The Best Books of 2023

The best books of 2023! Three of these, the TJR ones, were rereads, so I was iffy on including them, but here they are! It’s hard to believe that a short story collection was my first five-star read of the year! That was followed by a thriller and a romance, which is equally as shocking as I struggle with those genres at times. “The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois” takes the cake as the best book of the year, followed closely by “Betty” and “Love, Pamela”. It was a great year with 125 books read in total!

Florida by Lauren Groff:

It takes a lot of talent for a writer to be able to make you connect with a character in a fifteen-page short story. Sometimes, I cannot find a connection with characters in a five-hundred-page tome. Lauren Groff has that talent. The reader is dropped right into Florida with this one. Groff hit the nail on the head by having her writing perfectly match up with the setting. Speaking of the writing, it was captivating and poetic. The main theme here is survival, not necessarily out in the wilderness, but sometimes just getting through a long day that never seems to end, just getting through day-to-day life. I loved this book. It’s my first five-star read of the year and my new favorite.

No Exit by Taylor Adams:

Wow! Me, giving a thriller a perfect five out of five rating? This is an incredibly rare event that I never thought would happen. The book completely exceeded my expectations, delivering a thrilling experience that kept me guessing until the very end. This is exactly how a thriller should be written, with unexpected twists and turns that leave readers on the edge of their seats. I’m truly amazed by this exceptional book.

Get a Life Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert:

Chloe Brown emerges as one of the most relatable characters I’ve encountered in literature. The representation of chronic illness and the accompanying anxieties was handled impeccably. Towards the end, Red’s character began to grate on me due to the weight of his unresolved baggage; however, this didn’t significantly detract from my overall enjoyment of the story. The British setting, which I hadn’t anticipated, added a delightful dimension, complemented by a wonderful sense of humor throughout. While the writing style was average, this book fulfilled my ideal romance criteria, ranking among the finest I’ve read. It’s undeniably become a new favorite of mine, and I wholeheartedly recommend it!

Betty by Tiffany McDaniel:

Recently, I’ve discovered that many writers tend to overwhelm their narratives with numerous characters, leaving them as mere names on a page devoid of distinct traits. However, this book defies that trend brilliantly. It presents a family of eight vibrant characters, each with their own well-defined personality, ensuring the reader never confuses one with another. The emotional bond formed with these characters is palpable, particularly in the poignant portrayal of Betty and her father, Landon. The book encapsulates the essence of ‘Americana,’ a gritty and authentic depiction that resonates universally. The writing is exceptional, adorned with memorable quotes, especially those about the ever-changing yet perpetual seasons. The story, much like the mother’s quilt referenced throughout, is flawlessly woven together without plot holes, exhibiting impeccable logic. Themes of poverty, trauma, life’s stages, and most prominently, womanhood, are skillfully explored. ‘Betty’ embodies the idea of staying true to oneself amidst societal pressures. This book, touted for its emotional impact, lived up to its acclaim. I feel profoundly moved upon its completion, making it the first five-star prediction fulfilled in my 2023 reading project.

Love, Pamela by Pamela Anderson:

Authentic, intelligent, and deeply relatable. In the closing pages, Pamela reflects on a director’s observation about her vulnerability, a quality missing in today’s stars, and that sentiment encapsulates this book perfectly. It’s refreshingly open and distinctive, penned entirely by Pamela in various forms, seamlessly interweaving poetry and prose. Her ability to reclaim her narrative, shedding the constructs imposed by men and the media over the years, is empowering. The raw honesty shines through, making this book a standout for me, earning a spot among my newfound favorites.

Beach Music by Pat Conroy:

Conroy exhibits exceptional skill in character development, intricately weaving captivating family relationships in his narratives. In ‘Beach Music,’ South Carolina becomes the pulsating heart of the story. Conroy masterfully captures the essence of this setting and its atmosphere, crafting an unparalleled portrayal. While his depiction of Italy is remarkable, his depiction of South Carolina truly stands out. His writing is richly descriptive, possibly overwhelming for some readers, making it best suited for those more accustomed to immersive storytelling. The plot defies easy description, carrying an epic quality that is both striking and challenging to articulate. While Conroy employs recurring tropes, making binge-reading less advisable, his works remain a compelling choice for seasoned readers seeking depth and complexity in their literature.

