The book I have wanted to read for years and I‘m glad this is giving me the incentive to get to it 💙

The song I first discovered through a cover version by Laura Marling (which is brilliant also) but I do prefer this original #titlesandtunes

Little Sunday afternoon book & beer while one kid naps and the other is painting. The book is one I‘ve been reading very slowly, trying to take it all in - loving it 🤍

Forgot to take a photo of this one before it went back to the library but wow what a ride - it started off fairly slow as we‘re introduced to the characters and then it went somewhere I wasn‘t expecting. I would have loved to have discussed this one with #camplitsy as there‘s a lot to it. Really enjoyed it.

One of those ‘can‘t put it down‘ sort of books - you have to find out what‘s going to happen next. I feel like it could have easily slipped into melodrama with all that goes on (it‘s a lot darker than I anticipated) but it didn‘t. It shows how deep rooted family trauma is. It‘ll definitely make my list of favourites for the year although I will say the ending knocked me 😕

Tagging @andrew61 as I know you were interested in reading this one.

Gilroy moves to London in the 1950s to become a teacher & this book details the highs & lows that came with that. The dialogue of the children in her classrooms is written as they speak & its so vivid. There‘s such a warmth to her & the ambition & passion she had for teaching is inspiring. From not being able to get a job in teaching to becoming Londons first black headteacher - just brilliant, I‘d highly recommend. #nonfiction2023 (black sheep)

This book was a random pick in Waterstones a little while ago, not seen any reviews on it so hoping it‘s a good one. And this song and album by Marina just has a whole #dramaqueen vibe 👸 #titlesandtunes

Oh I loved this 🖤 it took me right into New York. Every single story was good and so interesting to see the similarities between the authors reasons for moving to NY (mostly to be a writer) & their reasons for leaving (mostly because they outgrew it or it became too expensive). As a collection it works absolutely perfectly 👌 #nonfiction2023 (Goodbye Earl) #titlesandtunes #theworldismyoyster

#top10summer2023reads

My absolute favourites were I am, I am, I am and August Blue. Thanks for the tag @BarbaraBB 💛

Not sure who has done this/been tagged already but would love to see yours @andrew61 @squirrelbrain @merelybookish @batsy @Amiable

Alfie is well and truly in the ‘why?‘ ‘what for?‘ stage 😅 so I thought I‘d listen to this which I bought on audible a while back. It was a great listen; informative, accessible and with a wide range of topics like climate change, gender, death etc. I‘ll probably listen to certain parts again when those questions/issues arise. #nonfiction2023 (so what?)

I love how Levy can write sentences that can be read one way, or another - and how a lot of meaning can be packed into one. This was such a dreamy, atmospheric book with great characters and places. I would reread it 💙 #tbrtarot

Only just reviewing this from last months #tbrtarot. It took a little while for me to get into but then once I did I was thinking of the characters even when I wasn‘t reading it. I really liked it overall but it irrationally annoyed me that the illness was made up 🤷‍♀️

Love starting a new book 😁

There‘s a great review on the Guardian that sums up how I feel about this book. Junger makes some valid points about veterans, lack of community and PTSD but it felt like he was romanticising war and disaster. #nonfiction2023 (same love)

I wanted more about the ancient cultures and less on how she put that knowledge/her experiences in Mexico, Canada & Tanzania into practice with her own child (although I understand why she wrote it that way). Lots of tips on how to make parenting easier/more enjoyable - some I agree with & already do and some that didn‘t sit right with me. #nonfiction2023 (true colours)

(Naomi pretending to be on the phone using a spade 😆)

My plan was to read a story a day during August (there‘s 28 stories) but I‘m a bit behind so going to try and catch up while Alfie is out with grandparents for the day & Naomi has a long nap 🤞#titlesandtunes

The writing and the concept are lovely but I didn‘t really get much from it - it didn‘t make me want to go and find enchantment nor did I live it vicariously through the author. There‘s four sections Earth, Air, Water & Fire and sometimes it felt like she was writing just for the sake of fitting into one of those prompts. I loved Wintering & the sort of meandering of that but it didn‘t quite work for me here. #nonfiction2023 (purple rain)

I loved visiting America / NY back in 2019 and #theworldismyoyster made me think of that trip so going with this book I bought at the Strand (short stories by writers who left NY) and the song paired well - probably my favourite Simon & Garfunkel album. #titlesandtunes

I‘m conflicted on this one because I really liked the writing and I LOVED the atmosphere, the 60s vibe and the way Cline wrote Evie - I don‘t know if I‘ve read a more spot on depiction of a teenage girl and all the feelings, longings etc that come with that. However, because it‘s based quite closely on the Manson cult and murders I had that in my head as I was reading it so I knew where it was going..

