bexandherbooks

[bexandherbooks]

BOOK REVIEW 📖

The Body Artist by Don DeLillo

I picked this up from @abebooks after doing some research on modern ghost stories for autumn. When I started it I thought it was going to be amazing, the first paragraph was written so beautifully.

Sad to say in the end it didn't become a new favourite but it was a good story all the same. The book opens with a married couple sharing breakfast together, the husband leaves for a drive and the wife is left alone in the house (she thinks!).

👻

The writing went from something of beauty to something incredibly sparse where it almost seemed like words were missing. A poetic but bizarre shift. It's actually more about facing grief than the ghost story I was looking for.

3 ⭐

#bookreview #thebodyartist #dondelillo #ghoststory #autumnbooks #halloweenbooks #shortbook #books #reader #fiction #bookstagram #bookworm #booklover #readersofinstagram #reading #book #bookreview #igreads #bookish #bibliophile #bookcollector #instabooks

[bexandherbooks]

BOOK REVIEW 📖

Antony & Cleopatra by William Shakespeare.

I've just studied Cleopatra at uni as part of my first module, so I thought there was no better time to read this.

I decided it would be an injustice to just read it and that instead I would read along with a performance that the Globe was showing on YouTube at the time.

🎭

What a completely wonderful experience it was to read along, I loved it. Not only is it a great play by Shakespeare but the performance was stellar. I'd highly recommend as a way to digest and appreciate his work.

5 ⭐

I'm doing the same again in November with my favourite Shakespeare play Romeo & Juliet as the Globe has just released a performance on YouTube!

Yes I do realise how much of a literary nerd I am 🤓

What's your favourite Shakespeare?

#shakespeare #williamshakespeare

#antonyandcleopatra

#play #tragedy #penguinbooks #classics #englishliterature #theatre #fivestarreads #books #reader #fiction #bookstagram #bookworm #booklover #readersofinstagram #reading #book #igreads #bookish #bibliophile #bookcollector #instabooks #autumnbooks

[bexandherbooks]

BOOK REVIEW 📖

The Harpy by Megan Hunter.

"I asked my mother what a harpy was, and she told me: they punish men for the things they do."

This story is centred around Lucy a married mother of two, who works from home. One day she gets a call informing her that her husband is having an affair. After the upset and rage, the couple forms a pact on how they believe they can make this right and continue their relationship.

This is a dark, twisted and creative tale from Hunter. I really enjoyed the intertwining folklore passages and references to her obsession with the Harpy.

Megan Hunter has amazing writing, I've really enjoyed both of her novels. This is written in verse vignettes with short chapters which I love.

The characters were really well-formed, I didn't particularly like any of them but that wasn't a bad thing and what I imagine the author intended.

3.5 ⭐

*I didn't receive this proof from the publisher or author, I found it in a charity shop.

#theharpy #meganhunter #bookreview #bookreviewer #2020books #2020releases #fiction #contemporary #folktales #myth #books #reader #bookworm #booklover #readersofinstagram #reading #book #igreads #bookish #bibliophile #instabooks #autumnbooks

[bexandherbooks]

BOOK REVIEW 📖

It's my stop on the tour for A Clock of Stars by Francesca Gibbons, Illustrated by @chris_riddell.

"Imogen looked at the sign. It said: NO TRESPASSING. She didn't know what trespassing was, but it sounded like fun..."

This middle-grade fantasy was such an adventure! Our main characters are sisters Imogen & Marie, they follow a moth to a secret doorway which leads them into another world but once they're through they don't know how to get back.

This world was wonderful, I loved the relationship between the sisters and the trio that develop between them and Milo. It has Narnia/Wonderland vibes throughout and would make a great film!

🦋

It's quite a big read for younger readers at 540 pages. I thought it was really well-paced though, it never felt like a hefty task to finish. The illustrations are beautiful, I love Chris Riddell's art so fantastical.

4 ⭐

A Clock of Stars by Francesca Gibbons is out now!!

Thank you so much to @kaleidoscopictours and @harpercollinsch for the #gifted copy.

#clockofstars #followthemoth #kaleidoscopictours #booktour #bookreview #2020books #2020releases #newbooks #middlegrade #childrensbooks #bookreviewer #bookstagram #books #reader #bookworm #booklover #readersofinstagram #reading #book #igreads #bookish #bibliophile

[bexandherbooks]

BOOK REVIEW 📖

The Saga of Gunnlaug Serpent-Tongue.

A short review for a short book today.

