The Coffee Book Tag

I was kindly tagged by Hadeer @ Cairene Librarian to do The Coffee Book Tag. Let’s just jump right in, shall we?

Black coffee: a series that’s tough to get into but has hardcore fans

I’m going to go with A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin (aka Game of Thrones). It certainly has a lot of hardcore fans, but many of them discovered the series through the TV adaptation, and are daunted by the hefty books that came before it.

Peppermint Mocha: a book that gets more popular during the winter or a festive time of year

I’m going to go with Harry Potter. Firstly, because it gets my generic HP answer out the way early, and secondly, because the inherent magic and nostalgia attached to the series have a lovely draw at that time of year.

Hot chocolate: a favorite children’s book

Huntress of the Sea

The first novel for children that I remember reading over and over again is Huntress of the Sea by Alan Temperley. I eventually met the author and got my battered old copy signed, and I still own it now.

Double shot of espresso: a book that kept you on the edge of your seat from start to finish

The Corset

A recent one that comes to mind is The Corset by Laura Purcell. It’s not a thriller, per se, but I felt so enthralled by the brutality of the world, and so invested in the life of the protagonist, that I was compelled to keep reading.

Starbucks: a book you see everywhere

The Heart’s Invisible Furies

I’m going to go a little unconventional here and say The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne. This book isn’t technically everywhere, but a lot of my online bookish friends have read (and adored) it, and I’ve been meaning to get to it for so long that by this point I feel like it pops up all the time; taunting me for still not having picked it up…

That hipster coffee shop: a book by an indie author (a shoutout)

The Naming of Cancer

The Naming of Cancer by Tracey S. Rosenberg is a slim collection of poems, published by the small indie press, Neon Books. Each piece focusses on a different perspective of cancer, to highlight the various ways it can affect a person’s life: be it the sufferers themselves; the spouses watching as doctors poke and prod their lovers; the colleague not sure what to say to the man who’s just lost his wife; or the cancerous cells themselves as they lament the destruction of their host. It’s powerful yet accessible, and beautiful yet urgent, with barely a superfluous word.

Oops, I accidentally got decaf: a book you were expecting more from

The Bear and the Nightingale

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. I’m still a little sad about this one; I even included it on my list of 5 star read predictions. The blurb makes it sound right up my street, and so many people rave about it, but I just didn’t click with it at all. I sometimes wonder if it was a case of right book, wrong time.

The perfect blend: a book or series that was both bitter and sweet, but ultimately satisfying

All We Shall Know

I feel like I mention this in tags almost as often as Harry Potter these days, but bitter, sweet, and satisfying is exactly how I’d describe All We Shall Know by Donal Ryan. It’s a gut punch in novel form, but the way Ryan brings everything together is masterful. At the turn of each page, he can break or mend your heart all over again.

Green tea: a book or series that is quietly beautiful

The Travelling Cat Chronicles

The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa. Upon first glance, it would be really easy to write this off as a somewhat twee little read about a man and his cat, but it is remarkably human, subtly exploring what it means to find family, process grief, and make peace with the past.

Chai Latte: a book or series that makes you dream of far off places

Burial Rites

I associate Burial Rites by Hannah Kent so strongly with Iceland. Not only is it set there, with the landscape captured perfectly in all its raw and majestic beauty, but I read the book whilst visiting the country for the first time. The two will always go hand-in-hand for me.

Earl Grey: favorite classic

Rebecca

Ooh, I like a fair few classics. Tess of the D’Urbervilles is the first one I had to read for school that I loved, so even though it’s been years, I still think of it fondly. More recent favourites are Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, and Dracula by Bram Stoker. But my very favourite classic, and perhaps my favourite book in general (but don’t make me commit to it), is Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.

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There we have it! Thanks again to Hadeer for tagging me. I’ve done a few tags in recent times, so I’ll leave this one open to anyone who wants to get involved.

My Bad Reading Habits Tag

Let’s share our bad bookish habits…

I was kindly tagged by the lovely Marina @ Books of Magic to share some of my bookish bad habits. Let’s just jump right in, shall we?

