Hello! Welcome back to Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Books, the series where I match three books to a Disney song. This time I am here with a song recommendation from Fran Laniado – If I Can’t Love Her from the stage adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. I’m glad she recommended it as I absolutely love this song for its emotion and tumultuous nature. It gives such a great insight into the Beast as a character and how he struggles sharing his inner thoughts.
Continue readingIt is a truth universally acknowledged that one can never have too many editions of their favourite book!
I definitely hit the nail on the head there, didn’t I?
Anyway, welcome back to me jabbering on about the one classic novel associated with my blog – Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
Hello!
Today I’m back with a book meme that I have not done for months and one I want to get back into. It is called Down the TBR Hole and it was created by the lovely Lia over at Lost in a Story. The first time I did this, I was tackling my to-read shelf on Goodreads and the initial number of books stood at 358. It now stands at 56 books and I love it! It feels better and so much more manageable when it’s that size. Nearly all of them are books I own on my shelves so they are ready to be picked up whenever I’m in the mood for them.
Does anyone else feel that February seems to pass quickly compared to quite a lot of months, and not just because it is the shortest month of the year?
It’s crazy!
I don’t think it helps that Easter is super early this year, because then mine and my sister’s birthdays will only be around the corner and I want to stay 25 for just a little bit longer. I vowed I’d be able to land a job by 26 and that’s not happening. Yikes!
Oh God.
Anyway, I’m here today with the monthly wrap up.
I managed to read quite a bit in February, thanks in part to some audiobooks, although I did have a couple of unfortunate DNFs. I’m quite happy though because all the books I finished were brilliant!
Let’s just dive right in.
Medieval Lives by Terry Jones:
It was interesting and I do want to know more about life in the Middle Ages but I found the writing to be dry and boring. To me it read like a text book and I wasn’t expecting that from this at all. I think I’m just a little underwhelmed with it.
Rating – 3 out of 5 stars
Witchborn by Nicholas Bowling
I was really excited to read this because it has witches and it’s historical fiction set at the time of Elizabeth 1st. It was also a cover buy because, wow, it’s gorgeous! However I felt really down by Alyce and the world building. Her constant skipping from place to place made it hard for me to get a feel for her surroundings. It’s a shame because the concept sounding like something I would truly love.
Rating 2.5 out of 5 stars
A Second Chance, Roman Holiday, A Trail Through Time, and No Time Like The Past by Jodi Taylor:
Books 3, 3.5, 4 and 5 in the Chronicles of St Mary’s series.
Without spoiling anything, all I can say is that this series is the definition of crazy and action packed. It’s a bit of a rollercoaster ride at the moment and one that might give you some whiplash. I certainly felt bombarded by all the feelings! Luckily No Time Like The Past ended on a laughable high so there’s no crisis to find the next book in the series for a couple of days.
Rating – 5 out of 5 stars
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Some of you might be wondering why the hell I re-read a book I wasn’t that keen on in the first place, but Obsidio is coming out and I wanted to jog my memory on what happens across both Illuminae and Gemina. All I can say is that thanks to the audiobook, all my opinions regarding the story, the multimedia format, and the characters have completely changed. The audiobook was phenomenal, and it is arguably the best one I’ve ever listened to. The use of different narrators and sound effects instantly transported me to the Hypatia and the Alexander and I was on the edge of my seat with every listen. I’m still not the biggest fan of Kady and Ezra as characters but I felt more in tune with them this time and I wasn’t as infuriated by their actions. I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but I loved it!
Rating – 4.5 out of 5 stars
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.
I might as well direct you to my review of this crazy and twisted book because I don’t know what else to say about it at the moment. All I know is that it completely surprised me, especially in regards to the ‘revelation.’ I knew it was going to come at some point as I was already vaguely aware of it, but due to the slow buildup I didn’t expect when. It was only after it that the speed of the novel went from 0-60 in an instant and I was thrust into a whole whirlwind of occurrences that I didn’t anticipate. It’s also certainly made me very conflicted about my feelings in regards to the relationship between Maxim de Winter and the current Mrs de Winter. It’s incredibly problematic but I can’t help sympathising with their insecurities and status.
4.5 out of 5 stars
I did also start reading This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada but I don’t know if I’m going to finish it by the time this post goes live. I’m also wondering if it is worth putting it down for now because I’ve lost all motivation to pick it up, even though I’m intrigued by what I’ve already read. Hmm.
Anyway…
That is that.
What books did you read in February?
Thanks for reading and have a brazzle dazzle day!
xx
Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again…
Working as a lady’s companion, the heroine of Rebecca learns her place. Her future looks bleak until, on a trip to the South of France, she meets Max de Winter, a handsome widower whose sudden proposal of marriage takes her by surprise. She accepts, but whisked from glamorous Monte Carlo to the ominous and brooding Manderley, the new Mrs de Winter finds Max a changed man. And the memory of his dead wife Rebecca is forever kept alive by the forbidding housekeeper, Mrs Danvers…
Not since Jane Eyre has a heroine faced such difficulty with the Other Woman. An international bestseller that has never gone out of print, Rebecca is the haunting story of a young girl consumed by love and the struggle to find her identity.
Hello!
Adding an extra post onto my weekly schedule today because I have just stumbled across a Goodreads Reading Challenge that I want to participate in.
Yes, everyone gasp in shock horror because Emma (the person who didn’t want to participate in any specific challenges this year) is actually going against her word.
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