This is the Scandinavian tale of two poets fighting for the love of Helga the Fair. After I'd got my head around the abundance of names/characters in this short saga I rather enjoyed it.

It took me quite a while to get through, I had it on my bedside for a few weeks and kept picking it up reading a section until my head hurt and put it down again.

This is the 3rd book out of 127 in the little black classics series, I need to start reading a few a month I think. Such a great collection of books!

2.5 ⭐

#bookreview #thesagaofgunnlaugserpenttongue #penguinbooks #littleblackclassics #shortstories #mythology #folktales #scandinavianliterature #medieval #classics #fiction #bookcollection #bookworm #booklover #readersofinstagram #reading #book #igreads #bookish #bibliophile #bookcollector #instabooks #bookreviewer

[bexandherbooks]

BOOK REVIEW 📖

Hag: Forgotten Folktales Retold

This book is a collection of 8 forgotten folk tales retold with a feminist twist by female British authors. The collection was organised by Professor Carolynne Larrington and were told as podcasts before being published by Virago.

🍂

I thought these stories were a delight, I especially loved The Green Children of Woolpit as it's set right next to the town I live and I'd never heard of this tale before.

The stories we're dark and eery and I would love to have some as full length novels. The collection very much gave me Angela Carter vibes, which I'm always happy about! A perfect autumnal read.

4 ⭐

Thanks to @netgalley and @viragopress for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

#gifted

Hag: Forgotten Folktalkes Retold is out on the 8th October!

#hagforgottenfolktalesretold #viragopress #shortstories #folktales #feminism #2020books #newbooks #bookreview #bookreviewer #books #reader #fiction #bookstagram #bookworm #booklover #readersofinstagram #reading #book #igreads #bookish #bibliophile #bookcollector #instabooks #autumnbooks #halloweenbooks

[bexandherbooks]

BOOK REVIEW 📖

Dark Tales by Shirley Jackson.

This collection contains 17 stories and I thought it would be the perfect read to get in the autumnal spirit.

This is the third book I've read by Shirley Jackson and I have to say I really enjoy her work.

In this collection, we have a variety of tales from an old lady terrorising townsfolk with anonymous letters, a jack the ripper retelling, a gentleman's paranoid commute home and more.

👻

The collection has the typical haunting feeling that Jackson has in most of her stories but they also have a sense of noir and mystery. You can almost see all the stories in your head playing like a black and white film.

I'm really enjoying making my way through her work, she's an author that has never disappointed on that spooky feeling.

3.5 ⭐

Have you read any Shirley Jackson? What are your favourites?

#darktales #shirleyjackson #shortstory #shortstories #horror #mystery #gothic #fiction #classic #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookstagram #books #reader #bookworm #booklover #readersofinstagram #reading #book #igreads #bookish #bibliophile #bookcollector #instabooks #autumnbooks #halloweenbooks #penguinbooks #penguinmodernclassics

[bexandherbooks]

BOOK REVIEW 📖

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline.

I'm sure most of you know the essence of this story already so I'll keep it short. Ready Player One is set in a dystopian future where most of life's activities are now in the 'Oasis' a VR software with endless possibilities. The Oasis was created by James Halliday an 80s obsessed tech genius. Before he dies he created one last game, where the first to find the golden egg is granted ownership of the Oasis. We follow Wade Watts a proud 'gunter' (egg hunter) who spends all of his time outside of school trying to crack the clues Halliday left behind.

👾

I bloody loved this book so much I can't even say. Admittedly I'm a real geek who loves video games and fully appreciated the nostalgic references. I'm not sure how someone would get on with it if they didn't get the references as they can be quite descriptive and lengthy. It's a fun adventure story with likeable characters and an abundance of throwback.

I had watched the film prior to reading so I already knew I loved the story but the book ended up being so much better than I could have imagined.

5 ⭐

I can't wait for Ready Player Two to be released later this year!

[Image: The Ready Player One book on a yellow and white background]

#readyplayerone #ernestcline #arrowbooks #bookreview #bookrecommendation #fivestarreads #books #reader #booksofinstagram #booksta #bookish #bookworm #booklover #readersofinstagram #reading #book #igreads #bookreviewer #bookstagram #favouritebooks #scifi #readyplayertwo #2020books

[bexandherbooks]

BOOK REVIEW 📖

Pizza Girl by Jean Kyoung Frazier

This debut novel was on quite a few of the most anticipated reads of 2020 lists I perused earlier in the year, so I was very excited to read this one.

