I always review the books I am gifted with but sometimes run out of time to review the books I have bought. So here is a quick round-up of the books I’ve read so far in 2023 that I’ve rated five stars: A Duck Out Of Water: Mum, dementia and care home life by HelenContinue reading “Recent five star reads”
Category Archives: Book reviews
A future classic
It’s my stop today, and day one, on the Random Things blogger tour for The Last Tree: Seed of Hope by Luke Adam Hawker. Sometimes I am sent a book to review, and upon opening it, I immediately know it will take a place on the shelves I reserve for books I will always keep.Continue reading “A future classic”
Strong Female Character
It’s my stop on the blog tour for Strong Female Character by comedian Fern Brady, known for her recent Taskmaster appearance and no-nonsense Scottish humour. She has written an open and honest memoir about growing up and not knowing she is autistic but knowing she is very different from others. She is kicked out ofContinue reading “Strong Female Character”
Are we doing those who are sensitive a disservice?
It’s my stop on the Blog Tour for Sensitive by Hannah Jane Walker. Here is some of the book’s info: Hannah Jane Walker is a very sensitive person, along with at least a fifth of the population. Like many, she was conditioned to believe this was a weakness and a trait that she should tryContinue reading “Are we doing those who are sensitive a disservice?”
Song of Silver, Flame Like Night
I am a huge fan of fantasy books, but they can be predictable. If you’ve read a few, you know what I mean. Song of Silver, Flame Like Night is a breath of fresh air. It’s set against a rich backdrop inspired by Chinese mythology. The lead characters, Lan and Zen, are multi-faceted and intriguing,Continue reading “Song of Silver, Flame Like Night”
Different, Not Less
I was gifted a digital copy of Different Not Less by Netflix’s Heartbreak High star and disability advocate Chloe Hayden as part of a Random Things Blog Tour. Growing up, Chloé Hayden felt like she’d crash-landed on an alien planet where nothing made sense. Eye contact? Small talk? And why are you people so touch-oriented?Continue reading “Different, Not Less”
If you think you know trees, think again!
Thirteen Ways to Smell a Tree: A celebration of our connection with trees is a small, easy-to-read non-fiction book packed with facts and insights – both historical and modern-day. The author, David George Haskell, took me around the world to get up close and personal with some of the world’s most marvellous trees, including oneContinue reading “If you think you know trees, think again!”
An unreliable biography
It’s my stop on the blogger tour! The Call of the Cormorant is Donald Murray’s unreliable biography of Karl Einarsson, a child born in the Faroe Islands who became a serial scammer living in Nazi Berlin. It was more like a wholly fictional tale, so outrageous was Karl’s life. It’s a very unusual book, fullContinue reading “An unreliable biography”
A book celebrating the joy of front gardens
This book heroes 20 commonly found plants growing in the front gardens of one road in London. Ben’s observations in Grove Park – such as hollyhocks growing at number 92 being ‘serotonin for the summer soul’ – are insightful and full of joy. Ben takes us with him as he walks up and down theContinue reading “A book celebrating the joy of front gardens”
A no-holds-barred extreme health memoir
Life & Death Decisions by Dr Lachlan McIver packs a punch and gets a five-star rating from me. It gave me everything I want from a memoir, containing jaw-dropping stories, a reminder of human resilience and fragility and a warning about the very real consequences of climate change. The medical challenges Lachlan has faced asContinue reading “A no-holds-barred extreme health memoir”