I‘m LOVING this book! #womensprizeNF

After reading this I went straight into reading the second book in her ‘living autobiography‘ series, and went out and bought the third, because it was everything I was hoping it would be and more. Her writing is just amazing 🖤

#nonfiction2024 (Speak)

This was Februarys #readyourkindle book. It took me so long to read because it‘s such a worthwhile, heartfelt and powerful read but it‘s also full of grief and sadness (written very profoundly but succinctly, and repeated) so I was just reading it in small bursts. I loved it.

My picks for #camplitsy24 🤍

I love this idea 😁

1. Alfie‘s happiness on his birthday in Legoland 🩵
2. Getting to visit Oxford 😍
3. Coffee and reading time in my local library cafe ☕️
4. Singing in the car with the kids on our long journey 🎶
5. Starting the tagged book - one of those books you instantly know you‘re going to like 🤍

I think I‘m in the minority but I didn‘t really love this. I get what the author was aiming for and it sounded like the sort of novel I‘d enjoy but I found it too disjointing - if I got settled into a part of the story I was soon taken out of it again. There were characters I liked reading about like Robert & the twin sisters but overall a very so-so read for me.

This was beautifully told. I loved listening to the author tell of Dutch paintings & artists, Fabritius & her father‘s paintings - you can tell it‘s something she‘s knowledgeable & passionate about. I listened on Spotify which came with a pdf of all the paintings she discusses but I always listen when I‘m on the go so couldn‘t keep track of which paintings she was discussing. As much as I liked the audio I‘d recommend going print or mix the two.

Little #bookhaul from the charity book shops I went to ♥️

Day to myself, obviously spending it reading and book shopping 😆

A fast, page-turning literary read with in depth characters & important subjects (social media, mom influencer culture and the effects it has on the kids ?). I thought both Mélanie and Clara were fascinating characters & the juxtaposition between them was written perfectly - one lives their life for social media, the other rejects it. It packs a lot of social commentary & psychology of the characters into a very enthralling novel.

A YA book so I‘m obviously not the intended audience which shows in my rating (3 ⭐️). It was very readable, accessible, engaging and I imagine quite informative/eye opening and relevant to younger readers. I think for its audience it‘s a great read. #readyourkindle

I can‘t always focus on novels during the day when the kids are around so this was perfect as a daytime read as it‘s got short but informative chapters that can be read in 5/10 minutes. Each chapter is a lesson in something such as confidence, relationships, melancholy, manners etc. The main takeaway is we don‘t have to be perfect parents, in fact it‘s good for us to be ‘flawed but kind‘. I really liked it and it‘s one I‘ll keep.

This was definitely a book of two halves but in the best way - I loved how the two parts focused on the different perspectives from Lotto & Mathilde and the things they keep hidden, didn‘t know about each other and their feelings about their marriage. I thought it was such a brilliant character driven novel despite the fact the protagonists weren‘t always likeable.

Went to this wonderfully curated bookshop while I was on holiday and chose these two books. They had a great selection of The School of Life books (which @squirrelbrain introduced me to 😘). Next time I‘m in Whitley Bay I‘ll be visiting again 😁

After a week of feeling rubbish we decided to book a last minute weekend away. So nice reading in bed while it‘s raining outside (and the kids are playing with their Nana) 🩷

I‘m making my way through this slowly but steadily - those small chapters sure pack a punch. I am loving the writing. Feels like a timely read.

I‘ve had either a stomach bug or food poisoning so I‘ve not read this month (just listened to an audiobook now & again). Still don‘t feel 100% but hoping I‘ll get to read some of the tagged book today, which is from Febs #tbrtarot & #readyourkindle

These are what came up for me this month on kindle - think I‘ll aim for just reading one (Everyone In this Room Will Someday be Dead) as I‘ve still got a chunk left of the tagged book to get through

This was every bit as good as I thought it would be 🖤 I absolutely love her on How to Get Away with Murder and the little insights into how she wanted to play that character were great. I was gripped by her story and how she told it. Inspiring, vulnerable and raw. #nonfiction2024 (I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings)

I always get stumped trying to review books I like the most 🤷‍♀️ but I loved this one - the imagery, the writing, the plot, the way it unfolds, Lucrezia ♥️ and the ending is one I won‘t forget (it was perfect for the book).

