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In Memoriam by Alice Winn- A Review
In Memoriam by Alice Winn is a beautifully written novel that will pull you to pieces. It provides a stark contrast between the insanity of war and the purity of love. It follows the journey of two young men, Gaunt and Ellwood, from an idyllic English boarding school to the trenches of World War One. Upon finishing reading In Memoriam, I found it lingered in my thoughts for days. This novel stood out from others, compelling me to pause reading other books to fully come to terms with its story. This is not like me. I often jump from book to book, or have several books on the go at…
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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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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…
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The Woodin’s Shades, Bishopsgate
Last week I took part in a charity run for World Aids Day, which was exhilarating and rewarding. I’m not a runner so to even do something like this is a big deal for me. I’m a believer in rewarding yourself after you’ve exerted yourself, so I visited a pub in Liverpool Street to refuel afterwards. You can read my review of the pub here.
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Teapigs Chocolate and Mint Tea
Anyone who knows me knows that I love my tea and one of my favourite things to do is find a new type of tea to enjoy. I was delighted, therefore, when I came across Teapigs Chocolate and Mint tea, as I love to accompany my tea with something chocolatey. Therefore I thought I’d give this a whirl. Each box contains 15 “tea temples” which are made of biodegradable fabric. This flavouring belongs to Teapigs “no caffeine” range, which has been recently launched and they are designed so that no milk and sugar needs to be added. According to the instructions, the tea needs to be left to brew for…
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My Favourite Book of 2014
I meant to write this post a few days ago however, unfortunately I have been battling a heavy cold. I want to write a review of my favourite book that I read in 2014. Even though I read quite a few last year, the one that stands out in my mind is The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton. I have been a fan of Kate’s books for several years now and a new release always goes straight onto my to-read list. I was right to anticipate the release of The Secret Keeper, as it is a stunning, accomplished novel, with many layers and an excellent twist. The basic premise of…
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Review- Transcendence
I was looking through my iPad today, when I came across a review for the film Transcendence that I wrote back in May that was never published. I have decided to post it here, if I can be forgiven for posting such a delayed review: Transcendence promises so much. And yet, I don’t know how far into Transcendence I was before I was realised it was completely boring. I really wanted to like it. The film ‘s trailer suggests that the film is a glossy, thought- provoking thriller about the state of technology. The script made the 2012 Black List of the best unproduced screen plays in Hollywood. It is…
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Death Comes to Pemberley Review
I wrote a review of BBC’s Death Comes to Pemberley a few weeks ago, intended for another site. However it wasn’t picked up so I’m publishing it here. Apologies that it is for a show that was televised a month ago. You may still be able to see it on BBC iplayer or when it comes out on DVD. ****************************************** It wouldn’t be Christmas without a bonnet- strewn period drama and this year the BBC stepped up to the mark, serving up their dramatisation of PD James’ sequel to Pride and Prejudice; Death Comes to Pemberley. The adaptation appeared to have all the right ingredients for a sparkling festive treat.…
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Review- The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseni
Reading the negative reviews made me wary of reading Khaled Hosseni’s The Kite Runner. It’s not the best start to your reading experience, being told you’re going to hate something, is it? But still I read it. The novel is set against the back drop of the final days of Afghanistan’s monarchy and the oppression of the Taliban. It tells the story of two boys, Amir and Hassan, and their friendship set against the social and political conflicts of the early 1970s. The two boys exist happily enough side by side, until the day of Kabul’s annual kite-fighting tournament, when a shocking event turns the characters’ lives upside down. The…
