- ADULT, ARCS, BOOK REVIEWS, CULTURAL, FICTION, HISTORICAL FICTION, LITERARY FICTION, NETGALLEY, Scotland
SHUGGIE BAIN BY DOUGLAS STUART | BOOK REVIEW
Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stewart is the winner of the 2020 Booker Prize. To know that this book was rejected 32 times before it got published is baffling to me. Reading that was such a shock and the irony of it is just great. The book is a winner for the Booker Prize, and it's almost like the universe telling the publishers where to take their rejections. I haven't read the other books on the list, and I do have to say after reading this book, I am not surprised that this book got the recognition it did. Every time I see a book that is a popular book, on…
PARIS BY STARLIGHT BY ROBERT DINSDALE | BOOK REVIEW
Paris By Starlight is a fantasy/magical realism book by Robert Dinsdale. This is my first experience with this author, and I can confidently say it won't be my last book from him either. I didn't know what I will be getting out of this book and going in blind really helped me enjoy it. The story is so descriptive and full of imagery that will enchant you, make you fall in love with the world Robert has crafted for us. It's slow-pacing, and multiple POVs help us understand the characters in a way character-driven stories usually do. The story has a fine-balance of character & plot-driven moments and makes the…
NOVEMBER WRAP-UP
I had a productive month in November, and I am happy I was able to complete 10 books. Though this month started slow like the past couple of months, I was excited to read the titles I had. I had a mixed bag of genres this month, and I really wanted it that way. Without further ado, let’s dive right into the ratings of the books. 1. The Cul-de-sac War By Melissa Ferguson – ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 Stars) If you like to read the review for this book – CLICK HERE 2. Silent Night (Paige Northwood #2) By Nell Pattison – ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (3.5 – 4 Stars) If you like to read the review for this book – CLICK HERE 3. How Beautiful…
BOOK REVIEW : THE SECRET DIARIES OF JUAN LUIS VIVES BY TIM DARCY ELLIS
The Secret Diaries Of Juan Luis Vives is a historical fiction centered around the Renaissance humanist Juan Luis Vives. The fascinating part of this novel is how deeply rooted it is in historical events. Also, the meticulous research the author has done comes through the book. I was excited to read this book about a historical figure who is a lesser-known personality to me. The story, as I mentioned earlier, is based on the life of Juan Luis Vives, who is a notable scholar set in Belgium and England for the most part. The novel is in the form of diary entries giving the readers a glimpse into the significant…
BOOK REVIEW : THE COMPANY DAUGHTERS BY SAMANTHA RAJARAM
The Company Daughters is a sweeping tale of what it means to be a woman in a world where the odds are always stacked against them. Samantha Rajaram is, without a doubt, talented in spinning stories by drawing inspiration from real-life events. The accounts were, in my opinion, well-researched to provide an authentic portrayal of the conditions of a colonized nation. It also depicts the circumstances of the women who were taken from their home countries to serve the settler men. I have been reading so many character-driven historical fiction stories based on true-events talking about the effects of colonization on communities and the women as well. This novel had…
BOOK REVIEW : GIRLS OF BRACKENHILL BY KATE MORETTI
Girls Of Brackenhill by Kate Moretti is a gothic mystery thriller that is perfect for the spooky season. Creepy mansion on a hilltop with vast forest grounds surrounding it was the ideal setting for this novel. I knew when I read the synopsis that I would be all over this book in a heartbeat, and I wasn't wrong. After reading Home Before Dark, I was craving something similar, and when I saw this one, I knew I hit the jackpot. The spookiness, the haunted or not feeling, the creepy things, and paranormal events just added to the intrigue and mystery of this book. The story follows Hannah, who is called…
BOOK REVIEW : THE FIRST WOMAN BY JENNIFER NANSUBUGA MAKUMBI
The First Woman is my first book from the Ugandan novelist Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi. Her first novel is very well received. When I read the synopsis of the book, I was intrigued. The novel tells the story of a young girl Kirabo raised by her grandparents in a rural village in Uganda. Her father is only an occasional visitor, while there is no news about her mother. As she starts to grow up, she feels the absence of her mother and is on a quest to find out more about her. She searches out Nsuuta, the village witch, to learn more about herself and her mom. Nsuuta tells her the…
- ADULT, ARCS, BOOK REVIEWS, COMEDY / SATIRE / HUMOR, CONTEMPORARY, FICTION, NETGALLEY, WOMEN'S FICTION
BOOK REVIEW : AWAY WITH THE PENGUINS BY HAZEL PRIOR
Away With The Penguins by Hazel Prior fascinated me from the get-go. Something about this book pulled me in. The title and the synopsis hooked me when I read them. I loved the illustrated covers, as well. I was also intrigued by the penguins and how they fit in with the story. When I picked this book up, I had no idea I will be gobbling up the whole story in one sitting. It was that good. Away With The Penguins is a beautiful book of friendships, family, second-chances, and healing. It tells the story of our two protagonists, a grandmother, and her grandson, who meets for the first time…
BOOK REVIEW : KINGDOM OF THE WICKED (KINGDOM OF THE WICKED #1) BY KERRI MANISCALCO
Kingdom Of The Wicked is the first book in the series by the same name. I have never read a Kerri Maniscalco book before and have only heard fantastic things about the Stalking Jack The Ripper Series. That series has been on my TBR for some time now, and hopefully, I'll be able to get around to it sometime soon. When I requested this ARC, I had no idea I'll get approved. I did shriek a little bit in excitement when I got accepted. So you see, I am pumped for this series big time. The cover is gorgeous and gives me the perfect October vibes, and on top of…
- ADULT, ARCS, BOOK REVIEWS, CULTURAL, FICTION, HISTORICAL FICTION, LITERARY FICTION, NETGALLEY, WOMEN'S FICTION
BOOK REVIEW : THE EXILES BY CHRISTINA BAKER KLINE
The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline is a well-researched historical fiction set in 19th century Australia. The book tells us the story of three women, Evangeline, Hazel, and Mathinna. Evangeline and Hazel are the two English convicts who get sentenced to Van Diemen’s Land. The Prisoners from Newgate Prison got often transported to the Island, where they had to complete the rest of their sentences. Mathinna is the Aboriginal orphan who gets uprooted from her life to live with the governor and his wife. The book is vividly descriptive and meticulously researched, giving the readers a distinct impression of the hardships and oppression faced each of these women during their…
