Hey Bibliofriends,

Happy Tuesday! I had intended on posting a couple of things within the past week to mark Tolkien Day and World Poetry Day but being away on a school residential has sapped actual life out of me! Thankfully it’s the now Easter break so it’s time to catch up with some reading and blogging! 🥳

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is the Top Ten Movies/TV Shows that would make amazing books. The prompt was submitted by Sabrina @ Notes From a Paper Plane Nomad and I had so much fun putting this list together! I often watch things on TV and wish that I could also have experienced it in all of its literary glory – it must be the bookwyrm in me! If you don’t already know, Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly, list-themed book prompt hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

National Treasure

I adore the entire National Treasure franchise and I was so happy when they brought a new spin-off show to Disney Plus last year. I’m a sucker for a historical treasure hunt and I would devour the novels that came out if these movies were turned into literary form!

Outer Banks

Spot the running treasure hunt theme here! Outer Banks is a major guilty pleasure of mine and I have binged every season of these as soon as they get released on Netflix. I can’t wait for Season 4!! Now whilst this started off as a TV series, I did spy a paperback novel in a bookshop which was released as a bit of a spin-off… I had no idea these even existed! I haven’t taken the plunge to buy it yet, but you can bet if I come across it a second time, it may very well be coming home with me to my shelf!

Emily in Paris

Another favourite show of mine! Imagine the descriptions of the clothing, fashion and food, the snarkiness of Sylvie and the cliffhangers and plot twists! Whilst Mindy’s musical talents and those divine French accents may not translate from screen to page, this series is just so dreamy that I’d be all over a novelisation of it!

Pirates of the Caribbean

I’m a sucker for a swashbuckling adventure and Pirates of the Caribbean is no exception. Whilst some of the plot lines in these films take inspiration from pirate folklore, I still think the level of detail in these movies would make for excellent literary world-building!

Moana

The themed picks continue with Moana! Again, another film based on pre-existing legends and mythology, however I would love a YA / adult twist on this Polynesian tale – if there’s one already out there, please point me in the direction of it!

Thir13en Ghosts

I remember watching this film as a teen and it scared the absolute you-know-what out of me! The reason I would love to see this in literary format is for the house element. Parts of this film are so twisted and terrifying, that it’d make a brilliantly chilling horror novel.

Fool’s Gold

Spanish shipwrecks, diving for treasure, all the tension and feels between Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey, the Bahamas scenery… I don’t care that this film only got an audience score of 48% on Rotten Tomatoes, I absolutely love it and need it in book version!

Godzilla

Ok, so this is another one of those ‘may already exist in book form’ picks but… I love the most recent Legendary Pictures versions which form as a new Reiwa Era for this iconic Japanese monster; particularly when King Kong joins in along with a whole plethora of other Monarch monsters from the second film in this particular part of the franchise. The scope they could make with these films in book format is huge, particularly if they dug deep and went into the origins of all of the monsters – they would definitely be making my TBR list! We are off the see Godzilla x Kong in IMAX this Friday and I am so excited!!

Most Haunted

Most Haunted was one of my favourite TV shows as a kid. I was blown away by some of the footage they captured, especially the Live event when they went to Pendle Hill. Then there was the whole ‘Rik Eedles’ fiasco. I would love it if there was a novel that was all about ghosthunters filming a reality TV show, just like this!

Indiana Jones

Who doesn’t love an adventure story? I had a really hard time picking this final option. I was almost going to pick Money Heist from Netflix, but then went with Indiana Jones at the final minute. Part of me loves a good temple hunting adventure novel, but I’m not too sure if these films are just so iconic that a novel version wouldn’t fully cut it!

That’s it! My Top Ten Movies/TV Shows that would make amazing book. Have you seen any of these selections? What film or series are you desperate for a literary version of? Feel free to leave me your link so I can visit your own TTT post! As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

Hey Bibliofriends,

Happy Tuesday! How is your week going so far? This week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is the Top Ten Books on my Spring TBR. I was so excited to make this list! Spring i the ultimate time of rebirth and it always gives me a renewed sense of motivation. The days are getting lighter, birdsong is getting louder and flowers are blooming all around us. The 10 selections I have chosen here are a complete mixture of books I already own, books I’m hoping to purchase/acquire soon and some highly anticipated books that are being released this season! All plot summaries below are from Goodreads. If you don’t already know, Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly, list-themed book prompt hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

In a shabby house, on a shabby street, in the new capital of Madrid, Luzia Cotado uses scraps of magic to get through her days of endless toil as a scullion. But when her scheming mistress discovers the lump of a servant cowering in the kitchen is actually hiding a talent for little miracles, she demands Luzia use those gifts to better the family’s social position.