Us Against You by Fredrik Backman:

I’m honestly astounded by this author’s ability to create a multitude of characters, each so distinct and wonderfully developed—a truly rare talent. This narrative brilliantly builds upon the community introduced in the previous book, crafting a setting that feels exceptionally vivid and tangible. In my opinion, this is Backman’s most finely written piece, executing flawlessly with impactful and emotionally charged prose. The plot had me on an emotional rollercoaster—screaming, tearing up, and experiencing every emotion in a way that’s truly exceptional. This book has become my favorite among the author’s works; it’s a standout.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid:

The characterization in this book stands as the pinnacle of my reading experiences. My sentiment from 2021 remains unaltered in 2023—it’s simply the best. Initially, I didn’t particularly like Evelyn, but I found her captivating to read about. However, this time around, I not only loved her character but also aspired to embody her spirit. On the other hand, my disdain for Celia St. James remains steadfast. The portrayal of old Hollywood was utterly perfect, reigniting my fervent wish for more tales set in that era. Taylor Jenkins Reid delivers her finest writing in this narrative. The plot’s uniqueness, narrated as a celebrity’s memoir, captivated me entirely. This reread was even more satisfying—I’m giving it a well-deserved 5/5 stars.

Laika by Nick Abadzis:
A graphic novel that moved me to tears—plain and simple. While prose novels rarely evoke such emotions in me, ‘Laika’ achieved what others couldn’t.

Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid:

This was my second reread of this incredible book, an all-time favorite that somehow managed to captivate me even more this time! The characters are intriguing; they’re not inherently likable but exude chaos, which makes them immensely entertaining. While Billy remains my book crush from the first read, Warren, the drummer, caught my attention this time. Yet, Daisy’s perspective stole the show for me on this revisit. The dialogue-driven writing style ensures a swift read, but for first-timers, I highly recommend the audiobook experience! This book embodies the essence of rock ‘n roll, transporting you to the seventies with nods to your favorite classic rock bands throughout the story. For fellow music enthusiasts, this is a must-read!

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid:

If there’s one remarkable skill Taylor Jenkins Reid possesses, it’s crafting compelling characters. In her previous works, I found the characters intriguing to read about, though I didn’t necessarily like them as individuals. However, the Riva siblings changed that for me; they’re characters I rooted for and genuinely liked. The side characters, despite limited page time, are impressively developed, each distinct and memorable. They could easily carry a story of their own, much like Carrie Soto. Malibu, almost a character in itself, vividly comes to life, particularly in the earlier parts of the book, evoking a palpable sense of its historical past. This novel showcases the author’s finest writing, a departure from her previous works. It delves into themes of nepotism, probing the distinction between fame from family ties versus genuine talent. Moreover, it explores the profound impact of generational trauma on an individual’s psyche, emphasizing how parenting shapes one’s mentality. While the story unfolds in just a day, the characters undergo significant development, embracing their identities. Taylor Jenkins Reid’s adept storytelling and thematic depth continue to captivate me—I adore her approach to writing!

The Love Songs of W.E.B Du Bois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers:

Reviewing exceptional books is always a challenge, and ‘The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois’ might just top my 2023 reads. While Ailey might not be a character I personally relate to, her journey resonated deeply with me—from toddlerhood to becoming a resilient woman, navigating life’s highs and lows. The multitude of characters can be daunting, but the family tree in the opening pages proved immensely helpful for reference. Many characters resembled individuals from my own life, reflecting the authenticity of the Southern culture depicted in the novel. The setting, with its dialect, cuisine, social intricacies, felt incredibly genuine. Astonishingly, this is the author’s debut, despite her background in poetry, evident in the poetic, lyrical, and breathtaking prose. Though lengthy, the book is impeccably crafted, every element falling into place organically, defying predictability. I followed along with the audiobook, but any format would serve this masterpiece well! The plot fulfilled a long-held desire—an expansive American epic chronicling a family across generations, executed flawlessly by Jeffers. Ailey’s mentor’s advice on studying history struck a chord, reminding us that this fiction mirrors the lived experiences of countless people throughout history. The emotional depth of this narrative left me drained at times, akin to Ailey’s mentor suggesting a break after intense research—an apt metaphor for this immersive journey. ‘The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois’ is a book that leaves me both overwhelmed and at a loss for words, destined to linger in my thoughts for a long time. Undoubtedly, it’s a new favorite.