Putting off longer reads

For some reason, it takes real willpower for me to pick up anything long, especially it it’s 500+ pages. Even if it’s a book I think sounds amazing; even if I’ve seen nothing but rave reviews for it; even if it’s written by an author I already adore; if it’s a hefty tome, chances are it will sit unread for considerably longer than its slimmer shelf-mates. I suspect this bad habit stems from my ever-growing TBR. The logical side of my brains says: ‘I could read 2-3 short/regular sized books in the time it would take me to read that big one’. And so, my desire to get to as many exciting reads as possible wins out more often than not, and I put off the longer books. It’s silly, given that there are some long reads I’ve been excited to try for ages (I’m looking at you, The Heart’s Invisible Furies and Jane Eyre), and I get through an objectively large number of books either way, yet I can’t seem to shake the habit.

Counting pages

When I put a book down of an evening, I always check how many pages I’ve read that day, with an inner monologue along the lines of: ‘Okay, I read 90 pages today. The book is about 360 pages long. If I read the same amount each day, I should finish the book in another 3 days.’ Why does it matter? I can’t know how much reading I will or won’t get done in the days that follow anyway, so it’s arbitrary. I know I should just read the damn thing, and I’ll finish it when I finish it. Alas, I can’t stop counting…

Not using the library

I’m a big believer in the wonder and importance of libraries, but I’m a hypocrite, because I never use them myself. Living in the countryside, the library closest to me is tiny. Especially given my eclectic reading tastes, and the sheer volume of books I get through (compared to the average person, that is), it just can’t cater to my personal reading needs. Not to mention the fact that I treasure books as physical objects, and so I love owning a vast collection of my own. Still, long live libraries!

Chasing pretty editions

When I’m particularly excited about a book, I can fall down an internet rabbit hole, spending a wholly disproportionate amount of time trying to hunt out different editions, all in search of the prettiest cover. And yes, I’ve been known to pay more, and wait longer for delivery, just to get the copy I think is nicest.

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There we have it; a few of my bad reading habits. Thanks again to Marina for tagging me: You should definitely check out her excellent blog if you haven’t already. I’d be interested to know the bad reading habits of Rachel, Alex, and Ally (no pressure to take part though, of course), but if anyone else would also like to get involved, please feel free!

OMG That Song | Book Tag

I love books, and I love music, so when I saw this tag over on Jenna @ Bookmark Your Thoughts’ blog, I had to get involved!

MY JAM: A song you have to listen to no matter how many times you’ve heard it and a book that you’ll never get sick of

Song: Oh, lots! But given that I’m currently very hyped for the release of her second album, I’ll say Tilted by Christine and the Queens.

Book: I read it like two years ago, but I still seem to be thinking and raving about Bird Box by Josh Malerman all the time. It’s so unnerving, and plays with the senses and fear of the unknown brilliantly.

THROWBACK: A song that reminds you of the cringiest time in your life and a book you read that you wouldn’t like now

Song: If you’re under the age of 30 and didn’t have an angsty Avril Lavigne phase, you’re lying.

Book: At the time I read it, I thought the Legend series by Marie Lu was okay at best, but I know I’d find it incredibly frustrating now. It’s a perfectly readable YA dystopian series, but the prose is bland, and it has a few too many clichés for my liking.

REPLAY: A recent song that you have on repeat and a recent favourite book

Song: Eivør recently shared a stunning cover of a Leonard Cohen song from her new live album, and I’m obsessed.

Book: My favourite read of the year so far is The Lightkeepers by Abby Geni. It’s a gorgeously written meditation on the savage power of the natural world, and storytelling as a means of survival.

GETS ME: A song that is literally me and a book that is me in book form

Song: Bachelorette. A song by Björk, with a video that incorporates elements of nature, fairy tale, and literature, is basically all my favourite things colliding.

Book: Other than of course relating to Hermione Granger’s book-swat ways, I’ve never really been one of those readers to ‘find’ themselves in fiction (*sigh*). So, the only way I could think to answer this was to pick something that epitomises my favourite qualities in a book: gothic, atmospheric, immersive, mysterious, and beautifully written. For me, that’s Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.

WUT: A weird song that you liked anyways and a unique book that stuck out to you for some reason

Song: Vessel by Zola Jesus. The vocal delivery in some of Zola’s early work is so deliberately skewed that you can’t even make out a lot of what she’s saying, and yet she creates so much atmosphere and feeling that I still love it.

