Tag: Book recommendations

#Friday56 – Twelve: Poems Inspired by the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale

The BiblioshelfLeave a comment

Happy FriYAY Bibliofriends!

This week’s Friday 56 comes from Twelve: Poems Inspired by the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale by Andrea Blythe which I received as an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Andrea Blythe and Interstellar Flight Press for the copy. It was a bewitching, fresh retelling of a classical Brother Grimm story of the Twelve Princesses.

Hosted by Freda’s Voice, the Friday 56 is a weekly bookish prompt. It’s quite easy to do and could cover no end of different books and genres so seems great if you’re looking for a quick snippet to discover something new!

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader (If you have to improvise, that’s ok.)
*Find any sentence, (or few, just don’t spoil it)
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post here in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url.
*It’s that simple.

The Black Fox could steal anything – jewels hidden inside castle keeps, entire towers full of gold or the tower itself, kisses and secrets and lives.

This is such a wonderfully short and sweet read. If you’re a fan of fairytales and modern retellings which give the protagonists their own identity and voice then there’s sure to be a lit for you to like in Twelve. If you want to find out more about Twelve: Poems Inspired by the Brothers Grimm Fairytale then you can check out my full review here.

Amazon | Interstellar Flight Press| Author’s Website | Twitter | NetGalley

Are you a fairytale fanatic? What’s your favourite fairy tale retelling? As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

Connect with me here:

Twitter | Goodreads | Book Sloth: @thebiblioshelf |Email: thebiblioshelf@gmail.com

#Friday56 – Ignite the Sun

The BiblioshelfLeave a comment

It’s FriYAY time again Bibliofriends!

This week’s Friday 56 comes from Ignite the Sun by Hanna C. Howard which I received as an e-arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It was a brilliant traditional YA fantasy debut in which light battled against dark!

Hosted by Freda’s Voice, the Friday 56 is a weekly bookish prompt. It’s quite easy to do and could cover no end of different books and genres so seems great if you’re looking for a quick snippet to discover something new!

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader (If you have to improvise, that’s ok.)
*Find any sentence, (or few, just don’t spoil it)
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post here in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url.
*It’s that simple.

Milla hugged me briefly, her fleeting embrace like birds’ wings, and as she released me, I threw my arms impulsively around Phipps.

The whole cast of characters in this novel felt like they had come straight out of the pages of folklore encyclopaedias – mages, banshees, elves, dwarves, nymphs, naiads and a witch-queen. They really were my favourite aspect of the story. If you want to find out more about Ignite the Sun then you can check out my full review here.

Amazon | Blink YA Books| Waterstones | Hanna C. Howard on Twitter

Have you read Ignite the Sun? What are your favourite folklore characters? As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

#Friday56 – Good Omens

The BiblioshelfLeave a comment

Howdy Bibliofriends! Who’s got that Friday Feeling again?

This week’s Friday 56 comes from Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett which I listened to on Audiobook. It was such a funny story made all the better by Martin Jarvis’ accents and impressions!

Hosted by Freda’s Voice, the Friday 56 is a weekly bookish prompt. It’s quite easy to do and could cover no end of different books and genres so seems great if you’re looking for a quick snippet to discover something new!

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader (If you have to improvise, that’s ok.)
*Find any sentence, (or few, just don’t spoil it)
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post here in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url.
*It’s that simple.

“You think wars get started because some duke gets shot, or someone cuts off one’s ear, or someone’s sited their missiles in the wrong place. It’s not like that. That’s just well, just reasons, which haven’t got anything to do with it. What really causes wars is two sides that can’t stand the sight of one another and the pressure builds up and up and then anything will cause it. Anything at all.” 

So this quote isn’t exactly from p.56 or from 56% of the way through the book as, to be totally honest, I didn’t have the time or motivation to find out where that part was on my audiobook – so this is one of my favourite quotes from the book instead. There are so many little gems hidden throughout this book that I would definitely recommend it to all fantasy book fans who don’t mind the more humorous side of the genre. If you want to find out more about what I thought of Good Omens then you can check out my full review here.

Have you read Good Omens or any other Gaiman or Pratchett books? What are your favourite angels/demon stories? As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

July Wrap Post

The Biblioshelf3 Comments

Happy August Bibliofriends!

