Review Time! (Woop!) - Landline by Rainbow Rowell

Title: Landline

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Genre: Contemporary, Chick Lit, Magic Realism, Romance* (*ish)

Amazon: UK - USA

A few starting notes:

I saw a copy of this at the library... and it had a pink cover. Like, a bright pink cover.

So yours truly obviously had to borrow it. Because I'm that easily distracted. True story.

Also, I'd reviewed Carry On (UK - US) previously, and enjoyed it a lot.

(And Rainbow Rowell liked one of my tweets of that review, and I nearly fell off the sofa in shock.)

So I figured that I'd try another book by Rowell, and see how it went.

Premise:

Georgie McCool's marriage is in trouble. Sure, she knows that.

But her husband's just gone home for Christmas.

He hasn't left her.

Yes, Neal took the kids. No, he hasn't answered any of her calls... but he hasn't left her...right?

But then there's the phone. Ah, yes, the phone.

As time-machines go, it's pretty useless - all she can do is call 1998-Neal. It's 2013-Neal she needs to deal with, right?

So why does she keep calling?

Best bits:

I love Rainbow Rowell's wit and quirkiness - she can make normal conversations hilarious. And that's a talent worth having.

(Believe me. Everyone could do with that talent at some point in their lives...)

This book is incredibly readable - light-hearted and fun, it's one you just sort of... keep reading.

(And then you're like - I had stuff to do book! You win this round!)

I love Heather, Georgie's sister, she's great. She rocks in the 'sarcastic, but will defend her sister to her last breath,' kind of way.

Oh, and the name Georgie McCool? Dude, it's just fab. :)

The main crowning glory of this book though is that IT SOMEHOW MANAGES TO AVOID THE AWKWARD CLICHES!

Seriously, it could've gotten so cringey, but Rowell manages to side-step most of that and plump instead for realism and originality - and I always love me some originality. ;)

Not so great bits:

I guess I was maybe expecting a little more drama here than there ended up being.

This is probably my fault - I'm far too used to violent deaths and supernatural creatures in my books, and this doesn't have that.

I found the kids, Noomi and Alice, annoying. But that's mainly because Naomi was pet-named Noomi, and also because kids often bug me.

I also wasn't sure I wanted Neal and Georgie to work things out. I kind of felt at various points that she'd be better off with Seth.

But then, Georgie isn't sure whether she wants to work things out with Neal - so maybe it's just the tone reflecting the character's indecision.

Oh, and there's swearing here - which I found pretty hilarious in its usage, but I will warn you about as part of my blogger-ly duty (*salutes smartly*).

Verdict:

Despite the Christmas time-frame, this is equally suited to a hot summer's day, maybe even the beach.

It's light, it's fun, and it will definitely keep you reading.

Buy Now UK – Buy Now USA – Goodreads – Author's Site

Liked this post? Try these:

• Review Time! - Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
• Review Time! - Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult

Friday Fics Fix! - Stuck Together

I've been reading Stucky one-shots this week.

(Fangirling notes:

Stucky is a romantic/sexual relationship between Captain America (Steve Rogers,) and Bucky Barnes.

One-shots are fics which are only comprised of one part/chapter.)

I'm a Stucky fan (make it canon Marvel! Make. It. Canon,) so I've kind of given in to the whole Stucky-ness this week.

There's something about the combination of Steve and Bucky that just feels so awesomely right.

You don't spend 3 films looking for a bloke, with such intensity and fervour, if he's just your bestie from 70 years ago. Y'just don't.

via GIPHY

One-shots are usually quite short - and so are great for fitting into lunch-breaks, coffee-breaks, or those times when work is driving you round the proverbial bend (it's hard being a ninja princess assassin sometimes.)

This week's fic is a sweet one-shot that's full o' the feels.

(Fangirling note:

The feels are indescribably intense feelings experienced by fangirls and fanboys in reaction to various situations characters find themselves in.)

via GIPHY

So, this week's fic rec. then, is:

Tongue Tied by SereneCalamity

And there're no sexy-times! Another week of relatively 'clean' fanfiction folks!

...Must be a blue moon or something.

So for a sweet love-story with just a touch of angst, give this one a shot.

(Yes, it's a little clunky in places, but what fanfiction isn't?)

via GIPHY

Like this post? Try these:

• Friday Fics Fix - Sweet Stucky Fluff
• Friday Fics Fix - Stuck in the AU
• Friday Fics Fix! - Stucky Time

Comics Wrap Up - People Like Us, We Don't Need That Much

Graphic Novels

This week I read Malice in Ovenland, Vol 1 (UK - US) - a graphic novel due out in August 2016 from Rosarium Publishing.

Rosarium are a growing, and relatively new, publishers who focus on sci-fi, fantasy, graphic novels, etc., with an emphasis on multiculturalism.

Malice in Ovenland is semi Alice in Wonderland inspired... only there's magical world in Lily's oven. Yeah... just go with it.

It's target audience is clearly kids (which makes a change from the stuff I normally read) and it's pretty entertaining (and more than a little gross in the way that kids like.)

I'll be writing a review nearer to the publishing date, so keep your eyes peeled.