What begins as simple amusement for the bored nobility takes a perilous turn when Luzia garners the notice of Antonio Pérez, the disgraced secretary to Spain’s king. Still reeling from the defeat of his armada, the king is desperate for any advantage in the war against England’s heretic queen—and Pérez will stop at nothing to regain the king’s favor.

Determined to seize this one chance to better her fortunes, Luzia plunges into a world of seers and alchemists, holy men and hucksters, where the line between magic, science, and fraud is never certain. But as her notoriety grows, so does the danger that her Jewish blood will doom her to the Inquisition’s wrath. She will have to use every bit of her wit and will to survive—even if that means enlisting the help of Guillén Santangel, an embittered immortal familiar whose own secrets could prove deadly for them both.

House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J Maas

Bryce Quinlan never expected to see a world other than Midgard, but now that she has, all she wants is to get back. Everything she loves is in Midgard: her family, her friends, her mate. Stranded in a strange new world, she’s going to need all her wits about her to get home again. And that’s no easy feat when she has no idea who to trust.

Hunt Athalar has found himself in some deep holes in his life, but this one might be the deepest of all. After a few brief months with everything he ever wanted, he’s in the Asteri’s dungeons again, stripped of his freedom and without a clue as to Bryce’s fate. He’s desperate to help her, but until he can escape the Asteri’s leash, his hands are quite literally tied.

In this sexy, breathtaking sequel to the #1 bestsellers House of Earth and Blood and House of Sky and Breath, Sarah J. Maas’s Crescent City series reaches new heights as Bryce and Hunt’s world is brought to the brink of collapse-with its future resting on their shoulders.

A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal

On the streets of White Roaring, Arthie Casimir is a criminal mastermind and collector of secrets. Her prestigious tearoom transforms into an illegal bloodhouse by dark, catering to the vampires feared by society. But when her establishment is threatened, Arthie is forced to strike an unlikely deal with an alluring adversary to save it—and she can’t do the job alone.

Calling upon a band of misfits, Arthie formulates a plan to infiltrate the dark and glittering vampire society known as the Athereum. But not every member of her crew is on her side, and as the truth behind the heist unfolds, Arthie finds herself in the midst of a conspiracy that will threaten the world as she knows it. Dark, action-packed, and swoonworthy, this is Hafsah Faizal better than ever.

A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall

A beautiful discovery outside the window of her underwater home prompts the reclusive E. to begin a correspondence with renowned scholar Henerey Clel. The letters they share are filled with passion, at first for their mutual interests, and then, inevitably, for each other.

Together, they uncover a mystery from the unknown depths, destined to transform the underwater world they both equally fear and love. But by no mere coincidence, a seaquake destroys E.’s home, and she and Henerey vanish.

A year later, E.’s sister Sophy, and Henerey’s brother Vyerin, are left to solve the mystery of their siblings’ disappearances with the letters, sketches and field notes left behind. As they uncover the wondrous love their siblings shared, Sophy and Vyerin learn the key to their disappearance – and what it could mean for life as they know it.

Tune in Tomorrow: The Curious, Calamitous, Cockamamie Story Of Starr Weatherby And The Greatest Mythic Reality Show Ever by Randee Dawn

She’s just a small town girl, with big mythic dreams.

Starr Weatherby came to New York to become… well, a star. But after ten years and no luck, she’s offered a big role – on a show no one has ever heard of. And there’s a reason for that. It’s a ‘reality’ show beyond the Veil, human drama, performed for the entertainment of the Fae.

But as Starr shifts from astounded newcomer to rising fan favorite, she learns about the show’s dark underbelly – and mysterious disappearance of her predecessor. She’ll do whatever it takes to keep her dream job – though she might just bring down the show in the process.

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College—Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.

Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is–unless she betrays the man she loves.

Although Violet’s body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she still has her wits—and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules.

But a determination to survive won’t be enough this year.

Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College—and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.

Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura

Archaeologist Dr. Socorro “Corrie” Mejía has a bone to pick. Literally. 

It’s been Corrie’s life goal to lead an expedition deep into the Mexican jungle in search of the long-lost remains of her ancestor, Chimalli, an ancient warrior of the Aztec empire. But when she is invited to join an all-expenses-paid dig to do just that, Corrie is sure it’s too good to be true…and she’s right.

As the world-renowned expert on Chimalli, by rights Corrie should be leading the expedition, not sharing the glory with her disgustingly handsome nemesis. But Dr. Ford Matthews has been finding new ways to best her since they were in grad school. Ford certainly isn’t thrilled either—with his life in shambles, the last thing he needs is a reminder of their rocky past.

But as the dig begins, it becomes clear they’ll need to work together when they realize a thief is lurking around their campsite, forcing the pair to keep their discoveries—and lingering attraction—under wraps. With money-hungry artifact smugglers, the Mexican authorities, and the lies between them closing in, there’s only one way this all ends—explosively.

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez

Bolivian-Argentinian Inez Olivera belongs to the glittering upper society of nineteenth century Buenos Aires, and like the rest of the world, the town is steeped in old world magic that’s been largely left behind or forgotten. Inez has everything a girl might want, except for the one thing she yearns the most: her globetrotting parents—who frequently leave her behind.

When she receives word of their tragic deaths, Inez inherits their massive fortune and a mysterious guardian, an archeologist in partnership with his Egyptian brother-in-law. Yearning for answers, Inez sails to Cairo, bringing her sketch pads and an ancient golden ring her father sent to her for safekeeping before he died. But upon her arrival, the old world magic tethered to the ring pulls her down a path where she soon discovers there’s more to her parent’s disappearance than what her guardian led her to believe.

With her guardian’s infuriatingly handsome assistant thwarting her at every turn, Inez must rely on ancient magic to uncover the truth about her parent’s disappearance—or risk becoming a pawn in a larger game that will kill her.

The Empire of Gold by S. A. Chakraborty

Daevabad has fallen.

After a brutal conquest stripped the city of its magic, Nahid leader Banu Manizheh and her resurrected commander, Dara, must try to repair their fraying alliance and stabilize a fractious, warring people.

But the bloodletting and loss of his beloved Nahri have unleashed the worst demons of Dara’s dark past. To vanquish them, he must face some ugly truths about his history and put himself at the mercy of those he once considered enemies.

Having narrowly escaped their murderous families and Daevabad’s deadly politics, Nahri and Ali, now safe in Cairo, face difficult choices of their own. While Nahri finds peace in the old rhythms and familiar comforts of her human home, she is haunted by the knowledge that the loved ones she left behind and the people who considered her a savior are at the mercy of a new tyrant. Ali, too, cannot help but look back, and is determined to return to rescue his city and the family that remains. Seeking support in his mother’s homeland, he discovers that his connection to the marid goes far deeper than expected and threatens not only his relationship with Nahri, but his very faith.

As peace grows more elusive and old players return, Nahri, Ali, and Dara come to understand that in order to remake the world, they may need to fight those they once loved . . . and take a stand for those they once hurt.

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

Effy Sayre has always believed in fairy tales. She’s had no choice. Since childhood, she’s been haunted by visions of the Fairy King. She’s found solace only in the pages of Angharad – author Emrys Myrddin’s beloved epic about a mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King, and then destroys him.

Effy’s tattered, dog-eared copy is all that’s keeping her afloat through her stifling first term at Llyr’s prestigious architecture college. So when Myrddin’s family announces a contest to design the late author’s house, Effy feels certain this is her destiny.

But Hiraeth Manor is an impossible task: a musty, decrepit estate on the brink of crumbling into a hungry sea. And when Effy arrives, she finds she isn’t the only one who’s made a temporary home there. Preston Héloury, a stodgy young literature scholar, is studying Myrddin’s papers and is determined to prove her favorite author is a fraud.

As the two rival students investigate the reclusive author’s legacy, piecing together clues through his letters, books, and diaries, they discover that the house’s foundation isn’t the only thing that can’t be trusted. There are dark forces, both mortal and magical, conspiring against them – and the truth may bring them both to ruin.