Book: The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa is a recent unique read that really stood out, not least because it’s narrated in part by a cat. It was a charming, bittersweet, and surprisingly human tale about finding family, and making peace with the past.

LET’S GO: Pick your best pump up song and a book that inspires you

Song: Alive by Sia. This song makes me feel POWERFUL.

Book: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley inspires me, in that any writer longs to pen something as intelligent, layered, and timeless as it has proven to be.

CHILL: Your best chill or relaxing song and a book you’d curl up with on a rainy day

Song: Aventine by Agnes Obel. (Or anything by London Grammar.)

Book: A rainy day read, for me, should be something gripping and pacy that can sweep you up, but with a timeless, cosy quality. That said, I’d opt for something like And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie.

ADDICTING: A guilty pleasure song and a light, trashy read you can’t help but love

Song: Still Alive by Lisa Miskovsky. I don’t feel guilty per se, because I think it’s a genuinely good song, but I suppose the theme from a video game is a fairly random pick – and this video for it is pretty cringe in fairness.

Book: I wouldn’t describe it as ‘trashy’, but a light read I found very charming is Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson. It’s about a somewhat stilted, middle-aged governess who ends up inadvertently drawn into the glamourous life of a socialite/club singer, who teaches her to let loose.

NOSTALGIA: A throwback song you look back on fondly and a book you read and loved when you were young

Song: I’m a big fan of Annie Lennox, and despite winning an Oscar, the song she did for the Lord of the Rings soundtrack is supremely underrated. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk. (Also, it’s a song linked to a book; I am quietly smug about that train of thought.)

Book: It wouldn’t have been a tag if I hadn’t mentioned Harry Potter somewhere, so here it is!

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There we have it! Since I wasn’t tagged myself, I’ll leave it open to anyone who’d like to take part.

The Greatest Showman Tag

It’s time for another tag, this time courtesy of Andrea @ Andrea’s Nirvana. She has created her own original tag, no less, with prompts inspired by the tracks from The Greatest Showman. This is where I admit that I haven’t actually seen it, but anyone who knows me knows I’m late to everything. Nonetheless, the tag looked fun, so let’s just jump right in!

The Greatest Show | In Which The Intro Is Amazing

All We Shall Know

As soon as I read the stark yet shocking opening paragraph of All We Shall Know by Donal Ryan, I knew I’d found a new favourite author: ‘Martin Toppy is the son of a famous Traveller and the father of my unborn child. He’s seventeen, I’m thirty-three. I was his teacher. I’d have killed myself by now if I was brave enough.’

A Million Dreams | In Which Things Get A Little Too Dragged

Snap

Snap by Belinda Bauer is a recent example that springs to mind. It’s essentially a mystery novel, but by the halfway point, the reader already knows whodunnit, and we simply have to watch as a band of supremely unlikable police officers attempt to scrape together enough evidence to actually prove it. With all sense of intrigue gone, we’re left anticipating a follow-up twist that never comes…

Come Alive | In Which There’s A Nice Plot Twist

A Kiss Before Dying

A Kiss Before Dying by Ira Levin has several incredibly clever and well-placed twists. He manages to catch you off-guard just when you think you’ve got it all sussed.

The Other Side | In Which A Villain Turns Into A Good Guy or Vice Versa

Little Deaths

The heroine of Little Deaths by Emma Flint feels like an appropriate pick, as she’s undoubtedly complex and flawed, and yet the more we see of the circumstances surrounding her, the more we realise she may not be as evil as everyone likes to think. Depending on whose perspective you look at her from, she could be deemed either the villain or the good guy.

Never Enough | In Which You Hate The Love Triangle

The Hunger Games

The love triangle in The Hunger Games always irritated me. Katniss is painted as a brave, proactive leader, and yet much of her story revolves around which boy she’ll end up with. *eyeroll* She’s trying to lead a rebellion for crying out loud; why can’t young women be allowed to have platonic male friendships?!