Our narrator is a pregnant 18-year-old who works as a pizza girl. She ends up becoming obsessed with a customer who relies on pickle covered pizzas to keep her son happy. The relationship starts with a kind gesture as no other pizza place sells pickle covered pizzas but turns in to one strange friendship between the two.

🍕

I love how the author showed Jane's more complicated and realistic emotions, her characterisation reminded me of Sayaka Murata. I didn't love the main protagonist but I'm definitely part of the gang that enjoys flawed characters.

This book was paced well and at just over 200 pages I thought the characters were developed enough in that relatively short space.

Overall a solid debut and I would definitely read more from this author.

3.5 ⭐

Thanks to @netgalley and @hqstories for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Pizza Girl is out now!

#gifted

#pizzagirl #jeankyoungfrazier #bookreview #2020books #2020bookreleases #hqstories #bookrecommendation #contemporary #fiction #literaryfiction #books #reader #bookworm #booklover #readersofinstagram #reading #book #igreads #bookish #bibliophile #bookcollector #instabooks

[bexandherbooks]

BOOK REVIEW 📖

Hello Mum by Bernardine Evaristo

This story is told by JJ, a 14-year-old boy writing a letter to his mum. He's setting the story straight by letting her know his history and involvement with local gangs.

It's fast-paced which suited the story as I can only imagine it's how it feels to be wrapped up in gang culture. One minute you bump into someone on the street and next thing you know you're defending your patch armed with a knife. It's scary how people so quickly get wrapped up and sadly end up losing their lives. It's a heartbreaking fictional account of a young black boy growing up in the council estates of London.

It's part of the Quick Reads series so was under 100 pages. I enjoyed this story although I will say JJs slang often came across 'unnatural' sounding.

3.5 ⭐

I would love to read more by Evaristo I've heard such high praise for her work. Do you have any recommendations?

#hellomum #bernadineevaristo #fiction #ya #novella #shortstory #shortbooks #quickreads #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookreviewer #bookstagram #booksta #books #bookworm #booklover #readersofinstagram #reading #book #igreads #bookish #bibliophile #bookcollector #instabooks

[bexandherbooks]

BOOK REVIEW 📖

Contagion - Plagues, Pandemics and Cures from the Black Death, COVID-19 and Beyond by Dr Richard Gunderman.

I know reading about pandemics during a pandemic is some readers idea of hell, however, I've gained quite an interest in the subject since we've been living with COVID-19. When the kind folk at @welbeckpublish offered me a copy for review I couldn't help but snap it up.

This book is jam-packed with info from the early plague in Athens 430bc to the impact of European infectious diseases on indigenous people, the origin of the vaccination and so much more. It was a real learning journey for me.

🧪

I was also surprised to find some literary ties to pandemics like the depiction of the plague in Boccaccio's Decameron and the untimely death of the poet Jon Keats who died of TB at just 25 years old.

It covers our recent history with coronaviruses such as SARS, MERS and COVID-19 and the future of infectious disease.

I really recommend this book if you want an introduction to the topics above.

4 ⭐

Thank you so much to @welbeckpublish who #gifted me this book in exchange for an honest review. Out Now!

#contagion #drrichardgunderman #welbeckpublishing #nonfiction #sciencebooks #historybook #pandemic #2020books #2020bookrelease #bookstagram #books #reader #bookworm #booklover #readersofinstagram #reading #book #bookreview #igreads #bookish #bibliophile #bookcollector #instabooks

[bexandherbooks]

BOOK REVIEW 📖

Politics & The English Language by George Orwell.

A short review for a short book.

Another essay ticked from my Orwell list!

This essay talks about how political writers use the English language to contort our thinking. The aim is to educate you on their language techniques but I thought this one came across as more of a rant and not as well put together as his other essays.

Not my favourite that's for sure.

2 ⭐

#bookreview #bookrecommendation #georgeorwell #politicsandtheenglishlanguage #politics #sociology #essay #nonfiction @penguinukbooks #penguinbooks #books #bookstagram #reader #readersofinstagram #igreads #bookish #bibliophile #bookcollector #instabooks #bookworm #booklover #reading #shortbooks

[bexandherbooks]

BOOK REVIEW 📖

Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson

This story is a recollection of childhood told by our protagonist August. She recalls what is was like growing up in brooklyn with her single dad and brother. We see her grow up and meet 3 best friends with the dark back drop of brooklyn surrounding them they search for the light in the hopes and dreams of their future.