That’s it! My Top Ten books on my Spring TBR. Have you read any of these selections? Are you excited for any of these anticipated releases? What makes it onto your own Spring TBR? As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

Hey Bibliofriends,

Happy Tuesday! How is your week going so far? This week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is the Top Ten Books I’m Worried I Won’t Love As Much The Second Time Around. To sort out this list, I decided to start with my 5* rated books on Goodreads and consider if I read it again, would I still give it that same rating… I primarily chose books that I looked at and went, “I gave that 5 stars?!” After that, I considered books whose plots I couldn’t fully remember, or ones when all of the ending and suspense has been ruined because I already know what’s coming next!

If you don’t already know, Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly, list-themed book prompt hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

1. Enduring Love by Ian McEwan – For some reason, I must have been so swept up in the sadness of this story to give in 5*. However, I’m not totally sure I could actually tell you what happens in it if you asked me to summarise the plot…
   
2. Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks – I remember reading this as part of our A-Level English coursework. At the time, I think I was carried away with the sadness of it amongst all of the other war literature we were reading at the time. I wonder if I’d feel the same way about it all these years later after reading so many other precious books.
   
3. American Psycho by Brett Easton Ellis – I can’t for the life of me wonder why I gave this 5*, perhaps because it was so brutal and it shocked me into it? I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s one of those cheerful, enjoying reads! 😂
   
4. The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo – I have no memory of this book which makes me quite sad as I love Leigh Bardugo’s writing so much!
   
5. The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles – Another tragic story?! Maybe I was just going through a particular phase in my life when reading some of these books and giving them 5* ratings – or maybe it was the Meryl Streep factor!
   
6. The Divergent Trilogy by Veronica Roth – In my introduction to YA lit, I was hyped over this trilogy, I’m not sure if I’d still feel the same way about revisiting it now, especially after the release of the films as well.
   
7. Labyrinth by Kate Mosse – Remembering back to my first read of this book, I think I had to get to around p.400 of 700 just to get hooked into it. I wonder if I did a reread whether I’d have the patience to stick it out for that long again or whether it would be a rare DNF!
   
8. Lethal White by Robert Galbraith – If I read this again, I’m not sure I’d give it a full 5* rating – and I already know whodunnit so it won’t come as too much of a shock.
   
9. Everless by Sara Holland – I was so bowled over by the concept of blood relating to time in this novel. I remember feeling a little let down by the sequel so perhaps I wouldn’t love this first book so much knowing that the follow-up isn’t as great.
   
10. How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories by Holly Black – Another book that I’m a little sad to add to this list. I love The Folk of the Air trilogy so much and I can’t fully remember what happened in this.

That’s it! My Top Ten books which I’m worried I might not love as much the second time round. Have you read any of these selections? Which books are you a little daunted to read again for fear that you may not love it as much? As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

Hey Bibliofriends,

Happy Tuesday! How is your week going so far? This week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is the Top Ten Weird / Funny things I’ve googled thanks to a book. This was submitted by Astilbe @ Long and Short Reviews and I’m not going to lie – this was a seriously difficult post to write. I’m pretty sure I’ve done this more times than I think I have, however I just can’t remember them so apologies if you don’t get a full 10 things from me this week. If you don’t already know, Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly, list-themed book prompt hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

1. How did Virginia Woolf die? I was reading The Hours by Michael Cunningham which is based on author Virginia Woolf and some of her most popular characters. The opening scene retells the story of Virginia Woolf’s suicide, and some weird part of me just had to google if that was actually how/what had happened. It was a brilliant story though, incredibly moving!
   
2. The Silver Swan Automaton – Several years ago, I became captivated by the story of a bird automaton which was a central plot device in Peter Carey’s novel The Chemistry of Tears. I was so intrigued by this object that when googling it, I found out that it was actually based upon a real automaton of a silver swan which eats fish from a glass pool. It’s such a remarkable creation and can be found at The Bowes Museum which is near Durham in the North of England. It’s a little too far away for a day trip but I’m certainly hoping I’ll be able to see it one day.

3. Willie Lincoln’s death and the bardo – This one came when I was reading the book Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders. I had no idea that a bardo is a buddhist or tibetan reference to the state of purgatory between death and rebirth. I was also intrigued to see how much of the references to Willie Lincoln’s death were also true.
   