Some honorable mentions are as followed:
A Man Called Ove – Fredrik Backman

The Red Tent – Anita Diament

Still Life – Sarah Winman

Halloween Song Book Tag

Hey guys, it’s Izzy here and today we’re going to be doing a tagged post, a Halloween tagged post which is super exciting. This tag I discovered from the YouTube channel Bookables. We’re going to be looking at different songs that have Halloween vibes and there is a question with each song and I will be providing an answer to you guys. I will leave all the info for this tag linked down below if you guys would like to check it out and give me some of your answers down below in the comments. Let’s get into it.

There are so many great songs on this tag. When I think Halloween, I don’t really think music. The only holiday I really think music for is Christmas. This is such a creative tag because there are some songs that give those Halloween vibes. I’ve been listening to a great playlist on Spotify. I’m going to actually link that below as well. I don’t remember who the creator was but there are a lot of songs with spooky Vibes.Stevie Nicks is the queen of that but let’s get into the tag.

The first one is Thriller you can’t get more iconic than that a book that was an absolute page turner so I should say not all these books are going to be spooky books but some of them might be. So a page turner I read recently was Play as it Lays by Joan Didion this was my first fiction pick by her and I absolutely loved it. I was is going through it so fast it’s a short book but I was still constantly wanting to know what was going to happen next and I feel like it’s still so prevalent to our society even though it was written 50 years ago I think even longer than that and then it was such an influential book compared to a lot of the sad girl lit books we see today in contemporary or literary fiction subgenere this book was the founding stone of that genre.

Number two is I Always Feel Like Somebody’s Watching Me a book that gave you the serious creeps for me that is one of my all-time favorite books and that is The Book of the Unnamed Midwife by Meg Ellison. I was telling a friend about this other day and he says he’s going to read it so I’m super excited. It’s my favorite science fiction book but this book gave me nightmares it’s not even a horror it’s a pandemic novel where the majority of the world’s population has died and it’s trying to come to terms with that because it it happens as this pandemic is happening and basically how objectified women become and this book is literally my worst nightmare I would rather die than go through what this book is about it’s terrifying and as I said not a horror but it gives me nightmares I think about it all the time one of the best books I’ve ever read.

Number three: Vampire – a book that was soul sucking Laika which is a graphic novel about the first dog to or first living being from Earth anyway that has gone into the atmosphere of Earth and literally I cried it takes a lot for a book to make me cry this one did that.

Number four: I Put a Spell on You a book featuring witchcraft or magic and I’m choosing the Price Guide to the Occult this is a young adult fantasy but it is more magical realism. I read it back in July and I honestly didn’t expect a lot going in but I loved it and it’s a really fast read and it’s perfect to read this time of year. With slight magic and witchcraft they all have very little powers like maybe being able to understand the animals and plants around them like little things like that nothing major like I don’t know you know there’s these where there’s other races of like like elves and goblins that kind of thing it’s not that kind of fantasy.

Number five: This Is Halloween your favorite treat or snack while reading I don’t do that I don’t eat while I’m reading because I don’t know if I’m going to keep or unhaul a book and if I’m unhauling it I don’t want there to be greasy fingerprints all over the book because that is kind of gross and I don’t want somebody to have to experience that so I might have a drink while I’m reading; water, soda, tea, milk, or whatever that’s all I drink. I might have a drink but I’m not having a treat while I’m reading.

Number six: time warp let’s do the time warp again what books or book do you like to return to this time of year I haven’t actually done this but one that I always think would be great to return to this time of year is Stalking Jack the Ripper I really want to continue that series. I do think I’m going to do a reread next year in 2024, reread the first book and then finish the rest of the series which is a young adult historical thriller but it was so good and so atmospheric and one of the first books I annotated actually.

Number Seven Hungry Like the Wolf a book you loved so much you devoured this would also be a soul sucking one Us Against You by Frederick Backman this is the second book in the Bear town series. Now what is the Bear Town series about, it is a book in a small town in Sweden that is really a hockey town. Hockey is just the culture there it runs everything and a sexual assault case goes on and really divides the town and this is just showing the aftermath of the trial and everything. The character work is so good. I honestly don’t know how Frederick Backman does it he’s just a master at character work.

