jansson translation from Sort Of Books, Letters to Klara. I love Tove Jansson's short stories so this was a pleasure to read! 

What a nice selection of books eh? A YA historical fiction novel, a creepy novella, a body memoir, more creepiness in short story form, some feminist non fiction, and some lovely Finnish short stories too!

Now I Rise by Kiersten White

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

Hunger by Roxane Gay

The Doll's Alphabet by Camilla Grudova

Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit

Letters to Klara by Tove Jansson

Review! The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

The Hate U Give is a powerful novel by Angie Thomas. An unapologetic look at race based violence in the United States, centred around the aftermath of a police shooting of an unarmed black teenager. Starr is the central character- a teenage girl who navigates the worlds of her hood neighbourhood home and her private school education. After her childhood friend Khalil is shot by a police officer while Starr is in the passenger seat, she has to work out how to find strength to speak out, be a strong witness, and figure out a way to be brave in the face of tragedy.

It's amazing and important and has been topping the NYT bestseller list for about a million weeks. The events in The Hate U Give are an indictment of the crazy times we're living in. If you haven't read it yet then really what are you waiting for. Here are six great quotes:

1. “Brave doesn’t mean you’re not scared, Starr,” she says. “It means you go on even though you’re scared. And you’re doing that.”   

2. “I never know which Starr I should be. I can use some slang, but not too much slang, some attitude, but not too much attitude, so I’m not a “sassy black girl.” I have to watch what I say and how I say it, but I can’t sound “white.”  

3. “Sometimes you can do everything right and things will still go wrong. The key is to never stop doing right”  

4. “People like us in situations like this become hashtags, but they rarely get justice.”  

5. “I hope none of them ask about my spring break. They went to Taipei, the Bahamas, Harry Potter World. I stayed in the hood and saw a cop kill my friend.”  

6. “That's the hate they're giving us, baby, a system designed against us. That's Thug Life” 

Books I read in August!: You Can't Touch My Hair, The Nearest Faraway Place, Like Other Girls, Tales from Moominvalley

Heyyyyyy look at that it's my August reading roundup! Let's dive in!  I started off the month on the train down to London listening to Phoebe Robinson's You Can't Touch My Hair on audiobook. I've been loving listening to Phoebe on her podcast 2 Dope Queens, with cohost Jessica Williams. I also watched Jessica Williams' film The Amazing Jessica James on Netflix so it's been v 2 Dope Queens saturated month. And there's nothing wrong with that! I also took The Nearest Faraway Place by Hayley Long down to London with me, which I enjoyed very much. I wrote a blog post comparing it to The Faraway Nearby and you can read that here if you fancy. I read Claire Hennessy's Like Other Girls, which was pretty intense and full of issues and stuff. I rounded off the month reading Tales from Moominvalley on a deck chair looking out at the water on the west coast of Scotland. A pretty nice August with some good reading moments!

You Can't Touch My Hair- Phoebe Robinson

The Nearest Faraway Place- Hayley Long

Like Other Girls- Claire Hennessy

Tales From Moominvalley- Tove Jansson 

Look how well the colours on the covers of these books go together- all peachy, orangey, reddy vibes! Go read that post I wrote about The Nearest Faraway Place/The Faraway Nearby why don't ya!