I’m so excited for August getting into full swing! After all that was happening at school towards the end of term (it’s been a year unlike any other…) it has been so nice to finally break up for the summer holidays.

What I’ve Been Reading in July

I’m currently 8 books ahead of schedule on my Goodreads Reading Challenge! I’m so pleased because it really feels like I’m going to actually achieve my challenge for the first time in 3 years! I’ve also managed to keep the blogging going through some busy school times and am now looking at 4 straight months of consistent content, hopefully August will be the 5th and I can keep it going this time throughout the new term in September and beyond. Having a reading journal to plan posts ahead of time and setting my own routines for publishing content has really helped as well.

I’m looking slightly short on book tags so if anyone wants to tag me in any then please feel free!! 🤓

  • These Divided Shores by Sara Raasch ⭐️⭐️⭐️
    It was good to finally get this series ticked off my reading list. The island of Grace Loray was a spectacular setting but I felt that the plot felt a little flat towards the end. You can read my review here.
  • Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (Audiobook) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
    This was such a humorous audiobook to listen to. Martin Jarvis is a brilliant narrator and was perfect for some of these characters. Review to come!
  • Dolly on Dolly: Interviews and Encounters with Dolly Parton by Randy L. Schmidt (Ed.) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
    I’ve been totally going back into my country music phase recently and this was a great compilation of interviews throughout Dolly’s brilliant career.
  • Esme’s Wish by Elizabeth Foster ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
    I fell in love with the land of Esperance. It’s definitely on my fictional travels bucket list now. You can read my review here.
  • Ignite the Sun by Hanna C. Howard ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
    The range of characters in this book were perfect for a folklore fan like me. Review up later this month!

What I’ve Been Watching in July

I’ve been having a bit of a clear out of my DVD stash as we’re trying to de-clutter before we move. I made a hug pile of films that I wasn’t sure I wanted to get rid of or not so I’ve been trying to watch all of them so I can decide whether they stay or go!

  • The Bling Ring ⭐️⭐️⭐️
    Starring Emma Watson this Sofia Coppola directed film retells the real-life story of the gang who burglarised some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. It’s a fun film for a rainy afternoon.
    Verdict: Go
  • Wild Child ⭐️⭐️⭐️
    Emma Roberts has to adjust from her Malibu lifestyle when she is sent to an all-girls boarding school in England. I can’t help but love this film!
    Verdict: Stay
  • Love, Rosie ⭐️⭐️
    A typical rom-com about a couple who never seem to be able to get it together. Based on the novel Where Rainbows End by Cecilia Ahern.
    Verdict: Go
  • One Day ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
    Based on the novel of the same name by David Nicholls, Anne Hathaway practises her English accent in this film about how two people spend St. Swithin’s Day on each year of their friendship. It has such a bittersweet ending and I sobbed so much at the book!
    Verdict: Stay
  • The Duchess ⭐️⭐️
    Keira Knightley stars in this biopic about Georgiana Duchess of Devonshire. I just can’t seem to like this move. The costumes are brilliant but it’s just such a harsh story.
    Verdict: Go
  • The Bounty Hunter ⭐️⭐️⭐️
    There’s just something so enjoyable about this Jennifer Aniston/Gerard Butler flick where he is the bounty hunter tasked with bringing his ex-wife in.
    Verdict: Stay
  • The Break Up ⭐️⭐️⭐️
    I can’t help but cry at this end of this movie. Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn really tear each other apart after their break-up – makes me glad sometimes that my life isn’t that complicated!
    Verdict: Stay
  • Eat, Pray, Love ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
    I watched this for the first time this month and though it was so inspiring. It’s definitely made me want to read the book and travel more.
    Verdict: Stay
  • Keeping Up with the Joneses (Film 4) ⭐️⭐️⭐️
    I watched this one rainy afternoon when I was bored. It did exactly what it said on the tin.
  • Hannah Montana – Seasons 1 and 2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
    I admit it, this is one of my guilty pleasures! I’ve loved binge-watching it on Disney +!
  • Unlikely Angel ⭐️⭐️⭐️
    I don’t know why I watched a Christmas film in July but it’s Dolly so…!
  • Artemis Fowl (Disney +) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
    This was such a brilliant film. I haven’t read the book yet but if they are as good as the film then I’m sure to like them!
  • Hamilton ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
    Wow! I am so glad this came onto Disney +. Since all of the massive hype I knew I had to see it. I have to confess, I don;t know that much of the story but I had no idea how talented Lin-Manuel is. What a great musical.

