Review: A BOY CALLED CHRISTMAS

A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig

Synopsis: You are about to read the true story of Father Christmas.

It is a story that proves that nothing is impossible.

If you are one of those people who believe that some things are impossible, you should put this book down right away. It is most certainly not for you.

Because this book is FULL of impossible things.

Are you still reading?

Good.

Then let us begin . . .

A Boy Called Christmas is a tale of adventure, snow, kidnapping, elves, more snow, and an eleven-year-old boy called Nikolas, who isn't afraid to believe in magic.

Review: It really doesn't matter how young or old you are there is nothing better than a Christmas story. A Boy Called Christmas is perfect for the holidays. Not only does this story feature Christmas but it reminds us to be kind, loving, giving beings. 

We all have those classic stories that are a part of Christmas, reading this new book felt just like reading an old favourite. So easy and simple to read, yet it didn't feel like a children's book. 

I love the fact this story gives a reason for everything we know and love about Father Christmas from how he got his name, why he wears red and most importantly just how does he get down the chimney? I now have the answers to life's most difficult questions! 

Right from the little ones to the big ones everyone needs a little bit of magic, this is the perfect book for that this Christmas. 

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not I wish you all happy holidays lovely readers!

Review: THE NO.1 LADIES DETECTIVE ACENCY

The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

Synopsis: Wayward daughters. Missing Husbands. Philandering partners. Curious conmen. If you’ve got a problem, and no one else can help you, then pay a visit to Precious Ramotswe, Botswana’s only – and finest – female private detective.

Her methods may not be conventional, and her manner not exactly Miss Marple, but she’s got warmth, wit and canny intuition on her side, not to mention Mr J. L. B. Matekoni, the charming proprietor of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors. And Precious is going to need them all as she sets out on the trail of a missing child, a case that tumbles our heroine into a hotbed of strange situations and more than a little danger . . .

Review: I've heard a lot about these books so I thought I'd give them a go. Must say, although I enjoyed this one, I don't think I'll be running out to buy every single one of them.

The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency wasn't what I expected. Less crime solving, and more finding out about the past of the main character. Most cases were started and solved within the space of one chapter, and the running theme seemed to be dropped so fast. It felt like somewhat of an anticlimax. It would have been really nice to have a bigger storyline running through the book.

Having said that, the book was a lovely easy read. It made for a nice fast read for those days when you just don't want to think too much about life. It was lovely to read about Botswana — so many books are USA or UK based, and it's refreshing to read about another culture. 

I might give the second in the series a go another time and see if I enjoy that more. Maybe I judged them too fast!

Top Books I Need to Buy!

The down side of working in a bookshop that stocks just under a 1/4 of a million books? Every time you go to work you find another book that you really, really want to buy! It's so easy to spend all your money as soon as you get paid. 

So which books are on the top of my must buy list at the moment? 

Having read other books from this series I can't wait to read this one. Who doesn't love Terry Pratchett?!

 I might have to buy A Boy Called Christmas to read over the holidays!  

Look how beautiful this book looks! The Marvels looks and sounds amazing.

The Tea Planter's Wife isn't one I would normally go for, but so many people are telling me how good it is. It's nice to read something different every now and again.

I've always loved books with a little bit of magic. Witch Hunter sounds just the right mix of magic and darkness to get you hooked. 

My Favourite Reasons to Become a Bookish Blogger

If you are thinking about starting a blog these are my top reasons for taking the plunge and just doing it. 

• Great way to meet like minded people. There are so many book lovers out there that all want to talk to you about things they love or find out about something you love. Unlike non-bookish friends, these people won't start rolling their eyes when you talk about that new favourite book.

• You follow so many different blogs and authors you get to find out about books being released. You can get your hands on them the second they come out.

• It's a brilliant way to help encourage you to read more. I've always loved reading but since starting a blog I've read more. Don't do it if you don't enjoy it, you'll just kill any joy you got from books in the first place. 

• Do people complain you read too much? Then start a blog. You have to read for the blog, right? I think it's a good excuse.

