Book Chat

  • Book Chat,  Book Reviews,  books

    My favourite books of 2024

    At the start of each year, I enjoy reflecting on the books I read in the previous year. In 2024, I managed to read 42 books, including 12 for my book club. I also found myself diving into more non-fiction than usual, thanks to the convenience of audiobooks! Below is a roundup of my favourite books of 2024—have you read any of these? In Memoriam by Alice Winn In Memoriam is probably my favourite 5 star read of the year. It follows the journey of two young men, Gaunt and Ellwood, from an idyllic English boarding school to the trenches of World War One and features some beautiful prose. Read my review…

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    Christmas Book Haul

    Happy New Year! Proof that my family know me so well. I’m really excited to get started on some of these delights- I’m already halfway through Fourth Wing! What books are you starting 2024 with?

  • Book Chat,  Book Reviews,  books

    Hidden book highlights of 2023

    It’s been an interesting year of reading. I have managed to read 31 books (although 2023 isn’t over yet, so there is still time to squeeze a few more in!) I have mainly kept up to date on sharing what I have read on here, however I realise there has been a few book highlights that I haven’t mentioned yet. So read on for a few little gems that I enjoyed this year…. The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne “Long before we discovered that he had fathered two children by two different women, one in Drimoleague and one in Clonakilty, Father James Monroe stood on the altar of the…

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    Book Chat,  books

    April reading round-up

    Welcome to my April reading round-up! This month, I read three very different books that explored complex themes and kept me engaged until the very end. From a thought-provoking exploration of family dynamics to a thrilling spy novel and a captivating work of historical fiction, I covered a lot of areas in my reading. “Lone Wolf” by Jodi Picoult “Lone Wolf” by Jodi Picoult is a novel about a family grappling with difficult decisions in the aftermath of a car accident that leaves the father, Luke Warren, comatose. The Warren family must decide whether to continue life support or let Luke die, but they are divided on what the right…

  • Book Chat,  Book Reviews,  books

    A Little Book Round-up

    Such a long time since I’ve written a post. Therefore, I thought it would be a good time to talk about what I’ve been reading over the past few months and my book recommendations. The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins I loved this book! It’s a British period drama with a black woman at the core. The book is set in early 19th-century London with the plot following Collins’ heroine, Frannie, a slave-turned-servant who travels with her owner from a Jamaican plantation to 1800s London, where she finds herself accused of the brutal murder of her master and mistress. Frannie is an extremely well-written character with shades of…

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    Book Chat,  books

    Christmassy Reading

    Happy new year! Hope you all had a lovely Christmas and a pleasant start to 2023. I have been quiet on here over the past few weeks, as I’ve been cosying up with a few books over the Christmas period. One of the things I love about this time of year is the opportunity to spend time lost in a good book. I also tend to get given books as gifts for Christmas. Here are some of my picks of what I have been reading: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. The definitive murder mystery tale, ten strangers are summoned to an island and find out that someone…

  • assorted books on book shelves
    Book Chat,  books

    November Book Roundup

    So we say farewell to November and start to look towards December and some Christmassy offerings. Before we go full-pelt into the Christmas season, here is my monthly book roundup. How was your November? Did you manage to read everything you wanted to? This month I read ‘Rebel Ideas: The Power of Diverse Thinking’ by Matthew Syed. I also read ‘The Christie Affair’ by Nina de Gramont (review coming soon) and finished ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ by Suzanne Collins. I am a massive fan of The Hunger Games series, so absolutely loved the prequel. It was a bit of a whopper, but after the first 100 pages or…