Bookish things I miss

There are lots of things I am finding myself missing whilst in isolation and it turns out a lot of them are book or reading related so I thought I'd make a list (everyone loves a list) so I can remember to be grateful for them once we can do them again.

• Spending hours in a book shop just browsing and enjoying the atmosphere
• Visiting all the charity shops in the town centre and pick up some new books
• Go to a coffee shop and read with a coffee and cake
• Go to the park with a picnic and read in the sun
• Swapping books with people I love
• Reading books to my primary school class
• Talking to people about books they'd enjoy
• Return books I've borrowed from people and share reviews
• Walking in the sun whilst listening to an audiobook

What are the things you are missing and can't wait to start doing again?

Feel good fiction

I thought that as it's been a month since I last posted I would ease myself back into blogging. Also with the current situation across the world right now what would be better than some easy feel good recommendations to lift some spirits or just to offer that little bit of escapism?

Our Stop - Laura Jane Williams

This is Laura's first novel and it is a beautiful modern Romcom. It is set in London and the story follows Nadia a business woman during her commute who gets caught up in more than a handful of near-misses. She is sent a message through the daily paper asking her out for a drink and then the rest is a mixture of connections that were and that could have been's.

How to Stop Time - Matt Haig

Matt Haig is known for his mental health non-fiction work but he has a selection of superb fiction reads. This one is all about Tom who is a 41 year old history teacher, but the history lessons are not where his historic expertise ends because Tom has actually been alive and has lived through centuries with different identities.

All That She can See - Carrie Hope Fletcher

I could have picked any of Carries books as a feel good read because she is so good at creating worlds that you can just get lost in. 'All That She Can See' is about a young girl called Cherry who loves to bake but Cherry's abilities doesn't stop at baking. All of her treats have a special something about them that makes people feel better about their lives , that is until Chase comes along and can also see what Cherry's bakes can do.

You're The One That I Want - Giovanna Fletcher

Again with Giovana's work I could of picked many of her books as they all have the Romcom element I like when I'm looking for a read to boost my mood. This one is the first of Giovanan's books I read years ago and it just left that warm glow i needed. It is about Maddy, Ben and Rob who have been friends since childhood and think that nothing can break their bond. Maddy is dressed and ready to walk down to the alter but who will it be waiting for her at the other end?

These are just four picks of mine though each author here has lots of books I could recommend and Laura Jane Williams has her second novel out later in the year that I am looking forward to.

What is your favourite feel good read or author?

February - Mid Month Review

I thought I would throw a mini mid month round up as it's only the 18th February and I'm already on the fifth book of the month!

Legendry - Stephanie Garber

4 Stars

Legendry is the second in Stephanie's series (Caraval) and I didn't think it was possible but I enjoyed this one even more than Caraval. I love the magical and very mysterious worlds Garber creates whilst still leaving so much to the imagination. I enjoyed the character development in this part of the series and seeing things from a different and more adventurous point of view. There are twists and turns in this book that you think you expect but then it goes a completely different way keeping you guessing.

 A Field Guide To Getting Lost - Rebecca Solnit

2 Stars

I really struggled with this book, I thought it would be more about Rebecca's journey of self discovery but I found it more hard and pretentious read. I did enjoy the odd chapter and paragraph but not enough of it to give it more than 2 stars

The Tattooist of Auschwitz - Heather Morris

4 Stars

Of course any holocaust fiction is going to be a hard thought provoking read, and this one was no different. Although I found the writing style a bit simple I liked that because it gives you more focus on the plot and an emotional grip of the truth of the situation. I enjoyed the story lines between all the characters and I also enjoyed the extra information and pieces from related people at the end.

Two Can Keep A Secret - Karen M. McManus

 4 Stars

This is the second of Karen McManus's books I have read the first being 'One Of Us Is Lying' and I enjoyed this just as much. Set in the same town and involving some of the same characters is a touch I liked a lot. This story line kept me guessing and it wasn't one I worked out from half way through like other thrillers, it kept me hooked right until the end

Have you read anything by these authors? I love a good book recommendation. 

 

Nonfiction fix - Matt Haig

I am a huge fiction reader and I love getting lost in a story but I have a big space in my heart for nonfiction usually around the 'self help/development' category.

I thought the first in my Nonfiction fix series should be an author you would have heard of and one that his books have had a huge impact on my life.

Matt Haig has taken the book world and the internet (mainly twitter) by storm in the last 4 years after his book 'Reasons To Stay Alive' was published. He later on published 'Notes On A Nervous planet' and since then he has been a huge figure in the mental health community.

