Showing posts with label mini-review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mini-review. Show all posts

Wednesday 7 September 2022

Month In Review(s) - August 2022

(Warning: this post briefly discusses mental health problems)


August was... OK, I guess.

And for me, this year, OK is freaking fantastic!



So, it was still too hot, but it was cooler than July which -

 - yes, please, thankyou, more of the lack of heat melting my brain, if at all possible, thanks!

I do not function in the heat. At all.



August - Awst



Frighteningly, we now have an official drought in much of Wales. 

If you don't know Wales and our verdant, fertile, valleys all that well, you might wonder why that's frightening.

Basically - you know the stereotypes that the rest of the world has about it always raining in London? Yeah? Well, I would consider London to be quite a dry place.

And we have drought.

(And now London possibly wants our water - but if I start getting into the long and exploitative history of water politics between Wales and England, we will be here all day.)

Climate change is real, and it is here.

Tuesday 16 August 2022

Mini-Review Time! - Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

 **This post contains affiliate links for Amazon.com; purchases made through these links will earn me a small amount of commission**


'Klara and the Sun' with a sunrise/set background




Title: Klara and the Sun

Author: Kazuo Ishiguro

Genre: Sci-Fi(-ish)


Buy now on Amazon.com 




Klara and the Sun book cover


Wednesday 13 May 2020

Month In Review(s) - April 2020

(Warning: this post discusses Covid 19/Coronavirus, and Anxiety)


April 2020.

Um... yeah... 

(I know it's the 13th of May - I'm disorganised, and you all know this.)




'April - Ebrill' with girl in a coat holding an umbrella, and an artsy swirl around it




OK, plus side: I had fewer panic attacks this month!

I mean, I still had panic attacks, and a butt-tonne of Anxiety, but I had slightly less of it! Woo!

(Small victories, dearest nerdlets, small victories.)

Tuesday 28 April 2020

Mini-Review! - Legendary by Stephanie Garber

 ***All Amazon.com links in this post are commission links. This means I earn commission from purchases made in the US*** 

Please do not use my links to make UK purchases.



'Legendary' in a black heart outlined in dripping red, there is a smattering of stars thrown across the whole image






Title: Legendary


Author: Stephanie Garber'Legendary' book cover with red Ace of Spades

Series: Caraval #2

Genre: YA, Fantasy

Amazon: USA





The Verdict:


I don't think I've ever enjoyed a second book so much when I found the first book so... meh.

Don't get me wrong - Caraval was ok. 


It was an enjoyable enough read. 

I did have some... issues... with it when I reviewed it a few years ago, but overall it was just ok.



Wednesday 10 July 2019

Month in Review(s) - June 2019




June kind of flew by!

Partly because I was super-busy! Which is also why I (once again) posted less here than I wanted to.

I did manage to post a review though! Woo! I can still call myself a book blog! (Lol.) 😅



June - Mehefin graphic with blue sky and sun shape



Wednesday 19 June 2019

Mini-Review! - Dat's Love and Other Stories by Leonora Brito

**This post contains affiliate links for Amazon.com (US). I earn commission from qualifying purchases**



Dat's Love & Other Stories title image with red willow branches hanging down over the corner




Title: Dat's Love and Other Stories

(Also published as 'Selected Stories)

Author: Leonora Brito

'Selected Stories' book cover with an artsy illustration of a Black woman
Genres: Anthology, Short Stories, Contemporary(-ish,) Historical Fiction



Wednesday 13 March 2019

Month in Review(s) - February 2019



February was... OK.




February title image w/ desk, paper, and scattered hearts


Look, I'd love to say it was great. But my Depression has been kind of up-and-down.

So I can't honestly call it 'great' - but 'ok' is fairly accurate.

I survived it. I even enjoyed some of it. So 'ok' is what I'm gonna call it.


Wednesday 27 February 2019

Mini-Review! - Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie

**This post contains affiliate links for Amazon.com (USA) - I receive a small commission for products purchased using these links**


Home Fire title image





Home Fire book cover
Title: Home Fire


Author: Kamila Shamsie

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Retellings







Wednesday 1 August 2018

Month in Review(s) - July 2018





Where did July go?!

Like... I know sometimes time goes quick, but really?!





July title image with funky grape and banana shapes






I think it's the heat.

I spent most of the month slouching around the house, trying to cool down, and being a generally not-nice person to be around.

Me + heat = grump monster! Lol.




Tuesday 24 July 2018

Mini-Review! - The Girls by Emma Cline



(Warning: this post discusses and refers to serious topics such as rape and child abuse. Please be careful my nerdlets.)





The Girls title image with girl standing in a field with flowers overlaid







Title: The Girls

'The Girls' book cover


Author: Emma Cline

Genre:

Adult Fiction*, Historical Fiction*, Crime*, LGBTQ+ (M/F, F/F)*✢ 

*(ish - it's a really difficult book to define tbh!)

✢ The LGBTQ+ and F/F rep isn't great (neither is a lot of the M/F tbh,) see main review.



Amazon: USA



Wednesday 7 March 2018

Month in Review(s) - February 2018

You remember, in January, when I said I was getting the hang of the whole life-balance deal-y?






February calendar in pink with the 14th circled, and love hearts in the corner reading 'love you' and 'kiss me'





Yeah... well, regular service has resumed. My life is back to Milo-Murphy's-Law-levels of randomness.

If you haven't seen Milo Murphy's Law, this is what I'm talking about:

(Warning: flashing images)











...I relate so hard it scares me.





Typical example: I had a scratch on my hand. Not unusual?


It was from the cat. Still not that odd?

It was because the cat was squirming, trying to stop me, from stopping him, from climbing into my big brother's sling (which he was wearing at the time,) which he has because he broke his arm roller-skating.

This is my life.




Wednesday 21 February 2018

Mini-Review! - An Untamed State by Roxane Gay

An Untamed State title image with bird flying outside bird cage in a vintage style with purple and brown tones; 'Book Review @ dorareads.co.uk' is written in the bottom-right corner




heart flourish decoration









Title: An Untamed State


Author: Roxane Gay



Amazon: UK - USA















Verdict:


This book is an open wound.

It is raw. It is powerful. And, somehow, it finds a way to be beautiful.





Wednesday 6 December 2017

Month in Review(s) - November 2017

November was one of those super-busy months where I barely had time to think!


As such, guys, I apologise if I've been a little more AWOL than usual.

I haven't had much chance to be social and all that - so, hi! I am still here! XD





November 2017 calendar image





Wednesday 29 November 2017

Wednesday 15 November 2017

Wednesday 2 August 2017

Monday 31 July 2017

Mini-Review! - Caramel Surprise by Ja'Nese Dixon

Caramel Surprise title image







flower divider






Title: Caramel Surprise


Author: Ja'Nese Dixon


Genre: Short Story, Romance (M/F,) Contemporary


Series: Ready For Love #1






Amazon: UK - USA