• Family and friends will thank you. You have a space to nerd out about books without inflicting it upon people who don't want to know. That's until you start forcing them all to read your blog. Sorry, not sorry!

• If you want to work with books, a blog is a great way to sell yourself to employers. 

• You need to buy that book, because it's for your blog. Well, that's what you tell yourself anyway. Don't worry, we won't judge you. Fill your house with all the books!

• Starting a blog is something to be truly proud of. Watching it grow and develop is the best feeling in the world. My blog is one month old today. Yay! I feel like I'm watching my baby learn to walk. It can be scary to start with but you just might find it's the best thing you've done. 

Review: A KISS IN THE DARK by Cat Clarke (SPOILERS WARNING)

A Kiss in the Dark by Cat Clarke

Synopsis: When Alex meets Kate the attraction is instant.

Alex is funny, good-looking, and a little shy - everything that Kate wants in a boyfriend.

Alex can't help falling for Kate, who is pretty, charming and maybe just a little naive...

But one of them is hiding a secret, and as their love blossoms, it threatens to ruin not just their relationship, but their lives.

Review: This one is really hard to review without giving the whole plot away but I've tried my best. If you don't want any SPOILERS I suggest you don't read this review.

I really couldn't put this one down. Staying up until 2am just to make sure I found out what happened! 

Right from the end of chapter one I was hooked. The cliffhanger is too much to not want to find out what on earth is going on. This is a lovely story about first love, how you think nothing can pull you apart and what happens when something threatens to do just that.

You can really love Alex and Kate, but that's just what makes it so much more frustrating when things go wrong for both these characters. I found that I kept flip flopping between being incredibly angry at the characters and really loving them. At points I must admit that it was the anger that was making me read on simply because I wanted them to stop being so stupid!

Throughout the first half of the book Alex is constantly saying things like 'I didn't think about it back then', so you know something awful is going to happen, it's just a matter of time. To top it off there are twists that you really don't see coming, you can't prepare yourself for it. After putting you through so many different emotions, the ending makes you feel all warm and fuzzy again. However, I did question if it was a realistic ending after everything that had happened.

I normally like it when a book doesn't leave a lot to question, but this time I was really happy that it left enough for the reader to decide. I don't think I could take it if anything else went wrong.

Overall this is a brilliant book. Touching on lots of different aspects that people go through every single day, some really awful and some really heart warming. I might even read it again...right now. *waves* See you when I'm done!

The 'Spell Your Name with Book Titles' Tag

This is a fun away to look for new books to read or tell people about books you've already read. I'm using books I would like to read because I simply cannot spell 'Ellie' out of the books I own.

Kendra Leighton told me about this book tag. Thanks to her I've now found even more books to add to my must read list!

The rules are simple. All you have to do is find book titles that spell out your name using the first letter. 

E - Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin

L - Life as we Knew it by Susan Beth Pfeffer 

L - Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger

I - I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak 

E - Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell



 If you like the idea, try it out. Leave a link in the comments for this post so other people can find your blog. 

Have you read any of these books? Tell me what you think!

 Go and check out Kendra Leighton's tag.

Review: FATHOMLESS by Jackson Pearce

Fathomless by Jackson Pearce

Synopsis: Celia Reynolds is the youngest in a set of triplets and the one with the least valuable power. Anne can see the future, and Jane can see the present, but all Celia can see is the past. And the past seems so insignificant -- until Celia meets Lo.

Lo doesn't know who she is. Or who she was. Once a human, she is now almost entirely a creature of the sea -- a nymph, an ocean girl, a mermaid -- all terms too pretty for the soulless monster she knows she's becoming. Lo clings to shreds of her former self, fighting to remember her past, even as she's tempted to embrace her dark immortality.

When a handsome boy named Jude falls off a pier and into the ocean, Celia and Lo work together to rescue him from the waves. The two form a friendship, but soon they find themselves competing for Jude's affection. Lo wants more than that, though. According to the ocean girls, there's only one way for Lo to earn back her humanity. She must persuade a mortal to love her . . . and steal his soul.