I‘ve only read Matrix by Groff (loved it!) but this feels so different. It‘s a slow read but I‘m really enjoying it. Almost at the second half which I‘ve heard changes things up a bit.

I‘m still very much on a Laura Marling kick but another rediscovery recently of this song and Painter (Valentine) which is on the same single. I used to listen to them a lot so it‘s nice to hear them again 🩷 #tuesdaytunes

https://open.spotify.com/album/7tSZJFwUYyXYOcoLiKCj0J?si=JTax_TSbQ7qFOqVufXXYkw

“Insipid/idealistic portrayals of motherhood made me less interested in it as a young person. I thought it was boring when it‘s one of the most extreme socio-political experiences I have ever been through.”

All the stars for this book ✨ becoming a mother changes us physically and mentally and Jones details this using research from neuroscience, existential therapy, ecology, sociology etc. as well as drawing from her own experiences.

One of the songs from this album came on when I was listening to a playlist the other week and it‘s like rediscovering an old favourite as it‘s been years since I‘ve listened to it & I‘d forgotten how much I love it 🖤 favourites - Hope in The Air, Blackberry Stone, Made by Maid #tuesdaytunes

https://open.spotify.com/album/7x98osNfh0aUookqE7MMQ1?si=BVL-joT1T02fEHVOLv7euA

Although #auldlangspine was one sided for me I‘m still glad I signed up as this was on my tbr and my match‘s list so it‘s given me the push to read it, and I‘m loving it! Flying through it.

I liked this book about Abi, who becomes pregnant at a young age and moves to Australia to be with her boyfriend (who is actually infuriating for most of the book but realistically written), and who is befriended by Phil, an older woman, and a lovely but complex friendship ensues. It dragged on a bit in places and the ending was very neatly tied up but a charming read all the same.

This was my #tbrtarot from last month @CBee

My list for #readyourkindle 🤍

I haven‘t heard from my #auldlangspine match at all so I don‘t feel so bad bailing on this. It‘s a long-ish audiobook at 13 hours and I gave it 2 but it felt like a chore. Too overwritten for my taste and I didn‘t connect with the characters or story. It has got some good reviews on here and maybe better in print, but not for me.

A decent written thriller/mystery. It took a little while for me to get into and the ending felt a bit rushed but I liked the characters, especially Lane, and their ambiguities. A low pick. #auldlangspine

Took Alfie to the library cafe for some lunch after nursery and picked up a few books #libraryhaul

This was just really sad. For her family to treat her the way they did! Just kept thinking how different things could have been for her had she had a supportive family. She was in such a vulnerable place and had no-one on her side. Misogyny abounds. I‘d definitely recommend going the audio route with this. #nonfiction2024 (the handmaid‘s tale)

This was my first book of 2024! Although I‘m just getting around to reviewing. I do like a good novella. The author does a brilliant job of portraying the young protagonists feelings whilst showing us the adults lives and character traits through her. It‘s a soft pick as I didn‘t LOVE it and don‘t think it will stick with me although I appreciate the talent of her writing.

I found this really eye opening and fascinating - particularly the bits about food regulation (or lack of), how and why UPF is so addictive, how some ingredients in UPF are made and what goes on without our conscious awareness really as we eat. The author states his intention in writing the book was so people can have knowledge and awareness and make their own informed decisions about what to eat. My other half is glad I‘ve finished reading it 🤣

Every time the kids take books off my shelves it‘s always the poetry books so I‘m taking it as a sign to actually read them. I‘m going to read one a day. ‘A Brief for the Defense‘ is the first poem- so good! 🖤

Reading this book the other day and my partner says he knows when I‘m REALLY liking a book as I “find every minute of the day to read it - even if it‘s 1 minute. Talk about it …. A effin lot. Talk about it and tell me I should read it, or read a paragraph or a sentence. ALOT.” 😂

It‘s such a fascinating and absorbing read - learning a lot from it!

