Friday Fics Fix - Use Your Head

This week's fic made me metaphorically punch the air. Because dudes - yes!

This fic is one of those which you don't need to be all that familiar with the fandom itself to enjoy - which is good because it's from the re-booted MacGyver fandom, which is kind of smaller than most fandoms.

2017's Top 4 Books (...In The Opinion of Yours Truly)

2017 can't be well and truly dusted off and put back on the shelf* without some input from your favourite Bookish Rebel (moi, ofc,) on the bestest books of the year.

This is TOTALLY MY OPINION ONLY.

Obviously, I can only pick from books I've read. And within that only books published in 2017.

Even given those rules, there's a bunch of books that I've read that I didn't include - THAT DOESN'T MEAN I DON'T LIKE THEM!!!!

This is basically a snapshot of the stand-outs. There were loooooads of other books I could've included - promise!

(My Anxiety kicks in when I think I might be leaving someone/something out that deserves recognition - does it show?!)

*Ha, shelf? Books? Hehe! XD

Nerd Church - 5 Things I Learned From Fire and Fury by Michael Wolff (Without Reading a Word)

'Oh scream, America, scream. Believe what you see. From Heroes and Cons.'

We are in the middle of the 21st Century Breakdown.

Unfortunately, I don't think Green Day meant their apocalyptic concept-album to be an instruction manual. *laughs slightly hysterically*

Month in Review(s) - December 2017

Decemmmmberrrr!!!!!!!!! Wooo!!! XD (Yes, it's January - but let's face it, I never wrap-up on time.)

OK, so December for me was actually super-super-hectic, but it came with Christmas at the end, so I really can't be mad at it! Lol.

(I love Christmas. Sooooo much!!!! 😁 )

2018 Fanfiction Reading Challenge Sign-Up

The Challenge

Nerd Church - 17 Becomes 18

So 2017 is ending. We tried, but in the end it followed 2016 into the sh**-pile of history.

But that doesn't mean we should give up on 2018. Because 2018 can do better. 2018 can pick itself up, dust itself off, and prove that doom and gloom isn't inevitable.

Nerd Church - The Gift of Christmas

Christmas is awesome. Christmas is love and hope.

I'm not gonna get all made-for-TV-movie on your butts, but whether you celebrate Christmas or not, there's something exceptionally beautiful about a time of the year dedicated to love, hope, kindness, and joy.

The world that we live in needs more things like that.

Nerd Church - How To Not Be a Jerk To Non-Drinking Guests

It's December - and nearly Christmas. 

This is the time of year that's traditionally filled with party-goers, many of whom will be drinking. But not all.

As a member of the non-drinking group for the last several years, I can tell you that these reactions are fairly typical:

• "But... WHY?!"
• *Stares at me for at least a minute without blinking*
• "I could NEVER do that!"
• "Oh come on, have some fun!"
• "Are you SURE?"
• "Are you like *takes step backwards* religious or something?"

Nerd Church - 10 Self-Care Reminders For When You're Extra-Busy, or Working Extra-Hard

Yep, this is both a self-care exercise and a blogpost. THAT is multitasking 😎

So sometimes, when we're busy, we forget to take care of ourselves - especially mental-health-wise. I'm officially the world's worst for this - I overwork A LOT.

So, here's a few things I have to remind myself of - and I hope they help you too!

Nerd Church - Break the Effing Cycle

I'm pi**ed off. I'm really pi**ed off. Because the only bank branch, of any type, left in my town, is set to close.

Why should that pi** me off? It's only a bank, right?

Have you lived in a poor area? Because I f**king do.

And when things leave, they don't come back. When things leave, they take jobs, money, chances...

When things leave, they take hope with them.

Comics Wrap-Up - Tell Me I Can Have It All

Film Trailers

Yet more Thor: Ragnarok trailers!!!

Honestly, I can't blame them - this film rocks!

Month in Review(s) - October 2017

October was fun, yes?*

*I mean if you ignore the news and the garbage pile that is the world's current affairs. *desperate laughter* 😅

Nerd Church - Rinse, Repeat

I know I've said this more than once, but I'll say it again and again: hatred is poison.

Trump's hatred, ISIS' hatred, anyone's hatred.

I don't understand why human beings still cling to it.

3 Lessons From 3 Years of Blogging

Happy Halloween!

31st October is uber-special here on Dora Reads, because it's blog anniversary time!

Yup, 3 years ago today I started this blog - which was then called Diary of a Reading Addict - and started myself on this slightly bizarre (but awesomely fun!) path.








And since the long-off days of 2014, I've learnt a thing or two.

Some of those things are more weird than practical - but there's also come good blog/life lessons  along the way.

Nerd Church - The Book Eater

Confession time: to me the term 'book eater' isn't exactly a metaphor.

Don't panic! I do not, in fact, actually chew, swallow, and consume books. There is no paper in my stomach (as far as I'm aware!)

But I taste books.

Not just books - words, sentences, paragraphs. All of them roll around on my tongue with their various flavours.

And for a long time, I figured everyone else was the same. It's only in recent years that the sneaking suspicion has crept in - other people don't taste words.

Nerd Church - Recovery...?

(Warning: this post discusses mental health problems, especially depression and anxiety)



I've struggled with depression and anxiety for several years now.

I was ill for quite a while before I started this blog, and Dora Reads has been running, in one form or another, for nearly three years.

Comics Wrap-Up - Just Imitating Yesterday

Film Trailers

New Justice League trailers and mini-trailers! This is not a drill!

(Warning: flashing images in all)

Nerd Church - Kids and Gender Equality

Recently I've seen two TV programmes which really hammered home how much we still need to improve on gender equality in the 21st Century.

The first was the BBC's 'No More Boys and Girls' where plans were put in place to counteract negative gender stereotyping in a class of seven and eight-ish year-olds*



*yes, 'ish' because I really can't remember. They were smol, ok?

Month in Review(s) - September 2017

September was a mixed bag.

But then, that's life I suppose! Still, it was my birthday month, so there's that at least ;)

(I ate soooo much pizza and chocolate cake!!!! 🎂🎂🎂🍕🍕🍕😁)

Nerd Church - Dreamers, BE YOU!

This one's for the dreamers; for the writers, the bloggers, the vloggers, the artists, the entrepreneurs.

(This one's for all you rock and rollers, all you crash queens and motor babies... 😉😎)