Books I read in January!: I'll Be Home for Christmas, Pond, See You in the Cosmos, The One Hundred Nights of Hero, Buffering, The Bear and the Nightingale, An Account of the Decline of the Great Auk

Well hello there and welcome to my January reading round up! I had a good variety of books and graphic novels and audio books and short stories this month. When it was still just after Christmas time and I was still on holiday, I read I'll Be Home for Christmas, the short story collection from Stripes Publishing with proceeds going towards Crisis, the national homelessness charity. With stories on the theme of 'home' from writers including Holly Bourne, Non Pratt, Julie Mayhew, Lisa Williamson, Juno Dawson, this YA collection is an excellent festive treat. Maybe save it for next winter if you haven't read it yet!

Next up I read Pond by Claire-Louise Bennett from the Fitzcarraldo Editions. This is the first I've read from these lovely blue editions, and was a Christmas present from my best pal, and I enjoyed it very much. It's another collection of short stories/essays sort of about nothing but also everything, and I will be keeping it near at all times to use as a thesaurus because Claire-Louise Bennett's vocabulary is extensive and lyrical and extremely envious.

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I had a middle grade review copy on my to be read pile crying out to be read- See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng. This strange and funny and moving story is told in the transcriptions of voice recordings 11-year-old Alex Petroski makes on an iPod he intends to send to space on the rocket he has built and will launch at a rocket convention. His unexpected journey takes him from Colorado to New Mexico to Las Vegas to L.A. and back Colorado again.

I finally read Isabel Greenberg's The One Hundred Nights of Hero, the follow up graphic novel to The Encyclopedia of Early Earth, which I loved. The One Hundred Nights did not disappoint, with fantastical stories of from the world of Early Earth woven together into one beautiful tale of resistance and cunning. As always, the artwork is wonderful.

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In audiobooks, this month I listened to Hannah Hart's Buffering, which chronicles Hannah's life and childhood up to her current success as a YouTube creator. I knew a little of Hannah's story from watching her videos, but HOLY MOLY has her life been crazy, which has led to an extremely compelling set of essays. Growing up with a schizophrenic mother, a Jehovah's Witness father, and being in the closet until a couple years into college, Hannah has not had an easy life. She's a natural writer, and I really recommend the audiobook read by Hannah herself.

I preordered The Bear and the Nightingale and it arrived in time for my birthday in the middle of the month. I saw the beautiful cover and so many twitter recommendations and read the blurb and it was a done deal. Based on Russian folk stories in a snowy winter setting, this was the perfect January read. 

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To round off the month I read some more short stories, this time by Jessie Greengrass. An Account of the Decline of the Great Auk, According to One Who Saw It, is the title of the collection and the first story. As it was apparently a Foulis who killed one of the last Great Auks I have a particular interest so the title totally drew me in. The stories were varied and interesting and I'm looking forward to what Jessie Greengrass writes next! 

Full reviews of a couple of these coming soon! 

Review!: The One Memory Of Flora Banks by Emily Barr

The One Memory of Flora Banks is the thrilling story of 17-year-old Flora who has suffered with anterograde amnesia since the age of 10. Unable to make any new memories, Flora has to be reminded each day of her age and situation with the help of her parents. One night, at the party of her best friend, who she has known since her childhood, Flora kisses someone she shouldn't and the next day she can remember it and their whole conversation. Convinced this kiss holds the answer to unlocking her memory for good, she takes meticulous notes (in notebooks, and in pen all over her hands and arms) to remind herself of her memory revelation and ends up figuring out how to get in touch with the boy she kissed, who has left the country for icier climbs. 

I absolutely adored Flora, and her determination to find herself and her memories under the fog of medication her parents keep her under. The truth slowly emerges from a tangle of lies built up to 'protect' her and as things become clearer for Flora they do for the reader too. I've seen some other reviewers struggling with the repetitive nature of the narrative as Flora's memory resets and she has to follow her trail of notes to regain her grasp of her reality, however this was not a problem for me and I actually enjoyed the tension it brought.

The book opens at the close on an arctic icy cold snowy mountainside with Flora alone and feeling angry, although she's not sure why, before the story goes back in time to take us back up to this point, which is an all the more powerful storytelling tool with Flora's lack of a memory. The setting is incredible, if a little farfetched, but if you're on board with this adventure it is a total thrill ride of a story. Oh, and it's out now!

I received a copy of The One Memory of Flora Banks from Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review, honest!