4. Who has died on a toilet? A particular character’s death at the end of George R. R. Martin’s A Storm of Swords had me wickedly chuckling to myself; it reminded me that I had heard about Elvis Presley dying whilst on/in the toilet – so of course, I had to google it and find out the internet’s version of the truth!
   
5. Passetto di Borgo – I love a good conspiracy theory so I could probably have filled up this list with those kinds of things, however I remember reading one of the Robert Langdon adventures in Dan’s Brown’s books and having to investigate whether there was definitely a pentagram at Castel Sant’angelo and a secret passageway linking to the Vatican. Whilst the pentagram was added for the effects of the books and movies, the passageway is real. Known as the Passetto di Borgo, it was used as an evacuation / escape route for Pope Clement VII in 1527.
   
6. Mother, Maiden and Crone – I tried to find out more about the history / symbology of these when reading The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow.
   
7. Las Ramblas & The Cemetery of Forgotten Books – I’m a huge fan of Carlos Ruiz Zafôn’s work so upon discovering the fictional Cemetery of Forgotten Books, I had to google Barcelona’s Las Ramblas area to see if such a place did exist. It’s a city that remains high on my travel bucketlist!
   
8. Elizabeth de Munck’s Grave – Whilst reading Robert Galbraith’s The Ink Black Heart, I became fixated with the gravestones in Highgate Cemetery (a featured location within the novel), but particularly the grave of Elizabeth de Munck which is notable for its pelican imagery and symbolism. I then went on to visit the graveyard in a later trip to London, just to see it for myself!

9. Paper Towns – After falling in love with Graham Greene’s novel Paper Towns, I became intrigued with the concept of what a paper town is and did a whole big google search about existing paper towns today – with digital technology it’s becoming a bit of a past-time, however it would still be fun to find one on a map!
   
10. The Secret (treasure hunt) – If you’re not new to my blog, you’ll know I’m a huge fan of treasure hunts. A couple of years ago, I became hooked on a mysterious podcast called ‘Rabbits’ which had an accompanying novel linked to the show. In it was referenced a real life treasure hunt hosted by Bryon Preiss called ‘The Secret’ where 12 treasure boxes have been hidden across the US and Canada. Clues to the locations are in a book published The Secret by Preiss and as of yet, only 3 of the 12 boxes have been discovered. If I ended up winning the lottery, cracking these codes and finding these boxes would probably become my new full-time occupation! I’m borderline obsessed! 😂

That’s it! My Top Ten weird / funny things I’ve googled thanks to books – lots of death, gothic, macabre and grave references…?! Have you read any of the books these selections have come from? What are some of your own weird and wonderful bookish google confessions? As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

Hey Bibliofriends,

Happy Tuesday! How is your week going so far? This week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is the Top Ten Covers or Titles with Things Found in Nature. This was submitted by Jessica @ a GREAT read and was a really intriguing list to compile – I loved the Nature focus and I was surprised at how many of my books had references to nature on their titles and/or covers. To narrow my list down to just 10 I decided to focus on books that had nature in both the title and the cover. If you don’t already know, Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly, list-themed book prompt hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

Wild: Tales from Early Medieval Britain by Amy Jeffs

I purchased this book after seeing Amy Jeffs at the Cheltenham Literature Festival last October. She brought a band with her and sang some of the tales with original musical compositions. It was so different to any other literary event I had been to before. The tales themselves are rooted in nature and Amy really brings this to life in her retellings. The audiobook also contains the musical tracks as well as the narrated stories.

Congo by Michael Crichton

After reading Jurassic Park and The Lost World, I went on a Michael Crichton book buying spree around our local second-hand bookshops and found Congo. Although the tale itself is more about a mysterious gorilla tribe, the title reference and cover design refer to the lush vegetation and rainforests of this African country.

The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

So I know that this is a rather tenuous link as the actual hawthorn bush is spelled differently, however I just couldn’t pass up to the opportunity to include another one of these Inheritance Games books to my list! And it does have some nature-like leaves on the cover… 😁 It’s one of my favourite series ever! You can read my review for The Brothers Hawthorne here!

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust

I adore Fairyloot’s pink cover of this book! The knotting of the snake, mixed with the thorns surrounding it and the overall colour scheme makes it one of my favourite covers ever. I thoroughly enjoyed the fairytale-like qualities in this gorgeous Persian myth retelling. You can read an interview with the author about the origins of her story on the Fairloot Community Pages.

Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao

Keeping with the snake imagery (Reputation TV is coming y’all! 😂🐍) – Forest of a Thousand Lanterns was another one of my Fairyloot books which made my eyeballs turn into little hearts when I first saw the cover. The book inside was also phenomenal. Pitched as an evil queen origin retelling, I absorbed every last word and even had to import the sequel from America just to find out what happened in the end.

The Rain Heron by Robbie Arnott

The Rain Heron was one of the first titles I was approved for on NetGalley. I was blown away by the the magical realism Arnott created in the world and the environmental factors he wove into his fiction. The symbolism of the rain heron itself was a memorable motif which has stayed with me long after I’ve finished reading it. You can read my review here.

Wicked Like A Wildfire by Lana Popovic

The cover of Wicked Like a Wildfire is so gloriously packed with images to try and find! I loved reading this story – it really made me want to travel to Montenegro and experience some of their tasty treats and fabulous architecture.

The Drowned Woods by Emily Lloyd-Jones

I really love the tree imagery on this cover – there’s something about the symbology of trees in mythology and books that seems so grand and encapsulating.

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

The flower detail on this cover was on point and added to the aesthetics of the tory incredibly well. On my Fairyloot edition, these were sprayed up the sides too so the overall edition was stunningly beautiful.

Given to the Sea & Given to the Earth by Mindy McGinnis

I loved the way the elements and nature were heavy plot drivers within this duology.

That’s it! My Top Ten books with covers and titles of things found in nature. Have you read any of these selections? Do you like images of nature on your book covers? As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

Hey Bibliofriends,

Happy Tuesday! How is your week going so far? This week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is Top Ten Bookish Superpowers I Wish I Had. This suggestion was by Cathy @WhatCathyReadNext and it is brilliant! I must say, I had so much fun putting this post together and thinking of lots of different bookish powers. Once I’d thought of a few, others just kept popping into my head and it was eventually quite tricky to narrow it down to just 10! I wish some of these powers existed in real life!! If you don’t already know, Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly, list-themed book prompt hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

Word Apparition

So I kind of had a thought, and then coined it ‘word apparition‘… hear me out! You know when you’re listening to an audiobook and all of a sudden the narrator will read a character name or a place in the world and you have no idea how it would be spelled or what it would look like on a page? Well with the bookish superpower ‘word apparition’, the word that you’re puzzled over would magically appear in front of your eyes, like a little purple cloud so that you’d know what it actually looks like on the page. This would be really helpful to me currently as I am listening to Rin Chupeco’s The Bone Witch and I can guarantee that my ingrained English spelling rules would be butchering some of the amazing place and character names in Chupeco’s world! 🙈

Knowledge Absorption

I read The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean last year and although it’s not particularly a unique concept, the idea to absorb knowledge by eating a book is really appealing to me. To start with, I’d be ingesting some of my cookbooks so I could remember my favourite recipes by heart. Also, imagine how much of an asset you would be on a pub quiz team if you could pretty much ingest all of the knowledge and facts that you want!!

Floating / Weightless Physical Books

Sometimes I really wish that the book I’m reading could just float around in the air in front of me so that I could read and have both hands free to be doing a job or task at the same time. Also, if my book is weightless and floating, my nose won’t be so bruised from constantly dropping books on my face when I’m falling to sleep reading.

Automatic e-book and audiobook editions

I really wish that when you buy a book from the bookshop, there’s a code inside so that you could download it as an e-book and an audio edition as well, rather than having to pay for all three format separately – that way I have all the access I need to my current read whatever I’m doing and wherever I am!

Astral Projection Reading Self

One of me could go to work, socialise, do adulting things… the astral projection part of me can stay at home reading! All. Day. Long! 💜

The Honey I Shrunk The Kids Ray Gun

Too many books and not enough shelf space…? With the shrink ray gun from Honey I Shrunk The Kids, bookish storage problems be solved! I’d shrink down my entire book collection into a cute range of miniatures for my shelves, and then blow them back up to normal size when I wanted to read them.

A Faster Reading Speed

Sometimes, I really wish I could read quicker, but without losing the enjoyment and understanding of the book. I can skim when I need to, but sometimes I don’t feel like I’ve really retained what I’ve actually read and other times, I’m so engrossed and loving my book that I want to savour every word.