A really modern book in the things it speaks about - social media, cancel culture etc. - it made me question/think about all those things. Every character was unlikeable and conflicted in one way or another but it was so, so readable; I didn‘t want to stop reading it.

I love this book so much. The last story (Daughter) gave me goosebumps. Such a strong, courageous woman and a brilliant writer. It will stay with me. #authoramonth

This was fun to think about 🤍 #midyearbookfreakout

1. Three Women
2. Haven‘t read any
3. August Blue
4. The Fraud
5. A Wizard of Earthsea
6. Thunderstruck
7. Mary Lawson
8. Elizabeth Zott
9. None although Heaven was really hard hitting
10. The Bandit Queens
11. Bear Woman
12. All the ones I‘ve got pencilled in for challenges

I found this reallly boring. Fantasy isn‘t something I generally read and it‘s YA to boot so I‘m not the intended audience but it was so slow yet packed with adventure and it all just felt meh. I tried to get invested in it and I (skimread) to the end but would have bailed if it wasn‘t for #authoramonth.

I had to google rock and roll books 😆 and this one that‘s been on my shelves for a while came up on a few lists so obvious choice! And the song was the first one I thought of - love the whole album 🎶 #titlesandtunes

Kept forgetting to post this for last months #authoramonth but what an intriguing read! Non fiction at its best for me; I loved all the historical detail so you can imagine just how things would have been. I‘m with the majority of people in finding the Marconi bits less compelling than the Crippen but brilliantly done in bringing them together. #nonfiction2023 (rolling in the deep)

You can tell this took a lot from the author to write - in her prologue she asks that no judgement be made against her, instead she wants the reader to see how coercive control happens. She tells of her experience of being in an abusive and controlling relationship; how it started out, how it got worse gradually & her way out. Amidst this she also writes of bullying/control in the workplace that got her fired. A very open and honest book.

Definitely fits the #guiltypleasure prompt for me - I flew through it. I really liked Kim & Bryant and it was well paced with enough twists to keep me guessing and turning the pages. I‘ll be reading more in the series for sure. #titlesandtunes #joysofjune

Not book related but I have a 1 year old 🥺♥️

A bit late in posting but my goals for #joysofjune are to finish Silent Scream, Bunny (on kindle), Look What You Made Me Do (on audible) and to make a good start on A Wizard of Earthsea ♥️

I thought this was going to be a memoir about how the author had undiagnosed pain & the way women‘s medical issues aren‘t always taken seriously but that was a very small part of the book; she uses that as an opening to call out the way she (and other women) was taught over and over to diminish her voice, be less emotional etc. I didn‘t love the way it was written but it was well informed and researched. #nonfiction2023 (Harper Valley P.T.A)

I wasn‘t expecting to like this one as much as I did. I LOVED the humour - for a book with serious and dark topics it had me laughing out loud - it‘s got the perfect balance between dark and light. The friendship between the women was written so well too. The first discussion made me think about the book differently - a great book to discuss. #camplitsy23

Thank you so much for this Helen 😘 how perfect is this card! 😍 I stacked the book after the post by @BarbaraBB so thankful that you bought it for me 🤍 I‘ll have to check out the bookshop next time I‘m in Leeds it sounds fab.

I love a quiet, small town, character driven novel to get lost in and this was really nicely written. I liked the way the past/back story unfolded, the ending, the different points of view and the relationship between Clara and Liam. Will definitely read more Lawson at some point 💕

It‘s not that often I read a crime thriller but if I‘m just wanting a page turner it‘s generally my go to, always feels like a #guiltypleasure.