This Is Me | In Which Representation Is Amazing

Ah, an answer for this came to mind right away, as I just so happened to watch A Quiet Place a few nights ago (See, I wasn’t kidding when I said I’m late to everything). It’s set in a post-apocalyptic world, where humanity has been decimated by strange creatures that hunt using sound. We follow a family attempting to live in complete silence. They are able to communicate via sign language, as one of them is deaf (played by real-life deaf actress, Millicent Simmonds). For a major blockbuster to be almost entirely in sign language, and for the deaf character to be played by an actual deaf person, was so refreshing, and a great example of how to normalise good, diverse representation, without the character being defined solely by their differences.

Millicent Simmonds and Emily Blunt in A Quiet Place

Rewrite The Stars | In Which It’s ‘Us Against The World’ [Not Necessarily Romantic]

We Have Always Lived in the Castle

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson focusses on two sisters following the deaths of almost their entire family. They have shut themselves away in the family manor, maligned by their community, and plagued by vicious rumours and an air of mystery. It’s gothic, and unsettling, and brilliant, and very much captures an ‘us against the world’ vibe.

Tightrope | In Which The Love Triangle Took A Wrong Turn

Truthfully, I don’t read/watch a huge amount of stuff with love triangles in them, so I was struggling to think of something… I’m not sure this strictly counts as a love triangle, because that definitely would be wrong, but once you know that Luke and Leia are in fact twins, it’s a little weird that they initially tried to imply a sense of rivalry between Han and Luke for Leia’s affections in the original Star Wars.

Luke, Leia, and Han

From Now On | In Which The Main Character Only Gets Their Stuff Together In The End

The first thing that came to mind was LOST, as the whole final season is pretty much about all the characters trying to get their stuff together!

The huge ensemble cast of LOST.

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There we have it! Thanks again to Andrea for tagging me; since it’s an original tag, it would be fun to see lots of people getting involved, so if you want to take part, consider yourself tagged.

Three Bookish Things Tag

I saw this tag over on Kristin Kraves Books’ blog and thought it looked fun, so let’s just jump right in.

THREE READ ONCE AND LOVED AUTHORS:

I had been wanting to read John Wyndham for ages, and finally picked up The Day of the Triffids last month. I loved it, and am excited to explore his extensive back catalogue. Church of Marvels by Leslie Parry was one of my favourite reads a couple of years ago, and I’m still eagerly awaiting more from her. I’m also eager for more from Jung Yun after loving her debut, Shelter.

Wyndham, Parry, and Yun.

THREE TITLES I’VE WATCHED BUT HAVEN’T READ:

I’m usually a read-before-you-watch kind of person, but there must be a few exceptions… The first one that comes to mind is Jurassic Park. I absolutely loved the film as a kid (and still do), but I’ve never read the book. I do own a copy though, so hopefully one day! The Lord of the Rings is another. Part of me would love to read the original trilogy, and perhaps one day I will, but I’ve often heard how dry they are, which puts me off. Thirdly is Still Alice. This one wasn’t on purpose. It was on TV just a few nights ago coincidentally, and I happened to switch on as it was starting. I ended up watching the whole thing, largely because Julianne Moore’s performance as a 50-year-old with an aggressive form of early-onset Alzheimer’s was so good.

Jurassic Park, The Lord of the Rings, and Still Alice.

THREE CHARACTERS YOU LOVE:

I could obviously pick loads here, but I’ll stick to my guns and name the first few that come to mind. I love how flawed and complex Melody Shee is in All We Shall Know by Donal Ryan; Tuppence Beresford of the Tommy and Tuppence series by Agatha Christie is incredibly charismatic, driven, and endearing; and Hermione Granger is great for obvious kick-ass book nerd reasons.

THREE SERIES YOU BINGED:

The temptation was to say Harry Potter, as I binged each book as soon as it came out, but I suppose that wouldn’t really count as binging a series, since I had to wait a year each time for the next release. I don’t even read a huge amount of series, truth be told, but ones I can remember reading in pretty quick succession are Chaos Walking by Patrick Ness, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman.

Chaos Walking, The Hunger Games, and His Dark Materials.

THREE UNPOPULAR BOOKISH OPINIONS:

1. As sweet as the idea of them together might be, Hermione and Ron would never actually work as a couple.
2. Despite wanting to, I cannot get on with Virginia Woolf’s work at all.
3. I generally prefer hardbacks to paperbacks.