Number eight the Adam’s Family a book that features a dysfunctional family now there are plenty. Every single family is dysfunctional, in a sense, but we’re going with The Rules of Magic which is a prequel to Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman this is about three siblings in the 1960s and they are witches and a warlock so they are going through that really tumultuous time in history while dealing with having magical powers.

Number nine scary monsters and super creeps a book genre you’re scared or intimidated to pick up one that’s been extremely extremely popular in the recent months which is just fantasy romance. Romance is a genre that I really just started getting into last year so it’s still one that’s new to me. I am trying still trying to find out what tropes are for me and which ones aren’t and then fantasy, I’ve been having a hard time with. Fantasy was one of my first favorite genres but I really now just have a hard time getting into it so putting those two together just seems really difficult for me. I haven’t really found one that really really grips me by the description.

Number 10 our last question here The Twilight Zone A book with a completely different and unique premise really anything by, actually not anything by Taylor Jenkins Reid but at least three of her historical novels but the one I’m going with is a short story. I’m going with Evidence of the Affair it is told all in letters and it is between two people who their spouses are cheating on them with each other and honestly, I’m like how do you come up with that. It was a good short story and very unique.

That is the Halloween Song Book Tag. I hope you guys enjoyed. Leave a pumpkin Emoji if you made it all the way through and as always comment, rate, and subscribe and don’t forget to ring that notification bell to be notified when all my posts go live I’ll see you in the next one! bye!

‘Babel’ Book Review

“1828. Robin Swift, orphaned by cholera in Canton, is brought to London by the mysterious Professor Lovell. There, he trains for years in Latin, Ancient Greek, and Chinese, all in preparation for the day he’ll enroll in Oxford University’s prestigious Royal Institute of Translation—also known as Babel. The tower and its students are the world’s center for translation and, more importantly, magic. Silver-working—the art of manifesting the meaning lost in translation using enchanted silver bars—has made the British unparalleled in power, as the arcane craft serves the Empire’s quest for colonization. – Description from Goodreads.

At first, I loved Robin as a character. He had this innocence of childhood to him and we see him come to age as a young man enrolling, in university, at Oxford. His story truly felt magical, it was very reminiscent of the vibes that the Harry Potter series gave to me as a child. Ramy, he was a character that I hated. He was a jerk and yes, he was treated poorly, but that does not give him the right to go and treat others the same way. Now, yes, it is realistic that bullies were usually bullied or insecure themselves but the book seemed to not think he was doing anything wrong when he was. Victorie, there was not a lot to her character. SHe was mainly just off to the side so I liked her alright but I wish there could have been more dimension to her. I loved the epilogue that was at her perspective. Letty, a character that I felt bad for. I liked her but she was just done dirty. Let’s get into that. Robin and Letty both practically snapped. They took complete turns, in their character developments, in the last quarter of the novel. Now, I do understand how these arcs can happen but there was not enough development from point a to point b to get us to where their stories ended. I was shocked by how poorly these characters were written but maybe this just needed to be a series like ‘The Poppy Wars’, rather than a standalone.

I really enjoyed the Georgian and Victorian settings. I am so used to only seeing this setting portrayed in England, which the majority of this was, but we also got to venture to China as well. I’ve read several books with Chinese settings this year and I have enjoyed getting to see that country’s history. This is a dark academia setting as well as the majority of the story takes place at Oxford. Dark academia does not do anything for me but I do know that a lot of people love that subgenre. However, the school setting did feel magical. Again, it was really reminiscent of Harry Potter.

The writing is another reason why I did not absolutely love this book like I thought I would. First, it was very dense. I usually have no issue for heavier size fiction but here it was just too much for me. I could only read about twenty five pages in one sitting when usually I can read double that. I would not recommend this book to someone just getting into reading as it is a lot to digest. That being said, this book could have been about a hundred to hundred and fifty pages shorter than it was. Yet, the characters still needed more time to develop. It’s confusing but I stopped caring about the plot after so long, this book was not executed properly.