Aside from the fictional narrative we also get a realistic look into what is was like for a girl growing up in Brooklyn in the 70s, dangerous people, drugs, looting etc.

This is a novella told in short vignette chapters, I actually felt this book could of been longer or more in depth with its character development as I felt quite disconnected although it was an interesting story.

3 ⭐

#bookreview #bookrecommendation #anotherbrooklyn #jacquelinewoodson #fiction #historicalfiction #shortbooks #books #reader #bookstagram #booksta #reader #reading #readersofinstagram #igreads #booksofinstagram #literature #2020reads #novella #bookworm #booklover

[bexandherbooks]

BOOK REVIEW 📖

As Kingfishers Catch Fire by Gerard Manley Hopkins.

This was book 2 out of the 129 books I have to read in the @penguinukbooks Little Black Classics series 🖤

AKCF is a selection of Hopkins poems from the 1800's, honestly I wasn't mad about this collection.

I just don't think these poems were my taste, although they were written well I just lost interest pretty quickly.

2 ⭐

#bookreview #askingfisherscatchfire #gerardmanleyhopkins #poet #poetry #classicliterature #penguinbooks #littleblackclassics #classics #fiction #bookcollection #bookworm #booklover #readersofinstagram #reading #book #igreads #bookish #bibliophile #bookcollector #instabooks #booksofinstagram #literature #bookstagram #booksta

[bexandherbooks]

BOOK REVIEW 📖

Bluets by Maggie Nelson.

This is Nelson's meditative and lyrical essay on the colour blue. Of course it's about more than the colour blue it's about loss and connections to other people.

It's similar in a way to The White Book by Han Kang. The way the authors emotions are centered around their relationship with a single color.

At only 98 pages it's a brief but equisite piece of writing, I did lack connection to it though hence the lower rating.

I'm very keen to pick up The Red Parts by Maggie Nelson, which is completely different to this as I did enjoy her writing.

3 ⭐

#bookreview #bookrecommendation #bluets #maggienelson #essay #meditativeart #lyrical #shortbooks #books #reader #fiction #contemporary #igreads #bookish #bibliophile #bookcollector #instabooks #ebook #scribd @jonathancape #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #30booksin30days #booksta

[bexandherbooks]

BOOK REVIEW 📖

Badly Behaved Women by Anna-Marie Crowhurst.

This book is a journey through 100 years of the women's movement. From the Suffragettes to Me Too it's all covered here. Amongst the history and activism there is also a dedication to the shoulder pad, girl power and our female badass TV characters.

Crowhurst gives us an intersectional look at feminism from different sexuality, races, religions and cultures.

I thought the imagery throughout was perfect with some really powerful and historical shots selected.

You really can't go wrong with a coffee table book celebrating women's history, it's interesting and empowering. Something I'll definitely be dipping in and out of again and again ❤️

It's incredible to look how far some things have come (even if it took years and years!) and shocking to be reminded how far we have to go to achieve true gender equality.

Thank you so much to @welbeckpublish for gifting me this gorgeous book.

4 ⭐

Badly Behaved Women by Anna-Marie Crowhurst is out right now!

#gifted #bookreview #badlybehavedwomen #annemariecrowhurst #bookrecommendation #nonfiction #coffeetablebooks #feministliterature #feminism #genderequality #womensmovement #essay #books #reader #bookworm #booklover #readersofinstagram #reading #book #igreads #bookish #bibliophile #bookcollector #instabooks #booksofinstagram #2020books

[bexandherbooks]

BOOK REVIEW 📖

Letter From Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr.

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere"

The first letter in this book is MLKs response and defence when being questioned on the necessity of his non-violent resistance campaigns. In which he explains the requirement of them and reasoning as to why it needed to be done now and not later.

The second essay is The Three Dimensions of a Complete Life which is a criticism he delivered at sermon, focused on the lack of support from the white church to other Christians in need.

Inspiring as you'd expect from MLK, he was the master at responding to critisim. It was laced in religion again as you'd expect which is something I don't personally follow but it doesn't really matter when you know he was fighting for something so important.

4 ⭐

I've really got in to reading essays this year if you have any recommendations just let me know.

#bookreview #letterfrombirminghamjail #martinlutherkingjr #mlk #nonfiction #essay #penguinmodernclassics #penguinmodern #shortbooks #30booksin30days #annotations #annotatedbooks #bookstagram #books #reader #bookworm #bookcollector #booklover #readersofinstagram #reading #book #igreads #bookish #bibliophile #booksofinstagram #literature #booksta

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