Mary Poppins’ Carpet Bag OR Hermione’s weightless extension charm

One of my beloved English teachers always told me to carry a book with you. Therefore, I am always guilty of carrying a physical book around with me everywhere I go, regardless of its size (Crescent City was a mission to haul around!). Imagine all the books you could take away on holiday or carry around with you if you had Mary Poppins’ Carpet Bag or that amazing beaded bag Hermione has in the Deathly Hallows with the weightless extension charm on it – I would never have a capacity or weightlifting problem ever again!

A Portal to my own never-ending library

I was totally thinking of the Library in Beauty and Beast when I was writing this. Unfortunately, I don’t live in a magical castle with said library, however if I had a portal to take me to my own never-ending library which didn’t actually occupy any physical square footage in my house, that would make my heart sing with joy!

The Ability to Read Every Book Ever Written

I had this idea when I was younger (and obviously, so incredibly naive!), that I could read every book that had ever been published since time began! And yes, whilst some of those books may be incredibly boring and totally mundane – I imagine that there will be some absolute masterpieces along the way which I never would have discovered otherwise! Also, imagine the bragging rights if you’d read every book that ever existed! 😂

That’s it! My Top Ten Bookish Superpowers That I Wish I Had. Would you want any of these skills? What bookish superpowers would make it onto your own list? Feel free to leave your own Top Ten Tuesday posts below so I can visit. As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

Hey Bibliofriends,

Happy Tuesday! How is your week going so far? This week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is a Love Freebie to celebrate Valentine’s Day so I have decided to compile the Top Ten Books That Made Me Swoon. These are books that have absolutely melted my heart! It could be for the romance element, the divine world that I wish I could visit, the quirks and obscene attention to details that has my eyes popping out of their head… the list is endless – either way, these ten reads captured a very special place in my heart! If you don’t already know, Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly, list-themed book prompt hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas

Would it be one of my Top Ten Tuesday lists without one of SJM’s books?! Out of the Maas Multiverse, ACOMAF is the one that hit me in the feels the absolute hardest! The journey Feyre goes through here… if you know, you know! 👀

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Fourth Wing was my second read of 2024. I went into it without any preconceived ideas, however I was impeccably aware of ‘the hype’. I was definitely not ready to love it as much as I did and Iron Flame will almost certainly make its way off my TBR within the next few months!

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

I’ve seen Divine Rivals on so many lists and memes this past month and it rightly deserves its place here – February is the month of love after all, and Divine Rivals was one of my favourite reads of 2023. What I appreciated about this story was the way the romance element felt like it was gradually able to evolve. It wasn’t instalove and it wasn’t overladen with lots of smut and explicit scenes. It was so tenderly done that I really champion Iris and Roman as one of my favourite bookish couples.

The People on Platform 5 by Clare Pooley

Clare Pooley has such a brilliant knack for writing about a group of misfit strangers and bringing them together into a tight-knit friendship group. This novel has such a feel-good and uplifting quality that you can’t help but smile after reading the final pages.

Happy Place by Emily Henry

Emily Henry knows how to write in a way that makes me feel almost every emotion possible within just one story! Love her!

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen

The sheer whimsical cuteness of this read really drew me in. It’s so thrillingly quirky and adorable whilst dealing with undertaking and death…?!

Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

From the vivid descriptions of the Carolina marshlands, to the way I was so captivated by Kya’s vulnerabilities – this book took the concept of a whodunnit to a new, more subtle level.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

The swoonworthiness in this book comes from my absolute adoration of all things easter egg and treasure hunt! If you could post-it note every 80s pop culture reference that Cline writes into this book, you’d have more post-it notes than deaths in a Game of Throne novel…

The Lonely Hearts Travel Club: Destination Thailand by Katy Colins

A total chick-lit guilty pleasure, the thing I loved most about this book was the sheer sense of wanderlust it invoked within me. These literary descriptions of Thailand had me wanting to hop on a plane ASAP!

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Before you start questioning my sanity about why this is on my list about books which make me swoon, let me just confess that sometimes… I really enjoy books which make me have a damn good cry! There’s something so cathartic about it, as if it makes you feel a bit more self-affirming about your own life. Lou and Will’s relationship had me sobbing for hours, days even! A heartbreaking read!