The plot was fantastic and unique. I have not read anything like this novel. There are slight hints of ‘The Name of the Wind’ and ‘Harry Potter’, but, as I said, slight. The coming of age storyline feels so magical and you can just feel the childlike wonder coming off the pages from Robin. The writer also discusses themes of colonialism and racism. Racism is obviously a hot topic nowadays but I had never read a book dealing with colonialism until this one. My goal in reading is always to see the world through someone else’s eyes and ‘Babel’ did a great job at that.

I was shocked by how poorly these characters were written but maybe this just needed to be a series like ‘The Poppy Wars’, rather than a standalone. I really enjoyed the Georgian and Victorian settings. The writing is another reason why I did not absolutely love this book like I thought I would. My goal in reading is always to see the world through someone else’s eyes and ‘Babel’ did a great job at that. I still enjoyed the majority of my time reading “Babel’, and would encourage you to give this story a chance. However, it did not live up to the five star prediction set in the book.

3.5 out of 5 stars.

‘Delirium’ Book Review

“Delirium opens when its main protagonist, an ex-English professor turned traveling Purina salesman named Aguilar, discovers that while away on a four-day business trip his wife Agustina endured an experience that provoked a severe dissolution of her sanity. The book chronicles Aguilar’s search for answers and his efforts to rehabilitate his young, beautiful and admittedly singular wife through the use of alternating narrative styles that, as the novel progresses, shed further light on the mysterious events that took place during Aguilar’s absence as well as the nature of Agustina’s family and childhood, both of which precipitated Agustina’s struggle with mental illness.” Description from Wikipedia.

I could not get into the characters of this novel as it was nearly impossible to tell who’s perspective we were reading from. It was constantly changing who we were reading from and then different tenses going between, first, second, and third, sometimes all in the same paragraph. It was honestly confusing and a hard time to differentiate between characters.

The atmosphere was the best and possibly only good part about this novel. It is set in Colombia but maybe some parts were in Europe? I am still unsure about that. This book took place at such a tumultuous time and location that you are bound to have great stories from it.

The writing was too difficult to understand. As I touched on earlier, there were constant changes in perspective and tense that I really had a hard time following the writing without confusion.

This story sounds extremely interesting. To my understanding it was a husband trying to get a woman out of her madness by telling her stories of the past. Again, I could be wrong because I was extremely confused. However, if that is the plot, that is interesting and needs to be executed better.

I could not get into the characters of this novel as it was nearly impossible to tell who’s perspective we were reading from.It was honestly confusing and a hard time to differentiate between characters.The atmosphere was the best and possibly only good part about this novel.This book took place at such a tumultuous time and location that you are bound to have great stories from it.The writing was too difficult to understand. As I touched on earlier, there were constant changes in perspective and tense that I really had a hard time following the writing without confusion.This story sounds extremely interesting.However, if that is the plot, that is interesting and needs to be executed better. ‘Delirium’ made me delirious.

1 out of 5 stars.

‘Play it as it Lays’ Review

“Play It as It Lays” is a novel written by Joan Didion, published in 1970. Set in Los Angeles during the 1960s, the story revolves around Maria Wyeth, a former actress dealing with her crumbling marriage, a troubled relationship with her daughter, and her own mental health struggles. As Maria navigates through a world of superficiality, nihilism, and despair, the narrative delves into themes of Hollywood disillusionment, identity crisis, and the search for meaning in an increasingly fragmented society. With its fragmented narrative style and introspective tone, “Play It as It Lays” offers a stark portrayal of a woman’s struggle to find her place in an indifferent world.” – Description provided by ChatOn AI.

The main character, Maria is so similar to other women we see portrayed in this subgenre of feminist books and more so what we call now on social media, “sad girl lit.” This is the first classic piece that I read that explores certain themes like mental health and strained relationships but I do think the characterization given by Joan Didion was definitely influential to characters we see in books by authors such as Ottessa Moshfegh and Taylor Jenkins Reid. These characters are typically not likable, they are going through a crisis after all, but I enjoy seeing how the human mind works and how humans all go through situations differently. That being said, these kinds of books and characters are enjoyable for me to read.

I loved the setting of California and Nevada. Reading a book that was contemporary to 1970, it was not filled with over the top pop culture references that you would now see in a historical fiction piece taking place in the same setting. It was just so natural not trying to be anything that it was not.