Review!: The Power by Naomi Alderman

I read this book in about two days between Christmas and New Year after buying it as a little Christmas present to myself (because self care? Treat yo self?). The Power is set up with opening and closing letters between a male historian/author who is asking for advice and opinions on his book from a female author, the relationship between them subverted to that of a matriarchy with his letters full of "just wondering" and "thank you for taking the time" and her's with more of a "oh that's a fun little idea" patronising language. The story he is working on makes up the bulk of The Power, sandwiched between these letters. Told through four or five points of view and set around our present day, we are taken through the story of a world changing several years in which a power is awoken in women, giving them the ability to very easily hurt and cause pain with their finger tips. The strength of the patriarchal world we are so familiar with is dismantled to make way for a world that would find it very hard to believe itself had ever been anything but a matriarchy. 

The character of Eve, and her rise to prophethood is a particularly powerful storyline, as is Tunde's with his safe place in society slowly becoming more precarious as he travels the world reporting on riots and protests. There are a lot subverted references to sexism, misogyny, and especially rape culture as this electric power women now hold becomes a tool to manipulate and overpower the male population. 

While in some places I found myself becoming really aware of this subversion and found the writing could be a little on the nose or heavy handed, overall I found the story compelling and clever enough for this not to bother me. The inclusion of archaeological artefacts and other records and the framing of a historian seeking approval for his work really worked for me. I really recommend you this book, even just so we can then talk about it.

"It doesn't matter that she shouldn't, that she never would.  

What matters is that she could, if she wanted.  

The power to hurt is a kind of wealth" 

Books I read in December!: Talking As Fast As I Can, The One Memory of Flora Banks, The Power, Paper Girls

Helloooo! Plenty of reviews to come soon as I've already read some really super good books this year. I thought I'd better keep things neat though and sort my December reading wrap up! It was an incredibly busy month full of lots of essay reading and marking for me, but I did manage to read some really good books too. After enjoying the new Gilmore Girls episodes on Netflix I fancied reading Lauren Graham's new book Talking As Fast As I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls and Everything in Between. I listened on audiobook, read by Lauren herself and it was fun to hear lots of behind the scenes stories about a show I like. I also read the wonderful One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr, which is a story about a seventeen-year-old with no short term memory. Flora can remember her life up until the age of ten, and has to be reminded each day of her age and situation. I found it super interesting and enthralling. As a Christmas present to myself I got The Power by Naomi Alderman and absolutely devoured it in two days. Finally to squeeze in another read before the end of the year I finally got round to reading the Paper Girls Volume 1 comic which was a really good idea and I definitely need to get Volume 2!

Christmas Gift Guide and Best of 2016!

Helloo and Merry Christmas! Here's a merry little top 10 of books that would make great gifts this festive season, and are also some of my best reads of 2016. I've tried to pick books across a few genres to cater to different tastes, but as I've read and enjoyed them all there's a lot of magic, myth, great female leads, and thrilling tales! My bookish gift guide from last year also contains some crackers, which would make equally good gifts this year too. Here they are!

The Comet Seekers- Helen Sedgwick

This beautiful book is full of ghosts, comets, family, incest (!) and snow. The hardback is a truly lovely book that would make a wonderful gift! Perfect for readers who loved The Gracekeepers by Kirsty Logan.

The Graces- Laure Eve

A story of sort-of-witches, which leaves to guessing at every turn, with the enchanting Grace siblings and their charmed life. I loved this book so much. Lovers of Buffy will be into this story I reckon!

And I Darken- Kiersten White

An amazing piece of historical fiction, inspired by Vlad the Impaler, we instead have the fierce and fearless Lada Dracul, who struggles to balance the love for her homeland and her life as a captive of a neighbouring Ottoman Empire. I adore listening to The History Chicks podcast: listeners will love this book too. Basically if you like a bit of history and amazing women then And I Darken is for you!

Riverkeep- Martin Stewart

Dark and grim and gloomy but full of magic and all set on a epic river journey, Riverkeep is one for lovers of adventure. With an ensemble cast of very different characters there's something for everyone in this tale of a quest to save a life.

The Girl From Everywhere- Heidi Heilig

This is a book of adventure, time travel, romance, mystery, map reading, and loyalty all set on a ship and mostly in Hawaii. Another brilliant ensemble cast with a great female lead.