THREE CURRENT FAVOURITE BOOK COVERS:

Again, I could get carried away naming lots here, so I’ll just go with the first three I thought of. Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman, Vixen by Rosie Garland, and I am, I am, I am by Maggie O’Farrell.

Pretty, huh?

THREE BOOKISH GOALS FOR THE YEAR:

I wanted to read 90 books (I’m currently on 82, so I should hit that pretty comfortably!). I wanted to read by whim, rather than tell myself I had to prioritize certain reads at certain times. I’d say that’s been going pretty well so far. As for a more recent goal, I’d like to read some more Shakespeare by the end of the year. I picked up A Midsummer Night’s Dream a little while ago (the first time I’d read anything by him out of education), and it definitely sparked an interest in trying more of his work.

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There we have it. I wasn’t tagged, so I won’t tag anyone else specifically either, but free to take part if you’d like to. Pingback to me if you do so I can check out your answers! Thanks for stopping by.

This is My Genre | Book Tag

I saw this tag on Jenna @ Bookmark Your Thoughts’ blog, and I couldn’t resist. Let’s get started!

• What is your favourite genre?

I love all things gothic.

• Who is your favourite author from that genre?

The masters of the genre, as far as I’ve explored it thus far, are Daphne du Maurier and Shirley Jackson.

• What is it about the genre that keeps pulling you back?

I love books that are dark, atmospheric, lyrical, and engrossing; woven together by a damn good story, with intrigue and well-developed characters. That sounds like I’m asking for a lot, but when gothic fiction is done well, it epitomises all of these qualities. I also love its versatility, in that gothic fiction can incorporate elements of some of my other favourite genres, such as literary fiction, family sagas, and horror.

• What is the book that started your love for that genre?

The Turn of the Screw

Possibly The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. It’s an unsettling ghost story that plays brilliantly with the power of the unknown. It’s got many hallmarks of the genre, including a spooky manor setting, an unreliable narrator, an oppressive atmosphere, and a heavy dose of ambiguity – which means we’re never sure how much of what’s going on is down to the supernatural, or the possible madness of our heroine.

• If you had to recommend at least one book from your favourite genre to a non-reader/someone looking to start reading that genre, what book would you choose and why?

I guess I’d just recommend some of my personal favourites. Since they’re the ones that made me love the genre as much as I do, they’d hopefully do the same for others. They include: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier; Frankenstein by Mary Shelley; We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson; The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell; and The Book Collector by Alice Thompson.

Some of my favourite gothic reads.

• Why do you read?

For me, reading is all about escapism, the art of storytelling, and the joy of letting your imagination take over. I suppose that’s part of why I love gothic fiction so much; the best examples of the genre know exactly how much to give us, and how much to hold back, leaving the real horror to linger in our minds long after the final page.

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Since I wasn’t tagged myself, I’ll leave this open to anyone who’d like to take part. Pingback to me if you do it so I can check out your answers!

How I Choose My Books Tag

I was kindly tagged by Rachel to do the How I Choose My Books tag. It looks like fun, so let’s just jump right in. Oh, and if you aren’t already following Rachel’s blog, I advise you to remedy that.

1. Find a book on your shelves with a blue pink cover. What made you pick up the book in the first place?

A Kiss Before Dying

I read Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin last year and loved it! I wanted to pick up another of his novels, and this was the one I went for. I loved it too, and have since read another of his books – The Stepford Wives – which was also very good. He’s definitely up there amongst my favourites now.

2. Think of a book you didn’t expect to enjoy but did. Why did you read it in the first place?

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

I doubt I’d pick something up that I expected not to like at all, but I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I liked A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I studied a few Shakespeare plays throughout my time in education, of course, but in that environment, much of the joy can be sucked out of his work through months of ardent over-analysis. This was the first time I’d picked up one of his plays purely for pleasure, and I thought it was playful, lyrical, and enchanting.

3. Stand in front of your bookshelf with your eyes closed and pick up a book at random. How did you discover this book?

The Growing Season

I picked The Growing Season by Helen Sedgwick. The honest truth is that I can’t remember how I first discovered it, but I wanted to pick it up because I loved the sound of its concept and themes (it explores scientific morality and gender roles, via the idea of artificial wombs, which eliminate the natural risks of pregnancy, and grant male, queer, single, and infertile people with equal opportunities to carry a child). I was also grabbed by its gorgeous cover. It was a very thought-provoking read.