The writing was my favorite part of, ‘Play It as It Lays’. It was blunt and straightforward, no beating around the bush. Lately, I have been reading so many books that are lyrical or poetic. That writing style makes me question what the writer is trying to say, giving me a hard time understanding and having to go back and read paragraphs over and over again. With Joan Didion though, you do not need to worry about that at all. This gives an accessible and fast paced experience for the reader.

One thing that was not strong was the plot. This is a character driven novel and if you do not find those kinds of stories appealing then this will be a boring ride for you. This is a deep dive on the human mind of a woman who is going through quite a lot in life. Coming to terms with her childhood and past. She is also going through decisions to make on her marriage and a struggling relationship she has with her ill daughter. Maria is also a woman who is aging and in her line of work that is not viewed as a good thing even if it is inevitable. This book may have been published over fifty years ago but a modern woman can relate to the themes presented.

The main character, Maria is so similar to other women we see portrayed in this subgenre of feminist books and more so what we call now on social media, “sad girl lit.” That being said, these kinds of books and characters are enjoyable for me to read. I loved the setting of California and Nevada. It was just so natural not trying to be anything that it was not. The writing was my favorite part of, ‘Play It as It Lays’. It was blunt and straightforward, no beating around the bush. This gives an accessible and fast paced experience for the reader. One thing that was not strong was the plot. This book may have been published over fifty years ago but a modern woman can relate to the themes presented.

4.5 out of 5 stars.

‘A Man Called Ove’ Book Review

“”A Man Called Ove” is a heartwarming and humorous novel about a grumpy and solitary man named Ove who has given up on life after the death of his beloved wife. The book explores Ove’s life and the events that have led him to become the curmudgeonly person he is today. Despite his rough exterior, Ove is a man of routine and order who is fiercely loyal to those he cares about. He has a deep love for his late wife, Sonja, and struggles to come to terms with her absence. As Ove navigates his grief, he becomes involved in the lives of his neighbors, including a pregnant woman named Parvaneh and her family, a young couple who move in next door, and a stray cat who seems to have taken up residence in his house. Through these interactions, Ove begins to see the value in human connection and begins to open up to those around him.” – Description from ChatOn.

Fredrik Backman is a king of making characters. By the outside, Ove being your typical grumpy old man who complains about his neighborhood problems, you are probably like how could I ever feel and love a character like that? That is probably what most readers are thinking when they see the cover of this book. Backman does it though, he makes you root for these characters that most authors would never even think about writing whole novels on. The Swede is a master at character work.

As this novel does take place in Sweden, there were some cultural differences that I had to get used to at first. I am amazed that they could make a film of this taking place in Pittsburgh because so many of these plot events I feel like could not take place in America. It is always eye opening at getting to see what everyday life is like in another country.

While reading the writing of Backman, it is never lyrical, poetic, or what most people would call beautiful. It isn’t. It is actually quite blunt. I did skim through some of the prose just to get to the spoken dialogue because a lot of the inner thoughts were repetitive. However, I will say some paragraphs or sentences that are presented really make you sit back and think about what was just stated.

There are plenty of themes in ‘A Man Called Ove’ that are not often written about in books, let alone talked about in life. I think fear of the unknown causes such a thing. The main theme that I am going to write about here is that of aging. Age is a beautiful thing because not everyone gets to grow old, people who are old have had plenty of life experiences and therefore knowledge to pass on to others. Old people should not just be pushed aside and forgotten, they were young once too and might have that grumpy personality from said experiences in life. You should not judge someone on their looks or whatever the first impression might be on meeting. There is something to be learned from all people that you meet, from three-year-olds to senior citizens, every life has value, and everyone has something that you can learn from. These themes are so rarely talked about but need to be more.

Fredrik Backman is a king of making characters. Backman does it though, he makes you root for these characters that most authors would never even think about writing whole novels on. As this novel does take place in Sweden, there were some cultural differences that I had to get used to at first. It is always eye opening at getting to see what everyday life is like in another country. While reading the writing of Backman, it is never lyrical, poetic, or what most people would call beautiful. However, I will say some paragraphs or sentences that are presented really make you sit back and think about what was just stated. There are plenty of themes in ‘A Man Called Ove’ that are not often written about in books, let alone talked about in life. These themes are so rarely talked about but need to be more. I loved this book, but it is not a new favorite.

4 out 5 stars.