Review: I really wanted to love this book but sadly I simply liked it. I loved Sweetly and Sisters Red and would strongly suggest reading these two beforehand as there are small links between them.

Fathomless took its time to get going with the first 200 pages building the storyline, which only left 100 pages for the action to really get going. Which is fine, nothing wrong with that. Except expecting there to be an amazing ending led to somewhat an anticlimax. 

The book is written from the perspective of two characters and if you've read the previous books in this series it's what you expect. I found the character of Celia easier to love than Lo. Lo was too shrouded in mystery for far too long for me to grow attached to her, and by the time I did the book was almost over. 

Overall Fathomless was a good read, but not a book I would class as a must-read.

Top Ten Tuesday: 5 Spooky Reads this Halloween

This week I thought it would be fun to get involved with The Broke and Bookish  Top Ten Tuesday. The theme is Halloween. I'm going to leave this post at 5 top books as the post grew larger and larger as I typed! So what spooky reads should you be getting your hands on this year?

The Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton  

Let's start with a nice one. This isn't strictly a spooky story and isn't really a YA book, but this is a book that shaped my childhood. If you haven't read Enid Blyton before then you are missing out. For those who don't want horror but want a little bit of magic this Halloween. Synopsis: Joe, Beth and Franny move to the country and find an Enchanted Wood right on their doorstep. In the magic Faraway Tree live the magical characters that soon become their new friends – Moon-Face, Silky the fairy, and Saucepan Man. Together they visit the strange lands (the Roundabout Land, the Land of Ice and Snow, Toyland and the Land of Take What You Want) atop the tree and have the most exciting adventures – and narrow escapes.

Say Her Name by James Dawson  

I'm not going to say too much about this one as I reviewed it only two posts ago. All I'm going to say is Bloody Mary. Go check out my review of the book. If you don't want to read the review before the book, don't worry the synopsis is at the start of the post. 

Dark Matter: A Ghost Story by Michelle Paver 

If you want spine chilling this is the perfect book. I couldn't read this one at night. Are you brave enough to? Synopsis: January 1937. Clouds of war are gathering over a fogbound London. Twenty-eight year old Jack is poor, lonely, and desperate to change his life, so when he's offered the chance to join an Arctic expedition, he jumps at it. Spirits are high as the ship leaves Norway: five men and eight huskies, crossing the Barents Sea by the light of the midnight sun. At last they reach the remote, uninhabited bay where they will camp for the next year, Gruhuken, but the Arctic summer is brief. As night returns to claim the land, Jack feels a creeping unease. One by one, his companions are forced to leave. He faces a stark choice: stay or go. Soon he will see the last of the sun, as the polar night engulfs the camp in months of darkness. Soon he will reach the point of no return--when the sea will freeze, making escape impossible. Gruhuken is not uninhabited. Jack is not alone. Something walks there in the dark...

Grimms Fairy Tales by Jacob Grimm 

 You've most likely heard these stories before, however the The Grimm Brothers didn't write these fairy tales with just sweet endings. The first versions contain lots of blood and gore for the listeners/readers. These are my favourite Halloween stories. Synopsis: Grimms' Fairy Tales First published in Germany in 1812, these tales were collected by the two brothers Grimm from neighbouring villages and spinning rooms, and include "Hansel and Gretel", "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and "Rumpelstiltskin".

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness  

 I've not read this one yet but this is on my to read list. Just read the synopsis, how could you not want to read this? Synopsis: Conor has the same dream every night, ever since his mother first fell ill, ever since she started the treatments that don’t quite seem to be working. But tonight is different. Tonight, when he wakes, there’s a visitor at his window. It’s ancient, elemental, a force of nature. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor.

Hints and Tips for People who Find Reading Challenging

Not everyone who loves to read finds it easy to read, which puts these people off. Like some people I am dyslexic which means I find reading a bit more challenging.

I wanted to share some hints and tips for people who maybe just need a little hand falling in love with books. After all, books are meant for everyone and nothing should stop you enjoying them.

My top tips!

• Cut the book down into bite size chunks - I like to give myself targets.  I'll sit down and say to myself I'll read 50 pages today. This gives me a sense of achievement. Go me!