Reasons To Stay Alive :
This book I bought and at first I struggled to get into it , then a few years later I was going through a rough patch and I decided to give it another go. This little book is the dark truths about Matt Haig's discovery of his own mental illnesses and how he has attempted to learn about the ways to treat and look after his mental health. He has a great outlook of life although he is tackling some difficult subjects he adds some humour but also some realness rather than rose tinting situations.

Notes On A Nervous Planet :

This book is more of a look at the world and how it affects our mental health and how we can notice and adjust the way it affects us. Matt Haig talks about how technology, the easy access to the news around the world and also the way shops are set up and how they have contributed to the rise of anxiety and mental illnesses. As someone who struggles with anxiety this book was a breath of fresh air and made me feel less like the world is working against me.

Have you ever read any of Matt Haig's books or any similar nonfiction books ?

January Reads

The first month of 2020 is gone already and I manged to read 9 books so I thought I'd share them with a quick review of each.

Our Stop - Laura Jane Williams 

3 stars

This is a love story based on two mid twenty somethings on the  London underground. It has lots of mixed story lines and shows how little things can be connected. I was expecting more from this book with the hype it had but overall I would give it three stars as it is an easy uplifting read.

The Humans - Matt Haig

4 stars

 Matt Haig does it again, he unravels the human mind and thoughts to lay it all out in a beautiful story that you didn't know you needed. I found myself smirking at this book as it tries to make sense of the human way of life and also found myself with tears in my eyes by the end.

Little Women - Louisa May Alcott

4 1/2 stars

I admit I read this because I wanted to see the new film and I wanted to read this classic first. This was a story I wish I had read when I was younger. This version I have doesn't have all the stories of this novel includes. I'm already eyeing up the longer hardback so I can read all about the March sisters.

Dead Like You - Peter James

4 stars

I am currently working through the Roy Grace series and I am a huge Peter James fan. This book though was one of the creepiest and skin crawling stories so far. I love how Peter James's books build and by the end you can not put them down until you see the whole crime unravel. 

Elizabeth Is Missing - Emma Healey

4 stars 

This I bought on a whim from a charity shop but Elizabeth is missing is a though provoking 

read, a view of the life of a 70 year old women with dementia. Emma Healey shows the raw truths of how dementia affects not only the person with the illness but the whole world around them. 

The Hunting Party - Lucy Foley

4 stars

This was a book I hadn't heard of but after getting it as a gift I saw it all over Instagram. This is a who done it kind of set up but also you don't find out who was killed until the end too. I love a good thriller and this was good but I felt it dragged out a bit in the middle.

The Book of Lost Things - John Connolly

4 1/2 stars

This is a fantasy, but a creepy fantasy which I wasn't expecting. The characters are not what they seem even when you think you've got them sussed. You would think this was a children's book but it had such an emotional and graphic story line that it is definitely more of an adult book/

Dark Places - Gillian Flynn

4 stars

Another thriller I bought after reading Gone Girl but I've only just got round to reading it and wow what a read. There wasn't one character I really enjoyed but there wasn't one I really disliked either. I loved how it was unravelling the crime from years ago and the main character was the one delving into it all. Many secrets are revealed in Dark Places and not many of them I saw coming

Caraval - Stephanie Garber 

4 1/2 stars

Another unexpected read this month, Caraval to me is what I was expecting when I read The Night Circus. There is so much magic and imagination used when reading this. This book hooked me in but then on the next page everything I thought was happening was blown out the water. Caraval is the first in a series and I am already on the next.

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The start of Stepping Through Stories

I thought I'd do a little get to know me post before I post any reviews or bookish posts.

1. I am 27 years old from Northamptonshire in the UK.
2. I got into reading last year and managed to read 75 books.
3. I don't have just one genre that I like to read but crime and thrillers are a favourite.
4. My first crime author that I fell in love with is Peter James and I am currently working through his Roy Grace novels.
5. I enjoy reading non-fiction lifestyle books.
6. My favourite reading snack is popcorn and huge cups of tea.
7. Give me a Sunday in cosy clothes, a blanket and my book and I'll be happy.
8. I love trawling through charity shops for good book finds, and usually end up finding reads I usually wouldn't go for
9. I am a sucker for a pretty cover and I am always eyeing up limited editions.
10. I work in a primary school and I adore reading children's books more than an adult should.

I'm looking forward to posting some reviews and sharing my love of reading and all things book related.