I always set my reading goal low so I don‘t have to really think about meeting it. Read so many good books last year 💕

#readingbracket2023 my best book of 2023 was Three Women - I loved the audio and will definitely re-listen at some point.

Very much on a non-fiction kick at the minute. Bought these two in the Waterstones sale as a little present to myself 😁

I‘m glad this book exists and I hope it gets to be widely read. Sarah writes about childism with knowledge & passion but it‘s a very accessible read. Why are children still treated so poorly despite increasing research into child development etc? There‘s chapters on neoliberalism & how this impacts the school system, politics, reasons why people choose to ignore childism, discipline & lots more. It made me mad reading it but also more informed.

#nonfiction2023 I‘m chuffed I almost completed the board 😆 so many good books here. Looking forward to next year‘s challenge!

💛 Big Yellow Taxi - Cribsheet
📔 ‘Free Space‘ - Intimations
🍎 Strange Fruit - Three Women
🙏 Livin‘ on a Prayer - Hold on to Your Kids
💭 Imagine - A Year of Living Simply
🦠 Toxic - The Trauma Cleaner
💪 I Will Survive - What Have I Done?
😊 Good as Hell - Good Inside
🌈 True Colours - Hunt, Gather, Parent

My brilliant list for #auldlangspine from @LapReader 💕
The Marriage Portrait & Weyward were on my tbr and the rest all sound great! These four are available at the library so I‘ve put reservations on them 😁
The Lost Flowers I‘ll listen to on Spotify but The Angry Women‘s Choir doesn‘t seem to be easily available here in the UK - I‘ll keep an eye out for it though!

Happy Christmas! 🎄🎅
The two books I really wanted 🥰

I found this a really compelling listen. The way she writes with such fondness & love for her family despite all their awful beliefs & her own conflicting views shone through - the passage about her Grandad near the end & the way she writes about her Mother you could tell were heartfelt. I preferred the latter half of the book when she starts to view her upbringing & the church differently but a great listen. #nonfiction2023 All About that Bass

A book I‘ve wanted to read for a long time and I‘m glad it came up for me at this time as I‘m not sure I would have fully appreciated it had I read it when I was younger. Very well written, concise but powerful. A classic for good reason. It will stick with me. #nonfiction2023 - I Still Haven‘t Found What I‘m Looking For

I‘m a firm believer in the mind/body being connected and how trauma can live within us and effect us physically as well as emotionally so this book resonated with me. The chapters on child development, addiction, politics and our modern capitalist society were especially interesting for me. #nonfiction2023 - Killing in the Name

This will be a memorable read for me. A lot of scenes that stood out (karaoke & court especially). It felt real & raw. The abuse the protagonist has been put through by family isn‘t detailed instead we have glimpses, her viewpoint & her ways of being with other people (pretending for the other person/being someone she thought they would want) which I thought was done perfectly. Loved it.

If you like psychology and slower paced thrillers you‘ll probably enjoy this. Very focused in therapy, psychological insights, motherhood and trauma which really worked for me. I couldn‘t put it down. Only slight is I did have to suspend belief with the twist at the end - the author wanted the characters motivation and behaviour to be believable but it didn‘t ring quite true for me.

Surprised myself with how much I liked this book. I found it really sweet but in the best way. The SNL type setting was interesting and vivid and the character development was great - the chemistry between the characters was written well too. Enjoyable read 💕 #tbrtarot

Every time I‘ve gone to post this I‘ve been distracted but I received your postcard & book the other day Helen, thanks so much 😘 I‘ve no doubt I will be hooked on these books too 😁

A fascinating listen about our ancient ancestors and what their burial sites can tell us about how they lived etc. I‘ve been listening to it since August (takes me so long to get through audiobooks 😬) but it was so interesting I always knew where I‘d left off even if I hadn‘t listened for a while. Very well written and narrated.

Hairdressers is always reading time for me 😁

I love a book that has a strong setting. Enjoying it so far!

A low pick. I feel like there was a bit too much going on, the ‘reveal‘ near the end sort of threw me and it got a touch monotonous in the middle. I really loved the ending and the beginning though and the relationships between all of the characters especially that between Grace and her daughter. Also liked the way it portrayed how chance encounters and decisions can make/change your life.