‘The Scarlet Pimpernel’ Review

“The Scarlet Pimpernel is a novel by Baroness Orczy that takes place during the French Revolution. The story follows a group of French aristocrats who are being targeted by the revolutionaries and are in danger of being executed. The Scarlet Pimpernel is a mysterious figure who has been rescuing these aristocrats from France and bringing them to safety in England. The French authorities are desperate to catch the Scarlet Pimpernel, but he always manages to evade them. The main character is Sir Percy Blakeney, a wealthy Englishman who is secretly the Scarlet Pimpernel. Sir Percy’s wife, Marguerite, is a French actress who is caught up in the political turmoil of the revolution. Marguerite is initially suspected of being a spy for the revolutionaries, but Sir Percy eventually clears her name. The novel ends with the Scarlet Pimpernel successfully rescuing the last of the French aristocrats and returning them to England.” – ChatOn description of the book. ‘

By the description of the book, it states that Sir Percy is the main character of the book, yes, a lot of the story does revolve around him, but I more so think that Marguerite is the main character here. She is a woman in a foreign country, a country that looks down upon her own, and a woman who has no idea what is happening to her family across the channel. She is being black mailed and a strong and passionate woman in the situation that she is placed into within these pages. That being said, she was the most developed of the characters. This book does present themes such as anonymity and deception, that made it hard to tell the difference between the male characters.

The atmosphere is a common one for the Edwardian time period of when ‘The Scarlet Pimpernel’ was published. I am curious if authors of the time were inspired by the French Revolution like today’s authors are inspired by World War II. The descriptive writing gave this story a rich atmosphere and it was easy to picture the scenes that were playing out.

Playing in with the atmosphere, the writing was very descriptive, but it never over did it. It never made you feel bogged down and you could not get out. However, my mind did seem to drift off a lot, I think this is from either too many characters, or the lack of development on said characters. The writing was reminiscent of the likes of Dickens and Shelley with the ability at painting a scene inside of the reader’s head.

The plot sounds great in theory and when I first read this book it really did spark me interest in historical fiction. However, I have since read books that follow the same historical events, those books being Les Miserable and The Tale of Two Cities, this one just does not compare to those. It is very one dimensional and I do think if this book was published today, it would still be popular because of its main female lead.

By the description of the book, it states that Sir Percy is the main character of the book, yes, a lot of the story does revolve around him, but I more so think that Marguerite is the main character here. This book does present themes such as anonymity and deception, that made it hard to tell the difference between the male characters. The atmosphere is a common one for the Edwardian time period of when ‘The Scarlet Pimpernel’ was published. The descriptive writing gave this story a rich atmosphere and it was easy to picture the scenes that were playing out. Playing in with the atmosphere, the writing was very descriptive, but it never over did it. The writing was reminiscent of the likes of Dickens and Shelley with the ability at painting a scene inside of the reader’s head. The plot sounds great in theory and when I first read this book it really did spark me interest in historical fiction. It is very one dimensional and I do think if this book was published today, it would still be popular because of its main female lead. This book has nothing wrong with it but it could be so much more.

2.25 out of 5 stars.

‘Goliath’ Book Review

‘Goliath’ is set on Earth in the near future, the 2050s. Those of privilege have left the United States to head to space colonies to live a more comfortable life. Those left behind are left with a damaged land and are left to salvage all that is left.

The characters were all interchangeable. I can tell you their names but not much past that. This seems to be a case of too many characters and not enough page time. However, the two that stood out to me were Bishop and Sydney. They really blossomed with the inclusion of back stories. Overall, the way this book was setup, it made it hard to connect with the cast of characters.

I thought the setting of this being somewhere not too far in the future was great. 2050, seems like forever away but it really is not in the grand scheme of things. Oftentimes, we look back at decades past, civilizations past, and in this book, we are the society that is being looked back at. It really makes you think about how we go about life and everything that our society circles around.

The writing was my biggest issue. First off, the timelines were really hard to follow for the first fifty percent of the novel. It was bouncing around between past and present before I was set in stone into the novel to have a better understanding of where I was. The writing was also chunky and went on for far too long, I found myself having to skim through the last quarter. Again, all of this improved in the second half of the book.