• Don't be scared to put a book down if it's not for you - There is nothing wrong with this. Just pick up a new book until you find a style that you enjoy.

• Take your time - This isn't school. If it takes you 5 minutes to read a book or 6 months that's fine. You'll enjoy reading more if you don't put lots of pressure on yourself to keep up with other people.

• Think about trying audio books - This is great if you love stories but can't sit for a long time to read. Listen to them at home, on the bus, walking home from school/work or driving to the shops. 

• Short stories are brilliant - You don't have to read a 500 page novel. Short books can pack just as much into the storyline. Give it a go!

• Books with pictures! - That's right! Who doesn't love a book with some good art work to look at while you read it? Go on! Let the inner child have some fun!

• Shop around - A lot of good book stores stock books that are 'friendly' for people who find reading harder. I've seen books with 'Dyslexia friendly' stickers on them for YA readers. Why not give them a go, even if you don't have dyslexia!

• HAVE FUN!!! -  This is the most important. Just be you! If you find it harder to read or you have a specific learning style (I hate saying learning difficulty) don't be ashamed of it. No one is alone. There are millions of people just like you and me in the world. 

Helpful Websites

Barrington Stoke Books

British Dyslexia Association 

Dysbooks

Dyslexia - NHS Choices

Quick Reads

Review: SAY HER NAME by James Dawson

Synopsis: Roberta 'Bobbie' Rowe is not the kind of person who believes in ghosts. A Halloween dare at he ridiculously spooky boarding school is no big deal, especially when her best friend Naya and cute local boy Caine agree to join in too. They are ordered to summon the legendary ghost of 'Bloody Mary': say her name five times in front of a candlelit mirror, and she shall appear...But, surprise surprise, nothing happens. Or does it?

Review: Most people know the legend of Bloody Mary, and that's what helps make this book so terrifying. Putting a spin on the tale that frightened school children all over the world, Say Her Name brings together teenagers, a British boarding school and bloody Mary. What could go wrong for the characters with that mix?

Although I did enjoy this book I felt it ended far too fast. I understand that authors like to leave loose ends for a second book or even to let the reader make their own minds up, but for my liking I could have done with a few of these tided up. 

Say Her Name is a very easy read, if you have a day free then it is easy to read in one sitting. I'm not normally a horror fan but this was just the right amount of horror to stop me wimping out of reading it. 

If you're not too much of a wimp this is a good read, even for those who are more wimpy it's still a good read. Just read it during the day! This would be the perfect Halloween read this October. 

Review: THE ART OF BEING NORMAL by Lisa Williamson

Synopsis: Two boys. Two secrets.

David Piper has always been an outsider. His parents think he’s gay. The school bully thinks he’s a freak. Only his two best friends know the real truth – David wants to be a girl.

On the first day at his new school Leo Denton has one goal – to be invisible. Attracting the attention of the most beautiful girl in Year 11 is definitely not part of that plan. When Leo stands up for David in a fight, an unlikely friendship forms. But things are about to get messy. Because at Eden Park School secrets have a funny habit of not staying secret for long . . .

Review: The Art of Being Normal is by far one of my favourite books. Written from the perspective of two teenagers the storyline looks at every day issues that at some point everyone faces while at school. What makes this book that little bit more interesting is the fact that it looks at what it is like to be transgender. A subject that many people have no idea about but is oh so real for others.

You spend the first half of the book getting to know David Piper and Leo Denton. It felt like this took a long time to do, as you spend at least half the book learning about the characters before anything really happens. However, it is worth the wait. The second half the book really gives the reader something to get your teeth into, with an amazing plot twist that you simply just don't see coming. You really start feeling for the characters.

My only major issue with the book is that the book started off with David Piper as the main character but the book quickly switched to Leo Denton being the main focus. Which was a little frustrating as you settle into the book slowly building a picture of it when it suddenly flips. Having said that, I still believe this is a must read book. 

If you are a reader that is interested in LGBTQ+ then this is a perfect book. If you're not then this is still a wonderful read.