4. Pick a book that someone personally recommended to you. What did you think of it?

The Snow Child

My brother’s fiancé lent me her copy of The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey due to my love of fairy tale influences, and immersive, atmospheric settings. Whilst I didn’t love the book, it was very charming and I did certainly enjoy it. Plus, those elements were indeed its greatest strengths.

5. Pick a book you discovered through book blogs. Did it live up to the hype?

Binti

I don’t read a huge amount of space sci-fi, but Binti by Nnedi Okorafor was getting so much buzz that I had to give it a go. Thankfully, for me, this was one that did live up to the hype, and I’m looking forward to continuing with the series, which I hope will delve a little deeper into the interesting themes and ideas the first book touched on.

6. Find a book on your shelves with a one-word title. What drew you to this book?

Lullaby

Lullaby by Leїla Slimani was the first one I found. I was drawn to this book by its deliciously morbid and fascinating blurb, and because it too was getting a lot of buzz online a while back. I found this one sadly underwhelming, however.

7. What book did you discover through a film/TV adaptation?

Annihilation

I was already vaguely aware of the book’s existence, but I picked up Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer purely because I wanted to see the film adaptation, and always try wherever possible to read the book before I see the film. There are parts of the book that I loved, and parts I found frustrating, meaning it became a rare example of actually liking the film version more, interestingly.

8. Think of your all-time favourite books. When did you read these and why did you pick them up in the first place?

Obvious disclaimer: choosing favourite books is stressful, so I just went with the first few that came to mind.

Rebecca, Frankenstein & Harry Potter – what a dinner party that would be, huh?

I read Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier early last year and it became an instant favourite as it’s the epitome of everything I love; gothic, immersive, lyrical, dark, and compelling. I picked it up simply because I’d heard lots of good things from people whose taste is often aligned with my own.

I first read Frankenstein by Mary Shelley when I was about 15. I could appreciate that it was good Literature™, which is probably why I had wanted to try it, but most of it went way over my head. I had a strong urge to finally reread it last year, convinced I would now be able to appreciate it on a whole new level, and boy did I.

The Harry Potter series is a no-brainer. I was part of the perfect generation to grow up with the books, and I read them because, well, who wasn’t reading them? They’re now the epitome of childhood magic, nostalgia, and escapism for me – and many others, of course.

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I’ve lost track of who has and hasn’t been tagged yet, so I’m going to be lazy and leave it open to anyone who would like to take part. Pingback to me if you do it so I can see your answers!  🙂

The Book Courtship Tag

I saw this tag a little while ago on Jenna @ Bookmark Your thoughts’ blog. I thought it looked like fun, so couldn’t resist getting involved. Let’s just jump right in.

Isn’t it pretty?

PHASE ONE: INITIAL ATTRACTION – A BOOK YOU BOUGHT BECAUSE OF THE COVER

Vixen by Rosie Garland has one of my favourite covers of all time. In fairness, I thought the blurb sounded very intriguing as well, but it was undoubtedly the cover that first grabbed me.

PHASE TWO: FIRST IMPRESSIONS – A BOOK YOU GOT BECAUSE OF ITS SUMMARY

There’s always a slightly dubious feeling when someone already famous turns their hand to novel writing, but the moment I saw mention of historical fiction inspired by true events, Icelandic mythology, and the power of storytelling in the blurb for The Sealwoman’s Gift by Sally Magnusson, I knew I had to check it out. I’m excited to give it a go!

PHASE THREE: SWEET TALK – A BOOK WITH GREAT WRITING

When I think about Burial Rites by Hannah Kent, it’s the beauty of the prose and the wonderful atmosphere it creates that always come to mind first. Funnily enough, it’s also historical fiction set in Iceland and inspired by true events. I actually read it whilst on holiday in Iceland during a bitingly cold, snowy winter, so that certainly helped to enhance the reading experience as well!