Other Stuff


Two fans showed Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan (and the world,) what real heroes look like when they cosplayed Captain America and the Winter Soldier at the Wizard World Con in Philadelphia.

They brought #GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend (the social media campaign to do just that,) back into the limelight by kissing in front of Chris 'n' Seb.

Well done guys, you're true heroes.

-0-

Marvel Super Heroes, What The--? rocks. Just... just watch the thing and all of the randomness. So very, very, random.

Like this post? Try these:

• Comics Wrap Up - Wonder If They'll Ever Know
• Comics Wrap Up - Calling Out Your Name

Mini-review! - Life Blood by V M Black

Title: Life Blood

Author: V M Black

Genre: Romance, Paranormal, Vampires, Novella

Series: Cora's Choice #1

Amazon: UK - USA

Verdict:

I picked this book up because free e-books are my kryptonite. Particularly paranormal romances. They're like alcopops or junk food to me, honestly.

So yeah... this went on the e-reader!

This is one of those 'get-you-hooked' series-starter novellas. Like a drug dealer who gives you the first hit for free.

(Reading is an addiction - I keep telling you people this.)

As such, it's pretty short, and is series-foundation-setting rather than a full-blooded (ha! Blooded. Vampires. I just noticed that,) romance in and of itself.

The sexy-times only start to appear near the end, and aren't all that graphic (but I still don't want you young 'uns reading this! It does get a li'l steamy.)

And I'm not entirely sure I'm sold on the love-interest/s.

Luckily, the main romantic-al feller/vampire is more a lust-interest at this stage, so has time to develop in other books into (potentially) something deeper before everyone starts declaring undying love, or whatever.

Oh, and personal-safety-wise? It was nice to see Cora being careful to tell people where she is... even if some of her other decisions are a little ill-advised to say the least.

At least someone would be able to find the body if she was murdered and left in a ditch. Better than what most heroines manage, Cora - 10 points to Gryffindor!

(I don't know if she's in Gryffindor... I just kind of assumed...) (No, I actually haven't had coffee - which is more worrying than having it to be honest...)

This, then, is a short and very readable para-romance novella. If vampire romance is your thing, you'll probably devour this. :)

Buy Now UK – Buy Now USA – Goodreads – Author's Site

Liked this post? Try these:

• Pleasure, Not Guilt
• Mini-Review! - Omega Beloved by Aiden Bates

The 6 P's of Blogging

Now, I'm far from a blogging master - but over the past year-and-a-half of blogging, I've picked up a few things.

(Hopefully. Maybe. Kind of.)




6 of these things start with the letter P.

So, here are my 6 P's of blogging - handy little words I keep in mind when throwing my brain onto the page (screen? Still trying to figure that out,) for your amusement, enjoyment, education, and possible traumatisation.

I hope they help with your own bloggy-ness, or at the very least, provide light entertainment for your coffee-break.




Passion

(Not that type - gutter-brains!)


This one is a bit of a no-brainer. If you're not interested in what you're writing about - it's going to show.

So if you blog, blog from the heart (cheesy grin and thumbs up.)

Blog about something you honestly care about - and just give it your best shot.





Patience


Very few blogs grow quickly.

Yes, you may see all these success stories on the interwebs, but those are the minority.

Your blog? It's going to take some time.

It's going to grow so slowly that sometimes you feel like you're going backwards with it.

Unfortunately, I'm not a patient person. So this is one I kind of have to work on. A lot. (Grow blog, GROW!)



Perseverance


This is kind of tied-in to patience - you have to ride things out, you have to keep going.

Blogs fail. A lot.

The internet is littered with the abandoned half-formed blogs of dreamers and bored dabblers alike.

The key? Keep going.

Keep posting. Keep social media-ing. Keep sharing your posts.

Perseverance is half the battle; you have to give yourself the time to succeed. (And I mean years, not weeks.)

via GIPHY

Personality


This is your little corner of the Internet. Own it, and be yourself.

You don't have to be all-out and in-your-face to blog. Some of the best bloggers are actually the quiet ones (you always have to watch out for the quiet ones...)

So let the bit that's you shine through - it's what'll keep people coming back (hopefully!)





Politeness


Be nice. Don't be a jerk.

Respect other people. Don't be a jerk.

Basically, don't be a jerk - I don't think I can say this enough. Nice will win out in the end.

(Oh, and other bloggers will appreciate it and support you in return if you comment, retweet, share, etc. other people's blogs.)

Progress


Keep making progress - writing new things, trying new formats and images, etc.

And celebrate the small victories - progress is progress, and should be appreciated for being a step forward, no matter how small. :)





So there you have it - 6 handy little P's to keep in mind when blogging. Enjoy :)



Like this post? Try these:

• Blogging Insecurities
• The 10 Stages of Writing A Blogpost

Nerd Church - Moving Around Europe

For those of you who live outside the UK, I can tell you that we here in Britain have a referendum coming up.

This referendum will decide whether we leave the European Union (EU) - an economic alliance of European countries.

Honestly, it's not that riveting an institution - but it is important. It allows free trade and free movement in Europe.