I was 7 when the Spice Girls came out and I was obsessed with them (I had a fancy dress Spice Girls party - included pictures of the cake and me as Baby Spice 😆) pure nostalgia and an absolute guilty pleasure 🤩 #titlesandtunes

Adding to the chorus in loving this. Very readable with a brilliant protagonist- how could you not admire Elizabeth Zott! I‘m reading a couple of books at the moment that make me think although we‘ve come a long way from this era, not far enough.

I love that this book brought up questions but didn‘t provide answers; it‘s been a while since I‘ve read a book that allows a lot of room for interpretation and it had me thinking even long after I‘d finished it. I liked the writing, the characters, the atmosphere - glad to have finally read it! #titlesandtunes #islandvibe

Not my typical genre so probably a me problem over the book but I drifted too much while listening to this. There were times I almost bailed but some chapters ended in a way I had to keep on which I‘m glad I did as it was a good listen overall - it just took me a while to get past the first person narrative; I felt like I was being taught which sometimes took me out of the story. I loved Rocky and the ending was really good.

Rosie becomes pregnant with her second child not long after having her first and starts to suffer with depression; she discovers the gallery at Kew Gardens by Marianne North (a Victorian botanical artist) and from there finds a new love of plants. Through horticultural therapy, visiting parks & gardens in London & growing plants she finds a way through. I‘m simplifying it here but it was a really lovely, inspiring read. #tbrtarot #magnificentmay

Memorable? Probably not. A decent thriller that keeps you turning the pages? Definitely. I really liked the setting of Oxford, the cast of characters and the way it went back and forth between before/after. I feel like the author did try a bit too hard to make one of the characters a red herring (which I 100% fell for so…😂) but without giving too much away it seemed like they had a personality change near the end of the book.

My partner is glad I‘m finished this so I‘m not constantly telling him things about dinosaurs 😂 five star read for me - so readable, engaging and fascinating! It‘s a linear narrative from when the dinosaurs first arrived to their extinction. I learned a lot. #nonfiction2023 (bad reputation) #magnificentmay

I read this a few weeks ago but the characters are still vivid in my mind. It‘s a very character driven book which I like. Cleo and Frank stay in a relationship that isn‘t healthy for either of them; it reminded me of the song Foundations by Kate Nash but more grown up and darker 😆 It felt like every word was written with precision and intent, and there‘s humour in it too. Really enjoyed it.

Goals for #magnificentmay

🌱 Finish The Ballast Seed
🦕 Finish The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs
🛸 Listen to 4 chapters of Project Hail Mary
👮‍♀️ Read The Memory Police

The reader is privy to things the characters aren‘t so most of this book I spent willing the characters to do or see things differently. I liked Antonia but Pere annoyed me for the most part and Valerie was awful! The setting and the magical realism part of it I liked but overall not for me.

This was really hard to read at times, not just the brutal scenes but the overall tone of it - I want to say ‘sad‘ tone but that doesn‘t do it justice. A pick because I liked the writing and the philosophical aspect of it but I found it unsettling to read. #tbrtarot

My picks for #titlesandtunes. Book and song are opposite vibes ha but I‘ve loved this song since I was a teen (it was on the Smallville soundtrack which I listened to on repeat) and the book is on my shelves so looking forward to reading it! #islandvibe

I‘m not much of series reader but I do like this one for when I want to read something that I can just get lost in, where I don‘t have to think too much. Always a good plot, writing and characters. Definitely read more of it when I‘m in the mood for this sort of read.

Did a little detour to Grasmere on our way home and popped into the bookshop. I liked the cover and title of this one and it sounds intriguing.

No holiday is complete without a visit to a bookshop. I picked this one after all the great reviews on here.

Probably my least favourite Kingsolver I‘ve read but I still enjoyed it & the more I think on it the more I want to recommend it. I liked the characters, past and present, and the parallels between them. When there‘s duel timelines sometimes I‘m more invested in one than the other but in this I liked them both equally - there‘s a good balance and I appreciated the themes and debates that ran through them.

On our way to the Lake District 💚 hoping the kids have a decent nap so I can read this most of the way 😆

I understand why the title is what it is but I feel a bit misled - would have liked a bit more on the trauma cleaning. However, Sandra is quite a complex person who has been through a lot of trauma herself and it made for a difficult but interesting listen. I admired her resilience. The author really idolises Sandra so it‘s quite a biased picture of her life I think! #nonfiction2023 - Toxic