PHASE FOUR: FIRST DATE – THE FIRST BOOK OF A SERIES THAT MADE YOU WANT TO PICK UP THE REST OF THE SERIES

I recently read Binti by Nnedi Okorafor. It’s a sci-fi novella that explores themes of cultural identity and racial prejudice. I enjoyed what it had to say a lot, and though things wrapped up a little neatly, there are two other books in the series, so I’m excited to see if we’ll get to dive a little deeper.

PHASE FIVE: LATE NIGHT PHONE CALLS – A BOOK THAT KEPT YOU UP ALL NIGHT

Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House was so absorbingly atmospheric that I simply didn’t want to put it down. Plus, there are some deliciously creepy moments that may keep you awake for other reasons.

PHASE SIX: ALWAYS ON MY MIND – A BOOK YOU COULD NOT STOP THINKING ABOUT

I don’t think a book has ever haunted my thoughts as much as Bird Box by Josh Malerman. I read it about two-and-a-half years ago, and I still think about how intense and unsettling it was on a regular basis.

PHASE SEVEN: GETTING PHYSICAL – A BOOK THAT YOU LOVE THE WAY IT FEELS

I don’t have many of them as yet, but The Penguin Clothbound Classics are very tactile. They’re sturdy naked hardbacks with a rough, textured feel.

Some examples of the Clothbound Classics.

PHASE EIGHT: MEETING THE PARENTS – A BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND TO YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Most of my family and friends aren’t big readers, so I would probably recommend something accessible and universally relatable regardless of your level of interest in reading – but something that is also timely, with an emotional pull to it. So, perhaps something like My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher, or A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness.

PHASE NINE: THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE – A BOOK OR SERIES YOU KNOW YOU WILL RE-READ MANY TIMES IN THE FUTURE

[ insert generic Harry Potter answer ]

PHASE TEN: SHARE THE LOVE – WHO DO YOU TAG?

I wasn’t tagged, so I’ll leave it open to anyone who wants to get involved. I’d love to see your answers though, so pingback here if you do it so I can check out your post.

The Netflix Book Tag

I fancied doing a book tag, and have seen this one floating around on and off for a while, so let’s just jump right in, shall we?

Recently Watched: The book you most recently read

The Power by Naomi Alderman (spoiler: I was disappointed).

Top Picks: A book recommended to you based on another book you’ve read

Rachel recommended A Pale View of Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro after I read Never Let Me Go and wasn’t sure where to go next with his books. Both are great; his work is so quietly affecting.

Recently Added: The book you most recently bought

Our Numbered Days, a poetry collection by Neil Hilborn. I haven’t been reading as much poetry lately as I usually would, and this is a collection I’ve had my eye on for a while.

Popular on Netflix: Books that everyone knows about (2 you’ve read and 2 you have no interest in reading)

Books that everyone knows about instantly calls to mind classics, so with that said: Two I’ve read (and very much enjoyed) are Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie and The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells, whilst two I have no interest in reading are War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy and Moby-Dick by Herman Melville – I just couldn’t put myself through books that long when I’ve heard so consistently how dull they both are.

Comedies: A funny book

I’m a big Carrie Fisher fan, and the anecdotes in her memoir, Wishful Drinking, crackle with her amazing wit and warmth.

Dramas: A character that is a total drama king or queen

Her by Harriet Lane is, to put it bluntly, one of the worst thrillers I’ve ever read, largely because it wasn’t remotely thrilling. What’s more, when the motivation behind our villain’s actions was finally revealed, it exposed her as quite possibly the most ridiculous and petty character of all time. To say she over-reacted to things is an understatement.

Cartoons: a book with cartoons on the cover

The Imaginary

The Imaginary by A.F. Harrold is a middle grade novel with a fantastic concept, focusing on the idea of a villain who hunts children’s imaginary friends. The cover, and the images inside, were illustrated by Emily Gravett.

Watch again: a book or series you want to read again

Harry Potter goes without saying. I really want to re-read the Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness. I loved them first-time round, but my tastes have changed so much over the years that I’m also a little scared to revisit them… That’s why I generally do very little re-reading, truth be told.

Documentaries: a non-fiction book that you would recommend to everyone

Jo Cox: More in Common. It chronicles the life of the MP and humanitarian campaigner who was killed by a white supremacist, from the viewpoint of her husband. For a book focused on a political figure, it isn’t dry at all. Instead, it feels remarkably human, capturing the essence of a woman who stood with compassion and dignity for what she believed in.