What I’ve Been Listening to in July

  • Taylor Swift – Folklore ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
    What an album! This is exactly the stripped back Swift music I’ve been waiting for. I love her pop stuff but this just gave another level to her music and felt like she was evolving some of her earlier country roots.
  • The Chicks – Gaslighter ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
    I had this on pre-order ever since it was announced. I’ve been a fan of The (Dixie) Chicks for years. They recently changed their name due to the connotations surrounding the word Dixie and although it isn’t my favourite one of my favourite albums of theirs, it’s so good to have new music from them again.
  • Dolly Parton – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
    So as I said earlier, my music tastes seem to have gone way back to my country roots again. I rewatched Dolly’s set from Glastonbury during the lockdown as the BBC had put a load of repeats on with the 2020 Glasto being cancelled etc and I’ve been downloading and playing her songs ever since! I love the recent song she did with Galantis Faith and the duet she did with Miley Cyrus Rainbowland. They’ve been on repeat a lot!

What I’ve Been Doing in July

  • School finally finished! What a mammoth term it has been. I’m on holiday mode now so I won’t go over it too much here but I am so glad the year is finally over and the summer holidays can be enjoyed!
  • Horse Racing is getting into it’s swing again. They aren’t letting many owners onto the track nowadays but it has been so nice to spend mornings down at the stable year again. I loved seeing my horses! We’ve also been having lots of Zoom meetings as we are planning a Virtual Owners’ Day in August. We normally have a big day at the yard with lots of food, live music and it’s a really big event but obviously we can;t quite do that this year so it’s all going to be virtual instead.
  • Picnic in the Park: I finally got to meet up with my friends again! It was so strange getting myself ready to go out for a social event again. I did my hair, nails, everything and all we did was sit in the park and eat take-out burgers! 😂 It’s been ages since I’ve seen any friends in person so it was real nice to catch up and chat again.
  • ‘Summer Cleaning’: Now that the house move is creeping closer and closer as renovations are finalised, I’ve been starting to declutter and go through some of my stuff. A lot of clothes have been bagged up, I’ve already mentioned the DVDs above. I’ve even started going through all of my Fairyloot box items and books and have started putting them together ready to sell. It’s been quite a productive time actually!
  • Cornwall! I have a little house down by the sea so it has been wonderful to spend some time relaxing, reading and going on beach walks. I brought my 17 year old cousin down for a few days… boy does she walk for miles!! I’ve never walked so much in such a long time – one day we did over 20,000 steps in about five hours! My legs were knackered by the time she went home. We went around the whole of Rame peninsula and she enjoyed our shopping day in Plymouth. It was so nice to have some company to do things with and now I’m here by myself so it’s brilliant to have the headspace for reading and catching up on my book reviews/blogging that have been piling up recently.

What I’m Looking Forward to it August

  • Reading, Reading, Reading! 🤓 I did a post about my summer reading goals back in July. As I’m a mood reader, I’m not sure if I’ll stick to them or have time to do all of them but there are some definite novels that I ‘need’ to read to this month.
  • Spending more time in Cornwall – it’s hard to know what is open with the pandemic and all of the different social distancing measures around. I’m hoping to visit the Eden Project soon as I’ve never been there despite having been here for about 3 years!
  • Finishing the renovations – apparently it’s going to take another few months, but I’m getting so impatient to move into my new house already that I just want it to happen now!! 🙈
  • Getting braver – as an introvert, and an introvert with anxiety and other issues… spending some time by myself has actually been helping me to be able to go out and try new things on my own so I’m looking forward to putting my brave pants on a little more throughout August!

And that’s a wrap! What have you been reading/watching/listening to/doing in July? What are you looking forward to doing in August? Do you have a set reading or goals list that you want to try and achieve?

As always, drop me a comment to chat! ☺️

T xx

#Friday56 – Esme’s Wish

The BiblioshelfLeave a comment

Happy Friday Bibliofriends!