That’s it! My Top Ten books that made me swoon and melted my heart. What are your favourite swoonworthy books? How are you compiling your Love Freebie Top Ten Tuesday list? As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

Hey Bibliofriends,

Happy Tuesday! How is your week going so far? This week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is Top Ten Quick Reads, books to read when time is short or even books which can be devoured in just one sitting. After scrolling through my virtual bookshelf (a.k.a. Goodreads), I’ve gone for a mixture of my favourite short books, novellas, graphic novels and cover-to-cover in one day reads! If you don’t already know, Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly, list-themed book prompt hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

The Assassin’s Blade novellas by Sarah J Maas

It wouldn’t be a short reads post without mentioning this collection of novellas from one of my all-time favourite authors / series / fantasy worlds… (the SJM love is real over here)! I read these novellas before actually starting Throne of Glass itself and I found that they were a brilliant introduction to whole world of Erilea. I love the way each of the the threads in these stories is interwoven and tied together later on in the series.

The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta

Narrative verse always intrigues me and Dean Atta created such a beautiful transformation story in the Black Flamingo. It’s quick to make your way through the story, but the impact it leaves upon you will stay with you for a long time afterwards.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Not a novella or a short story by far, but I did devour this whole book, cover to cover, in just one day. I think I possibly even started reading the first pages in the actual bookshop, then continued it on the car ride home. This series appeals to my treasure-hunting soul!

The Once Upon A Con novellas by Ashely Poston

The Geekerella universe is one that I wish would be brought to life as a TV series adaptation. I started listening to them as audiobooks and became captivated with the characters and their stories – I’m convince Starfield is a real TV show! As soon as I had finished the main series, I found the novellas on Ashley Poston’s website and quickly made my way through them in one fell swoop.

Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe

I’m not terribly big into graphic novels, but once I saw the exquisite art design and Greek mythology references, these volumes fast became on my purchase list. Lore Olympus originally started as a webtoon, and I’ve tried my absolute hardest not to read ahead as the colours in the artwork are so vibrant that I feel the need to see them in print rather than on a screen.

Songs of Innocence and of Experience: Poetry by William Blake

William Blake is one of my all-time favourite poets. I remember studying this volume of his poetry in school and becoming overwhelmed by the amount of imagery, foreshadowing and hidden meanings within his collection. The perfect anthology to dip in and out of, as well as offering a contrast between the light and the dark.

The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter

Fantasy and Fairytales feel like my life’s blood; I even wrote my Dissertation on Sleeping Beauty. Angela Carter’s Bloody Chamber occupies a ‘forever-space’ on my bookshelf; it offers my brain both the magical elements of the childhood fairy stories I grew up with, mixed with the dark, twisted mind-bending tales that make my head spin as an adult.

The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafôn

I could have chosen any/all of Zafôn’s short stories or novellas to put in this list, but The Prince of the Mist was my favourite. The eerie clown statue inside a six-pointed star, the abandoned mansion house… Zafôn is an expert at taking creepy symbology and plot lines and turning it into an ethereal, yet lyrical page-turner. His way of story-telling borders on an art-form.

Useless Magic by Florence Welch

Since Dog Days Are Over first came pounding into my ears way back in 2008, Florence + the Machine have been my no.1 desert island disc band. If I were at all into tattoos, Florence’s lyrics would be inked all over my body! So it pretty much goes without saying that a book of lyrics and poems by Florence would make this list. Not only is it a quick read, but you can come back to it time and time again, although I defy you to try reading the lyrics without trying to make it fit to the music! I fail every time!

Spies by Michael Frayn

This entry feels a little like a cheat entry. As I normally read full-on novels, I really struggled trying to find a book that was either a novella or a one-sitting read that I had enjoyed enough to put into my top ten of faves. Whilst at the time, I didn’t read Spies in one go, I’m pretty convinced that I could. It has always been a tale which had me intrigued whilst reading, and the relationship between the boys against the backdrop of wartime had me guessing at things which were a little inconceivable. It’s a story which has stayed with me ever since first reading it in high school.

That’s it! My Top Ten quick reads, one-sitting reads, or books to read when time is short. What have been your favourite one-sitting page turners or novellas? Do you like mixing up your reading with poetry anthologies or graphic novels? As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx