I’m Not Racist — But I’m Not Sure I’m Anti-Racist

What ‘Me and White Supremacy’ taught me about racism and anti-racism. White supremacy brings to mind images of the Ku KLUX Klan. I am not a member of the KKK. I am not racist. Then I read Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad. And I had to ask myself if I AM part of the problem, partContinue reading “I’m Not Racist — But I’m Not Sure I’m Anti-Racist”

‘The President Show’ Is a Dazzling and Haunting Debut novel

This dystopian world reveals a patriarchal, repressive society that sexualizes women with a culture of compliance. Recently, it feels like it has been hard to be a woman. A few weeks ago, a YouGov poll revealed that 97% of women aged between 18–24 in the UK had experienced sexual harassment in some form. Amidst womenContinue reading “‘The President Show’ Is a Dazzling and Haunting Debut novel”

“Where the Crawdads Sing” Challenges Preconceptions of Loneliness and Leading a Simple life

This is a beautiful story and one that contains a timely and important message. Where the Crawdads Sing, has received a lot of media attention and has become one of those books that many people recognise, regardless of whether they have read it or not. As a bookseller, I can say it went through theContinue reading ““Where the Crawdads Sing” Challenges Preconceptions of Loneliness and Leading a Simple life”

Book Review: It Ends With Us

“Fifteen seconds. That’s all it takes to completely change everything about a person. Fifteen seconds that we’ll never get back.” Synopsis from Goodreads Sometimes the one who loves you is the one who hurts you the most. Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants.Continue reading “Book Review: It Ends With Us”

The Book that Changed How I See Relationships

Let’s talk about, ‘All Your Perfects’, the book that will stay with me forever. Sometimes, we read books that end up changing us as people — how we think, feel or even behave. They impact the way we view the world around us and our relationships. These are the books that, in all the waysContinue reading “The Book that Changed How I See Relationships”

Book Review: A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Mass

Prepare to have your heart ripped out. The third book in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series is A Court of Wings and Ruin (a.k.a ACOWAR). I had gotten three copies of it: one hardback from Amazon, a paperback from my niece and a special edition hardback from Indigo. The Indigo version arrived a few days aheadContinue reading “Book Review: A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Mass”

What ‘Lady in Waiting’ taught me about British aristocracy

It’s easy to be cynical about people born in palaces, but had it been you, would you give it up because it’s unfair? Ever since I can remember, anything to do with royals has intrigued me. From their looks to their history, from their work to their manners, I am fascinated and nosy about royalContinue reading “What ‘Lady in Waiting’ taught me about British aristocracy”

5 Books I Can’t Stop Thinking About

These are my most memorable reads of 2020, which have stayed with me months after finishing them. It could be that 2020 has made me more mindful, or maybe I just had a great reading year, but seldom has it happened for the memories of so many books to recur in my mind. This playsContinue reading “5 Books I Can’t Stop Thinking About”

‘The Discomfort of Evening’: A Disturbing but Compelling Read

The international prize winner paints a dark, violent and uncomfortable picture of life in the rural Netherlands. The Discomfort of Evening is a novel like no other. In many ways, it is evocative of the traditional literary fiction genre. Told through the perspective of Jas, a 10-year-old girl — it is highly character-driven. My qualms withContinue reading “‘The Discomfort of Evening’: A Disturbing but Compelling Read”