The plot really could have been at any time. Do not go into this expecting a heavy science fiction novel. Now that I sit here and think about it, this book is probably extremely realistic on what could possibly happen in the future. It is really heavy on current issues and how they will have an impact on future generations which is an interesting concept. Fans of My Monticello should definitely give this one a go.

The characters were all interchangeable. Overall, the way this book was set up, it made it hard to connect with the cast of characters. I thought the setting of this being somewhere not too far in the future was great. It really makes you think about how we go about life and everything that our society circles around. The writing was my biggest issue. The writing was also chunky and went on for far too long, I found myself having to skim through the last quarter. The plot really could have been at any time. It is really heavy on current issues and how they will have an impact on future generations which is an interesting concept. ‘Goliath’ was just not executed properly and if the chapters were rearranged, this could have played out better.

2.5 out of 5 stars.

‘Annihilation’ Book Review

Area X has been locked away from the world for decades. Every few years, the Southern Reach Project send in a group of people to survey the land. Most of the time the expeditions do not make it back. This year, it is a group of four women who have to survey and map the terrain.

If you are like me, and character exploration is your favorite thing about reading, ‘Annihilation‘ will not be a book that you come out of loving. The way the character development is done by the author is very creative. We are never given a name of our narrator, as this is their account of their time in Area X, they are not supposed to get personal with the other team members. It was interesting but I never felt a strong connection with the narrator.

At first, I thought this atmosphere was going to be great because the nature writing was so good, but then I began to ask questions. Why is Area X a thing? What caused it? What is the outside world like? Is it a dystopian society or the world as we know it? We do get some answers but nothing in great detail. This book, as it is an account, would make sense if someone in the book universe was reading it but for someone in our real world it can be confusing. Other than that, the author did a great job at really putting the reader inside Area X.

The writing was my favorite part of Annihilation. As stated before, the nature writing is superb. We really get to see how lush but almost claustrophobic Area X is. If you are someone who enjoyed the writing of ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’, you will probably like the writing here even if the genres are completely different. This reads like a nonfiction as this is the character’s account of her time in the area. I really was not expecting that and it was something different for me in the science fiction genre.

On paper, the plot sounds like something I would enjoy. The character work was not there though, so therefore, I did not care what was happening to the characters and that meaning the plot became irrelevant to me.

If you are like me, and character exploration is your favorite thing about reading, ‘Annihilation‘ will not be a book that you come out of loving.The character development was done in an interesting form but I never felt a strong connection with the narrator. At first, I thought this atmosphere was going to be great because the nature writing was so good, but then I began to ask questions.Other than that, the author did a great job at really putting the reader inside Area X. The writing was my favorite part of Annihilation. I really was not expecting that and it was something different for me in the science fiction genre. On paper, the plot sounds like something I would enjoy. This was a good book but I am not rushing to pick up the next ones in the series.

3 out of 5 stars.

‘Owen’ Book Review

‘Owen’ is the story of a man who went from a Welsh solider in the English army, to a servant, and then ended up marrying the dowager queen of England. His descendants would go on to rule multiple countries around Europe. The founder of a great dynasty that would change England and therefore the world.

Owen Tudor is one of the people in the Wars of the Roses, that I have never seen portrayed in film or writing. That was until I read this book. I think it is quite strange that many have not ventured into writing about this man as in a sense he founded the Tudor Dynasty. The character work here is very one dimensional but I can see why since there is not a lot to base Owen on. I did like the portrayal of Queen Catherine and the dialogue that came along with that.

I have talked far and wide for my love of the Middle Ages and more specifically the Wars of the Roses time period. The author did a great deal of research on the time period and the people in it.

The writing is where I think this fell flat for me but it also could have been the plot but we will get to that. It was very mechanical and simple. Which does make for an easy read but I got bored with it. One dimensional is a word that I would use to overall describe my time reading ‘Owen’.

As stated before, it is obvious that the writer did his research for the first installment of the Tudor trilogy. That is great but it also held him back a lot. If you know the life of Owen Tudor that is exactly what you are going to get with very few moments going in depth or veering off course. It got dull and repetitive as the story went on.

The character work here is very one dimensional but I can see why since there is not a lot to base Owen on.The author did a great deal of research on the time period and the people in it. The writing was very mechanical and simple. The plot got dull and repetitive as the story went on. I did not hate this book or love it, I left it with no strong feelings therefore it will a receive a 2.5 star.