Action & Adventure: an action-packed book

Saga, the graphic novel series written by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Fiona Staples is an action-packed sci-fi romp about warring factions, bounty hunters, star-crossed lovers, and all sorts of weird and wonderful creatures, but it also has a lot of heart.

New releases: A new release or soon-to-be-released book that you’re excited about

I’m excited to pick up Kirsty Logan’s new book, The Gloaming, and Louise O’Neill’s The Surface Breaks, which both just came out. As for an upcoming release, The Water Cure by Sophie Mackintosh springs to mind. I appear to be on some kind of water-based feminist kick, and that’s more than okay with me.

As a lovely bonus, they all have gorgeous covers too.

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There we have it! I wasn’t tagged by anyone, so will leave this open to all who want to get involved.

The Feminist Book Tag

I was kindly tagged by Rachel to do the Feminist Book Tag, which I’m super excited about. So, let’s not waste any time, and just jump right in.

• Your favorite female author

I’m glad Rachel mentioned several, because there’s no way I’d have wanted the pressure of choosing just one. Here are a few that instantly spring to mind: Daphne du Maurier, Agatha Christie, Kirsty Logan, J.K. Rowling and Alice Thompson.

• Your favorite heroine

There are so many I could choose here. In the spirit of mentioning one of my slightly less obvious favourites, I’ll pick Mary Katherine (Merricat) from We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson. She’s easily one of the most delightfully odd, disturbed and fascinating protagonists I’ve encountered.

• A novel with a feminist message

Asking for it by Louise O’Neill is all about the poisonous culture of slut-shaming. What’s really interesting is that O’Neill presents us with a very unlikable heroine, and in doing so shows us why people find it so easy to pin the blame on a ‘certain type’ of girl where sexual abuse and harassment are concerned – and why this mentality is so dangerous.

• A novel with a girl on the cover

The more the better, right? Here are a few random cover selections from my shelves that I really like:

The Tidal Zone, Tender Morsels, Real World, Memoirs of a Geisha, Eleanor & The Gracekeepers.

• A novel featuring a group of girls

Such Small Hands by Andrés Barba is a quietly sinister tale set in a girls’ orphanage. It captures the cruelty that children are capable of; the confusion and bewilderment that lies on the cusp between childhood innocence and adolescence; the fascination with bodies that emerges with youth; and the doll-like, compliant nature that girls are so often expected to assume.

• A novel with a LGBTQIAP+ female character

The One Hundred Nights of Hero by Isabel Greenberg is a fantastic and beautiful graphic novel about two female lovers using the power of storytelling to outsmart sleazy men so they can be together.

• A novel with different feminine POV

Like Rachel, I’m not entirely sure what this question was asking for… The Bees by Laline Paul is literally told from the perspective of a female bee. I actually ended up not liking this book all that much, but a bee is a pretty ‘different’ POV, right?

• A book where a girl saves the world

I don’t want to spoil too much, but if you’ve read The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey, you’ll likely know what I mean when I say that the world is technically saved by Melanie and Miss Justineau at the end, albeit in a suitably off-kilter and disturbing way.

• A book where you prefer the female sidekick to the male MC

I mean, we all knew I was going to mention Hermione Granger somewhere in this tag. Of all the categories, this one seemed the most appropriate. Sorry, Harry, but Hermione is queen.

• A book written by a male author and featuring a female character

Oh, there are lots of great examples. Again, why mention just one?

Bird Box, All We Shall Know & Tess of the D’Urbervilles.

Malorie from Bird Box by Josh Malerman is a fantastic heroine. She goes through a dramatic development arc, and through her, Malerman explores really great moral questions regarding motherhood and survival.

Melody from All We Shall Know by Donal Ryan is a phenomenally complex and layered heroine. Her emotional turmoil and moral struggles drive the entire narrative.

Tess from Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy is perhaps one of the most sympathetic characters I’ve ever encountered. I mean, this book was written by a dude in 1891, and the whole message of it is basically about how utterly unfair society is, with men consistently treating women like trash and then blaming them for it. I wish we could say everything has changed…

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There we have it! Thanks again to Rachel for tagging me. I invite anyone who wants to get involved to do so.