Sofia Khan is Not Obliged- Ayisha Malik

A different kind of book, no magic here, but instead an awesome story of Sofia Khan's adventures in dating in what has been described as "the muslim Bridget Jones." Full of wit and humour, balancing religion and relationships, marriage-obsessed relatives, racists on the tube, praying at work, writing her book,  and joining a Muslim dating site, Sofia's story is extremely entertaining and engaging. 

The Secret of Nightingale Wood- Lucy Strange

A story of a little girl lost in a family post tragedy, who discovers a 'witch' in the woods by their new country house. This beautiful book make me shed a few tears and I even stopped reading it for a few days because I was so angry at the stupid evil doctor. A wonderful gift for an actual child or for a pretend grown up child like me!

Take it as a Compliment- Maria Stoian

A graphic story collection featuring illustrated tellings of harassment, sexual abuse and other fun things like that. Sounds grim, but it's a beautiful book and a brilliant call for action. Inject a little feminist discourse into your Christmas Day why don't you!

How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less- Sarah Glidden

Sarah Glidden's graphic memoir follows her trip through Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, the Golan Heights, across Israel as she struggles to understand her ancestral homeland. Her artwork is beautiful in this reflective travel memoir. A perfect gift of graphic novel lovers!

One Hundred Nights of Hero- Isobel Greenberg

A beautiful giant book from the creator of the equally beautiful Encyclopedia of Early Earth, which I recommended in last year's gift guide. The One Hundred Nights of Hero is set in Early Earth but with new characters Cherry and Hero, referencing The Arabian Nights with 100 nights of storytelling. You will be in the very good books of whoever you gift this too!

Books I read in November!: Americanah, Furthermore, Beautiful Darkness, Swing Time, The Secret of Nightingale Wood

I read some wonderful books in November. I read my first Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie book by listening to Americanah on audiobook, which was an epic 17 hours long. I was totally engaged by its story and the characters though so I will endeavour to pick up more of her books. Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi was a weird, wonderful, fantastical adventure set in a very magical world. I finally bought Fabien Vehlmann and Kerascoët's graphic novel Beautiful Darkness, which turned out to be so strange and creepy, and I liked it very much. I also listened to Zadie Smith's Swing Time, which was both super intense and really engaging. Finally I finished the month with the enchanting The Secret of Nightingale Wood by Lucy Strange, which made me cry TWICE.

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi

Beautiful Darkness by Fabien Vehlmann and Kerascoët

Swing Time by Zadie Smith

The Secret of Nightingale Wood by Lucy Strange

Review!: The Comet Seekers by Helen Sedgwick

The Comet Seekers is the first novel by Helen Sedgwick and I absolutely loved it. The blurb on Goodreads says it is "One Day meets The Time Travellers Wife" but that ain't the book I read. I mean those are enjoyable books, but this had a much different feeling to it.

Told across moments in history when comets could be seen from the earth, we meet the past and present family members of Francois, who grows up in France, and Roisin, who grows up in Ireland. Beginning on a research trip in the Antarctic, where Roisin and Francois first meet, we are taken back through their histories to Roisin's childhood in a small Irish village spent gazing out to the stars with her cousin, and Francois' childhood in Bayeux with his mother, who talks to the ghosts of their ancestors.

There are characters who feel too linked to their homes to leave, and characters who feel compelled to get out and explore the world. A book of comets and ghosts, staying and leaving, looking to the skies and looking to the earth. Also there's a chapter that features Blackford Hill, which I grew up next to, so that felt special. A perfect autumnal/winter read. Can't wait to see what comes next from Helen Sedgwick!

Books I read in October!: The Essex Serpent, How To Understand Israel, Where Am I Now? The Muse, Fly on the Wall, The Comet Seekers

It's been a crazy busy month and this is sooo late, but if you'll forgive me here be the books I read in October. I finished listening to Sarah Perry's The Essex Serpent on audiobook, which was a dark and gloomy and exciting tale. I finally got Sarah Glidden's How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less, which has been on my list for actual years, and really enjoyed it (her next book Rolling Blackouts is out now too.) Mara Wilson's Where Am I Now? was very enjoyable as an audiobook, narrated by Mara herself, talking about her life as a child star and what has happened to her since. The Muse by Jessie Burton had been languishing on my TBR pile all summer so it was good to get into it and enjoy its twists and turns. Fly on the Wall was a fun quick read by the absolutely wonderful E. Lockhart. And finally I adored Helen Sedgwick's The Comet Seekers, with its ghosts and star gazing and a spot of incest too. I'll get full reviews for a few of these up asap, which may also  be in ages but its a busy time of year forgive me!