Unfortunately, the issue has become firmly focussed on migration. Because people don't know enough about the EU to discuss any other issue.

And also because it is, honestly, very boring stuff - and the 'sexy' issue is the migration one.

(Yeah, I know, it's not that sexy - but here's a gif of Gerard Way. And he is.)

via GIPHY

People who are citizens of countries within the EU are permitted to migrate and generally travel about within the EU without a Visa.

Migration is also an issue in the USA if Mr Trump's over-compensating statements are anything to go by (seriously, even if you build a f**king wall, Mexico isn't going to pay for it - why the hell would you think they'd agree to that? They don't have to do anything you say.)





Generally, people who dislike migrants do so because:

• Politicians use migration as a distraction - if you blame foreigners, people won't blame you.

via GIPHY

• People like to have a scapegoat to blame when things are out of their control. (E.g. the economy is bad, but it must be because of migrants that I don't have a job.)

via GIPHY

• People fear things they don't understand - like other cultures, customs, and languages.

via GIPHY

And, unfortunately:

• Some people are just bigots.

Let me explain to you a few proper, non fear-mongering facts about migration in the UK and EU:

• The migrants in the Calais jungle are not EU citizens - and the UK takes below the EU average in asylum applications.

• EU migrants contribute £2bn to the UK economy per year.

• The NHS is supported by migration. 1 in 7 migrants living in the UK are working in the health and social care sector. These people are benefiting the country.

• Irish people are EU migrants. Spanish people are EU migrants. Italian people are EU migrants. EU migration does not just mean Eastern Europeans.

• 1.2 million British-born people live in the EU. 2 million British citizens live and work in the EU.

• Between 1.2 million and 1.3 million British-born people live in Australia.

I hope that's given you a few things to think about, I'll be writing two more posts around this topic for 'Nerd Church' before the referendum on the 23rd, because it actually is an important issue.

I'll try to make the posts interesting - y'know, stick some of my patented Cee Arr flair in there, because... economics, blech!

I'll make it interesting somehow though! Please read my posts! :)

Nerd Church is a weekly post where I rant a lot discuss issues. Feel free to continue the discussion, but be respectful & link back here :) Please share if you liked this post.






Like this post? Try these:

• Nerd Church - Use Your Vote, Raise Your Voice
• Nerd Church - More Tolerance, Please?

Review Time! - Say Her Name by Juno Dawson

Title: Say Her Name

Author: Juno Dawson

Genre: YA, Horror, Ghost Story

A few starting notes:

I read Hollow Pike by Juno Dawson ages ago because a paperback copy in my local library had purple-edged pages.

So I picked it up because, y'know, I'm easily amused/attracted by pretty colours. Lucky for me, that book rocked.

So, since then, I've wanted to read the rest of Dawson's books - and I eventually got around to this one! (Again, lucky for me!)

Premise:

People fool around with it all around the world - say 'Bloody Mary,' five times, in front of a mirror, at midnight, by candlelight.

Then her ghost is meant to show up... apparently.

People do it all the time. Nothing ever happens... right?

So, when Bobbie and her friends agree to it as a dare, nothing will come of it... right?

Or so they think. But time's running out.

In five days, she will come.

Best bits:

I loved this book - hands-down loved it!

It could have been soooo clichéd - but instead, every time it started to ever-so-slightly veer in that direction POW! - a new twist.

(Yes, I just used 'POW!' - In a book review. Deal with it.)

The characters were fab, believable, and not intensely stupid. (Which is always good.)

Bobbie? I loved her. She was really relatable and quite bookish (yay!) without being pretentious.

She's also really sweet - which is always nice - but not boring, which was a relief (yay for nice-but-not-boring characters!!!!!)

(Yes, I've had coffee. Coffee is good.)

The plot a) keeps you guessing, and b) refuses to be held down by all the urban legend Bloody Mary stuff that came before, while also not ignoring it.

(Which is skilful - and impressive. *Nods approvingly.*)

This was one of those books which was like: one more chapter - just one. And six chapters later, you're still there, and still reading.

And while it is creepy, it's not so creepy that you want to give up half-way through. (But then, I like horror, so other people may have a different opinion.)

I'll say it again: I loved it ;)

Not so great bits:

There's not a lot of things I can really argue with here...

It does deal with subjects that a lot of people may find distressing: references to self-harm, abuse, murder, suicide, etc. etc. But it doesn't feel overly-heavy with it.

And if you have a mega-fear of ghost-girls, mirrors, and/or ghosts in general, this is probably not your book.

There's some mild violence, gore, etc.

Oh, and there's some references to sexy-times, but nothing overtly graphic.

I guess my only real issue is the whole absentee-parents thing that YA gets away with a lot.

But as that trope goes, I really can't argue with the way it's handled here - the boarding-school deal-y neatly sidesteps the issue.

Verdict:

I loved this book - it's fresh and original where it could've been clichéd and rusty, it draws you on, it has great characters...

Basically, this is a great YA horror. And I definitely recommend it.

Goodreads – Author's Site

Liked this post? Try these:

• Review Time! - Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

• Mini-Review - One by Sarah Crossan

Last updated: 3rd March 2026