This week’s Friday 56 comes from Esme’s Wish by Elizabeth Foster. I was thrilled to be asked by Elizabeth to review her book as it sounded crammed full with lots of fantasy elements and the map of Esperance was immediately giving me Venice-vibes! Esme’s Wish was a wonderful story of friendship and the quest for finding a lost loved one. I’m already intrigued and excited to read Book 2!

Hosted by Freda’s Voice, the Friday 56 is a weekly bookish prompt. It’s quite easy to do and could cover no end of different books and genres so seems great if you’re looking for a quick snippet to discover something new!

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader (If you have to improvise, that’s ok.)
*Find any sentence, (or few, just don’t spoil it)
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post here in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url.
*It’s that simple.

‘Somehow, my mother knew something nobody else could know – she knew about the stygians in the chamber. Why else would she have painted them around the pedestal?’
Lillian flicked her eyes from the painting to Esme, and back again. ‘So they could still be in there?’ She turned her gaze full on Esme. ‘And you want to go and see? Have you gone completely mad?’

This middle-grade fantasy novel was packed full with all of the elements I love to read about in this genre. There were dragons, sirens, magical portals, hints of mythology and curious compendiums and objects. If you want to find out more about Esme’s Wish then you can check out my full review here.

Goodreads | Odyssey Books | Amazon | Waterstones

Have you read Esme’s Wish? Do you prefer dragons of sirens in a fantasy novel? As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

#Friday56 – These Divided Shores

The BiblioshelfLeave a comment

Aloha, it’s finally freakin’ Friday!

This week’s Friday 56 comes from These Divided Shores by Sara Raasch which is the sequel to These Rebel Waves. This is another part of my ‘series I’m trying to finish’ episodes and I’m kinda sad to be saying goodbye to Grace Loray and it’s wonderful botanical magic.

Hosted by Freda’s Voice, the Friday 56 is a weekly bookish prompt. It’s quite easy to do and could cover no end of different books and genres so seems great if you’re looking for a quick snippet to discover something new!

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader (If you have to improvise, that’s ok.)
*Find any sentence, (or few, just don’t spoil it)
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post here in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url.
*It’s that simple.

You cannot even trust yourself,her mind echoed.

But I trust him, she told the broken pieces that had once been her heart.

I enjoyed returning to Grace Loray to see what happened to Vex, Lu and Ben in this sequel to These Rebel Waves. The Botanical Magic in this series was really something special and I loved finding out the different ways it was used in the story.  If you want to find out more about These Divided Shores then you can check out my full review here.

Have you read These Rebel Waves or These Divided Shores? As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

 

#Friday56 – Shadow and Flame

The BiblioshelfLeave a comment

Woop Woop – TGI Friday!

This week’s Friday 56 comes from Shadow and Flame by Mindee Arnett which is the sequel to the fantasy novel Onyx and Ivory. I got this as part of my birthday haul in my bid to try and finish off some of the series I’d already started from way back when!

Hosted by Freda’s Voice, the Friday 56 is a weekly bookish prompt. It’s quite easy to do and could cover no end of different books and genres so seems great if you’re looking for a quick snippet to discover something new!

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader (If you have to improvise, that’s ok.)
*Find any sentence, (or few, just don’t spoil it)
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post here in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url.
*It’s that simple.

Signe wasn’t a wilder or magist, only a woman from the Esh Islands of unknown birth and background. Still, she possessed many talents, including senses keen enough to provoke envy in any assassin or spy – and one secret that made her the most important woman in the Rising.

Signe was one of the sassiest and most mysterious characters in this book. I really like the way her friendship with Kate goes through its trials and tribulations. It isn’t often that you witness people facing up to the consequences of their actions like this pair of friends. If you want to hear more about Shadow and Flame then you can check out my full review here.

Have you read Onyx and Ivory or Shadow and Flame? What kind of Wilder magic would you rather have? As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

#Friday56 – Atomic Habits

The BiblioshelfLeave a comment

Happy FriYaY Bibliofriends!

This week’s Friday 56 comes from a motivational non-fiction read called Atomic Habits by James Clear. This is one of the most helpful “self-help” books that I’ve ever read! As I listened to this as an audiobook, the extract here is from the first chapter which you can download for free at https://jamesclear.com.