The Essex Serpent- Sarah Perry

How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less- Sarah Glidden

Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame- Mara Wilson

The Muse- Jessie Burton

Fly on the Wall- E. Lockhart

The Comet Seekers- Helen Sedgwick

Top 6 Autumnal Reads! The Graces, The Sun is Also a Star, Through the Woods, Uprooted, The Comet Seekers, Prisoner of Azkaban

Helloo! Here is a fine selection of autumnal reading recommendations for you. The nights have well and truly drawn in now, so there is ample opportunity to curl up with a warm drink and a good book. I've chosen some witchy reads, like The Graces and Uprooted, one perfect fall day with The Sun is Also a Star, spanned a vast history of star gazers and ghosts in The Comet Seekers, re-thumbed the well worn pages of childhood with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and delved into some gruesome tales in Through the Woods.

The Graces by Laure Eve

The Graces by Laure Eve is a witch story set in a small seaside town, where The Graces are a rich, successful, beautiful family rumoured to be witches. Siblings Fenrin, Thalia, and Summer Grace have a magnetism to them that keeps most of the high school population fascinated and enthralled. Our protagonist River is obsessed possibly more than anyone else, and being relatively new to the school and town has been learning all she can about the family and their rumoured magic. River has had a troubled past and when she finds herself welcomed in to their inner circle she is desperate to discover the secret of their magic to find out if it can help her fix past mistakes.

Perfect autumnal read- don't go in expecting full blown magic and fantasy- think garden variety high school wiccans and then prepare to be surprised.

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

Set on one fall day in New York City, this love story is about fate, destiny, the Universe and all those sickly sweet things. Natasha believes in science and facts and is definitely not sold on love and fate. On this particular day she is half a day away from being deported with her family to Jamaica. Having come to the United States as a child and with college less than a year away, Natasha is spending the day fighting for one last appeal to remain in New York. Daniel is a poet at heart but as the son of Korean immigrant parents he is expected to follow a very specific path to Yale and med school. In the city for an alumni admission interview for Yale later that day, Daniel is on his way to get his pony tail hair cut when he comes across Natasha deep in a headphone moment.

Don't be put off by the one-day-love-story premise, this is a clever, thoughtful, emotive book that was such a joy to read.

Through the Woods by Emily Carroll

This beautiful graphic novel has such a nice spooky, autumnal cover and the stories within are so dark, magical, gruesome, and wonderfully told. I remember reading His Face All Red, the story about the two brothers, online quite a while ago and was definitely intrigued then. There is beautiful artwork throughout, with copious use of blood red for all the gore. Possibly not for the faint of heart. Definitely get Through the Woods for your collection, it's a beautiful book and will only maybe give you nightmares. 

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

This book is so much more than its blurb, which focusses on the wizard known as the Dragon, who chooses one young woman every ten years to serve him in his tower. The main character Agnieszka becomes his unlikely choice and a much bigger story unfolds from there. This is a book about magic in its many forms, magic you can learn from spell books, and magic you can summon from within. The world building is wonderful and rich, drawing on folk stories and fairy tales. I loved watching Agnieska learn about her new found powers and navigate the courts as an outsider, and use her outsider knowledge to discover more about the true villain of the book, the enchanted and evil Wood, which is slowly but surely taking over the whole kingdom. So spellbinding. Wonderful world building. Great magic. So much more than its blurb. And I really liked the ending.

The Comet Seekers

The blurb on Goodreads says The Comet Seekers is One Day meets The Time Travellers Wife, but that ain't the book I read. Told across moments in history when comets could be seen from the earth, we meet the past and present family members of Francois, who grows up in France, and Roisin, who grows up in Ireland. There are characters who feel too linked to their homes to leave, and characters who feel compelled to get out and explore the world. What makes it extra autumnal are all the ghosts. A book of comets and ghosts, staying and leaving, looking to the skies and looking to the earth. Also there's a chapter that features Blackford Hill, which I grew up next to. A perfect autumnal read.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

The Harry Potter books are usually set over a whole school year, so we get a taste for all the seasons, but there is something particularly autumnal about the Prisoner of Azkaban. There's a secret werewolf, dementors descend on Hogwarts Castle, a murderer is on the loose from Azkaban, and The Grim just keeps on appearing in Harry's tealeaves. 

Snuggle up with your patronus and some chocolate just in case.