Book Review: Dark Mother Earth by Kristian Novak

Author: Kristian Novak

Title: Dark Mother Earth

Publisher: AmazonCrossing

Date: 2020

Plot: As a novelist, Matija makes things up for a living. Not yet thirty, he’s written two well-received books. It’s his third that is as big a failure as his private life. Unable to confine his fabrications to fiction, he’s been abandoned by his girlfriend over his lies. But all Matija has is invention. Especially when it comes to his childhood and the death of his father. Whatever happened to Matija as a young boy, he can’t remember. He feels frightened, angry, and responsible…

Now, after years of burying and reinventing his past, Matija must confront it. Longing for connection, he might even win back the love of his life. But discovering the profound fears he has suppressed has its risks. Finally seeing the real world he emerged from could upend it all over again. 

Monthly wrap up: July

I’m late writing this. But, you know, I’m glad. If I had written it when initially planned, it would have been me moaning that July didn’t go according to plan: illness killed all productivity and left me frustrated.

Instead, I’m writing it at the beginning of August, feel pretty positive about everything. There are a few changes happening making me feel inspired and positive about the future. I am trying to put writing first, making it a part of my life again, and I’ve had a couple of really strong days. The blog is doing well, I’ve had a good reading spree and basically feeling in a good place right now.

I fully intend to make the most of it!

Book Review: The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

Author: Stuart Turton

Title: The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmarks

Date: 2018

Plot: Tonight, Evelyn Hardcastle will be killed… again.

It is meant to be a celebration but it ends in tragedy. As fireworks explode overhead, Evelyn Hardcastle, the young and beautiful daughter of the house, is killed.

But Evelyn will not die just once. Until Aiden – one of the guests summoned to Blackheath for the party – can solve her murder, the day will repeat itself, over and over again. Every time ending with the fateful pistol shot. 

The only way to break this cycle is to identify the killer. But each time the day begins again, Aiden wakes in the body of a different guest. And someone is determined to prevent him ever escaping Blackheath…

Monthly Wrap Up: June

I commented last month how much things can change in the space of a few weeks, and the same thing occurred in June. Despite starting it on a high, it’s ended in such a way that I’m glad to leave the month behind and start fresh in July.

I’ve got my goals and I’ve got a plan of action: this is going to be my month for focusing on what I want to achieve this year. We’re over halfway through 2019 (how?) and I realised just the other day that I’m still in the same place I was at the start of the year.

It’s time to start prioritising the things I care about. After neglecting the novel for the entirety of June, it’s top of the pile for things to tackle in July. I completely ignored the blog last week in a way I’ve never done before, so back to content, promotion and engagement. No more waiting for things to happen: July me is going to take control!

2018: My year in Books

A new year, a new Goodread’s challenge! This year, I’m setting myself a target of 90 books. It feels a lot, but the past two years has seen me ending the year on 92 for both, so it should be do-able. Commuting has an advantage!

Besides, it’s not a challenge unless it’s challenging, right?

I’m hoping to get on top of reviews this year – I’m in a good place for that right now, so need to keep reading. But I’m also hoping to address my extensive TBR pile that aren’t necessarily review books. I’ve left them sitting there for years, prioritising blog books. Time to pay them some attention!

Before I start addressing this year’s challenge, I want look back at last year. Not only focusing on the books that I’ve read, but the ones that have really stood out for me, and the ones you guys have enjoyed hearing about the most.

Television Review: A Discovery of Witches

Programme: A Discovery of Witches

Company: Sky One

Date: 2018

Synopsis: Brilliant historian Diana Bishop is a witch living in denial of her own heritage. But when she unwittingly calls up an age-old bewitched manuscript from the depths of Oxford’s Bodleian Library, she finds herself throw into the heart of a dangerous mystery – and the path of the enigmatic vampire Matthew Clairmont.

 

Netgalley Review (#2)

When you’re constantly obtaining books from different directions, keeping track of where they have come from, what you’ve promised to review and what has been sitting there, patiently, for a considerable length of time can be challenging.

About six months ago, I did a wrap-up of the books on my Netgalley shelf. Now time has passed, and I’ve both read and reviewed a lot of books since writing that post, I thought I would have another look.

While I can’t, with a clear conscience, say I have read all the ones mentioned before, I can, at least, claim that most of them have now been read. It would have been a bit embarrassing if the same books featured in this post as they did last time. Which normally happens with my TBR piles…

What’s waiting to be read?

Book Review: Turtles All The Way Down by John Green

 

Synopsis: It all begins with a fugitive billionaire and the promise of a cash reward. Turtles All the Way Down is about lifelong friendship, the intimacy of an unexpected reunion, Star Wars fan fiction, and tuatara. But at its heart is Aza Holmes, a young woman navigating daily existence within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts.

In his long-awaited return, John Green shares Aza’s story with shattering, unflinching clarity.

 

 

Happy New Year: Looking Back at 2017/Resolutions

2017 has ended on a positive note for me. I’ve actually learnt to look back at what I’ve achieved and feel proud. For one thing: I now have a Masters!

How about resolutions for this year? Getting in shape and finding a job in my dream industry are two of them. They’re not the type that I feel I can blog about, however. I don’t want to spend my time writing about how I’m sending off applications, for starters!

My main aim, however, is blog related. I want to keep more up to date with reviews this year. My first target is to get to that golden 80% ratio on Netgalley (you may have noticed some extra reviews flying out over the last few weeks).

But I also want to get more books reviewed on time. I request them, then get caught up with blog tours and older books and miss the magic three-month time period where book publicity has the biggest impact. I review, not only because I love it, but because I want to help out the authors any way I can. A review is better than no review, but actually getting it out on time would be even better.

Up and Coming: December

How many times can you delete a post before getting past the first sentence?

How long can you sit there staring at a blank screen, waiting for inspiration to hit?

The trouble with giving yourself a blogging challenge (such as doing the Twelve Days of Christmas as a feeble attempt to catch up on reviews that you are desperately behind on), is that it tends to take up most of your focus. I’ve been reading a lot recently, but everything has been for reviewing purposes.

I’ve got nothing to talk about in regards to books that didn’t make the reviewing cut. I’ve got nothing to squeal about in terms of shows that I’ve been (re)watching because I haven’t seen any.

When you’ve scheduled in advance as well, it seems pointless discussing the books that will be reviewed, because you’re only going to repeat those discussions in a few weeks’ time.

Hence why I have no idea what to write.