Hosted by Freda’s Voice, the Friday 56 is a weekly bookish prompt. It’s quite easy to do and could cover no end of different books and genres so seems great if you’re looking for a quick snippet to discover something new!

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader (If you have to improvise, that’s ok.)
*Find any sentence, (or few, just don’t spoil it)
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post here in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url.
*It’s that simple.

All big things come from small beginnings. The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision. But as that decision is repeated, a habit sprouts and grows stronger. Roots entrench themselves and branches grow. The task of breaking a bad habit is like uprooting a powerful oak within us. And the task of building a good habit is like cultivating a delicate flower one day at a time.

This book has already helped me to add two ‘good habits’ into my life, simply by following the rule: when I do … I will also do …. The first habit I wanted to try and ‘be better at’ was getting round to finally listening to the audiobooks that are stacking up in my library. Now I’m listening to them out of habit every morning in the time that I get ready for work. Hopefully these techniques will help me to try and instil some other good habits in my life further along the way. If this seems like a book you’d be interested in then you can check out my full review here.

What are some good habits you need to try and incorporate in your life? Do you currently use habit trackers or bullet journals for anything in your life? As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

#Friday56 – The Rain Heron

The BiblioshelfLeave a comment

Hiya, it’s FriYAY time again!

This week’s Friday 56 comes from a powerful and deeply moving eco-fable called The Rain Heron. I am so glad that I was accepted for a copy of this through NetGalley so huge thanks to them and Atlantic Books for approving my request.

Hosted by Freda’s Voice, the Friday 56 is a weekly bookish prompt. It’s quite easy to do and could cover no end of different books and genres so seems great if you’re looking for a quick snippet to discover something new!

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader (If you have to improvise, that’s ok.)
*Find any sentence, (or few, just don’t spoil it)
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post here in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url.
*It’s that simple.

Time wavered, shimmered. She could no longer tell whether days  were beginning or ending. Most of the time she lay in her cave, not quite asleep or awake, buffeted not just by hunger, thirst and pain but also by visions, memories, half-dreams.

This raw, parable of finding the balance of living harmoniously with nature is an absolute must-read for anyone interested in the environment and giving back to our natural world. You can check out my full review here!

Are you a conservationist? Have you read any stories about the power of nature which you think are must-reads? As always, leave me your #Friday56 links or drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

#BookTag – Celebrity Book Tag

The BiblioshelfLeave a comment

Hi Bibliofriends,

I’m getting much more into the Book Tagging game more recently and this Celebrity Book Tag was a great little one I found over at Kira Jeanette’s Blog. She found the tag on Gigisreads but I’m not sure of the original tag creator so thank you whoever you are!

Emma Watson- A book with a hot kick butt female character

It sounds so typical and boring of me but I literally can’t think of anyone other than Aelin from the Throne of Glass series.

Ryan Gosling- A book with the hottest male character

It has to be Rhysand from A Court of Mist and Fury doesn’t it?!

Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt- A book with your favorite fictional book couple

Aragorn and Arwen from Lord of the Rings – I absolutely love them! * heart eyes *

Shailene Woodley- Author you’ve recently discovered and loved

Robbie Arnott, Isabel Ibañez, Mark Newman, Nadine Brandes

Josh Hutcherson- Favorite short story or novella

My Fence is Electric by Mark Newman (Butterfly Farm)
The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter

Dwayne Johnson AKA The Rock – Favorite Big Book (over 500 pages)

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón – 520 pages

Leonardo DiCaprio- A series with the most upsetting death (no spoilers, don’t worry!)

Crooked Kingdom 🤐

Kristen Stewart- A book you found boring

All The Birds In The Sky by Charlie Jane Anders.

Ian Somerhalder and his cat- Cutest book on your shelf

Wicked Like A Wildfire by Lana Popovic – the cover is beautiful
Or
Queen of Nothing by Holly Black (same reason – my FairyLoot exclusive edition is gorgeous!)

Jennifer Lawrence- Perfect book or series

Series: Harry Potter / Lord of the Rings / Cemetery of Forgotten Books / Illuminae Files
Book: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Which books would make it into your celebrity book tag? Tag yourself if you want to have a go! Feel free to include your links below so I can visit! As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx